World Wrestling Entertainment has become known for their huge events, but it's a matter of some debate what the biggest WWE show of all time is. Measured by pure attendance, the biggest show in WWE history was Wrestlemania 32 in 2016. However, there are several other events that could also claim to be the biggest in wrestling history.
WWE became known for its big events with the first Wrestlemania in 1985. The event was a huge gamble for the then-WWF, the first wrestling event to be available on national pay-per-view and a crucial part of the promotion's national expansion. Because of its success, extravagant pay-per-views with stars facing each other became a core part of the WWF's business, eventually expanding to monthly shows. Today, these events are available on streaming service Peacock instead of pay-per-view, but major shows like Wrestlemania and the Royal Rumble still attract huge crowds and mainstream interest.
Wrestlemania 32 drew the largest attendance in WWE history, with 101, 763 people crowding AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to watch a card headlined by Triple H and Roman Reigns. Wrestling promotions are known for distorting or "working" attendance numbers, often by including stadium staff and people who received free tickets, and WWE has often been accused of inflating its numbers. However, given that this number is over 8, 000 more than WWE's previously highest claimed attendance, it seems fair to say that this was the most-attended WWE show. Despite this high attendance, fan response to the event was generally negative, especially for the main event, and the show isn't remembered fondly today.
The WWE record holder for three decades before Wrestlemania 32 was Wrestlemania 3, back in the era where pro wrestling's kayfabe was king. The show took place at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan, and claimed an attendance of 93, 173. The card's main event of Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant is remembered today as the height of the "Hulkamania" boom of the 1980s. Wrestlemania 3's Intercontinental title match between Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat was also hugely influential in inspiring a generation of pro wrestlers and fans who focused more on in-ring athleticism and "work rate." While its attendance record has since been surpassed, Wrestlemania 3 may still be the most important WWE event.
The most-purchased pay-per-view events, on the other hand, come from WWE's "Ruthless Aggression" era in the 2000s and early 2010s, despite many perceiving this period as one of decline. The biggest of these shows was Wrestlemania XXVII in 2012, headlined by John Cena facing off against 10-time WWE champion The Rock. The collision of the top stars from two different eras of the WWE garnered 1, 217, 000 pay-per-view buys, making it the highest-grossing event in wrestling history.
The most-attended wrestling event in history, however, wasn't a WWE event at all. Collision in Korea, a collaboration between World Championship Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling held in Pyongyang, North Korea in 1995, was held in front of 355, 000 people. However, as attendance was mostly free and essentially compulsory due to the North Korean government, it probably shouldn't be compared to commercial events in the United States. Ultimately, deciding the biggest WWE event of all time depends on what metric one chooses, whether it be pure attendance, pay-per-view buys, TV ratings, or cultural influence, but it's clear that there have been plenty of massive installments of Wrestlemania over the years.