# @wrestlingnewsco on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DYBHlt4gP10
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/65164879-wrestlingnewsco-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f8b63745bf.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-05-07T00:33:43.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Wrestling News - WWE, AEW (@wrestlingnewsco) — https://gondola.cc/wrestlingnewsco

## Caption

TKO President Mark Shapiro pushed back on fan and investor criticism of WWE's recent WrestleMania ticket performance and creative direction during the company's first-quarter 2026 earnings call on Wednesday.
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Shapiro called WWE WrestleMania 42 "a highly successful and profitable event," with more than 106,000 fans across two nights in Las Vegas and financial incentive package economics "meaningfully ahead of last year."
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"We are not concerned about the ticket performance whatsoever, as it was unrealistic to expect year two growth in Las Vegas," Shapiro said. "WrestleMania 42 was still one of the highest gates in WWE history, and easily outperformed anywhere else we could have staged it."
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On the creative criticism, Shapiro said, "There will always be periodic fan dissatisfaction around creative execution, commercial load and celebrity usage. We listen to all the feedback. We do not turn a deaf ear. But these are not new criticisms."
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Asked about WWE's commercial integration push, Shapiro pointed to Hollywood and other major sports leagues. "It's no different than Hollywood. When you go to the movie theater and you see the prices rising for admission and popcorn and candy. Look at major league baseball. The Dodgers just put a naming rights partner on the field at historic Dodger Stadium."
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Shapiro emphasized that the WWE product comes first. "Our product comes first, and marketers around the world recognize that our product, especially at WWE, is strong, and our audience there is particularly unique. It's young, it's diverse, it's hard to reach, it's super passionate."
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WWE segment revenue for Q1 2026 was $475.7 million, up 22 percent year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA was $256.1 million, up 32 percent.
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#WWE #MarkShapiro #WrestleMania42 #TKO #ProWrestling

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## Tags

prowrestling, wrestlemania42, tko, markshapiro, wwe

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