Posted by Rohan on 09:58:34 04/08/02:

Wrestling grabs a multi-million-dollar hold
By PAUL STEWART

Credit : heraldsun.com.au

"IT might have been something of a joke sport on Australian television in the 1960s, but wrestling is now a major world-wide boom business.

Founded by Vincent and Linda McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment has been involved in "sports entertainment" for 20 years, and last year made about $790 million through its various enterprises.
WWE now holds more than 340 live events a year in major arenas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia.

During the past year, the events attracted two million people.

A company spokesman said WWE appealed to a broad audience, but the main target was males aged 12 to 34.

"On pay-per-view TV networks, WWE is shown in 130 countries and broadcast in 12 languages," he said.

The WWE website attracts a staggering 331 million hits per month.

"WWE produces nine hours of original television each week and we have licensing agreements with more than 70 licensees worldwide and our logo and images appear on thousands of retail products," the spokesman said.

"WWE has also developed relationships with many mass market retailers."

When you add together WWE-endorsed wrestling bouts, albums, toys, dolls, videos and books, you start talking enormous dollars.

While our own 1960s show, World Championship Wrestling, featured unlikely looking "stars" such as Killer Karl Kox, Mario Milano and Andre The Giant, the sport now features the chiselled man mountains of the World Wrestling Entertainment troupe, which draws in mega bucks for its televised bouts and merchandising.

Melbourne has the chance to witness these champions in the flesh when the WWE Global Warning Tour hits Colonial Stadium this Saturday at 7.30pm.

Stars of the WWE taking part include The Rock, Kurt Angle, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Hulk Hogan (out of retirement), Lance Storm and Hardcore Holly, as well as WWE endorsed showgirls Stacy Keibler, Torrie Wilson and Nidia.

Already more than 50,000 fans have bought tickets for the show with many travelling from interstate and overseas to be part of what organisers claim is "the biggest wrestling event ever to held in Australia". "