Roman Reigns is a world champion once again. In a WrestleMania main event that captivated fans across the globe, Reigns defeated CM Punk on Sunday night to claim the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 42, the 42nd edition of WWE’s flagship annual event. The two-night spectacle, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas from April 18 to 19, drew a combined attendance of over 106,000 fans and delivered one of the most memorable weekends in professional wrestling history.
A Championship Journey That Began in the Kingdom
The road to WrestleMania 42 for Reigns started in Saudi Arabia, where he entered the Royal Rumble in January and outlasted nearly three dozen competitors before a packed crowd in Riyadh to earn his shot at the world championship. Choosing to challenge CM Punk rather than pursue the Undisputed WWE Championship held by Cody Rhodes, Reigns set the stage for one of the most anticipated main events in recent memory — a collision rooted in years of bitter history between the two men.
Two Nights, Countless Moments
Night 1, held on Saturday April 18, opened with an electric atmosphere that never let up. Cody Rhodes retained his Undisputed WWE Championship with a hard-fought victory over Randy Orton, while Liv Morgan added the Women’s World Championship to her résumé by defeating Stephanie Vaquer. Gunther defeated Seth Rollins to add another prestigious title to his growing legacy, and Becky Lynch captured the Women’s Intercontinental Championship in a moment that brought the crowd to its feet. John Cena, who has a long-standing connection with Saudi Arabia’s passionate WWE fanbase, served as host across both evenings and energised the Las Vegas crowd throughout.
Night 2 built methodically toward its historic conclusion. Oba Femi defeated a motivated Brock Lesnar, Rhea Ripley reclaimed the Women’s Championship from Jade Cargill, and Trick Williams captured the United States Championship. But it was the closing chapter that defined WrestleMania 42. Reigns and Punk delivered a contest that wove together years of compelling storytelling into a single, definitive collision. When the referee’s hand hit the mat for the third time, Allegiant Stadium erupted.
Saudi Fans Watch Live on Netflix
Saudi wrestling fans followed both nights live through Netflix, which carried the event for subscribers across the Kingdom. The platform’s coverage of WWE premium events has broadened the sport’s reach significantly in Saudi Arabia, a market that has hosted several of the promotion’s most successful and commercially significant events in recent years. The January Royal Rumble, where Reigns launched his WrestleMania campaign before a Riyadh crowd, stands as the most recent landmark in that partnership.
WrestleMania 42 closes one of the most compelling chapters in modern WWE history and sets the stage for what promises to be a defining summer of action across both brands.
