9 months ago
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The anticipation was palpable as WWE hosted high-profile fan and media event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, featuring some of the biggest names in sports entertainment. With The Rock and Roman Reigns facing off at the event, many fans expected an official announcement for their WrestleMania 40 clash.
However, the event took an unexpected turn when Cody Rhodes, amidst the electrifying atmosphere, made a surprising announcement. Instead of confirming The Rock vs. Roman Reigns for WrestleMania 40, Rhodes declared his intention to challenge Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at the grand event.
Dave Meltzer’s insights in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter shed light on WWE’s strategy behind booking the venue for the event. WWE anticipated a significant turnout, especially with The Rock’s appearance, and had secured the venue weeks in advance. Despite their expectations, the actual attendance fell short, with only 2,000 to 3,000 attendees. However, the fervent enthusiasm of the crowd made up for the smaller numbers, creating an electric atmosphere within the arena.
“We were told the reason they booked the T Mobile Arena was because Johnson would be there, because otherwise they would have booked a smaller building. The booking of the building was finalized weeks ago, before the McMahon controversy. As it turned out, they greatly overshot. Even with it being free and Johnson being there, the estimate was only 2,000 to 3,000 people were there, but they were very vocal. It didn’t draw the casual masses with the idea of seeing Johnson for free in a city filled with tourists for Super Bowl weekend. The funny thing is those masses would have been more likely to cheer Johnson.”
Additionally, there was speculation surrounding the announcement of WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas during the event. However, WWE opted not to make such an announcement, possibly due to the robust media presence in town for the Super Bowl, with the intention of maximizing the impact of their future announcements.
While the event may not have unfolded as expected, the unexpected twists and turns only serve to heighten the anticipation for WrestleMania 40 and the future of WWE’s marquee events.
What are your thoughts on WWE’s decision not to announce WrestleMania 41 during the event, considering the robust media presence in Las Vegas? Let us know in the comment section below.
