Press Release
WrestleMania 21 To Slam LA
Friday March 18, 5:52 pm ET
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 18, 2005--WrestleMania fan, take note: World Wrestling Entertainment's WrestleMania 21 is coming to LA. The sports-entertainment event will take place Sunday, April 3, 2005. It will be the first WrestleMania to invade Staples Center and the fourth to take place in Southern California since 1986. Hungry for more trivia on wrestling and LA? Read on:
Previous WrestleMania events in Southern California took place at the LA Sports Arena--simultaneously with venues in New York and Chicago in 1986 and by itself in 1991--and at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim in 1996.
Many WWE SuperStars have gone from the ring to the Hollywood screen, appearing in movies and TV shows. Among them:
The Rock's credits include 'The Rundown', 'Walking Tall', 'The Scorpion King' and 'The Mummy Returns'.
Hulk Hogan appeared in more than 20 films and TV shows, including 'Rocky III' and 'No Holds Barred'.
Jesse "The Body" Ventura, former Minnesota Governor and recent inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame, is known for a number of big- and small-screen roles, including 'Predator', 'The Running Man', and 'Major League II'.
Stone Cold Steve Austin's TV projects have included 'Nash Bridges'.
Andre the Giant, another WWE Hall of Fame legend, appeared in several films, including 'The Princess Bride'.
The Rock's stardom has earned him a place in the Hollywood Wax Museum (6767 Hollywood Blvd.; 323/462-8860;
http://www.hollywoodwax.com>), in the heart of the Hollywood Entertainment District, where visitors can get up close and personal with a lifelike figure of the WWE Superstar and actor.
Los Angeles is home to the World Wrestling Museum and Hall of Fame (12165 N. Branford St., Sun Valley; 818/897-6603; http://www.slammers.com>). Located in a suburb of LA, the museum is housed in Slammers Wrestling Gym, which also houses Slam U, a professional wrestling school. Exhibits include championship belts, trophies and photographs. The museum is open the first Sunday of every month, during wrestling matches.
Memorabilia of George Wagner, a.k.a. Gorgeous George, is showcased in the Gorgeous George Private Collection at the World Wrestling Museum and Hall of Fame. Wagner was a pioneer of the flamboyant wrestler persona with his long, bleached-blond curls, frilly frocks and gaudy jewelry.
Milo of Ancient Greece was the world wrestling champion for 40 years and once threw a 300-pound man a distance of 20 feet. This and other amazing wrestling facts can found at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Hollywood (6780 Hollywood Blvd.; 323/466-6335; http://www.ripleys.com>) in the heart of the Hollywood Entertainment District.
Although Japan is noted for sumo wrestling, the Japanese have developed a passion for WWE-style wrestling. Already more than 250 fans from that country have bought WrestleMania travel packages for the 2005 event.
The Japanese also have thrown their hats in the wrestling ring with Inoki Dojo (3200 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica; http://www.njpw.com>), the Los Angeles arm of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Inoki Dojo is a wrestling school and venue for matches.
While WrestleMania comes to LA once every few years, you can see local wrestling matches for as little as $10 at any of several venues in the Los Angeles area. Besides wrestling schools, matches take place in venues such as the Hollywood Athletic Club (6525 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 323/957-0722; http://www.hollywoodathleticclub.com>) and the Allen Theatre (3809 Tweedy Blvd., South Gate; 323/249-9775; http://www.theallentheatre.com>).
For information on other LA events, as well as hotels, attractions, dining, nightlife and recreation, log onto http://www.SeeMyLA.com>.
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Contact:
L.A. Inc.
Carol Martinez, 213/236-2357, fax: 213/452-1457
cmartinez@LAinc.us
www.SeeMyLA.com
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Source: LA INC
