# WrestleMania XXVI

**WrestleMania XXVI** was the 26th annual [WrestleMania](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania) professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), held on March 28, 2010 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in [Glendale, Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/glendale-arizona), before a reported crowd of 72,219.<sup>[1](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/press-releases/02242009_700.pdf)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2020/03/28/wrestlemania-xxvi-glendale/)</sup> It is remembered chiefly for its main event, in which [The Undertaker](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-undertaker) defeated Shawn Michaels in a Streak versus Career match to extend his undefeated WrestleMania record to 18-0 and end Michaels' ring career.<sup>[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/factsstats)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | Sunday, March 28, 2010, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona<sup>[1](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/press-releases/02242009_700.pdf)</sup> |
| Attendance | 72,219 spectators<sup>[2](https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2020/03/28/wrestlemania-xxvi-glendale/)</sup> |
| Main event | The Undertaker def. Shawn Michaels (Streak vs. Career), moving his WrestleMania record to 18-0<sup>[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/factsstats)</sup> |
| WWE Championship | John Cena def. Batista to win his seventh WWE Championship<sup>[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/factsstats)</sup> |
| Money in the Bank | Jack Swagger won the first-ever 10-Man Money in the Bank Ladder Match<sup>[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/factsstats)</sup> |
| Pay-per-view performance | Approximately 900,000 buys and about $20.5 million in pay-per-view revenue<sup>[4](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/annual-reports/2010.pdf)</sup> |
| Economic impact | $45.1 million for the greater Glendale/Phoenix area, per Enigma Research Corporation<sup>[5](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2010/11/wwe-hypes-the-success-of-wrestlemania-in-phoenix-533544/)</sup> |

## Bidding and host-city selection

WWE announced on February 24, 2009 that the University of Phoenix Stadium would host the event, following a year-long bid process involving the City of Glendale, Global Spectrum, and WWE. It was the first time the Glendale/Phoenix area hosted WrestleMania.<sup>[1](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/press-releases/02242009_700.pdf)</sup> The announcement press conference included Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs, Arizona Cardinals coach [Ken Whisenhunt](https://www.edgepedia.org/ken-whisenhunt), stadium general manager Peter Sullivan, and WWE chairman [Vince McMahon](https://www.edgepedia.org/vince-mcmahon).<sup>[1](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/press-releases/02242009_700.pdf)</sup> The pay-per-view was televised to more than 100 countries, and the surrounding week included WrestleMania Axxess, the [WWE Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/wwe-hall-of-fame) ceremony, a WrestleManiArt exhibition, Monday Night Raw, and a "WrestleMania Rocks the Block" street party.<sup>[1](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/press-releases/02242009_700.pdf)</sup>

**Stadium presentation.** The stadium's retractable dome was left open, essentially making WrestleMania XXVI an outdoor event, with a set that included a ramp of fire and a steel structure.<sup>[6](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2010/02/the-wrestlemania-26-set-open-dome-525715/)</sup>

## The main event: Streak vs. Career

The Undertaker and [Shawn Michaels](https://www.edgepedia.org/shawn-michaels) had met at the previous year's WrestleMania, and Michaels pursued a rematch, at one point superkicking The Undertaker and costing him the World Heavyweight Championship in an [Elimination Chamber](https://www.edgepedia.org/elimination-chamber) match. The Undertaker accepted the rematch on the condition that, if he won, Michaels would have to retire.<sup>[7](https://as.com/us/us/2018/06/10/masdeporte/1528597342_480976.html)</sup> The match was staged as a no disqualification, no countout contest and closed the show.<sup>[8](https://prowrestlingsource.com/the-vault/wrestlemania-history/wrestlemania-xxvi/)</sup>

The Undertaker won, extending his undefeated WrestleMania streak to 18-0 and ending Michaels' career under the stipulation.<sup>[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/factsstats)</sup> WWE's own results page framed the finish as the end of an icon's ring career, calling it perhaps the greatest collective loss in WWE history.<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup> The match carried the event's critical reputation: Canadian Online Explorer rated it 9.5 out of 10 against 6.5 for the complete event, and 411Mania's year-end awards placed it at the top of the year's match conversation.<sup>[10](https://wrestlefile.com/events/wrestlemania-xxvi/)</sup>

## Other results

The full card, as reported by WWE:<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup>

- [Yoshi Tatsu](https://www.edgepedia.org/yoshi-tatsu) won a 26-Man WrestleMania Battle Royal (a pre-show style match).<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup>
- Show-Miz ([Big Show](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-show) and [The Miz](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-miz)) def. John Morrison and R-Truth to retain the Unified Tag Team Championships.<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup>
- Randy Orton def. Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes in a Triple Threat Match, ending the faction known as The Legacy.<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup>
- Jack Swagger won the first-ever 10-Man Money in the Bank Ladder Match, earning a guaranteed World Title match contract; it was the concept's final WrestleMania appearance.<sup>[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/factsstats)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[10](https://wrestlefile.com/events/wrestlemania-xxvi/)</sup>
- Triple H def. Sheamus after a Pedigree.<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup>
- Rey Mysterio def. CM Punk, saving himself from forced induction into The Straight Edge Society.<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup>
- Bret "Hit Man" Hart def. Mr. McMahon in a No-Holds Barred Match, mending a 12-year wound dating to the 1997 Montreal Screwjob; McMahon tapped out.<sup>[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/factsstats)</sup>
- World Heavyweight Champion Chris Jericho def. Edge to retain his title.<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup>
- Vickie Guerrero's team won the 10-Diva Tag Team Match, with Guerrero scoring the pin.<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup>
- John Cena def. Batista to capture his seventh WWE Championship.<sup>[3](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/factsstats)</sup>
- The Undertaker def. Shawn Michaels in the main event.<sup>[9](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)</sup>

## Reception

Contemporary and retrospective reviews agreed on the card's hierarchy more than its overall grade. Reviewers identified Cena-Batista, Jericho-Edge, and Mysterio-Punk as strong supporting matches, while criticizing the short tag-title opener, the ten-Diva tag, and the drawn-out Hart-McMahon segment, in which Hart performed one actual wrestling move and repeatedly struck McMahon with a steel chair.<sup>[10](https://wrestlefile.com/events/wrestlemania-xxvi/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[11](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/370204-grading-wrestlemania-xxvi)</sup> IMDb users have rated the event 7.4 out of 10 from about 1,300 ratings.<sup>[12](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602130/ratings/)</sup>

## Commercial and economic impact

WWE's 2010 annual report states that WrestleMania XXVI achieved approximately 900,000 pay-per-view buys and generated approximately $20.5 million in pay-per-view revenue, with the event held before a sold-out crowd and millions watching at home.<sup>[4](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/annual-reports/2010.pdf)</sup> A study conducted by Enigma Research Corporation found the event generated $45.1 million in economic impact for the greater Glendale/Phoenix area; Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs described the event as an important addition to the city's tourism industry.<sup>[5](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2010/11/wwe-hypes-the-success-of-wrestlemania-in-phoenix-533544/)</sup>

## References

1. [Arizona Hosts WrestleMania XXVI, WWE press release (February 24, 2009)](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/press-releases/02242009_700.pdf)
2. [Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker and the day WrestleMania came to Glendale, Cronkite News (March 28, 2020)](https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2020/03/28/wrestlemania-xxvi-glendale/)
3. [Facts & Stats: WrestleMania XXVI, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/factsstats)
4. [WWE 2010 Annual Report](https://corporate.wwe.com/f/docs/annual-reports/2010.pdf)
5. [WWE Hypes The Success Of WrestleMania In Phoenix, Wrestling Inc (November 4, 2010)](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2010/11/wwe-hypes-the-success-of-wrestlemania-in-phoenix-533544/)
6. [The WrestleMania 26 Set: Open Dome, Ramp Of Fire, Steel Structure, Wrestling Inc (February 15, 2010)](https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2010/02/the-wrestlemania-26-set-open-dome-525715/)
7. [La histórica pelea entre: Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels, AS.com (2018)](https://as.com/us/us/2018/06/10/masdeporte/1528597342_480976.html)
8. [WrestleMania XXVI event info, Pro Wrestling Source](https://prowrestlingsource.com/the-vault/wrestlemania-history/wrestlemania-xxvi/)
9. [WrestleMania XXVI results, WWE.com](https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/26/matches/wrestlemaniaresults)
10. [WrestleMania XXVI (2010) Review & Final Grade, WrestleFile](https://wrestlefile.com/events/wrestlemania-xxvi/)
11. [WrestleMania 26 Results: Grading Each Match, Bleacher Report (2010)](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/370204-grading-wrestlemania-xxvi)
12. [WrestleMania XXVI (2010) Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1602130/ratings/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Professional wrestling promotions and championships › WrestleMania*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license