List of WrestleMania 42 Storyline Builds and Road to WrestleMania Updates

Rhodes vs. Orton — From Brotherhood to Betrayal

Undisputed WWE Championship Storyline

The genesis: Randy Orton won the Men's Elimination Chamber on Feb 28. Cody Rhodes regained the championship from Drew McIntyre on Mar 6, confirming the match. The betrayal: at the Mar 13 contract signing, Orton attacked Rhodes with a chair, drove his head into steel steps, and left him bloodied — turning a lifelong friendship into WrestleMania's most emotionally charged rivalry.

Punk vs. Reigns — The Most Personal Feud in WWE

World Heavyweight Championship Storyline

Reigns won the Royal Rumble Jan 31 in Riyadh and chose Punk on Feb 2 Raw in Philadelphia, setting up a rematch of their WrestleMania 41 showdown. Punk retained against Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber on Feb 28 in Chicago. On Mar 2 Raw in Indianapolis, Punk invoked the name of Reigns' late father Sika, escalating the feud to its most personal level. Reigns responded on the Mar 16 Raw in San Antonio.

Cargill vs. Ripley — Real Tension Behind the Scenes

WWE Women's Championship Storyline

Ripley won the Women's Elimination Chamber on Feb 28 in Chicago. Reports of genuine real-life friction between the two women fuelled a social media exchange that blurred the line between story and reality. Ripley appeared on SmackDown Mar 7 for their first face-to-face confrontation. Cargill defeated Michin on Mar 13 SmackDown before Ripley returned to fire back.

Lesnar vs. Femi — The Open Challenge Answered

Brock Lesnar Open Challenge Storyline

Paul Heyman announced the open challenge upon Lesnar's Feb 23 Raw return in Atlanta. Oba Femi had been building momentum, destroying Rusev in under three minutes on Raw. On the Mar 16 Raw in San Antonio, Femi officially answered the challenge, hitting Lesnar with the Fall From Grace pop-up powerbomb to confirm the WrestleMania match.