WWE’s WrestleMania 21 A Pay-Per-View Blockbuster
STAMFORD, Conn. — April 25, 2005–World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) said its preliminary estimate of Pay-Per-View buys for WrestleMania(R) 21 is more than 940,000, exceeding same-time Pay-Per-View buys for last year’s WrestleMania XX by more than 14 percent. Final Pay-Per-View tallies may exceed one million buys for the second year in a row once all information is provided to WWE(R) by distributors and affiliates over the next several months.
WrestleMania 21 was seen by fans in more than 90 countries, and was broadcast to U.S. troops around the world. More than 20,000 fans from 48 states and 14 countries converged on the sold-out STAPLES Center in Los Angeles to witness all the action at WWE’s annual pop culture extravaganza, setting attendance and ticket sales records.
“Thank you to all our great fans around the world who have again made WrestleMania the premiere event in the Pay-Per-View industry,” said Kurt Schneider, EVP, Marketing. “We will maintain the incredible momentum we have built over the past 21 years by producing exceptional Pay-Per-Views month in and month out. This Sunday’s Backlash(R) Pay-Per-View, which showcases the immortal Hulk Hogan(TM)’s return to the ring, further cements WWE’s place at the forefront of global pop culture.”
Backlash is the first of 16 Pay-Per-Views that will be offered by World Wrestling Entertainment in its new fiscal year. Backlash will take place this Sunday from the Verizon Wireless Arena in New Hampshire. In addition to Hulk Hogan’s tag team pairing with Shawn Michaels(TM), the main event pits current World Heavyweight Champion Batista(TM) against Triple H(R), the 10-time world champion, who is driven to recapture the title he lost at WrestleMania 21.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.
Trademarks: The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company’s brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreement, including television distribution agreement; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.
About Kurtis Osterlund
