WrestleFanFest

[Werner Mueck]

They've revised the match schedule. What's been changed.

Rikishi is now fighting Abyss which makes more sense then Abyss vs. Sharkboy.

Sharkboy is now fighitng Black Pearl.

A few matches have been combined into a fatal 7 way including Steve Corino, Blue Meanie, Vic Grimes, Sandman, Al Snow,. Kevin Sullivan and a mystery wrestler. (Sullivan doesn't really fit here does he?)

Dan Severn and Test will face what looks to be Gangrel and a mystery partner.

There is now a fatal fourway tag match. Beefcake and Valentine are back together, One Man Gang and Kamala are still together, Steve Williams and Koko B. Ware are now teaming, and Chavo Guerrero Sr and Rey Misterio Sr are tagging to round out this match. Kinda happy that Valentine and Beefcake are back together (the first schedule had them together and then they were split apart). One Man Gang and Kamala is a damn scarey team.

Lance Hoyt is now fighting Orlando Jordan.

Alkatraz and Luke Hawk are still fighting Billy Kidman but Orlando Jordan has been replaced by Marty Jeannety. Kidman and Jeanetty sounds pretty good.

We still don't know who Sid Vicious' partner is against Hall and Nash. Steiners are still facing the Dudleys. Gail Kim is still fighting Ms Brooks. And I'm glad to say they havent changed the Ultimo Dragon and Great Muta match.

Edit: Just looked at the match poster. The silhouette of the mystery partner for Sid Vicious is strangely identical to the picture of Bill Goldberg they're using on the superstars page....

[Tournament Master]

Expect this card to change many time between now and the night of the show...and then completely change during the show itself.

[mft]

toasterboy said:

Did you send that to me in a PM? I lost ALL my PMs. I had like over 80 and now I have 7. I'm sorry I didn't see that. If you anna go for it, do it! I'll hand them out. A list of all the people are here....

www.wrestlefanfest.com/superstars.html

(THough it changes daily)

Anyway, if you wanna go for it Werner and I will hand them out.

And I'm really sorry about not getting back to you. I seriously did hit the wrong button a few weeks ago and lost ALL my PMs.

Grant, it was via PM, maybe you can learn which buttons go where next time.

Seriously, I don't mind doing it. Someone is going to the Signmania in PA this weekend and I did this for him. I hope TOm and Todd dont' mind, but seeing something, IMO, would really give a good example of what the game is all about.

I'll hit you up VIA PM grant...

[rawhide]

so when is wrestlefest anyway ?not that i plan on going anyway.

[toasterboy]

Starts this Friday

[rawhide]

enjoy yourself grant ;D .

[stephenvegas]

I was hoping to go to WrestleFanFest in San Francisco this weekend but burning the hell out of my left hand caused me to change my plans. Although my health insurance I get through work covers most of the medical costs, I still have to make a small co-payment for each visit I made to the hospital and after going every day for almost 2 weeks to the burn unit I used up a good portion of the money I allocated for the flight to and a hotel room at San Francisco.

But at least I am still going to see Ring of Honor here in Las Vegas on The Strip this Friday and I will definitely be at the CAC Convention next June at the Riviera on The Strip which always has lots of LOW wrestlers in attendance-so I'm optimistic I'll get many of my cards signed at the CAC Convention instead.

Have fun this weekend Grant and Werner.

[Werner Mueck]

Thanks. Here's hoping Chyna isn't Sid Vicious' mystery partner....

[JimSteel]

FROM LORDS OF PAIN
sources: PWInsider.com, Wrestling Observer, F4WOnline.com

-- The following was just posted on the official website of Kevin Nash (KevinBigSexyNash.com) regarding an appearance at this weekend's WrestleFanFest wrestling convention in San Francisco:

THE FOLLOWING APPEARANCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED
The Outsiders will NOT be appearing at Wrestlefanfest
Nash and Hall did not recieve the funds for this appearance as per the contracted agreement, therefore they will not be making this appearance.
October 19th
Wrestlefanfest
San Francisco Cow Palace
San Francisco, California

Hall & Nash were originally scheduled to wrestle Sid Vicious & a mystery partner in the main event of the pay-per-view they're taping. They did not receive their deposit ahead of time as promised, and that's why they're pulling out.

-- Kurt Angle is also pulling out of the convention, however, it has nothing to do with a business dispute. Angle recently came down with a stomach virus, and that's why he's not appearing at the convention. TNA's Bill Behrens issued the following statement earlier today:

Kurt Angle will not be able to attend the WrestleFanFest in San Francisco at the Cow Palace on Saturday 10/20 as promoted due to a stomach virus.

Promoter, Chris Salsbury, paid the full fee and bought Kurt's flights in advance and is in no way responsible.

Kurt Angle regrets having to miss this promoted appearance and apologizes to the promoter and to the fans.

-- At one point, Sid Vicious pulled out of the convention, but apparently he's back on.

-- Vampiro and Rey Misterio Sr. are both out for sure. Marty Jannetty, Ken Shamrock & a few others are also on the no-show list due to not receiving transportation money up front. The Rock 'n' Roll Express also pulled out due to problems with convention promoters. Dennis Condrey is also out. He flipped out, saying he wasn't going to be there and was upset that they were still advertising him. Others have heard absolutely nothing about the deal in months and so there's a lot of confusion going on.

-- Mia St. John was scheduled to fight at Saturday's MMA show, but she is off the show. The commission wouldn't allow her to fight because they felt she didn't have enough ground training. Randy Couture is also off the show after being originally scheduled. Couture is billed as being there but he's in South Africa for Scorpion King so that may not be happening. Supposedly he flies back Friday, but they've also stopped advertising him. Jeff Monson, Nick Diaz, Mia St. John, Javier Vazquez, and Leland Chapman are also off the MMA show.

-- "Rowdy" Roddy Piper is scheduled to be at the convention for all three days and Steve Austin & Bill Goldberg are scheduled to be there on Saturday.

-- Matches involving TNA talent are still taking place (providing that they don't pull out of the show), but they're not being taped for the pay-per-view. TNA talent are prohibitied from appearing on a competitor's pay-per-view broadcast or DVD release

[greenriver]

AWAITING PAY FOR WRESTLEFANFEST IN CALIFORNIA STAGE SIT-IN AT THEIR HOTEL , MORE NOTES FROM CONVENTION
by Mike Johnson @ 5:00:18 PM on 10/20/2007


Bill Goldberg and Roddy Piper did appear at today's events at the Wrestlefanfest convention in San Francisco. I've confirmed with multiple sources that the Roddy Piper check story I mentioned earlier today is indeed correct, so they must have made amends with him. Goldberg was described as being very thinned down.

Some of the performers scheduled are at the Cow Palace signing. A number of booked wrestlers, however, including The Steiners and Brian Knobs, have staged something of a sit-in at the lobby of the hotel where they were booked, waiting to be paid. From what I understand, they have been waiting since 8 AM Pacific for the wife of the promoter to arrive with their pay as they've been told they would be paid half of their money via cash and half via check. The wrestlers waiting were originally told that the bank was "three hours away", which was followed by a story that the wife was "pulled over while driving back", and later that there was traffic returning to San Francisco.

One vendor I spoke to estimated that there were 80-100 fans in attendance currently, so all of the vendors are taking a major beating. From a vendor end, there are said to a be a ton, particularly MMA related vendors.

There is a rumor going around the hotel that tonight's scheduled MMA event in conjunction with the convention was canceled, but the Cow Palace box office is (as of this writing) still selling tickets for the event and stated the show was still scheduled. Ring of Honor's staff and wrestlers are in San Francisco, so their scheduled live event for tomorrow is on.

[greenriver]

EVEN MORE FROM WRESTLEFANFEST
by Mike Johnson @ 5:51:48 PM on 10/20/2007


Wrestlefanfest promoter Chris Cramer's wife finally returned with cash to pay the collection of wrestlers who staged something of a sit-in at their hotel in San Francisco. There is currently a processional of talent lined up outside of Cramer's hotel receiving half of their agreed upon fee in cash and a check for the remainder. I was told by several who have been paid already that Cramer was showing talent proof that there would be a large sum of money available to draw the checks from this Monday and that he was claiming problems with a business partner were the reason for the money issues.

The MMA show remains in doubt as, according to one person, there were only 25-50 tickets sold for the show, which is scheduled for tonight in the Cow Palace. Ring of Honor has a live event scheduled for tomorrow as part of the convention as well.

[toasterboy]

Oh yes, it was all the fun you've read about and more! Werner and I do have stories! For now I'm beat from driving all day. I shall relate them soon!

[sickman]

Just read that Lex Luger suffered an apparent stroke while in SF for the convention. He is said to be in bad shape.

[Werner Mueck]

Wrestlefan Fest is going to go down as the most unique cockup in the history of pro wrestling. It was awesome!

I compare the turnout and the collection of vendors to the Myrtle Creek Summer Fest. I feel really bad for the vendors because I think they lost the most (along with the fans who paid big bucks for their premium packages).

I spent more time talking to wrestlers and vendors and other fans about the whole situation then I did standing in line for autographs. I stood in no line for Mean Gene. There was no line when I came in for Vince Russo. None for Scott Norton (though I weasn't suprised. It took me and Grant practically ten minutes to go over to him because he was nail biting mad). The longest lines were for Piper, Austin and Goldberg of course and the longest line I had to stand in for a non-headliner would have been for DiBiase and you stand in longer lines at Starbucks.

Virgil sucks. Greg Valentine complained to us about Virgil's prices. Slick now knows I'm not a Baptist. April Hunter has huge knockers. Larry Zybyzko is an awesome guy, really stand up type. So is Vince Russo who is as tall as I am. Scott Norton is not as tall as I am but I woudnt be suprised if Slick wasn't taller. Roddy Piper signed my photo to my mom like I asked and put "You have a great son" on it. He said he was geniunly impressed that I was doing this for her, he knew where Myrtle Creek was and he commented on how tall I was. Zybyzko had us redo our photo because he was standing on his tip toes in the first one. He sais something to the effect of "Lets do that one over, I was standing on my tip toes. I'm not tall enough to be in this picture" whereas Scott Norton who was sitting nearby said "And finally he tells the truth".

We were ablew to talk with a lot of the wrestlers one on one so me and Grant have a tone of stories. I'll probably write up a big report later tonight or tomorrw when I have time to get my thoughts together after this world wind weekend.

[sickman]

Since I've never met you or seen a pic.............HOW FRIGGIN TALL ARE YOU? ;D

Sounds like some cool stories came out of it. Hope to read about them soon.

[toasterboy]

Here's my WrestleFanFest report. I wrote it for another website, so I'll write more Werner and I specific stories later.

Well we went to WrestleFanFest and I have to tell you, it was a once in a lifetime experience. For good and bad reasons. I don''t feel like doing a whole day by day report but I'll talk over some highlights.

I, of course, had inklings things may wind up as they did, but I did come away with a positive experience and for that I there's only one group of individuals that get the credit - The Talent.

I am VERY relieved that I only purchased the $199 pass as opposed to one of the higher passes. I also purchased the $75 front of line pass. This is where my money was wasted. No one honored them. I asked how they were to work and was told, just go to the front of any line and say you have a front of the line pass. Yeah, great idea except the WFF Staff member that was supposed to be at the front of every line wasn't there. I pointed this out and was told, just tell the people (the fans) at the front of the line that you've got a pass. Yeah. Right. Have you ever met a wrestling fan? They all act as if they are wrestlers. You try telling them that you're gonna just step in front of them. See how far that goes.

I also purchased passes for Austin, Piper, and Animal. I was able to get sigs from all of them, so I truly believe I got my money's worth except for the $75 Front of Line pass. I FEEL for the people who spent any more on tickets because I barely feel I got my money's worth for what I paid I can imagine what others feel. And I only came up from Southern California and my parents live in SF, so my travel costs were minimal.

I got to the host hotel to pick up my stuff and that seemed to go smoothly. There were some exchanges that needed to be made and they were made and everything was fine. Then I got to the Cow Palace around 2:30pm on Friday. The doors were supposed to open at 3pm (2PM for earlier pass holders). Anyway, the parking lot, empty. I got a spot right up by the door. There was only a small handful people in a line at the doors. Well, it WAS a Friday at 3PM, surely the weekend crowds would pick up right? No, it never really did.

On Friday there was a general sense of confusion. The talent, the fans, security at the Palace, no one seemed to know what was going on. But I was able to get a lot of signatures on Friday, starting with Mean Gene who was HILARIOUS. All the talent on Friday was warm and welcoming. There seemed to be a sense of "Okay, this is small, but it MIGHT be good." While talking to Bill Edie and Barry Darsow they were steamed because apparently they had arrived to the arena around 3pm and sat in a back room waiting to be taken out to the tables and they never were. They eventually just wandered out and picked a table and sat down. The only thing I regret about Friday is that, though I talked to Bill Edie and Barry Darsow and got signatures (especially Bill's on my MOC LJN Ax figure) I didn't get pictures because they said they'd be back tomorrow in full make-up. They didn't return, so I didn't get that shot.

The Friday night card at the Malice in the Palace was great. I know none of the advertised matches took place. But the show was great. Especially great when you consider that the entire roster wrestled KNOWING they weren't going to get paid. Yes, it was a nostalgia show, but it brought back some great memories. Oh and I'm now the biggest mark for Sexy Chino. Who? He's the Asian Guy from the battle royal.

Saturday was spent getting more signatures, but my noon on Saturday, I had almost everyone's. One moment that will stand out is in the early hours of Saturday, Harley Race came into the venue and stood there looking around as to where to go. No one was with him to tell him where to sit to sign. That's a shame. With a legend like that, you wait on them hand and foot. Nick Bockwinkle was at the CAC booth and was a pleasure to meet.

Piper arrived earlier than expected and started signing earlier than expected. Piper is awesome. He talked to everyone and he REALLY talked to you. I have read reports saying that Austin spent time with each person, he did (and he was great) but he's NOT Piper. I feel I got my $50 (and probably part of that wasted $75) with Piper. He's just amazing. He cares about the fans and it shows. He hugged people, he kissed people, he didn't let the staff rush anyone through the line. Want two pics with him, fine. He's truly a legend.

After Piper's autograph I was headed back to the main hall where I bumped into Virgil. Virgil asked if I was headed back to the hotel and if I could give him a ride. I was this close to saying, "Sure, not a problem. $20." Instead I just told him I had to ask my pal i came with and if he was ready to go we would. I walked back into the Vendor area and saw that DiBiase and Volkoff and Koko were signing so I forgot about Virgil and went to get more sigs.

Sunday was dead as were the other days, got a few more sigs and, of course, met Austin. The vendors, talent and fans were burnt out.

I said this several times to my buddy and I believe it to be true: My experience would not have been as great if there had been the 20,000 people there. On Sunday morning, my buddy and I spent about 10 mins talking to Slick. Yeah we were talking about how the event had gone wrong but, we stood with Slick for 10 mins! We had similar experiences with other talent, which brings me back around to the talent. Through it all, the talent sucked it up for the fans and made it a great time.

Really, by Sunday, The Talent and the Fans were in the same boat. The talent wasn't getting paid, we paid for stuff we didn't get. Together we soldiered through and made it something we'll talk about for a long time.

We stayed for Ring of Honor. I will catch no end of hell for saying this, but I was not impressed. The opening few matches were FANTASTIC! Chris Hero vs. Human Tornado - Awesome. Roderick Strong vs. Claudio Castagnoli - Great. But then after that there was just no "stories" in the matches. Just random pairings that meant nothing. For the corwd in attendance they should have done a little back story or made it clear (as in the Tornado/Hero match) what the history was. And yeah, I'm gonna say it, Danielson vs. Aries - I was bored out of my skull. Yeah, they can do fun holds. Yawn. We left before the main event.

Overall I can say that I had a great time. I got almost everything I paid for. I got some one on one time with legends. I got all my LJNs signed. I had a great time and that's all thanks to the talent, who stood above the hassles and gave the fans what they came for even when there wasn't much in it (money wise) for them.

[toasterboy]

My pics are here...

www.flickr.com/gp/11833783@N08/z7Efq9

Uploading Wener's next

[Aquinas]

Great writeup, and great pics!

And wow, has Sunny turned it around. She looks good.

[Werner Mueck]

My Blog:
wernermueck.com/blog/

[toasterboy]

Here's your photos Werner - www.flickr.com/gp/11833783@N08/8E894k

And here's some from the Malice In The Palace - www.flickr.com/gp/11833783@N08/V0776b