Bakstage Talks on WWE Considering Changes to WrestleMania Week Schedule

Bakstage Talks on WWE Considering Changes to WrestleMania Week Schedule – Another jam-packed WrestleMania week has wrapped up, with WWE hosting a full slate of events in Las Vegas, including SmackDown, the Hall of Fame, NXT Stand & Deliver, two nights of WrestleMania 41, RAW, and a special episode of NXT. But by the time the final NXT show aired, the effects of a long and exhausting week were evident — both on the performers and the audience.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez reported that WWE is aware of the toll this schedule takes on its fanbase and may consider adjustments going forward. Specifically, Alvarez noted that WWE is likely to move NXT out of the WrestleMania week lineup for 2026, when the annual mega-event is scheduled to take place in New Orleans.

“If you watch NXT last night, it was like it took place in a crypt,” Alvarez said. “This building, I think, sat 2,000. I think they got maybe 1,500 in. And this crowd… it wasn’t even like a dead crowd. It was just like a tired crowd.”

Alvarez noted that when a major moment occurred, such as Joe Hendry’s appearance, the crowd had brief bursts of energy but quickly wore down again. “They summoned the energy to get really excited, and they were like, ‘Oh god, now we’re tired again.’”

These signs of fan fatigue were not overlooked by WWE officials, according to Alvarez. “It appears that next year, when they do the show in New Orleans, it’s probably not gonna last through NXT,” he said. “NXT’s probably gonna be back at the Performance Center.”

While there’s some discussion about airing NXT prior to WrestleMania weekend, Alvarez suggested that plan is unlikely. Instead, WWE may opt to simplify the week’s schedule, avoiding the six-event marathon that stretches from Friday’s SmackDown and Hall of Fame through to the following Tuesday’s NXT.

If WWE follows through with this change, it would mark a significant shift from the current format that has grown in scale in recent years. Returning NXT to the Performance Center would reduce strain on both fans and talent while still delivering high-quality programming during a less congested time frame.