REPORT FROM NWA LEGENDS FANFEST
- 08/19/2008 (3:11:05 pm)
- Georgiann Makropoulos
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From Mike S- NYC
My report on the NWA Legends Fanfest
Hands down one of the most enjoyable wrestling related weekends I have ever had.
Greg Price did a really amazing job this year. This was my third Fanfest, and as much fun as I have had the past few years, this one was significantly more fun to me. The convention overall was very well run, very well organized and everything went extremely smooth.
This is a relatively easy review to write because there really was nothing to complain about. Thursday early bird registration moved quicker than past years. Greg had available for purchase really nice 8x10s of just about all appearing legends. You were given the option of pre-ordering them so when you arrived at registration, they had been pulled for you and were waiting for you with your registration materials. He also had for sale a really fun event poster caricaturing most of the appearing legends, as well as a 16 x 20 of Ric Flair's last match (as well as the 4 Horsemen 16 x 20 which was available the year before as well).
The highlight of this show, to many of us, was the opportunity to meet Ric Flair and Ric did not disappoint. You were given the opportunity to take a picture with Ric and then go back to get one item signed. The response was tremendous and there were hundreds of interested people. Everything was run in number order (you received your number when you purchased your Flair tickets) and it was ridiculously smooth. I expected some degree of chaos but I didn't see any. I also left a number of items at the registration desk that they would make sure Ric signed. All of my items were returned to me first thing the next morning with beautiful signatures on them. The picture I took with Ric was awesome. He was really friendly, introduced himself, saying "Hi, I'm Ric Flair, its a pleasure to meet you, and thanks for coming out". He would inscribe or personalize his autograph any way you wanted it. Greg Price printed out an awesome 8 x 10 of my picture with Ric, and Ric signed it as well. Just a really great experience with Ric, and worth every penny.
The photo opps all came out really nice (Greg Price prints out a color 8 x 10 of you with the legend, which you can get signed if you so choose). I opted for the tag team combo, which got you pictures with the following combos: Ole and Thunderbolt, Bruno and Ivan, 3 different Freebird combos (Hayes-Roberts, Hayes-Garvin-Humperdink, and all 4 together), Ivan Koloff and Don Kernodle, the Kernodles, Baron Von Rashcke and Paul Jones, Houston and Baby Doll, Jimmy Garvin and Precious, Dibiase and Virgil, etc. All of them are tremendous pictures. Big time props to everyone associated with the photo opps, from those running the actual picture taking (Dan and Dave), to those in the back room printing them out and making sure they came out (I think that's Jimmy K and his wife). The photos I went home with really added something to the weekend.
Just like last year, the Hall of Heroes Dinner this year was very enjoyable- the food was great and there were some very moving speeches, including Paul Jones, Rip Hawk, Sam Houston, Bob Caudle's to Sandy Scott, Michael Hayes' to Buddy Roberts and the show put on by Ole and Thunderbolt Patterson. We sat at Bob Caudle's table and it was interesting to hear some of his stories and thoughts on the business.
Fun matches Saturday night- Mike Jackson was a show stealer and had the fans on their feet, Richie Steamboat, George South and Baby Doll put on an entertaining match, and the ladies match main event was a lot of fun.
Greg's staff was awesome- they ran a tight ship and were very helpful, especially Tommy G at the registration booth, and the guys running the autograph line. The legends were extra friendly, really happy to be there and seemed to truly enjoy themselves. They were accessible, in the hotel lobby or bar area most of the weekend, happy to talk for a few minutes, sign an autograph or take a picture if asked.
Being able to meet, for the first time, legends like Jack Brisco, Baron Von Raschke, Tbolt Patterson, Paul Jones, Sam Houston, Michael Hayes, Jimmy Garvin and Precious, Don Kernodle and Oliver Humperdink was really cool. And it is always fun to again see legends like Bruno, Koloff, Ole, Rip, JJ, Patera, Dibiase, Magnum, Buddy Roberts, guys you always have something for them to sign. And even the guys I wasn't that familiar with, Tommy Young, Mike Jackson, Ted Allen, Bill White, Chris Cruise, Rich Landrum and Sandy Scott were super-friendly and fun to be around.
The vendors who brought in guests did a great job, and also added something to the show, including K and S, 3 Count Promotions and George's. Over the course of the weekend, I got to meet the following vendor guests: Michael Hayes, Kevin Sullivan, Dutch Mantel, Brad Armstrong, Mike Graham, Ron Simmons, Buckhouse Buck, Col. Fuller, Adam Bomb, Animal, Scott Norton, Scott Hall, Bobby Fulton, Van Hammer, Daffney, ODB, Manny Fernandez and George Steele. Even Ronnie Garvin, the Hurricane and Charles Robinson just showed up unannounced to hang out, also signing autographs and taking pictures with fans in the lobby for free.
I can't say enough how enjoyable this year's Fanfest was. A shout out to some of the people I hung out with all weekend who also made the weekend that much more enjoyable- Lucas, Howie, Ray and Taylor, Dan the Mark, Joe, Joey and Rockland S, as well as Brett, James, Ken, Steve and Tommy.
One last props and thanks to Greg- its rare I can come back from a wrestling convention and not have a single complaint to make. I honestly do not have a single complaint to make about this show.
If you have a chance to attend one of these, do it- you won't be sorry.
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