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“Big Time” WrestleMania 22

On Sunday, April 2, 2006, WWE presents WrestleMania 22, live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago.  This is also the third time WrestleMania has been held in the Allstate Arena, formerly known as the Rosemont Horizon. Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time” is the official theme of this year’s sports entertainment spectacular.

WWE Fan Frenzy, which precedes Sunday’s event, offers numerous opportunities to get up close and personal with the superstars. Similar to NBA All-Star weekend, WWE Superstars will be making promotional appearances throughout the week, including book and autograph signings and meet-and-greets, leading up to WrestleMania 22

The WWE Hall of Fame Reception and Induction Ceremony, which will be held on April 1st at the Rosemont Theatre at 8 p.m., will induct the most diversified WWE superstar class ever including five-time WWE Heavyweight Champion, Bret “The Hitman” Hart, “Mean” Gene Okurlund, William “The Refrigerator” Perry, Tony Atlas and the late, Eddie Guerrero.  The above class will be inducted by current superstars including John Cena, Chris Benoit, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and previous Hall of Fame inductees, Hulk Hogan and “Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase.  The first two hours of the ceremony will be available to viewers on WWE.com with the final hour airing on the USA network at 11 p.m.

The following night will definitely be “Big Time” as WWE pulls out all the stops for its biggest event of the year.  Chicago’s own Michelle Williams, of the multi-platinum group, Destiny’s Child, will sing “America the Beautiful,” joining the likes of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Ashanti as recording artists that kicked off WrestleMania.

The actual card is well stacked, with over 10 matches scheduled for the event, including the five time WCW heavyweight champion, Booker T and his wife, Sharmell, teaming up to battle the Boogeyman in a handicap match.  Former WWE champion, Edge, will face off against hardcore legend and best selling author, Mick Foley in a hardcore match.

In one of the most anticipated matches on the show, three stars from both Raw and SmackDown!, will represent their brand in an inter-promotional Money in the Bank ladder match €” where the winner earns a contract to challenge for the heavyweight championship at anytime within a year.

Also 60 year-old WWE chairman, Vincent Kennedy McMahon, will go one-on-one in a No Holds Barred match against the “Heartbreak Kid’ Shawn Michaels while The Undertaker will put his 13-0 WrestleMania winning streak on the line when he goes toe-to-toe with “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry in a casket match.

In the first of five championship bouts, WWE Women’s champion, Trish Stratus defends against Mickie James, United States heavyweight champion, Chris Benoit defends against John Bradshaw Layfield, and World Tag Team champions, Kane & Big Show defend against the up and coming team of Carlito Caribbean Cool and “The Masterpiece” Chris Masters.

And in the double main event of the evening, World Heavyweight champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Kurt Angle defends against Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio, who will make his way to the ring with versatile rock band, P.O.D., performing his entrance theme “Booyaka 619” live.

WWE Champion, John Cena puts the title on the line against the 10-time Heavyweight champion and self-proclaimed “King of Kings,” Triple H.

With tickets being sold out for months, selling out in less than two minutes, the only way to see the extravaganza is by contacting your cable provider and ordering the pay-per-view. WrestleMania 22, starts at 7 p.m. on Sunday, with a special WrestleMania post-game show airing on WWE.com immediately after the conclusion of the pay-per-view. For more information, visit www.WrestleMania.com.