WrestleMania 42 Reportedly No Longer Happening in New Orleans, Behind the Scenes Reaction to the Move

UPDATE 2: Fightful Select has more details on today’s news that WrestleMania 42 is no longer being held in New Orleans, including the reaction backstage.

Many WWE employees, staff, and wrestlers are said to be shocked by the news. One talent said they were surprised that WrestleMania 41 for 2025 was announced so late in May 2024. With WrestleMania 42 now being off for New Orleans, this will be the latest announcement for the host city and venue for WrestleMania in recent memory.

Other talents are largely unfazed by the news, since WWE usually handles the planning and travel for the weeks surrounding WrestleMania. Several talents informed Fightful that they haven’t even started thinking about WrestleMania in 2026, and they also haven’t heard where it will be as of yet.

Additionally, Fightful reports that the current regime leading WWE is more open to waiting to announce shows, and they are open to making changes if it means the change will lead to a significant increase in revenue.

There is also reportedly frustration in the wrestling industry outside of WWE. Multiple sources informed Fightful that WrestleCon already signed its venue contract for next year’s convention in New Orleans around WrestleMania 42. Also, Fightful reports that it’s normal practice for indie wrestling promotions to begin negotiations with venues around WrestleMania time as early as a year out. However, Fightful notes that it’s unknown if other wrestling promoters had already signed venue contracts yet. Multiple companies reportedly postured to find out where WrestleMania 42 will be moved to.

UPDATE: Fightful Select has an update with more details about today’s bombshell news of WrestleMania 42 no longer being held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana next year.

According to the report, WWE reps confirmed the earlier report that WrestleMania will not be held in New Orleans in 2026. Instead, it will be held in the city in a future year, and Money in the Bank 2026 will be held in New Orleans instead.

With regards to where WrestleMania 42 will be held in 2026, Fightful notes that the sources in WWE they’ve spoken to haven’t heard where the event will be yet. Additionally, WWE is still on the books to hold a future WrestleMania in Indianapolis, Indiana. It’s unknown what year that event will take place.

ORIGINAL: Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics reports that WrestleMania 42 will no longer happen in the city of New Orleans, where it was scheduled to happen in 2026. The event was set for April 11 and 12, 2026. The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation said instead, it will be rescheduled to a later year. Instead, Money in the Bank will be held in the city next year.

Their statement reads: “The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and New Orleans & Company are working closely with our friends at TKO to expand our long-standing partnership, which will include UFC 318 on July 19, 2025, Money In The Bank in 2026, and WrestleMania – which will move from the currently scheduled 2026 timeframe to a future year.”

The event was scheduled for the Caesars Superdome and was announced by The Rock on the February 21 episode of SmackDown. It should be noted that WWE still lists the event on their website.