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WrestleMania XXVI

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WrestleMania XXVI
Promotional poster featuring (left to right) Shawn Michaels, Triple H, John Cena, The Undertaker and Batista
PromotionWorld Wrestling Entertainment
DateMarch 28, 2010
CityGlendale, Arizona
VenueUniversity of Phoenix Stadium
Tagline(s)"Destruction in the Desert"[1]
"History Will Be Made. Will You Be There?"
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WrestleMania XXVII

WrestleMania XXVI is a forthcoming professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), which is scheduled to take place on March 28, 2010 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.[4] The event will be the twenty-sixth annual event produced under the WrestleMania name, the first WrestleMania to held in the state of Arizona and the third WrestleMania be held in an open-air venue.[4][5] It will be a joint-promotion event, featuring performers both from the Raw and SmackDown brands. Currently, five matches are scheduled for the event's card.

Production

Global Spectrum, University of Phoenix Stadium's operator, had worked in previous years with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) to recruit the event to its venue. On January 18, 2008, Global Spectrum publicly announced its intentions to host WrestleMania in 2010.[6] The event gained media attention weeks prior when a photo of Wayne Gretzky, then head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, wearing a shirt promoting the event surfaced in the Swedish newspaper Expressen.[6][7] A press conference was held on February 24, 2009 at the University of Phoenix Stadium to formally announce the event for Glendale, Arizona at the University of Phoenix Stadium; this event marks the first time WrestleMania will be held in the state of Arizona.[4] Tickets for the event went on sale November 7, 2009 at 10:00am MST.[8]

With the roof of the University of Phoenix Stadium open, WrestleMania XXVI will be the third WrestleMania to be held in an open-air venue.

According to the special "2010 WrestleMania Almanac" issue of WWE Magazine, the roof of the University of Phoenix Stadium will be open for the event, marking the third time in WrestleMania history after WrestleManias IX and XXIV that the event will be held in an open-air venue. Like the previous open-air events, a tarpaulin will be placed over the ring, which will be placed at the 50-yard line. Over 1,000 lights will be used that will adapt to the decrease in sunlight as the show continues into the night. The entrance stage will stand 8 feet (2.4 m) off the stadium floor and measure 120 feet (37 m) wide. The entrance ramp linking to the stage will be lined with cauldrons of fire, each at a temperature of 1,000 °F (538 °C). In addition, 400,000 individual pieces of pyrotechnic product will be launched 200 feet (61 m) into the open air.[5]

Along with WrestleMania XXVI, a series of events grouped as "WrestleMania Week" will be held in the week preceding the event. The third annual WrestleMania Art (formerly WrestleManiArt), an art exhibition and auction featuring work by WWE superstars, will be held on March 24 at the Make-A-Wish Foundation National Headquarters. WrestleMania's annual fan convention, WrestleMania Axxess, will be held from March 25 through to March 28 at the Phoenix Convention Center. On March 27, WWE will host its annual WWE Hall of Fame ceremony at the Dodge Theater, where the Class of 2010 will be inducted.[1][9]

Two songs from singer-songwriter Kevin Rudolf have been used to promote the event. In November 2009, "Welcome to the World" was featured in advertisements promoting the on-sale date for tickets.[10] In January 2010, WWE began airing countdown advertisements for WrestleMania featuring the song "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)" (also featuring Birdman, Jay Sean and Lil Wayne).[11] "I Made It" was later announced to be the official theme for WrestleMania XXVI.[2] On the February 26, 2010 edition of SmackDown, it was announced that in promotion with the soundtrack album AC/DC: Iron Man 2, "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC will also serve as an official theme song for the event.[3]

Background

See also: Professional wrestling

WrestleMania will feature professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds, plots, and storylines that will be played out on World Wrestling Entertainment's (WWE) television programs. Wrestlers will portray a villain or a hero as they follow a series of events that build tension, and culminate into a wrestling match or series of matches.[12] All wrestlers will be from WWE's Raw and SmackDown brands—a storyline division in which WWE employees are assigned to a television program of the same name.[13]

Chris Jericho, the World Heavyweight Champion heading into WrestleMania XXVI.

At the The Bash in 2009, Edge and Chris Jericho established a tag team partnership when they won the Unified Tag Team Championship that night.[14] However, their partnership was short lived when Edge suffered a torn achilles tendon and had to vacate his half of the titles. Jericho distanced himself from Edge, crediting himself for all of the team's success.[15][16] Edge made his return from injury at the Royal Rumble, where he won the annual Royal Rumble match, an over-the-top-rope elimination style match, earning himself an opportunity to fight for either the WWE Championship or the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.[17] In the main event of the Elimination Chamber event three weeks later, Jericho won the World Heavyweight Championship in an Elimination Chamber match.[18] The following night on Raw, Edge announced his decision to face Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.[19]

One of the predominant rivalries heading into WrestleMania XXVI was between John Cena and Batista for the WWE Championship. The conflict started when Cena sided with Bret Hart over Hart's hostility with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon.[20] When Hart and McMahon confronted on the February 1 edition of Raw, Batista saved McMahon from an attack and ambushed Hart from behind.[21] After the show ended, Cena tried to help Hart but was too attacked by Batista.[22] In the opening match of the Elimination Chamber event, Cena won the WWE Championship from Sheamus in an Elimination Chamber match but was shortly interupted by McMahon, who ordered a title match between Cena and Batista to take place on the spot. With Cena too tired to compete, Batista defeated him and won the title.[23] On the February 22 episode of Raw, Cena asked for a rematch for the title at WrestleMania, which McMahon gave him the opportunity to as long as he defeated Batista that night. Later that night, Batista intentionally got himself disqualified by kicking Cena in the groin to set up their match at WrestleMania.[19]

Shawn Michaels will put his career on the line when facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI.

At WrestleMania XXV, Shawn Michaels was unsuccessful in defeating The Undertaker and ending Undertaker's undefeated streak at the event.[24] When the match won the 2009 Slammy Award for Match of the Year, Michaels told in his acceptance speech that he could still defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania and challenged him to a rematch.[25] A month later, The Undertaker, then the World Heavyweight Champion, made his reply and refused a rematch.[26] The refusal saw Michaels more obsessed about facing the Undertaker at the event, attacking referee Charles Robinson and SmackDown general manager Theodore Long respectively after failing his title match opportunities in the Royal Rumble match and Elimination Chamber qualifiers.[17][27] At the Elimination Chamber event, Michaels sneaked into Undertaker's Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship and performed a Sweet Chin Music on The Undertaker, enabling Chris Jericho to defeat The Undertaker and win the World Heavyweight Championship.[18] On the following night, The Undertaker changed his mind and accepted the rematch but with one condition, that if Michaels loses, he would have to retire. Michaels accepted, noting that if he can't end the streak, there's no reason why his career should continue.[19]

On the February 22 episode of Raw, it was announced that the sixth annual Money in the Bank ladder match would take place at WrestleMania XXVI.[19] In this match, eight participants compete to retrieve a briefcase that is suspended above the ring with a cable by climbing a ladder. The briefcase holds a symbolic contract which the holder would be able to exchange for a WWE or World Heavyweight match at any time or location of his choosing up until WrestleMania XXVII.[28] The first qualifying match was held later that night, where Christian defeated Carlito to qualify.[19] Three more qualifying matches were held on the February 26 episode of SmackDown, with Dolph Ziggler defeating John Morrison and R-Truth in a Triple Threat match, Kane defeating Drew McIntyre, and Shelton Benjamin defeating CM Punk to qualify.[29] Jack Swagger defeated Santino Marella on the March 1 episode of Raw to qualify.

Also on the March 1st episode of Raw Vince McMahon challenged Bret Hart to a match at Wrestlemania XXVI which Hart accepted after being kicked off his crutches by McMahon.

References

  1. ^ a b McClay, Bob (2009-02-24). "WrestleMania to be held in Glendale". KTAR. Retrieved 2009-02-25. WrestleMania "Destruction in the Desert," scheduled for March 28, 2010, will be a week-long event featuring a street party, a wrestling hall of fame, and an art exhibition created by several WWE wrestlers.
  2. ^ a b "WrestleMania: "I Made It" by Kevin Rudolf is the official theme song of WrestleMania 26". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2010-02-12.
  3. ^ a b "WWE SmackDown". 2010-02-26. {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help)
  4. ^ a b c "Arizona Hosts WrestleMania XXVI". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2009-02-24. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  5. ^ a b "WWE Magazine Feature of the Week". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2010-02-13. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  6. ^ a b Watters, Carrie (2008-01-18). "Talks ongoing to bring WrestleMania in 2010". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  7. ^ Template:Sv icon Nordström, Gunnar (2007-12-30). "Fel att satsa på Foppa". Expressen. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  8. ^ "WWE Presents WrestleMania XXVI". University of Phoenix Stadium. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  9. ^ "WrestleMania Week". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  10. ^ "WrestleMania: The WWE Universe lines up for their tickets to WrestleMania XXVI in Phoenix". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2009-11-30.
  11. ^ "WrestleMania XXVI is coming March 28, 2010". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  12. ^ "Live & Televised Entertainment of World Wrestling Entertainment". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
  13. ^ "WWE pay-per-views to follow WrestleMania formula". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2010-02-32. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ Adkins, Greg (2009-06-28). "Uninvited guests". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  15. ^ Sitterson, Aubrey (2009-07-13). "Lean, Green hosting machine". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  16. ^ "Getting burned in the Miami heat". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2009-07-17. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  17. ^ a b Murphy, Ryan (2010-01-31). "Opportunity shocks". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
  18. ^ a b Burdick, Michael (2010-02-21). "Heartbroken". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  19. ^ a b c d e Adkins, Greg (2010-02-22). "Taking the bull by the horns". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  20. ^ Adkins, Greg (2010-01-25). ""Psych"-ed for the Rumble". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  21. ^ Adkins, Greg (2010-02-01). "Process of Elimination". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  22. ^ Passero, Mitch (2010-02-05). "Opportunity knocks". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  23. ^ Adkins, Greg (2010-02-21). "Intermittent reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  24. ^ Adkins, Greg. "Vaunted: Deadman Alive". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  25. ^ Adkins, Greg (2009-12-14). "Dennis, anyone?". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  26. ^ Adkins, Greg (2010-01-18). "Royal rebellion". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  27. ^ Adkins, Greg (2010-02-08). "Raw's pit stomp". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  28. ^ "Preview:Money in the Bank Ladder Match". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
  29. ^ Burdick, Michael. "Fear of the Spear". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
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