What Is WrestleMania?
WrestleMania is World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) biggest event of the year. It is the longest-running and most successful wrestling event in the world, available for viewers to watch each year via pay-per-view (PPV). Read on to learn more about WrestleMania, including its history and format.
WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a two-day wrestling event that features the top superstars in the WWE. It is typically held in late March or early April. The event comprises several wrestling matches, some of which are between bitter rivals and others that are for championship belts. The WWE reserves several matches in advance, typically through call-outs between rivals in both the Raw and SmackDown promotions. In 2023, WrestleMania 39 is taking place at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The most anticipated match this year is between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.
History
The first-ever WrestleMania was held on March 31, 1985 in New York City, New York. The project was a collaboration between WWE chairman Vince McMahon and wrestler Howard Finkel. The main spectacle of that first competition was a tag team match with actor-wrestler Mr. T and WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan. The event was so successful that it began being held at bigger scales and even more venues for successive events throughout the rest of the 80s and 90s.
In 2014, WrestleMania became a live-streamed event so that fans from around the world could attend. As their flagship event, WWE Network held exclusive rights for showcasing the event every year. The only exception to this dual legacy was in 2020 when WrestleMania 36 was held only for online viewers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, in-person attendance resumed and the streaming service Peacock bought the rights to stream WrestleMania.
Format
WrestleMania is an annual event that features the best superstars from the WWE competing in a series of matches. The format of WrestleMania has changed over the years, but always features multiple undercard matches before the main events. The Raw WWE Championship and SmackDown Universal Championship are often competed for at WrestleMania, with the incumbent forced to defend their title on the biggest stage.
WrestleMania does not have annual matches that are contested. Instead, the lineup for each WrestleMania is decided throughout the season with wrestlers calling their rivals out for a showdown at the annual event. In the 2010s, Wrestlemania expanded to a series of events over several days, including a WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony.
Notable Wrestlers
Almost all of the biggest names in wrestling history have competed at WrestleMania. The WrestleMania stage is considered the biggest in the sport, leading to the top superstars all vying for spots in the event. Here are some of the notable wrestlers who have competed at WrestleMania:
- Brock Lesnar
- Edge
- John Cena
- Hulk Hogan
- Roman Reigns
- The Rock
- The Undertaker
- Triple H
Special Guests
In addition to matches by the WWE’s best wrestlers, many celebrities and musicians have performed or appeared at WrestleMania. In fact, the first WrestleMania featured MLB first baseman Billy Martin as the ring announcer, pop singer Liberace as timekeeper, and legendary boxer Muhammed Ali as an official. Bad Bunny made an appearance in WrestleMania 37, participating in a tag team match with Priest against the Miz and Morrison. In addition to these athletes, WrestleMania has featured live musical performances from a wide range of artists, including Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Little Richard, Snoop Dogg, and Machine Gun Kelly.
FAQ
What is WrestleMania?
WrestleMania is the most successful and longest-running wrestling event in the world. It was first held in 1985 at Madison Square Garden in New York City and featured a match between Mr. T and Hulk Hogan. The event has occurred every spring since then and has been live-streamed since 2014.