Alright, let’s talk about the beast in the room. It is February 2026, we are firmly on the Road to WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, and business just picked up in a major way. Brock Lesnar needs a WrestleMania 42 opponent.
After weeks of rumors and that massive return at the Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar is officially back on WWE Monday Night RAW. He returned this past Monday with Heyman by his side and threw down a challenge for WrestleMania. If anyone is brave enough (or stupid enough) then they can step up.
Heyman claims there isn’t a single soul in the locker room “man enough” to step up. He even dropped the dates for Brock’s upcoming appearances—March 16 in San Antonio, March 23 in Boston, March 30 in NYC, April 6 in Houston, and April 13 in Sacramento. That is a whole lot of TV time for someone to make a name for themselves by looking The Beast in the eye.
But who is it going to be? The roster is banged up—Bron Breakker (hernia) and Bronson Reed (bicep tear) are reportedly on the shelf, taking two massive options off the table. That leaves the field wide open.
So, grab your popcorn and let’s fantasy book this thing. Here are the 5 most likely (and most exciting) potential opponents for Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.
1. Gunther: The Ultimate Clash of Titans
Let’s start with the one we all want. The one the streets have been whispering about for years. Gunther vs. Brock Lesnar.
If you look at the trajectory of “The Ring General” over the last year, he has evolved from a dominant Intercontinental Champion into a full-blown legend killer. They are literally calling him “The Career Killer” now. Just look at his resume from the past year: he retired Goldberg. He retired AJ Styles. And, in a moment that shook the wrestling world to its core, he forced John Cena to tap out in his retirement match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Gunther represents order, precision, and the sanctity of the mat. Brock Lesnar? He is pure chaos, a force of nature that destroys everything in its path. As one source put it perfectly: “Lesnar brings chaos. Gunther brings order. Put them in the same space and something has to break”.
Why it makes sense: There is legitimate smoke here. Dave Meltzer reported that WWE has tried to book this match twice before but pulled the plug—once because they felt Gunther wasn’t “ready” yet (which, lol, look at him now) and later due to legal issues involving Lesnar. But now? Gunther is at the absolute peak of his powers.
Gunther himself has said that retiring Lesnar sounds like a “good one” to add to his list. Imagine the story: The man who ended the careers of Cena and Goldberg looking to mount the ultimate head on his wall. Plus, both guys are currently operating as heels, which makes the dynamic fascinating. Would the crowd turn Gunther face just to see him chop Lesnar’s chest into hamburger meat? Or do we just embrace the villain-on-villain violence?
It’s the dream match of the decade. If Triple H wants to sell tickets in Vegas, this is the money fight.
2. LA Knight: The People’s Choice
If Gunther is the wrestling purist’s dream, LA Knight is the people’s champion. The “Megastar” has been one of the loudest acts in the company for years now, and his momentum hasn’t slowed down an inch.
There is already built-in beef here. Go back to the 2026 Royal Rumble—LA Knight was part of the group (along with Cody Rhodes) that tossed Lesnar over the top rope. You think The Beast forgot that? Lesnar isn’t exactly known for his forgive-and-forget attitude.
Why it makes sense: Reports are swirling that Knight is actually one of the favorites to get this spot. With Seth Rollins’ “The Vision” faction crumbling due to injuries (bye-bye Breakker and Reed), Knight needs a massive WrestleMania program. He has the mic skills to carry a feud with Heyman for weeks, and the visual of him standing toe-to-toe with Lesnar would be electric.
Knight doesn’t need to out-wrestle Brock. He just needs to survive him. It’s the classic “irresistible force vs. charismatic object” storyline. Plus, a win—or even a competitive loss—against Lesnar at Mania would cement Knight’s legacy forever. As some sources note, Knight is heavily rumored to be the one to “finish” Lesnar’s career if this is indeed The Beast’s swan song.
Can you imagine the “YEAH!” chants echoing through Allegiant Stadium while Brock is trying to hit an F5? Cinema.
3. Oba Femi: The Next Big Thing vs. The Original
If you watch NXT, you know Oba Femi is a problem. The “Nigerian Powerhouse” has been running through people like a freight train, and his main roster arrival has been nothing short of explosive.
We got a tantalizing preview of this at the Royal Rumble. Femi didn’t back down from Lesnar; he stepped right up, traded heavy shots, and even pushed The Beast back for a moment before Lesnar eventually muscled him out. That wasn’t an accident. That was a test. And by all accounts, Femi passed.
Why it makes sense: This feels like the classic “passing of the torch” monster match. Think Brock vs. Undertaker, or even Brock vs. Omos at WrestleMania 39—but with way more athletic upside.
Femi is 27 years old, hungry, and looking for that rocket fuel to launch him to the moon. Beating Lesnar, or just taking him to the limit, would instantly make him a made man in WWE. It fits the “Open Challenge” vibe perfectly—the young, cocky powerhouse walking out to shock the world.
Critics might say Femi is too new, but remember: Brock Lesnar was “The Next Big Thing” once, too. There is a poetic symmetry to Lesnar facing the new version of himself. Plus, the sheer physicality of this match would be terrifying. We’re talking about two human buildings colliding.
4. Royce Keys: The Wildcard Dream Match
Okay, let’s get a little spicy with a name that has been popping up in the dirt sheets: Royce Keys.
The former AEW star made his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble, and the company immediately presented him as an absolute unit. He’s fresh, he’s dangerous, and he has that “outsider” aura that always meshes well with Lesnar.
Why it makes sense: According to reports, Keys has been considered a “dream opponent” for Lesnar for a while due to his raw power and dominance shown during his run in the competition. Since he’s the newest shark in the tank, a WrestleMania showdown with the Alpha Male of WWE would be the ultimate “Welcome to the Big Leagues” moment.
It solves the problem of “we’ve seen this before.” We haven’t seen Lesnar vs. Keys. It’s a fresh matchup that allows Lesnar to work with someone who can match his intensity but offers a completely new puzzle to solve. If WWE wants to establish Keys as a main eventer immediately, feeding him The Beast (or having him survive The Beast) is the quickest way to do it.
5. Je’Von Evans: The Redemption Story
This one is a bit of a dark horse, but stay with me. There is a very interesting theory floating around regarding the Elimination Chamber and “The Young OG” Je’Von Evans.
Here is the scenario: Lesnar isn’t advertised for the Elimination Chamber PLE. However, speculation suggests Lesnar might pull a fast one and attack a participant to take their spot—or, more deviously, cost someone their shot. The rumor mill suggests Lesnar could controversially take out Je’Von Evans, generating massive heat.
Why it makes sense: This sets up a classic “David vs. Goliath” redemption arc. Evans is the high-flying, heart-and-soul underdog. If Lesnar bullies him out of a title opportunity at Chamber, Evans answering the Open Challenge at WrestleMania becomes a story of personal vengeance and courage.
We know Brock works incredibly well with smaller, faster opponents (see: AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Finn Balor). A match against Evans would be a spectacle of speed vs. power. It would give the fans a reason to genuinely root against Brock and for the young kid trying to prove he belongs. It’s the kind of match that steals the show because you spend 15 minutes terrified that Evans is going to die, only to pop huge when he hits a springboard cutter.
The Verdict?
If I had to put money on it? My heart says Gunther, but my head says LA Knight.
Gunther vs. Brock is the match we need for history’s sake. It’s the battle for the title of the ultimate dominant force. But LA Knight is the hot hand, the merchandise mover, and the guy the crowd is desperate to see get a massive Mania moment.
Then again, with Paul Heyman holding the mic, maybe it’s someone we haven’t even thought of. Maybe it’s a returning legend. Maybe it’s someone from NXT we didn’t see coming. That’s the beauty of the Open Challenge.
All we know for sure is that on April 18 or 19 in Las Vegas, someone is going to Suplex City. The only question is whether they’re walking out or getting carried out.
You must be logged in to post a comment.