WWE’s Elimination Chamber is expected to be sold out — or close to it — by showtime. Last week, ticket tracker WrestleTix reported that almost 13,500 tickets were distributed for the show at Chicago’s
United Center, which is set up to host 15,846 fans.
Along with two Chamber matches, hometown star CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship, which will likely drive additional ticket sales ahead of the Feb. 28 event.
Even if WWE hits its projected attendance, it will still fall far short of the 23,000-plus drawn for SummerSlam at the United Center in 1994 — a reminder of what the company has drawn there in the past.
Ticket sales on the road to WrestleMania appear softer overall. WrestleTix lists just over 5,700 tickets distributed for Raw at Boston’s TD Garden and just under 7,000 for Raw at New York’s Madison Square Garden — sharp declines from WWE’s November stops at those venues, which were boosted by John Cena’s final matches in Boston and New York.
At this time last year, WrestleMania had distributed more than 44,000 tickets for Night One and 45,000 for Night Two. This year, each night has just under 37,000 tickets distributed, per WrestleTix. WWE has Allegiant Stadium configured for just over 41,000 fans per night — about 10,000 fewer than last year — despite ultimately drawing more than 61,000 per night at the same venue in 2025.
Time to Call The Rock?
Last year, The Rock told Pat McAfee that TKO CEO Ari Emanuel called him a month before 2025’s Elimination Chamber in Toronto to discuss a potential return to the company, citing sluggish ticket sales and the event’s lack of must-see appeal as a bridge to WrestleMania. Rock’s return helped boost attendance to roughly 38,000, up from about 26,000 tickets distributed the month prior.
This year’s Chamber is on pace for a sellout, but questions remain about the broader WrestleMania build. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin will be in Las Vegas for WWE World, WWE’s fan convention. His role for the show, if any, remains unclear.
There have also been rumblings of internal criticism towards Chief Content Officer Paul Levesque and shifting creative plans — changes likely influenced in part by injuries to stars like Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker.
WWE could again turn to The Rock for a late boost, though that’s no guarantee. Fans were frustrated by his absence from last year’s WrestleMania after he appeared central to John Cena’s heel turn and storyline with Cody Rhodes. Instead, rapper Travis Scott showed up alongside Cena, leaving The Rock conspicuously absent and the show’s main event widely criticized.
Reintroducing The Rock after last year’s no-show presents another hurdle. WWE would need a clear, compelling explanation to address his absence and win back skeptical fans. Just as importantly, his return would have to seamlessly integrate into current storylines — whether alongside Cody Rhodes or another top star.
Still, The Rock remains WWE’s most bankable crossover star. The larger question isn’t whether he can move tickets — it’s whether WWE needs him to.
