Looking Back On Five Years...

Blogging about a blog?  Only on special occasions, but a five year anniversary definitely warrants it!  Five years of wrestling memorabilia, memories, fun, tears, and maybe even a bit of drama (I'm looking at you, A.J. Lee).  We've discussed it all here, and had you told me five years just how much ground would be covered, I'd have called you crazy.  To put it into perspective, WrestleMania 25 was on the horizon, TNA was still starring Sting, Jeff Jarrett, and Mick Foley, and the game changing WWE Network wouldn't even have been imagined in the form that it eventually took.

For those that don't know the story, this blog was born out of an online newsletter.  When I first hit cyberspace a whopping twenty years ago in 1994, it never hit me that people who were online would care about wrestling.  I can still remember a preconceived notion of mine that anyone online must only be obsessed with Star Wars or Star Trek.  To an extent, it was true, but eventually I began to discover clusters of wrestling fans in the then-new medium.  When America Online was a thriving entity, they hosted both the AOL Grandstand and the WWF's first venture into cyberspace.

Into the late '90s, I came up with the idea of a newsletter covering wrestling memorabilia.  Recruiting subscribers from the AOL boards and relying heavily on word-of-mouth, the newsletter was born.  Sadly, I can say that only one full issue remains in my collection.  With a HUGE subscriber base and a ton of product to cover (this was the "Attitude Era," after all), the newsletter thrived and garnered a very nice following.  Eventually, because of other interests and the life of a highschooler, I had no choice but to fold.

In the decade between the end of the newsletter and the birth of the blog, it became apparent to me that a lot of people enjoyed my first venture.  "Do you still produce it?"  "Why did it end?"  "Is it coming back?"  I would hear those questions and more from wrestling fans both on the Internet and in real life.  I didn't have much interest in doing a newsletter again, but surely something could be done to address the great readers that missed it and satisfy my yearning to write about wrestling kitsch again.  The answer?  The blog.

Originally I didn't intend to publish new content weekly.  If you look back at the earlier entries, a few win absolutely no awards for "quality" or "quantity," but as with any writer, reader response is what kept me going.  As much as I like going back and reading some of the entries, I don't publish it for myself, so I've appreciated every little comment I've ever gotten.  Any time that someone shoots me an e-mail, posts on the Facebook page, or pulls me aside at an event, I truly take it to heart.  I've had to opportunity to meet a ton of great people thanks to this weekly look at wrestling.  The blog matters, and exists, because you all take the time to read it.

Here we are in 2014 and it's actually a really great time to be a wrestling fan.  In fact, I will go on record as saying that we're closer than we've ever been to another "boom" period for the industry.  The WWE Network is setting out to not only change this industry but to also help further the evolution of home entertainment itself.  Mixing the glory days with the current product has always been my idea of a recipe for wrestling success.  That, coupled with the fact that WWE finally has stars that fans are emotionally invested in for the first time in a decade, is a sign to me that wrestling is back.  Is it the exact thing that many of us grew up loving?  No.  But some of it is pretty damn good, and I can assure you that I'll be here riding the wave for at least another five years.

Hot Rod...Or Hot Scot?

Certainly no wrestling fan would ever describe "Rowdy" Roddy Piper as underrated, but it's quite possible that his role in the history of the industry could be labeled as such.

Though many fans look fondly at "happy" Roddy from his later in-ring career, Piper's best years and moments could be pinpointed to the decade of the '80s. It was no accident that when Trivial Pursuit released their "Totally '80s" edition a few years ago Piper starred in the commercial with other icons of the decade like (former WWF foe) Cyndi Lauper and Charlotte "Mrs. Garrett" Rae.

Opening the decade in the great southern territories of Georgia and the Carolina's, Roddy Piper built his name with both verbal and physical battles. Jack Brisco, Don Muraco, and Greg Valentine are just three fellow legends who "paid the Piper" during this time period. Piper's dog-collar battle at the inaugural Starrcade event with Valentine has become one of the most memorable matches of the era and is cited by many as a foreshadowing of what was to come with "hardcore" wrestling.

It wasn't until the "Rock 'n Wrestling" era began that Piper perhaps changed the industry. Although the WWF marketing machine and endless charisma of Hulk Hogan all but guaranteed success, it's difficult to imagine the same scenario developing without "Hot Rod."

During those years, many of Hogan's opponents simply did not have the gift of gab that Piper possessed. To be honest, MOST wrestlers didn't have the amount of talent that Piper did in that area. How would the "Rock 'n Wrestling" era and 80's "boom period" have played out without Roddy? In this position, Piper was quite irreplaceable.

Although Piper's career never quite reached the same levels after his 1987 retirement, "Hot Rod" does hold the distinction of being one of the most successful wrestlers to journey into acting. Although his films were not always commercial successes, fans place many of his performances on the same pedestal of his wrestling greatness.

Nearly 25 years after his starring roles in "Body Slam" and "They Live" among other films, Roddy is back with a film entitled "Fancypants." The film, which recently premiered and is slated to hit DVD shortly, should be another favorite among Piper's fans as the topic is none other than...pro wrestling.

Our friend Johngy, who runs a great blog entitled Johngy's Beat (frequently guest starring yours truly), recently had the opportunity to attend the premiere of "Fancypants" and was gracious enough to provide us with a review and photos.

"Last night we attended the Chicago premiere of Fancypants, the story of wrestler Leo the Blue Lion (portrayed by Patrick Gleason), who is being pushed out of the spotlight, but has one huge fan left in the form of 8 year old Tommy (portrayed by Jackson Dunn). At the heart of this story is the relationship between the two.

Making his film debut, Gleason was a natural as Leo. For his wrestling lessons, he trained with the Lucha Libre. In our interview with him, he compared learning about acting with learning about wrestling. Gleason said that both were challenges, but both were a lot of fun.

Also making his debut was Dunn, a local young talent who perfectly nailed the spirit of a die hard wrestling fan. Dunn seemed to be having a ball on the red carpet. He said he wasn't really a big fan of wrestling, but he enjoyed being around Roddy Piper.

Former American Gladiator Beth Horn (also a native Chicagoan), appeared as Animal Babe, one of Leo's opponents. Beth looked stunning and was all smiles as she walked the red carpet. She told us that her AG work and physical training was beneficial to her work as Animal Babe. We wrestled a scoop out of her. She is working on a future project, which she couldn't name, but she did drop the initials "OMG". Keep an eye out for that.

If Fancypants seems to have a Chicago flavor to it, it's because it was produced by Chicago's Humble Pie Films and was shot in Chicago using Chicago actors. Producer Daniel Hanson created Humble Pie Films with Writer-Director Joshua Russell (an instructor at DePaul University), Creative Director Jim Andre and Creative Producer Jim Poole. Russell talked to us about the process of completing an independent film and how he hoped Fancypants would open some doors for future indy films and for future projects utilizing Chicago and Chicago talent.

Fancypants is the story about wrestling, but it is really about the relationship between Leo and Tommy, the gifts they give each other and the growth we see in both. It is funny, serious, heartwarming, inspirational, but most of all very entertaining."

Thanks again to John Wroblewski for the great review and photos! Be sure to check out Johngy's Beat for a daily dose of entertainment, sports, celebrities, and more! For more on Fancypants, check out the official site at http://www.fancypantsmovie.com.

Muraco, Valentine, Hogan, and even cancer couldn't keep Roddy Piper down. He's a wrestler, actor, husband, father, and even a G.I. Joe. Don't question it, just embrace it: "Rowdy" Roddy Piper IS an icon. And don't forget...just when you think you have the answers, he changes the questions!

Bruno! Bruno! Bruno!

I've been known to cover Bruno Sammartino and Pittsburgh wrestling fairly frequently here, but why not? For various reasons Pittsburgh is one of the least covered classic wrestling territories. The area had all of the in-ring action like the west coast and the unpredictable characters like the south. I'd also put the blue collar steel worker toughness up against that of the Texas roughneck stars any day. So why is Pittsburgh all but "forgotten?"

Unlike most of the territories that fell sometime in the 1980's, the true blue Pittsburgh wrestling office ceased to exist in the early 1970's for all intents and purposes. While lots of television and arena footage is still collected and traded of Charlotte, Florida, Minneapolis, and New York, the Pittsburgh action is only replayed in the memories of those who originally viewed it.

While the footage is lost to time, there are many still determined to keep the memories of Bruno and his friends and foes alive as long as there are fans of old school wrestling.

Earlier this summer I wrote of the many Studio Wrestling reunion appearances that have been made over the past couple of years in the Pittsburgh area. Large crowds have turned out for each one proving that Pittsburgh wrestling does have the lasting appeal of which I speak. Attending them myself, I've had the opportunity to have many of the classic Bruno and Pittsburgh relics autographed. While more items were produced than one would think, very few survive so many decades later. Fans who attend the events simply to meet their heroes are often astounded that these items still exist.

Bruno Sammartino himself was one of the earliest marketed stars in the industry. Dating back to his very first magazine cover in March of 1960, Bruno obviously equaled green at the newsstands. In his autobiography, a photo of Sammartino sitting with a group of magazines is captioned "I must have been on more magazine covers than Elvis!" Whether that is true or not, Bruno was certainly on more wrestling magazine covers than most of his contemporaries.

Wrestling World, Wrestling Revue, The Wrestling News, The Wrestler, and later Pro Wrestling Illustrated are just a few of the covers in which Bruno graced. The publishers of The Wrestling News even released several publications devoted solely to the Italian-born champion.

After his final departure from the WWF in 1988, Bruno merchandise continued to be in demand. A deal with Pittsburgh-based Imagine Inc. produced not only an autobiography of The Living Legend but also a Wrestling Legends trading card series with heavy imput from the champ. An in-depth look at this deal and the card series was the subject of a previous entry.

My personal favorite Bruno collectibles actually cover the entire spectrum of classic Pittsburgh wrestling. In the 1960's, a series of five photo albums entitled "Tri-State Wrestling" were released by the Pittsburgh wrestling office. The first dates to just before Bruno defeated Buddy Rogers for the WWWF Championship and is the only one not to feature Sammartino on the cover. Stars that made an impact on Pittsburgh such as The Battman, Gorilla Monsoon, George Steele, Johnny DeFazio, Lou Albano, and Toru Tanaka grace the inside pages as do stars such as The Kangaroos, Bobo Brazil, Edouard Carpentier, and Wahoo McDaniel who were known more for their work nationally.

The albums were advertised on the Studio Wrestling television show and viewers were encouraged to order them directly. While they do appear for auction occasionally, they are by no means easy to acquire. One collectors note is that it seems many fans would take these to both Studio Wrestling television tapings and to spot shows all around western Pennsylvania. Because of this it is not unusual to find these publications adorned with authentic autographs.

As I touched on above, publications such as the Tri-State albums, event programs, and photos are just about all that is left from such an action packed era. It is comforting to know that many of the era's stars and key players are also still with us to meet and share stories and memories from the glory years. For a fan such as myself who previously only had memories of family members of which to imagine the Pittsburgh wrestling dynasty, talking with these legends is both a treat and an honor.

As for the champ himself, Mr. Sammartino is still going strong at age 75. A recent heart valve replacement surgery wasn't enough to even slow Sammartino down. Just a few months later, The Living Legend was back greeting his fans at yet another Studio Wrestling reunion discussing the old days and a seemingly endless stream of new projects which we can all look forward to.

Memphis. Florida. Charlotte. Calgary. You were all great wrestling territories, but it's time to make a little room on the pedestal for another great hotbed--Pittsburgh.

Speaking of Pittsburgh, this very blog has been nominated in the "Everything Else" category in CBS Pittsburgh's "2011 Most Valuable Blogger Awards." By following this link, you can vote once a day! I appreciate each and every vote and thank you for voting and as always for reading!

A Summer of *Wrestling*

I'm not one to put something down just for the sake of doing so. I'll give credit where credit is due. While I'm no huge fan of the current wrestling scene it seems that this summer, in particular the last couple of weeks, everything is going right in the industry that we all know and love.

Coming off of a great pay-per-view event headlined by one of the greatest matches that I've ever seen, WWE finally seems to be understanding their audience. There has always been a way to present the product in order for all of their target viewers to get what they want out of it. Did it take an "approved shoot" promo and storyline involving CM Punk for the company to "get it?" Maybe. For all we know, this current wave of interesting angles and amazing in-ring action could end by next week. This time the WWE's signs of change just feel...different.

The unheard amount of in-ring action coupled with continued twists and turns concerning the future of the storyline side of WWE's authority figures made this past Monday's episode of Raw yet another glimmer of hope. Results from the taping of the next Smackdown episode seem similarly promising.

Aside from Punk's win, the winner of the Smackdown Money In The Bank match at the pay-per-view pleased many fans as well. Daniel Bryan, just highlighted on this very blog for the release of his first action figure, could very well be on his way to winning the approval of WWE fans the way that he captured independent fandom for so many years. Similar to the Punk situation, given the proper time and build Bryan has the opportunity to be another breakout star.

The pay-per-view also made headlines on the memorabilia front as well. An exclusive CM Punk shirt dated and emblazoned with the statement of "Best In The World" completely sold out at the live event in Chicago. Since then the shirt has sold on eBay for several hundred dollars. Fakes and unauthorized reproductions have already shown up on the auction site while the authentic versions continue to sell.

There's no doubt that the shirt is being coveted now, but my advice for anyone who's in possession of one and wants to make some money is to sell now. Just because the shirt is dated does not mean that WWE won't reproduce it. Since the event is most likely to become the defining moment in Punk's career, there would be no reason that WWE couldn't reproduce the shirt date included. As always, time is of the essence when trying to make a profit. With the DVD and Blu-Ray of the event already schedule for release on August 16, it would not surprise me to see a package deal of the event and shirt available for purchase on the WWE's shop website.

Elsewhere in the world of memorabilia comes this weekend's San Diego Comic Con. The SDCC has almost become a second Toy Fair where companies unveil their future products. Both Mattel and Jakks (for WWE and TNA respectively) are slated to have booths as well as stars from both companies making appearances. Video has already leaked showing a very brief glimpse of Mattel's WWE offerings. Certainly didn't look poultry...I mean...paltry!

Collectors are as interested in hearing from the companies as they are in seeing new product. The popular Legends lines from both manufacturers are rumored to be in jeopardy. Jakks continued production delays on all of their TNA products is another topic sure to be brought up by those attending the show.

And of course the arrival of August marks the annual NWA Fanfest. This year the event will be held in Atlanta, Georgia with more than 100 wrestling stars including "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Rob Van Dam, Harley Race, Terry & Dory Funk, Nick Bockwinkel, Jimmy Snuka, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Ted DiBiase, Greg Valentine, Jerry Lawler, The Glamour Girls, and so many, many more! Over the years this event has meant more to me than any other wrestling related event that I have attended in my life. I'm definitely not alone in this feeling and will be marking my fifth Fanfest with a preview in an upcoming entry! If you've ever counted yourself a fan of Roddy Piper, you will not want to miss this event.

There's a reason why you are reading this and why any of the names mentioned in this entire text mean anything to you. You cared. Whether you cared twenty years ago, two hours ago, or never stopped caring, something in this industry captured your emotions. This summer, whether it be a fleeting moment or a feeling carried well into the future, you have a bevy of reasons to care once again. Wrestling is back.

WrestleMania XXVII = One More For The Books?

It's in the air. The event is upon us. Perhaps the biggest name to transition from wrestling to "sports entertainment" isn't an individual star, but WrestleMania itself.

Today, twenty-six years to the day of the very first WrestleMania, even the most jaded fan has to admit a certain magic surrounding the name and history. No wrestling event has ever garnered more publicity than WrestleMania. Is it the matches? The celebrities? The grandeur? Of course they all factor in. The truth is that there is still a ring, there is still the drama and athleticism of spectacular matches, and it is still a grand showcase of the pastime we all love.

Without a doubt no wrestling event has been covered by more journalists than WrestleMania. Between in-house publications from WWF/WWE to articles in newspapers and magazines the world over, the event stands above the rest. Photos from the show can commonly be found jamming the news wire mere moments after they occurred. For three or four hours each year the elements of professional wrestling, be it described as such or otherwise, are the focal point of the entire world.

WrestleMania IV brought the subtitle of "What The World Is Watching" into widespread use for the company. WrestleMania itself, each and every year, proves that subtitle valid.

Whether you're tuning in for the matches, the celebrities, the glitz, or the glamor, remember that you are witnessing the biggest mainstream stage professional wrestling will ever be seen on. Considering that it's a bigger stage than most other sports and/or entertainment entities will achieve, it should make anyone proud to be a fan of wrestling and/or sports entertainment.

Enjoy WrestleMania XXVII!

Goodbye, "Tick"...

The past few weeks have brought much loss and sorrow to the wrestling world. There have been tributes everywhere you look around and, as a rule, I usually try not to follow suit. I make my best attempts to keep the content here upbeat, which is difficult in a business that often brings the most raw human tragedies to center stage. This entry is an exception, and the previously promised "next" entry will see the light of day.

Nothing more can be written about the seemingly non-stop deaths in professional wrestling. The questions have been asked endlessly and the debate will rage on forever. The answers lie in the individuals themselves, and since they are gone, we will never learn those answers.

For those of you who are unaware, women's wrestling superstar Luna Vachon passed away last Friday. Vachon was only 48 years old.

As with many wrestlers who would go on to become favorites of mine, I first learned of Luna through the great wrestling magazines. With her insane style of dress, physicality, and that classic voice, who wouldn't want to feature Luna? She wasn't a cookie-cutter blonde or even a big bruiser. Instead, Luna was a compact 5'6 package of insanity...with a hidden heart of gold.

The first time I truly remember seeing Luna outside of the magazines was in her surprise debut at WrestleMania IX. I can recall excitedly explaining to my fourth-grade pals just who this crazy-looking woman was. Re watching the show, I found that my monologue greatly mirrored that of Bobby Heenan, who provided a similar synopsis for Jim Ross and Randy Savage on the broadcast.

Throughout her associations with Bam Bam Bigelow, Bull Nakano, Goldust, and others, Luna grew to be one of my favorite wrestlers on the scene--female OR male.

In 1995, Luna became the first female wrestler to be a playable character in a wrestling video game with her appearance in WWF Raw. That in itself is a feat that only could have been achieved by someone who carved a true niche in their chosen profession.

In the past few years I've had the opportunity to both meet and correspond with Luna. Even the first time I met her, Luna treated me like an old friend. She had that way with all of her fans. I truly feel honored to have been able to meet, hear stories from, and express my gratitude and fandom to this great lady.

I'm not going to speculate on her death. It isn't my place and you can get plenty of it elsewhere. Something else that you will hear elsewhere, however, is that Luna was often hard on her own work and could be her own worst critic.

Well, Miss Vachon, I'll tell you once again, I don't think anyone did it better than you. Infact, no one else did it LIKE you. Uncomparable is the word that I'm searching for. Unforgettable is the word that will be attached to you forever.


Goodbye.

So WWE & TNA...What's New?

As August ends, so does summer. Sure, it's still technically summer, but once school is in for those who still attend and vacation season is over, you may as well bring on the colder temps and call it fall. With fall comes new products in the stores just in time for the holiday season. What's in store for the next couple of months?

WWE has plenty from their many licenses of toys, games, and trading cards. Every WWE fan knows that November is when the latest version of Smackdown vs Raw hits for the various game consoles. While new and exciting features seem to diminish each year (paralleling the wrestling product itself...?) sales don't seem to follow suit. For those who are tired of the Smackdown vs Raw game play, a new game entitled WWE All-Stars is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2011. This game is slated to have arcade-style game play with a fighting game feel.

Mattel is expected to have a slew of new products just in time for the holidays in the form of action figures and other WWE toys. Legends, single figures, and two-packs will all be available in time for holiday gift-giving. The long awaited first figure of Sheamus will be released as will Toys R Us exclusive Legends two-packs including The Rockers and Kerry & Kevin Von Erich. All of these will be eclipsed in early 2011 when Mattel releases the first figure of Randy "Macho Man" Savage in over a decade.

Topps will be upping the ante as well with their latest offering. While details are sketchy, it is rumored that the next Topps WWE card series will include randomly inserted autographed cards from both Triple H and The Undertaker. Both of these stars signatures have been absent from trading card sets for years. Expect to see these available at the end of this year or early 2011.

The once dominate wrestling figure producer Jakks has much promised product that has seen little appearance in stores. Their TNA figure and toy line is just beginning to roll out with lines of single and two-packs as well as a six-sided ring. Many collectors are clamoring for the Jakks Legends of the Ring line. As has been previously documented here, Series 1 contains Sting, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Jeff Jarrett, and Kurt Angle. Recently prototypes of Series 2 were unveiled including Andre the Giant, Terry Taylor, Jim Cornette, Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe, and AJ Styles. Styles, Hardy, and Joe are clad in their earlier TNA attire while Andre, Taylor, and Cornette are true classics. This is Taylor's first figure and Cornette's second. The Cornette figure will look great posed next to the WWE Classic Superstars Midnight Express figures.

It should also be noted that a new figure of former WWF star Dan "The Beast" Severn has recently been released in the Jakks UFC action figure line. This figure, similar to the previous releases of Brock Lesnar, should have much crossover interest into the realm of wrestling collectibles.

Tristar has once again released another stellar set of TNA trading cards. The latest set, TNA Icons, is another heaping helping of autograph and memorabilia cards as well as parallels and numbered cards of all kinds. The release itself is also numbered and limited like the last few Tristar TNA releases, so once again the best bet in locating the cards may be by purchasing "Blaster Boxes" at stores such as Target and Wal Mart.

Many stars, such as Tommy Dreamer, make their TNA card debut in this set, and there are even cards featuring the recent feud between Ric Flair and Jay Lethal. Much to the chagrin of some collectors, the boxes and packs feature the likenesses of Hogan, Flair, and Sting as opposed to the younger talent. Good or bad, these are still the names and images that sell, therefore they are continually used on products.

This is just a quick overview of some of the upcoming items from the two biggest wrestling promotions. As more are announced they will be featured right here. You can also now follow the blog on Twitter at:

http://twitter.com/jwswrestlingmem

Be sure to follow us as our Tweets will feature news on the blog itself, breaking news, and other great info you won't want to miss.

Next time...cue up "The Chase"...look out for the "Veg-o-Matic"...and get ready for a big dose of southern style action. It's a look back at Jim Cornette, the Midnight Express, and how they revolutionized tag team wrestling. Put down that tennis racket!

From Anticipation To Memories--Fanfest Is Something You Take Home Forever

It's a shame that most of the things a person looks forward to in life are gone in a flash. The preparation and anticipation may seem to last an eternity, but once the particular happening or event has occurred, most of the time there is little more to show for it than memories.

If you read the last two entries of this blog, hopefully I was able to convey the fun and magnitude of this past weekends NWA Fanfest. Although the entries were short and could not even begin to cover everything that went on, there are plenty of articles, photos, and even videos elsewhere to get a bigger grasp of the event as a whole.

The purpose of this blog has always been to celebrate the memorabilia of the great sport we know as professional wrestling. There were many great items available to purchase at Fanfest, and there were even more brought by fans for the purpose of being autographed. Items from both of these categories are more than just regular wrestling memorabilia. Rather, these collectibles can help ensure that the memories of this and every other Fanfest can be held just as long, or longer, as the anticipation and build-up of this great event.

The following are just five examples of my collectible memories in no particular order. Hopefully these will bring more appreciation for the memories others took away from the event, and maybe even inspire other fans to start creating their own in the near future.

1) JR's BBQ Sauce

One of the biggest names on the Fanfest lineup this year was one of wrestling's greatest announcers, Jim Ross. The appearance of Ross had fans both young and old extremely excited, as JR's career has spanned through virtually three or four different wrestling eras.

Early on, it was announced that Ross would be bringing bottles of his famous sauce for purchase. Each bottle was autographed and included a ticket that entitled you to briefly meet JR on Thursday night. On Friday, Ross was on the schedule for photo ops and autographs as well as inducting Danny Hodge into the NWA Hall of Heroes.

JR delivered a touching, informative, and hilarious speech with a wit that almost rivaled that of the Hall of Heroes emcee, Jim Cornette. After the event, Ross wrote about all aspects of the event in his own blog with glowing sentiments that seemed to echo the hundreds of satisfied fans who met with the legendary announcer.

If you'd like more information on Jim Ross and his sauce, please check out www.jrsbarbq.com.

2) Danny Hodge Autographed Magazines

It makes sense that we segue from JR to the man he inducted on Friday night, Danny Hodge. While Hodge may only be known to younger fans from an appearance on Raw a few years ago, he is considered by many to be the greatest wrestler alive today. At age 79, Hodge can still crush apples with one fist. Think about that for a second. Better yet, search out the YouTube video where he demonstrates the feat.

Hodge may also be the one wrestler who has more fun at Fanfest than the fans themselves. Making his first appearance at the 2009 Fanfest, Mr. Hodge has made it known that he does not want to miss another one. The fans are in total agreement with the sporting legend.

Like a lot of the stars, Hodge enjoys seeing memorabilia from his career. While a number of lucky fans were able to present the 1957 issue of Sports Illustrated to Hodge for him to autograph, it was another magazine that I had along with the SI issue which had Hodge in awe.

In the April 1973 issue of Wrestling Revue, Danny Hodge is named Wrestler of the Year with a great cover photo of Hodge and one of his various championship belts. Hodge said that even he did not have this issue and called it a true treasure.

I think Mr. Hodge himself is the true treasure. Every Fanfest goer should have been truly honored to share a few moments with a giant of a sportsman and an even better human being.

3) Magazines & Programs

Old school collectors have been growing ever more frustrated with the selection of vintage memorabilia available at conventions over the past few years. While many of us can remember a time where there simply wasn't enough money in the budget to purchase all of the treasures available at these events, the selection in recent years has been largely confined to overproduced DVDs and clearance aisle action figures.

While Fanfest had a great many vintage items if spotted with a keen-eye, any vintage magazine or program collector had to have gone home happy. The selection was abundant with prices that were very reasonable. Vintage Pro Wrestling Illustrated issues, regional programs, and even the well-produced Fanfest programs themselves were all available to get autographed or simply take home and cherish.

4) Sting

As I've explained in other entries, at Fanfest there are two types of stars. The first group is the featured legends for which anyone with a VIP Pass is able to obtain two autographs from. The other group is the vendor guests who are brought in by outside vendors. While with most of the guests anyone is able to go up and say hello, there is a charge to take photos with or obtain autographs from these guests.

Being an autograph collector, I've been asked the same question by many non-collectors over the years: "Why would you pay for an autograph?" These stars are not being flown in for free nor are they appearing for free. It's a gig that they are paid for just like you and I would be paid for doing our jobs.

This year, one of the vendor guests was WCW legend and current TNA star Sting. Sting got his big break in the NWA, so it only makes sense that the promoters of the New Jersey "Legends of the Ring" convention would bring The Icon to Fanfest.

With the Sting "Superfan" package you were entitled to an autographed TNA promotional photo, an autograph on one of your own items, and an 8x10 photo of you with Sting that would also be autographed when printed.

Sting is a rather private individual and is not a frequent guest at signings and public appearances, so most fans knew that this would be a meeting that they could not pass up. The picture above shows the promotional photo as well as the 1990 WCW Wrestling Wrap-Up magazine from my own collection.

5) Cornette's Collectibles

Controversy doesn't even begin to describe Mr. Jim Cornette. Just like Ole Anderson, Cornette says exactly what he thinks, doesn't back down from his opinions...and is also a gem to his fans.

A few years ago, Cornette decided that he simply couldn't hold onto every single piece of memorabilia in his personal collection. A collection that, for the record, would make every other wrestling collector weep.

Cornette's collection ended up bringing tears of joy to many fans when he decided to begin selling many items at more than fair prices to collections around the globe. Fanfest has become the event where Cornette brings out some of his best items. 2010 was no exception.

DVDs, photos, and books covering Cornette and the Midnight Express were available as always, but this year the "Louisville Slugger" decided to truly open the vault and offer ring-used tennis racquets, jackets, and even neckties to the fans. Ever want a Smoky Mountain Wrestling paycheck endorsed by your favorite star? Done. How about rare WWF pay-per-view shirts? Done. Sealed vintage NWA/WCW Turner Home Videos? Done.

It's easy to see why the buzz around the vendor room was Jim and Stacy Cornette. Not only did they have the best stuff, but they're two of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. I'll have another entry on Cornette's Collectibles in the very near future. For more information you can visit cornettescollectibles.com.

There you have it. Whether you attended Fanfest or wish you would've, this is again simply a small sample of everything that goes on at this great event. Next year, make your own memories and join Fanfest 2011 in Atlanta, GA.

Live! Update From NWA Fanfest 2010

It's late here in Charlotte, but Fanfest just gets better and better as the hours and days go by. Fans have been reliving great times and creating new ones since Thursday afternoon when Fanfest officially opened.

Thursday evening was highlighted by a quick meet and greet with Jim Ross, a chance to try out his sauce on various food items, as well as question and answer sessions with the legendary Mr. Wrestling II and the always bombastic Jim Cornette.

Friday's activities included the first autograph and photo op sessions as well as the opening of the vendor floor. Keeping in the spirit of this blog, many of the items purchased will be included in entries following Fanfest. One item can already be seen in the accompanying photos. The tie worn by yours truly is from the wrestling wardrobe of Mr. Cornette himself.

Friday night was the annual Hall of Heroes banquet and induction ceremony which is always a highlight of the weekend. Seeing Greg and Johnny Valentine, Billy Robinson, Danny Hodge, Mr. Wrestling I & II, Reggie Parks, and Joe Blanchard inducted into the NWA Hall of Heroes was a real treat. Being joined at the banquet by my friend Tammy "Sunny" Sytch made that treat all the sweeter.

Tomorrow and Sunday hold many more great times to be had and more memories to be made. Keep it locked here on the blog for further photos and updates!

Feel The Heat!

As I may have mentioned in my last entry, the highlight of the summer for many wrestling fans is right around the corner. SummerSlam? No. NWA Fanfest.

THIS entry, however, is indeed about that other highlight of the "wrestling summer," that being WWE SummerSlam.

As many of you know, SummerSlam began in 1988 joining WrestleMania and Survivor Series as the third addition to the WWF pay-per-view year. Since then, the event has been positioned as the #2 pay-per-view, just behind WrestleMania, as far as hype and magnitude of the matches.

While the quality of the show, like all events, has varied from year to year, the merchandise centered around SummerSlam has always been highly prized among collectors. That, as usual, is what will be highlighted here.


Being as that the first SummerSlam took place in 1988, the WWF marketing machine was already in full force. While the company was more interested in promoting its individual stars rather than its shows, the first merchandise was largely to confined to the standard fare of the time. Programs, video tapes, and t-shirts featuring Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Miss Elizabeth as well as the original, sleek, SummerSlam logo were among the offerings from the first event.

The main event of the show featured Hogan and Savage managed by Elizabeth taking on Ted DiBiase and Andre the Giant. The end of the match features Elizabeth "shockingly" removing her skirt to distract the evil "Mega Bucks" team. After the victory is taken, Hogan picks up the skirt and tosses it into the audience. I'm sure that I'm not the only collector who has wondered over the years just what lucky Madison Square Garden attendee has that skirt hidden away...and hopefully not thrown away!

Slowly, SummerSlam merchandise would become more frequent and the logo would find its way onto a lot of cool items. In 1992, a European company called Merlin produced several series of SummerSlam cards featuring pictures from the '92 edition of the event that emanated from London's Wembley Stadium. Later into the '90s, a number of series of Jakks' action figures would be titled "SummerSlam" and even promotional items such as sunglasses and Slurpee Cups "felt the heat" of SummerSlam.

Programs from SummerSlam events beginning in the mid '90s are rarer due to the majority of them being available solely at the arenas themselves. The 1994 event is known to have had two programs available while SummerSlam 1995 had several items available in the Pittsburgh area. Laminated event posters and promotional cardboard standees, most of which featured the likeness of then-WWF champion Kevin "Diesel" Nash, are known to exist in collections.

WWE paid a particularly nice tribute to the event in 2008 with a DVD anthology release of the first twenty SummerSlam events. While the DVDs were available individually in four sets of five, they were first released all together in an ultra-cool package designed to look like a picnic cooler.

Just last year, WWE returned to their program "roots" with the release of a SummerSlam 2009 program. The program is similar in size and design to other company programs of the past decade, being over sized and printed on thick stock. In addition to being available at the event, the program was sold for a short time through the WWE website store.

In a "sports-entertainment" world where one pay-per-view a month is enough to overwhelm any "universe," it's nice to know that the "Big Four" are still highlighting the calendar, and devoted fans minds, each year.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year...

Peter Pan had the right idea. He never grew up. Growing up, most folks can't wait to be older and subsequently try to act more mature. When they do get older, they realize that a lot of things that were magical to them as children are gone for good. Sometimes the particular idea is still there, such as Christmas morning, but that feeling of wonder simply fails to return. Thanks to an annual event every August, the children of classic wrestling worldwide can once again experience the magic and wonder that they grew up with.

This coming August 5th through 8th in Charlotte, North Carolina, promoter Greg Price brings his ninth Fanfest to life. Fanfest is an event to not only get autographs and pictures with your wrestling favorites, but to actually meet and mingle with them as well. Since the entire event is centrally located in the Charlotte University Place Hilton, it's not uncommon to be seeing stars the minute you enter the building.

Like most wrestling fanfests or conventions, the stars themselves are divided into two groups: featured stars and vendor guests. The featured stars are there to be part of the VIP admission package which entitles each guest to autographs from the legends at designated times, while vendor guests are stars that are, in a sense, sponsored to come to the event by independent dealers. These vendors charge a fee for photos and autographs with this group of stars.

Nearly one-hundred stars will be on hand throughout the 2010 Fanfest weekend. Among this years featured legends are Harley Race, Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, Kamala, Greg Valentine, Danny Hodge, Tony Atlas, Mr. Wrestling II, Jerry Brisco, Tully Blanchard, and Jim Ross among many others. Sting, Mae Young, Sid Vicious, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Sunny, and modern stars such as Mickie James and Shelton Benjamin highlight the vendor guests.

Labeling Fanfest as a simple autograph convention would be a gross misrepresentation. It's a legitimate dream-come-true weekend for classic wrestling fans. The weekend will be kicked off on the night of Thursday the 5th with a lakeside barbecue at the hotel featuring Jim Ross' famous sauce and an appearance by Good Ol' JR himself. Also that night are Fanfest's famous question and answer sessions. This year's sessions will feature a roundtable discussion with mystery guests followed by the always entertaining Jim Cornette who has become a symbol of Fanfest.

While autographs and photos fill the days and Q&As kick-off the weekend evening activities, the Friday and Saturday evening events are immense enough to be their own separate draws. Friday night is the annual Hall of Heroes banquet also hosted by Mr. Cornette.

The Hall of Heroes is a special event honoring many of wrestling's greatest legends and is everything that the WWE Hall of Fame should be. Stars inducted in previous years such as Wahoo McDaniel, Blackjack Mulligan, The Anderson's, and The Fargo's will be joined by the 2010 Hall of Heroes class which consists of Joe Blanchard, Danny Hodge, Mr. Wrestling & Mr. Wrestling II, Reggie Parks, Billy Robinson, and Johnny and Greg Valentine. Each star is inducted by a fellow legend and each living inductee is scheduled to appear.

This year, many fans are eagerly anticipating Jim Ross' induction of his long-time friend Danny Hodge. Hodge, the first wrestler to make the cover of Sports Illustrated, is almost universally considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers who ever lived. Via his website and Twitter account, Ross has expressed what an honor it will be for him to induct Mr. Hodge and may be anticipating the event as much as the fans.

Saturday night will feature a world-class wrestling event highlighted with not just a main event, but an NWA World Heavyweight Championship defense. Current NWA World Heavyweight Champion Adam Pearce will defend the storied title against the hottest free agent in wrestling today, Bryan Danielson aka Daniel Bryan. Also on the card will be the finals of a hot tournament currently being held in the Charlotte area called the NWA Future Legends Cup. Top those off with appearances by legendary journeyman Mike Jackson and Skandor Akbar and his Devastation Inc. and you have a card that would blow most indy action out of the water.

All the descriptions in the world cannot truly convey the NWA Fanfest experience. The real magic comes from the memories made during the weekend combined with the memories from years gone by. Who would have ever thought, sitting in front of a tube television watching their favorite Saturday morning wrestling show, that they one day would be rubbing shoulders, talking, and even eating with the stars who appeared larger than life on the small screen? At Fanfest that unreal dream is accomplished in spades.

I know that I can speak for nearly every "Fanfester" when I say that within the next week, the feeling inside is like that of a child on Christmas Eve. Fanfest is an amazing event that is unlike any other. The above is not an advertisement, it is simply a personal testament that I would be remiss in not sharing. This will be the fourth Fanfest for my friends and I, so please stop and say hello if you see us. If time permits, I may even do some blog entries direct from Fanfest.

Being an eight-hour haul for us, Fanfest is our summer vacation and we wouldn't have it any other way. If you've ever been on the fence about attending, this is undoubtedly the year to start. Don't let yourself miss out on anymore of the memories.

For more information on NWA Fanfest, please visit NWALegends.com.

Just when you thought the classic era of wrestling was all but dead, Fanfest proves otherwise. Through the fans and stars who lived it, real professional wrestling is very much alive. Join us in Charlotte to find out for yourself.

Pictures (L-R From Top) Include: 2009 NWA Fanfest Programs, Ric Flair looks on while Danny Hodge and Ole Anderson reunite, Jimmy & Angel Valiant reunite with "Number One" Paul Jones.

Mattel: Legendary or Listless? You Decide!

When Mattel first picked up the WWE license, it was agreed upon by fans everywhere that the famous toy company would be insane not to start a "Legends" line. After all, it's the Classic Superstars line that truly put Jakks over the top with their WWE products. While Jakks is continuing their venture into producing figures of the stars of yesteryear, Mattel has the exclusive rights to do figures of any retro star associated or under contract with WWE.

The first series in Mattel's "WWE Legends" collection consists of Steve Austin, The Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, and Sgt. Slaughter. It's the latter three that piqued my interest, thus those are the three that are highlighted in this entry.

Where are Buddy Rogers, Lou Thesz, and Bruno Sammartino? I did in fact promise that they would be in the "next" entry. In order to make that entry even more special, I decided to go in-depth on my coverage of the particular memorabilia I planned on documenting. Never fear, as that entry is very much alive and well. It's a special work-in-progress that I think everyone will enjoy.

Now...onto The Dream, The Dragon, & The Sarge!

While I'm going to compare these three figures to previous incarnations, I'll leave it up to you to decide on which is the best over all representation of each legend. After all, between production limitations from when older figures were made and even one's own nostalgic love for a particular piece, it isn't quite fair for me to say one is better than another. I'm just here to point out the differences and give a good read in the process.

Completely destroying everything I said in the last paragraph, I will say that the older figures had one undeniable advantage--their price tags. These Mattel WWE Legend figures have a price point of around $14.99 a pop at brick and mortar retail while averaging a bit more online.

The packaging is impressive but almost seems to overshadow the figures themselves. Each figure is posed in a character-unique action stance and mounted in a bubble in front of great card art based on popular photos of the stars. Each figure includes a WWE peg-stand with a small cardboard name tag as seen in the above photo of Dusty Rhodes.

In my estimation, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat will be the most popular figure in this first series. Steamboat is the only figure in the series not to have been produced in the Jakks Classic Superstars line. Collectors have long clamored for a new representation of The Dragon and Mattel seems to have taken note. Steamboat comes complete with removable red gi and komodo dragon that he used to "battle" Jake Roberts and Damien in 1986. Ricky's headband is part of the head sculpt and not removable. The Dragon is a very nice figure and is a great companion piece to the recently released dvd set documenting Steamboat's legendary career. A 2009 version of Steamboat is set to hit stores soon in a two-pack along with nemesis Chris Jericho.

There's no denying that the countless versions of Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin are probably the most popular wrestling figures of all-time. Due to his inclusion in the nearly thirty-year-old G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line, Sgt. Slaughter would undoubtedly rank right up there with "The Immortal" and "Stone Cold." The Mattel Slaughter is based on a design never before seen on a figure of the Sarge. It's based upon Slaughter's early '80s attire, so you could really either call it a Mid-Atlantic Wrestling or '84ish WWF Slaughter. The living Joe himself comes complete with removable hat, glasses, whistle, and elbow pads. It's very refreshing to long-time collectors for Mattel to seemingly try and produce never-before-made looks for some of these figures.

Last but certainly not least is the newest figure of the all-time favorite wrestler of yours truly, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. For reasons that shall never be known, a perfect action figure likeness of Dusty is seemingly unobtainable. While Hasbro, Jakks, and now Mattel have all made great efforts, the blue-eyed soul of Dusty always seems just a bit...off. Nevertheless, he is a common man who has some very colorful representations. Mattel went with the look that would be most familiar to WWE fans, that being Dusty's 1989-1991 polka dot attire.

Mattel finally did get the polka dots right. Dusty almost always had large polka dots on the shirt and small polka dots on the tights. This is indeed the case with this figure. The shirt is easily removable as are also the head band, elbow pad, and knee pads. Top it all off with The Dream's signature cowboy boots and this little Dream is ready to boogie down with your invisible Sapphire figure all night long...if you will.

Mattel has done a very nice job with their first leap into the Legends realm. Hopefully the pictures of past Dreams, Dragons, and Drill Sergeants combined with memories of those great old items will let you judge whether Mattel stacks up to the rest. Make your decision? Let us know!

And THAT'S...an order!

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This entry is dedicated to Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. As I'm sure many of you know, Mr. Steamboat recently suffered some health setbacks and has been hospitalized. As of the latest word, The Dragon is doing better and making one of his famous recoveries as he did in so many of his great bouts. He is a great man who truly cares about his fans and deserves any thought or prayer sent his way.