The World (WWE)
Encyclopedia
The World was a WWE-themed restaurant/nightclub in Times Square
in New York City
, in the Paramount Theater building
on the corner of Broadway and 43rd Street. The idea for the complex was inspired by rival organization World Championship Wrestling
's Nitro Grill in Las Vegas
.
leased space at the Paramount Theater
in Times Square in Manhattan. He opened the complex in late 1999. The complex consisted of a retail store with merchandise on the 1st floor and an underground nightclub. Wrestling fans from around the Metropolitan New York City area, as well as from around the world, went to the complex as they would show pay-per-views, Raw
, SmackDown!, and other events on monitors all around the nightclub, including showing them on a big screen. A fee was charged for admission to the events. The restaurant exclusively showed pay-per-views live from the United Kingdom
at no charge. Wrestlers, commentators and interviewers made appearances at the complex and even hosted all events live from the complex. From October 2000 to May 2002, Heat
emanated from the complex, hosted by Michael Cole
and Tazz
. The complex was featured in video games WWE Smackdown! Know Your Role
,WWE Smackdown Just Bring It!
and WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth
used for the season mode and falls count anywhere matches. During The Invasion storyline Chris Kanyon
tried taking over the nightclub and renaming it The Alliance New York, but it was only for one Monday Night Raw and forgotten the following SmackDown!.
decided to close the nightclub so WWE could concentrate more on their global efforts. The retail shop then closed in April of that same year.
took over the lease and the business. On August 16, 2006, WWE returned to the location for the 2006 Diva Search finale. The WWE also held press conferences in Hard Rock Cafe for Wrestlemanias
24
, 25
and 27
.
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, in the Paramount Theater building
Paramount Theater (New York City)
The Paramount Theatre was a noted movie palace located at 43rd Street and Broadway in the Times Square district of New York City. Opened in 1926, it was the premiere showcase for Paramount Pictures and also became a popular live performance venue. The theater was closed in 1964 and its space...
on the corner of Broadway and 43rd Street. The idea for the complex was inspired by rival organization World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
's Nitro Grill in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
Opening
In 1999, Chairman Vince McMahonVince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
leased space at the Paramount Theater
Paramount Theater (New York City)
The Paramount Theatre was a noted movie palace located at 43rd Street and Broadway in the Times Square district of New York City. Opened in 1926, it was the premiere showcase for Paramount Pictures and also became a popular live performance venue. The theater was closed in 1964 and its space...
in Times Square in Manhattan. He opened the complex in late 1999. The complex consisted of a retail store with merchandise on the 1st floor and an underground nightclub. Wrestling fans from around the Metropolitan New York City area, as well as from around the world, went to the complex as they would show pay-per-views, Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
, SmackDown!, and other events on monitors all around the nightclub, including showing them on a big screen. A fee was charged for admission to the events. The restaurant exclusively showed pay-per-views live from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at no charge. Wrestlers, commentators and interviewers made appearances at the complex and even hosted all events live from the complex. From October 2000 to May 2002, Heat
WWE HEAT
WWE Heat was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
emanated from the complex, hosted by Michael Cole
Michael Cole
Michael Sean Coulthard , better known by his ring name Michael Cole, is an American professional wrestling commentator, currently signed to WWE on both its Rawand SmackDown brands. Coulthard is a former news journalist....
and Tazz
Tazz
Peter Senerchia is a retired American professional wrestler and current color commentator best known by his ring name Tazz, originally Tazmaniac and later shortened to simply Taz...
. The complex was featured in video games WWE Smackdown! Know Your Role
WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role
WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role is a professional wrestling video game released on the PlayStation console by THQ and developed by YUKE's Future Media Creators. It is part of the WWF SmackDown! WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role (Exciting Pro Wrestling 2 in Japan) is a professional wrestling video...
,WWE Smackdown Just Bring It!
WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It
WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It is a professional wrestling video game released on the PlayStation 2 console by THQ and developed by YUKE's Future Media Creators. It was released in Europe on November 16, 2001, in the United States on November 19, 2001, and in Japan on January 24, 2002...
and WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth
WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth
WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth is a professional wrestling video game released on the PlayStation 2 console by THQ and developed by Yuke's. It is part of the WWE SmackDown! WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth (Known as Exciting Pro Wrestling 4 in Japan) is a professional wrestling video game released...
used for the season mode and falls count anywhere matches. During The Invasion storyline Chris Kanyon
Chris Kanyon
Christopher Klucsarits was an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, under the ring names Chris Kanyon and Mortis.-Early career:After college, he began training under Pete McKay Gonzalez, Ismael Gerena and Bobby...
tried taking over the nightclub and renaming it The Alliance New York, but it was only for one Monday Night Raw and forgotten the following SmackDown!.
Closure
In February 2003, WWE CEO Linda McMahonLinda McMahon
Linda Marie McMahon is an American professional wrestling magnate and politician. She is notable for her career developing WWE with her husband Vince McMahon. She was in the company from 1980 to 2009. During this time, WWE grew from a small regional business in New York to a large multinational...
decided to close the nightclub so WWE could concentrate more on their global efforts. The retail shop then closed in April of that same year.
Hard Rock Cafe
The complex remained closed until 2005, when the Hard Rock CafeHard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
took over the lease and the business. On August 16, 2006, WWE returned to the location for the 2006 Diva Search finale. The WWE also held press conferences in Hard Rock Cafe for Wrestlemanias
WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in late March or early April by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut...
24
WrestleMania XXIV
WrestleMania XXIV was the twenty-fourth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . The event took place on March 30, 2008, at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida and was the first WrestleMania to be held in the state of Florida...
, 25
WrestleMania XXV
WrestleMania XXV was the twenty-fifth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on April 5, 2009 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas...
and 27
WrestleMania XXVII
WrestleMania XXVII was the twenty-seventh annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , held on April 3, 2011 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia...
.