For many fans making the trip to attend WrestleMania in person, WrestleMania Axxess has been one of the highlights. For years, Axxess has been a kind of mini WWE fan convention, allowing attendees to see cool event-used memorabilia, participate in activities that make them feel like part of the show, and get up close and personal with some of their favorite WWE wrestlers.
The lineup of activities and displays has changed over time, but has included things like virtual ring entrances, a station where you could become an announcer and call a legendary WWE match, and themed displays like the Undertaker’s Graveyard or a junkyard with the remains of the many vehicles destroyed during Raw and SmackDown.
WWE Axxess also often featured autograph sessions and panels with WWE Superstars and executives. And, yes, merchandise was a big part of it, with WrestleMania probably the biggest time of year for WWE to hawk its wares.
Despite its popularity, there was a sense that WWE has placed less of an emphasis on Axxess over time, and the COVID-19 pandemic meant it was absent for several years. It returned for WrestleMania 38 as WWE Superstore Axxess, but WWE announced last summer that it would be rebranded for 2023 as the WrestleMania Fan Experience. That means there is no WrestleMania Axxess this year.
What is taking the place of Axxess at WrestleMania 39?
Unfortunately, even the WrestleMania Fan Experience has been reined in from what many fans were probably hoping/expecting. WWE has backed off promoting that at all, and is instead simply operating the WWE Superstore in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.
As the name suggests, the WWE Superstore will have “the largest collection of WrestleMania merchandise under one roof.” It will also somewhat take the place of WWE Axxess, as it will include memorabilia displays, the 2K Gaming Lounge where fans can play WWE 2K23, and a Mattel Elite 100 Activation with the latest WWE action figures.
There will be Superstar Meet & Greets as well, but unlike those at WWE Axxess in years past, these are paid autograph signings for specific wrestlers. Tickets aren’t cheap but are fairly reasonable overall, and some are already sold out.
One nice thing is the WrestleMania Superstore has great hours: noon to midnight on Thursday, March 30, then 9 a.m. to midnight every day from March 31 through April 3. It may not be quite as expansive as WWE Axxess, but it will be accessible and is likely to be a stop many WrestleMania 39 attendees will want to make.