During the first 2026 episode of the Rikishi Fatu Off The Top Podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi discussed the current state of the professional wrestling business, specifically addressing the rising cost of attending live events. While acknowledging the positive financial developments for active talent, Rikishi expressed concern regarding the accessibility of tickets for average families under the current TKO Group Holdings ownership.
The segment began with a reflection on what Rikishi learned about the industry throughout 2025. He noted that the business has a “whole new different vibe” and expressed satisfaction that current wrestlers are earning significant money and enjoying improved schedules. However, he contrasted these internal improvements with the external experience of the consumer, particularly regarding ticket pricing.
“As far as I feel the paydays and how the company is structured now… I am not too sure about the ticket prices with TKO,” Rikishi stated. He detailed personal difficulties he has encountered when attempting to secure tickets for his own family members, a process he described as having become significantly more complicated than in previous years.
“Because I have even my family members like now we can’t even… they will usually call me for tickets, but it is too difficult now,” Rikishi explained. “There are a lot of loopholes you have to go through… even though I am not with the company full time, but I am still in the legends contract with the WWE. So you would think that family members and friends, close friends, to get comp tickets. You still have those, but there is no comp ticket.”
Rikishi noted that while discounts might be available, the base price of tickets has risen to a level where a percentage reduction does not make a significant difference for a working-class family. He presented a hypothetical scenario of a family of five attempting to attend a show, suggesting that the costs are prohibitive for many.
“I could probably try to get like a discounted, but I don’t know what is discount nowadays,” Rikishi said. “Like $1,000 ticket, that is still for a family of five, a man working nine to five through the whole week, and the whole family loves wrestling. It is very difficult to be able to take a family to events where I know back in the day for us, tickets were like $25, $50. Front row seats were $75 or something like that. But now for that? You really got to hit the lottery. They even sit up in the nosebleeds.”
He clarified that while fans often approach him with complaints about ticket prices, he has no control over that aspect of the business. “I hear you guys’ concerns, but I am not the guy,” he said.
In addition to ticket issues, Rikishi recounted a recent interaction with security at a WWE venue that illustrated the stricter protocols now in place. Despite his status as a Hall of Famer and the father of Jey and Jimmy Uso, Rikishi described being stopped at the entrance because his name did not appear on a specific security list.
“I was coming through the back and coming to come see my kids… and you know, bless their heart, security is over there that works for the [venue], they just doing their job,” Rikishi said. “So now they got like a long list and stuff… and I told ‘Rikishi’, and then he says ‘I’… so he is looking. I knew my name wasn’t on the list, but I knew there was a Fatu on there, because I got three boys.”
Rikishi stated that he ultimately had to produce his physical Hall of Fame ring and pass to prove his identity and gain entry. “I said, ‘Here you go. Here is my pass right here,’ and I showed him a Hall of Fame [ring]. [He said] ‘Oh, well, damn, that is all you had to do. Go ahead, man.'”
Reflecting on the incident and the general changes in policy, Rikishi expressed a belief that Hall of Famers should be afforded more seamless access. “It has definitely changed,” he remarked. “I think all Hall of Famers when they come to WWE events, we should get the red carpet. I mean everything. I want it all. Y’all help build that company.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Rikishi Fatu Off The Top with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
