WrestleMania slams big box office
The sports entertainment industry’s biggest night rolled up some gaudy revenue figures.
WrestleMania XXV on April 5 at Houston’s Reliant Stadium brought in total ticket revenue of $6.9 million, making it the highest-grossing gate at a live event ever staged by the World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.
Attendance at the nearly four-hour extravaganza of money-making mayhem was announced at 72,744. WWE officials said final revenue totals including pay-per-view figures would be announced later in the week.
The evening’s main event saw Triple H outlast Randy Orton to retain his WWE Championship, while Houston-bred wrestler The Undertaker pinned Shawn Michaels in a marathon match health insurance.
Drawing one of the biggest ovations from the stadium crowd was an appearance by actor and former professional pugilist Mickey Rourke, who scored an Oscar nomination for his performance in the 2008 film “The Wrestler,” about a battered, aging wrestler trying to hang on to his fading career.
Rourke and WWE wrestler Chris Jericho had engaged in a spirited war of words prior to WrestleMania and Jericho convinced Rourke to step into the ring at the event. Rourke then proceeded to “knock out” Jericho with one punch.
Filed under: economics by Finance Boss