Massive WrestleMania 42 plans scrapped following Drew McIntyre's WWE title win on SmackDown

Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns 3 might not transpire at WrestleMania 42.

During last week’s WWE SmackDown, Drew McIntyre had an unintentional help from a returning Jacob Fatu, who managed to win in the Three Stages of Hell match to defeat Cody Rhodes and become the new Undisputed WWE Champion.

The shocking title change not only took fans by surprise ahead of the ‘Grandest Stage’ but, as reports have it, has also led to a major change in the plans for the upcoming WWE WrestleMania 42.

The plans have changed dramatically since last week

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE’s WrestleMania 42 plans reportedly took a significant turn last week following the decision to have Drew McIntyre capture the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes on the January 9 episode of SmackDown.

While the full impact on the WrestleMania card remains uncertain, Meltzer indicated that a third installment of Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes is now unlikely.

He also suggested that WWE could be building toward a three-way title match involving McIntyre, Rhodes, and Fatu, though he noted that while it remains a possibility, it may not ultimately take place at Mania.

“This whole WrestleMania changed on Wednesday of last week when they made the decision to go with the McIntyre title win. That wasn’t decided until Wednesday. I don’t know what the new matches are, although they may be doing a three-way with McIntyre, Jacob Fatu, and Cody Rhodes.

That may not necessarily be at Mania, and that’s not even 100 per cent, but I was told that’s kind of like a possibility. But the Cody Rhodes-Roman Reigns thing is probably not happening. Whatever it is, the Mania plans were changed on Wednesday when they made the decision to change the championship,” 

The 42nd edition of WrestleMania is set to emanate live from the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show will take place over two nights, April 18 (Saturday) and April 19 (Sunday), 2026.

The clash between Reigns and Rhodes was heavily rumored and reported after the conclusion of the men’s WarGames match.

Roman Reigns’ return spoiled?

On a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that Roman Reigns is expected to return soon, citing an apparent mistake in a TV Guide advertisement distributed by WWE.

“Roman Reigns is going to be – he should be back pretty soon, I saw – what I think happened, whoever’s in charge for WWE for sending that, sent the ‘Raw’ one instead of the ‘SmackDown’ one, because it said how Maxxine Dupri tries to recover from her loss to Becky Lynch, and Roman Reigns returns.

So I don’t know if that’s this Monday’s show or next Monday’s show, but I thought that was pretty interesting.”

This may have unintentionally confirmed that the former World Champion will make his return ahead of the Royal Rumble PLE.

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