WWE: Backstage Update on “Targeted” Date for WrestleMania 43, Stephanie McMahon on McMahons “Were Never Supposed To Be” in WWE Hall of Fame, Paige on WWE’s Two Conditions Needed for Her Return

Apr 23, 2026

Backstage Update on “Targeted” Date for WrestleMania 43

As noted before, WWE is currently scheduled to be holding next year’s WrestleMania 43 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This would be the first time that WWE would be holding a WrestleMania event outside of the United States and Canada.

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE officials have “targeted” the weekend of March 27, 2026 for the date for WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia. This would coincide with the end of the annual Riyadh Season festival in the country.

It was reported that the weekend of April 10, 2027 is also currently on the table for the potential date for next year’s event.

It was also reported that it is possible but unlikely that WrestleMania could return to a one-night event format for WrestleMania 43. Fightful reported that WWE’s broadcast partner ESPN prefers two nights.

Stephanie McMahon Comments on McMahons “Were Never Supposed To Be” in WWE Hall of Fame

A recent episode of the What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon podcast featured Paige as the guest. One of the topics discussed included host’s McMahon’s thoughts about her recent induction into the WWE Hall of Fame and how the McMahon family were never supposed to be in the Hall of Fame.

“Well, the McMahons were never supposed to be in the Hall of Fame, as I was always brought up. You know, we were characters that were intentionally designed to get other talent over. So it was never about us. And that’s just sort of like ingrained in my brain.”

Paige gave her thoughts about her praise of McMahon being an inspirational figure and thanked her for how she’s always helped female talent.

“You’ve done so much in your career. Like, you’re very inspiring for women and anyone that’s worked, any woman or man, but just speaking from a woman’s perspective here, any woman that’s worked with you have only ever said positive things. You’re very inspirational for a boss. You are so caring, empathetic, you’re understanding, and you stick up for us as women too. You’re an advocate for us and you’ve always been like that and I always appreciated that about you.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com

Paige Comments on WWE’s Two Conditions Needed for Her Return

A recent episode of the What’s Your Story? with Stephanie McMahon podcast featured Paige as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Paige’s thoughts about the process that led to her recent return to WWE at WrestleMania 42 and the two conditions the company had in order for her return to be possible.

“So he calls Nick and within 30 minutes, Nick had said, ‘Sure, let’s get a meeting with her.’ A week later, he flies to LA to the WWE offices out there,” Paige said. “I went and met him for about 10 minutes, you know, great guy. Love him. Big fan of him. Super smart. He’s got a business brain on him.
“I thought I’d be intimidated by him. But going in there, he’s easygoing. He goes, ‘Two things — your neck has to be okay and we have to do a drug test.’ I was like, ‘Fair enough.’ I was like, ‘Hey, I can control the drug test.’ I’m clean as a whistle. And so I was like, ‘I don’t know how my neck’s been. It’s been a few years since I got it checked. The last time I got it checked, it was perfect. So I’m not really concerned about it.’ And so, the next week I fly to Birmingham.”

Paige also gave her thoughts about her missing out on all of the big moments involving WWE’s Women’s division due to her neck situation at the time.

“It was a couple of things. The fact that my neck was good. And the last time I was in WWE, my neck wasn’t, and I had to retire. And I had to miss out on all these massive things like the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, all these things I didn’t get to be a part of, even though I was part of the group that helped kind of ignite that, right? And it’s just the fact that I’m going to be okay.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com