Will any Japanese wrestlers compete at WWE WrestleMania 42?
(Courtesy : WWE)
The 2026 edition of WrestleMania will emanate from Nevada.
WrestleMania 42 week is officially underway, with the go-home edition of Raw. The main attraction for the week is the two-night spectacle at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 18 and 19.
The venue will play host to the second WrestleMania in a row as the 2025 edition also emanated from the same venue. Full match card for the show has been announced, and the first hour of each night will air on ESPN2 and ESPN, respectively, in the United States.
Also Read: WWE WrestleMania 42 week schedule: Timings, locations & more
Top names will feature in high-stakes matches at WrestleMania
Night 1 will be headlined by Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton, while Night 2 will close with CM Punk putting the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Roman Reigns.
The rest of the show will feature big matches with names like Rey Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan, Jade Cargill, Dominik Mysterio, Penta, The Usos, LA Knight, Brock Lesnar, AJ Lee, Becky Lynch, Drew McIntyre, and Charlotte Flair, among others.
Are any Japanese wrestlers featured on the card?
No, no Japanese wrestlers are featured on the show and none will compete at the 42nd edition. Stars like Shinsuke Nakamura and Akira Tozawa are absent from regular programming, with their last matches in February 2026.
On the other hand, Iyo Sky and Asuka were planned to clash at the PLE, with Kairi Sane also involved in the storyline. However, the match has not been announced as both Kairi and Asuka, the Kabuki Warriors, are backup plans for the Fatal Four-way match for the Women’s Tag team titles.
Nikki Bella, one-half of the Bella Twins, alongside Brie Bella, is currently injured, and if she is unable to get medical clearance in time, Asuka and Sane will likely replace her.
So while no Japanese wrestlers are currently set to compete on the show, one way or the other, at least two will end up in a match at Mania, and for many fans, they’re hoping to see a singles clash between Iyo Sky and Asuka, which will mean Nikki getting medical clearance to compete.
Also Read: Iyo Sky deletes post calling out Asuka for WWE WrestleMania 42 showdown
When and where will WrestleMania 42 take place?
The 42nd edition of the PLE will be a two-night event on April 18 and 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Who will headline the two-night spectacle?
Night 1 will be headlined by Cody Rhodes defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton, while Night 2 will close with CM Punk putting the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Roman Reigns.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.