In a dramatic announcement on SmackDown, The Rock has revealed that WWE WrestleMania 42 will be heading to New Orleans in 2026. The Rock was last seen on WWE programming during the debut week of the Netflix era. A last-minute announcement on The Rock’s social media accounts confirmed that the Final Boss would be returning to the blue brand on Friday.
It is always exciting to see The Rock on WWE programming. However, with his many other commitments, appearances have been limited in recent years. So, a return normally suggests that something highly dramatic is on the horizon. The news that WWE WrestleMania 42 is to return to New Orleans next year is no exception.
BREAKING NEWS:
As announced by @TheRock, #WrestleMania 42 will take place LIVE from the @CaesarsDome in New Orleans, Louisiana! pic.twitter.com/3OZxLWm7IV
— WWE (@WWE) February 22, 2025
The New Orleans Superdome has recently been refurbished, once again making it a suitable location for professional wrestling’s biggest weekend of the year. New Orleans last hosted WrestleMania twice in the past – WrestleMania 34 in 2018 and WrestleMania 30 in 2014.
WrestleMania 34 saw the debut of Ronda Rousey and the return of Daniel Bryan after a three-year absence. The main event saw Brock Lesnar retain the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns. WrestleMania 30 also saw Bryan make the headlines.
Bryan defeated Triple H in the night’s opening match before winning the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event. Defeating Batista and the defending champion Randy Orton in a triple threat capped off a remarkable night for Bryan.
However, the most infamous match of WrestleMania 30 saw The Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak finally come to an end. The Undertaker’s 21 consecutive WrestleMania wins began with a victory over Jimmy Snuka in 1991.
His last victory in the streak came against CM Punk in 2013. The streak came to an end in New Orleans at the hands of Brock Lesnar, providing one of the most polarizing results in WWE history.
The Rock previously suggested that he wouldn’t be wrestling at WrestleMania 41. However, with this announcement, a return to in-ring action seems open to possibility.
As Triple H stated in a press release: “When The Final Boss shows up at this time of year, the audience knows absolutely anything is possible. Everything could change in an instant.” As John Cena prepares for what will be his last WrestleMania, it seems that a showdown with The Rock could be back on the cards.
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