It was seemingly down to the tale of two cities, would it be Minneapolis or Las Vegas that would host WrestleMania 41 next year? On May 4th, following WWE Backlash in Lyon, France streaming on Peacock, the official announcement was made.

Opting for the warmer climate, the WWE in conjunction with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, revealed that Las Vegas will host WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20, 2025.

“Las Vegas is the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World. Allegiant Stadium has proven to be even greater than the A+ venue Las Vegas guaranteed it would be,” said Nick Khan, WWE President. “We look forward to bringing WWE’s biggest event, WrestleMania, to Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium so we can collectively make WrestleMania 41 on April 19 & 20, 2025, the most successful WWE event of all time.”

“Bringing the iconic global brands of WWE and Las Vegas together will create what is sure to be an unforgettable event and weekend,” said Steve Hill, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President & CEO. “As the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World, hosting WrestleMania 41 is the perfect addition to our events calendar, and we can’t wait to welcome the WWE Universe to Las Vegas in 2025.”

In addition to the two-night stadium event, WWE will bring Raw, SmackDown, NXT Stand & Deliver, WWE World and the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony to Las Vegas, as well as a variety of community outreach events designed to give back to the local region.

This past April, WrestleMania 40 took place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, and had a combined attendance of 145,298 for the two-night event. WrestleMania 40 became the most successful and highest-grossing event in company history, and the WWE will aim to break that record next year in Las Vegas.

The last time WrestleMania was in Las Vegas was back in 1993 when it was held at Caesars Palace and was the first WrestleMania event to be held outdoors.

So, what do you think of Las Vegas becoming the host city for WrestleMania 41? Do you think this year’s cold climate in Philadelphia swayed the decision against Minneapolis? Will The Rock return as “The Final Boss” to battle WWE Universal Champion, Cody Rhodes, next year at WrestleMania? Stay tuned.

If there was any doubt that this past weekend’s WrestleMania 40 was the biggest of all-time, now the numbers are in to back that up, in a two-night showcase that featured the return of The Rock in his first match in 11 years, and the marquee main event between Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship.

The WWE announced via a press release that two night viewership (and streaming on Peacock) was up 41% from WrestleMania 39 and it became the most socially viewed ‘Mania’ of all time with more than 660 million views over both nights on You Tube.

That is, in addition to the WrestleMania 40 gate setting the record by 78%, and the two-night total of attendance of 145,298 which brought people from all 50 states and 64 countries around the world to Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

Photo: WWE

In addition, WWE merchandise was up 20 percent versus the previous record set at WrestleMania 39.  The WWE World fan event over five days in partnership with Fanatics Events, has now become the highest-grossing and most-attended fan event in company history.

Photo: ABC

Night one of WrestleMania 40 saw The Rock and Roman Reigns defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins to ensure the night-two main event would be contested under “Bloodline” Rules. The Rhodes-Reigns match-up also featured run-in and surprise appearances from WWE legends John Cena and The Undertaker and more.

WWE is already teasing a match between Rhodes and The Rock for perhaps WrestleMania 41. For now, the heel version of The Rock has to go away, as Dwayne Johnson is about to film a movie, but the “Final Boss” will be back to reignite his feud with the new WWE Universal Champion down the line.

So, what do you think of WWE WrestleMania 40 becoming the most successful event in the company’s history? Comment below.

If ever there was the best use of the current trendy term “cinema”, night two of WrestleMania 40 was just that, and certainly none more so than the highly anticipated main event between Cody Rhodes and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a “Bloodline” rules match where everything goes and anyone can interfere… and it’s all legal!

Whether you streamed it on Peacock, or were there live at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, these questioned remained as the night began. Would Cody Rhodes finally “finish the story,” a story he began back at WrestleMania 39 when he lost in the main event to Reigns in 2023? Could Cody do what his iconic and beloved father, Dusty Rhodes, never got the chance to do, and become a WWE World Champion? There were so many questions on the line to be answered.

The match was epic drama at its absolute best from the larger than life spectacle with awe-dropping entrances for Rhodes, who was accompanied by his wife, Brandi Rhodes, and “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns who came out to a choir singing his theme. If ever there was a good vs evil set-up with so much history and so much build-up, this was it.

Photo: WWE

The in-ring chemistry of Rhodes and Reigns was palpable. Roman will go down as one of the greatest champions of all-time, who’s reactions and facial expressions help heighten the drama and against Rhodes who is the perfect babyface of this era. The match delivered near-falls, specific and crucial story beats, and an abundance of interference that made perfect sense when you map out the storytelling of this battle.

Photo: WWE

As the match wore on, things started to unravel as to who would get the upper hand when an series of run-ins featuring legendary WWE Superstars and “Bloodline” members made their way into, and around, the ring to help Reigns or Rhodes. First, Jimmy Uso superkicked Rhodes in the ring, but then his brother, Jey Uso (who he had wrestled earlier in the night) came after him and took him out with a huge bump on the ring ramp. Next, Solo Sikoa jumped in the ring and Samoan Spiked Cody multiple times; while being frustrated that Reigns couldn’t get himself together to pin “The American Nightmare” for his help.

Photo: WWE

All of a sudden, John Cena’s music hit and down the ramp came the 16-time WWE champion. Cena getting revenge on Sikoa, who sent him packing from WWE last year, threw him through the announce table. All of a sudden The Rock’s theme music hit, and the crowd went wild. Now the two movie stars and two of the all-time biggest WWE superstars were face to face. However, Rock delivered a Rock Bottom and Cena went down.

Photo: WWE

Next, in a stunning moment, “The Shield’s” old theme music hit and Seth Rollins attempted to slide in the ring with a chair but Reigns delivered a superman punch temporarily stopping his momentum. Before The Rock could beat down Cody Rhodes, once again with his belt strap, The Undertaker’s gong sounded and the lights went out. When they came back up, The Rock was turned the wrong way with The Undertaker in the ring behind him. Next, ‘Taker’ delivered a choke slam to The Rock and then was gone before you knew it when the lights went out and the back on.

Now came the poetic justice … the culmination of years of story. With the chair in the ring and Rhodes struggling to get up on one side of the ring, and Rollins struggling to get up on the other side of the ring, The Tribal Chief had a decision to make … who would he hit in the back with the chair? Reigns chose Rollins, allowing Cody to recover delivering three Cross Rhodes to get a three count and become the new WWE Universal Champion by pinning Reigns.

Photo: WWE

In the end, it was Rollins’ message to Rhodes weeks earlier that proved to be the deciding factor. “The Visionary” promised Cody that he would be his ‘shield’, referencing the former clique he had with Reigns and Dean Ambrose. In WWE history, back in 2014, it was Rollins who stabbed Reigns and the group  in the back with a chair shot to the back of Reigns. Knowing that revenge is Reigns’ achilles heel, Rollins set himself up as the ultimate distraction for Cody to become the champ.

As Reigns’ run as world champion at 1,317 days came to an end, he will remain fourth among all-time champions who held the belt the longest following Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and Hulk Hogan.  Social media was abuzz when video was captured of an emotional Reigns and his special counsel new WWE Hall-of-Famer, Paul Heyman near the beginning of the entrance ramp hugging it out after the loss.

Photo: WWE

WrestleMania 40 night two also featured several other outstanding matches including the opening bout between Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntrye for Rollins’ WWE Heavyweight Championship.  In what was probably one of the best entrances of WrestleMania 40 weekend, Rollins showed up with Philadelphia’s Mummers Band playing his theme music. As the Mummers paraded down the ramp with Rollins, he was wearing Mummers-inspired gear and costume. 

Going into the match, Rollins was already in a weakened state with his knee from his previous injury and wrestling in night one with Cody Rhodes against The Rock and Roman Reigns. McIntrye and Rollins hit finishing maneuvers at an exceptionally high rate before McIntyre finally picked up the win.  A dejected Seth, in tears outside the ring, told Drew that he deserved it as he was the better man that night. Rollins’ emotional reaction proved once again why he is one of the best in sports entertainment.

Photo: WWE

In another “poetic justice” moment, a gloating and emotional McIntrye with belt in hand, goes over to the announce table to confront CM Punk who was helping call the match. After he continued to taunt Punk, “The Voice of the Voiceless” loses his temper and removes his arm brace from his tricep surgery and begins to beat down McIntrye.

Photo: WWE

With Drew in a vulnerable state, Damian Priest (the Money in the Bank winner) comes running down the ring ramp and cashes in the briefcase for his opportunity for a championship, and in quick fashion hits the “South of Heaven” choke slam on The Scottish Warrior and ends his very short title reign becoming the new WWE World Champion. CM Punk sat at ringside and applauded Priest’s efforts and there is no love lost between Punk and McIntrye as their feud continues to build.

Photo: WWE

When it was time for the WWE Women’s Championship between the champion Iyo Sky and former head of Damage CTRL, Bayley, it was clear how much love and respect there is for Bayley. That extended to the press box and through Lincoln Financial Stadium,  Would Bayley get retribution for Damage CTRL stabbing her in the back? First, Bayley came out an all-new entrance theme know coining the phrase “Role Model”.

Photo: WWE

As the match wore on, it was high-flying maneuvers from Sky that dominated, however, Bayley survived all that Iyo managed to throw at her and hit a an elbow drop and then a Rose Plant for the three count to become the new champ.  Beloved in the locker room, and coming back to the WWE after sustaining knee injuries requiring surgeries, Bayley was back on top and the crowd couldn’t have been happier.

Photo: WWE