WrestleMania 42 Night 1 is officially here. The grandest stage in professional wrestling returns to Indianapolis on April 5–6, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium — and WWE has stacked both nights with championship matches, long-awaited returns, and at least one retirement bout that will define the era.
Here's everything you need to know before the show starts tonight.
WrestleMania 42 Night 1 — Full Match Card
WWE has built Night 1 around a mix of blue-chip title matches and emotional story payoffs that have been building across both Raw and SmackDown all year.
- WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. challenger (SmackDown main event)
- Women's World Championship Match: Featured in Night 1 main segment
- John Cena's Farewell Match: The final chapter of a 24-year career
- Tag Team Championship unification match on the card
- Intercontinental Championship match confirmed
John Cena's Final Match
The emotional centerpiece of WrestleMania 42 is the end of John Cena's career. The 16-time world champion — who announced his farewell tour in early 2025 — has said repeatedly that WrestleMania 42 will be his final match on the main roster. Cena has made stops across six continents during his tour, selling out arenas and drawing emotional crowds at every city. Indianapolis gets the finale.
Regardless of the opponent, this match will likely close Night 1. Expect a 20-plus minute showcase with callbacks to Cena's greatest moments, his iconic entrance, and one last "You Can't See Me."
WWE Championship Picture
Cody Rhodes has carried the WWE Championship through one of the most commercially successful runs the title has seen in years. WrestleMania 42 is expected to feature a massive title defense — the story of "Finishing the Story" that began at WrestleMania 39 reaches its next chapter in Indianapolis.
The rivalry leading into WM42 has been built over months of SmackDown storytelling, with high ratings and a sold-out arena tour for the go-home house shows.
Women's Championship Matches
Both the Raw Women's Championship and SmackDown Women's Championship are expected to be defended across the two nights. WWE has consistently elevated its women's division at WrestleMania in recent years — Night 1's women's main event slot is among the most anticipated matches of the weekend.
Tag Team and Midcard Title Matches
WrestleMania 42 is reported to feature at least two tag team championship bouts, one of which may be a ladder match. The Intercontinental Championship, one of WWE's most prestige secondary titles, is also on the card — continuing a tradition of giving IC matches ample time and storytelling at WrestleMania.
Night 1 Start Time and How to Watch
In the United States, WrestleMania 42 streams exclusively on Peacock. As of 2026, WWE premium live events are no longer available on traditional pay-per-view. A Peacock subscription (starting at $7.99/month) gives you access to both nights plus the full WWE Network archive.
International viewers can catch WM42 on Netflix in markets where WWE's broadcasting deal is active, or on local sports broadcasters. Check your regional listings for exact channels.
WrestleMania 42 Night 1 Predictions
- John Cena's retirement match is the emotional anchor of the whole event
- Night 1 tends to carry more surprise moments and title changes
- The opener usually sets an electric tone that carries all night
- Night 2 typically features the main world title match in the final slot
- Some high-profile matches may be held back for Sunday's main card
- Night 1 can feel front-loaded if the Cena match closes early
Our pick for Night 1 match of the night: John Cena's farewell bout. Whatever WWE books as the opponent, the crowd will be fully invested from the first bell. Expect a match built on emotion, legacy, and a standing ovation in Indianapolis.
Biggest title change prediction: The Women's Championship match on Night 1 has all the signs of a title switch — a strong challenger has been built over months, and WWE often uses WrestleMania to reset title runs heading into the spring and summer touring cycle.
Surprise/return probability: WrestleMania weekends are famous for unannounced returns. With the farewell tour underway, WWE has deliberately avoided over-announcing surprises. Expect at least one moment that trends worldwide by Sunday night.
WrestleMania 42 Attendance and Weekend Events
Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, holds approximately 70,000 fans for events of this scale. WrestleMania weekend in Indianapolis also includes:
- Friday Night SmackDown (WrestleMania go-home show)
- NXT Stand & Deliver (Saturday, April 4 — already aired)
- WrestleMania 42 Night 1 (Sunday, April 5)
- WrestleMania 42 Night 2 (Monday, April 6)
- Monday Night Raw (post-WrestleMania Raw)
WrestleMania traditionally generates over $50 million in economic impact for the host city. Indianapolis previously hosted WrestleMania 8 (1992) and WrestleMania 23... wait, WM23 was in Detroit. Indianapolis hosted WM8 in 1992 at the Hoosier Dome. WM42 marks its return to the city.
Night 2 Preview
While Night 1 is all about Cena's farewell and the undercard title picture, Night 2 (Monday, April 6) is expected to carry the headline world championship match and the final segment of whatever major storyline WWE has been saving for the biggest stage.
Bottom Line
WrestleMania 42 Night 1 is a must-watch event — not just for wrestling fans, but for anyone who grew up watching John Cena. The farewell tour has been remarkably well-handled, and Indianapolis is set to deliver an arena atmosphere that few live events can match.
Set your Peacock reminder, stock up on snacks, and clear your Sunday night. The Show of Shows is here.
Check back after Night 1 ends for our full results, highlights, and grades.
