Will the name WrestleMania ever change ?

[arthuradams2002]

As most of us know, the WWE has systematically been removing the moniker of "wrestling" from its broadcasts. We now heard they want to move the title World Wrestling Entertainment to simply WWE.

The companies prize position of its WrestleMania franchise. It will be hard to see that name change. EntertainmentMaina doesn't sound as appealing.

[Free Hat]

No, even they wouldn't be that stupid. What sells Wrestlemania to mainstream audiences is its brand recognition. It's the "Super Bowl" of wrestling, and even non-fans are willing to pay to see it. Changing its name would destroy that brand recognition, ironically making it just another wrasslin' show to most people.

[vm88]

Apr 3, 2011 1:12:15 GMT -5 arthuradams2002 said:

The companies prize position of its WrestleMania franchise. It will be hard to see that name change. EntertainmentMaina doesn't sound as appealing.

Would "Entertainia" work? Or they can just call it "Mania", but I think that was used for a mid 1990s WWF show on USA.

[randomranter]

Apr 3, 2011 1:18:49 GMT -5 Free Hat said:

No, even they wouldn't be that stupid. What sells Wrestlemania to mainstream audiences is its brand recognition. It's the "Super Bowl" of wrestling, and even non-fans are willing to pay to see it. Changing its name would destroy that brand recognition, ironically making it just another wrasslin' show to most people.

They changed WWF to WWE without much of a problem, and I could see them shortening Wrestlemania to WWE Mania or just Mania.

I don't think you'd lose all that much brand recognition. How many times on this board alone have we referred to Wrestlemania as just Mania? Wrestling fans would still know, and non-fans would continue to not care. Or, just like some people still call it the WWF, some people would continue to call it Wrestlemania.

Keep in mind that Vince has been trying to classify wrestling as "sports entertainment" to varying degrees for the better part of 30 years and has had virtually no success -- people always have and always will call it "wrestling". The same thing would apply here; just because people would continue to call it Wrestlemania won't stop Vince from trying to change it to something else.

And I could easily see something like this leading up to WrestleMania 30:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, as you know, WWE has been the leader in Pay Per View for nearly 30 years now. Our flagship event started in Madison Square Garden, and it's only fitting that we celebrate our 30th anniversary in Madison Square Garden. WWE is committed to continuing to bring quality entertainment to both our live and our home audience, and we are here not only to announce that our flagship event will be returning to Madison Square Garden next April, we are here to reveal the new name and logo for our event....a name that better portrays the global phenomenon that is the WWE, but a name that will continue to carry us now and for decades to come. Ladies and Gentelemen, I present to you......WWE Mania!!!"

[Raja Lion]

No. Wrestlemania as a name is synonymous with this show. Its a brand name unto its own now.

[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]

Apr 3, 2011 2:13:10 GMT -5 Raja Lion said:

No. Wrestlemania as a name is synonymous with this show. Its a brand name unto its own now.

This.

[arthuradams2002]

Vince is trying detach himself with the stigma associated with the term. For instance, if you ask the average person if they watch wrestling, they will probably come back at you with, "Are you talking about the real or the fake stuff." So yes, compared to the Olympic style of wrestling, professional wrestling will always to known by those who aren't fans as "the fake stuff."

[lovingway]

It will be called The Event

[Hit Girl]

I'd be OK with it being called Mania, but only if Todd Pettingill hosted it.

[CNR79]

"The Super Bowl of Whatever We Are Currently Calling What We Do"

[fw91]

no

[Big L]

Highly doubt that