Travicity
08-03-2010, 04:51 AM
Charlotte, North Carolina is known for its rich wrestling history. It's known worldwide as the home of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and Ricky Steamboat, among others. It was a major wrestling city for decades during the time of the territory, and until the very end, one of the primary Southern cities that lived and died by their NWA action, promoted by the Crockett family. Before NASCAR, before the Bobcats, before the Hornets and way before the Panthers, there was the NWA in Charlotte.
While the hard work of the Crockett family in professional wrestling soon gave way to WCW, which eventually collapsed after over a decade of ownership from Turner Broadcasting, one thing will remain forever for fans who lived through the highs and lows of the Carolinas: the memories.
Those memories will springboard back to life this weekend. While August may be considered Summerslam time for the rest of the world, the heroes and villains of the Carolinas will once again reign supreme at the NWA Legends Fanfest convention.
The brainchild of former wrestling promoter Greg Price, The Legends convention brought what was formerly a staple of the Northeastern United States wrestling scene, the fan festival to the Carolinas, only he perfected it with a nostalgic twist. While many baseball and entertainment conventions charge $10-$100 a signature based upon the level of celebrity, this convention is truly a meeting of stars at a great price, as the VIP admission covers entrance into two wrestling events, several Q&A Sessions and 2 autographs per star, with everything held together in a professional and organized manner.
The usage of the word stars is not in any way shape or form hype. There is no hype needed when the convergence of names include Skandor Akbar, The Assassin, Tony Atlas, Joe Blanchard, Tully Blanchard, Jerry Brisco, Jerry Brown, Bob Caudle, "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase, Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Danny Hodge, Sir Oliver Humperdink, Rocky Johnson, Kimala "The Ugandan Giant", Sonny King, Mr. Wrestling II, Nikita Koloff, Reggie Parks, Harley Race, Buddy Roberts, Billy Robinson, Jim Ross, Tommy Seigler, Dan "The Beast" Severn, Les Thatcher, Greg Valentine, and Tommy Young all in one place, with free autographs for everyone who attends.
For fans who want to spend a little more, there's also the Hall of Heroes, an annual banquet where the stars are honored by their peers in one of the classiest events of the year. Last year, Ric Flair broke down while talking about how Blackjack Mulligan taught him to be a man. Several years ago, Bob Caudle, just a few weeks recovered from a heart attack, received a rousing and extended standing ovation. It's the night where those who truly love and live the business get to espouse their love for it. There's no better emcee for the evening than the one man who probably loves the business more than anyone else, Jim Cornette.
There was, once upon a time, an era when the World champion meant the best wrestler in the world was in town, a time when Four fingers symbolized excellence in wrestling, and a time when a scrawny loudmouth with a tennis racket could be the most hated man in town. It was a time when wrestlers were stars based on their ability to make you love them or hate them, not how well they looked oiled up and muscled. To many older fans, it was a superior time.
This weekend, it's a chance to go back and re-live those times yet again. For what started as a simple convention where fans get a chance to say hello and thank you to their heroes, has now become a destination vacation for fans not only looking to pose for photos and get photos signed with said heroes, but also to socialize with friends and extended family that they've met over the course of their visits in the Queen City.
For one weekend, old school professional wrestling returns to life for a little while, even if very little bumps are going to be taken, no foreheads are likely to be bleeding, and promos, well, I still expect promos will be cut. The heart and soul of old school wrestling is, without a doubt, Charlotte, and the most important part of that heart and soul, the wrestlers who lived it and the fans who cheered it, will return this week.
I can't wait. For me, and many others, this is the true Wrestlemania
PWI
While the hard work of the Crockett family in professional wrestling soon gave way to WCW, which eventually collapsed after over a decade of ownership from Turner Broadcasting, one thing will remain forever for fans who lived through the highs and lows of the Carolinas: the memories.
Those memories will springboard back to life this weekend. While August may be considered Summerslam time for the rest of the world, the heroes and villains of the Carolinas will once again reign supreme at the NWA Legends Fanfest convention.
The brainchild of former wrestling promoter Greg Price, The Legends convention brought what was formerly a staple of the Northeastern United States wrestling scene, the fan festival to the Carolinas, only he perfected it with a nostalgic twist. While many baseball and entertainment conventions charge $10-$100 a signature based upon the level of celebrity, this convention is truly a meeting of stars at a great price, as the VIP admission covers entrance into two wrestling events, several Q&A Sessions and 2 autographs per star, with everything held together in a professional and organized manner.
The usage of the word stars is not in any way shape or form hype. There is no hype needed when the convergence of names include Skandor Akbar, The Assassin, Tony Atlas, Joe Blanchard, Tully Blanchard, Jerry Brisco, Jerry Brown, Bob Caudle, "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase, Dory Funk Jr., Terry Funk, Danny Hodge, Sir Oliver Humperdink, Rocky Johnson, Kimala "The Ugandan Giant", Sonny King, Mr. Wrestling II, Nikita Koloff, Reggie Parks, Harley Race, Buddy Roberts, Billy Robinson, Jim Ross, Tommy Seigler, Dan "The Beast" Severn, Les Thatcher, Greg Valentine, and Tommy Young all in one place, with free autographs for everyone who attends.
For fans who want to spend a little more, there's also the Hall of Heroes, an annual banquet where the stars are honored by their peers in one of the classiest events of the year. Last year, Ric Flair broke down while talking about how Blackjack Mulligan taught him to be a man. Several years ago, Bob Caudle, just a few weeks recovered from a heart attack, received a rousing and extended standing ovation. It's the night where those who truly love and live the business get to espouse their love for it. There's no better emcee for the evening than the one man who probably loves the business more than anyone else, Jim Cornette.
There was, once upon a time, an era when the World champion meant the best wrestler in the world was in town, a time when Four fingers symbolized excellence in wrestling, and a time when a scrawny loudmouth with a tennis racket could be the most hated man in town. It was a time when wrestlers were stars based on their ability to make you love them or hate them, not how well they looked oiled up and muscled. To many older fans, it was a superior time.
This weekend, it's a chance to go back and re-live those times yet again. For what started as a simple convention where fans get a chance to say hello and thank you to their heroes, has now become a destination vacation for fans not only looking to pose for photos and get photos signed with said heroes, but also to socialize with friends and extended family that they've met over the course of their visits in the Queen City.
For one weekend, old school professional wrestling returns to life for a little while, even if very little bumps are going to be taken, no foreheads are likely to be bleeding, and promos, well, I still expect promos will be cut. The heart and soul of old school wrestling is, without a doubt, Charlotte, and the most important part of that heart and soul, the wrestlers who lived it and the fans who cheered it, will return this week.
I can't wait. For me, and many others, this is the true Wrestlemania
PWI