WrestleMania 22 was the 22nd edition of WWE’s annual marquee pay‑per‑view, staged on April 2, 2006, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Promoted under the tagline "Big Time," the show was a cross‑brand event featuring talent from both the Raw and SmackDown! rosters. The card combined singles title matches, specialty stipulation bouts, and the multi‑competitor Money in the Bank ladder match that had quickly become a WrestleMania spectacle.

Event highlights and match outcomes

The event produced several memorable moments that shaped WWE’s mid‑2000s storylines. On the Raw side, John Cena faced Triple H for the WWE Championship in a high‑profile singles match; Cena retained by forcing Triple H to submit. SmackDown! showcased a Triple Threat contest for the World Heavyweight Championship involving Kurt Angle, Rey Mysterio, and Randy Orton; Rey Mysterio won the title, earning a major career milestone. The card also included a No Holds Barred match pitting Shawn Michaels against company chairman Vince McMahon and a signature Casket match in which The Undertaker defeated Mark Henry.

  • WWE Championship: John Cena defeated Triple H (submission)
  • World Heavyweight Championship: Rey Mysterio defeated Kurt Angle and Randy Orton (pinfall)
  • No Holds Barred: Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon
  • Casket Match: The Undertaker defeated Mark Henry
  • Money in the Bank ladder match: Rob Van Dam, Shelton Benjamin, Ric Flair, Finlay, Matt Hardy, and Bobby Lashley

Production, attendance and presentation

The Allstate Arena show sold out rapidly and drew an audience from across the United States and abroad, contributing to strong pay‑per‑view buys in over 90 countries. Production emphasized the dual‑brand format that WWE used at the time, meaning matches and storylines were drawn from the separate Raw and SmackDown! rosters. Peter Gabriel’s song "Big Time" was used as the event’s primary theme, with additional licensed rock tracks supporting promotional material and video packages.

Staging at the Allstate Arena continued WrestleMania’s tradition of mixing spectacle with arena‑scale production rather than the stadium presentations used in some other years. The event’s tagline and music were marketed to mainstream media, reflecting WWE’s attempt to position WrestleMania as both a sports and entertainment tentpole.

Historical significance and legacy

WrestleMania 22 is notable for several reasons. Rey Mysterio’s victory for the World Heavyweight Championship represented his first reign with that top title and marked a culmination of long‑running storylines. John Cena’s successful title defense further established him as WWE’s emerging face of the company. The Undertaker’s win continued his storied WrestleMania history, reinforcing the event’s role in building long‑term in‑ring legacies. The Money in the Bank ladder match featured a mix of veteran and rising performers and illustrated WWE’s ongoing use of multi‑man ladder matches to create unpredictable moments.

Quick facts

  • Date: April 2, 2006
  • Venue: Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois (Chicago area)
  • Brands represented: Raw and SmackDown!
  • Official theme: "Big Time" (Peter Gabriel); additional tracks used in promotion
  • Pay‑per‑view availability: internationally distributed in numerous countries

For readers seeking match‑by‑match details, critical reception, or televised highlights, consult the official event materials and contemporary coverage to explore full bout times, backstage segments, and post‑event developments that followed in WWE programming.