WWE: Update on WWE’s Host Location Plans for WrestleMania 41, Update on WWE President Nick Khan’s TKO Stocks & Employment Contract, More News

Update on WrestleMania 41 Host Location Plans

As noted before, WWE is currently considering Las Vegas to be the potential host city of next year WrestleMania 41 event. Besides Las Vegas, the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota has also been interested in potentially hosting the event and submitting an official bid this past March.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources stated that Minneapolis is no longer expected to be the host for next year’s WrestleMania 41 event. Sapp reported that people of influence within WWE spoken to stated that have heard of Las Vegas being the likely choice for the location of next year’s event instead.

Sapp reported that there was a big push within WWE for Las Vegas to be the preferred location due to the success of their WrestleMania 40 Kickoff press conference in the city this past February and the success of the Super Bowl as another factor.

In regards to the potential date for next year’s event, Sapp reported that WWE officials have held recent talks regarding the idea of moving the date for WrestleMania 41 to the month of May. WWE high level officials reportedly were not thrilled with the chilly weather conditions on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia this past April.

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Update on WWE President Nick Khan’s TKO Stocks & Employment Contract Status

As noted before, WWE President Nick Khan recently registered all of his current TKO Group stock for sale. This quickly led to online speculation of Khan potentially leaving WWE soon due to this being the first time he had put his TKO stock up for sale and the amount being for all of his shares.

The Wrestling Observer’s Josh Nason reported that Khan has still yet to sell any of his shares in TKO based on last week’s SEC filing.

Nason reported that in a new SEC filing, TKO revealed that Khan had recently signed an employment contract amendment that extended his current deal through December 2026. As part of the terms of this new extension, Khan was awarded an additional 153,676 shares that vest in thirds every December through the end of the deal.

Portion of TKO’s SEC filing:

The parties agree that the term of this Agreement and Khan’s employment hereunder is for a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2026 (such period, the “Term”), subject to WWE and Khan’s right to terminate his employment and the Term prior to the end thereof as set forth in Section 4 below and subject to the provisions in Section 4 below concerning post-termination payments to Khan and/or reimbursements due from WWE. In the event Khan continues to render services for WWE after the expiration of the Term, such employment shall continue on an at-will basis, so that either WWE or Khan may terminate his employment for any reason at any time; however, if Khan intends to terminate his employment, he shall provide WWE with at least 60 days advance written notice.

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WWE News & Notes

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that John Cena and Charlotte Flair recently traveled to France ahead of Friday’s Smackdown show and this Saturday’s Backlash 2024 event in Lyon.

As noted before, WWE delayed the release of their new behind-the-scenes documentary for WrestleMania 40 due to wanting to include additional footage from this past April’s two-day event into the film. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that WWE officials currently are planning to release their new documentary “soon.” Johnson reported that the main reason for the delay is due to the additional time needed by WWE to edit the extra footage shot and be given its final approval for release.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported in a recent Q&A article that his sources stated that WWE officials are “very aware” of the online criticisms regarding the poor quality of Def Rebel’s work for WWE theme songs.

WWE filed a trademark for “Cutler James” on April 29th for wrestling and entertainment-related purposes.

Comcast recently announced that they will be raising the price for subscriptions for their Peacock streaming service, WWE Network streaming home, starting on July 18th. It was announced that monthly ad supported and ad-free sub tiers will be getting a $2 increase to $7.99 and $13.99 respectively. It was also announced that annual Premium and Premium Plus sub tiers will be getting a $20 increase to $79.99 and $139.99 respectively.

As noted before, WWE currently has plans for Bo Dallas’ and the Uncle Howdy character potential return to the company. This past Tuesday’s NXT Spring Breakin 2024 Week 2 show featured a new teaser video for the upcoming return of Dallas and the Uncle Howdy character. During the match between Ridge Holland and Shawn Spears, the screen briefly glitched and flashed a new QR code. When scanned, the code brings the person to a website featuring a playable video with the messages of “They were broken,” “I didn’t fix them,” “I accepted them,” “They opened the door,” and “We can be family.”

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan reported that his sources stated that WWE officials currently have plans in place for SmackDown ring announcer Mike Rome to move over to their NXT brand to be the brand’s new ring announcer very soon. Brennan also reported that this past Tuesday’s NXT Spring Breakin 2024 Week 2 show was NXT ring announcer Alicia Taylor’s final night on WWE’s NXT brand and she will be moving over to their SmackDown brand to replace Rome.

As noted before, Drew McIntyre recently signed a new contract with WWE to remain in the company for the foreseeable future. Dave Meltzer reported in a recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio that his sources confirmed that McIntyre’s new contract with WWE is for three years in length.

As noted before, Drew McIntyre has been dealing with an elbow injury since WWE’s WrestleMania 40 event this past April. In a recent interview with The Pat McAfee Show podcast, McIntyre provided an update on his injury and revealed that he had suffered a fractured elbow injury. McIntyre stated “You know what happened at Mania when [CM Punk] attacked me from behind and swept my legs out? He fractured my elbow. Broken bones in it. You know what I did the next day? I wrestled in a four-way match, and I would have won if it wasn’t for CM Punk. I’ve been taping up every week. I did a European tour where I wrestled Jey Uso every single night. He’s sitting on his couch, collecting his big paycheck, thinking he can kiss corporate arse and keep cashing those checks while I’m putting in work. Why is the bad guy? Who is the delusional one? Who is the hypocrite?” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with the AEW Unrestricted podcast, AEW talent Will Ospreay revealed that AJ Styles had reached out to him during his free agency period trying to persuade him to sign with WWE. Ospreay stated “AJ was on the phone to me when he was trying to, I guess the right word would be ‘sway’ in making my decision on which company I should (sign with). And it flatters me because AJ is my hero, everything I wanted to become. I feel like he’s always kept an eye on me. I feel like even now, I guess that’s what the phone call was about, but he always keeps an eye on me every now and again but for me, coming (to AEW) was the right thing to do. I just knew coming here, I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to be part of a change in the culture.” (Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com)