SAN FRANCISCO WFF, I WAS THERE
- 10/24/2007 (8:08:40 pm)
- Vince
…..
Hello Georgie, I was at the wrestle fanfest in San Fran for all 3 days and I saw a lot..both good and bad. To those wrestling fans ( and wrestlers ) that read this let me give a huge THANK YOU to the TALENT that was there. Most of the wrestlers were very polite, friendly and honored the passes that alot of us fan had bought even though even on opening day alot of us heard that the promoters checks to the talent had bounced and they hadnt been paid yet. I had gone up there to get autographs on my wwe world title belt and a pic with each wrestler that signed it to verify that the autograph was legit.. but I walked away with a new respect for those I met and spoke with.
To pick up the pass to get into the cow palace I had to go to the Sheraton and sign in, there in the lobby I met orlando jordan. He was great, he posed for pics for fans and was very kind and we spoke briefly. I decided to drive my own car to the cow palace instead of taking the shuttle... thank goodness I did.
Friday, I got into the cow palace parking lot around 2:30 and there were maybe 40 people in line, after getting into the cow palace about 3:30 only a handful of wrestlers were there and half of the vendors table still weren't set up yet. I blame this on the shuttle service from the sheraton to the cow palace which was supposed to have regular shuttle service back and forth hourly but for some reason the shuttle service stopped on saturday morning stranding both talent and fans alike, On saturday and sunday I watched as some talent caught rides from some of the fans and cow palace employees. I was told that kevin nash, scott hall and sid had backed out ( because of no payment possibly ) and that lex luger had had a stroke and kurt angle had the stomach flu. Lex our prayers are with you. Kurt hope your feeling better soon tough guy.
Friday 4pm.. the autograph signings started, larry zybisco, scott norton and mean gene were a blast to meet, baby doll is still sexy and a real pleasure to talk to.
D.D.P. was there with HIS world title belt and even let me take a pic with it. Thanks D.D.P. The steiner bros. were there and scott steiner just by standing there had the crowd staring and watching him, rick and scott were cool.
Demolition and the dudley boys were there and gladly posed for pics and gave autographs. Thanks to both teams. Now you have to remember that most of the talent was there and hadn't been paid yet either.
The dinner with eric bischoff started 35 minutes late and the food hadn't arrived yet but we were let in the sky box and eric started his Q and A session and answered all questions. At the end of the Q and A session eric thanked us for coming like he expected to leave, someone in the crowd said that that we were supposed to get a photo op and autograph with him. He said he had not been told that but that he would do it anyways and he posed for pics with all of us and gave autographs. My guess is that there was 50 of us in the skybox to meet him.
On friday afternoon while in line, a fan had a seizure right behind me so I was the first one to help, SUNNY (Tammy ) was there in an instant and helped the person by speaking with him and reassuring him. To those of you SUNNY haters let me tell you first hand that she is more beautiful than ever..she's like a fine wine. AND she's caring and kind. If I hadnt of been so shy around her I would have asked for a pic. Some other wrestling fans walked up to help the guy, one was a nurse and another a paramedic who helped until the fire dept showed up. I had been waiting for the great muta ( who i heard was coming from Tokyo for this event ) and didn't see him at all on friday even though he was supposed to be there as a headliner on friday AND saturday. On satuday afternoon I was told that the great muta was in the main event saturday night and then he left after the match and caught a flight that night back to tokyo. Things were a little more organized saturday and I got to meet (pro wrestling icons ) harley race and jimmy superfly snuka.
As well as ( to name a few ) christian cage, ted dibiase, rowdy roddy piper, warlord and the barbarian, shark boy, dr. death and the tonga kid.
All were extremely kind and friendly. Meeting Bill Goldbeg was a weekend highlight, he introduced his wife to the crowd saying she was the best thing that ever happened to him. He posed for photos and signed items. He looked healthy and he was friendly and talkative and a pleasure to meet. When I got up to him I asked him if he was a new dad and he said yes and that he has a son 18 months. Congratulations bill from one dad to another.
Sunday morning around 11 vince russo showed up, ( another highlight of my weekend ) he was happily signing autographs, taking photos with fans, he was talking with fans alot of the time and when someone asked him when the question and answer session would begin and he replied that he was going to do that whenever the promoter asked him to and since the promoter was nowhere to be seen a Q and A session with vince russo was never organized. a short while later Chyna showed up as did Road Warrior Animal.
Animal was another one that was a highlight., He seemed both friendly and warm to the fans. Stone cold showed up mid sunday afternoon and signed autographs and posed for pics with fans and for other wrestlers as well. He was very personable and professional. The bad part of wrestle fanfest was that alot of time no promoter was present to help out, also alot of the cow palace employees, and the people that worked for the promoter weren't sure what was going on, what to do or when to do it until someone started to take charge and got things organized. Good for them.
I had a good weekend and got to meet ALOT of talent. And even though stone cold, rowdy roddy and the dudley boys were there.. it was a highlight to meet 8 time champion harley race, jimmy superfly snuka as well as bill goldberg and vince russo and have a Q and A with eric bischoff as well as a photo and autograph with him.
Because of this weekend I have alot more name on my wwe belt now.
The names I had on it before are : rowdy roddy piper, jim the anvil neidart, batista, rob van dam, stone cold steve austin and bret hitman hart.
NOW the names I have on it include : mean gene okerland, diamond dallas page, babydoll, ax and smash from demolition, greg the hammer valentine, buh buh ray and d von the dudley boys, rick and scott the steiner brothers, eric bischoff, harley race, jimmy superfly snuka, christian cage, bill goldberg, ted dibiase, vince russo, chyna and road warrior animal. I had a good time, alot of us did but I do hope that the talent gets 2 things..... #1. reimbursed for their time and trouble and #2.. credit for sticking around and meeting their fans and toughing out a weekend that went every which way but smooth.
From: Vince
Tags:
