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| source// wwe.com |
WrestleMania is a brand name that has grown to define Vince McMahon’s business success. Using the novel concept of closed circuit television back in the 1980’s, McMahon created the opportunity for wrestling shows to expand far beyond just ticket sales.
The first Mania was the bet of his life. He could have easily lost it all on the megashow, but instead he found a success that served as the foundation for the WWF as a mega promotion. Off the back of Hulkamania, Vince was on to a business model that would come to create millions and millions of riches.
The Mania concept evolved into pay-per-view, with big stadium shows becoming the home of WWE’s most prestigious matches. While the level of business did dip in the mid-nineties, by the start of the new millennium Vince was back to producing successful WrestleMania cards. The brand has grown to a point where the name alone sells the event. What’s changed is that the PPV format has become an over-the-top digital means of distribution thanks to the WWE Network.
In looking back to the PPV days, these were the most successful WrestleMania events of all time.
10. WrestleMania 25 – 960,000 Buys
Main Event – Randy Orton Vs Triple H
The WrestleMania 25 line up wasn’t even that strong, but by 2009 the brand was over enough to sell regardless of matches. The main event in particular was arguably one of WWE’s weakest ever headliners. Fans were bored of Triple H in main events, and Randy Orton just wasn’t hot enough. The creative in the build up had been woeful. The 960,000 buys is proof that WrestleMania can draw no matter what is main eventing, although it was down from the year previous, so fans did send some level of message to WWE about unhappiness with the booking.
For the wrestling purist, the big reason to buy was The Undertaker versus Shawn Michaels. And it beyond delivered, ending up as one of the best WWE matches of all time. However, it is worth noting, the rematch at WrestleMania 26 saw buys drop to 885,000.
9. WrestleMania 22 – 975,000 Buys
Main Event – John Cena Vs Triple H
WrestleMania 22 came at a time when the ‘Mania brand was really breaking out as an attraction in its own right, and it was also a time when a new generation of stars was emerging. It was John Cena’s first time closing WrestleMania, and he was working an established megastar in Triple H.
Also powering the event to an impressive 975,000 buys was a series of solid undercard offerings. Edge versus Mick Foley in a hardcore bout was of significant appeal to bloodthirsty fans of the hardcore renaissance that was taking hold in 2006. Likewise, Mr McMahon versus Shawn Michaels had a feeling of the Attitude Era to it. Rey Mysterio’s title chase against Randy Orton and Kurt Angle was also appealing, although the match ended up a nine-minute disappointment.
8. WrestleMania 20 – 1,007,000 Buys
Main event – Triple H Vs Chris Benoit Vs Shawn Michaels
WrestleMania 20 was pushed for a full year and ended up pulling one of the most impressive buy rates of the early 2000’s. Particularly when you consider how the company suffered on PPV in the rest of 2004.
A lot of what sold it was sentiment and nostalgia. WWE heavily marketed it as “Where it all begins.. again” with the idea they were returning to Madison Square Garden twenty years after the first show and ten years after WrestleMania 10. It was also the return of the vintage Undertaker character, in addition to featuring big names like The Rock and Mick Foley returning.
Brock Lesnar versus Goldberg, and Eddie Guerrero versus Kurt Angle served as co-main events, but what really stole the show was Chris Benoit winning the title from Triple H in a triple threat also involving Shawn Michaels. It was one of the best WWE matches of all time.
7. WrestleMania 17 – 1,040,000 Buys
Main Event – Steve Austin Vs The Rock
WrestleMania 17 was very much the pinnacle of the Attitude Era. With Steve Austin versus The Rock as the main event, it pulled 1,040,000 buys, up significantly from the 824,000 of WrestleMania 2000.
It also ranks as the greatest WrestleMania ever. There wasn’t a bad match on the card, and several of the bouts ended up being considered timeless classics. There was The Undertaker versus Triple H, Chris Benoit versus Kurt Angle, the TLC II match, and of course, the main event.
The star power was evident, with numerous big names in the prime of their careers. However, the shock Austin heel turn is seen as one of the factors that then caused business to tumble. In many ways, WrestleMania 17 was an end of an era.
6. WrestleMania 29 – 1,048,000 Buys
Main Event – The Rock Vs John Cena #II
Despite its 1,048,000 buys, WrestleMania 29 was considered a box office disappointment. It was down considerably from WrestleMania 28, with The Rock versus John Cena “twice in a lifetime” main event not resonating as much as it had done the previous year. Still, with over a million buys, it was hardly a disaster for WWE.
The event also marked Brock Lesnar’s first Mania since re-joining from UFC. He’d become the biggest PPV draw on the planet when in MMA, so it may have been considered a disappointment that he didn’t illuminate the Mania buys more. Maybe it was due to the lame booking, which had him in a boring feud against Triple H. He even did the job on the night. Having done 1,600,000 buys for UFC 100 a few years earlier, WWE had squandered some of Brock’s value.
Mania 29 also featured CM Punk versus The Undertaker, with The Streak as always playing an important part in Mania’s appeal.
5. WrestleMania 24 – 1,058,000 Buys
Main Event – The Undertaker Vs Edge
WrestleMania 24 is a great example of how the modern day supershow draws. It wasn’t just about The Undertaker versus Edge main event, it was the whole range of matches and Mania brand name that carried the 2008 show to 1,058,000 buys.
A significant factor was Floyd Mayweather. The legendary boxer is the definition of a pay-per-view sensation, and for WWE to book him against Big Show was a major coup. He brought a whole load of mainstream interest, and it had only been a year earlier that he’d earned 2,400,000 PPV buys for his boxing match with Oscar De Lay Hoya.
Also at Mania 24, was Shawn Michaels versus Ric Flair, in an emotionally charged match that ended up being one of the best performances in Mania history.
4. WrestleMania 27 – 1,059,000 Buys
Main Event – John Cena Vs The Miz
WrestleMania 27 was promoted around The Rock’s return to WWE as host of the event. That was more key to the buys than the dire Miz versus John Cena main event.
It was actually a terrible card, but the Mania name and Rock helped to ensure the quality didn’t matter. The only real match of note was The Undertaker versus Triple H, with fans sold on the idea that Hunter was going to avenge Shawn Michaels and end the Streak. It ended up being a top rate performance, which saved an otherwise bland WrestleMania.
3. WrestleMania 21 – 1,085,000 Buys
Main Event – Batista Vs Triple H
In 2005, WrestleMania went Hollywood, with the event taking place in Los Angeles amidst a blitz of publicity. The show benefited from all the media and mainstream interest that comes with the L.A market.
Main eventing was Batista versus Triple H, in one of the most organic and engaging storylines WWE has ever done in a Mania build. Fans just couldn’t wait to see Batista kick Triple H’s ass, and the PPV buys reflected that interest.
The show also featured John Cena chasing down JBL for the WWE Title, Randy Orton challenging The Undertaker’s Streak, and Kurt Angle versus Shawn Michaels in a long-awaited dream match. It is easy to see why the event appealed to so many people; it had something for everyone.
2. WrestleMania 23 – 1,200,000 Buys
Main Event – John Cena Vs Shawn Michaels
Key to WrestleMania 23’s fantastic 1,200,000 buyrate was Donald Trump. It was genius of WWE to promote Trump versus Vince McMahon, with a hair versus hair stipulation. Umaga representing McMahon, and Bobby Lashley representing Trump, it was one of the most intriguing sells in WrestleMania history, with fans eager to see which one of the two billionaires would be shaved bald.
From the wrestling purist perspective, the show was also strong. John Cena versus Shawn Michaels was a great match up, and The Undertaker versus Batista had the selling point of pitting Taker’s Streak versus Batista’s World Title.
1. WrestleMania 28 – 1,217,000 Buys
Main Event – John Cena Vs The Rock
It is fitting that the greatest WrestleMania buy rate of all time belongs to The Rock and John Cena.
WrestleMania 28 had a year long build up, with the greatest star of his generation, against the greatest star of all time. It was a promotional master class, with the event feeling like an absolute must-see and getting over with a mainstream audience. There was a greater sense of occasion to it, with the “once in a lifetime” tag making it feel like it had to be seen.
Also on the card was a rematch between The Undertaker and Triple H, this time with a Hell In A Cell stipulation and Shawn Michaels as special referee. With three big names, a huge stipulation, and the threat of the Streak ending, it made for an enthralling storyline and match.
Also featured on the card was CM Punk defending the WWE Title against Chris Jericho, but really, this show and its success all comes down to John Cena and The Rock.
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