
Ep. 273: Has WWE Lost Its Smile? (w/ Mike Bessler)
From Pro Wrestling Illustrated Presents by Pro Wrestling Illustrated
April 3, 2026 · 1h 33m · Episode 283
About this episode
The episode discusses WWE's creative direction and fan engagement leading up to WrestleMania 42 with insights from guest Mike Bessler.
Are we living in a pro wrestling version of Groundhog Day, where we have this same conversation every year, or has WWE's creative team done a lackluster job of building excitement for WrestleMania 42? PWI Contributing Writer Mike Bessler joins Al Castle & Brian R. Solomon for a review of how the card is shaping up, plus a critical look at ticket prices and the perception that the company has "turned heel" against its loyal fans (among other topics).
People in this episode
Hosts: Al Castle, Brian R. Solomon
Guest: Mike Bessler
Topics covered
- WWE
- WrestleMania 42
- pro wrestling
- ticket prices
- fan perception
- creative team
Keywords
- WWE
- WrestleMania
- pro wrestling
- ticket prices
- fan engagement
- Mike Bessler
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: WWE
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