ESPN reporter Andreas Hale says he won’t be covering WrestleMania 42 this weekend, and according to him, the decision came directly from WWE.
Hale took to X to reveal that he was denied credentials for WWE’s biggest event of the year, which takes place across two nights at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The announcement caught attention quickly, especially given Hale’s history covering wrestling for ESPN and sharing strong opinions about WWE programming. He made the situation clear with a direct message explaining that he would not be part of the coverage team for WrestleMania weekend.
“I will not be covering #WrestleMania for ESPN. WWE denied my credentials and blocked my access.”
Hale didn’t stop there. He followed up by saying neither he nor ESPN were given an explanation, leaving fans and industry watchers guessing about what led to the decision.
“Neither I nor ESPN has been told why. You can speculate on the reasons, but if you want answers, ask WWE. Let me know what they tell you.”
Hale previously drew major attention for his coverage of WWE’s first premium live event under the ESPN deal, WrestlePalooza. The show was meant to launch the reported $1.6 billion partnership in a big way, but technical issues left many fans unable to stream the event. After the show aired, Hale published a review that didn’t hold back.
He praised one match in particular — the Women’s World Championship bout between IYO SKY and Stephanie Vaquer — while making it clear the rest of the show didn’t live up to expectations.
“The excellent Vaquer vs. Sky match saved this show from being truly average. It was a phenomenal display inside the squared circle.”
Hale ultimately gave WrestlePalooza an overall C grade, noting that several matches failed to deliver and some felt more like setups for future programs than meaningful moments.
“Everything else was either underwhelming (the short Rhodes-McIntyre match) or a setup for a future match (Lesnar dominating Cena). For a card that promised to have epic moments, it fell a little short of expectations.”
That review became a talking point among fans because it came from within ESPN itself, the same network tied to WWE through its major media deal. The event also faced widespread frustration due to streaming problems, login confusion, and access limitations that affected viewers across multiple platforms.
WrestleMania 42 takes place across two nights on April 18 and April 19 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, making it the biggest WWE event of the year. With global attention locked on the show, Hale’s claim that he was denied access has added another layer of conversation surrounding media coverage during WrestleMania weekend.
WWE has not publicly addressed Hale’s comments as of now, leaving questions about whether his past reviews or opinions played any role in the situation — or if there were other factors behind the credential decision.
WrestleMania week always brings headlines, but this situation created a different kind of spotlight, raising questions about media access and how criticism is handled in a new era of WWE coverage tied to major broadcast partners.
WrestleMania week always brings headlines, but this situation created a different kind of conversation about media access and who gets through the door for WWE’s biggest show of the year.
Do you think WWE should explain why Andreas Hale says he was denied credentials? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.