WrestleMania 42 is shaping up to feature a long-awaited showdown: Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship is still locked in, according to the latest report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Dave Meltzer noted that the match has been planned for WWE’s biggest weekend of the year and remains on the internal lineup as of the most recent update.
“Lynch vs. AJ Lee for the IC title had been scheduled on the show and at last word was still scheduled,” Meltzer wrote.
AJ Lee’s absence from the 2026 Royal Rumble raised some eyebrows, especially after her strong showing in the women’s WarGames match back in November. But Meltzer clarified that Lee’s non-appearance was strategic, not concerning.
“Lee wasn’t in the Rumble, but it would have served no purpose for her to be in it.”
While Lynch has remained active on television since dropping the RAW Women’s Championship, the Intercontinental Title picture has been comparatively quiet—until now. Meltzer also pointed to a noticeable shift in focus within the women’s division. WWE is currently putting more weight behind tag team storylines, with top-tier talent being funneled into multi-woman programs. That focus is thinning out the pool of available singles competitors.
“With Ripley & Sky, the women’s tag title division is clearly ahead of both singles titles,” Meltzer stated. “And the best known of the women’s stars, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax (with Lash Legend), Bayley (with Lyra Valkyria) and The Bella Twins are all in that direction leaving the ranks of singles challengers very thin.”
The reported WrestleMania 42 match between AJ Lee and Becky Lynch could be one of the few marquee singles bouts in the women’s division this year, standing out amid a tag-heavy lineup.
Will AJ Lee return to full form against The Man—or is Becky Lynch destined to walk out with the gold? Let us know what you think below.