Feb 28, 2025 - 20:59
By cbc.ca

After 23 years, WWE wrestling comes home to the dome this weekend in Toronto

Wrestling's new era is coming to Toronto this weekend, as the WWE returns to the city's largest venue for the first time in 23 years.

Rogers Centre will play host to the World Wrestling Entertainment's "elimination chamber" event on Saturday, featuring superstars like the Rock and John Cena, now well into his retirement tour.

It's hallowed ground for Toronto wrestling fans, who, depending on their age, will remember the World Wrestling Federation's WrestleMania X8 event there in 2002 or WrestleMania VI in 1990.

With Netflix now the exclusive hot of WWE programs such as Monday Night Raw, bringing wrestling back under the dome represents both the sport's growing popularity among a new group of devotees — and a nostalgic homecoming for Toronto fans.

"To me, it's still the SkyDome," said Canadian wrestler Sami Zayn, who remembers driving to Toronto to watch wrestling before going pro himself.

Zayn, who is set to compete against fellow Canadian wrestler Kevin Owens on Saturday at the Rogers Centre, called the upcoming event "one of those perpetual, sort of can-you-believe-it moments."

CENA. ROCK. SCOTT. It's going to be one unforgettable night in Toronto TOMORROW at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWEChamber?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWEChamber</a>!