5 WWE stars Triple H has given up on ahead of WrestleMania 42

”
], { type: “text/html” }
);
const iframe = document.createElement(“iframe”);
iframe.src = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
iframe.style.cssText = “width:100%;height:100%;border:0;”;
container.appendChild(iframe);
attachIframeMessageListener(iframe);
}
const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, obs) => {
const entry = entries[0];
if (entry.isIntersecting) {
obs.unobserve(entry.target);
requestIdleCallback(() => {
initWidget(entry.target);
}, {
timeout: 200
});
}
}, {
root: null,
rootMargin: “300px 0px”,
threshold: 0.01
});
requestIdleCallback(() => {
$all(“.nl-inline-form-container”).forEach((c) => {
observer.observe(c);
});
});
})();

Cody Rhodes may face Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship. If not, he’ll be in a prime match at the event.

While those names are always guaranteed a spot on the card, it feels like Triple H has given up on the next five WWE stars ahead of WrestleMania 42.

#5. Lyra Valkyria was on fire in 2025

Big things seemed to be in store after Lyra Valkyria became the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Champion. She did a good job establishing the title, including great matches with Bayley and Becky Lynch.

Both Bayley and Lyra tried to get a tag team title shot over the last few months, but have been ignored. The former Women’s Intercontinental Champ failed to qualify for Elimination Chamber after Rhea Ripley pinned her, and not Ivy Nile.

At this time last year, she walked into WrestleMania as a champion. She walked out as a double champ.

#4. Rusev Day

Rusev returned to WWE last year after a few years as a member of the AEW roster. He had a brief feud with former friend turned rival Sheamus before pursuing the Intercontinental title.

The Bulgarian Brute lost to Dominik Mysterio and then disappeared for a few months. He returned in the 2026 Royal Rumble only to be eliminated in 32 seconds by Oba Femi.

Rusev’s next appearance was backstage on the most recent RAW to stare down Femi. That means he’ll be destroyed to make Oba look good.

#3. Aleister Black heads back to the shadows

Like Rusev, Aleister Black returned to WWE after a few years in AEW. Black has always been a unique star due to his look, promos, and presentation. His biggest feud was against Damian Priest.

Black lost the feud-ending Ambulance Match to Priest, killing his momentum. He was then involved in an Elimination Chamber qualifier won by Randy Orton.

The two may feud on the Road to WrestleMania, which likely means Black will lose to The Legend Killer.

#2. Bayley may miss out on a marquee WWE event again

Bayley is one of the most important women in the context of the current women’s division. Without her and the other Horsewomen of NXT, female stars may not have main-evented a WrestleMania event.

The former Hugger won the 2024 Royal Rumble and beat IYO SKY for the WWE Women’s title. She had great matches with Becky Lynch and Lyra over the Women’s Intercontinental title in the summer of 2025.

Bayley missed out on WrestleMania 41 for an angle. She failed to qualify for the Elimination Chamber after Asuka forced her, and not Nattie, to tap out. That’s a strong indicator that she may be excluded from The Show of Shows again.

#1. More of the same for Sami Zayn

After his loss to Drew McIntyre in Saudi Arabia at the 2026 Royal Rumble PLE, Sami Zayn is now 0-12 against Drew McIntyre. If that isn’t enough to show that Triple H has given up on someone, then what stat is?

It would have made sense had Zayn qualified for the Elimination Chamber, but again, he lost, even after outside help from McIntyre. In a match also featuring Jacob Fatu, Cody Rhodes pinned Zayn to advance.

The whole “Sami Zayn can’t win a World title” feels more like a rib than an actual storyline device with an eventual payoff.