WWE News & Rumor Roundup: Roman Reigns’ contract set to expire, Nikki Bella to miss WrestleMania 42? Major upset on RAW

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#5. Two major upsets on WWE RAW

Monday Night RAW hosted its final edition before WrestleMania 42 in Nevada, and a lot went down in Sacramento, California. Ahead of the biggest event of the year, Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi signed the contract for their one-on-one match for Sunday. However, the upsets occurred in the women’s division as two stars suffered losses before the event.

On the recent edition of Monday Night RAW, Charlotte Flair faced Lyra Valkyria in a one-on-one match. With Bayley’s assist, Valkyria was able to roll The Queen for the win. The victory adds momentum to their team as they’re headed to the biggest event of the year to compete in a Fatal 4-Way tag team match for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.

IYO SKY went one-on-one against Kairi Sane. During the bout, Asuka tried to assist Sane, but Rhea Ripley interfered. Later, Jade Cargill appeared to attack her challenger, which distracted SKY. The Empress of Tomorrow reemerged and helped The Pirate Princess to get a win over the former Women’s World Champion.

#4. WWE could cancel another match for WrestleMania 42

WrestleMania 42 faced several challenges ahead of the event, and some stars were expected to compete but would most likely not appear on either night. Asuka and IYO SKY are a prime example, as the management had plans for them, but it seems like the one-on-one match has now been pushed to Backlash in May 2026.

Last month, it was reported that the company wanted to do a Triple Threat match between Jordynne Grace, Tiffany Stratton, and Giulia for the Women’s United States Championship. However, changes were made when Grace got injured, and a one-on-one match between Stratton and Giulia was considered for the event.

Unfortunately, the singles match took place on the blue brand, and it could mean the two will not compete at the event. Moreover, there was merchandise ready for Tiffany Stratton to appear and compete at WrestleMania 42. Unfortunately, it looks like management has canceled the title match altogether, and The Buff Barbie and The Beautiful Madness won’t compete at The Grandest Stage of Them All.

#3. Major update on Nikki Bella’s WWE status for WrestleMania 42 – Reports

Earlier this year, The Bella Twins returned to the Stamford-based promotion for what was seemingly their last run in the company. Last month, Nikki Bella got injured during a tag team match, and The Fearless One has been off the weekly product and working on her recovery. Meanwhile, the company hasn’t canceled the match at WrestleMania 42.

According to WrestleVotes’ Q&A on Fightful Select, the company has a backup ready if Nikki Bella isn’t able to compete at WrestleMania 42. The insider stated that The Judgment Day’s Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez, or The Kabuki Warriors, could be the legendary tag team’s replacement at the biggest event of the year.

There’s still a chance that Nikki might miss the event, as Michael Cole recently stated that the former Divas Champion is working on her injured ankle before the event. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for The Bella Twins ahead of WrestleMania 42.

#2. WWE teases Oba Femi as the next Paul Heyman guy

Over the past two decades, several notable names have aligned with The Wise Man and become the ‘Paul Heyman Guy’ in the Stamford-based promotion. From Big Show to Ryback, the company has often paired new or familiar faces with the WWE Hall of Famer in storylines. However, every former ‘Paul Heyman Guy’ hasn’t achieved the same success as Brock Lesnar.

On the recent edition of WWE RAW, The Oracle interrupted The Ruler after he signed the contract for his match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42. The 60-year-old WWE veteran gave Femi his flowers and drew comparisons with The Beast Incarnate. Moreover, Heyman stated that his door is open for Oba Femi when he fails to beat The Beast Incarnate at WrestleMania 42.

The management did set up the possibility of Oba Femi becoming a ‘Paul Heyman Guy’ down the line. While The Ruler rejected the WWE Hall of Famer’s prediction, Femi is ready to enter The Showcase of Immortals in Nevada and defeat Brock Lesnar.

#1. Roman Reigns’ WWE contract is set to expire soon – Reports

Roman Reigns was the face of the Stamford-based promotion for a long time under the old regime. Later, the Tribal Chief revolutionized the product with storylines based on his family tree, truly elevating the business in the years that followed. However, Reigns slowly became a part-time performer in the company.

Last year, The Original Tribal Chief mentioned in Vanity Fair that his contract would expire following WrestleMania 42. The event is less than a week away, and the Men’s Grand Slam Champion is slated to headline the second night. According to Ibou of Self Made on X, the 40-year-old WWE star’s contract is set to expire in May 2026.

However, the insider believes that a new deal will be struck between the two parties, and Nick Khan will most likely give a raise if The Original Tribal Chief sticks to his current schedule. It’ll be interesting to see which star leaves WrestleMania 42 as the World Heavyweight Champion.