With WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 now in the books, the company’s attention has shifted firmly toward WrestleMania 42 on April 18 and 19 in Las Vegas. However, the build-up to WWE’s biggest annual event has sparked discussion among fans and wrestlers, such as Matt Hardy, after reports suggested ticket sales have been slower than expected.
Current TNA star Matt Hardy recently addressed the situation on his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, offering his thoughts on why WrestleMania 42 may not be generating the same momentum as previous editions.
Hardy pointed to the event’s location as a possible factor, noting that WWE is returning to Las Vegas for the second consecutive year after WrestleMania was held there in 2025. According to Hardy, running the same market in back-to-back years can make it more difficult to sell tickets, particularly when prices remain high.
“It’s a tough sell,” Hardy said. “I mean, Las Vegas was so good last year, and you know, they did these record numbers, and then I guess they bid for them to come back, right? But it’s tough to go into the market two years back-to-back, and you know that those tickets are pricy.”
Hardy also noted that broader economic factors could play a role in fans being more selective about spending on entertainment.
“Still economically, especially since the pandemic, it’s kind of been a roller coaster ride for everyone,” Hardy explained. “It’s hard to justify spending that much money on tickets for entertainment that isn’t something that you have to have in your every single day life to survive and live and be okay.”
Matt Hardy Confident WrestleMania 42 Will Be Successful Despite Ticket Sale Concerns
Despite concerns about ticket sales, Matt Hardy believes WWE remains confident in its ability to deliver another successful WrestleMania event. He added that the decision to return to Las Vegas in consecutive years will ultimately be judged once the event has taken place.
Hardy also discussed what he believes may be another key factor in the slower ticket movement. While he acknowledged that WWE remains a strong brand and continues to draw large crowds across multiple shows, he feels the company is currently lacking a single storyline or character that is driving overwhelming excitement.
“I still think WWE does have a lot of buzz overall,” Hardy said. “I feel like just how they’ve diversified themselves over platforms, Netflix, whatnot, I mean I feel like WWE still feels bigger than ever. But with that being said, I also feel like they don’t have a white hot character, they don’t have a white hot story right now, and I feel like that is the thing you need. That is what drives those great ticket sales.”
Hardy noted that the Roman Reigns and CM Punk rivalry appears to be the closest thing WWE currently has to a major storyline capable of generating that level of excitement. Their initial promo exchange following the Royal Rumble generated strong fan interest, though Hardy suggested the momentum may have slowed.
According to Hardy, Reigns’ absence during the lead-up to Elimination Chamber may have stalled the rivalry’s development, limiting its ability to become the defining storyline heading into WrestleMania.
With several weeks remaining before WrestleMania 42 takes place, WWE still has time to build momentum for the event. Whether the company can create the type of must-see storyline Hardy believes is necessary could ultimately determine how strong the final ticket sales numbers become.
