Monday, March 26, 2007
ORLANDO -- The bling, the bang and the bam of Wrestlemania 24 is coming to Orlando, and this time, all the action will be outside.
"This is a big, big deal," said WWE Superstar John Cena. "The atmosphere is going to be something different. We are used to being in confined arenas -- not that there's anything wrong with that -- but this is going to be history-making."
Cena was blazing the big guns in O-town when the announcement was made.
"We are more than a year away from Wrestlemania 24, and people are lining up just to get the announcement that Wrestlemania 24 is coming to Orlando!" he said, amazed.
They were not just lining up, but but dressing up and paying homage to their heroes.
"When we see fans come out like that who are dressed up and so into it, it goes along with the signs. It is what we are all about. It is just fun," said Superstar Batista, a native of Tampa.
As for 2007's WrestleMania 23 in Detroit, WWE Chairman Vince Mahon should worry about him losing his hair in the Battle of the Billionaires, where he goes up against Donald Trump.
Even McMahon's own wrestlers were pulling for a Trump takeover.
"What I want to see, is Vince McMahon walking out of that building bald," Batista said, among other trash talk.
As for Batista's match at WrestleMania 23, perhaps the appropriate question to ask him would be, "What would you like on your Tombstone?"
"It is the biggest match of my career by far. I get to go in and defend my World Heavyweight Championship against The Undertaker, who I have never stepped in the ring with," Batista said.
Let's just hope mayors Buddy Dyer and Richard Crotty place some kind of bet. Actually, they should challenge each other in the squared circle. News 13's Scott Harris can referee.
Wrestlemania 23 was scheduled in Detroit on April 1, 2007. Wrestlemania 24 will be at the Citrus Bowl on March 30, 2008.
Tickets for Wrestlemania 24 were expected go on sale in the summer, but WWE planned to be in town before that. You can catch WWE's Friday Night SmackDown in Orlando more of the Raw Smackdown June 5, 2007. Tickets were expected to go on sale April 7.
There is more WrestleMania fever on Central Florida On Demand, Digital Cable Channel 300. Watch the entire press conference, plus see John talk with Vince McMahon and John Cena about accusations of steroid use in the WWE.
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