STAMFORD, Conn., May 17, 2004 - World Wrestling Entertainment announced today that the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee will be undertaking voter registration activities at WWE live events in 39 states between now and the end of September, including multiple stops in California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The initiative is part of WWE’s collaborative, non-partisan Smackdown Your Vote!® effort to increase the number of 18-to-30 year-olds who cast their votes in the 2004 Presidential election.

To kick off its role in the five-month effort, the RNC will bring its 18-wheel voter registration rig, “Reggie”, to the San Diego Sports Arena, the site of tonight’s Monday Night RAW®. At a 2 p.m. news conference, Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie will announce the Republican’s commitment to registering new voters and reaching out to 18-to-30-year-old Americans. WWE Superstars Ric Flair®, Shawn Michaels™, Shelton Benjamin™, Randy Orton™, The Hurricane®, and Women’s Champion Victoria™ will attend the news conference.

The DNC intends to hold a similar event and rally at a future WWE event.

"President Bush's positive agenda is exciting people across the country, and we want voters to bring that excitement to the polls on November 2,” said RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie. “The Republican National Committee is committed to registering an unprecedented three million new voters by Election Day. We are off to a great start -- registering one million new voters in a single one week in March. We look forward to working with WWE's Smackdown Your Vote! toward our shared goal of encouraging Americans to vote."

"The energy and excitement about John Kerry and this presidential election cycle among young people is unprecedented,” DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe said today. "The DNC has developed an aggressive youth outreach program entitled ‘Something New’ which works with young professionals and celebrities to register voters and encourage civic participation. We are currently registering voters in-conjunction with the tours of Blink 182, Ginuwine, Jagged Edge and Avant. The WWE will make a great addition to our tour schedule."

“Part of the mission of Smackdown Your Vote! is to encourage the candidates and political parties to do more to reach out to 18-to-30-year-old Americans to invite them into the democratic process,” said Linda McMahon, CEO of WWE. “Both the Republicans and Democrats are making an important gesture by making the effort to go where these potential younger voters are to register them and to encourage them to vote for the candidates of their choice. The pay off for this effort will be increased voter turnout in this election.”

Smackdown Your Vote!, founded in July 2000, is a non-partisan approach to getting young people involved in the political process and registered to vote. Through Smackdown Your Vote!, WWE has collaborated with many non-profit, non-partisan organizations to engage 18-to-30-year-olds in the political process. Including the League of Women Voters, the Youth Vote Coalition, Rock The Vote, Harvard Institute of Politics, MTV Choose or Lose, New Voters Project, 18-to-35, and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. The collaborative program’s goal is to get 20 million 18-to 30-year-olds to the polls in 2004, an increase of two million over the election turnout in 2000. In addition to conducting voter registration at WWE live events, Smackdown Your Vote! will visit high schools and colleges across the country conducting voter registration rallies. For information on the program go to smackdownyourvote.com.

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. Information on television ratings and community activities can be found at parents.wwe.com.

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Media Contact:
Gary Davis, VP, Corporate Communications 203-353-5066
Christine Iverson, Press Secretary, Republican National Committee, 202-863-8614
Elizabeth Alexander, Democratic National Committee Press Office, 202-863-8148

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