WrestleMania 42, the 42nd edition of WWE’s flagship event, is set to take place on 18 and 19 April at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The return to Las Vegas just one year after the previous edition has disappointed some fans, who have criticised ticket prices and a perceived lacklustre build-up to this year’s show.
The minimum base salary for WWE wrestlers is $250,000 (£200,000), as confirmed by executive Triple H in 2022, though this figure may have since increased and applies to Raw and SmackDown rosters only. Top stars earn significantly more: Roman Reigns and Randy Orton each earn $5 million per year, Seth Rollins $3.5 million, Cody Rhodes $3 million, and Logan Paul $2 million, according to a 2023 report by The Mirror. These figures do not include bonuses from merchandise and pay-per-view sales, which are likely to be substantial during WrestleMania weekend.
This year’s event will be hosted by retired star John Cena. Night two features matches involving Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Celebrities including Logan Paul, IShowSpeed, Jelly Roll, and Lil Yachty are set to appear, while Pat McAfee is also expected to feature. In the UK, WrestleMania 42 streams live on Netflix at no extra cost; in the US, it airs on ESPN.
The card includes a six-man ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship, with champion Penta defending against Rey Mysterio, JD McDonagh, Rusev, Je’Von Evans and Dragon Lee. Other matches see Jacob Fatu face Drew McIntyre in an unsanctioned match, and Cody Rhodes defend the Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton.
