WrestleMania sets Dome records

The Georgia Dome has held countless nontraditional sporting events in its history, but none were grander than WrestleMania 27. At the height of their popularity in 2000, The Backstreet Boys attracted 65,658 fans to their concert in Atlanta, the highest attendance for an entertainment event at the Dome. In 2009, U2’s concert in the Georgia Dome grossed $5.7 million. After the WWE came to town, both records were not just broken, but demolished.

With 71,617 fans in attendance, WrestleMania shattered the previous record, and the event grossed 6.6 million dollars making this the second year in a row that WrestleMania broke both records in the host venue. With all 50 states in the union and 30 countries represented, fans came from far and wide to witness their favorite superstars compete on the grandest stage of them all, and the 27th installment of WrestleMania was broadcast in over 100 countries and in 20 different languages.

The value of sports entertainment transcends race, age, sex, religion, nationality, or any other cultural divide. After witnessing people from age six through 60 cheer and boo until they lost their voice it is obvious, there is no way to demographically categorize the average WWE fan. And those fans were not disappointed, as all 71,617 in attendance were “electrified” by WrestleMania’s first ever host: The Rock.

The Great One (one of The Rock’s many nicknames) made his presence felt before the night was over when he cost John Cena the chance to beat The Miz for the WWE championship. With Monday Night RAW in Atlanta tonight, there are sure to be repercussions from the fallout of WrestleMania. Although this was the main event of WrestleMania, the show was stolen, as it so often is, by the continuation of the most impressive streak in sports entertainment.

The Undertaker defeated Triple H to extend his unbeaten streak at WrestleMania to 19-0. Two of the WWE’s biggest superstars locked horns and didn’t disappoint as they treated the fans to table-breaking, chair-breaking action. After a choke slam, last ride, and tombstone pile driver (The Undertaker’s three finishing moves) it took a mixed martial arts move, the triangle choke (which has been dubbed by Taker as “Hell’s Gate”), to finally defeat Triple H. The path of destruction of the two superstars was apparent as they left the area around the ring in shambles after their match. The match was so brutal that both superstars could barely walk out of the ring afterwards.

After a successful WrestleMania 27, a sold-out crowd and a huge wrestling following in the state, Georgians can only hope that it doesn’t take another 27 years for the biggest spectacle in sports entertainment to make its way back to the Peach State.