credit: pwinsider.com

This past weekend, Legends of the Ring held their fourth convention gathering in Carteret, New Jersey featuring a pair of signing/photo sessions and vendor tables. The convention was easily the best turnout to date for the Legends group, drawing 400-500 fans, overflowing the Carteret Radisson Hotel. Between the amount of fans and talents that stayed at the venue for the weekend as well as fans coming in for the day, it was actually the highest grossing gathering that the hotel had ever hosted, going as far as to force those trying to park to park outside of the hotel lot as there were no more spaces available.

Appearing at the convention were Steve Lombardi, Harvey Whippleman, Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow (appearing together for the first-time in the Northeast), Sherri Martel, Jacques Rougeau (dressed in full gimmick as the Mountie), Bart Gunn, Big Bully Busick, Cpl. Kirchner, The Nasty Boys, The Voodoo Kin Mafia, and Chris Jericho. For the Nastys, Lombardi, Whippleman, Kirchner, and Busick, it was their first signing appearances ever.

Rougeau seemed to be having the most fun of every guest, loudly repeating over and over to everyone in earshot that he was having a blast. Busick and Kirchner seemed especially taken aback by the attention from the fans. Busick is now working as an security investigator for a casino company. Jerry Saggs has lost a lot of weight, looking something like an older Simon Diamond.

The convention itself was well run with a $10 admission fee and autographs ranging from $10-$25 depending on the guest. Legends also sold a VIP ticket for $150-$200 depending on how far in advance it was purchased, providing for admission, one autograph, and one photo with each guest. They also sold 8x10 photos for $3 each with the genius idea of photos from each of the characters many of the guests portrayed (meaning, for Bill Eadie, there was Ax, Masked Superstar, The Super Machine, etc.)

Other names at the convention were Brother Runt, Tammy Sytch (who has lost a tremendous amount of weight and looked great), and several indy wrestlers including Bison Bravado and Danny DeManto.

The first signing saw something of an overflow of traffic as fans with general admission tickets milled around waiting to go after the VIP ticket holders, blocking vendor tables and in the case of some, sneaking into the line ahead of VIPs. By the time the second signing had started, they had tightened security and forced general admissions to line up separately outside the ballroom.

Legends of the Ring announced their next gathering would be Saturday 8/25, the day before Summerslam with Bret Hart, Lex Luger, John "The Bezerker" Nord (first convention appearance), Gene Okerlund, Tatanka, Ron Bass, Tom Brandi, Greg Valentine, Honkytonk Man, Zeus, and Bob Orton. Tito Santana and Rick Martel will also be coming in for the convention. For details, visit www.legendsofthering.com.