WWE announces WrestleMania 40 kickoff event

Before WrestleMania, WWE is holding a kickoff event in Philadelphia.

It was announced during SmackDown last night that a WrestleMania 40 kickoff fan event will take place next Friday (April 5). The event will feature wrestlers speaking in advance of their WrestleMania matches.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Michael Cole, Pat McAfee, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Gunther, and Sami Zayn are advertised to appear.

The kickoff event is being held outside of the Wells Fargo Center and is free for fans to attend. It begins at 5 p.m. Eastern time and will stream live on Peacock and on WWE’s social media platforms.

Cole and McAfee are hosting the kickoff event.

SmackDown and the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony are both taking place at the Wells Fargo Center on April 5. Lincoln Financial Field will then host WrestleMania 40 on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7.

It was also announced last night that Cole, McAfee, CM Punk, Big E, Jackie Redmond, and Wade Barrett will be hosting WWE’s Countdown to WrestleMania pre-shows leading into both nights of WrestleMania 40. The pre-show broadcasts will air from 5-7 p.m. Eastern time on April 6 and April 7.

7 p.m. Eastern is the start time for each night of WrestleMania.