WWE: Several WWE Departments Reportedly In Panic Mode Over Deadlines For WrestleMania 42 Promotional Materials, Potential WrestleMania 42 Plans for Jacob Fatu, Cody Rhodes Addresses His Controversial “Raheem” Promo Line

Several WWE Departments Reportedly In Panic Mode Over Deadlines For WrestleMania 42 Promotional Materials

As noted before, WWE held an internal multi-department meeting earlier this month to address the issue with ticket sales for this April’s WrestleMania 42 event in Las Vegas, Nevada falling below current expectations. Besides ticket sales woes, WWE is also currently believed to not have locked in their plans for most of WrestleMania 42.

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that several departments within WWE are starting to be in panic mode due to them facing multiple deadlines to prepare WrestleMania 42 materials.

It was reported that there is currently a fear within WWE that the company is falling behind on getting promotional assets and materials ready in time for this year’s event.

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Potential WrestleMania 42 Plans for Jacob Fatu

WWE officials reportedly are currently considering several ideas for the plans for the Undisputed WWE Championship match at this April’s WrestleMania 42 event in Las Vegas, according to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select.

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that there has been a strong push within WWE’s creative department for Jacob Fatu to be factored into the Undisputed WWE title scene by WrestleMania 42 weekend.

It is currently not known how WWE would factor in Fatu due to him not being one of the competitors in the Men’s Elimination Chamber match at this Saturday’s Elimination Chamber 2026 event that is meant to determine who will be McIntyre’s challenger for his title at WrestleMania 42.

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Cody Rhodes Addresses His Controversial “Raheem” Promo Line

The February 6th episode of WWE SmackDown featured a promo segment involving Cody Rhodes responding to Roman Reigns and CM Punk’s negative comments during their promo battle that was directed at the SmackDown brand and Undisputed WWE title for why Reigns wanted to go after Punk’s WWE World Heavyweight title for his title match at WrestleMania 42. During his promo, Rhodes talked about a “you-know-what measuring contest” between himself, Reigns, and Punk and stated that he “didn’t get the nickname Raheem for no reason.” Rhodes’ line generated a mixed reaction on social media with some fans finding it funny while others were upset over how Rhodes played on Black stereotypes.

A recent episode of the Under the Hood with J-Hood podcast featured Rhodes as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Rhodes’ thoughts about his controversial “Raheem” line and how he had gauged his wife Brandi’s reaction before saying the line and how she gave her approval for it. Rhodes also stated that his intention with the line was to respond to Reigns and Punk in a lighthearted way since he was not involved in their storyline feud.

“I had told [Brandi] that I might say it, and I felt bad because I told her, and then she said, ‘Oh, you have to say it. It’s funny.’ I didn’t want to come at Roman or Punk in an adversarial way. I’m not wrestling either of you. You guys are wrestling each other, and it’s awesome. I feel that those things will come. I wanted to come at it with a little bit of levity, because I knew others were going to come at it from a different perspective. And I thought that was funny. But then I felt bad because I don’t ever want anybody to get married to a line. Like, ‘Oh, well, if I can’t say that.’ You know?

I did my field testing of it, and I hope I didn’t offend anybody with it. I very much stood by it. And when you see [anonymous people on social media with] Manchester United in the bio and an anime picture as the avatar complaining about it, I’ve got to ask, like, what are we really complaining about here? This is more of a positive joke than there could ever be about gifted men. Yeah, I can’t really be mad at that and I can’t really walk that one back. But also that was my entire, I knew — I said I’m not going to spend my road to WrestleMania talking about two other guys. This is where it ends for me. And I picked a great place to do it. Charlotte, North Carolina was the place. So, yes, I said it. And that’s where I’m at.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com