WWE is known for creating some exciting stage designs for its premium live events, including Clash in Paris and last year’s WrestleMania in Las Vegas, Nevada.
This year’s WrestleMania 42 returns to Allegiant Stadium in Nevada, where last year’s set featured a vibrant, lively stage design that really helped sell the event. That Mania also featured John Cena in his final WrestleMania match before his official retirement from in-ring work.
Some have suggested this year’s edition of the event has lacked the draw of previous WrestleMania events, due to an underwhelming card.
The main event on Saturday features Cody Rhodes defending his Undisputed WWE Championship against Randy Orton with Pat McAfee at ringside for “The Viper.”
Sunday’s main event, considered the true main event of the two-day WrestleMania 42, has CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns.
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Fans got their first glimpse of this year’s WrestleMania stage design in a social media reveal. One X account shared side-by-side photos of last year’s stage design compared to this year’s.
The design from last year’s looks bright, colorful, and alive, while the newer design doesn’t seem to pop as much, as it looks faded and less colorful or bright based on the photos shown.
“What a downgrade,” the individual wrote as a message to go with the photos from Allegiant Stadium.
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Many fans sounded off in the replies to that X post, suggesting this year’s Mania stage design is lacking compared to other sets and stages WWE has used for its events. Some fans might be displeased with the product overall, but more than a few commenters expressed frustration with the set.
“They already know the budget for the stage was not worth spending for how unhype the matches are this year,” a commenter replied.
“I bet I won’t pay a dime to watch this trash. I’ll catch the clips on here … I just can’t do it,” another commenter wrote.
“Really it looks like they didn’t have the money to afford a good set,” someone said in the X replies.
Another commenter said: “It’s like they said they’re trying to make as much money as possible so why put money into it……..sad.”
“cheap a** company made allat money the past 2 years and this is the best they could afford?” a commenter asked.
Some commenters suggested that WWE had less time than they needed to put the set together because a Bruno Mars concert was taking place at the venue. Others suggested that someone took that photo before WWE’s crew fully activated the lights and other aspects for this weekend’s WrestleMania 42.
Once the event looks on screens when Mania streams on the first night, fans will get a better idea of how this set compares to previous ones. However, it’s no secret that ESPN was unhappy with the previous events they presented on their subscription-based app, including Wrestlepalooza.
If this event is a major fail, it could be another bad sign for TKO and WWE since making the deal they did with ESPN.
WWE’s two-day WrestleMania 42 occurs on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, with streaming available through the ESPN app.
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