Dave Meltzer Comments on WWE Changing ‘A Lot’ for WrestleMania 42, When Plans Started for Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

As previously reported, the plans for the WWE Undisputed Title match at WrestleMania 42 have gone through multiple changes. At one point, the match was planned to be another rematch between Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell.

However, that was ultimately changed, as it will now be Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes, as Cody beat Drew McIntyre to regain the WWE Title last weekend on SmackDown. At one point, it was also rumored that WWE planned Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns 3 for WrestleMania 42 before changing course.

During today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer commented on the changes to the premium live event and the WWE Title match, noting that the main event for the WWE Title has changed “a lot” for the show, with WWE going “back and forth” multiple times for a Rhodes vs. McIntyre rematch.

Melter added that the Rhodes vs. Orton matchup was “on, off, on like that,” stating that he was told that WWE started cementing their plans for Randy Orton the week that the wrestler talked about going for his 15th world title win on WWE TV. Meltzer stated, “Before that, they had no inclination of that direction, but when they first started pushing Randy going for the John Cena record, that was when Randy was in the picture as far as this match.”

Meltzer also noted that WWE’s creative team kept changing their minds about WrestleMania 42, believing the product was getting too predictable, saying, “They thought it was too predictable and then they kept changing their mind.”

With regards to why WWE opted to change course from another Rhodes vs. McIntyre rematch, Meltzer speculated, “I think that they felt that there had been enough matches with Drew. There were three at the time, so this was the fourth, but the one on Friday wouldn’t have happened.”

Meltzer stated that WWE had ideas and a whole card done for WrestleMania 42 completed earlier in the year. He explained, “It’s not like they didn’t have ideas. They had the whole card done in January. It’s just that the card we’re going to see is going to be a completely different card, and some of it due to injuries and some of it not due to injuries.”

Cody Rhodes Set To Defend WWE Undisputed Title Against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42

Regardless, it will now be the three-time WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes taking on Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. Orton is seeking his landmark 15th world heavyweight title win at the event. The premium live event takes place on April 18-19 at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada.

Both nights will air live on the ESPN App in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally. Also, the first hour of both nights will air on the linear ESPN channels.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.