The World (WWE)

The World Entertainment, LLC
Subsidiary, Themed-Restaurant
Industry Entertainment restaurant
Founded 1999
Defunct 2003
Headquarters New York, New York
Key people
 Vince McMahon, Chairman of the Board of WWF/E
Parent WWE

The World Entertainment, LLC[1] was a WWE-owned subsidiary that operated The World, originally opened as WWF New York, a themed restaurant/nightclub in Times Square in New York, New York, in the Paramount Theatre building on the corner of Broadway and 43rd Street.

History

Opening

In 1999, Chairman Vince McMahon leased space at the Paramount Theatre 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 a nightclub, restaurant and arcade underground. 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 February 2002, WWE Heat emanated from the complex, hosted by Michael Cole and Tazz. During The Invasion storyline Chris Kanyon tried taking over the nightclub and renaming it The Alliance New York, but it was only for one Raw and forgotten the following SmackDown!.[2][3][4]

The complex features in the video games: WWF Smackdown! 2: Know Your Role, WWF Smackdown! Just Bring It, WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth and WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain in Falls Count Anywhere matches.

Expansion

There were plans to open a WWF Hotel & Casino Las Vegas in 2000, however this never came to light. Another WWE establishment, WWE Niagara Falls, was opened in 2002 partly inspired by this venue.

Closure and Hard Rock Cafe

Linda McMahon, the CEO, elected to close the nightclub in February 2003 so WWE could concentrate more on their global efforts. The retail shop closed two months later. This meant that WWE Niagara Falls was the only official WWE retail store in the world. The complex remained closed for two years until 2005, when the Hard Rock Cafe took over the lease and the business. On August 16, 2006, WWE returned to the former location for the 2006 Diva Search finale. WWE also held press conferences at the Hard Rock Cafe for WrestleMania's 24, 25, 27, 30.

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1091907/000120677408000468/exhibit21-1.htm
  2. ↑ "WWE New York Theme Restaurant in Times Square".
  3. ↑ "X-Entertainment — WWF NY in Times Square, NY".
  4. ↑ "411MANIA — The 8-Ball 07.05.12: Top 8 Pro Wrestling Restaurants".
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