'Mania' hits the mall

The Advocate - 'Mania' hits the mall

By Alexandra Fenwick
Special Correspondent

Published January 7 2006

STAMFORD -- The intimidating, wind-whipped black flags that flap from "Titan Towers," World Wrestling Entertainment's corporate headquarters on East Main Street, let everybody know that the WWE is in town.

Yesterday, some of its legends made the WWE more visible when the "Wrestlemania 22 Fan Axxess Tour" made its first stop at Stamford Town Center.

Jim Morris, better known as Hillbilly Jim, and Ron Simmons, who wrestled as Farooq, held court in a wrestling ring set up in the mall's center court. The tour will crisscross the country, ending April 2 in Chicago at "Wrestlemania 22."

A resident of Bowling Green, Ky., Morris wrestled for 10 years until 1993.

Known for his denim overalls, bushy beard and straw hat in the ring, Morris, now 52, wore black track pants, a fleece jacket, dark sunglasses and a gold dog tag necklace. His hair was slicked back into a ponytail.

Morris still knew how to engage the crowd, even without his trademark getup. He said he and his WWE contemporaries such as Hulk Hogan, Jesse "The Body" Ventura, Andre the Giant and King Kong Bundy have started to become pop culture icons.

"What's old is new again," he said. "There's a real resurgence for guys from the '80s. We're bringing back the '80s."

Simmons, 47, wore black cowboy boots with dress pants and a leather WWE letterman's jacket, a thick, gold chain bracelet dangling from his right wrist. He was the first African-American to win a world heavyweight championship, when he defeated Vader for the WCW title in 1992.

The event drew mostly male fans of all ages who shared a love for the WWE's macho soap opera.

At one display tent, fans posed in front of a video camera with a 15-pound, jewel-encrusted replica of the championship belt held by wrestler John Cena.

Trinity Catholic High School students Vinny Cortese, 16, and Vladimir Joseph, 17, both of Stamford, came straight from school to the event.

They and other friends took turns talking trash with the heavy belt draped over their shoulders.

Vinny recently saw his first live WWE event at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville.

Vladimir caught a recent WWE event at the Arena at Harbor Yardin Bridgeport. He's been following the wrestling league for years and aspires to join it.

Vinny has a name and finishing move picked out.

"When I grow up I want to be 'Vicious V,' " he said. Vinny said he is developing a move called "The Vicious Ending."

Roxbury Elementary school student Gianni Carwin, 8, timidly walked up to the wrestling greats and asked for an autograph.

He watches WWE "Raw" and "Smackdown" every week, plays WWE video games and has a vast collection of wrestling action figures, said his mother, Joyce Carwin.

When a friend who knew of Gianni's dedication to the WWE called her at work to tell her about the mall event, Carwin left early and took her son.

"Where is the WWE building?" she quizzed her mini-fan.

"It's in Exit 9!" Gianni answered, referring to the view of the WWE headquarters from Interstate 95.

When he was told he could see a replica of his idol Cena's belt, Gianni's jaw dropped, his eyes bugged and he sprinted away.

"What is John Cena's move?" Joyce Carwin asked Gianni as they waited in line for a chance with the belt.

"The FU and the Five Knuckle Shuffle!" he replied.

Later, Simmons and Morris brought Gianni into the center ring for some freebies, including an autographed baseball cap and a plastic Hillbilly Jim figurine. When a WWE presenter made the faux pas of calling the figure a "doll," Morris wouldn't let it go uncorrected.

"It's not a doll -- it's an action figure!" he said.