As noted before, this past Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Portland, Oregon featured Cody Rhodes defeating Drew McIntyre to become the new Undisputed WWE Champion. Randy Orton is now currently scheduled to face off against Rhodes for the title at this April’s WrestleMania 42 event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that WWE officials had originally pitched for a Hell in a Cell match to take place at WrestleMania 42. This match reportedly would have involved McIntyre and Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship prior to WWE officials opting to go in a different direction instead for their plans.
Johnson reported that the current plans for Rhodes and McIntyre for WrestleMania 42 are for Orton vs. Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE title and McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu in a singles match.
The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that his sources stated that the current plan was for the Undisputed WWE title match at WrestleMania 42 to remain as a singles match as of this past weekend.
WWE: Backstage Update on EVIL’s WWE Signing, WWE Reportedly Considered Alternate Result for Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk Match at WrestleMania 42, CM Punk Reportedly Faced No Disciplinary Action After WrestleMania 42 Fan Incident
WWE: Randy Orton Reveals He Has Four Years Left on WWE Contract, Bianca Belair on Making Her Pregnancy Announcement at WrestleMania 42, AJ Styles on Him “Wearing A Couple Of Different Hats” For His Post-In-Ring Career with WWE
AEW Dynamite Notes: Adam Copeland Challenges FTR to N.Y. Street Fight with Special Stip for AEW World Tag Titles for Double or Nothing, Death Riders Save Will Ospreay from Mark Davis Attack, Samoa Joe Returns, TNT Title & AEW World Title Matches Set for 4/29 Show Card, 4/25 Collision Playoff Palooza 2026 Card
![WWE Releases Uncle Howdy (Bo Dallas), Joe Gacy, Alba Fyre, Zoey Stark, & Nikki Cross [Update x6: Kairi Sane, Santos Escobar, Andre Chase, Rowan, & More Also Released, Apollo Crews, Zelina Vega, Aleister Black, MCMG, & Dexter Lumis Believed To Have Departed, Dante Chen Departs]](https://www.tpww.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Uncle-Howdy-540x304.png "WWE Releases Uncle Howdy (Bo Dallas), Joe Gacy, Alba Fyre, Zoey Stark, & Nikki Cross [Update x6: Kairi Sane, Santos Escobar, Andre Chase, Rowan, & More Also Released, Apollo Crews, Zelina Vega, Aleister Black, MCMG, & Dexter Lumis Believed To Have Departed, Dante Chen Departs]")
