The WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) is one of the most popular sports entertainment companies in the world. Its programming reaches millions of fans across the globe. The WWE holds over 500 live events every year worldwide. One of the cities where the WWE hosts events is Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee has a long history of hosting WWE events going back decades. In this article, we will look at the history of WWE events in Milwaukee and discuss upcoming WWE events scheduled to take place in the city.
History of WWE in Milwaukee
Milwaukee has been a regular stop for WWE events for over 30 years. The first documented WWE (then known as WWF) event in Milwaukee took place on April 29, 1984 at the Milwaukee Auditorium. This event was headlined by Hulk Hogan defending the WWF Championship against Bob Backlund. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the WWF/WWE held events at the Milwaukee Auditorium, the Milwaukee Theatre, the Bradley Center, and the Wisconsin Center Arena in Milwaukee. During this time period, stars like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and more appeared for the WWE in Milwaukee.
Some notable WWE events in Milwaukee over the years have included:
Survivor Series 1989
This pay-per-view was held on November 23, 1989 at the Bradley Center. The main event saw Hogan team with Demolition to take on the team of The Big Boss Man, Akeem, and Ted DiBiase.
Summerslam 1999
Milwaukee hosted this major WWE pay-per-view on August 22, 1999 at the Bradley Center. The main event featured Mankind defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H in a triple threat match.
Raw is War 2002
The Bradley Center hosted an episode of WWE’s flagship TV show Raw on February 18, 2002. This was at the height of the WWE vs. WCW/ECW “Invasion” storyline.
Elimination Chamber 2010
Milwaukee hosted this pay-per-view on February 21, 2010 at the Bradley Center. The main event was an Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship.
SmackDown 2019
An episode of SmackDown took place at the Fiserv Forum on September 10, 2019. This was one of the first WWE events held at the new arena.
Upcoming WWE Events in Milwaukee
Currently, the following WWE events are scheduled to take place in Milwaukee in the near future:
Event | Date | Venue |
---|---|---|
WWE Live | November 5, 2022 | Fiserv Forum |
WWE SmackDown | January 13, 2023 | Fiserv Forum |
WWE Live | March 11, 2023 | Fiserv Forum |
Additional WWE events will likely be scheduled for Milwaukee in 2023 and beyond. The Fiserv Forum has become the home arena for WWE events in Milwaukee.
Where to Buy WWE Tickets in Milwaukee
When WWE events come to Milwaukee, there are a few major options for buying tickets:
Online
Tickets for WWE events in Milwaukee are available online at sites like Ticketmaster.com. Buying online in advance is usually the best way to secure tickets before shows sell out.
Box Office
You can purchase tickets directly at the box office of the venue hosting the WWE event. For Fiserv Forum events, the box office is located at 1111 Vel R. Phillips Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53203.
Resellers
If WWE events are sold out or you want better seats, using a ticket reseller site like VividSeats.com or StubHub.com is an option. Reseller ticket prices are often higher than face value.
Where past WWE events have been held in Milwaukee
As mentioned earlier, WWE has hosted events over the years at a number of different venues in Milwaukee:
Milwaukee Auditorium
The historic 14,000 seat arena hosted early WWF events in the 1980s before closing in 1998.
Milwaukee Theatre
This 4,000 seat venue located downtown held WWF shows in the late 1980s.
Bradley Center
The former home of the Milwaukee Bucks hosted many WWE events from 1988 to 2018 before the arena closed.
Wisconsin Center Arena
This small venue was briefly used by WWE in the early 1990s for TV tapings.
Fiserv Forum
The new arena opened in 2018 and is now the main venue used by WWE when running shows in Milwaukee.
The Popularity of WWE in Milwaukee
WWE has always had a strong fanbase in the Milwaukee area. When WWE Raw or SmackDown comes to town, it is one of the hottest tickets in the city. Fans of all ages in Milwaukee continue to support WWE events year after year.
One reason WWE is so popular in Milwaukee is the city’s rich history with professional wrestling. Milwaukee was a major territory city for the AWA (American Wrestling Association) from the 1960s to the 1980s. This helped establish wrestling as a staple of the local sports scene. Stars like Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkel, and The Crusher were heroes to Milwaukee fans during the AWA’s heyday.
Milwaukee also has a blue collar, working class vibe that has always resonated with wrestling. The city’s passionate sports fans bring major energy and excitement to WWE events when they are held at arenas like the Bradley Center or Fiserv Forum.
Vince McMahon has said in past interviews one of his goals was always to make WWE successful nationally in cities like Milwaukee that were loyal to the AWA and other territories. Based on the turnout for WWE events in Milwaukee for over 30 years, it is clear McMahon achieved this goal.
Conclusion
Milwaukee has been hosting WWE events for over three decades now. The passionate fanbase in the city continues to sell out shows and create an exciting atmosphere. While the venues have changed over the years, Milwaukee remains a featured stop anytime WWE tours in the Midwest.
With a state-of-the-art arena now in place with the Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee will likely continue to host WWE pay-per-views and television events for years to come. Be sure to get your tickets early next time WWE comes to town, as these events are always high demand. Milwaukee wrestling fans certainly haven’t lost their passion and energy after all these years.