Post by saintpat on Apr 4, 2017 22:30:57 GMT -5
This was my third WrestleMania and for the first time I went to WrestleCon. Have never been to Axxess. Was hoping to hear from some who have done both to kind of compare and contrast, as I plan to go to WMNOLA next year.
My WC experience was pretty cool. It's not terribly pricey to go except that it was at the Hyatt and there's nowhere really to park without paying the $22 fee (so a $40 entry fee became $62). But other than that, you can spend as much or as little as you'd like.
I didn't go to any of the associated shows -- had tickets to ROH, Evolve and Chikara and did those instead.
WC itself was interesting. In some way not as 'big' as far as physical space but there were a TON of wrestlers and others packed into that space. Seemed odd to me that they had what seemed like a third of the total space was taken up by seats in front of a staged area where they did a few interviews and other stuff like trivia and letting people do imitations. Didn't see the point of that taking up such a large portion while making it so tight between the tables with the merch vendors and wrestlers/former wrestlers all packed together so tight, but, hey it's not my show -- but I never saw even a quarter of those seats in front of the stage actually being used and we were there for several hours.
I didn't spend a ton of money -- I have no use for autographs and really very little for photos. I mean, what am I going to do with them? I bought a bWo shirt from Meanie, who was really quite nice. I wear a 2X and he said the biggest that they had was a 1X but showed me the label on his was a 1X and said "If it will fit me, it will fit you -- I'm rounder than you are." And it did. Also got a Colt Cabana shirt (as did a buddy who was with me, who is from Chicago) and he was also nice as could be.
The one guy I did want to get a photo with was Abdullah the Butcher. I was a huge fan growing up and I'm pretty sure he's on hard times, so it was kind of a donation in a way (as I looked at it), a way to show my appreciation and help him out. So I did that. He couldn't stand up so you go around and get on your knees next to me and he "choked" me and then "took a fork to my head" for the camera. Also got an autographed photo and a fork with tape around the handle which he also autographed.
Also decided to get a pic with JJ Dillon with us doing the Four Horsemen sign.
Apart from that, had a few nice words with Teddy Long, Stan Hansen, Taeler Hendrix, Mr. Hughes hit me up and tried to get me to come over and buy something ("I know what you've been up to, you spent it all in that strip club last night, haha!"), chatted with Merica, who I've seen at a couple of ROH shows in Atlanta, maybe a couple more whom I don't really remember -- oh, Shelton Benjamin, who said he's been medically cleared (which I think I'd already read somewhere) and is just waiting for the call from WWE, but knew it would be after WM.
And the cool thing was Debra (McMichael) was there and I had met her before -- she's from my hometown and is now back living here again finishing up a degree in law enforcement of some type. I said hi and reintroduce myself and she was very, very sweet. She even gave someone her phone (I think it was Raven, actually) to get them to take a picture of us together, and then I got one with her (no charge) and she was like, 'Hey, he's from my hometown, this is my buddy." That was cool, one of the people charging for pics getting their picture with me, haha.
Most were really nice. Some were kind of cold fish if they figured you weren't going to spend any money (which is fine), some looked miserable, some (Bobby Heenan, Lex Luger) were just sad.
The big names -- Sting, Edge and Christian -- were kept at a distance. Big line, it was like meeting the president where people would pay, walk up, get a minute or so to chat and get a photo taken and then on to the next person. And the REALLY big names -- Shawn Michaels, Flair, etc. -- were kind of down a long hallway and you bought a ticket to get those photos taken. Never really saw them from where I was at, but they weren't out among the crowd in the ballroom.
All in all, pretty cool and I'd do it again most likely.
So I'd like to hear about Axxess, and also some stories from other people who did WrestleCon.
My WC experience was pretty cool. It's not terribly pricey to go except that it was at the Hyatt and there's nowhere really to park without paying the $22 fee (so a $40 entry fee became $62). But other than that, you can spend as much or as little as you'd like.
I didn't go to any of the associated shows -- had tickets to ROH, Evolve and Chikara and did those instead.
WC itself was interesting. In some way not as 'big' as far as physical space but there were a TON of wrestlers and others packed into that space. Seemed odd to me that they had what seemed like a third of the total space was taken up by seats in front of a staged area where they did a few interviews and other stuff like trivia and letting people do imitations. Didn't see the point of that taking up such a large portion while making it so tight between the tables with the merch vendors and wrestlers/former wrestlers all packed together so tight, but, hey it's not my show -- but I never saw even a quarter of those seats in front of the stage actually being used and we were there for several hours.
I didn't spend a ton of money -- I have no use for autographs and really very little for photos. I mean, what am I going to do with them? I bought a bWo shirt from Meanie, who was really quite nice. I wear a 2X and he said the biggest that they had was a 1X but showed me the label on his was a 1X and said "If it will fit me, it will fit you -- I'm rounder than you are." And it did. Also got a Colt Cabana shirt (as did a buddy who was with me, who is from Chicago) and he was also nice as could be.
The one guy I did want to get a photo with was Abdullah the Butcher. I was a huge fan growing up and I'm pretty sure he's on hard times, so it was kind of a donation in a way (as I looked at it), a way to show my appreciation and help him out. So I did that. He couldn't stand up so you go around and get on your knees next to me and he "choked" me and then "took a fork to my head" for the camera. Also got an autographed photo and a fork with tape around the handle which he also autographed.
Also decided to get a pic with JJ Dillon with us doing the Four Horsemen sign.
Apart from that, had a few nice words with Teddy Long, Stan Hansen, Taeler Hendrix, Mr. Hughes hit me up and tried to get me to come over and buy something ("I know what you've been up to, you spent it all in that strip club last night, haha!"), chatted with Merica, who I've seen at a couple of ROH shows in Atlanta, maybe a couple more whom I don't really remember -- oh, Shelton Benjamin, who said he's been medically cleared (which I think I'd already read somewhere) and is just waiting for the call from WWE, but knew it would be after WM.
And the cool thing was Debra (McMichael) was there and I had met her before -- she's from my hometown and is now back living here again finishing up a degree in law enforcement of some type. I said hi and reintroduce myself and she was very, very sweet. She even gave someone her phone (I think it was Raven, actually) to get them to take a picture of us together, and then I got one with her (no charge) and she was like, 'Hey, he's from my hometown, this is my buddy." That was cool, one of the people charging for pics getting their picture with me, haha.
Most were really nice. Some were kind of cold fish if they figured you weren't going to spend any money (which is fine), some looked miserable, some (Bobby Heenan, Lex Luger) were just sad.
The big names -- Sting, Edge and Christian -- were kept at a distance. Big line, it was like meeting the president where people would pay, walk up, get a minute or so to chat and get a photo taken and then on to the next person. And the REALLY big names -- Shawn Michaels, Flair, etc. -- were kind of down a long hallway and you bought a ticket to get those photos taken. Never really saw them from where I was at, but they weren't out among the crowd in the ballroom.
All in all, pretty cool and I'd do it again most likely.
So I'd like to hear about Axxess, and also some stories from other people who did WrestleCon.
