5 non-wrestling business ventures WWE has given a try

#2. The World and WWE Niagra Falls

WWE Niagra Falls

If you were into theme restaurants and also a big WWE fan in 1999, then you were more than likely a pretty happy camper. For that was the year that both WCW Nitro Grill and WWF New York opened in Las Vegas and, well, New York City, respectively. For the sake of brevity, and also because it sucked, we're going to ignore Nitro Grill for the moment.

WWF New York - later renamed simply The World in an attempt to attract non-WWE fans - opened in Times Square, inside the Paramount Theater. Much like Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood before it, The World was covered wall-to-wall with wrestling memorabilia, as visitors would listen to wrestling theme music while chowing down on wrestling-inspired menu items. It would also hold special WWE events, as well as musical performances, including an "after-party" show by Prince.

WWF New York

A few years later, WWE Niagra Falls opened in Canada (take a wild guess where that was located). Unlike The World, this venue was a.) simply a WWE-theme gift and merchandise shop and b.) not actually owned by WWE. Run by Canadian Niagra Hotels, it also featured a 220 ft. drop tower ride (think the old "Tower of Terror" ride at Disney World) called "The Piledriver."

The World eventually closed in 2003 after the company decided to focus on other aspects of the business. WWE Niagra Falls fared a little better, staying open for business until 2011.