• Triple H Under Fire Backstage Over WrestleMania 42
Despite the initial praise for his leadership, Triple H is now drawing comparisons to his predecessor, Vince McMahon, due to a chaotic creative process that some WWE officials believe is stalling the company’s momentum.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, there is growing frustration within WWE over Triple H’s tendency to frequently pivot on the WrestleMania 42 card. People in WWE argue that these constant shifts, often happening before matches are even officially announced, are making it impossible to market the show effectively.
This internal friction comes at a sensitive time, as ticket sales for the Las Vegas extravaganza are currently down 18% compared to last year’s record-breaking WrestleMania 41, which ended with John Cena’s 17th world title victory.
While the show is still expected to sell out eventually, the sluggish advance has disappointed management. Beyond the creative indecision, Meltzer points to a perfect storm of external factors hurting the gate:
Pricing: Tickets are noticeably more expensive than they were for WrestleMania 41.
Tourism Slump: Las Vegas is currently experiencing a dip in overall tourism, a trend mirrored across the United States.
International Decline: A significant drop in international fans traveling to the U.S. has left a hole in the usual WrestleMania Week crowd.
The only match officially announced for WrestleMania 42 so far is CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble winner, Roman Reigns. This match will main event Night 2.
RELATED: New Protocol For WrestleMania 42 Revealed
• Update On Oba Femi’s Brand Designation After Main Roster Debut
Former 2-time NXT Champion Oba Femi made his official WWE main roster debut at Royal Rumble 2026. He spent almost 40 minutes in the Men’s Royal Rumble and eliminated 5 men, before being eliminated by Brock Lesnar.
Oba appeared on last week’s RAW and single-handedly destroyed former World Tag Team Champions The War Raiders (Erik and Ivar). Femi also appeared this past Friday on SmackDown and defeated Kit Wilson in a squash match.
On WWE’s website, Oba is currently listed as a Free Agent along with Brock Lesnar and Omos, which means he can appear on any brand.
