An attempt in Oshawa to break the world record for the longest thumb-wrestling chain ended in failure on Saturday after only 70 people showed up to the event.

The attempt had been organized as part of sports and entertainment promoter Global Spectrum's efforts to entice a World Wrestling Entertainment event to the city.

Participants were encouraged to dress up as their favourite WWE wrestler.

Daniel Thomson, who considers himself Oshawa's No. 1 Hulk Hogan fan, was planning on attending Saturday's world-record attempt.

"I was contacted by Global Spectrum and the GM Centre. They're trying to get the WWE to come and visit us in Oshawa and in attempts to do that, we're trying to break a world record for longest chain of thumb wrestling," Thomson told CP24 before the event on Saturday.

When the event was held at the General Motors Centre Saturday afternoon, organizers failed to attract the crowd they'd hoped for.

William Balfour, Global Spectrum's marketing and group sales manager, said there are currently no plans to organize a second thumb-wrestling world record attempt, but says he hopes the WWE recognizes their efforts.

"We know fans are out there," Balfour told CTVNews.ca on Saturday.

The current Guinness World Record is held by the Osaka, Japan branch of the Junior Chamber International, an international organization which empowers young people to create positive change. In August, 2012, 957 people thumb-wrestled in a continuous chain for five minutes to secure the title.