WWE must finally break this one traditional WrestleMania ‘rule’-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

Fans in Lyon, France may have just changed the game for WrestleMania (Picture: WWE)

After Backlash in Lyon, France, it is official. It’s been unchanged over four decades, but WWE needs to finally break from tradition and take WrestleMania around the world.

Ever since the inaugural Showcase of the Immortals was first held back in 1985, the sports entertainment extravaganza has been held in North America, with fans travelling from across the globe to be part of the annual event.

It will be exactly the same in 2025, when the Show of Shows heads to Las Vegas for two nights in Sin City.

The idea of fans across Europe seeing WrestleMania on their own turf has long seemed like a pipe dream, even as the company has made great efforts over the past few years to embrace the ‘world’ part of World Wrestling Entertainment.

Great strides have been made, with 2022’s Clash At The Castle in Cardiff being the first UK premium live event since the iconic SummerSlam 1992 show under the Wembley arches.

In the coming months, WWE will hold shows in Glasgow, Saudi Arabia, Toronto and Berlin, with SummerSlam in Ohio being the only US PLE between now and September.

This really should only be the beginning.

From Cardiff to last summer’s Money In The Bank event in London, I’ve been in the room for two pivotal moments in WWE’s global expansion. I’ve spoken to top superstars and champions about the desire to do more on these shores, and across Europe.

Despite being a proud Mancunian, I love the idea of bringing WrestleMania to London, and it seems like more of a possibility than ever after Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque expressed a desire to hold talks with Mayor Sadiq Khan about doing exactly that.

However, being in the LDLC Arena in Lyon for this weekend’s SmackDown and Backlash, I’ve been swayed. France undoubtedly deserves a stadium show next. And more than that, they deserves the first ever European WrestleMania.

Sitting on the floor seats near the ramp, soaking up the atmosphere, it was clear that after 22 years of fandom, countless shows across WWE, AEW, TNA and the indie scene, three WrestleManias, a Royal Rumble and so much more, I’ve found a night that may never be surpassed.

The LDLC Arena was bouncing for hours nonstop (Picture: WWE)

Cody Rhodes’ entrance was the decibels rise (Picture: WWE)

I’ve been in the building for some incredible moments in recent moment. Stone Cold Steve Austin’s in-ring return. Cody Rhodes finishing the story. Becky Lynch winning the Royal Rumble. The Rock’s 2019 SmackDown comeback. The Hardy Boyz returning at WrestleMania 33. That now almost mythical NXT live event in Blackpool.

However, Lyon topped them all. From the moment fans got in the venue, they were singing, heralding everyone from ring announcer Samantha Irvin and legendary referee Charles Robinson to iconic French commentary team Christophe Agius and Phillipe Chéreau.

It wasn’t any specific moment – this crowd didn’t stop from about an hour before, until they spilled out of the arena. ‘Simplement deux’ will long be imbedded in fans’ minds, even if they don’t understand its long standing connection to Chéreau, and his beloved status in France.

AJ Styles felt more important than he has in years thanks to their Phenomenal song. Bayley was visibly emotional by the reaction she received in her first big title defence. Jey Uso looked like one of the biggest stars in WWE history by the time he’d made his entrance.

AJ Styles’ new chant will go down in history (Picture: WWE)

In the past, some crowds of made waves by taking the focus off the in-ring action with their antics (yes, the UK is very guilty of that). But the French took a different approach, stayed molten hot for the entire night and truly enhanced everything unfolding in front of them.

Kevin Owens and Randy Orton’s wild Street Fight loss to The Bloodline had the place unglued, and Tanga Loa felt like an instant threat as the boos rained down.

Bayley, Naomi and Tiffany Stratton made magic and were treated with the respect they deserve. Despite a miscommunication deep into the match, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair and Damage CTRL kept the crowd alive at a time in the card where a lot of audiences would have waned.

Not Lyon.

France has made its case for a huge stadium show (Picture: WWE)

The wrestlers were feeding off the wild reaction (Picture: WWE)

Damian Priest’s World Heavyweight Title defence over Jey Uso would have been good to great in front of another bunch of fans, but the French faithful took it to another level.

AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes cemented their legacies (as if it still needed doing) in an all time, instant classic main event 24 hours after the audience were singing so loud the two men couldn’t hear each other speak in the ring.

This was truly special and, if the logistics can be figured out, it’s time for WWE to take the plunge and get WrestleMania overseas.

‘Obviously, the big ones are a little more difficult to execute,’ Levesque recently teased on Spaces after opening himself for discussions with Sadiq Khan. ‘But let’s talk.’

Viewers at home were in awe (Picture: WWE)

It’s time for an international WrestleMania (Picture: WWE)

He has made it clear that a bigger event in France is on the cards, as he revealed Nick Khan texted him during the event simply to ask: ‘Stadium?’

However, that’s not enough. Yes, there are time zone issues, but recent PLEs are proving US fans will still tune in for an afternoon event to catch the action.

WWE is on a role, more profitable, more exciting and more global than ever before. The Attitude Era might be close to the heart for a generation of fans, but the Renaissance Era is blowing it out of the water.

If WWE wants the perfect way to showcase that, a packed European stadium is the way to do it, with tens of thousands of rowdy fans bouncing up and down, singing their hearts out, and proving why professional wrestling is the most engaging, emotive and thrilling artform in the world.

Paul. Nick. It’s time. French fans – and everyone across the globe – deserve WrestleMania France in 2026.

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