It's no secret that UFC has succeeded where WWE has badly faltered. Producing more consistent quality pay-per-views on a regular basis than its pro-wrestling contemporary, the world’s best known MMA promotion has been on a winning streak for many years now. So much so, that UFC is an ever growing brand while WWE’s viewership and patronage have been on a decline, over time.
However, UFC falls short on just one front, Wrestlemania. Even though it may not qualitatively be the best pay-per-view that WWE produces, the sheer magnitude of the event not only rivals but eclipses the biggest UFC pay-per-views. Here are 5 reasons why!
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#5 WrestleMania is a part of popular culture
It is famously said that when Ted Turner bought WCW, he called up Vince McMahon and said something to the effect of – ‘Hey Vince, I’m in the wrestling business too.’ McMahon famously replied- ‘Well, I’m not. I’m in the entertainment business’.
Wrestlemania has evolved to so much more than a professional wrestling event alone. Today, it is a mega spectacle that has celebrity appearances, famous comebacks, live musical segments, dramatic entrances and much much more, in addition to sports entertainment portions. It is a movie, a concert, a play and a sporting extravaganza rolled into one. No wonder it is dubbed the grandest stage of them all.
While every UFC pay-per-view is a star-studded affair, it still has an air of respectability about it, because, at heart, it is a sporting event. The sporting aspect is still front and centre, with entertainment as a backdrop to the actual action.
#4 32-year-old legacy
This year in Orlando, Wrestlemania celebrates its 33rd edition. For the previous 32 editions, we have witnessed several classic moments through time such as the iconic rivalry between Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, The Undertaker’s legendary streak, the classic matches that Shawn Michaels has always entertained us with (earning him the title Mr Wrestlemania), Ric Flair’s emotional retirement as well as the return of WCW’s last general- the Icon Sting.
Each Wrestlemania moment resonates with professional wrestling fans making Wrestlemania an annual tradition to cherish and enjoy to the fullest, annually.
While UFC has a glorious past, and UFC 1 happened as far back at 1993, the huge monthly pay-per-view events that UFC puts together nowadays are a more recent phenomenon. In due time, we’re certain that they too will be ingrained in popular culture, but for now, there’s no MMA event that can really match Wrestlemania as an annual tradition. In the sense, Wrestlemania triumphs again.
#3 Annual event
Sure, there are the smaller UFC pay-per-views, there are the bigger ones and then there are those that are simply packed with great matches all through. However, because of its branding, ‘Wrestlemania’ is known as the granddaddy of all of WWE's PPV events. UFC’s numerical nomenclature, in a sense, works against it.
WWE saves its biggest fights for the biggest stage, putting together the best card it can. Wrestlemania happens once a year, and as has been noticed time and again, more people tune in at that time.
#2 Culmination of year-long storylines
There have many many classic UFC rivalries that have been settled inside the octagon, after a long build. However, they cannot be orchestrated as perfectly and as seamlessly as WWE segments are, as a result of the nature of professional wrestling. WWE builds up their central feuds all through the year, culminating in big feuds at Wrestlemania.
Whether it is Macho Man Randy Savage getting rid of Sherri Martel and uniting with the love of his life- Miss Elizabeth or Daniel Bryan, losing all through the year but constantly getting fan support, so that he has his moment at Wrestlemania 33. WWE writes movies in a sporting environment, with the grand finale at Wrestlemania, year after year. UFC unfortunately, does not have the luxury of ‘scripting’.
#1 Wrestlemania's special attraction matches
MMA is a serious sport with competitors who train around the year, risking life and limb when they enter the octagon. WWE, on the other hand, has predetermined matches and hence, can change the nature of the contest based on the story at hand.
Wrestlemania is host to a lot of special attraction matches such as The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and a multi-man ladder match for (usually) the WWE Intercontinental Championship. There have been iconic matches as well such as the legendary Hell in a Cell match between Shane McMahon and The Undertaker last year as well as the legendary 'I Quit’ match between Bret Hart and Stone Cold at Wrestlemania 13. The sheer grandeur of such attractions is something UFC cannot match.
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