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When looking at iconic wrestling events throughout history, it’s common to think of the unforgettable setting from Wrestlemania IX in 1993. This was the memorable open-air event in Caesars Palace, where superstars like the Undertaker, Bret Hart, and Hulk Hogan performed. What's often noticeable about these events is the crowd, as some kids have managed to dodge the "how old do you need to gamble" question to attend, but often the crowd shots show people dressed up for a night at the casino and the experience is very different as a result.
WWE: Wrestlemania IX, 1993
Where else can this article start? The infamous PPV looked better aesthetically than it performed in the ring. Caesars Palace was an authentic gladiatorial venue for the showcase of the immortals – yet the matches and booking were poor. It’s widely considered the worst match of the Undertaker’s infamous streak, as he defeated Giant Gonzalez via disqualification.
Heroes of Wrestling, 1999
In 1999, the retiring legends couldn’t negotiate decent contracts with WWE to get lucrative deals to appear twice a year. They had to continue working until the industry got richer, etc. Therefore, the Heroes of Wrestling PPV held at Casino Magic in Mississippi was seen as a golden payday for the wrestlers and a unique opportunity to see fan favorites for wrestling enthusiasts.
Unfortunately, the event produced was extremely poor in quality, with many matches lacking any credible action. A match involving Iron Sheik and his tag team partner, Nikolai Volkoff, has been noted as one of the worst matches ever to be televised.
TNA: Hard to Kill, 2024
Total Non-Stop Action might not be the threat to WWE it used to be. However, the promotion still moves the needle, and bookings can be made in reputable casinos for significant events. In January 2024, it hosted Hard to Kill at the Palms Casino Resort on the Las Vegas strip. This was even where Jordynne Grace dethroned Trinity (aka Naomi) for the Knockouts Championship.
AEW: Double or Nothing, 2024
All Elite Wrestling is a real contender to WWE, with multiple stars now calling it home, like Christian Cage, Sasha Banks and Chris Jericho. One of the staple PPV events is called Double or Nothing, which has casino themes and, rightfully so, is held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. While it isn’t a casino itself, it’s very close to the casino operated by the same company.
WWE: Wrestlemania IV, 1988
Long before Wrestlemania IX, the WWE hosted Wrestlemania IV at a casino venue…specifically, the Boardwalk Hall in New Jersey. However, for all the promotions for the event, the venue was detailed as ‘Trump Plaza’. Why so? Well, Vince McMahon has close ties to Donald Trump, and the money-mogul was sponsoring the event to promote his new venture, Trump Plaza, which was a casino adjacent to Boardwalk Hall.
One of the less memorable Wrestlemania cards featured Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant in a rematch of their classic Wrestlemania III main event; however, this match ended in a double disqualification, which says it all about how underwhelming this card was.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling: Fighting Spirit Unleased, 2023
When NJPW announced they’d be touring the US, stateside wrestling fans felt a collective excitement, and there was a mad scramble for tickets. This was exacerbated by the decision to hold their PPV Fighting Spirit card at Sam’s Town Live casino in Las Vegas, a smaller venue with a capacity of less than 1,000 people.
The Future of Wrestling in Casino Venues
So, is there a chance more events will take place in casino venues? Well, it depends on your locality. If you’re in Las Vegas, you can still find plenty of indie shows hosting their events in casino settings. Of course, there are some caveats. Younger members of the WWE universe could struggle to attend and fans would really need to understand that you should find out how old you have to be to gamble before turning up at a casino in your state to attend the events, but it's also likely that the event would have a big enough status to find some kind of workaround too.
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