In a moment that can only be described as “larger than life” (or “exactly what we expected from The Rock”), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson strutted onto WWE SmackDown and did what he does best—hype the crowd, drop a major announcement, and sing like he’s trying to win over the American Idol judges.
The Great One took center stage at the Smoothie King Center to confirm that WrestleMania 42 will be held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in 2026. And let’s be honest—nothing says “WrestleMania is coming to town” like a man in an expensive shirt belting out When The Saints Go Marching In like he’s auditioning for Bourbon Street’s busiest karaoke bar.
FINALLY… The Rock Let the Fans Do His Job
Rocky’s signature “Finally…” promo was hijacked by the raucous crowd before he could even finish. But instead of reminding them who holds the mic (and all the Hollywood clout), The Rock simply flipped it on its head:
“Finally, WrestleMania is coming back to New Orleans!”
That declaration sent the crowd into full-blown “holy s***” mode—because nothing gets wrestling fans more excited than knowing they’ll be spending thousands on travel, hotel rooms, and tickets just to see someone get hit with a steel chair.
Heel? Babyface? The Rock Is Just Having Fun
While toeing the line between beloved hero and Hollywood villain, The Rock smoothly transitioned from town crier to future Hall of Fame troll by calling out Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Because what’s a big announcement without planting the seeds for some WrestleMania drama?
This will be the third time New Orleans has hosted The Grandest Stage of Them All, with the last one (WrestleMania 34) still fresh in fans’ memories—mostly because Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns ended with people more interested in checking their phones than watching the main event.
Will WrestleMania 42 finally redeem New Orleans for that lackluster finish? Will The Rock actually wrestle, or just keep teasing it until 2030? And most importantly—will anyone be able to get through this event without humming When The Saints Go Marching In?
Only time will tell.