WWE's WrestleMania continues to bulk up, providing a dayslong extravaganza for fans

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WWE's WrestleMania continues to bulk up, providing a dayslong extravaganza for fans

2025-04-16 19:13 Last Updated At：19:21

As wrestling fans prepare to descend upon Las Vegas for WWE's WrestleMania 41, demand has steadily grown so much over the years that it's now bulked up into a dayslong event.

While WrestleMania matches will be held on April 19 and 20, a flurry of activities will take place in the days before and after, including meet and greets with wrestlers, a WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, matches for weekly television shows including “Smackdown,” “Raw,” and “NXT” and a Roast of WrestleMania hosted by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe.

The build-out of activities is similar to what the NFL does for the Super Bowl, which hosts meet and greets with current and former football players, flag football clinics, food experiences and other events.

WrestleMania has come a long way since its start in March 1985. Back then it was a one-night event that focused primarily on the wrestling matches, with celebrities like Mr. T, Liberace and Muhammad Ali sprinkled in.

By 2016 there were more than 100,000 fans in attendance for WrestleMania 32 in Arlington, Texas. The annual event was expanded in 2020 to two days of wrestling matches with WrestleMania 36.

WrestleMania 41 is being held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the same location where the Super Bowl was held last year. Similarly, WrestleMania 42 will be held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans in 2026. That's where this year's Super Bowl was held.

Jason Cieslak, global president of global brand consultancy Siegel+Gale, said that WWE has managed to find a way to continue to have WrestleMania successfully pay dividends for the company over time.

“There is a considerable benefit to treating WrestleMania like the Super Bowl or the World Cup,” he said. “WWE has been masterful at looping in celebrities for participation and leveraging social channels to build excitement for the event.”

WrestleMania's expansion to several days worth of activities and events is a benefit to the brand.

“From a brand perspective, it makes what once was a narrow social event into something more mainstream and entertaining,” Cieslak said. “This is a major accomplishment when you consider the brand’s origins.”

Sports entertainment company WWE, which is part of TKO Group Holdings, has previously said that WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble have a combined economic impact of more than $300 million.

Live events are a significant component of TKO's business. The New York company, which also owns UFC, hosted more than 300 live events worldwide last year.

Jefferies' Randal Konik said in a recent client note that he anticipates the momentum that TKO's live events have to continue throughout this year.

“We believe TKO will continue to have multiple levers to drive live event expansion from increased ticket pricing to greater implementation of site fees,” he wrote.

Cleveland's José Ramírez becomes first third baseman with 250 career homers and steals

2025-05-02 08:06 Last Updated At：08:12

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez picked the perfect opportunity to join another exclusive baseball club.

Cleveland's six-time All-Star became the first primary third baseman in history to reach 250 career homers and 250 stolen bases during the 10th inning of the Guardians 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Twins.

“At that moment, the last thing you’re thinking is any milestones or personal records,” Ramirez said through an interpreter. “To me it was where we had the chance to get running, obviously get in a position where I can score with a base hit given the situation of the game.”

Ramírez, who has 260 homers, got his 250th steal with one out in the 10th inning after he got aboard with an RBI base hit. The 32-year old native of the Dominican Republic is the 24th player to accomplish the feat, and the only active one in the majors.

He is also the first Cleveland player reach 250-250 and just the second switch-hitter, joining Carlos Beltrán (435 homers, 312 stolen bases).

“It’s a testament to hard work for a really long time and being really, really good for a long time,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “He came through big with the hit and then he gets the stolen base in the milestone and scores a winning run as well. He should have. He just continues to get accolade after accolade and I really enjoy watching it.”

After Kyle Manzardo got aboard on an intentional walk, Ramírez acknowledged the small crowd still at Progressive Field after two rain delays totaling 2 hours, 23 minutes, and pointed at the scoreboard when it showed he had reached the milestone.

“It was a good moment, but especially seeing all the guys on the dugout trying to cheer me up and chanting my name. So that’s kind of like something that make me smile,” he said.

Ramírez then scored the game-winning run on Angel Martinez’s single. He also made sure he got the base to add to his collection, saying he would add it to the three other bases he has marking other accomplishments.

Ramírez dazzles his teammates on an almost daily basis, so it's not a surprise to them that he's added his name to another elite list.

“He’s a guy that leads by example,” catcher Bo Naylor said. "He goes out there, plays his hardest, and when you see one of the leaders on your team doing that, there’s no excuse for you to not be able to do that. He takes on that role himself and just does such a good job of keeping all of us accountable without making his voice heard in a way.

“He’s one of the guys that makes this whole team go and every accomplishment that he’s had come along the way, it’s been super awesome to be able to witness it one and be able to celebrate it with him afterward.”

Along with the other milestones, Ramírez joins Robin Yount, Craig Biggio and Derek Jeter as the only players to accomplish the 250-250 feat with only one team.

“Milestones are important, but for me the really important part is to keep playing and trying to win,” said Ramirez, who made his big-league debut in 2013 “Winning is the most important thing for me and I feel still young. I feel like I can still continue doing this and hopefully we can continue adding up.”

Freelancer Tom Withers contributed to this story.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb