Smark Out Moment

When WWE dropped the bombshell that WrestleMania 42 would no longer be taking place in New Orleans as initially planned, but instead would be making its way back to Las Vegas, it was more than just a change of venue—it was a bold statement. WWE is clearly doubling down on its commitment to Sin City.

This decision highlights WWE's long-term vision and its recognition of Las Vegas as a thriving center for sports and entertainment on a global scale that the more World Wrestling Entertainment gets in bed with, the more the public will associate professional wrestling with mainstream entertainment. As WWE continues to grow as a powerhouse in media and live events, Las Vegas is perfectly positioned to play a pivotal role in the company's future.

Here are five ways WWE could strengthen its partnership with Las Vegas moving forward.

IDEA #1 - JUST DO MORE SHOWS THERE IN GENERAL

Arguably the simplest, quickest, and least obstructive thing WWE can do to up its presence in Las Vegas is simply being there more often by ramping up the number of live events hosted in the city.

Over the years, WWE has frequently returned to different areas as regular spots on the calendar. Saudi Arabia's agreement notwithstanding, you can always expect a show at some point in Chicago, something in Indianapolis, live events in Canada and so on. WWE could do the same thing with Las Vegas, effectively entering an agreement to always do at least one premium live event per year with them, if not more.

Between Raw, SmackDown, special episodes of NXT, Saturday Night's Main Event, and at least one PLE per month, there are more than enough shows that they can spread the wealth and make all locations happy, leaving only the lower bidders to have to miss out that calendar year.

In particular, WWE could leverage major event weekends such as the Super Bowl or Formula 1 to try to schedule live events alongside those occasions, or Las Vegas might be interested specifically in using WWE as the go-to option when nothing important is happening, so that there's always something going on in the town.

Quantity isn't quality all the time, but WWE events normally sell out, and the fan base is loyal, so having something regularly in rotation gives Las Vegas a sigh of relief that they have something to fall back on. 

IDEA #2 - ONE VEGAS-THEMED SHOW PER YEAR

Las Vegas has a very specific identity and is a brand in and of itself. Just by saying the name, you immediately picture a certain aesthetic, visuals, music, and vibes.

WWE could go so far as to not just rotate random events, but to tailor something specifically to Las Vegas as an annual thing to look forward to, similar to how the beginning of the year kicks off with the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania is always in March or April, SummerSlam is obviously in the summer (usually August, sometimes July) and so on.

When it comes to July 4th, NXT Great American Bash is sometime around that spot. Maybe, WWE turns every year, there's a specific Las Vegas themed show.

This could be bringing back WCW's Lethal Lottery concept, or maybe Raw Roulette.

"Spin the Wheel, Make a Deal" is something that is tied right now more into Halloween Havoc, but there's nothing that states it has to remain part of that—especially since it's a waste when every slot on the wheel is basically the same match under a different name.

WWE can make up a new concept, too. Let's say it's called something like Dealer's Choice that can work like the Feast or Fired idea from TNA but tweaked to not be a briefcase, as that's too much like Money in the Bank. They could even call this a regular "WWE Sin City Showdown" event annually so we know it's in Las Vegas, but they have different gimmicks each year to freshen things up.

Madison Square Garden tends to get a Christmas live event. Saudi Arabia had Crown Jewel as it's own thing until it is now moving to Perth for 2025. Las Vegas can have a dedicated "you'll only see this in this town" special, too. 

IDEA #3 - A WWE/UFC THEMED CASINO & RESTAURANT, OTHER NON-WRESTLING EVENTS

Obviously, the bottom line of all of this is going to be money. TKO has proven they will ignore the will of the fans, damage their own product, and do whatever it takes to make a few bucks. The only reason Las Vegas wants them there is because those officials think this will lead to more revenue, too.

There are ways to make money outside of just putting on pro wrestling shows inside the ring that might be worth exploring.

Back in 1998, WWE (then-WWF) purchased the Debbie Reynolds Hotel and Casino property in Las Vegas, with the intent to demolish it and built a 35-story wrestling-themed hotel/casino resort. The project was ultimately cancelled and the property was sold off in 2000 for a profit. Here's a great reddit post with reference photos.

But now, with UFC's strong foothold in the area and Endeavor wanting more crossover and expansion into other markets, maybe it's worth looking into trying this again.

Fans who follow WWE, UFC, the NFL, and other things could be rewarded for visiting by incorporating some partnerships and bonuses for Fanatics Sportsbook promo code offers and the like. They're there in Las Vegas for entertainment and because they might be high rollers, so combine the two for them. Maybe toss in some WWE merchandise promotions, too, while you're at it. Entice people to visit.

If you can have games themed around WWE, all that much better. Some people would much rather bet on an "Island of Relevancy" Bloodline themed game than something with a generic aesthetic. Branding works. Just show your kid a box of cereal with a mascot and one without and see which one they prefer. A VIP experience isn't for everyone, nor does the average person have the cash for it, but then again, people are paying absurd amounts of money for tickets to WWE events these days, so capitalize on it and give them more options to spend.

They seemed to expand quite a bit with WrestleMania 41 to have comedy specials, club experiences, meet and greets, and more. If they had fun and if they have enough people willing to do non-wrestling shows featuring WWE Superstars, letting them do other ventures could not only diversify their own performers' portfolios, but also appeal to people who would otherwise not be interested to just go see another series of matches. 

IDEA #4 - A PHYSICAL HALL OF FAME

Fans have been clamoring for a physical WWE Hall of Fame for decades. Not just the fans, either—many people within the industry hold the point of view that without an actual building, being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame doesn't really count.

It's a sticking point that hasn't gone away after so many years that it would be interesting to see what happens if WWE actually invested in doing it, even if it were just to shut up those critics.

But since the WWE Performance Center is already in Orlando, Florida, and the WWE Headquarters is in Stamford, Connecticut, opening up something around either of those spots wouldn't serve as much of a purpose as having something on the opposite side of the country.

This could even factor into the previous idea by having a combination of multiple spots to visit. The WWE Hall of Fame building could be an historical archive and the central tourist hot spot showcasing memorabilia, seasonal displays, guest speakers, and more. Then, you have the restaurant next door, a giant WWE Shop superstore gift shop building, and so on.

Think of it like a Downtown Disney or Disney Springs location, based around WWE and located in Las Vegas.

IDEA #5 - ANOTHER PERFORMANCE CENTER / WEST COAST

Right now, the WWE Performance Center in located in Orlando. There was a UK version back when NXT UK existed, but upon folding that brand, there wasn't much of a purpose anymore to keep that in operation and it hasn't been heard about since.

It wouldn't be feasible to move the WWE PC to Las Vegas entirely and force all the talent to uproot and move, as plenty wouldn't be interested in buying a new house or apartment and shifting their families around. Plus, it's a shorter flight between Orlando and Stamford than flying across the country.

But what about opening up a second facility in Las Vegas? If TKO has the money—and based on their constant record gates they keep mentioning and their perpetually unnecessary firing of talent, you'd assume that would be the case—spending to have two warehouses could open up many benefits. It could even be a joint WWE and UFC venture, allowing talent to train and set up shows no matter which brand they were doing something with, if that's more of a cost-cutting strategy.

Some talent might be living in California or wherever and find it easier to travel to that PC to either train or do shows. This could even be a backup location to tape matches and do shows, like how the WWE PC is now, if WWE were to be on the West Coast and run into some weather problems or need another place to film.

It's been stated before that WWE is not going to move the Performance Center over to Las Vegas, but this is a Boy Who Cried Wolf situation. What are you going to trust, that the company that perpetually shifts the goal post is going to hold true to their word or that they are going to do what they did with the amount of advertisements where they just keep adding more over time?

At some point, despite saying they wouldn't open up a Performance Center in Las Vegas, if the money is there, they'll do it. In fact, Seth Rollins was even speaking about this today

If you throw in some tax perks and a lower cost of loving, it could be a tempting option for WWE and the talent to want to be over there as opposed to on the East Coast. Depending on the building's layout, if it's a versatile enough space, TKO could even rent it out to other promotions and recoup some of their money when they aren't using it.

As WWE continues to expand its global footprint, anchoring a more permanent and robust presence in Las Vegas isn't just smart—it's inevitable. The city's infrastructure, cultural resonance, and entertainment-first mentality make it the ideal playground for WWE's next chapter. Whether through themed events, permanent attractions, or integrated training facilities, Las Vegas could easily become WWE's second home, whether we like it or not.