Wrestlemania Weekend Is About The Culture

 

Another Wrestlemania Weekend is upon us, and it's not just WWE's flagship event that get's celebrated this weekend. It is the entire culture of pro wrestling that becomes the talk of the town in the host city. Wrestlemania itself is truly an experience, but throw in everything else associated with it and it is truly a love letter to pro wrestling. 

I've been fortunate to attend 3 Wrestlemania's and do 4 Wrestlemania Weekends. I highly encourage any pro wrestling fan to attend Mania at least once and experience the entire weekend as well as there is so much to do. 

Now Wrestlemania is considered the Super bowl of pro wrestling, and since the 2010's other promotions and wrestling affiliated organizations have realized what a goldmine they have for one weekend, having thousands of pro wrestling fans in one city ready to indulge in the culture. Here's a quick breakdown of the different type of events that occur over Wrestlemania Weekend.

There are conventions with two main conventions happening. WWE has their fan convention previously known as Axxess, but starting this year will be called WWE The World. The next biggest convention is Wrestlecon, which is a meet and greet convention full of legends, active talents besides WWE superstars, stars of tomorrow and stars of yesterday. If you are a fan who really relishes in the opportunity to meet your heroes, Wrestlecon is the place for you. 

Especially when there is an chance to meet talents who have led very quiet under the radar lives since leaving pro wrestling. You have to pay to meet each talent you want. With the going rate any where from $30 on up, to $100 or more for certain legends. Certainly worth it if you've prepared for it. Sometimes these opportunities are can't miss. There's also vendors at Wrestlecon selling memorabilia and merch, but honestly you can just get a high being in the atmosphere.

The Parties

The parties, the parties, the parties. From actual parties leading up to Mania to viewing parties and tailgates for folks who opt not to sit in the stands and rather chill at a bar or something. The most well known party for Wrestlemania Weekend is of course WaleMania. I attended WaleMania in 2019 in New York City and it truly was a vibe, just good music, celebrating wrestling, and as the night goes on rubbing elbows with some of your favorite in-ring superstars. 

Typically local promoters of the host city will take advantage and throw wrestling themed parties and tailgates. Many times they get a wrestling personality to be the host of the tailgate to give fans an incentive to come hang with them. Legendary Baltimore seafood restaurant Jimmy's is making the trip up I-95 to host a tailgate with Kurt Angle and Mandy Rose. Sometimes there are even bar crawls with wrestling themes, all in the name of a good time. 

Among the meet and greets and parties, there are several wrestling events occurring from indy promotions throughout the weekend. Many promotions are taking part in an assortment of events spread out over the weekend dubbed The Collective. Which will include events like Josh Barnett's Bloodsport and Joey Janela's Spring Break events. Defy Wrestling, DDT Pro, Stardom Wrestling and many more promotions will be in town to showcase their product and stars. Give many fans an opportunity to see stars they may have never seen in person, or never heard of. While potentially watching the stars of tomorrow.

To fit in with the indy spirit, there are usually independent merchants who get together somewhere and hold pop up shops of their wrestling memorabilia and attire. Many of them designed specifically for that year's Mania which makes it a hard to miss opportunity. 

Of course while the indy promotions are building their brands, WWE surely will make it hard for fan's to have the time to check out other promotions. Not just with the two-day Wrestlemania, and The World convention. There's also NXT Stand & Deliver, Friday Night Smackdown with the Hall of Fame following, and Monday Night RAW. This year they are also bringing back the Slammy awards. While Ring of Honor owned by rival promotion AEW, will hold their annual SuperCard of Honor event Mania weekend as well.

Even with all that, just walking around or going to random pop up events talking with other wrestling fans. Folks cosplaying as wrestlers and no one bats an eye or everyone stops them for a photo. Seeing wrestling t-shirts everywhere or saying something to a complete stranger and they get the reference is like a high. Too sweeting complete strangers as you walk by them cause we all are elite. I really can't explain it. Not having to meet a negative Nancy who tries to spew that bullshit it's fake. It's such a good time surrounded by people who love a culture just as much as you do. 

That's why Wrestlemania Weekend has truly become about the culture.