The Rock Drops Bombshell WWE WrestleMania 42 Announcement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Fernando Quiles Jr. | Last updated Feb 21, 2025 10:34 PM ET

A massive announcement regarding WrestleMania was made on the Feb. 21 episode of WWE SmackDown

It was a big night for the blue brand, as The Rock made his first appearance on WWE TV since the Bad Blood PLE last year. Going into the show, many wondered what "The Final Boss" would have in store for fans inside Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

In his first order of business, The Rock announced that WrestleMania 42 will be held inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on April 11 and April 12, 2026. The announcement was met with joy from the crowd.

You heard @TheRock! #WrestleMania 42 will be LIVE from the @CaesarsDome in New Orleans, Louisiana!
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/vo4ZHQcgB4
— WWE (@WWE) February 22, 2025

It'll be the first time New Orleans has played host to "The Grandest Stage of Them All" since WrestleMania 30 back in 2014. It was on that show where The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak shockingly came to an end at the hands of Brock Lesnar.

WrestleMania 30 ended with Daniel Bryan defeating both Randy Orton and Batista in a triple threat match to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

This year's WrestleMania show will be held inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Matches such as Gunther vs. Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship and Tiffany Stratton vs. Charlotte Flair for the WWE Women's Championship have already been announced for the event.

Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is expected to face the winner of the men's Elimination Chamber match, but some are wondering if The Rock may alter plans. On SmackDown, The Rock told Rhodes that he wanted to take his soul and he's giving him until the Elimination Chamber show to decide whether or not he wants to be his champion.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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