The iconic WWE is headed to Toronto for one jam-packed weekend of action that you don’t want to miss!
Whether you’re flying, riding, or walking to meet the biggest superstars in wrestling, the ultimate showdown promises to be an unforgettable two nights for wrestling aficionados and novices alike.
It all starts on Feb. 28, when Scotiabank Arena will host the electrifying Friday Night SmackDown, featuring heavy-hitters like the Undisputed Champion “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton.
As Stratton gears up for an exhilarating battle, she says some of her most memorable moments happened right here in the 6ix.
“I won ‘Money in the Bank’ in Toronto, and I really feel like that was kind of the start of my career,” Stratton said in an interview with Now Toronto. She says her nerves leading up to the match instantly disappeared once she heard the thunderous roars of the charged up Toronto crowd.
“You can definitely tell that they love wrestling there,” she said.
“I’m excited to go back to Toronto and see what the crowd is like and how electrifying it’s going to be.”
Canada is a breeding ground for many WWE talents. Classic wrestlers like Edge and Chris Jericho come to mind, while Stratton cites Canadians Natalya and Chelsea Green as some of her favourite Northern ladies in the ring. While often looked at as a predominantly male sport, she emphasizes that wrestling has become an evolved and inclusive space for women.
“We had that big revolution for women, where we were no longer called Divas and we’re now called WWE Superstars. I feel like the women have just been thriving lately,” Stratton said.
“Women have really evolved in the wrestling world as ring competitors. And sometimes I feel like I prefer watching the women over the men!”
At Friday Night SmackDown, attendees can also look forward to witnessing WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Bianca Belair & Naomi and many more! The evening kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
Can’t get enough of the adrenaline rush? Well, WWE is springing into action at the Rogers Centre on Mar. 1 for the Elimination Chamber!
The first of its kind in the city, this also marks the first WWE event to be held at the venue since WrestleMania X8 in 2002. Featuring qualifiers CM Punk and Liv Morgan, the Elimination Chamber will also be the final appearance of 16-time champion John Cena, who will be retiring from professional wrestling at the end of the year.
“This will be one of the last times you will ever see John Cena in the ring performing… that’s going to go down in history,” Stratton stressed.
“I think seeing that in person would be insane. You could be one of the very few people to say that you saw John Cena in person on his farewell tour, and maybe you’ll even get to see him qualify for WrestleMania!”
This special showdown kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.
Stratton assures that from the thumping crowd to the up-close battle, this isn’t something that you can just catch on TV! She encourages everyone to come out to see this historic weekend, whether they’re fans or seeing a heavy-hitting match-up for the very first time.
“If you bring a friend or somebody that really doesn’t watch wrestling, I feel like they’re going to leave this venue as a new fan,” she said.
“I definitely think they’re going to fall in love with wrestling.”
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