WWE’s Smack Down!

While the more realistic (and brutal) Ultimate Fighting Championship and similar mixed-martial arts leagues have made big inroads into their demographic, World Wrestling Entertainment continues to be a huge draw for young, male, testosterone-fueled fans. Well, guys, get ready, because Houston is hosting the taping of two back-to-back episodes of WWE’s SmackDown!/ECW! (World Wrestling Entertainment/Extreme Championship Wrestling) shows. The ECW! portion will air live.

Matches will feature superstars such as Edge (who is the current ECW World Heavyweight Champion), along with Batista, CM Punk, Chavo Guerrero and a whole lot of meat to be named later. The various storylines have gotten more extreme and graphic since the days of Randy “Macho Man” Savage and divorcing daddy Hulk Hogan. Of course, it’s all just good fun. You could say the rivalries and good-vs.-evil storylines are more comic book than competition — just don’t say that to John Cena’s face. 6:30 p.m. Toyota Center, 1510 Polk. For information, call 866-446-8849 or visit www.houstontoyota-center.com. $20 to $70.
Tue., June 24, 6:30 p.m., 2008