WWE WrestleMania 42 in New Orleans 'cancelled' in unprecedented shake up
WWE WrestleMania 42 is no longer taking place in New Orleans amid reports of a return to Las Vegas in 2026.
The Big Easy was set to host the annual sports entertainment extravaganza, which aired live on Netflix for the first time ever last month, in April 2026, but unprecedented changes have been made with 11 months to go.
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson had announced the city as the host of the 2026 show, but it's instead set to get Money In The Bank in the summer.
The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation told Wrestlenomics: 'The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation and New Orleans & Company are working closely with our friends at TKO to expand our long-standing partnership.'
They added that this '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'.
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In a video statement on X, Paul 'Triple H' Levesque added on Friday: 'I'm sure everyone saw our joint statement yesterday regarding the shift in some of the dates on the WWE calendar.
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'Today I want to announce the first of those, one of which we're very excited about. Coming to New Orleans on Saturday August 29th, 2026 will be Money In The Bank.'
Hailing the show as one of the biggest in WWE's calendar, he added that it's a night of 'high stakes' and 'amazing drama', while teasing: 'Stay tuned for more details on a WrestleMania coming to New Orleans, which will be announced at a later date.'
This is a first for WrestleMania – WWE has never changed a host city or state in this way, although in 2020 WrestleMania 36 was moved from Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to the Performance Center in Orlando due to the pandemic.
For years, fans have been calling for WWE to give WrestleMania an international flavour, particularly after the success of events like Clash At The Castle, Backlash in Lyon, France a year ago, and Bash In Berlin, but there could be longer to wait if Sin City emerges as a repeat destination for 2026.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan previously held talks with WWE chief content officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque and WWE President Nick Khan, with both sides hinting it as a possibility.
Khan reiterated his commitment in a report last month focused on the economic impact that major sporting events have on the UK capital's economy.
'Building on London's success, the Mayor has talked up his ambition to bring more of the biggest sporting events in the world to London,' the report read.
'Sadiq has expressed his support for a bid for the Olympics and Paralympics to return to London in 2040, while he remains committed to making London WrestleMania's first international destination.' More Trending
As far back as July 2023, Triple H heaped praise on the UK fans while suggesting it was an option.
He told Metro: 'Look, as I said earlier, I have been coming here since the early 90s, and it's spectacular. Some of my favourite events here ever – my favourite things I did in my career have happened here, even sometimes without the benefit of television or it broadcast anywhere else.'
He added: 'We are a global company. We intend to be a global company, we intend to be global. So, never say never for any of it. The intent is there.' them.'
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Netflix is the home of WWE in the UK. Tickets are available now for this summer's Road To Clash In Paris tour.
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