- 06/13/2011 (8:04:03 pm)
- Press Release
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"Hacksaw" Butch Reed Added To Fanfest Lineup; Doom Reunion with Teddy Long, Ron Simmons!
As rugged as they came, "Hacksaw" Butch Reed started his career in the NWA's Central States region in 1978. He became a major player in Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation in the early 1980s, and is remembered there for his brutal rivalries with Jim Duggan and The Junkyard Dog. Reed moved onto WWE in 1986. Billed as "The Natural," the Kansas City native was a forced to be reckoned with thanks to his size and his manager - the underhanded Slick. In WWE rings, the brawling 260-pound Reed quickly made an impact, battling the likes of Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, and Magnificent Muraco in 1987. From there, he moved on to WCW where he formed the dangerous team of Doom with Ron Simmons. Managed first by "Woman" (the late Nancy Benoit,) and later by Teddy Long, the duo defeated The Steiner Brothers for the WCW Tag Team Championships in 1989. They would hold the titles for an amazing 281 days, setting a record that stood until WCW's demise in 2001. Reed, Simmons and Long will reunite for the first time in 20 years at this summer's NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend August 4-7 in Atlanta. |
signing autographs and taking photos with fans over the course of the three-day, four night event at Atlanta's Airport Marriott hotel.
Each featured guest will be scheduled to take photos with fans at least once (sometimes more,) during the weekend. For a nominal fee, we'll take your photo, process it -- even get it autographed for free! -- and return to you a beautiful, one-of-a-kind 8" x 10" autographed photo of you and your favorite wrestling heroes! An incredible keepsake that will last a lifetime! There will be individual photo ops with each of the featured guests, as well as some rare, group photo ops available.
Each featured guest will also be scheduled to sign autographs for fans at least once during the weekend. Those with VIP "All Access" Passes are allowed to get two free autographs from each featured guest at our Autograph Stage.
Over the next week, we will be announcing our final guest confirmations for this year's Atlanta fanfest.
Solie, Turner Among 8 Tapped For Hall of Heroes!
Media mogul Ted Turner and legendary TV announcer Gordon Solie, two iconic figures in Georgia wrestling history, are among eight being inducted into our Hall of Heroes this August in Atlanta. Turner will be recognized for seeking out wrestling programming in the early days of cable TV and, for more than two decades, providing a broadcast home for matches sanctioned by the once-mighty National Wrestling Alliance. The exposure gained from being on Turner's quickly-expanding SuperStation broadcasts, and the station's jump to satellite transmission in 1976, brought Georgia Championship Wrestling and the NWA to a new level of national popularity. In short order, it made household names of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, and Mr. Wrestling II. Another is Atlanta wrestling legend Thunderbolt Patterson. A 2007 Hall of Heroes inductee himself, Patterson arrived in Georgia in the early 1970's and experienced first-hand the added popularity of being seen on one of cable television's first wrestling shows. "Ted Turner provided us a lot of opportunities in the early days," said Patterson, who will be inducting Turner during a dinner banquet and awards ceremony Friday night, August 5, at Atlanta's Airport Marriott hotel. "Suddenly, our TV wrestling show was not just seen in Atlanta each week, but in far-away places like Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Without Ted Turner, Atlanta wrestling would still be 'Atlanta wrestling.' Thanks to his vision, it became World Championship Wrestling!" The Hall of Heroes inductions are part of Atlanta's first-ever NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend August 4-7. The tenth annual event offers fans and followers of all ages an exciting three-day forum to reconnect with some of TV wrestling's notable heroes and villains. Autograph sessions, photo opportunities, and question-and-answer sessions fill the weekend, and tons of wrestling memorabilia will be on display.
Turner will be joined by seven other Class of 2011 Hall of Heroes inductees, including legendary TV wrestling announcer Gordon Solie, affectionately known as "The Dean" of all wrestling announcers. Recognized by fans for his monotone, stoic interview style, Solie arrived in Atlanta in 1974 at the urging of Turner and played a vital role in Turner's broadcast expansion and ultimate media empire. He became the voice of the weekend studio wrestling shows -- filmed on location at Tuner's 1050 Techwood Drive studio -- that quickly became the most-watched programming on cable television at the time. "He was the man," said wrestling icon Dusty Rhodes, "the absolute best to ever call a match!" Others being honored will include wrestling legends The Assassins (Joe Hamilton and Tom Renesto,) "Hands of Stone" Ron Garvin, Sir Oliver Humperdink, Ray "The Crippler" Stevens, and the Masked Superstar. |
Masked Superstar Q&A Kicks Off Opening Night!
Four-time Georgia Heavyweight champion, international wrestling legend and 2011 Hall of Heroes honoree The Masked Superstar kicks off our NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend in Atlanta with a question-and-answer session on Thursday night, August 4. This is your opportunity to interact with one of the all-time great masked men in an up close, intimate setting. Not only will you have a chance to hear him speak about his unforgettable, record-setting Georgia feud with Mr. Wrestling II; there are no limits to the discussion. The Mongols, Demolition, The Machines, ask whatever questions you'd like. The Q&A is set to begin at 6:05 p.m. at Atlanta's Airport Marriott hotel. |
"Doctor D" David Schultz Scheduled For Fanfest Q&A!
"So you think it's fake, huh?" Happy to confirm that the guy responsible for the slap heard around the world will be featured in one of fanfest's opening night question-and-answer sessions this August. Former wrestling bad guy "Doctor D" David Schultz will be taking your questions and clearing up any misunderstandings or misconceptions about the incident backstage at Madison Square Garden 20+ years ago when he slapped the crap out of a smart-aleck ABC News reporter John Stossel. But it won't end there. There's sooooo much more to the "Doctor D" story. You'll hear it all, and even be able to participate in the discussion, during this very special evening that kicks off this year's NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend in Atlanta! The Q&A is set to begin at 8:05 p.m. Thursday, August 4 at Atlanta's Airport Marriott hotel. |
Three NWA World Titles On The Line At Fanfest, Reserve Your Spot On The Bus Now!
 Gunner | |
