WWF Press Releases: Raw, Wrestlemania, Smackdown Your Vote
Submitted by William Martinez on Tuesday, March 19, 2002 at 5:50 PM EST



The WWF sent out the following press releases:

Raw a Ratings Success

The strength of WrestleMania®X8's success continues to be demonstrated as last night's Raw achieved a 5.3 rating / 8 share in 4,490,000 households. Raw experienced an increase among all key teen, male and adult demos in season-to-date and week-to-week deliveries. The peak of Raw was a 5.8 rating which was achieved from 11-11:08 p.m. during the Rock & Hogan vs. Hall & Nash match.

Raw was the #1 program on television last night among male teens; it was the #2 program among males 12-34 years old; and among total teens, Raw ranked #3.

***Source: Nielsen Media Research


WrestleMania®X8 Sets Revenue, Attendance Records

World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. announced that WrestleMania®X8 at SkyDome in Toronto, Canada, is the highest grossing live event in the company's history. The event shattered SkyDome live attendance and box office records.

Officials announced record-breaking attendance for SkyDome of 68,237, resulting in gross receipts of approximately CDN$6.1 million (US$3.9 million). Fan and corporate sponsor support was tremendous, particularly from sponsors Pizza Pizza, Playstation and Sour Skittles. More than 100,000 fans attended WrestleMania®X8 and its three-day fan festival, FAN AXXESSTM, which preceded the event. The fan fest was held at the Automotive Building at The National Trade Centre at Exhibition Place. Through the generosity of WWFE fans, the Toronto Sun, Home Game, Wal-Mart and WWFE, more than CDN$90,000 was raised over the four-day event for Canadian Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

"The World Wrestling Federation thanks the city of Toronto and its citizens for their support and hospitality," said Linda McMahon, CEO of WWFE. "Most of all, we thank our fans who came from all around the world to attend our FAN AXXESSTM festival and WrestleMania®X8. The continued loyalty of our fans is tremendous and deeply appreciated. We thoroughly enjoyed presenting these events, and we hope that all who attended or watched on pay-per-view had a tremendous time."


Smackdown Your Vote! To Register Students in 12,000 High Schools in 50 States by End of May

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 19, 2002 - Smackdown Your Vote!, a partnership of non-partisan organizations, today announced, with key members of Congress in attendance, one of the most ambitious voter registration efforts ever undertaken in this country.

The first phase of the Smackdown Your Vote! 2002 campaign is a combination of voter registration outreach, scholarship incentives and opportunities for involvement focused on reaching students in 12,000 high schools in all 50 states as part of "National High School Voter Registration Month" in May. The campaign also provides 50 college scholarships to those students who plan and implement the best voter registration initiatives in their respective high schools. Later in the year, Smackdown Your Vote! will focus on rallies at live events and college campuses.

Linda McMahon, CEO of World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, announced the start of the program today at a press conference in the Capitol Building. She was joined by Representative Roy Blunt (R-MO); Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA); Michelle Stafford, "Phyllis" on CBS's The Young & The Restless; and Robin Read, National Foundation for Women Legislators.

"Democracy is built on a simple act: voting. For our democracy to remain strong, we need to encourage our young people to participate in the political process through voting. We need to take that message to the places where young people are - so that it is relevant to them. That's what we are trying to accomplish through this effort," said Mrs. McMahon. "Now is a perfect time for our young people to send the message to the world that democracy is stronger than ever in the U.S.A., despite the efforts of those who would seek to undermine it."

All in attendance urged young people around the country to register to vote and participate in the 2002 elections as a way to show the strength of America's democracy. Participants included Linda Bartelsmeyer, Chairman, National Foundation for Women Legislators and Missouri State Representative; Helen Giddings, former National Organization of Women Legislators President and Texas State Representative; Aisha Abdullah-Odiase, State Representative, Rhode Island, # 19; Sharron Angle, Assemblywoman, Nevada, Washoe # 29; and Kay Albowicz, National Association of Secretaries of State.

Officials in eight states - Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio and Washington - say they will work with Smackdown Your Vote! to encourage every high school in their state to participate in the spring initiative. All told, Smackdown Your Vote! has been approached by students in high schools across 50 states to help hold rallies and register high school students to vote.

High school seniors and juniors are still needed to help organize programs at these high schools, and can register to become Smackdown Your Vote! Ambassadors at www.smackdownyourvote.com .

Smackdown Your Vote! Ambassadors are eligible to receive one of fifty $2,000 academic scholarships being offered by World Wresting Federation Entertainment, a partner in Smackdown Your Vote!

The scholarship is valid for use toward college tuition at any U.S. college or university the winner attends in his or her freshman year. Smackdown Your Vote! will also work to help the 50 students obtain summer internships with public officials in their communities to use what they learn by implementing their Smackdown Your Vote! programs to promote youth voter registration and voting. To learn more, log on to www.smackdownyourvote.com.

The scholarship competition will begin on April 1, 2002. Complete rules will be available at www.smackdownyourvote.com on that date. All submissions must be received before May 31, 2002 to be eligible.

WV: Check Out the All New Wrestling FAQ!








*NEW GALLERY* BRAND NEW Pregnancy Photos of a BIG Stephanie McMahon!

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