Las Vegas has been transformed into a vibrant epicenter for professional wrestling enthusiasts worldwide as it prepares to host WrestleMania 41 this weekend. The highly anticipated event, unfolding across two nights – Saturday and Sunday – at Allegiant Stadium (home of the Las Vegas Raiders), is surrounded by a week-long celebration of all things WWE.
The festivities extend far beyond the main arena. Fans can anticipate a full slate of programming, including:
- Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw bookending the WrestleMania event.
- The annual WWE Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday night.
- WWE’s developmental brand, NXT, presenting Stand & Deliver on Saturday morning before Night 1. NXT’s weekly show will also take place at the BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
According to Steve Hill, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the city is uniquely suited for events of this scale.
“No city offers the opportunity for an event to really take over the city like Las Vegas does,” he explained. “There’s a number of reasons for that. We do it on a pretty regular basis. You’ll see activations at the airport, both inside and outside numerous properties on The Strip. You just feel the energy – it’s unlike anything else.”
The atmosphere is reminiscent of Super Bowl week, with fans from across the globe converging to witness wrestling icons compete on what is known as “The Grandest Stage of Them All.” A central focus of this year’s WrestleMania will be the highly anticipated match for the Undisputed WWE Championship between Cody Rhodes and John Cena.
Adding to the immersive experience, a special animated “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign at Harry Reid International Airport will feature Cena’s iconic “You Can’t See Me” catchphrase.
Beyond WrestleMania itself, a multitude of related events are taking place throughout the city:
- WWE World, WWE’s ultimate fan experience, opens at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Thursday afternoon.
- WWE legend The Undertaker will present his “1deadMAN SHOW” at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
- WrestleMania After Dark events continue through the weekend with a finale hosted by Rob Gronkowski at LIV Beach. A Roast of WrestleMania featuring comedian Tony Hinchcliffe will also occur there on Sunday night.
- Downtown Las Vegas casinos are hosting their own pro wrestling-themed events.
- Fan favorites like Busted Open Radio (“The Master’s Class”) and Chris Van Vliet will offer special shows at the Circa Resort & Casino.
- Living Colour, known for “Cult of Personality,” will perform at the Fremont Street Experience on Friday night.
- WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Bella will host a wine tasting event (Bonita Bonita) at Hooters Saloon after their appearance at the OYO Hotel & Casino on Saturday afternoon.
Hill noted that WrestleMania’s timing over Easter weekend, typically not a peak travel period for Las Vegas, significantly boosts attendance and excitement.
“You start to see those Super Bowl and Formula One feels as you’re just starting to walk around,” he said, referencing the presence of large-scale decorations including WrestleMania belts displayed on iconic figures at Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand lion.
While Hill admitted he wasn’t a lifelong wrestling fan, he expressed enthusiasm for the weekend’s events.
“John Cena – obviously, the spotlight is on him,” Hill stated. “He’s kind of gone to the dark side here. We’re pretty interested to see how that works out.”
Numerous independent wrestling shows are also taking place throughout the city, contributing to an overwhelming sense of excitement and anticipation for what promises to be a memorable weekend.
