Major Shift in Roman Reigns’ WrestleMania 42 Plans After Shocking Title Change
The landscape for WrestleMania season has been completely shaken up, and it’s leaving one of WWE’s biggest stars in an unexpected position.
Roman Reigns hasn’t been seen on WWE television since the Survivor Series WarGames match, where he stood alongside Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. At the time, many assumed we were heading toward another collision course between Reigns and Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42. It would have marked their third showdown in four years – a rivalry that has defined this era of WWE.
But everything changed last week on SmackDown.
Drew McIntyre shocked the wrestling world by defeating Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Title, throwing all previous WrestleMania plans into chaos. According to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this surprising title change has left Roman Reigns as what’s being described as the “odd man out” of the championship picture for now.
The timing is particularly interesting because reports had indicated Reigns was scheduled to return at the Royal Rumble later this month. That appearance now carries much more weight, as fans will be watching closely to see which direction WWE takes with The Tribal Chief. The Royal Rumble could provide the first real clues about his WrestleMania opponent and whether he’ll be pursuing gold or something else entirely.
Behind the scenes, there’s an interesting layer to this story. Both McIntyre and Rhodes reportedly pushed for the title change to happen now. The concern? That a third consecutive WrestleMania main event between Reigns and Rhodes might test audience patience, potentially leading to fan fatigue even with their proven chemistry.
With Rhodes no longer holding the championship, WWE now has to map out a new path forward. Could Reigns insert himself into the World Heavyweight Title picture instead? Will he target McIntyre directly? Or is there something else entirely brewing for one of WWE’s most dominant forces?
The answers might start coming into focus tonight on SmackDown, where a tournament begins to determine McIntyre’s first challenger. The winner will face The Scottish Warrior at the Royal Rumble – the same night Roman Reigns is expected to make his presence felt once again.
One thing is certain: WrestleMania season just got a whole lot more unpredictable.
