Early creative plans for WrestleMania 42 reportedly included a Hell in a Cell match for the Undisputed WWE Championship between Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes.
According to PWInsider, internal discussions earlier this year centred on the longtime rivals settling their feud inside the steel structure at WWE’s biggest event of the year.
Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes had been locked in a heated rivalry since late 2025, with “The Scottish Warrior” holding the Undisputed WWE Championship for 57 days during the program. A Hell in a Cell stipulation was reportedly considered as a way to deliver a definitive conclusion to the storyline.
However, those plans have since changed.
Cody Rhodes Vs. Randy Orton For The Undisputed WWE Title Now The Plan For WrestleMania 42
Current creative direction now has Cody Rhodes set to defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. The match leans into the extensive history between the two stars, who were once aligned as part of the Legacy faction during Rhodes’ early WWE career.
The long-anticipated clash between Rhodes and Orton is a bout many fans have been hoping to see on the WrestleMania stage for years.
While the championship plans have shifted, McIntyre is still expected to play a major role at WrestleMania 42. Following the end of his title reign on the March 6 episode of SmackDown, he has been linked to a potential match with Jacob Fatu, although WWE has not officially confirmed that bout.
WrestleMania 42 will take place across two nights, April 18 and April 19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
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