WWE announced Monday that WrestleMania XXVIII, based on preliminary estimates, set the company record for pay-per-view buys, garnering 1.3 million buys for the event, which was headlined by the “Once in a Lifetime” match between The Rock and John Cena.
The show was held April 1 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, home of the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins.
The number, which WWE announced in a press release, breaks the previous record of 1.25 million buys set at WrestleMania 23 in Detroit. That show was headlined by the “Battle of the Billionaires” which saw Umaga face Bobby Lashley with either Donald Trump or Vince McMahon’s hair on the line. Lashley won the match and McMahon’s head was shaved. Also on that show, John Cena defended the WWE Championship against Shawn Michaels and Batista defended the World Heavyweight Championship against The Undertaker.
WWE says WrestleMania XXVIII garnered more than $67 million USD in worldwide gross sales. The in-stadium announced attendance was 78,363.
The show also featured another highly-anticipated match as The Undertaker defeated Triple H in the “End of an Era” Hell in a Cell match with WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee.
In the main event, The Rock defeated John Cena with a Rock Bottom, electrifying the massive crowd in Miami. In other action, CM Punk defended the WWE Championship with a submission win over Chris Jericho and Sheamus defeated World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan in a record 18 seconds to capture the title.
WrestleMania XXIX, also expected to feature The Rock, will be held April 7, 2013 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.