WWE hosts RAW Road to Wrestlemania at the Patriot Center for the first time on Saturday

Ryback will be competing in a six-man tag team match against the Shield on Saturday (Photo courtesy of WWE).

For the first time in Patriot Center history, World Wrestling Entertainment will be hosting an event—the RAW Road to Wrestlemania—on Saturday, starting at 7:30 p.m.

WWE has a long-standing popularity worldwide and brings a unique experience to the George Mason University campus that appeal to a variety of interests.

Barry Geisler, the general manager of the Patriot Center, expects about 5,000 tickets to be sold before the event.

“Wrestling has historically been entertaining from ages five to 75 and the college ages of 18 to 25 year olds fit into that demographic,” Geisler said. “We, at the Patriot Center, like to provide an entertainment offering for the community and we recognize George Mason University is a diverse campus.”

Among the wrestlers performing, the event is headlined by WWE superstars John Cena, Sheamus, Ryback and The Shield, who will take part in a six-man tag team match.

“Every live event is a big deal,” said Ryback, who is fighting with John Cena and Sheamus against The Shield. “We have a great group of guys and we give it everything we’ve got so you see our very best every night. When the show’s sold out, the energy in the building can’t be described.”

Ryback is a comeback story in itself. In 2010, he broke his ankle and continued to wrestle on it. He eventually had his third surgery and was told he would never wrestle again. But with hard work and determination, Ryback has recovered from his surgery and will be fighting The Shield Saturday.

“[When I had surgery], I wasn’t going to go down without a comeback,” Ryback said. “I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to come back and I still believe that I can become the very best.”

The tour has been largely successful with last weekend’s slate of matches selling out. With this being the first time WWE has hosted at the Patriot Center, it should draw a raucous crowd of wrestling enthusiasts from the Northern Virginia region.