WrestleMania 42 Night 1 took place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, delivering a packed seven-match card filled with surprises, intense rivalries, and championship implications.

The event blended nostalgia, high-flying action, and dramatic storytelling in front of a passionate Las Vegas crowd, building strong momentum heading into Night 2.

The show opened with a fast-paced six-man tag team match. LA Knight teamed with The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) to defeat The Vision (Logan Paul and Austin Theory) alongside internet sensation IShowSpeed. The babyface team dominated with signature moves, including superkicks from The Usos and LA Knight’s Blunt Force Trauma (BFT) for the pinfall victory in approximately seven minutes. Post-match, chaos erupted as Speed turned on Paul with a massive frog splash through the announce table.

In a hard-hitting Unsanctioned Match, Jacob Fatu defeated Drew McIntyre in a 14-minute war. Weapons including tables and chairs came into play, but Fatu’s explosive power and a standout moonsault secured the pinfall, further solidifying his rising status in WWE.

The Women’s Tag Team Championship was contested in a chaotic Fatal 4-Way match. Defending champions The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax & Lash Legend) faced Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair, Bayley & Lyra Valkyria, and The Bella Twins. With Nikki Bella sidelined by injury, a major surprise return stole the spotlight: Paige teamed with Brie Bella. In under nine minutes of non-stop action, Paige delivered her signature RamPaige on Alexa Bliss to win the titles for the new duo, marking her emotional in-ring comeback after nearly a decade.

Becky Lynch then captured the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship from AJ Lee in a gritty eight-minute bout. Lynch used veteran tactics, including an exposed turnbuckle spot, to hit the Manhandle Slam and claim the gold.

Gunther faced Seth Rollins in a 16-minute technical and physical masterpiece. The bout featured stiff chops and near-falls until a shocking return from Bron Breakker interfered, spearing Rollins and allowing Gunther to secure the victory via rear-naked choke submission.

Liv Morgan pulled off a major upset by defeating Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship in a chaotic seven-minute clash. With interference from Judgment Day allies, Morgan hit her ObLIVion finisher to become the new champion.

The main event saw Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defend against Randy Orton, with Pat McAfee in Orton’s corner. In a 23-minute personal war, both legends traded RKOs and Cross Rhodes attempts. McAfee’s pre-match attack backfired, and later involvement led to betrayal when Orton accidentally struck him. Rhodes capitalized with a final Cross Rhodes to retain the title. Post-match, a furious Orton attacked Rhodes with the championship belt and delivered a Punt Kick, standing tall as Night 1 concluded. As a result of Orton’s loss, McAfee was reportedly forced to leave the wrestling industry.

WrestleMania 42 Night 1: Match Ratings & Best Moments

WrestleMania 42 Night 1 delivered a mix of nostalgia, surprises, and solid in-ring action on April 18, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium. Here’s a quick rating (out of 10) for each match along with the standout moments that defined the night.

Six-Man Tag Team Match

LA Knight & The Usos vs. Logan Paul, Austin Theory & IShowSpeed – 6.5/10

Fun and energetic opener. Best moment: IShowSpeed’s massive frog splash through the announce table on Logan Paul post-match.

Unsanctioned Match

Jacob Fatu vs. Drew McIntyre – 7.5/10

Brutal and physical. Best moment: Fatu’s spectacular Mighty Moonsault through a table for the win.

Fatal 4-Way for WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship

Paige & Brie Bella vs. The Irresistible Forces (c), Alexa Bliss & Charlotte Flair, Bayley & Lyra Valkyria – 8/10

Emotional highlight of the night. Best moment: Paige’s explosive return after nearly a decade, hitting the RamPaige to win the titles and receiving one of the biggest pops of the evening.

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship

Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee (c) – 7/10

Solid back-and-forth bout. Best moment: Lynch’s clever exposed turnbuckle spot leading to the Manhandle Slam and new championship.

Singles Match

Gunther vs. Seth Rollins – 8.5/10

The match of the night. Best moment: Bron Breakker’s shocking spear on Rollins, allowing Gunther to lock in the rear-naked choke for the submission victory.

Women’s World Championship

Liv Morgan vs. Stephanie Vaquer (c) – 6.5/10

Quick and chaotic with heavy interference. Best moment: Morgan hitting ObLIVion to capture the title.

Undisputed WWE Championship

Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton – 8/10

Personal and dramatic main event. Best moment: The chaotic betrayal sequence involving Pat McAfee, followed by Orton’s post-match Punt Kick on Rhodes after the retention.