WrestleMania 40, the pinnacle of professional wrestling, lived up to its reputation this year. Held over two nights (April 6 and 7) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the event shattered records for attendance, viewership and social media engagement.
Wrestlemania is an annual event by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the largest and most prominent wrestling promotion globally. First held in 1985, WrestleMania has become WWE’s flagship event, often referred to as “The Grandest Stage of Them All” or “The Showcase of the Immortals.” It typically takes place in late March or early April, marking the culmination of WWE’s WrestleMania Week, which includes various fan events, charity activities and special programming.
The electrifying return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was a major highlight. Johnson teamed up with Roman Reigns on Saturday night in a tag team main event against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. This dream match set the tone for the weekend, with the crowd erupting for The Rock’s signature moves and charisma.
“I used to enjoy watching WWE when I was a lot younger,” Lambert sophomore Joshua Suh said. “As I got older, I didn’t watch it, but this one was really entertaining. It was pretty nostalgic to see wrestlers from the past like The Rock duking it out again in the ring.”
Suh’s sentiment regarding the nostalgia-inducing return of wrestlers like The Rock to WWE rings is unsurprising given the massive revenue The Rock has historically generated for the organization. As a cultural icon and box office draw, The Rock’s presence undoubtedly adds value to WWE events, attracting both long-time fans and those making a return.
However, the story of WrestleMania 40 belonged to Cody Rhodes. The “American Nightmare” finally reached the pinnacle of his career, defeating Roman Reigns in a thrilling Sunday night main event. As the culmination of a long-running storyline, the victory had the crowd buzzing and cemented Rhodes’ place as a top WWE Superstar.
“I like that Cody won the championship,” Lambert junior Jaden Hicks said. “The underdog beating the champion trope was pretty refreshing to see in this context. I really think the character he played deserved to win the title.”
The event was not just about star power and beating the odds. WrestleMania 40 shattered the previous attendance record by a staggering 78%, with over 145,298 fans packing the stadium over the two nights. The WWE’s YouTube channel saw its most-viewed day ever on Sunday, with social media engagement soaring to over 660 million views across all platforms.
Apart from the in-ring action, the event featured a moving tribute to the late “Macho Man” Randy Savage and the iconic “Then, Now, Forever, Together” opening video montage narrated by Triple H. Both set the stage for a weekend of nostalgia and high-octane wrestling.
All things considered, WrestleMania 40 was one of the biggest sporting events worldwide in 2024. With a combination of legendary returns, championship-crowning moments, and record-breaking attendance, it cemented its place as one of the most successful WrestleManias in WWE history.
