Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Tomás Del Coro / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 delivered on every promise.
A crowd of 50,816 packed Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, 18 April 2026. Seven matches. Three title changes. A comeback nearly a decade in the making.
From the opening six-man tag to the chaotic main event, Night 1 prioritised high-stakes storytelling over predictable finishes.
The evening centred on settling scores that had simmered since the Royal Rumble. None carried more emotional weight than the main event between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
Two non-title matches produced the most memorable in-ring moments of the night, a recurring WrestleMania tendency that no amount of pre-show hype prevents.
Bron Breakker made his presence felt in a way that will shape the weeks ahead, and one British icon reminded everyone exactly why she was missed.
Two moments had nothing to do with championships. WrestleMania host John Cena announced the attendance before Bianca Belair, absent since suffering a hand injury at WrestleMania 41, interrupted to announce her pregnancy. The Allegiant Stadium crowd roared.
Table of Contents
WrestleMania 42 Night 1: Full Match Results
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) defeated Randy Orton (22:40)
- Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan defeated Stephanie Vaquer (c) (6:50)
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch defeated AJ Lee (c) (8:16)
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Paige and Brie Bella defeated Nia Jax and Lash Legend (c), Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, and Bayley and Lyra Valkyria (8:33)
- Unsanctioned Match: Jacob Fatu defeated Drew McIntyre (14:09)
- Six-Man Tag Team Match: LA Knight, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso defeated Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and IShowSpeed (7:06)
- Singles Match: Gunther defeated Seth Rollins (15:48)
Cody Rhodes vs Randy Orton: Main Event Result
Cody Rhodes retained his Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton. This match moved through distinct phases. It opened with Orton’s methodical joint manipulation before escalating into a back-and-forth exchange of signature moves. Before the bell even rang, McAfee and Orton attacked Rhodes at ringside. However, Jelly Roll responded by driving an elbow through McAfee on the announce table, sending him out on a stretcher before the match properly began.
From there, it belonged to Orton and Rhodes. Rhodes survived an RKO, an eye-poke, and a low blow. He then hit three consecutive Cross Rhodes to retain the title. Did the crowd approve? Not quite. Fans cheered Orton and booed Rhodes throughout, a dynamic that adds real complexity to how this rivalry develops next.
The post-match told the bigger story. Orton delivered a Punt Kick to a downed Rhodes, grabbed the championship belt, and stood tall. More is coming between these two.
Paige and Brie Bella Win the Women’s Tag Team Titles
The biggest shock of the night came in the Fatal 4-Way for the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Nikki Bella could not compete due to an ankle injury. In her place stood Paige. It was her first WWE match since suffering a career-threatening neck injury in December 2017 . She left the company in 2022, spent time in AEW, and signed a new multi-year deal with WWE ahead of this weekend. What a return!
Paige showed no signs of rust. Teams were eliminated in sequence as the match built toward its moment. Nikki Bella, crutch in hand at ringside, struck Charlotte Flair to create the opening. Meanwhile, Paige capitalised immediately. She connected with a capture DDT (RampPaige) on Alexa Bliss and secured the pinfall. Champions Nia Jax and Lash Legend, who had held the titles for months, surrendered their reign in a match that will be remembered far longer than their tenure.
Gunther vs Seth Rollins: Match of the Night
The two finest bouts on the card came without a title on the line. Gunther defeated Seth Rollins in 15 minutes. Live observers immediately called it a classic. Rollins hit a Curb Stomp on the commentary table, threatened to win on several occasions, and looked on the brink of victory. Then, Bron Breakker sprinted down the ramp and speared him from behind, unseen by the referee. Gunther locked in the Gojira Clutch. Rollins passed out.
Breakker was not done. He returned after the bell to deliver a second spear, grabbing Rollins by the throat to make his message clear. Paul Heyman appeared at the top of the ramp to embrace him. Breakker is back, he is aligned with Heyman, and the heavyweight division shifted overnight!
The Women’s Championships Change Hands
Liv Morgan defeated Stephanie Vaquer in 6:50 to win the Women’s World Championship. Dominik Mysterio, Roxanne Perez, and Raquel Rodriguez all interfered to hand Morgan the decisive moment. Vaquer’s reign ended with controversy attached. Becky Lynch then claimed the Women’s Intercontinental Championship by defeating AJ Lee in 8:16. Outside interference again shaped the finish. Both victories suggest these rivalries have more chapters left to write.
Fatu and McIntyre: Controlled Carnage
Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre produced exactly the brutality the Unsanctioned stipulation demanded. Chairs and tables featured heavily. However, the stadium floor took punishment too. Fatu secured the pinfall at the 14-minute mark after landing a moonsault off the top rope through a table. Both men left the ring visibly battered. According to reports, McIntyre is heading into an acting commitment in the coming weeks. This result may serve as a natural pause in their programme.
Opening Act: The Usos and LA Knight Dispatch The Vision
WrestleMania 42 opened on ESPN2 with LA Knight, Jey Uso, and Jimmy Uso defeating Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and IShowSpeed in 7:05. It was an energetic opener that gave the Las Vegas crowd exactly what they came for early. IShowSpeed made his in-ring debut on the grandest stage and held his own in patches. However, the Usos’ experience proved too much in the end. This result was never seriously in doubt, but the match warmed up 50,816 fans perfectly for what followed.
Conclusion: A New Landscape Takes Shape
Night 1 has reset the board. Rhodes holds the title but leaves beaten, booed, and betrayed. Paige is back under contract and already a champion. Breakker has announced his return in the most aggressive terms imaginable. Where does it all lead?
Night 2 features CM Punk against Roman Reigns at the top of the card. Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar sits alongside it, with the bar already set high after Saturday night. Stay tuned for our full Night 2 results and WrestleMania 42 Team of the Week.
