New WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has called for a WrestleMania in the UK – but company bosses have other ideas.
Rhodes, fresh from his historic title victory over Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, made the bold statement as WWE staged the first event of its UK and Ireland tour in Birmingham on Wednesday.
Cody Rhodes wrestled for WWE in Birmingham on Wednesday night and had something big to say after his matchCredit: WWE
The 38-year-old defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in the main event in front of an energetic, pro Rhodes crowd.
Following the final bell, ‘The American Nightmare’ got on the mic to address the audience and returned the affection by dropping the major claim.
“It’s beautiful to hear the ‘You Deserve It!’ chants, and please let me echo the sentiment,” he said.
“Tonight [in Birmingham], sold out; Cardiff, sold out; Belfast, sold out; London, sold out.
“If anybody deserves anything, I’m going to echo John Cena saying the United Kingdom deserves a WrestleMania.”
The assertion from Rhodes drew a huge reaction from fans in Birmingham, just as Cena’s similar claim at Money in the Bank did in London last summer.
But while many of WWE’s top stars are hungry for the ‘Show of Shows’ to venture across the pond for the first time ever, it looks like there may still be a wait.
WWE President Nick Khan discussed the future locations of WrestleMania this week and suggested Las Vegas is one location ‘under consideration.’
Rhodes said he was eager for WrestleMania to come to the UK, but company bosses may have other ideasCredit: WWE
Cody Rhodes and Shinsuke Nakamura have endured a big rival in recent months that continued in the UK on the first night of WWE’s tourCredit: WWE
However, he admitted that while WWE may continue to stage some high-profile events outside of North America, ‘Mania’ and other blockbuster shows like SummerSlam won’t be venturing too far afield.
Arash Markazi of the Sporting Tribune noted: “WWE president Nick Khan said Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series will be held in the United States and Canada for the foreseeable future but other premium live events such as Backlash, Elimination Chamber and King of the Ring may take place internationally.”
He added: “[Khan] wasn’t ready to announce the location of WrestleMania in 2025 just yet but he said you can assume it won’t be in an outdoor East coast stadium again and it won’t go head-to-head with the Final Four again.
“Las Vegas is one of the cities under consideration.”
The update will no doubt come as a blow to UK fans who have long clamoured for one of WWE’s prized shows to be staged here, with the last such event being SummerSlam in 1992 at Wembley Stadium.
Brits have had a greater share of the action in general in recent years, though, thanks to the likes of Clash at the Castle in Cardiff in 2022, and the upcoming 2024 instalment of the same show in Scotland in June.
It comes as WWE continues to enjoy an explosion of popularity with Rhodes spearheading the surge.
He defeated Reigns at what WWE claimed was its biggest WrestleMania of all time earlier this month.
‘The Tribal Chief’ had held top gold for the better part of four years but was finally downed thanks to the combined efforts of John Cena and The Undertaker – and despite the input of The Rock.
WWE’s UK and Ireland tour continues with dates in Cardiff, Belfast and London, and ventures overseas again next month for Backlash in Paris.
