Morning Daily News Update: March 4, 2026 – Update On Randy Orton’s WrestleMania 42 Plans
By Conor Renshaw on 4 March 2026
Morning, all!
It’s Wednesday, and it’s time for the Morning Daily News Update!
Niz also has the latest WWE NXT review, go check it out now!
Major Update On Undisputed WWE Championship Match Planned For WrestleMania 42
A new report suggests WWE is planning a major WrestleMania 42 title match between Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes. According to PWI Elite, Rhodes is expected to defeat Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship on this Friday’s SmackDown, setting up a showdown with Orton, the 2026 Men’s Elimination Chamber winner, in Las Vegas. The potential title change is reportedly intended to create the long-anticipated Rhodes vs. Orton match, rather than reflect negatively on McIntyre’s current run as champion.
Report: Friction Growing Between WWE And ESPN
A new report suggests tensions may be brewing between WWE and ESPN despite their recent five-year, $1.6 billion U.S. media rights deal. According to sports business reporter Blake Avignon, some ESPN insiders view the partnership as a “DNA mismatch,” citing concerns about WWE’s integration into the network’s platform and early ticket sales for WrestleMania 42. Sources also reportedly criticised WWE’s decision to restrict watch parties in Las Vegas, arguing it could hurt the buzz that typically helps drive last-minute ticket demand. Neither WWE nor ESPN has publicly commented on the report.
WWE SmackDown Ratings Up With Return To USA Network
Friday’s WWE SmackDown averaged 1.379 million viewers on the USA Network, a 23.9% increase from the previous week’s SyFy broadcast. The show also drew a 0.34 rating in the 18–49 demographic, up 17.2%, marking one of its strongest performances since September. Despite competing with an NBA game on ESPN, SmackDown finished second in the key demo and fifth overall for the night, though its viewership and demo rating were still down compared to the same week in 2025.
Trish Stratus Coming To WrestleMania Weekend With Can’t-Miss Las Vegas Event
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus will host a week-long fan experience during WrestleMania 42 week in Las Vegas. The event, titled First Crush by Trish Stratus, will run from April 13–20 at Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar inside Mandalay Bay and will feature exclusive merchandise, themed food and drinks, meet-and-greets, podcast recordings, panels, and other fan-focused activities, with appearances from Stratus and other wrestling personalities.