WWE executives are evaluating modifications to the traditional Hall of Fame ceremony format for WrestleMania 41 week. The discussions follow concerns about audience retention during the 2024 ceremony in Philadelphia.
WrestleVotes revealed during a Backstage Pass Q&A that WWE noticed significant crowd departures after Paul Heyman’s speech last year. The timing of headline inductees emerged as a key factor in attendance patterns.
The only thing I can say is they were not happy with how everything happened last year in Philadelphia…in terms of the size of the crowd that was left even a half hour through. Once Paul Heyman was done speaking last year the majority of the crowd left and WWE was not thrilled with that.
Sources acknowledged the challenge of maintaining attendance throughout the ceremony, particularly given its placement during a packed event schedule.
Paul Heyman’s Loyalty to Roman Reigns Questioned Ahead of Royal Rumble
The mention of Paul Heyman’s impact at last year’s ceremony connects to current developments surrounding The Wiseman’s relationship with Roman Reigns.
During a recent SmackDown appearance, Heyman celebrated Reigns’ victory over Solo Sikoa on RAW’s Netflix debut and announced The Tribal Chief’s entry into the 2025 Royal Rumble match.
Reports suggest Heyman’s loyalty might waver at the Royal Rumble due to a potential connection with CM Punk. This situation could lead to interference during Reigns’ performance at the event, possibly setting up a WrestleMania 41 confrontation between Reigns and Punk in Las Vegas.
