The annual phenomenon that is WrestleMania, which has seemingly taken over the New Jersey/New York metropolitan area this week with World Wrestling Entertainment superstars and personalities turning up just about everywhere, will finally take place tonight at a sold-out Met Life Stadium in the Meadowlands, with Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson defending the WWE championship against John Cena in the main event.
Triple H puts his career on the line against the always dangerous and unpredictable Brock Lesnar in a grudge bout with multiple stipulations that now include having Shawn Michaels in Helmsley's corner. The self-proclaimed "Best in the World" C.M. Punk faces the Dead Man with the undefeated 20-0 streak, the Undertaker. Living Colour is expected to perform its "Cult of Personality" tune live for Punk's grand entrance on the big stage.
The show is basically being sold on those top three matches. There will be a tag team title contest with Kane and Daniel Bryan defending against Dolph Ziggler and Big E Langston-managed by A.J. Lee. The Shield squares off with Big Show, Sheamus and Randy Orton while Ryback tangles with Mark Henry.
Chris Jericho, who was at Madison Square Garden this past week at a hockey game (his dad, Ted Irvine, once played as a New York Ranger) promoting Mania, will wrestle newcomer Fandango, who is expected to have NXT diva Summer Rae as his new dancing sidekick in the near future. They seem to be attempting to play off Y2J's Dancing With the Stars appearance of a few seasons ago.
Alberto Del Rio defends the world heavyweight championship against Jack Swagger with Zeb Colter in Swagger's corner. Brodus Clay and Tensai, along with Cameron and Naomi, wrestle Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow, along with the Bella Twins. Wade Barrett defends the Intercontinental title on the pre-show against the Miz.
Industry insiders are projecting this to be the most financially lucrative Mania ever, with live gate receipts for the show heading north of $11 million. Saturday's sold out Hall of Fame ceremonies at the Garden added a healthy amount of green to the coffers and four days of proceeds from the Fan Axxess festivities at the Izod Center near Met Life Stadium are certainly going to be healthy.
The company opened a superstore where merchandise from tee shirts to masks to replica title belts to Jim Ross Barbeque sauce and everything else under the sun was available. WWE held a celebrity auction to benefit the victims of Hurricane Sandy and worked with the Creative Coalition on a couple of anti-bullying Be A Star assemblies at area schools.
Members of the WWE roster were also doing all kinds of media in the past week to promote Mania. The Rock was everywhere on television. Not a bad week for him as his new movie, G. I. Joe, opened with more than $50 millionin receipts last weekend. He stands to pick up a nice payday for tonight's main event. Print stories on Bruno going into the HOF appeared in the NY Daily News and Pittsburgh Tribune. He was also a guest on Live Audio Wrestling out of Toronto and assorted other Internet radio shows.
Non-WWE events were also taking place all weekend long. TNA had a house show with appearances by Hogan and Sting. Dragon Gate, Chikara, Evolve and Combat Zone all had shows in the immediate vicinity. WrestleCon had a huge gathering with stars of the past doing autograph signings and photo ops, all an attempt to cash in on the tourists coming into the vicinity for HOF, Mania 29 and Monday's Raw in East Rutherford.
That's right. After all the smoke clears tonight from WM 29, they go right back at it for the start of the build toward WM 30 next year in New Orleans by having a live Raw tomorrow evening.
The Insider received the surprise birthday present of a lifetime from his wife, children and daughter's boyfriend when they produced tickets for him for the Hall of Fame ceremonies at the Garden for last night. Should have reports from that unique experience and all the results from Mania right here next week In This Corner.