The top five pro wrestling shows of 2005, in terms of attendance were:
– 52,000 – NOAH 7/18/05 – Tokyo Dome sellout (Headlined by Misawa vs. Kaawada and Kobashi vs. Sasaki)
– 22,129 – AAA TripleMania at Guadalajara Bullring (Konnan vs. Vampiro)
– 22,000 – WWE in Dublin’s RDS Stadium (Cena vs. Angle vs. JBL, Steve Austin guest ref)
– 20,193 – WWE Wrestlemania 21 sellout in the LA Staples Center (HHH vs. Batista)
– 18,757 – WWE’s 2/5/05 Smackdown taping at Saitama Super Arena
Wrestlers who appeared in the most main events of shows drawing 10,000 or more fans in 2005 were:
– Ultimo Guerrero, HHH and Mistico (9)
– Atlantis (8)
– Batista, Rey Bucanero, John Cena, Cibernetico (7)
– Kurt Angle, Kobashi, El Hijo del Santo (6)
– Perro Aguayo, Jr., Hector Garza, Oriva, La Parka, Shocker (5)
Following are wrestling PPVs with the most buys in 2005, along with the main event for each show:
– 985k – Wrestlemania (HHH vs. Batista)
– 570k – Royal Rumble
– 534k – Summerslam (HBK vs. Hogan)
– 427k – Vengeance (Batista vs. HHH – Hell in a Cell)
– 375k (not final) – Survivor Series (Team RAW vs. Team Smackdown)
– 367k – New Year’s Revolution (Elimination Chamber: HHH vs. Benoit vs. Jericho vs. Edge vs. Orton vs. Batista)
– 330k – ECW One Night Stand (Dreamer & Sandman vs. The Dudleyz)
– 310k – Backlash (Hogan & HBK vs. Hassan & Daivari; HHH vs. Batista 2)
– 270k – Armageddon (JBL vs. Taker vs. Booker vs. Eddie)
– 260k – Judgment Day (Cena vs. JBL)
– 238k – No Way Out (JBL vs. Big Show)
– 238k – Great American Bash (JBL vs. Batista)
– 225k – Unforgiven (Cena vs. Angle)
– 219k – No Mercy (Batista vs. Eddie)
– 212k – Taboo Tuesday (Cena vs. Angle vs. Michaels)
(Note: UFC 52 was the only MMA pay per view that would have made the above list, scoring a 280k buyrate with Riddell vs. Couture.)
Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter (click here for subscription information)
