WrestleMania 35 Press Conference Live at MetLife Stadium

As you may have heard in the late hours of Thursday night, WrestleMania 35 will be held at MetLife Stadium on April 7, 2019. The news was first reported by Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports. “The Grandest Stage of Them All” will be making it’s return to the Metropolitan area for the first time since WrestleMania 29. Tickets will be go on sale in the coming months.

“WrestleMania is a week-long series of events that will bring an incredible economic windfall to the region, and certainly that’s why Governor [Phil] Murphy and I are ecstatic,” said Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver.

WWE is known for providing an entertaining show, and this press conference was no different. Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss, Braun Strowman, Nikki Bella, Nia Jax, Titus O’Neil and Apollo greeted all guests and media prior to entering the conference room. New York Giants and Jets Presidents John Mara and Neil Glat respectively hosted the presser. The New Day kicked off the conference with Xavier Woods playing his signature trombone and Kofi Kingston twerking on stage to set the tone of the festivities.

Stephanie McMahon

The official announcement of WrestleMania returning to the New York/New Jersey area was an emotional thing for Chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon. Her grandfather, Vince McMahon Sr., ran a lot of WWWF shows out of this region decades ago, specifically out of Madison Square Garden. In 1985, the first ever WrestleMania took place in that very arena as the brain child of CEO Vincent K. McMahon, who took a financial risk in expanding the sports entertainment industry. Almost 28 years later, “The Showcase of the Immortals” took place with more than 80,000 fans packing into the stadium.

“I’ll remember [WrestleMania 29] as the time my father brought WrestleMania home to grandfather,” said McMahon. “My grandfather never had the chance to see WrestleMania. He never got to see WrestleMania I at Madison Square Garden and he would always tell my dad, ‘Vinny, don’t rock the boat Vinny. Why do you always have to rock the boat?’

But I think that night at MetLife Stadium in front of over 80,000 people with his great grandchildren in the audience, my grandfather was not only telling my dad to not only rock that boat, but capsize it.”

Now, six years later, “The Show of Shows” will return for a second stint at the Meadowlands, which looks to be bigger than its predecessor.

Triple H

Chief operating officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque was next to take the podium. “Triple H” is perhaps best known for his building of the WWE Performance Center down in Orlando, Florida. However, the state of the art training facility has roots to the Meadowlands, as “Triple H” took a tour of the Giants’ Quest Diagnostics Center. After his visit, it drew inspiration to create a home base for future WWE superstars.

“[Quest Diagnostics Center] inspired the vision for the Performance Center,” said Levesque. “The Performance Center has been so successful, I’m proud to announce now that we have the largest, most diverse talent roster in WWE history.”

The Performance Center would pave the way for NXT to transition from a developmental system, to it’s own brand with an underground-like following. Now, they will return to the Barclays Center for their Takeover special on the Saturday before WrestleMania.

Ronda Rousey

Mixed martial artist turned full-time pro wrestler Ronda Rousey was next to take the podium. Before that, she would stare down her WrestleMania 34 adversary, “Triple H,” giving us a tease of what’s to come in New Orleans next month.

Rousey was a big-time addition to the WWE, who brings the company much more eyes to see how she will perform inside the squared circle. Rousey will play a huge part of WrestleMania 34 next month, but, as “Triple H” said, will play an integral part of WrestleMania 35. The Women’s Evolution has taken the WWE by storm, and Rousey is the next piece of the growth of women’s wrestling.

“Looking back at the progression of events that lead me here, it’s easy to see that this wasn’t an accident. It was fate that brought me here,” said Rousey. “I was destined to be part of this team and to join the Women’s Evolution and the efforts of the women in this industry.”

If you followed her UFC career, you know that Rousey was a huge fan of the late, great “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. Before his passing, Piper had gifted her with the “Rowdy” moniker. After his passing, Rosey was presented his trademark leather jacket, which she proudly wears to the ring. Piper played an integral part at the inaugural WrestleMania at the Garden, and Rousey will look to follow in his footsteps in the shadows of New York City.

“It will be an absolute honor to represent ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper just down the street from where he headlined WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden and continue his legacy,” said Rousey.

“And mark my words, this is only the beginning.”

John Cena

The final speaker at the conference, John Cena, is a mainstay of WrestleMania. The 16-time World Champion played an integral role at “The Greatest Spectacle of Sports Entertainment.” That includes his main event match at WrestleMania 29, where he defeated Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to win the WWE Championship. Add that to having matches with “Triple H,” Shawn Michaels, Dave Bautista, Edge, Randy Orton, and more, Cena has made an historical impact on WWE’s version of the Super Bowl.

“It means everything and that’s because the WWE is not just my livelihood, it is my life,” said Cena. It is a life that I have chosen. It is a life that I will choose a hundred times out of a hundred because every year, I give everything I have to the WWE and WrestleMania. Every year, the WWE and WrestleMania give back to me more than they could ever imagine.”

Just last year, Cena proposed to his now fiancee, Nikki Bella, in the middle of the ring. Cena brought Bella up to the podium, and stated he’s unsure of what he’ll be doing at WrestleMania next year, but declared he will be part of it.

“What does WrestleMania mean to me? Everything,” said Cena. “What will I do at next year’s WrestleMania? I don’t know. But I know I’m going to be there. I know I’m going to love it. I sure hope you do too.

The New Day ended the presser with Big E bringing out a plate of “Power Pancakes” and throwing them at fellow WWE superstars. Bringing an end to an nontraditional, but fun conference for WrestleMania 35.

We are just one month away from this edition of WrestleMania. As soon as the show from the SuperDome is over, all eyes will be set on MetLife Stadium. Be sure to follow Double G Sports and pro wrestling writer Daniel Yanofsky in the coming weeks and months.

Big things are on the horizon in the Metropolitan area: WrestleMania.