Mark Shapiro: "We're not at all concerned about ticket sales for WrestleMania 42"

WWE is not going through its best moment in terms of its relationship with the fans. The company has been harshly criticized in recent months for a series of unpopular decisions, including creative drift and the high prices of WrestleMania 42 tickets that prevented surpassing the attendance record from the previous year. 

On the other hand, these issues are not a cause for concern for TKO. This was explained by president Mark Shapiro during the presentation of the company's financial results in the first quarter of 2026, where he also confirmed that Night of Champions is still scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia.

"We received some questions from investors about the demand for WWE and the state of creativity, driven by comments on the Internet and the year-on-year performance of WrestleMania ticket sales. We are not worried at all about ticket sales performance. It was unrealistic to expect growth in the second year in Las Vegas. Still, WrestleMania 42 was one of the highest-grossing events in WWE history and clearly surpassed any other place where we could have held it," Shapiro said.

"Regarding the creative aspect, there will always be periods of dissatisfaction among fans regarding creative execution, commercial burden, and the use of celebrities. We listen to all feedback. We do not turn a deaf ear, but these are not new criticisms," he stated.

About TKO's relationship with Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East

"I want to address the activity in the Middle East and neighboring markets. First of all, we are moving forward firmly with our scheduled events. UFC returns to Azerbaijan with Fight Night Baku on June 27. That same night, WWE will hold Night of Champions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This historic double event reflects the commitment of both our partners and ours to bring top-notch shows to fans throughout the region, even in a challenging environment," he said.

"I would add that, despite the withdrawal of funding from PIF to LIV Golf, our partners in Saudi Arabia have confirmed to us that this will not be the case with TKO Group Holdings. Their commitment to our properties in 2026 and beyond is strong. After these two events, we expect the rest of our 2026 events in the Middle East, a total of six, to proceed as planned. The demand is real, our partners are committed, and we continue to bet big," he concluded.