by Brett Schwan
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The Past Returns to the Present
By Brett Schwan
The beginning of a new year. The beginning of my farewell to wrestling fandom. What better way to come full circle than to relive some of the greatest moments of the past?
Charlotte, North Carolina was a hotbed of professional wrestling for decades. The home of many of the greatest wrestlers of all time, including Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat (and a slew of others). The Crockett family "owned" that area for years and promoted some of the most legendary wrestlers and matches of all time.
Even with the demise of the Mid Atlantic promotions following the WCW takeover (and eventual demise), the memories remain strong in most wrestling fan's minds.
On the weekend of January 31-February 1, 2004 wrestling fans will have the opportunity to relive some of these amazing memories as Greg Price presents "The Mid Atlantic Wrestling Legends Convention and Fanfest".
The lineup of guests is nothing less than stellar. Legends like Magnum TA, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Bobby Eaton, Jim Cornette, Ricky Steamboat, Ronnie Garvin, Jimmy Garvin, Ivan Koloff, Dusty Rhodes, and many more will gather to meet with fans, sign autographs, and take pictures.
Unlike most conventions, which charge a nominal (and sometimes ridiculous) fee for each guest, depending on their popularity, the Mid Atlantic Convention is doing things a little bit differently. The admission price for this event is either $28 for a single day pass, $38 for a two day pass, or $100 for VIP access (which includes early admission to each days' Fanfest activities, a keepsake commemorative souvenir program, a special VIP ALL ACCESS pass with neck lanyard, exclusive admission to Ole Anderson Q&A, and exclusive admission to Saturday night's "Late Night Louisville Slugger" with Jim Cornette and Friends.) With the admission fans are allowed to get as many signatures as they want for NO extra charge. Stars will have scheduled "signing times" (listed below) and fans will have the opportunity to go through the line and get an autograph. If they wish to get more than one, they can repeat the line.
In addition to the signings and Question and Answer Sessions, Bob Caudle, David Crockett, and Les Thatcher will be interviewing each of the legends at ringside!!
I had the opportunity to ask promoter Greg Price a few questions about this event and his background in the business.
What is your background in the wrestling business? Do you have any experience with running "conventions" of this magnitude?
Big mark as a kid. Still am. Always took photos at the NWA matches in Charlotte as a kid, and the photos were good. In high school, I'd send my best stuff around trying to get them printed. Ended up with two loser magazines (Wrestling Eye and Wrestling Fury), through which I got ringside access to the smaller towns around NC promoted by the Crocketts.
Through the magazine, I got introduced to indy wrestling in my area (which was as bad then as it is now.) Until then, I never knew any other wrestling existed except NWA and what I'd seen in the Apter mags. Gosh, it was awful.
Shortly after graduating high school, and after seeing a couple dozen indy cards, I thought "I can do better than this," and a year later I promoted my first card. Over the years, I made some very good friends, life-long friends, and I'm thankful to wrestling for that, if nothing else.
Promoted South Atlantic Pro Wrestling for the last year they were in business (sorry, but they'd ran out of money before I got there, so it wasn't me that killed it.) Revived the NWA name in the Carolinas in the late-90's before I learned the whole NWA deal was a sham for a couple fat cats in their own little dreamworld. Promoted ECW in the Carolinas and hustled their shows all over the country for the last 8 months or so they were in business (by that point, they were out of money, too.) No longer promote wrestling cards and can safely say I never will again.
Never promoted a convention of any magnitude. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I'm a heckuva a good promoter and I see promoting a good convention as being no different than promoting a good wrestling card.
How did you come up with the idea of the Mid Atlantic Legends Convention? What made you decide to do it now as opposed to a future date?
Something I've been contemplating for about 3 years now. Like most whims that I have about promoting matches, usually the longer I think about it, I'll end up talking myself out of it. Did the same with the Fanfest idea for a few years until I found the right situation, and the right location. And so many of my friends, some of whom were true Mid-Atlantic legends, have passed on that I figured I shouldn't put it off any longer.
Who were the first wrestlers that agreed to do the convention?
Not sure about that, but the first guys I called were Tully Blanchard, Jim Cornette, Arn Anderson. Really wanted to do a reunion of the original Horsemen, but that just wasn't meant to be. Even though Ric Flair and I both tried very hard to make it happen, it just didn't work out. But, we have 4/5 of the original Horsemen and 30-something guys of that same caliber that I grew up watching.
Of all the wrestlers you contacted to appear at the convention, what percentage chose not to appear? What was the initial reaction of those you contacted who agreed to appear?
Well, besides Flair, only two declined the invitation: Blackjack Mulligan and Paul Jones. I have the feeling that a lot of guys didn't understand what I wanted to do in the beginning but, since then, some have come back to me and said how happy they are to be a part of this thing.
What are you most looking forward to during the weekend?
Seeing a bunch of very happy people and knowing that, in a very small way, I provided them a little happiness and enabled them to participate in a very unique event that may never again be duplicated.
What has been the most difficult part of putting this all together?
It's been a tremendous amount of work. Lot of 20-something hour days. Other than that, nothing difficult. Maybe dealing with a few egos here and there. Things that remind me of promoting indy shows.
For those of you who have not heard about this incredible event, here
are the schedules for the two days to give you an idea of what is in store.:
Saturday, January 31:
7 a.m. Registration Opens/Pickup Tickets
9 a.m. Fanfest open to VIPs
10 a.m. Fanfest open to Public
10 a.m. Brief Opening Ceremony with Bob Caudle & David Crockett
10 a.m. First Autograph Signing Session with Masked Superstar, Ron Garvin, Jimmy Valiant, Bob Caudle, David Crockett, Tommy Young, George South, Gary Royal
1 p.m. Second Autograph Signing Session with Arn Anderson, Magnum T.A., Greg Valentine, Johnny Weaver, Buddy Landel, Don & Rocky Kernodle, Jim Nelson
4 p.m. Third Autograph Signing Session with Dory Funk Jr., Ole Anderson, George Scott, Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton, Les Thatcher, Sir Oliver Humperdink, Bobby Fulton
7 p.m. Fanfest closes
8-10 p.m. Ole Anderson Q&A with Bill Apter (Open only to VIPs!)
Ole Anderson and Scott Teal join Bill Apter in a discussion about Ole's
new book "Inside Out, How Corporate America Destroyed Professional
Wrestling". Ole will also sign copies of his book afterwards.
10 p.m.-12 a.m. "Late Night Louisville Slugger" with Jim Cornette
and Friends (Open only to VIPs!)
Jim Cornette will introduce you to a number of his Mid-Atlantic "friends"
in this no-holds-barred discussion. (After this evening's lineup, you'll
definitely need to attend our open-to-everyone worship service on Sunday
morning.)
Sunday, February 1:
7 a.m. Registration Opens/Pickup Tickets
8-9 a.m. Worship Service with Ivan Koloff and George South (Open to everyone)
9 a.m. Fanfest open to VIPs
10 a.m. Fanfest open to public
10 a.m. Fourth Autograph Signing Session with Ricky Steamboat, The Rock-n-Roll Express, Jimmy Garvin, Ivan Koloff, Tony Atlas
2 p.m. Fifth Autograph Signing Session with Dusty Rhodes, Tully Blanchard, J.J. Dillon, Penny Banner, Tommy Angel, Gene Ligon, David Isley
5 p.m. Fanfest closes
It goes without saying that anyone who is a fan of wrestling is a fan of Ricky Steamboat and the Four Horsemen. I was always a mark for Ronnie Garvin, Ivan Koloff, Magnum T A, Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton, and Jim Nelson. Just having the opportunity to meet these men is enough reason for me to want to go. Add to that the other legends, TWO Q and A sessions, and just the idea of reliving some of the better days in the business this trip was a no brainer.
This is the way wrestling used to be. This is the way wrestling should still be. Stars were based on performance, not who they were married to. Storylines were believable and realistic, not literally out of this world. This was wrestling at it's best for many wrestling fans who didn't grow up on what Vince McMahon spoon fed them.
Two of the "Crew" plus some of our extended family will be making the LONG trek (via car) down to North Carolina for this amazing weekend. I highly suggest that if you haven't already made your plans that you do so as soon as possible.
For more information on the Mid-Atlantic Legends Convention and Fanfest, visit http://www.MidAtlanticLegends.com.
