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SNOW: New Orleans will put on a show for The Rock, WrestleMania 42

Feb 27, 2025 | 4:00 PM

(Photo courtesy of @wrestleops on X)

By Devin Snow

The People’s Champ announced on Friday night Smackdown last week that WrestleMania 2026 will be taking place in our beloved New Orleans. We can stop right there because they could’ve had anybody announce it, but they had The Rock announce it, so it means more.

He did it in true Rock fashion, ribbing us before the announcement.

The Rock announced it, though, and that means they’re excited about bringing Mania back to New Orleans. We’re coming off of hosting the Super Bowl better than Manhattan hosts The Met Gala. We know how to host, you’re gonna want to bring it down here, time of ya life–all that has been established.

This will be the third WrestleMania held in New Orleans and the 42nd edition of the event since it started back in 1985. WrestleMania 30 has to be the one that most people in Louisiana and all over the globe remember.

Daniel Bryan had 65,000 humans chanting “YES” after whooping five grown men into oblivion like he was a little turbo charged Avenger that couldn’t be defeated by man.

It truly was a David vs. Goliath story for Bryan that night in New Orleans. Dubbed “YEStleMania” after it was all said and done. Of course, that wasn’t all that happened at the first WrestleMania in New Orleans.

WWE also decided this sounded like a great city to end one of the most sacred streaks the human race has ever seen. Undertaker went into that WrestleMania 21-0 on the grandest stage of all and would face Brock Lesnar with no signs of this streak ever ending. Fast Forward about three F-5’s later, Brock Lesnar pinned the Undertaker for a full three count, leaving everybody in the arena gasping for air.

Looking like they all just lost their dog, it was a moment locked in time. I’ve heard stories and saw grown men crying all over the Superdome after this historic moment. So yeah, history was most certainly made that night.

This is why they came back just four years later in 2018 for WrestleMania 34. I recall the Superdome running out of everything. You couldn’t find a beer with a search warrant after three hours. Beer was out, popcorn was out, we just weren’t ready for a six hour show like that. Six long hours, 14 alright matches. The logo and set were beautiful, Seth Rollins was still doing the curb stomp, and John Cena faced the Undertaker. That match only lasted a few minutes.

The crowd booed the main event, which is considered one of the worst main events in WrestleMania history.

This was back when Roman Reigns was getting a hard push and the WrestleMania crowd wasn’t having it. There was even a CM Punk chant going during that same match. WrestleMania in 2014 was the better and more memorable event.

WrestleMania in 2026 will be a huge draw. WWE is in the most global position it has ever been. Social media, Netflix, YouTube—WWE is everywhere. It isn’t just the Busch beer drinker product that many thought it was back in the day. 

Not to say the product is more authentic and entertaining as it was back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, but the WWE brand is bigger and better than it’s ever been. It’s seen by millions and millions of people. It will be a week-long experience for the city, similar to Super Bowl festivities but centered around WWE. Fans can expect meet-and-greets with wrestlers from various eras, along with the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony taking place that week. 

Side note: 2025 will be John Cena’s final year in the ring, making it likely that he will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the following year in New Orleans.

There will be tons of stuff to do for past and present wrestling fans leading up to WrestleMania. I know that I’ll be there looking to be a part of New Orleans and WWE history, watching something I’ve watched since I remember being conscious. This marks another moment for the Superdome and wrestling.

Wrestling and New Orleans have always made a good partner and it’s engraved in our history, dating back to when Junkyard Dog and Mid-South Wrestling used to sell out in the Superdome back in the 70’s and 80’s.

The connection is strong and good times are about to roll in 2026 for WrestleMania 42.