WrestleMania Fan Axxess
WrestleMania Axxess | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Genre | Professional wrestling |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | 1988 |
Organized by | WWE |
Filing status | Corporate |
WWE World at WrestleMania, formerly known as WrestleMania Axxess, is a professional wrestling fan convention held by WWE during the week of WrestleMania. The event typically runs for four to five days—from Thursday to Sunday or Monday—and features WWE talent and alumni autograph signings, interviews, fan activities, memorabilia displays, meet-and-greets, and matches. WrestleMania Axxess was briefly discontinued from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was relaunched as WWE World at WrestleMania beginning with WrestleMania XL in 2024.
History
The first event happened in 1988, when the
The following year, the WWF held its first WrestleMania Axxess event at the
Since 2013,
WWE cancelled the traditional WrestleMania Axxess events since 2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently announced that the 2022 event during WrestleMania 38 weekend will be replaced by a Superstore Axxess shop with superstar panels and premium experiences. Unlike previous events, no live wrestling matches and only a limited amount of autograph signings were involved for the 2023 event.[9][10]
For WrestleMania XL in April 2024, WWE relaunched the event under a new name of WWE World at WrestleMania, which was done in partnership with Fanatics Events and held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.[11] The event runs from Thursday, April 4 until Monday, April 8. The five-day event includes interview panel sessions with WWE wrestlers, a WWE 2K24 gaming tournament, live podcast recordings, meet-and-greets with wrestlers, and a large merchandise store with various memorabilia honoring WrestleMania's 40-year history.[12]
WrestleMania Superstore
Every year during the week leading up to WrestleMania, the WrestleMania Superstore is open at WrestleMania Axxess. The WrestleMania Superstore has "the largest selection of WrestleMania and WWE merchandise under one roof". It has over 700 items and includes exclusive Superstore-only merchandise. The store is open to the public, and no ticket is required.[13]
WWE Superstar statue
Beginning in 2013, WWE has honored a Legend Superstar by unveiling a real size statue at WrestleMania Axxess.[14]
Date | Location | Venue | Statue | WrestleMania | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 3, 2013 | East Rutherford, New Jersey | Izod Center
|
André the Giant (André Roussimoff) |
29 | [15] |
April 3, 2014 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center | Bruno Sammartino | XXX | [16] |
March 26, 2015 | San Jose, California | San Jose Convention Center | The Ultimate Warrior (James Brian Hellwig) |
31 | [17] |
March 31, 2016 | Dallas, Texas | Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center | Dusty Rhodes (Virgil Runnels Jr.) |
32 | [18] |
March 30, 2017 | Orlando, Florida | Orange County Convention Center | Ric Flair (Richard Morgan Fliehr) |
33 | [19] |
April 4, 2019 | Brooklyn, New York
|
Pier 12 | "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (Roderick George Toombs) |
35 | [14] |
March 31, 2022 | Dallas, Texas
|
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center | The Undertaker (Mark Calaway) |
38 | [20] |
April 6, 2024 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Convention Center | Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) |
XL | [21] |
See also
References
- ^ "WrestleMania Rage Party Kicks Off WrestleMania XV On Saturday, March 27 to be Televised Live From 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. On USA Network". Stamford, Connecticut, United States: WWE. 1999-03-26. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ "WrestleMania XV Facts/Stats". WWE.com. Archived from the original on 2005-11-29. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (2000-04-01). "Fans get Axxess to WWF stars". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Oliver, Greg (2001-03-31). "Access improved at WWF Fan Axxcess". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "WrestleMania X-8 to be held at Toronto's SkyDome on March 17, 2002". Corporate.WWE.com. 2001-09-03. Archived from the original on March 3, 2005. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
- ^ a b Powell, Jon (2002-03-17). "Axxess ends with a whimper not a bang". SLAM Wrestling!. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - Pro Wrestling Sheet. March 21, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ a b WWE.com Staff (April 2, 2018). "WrestleMania Axxess to feature four invitational tournaments, PROGRESS and EVOLVE Wrestling action and more". WWE.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ "411Mania".
- ^ "WWE Advertising "Surprise Guest" for WrestleMania 38 Weekend Superstar Panel". 18 March 2022.
- ^ Powell, John (February 19, 2024). "WWE World replacing WrestleMania Fan Axxess". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "WrestleMania Superstore". WWE.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ^ a b "WWE Hall of Fame statue to be revealed at WrestleMania Axxess". WWE. April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- ^ WWE (3 April 2013). "Triple H Reveals Life Size Statue of Andre the Giant" – via YouTube.
- ^ "Triple H reveals Bruno Sammartino statue at WrestleMania Axxess".
- ^ "Ultimate Warrior statue revealed at WrestleMania Axxess | WWE".
- ^ "Dusty Rhodes statue unveiled at WrestleMania Axxess".
- ^ "Ric Flair Statue Being Made For WrestleMania 33 Axxess". 24 January 2017.
- ^ "The Undertaker's statue revealed at WrestleMania Axxess". 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Bray Wyatt statue World at Wrestlemania 2024".