WWE changing start time for WrestleMania 40

Update —

Our Dave Meltzer has confirmed that both nights of WrestleMania 40 will start at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

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It looks like WrestleMania will have an earlier start time this year than it had in 2023.

WrestleVotes reported on Friday that WWE has decided that 7 p.m. Eastern will be the start time for both nights of WrestleMania 40. Each night will also have a pre-show leading into the event.

“Source states WWE has made the decision to change the WrestleMania start time,” WrestleVotes wrote. “The main card will now begin at 7pm EST, presumably with a kickoff show starting at 5pm EST. This will be for both nights of WrestleMania.”

The start time for WrestleMania 39 last year was 8 p.m. Eastern. That’s the regular start time for WWE premium live events.

WrestleMania 40 is taking place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. The show will stream live on Peacock/WWE Network.

No matches have been confirmed for WrestleMania yet, but we know that Royal Rumble winners Cody Rhodes and Bayley will be getting title shots at the event.

Both Rhodes and Bayley are set to appear on SmackDown tonight. WWE is advertising that Bayley will reveal whether she’s challenging Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley or WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY at WrestleMania.