Dissertation defenses

Dissertation defenses were far more fun and thrilling, form what I hear.  In Franc, for example, if you went for a defense for a doctorat d'etat (which does not exist anymore), you never knew if you were going to be awarded.  Same in the US: you now know once you are sent by your adviser for defense, you will get it.  There is no nervous anticipation.  I have not once in 30 years in the US heard of someone not passing the defense. Not once.