Fifty Make-A-Wish kids cheered for their favorite WWE Superstars and Divas with more than 74,000 other fans Sunday night, March 30, at sports-entertainment's biggest event, WrestleMania XXIV, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

The 50 wish kids and their families were thrilled by the pyrotechnics, lights, sounds and capacity crowd that filled Orlando's Citrus Bowl. They enjoyed the spectacular card of championship bouts, including the "Triple Threat" match for the WWE title that pitted Triple H, Randy Orton and John Cena, the favorite WWE Superstar of many wish kids at the event.

"This is so exciting," said wish kid Javier from the Central and Northern Florida chapter as WrestleMania got underway. "I'm still just trying to believe that I'm here."

Javier's wish to attend WrestleMania XXIV was granted as part of an unforgettable weekend for all of the wish kids and their families. The kids had already enjoyed a full schedule of activities hosted by WWE prior to Sunday's main event. The activities started Friday, March 28, including:

-- a private meet-and-greet party hosted by WWE Superstars Rey Mysterio, Kane and Diva Michelle McCool.
-- a pizza party provided by the David Maus Foundation and hosted by WWE Superstars John Cena, Chris Jericho and Diva Mickie James at Universal Orlando® Resort. The kids made a red-carpet entrance surrounded by media for the party and later had fun in the many movie- and TV-themed attractions at Universal Studios® Florida.
-- induction into the WWE Make-A-Wish “Circle of Champions” at the annual Bacon, Bagels and Biceps brunch sponsored by the David Maus Foundation on Sunday morning. The wish kids were honored by popular television, music and movie star Raven-Symoné and hip-hop superstar Snoop Dogg at the induction.

The wish experience marked the WWE’s biggest wish-granting event ever and symbolizes the new, multi-year sponsorship commitment announced recently by the WWE and Make-A-Wish Foundation. WWE long has been one of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s most enthusiastic wish granters, fulfilling hundreds of wishes in the past 20 years.

Many of the wish kids are longtime WWE fans but were able to see their heroes compete in-person for the first time. For some, this wish trip also marked their first airline flights -- the wish kids came to Orlando from 27 Make-A-Wish chapters and were joined by Make-A-Wish International wish kids from Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland.

Wish kid Katherine from the Eastern Virginia chapter loved the WrestleMania show, but undoubtedly her biggest moment came Saturday when her wish to meet the popular Cena came true at a Universal Studios Florida soundstage. She presented her favorite WWE Superstar with a t-shirt bearing the state's motto "Virginia is for Lovers," and Cena promptly took off his own t-shirt and put on her gift -- and then gave Katherine his shirt. A huge smile lit up her face as she put a headlock on Cena for a photo, telling the story of her wish experience.

"My dream came true, I'm so happy," she said later. "He's so sweet."

Cena granted his 100th wish during the weekend, a milestone that he says is not important compared to bringing smiles and joy to each wish kid he meets.

"It's exciting to see the all of the kids so enthusiastic about seeing us perform and having their wish granted at our biggest event of the year," he said. "It automatically puts me in gear to get ready for (Sunday).

"Make-A-Wish is a charity that I enjoy supporting. As long as there are wishes to be granted, and I can be a piece of the puzzle to help grant them, then that's what I'll be doing."

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