On Thursday, Wrestlenomics reported that WWE has quietly abandoned their plans to host WrestleMania 42 in New Orleans, Louisiana — a surprising move considering the city had previously been announced as the event’s official host.
WWE has since confirmed the change to sources, stating that while New Orleans is no longer hosting WrestleMania 42, the city remains in line to host a future installment of the event as part of a broader, undisclosed agreement.
The sudden change has sparked widespread reaction across the wrestling community.
Internally, the response has been a mix of surprise and indifference. Fightful Select is reporting that several WWE staff and talent were caught off guard, particularly since last year’s WrestleMania 41 location announcement came unusually late. With no official word yet on where WrestleMania 42 will take place, some insiders have noted this is the latest the company has gone without confirming a host city in recent memory.
Despite the initial shock, others within the company aren’t too concerned. Multiple performers stated that WWE typically handles all logistics for WrestleMania week and that their attention hasn’t yet shifted to next year’s event. Some even admitted that they hadn’t given it much thought and remain unaware of where the show might now land.
Behind the scenes, WWE’s current leadership continues to show a willingness to delay announcements and pivot plans when there’s potential for a greater financial upside.
Outside of WWE, however, the reaction has been more intense. Sources say WrestleCon had already secured a venue contract in New Orleans, making the change particularly disruptive. While it’s unclear whether other independent promotions had signed similar agreements, it’s common for third-party wrestling events to begin planning a year in advance to align with WrestleMania week.
In the wake of this unexpected shift, several companies are scrambling to identify the new host city and adjust their plans accordingly.
NOTE: If you have any news tips or podcast recaps that you’d like to send in for us to post (full credit will be given to you), please email me at [email protected].
