Thursday, September 10, 2026

WrestleMania 43 is scheduled for April 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the event’s first visit to the region.

Seven months before the Show of Shows, WWE President Nick Khan said the creative team is already finalized, suggesting they have clear plans for rivalries and storylines leading into the event.

Roman Reigns, the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion, is expected to headline a marquee match at WrestleMania 43.

Below are five likely opponents who could challenge Roman Reigns for his title at WrestleMania 43.

Cody Rhodes

A third encounter between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns could headline WrestleMania 43, continuing their rivalry that began at WrestleMania 39, where Reigns retained the title, and later at WrestleMania 40, where Rhodes ended Reigns’ 1,316‑day reign. Their series stands at one win each, making a decisive showdown in Saudi Arabia plausible.

Bronson Reed

Bronson Reed has repeatedly hinted at a rematch for the World Heavyweight Championship after his return. Both competitors have one win each — Reed captured the victory at Clash in Paris 2025, while Reigns won their Australian street fight at Crown Jewel. After Reigns’ title win at WrestleMania 42, Reed praised his opponent and called for a rematch, and his recent appearance on Sunday Night’s Main Event suggests a future showdown may be imminent.

Jacob Fatu

Jacob Fatu, now aligned with the Bloodline, fell in line after his defeat to Reigns in a Tribal Combat match at Clash in Italy in May. Recent hints of tension, such as his solitary departure after permitting Solo Sikoa to assault Reigns on Raw, suggest the rivalry may not be settled. Although Reigns leads in their title bouts, the feud remains open, positioning Fatu as a potential future challenger.

The Rock

A long‑awaited showdown between Roman Reigns and Dwayne Johnson could finally occur at WrestleMania 43. The match has been discussed for years, delayed by Johnson’s need to regain ring shape and the “We Want Cody” campaign that shifted Cody Rhodes into the WrestleMania 40 main event. With Johnson slated to begin filming “Fast & Furious: Fast Forever” in December, the window for this historic encounter is narrowing, creating a compelling “now or never” scenario.

Oba Femi

Following his victory at WrestleMania 42, Oba Femi challenged the newly crowned World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns. WWE has kept them separated, with Femi winning the King of the Ring tournament, defeating Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam, and engaging The Vision rather than pursuing a title match. His decision to forgo a guaranteed title match after the tournament suggests WWE intends to save their clash for WrestleMania 43, the sport’s premier stage.

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