The City of Angels Takes a Body Slam: How Many WrestleManias Has LA Hosted?
Ah, Los Angeles. The land of glitz, glam, and...professional wrestling throwdowns? That's right, folks, the City of Angels has a surprising history with WWE's granddaddy of them all, WrestleMania. But how many times has LA rolled out the red carpet (or should we say, yellow ropes) for this larger-than-life event? Let's dive into the squared circle and suplex our way to the answer.
The Early Days: When Hulk Hogan Ruled the Sunset Strip (Kind Of)
WrestleMania wasn't always the two-night, celebrity-studded extravaganza it is today. Back in 1986, for WrestleMania II, things were a little different. This edition, believe it or not, was actually spread across THREE locations: Nassau Coliseum (IYKYK), the Rosemont Horizon (now the much more metal-sounding Allstate Arena), and our very own Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.
LA's contribution to WrestleMania II featured the iconic Hulk Hogan battling the villainous King Kong Bundy in a steel cage match. Think "Baywatch" meets gladiatorial combat. The crowd went wild (allegedly), and Hulk Hogan cemented his status as a pop culture icon.
WrestleMania Returns to LA: The Sequel Nobody Asked For (But Secretly Loved)
Fast forward a few years, and WrestleMania VII landed in the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in 1991. This edition wasn't quite the main event, but it featured some memorable moments, including the legendary Ultimate Warrior defeating Sgt. Slaughter for the WWF Championship. Fun Fact: This WrestleMania also boasted a celebrity guest commentator named Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Because why not?
The Golden Age of LA Wrestling: When The Rock Raised an Eyebrow at Staples Center
We take a jump to the new millennium, where the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena, but let's be honest, nobody calls it that) became LA's go-to WrestleMania venue. WrestleMania 2000 saw The Rock and Triple H tear the house down in a brutal (and brutal-looking) No Disqualification match. This was a golden age for professional wrestling, and LA basked in its electrifying glow.
The Recent Rumble: WrestleMania 21 and The Miz Raising an Eyebrow (Because That's His Thing)
Our story takes a final pit stop in 2005 with WrestleMania 21. This edition, once again held at Staples Center, featured epic clashes like John Cena vs. Batista and a brutal Undertaker vs. Randy Orton match. The highlight for many Los Angeles locals, however, might have been hometown hero The Miz making his WrestleMania debut. Who knew a career built on eyebrow raises and catchphrases could lead to the grandest stage of them all?
So, How Many WrestleManias Has LA Hosted?
The answer, my friends, is six! That's right, Los Angeles has been a surprisingly consistent host city for WrestleMania throughout the years. From Hulk Hogan's steel cage showdown to The Miz's eyebrow-raising debut, LA has played a significant role in the grand history of professional wrestling.
Will WrestleMania return to the City of Angels in the future? Only time (and Vince McMahon) will tell. But one thing's for sure: whenever it does, you can bet LA will be ready to throw some serious West Coast punches (figuratively speaking, of course).
