Summary

A new report says WWE has been limiting comp ticket access for WrestleMania 42, even as lower ticket sales became part of the on-air conversation during SmackDown. The report said talent have been told the company is being especially strict about complimentary tickets for this year's event.

That reportedly includes talent being told they may receive approval for only one night of WrestleMania 42, with final decisions coming close to the show itself. WrestleMania 42 is set for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the second straight year.

Quotes

Quote from Bryan Alvarez

"WWE still claiming at least to a lot of people that there are no comps this year even though they're making fun of their own low attendance on Smackdown."

Quote from Sean Ross Sapp

"Accurate. They're being very strict on these to talent. Some were told they'll only get them for one day and they'll learn very close to the show if they're approved. That's largely been the TKO policy for the last couple of years."

What The WrestleMania 42 Policy Could Mean

WrestleMania 42 already has unusual scrutiny around attendance, so a strict comp policy suggests WWE is still trying to protect as much paid demand as possible going into the weekend. If approvals are not being finalized until the last minute, that also points to the company keeping tighter central control over talent access than many wrestlers may have been used to in prior years.

That approach fits a broader corporate tightening around WrestleMania season, which has become a larger talking point across several recent stories. It also adds another layer to the atmosphere around WWE's biggest event of the year, where even internal ticket access is reportedly being handled carefully. For a reminder of how much pressure can surround the company's flagship show, Brian Gewirtz previously reflected on the fallout from WrestleMania 2000 and the road to WrestleMania X-7.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.