When companies put themselves up for sale, they tend to cut back on all unnecessary spending and keep themselves as efficient as possible to increase their attractiveness to potential buyers. WWE is reportedly no different in that regard — even when it comes to WrestleMania.
To be sure, WrestleMania 39, now just two weeks away, should still be the kind of spectacle that WWE does best. The legacy of the event and this year’s Hollywood setting demand it.
But that doesn’t mean WWE can’t watch what it spends behind the scenes, which is exactly what PW Insider (subscription required, h/t Cageside Seats) says it’s planning on doing. To save on costs, the company will keep some staff at home instead of flying them to Los Angeles — including some international commentators, who will call the action remotely — and hold off on some ancillary events it tends to hold during WrestleMania week.
Wrestling Junkie can confirm that WWE is still scheduled to participate in a number of charity and cause-focused events in the L.A. area based on the list that’s been distributed to media outlets. These include appearances with the UCLA Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics and Make-A-Wish Foundation, though the company notes the schedule is subject to change.
For fans on the ground for WrestleMania week, the biggest noticeable change might be for what used to be called WrestleMania Axxess. The mini convention used to be a celebration of all things WWE that included memorabilia, a number of activities like stations where you could call historic matches, and autograph signings.
WWE announced last year it would be rebranding Axxess, and its plans have shrunk even further from there. What will be taking its place is the WrestleMania Superstore in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, which as the name suggests, is mostly a place to buy WWE merchndise.
There will also be memorabilia on display and a gaming lounge to play the recently released WWE 2K23. And there will be a Mattel activation as well to show off the latest WWE action figures.
As for autograph sessions, there are some each day from Friday through Sunday, including the likes of Bayley, Drew McIntyre, The Undertaker (the only legend on the list so far), Bianca Belair and both Mysterios. But they require separate (fairly expensive) tickets and are still a far cry from what Axxess used to offer.
Still, as long as the budget trimming isn’t apparent in the set or presentation of WrestleMania 39, the guess here is that most fans, at SoFi Stadium or watching at home, won’t even notice. And that’s likely exactly what WWE is going for as it balances producing the biggest show possible with staying financially lean.