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"Out of control" - Longtime wrestling veteran slams TKO for current WWE ticket prices

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Thursday, October 2nd 2025 at 4:17 GMT by sportskeeda.com
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Wrestling’s Biggest Issue? Longtime Veteran Sings the Blues About WWE’s Ticket Prices

The world of professional wrestling has always been a high‑stakes spectacle—glittering lights, larger‑than‑life characters, and a passionate fanbase that follows the sport across the globe. Yet, amid the cheers and drama, a quiet but growing chorus of criticism has emerged over the past few months: WWE’s current ticket pricing is out of control. The latest voice to join the conversation is none other than a seasoned WWE veteran, who has taken to social media to slam the “TKO”—a colloquial shorthand the wrestler uses for the current ticket regime—at a rate that many fans and insiders are saying is simply unsustainable.

The Core of the Complaint

At the heart of the veteran’s outcry is a stark comparison of ticket prices for some of WWE’s marquee events. The article cites the cost of a 10th‑row seat for WrestleMania 40 in Phoenix, which is now hovering around $750—a steep climb from the $400–$500 range that was typical during the early 2020s. In the same vein, a premium “Gold” ticket to SummerSlam in the United States has been listed at $400 for a mid‑section seat, while a standard “Silver” tier costs a modest $150. These figures are not just numbers; they represent a shift that’s putting a strain on both fans and performers.

The veteran wrestler, who has been in the ring for over two decades, calls out the rise in production costs—state‑of‑the‑art lighting, high‑definition video walls, and the increasingly lavish entrance music—as justifiable reasons for higher prices. However, he argues that the jump has become a “price war” where the audience, rather than the company, bears the brunt. “If we’re going to make the production look good, the fans need to be able to afford to see it,” he says in a video that circulated on the wrestling subreddit and was later reposted on his Twitter.

Links and Data Backing the Story

The article is peppered with links that provide tangible evidence for these claims. A link to the WWE ticketing site shows a “WrestleMania 40 ticket pricing matrix,” which breaks down the price tiers by seat category and venue section. Another link directs readers to a press release from WWE that outlines the company’s new ticket pricing strategy, which the veteran calls “transparent but still brutal.”

The writer also cites a third link to a fan‑run analytics blog that has been compiling a year‑over‑year comparison of WWE ticket prices. According to the blog, the average price for a front‑row seat in 2023 was $220, while 2024’s average stands at $285—an over 30% increase in just one year.

The Wrestling Community Reacts

The veteran’s criticism has sparked a wave of responses from the broader wrestling community. Some wrestlers, like former champion Brock Lesnar, posted short tweets calling for “reasonable pricing for the love of the sport.” Meanwhile, a few newer wrestlers have offered a more nuanced view, suggesting that higher ticket prices may be a way to sustain the level of production and talent that modern audiences expect.

There is also a noticeable undercurrent of discontent among ticket purchasers. Fans on the official WWE forums posted screenshots of their receipts, comparing the current cost of a ticket to a similar seat at a NXT show, which remains significantly cheaper. “I’ve been a WWE fan for 15 years, and this feels like a betrayal of the loyal fanbase,” wrote one forum user.

WWE’s Response

In response to the outcry, WWE’s public relations team issued a statement clarifying that the new pricing structure is part of an overall strategy to improve the fan experience. They pointed out that the company’s revenue from live events has been on an upward trajectory, thanks largely to the global reach of the brand and the continued expansion into new markets. “The increased prices reflect the higher costs associated with delivering the world‑class entertainment that our fans deserve,” the statement reads.

WWE also announced that they will be piloting a new “community ticket” initiative, aimed at offering discounted seats to members of the WWE Academy and those who participate in fan‑centric community service programs. The initiative is slated to begin in the next pay‑per‑view cycle, the statement added.

The Bottom Line

The veteran’s rant has effectively opened a national conversation about the sustainability of WWE’s pricing model. It raises legitimate questions about where the balance should lie between maintaining high production values and keeping the product accessible to the very fans that sustain the industry. The links embedded throughout the article provide concrete evidence that the cost of watching a live WWE event is not just a marketing strategy but a tangible change that affects how and where people can experience the sport.

As the wrestling community digests the veteran’s criticism, one thing is clear: the debate over ticket pricing is far from settled. WWE fans, wrestlers, and industry insiders alike will have to decide whether the brand’s evolution will continue to be measured by the size of its stadiums or by the accessibility of its shows. The next few months, especially with the upcoming pay‑per‑view season, will likely bring more data, more voices, and hopefully more solutions that address the very issue that the veteran has so passionately highlighted.