WWE today announced that WrestleMania 42 will take place at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12, 2026. The announcement was made during Friday Night SmackDown by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The two-night premium live event will mark WrestleMania’s return to New Orleans, where the Caesars Superdome has previously hosted several historic WWE events. The venue, a cornerstone of major sporting and entertainment events in the Southeast, offers state-of-the-art facilities and can accommodate over 70,000 attendees.
Additional details about WrestleMania Week events, including WWE Hall of Fame, SmackDown, and Monday Night Raw, will be announced in the coming months.
2024 has been a monumental year for WWE, offering fans a series of Premium Live Events (PLEs) that have captivated audiences worldwide. From shocking title changes to iconic rivalries and unforgettable matches, WWE’s creative direction under Triple H has delivered some of the most compelling content in recent memory.
This year also saw WWE’s continued global expansion, hosting events in Australia, Germany, and France. These international crowds brought unparalleled energy, elevating each event’s atmosphere to unforgettable levels.
Marquee events like WrestleMania XL, Royal Rumble, and SummerSlam provided historic moments and emotional climaxes, while smaller PLEs like Bash in Berlin and Backlash France offered surprising highlights. However, not every show reached its potential—some suffered from predictable outcomes, lackluster storylines, or uneven match quality.
In this ranking, we’ll evaluate all 12 WWE PLEs of 2024, from Survivor Series to WrestleMania XL, diving into their highs, lows, and what made each event truly stand out—or miss the mark. Here is our definitive ranking of every WWE PLE of 2024, from worst to best.
While WWE’s Saudi Arabia shows have steadily improved in quality, Crown Jewel 2024 failed to leave a lasting impression. Matches like Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther delivered in-ring quality, but the event lacked a defining moment to make it stand out. The absence of significant storyline progression or jaw-dropping surprises made this event feel like a stopgap rather than a must-watch show.
11. King and Queen of the Ring
The return of the King and Queen of the Ring tournament brought back a classic WWE concept, with Gunther and Nia Jax emerging as winners. However, the event fell flat outside the tournament matches, with an undercard that lacked energy and stakes. While the prestige of the tournament added some gravitas, it wasn’t enough to elevate this event above mediocrity.
10. Survivor Series: WarGames
The annual Survivor Series promised a thrilling night of WarGames matches, but inconsistent booking dragged it down. The women’s WarGames match suffered from disjointed storytelling, and while the men’s match brought excitement and hard-hitting action, it couldn’t salvage the rest of the event. With predictable outcomes and filler matches, this installment of Survivor Series felt like a missed opportunity.
9. Bad Blood
Hyped as the return of a classic PLE, Bad Blood 2024 delivered mixed results. The Hell in a Cell match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre was an instant classic, showcasing brutal storytelling and physicality. Unfortunately, the rest of the card lacked depth, with few matches leaving a lasting impact. The overall lack of balance made this event feel underwhelming despite its marquee attraction.
8. Elimination Chamber: Perth
WWE’s foray into Perth, Australia, brought a solid Elimination Chamber event, with standout performances from Drew McIntyre and Becky Lynch, who triumphed in their respective Chamber matches. While the matches themselves were entertaining, the predictability of the outcomes dampened the overall excitement. The event succeeded in showcasing top-tier talent but fell short in delivering major surprises or fresh storylines.
7. Bash in Berlin
Bash in Berlin benefited from the electric energy of the German crowd, but the in-ring action was a mixed bag. Gunther vs. Randy Orton delivered a hard-hitting showcase, and CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre’s strap match brought grit and intensity. However, the rest of the card felt average, lacking the kind of marquee moments needed to elevate the event higher on this list.
6. Clash at the Castle: Scotland
Set against the passionate backdrop of a Scottish crowd, Clash at the Castle provided a memorable night of action. Highlights included Cody Rhodes battling AJ Styles in an emotionally charged I Quit match and CM Punk’s interference in Drew McIntyre’s World Heavyweight Title match, which created one of the night’s most dramatic moments. While the event had its lulls, the atmosphere and key matchups made it stand out.
5. Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble once again proved why it’s a fan favorite, with Cody Rhodes and Bayley emerging as the respective Rumble match winners. Surprise appearances from Jade Cargill and Jordynne Grace injected fresh excitement into the event. While some of the non-Rumble matches didn’t reach the same level of buzz, the unpredictability and stakes of the Rumble bouts ensured this PLE started the year on a high note.
4. Money in the Bank
The ladder matches stole the show at Money in the Bank 2024, with Drew McIntyre and Tiffany Stratton claiming the coveted briefcases. Elsewhere, Sami Zayn’s defense against Bron Breakker added intensity to the evening. However, the main event failed to meet expectations, preventing this otherwise thrilling event from breaking into the top three.
3. SummerSlam
SummerSlam 2024 was a blockbuster event, delivering major twists and unforgettable moments. Dominik Mysterio’s shocking betrayal of Rhea Ripley was a storyline highlight, while Roman Reigns’ long-awaited return injected drama into the proceedings. Cody Rhodes successfully defending his title capped off a night filled with standout matches and surprises.
2. Backlash France
International shows can sometimes feel like filler, but Backlash 2024 in Lyon defied expectations. Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles put on a wrestling clinic, while Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles in a high-energy bout. The raucous French crowd enhanced the atmosphere, making this a standout event that rivaled WWE’s biggest spectacles.
1. WrestleMania 40
The grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania 40, delivered everything fans could hope for over two nights. Cody Rhodes finally “finished the story” by dethroning Roman Reigns in an emotionally charged main event. Stellar women’s matches and shocking title changes made this WrestleMania feel historic. As always, the pageantry and star power of WWE’s flagship event ensured its place at the top of the rankings.
For years, WWE fans in the UK have wished for WrestleMania to come to the country, which up until recently seemed like it was an impossibility. At Money in the Bank 2023, John Cena shared his intentions to bring WrestleMania to London, and Cody Rhodes is among those eager to see such an event take place.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live to promote WWE’s ongoing tour of the UK, the Undisputed WWE Champion reflected on Cena’s statement and the sway the WWE icon carries.
“I don’t know if that was on the books anywhere. I don’t know if that was something that had been, I don’t know where that was. But when the greatest of all time as we like to call John, goes out there and says it, it almost wills itself into existence.”
Rhodes believes that a UK-based WrestleMania should, and could happen, and brought up Paul Levesque’s meeting with London mayor Sadiq Khan. Later in the interview, the American Nightmare gave a timeline as to when fans could expect WrestleMania in the UK.
“If I’m aiming, it would be cool to get it [in the UK] in the next five years. There’s some really big venues over here that could host a WrestleMania.”
Now John Cena took to his X account and weighed-in on the matter. He has backed the idea of WrestleMania coming to London and believes the city deserves to host ‘The Shows of Shows.’ The 16-time World Champion is retiring in 2025 and he said won’t be able to compete when WrestleMania goes London. However, he assured that he will attend the show as a fan. He wrote:
The city of London, and all of the UK has supported WWE thru thick and thin. I try to minimize using the word “deserve” so I will use more appropriate terms.
I’ve said it before and stand by it. In my mind London has EARNED a chance to host WrestleMania. I won’t get to compete when it happens but I will BE THERE as a fan for sure!
The city of London, and all of the UK has supported WWE thru thick and thin. I try to minimize using the word “deserve” so I will use more appropriate terms.
I’ve said it before and stand by it. In my mind London has EARNED a chance to host WrestleMania. I won’t get to compete… https://t.co/JpcWNhSByH
After waiting for several years, the UK crowd could be getting what they want. They have been vocal about hosting WrestleMania for years and the interest peaked especially after WWE Money in the Bank 2023. The London crowd were surprised when John Cena made an appearance and floated the idea of WrestleMania coming to London.
Meanwhile, John Cena announced his farewell tour before hanging up his boots. He didn’t mention when and where he would compete in his final match. However, he made it clear that next year will be his last time competing in the WWE PLEs.
Indianapolis is making history in WWE as Triple H made a major announcement regarding WWE tentpole PLE plans in the future.
WWE released a video of Triple H and Pat McAfee revealing that the company will be making stops at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis not just for Royal Rumble this February but they’re on tap down the line for SummerSlam and even WrestleMania
This groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind partnership will bring some of @WWE’s biggest shows – and countless unforgettable moments – to the state of Indiana.
With SummerSlam happening in Cleveland, one could assume that Indianapolis will be on the agenda for that specific PLE to take place in 2025. As for WrestleMania, it’s possible that Indianapolis would host WrestleMania 43 in 2027 as WrestleMania 41 will go down in Las Vegas and WrestleMania 42 will happen in Minneapolis.
Serendipituosly enough, WWE Raw this Monday will take place in Indianapolis and McAfee has already had an interesting week when it comes to his WWE encounters. Not only was McAfee in attendence to witness the debut of The Wyatt Sicks, but the new creepy faction has interrupted the feed of The Pat McAfee Show on numerous occassions.
Raw has some matches in store for Indy as Chad Gable will take on Braun Strowman and Bronson Reed in hopes of qualifying for Money In The Bank and Karrion Kross will face Kofi Kingston as Kross has been needling Kofi for stealing the spotlight in The New Day.
WWE Tag Team Champion Grayson Waller isn’t interested in a UK-based WrestleMania and believes such a show would be “very depressing” for fans.
The Aussie Icon was at WWE Money in the Bank 2023 when John Cena shared his intention to bring WWE’s flagship show to the UK. At London’s O2 Arena, Waller argued that WWE’s first international WrestleMania should be in his native Australia and ate an Attitude Adjustment for his troubles.
Given what transpired in London, Waller has taken a staunch anti-UK stance when it comes to the possibility of an international WrestleMania. Speaking to the UK’s Daily Star newspaper, Waller shared why he thinks a UK-based WrestleMania is a bad idea.
“I just don’t think it’s something that I want to do, that most of the wrestlers want to do. I’ve been to London. it’s a depressing place, and I think WrestleMania in London would be a very depressing WrestleMania. We don’t want that. So, its Sadiq, right? [referring to London Mayor Sadiq Khan being in favor of WrestleMania.] Well, I think you’re an idiot and WrestleMania in Australia is going to be much better!”
Waller isn’t a fan of the idea of WrestleMania in the UK.
UK WrestleMania: Is It Possible?
There are obvious logistics WWE will have to consider when deciding whether a WrestleMania in the UK will be viable. Perhaps the most obvious will be the timezone difference. If WrestleMania began at 8 pm local time, that would be a 4 pm ET start in the United States.
Triple H has said that anything is possible when it comes to WrestleMania taking place in the UK. With that said, WWE President Nick Khan has reportedly said that WWE’s ‘Big Four’ events will remain in North America for the foreseeable future. WWE will return to the UK very soon for its upcoming WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland event and a well-performing show could make WWE seriously consider WrestleMania in the UK.
The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble and possibly WrestleMania 42 could take place in Saudi Arabia if higher-ups with the Middle Eastern Kingdom have their way.
During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast, Saudi GEA chairman Turki Alalshikh was asked about plans for the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania to happen in Saudi Arabia. Alalshikh explained that “we are talking around 2026-2027.”
Alalshikh’s hopes for the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania in 2016 are hardly unfounded. A recent report revealed that Saudi authorities are hopeful that both shows will take place in the nation in the future. If so, it’ll be the first time either the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania has taken place outside of North America.
Events In Saudi Arabia
Talk of WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia comes at an interesting time in the event’s history. Both John Cena and Cody Rhodes have advocated for the first non-North American WrestleMania to happen in the UK, an idea that has been supported by recently-reelected London Mayor Sadiq Khan. With that said, WWE President Nick Khan has stated that the ‘Big 4’ events will remain in North America for the time being.
As for the Royal Rumble, WWE held its ‘Greatest Royal Rumble’ in 2018 with the titular 50-man match being won by Braun Strowman. The event sparked controversy given that no women were allowed at the event though Saudi Arabia has since gotten rid of this ban.
Alalshikh at a WWE Crown Jewel press event with Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque.
At the time, it was reported that Saudi authorities had requested Yokozuna and The Ultimate Warrior for the Rumble match despite both having been dead for years at that point. Though it wasn’t Yokozuna, WWE did involve sumo-wrestler Hiroki Sumi into the match.
WWE’s next event in Saudi Arabia will be King And Queen of the Ring. The May 25, event will see the finals of the two titular tournaments as well as various title matches.
The landscape of professional wrestling has changed significantly in recent years. Fans no longer need to stay up until midnight to see the conclusion of a WWE pay-per-view. Premium live events have become more concise, and now they are scheduled to start earlier. WWE will maintain the earlier start time for its events, per PWInsider. This will include NXT Heatwave, SummerSlam, and The Bash at Berlin. The current WWE PLE schedule reflects this decision.
In March, there were discussions about potentially shifting domestic PPVs to an earlier start time, but a final decision had not been made at that time.
Traditionally, WWE has aired its pre-shows at 7 p.m. ET, with the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET. This timing was standard until a few years ago when the start time for the main card was moved to 8 p.m. ET.
CEO Nick Khan recently confirmed WWE’s goal to host its five major PLEs (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank) within the United States, while looking to expand their international touring with the PLE’s. Since overseas shows typically begin much earlier for American audiences, the adjustment to earlier start times for these events should not represent a significant change.
Upcoming Schedule
WWE has several stadium shows and international PLE’s in the coming months
Below is the current lineup of events on WWE’s calendar for the remainder of 2024. For the remainder of the year, check out our 2024 WWE/NXTPLE Schedule.
It’s time for the Daily Drop on May 9, 2024. There is a lot to unpack from all over the pro wrestling world, as always. This is why SEScoops has this daily round-up and update for you.
First off, it WWE RAW isn’t leaving USA Network this year. The red brand will start on Netflix in 2025, but there was a big question about where RAW will go when their deal is up at the end of October. Now, USA Network has secured the remaining months of 2024 with a $25 million deal, per TKO’s latest financial call. Many are seeing that as a steal for the USA Network’s part, but it is a small amount compared to the 5 billion Netflix is giving WWE as part of their 10-year deal that starts in January.
WWE:
WrestleMania 43 Proposal: The Detroit Sports Commission is drafting a proposal to host WrestleMania 43 in their city. This would be a big deal historically, as it would be 40 years after WrestleMania 3, and 20 years following Detroit’s last WrestleMania event.
WWE Isn’t Using GoD:SEScoops exclusively reported that WWE has no plan to use Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa’s Guerillas of Destiny name. Loa debuted at WWE Backlash as part of the Bloodline stable, but the GoD moniker isn’t coming with him, despite the fact that he is aligned with Tonga once again.
TKO Financial Update: In the first quarter of 2024, TKO reported earnings of $629.7 million but incurred a net loss of $249.5 million, primarily due to a $335 million settlement of an antitrust lawsuit. The lawsuit claimed that UFC functioned as an illegal monopsony, suppressing fighter wages and hindering rival promotions, with over 1,200 individuals involved. Meanwhile, UFC generated $313 million in revenue, slightly less than WWE’s $316.7 million. UFC’s highlight for the quarter was the UFC 300 event, which brought in $16.5 million at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
CM Punk Blocked Music Change: During a recent interview, Living Colour vocalist Corey Glover stated that WWE wanted to do a sound-alike song for “Cut of Personality,” but Punk blocked it. He wanted to use his actual song, which is what ended up happening thanks to the Second City Savior putting his foot down.
AEW Fight Forever Update: AEW released the Fight Forever Season Pass 4 bundle, capturing attention worldwide. This release includes not just Samoa Joe but also two new arenas: the Japanese Shrine Arena and the Fright Forever Arena. Players can also access new characters Adam Copeland and Jay White. AEW Fight Forever is available on all consoles and PC, and fan reactions to this update will reveal how much AEW has improved its game and how it compares to 2k.
JOE! JOE! JOE! ?
Prepare for war as @SamoaJoe enters the #AEWFightForever ring in the World War Joe DLC Pack! The DLC also includes the all-new Japanese Shrine arena, two new attires, and 11 new moves including signature taunts!
Kenny Omega’s Announcement: Although he is far from being medically cleared, Omega appeared on AEW Dynamite from a hospital bed, where he booked an Anarchy in the Arena match for Double or Nothing on May 26.
Current AEW Double or Nothing 2024 Card:
Swerve Strickland (c), with Prince Nana, vs. Christian Cage with The Patriarchy for the AEW World Championship
Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale (c), for the TBS Championship
Will Ospreay Vs. Roderick Strong (c) for the International Championship
‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb
Anarchy in the Arena match: The Elite vs. Team AEW.
WrestleMania brings a financial windfall to any market who gets to host the destination event. Cities across the world bid to host WWE’s biggest show of the year and another city is preparing a strong offer to host the event in 2027.
Today, on a Detroit local radio station, it was shared that the Detroit Sports Commission is in the process of preparing a proposal to host WrestleMania 43 at Ford Field. The stadium was built in 2002 and is the official home of the NFL Detroit Lions, with a capacity of 65,000.
WrestleMania 41 was confirmed this last week to take place in Las Vegas on April 20 and 21 at Allegiant Stadium. As of this writing, WWE has not booked WrestleMania 42 or 43’s location.
Detroit’s WrestleMania History
This would make sense in the realm of history. WrestleMania 43 will mark the 40th anniversary of WrestleMania 3. The event was known as the “biggest main event in sports entertainment.” In the final match, WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan defended his title against André the Giant.
During the match’s finish, Hogan executed a legendary scoop slam on André that will live on forever. He followed this by hitting the ropes and delivering a leg drop. After retaining the WWE Championship, Hulkamania was running wild.
Detroit also played host to WrestleMania 23, where Vince McMahon and Donald Trump stole the show with their battle of the billionaires.
It’s time for the Daily Drop on Thursday, May 2. Last night saw AEW present a very interesting three-hour block of programming, and there is a lot to unpack.
Kenny Omega made his return to AEW television last night in Winnipeg, but things did not turn out too well for him. After receiving a rousing welcome in his home city, The Elite inserted themselves into the situation to make sure The Cleaner left on a stretcher. Then, the Young Bucks chased that stretcher down and tipped it over like the dastardly heels they are.
Now, let’s get into today’s edition of the Daily Drop!
AEW:
Nyla Fires Back: The Native Beast, Nyla Rose, released a t-shirt to fire back at The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, who said she cannot wrestle cis gendered females as a transgender woman. That new merchandise will go to help Freedom Oklahoma, a 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy group.
Pressure on Swerve: The new AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland spoke on the pressure that is on him now. He also said that all of his endeavors outside pro wrestling helped prepare him to carry the heavy ball for Tony Khan.
The Bounty Hunter: Bryan Keith confirmed that he inked a multi-year deal with AEW. He will be around for years to come. Keith signed a deal with AEW in February 2024 after competing against Eddie Kingston on an episode of AEW Collision. Since then, he has faced wrestlers like Kyle O’Reilly, Malakai Black, Top Flight, and Private Party on AEW television.
Bryan Danielson Can’t Travel: Brie Garcia revealed on the Nikki and Brie Show that Danielson hurt his neck at AEW Dynasty. She made a point to say that it wasn’t too bad, and it is the kind of bump that comes with being in the ring. Despite Garcia trying to play it down on her podcast, it was announced on AEW Dynamite that Danielson didn’t make the Winnipeg Dynamite because he was not medically cleared to travel.
Taz Gets Bad News: Taz recently visited an orthopedic surgeon due to severe knee issues. After tests and X-rays, he learned that both his shoulders and knees need replacements. He has opted not to undergo surgery immediately and will instead continue with regenerative procedures to manage the pain.
Went to a highly acclaimed orthopedic surgeon yesterday to discuss my knee. It’s been brutal for a couple of years, he did testing & X-rays on me. So, both of my shoulders & knees need to be replaced. 4 joints. I am not doing this right now. I’m gonna keep trying regenerative…
WrestleMania London: Triple H did not throw any kind of wet blanket on the idea of London hosting the show of shows. At this point, The Game stated that all locations are on the table.
Mandy Rose Gets Lips Dissolved: The former NXT Women’s Champion logged onto Instagram to update her fans about a cosmetic procedure that she’s having reversed, her lip filler. In the post, she revealed, “We did some lip dissolving today! I’ve always been a little afraid to do this ngl but it was definitely needed and really wasn’t that bad! Swollen at first but a couple hours later the swelling went down, and honestly with the numbing cream I barely even felt it.”
Drew Brings Up AJ: In a very bold move, Drew McIntyre said that he would steal AJ Mendez from CM Punk if he wasn’t already married. This was a big shot, and it will only add to the rivalry that Punk and McIntyre are destined to have once the Second City Savior returns to the ring. He later tweeted and deleted a quote retweet of that video saying: “It’s a general statement, not specific. Even when comes [sic] to Punk there’s some lines you don’t cross.”
WWE Speed For Women: Triple H confirmed that WWE is looking heavily into featuring women in upcoming versions of WWE Speed. No word on whether they will introduce a WWE Speed Women’s Title as a part of this.
WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque believes that everything is possible for WWE’s upcoming Premium Live Events, including a potential WrestleMania in the UK.
During a recent appearance on X Spaces alongside Rhodes, Levesque was asked about a possible WrestleMania in London. The Game said that this is a possibility and encouraged other cities to reach out to WWE.
“The thing about the global nature of what we do, where we are, what we’re doing. I look at the globe. I think everything is on the table for where it goes. You saw the Mayor of London the other day, put out a statement about WrestleMania. I said ‘We should talk.’ And we should. As should the mayors or the leaders of every other place around this globe.
“If they want WWE come talk to us. We’re open for business. We’d love to be there. Wherever our fans are going to be the loudest and the craziest and the most into what we do, it would be an honor.”
Levesque’s comments seemingly contradict those of WWE President Nick Khan who has said that WWE’s main PLEs will remain in North America for the time being. Fans are continuing to wait for confirmation regarding the location of WrestleMania 41 but Minneapolis and Las Vegas are said to be the favorites.
As for Europe, WWE will host Clash At The Castle: Scotland in Glasgow next month with WWE Bash At Berlin scheduled for August. While fans eagerly await a WrestleMania in the UK, there’s no shortage of WWE events coming their way.
For the use of quotes, please give a H/T to SE Scoops.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has thrown his name among the mix of people hoping to see WrestleMania come to the UK capital city.
Khan, no relation to WWE’s Nick or AEW’s Tony, made his bold claim while on the campaign trail ahead of the mayoral election on May 2. The 54-year-old Labour Party member brought up WWE’s flagship show in a press release when speaking about London’s potential as a sporting juggernaut.
“I’m determined to go even further and fully cement London’s reputation as the undisputed sports capital of the world. I believe that London has the potential to host the first international WrestleMania.”
Khan’s comment earned a response from WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque who was seemingly interested in discussing the matter further.
Khan is hardly alone in his belief that the UK is deserving of a WrestleMania. At WWE Money in the Bank 2023, John Cena made a surprise appearance in London and shared his mission to bring WrestleMania to the city.
Following Cena’s comment, Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones shared her support for a London-based WrestleMania and touted the economic benefits of the event. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is also on the UK bandwagon. At a recent WWE live event in London, the American Nightmare advocated for WrestleMania to take place in the UK.
While many fans in the UK and Europe hope to see a WrestleMania closer to home, that is proving to be easier said than done. WWE President Nick Khan recently noted that ‘Big 4’ events will remain in North America for the time being. WWE’s next PLE outside the continent will be Clash at the Castle in Glasgow, Scotland this June followed by WWE Bash In Berlin this August in Germany.
Plans for WrestleMania
Here are some recent articles about upcoming WrestleMania plans and where fans can expect the shows to take place:
Cities all over the world compete for the opportunity to host major WWE events. WrestleMania 40 proved to be another financial success for both WWE and Philadelphia, which may see upwards of $200 million added to the local economy.
WWE President Nick Khan spoke at the World Congress of Sports convention on Wednesday and provided some new details on the company’s outlook for future locations.
Key takeaways:
The location for next year’s WrestleMania 41 has not been finalized, but Las Vegas is one of the finalists under consideration.
WWE is looking to run more stadiums that have hosted the Super Bowl, but fewer stadiums on the East coast.
WrestleMania will probably move to a different weekend to avoid competition with the NCAA basketball tournament.
WWE Making PLE Travel Plans
The WWE CEO recommitted their plans to hold more International premium live events. Their goal is to have the ‘big five’ shows in the US and all the others in other countries like we’ve seen for Elimination Chamber Perth and Backlash France.
“We sat down together a few years ago and decided, so the big five premium live events … should be in the United States or Canada. All of the other events, the goal is to have them from international locations.”
WWE fans have needed to set their alarms to different times in the past so they can watch a premium live events. Shows in Saudi Arabia air in the afternoon for fans on the East Coast, and Australia’s Elimination Chamber event started at 4:00 AM EST. This will become more of a trend as the company continues announcing more PLEs.
NBCUniversal secured a $1 billion streaming agreement with WWE, designating Peacock as the exclusive platform for all pay-per-views, specials, and library content. Their streaming agreement with Peacock is set to expire in 2026.
With Peacock as the company’s primary streaming partner, it does not matter to them if fans watch the PLEs live. The money is still coming in for WWE, as fans in North America can watch at their leisure whenever they like.
AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match: Toni Storm (c) vs. AZM
Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher)
Lee Moriarty vs. Katsuyori Shibata
House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) vs. Dante Martin, Action Andretti & Matt Sydal
Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:
AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.
It feels like many moons ago when The Rock showed up on RAW in San Diego to hinder Jinder, doesn’t it?
WWE and pro wrestling is far from the pop culture heights that the genre reached in the late 1990s, but The Rock is certainly elevating the modern WWE into its own animal. His reinvention into “The Final Boss” just raised the difficulty level from “medium” to “hard” in the “No Mercy N64” of pro wrestling. If the talent is good enough to answer the call, it should cause everybody in pro wrestling to up their game.
Either way, the fans have greatly benefited from The Rock being back in the fashion that he is. It’s something that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Ironically enough ,thats in credit to the “Cody Crybabies” who lamented for ‘The American Nightmare.’
‘The American Nightmare’ Perpetuated ‘The Final Boss’
Rhodes has revived the long-forgotten role of the “ultimate babyface” where he’s the all-American John Wayne type character that his daddy adored. The fans can easily live vicariously through Cody Rhodes because of his willingness to connect with fans in a matter that hasn’t ever been done before on this type of major platform. Hulk Hogan never was the best man at a fan’s wedding nor did Hulkamania run wild at some random five-year old’s birthday party. Cody is putting those “prayers and vitamins” where his mouth is and he’s created a unique connection to people in a time where people are always connected.
As much as The Rock can cultivate an air of unattainability due to the Hollywood heights he’s reached, Cody can sit down with the father of three living paycheck to paycheck. It creates two ultimate adversaries, both with legacies in the industry and a genuine love for the one true sport.
And that “unattainability” that The Rock has harnessed is what makes this ‘Final Boss’ persona all the more engaging. We thought Dwayne was past the point of consistently showing up on WWE television, yet here he is – furthering a storyline that has him in a heel role where he’s calling fans inbreds and mocking Cody’s dog. ‘The Final Boss’ was nothing anyone expected, yet something the industry benefits from. WrestleMania 40 could have absolutely rolled right along with Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes, but The Rock going ‘Super Shredder’ on his 1998 identity feels every bit of Thanos ready to snap his fingers. That was all the more telling with that entrance Rocky made on Monday before bloodying up Dusty’s youngest boy.
The big complaint of Rock’s involvement is that it hurts Roman, but “The Tribal Chief” is just one manipulative monologue away from turning the table he claims to sit at the head of. Reigns, if he loses, will only be elevated by an extended exit. The same goes for his older cousin, whose involvement had made us all take the scenic route on the road to WrestleMania.
There are certain tangible milestones a WWE Superstar can hit like winning titles or winning an annual match like a Money in the Bank ladder match. There other accomplishments that are bit fuzzier—ones that not everyone keeps tabs on or that aren’t as easy to notice, but that nonetheless are noteworthy once someone draws attention to them.
Main eventing a PLE is one such milestone, and all the more so main eventing a Big Four event, given the longstanding tradition and name recognition around such shows as the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, or Survivor Series. Moreover, having a singles match at all at WrestleMania is a resume-worthy item, as opposed to getting lost in the shuffle of a battle royal, a ladder match with an six-man-plus field, or ten-person tag team bout.
Interestingly, there are those talents who were big enough names to main event a Big Four PLE while never getting a singles spotlight at WrestleMania.
Wade Barrett
Wade Barrett had a huge impact on WWE in 2010, leading The Nexus into a spotlight angle over the summer and still dominated much of Raw programming into the fall. Indeed Barrett was the front man for The Nexus’s seven-on-seven main event at SummerSlam 2010, including being the last man eliminated by no lesser opponent than John Cena. From there, Barrett had a one-on-one Big Four PLE main event at Survivor Series, where he challenged Randy Orton for the WWE Championship.
For all these successes—not to mention garnering multiple other pushes during his tenure—Barrett never got a singles match at WrestleMania. He came into WrestleMania 31 as the Intercontinental Championship but lost his title to Daniel Bryan in a seven-man ladder match. Otherwise, Barrett appeared as part of an eight-man tag team, leading The Corre into battle at WrestleMania 27. His closest call was probably at WrestleMania 29 where he had a singles match with The Miz, but was relegated to the pre-show.
Brian Lee
The name Brian Lee may not ring too many bells with WWE fans, but he had a very respectable career in major indie promotions in the 1990s, not to mention two noteworthy stints with WWE. Lee portrayed the character of Chainz—a part of Crush’s Disciples of Apocalypse faction during the Attitude Era. More important to his resume, though, he played a faux Undertaker, backed by Ted Dibiase to work a one-on-one SummerSlam main event against the real Undertaker in 1994.
The choice for Undertaker vs. Undertaker to main event over Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart in a steel cage world title match hasn’t aged very well. Nonetheless, the bout was a spectacle and marked an auspicious return for The Dead Man in an era when he was in the early stages of his WrestleMania undefeated streak. As for Lee, his only WrestleMania match would come at WrestleMania 15, quietly teaming with Bradshaw as one of fifteen tag teams in the opening battle royal.
Zeus
Zeus
Zeus had a brief, memorable run with WWE. He only worked three televised matches, but two out of three were PLE main events, and one of those PLEs was SummerSlam. At that show, the actor teamed with Randy Savage to oppose Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake.
Despite some accounts that Zeus was actually considered to headline WrestleMania 6 against Hogan, cooler heads prevailed and the character didn’t stick around past the promotion of the No Holds Barred movie. His last match was at the PLE by the same name, teaming with Savage again for one more losing effort against Hogan and Beefcake.
Ludvig Borga
WWE featured Ludvig Borga as a monster heel character in 1993, focusing on his Finnish background. Between his strong push and the emphasis on Lex Luger as the patriotic top babyface, the writing was on the wall that Luger would take the WWE Championship off Yokozuna, and Borga would be one of his top challengers in the months to follow.
Plans changed. Though Borga was the last heel standing for this team in the main event of Survivor Series 1993, that performance was less a sign of things to come than the beginning of the end. Luger’s momentum stalled out and he never was crowned champion in WWE. Meanwhile, Borga got injured in early 1994. That, combined with shifting creative and a purported bad attitude backstage meant he never did end up working a WrestleMania match.
R-Truth
(via WWE)
R-Truth has become an institution in WWE. Amidst his early tag team work, his upper mid-card babyface run, and his most recent stretch as a comedic character, he also had a noteworthy run as a paranoid heel opposite John Cena.
Truth actually main evented two Big Four PLEs as part of a seven-man team fighting The Nexus at SummerSlam 2010 and again in a tag team with The Miz against Cena and The Rock at Survivor Series 2011. Truth never really felt like a main event fixture, but for his length of tenure and the respect fans and peers have for him, it is a surprise that he never got a singles match at WrestleMania. To Truth’s credit, he has worked five ‘Mania matches to date, but they were two battle royals, a seven-man ladder match, and a twelve-man tag team bout. (Incidentally, he’s lined up for a twelve-man ladder match this year.) The match for which he drew the brightest spotlight saw him team with John Morrison to challenge ShoMiz for the tag titles at WrestleMania 26.
Steve Austin still holds one of his WrestleMania matches in the highest regard, and it didn’t happen to have the WWE Title at stake. During an interview with Justin Barrasso, Stone Cold named his classic match against Bret Hart from WrestleMania 13 as an all-time favorite.
“If it wasn’t for Bret Hart, I don’t know that I would be having this interview right now,” said Austin. “My feud with Bret changed everything.”
Two years ago, Hart claimed that him and Austin clashing at WrestleMania 13 were like “two asteroids hitting at the right time.”
“The match with Steve, that’s the greatest song I ever sang. When I watch it back, I wouldn’t change a thing. I still love seeing that spot where I’m punching the daylights out of Steve in the corner and he kicks me in the groin. It was a beautiful, violent piece of art. Working with Steve was easy, it was fun, and it was memorable.”
Austin talked about how he and Hart delivered on arguably the greatest double-turn ever executed in pro wrestling and that was due in great part to what both men did in the ring that evening.
Stone Cold & The Hitman
After 19 years, Austin finally returned to in-ring action at WrestleMania 38 in Los Angeles. He faced Kevin Owens and came out victorious. Steve has some fond memories of that, but it still won’t shake off his number one with Bret.
‘I have a lot of fond memories of WrestleMania, but whenever I have to pick one, it’s always going to WrestleMania 13 with Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart.”
Peter Rosenberg will be involved with WrestleMania once again this year, but the tenured NYC radio host should have some additional duties on tap for Philadelphia.
Last year at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles Rosenberg had the opportunity to give fans an in-depth point-of-view tour of how the backstage area and the stage was laid out for LA’s SoFi Stadium. Rosenberg also was apart of the pre-show but he hinted to SEScoops that he may be apart of some additional duties this year as well.
However, it’s been an interesting road for Rosenberg to find his way into WrestleMania and WWE. He first was given full access backstage to WrestleMania 32 in 2016 by Jonathan Coachman, where basically shadowed the former ESPN personality. That is where he met Chris Chambers, former WWE VP of Television Strategy.
“He has a really illustrious career. He just recently retired and is just a tremendous guy and he was the first person who sort of heard me talk, heard my passion, heard the other places that I was working…
“It was kind of like, you know, to kind of see ‘how you could be useful here,’ you know? And he was like, ‘Do me a favor, reach out to me, you know, when you get back.”
At first, Peter didn’t hear back, but followed up and the gears got into motion. Soon enough he was with Sam Roberts hosting a new show, Bring It To The Table that also featured Corey Graves and JBL.
Now being involved with the company for nearly a decade, Rosenberg still doesn’t look at it as work.
“‘Work’ is probably not the right way to put it. It’s a reprieve for me. It’s something I truly look forward to doing.”
Peter Rosenberg Thinks Seth Rollins Is A-Okay In How He’s Positioned For WrestleMania
Peter Rosenberg will not be the only one pulling double duty at WrestleMania. Seth Rollins, like Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, will be in two matches over the weekend.
Rosenberg was asked about his thoughts on the incorporation of The Rock as “The Final Boss” a persona he was initially adverse to, but got more invested when realizing he was being heeled by the moniker.
He believes The Rock is such a big name that his brand takes up a lot of space. Ds The Rock, Roman and Cody give Seth Rollins an “odd man out” vibe? An argument could be made for Seth, but Rosenberg feels that the WWE World Heavyweight Champion is still in a very good position.
“It’s okay. Like, okay – Seth is playing second fiddle slightly to Cody Rhodes, who’s having the hottest moment of his career, [and] in my opinion, is the most over babyface in maybe 20 years. The Rock was one of the greatest of all time and is back in a real way for the first time in forever and Roman Reigns, who’s on a historic Hogan like title run. Like let’s not act as if being the fourth player in that story is some horrible thing. I mean, not everyone can be ‘1’ and ‘1A’
“Seth is still I think is still in an incredible spot for Seth, and I think he’s doing great and guess what? I think the story is going to end up being told for him too.”
Before WrestleMania 40 officially fires off on Saturday and Sunday, Rosenberg will host “The Michael Kay Show” live at WrestleMania World on Thursday, April 4 from 3 to 6:30 PM ET. Then, later on that evening he will do a live show of his wrestling podcast, “Cheap Heat” at the Fringe Arts also in Philadelphia. You can tune into our full interview with Rosenberg below.
Please credit SESCoops for the interview and transcription.
WWE has a lot of plans in motion, but they can’t all come to fruition. Sometimes, someone returning to the mix can change everything as well.
WWE discussed the idea of Kevin Owens facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania 32. The Undertaker instead confronted Shane McMahon in a Hell in a Cell match.
Kevin Owens vs The Undertaker Was Planned
The Undertaker battled Shane McMahon in a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania 32. That was quite a match, and it included a viral moment with Shane-O Mac falling from the side of the cage, but it wasn’t the original plan that they discussed for the show of shows that year.
Kevin Owens kicked off WrestleMania 32 by defending his WWE Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match against Zack Ryder, Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, Sami Zayn, Sin Cara, and Stardust. Ryder won the title that night, and started a one-day reign as Champion.
Owens told Joe Baiamonte of WrestleSphere that there was a plan at a certain time that Undertaker was supposed to be his first-ever WrestleMania opponent. Then Shane McMahon returned and that set up a Mania match against the Phenom.
“I think things just shifted and that was the year that Shane McMahon returned, so obviously at the time, my standing in the company compared to Shane McMahon coming back after all those years, the thought was probably ‘Shane McMahon versus The Undertaker is a huge match. I know it was on the table and it was heavily discussed and it would have been amazing. My first WrestleMania, to be in there with The Undertaker, would have been sweet. It didn’t happen, but I’ve been in the ring with him. I was actually in the ring with him in the main event of a Madison Square Garden show, so I got to do that with him which was really cool,”
What Happened Next
The Undertaker and Kevin Owens never had their WrestleMania match. Then, Taker retired from in-ring action with a Boneyard Match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36.
Kevin Owens is booked in a triple threat match at WrestleMania 40 for the United States Title. Logan Paul will have quite a challenge ahead of him as he defends his title against Owens and Randy Orton.
Shane McMahon hasn’t been seen in WWE since last year’s WrestleMania event. He was injured during a short match, which Snoop Dogg had to finish for him.
Speaking at the Morgan Stanley conference, TKO’s COO Mark Shapiro addressed McMahon’s departure and his recent offloading of TKO stock. Shapiro made it clear that TKO did not participate in the sale. Shapiro added that McMahon does not work for TKO, does not go to the offices and is not coming back to the company.
Plans for Branding
Over the past year, WWE has seen an increase in branding usage on camera at WWE events. During the conference, Shapiro said that “not to criticize Vince McMahon” but he believes WWE didn’t utilize enough branding opportunities in arenas. UFC, the other half of TKO, uses arguably too many, according to Shapiro, who said that WWE will continue to use sponsors on WWE ring assets.
WWE RAW & Netflix
In January 2025, Monday Night Raw will move to Netflix in a blockbuster deal that will mark the end of WWE’s flagship show on broadcast television. Shapiro said that “not in my wildest dreams” did he expect Netflix for the Raw deal, and that the conversation was originally about WWE NXT. Shapiro credits WWE President Nick Khan and TKO CFO Andrew Schleimer for negotiating the deal.
What’s to Come?
Shapiro was pleasantly surprised by the buzz that this year’s Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber events made. Looking ahead, he said fans can expect celebrities from the William Morris-Endeavor (WME) agency at WrestleMania. Partnering with Fanatics for WWE World is going well, and can be considered a blueprint for future projects.
WrestleMania is known for larger than life match-ups, and you never know what will happen on the grandest stage of them all. John Cena and Bray Wyatt made history in their Firefly Fun House match, but it turns out that they didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for things.
The pandemic halted a ton of plans for the entire world. Thankfully, WWE was able to figure out how to operate in Florida, a state that deemed pro wrestling as an essential service. All of that craziness surrounding logistics for WrestleMania 36 also only gave them three days to figure out what to do at the show of show with Cena and Wyatt.
That match against Bray Wyatt was actually supposed to be a standard match. The Firefly Fun House aspect was tacked on later, and they had to figure out what that match even was in a very short amount of time.
“I remember three days before we filmed the Firefly Fun House match. It was the last TV taping where they came in and they’re like, ‘You’re gonna have a Firefly Fun House match’, and I remember there were three people in one of the conference rooms in NXT with me. I said, ‘What’s a Firefly Fun House match?’ They said, ‘I don’t know.’ I said, ‘Great! What can we do’, and that was like, oh, man, again, control the controllable. I wish we had an audience. Performers are like. I wish there could be blood. I wish we could do chair shots to the head. I wish we could swear. I wish I could flip people off. Control the controllable. Use the tools in your tool belt. How do we make something entertaining over a two day period with no audience, and they gave us a stipulation.
Everybody else has a regular match and it’s your stip. It’s not a doctor of Thuganomics match or a Hustle, Loyalty, Respect match that’s completely different. You have these definitive characters. You have all this ammunition. You have all this personality and that’s what people really radiate towards. Holy sh*t. We can make this a meta look at my life and we can get away with it. What do we have up in the warehouse? We have the fist. We have the blue cage. I can get some NWO stuff. We can make this work. I remember this the only match I’ve ever written from start to finish. My poor wife, I made her print it out and I’m writing and giving her paper. She said, ‘What is this? What does it even mean?’ ‘Just print it. I need it’, and somewhere I still have the original draft in my handwriting of the Firefly Fun House. Bray couldn’t have been better.
He knew what was up and he knew the whole thing. I wrote it the night before so I’m trying to text these guys like, I got something weird. I think I might have a picture of the draft still in my phone. I don’t have it with me, but I have it saved as a text that I sent him the night of the match, especially after we saw The Undertaker’s match the night before. Oh, my man, they crushed it, and there was a whole lot more physicality. We got one punch and I texted him how nervous I was, but I wanted to thank him for being so brave and trusting me and I think I couldn’t have done any more. I think we gave it our best shot and hopefully, it works, and it was an effort that I am very proud of.”
Things worked out in the end, as John Cena got to work that whole match without any physicality until the final moments. Bray Wyatt also gave a fantastic performance throughout, adding another amazing highlight to his ingenious character.
John Cena’s Candid Interview
John Cena also revealed what he said to MJF during The Iron Claw premiere. He wanted to know when the Salt of the Earth might switch sides and play for WWE. Only time will tell if that actually happens any time soon.
Cena certainly made a ton of memories during his time in WWE, and he can speak candidly about that now. Sadly, Bray Wyatt passed away in August 2023, and the pro wrestling world is still mourning that great loss. At least, Cena was able to mix it up with the Eater of Worlds to create an unforgettable WrestleMania moment.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, and so many more, so please keep checking back for updates!
WWE has a lot of things going on, but their World Heavyweight Champion has been on the shelf for several weeks. Seth Rollins still plans on making his way to WrestleMania 40 for a big night to defend his title, and he will be cleared sooner than some expected.
Seth Rollins’ Big Injury Announcement
Seth Rollins recently provided WWE fans with an update on his potential return to in-ring action before WrestleMania XL on April 6 and 7. This took place during the Elimination Chamber event in Perth, Australia.
Rollins sustained a torn MCL and partially torn meniscus during a match against Jinder Mahal on the January 15 episode of RAW. Despite making multiple television appearances since the injury, the World Heavyweight Champion has yet to step back into the ring.
During Elimination Chamber, Seth Rollins mentioned that he is “days away” from being medically cleared to compete. Consequently, there’s a possibility of witnessing him wrestle on the journey leading to the main event.
Odds are, Rollins may very well compete on both nights of Mania, with a tag team match with Cody Rhodes against Roman Reigns and The Rock going down on the first night. If that happens, then his World Heavyweight Championship match should be a marquee contest on night one.
It will be interesting to see how Seth Rollins is booked from this point on. Roman Reigns’ recent burial of the World Heavyweight Champion as having a runner-up title wasn’t a great look. Still, he is one of the most beloved babyfaces in the company.
WWE has seen quite a ride on the road to WrestleMania 40 so far. This included The Rock re-entering the fold, and plans changing multiple times. CM Punk’s injury also threw a wrench in WWE’s plans, so there were several things that they needed to address. Their plan to take Cody Rhodes out of the picture was also nixed in the process.
WWE Planned Injury Angle For Cody
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that Cody Rhodes was informed in the fall that he would face Reigns. However, he was not informed about Rock’s involvement in the match until January 3rd. Therefore, any interviews he gave about concluding the story before the Rumble assumed he was part of the match, despite rumors about The Rock.
The report also went on to say that WWE planned an injury angle for Cody to write him out of the WrestleMania 40 main event match once The Rock showed up. Of course, they pivoted from those plans in a big way.
[Cody] was told the day of the Rumble that Rock was facing Reigns even though he was winning the Rumble. He was also told that they would be going to Reigns against him later so all the post-match stuff building that match wasn’t there to swerve people as much a build a later match. But the fact it was not going to be Reigns vs. Rhodes was keep secret from almost everyone (obviously a few knew) because Rock wanted the angle the next Friday a surprise. Even fewer knew the injury angle planned for Rhodes because even people who knew this complete story were not aware of the original idea of how to get Rhodes out of the match and Rock in.
WWE Changed More WrestleMania 40 Plans
The report also noted that Punk’s injury changed plans, but there was still no use for a men’s Elimination Chamber match because Rhodes was going to choose Rollins as his opponent. The Rock was also not wrestling in Australia, at an event that takes place at 5:00 AM on the East Coast.
The angle with Rhodes endorsing Rock, which was reportedly suggested by Triple H, was well-received by the crowd and WWE thought it went well at first. Then social media backlash changed things. Johnson reportedly already considered turning heel if fans booed him, which led the company to push in that direction.
I reported the entire time that The Rock was the only one who could change those plans. In the end, Dwayne Johnson conceded that it should be Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 against Roman Reigns.
If the Rhodes injury angle was followed through with, they would have likely faced an even greater negative social media reaction. Now, fans have a chance to see Cody finish his story.
WWE’s WrestleMania 40 event is preparing to take over Philadelphia on April 6th and 7th, and the company usually prepares memorable cards for the showcase of the immortals. Sadly, Sylvester Stallone won’t be able to make it.
Stallone and WrestleMania
There are a lot of rumors going around about WrestleMania this year, but one rumored megastar will not be on the show of shows. Sylvester Stallone has appeared for WWE before, but it’s not going to work out for Mania 40.
WrestleVotes reported that WWE has strong interest in Sylvester Stallone appearing at WrestleMania in Philadelphia. The extent of discussions or Stallone’s potential role remains uncertain at this point.
Sources within WWE indicate there is interest in collaborating with Sylvester Stallone for WrestleMania in some form. While any communication status is unclear, I’m told there’s hope for it. Whether it ultimately ends up happening or not is to be determined.Stallone, born in NYC, gained fame through the iconic Rocky films, deeply associated with Philadelphia.
Additionally, Stallone is no stranger to the WWE world, having inducted Hulk Hogan into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
I asked around about this, and I was told that, “They are months behind on the Stallone ‘scoop.’ Old news. As of last word, schedules couldn’t match up.”
I asked about the Sylvester Stallone story about showing up at WrestleMania.
I was told that, "They are months behind on the Stallone 'scoop.' Old news. As of last word, schedules couldn't match up."
Dave Meltzer also reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter to say that, “Those at WWE have confirmed the talk but said that as of earlier in the week Stallone had said there was a schedule conflict, so the deal hasn’t been done unless you can or wants to remove the conflict.”
We will have to see if WWE can get Sylvester Stallone to make an appearance at a future event. WrestleMania 40 in Philly seemed like the perfect location, but it just didn’t work out.
What’s Next
WWE has a lot of things planned for WrestleMania, and John Cena may just be in the mix. I exclusively reported that Cena is trying to do something for Mania this year.
As of this writing, Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns and Bayley vs IYO Sky are the only two confirmed matches. We will have even more after the Elimination Chamber event as well, because both Chamber matches will determine Rhea Ripley and Seth Rollins’ opponents on the grandest stage of them all.