WWE SmackDown host Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson made a surprise return to the ring last night, announcing that WrestleMania 42 will take place in New Orleans on April 11th and 12th, 2026. This marks the third time the city has hosted the event, with previous occurrences being WrestleMania 30 and 34.
The Rock’s appearance sparked a mix of excitement and curiosity among fans, as it was his first TV appearance since joining WWE Raw on Netflix in 2023. His recent return to the wrestling scene began at the Bad Blood Premium Live Event in October, where he confronted Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns.
The Rock’s message to Rhodes was clear: he wants to become the champion. However, he didn’t specify how he plans to achieve this goal, instead giving Rhodes until March 1st’s Elimination Chamber event to make a decision.
Additionally, The Rock debuted his new theme song, “The Final Boss,” which combines Lil Wayne’s “The Block Is Hot” with a Louisiana-inspired twist. The rapper previously performed at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
WrestleMania 42 is now just months away from its initial event. Two of the major matches have been officially announced: Charlotte Flair vs. Tiffany Stratton and Jey Uso vs. Gunther, as well as the Elimination Chamber match between Rhea Ripley and Rhodes for their respective championships.
Source: https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-rock-announces-wrestlemania-42-location-on-wwe-smackdown