Raw Emotion: Adoring fans applaud pro wrestling’s return
Cleve Dheensaw
Times Colonist
March 17, 2005
Two of the biggest entertainment stars in the world received a rapturous reception Wednesday from hundreds of adoring fans during an "interactive" press conference announcing the WWE Raw Revenge event May 29 at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
Chants of "Benoit, Benoit . . ." and "Batista, Batista . . ." almost shook the jammed Legends nightclub to its foundations as the two superstars took the stage to announce the Victoria event.
The Fairfields — dad Chris, mom Ann and children Brian, Christopher and Joshua — were first in line at 7 a.m. for the press conference that began at 4 p.m. The family has been to Vancouver twice over the last couple of years to see their WWE heroes and are now among those Island fans repatriated by the impending opening of Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
"I hope they built the new arena with extra concrete because these fans are going to tear the place down," said Carl DeMarco, president of WWE Canada.
Benoit, noting the last WWE show in Victoria was in 1997, said: "Victoria has been starved for eight years but will be starved no more."
"Big Daddy’s in the house and I’ll have the world title belt (from WrestleMania 21 on April 3) wrapped around my eight pack when I return to Victoria," Batista vowed.
Responding to a request, the strapping Batista ripped his "very expensive" dress shirt off his back to expose his rippled upper body amid a deafening din. "I have no idea what I’m going to wear on the plane back," he chuckled.
"Will you bench press me? asked a man."
"No, but I will bench press her," said Batista, pointing to a woman in the crowd.
Batista will be the central attraction of WrestleMania 21 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which sold out within minutes. The Victoria WWE Raw event will be one of nearly 330 live WWE events around the world which attract 1.8 million spectators annually and generate revenues of $72.2 million US. The 16 yearly pay-per-view WWE events churn out revenues of $91 million while 19.3 million people watch WWE weekly on free TV. The WWE 24/7 specialty cable network is launching soon.
"There’s a capital ‘E’ in WWE and it stands for entertainment," said DeMarco, in explaining the phenomenon.
Tickets are $25, $35, $45 and are expected to go quickly when sales begin Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at 702 Fort St., www.selectyourtickets.com or 220-7777.
"I’m pumped," said Batista, clearly impressed by the reaction Wednesday.
"If today is just a bit of an indication, the atmosphere and crowd are going to be great on the 29th of May," added Batista, who even signed an autograph on the very pregnant stomach of avid Victoria fan Diane Guraly.
03.17.05 Source: Victoria Times Colonist
