Wrestlemania XXIV
Wrestlemania number 24 garnered 1,058,000 viewers, placing it 5th on our list. The main match of the the event was the confrontation of the boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather and the Big Show. Some say that Mayweather was paid 20 million dollars to participate, although a somewhat more realistic figure would be around 2 million. However, this was not the only appeal of the event. It also included a match between Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair, who promised to end his career if he lost the match. There was a rarely emotional moment at the end when Flair accepted his defeat and got a standing ovation from the audience. Considering what was at stake, it’s no wonder this event ended up on the list of the most PPV buys in WWE history.
Wrestlemania XXVII
Although 1,059,000 viewers paid to see the 27th Wrestlemania, according to many, it was quite a disappointment. Many people tuned in to see their favorite wrestler The Rock host the show, but the matches weren’t all that great. Among the good ones is probably the one between The Undertaker and Triple H, showing how ‘Taker never fails to make a great show. What enraged the fans was the fact that the show included Jersey Shore’s Snookie near the end, and that the Miz was a part of the main event. Even so, with this many PPV viewers, this event comes 4th on our list.
Wrestlemania XXI
We’re getting into the top three now. The third place is for the 21st Wrestlemania, taking place in 2005 in LA with 1,085,000 viewers. A lot of great names were featured in this event, led by the main match of Batista vs. Triple H. This match resulted from a long-prepared feud between the two and Batista just waiting for the right time to take down the fan-hated The Game. The crowd was thrilled to see the Batista Bomb that eventually signified Triple H’s end. Another interesting match included Randy Orton, who announced he would destroy the legendary Undertaker. Of course, The Undertaker put him down, finishing with his best-known Tombstone Piledriver.
Wrestlemania XXIII
The second place of the most PPV buys in WWE history goes out to the 23rd Wrestlemania with a whopping amount of viewers – 1,200,000. This event owes a lot of popularity to the main match, that is, the consequences of the main match. Nicknamed “battle of the billionaires,” the match confronted the famous businessman (now a possible presidential candidate) Donald Trump and the WWE owner Vince McMahon. They both supported their own fighter and whoever lost had to shave his head. While many people might still want to see a bald Donald Trump, it never happened and McMahon was forcefully dehaired in front of the crowd. After this shocking experience Cena and Michaels closed the event with a great fight that got Cena another win.
Wrestlemania XXVIII
Holding the record at 1,217,000 PPV viewers, the 28th Wrestlemania holds the first place on our list. The main match of the show included two beloved wrestlers, The Rock and John Cena, fighting each other in what was dubbed “Once in a Lifetime” match. This promotion lasted over a year and it certainly yielded results with fans eagerly awaiting this epic battle. As an icing on the cake, there were two great matches: CM Punk taking on Chris Jericho and a terrifying match of Hell in a Cell where The Undertaker fought Triple H.
Although the number of PPV buys doesn’t always signify the quality of the show, it still offers a fairly accurate look at WWE’s popularity fluctuations. The Rock and John Cena are the ones that attract most people, while The Undertaker always manages to offer a great match for those true wrestling fans out there.Considering the numbers, it is easy to understand why McMahon is one of the richest people in the USA.
