According to Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE began altering its plans for WrestleMania 42, scheduled for this April, around Wednesday, January 7th. This was also when the company decided to have Drew McIntyre defeat Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Title. Meltzer noted that there had been rumors of a third encounter between Rhodes and Roman Reigns for WrestleMania 42. However, those plans appear to have changed, and WWE might now be considering a Triple Threat Match featuring McIntyre, Rhodes, and Jacob Fatu.
Meltzer also emphasized that the planned Triple Threat Match may not take place at WrestleMania 42 and that there's no guarantee the match will happen at all, although it remains a possibility. He speculated that WWE's decision to have McIntyre win the title was intended to “shake things up,” as the product was becoming “too predictable.”
As previously reported, WWE will be holding several qualifying matches on SmackDown later this week. The winners will compete in a Fatal 4-Way Match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event. The winner of that match will then challenge McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia on January 31st. McIntyre is also scheduled to appear at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, England.
Whether or not McIntyre will still hold the title at WrestleMania is uncertain. WrestleMania 42 will take place on Saturday, April 18th, and Sunday, April 19th, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be broadcast live on the ESPN App in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally.
