The 2023 WWE Royal Rumble got fans talking for a whole host of reasons, but nothing on the card split the audience like the Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match.
Heading into the match details of what it might look like were kept secret causing intrigue and confusion in equal measure. In the end, the bout proved to be a No-Holds-Barred affair with dark lighting and florescent ring ropes, and paint on the wrestlers involved. There was also a large Mountain Dew logo on the canvas.
Despite the big build-up and the fact it was Bray Wyatt’s first televised match since WrestleMania 37, the clash faced significant criticism online. Many claimed the short bout did little for Wyatt’s opponent LA Knight, while the gimmick behind the match proved more of a hindrance than anything else.
How Much Did Mountain Dew Pay WWE?
Although the match might not have been a hit with fans, it was certainly the best kind of hit to WWE’s bank balance. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer noted that Mountain Dew paid WWE $1 million in order to sponsor the match.
“Well, you know the thing is that Mountain Dew one, that was a million-dollar deal. That’s significant money if you can get deals like that. It was a really crappy match though and they kept it short. I guess Pepsi has to decide whether it’s worth it to spend a million dollars to sponsor a crappy match, maybe it is. I don’t know, on a pay-per-view that was seen by two million people,”
WWE have since confirmed that there will be another sponsored match at WrestleMania 39. WWE Senior VP and Head of Global Sales and Partnerships Craig Stummel also touted the company’s financial success, stating that sponsorship revenue for WrestleMania 39 has increased 43% on last year.
H/t to WrestlingNews.Co