D-Von Dudley has shared new insight into how WrestleMania comes together behind the scenes, detailing everything from when matches are finalized to how talent is paid for WWE’s biggest event.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Dudley explained that even the wrestlers themselves are not locked into plans far in advance. While there may be early ideas, the full card is not finalized until much closer to the show.

“Well, I’m probably going to say, as talent, you really don’t know that far in advance. You might know what you’re doing or the possibility of who you might be working with, but as far as knowing the whole card at WrestleMania—no, we do not know that. It’s pretty much locked in, I would say, probably about a month out of WrestleMania—that’s when you really know who you’re working with. So you really don’t know that far in advance. There’s always a chance that they might change it.”

He added that producers are also working with shifting plans until the final weeks leading into the event.

“For that being said, the producers don’t really know until maybe about a month and a half to almost two months prior to WrestleMania. I would definitely say we do know within the last three weeks before WrestleMania. That’s when we start to get it in our heads, get our creative juices flowing, and help the talent make that story really good—especially for a WrestleMania card.”

Dudley also spoke about the financial side of WrestleMania, confirming that the event brings significantly larger payouts compared to regular shows.

“You’re damn right we do. Think about it—all the people in those seats, they can upcharge the front row and all those seats around it for more money. That’s a big plus right there. Not to mention all the sponsorships that want to get involved with WrestleMania, which helps the boys make more money. Not everybody is breaking down the door to advertise on Raw, SmackDown, or a live event—but they do for WrestleMania.”

He described how those bonuses are delivered to talent.

“The WrestleMania payoffs—we’d get paid like a month later. You’d get your Monday Night Raw check, your SmackDown check, your live event check—and then all of a sudden, right underneath it would say ‘WrestleMania bonus.’ And bam—there was your payoff.”

Beyond the event itself, Dudley highlighted the atmosphere after the show, noting that the afterparty is more relaxed than fans might expect.

“The afterparty is just us—the boys, the family—getting together. People we haven’t seen in years. It’s like going to a family reunion, so to speak. You’re happy to see each other. You don’t have to worry about signing autographs or taking pictures for fans.”

Dudley’s comments offer a detailed look at how WrestleMania is put together, showing that even WWE’s biggest show is subject to late changes, high financial stakes, and a tight-knit environment once the cameras are off.

D-Von Dudley Reveals WrestleMania Secrets on Match Planning and Paydays

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