The final time a wrestling spectacle filled a traditional arena
In short: Before the era of massive stadiums, WrestleMania 22 stood as a landmark of scale. Held in a Chicago suburb, it was the final time the WWE utilized a traditional arena for its flagship event, marking a pivotal shift in how professional wrestling is staged for the masses.
On 2 April 2006, the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, hosted WrestleMania 22. This 2006 show represented a major shift, despite the site previously hosting WrestleMania 2 in 1986 and WrestleMania 13 in 1997. Following this event, the WWE transitioned almost exclusively to stadiums for its annual flagship, with the notable exception of WrestleMania 36 in 2020, which was held behind closed doors. The venue was known as the Rosemont Horizon prior to its 1999 renaming. This specific show served as the 22nd annual iteration of the pay-per-view. It featured wrestlers from both the Raw and SmackDown! brand divisions.
The event was a commercial powerhouse, with tickets selling out in under two minutes. It grossed US$2.5 million, becoming the highest-grossing one-day event in the history of the Allstate Arena. The massive scale of the production was reflected in the attendance, which drew more than 17,155 people from 16 different countries and 43 U.S. states, while millions more tuned in from over 90 countries worldwide. The audience included fans from 43 different U.S. states. Millions of viewers watched the broadcast from more than 90 countries. Michelle Williams performed a rendition of America the Beautiful before the show began.
The card featured high-stakes brand rivalries, including John Cena's victory over Triple H for the WWE Championship and Rey Mysterio's win in a triple threat match against Kurt Angle and Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. The undercard was equally diverse, ranging from a Casket match between The Undertaker and Mark Henry to a hardcore match where Edge defeated Mick Foley through a flaming table. It also featured a unique 'Playboy Pillow Fight' between Torrie Wilson and Candice Michelle, highlighting the variety of storylines the promotion curated during this era. Following a West Coast Pop and a 619, Mysterio secured the title by pinning Orton. Mickie James defeated Trish Stratus to secure the WWE Women's Championship. Rob Van Dam won a high-flying Money in the Bank ladder match. The event also honored the Hall of Fame class of 2006.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: WrestleMania 22
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