Once upon a time, professional wrestling was a regional attraction. Several promoters across the United States ran events, and today’s “sports entertainment” maintained a carnival-like atmosphere prior to the 1980s.
When Vince McMahon took control of his father’s World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1982, he saw a bigger vision: pro wrestling standing alongside the great spectacles in all of entertainment. He reportedly almost went broke for the first WrestleMania in 1985, and again for WrestleMania 3 two years later. His gambles paid off. WWE now is one of the biggest entertainment companies in the world, producing everything from television to music, movies and merchandise.
WrestleMania is WWE’s flagship event. These moments put WrestleMania onto the mainstream entertainment radar and show the evolution of pro wrestling.
WrestleMania 1: Beginning of the Spectacle
Hulk Hogan shows off his 24-inch pythons at the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1985. AP Photo
Date: March 31, 1985
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.
Attendance: 19,121*
From the beginning, WrestleMania was designed to showcase the superstars as some of the world’s biggest attractions. Vince McMahon set out to do this by bringing in celebrities from across the entertainment spectrum.
Mr. T, Muhammad Ali, Liberace, Cyndi Lauper and a host of others appeared at the inaugural showcase.
The tradition of surprise appearances has continued ever since.
*Attendance figures are provided by WWE and account for all attendance, paid or otherwise. Because of this, some figures have been disputed.
WrestleMania 2: NFL vs. WWF
Chicago Bears defensive lineman William Perry, right, lands a punch on pro wrestler Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart during the battle royal at Wrestlemania 2 in 1986 in Rosemont, Ill. Perry eventually was thrown from the ring in the event, which Andre the Giant won. Charlie Bennett / AP Photo
Date: April 7, 1986
Locations: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y.
Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Ill.
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, Calif.
Attendance: 40,085 (combined)
This show often gets overlooked, but McMahon was ambitious in trying to orchestrate an event at three distinct locations across the country.
The highlight of the show has to be the NFL vs. WWF battle royal, featuring NFL several players, including Jimbo Covert, Bill Fralic, Russ Francis, Ernie Holmes, Harvey Martin and William “The Refrigerator” Perry.
There also were three special referees: Robert Conrad, Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Dick Butkus.
WrestleMania 3: Hogan and Andre
Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant battle at WrestleMania 3 in 1987. WWE
Date: March 29, 1987
Location: Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Mich.
Attendance: 93,173
This rivalry was the first great storyline of the WrestleMania era.
And it could have not have come at a better time for the WWF, with the promotion set to embark on a massive endeavor entering the nearly 100,000-seat Pontiac Silverdome.
The way Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant built their feud culminated in one of the most iconic images in wrestling history, when Hogan slammed the Giant to the mat, giving him his first loss in more than a decade.
WrestleMania 4: Ooooooooh Yeaaaaaah!
Real estate developer Donald Trump, in 1988, holds the World Wrestling Federation championship belt to promote WrestleMania 4 as he is flanked by wrestlers Hulk Hogan, left, and Andre the Giant. Susan Ragan / AP Photo
Date: March 27, 1988
Location: Historic Atlantic City Convention Hall, Atlantic City, N.J.
Attendance: 19,199
When Macho Man Randy Savage stood in the ring celebrating his newly won WWF title with Hogan, the moment signified the deserved realization of a childhood dream and the beginning of one of the most captivating story arcs in wrestling history.
The two formed an uber-effective alliance over the next year.
Until things changed.
WrestleMania 6: The Ultimate Challenge
Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior prepare to exchange pleasantries at WrestleMania 6 in 1990. WWE / YouTube
Date: April 1, 1990
Location: SkyDome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Attendance: 67,678
The Ultimate Warrior was another challenger to Hogan for the WWF throne and appeared to be the most legitimate threat to that spot.
With both starring as white-hot babyfaces (“good guys,” in wrestling parlance), they entered WrestleMania 6 for a title vs. title showdown. Since Hogan wanted to take a break from wrestling, Ultimate Warrior came out on top, as Hogan appeared to pass the torch.
But Warrior did not stick for long, and future WrestleManias played off this same concept.
WrestleMania 7: Elizabeth … Will You Marry Me?
Elizabeth beats up Sherri Martel at WrestleMania 7 in 1991. YouTube
Date: March 24, 1991
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, Calif.
Attendance: 16,158
In another twist and turn in the relationship of “Macho Man” Savage and Elizabeth, the newly crowned Macho King squared off against Ultimate Warrior in a retirement match.
Savage was, at the time, accompanied to the ring by Sherri Martel. During the match, the camera showed Elizabeth in the crowd, concerned for Savage throughout the match.
When Savage lost and was forced into retirement, Martel came into the ring to attack him, which prompted a rage-filled Elizabeth to jump the ring and beat the life out of Martel.
Elizabeth and Savage reunited in a moment afterward that brought tears to many in the audience.
WrestleMania 8: Four of the Greats
Hulk Hogan looks for someone to hit at WrestleMania 8 in 1992. WWE
Date: April 5, 1992
Location: Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Ind.
Attendance: 62,167
WrestleMania 8 was a different kind of spectacle than the previous shows. With a fairly lackluster storyline involving Hulk Hogan and Sid Justice, two matches on the undercard shine.
“Macho Man” Savage went head to head with Ric Flair, after Flair spent weeks taunting Savage about an alleged past relationship with Elizabeth.
And seasoned veteran Roddy Piper squared off with a young Bret Hart.
Both these matches are two of the best in the event’s history. Hart’s fight particularly stands out as he put his name on the map by taking the Intercontinental belt away from Hot Rod.
WrestleMania 9: Hogan Must Post
Mr. Fuji and Yokozuna gang up on Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 9 in 1993. WWE / YouTube
Date: April 4, 1993
Location: Caesar’s Palace, Paradise, Nev.
Attendance: 16,891
This show is known for its special decor, mimicking that of the Roman Coliseum, but it also is a birth of fans who came to despise Hulk Hogan for alleged backstage politicking.
The close of the show saw Bret Hart go head to head with Yokozuna for the WWF title. While Hart was defeated following Mr. Fuji spraying mist in his eyes, Hogan stepped up and pinned Yokozuna in an impromptu match that put the belt back on Hogan.
Big-time fans did not like this finish, seeing it as a selfish play by Hogan to hold down Hart’s spotlight. Hart later claimed that Vince McMahon said Hogan refused to drop the WWF world heavyweight championship for Hart. Hogan, of course, disputed that notion.
WrestleMania 10: Climbing the Ladder
Shawn Michaels, aka “The Heartbreak Kid,” leaps from a ladder at WrestleMania 10 in 1994. WWE / YouTube
Date: March 20, 1994
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City, N. Y.
Attendance: 18,065
The first WrestleMania to not feature Hulk Hogan, WrestleMania 10 marked a decided shift in eras for the company. Randy “Macho Man” Savage also wrestled his last match on this show, which meant Vince McMahon had to build new stars.
Enter Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon, who put on a clinic in the first-ever televised Ladder Match.
Michaels, Ramon and Diesel (ringside with Michaels) would play huge roles in the future of the wrestling business, with two of them (Ramon and Diesel) forming the future NWO and Michaels staying in WWF to form D-Generation X.
WrestleMania 11: Back to Basics
Lawrence Taylor, left, and Bam Bam Bigelow go to work at WrestleMania 11 in 1995. WWE / YouTube
Date: April 2, 1995
Location: Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Conn.
Attendance: 16,305
Turning to the roots of WrestleMania, Vince McMahon utilized star power to draw attention to No. 11.
This show featured appearances by actresses/models Jenny McCarthy and Pamela Anderson, and was headlined by a cluster of a main event that (officially) featured Bam Bam Bigelow against NFL sack machine Lawrence Taylor, both of whom were accompanied by a variety of wrestlers and football players.
Taylor came out on top with a stiff forearm off the second rope and put on a captivating performance in the main event.
WrestleMania 12: Iron Man Michaels
Bret Hart, left, and Shawn Michael prepare to get down to business at WrestleMania 12 in 1996. WWE / YouTube
Date: March 31, 1996
Location: Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Anaheim, Calif.
Attendance: 18,853
This show harkened back to WrestleMania 10 from two years before.
The main event was a one-hour Iron Man match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, in what was a showcase of in-ring skill and psychology. The match went into overtime with neither scoring a fall, until Michaels pulled off the victory.
Hart and Michaels have an impressive catalog of matches from their heated rivalry, and despite their differences, they always seemed to bring out the absolute best in each other.
WrestleMania 13: Blood From the Stone
Bret Hart gets ready to put some hurt on Steve Austin at WrestleMania 13 in 1997. YouTube
Date: March 23, 1997
Location: Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Ill.
Attendance: 18,197
“Stone Cold” Steve Austin forced his way onto the scene in late 1996, and that momentum continued to build into 1997, when the fans were begging for a turn to babyface as his feud with Bret Hart played out.
WrestleMania 13 was a crowning moment of great storytelling for both these two, as a ruthless Hart forced Austin to pass out in their submission match.
Hart attempted to continue to attack Austin after the match, forcing special referee Ken Shamrock to toss Hart nearly halfway across the ring.
This moment also kicked off a great heel run for Hart and is lauded as a top-10 match ever.
WrestleMania 14: The Austin Era Has Begun
Mike Tyson raises “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s arm after beating Shawn Michaels. YouTube
Date: March 29, 1998
Location: FleetCenter, Boston, Mass.
Attendance: 19,028
The buildup to this match was electric. Vince McMahon was tasked with getting the belt on “Stone Cold” Austin, an otherwise easily predictable outcome, in a way that captivated the audience.
Bringing in Mike Tyson as the guest enforcer was a good start, and the chemistry between him and Austin allowed for even heavier involvement on Tyson’s part.
In the end, the drama was enough to overcome a melancholy and beat-up Shawn Michaels, and the moment when Tyson punched Michaels sticks out as an exclamation point in the beginning of the Austin era.
WrestleMania 16: Who Wants the Spotlight?
Wrestlers in action at WrestleMania 16. WWE / YouTube
Date: April 2, 2000
Location: Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Anaheim, Calif.
Attendance: 19,776
With the company’s biggest star on the shelf, the main event featured a brawl of sorts in a fatal-four-way match, which left the spotlight there for the taking.
A trio of young hungry tag teams stepped up to steal the show. In a match filled with wild spots and brutal crashes, the Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boyz saw Edge & Christian stand tall, winning the tag team titles for the first time in a brutal ladder match.
It was perhaps the most captivating tag match in history up until that point.
WrestleMania 17: Bah Gawd He’s Got a Table!
Steve Austin and Vince McMahon make peace at WrestleMania 17. WWE / IMDB
Date: April 1, 2001
Location: Reliant Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 67,925
One year after stealing the show at WrestleMania 16, the trio of tag teams did it again in one of the first Tables Ladders and Chairs (TLC) matches, even stealing some of the shine off of Rock vs. Austin II in the main event.
The Hardy Boyz really stood out here, with Jeff Hardy showing little regard for his body, crashing through tables off of 20-foot ladders.
The spot of the night was Edge executing a ridiculous spear off a ladder, striking down Hardy, who was dangling from the hook holding the tag belts above the ring.
WrestleMania 18: Icon vs. Icon
The Rock and Hulk Hogan size each other up at WrestleMania 18. YouTube
Date: March 17, 2002
Location: SkyDome, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Attendance: 68,237
Vince McMahon’s attempt the previous month to bring the NWO into the fold sort of floundered. Scott Hall and Steve Austin had a fairly lackluster feud, and although the Rock-versus-Hogan buildup featured some of the typical dastardly deeds, the WrestleMania crowd was still dying to see Hogan, who hadn’t been at the event since WrestleMania 10.
The energy was intense as The Rock and Hogan stood face-to-face in the ring. While Austin still is a bit sour about being overlooked for this spot, it’s hard to argue with the outcome, as Hogan became relevant for the third time in his career and propelled the Rock to mainstream stardom in the process.
WrestleMania 20: Boo vs. Boo
Brock Lesnar and Goldberg in the ring at WrestleMania 20 with Steve Austin serving as referee. YouTube
Date: March 14, 2004
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.
Attendance: 18,500
The 20th edition of WrestleMania featured Hulk Hogan against Vince McMahon and the crowning of underdog champion Chris Benoit in the main event.
However, what stands out from this edition is the failed attempt to book a monster vs. monster match in Goldberg against Brock Lesnar. The problem was the entire audience knew Lesnar was leaving to try his hand at football, and Goldberg was planning to depart as well.
The boos rained down upon these two, despite Steve Austin being inserted as the referee. His stunners to both competitors after the match salvaged what was otherwise a low point in WrestleMania history.
WrestleMania 21: Money in the Bank
The first Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21 in 2005. YouTube
Date: April 3, 2005
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
Attendance: 20,193
One of the best ideas of the last 20 years in WWE, the Money in the Bank ladder match, debuted at this show in 2005.
With big-time spots from Shelton Benjamin, Chris Jericho and the eventual winner Edge, the match provided an opportunity for lesser- known talents to pop, which most certainly happened here.
Through the years, the match also has been used to test the audience’s favor and whether or not certain wrestlers deserve a push.
WrestleMania 23: Trump/Lashley 2007
Donald Trump, left, and Bobby Lashley, right, shave the head of Vince McMahon after Lashley defeated Umaga at Wrestlemania 23. Carlos Osorio / AP Photo
Date: April 1, 2007
Location: Ford Field, Detroit, Mich.
Attendance: 80,103
This one has aged in an interesting fashion. In an age where the wrestling storyline is far less compelling than the real-world one, the future U.S. president challenged the owner of the WWE to a hair vs. hair match, with Bobby Lashley representing Donald Trump and Umaga for Vince McMahon.
Lashley won, and Trump shaved McMahon’s head, leaving an image that will last for some time,
Trump also was awarded a Stone Cold stunner afterward, following in the footsteps of future mayor of Knox County, Glenn Jacobs (Kane), and future ambassador of small business, Linda McMahon, Vince McMahon’s wife.
WrestleMania 24: Money
Floyd Mayweather, punching Big Show, made $20 million for appearing at WrestleMania 24. WWE / YouTube
Date: March 30, 2008
Location: Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.
Attendance: 74,635
Vince McMahon loves to create a spectacle, and he got that when Floyd Mayweather came on board to fight the Big Show in a WrestleMania showdown of size vs. speed.
The buildup to this bout featured Mayweather accidentally breaking Show’s nose for real, which added tension for those that follow backstage storylines.
Mayweather standing face to waist with Show is one of the most iconic images the spectacle has produced.
WrestleMania 25: Light Meets Dark
The Undertaker extends his undefeated WrestleMania record to 17-0 after defeating Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 25. Ed Schipul / Wikipedia / CC BY 2.0
Date: April 5, 2009
Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 72,744
The Undertaker, an undefeated 16-0 to this point at WrestleMania, faced a new challenge in the reborn Shawn Michaels.
A born-again Christian, Michaels played on his newfound faith to combat the darkness of The Undertaker.
It was an instant classic, with several huge spots, and the streak remained intact.
WrestleMania 27: Do You Smell What the Rock Is Cookin?
The Rock, left, and John Cena participate in a WrestleMania 27 news conference in New York with reality television star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi. Evan Agostini / AP Photo
Date: April 3, 2011
Location: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.
Attendance: 71,617
The Rock returned to action as the new host of WrestleMania, promptly sparking a feud with John Cena, who was set to face off against the Miz in the main event.
When the time came, Rock interfered, costing Cena the match and his title.
WrestleMania 29: Twice In A Lifetime
John Cena, top, chokes The Rock at WrestleMania 29. Mel Evans / AP Photo
Date: April 7, 2013
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Attendance: 80,676
Don’t take that once-in-a-lifetime thing too literally. John Cena and The Rock ran it back the next year.
There are mixed reviews over this idea, and most come down on the negative side.
Cena got his win back over The Rock, finishing the feud with plenty of fans left to wonder what could have been.
WrestleMania 30: Eat. Sleep. Conquer the Streak.
The Undertaker, top, and Brock Lesnar wrestle during Wrestlemania 30. Jonathan Bachman / AP Images for WWE
Date: April 6, 2014
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La.
Attendance: 75,167
At 21-0, The Undertaker appeared invincible when he stood across the ring from Brock Lesnar, which is what made the result so shocking.
Lesnar pinned Taker for the win, and the crowd fell into a collective silence.
Silence over the whole crowd of nearly 80,000 people accentuated this iconic piece of wrestling history.
WrestleMania 31: Rollins in the Bank
Seth Rollins celebrates becoming the new WWE world heavyweight champion at WrestleMania 31. Don Feria / AP Images for WWE
Date: March 29, 2015
Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
Attendance: 76,976
A rare sight occurred near the close of WrestleMania 31, as it appeared Roman Reigns (an overwhelmingly unliked babyface) would topple Brock Lesnar and begin an era of dominance, but Seth Rollins burned it all down.
With both men down and bleeding, Rollins’ music hit, and he hit the ring to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase.
His win became one of the most shocking moments in history and was completely unexpected to the nearly 80,000-person crowd.
WrestleMania 33: An Extreme Return
The Hardy Boyz make their entrance at WrestleMania 33. YouTube
Date: April 2, 2017
Location: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Attendance: 72,245
Three teams were set to square off in a ladder match for the Raw tag team titles, when the hosts of the show, The New Day, came out to tease a surprise entrant.
Then, the music for the Hardy Boyz hit, and the crowd went crazy.
A fun match ensued, and the Hardy Boyz emerged victorious after one of the best-kept surprises in recent memory.
