Cody Rhodes And Timothee Chalamet Explain Why WWE Has Abandoned the Historic Hammerstein Ballroom

Once home to the iconic ECW One Night Stand 2006, Hammerstein Ballroom gets exposed by Cody Rhodes for its severe logistics problems.

Cody Rhodes And Timothee Chalamet Explain Why WWE Has Abandoned the Historic Hammerstein Ballroom

Cody Rhodes and Timothee Chalamet (via WWE and NBA)

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Professional wrestling has been shaped by many iconic venues: from Madison Square Garden to the Tokyo Dome and the Staples Center. For decades, MSG served as WWE’s home base, dating back to the early 1960s, and even hosted the very first WrestleMania in 1985. The company later returned to the arena for the 10th and 20th anniversaries of the event, solidifying the building’s legendary status.

But there’s another New York venue that, while smaller in size, rivals any wrestling arena in the world when it comes to atmosphere, history, and unforgettable moments: the Hammerstein Ballroom. 

Located just down the road from MSG, the Hammerstein has become a cult favorite thanks to its electric environment and its role in hosting some of wrestling’s most cherished shows—most notably ECW One Night Stand in 2005 and 2006.

Over the years, WWE, ECW, AEW, Ring of Honor, and several other promotions have run events at the venue. However, the Stamford-based company hasn’t returned since August 2006, when they taped an episode of their weekly ECW show there. While AEW and GCW continue to use the venue, WWE has stayed away, and now fans finally know why.

Actor Timothée Chalamet recently appeared on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, where he revealed that ECW One Night Stand 2006, held at the Hammerstein Ballroom, is his favorite wrestling pay-per-view of all time. 

The event famously featured Rob Van Dam defeating John Cena for the WWE Championship in front of one of the loudest and most passionate crowds ever assembled. Chalamet then shared that he wants to experience a show in the historic venue and even pitched the idea directly to Triple H. Unfortunately, he learned quickly why the company hasn’t returned.

I wanna go see a WWE show in the Hammerstein Ballroom. I told Triple H. He said it’s basically impossible to make money there. He said there’s one elevator you have to load everything in and out of.

Timothee Chalamet via What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast

Cody Rhodes, who has wrestled all over the world, including at Hammerstein, confirmed the logistical issues and added his own memories of how difficult the venue can be.

He’s right, and I appreciate that he actually gave you the logistics. At least he was thinking about it. The other thing is, it’s the worst backup house ever. It’s open windows, freezing, and there’s no room for anything.

Cody Rhodes via What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast

So, while the Hammerstein Ballroom carries enormous nostalgia and historical importance, the reality is that it’s a logistical nightmare for a full-scale WWE production. With only one elevator for loading equipment, cramped backstage space, and freezing temperatures thanks to open windows, the venue simply isn’t practical. 

Meanwhile, AEW is set to return to the Manhattan Center (which houses the Hammerstein Ballroom) for two end-of-year shows next month: a special ‘Dynamite: On 34th Street’ taping on December 20, 2025, and ‘Christmas Collision’ the following night. 

The venue still remains an important part of wrestling history, with promotions like ROH, TNA Wrestling, GCW, and AEW keeping its legacy alive. As for Chalamet, he will next appear as Marty Mauser, loosely based on legendary table tennis player Marty Reisman, in Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme, set to release in U.S. theaters on Christmas Day.

Cody Rhodes weighs in on his iconic WWE rivalry with Roman Reigns

At Double or Nothing 2019, Cody Rhodes made headlines across the wrestling world when he took a pointed shot at Triple H by smashing a throne with a sledgehammer, a symbolic jab at the WWE CCO’s authority and legacy. 

Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns
Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns (via WWE)

At that moment, no one could have predicted that just four years later, the same man would return to the company and ascend to become its undisputed top star. Yet that’s exactly what happened. Today, Rhodes is widely regarded as WWE’s number-one babyface. 

Often described as the company’s ‘quarterback,’ he has carried that responsibility since his emotional return at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, where he delivered an instant classic against Seth Rollins. Since then, Rhodes has battled the biggest names in the business: John Cena, Gunther, CM Punk, but his defining rivalry has been with Roman Reigns.

On the latest episode of his What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Rhodes spoke candidly about that feud. Without naming Reigns directly, he made it clear just how deep and personal their rivalry truly is.

Sometimes, the most authentic and personal stories make for great money, ticket-selling, in terms of general revenue. People will never know how real wrestling is in different aspects than just what they see in the canon and the narrative. I hate using him as an example, but my greatest rival in this company, I don’t even have to say his name, it’s as real as it could possibly get.

Cody Rhodes via What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast

Rhodes and Reigns have already etched their names in history as two-time WrestleMania headliners. They traded victories at WrestleMania 39 and 40, with Rhodes finally ending Reigns’ iconic 1,316-day title reign last year. 

Their latest interaction came at Survivor Series, where they were teammates in the men’s WarGames match, yet the show ended with clear tension between them. A third major showdown between the two is in WWE’s long-term plans, though not necessarily for WrestleMania 42.

This weekend, Rhodes will step into the ring with NXT Champion Oba Femi at Saturday Night’s Main Event in an exhibition clash between the top champions of both brands. Meanwhile, Rhodes continues his feud with Drew McIntyre as the Scottish Warrior hunts for another shot at the WWE Championship.

From smashing a throne to becoming the face of the company, Rhodes’ journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. And with his rivalry with Reigns still simmering, the story is far from over.

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