There have been extensive reports over the last few days regarding issues with fan behavior towards wrestlers during WrestleMania 42 week. The most notable incident involved CM Punk, who smacked a phone out of a fan's hand. The fan had followed Bayley and AJ Lee while they were trying to have a private moment and filmed them. Bayley had already told the fan to leave, but he continued filming, which led to Punk intervening.
Reports indicate that the situation was worsened by several factors, including WWE renting out a hotel connected to a casino (now known to be the MGM Grand), which made it impossible to restrict fan access. Additionally, TKO/WWE did not hire extra security personnel.
According to Fightful Select, many talents responded to questions about security with remarks like, "What security?" It was reported that talent across the board believes WWE and TKO should provide on-site security for them when they are at a central location for major events. Generally, wrestlers handle their own hotel arrangements for most events, but for shows like WrestleMania, WWE typically provides lodging. However, many wrestlers opted for different hotels to avoid crowded fan gatherings, complicating travel arrangements for WWE.
One source noted videos and photos showing talent being approached for hugs and requested fans not to initiate physical contact with wrestlers. This is not only a matter of comfort but also of health risks. One wrestler expressed concern that the situation is worsening due to rising prices for WWE events under TKO and Fanatics, arguing that these increases make meet-and-greets less financially accessible to fans who would typically pay for such experiences.
Regarding the Punk incident, one wrestler suggested that Punk could have handled the situation more thoughtfully, given his history of physical altercations. However, many sources within WWE do not expect any legal action to follow. Other talents expressed agreement that the fan provocatively engaged in behavior that warranted Punk's reaction.
Additionally, Booker T and Sean Waltman reported being filmed or followed into bathrooms, with Waltman claiming he was physically assaulted. Many WWE talents echoed Booker’s sentiments in conversations with Fightful. Royce Keys was also filmed asking a fan to respect his time when approached for a photo. At one point, Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins had to navigate through a crowd, with Rollins needing to gently move a fan who stepped into his path. Notably, Damian Priest intervened to assist a female wrestler who was surrounded by fans shortly before the Punk incident.
One former WWE Champion noted that many fans use their children to secure autographs and, when denied, they put their phones in the wrestlers' faces to guilt them. Another star added that, given the nature of WrestleMania, it is to be expected that wrestling fans will be in town, but one prominent female wrestler stated, "It's Vegas, and we were set up for trouble from the start." She criticized WWE for failing to pre-arrange adequate security and suggested that they only act decisively after problems arise, adding that while personal security teams are appreciated, hotel security often struggles to manage ongoing issues in Las Vegas.
Overall, many talents believe that TKO and WWE need to either invest in better protection for wrestlers or begin paying for private security for them. WWE has not yet issued a comment in response to Fightful's request.
