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The World
Former type Themed-Restaurant
Industry Entertainment restaurant
Founded 1999 in New York City
Defunct 2003
Headquarters New York City
Key people Vince McMahon, Chairman of the Board of WWE

The World (formerly WWF New York) was a World Wrestling Entertainment-themed restaurant/nightclub in Times Square in New York City, in the Paramount Theater building on the corner of Broadway and 43rd Street. The idea for the complex was inspired by rival organization World Championship Wrestling's Nitro Grill in Las Vegas.

History[]

WWF New York[]

In 1999, WWF Chairman Vince McMahon leased space at the Paramount Theater in Time's Square in Manhattan. He opened the complex in late 1999, originally named WWF New York. The complex consisted of a retail store with WWF merchandise and an underground nightclub. 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, as well as 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. WWF stars made appearances at the complex. A star or two hosted all events live from the complex. From October 2000 to May 2002, WWE Sunday Night Heat emanated from the complex, hosted by Michael Cole and Tazz.It was on video games WWE SmackDown Just Bring It! and WWE SmackDown Shut Your Mouth! used for the season mode and backstage matches. During The Invasion storyline Chris Kanyon tried taking over WWE New York and renaming it the Alliance New York, but it was only for one Monday Night Raw and forgotten the following SmackDown!.

The World[]

In May 2002, WWE changed the complex's name to The World. In February 2003, WWE CEO Linda McMahon decided to close The World, so WWE could concentrate more on their global efforts. Immediately upon the announcement, the restaurant/nightclub was closed down. The retail shop was closed in April of that year.

Hard Rock Cafe[]

The complex remained closed until 2005, when the Hard Rock Cafe took over the lease and the business. On August 16, 2006, WWE returned to the location for the 2006 Diva Search finale. They returned again in 2008 for the WrestleMania XXIV press conference and yet again in 2009 for the WrestleMania XXV press conference.

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