TNA SUPERSTARS COMMENT ON FANFEST
- 10/14/2007 (3:56:11 am)
- TNAWrestling.com
….
TNA SUPERSTARS COMMENT ON SATURDAY'S FANFEST IN ATLANTA
DOWN IN THE PIT: BOUND FOR GLORY - A DAY TO REMEMBER
By Ryan Jevec
Special Contribution by Mike Kerrigan
(Ryan Jevec, a contributing writer for TNAwrestling.com is in ringside with the rowdy fans of the “Pit” at every event in Orlando, and presents a cutting edge perspective on the latest developments in TNA Wrestling.)
It is October 13, 2007, 7:30 a.m. in Duluth, Georgia, at Gwinnett Technical College. While most everyone in the city is still asleep or just beginning to awaken on this bright, sunny morning, at Gwinnett College, fans are lining up in droves to meet and interact with all the stars of TNA Wrestling. For on this day, nearly the entire roster of TNA Wrestling has descended on the Busbee Center to give back to their loyal fans, posing for Polaroid’s by the hundreds and signing autographs by the thousands.
Fans from all points across the country and various countries around the globe have come together this special day, to have an opportunity to not only snap a photo or get their t-shirt signed but to also share a special moment, story or anecdote with their favorite TNA superstar. And even though this truly is a special occasion for the fans, it also is a special time for the stars of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling themselves, for this one afternoon enables superstars to step out of the ring, out of the spotlight, even if for just a moment, and bond with the fans who have faithfully supported them over the years. With this special event having just wrapped up a few short hours ago, presented now is a candid look back at the event through the words of the TNA superstars themselves.
In their own words, here is what TNA Fan InterAction and Bound for Glory means to the various stars of TNA Wrestling:
Chris Sabin: “TNA Fan InterAction has been a great experience and we want to extend a special thank you to all those fans who bought our brand new Motor City Machine Guns t-shirt, the hottest selling shirt at TNA Fan InterAction.”
Alex Shelley: “First, I cannot give enough thanks for the plentiful supply of hand sanitizer in the room. That being said, thank you to the fans who are buying the MCMG shirt. I have seen more of this shirt than any other at Fan InterAction. TNA fans happen to have very good taste, sporting our lovely shirt over everyone else’s.”
Samoa Joe: “It (TNA Fan InterAction) is a great opportunity for me to get up close and personal with the fans and received their accolades, which I appreciate. It is always great to see the enormous amount of fans that have turned out in droves, meeting their favorite TNA stars and we get to meet them, so it’s a great time.”
Ms. Brooks: “Every FanFest is awesome, it gives fans a chance to come out and meet all of us and support everything that we do and in turn, gives us a chance to meet them. It really is always a good. Unfortunately, today, I happen to be stuck sitting next to Robert Roode, who likely is the biggest prick in the company. However, he does seem to be somewhat nice to all of the fans today, and of course, taking their money.”
Robert Roode: “TNA is making me be here, so that is really the only reason that I am here. But, actually, this is an opportunity to make more money for myself, which is always good. And when you think about, it is a ‘win-win’ situation, the fans get to see me, and I get to take their money.”
Crystal Louthan: “This is my first Fan InterAction and is honestly is so much more than I expected. The fans are loyal, hard-core, driving 8+ hours to be here in many cases. It truly is amazing. It is great that so many fans have wanted autographs and everyone is having such a great time. Definitely be back for more.”
Wildcat Chris Harris: “Atlanta, Georgia, Bound for Glory, this is awesome. This is one of the best crowds I’ve ever seen. The fans are tremendous and so respectful of TNA Wrestling and the Wildcat. I am having a blast.”
Don West: “This is one of the best looking crowds I have ever seen. I cannot believe the fans that are coming from so many different countries. I have met fans from Scotland, England, India, China and even Australia. It is just fantastic. I love Fan InterAction and the atmosphere, this is truly what this business is all about.”
Mike Tenay: “I love the Fan InterAction. It is super opportunity to meet all the fans. It is so great for all the great fans to get up close and personal with all the stars of TNA. It was great in Detroit, in St. Louis, in Nashville, and it is absolutely tremendous in Atlanta.”
“Instant Classic” Christian Cage: “It’s just great to up close and personal with the fans and talking with them on a one to one basis, sign all of their stuff, and just have that true moment of interaction. I certainly appreciate this opportunity and I think the fans do as well, it’s just one of this things that works out for everyone involved. The fans are so important, as we would be nothing without them.”
Hernandez: “We’re here in Atlanta, Georgia, meeting a lot of great fans. There are a lot of cool people here and everyone has been nice with us. This is a great experience.”
Homicide: “This is a great day for all the people coming out to see their favorite stars, especially the Latino Nation. I am very happy to be in the ATL, as I have been all over the country but this is my first time. I am very happy to be here and it is great to see all the fans getting autographs and buying shirts, especially LAX shirts.”
Lance Hoyt: “The Atlanta fans are amazing. There are a lot of people who have come out to support TNA. This is what it is all about. TNA is the next big thing in professional wrestling; in fact TNA is the BIG thing in professional wrestling. We are here now. We are the future, we are the present and we will certainly put everyone in the past. Lance Hoyt, Jimmy Rave and Christy Hemme are taking over TNA Wrestling.”
Jimmy Rave: “This here in Atlanta is my hometown, so I am excited to be here and be a part of Fan InterAction. I am happy that TNA is coming here for the big pay per view and am having such a great time at InterAction.”
Christy Hemme: “Fan InterAction is always one of my favorite parts of doing anything with wrestling. It is such a great chance to get out and meet all the greats fans in person. A lot of time you get that interaction with fans when you go out to the ring, but at Fan InterAction, you get that chance to hear the fans thoughts and feelings about everything that is going on with you and with the company. It is always nice to have that validation from the fans.”
AJ Styles: “Fan InterAction just gets better and better with each year. This is my hometown so of course I am having a great time. This is what it is all about, meeting the fans who appreciate what you do and what they are watching. It is awesome.”
Tomko: “Fan InterAction is great. If you are not here right now, you are missing out. And even though AJ Styles just knocked my water over, tomorrow night at BFG, he and I will become the new TNA Tag Team Champions.”
Sonjay Dutt: “It (Fan InterAction) is such a great way for the fans to interact with us all, and without this type of event, contact like this would be hard to come by. It is that one on one opportunity that you just can’t get anywhere else.”
Black Machismo: “Yeah, it is a great opportunity, uh, to meet all the other Macho Man fans out there, ohh yea. And uh, that’s always a positive, yeah. It’s a great chance to interact with the fans and all the Macho Man fans, ohh yeahh!”
Gail Kim: “I didn’t have the opportunity to go to Bound for Glory last year so this event is extra special to me. It is the biggest pay per view of the year and the biggest event and I am so excited to be a part of it. It means so much to hear the perspective of the fans in person and with the upcoming women’s division and the excitement around it, it is a truly special time in TNA. We are simply gonna kick ass and deliver tomorrow night.”
Eric Young: “Usually these kinds of crowds make me nervous, with all these people in one spot, but these people are being really nice to me…they seem to like me. And I got sit next to Gail Kim for two hours, so basically it is the best day of my life….probably to be followed by the worst day of my life when I get beat up by 15 guys, so we’ll see what happens.”
BG James: “Fan InterAction gets bigger and better every year. Just like TNA is growing, so is the fan base. And these fans are great; they are true fans of TNA, not any other “wrestling company,” just fans of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. We just got two hours of television and we got about 2000 fans here looking for autographs so get this damn thing out of my face cuz I’ve got business to take care of.”
Kip James: “Fan InterAction is great because you get to meet all of the people who come to see you and enjoy what you do. We have a great turnout today and when this many people turn out, you know you are doing something right. And tomorrow night at Bound for Glory, it will be more of the same thing…me and BG and Roxxi doing everything we can and bringing 110% to see us leave as the victors.”
SoCal Val: “Fan InterAction is so great. It is great to see and meet so many wonderful fans. I love being here, signing autographs, posing for photos and giving high fives. You know, I always wondered what happened to the high five. I am always getting handshakes but nobody ever high fives…it seems to have gone the way of the word ‘doy’….so I am taking the time to bring ‘doy’ back and the high five. So spread the word! And tomorrow night is so exciting as well with the debut of the women’s division. It has been a long time coming and there are so many new girls here and I am excited to see everyone get their chance to shine.”
Brother Devon: “Fan InterAction is a great thing where the fans get to interact with their favorite TNA superstar. It is just one of the many great things TNA Wrestling provides for its fans. Me and Brother Ray are getting ready for Bound for Glory, the granddaddy of them all, and it is TNA’s biggest pay per view of the year….this is the day where all the build-up and determination of the year comes to a head. I am very excited about everything and getting to meet the fans and hear how they appreciate the things that we do in and out of the ring. But come tomorrow night at Bound for Glory, we are against the Steiners in a Tables Match and Rick and Scott have no idea what they must have done to piss TNA management off so bad that they would get put into a match that we (Team 3D) personally designed over the years. Well, Rick and Scott Steiner, the only mistake that Team 3D made was taking you out but not finishing the job. You see it is like a snake, when you want to kill a snake; you cut off its head and throw it in the trash. Well at Bound for Glory we are going to cut that head off and throw you in the trash and leave you in the trash where you belong. So as far as I am concerned, come Bound for Glory, there will be no more Steiners, Team 3D will reign supreme and go down as the greatest tag team in the history of this business.”
Dixie Carter: “This has been a great Fan InterAction. What I enjoy so much is spending time with the fans. We have had a lot of repeat faces, people that we have gotten to know. We have learned about them and their families and that connection is really what has been extra special to me today. And also today with the debut of the TNA Wresting video game has been great….sharing it with all these great fans. I have really started to see a lot of the work over the course of the past month and I have just been blown away by everything. Midway has promised the best wrestling game ever and the media outlets I have spoken with have been amazed at what Midway has produced as well as with the TNA fans, and that makes certainly makes me proud.”
By Ryan Jevec
Special Contribution by Mike Kerrigan
(Ryan Jevec, a contributing writer for TNAwrestling.com is in ringside with the rowdy fans of the “Pit” at every event in Orlando, and presents a cutting edge perspective on the latest developments in TNA Wrestling.)
It is October 13, 2007, 7:30 a.m. in Duluth, Georgia, at Gwinnett Technical College. While most everyone in the city is still asleep or just beginning to awaken on this bright, sunny morning, at Gwinnett College, fans are lining up in droves to meet and interact with all the stars of TNA Wrestling. For on this day, nearly the entire roster of TNA Wrestling has descended on the Busbee Center to give back to their loyal fans, posing for Polaroid’s by the hundreds and signing autographs by the thousands.
Fans from all points across the country and various countries around the globe have come together this special day, to have an opportunity to not only snap a photo or get their t-shirt signed but to also share a special moment, story or anecdote with their favorite TNA superstar. And even though this truly is a special occasion for the fans, it also is a special time for the stars of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling themselves, for this one afternoon enables superstars to step out of the ring, out of the spotlight, even if for just a moment, and bond with the fans who have faithfully supported them over the years. With this special event having just wrapped up a few short hours ago, presented now is a candid look back at the event through the words of the TNA superstars themselves.
In their own words, here is what TNA Fan InterAction and Bound for Glory means to the various stars of TNA Wrestling:
Chris Sabin: “TNA Fan InterAction has been a great experience and we want to extend a special thank you to all those fans who bought our brand new Motor City Machine Guns t-shirt, the hottest selling shirt at TNA Fan InterAction.”
Alex Shelley: “First, I cannot give enough thanks for the plentiful supply of hand sanitizer in the room. That being said, thank you to the fans who are buying the MCMG shirt. I have seen more of this shirt than any other at Fan InterAction. TNA fans happen to have very good taste, sporting our lovely shirt over everyone else’s.”
Samoa Joe: “It (TNA Fan InterAction) is a great opportunity for me to get up close and personal with the fans and received their accolades, which I appreciate. It is always great to see the enormous amount of fans that have turned out in droves, meeting their favorite TNA stars and we get to meet them, so it’s a great time.”
Ms. Brooks: “Every FanFest is awesome, it gives fans a chance to come out and meet all of us and support everything that we do and in turn, gives us a chance to meet them. It really is always a good. Unfortunately, today, I happen to be stuck sitting next to Robert Roode, who likely is the biggest prick in the company. However, he does seem to be somewhat nice to all of the fans today, and of course, taking their money.”
Robert Roode: “TNA is making me be here, so that is really the only reason that I am here. But, actually, this is an opportunity to make more money for myself, which is always good. And when you think about, it is a ‘win-win’ situation, the fans get to see me, and I get to take their money.”
Crystal Louthan: “This is my first Fan InterAction and is honestly is so much more than I expected. The fans are loyal, hard-core, driving 8+ hours to be here in many cases. It truly is amazing. It is great that so many fans have wanted autographs and everyone is having such a great time. Definitely be back for more.”
Wildcat Chris Harris: “Atlanta, Georgia, Bound for Glory, this is awesome. This is one of the best crowds I’ve ever seen. The fans are tremendous and so respectful of TNA Wrestling and the Wildcat. I am having a blast.”
Don West: “This is one of the best looking crowds I have ever seen. I cannot believe the fans that are coming from so many different countries. I have met fans from Scotland, England, India, China and even Australia. It is just fantastic. I love Fan InterAction and the atmosphere, this is truly what this business is all about.”
Mike Tenay: “I love the Fan InterAction. It is super opportunity to meet all the fans. It is so great for all the great fans to get up close and personal with all the stars of TNA. It was great in Detroit, in St. Louis, in Nashville, and it is absolutely tremendous in Atlanta.”
“Instant Classic” Christian Cage: “It’s just great to up close and personal with the fans and talking with them on a one to one basis, sign all of their stuff, and just have that true moment of interaction. I certainly appreciate this opportunity and I think the fans do as well, it’s just one of this things that works out for everyone involved. The fans are so important, as we would be nothing without them.”
Hernandez: “We’re here in Atlanta, Georgia, meeting a lot of great fans. There are a lot of cool people here and everyone has been nice with us. This is a great experience.”
Homicide: “This is a great day for all the people coming out to see their favorite stars, especially the Latino Nation. I am very happy to be in the ATL, as I have been all over the country but this is my first time. I am very happy to be here and it is great to see all the fans getting autographs and buying shirts, especially LAX shirts.”
Lance Hoyt: “The Atlanta fans are amazing. There are a lot of people who have come out to support TNA. This is what it is all about. TNA is the next big thing in professional wrestling; in fact TNA is the BIG thing in professional wrestling. We are here now. We are the future, we are the present and we will certainly put everyone in the past. Lance Hoyt, Jimmy Rave and Christy Hemme are taking over TNA Wrestling.”
Jimmy Rave: “This here in Atlanta is my hometown, so I am excited to be here and be a part of Fan InterAction. I am happy that TNA is coming here for the big pay per view and am having such a great time at InterAction.”
Christy Hemme: “Fan InterAction is always one of my favorite parts of doing anything with wrestling. It is such a great chance to get out and meet all the greats fans in person. A lot of time you get that interaction with fans when you go out to the ring, but at Fan InterAction, you get that chance to hear the fans thoughts and feelings about everything that is going on with you and with the company. It is always nice to have that validation from the fans.”
AJ Styles: “Fan InterAction just gets better and better with each year. This is my hometown so of course I am having a great time. This is what it is all about, meeting the fans who appreciate what you do and what they are watching. It is awesome.”
Tomko: “Fan InterAction is great. If you are not here right now, you are missing out. And even though AJ Styles just knocked my water over, tomorrow night at BFG, he and I will become the new TNA Tag Team Champions.”
Sonjay Dutt: “It (Fan InterAction) is such a great way for the fans to interact with us all, and without this type of event, contact like this would be hard to come by. It is that one on one opportunity that you just can’t get anywhere else.”
Black Machismo: “Yeah, it is a great opportunity, uh, to meet all the other Macho Man fans out there, ohh yea. And uh, that’s always a positive, yeah. It’s a great chance to interact with the fans and all the Macho Man fans, ohh yeahh!”
Gail Kim: “I didn’t have the opportunity to go to Bound for Glory last year so this event is extra special to me. It is the biggest pay per view of the year and the biggest event and I am so excited to be a part of it. It means so much to hear the perspective of the fans in person and with the upcoming women’s division and the excitement around it, it is a truly special time in TNA. We are simply gonna kick ass and deliver tomorrow night.”
Eric Young: “Usually these kinds of crowds make me nervous, with all these people in one spot, but these people are being really nice to me…they seem to like me. And I got sit next to Gail Kim for two hours, so basically it is the best day of my life….probably to be followed by the worst day of my life when I get beat up by 15 guys, so we’ll see what happens.”
BG James: “Fan InterAction gets bigger and better every year. Just like TNA is growing, so is the fan base. And these fans are great; they are true fans of TNA, not any other “wrestling company,” just fans of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. We just got two hours of television and we got about 2000 fans here looking for autographs so get this damn thing out of my face cuz I’ve got business to take care of.”
Kip James: “Fan InterAction is great because you get to meet all of the people who come to see you and enjoy what you do. We have a great turnout today and when this many people turn out, you know you are doing something right. And tomorrow night at Bound for Glory, it will be more of the same thing…me and BG and Roxxi doing everything we can and bringing 110% to see us leave as the victors.”
SoCal Val: “Fan InterAction is so great. It is great to see and meet so many wonderful fans. I love being here, signing autographs, posing for photos and giving high fives. You know, I always wondered what happened to the high five. I am always getting handshakes but nobody ever high fives…it seems to have gone the way of the word ‘doy’….so I am taking the time to bring ‘doy’ back and the high five. So spread the word! And tomorrow night is so exciting as well with the debut of the women’s division. It has been a long time coming and there are so many new girls here and I am excited to see everyone get their chance to shine.”
Brother Devon: “Fan InterAction is a great thing where the fans get to interact with their favorite TNA superstar. It is just one of the many great things TNA Wrestling provides for its fans. Me and Brother Ray are getting ready for Bound for Glory, the granddaddy of them all, and it is TNA’s biggest pay per view of the year….this is the day where all the build-up and determination of the year comes to a head. I am very excited about everything and getting to meet the fans and hear how they appreciate the things that we do in and out of the ring. But come tomorrow night at Bound for Glory, we are against the Steiners in a Tables Match and Rick and Scott have no idea what they must have done to piss TNA management off so bad that they would get put into a match that we (Team 3D) personally designed over the years. Well, Rick and Scott Steiner, the only mistake that Team 3D made was taking you out but not finishing the job. You see it is like a snake, when you want to kill a snake; you cut off its head and throw it in the trash. Well at Bound for Glory we are going to cut that head off and throw you in the trash and leave you in the trash where you belong. So as far as I am concerned, come Bound for Glory, there will be no more Steiners, Team 3D will reign supreme and go down as the greatest tag team in the history of this business.”
Dixie Carter: “This has been a great Fan InterAction. What I enjoy so much is spending time with the fans. We have had a lot of repeat faces, people that we have gotten to know. We have learned about them and their families and that connection is really what has been extra special to me today. And also today with the debut of the TNA Wresting video game has been great….sharing it with all these great fans. I have really started to see a lot of the work over the course of the past month and I have just been blown away by everything. Midway has promised the best wrestling game ever and the media outlets I have spoken with have been amazed at what Midway has produced as well as with the TNA fans, and that makes certainly makes me proud.”
Link: http://www.tnawrestling.com/content/view/297/84/
Bound for Glory is one PPV, I'm not going to miss.....
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