10 Things You Only Learn Attending WWE WrestleMania Live

4. The Fans Are Paying Extras...

KOFI WRESTLEMANIA
WWE.com

The fans exist at WrestleMania to provide a magnificent backdrop to the in-ring action.

We are framed, in glorious HD, as a sea of humanity revelling in the spectacle of it all. WrestleMania looks like the largest assembled throng of fans are in unanimous celebration of wrestling's Superbowl. In reality, we are extras. We subvert this idea; we are there to service WrestleMania's epic presentation more than we are paying customers to which WWE serves up a show. Depending on where you are situated, you may find yourself literally blinded by the bright lights of the extravaganza.

"Let's go AJ/RKO" duelling chants were not heard from the lower tiers parallel to the stage. Those fans were not divided in their support of the performers, but rather unified in their rage against Kevin Dunn's inconsiderate bullsh*t. If you were sat behind the stage, you were punished. For inexplicable reasons, WWE only switched to the Network feed after the entrances. All I saw were several mundane WordArt trons.

Those in the cheap seats are inanimate objects. We are, essentially, no different to fireworks - props utilised by WWE to create a visual. There's a reason why the only guy to go every single year is a clown.

But this inconvenience - I didn't go to watch Triple H wrestle, I went to see just how exactly he would masturbate as part of his perversely entertaining entrance - informed a resistant communal atmosphere...

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!