WWE Staff and Talent Caught Off Guard by WrestleMania 42 Location Change

WWE’s decision to pull WrestleMania 42 from New Orleans didn’t just shock fans—it blindsided people inside the company, too.

According to Fightful Select, many within WWE were stunned by the sudden change. One talent reportedly pointed out how unusual it was that this past year’s WrestleMania wasn’t announced until May 2024, and now with no official announcement yet for next year, it marks “one of the latest announcements for Mania in recent memory.”

Despite the late shift, most talent seem unfazed—largely because WWE typically handles the heavy lifting when it comes to travel and accommodations for WrestleMania week. “Several of the talent that we heard from said that they hadn’t even begun to think about next year’s WrestleMania, and haven’t heard where it will be yet,” the report noted.

Still, the internal frustration isn’t just limited to WWE. Sources say WrestleCon had already signed a venue deal in New Orleans ahead of the now-canceled show. While other independent promoters hadn’t confirmed their bookings yet, many had already begun the process of locking in venues—a process that often starts a full year in advance.

The decision to delay announcing the new location falls in line with WWE’s current strategy under the new regime. The company is reportedly open to shifting schedules if it means a significant financial boost, and has shown a willingness to hold off on show announcements until the numbers make sense.

The lack of clarity has led to behind-the-scenes scrambling. As soon as news broke of New Orleans being dropped, multiple wrestling companies started posturing to figure out where to relocate their events tied to WrestleMania weekend.

Do you think WWE waited too long to make the change? Should indie promotions be protected when big shifts like this happen? Sound off in the comments and tell us where you think WrestleMania 42 is really heading.