REPORT FROM SUMMERSLAM AXXESS
- 08/23/2009 (1:20:46 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
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Hi Georgie,
Just wanted to thank you for all your hard work in gathering info for the wrestlers' autograph signings. My friend and I attended the Summerslam Axxess Fanfest on Saturday at Staples Center. We arrived at about 11:15 am, just after the first set of wrestlers began signing. Tommy Dreamer, Sugar Shane Helms, Mark Henry, and Big Show were already signing by the time we got in. I really wanted to meet Big Show as I've been a fan of his since the old WCW/NWO days when he wrestled as "The Giant."
So we lined-up to meet Big Show. The line moved pretty slowly and was somewhat disorganized. After one and half hours in line, it was our turn to meet Big Show (BTW, Mark Henry was also signing at the same table). I had an 8x10 NWO group photo of Hogan, Hall, Nash, DiBiase, and The Giant. My friend had an old WCW/NWO magazine with The Giant's face, among other WCW wrestlers, on the front cover.
I told Big Show that I'd been a fan of his since WCW and asked him if he could sign "The Giant" on the photo. There was no response from him. Instead, without taking the time to look at the photo, he began signing where Scott Hall's face was. I had wanted him to sign next to where his face was (as would any other reasonable human being). But, before I could stop him, he had already finished signing. Then, he took the photo, used it to shield his mouth, and made some comments to Mark Henry who was sitting next to him. By now I was thinking to myself "What was he saying to Mark Henry that he could not say to our faces?"
He then proceeded to give the photo to Mark Henry but, luckily, I stopped him before he could sign it. Of course, Mark Henry had nothing to say to me as my friend finished getting his WCW magazine signed by Big Show. We then both left the fanfest utterly disgusted by the lack of professionalism displayed by these two.
I've been to many wrestlers' autograph signings in the past and this was, by far, the worst experience I've had. I understand that everyone has a bad day. But clearly, Big Show and Mark Henry were not happy to be there. They seemed to be just going through the motions and not taking the time to acknowledge each fan that they met. We felt like we were being rushed throughout the whole experience.
I had already pretty much stopped watching the stale WWE programming since 2006. But, this experience confirms that WWE is all about business and money and they really don't care about the fans. I will never watch WWE again or go to any of their future events.
Sorry for the long rant Georgie, but I just needed to get this off my chest! BTW, attached is a photo that I managed to take of my friend shaking hands with Big Show. Sorry about the poor quality of the photo.
-Alan (Tarzana, CA.)
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