U.S. Senator makes WrestleMania pitch during Ali Boxing Revival Act hearing
In a spirited hearing regarding the controversial Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act being pushed by TKO, a United States Senator decided to make a pitch for his state to host a future WrestleMania.
Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican, asked WWE president and Zuffa Boxing promoter Nick Khan what it would take for WrestleMania to come to Ohio, mentioning their soon-to-be-built domed stadium in Cleveland right across the street from a major airport.
“2029 or 2023…what’s better for you to bring WrestleMania to Cleveland?,” Moreno said, adding they hosted a “successful” SummerSlam in 2024.
Khan, who looked surprised at the pitch, played along, joking that Logan Paul pressures him weekly to bring WrestleMania to Ohio and now he has the pressure of Moreno to go along with it.
Both WWE and AEW have benefited from Ohio tax credits in recent years for bringing events to the state.
Khan was the only TKO representative at the hearing which also featured all-time great and current promoter Oscar de la Hoya who is against the revision to the Ali Act to create a new “Unified Boxing Organization” that critics feel is too similar to the UFC model and would hurt fighters.
The bill has already cleared the U.S. House of Representatives with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a Republican, saying he would bring the bill to the Senate and is open to bi-partisan modifications.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.