WWE ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIANA SPORTS CORP
Indiana rejoice! We are finally getting another WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and for the first-time ever – Royal Rumble!
Earlier today, WWE announced that they have partnered with Indiana Sports Corp for a “first-of-its-kind partnership” and its this partnership that will bring the three biggest WWE Premium Live Events to Lucas Oil Stadium. The company also announced that arenas in cities across Indiana, including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Evansville, will host future episodes of WWE Monday Night Raw, WWE Friday Night SmackDown, NXT, and WWE Live Events.
The first time Indianapolis hosted WrestleMania was on Sunday, April 5, 1992 at The Hoosier Dome. It was WWF WrestleMania VIII which featured such matches as Intercontinental Champion “Rowdy” Roddy Piper defending the title against Bret”The HitMan”Hart, The Natural Disasters challenging the WWF Tag Team Champions Money Incorporated, WWF Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair defending the title against Randy”Macho Man”Savage – which featured a young Shane McMahon as a member of the WWF officials attempting to keep Savage’s wife, Elizabeth, away from ringside, and “The Immortal” Hulk Hogan going on-on-one with Sid Justice – which featured the return of The Ultimate Warrior.
WWE SummerSlam came to Indianapolis for the first time on August 17, 2008 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Biggest Party of the Summer featured such matches as John Cena going one-on-one with “The Animal” Batista, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk defending the title against “JBL” John”Bradshaw”Layfield, Glamarella challenging WWE Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston & WWE Women’s Champion Mickie James in a Mixed Tag Team Match for both championships, The Great Khali challenging Triple H for the WWE Championship, and The Undertaker battling “The Rated R Superstar” Edge in a Hell in a Cell Match.
Even though Indianapolis has never hosted a Royal Rumble, we have hosted numerous other events. Market Square Arena hosted several WWF Superstars of Wrestling TV Tapings, a Survivor Series’90 Showdown TV taping, and the first-ever WWF The Main Event – which featured the return match for the WWF Heavyweight Championship between Hulk Hogan and “The 8th Wonder of the World” Andre The Giant. The Main Event made records in American television history as it as it drew a 15.2 Nielsen rating and 33 million viewers! Market Square Arena also hosted the first-ever Buried Alive Match between The Undertaker and Mankind in 1996 at WWF In Your House: Buried Alive. MSA also hosted WWF Sunday Night Heat, WWF RAW is WAR, WWF SmackDown.
The WWE Universe has been wanting another WrestleMania for several years and even WWE Monday Night Raw commentator and former Indianapolis Colts Punter, Pat McAfee, and former Indiana Hoosiers Running Back and son of Shane McMahon, Declan McMahon, have both vocalized their desire for Lucas Oil Stadium to host the biggest show in sports-entertainment.
The company stated that the on-sale date for WWE Royal Rumble 2025 tickets will be announced later but you can register at https://www.wwe.com/royalrumble-2025-presale to receive an exclusive presale offer.
WU Online would like to congratulate WWE and Indiana Sports Corp on this historic partnership!
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