WWE Reportedly Eyes Reigns, Punk, Rhodes for WrestleMania 43

WWE has reportedly begun early internal discussions about potential matches for WrestleMania 43, with Roman Reigns, CM Punk, and Cody Rhodes all mentioned as central figures in those initial conversations. The report, which traces back to WrestleVotes Radio via Fightful Select, also indicates that the company has floated a possible match involving one of its rising stars — with Oba Femi named as a name under consideration for a high-profile matchup, potentially even opposite Reigns.

It’s worth stressing just how early this stage of planning is. WrestleMania season is still roughly six months away, and WWE’s creative team is notorious for shuffling its Mania card dozens of times between now and the actual show. Names get floated, angles get scrapped, and entire matches get rebuilt from scratch as storylines evolve across the Road to WrestleMania. Still, the fact that Reigns, Punk, and Rhodes are already part of the conversation says a lot about how WWE views its top tier heading into next year’s biggest weekend.

Reigns, Punk, and Rhodes have formed the backbone of WWE’s main event picture for the better part of the last two years, with their rivalries delivering some of the promotion’s most talked-about segments and matches. Any combination of the three at WrestleMania would carry enormous weight, whether as a continuation of unfinished business or a fresh pairing fans haven’t seen headline the show before.

The mention of Oba Femi is the most intriguing wrinkle here. Femi has spent the past year establishing himself as one of the most dominant forces in NXT, and a showcase spot opposite a star of Reigns’ magnitude would represent a massive step up in profile — the kind of moment WWE has historically used to signal it believes a younger talent is ready for the main roster spotlight. Whether that match actually comes together, and in what form, remains to be seen, but it fits a pattern WWE has leaned on in recent years of using WrestleMania to formally introduce a rising star to a broader audience.

None of this is locked in, and fans should treat early Mania chatter with the usual grain of salt — this far out, matches are more wish list than blueprint. But with Reigns, Punk, Rhodes, and now potentially Femi already part of the internal conversation, WWE appears to be laying early groundwork for a card built around its biggest stars alongside a fresh face looking to join their ranks.

Expect these plans to shift multiple times before WrestleMania 43 actually takes shape, but it’s a notable first look at how WWE is thinking about next year’s marquee event.