Predicting the winner of each match at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event XLII

Cody Rhodes battles Oba Femi at Saturday Night
Cody Rhodes battles Oba Femi at Saturday Night's Main Event. (Image Credit: WWE.com).

Saturday Night's Main Event from Washington, DC, will close out WWE's specialty live events for 2025. It will host the final match of John Cena's career, as the 17-time champion will face Gunther.

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The Ring General won the Last Time is Now Tournament to determine who'd have the honor of facing Cena in his last match ever.

The other three contests include hyped NXT stars facing main-roster stars, including Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, facing NXT Champion Oba Femi. Here are predictions for each match at Saturday Night's Main Event XLII.


John Cena's last match opening SNME - Check out Why!

#4. John Cena vs. Gunther

While it should close Saturday Night's Main Event, Cena's final match will actually open the show. Maybe it's because he didn't appear on the go-home episodes of RAW to sell his final contest.

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The entire reason for this pairing was to give a star of WWE's future the huge honor of facing the 17-time champ. Gunther is already established as one of the top stars in the company, having won the World Heavyweight title.

Cena has traded wins and losses on PLEs since losing the Undisputed title to Rhodes at SummerSlam. He lost to Dominik Mysterio at Survivor Series: WarGames, which means he should beat Gunther.

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It would be nice to go out with a win, but if he meant what he's said about doing this all for the future, he'll go out in a blaze of glory.

Prediction: Gunther hands Cena a loss in his final match.


#3. Bayley faces Sol Ruca

NXT has heavily featured and pushed Sol Ruca in 2025. She won both the Women's Speed and Women's North American titles, but wasn't pinned to lose either title.

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She competed on SmackDown with Zaria as well. Bayley has spent a good part of her career putting others over. She's had her time with titles, but is more likely to put someone over than Charlotte Flair or Bianca Belair.

Due to the heavy push and the chaos surrounding both stars, any amount of interference could decide the outcome. One of the NXT stars will win at Saturday Night's Main Event, and this seems like the spot for it to happen.

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Prediction: Sol Ruca beats Bayley.


#2. AJ Styles and Dragon Lee battle Je'Von Evans and Leon Slater

Like Rhodes, Styles and Lee are champions. Slater is TNA's X Division Champion, but he's not a member of the WWE roster. If this were a singles match between Evans and Styles, or Slater and Lee, the NXT stars would likely win.

Due to having current champions face two kids in their early 20s, the outcome shouldn't be in question. Styles and Lee have defeated the New Day and the War Raiders.

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Losing to Evans and Slater would severely diminish not only the World Tag Team titles, but also Styles' standing in the industry. Due to how WWE has heavily featured Evans, though, there could be a shock finish.

Prediction: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee defeat Je'Von Evans and Leon Slater.


#1. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes vs. NXT Champion Oba Femi

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Instead of featuring other stars who haven't been on SmackDown or RAW lately, Cody Rhodes will be facing NXT's top star in Oba Femi.

Had the spot gone to Sheamus, Rusev, or another veteran, then officials could truly sell Femi as an imposing monster in the veins of Brock Lesnar. Instead, the American Nightmare will oppose Femi in the likely main event.

There could be interference from many people, including Ricky Saints, the masked stomper, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, or others.

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While it would be a huge shock if Rhodes lost, he won't be doing so at Saturday Night's Main Event. As for after the match, anything is possible.

Prediction: Cody Rhodes defeats Oba Femi.

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Edited by Matthew Serocki
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