March 8, 2006 Observer Newsletter: Big months ahead for pro wrestling, WWE details new substance abuse policy

The next several months in the U.S. are going to be huge when it comes to long-term effects on the landscape, with events both in and out of the ring.

WWE, which is having its biggest business upswing in many years, with strong house show business domestically, has its biggest event of the year–Wrestlemania, on 4/2 in Chicago. Whether that event does or doesn’t get the projected one million buys (a figure only reached once in company history, for the 2001 Wrestlemania, but it is a reasonable projection because of the huge increase in overseas PPV), it will be the year’s biggest show, even without that one killer main event on paper. 

At this point, with almost every major player accounted for, the show will have John Cena vs. HHH for the WWE title, Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio vs. Randy Orton for the World title, Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon, Edge vs. Mick Foley, Undertaker vs. Mark Henry, a Money in the bank ladder match with Ric Flair vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Shelton Benjamin and Chris Benoit vs. JBL for the U.S. title. With Hulk Hogan being announced as inducting Gene Okerlund the night before into the Hall of Fame, his name is being thrown around again. 

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