WrestleMania: A Complete History & Watch Order
WrestleMania is the biggest event in pro wrestling — a forty-year tradition that has grown from a single Madison Square Garden card into a two-night stadium spectacle. Here is the complete WrestleMania story, organised by era, with watch-order picks for every fan.
The origin: WrestleMania I (1985)
WrestleMania I aired on March 31, 1985, from Madison Square Garden in New York. It was Vince McMahon's massive bet that wrestling could be a global, mainstream spectacle — and it paid off. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T headlined, celebrities filled the building, and pro wrestling never looked the same again.
The Golden Era (Mania 1–9, 1985–1993)
The Hulk Hogan years. WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome, Hogan vs Andre the Giant, and the original "showcase" feel that established the event as a yearly cultural moment.
The New Generation (Mania 10–13, 1994–1997)
Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, the rise of in-ring storytelling. WrestleMania X (the ladder match) and WrestleMania 12 (the Iron Man match) reshaped what main-event wrestling could be.
The Attitude Era (Mania 14–18, 1998–2002)
Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Mick Foley and the most culturally dominant stretch in WWE history. WrestleMania X-Seven is widely regarded as the greatest WrestleMania of all time.
Ruthless Aggression (Mania 19–24, 2003–2008)
John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels' renaissance. The era of the brand split, with two world titles and two main events at every WrestleMania.
The PG Era (Mania 25–29, 2009–2013)
The Undertaker's WrestleMania streak takes centre stage. Edge, CM Punk, Triple H, Shawn Michaels' retirement match and the highest WrestleMania attendance figures to that point.
Reality / New Era (Mania 30–35, 2014–2019)
The end of The Streak, Daniel Bryan's "Yes Movement," Roman Reigns' rise, and the first women's main event at WrestleMania 35 — Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair vs Ronda Rousey.
The Two-Night Era (Mania 36+, 2020–today)
From the empty-arena WrestleMania 36 during the pandemic to the modern two-night stadium spectacle, this is the biggest WrestleMania has ever been. Two nights, two main events, multi-stadium production and the biggest gates in event history.
Recommended watch order
For a new fan, this five-show watch order covers most of WrestleMania's signature moments:
- WrestleMania III – Hogan vs Andre.
- WrestleMania X-Seven – The Attitude Era at its peak.
- WrestleMania XXIV – Ric Flair's career retirement match.
- WrestleMania 30 – End of The Streak, Daniel Bryan's coronation.
- WrestleMania 35 – First women's main event.
For broader PPV recommendations across the full history of pro wrestling, see our best wrestling PPVs of all time list.
FAQ
When is WrestleMania each year?
WrestleMania traditionally takes place over the first weekend of April, although the date varies slightly year to year.
Why is WrestleMania two nights?
WWE moved to a two-night format at WrestleMania 36 during the pandemic, then made it permanent because of the volume of marquee matches and the run-time required.
Where can I watch old WrestleManias?
The full WrestleMania archive streams on WWE's official streaming partner in your region. See how to watch wrestling online for the latest options.