WrestleMania is an annual professional wrestling event produced by WWE, the world's largest wrestling promotion. Held between mid-March and mid-April, WrestleMania debuted in 1985 and has become the most successful and longest-running event in professional wrestling history. Conceptualized by Vince McMahon and named by Howard Finkel, it is considered WWE's flagship event and is part of the 'Big Five' along with Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Money in the Bank. Originally a pay-per-view exclusive, WrestleMania has been available for livestreaming since 2014.
1984: Howard Finkel Coins "WrestleMania"
Howard Finkel is credited with conceiving the iconic name "WrestleMania" in 1984, leaving an indelible mark on wrestling history.
March 31, 1985: WrestleMania
The first ever WrestleMania was held on March 31, 1985, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main event was a tag team match with WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan and Mr. T facing Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff.
1985: WrestleMania Premiere
The inaugural WrestleMania took place in 1985, marking the beginning of WWE's flagship event.
1988: WrestleMania IV Festival
The first WrestleMania festival was held in 1988, featuring autograph signings, a brunch, and a 5K run.
1989: WrestleMania V Festival
The WrestleMania festival continued in 1989 with similar events as the previous year.
1992: WrestleMania VIII Festival
The WrestleMania VIII festival in 1992 included a WWF superstar look-alike contest and a tournament for the WWF WrestleFest arcade game.
1993: WrestleMania IX Brunch
In 1993, WWF hosted a "WrestleMania Brunch" where Lex Luger attacked Bret Hart.
1993: Royal Rumble Winner Earns WrestleMania Title Shot
The year 1993 marked a significant shift as the winner of the annual Royal Rumble match was granted a guaranteed world championship match at WrestleMania.
1994: WrestleMania X Fan Fest
The 1994 "Fan Fest" for WrestleMania X allowed fans to interact with the WWF world, including stepping inside a ring and meeting superstars.
1995: WrestleMania XI Fan Fest
WWF continued the "Fan Fest" tradition for WrestleMania XI in 1995.
1997: Last WrestleMania Match to Earn a Five-Star Rating Before WrestleMania 39
Prior to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn's match at WrestleMania 39, the last WrestleMania match to receive a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer was in 1997.
2000: First Ever Triangle Ladder Match
WrestleMania 2000 featured the first-ever Triangle Ladder match for the WWF Tag Team Championship. The match involved The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy), The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley), and Edge and Christian.
2000: WrestleMania 2000
WrestleMania 2000 saw Pete Rose involved in a feud with Kane, ending with Rose receiving a Tombstone piledriver from Kane.
2001: WrestleMania Axxess
WrestleMania Axxess expanded in 2001, offering activities like merchandise areas, production truck viewings, and WWE vehicle displays.
2002: Brand Separation Impacts Commentary Teams
The brand separation in 2002 led to distinct commentary teams for Raw and SmackDown matches, further solidifying the brand split.
2002: Option to Challenge for World Heavyweight Championship
With the introduction of the World Heavyweight Championship in 2002, the Royal Rumble winner gained the option to challenge for either world title at WrestleMania.
2002: WrestleMania Axxess
WrestleMania Axxess became a three-day event in 2002.
2002: WrestleMania XIX: The First WrestleMania as WWE
WrestleMania XIX marked the first WrestleMania after the World Wrestling Federation changed its name to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
2003: WrestleMania Axxess
2003 marked the end of WrestleMania Axxess being held at a convention center for several years.
2003: Introduction of World Heavyweight Championship
The year 2003 saw the introduction of the World Heavyweight Championship, adding another layer of prestige and competition to WrestleMania events.
2004: WrestleMania Axxess
From 2004 onwards, WrestleMania Axxess toured cities across the US and Canada with a smaller format.
June 2006: ECW Brand Introduced
June 2006 witnessed the reemergence of the ECW brand, expanding WWE's programming and providing another platform for wrestlers.
2006: ECW Brand Receives Dedicated Commentary Team
With the reintroduction of the ECW brand in 2006, a dedicated commentary team was established for its matches, enhancing its unique identity.
2007: ECW Championship Added as Option for Royal Rumble Winner
From 2007, the ECW Championship became a potential title for the Royal Rumble winner to challenge for at WrestleMania.
2008: Shawn Michaels Retires at WrestleMania XXIV
At WrestleMania XXIV in 2008, Shawn Michaels wrestled his retirement match, defeating Ric Flair.
2008: WrestleMania Axxess
WrestleMania Axxess continued its tour format in 2008.
2009: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels Wins Match of the Year
The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels faced each other in a match at WrestleMania 25 in 2009 that was widely acclaimed, winning Match of the Year awards from both Pro Wrestling Illustrated and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
2009: WrestleMania Axxess
WrestleMania Axxess returned to a four-day format at convention centers in 2009.
February 14, 2010: NBA All-Star Game Breaks Attendance Record
On February 14, 2010, the NBA All-Star Game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, surpassed WrestleMania III's attendance record, drawing 108,713 fans.
2010: Retirement of ECW Brand
The ECW brand came to an end in 2010, marking the conclusion of its revival.
2010: Retirement of ECW Brand and Championship
The ECW brand was retired in 2010, along with its championship, impacting the options available to Royal Rumble winners.
2011: Edge's Last Singles Match Before Retirement
Edge had his last singles match before his retirement at WrestleMania 27 in 2011.
2011: End of Brand Split
The brand split came to an end in 2011, unifying the rosters and championship pictures.
2013: First World Heavyweight Championship Defense
The World Heavyweight Championship (2002–2013 version) was defended for the first time at WrestleMania XIX in 2013, with Triple H retaining the title against Booker T.
2013: Unification of WWE and World Heavyweight Championships
The year 2013 saw the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships merged into a single title, simplifying the title hierarchy.
2013: WWE Ranks WrestleMania X-Seven as Top Pay-Per-View
In 2013, WWE released a list of their "15 best pay-per-views ever", with WrestleMania X-Seven ranked at number one.
2013: The Undertaker Extends His Undefeated Streak
The Undertaker remained undefeated at WrestleMania 29 in 2013, defeating CM Punk to bring his streak to 21-0.
2013: Unification of WWE and World Heavyweight Championships
In 2013, the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships were unified, streamlining the title picture and creating a singular champion.
April 6, 2014: WrestleMania XXX
WrestleMania XXX, held on April 6, 2014, was a night of major upsets and historic victories. Daniel Bryan's journey culminated in him winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a triple threat match against Batista and Randy Orton. The Undertaker's legendary undefeated streak at WrestleMania was broken by Brock Lesnar in a shocking turn of events. Bray Wyatt's undefeated streak since his debut also came to an end at the hands of John Cena.
2014: The Undertaker's WrestleMania Streak Ends
At WrestleMania XXX in 2014, The Undertaker's undefeated streak, which began at WrestleMania VII in 1991, came to an end after 21 victories when he lost to Brock Lesnar.
2014: WrestleMania Ranked Among World's Most Valuable Sports Brands
Starting in 2014, Forbes recognized WrestleMania as one of the world's most valuable sports event brands, a testament to its global impact.
2014: WrestleMania XXX
WrestleMania XXX in 2014 marked a significant milestone as WWE's first major event to be made available via livestreaming, embracing the growing digital landscape.
March 29, 2015: WrestleMania 31
WrestleMania 31, held on March 29, 2015, witnessed Seth Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank contract during the main event, turning the Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns match into a triple threat, and ultimately pinning Reigns to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Sting made his long-awaited WWE debut against Triple H, though he was unsuccessful. The Undertaker returned to defeat Bray Wyatt, adding another victory to his WrestleMania legacy.
April 3, 2016: WrestleMania 32
WrestleMania 32, on April 3, 2016, was a record-breaking night, with an attendance of 101,763. The event was marked by Roman Reigns' victory over Triple H for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The Undertaker emerged victorious against Shane McMahon in a Hell in a Cell match, preserving his WrestleMania career. Charlotte Flair made history by winning the inaugural WWE Women's Championship in a triple threat match against Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks.
2016: WrestleMania 32 Sets Attendance Record
In 2016, WrestleMania 32, held at AT&T Stadium, became the highest-attended professional wrestling event in America, with an announced attendance of 101,763.
2016: WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Stake in Royal Rumble
In a departure from tradition, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was on the line in the 2016 Royal Rumble match itself.
April 2, 2017: WrestleMania 33
WrestleMania 33, held on April 2, 2017, saw Roman Reigns hand The Undertaker his second WrestleMania loss in a No Holds Barred match. Brock Lesnar conquered Goldberg in a rematch from WrestleMania XX to claim the Universal Championship. The Hardy Boyz made a surprise return, clinching the Raw Tag Team Championship.
2017: Debut of WWE Universal Championship
The WWE Universal Championship debuted in 2017, marking a new era for the brand split and introducing a fresh championship to contend for.
April 8, 2018: WrestleMania 34
WrestleMania 34, on April 8, 2018, featured Brock Lesnar retaining the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns. Ronda Rousey had a successful WWE debut, teaming with Kurt Angle to defeat Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. Daniel Bryan made his highly anticipated return to in-ring competition after a three-year hiatus. Charlotte Flair ended Asuka's undefeated streak, which had lasted for two years.
2018: First Women's Royal Rumble Match
The year 2018 marked a historic moment with the introduction of the first-ever women's Royal Rumble match, offering female Superstars a similar path to WrestleMania.
April 7, 2019: WrestleMania 35
WrestleMania 35, held on April 7, 2019, was a historic night as Kofi Kingston became the first African-born WWE Champion by defeating Daniel Bryan. Seth Rollins dethroned Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship. In a groundbreaking moment, WrestleMania featured its first-ever women's main event, with Becky Lynch emerging victorious in a Winner Takes All Triple Threat match against Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair to capture both the Raw and SmackDown Women's Championships.
2019: Last Full Capacity WrestleMania Before the Pandemic
WrestleMania 35 in 2019 was the last WrestleMania to be held at full capacity before the COVID-19 pandemic forced restrictions.
2019: WrestleMania's Brand Value Reaches $245 Million
By 2019, WrestleMania's brand value had soared to US$245 million, ranking sixth among the world's most valuable sports events.
2020: WrestleMania 36 Held Without Fans
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WrestleMania 36 in 2020 became the first in history to be held without a live audience, adapting to unprecedented circumstances.
2020: WrestleMania 36: A Two-Night, Cinematic Spectacle
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WrestleMania 36 was a unique event. It was held across two nights on April 4th and 5th, 2020. The event featured pre-taped matches from various locations, including the WWE Performance Center, and marked the first time WrestleMania was held without a live audience. The Undertaker faced AJ Styles in a cinematic "Boneyard Match," which would be his final appearance. Other highlights included Braun Strowman's Universal Championship win and Drew McIntyre's WWE Championship victory.
2020: NXT Championships Added as Options for Royal Rumble Winners
In 2020, the NXT Championship and NXT Women's Championship became potential titles for the Royal Rumble winners to challenge for at WrestleMania.
September 2021: NXT Returns to Developmental Brand
In September 2021, WWE's NXT brand, briefly promoted alongside main roster brands, reverted to its developmental status.
September 2021: NXT Reverts to Developmental Brand
September 2021 saw NXT revert to its original status as WWE's developmental brand, impacting the championship landscape.
2021: WrestleMania 37 Marks Return of Live Audience
WrestleMania 37 in 2021 signified a turning point as WWE's first event to welcome back a live crowd after the pandemic, although at a reduced capacity.
2022: Unification of WWE and Universal Championships
The WWE Championship and Universal Championship were combined into the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 38 in 2022.
2022: WrestleMania 38: A Return to Full Capacity and the Dawn of the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion
WrestleMania 38, held on April 2nd and 3rd, 2022, at AT&T Stadium in Texas, marked the return to a full-capacity WrestleMania after the pandemic. The event saw Cody Rhodes' return to WWE, Steve Austin coming out of retirement for one match, and Roman Reigns defeating Brock Lesnar to unify the WWE and Universal Championships, becoming the inaugural Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
2023: WrestleMania 39: Tag Team History and a Record-Breaking Reign Continues
WrestleMania 39, taking place on April 1st and 2nd, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in California, made history with its main event. For the first time, a tag team championship match headlined WrestleMania, as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn captured the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship. Roman Reigns' historic reign as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion continued with a victory over Cody Rhodes.
April 2024: WWE World at WrestleMania
WrestleMania XL will see a relaunch of the pre-event festivities as "WWE World at WrestleMania" in April 2024.
2024: WrestleMania 40
The 40th edition of WrestleMania was held in 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This event showcased the enduring legacy and evolution of the event.
2024: Return of World Heavyweight Championship
The World Heavyweight Championship made its return in 2024, offering a second world title alongside the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
2024: WrestleMania 40: Reigns' Reign Ends, Titles Change Hands, and Family Feuds Ignite
WrestleMania 40, held on April 6th and 7th, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, saw Cody Rhodes finally dethrone Roman Reigns, ending his 1,316-day reign as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. The event also featured Damian Priest's successful Money in the Bank cash-in, Sami Zayn's Intercontinental Championship victory, and a rare brother-vs-brother match between Jimmy and Jey Uso.
2025: WrestleMania 41: A Vegas Debut and Easter Weekend Spectacle
WrestleMania 41 is scheduled for April 19th and 20th, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, marking the latest WrestleMania in April and the first to occur during Easter weekend.