Note on Potential Reasons Why WWE Didn’t Announce Attendance for SummerSlam 2026

WWE presented the 39th annual SummerSlam from the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last weekend.

However, unlike previous stadium shows, the company did not announce the attendance figures for either night. The disappointing ticket sales for the two-night event were a major talking point heading into the PLE. WrestleTix noted that the company distributed 35,654 and 33,719 tickets for Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

In this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON), Dave Meltzer cited a report from those who monitor the secondary market as claiming that SummerSlam 2026 was the second-weakest major sports event this year on that market. Meltzer was alluding to the secondary market falling after WWE reduced tickets to $25 in the wake of underwhelming ticket sales a few weeks ahead of the event.

This led to a brief surge in ticket sales before they stalled again as SummerSlam drew closer. The pattern, per Meltzer, indicated heavy papering. Meltzer noted that WWE not announcing the official attendance figures indicated that the company was disappointed with the final number.

He further added that since WWE got significant public funds to run the show, the Minnesota government should release the real figures, but he then claimed that WWE tries hard to keep things quiet these days.

Meltzer also believes that a major reason why WWE didn’t announce the attendance figures for SummerSlam 2026 is that the company is apparently wary of AEW All In: London outdrawing either night of the PLE. According to WrestleTix, AEW has thus far distributed 36,565 tickets for the Wembley event on August 30.

AEW All In: London
Sun, 30 Aug 2026, 16:30
Wembley Stadium, London

Available Tickets: 7,526
Current Setup: 44,091
Tickets Distributed: 36,565

📈 +927 since the last update (2 days ago)
📅 Days until show: 27
🔢 Total # of seats on map: 93,556
⏮ 8/25/2024: All In 53,922
🟣 This… pic.twitter.com/atxdaeN9Mh

— WrestleTix (@WrestleTix) August 3, 2026