WrestleMania XIX

WrestleMania XIX
Promotional poster featuring the Space Needle among various WWE wrestlers
PromotionWorld Wrestling Entertainment
Brand(s)Raw
SmackDown!
DateMarch 30, 2003 (2003-03-30)
CitySeattle, Washington
VenueSafeco Field
Attendance54,097[1]
Buy rate560,000[1]
Tagline(s)Dare to Dream
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
No Way Out
Next →
Backlash
WrestleMania chronology
← Previous
X8
Next →
XX

WrestleMania XIX was the 19th annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It featured wrestlers from the promotion's Raw and SmackDown! brand divisions. The event took place at Safeco Field in Seattle on March 30, 2003, becoming the first WrestleMania held in the state of Washington. A record-breaking 54,097 fans from all 50 states and numerous countries around the world at Safeco Field resulted in ticket earnings of $2.76 million.[2] WrestleMania XIX was the first WrestleMania to be promoted under the WWE name after the promotion was renamed from World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in May 2002. It was also the first WrestleMania to take place after WWE introduced the brand extension in March 2002. The official theme song for the event was "Crack Addict" by Limp Bizkit, who appeared at the event to perform the song; the band also performed their song "Rollin' (Air Raid Vehicle)" during The Undertaker's entrance.

The marquee match from the SmackDown! brand, which was the main event, saw Brock Lesnar win the WWE Championship from defending champion Kurt Angle. The marquee match from the Raw brand was the third and final WrestleMania bout between The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin (after 15 and X-Seven), which The Rock won, marking Austin's final match before his retirement from in-ring performance due to injuries sustained in previous years (Austin would return for a one-off main event against Kevin Owens 19 years later at WrestleMania 38).

The other primary match from the Raw brand saw Triple H retain the World Heavyweight Championship against Booker T, while other matches on the undercard included Shawn Michaels defeating Chris Jericho in his first Mania since 1998, Hulk Hogan defeating Mr. McMahon in a street fight billed "20 Years in the Making", and The Undertaker defeating the team of Big Show and A-Train in a handicap match.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference WM19 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "WrestleMania XIX Breaks Attendance Record at SAFECO Field". World Wrestling Entertainment Corporate. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2008.