TWJT
Superstar
Joined on: Aug 7, 2021 19:07:25 GMT -5
Posts: 537
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Post by TWJT on Mar 28, 2022 22:57:44 GMT -5
…performer, are you still a fan of said performer?
I haven’t met a ton of wrestlers overall, mainly some OVW folks, Lawler, Foley, etc. I’ve been blessed in that not too many interactions have gone south, or featured heels in character, etc. That said, I’ve read many stories through the years of folks who did meet wrestlers and had negative interactions. I’ve always wondered though, for those of you who have…do you still consider yourself to be a fan of said performer? Are you able to divide the performer and his/her art from the human? I would like to think I’d be able to. It may not be easy, but I’d like to hope I could consider myself a fan of the individual’s work without being able to embrace or hold dear my interaction with him/her, because it wasn’t positive. Wouldn’t be easy, though. I can understand it going either way for some fans.
For those who have had negative interactions with a performer, are you still a fan?
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Post by CM Tusk on Mar 28, 2022 23:03:08 GMT -5
Al Snow was the only bad experience when I was 10 but was so much better when I met him a couple years ago.
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Post by Nivro™ on Mar 29, 2022 0:43:01 GMT -5
Having a "bad" interaction won't make me less of a fan but having positive ones will make me a bigger one. I've become an over the top Steamboat fan since he & I became friends.
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@brit_figs
Main Eventer
WF 10 Year Member
Joined on: Sept 25, 2009 13:02:15 GMT -5
Posts: 3,725
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Post by @brit_figs on Mar 29, 2022 2:46:52 GMT -5
Sabu was probably the most unfriendly icon I've ever met. But I still didn't care, the guy is a legend and was probably jet lagged as it was in the UK.
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Post by JC Motors on Mar 29, 2022 6:46:36 GMT -5
Al Snow was the only bad experience when I was 10 but was so much better when I met him a couple years ago. Care to explain the first interaction?
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Post by CM Poor on Mar 29, 2022 8:49:48 GMT -5
In the one instance that sticks out, the answer is no, but it's not because of said interaction.
I was at the airport once with my own travel agenda (i.e. I had an actual, unrelated reason to be there). It was shortly after 9/11, so my dad made us get there hella early, only to get through security in like, 15 minutes, leaving us with 2-3 hours to kill. As my bud and I were walking around the terminal, a flight landed, and it became apparent that it was for a taping in town later that night, because we basically watched the entire WWE locker room at the time walk out of the gate and off to baggage. We mostly kept to ourselves, got a few what's ups from the likes of RVD and some nods of acknowledgement from some others, but for some reason, Bubba Dudley caught our eyes, and shouted across the terminal for us not to come near him and to not say a god damned word (mind you, we were past security at this point, five months after 9/11, so there's no way we'd have been there in any sort of vulture-esque capacity). We both just kinda laughed it off, but it honestly didn't affect my view of Bubba at the time.
20 years later? Yeah, I don't like Bully Ray 'cause I'm fairly certain he's just not really a good person, but I honestly DGAF that he yelled at me for no reason before my trip to Florida when I was like 16.
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Post by CM Tusk on Mar 29, 2022 9:29:20 GMT -5
Al Snow was the only bad experience when I was 10 but was so much better when I met him a couple years ago. Care to explain the first interaction? I think he was just having a bad day. Someone further up the line asked for “EM PLEH” on their forehead instead of an autograph and he did it and being 10 I wanted the same and he got pissed about it. He did it, but he said something along the lines of “great, another ing one.” When I met him again at Wrestlecon in New Orleans, he was the coolest though.
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kinnikuman
Main Eventer
Joined on: Feb 6, 2020 21:42:25 GMT -5
Posts: 4,674
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Post by kinnikuman on Mar 29, 2022 10:44:57 GMT -5
Never met a wrestler. BUT I did have an issue with Sal E. Graziano's size, lol. I was at an ECW house show in SC. This must've been like 2001. Maybe earlier. I was with my GF at the time. Anyway, forget who the FBI went up against, but someone whipped him into the metal guard rail. We were front row. I didn't see it coming but thankfully nudged her out of the way in time. Me? No so much. He and the rail smashed into me and the base of the rail cut my ankle up pretty bad. So yeah. Thanks, fatty. And boo to me for not paying better attention.
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Post by Grenouille on Mar 29, 2022 11:10:07 GMT -5
I've had very few in person interactions. For the most part I'm not a big autograph guy.
Macho Man - I was about 7 at an appearance at the mall. Savage was really friendly and asked me questions about how I was doing in school and to keep up the good work. Great experience meeting one of my all time favorites.
Demolition Ax - 1998 local indy show. Ax was really friendly and happy to have someone come up to him for a signed picture. I was already a fan and he went up higher in my book.
Bret Hart - 1998 local card show. Not the best experience. I go up on the stage ask him how he's doing and get no response. Bret grabs my hand, they take a Polaroid, he signs it and I'm on my way. The whole experience felt rushed and like I was bothering him. I'd understand more if there was a long line, but I was the only person that went up to Bret's table. I'd chalk it up to a bad day, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit it was a bit of a let down.
Scotty 2 Hotty - Local minor league hockey game. Like I said, I'm not big on autographs, but it was free. He pretty much big timed everyone to rush through the line and was just generally a jerk. Unless you were a good looking female, all you got was a grunt and messy 8x10 autograph. Not a big deal because I wasn't that big fan anyway.
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 20, 2024 11:08:50 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2022 11:17:32 GMT -5
I haven't met a ton, but the only one that was a negative experience was Bret. He wasn't like crazy rude just very clearly didn't want to be there. In the long run it didn't really change my opinion of him as a wrestler. For r 10 year old me who had also met Owen who was by far the nicest in a group that included Mick Foley who is crazy nice to begin with it did. Suddenly I viewed all those Bret/Owen matches rooting for the other side haha.
But doesn't change how I think of Bret as a wrestler now, just that he wasn't really made for fan interactions/signings. Not everyone likes that stuff.
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Post by hitmancmedge on Mar 29, 2022 11:20:44 GMT -5
I haven't met a ton, but the only one that was a negative experience was Bret. He wasn't like crazy rude just very clearly didn't want to be there. In the long run it didn't really change my opinion of him as a wrestler. For r 10 year old me who had also met Owen who was by far the nicest in a group that included Mick Foley who is crazy nice to begin with it did. Suddenly I viewed all those Bret/Owen matches rooting for the other side haha. But doesn't change how I think of Bret as a wrestler now, just that he wasn't really made for fan interactions/signings. Not everyone likes that stuff. Haha my Bret experience was completely the opposite, he took the time to talk to me for several mins, I told him how he was my favorite growing up and how I was bullied a ton as a kid and came from a broken home and wrestling and Bret specifically kept going and he couldn’t have been nicer. Took multiple pictures with me. Worst was Bully Ray, an absolute Jackass for no reason at all. Just wants to be a dick and doesn’t care. I’ve hated him since.
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 20, 2024 11:08:50 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2022 11:28:25 GMT -5
I haven't met a ton, but the only one that was a negative experience was Bret. He wasn't like crazy rude just very clearly didn't want to be there. In the long run it didn't really change my opinion of him as a wrestler. For r 10 year old me who had also met Owen who was by far the nicest in a group that included Mick Foley who is crazy nice to begin with it did. Suddenly I viewed all those Bret/Owen matches rooting for the other side haha. But doesn't change how I think of Bret as a wrestler now, just that he wasn't really made for fan interactions/signings. Not everyone likes that stuff. Haha my Bret experience was completely the opposite, he took the time to talk to me for several mins, I told him how he was my favorite growing up and how I was bullied a ton as a kid and came from a broken home and wrestling and Bret specifically kept going and he couldn’t have been nicer. Took multiple pictures with me. Worst was Bully Ray, an absolute Jackass for no reason at all. Just wants to be a dick and doesn’t care. I’ve hated him since. When did you meet Bret? I met him twice as a kid, I think in '95 and '96 or something like that. Pre screwjob. Both times he was the same, and I'm Canadian we were in his neck of the woods lol. Hell I live in Saskatoon where his dad was born! Maybe he got more into that sort of thing as he got older. I am very glad I've never met Bully Ray dumb dumb and I hope it stays that way lol.
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Post by hitmancmedge on Mar 29, 2022 11:30:03 GMT -5
Haha my Bret experience was completely the opposite, he took the time to talk to me for several mins, I told him how he was my favorite growing up and how I was bullied a ton as a kid and came from a broken home and wrestling and Bret specifically kept going and he couldn’t have been nicer. Took multiple pictures with me. Worst was Bully Ray, an absolute Jackass for no reason at all. Just wants to be a dick and doesn’t care. I’ve hated him since. When did you meet Bret? I met him twice as a kid, I think in '95 and '96 or something like that. Pre screwjob. Both times he was the same, and I'm Canadian we were in his neck of the woods lol. Hell I live in Saskatoon where his dad was born! Maybe he got more into that sort of thing as he got older. I am very glad I've never met Bully Ray dumb dumb and I hope it stays that way lol. I wanna say it was like 2015? 2016? It was recent. His line was long and the promoter was definitely trying to hurry along but Bret spent time with every fan that was in his line.
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robbutler01
Main Eventer
Joined on: Feb 10, 2013 15:10:27 GMT -5
Posts: 1,267
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Post by robbutler01 on Mar 29, 2022 12:44:19 GMT -5
I haven't met a ton, but the only one that was a negative experience was Bret. He wasn't like crazy rude just very clearly didn't want to be there. In the long run it didn't really change my opinion of him as a wrestler. For r 10 year old me who had also met Owen who was by far the nicest in a group that included Mick Foley who is crazy nice to begin with it did. Suddenly I viewed all those Bret/Owen matches rooting for the other side haha. But doesn't change how I think of Bret as a wrestler now, just that he wasn't really made for fan interactions/signings. Not everyone likes that stuff. Haha my Bret experience was completely the opposite, he took the time to talk to me for several mins, I told him how he was my favorite growing up and how I was bullied a ton as a kid and came from a broken home and wrestling and Bret specifically kept going and he couldn’t have been nicer. Took multiple pictures with me. Worst was Bully Ray, an absolute Jackass for no reason at all. Just wants to be a dick and doesn’t care. I’ve hated him since. Agreed with bully ray/bubba. Met tons of people when I went to mania 33/wrestlecon in florida inc hogan, flair, heenan, nash, Hall, sting, lex, steiners, demolition, vader and so many more and they were all great but bubba was the one I regret paying to get a pic with. Didn't speak or look like he wanted to be there so wish I'd spent the money on someone else.
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Post by hitmancmedge on Mar 29, 2022 14:24:44 GMT -5
I’d say most guys I’ve met have been an absolute pleasure over the years. Very few off the top of my head can I remember not being very great. Really it was just Bully Ray (giant Dick) Cedric Alexander, Penelope Ford (just seemed over it), Statlander, and The Colons were big jerks as Axxess no less. Really everyone else was amazing.
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Post by theoutlaw1999 on Mar 29, 2022 16:27:08 GMT -5
Alberto Del Rio was horrendous at a Toys R Us signing back in 2014.
He was wearing a cap and had it pointing downwards so he didn't have to look at the fans and didn't utter a single word to anyone. Just completely ignored all who spoke to him. Each time he shook a hand he sanitized his hands. I was by far the worst autograph signing I've ever been to.
I also knew a few people who worked at Toys R Us at the time and they said that he was really nasty to all the staff.
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Post by Hurricane on Mar 29, 2022 17:45:03 GMT -5
It wasn’t me, but I was standing near Orton in 2009 when some kids surrounded him and took a bunch of photos with flash without asking. He yelled and swore at them, which was hilarious and awesome. Then he got onto the WWE bus and a few fans tried to follow him on to get photos and also got yelled at loudly by him.
Made me like him more.
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Post by BoJack Hogan on Mar 29, 2022 20:05:31 GMT -5
I paid to meet Bischoff, and told him I enjoyed his work in WCW. He coldly replied 'Yeah, so did I' and that was it. I've hated him ever since, but I'm also the type who takes things personally and holds grudges.
Bully Ray was kid of an ass, but I expected that so it wasn't a shock.
Jake was aloof, but not really rude.
Flair completely ignored me and talked to the other wrestlers around him while going through the line.
But I don't want to end on those notes. I mentioned how I hold grudges, but it goes the other way too. If you're cool to me you've made a friend for life. I'd rather end on the cool ones who have made me lifelong fans:
Bad News Barrett was super cool at Axxess back in 2015. I already liked him
Hacksaw Jim Duggan was very friendly. I was very happy to meet him and do the HOOOOOOOO!
Terry Funk was so great. I'd spent my last money on the Flair meeting (above), and I saw Funker afterward, and told him I didn't know he'd be there and it was an honor. I still regret not getting a photo.
Scott Hall and Sean Waltman were super cool, I've always loved them since then and I wasn't really a Kid fan before that.
Nash was ok, no real complaints. I didn't get a ton of attention, but Kelly Kelly and Maryse were there and he was talking to them (I'd have been too hehe)
DiBiase also was ok
Heenan was kind of aloof in 97', but was still friendly enough.
Larry Zbyszko was actually really friendly as well, and surprisingly so. Made me a fan. (this is 97 as a WCW commentator)
Savage was also kind of aloof, but that was because I mentioned Hogan and the Mega Powers, and they were on the outs at the time. In retrospect I felt bad for upsetting him, but how would I know as a teen? Speaking of whom -
Hogan was super nice to me. This is pre-money whore Hogan. I was a kid, and he was my personal superhero. I had an amazing childhood thanks to him, and meeting him only made it better. That's why I've never turned on him and still support him after all these years in spite of everything....His story is still very much like the life of BoJack Horseman though
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Post by TKO Propagandist on Mar 30, 2022 2:01:26 GMT -5
For any wrestlers who get ticked off when people approach or talk to them. This is what you signed up for when being a famous wrestler. Yes it can be annoying & privacy invasive. However, think of how 1 bad interaction can ruin a kid or someone elses view of you. Or if it's a good one they will like you forever. Sure you might be in a bad mood but why force that on other people?
Wrestlers, the day them fans aren't showing up at the airport or trying to talk to you is the day you should be angry. Because that is the day you aren't relevant anymore. Just take the pictures, smile, sign whatever. You only risk making things worse by ignoring or being negative in response. I get it that it sucks to have to do it all the time. But this is the life you choose. Many famous people can not go grocery shopping or mix with the public because they will be mobbed. It's the price of fame. You can make or break a fan's view of you with one bad interaction. Or you give them a good interaction & they cherish it forever & tell the story on forums like this. You decide.
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jason1980s
Main Eventer
Joined on: Sept 30, 2009 14:58:56 GMT -5
Posts: 2,311
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Post by jason1980s on Mar 30, 2022 11:48:32 GMT -5
Bubba is almost always a given for a negative fan meeting. I had an opportunity to meet him for free if I wanted, where I know he would have been legit nice to me based on who I knew but I didn't want to meet him. I was never a big fan and knew he would just be a jerk to everyone else.
It's funny because Ricochet posting about not doing autographs at airports and hotels and fans tweeted out responses from old school guys who were saying they wanted the fans to be asking because know it meant they still meant something to the fans. Bubba was one of the guys who fans were tweeting his old school take on autographs. But he's always been a jerk.
I had a bad experience with Abdullah in 2004, then a good one in 2016. George Steele was pretty grumpy though that was normal for him later in life. Spike Dudley was the worst. He and RVD were an hour late to a signing. Fans were waiting in 100 degree heat for them. RVD was super cool as expected, nice to everyone while Spike just grabbed items and scribbled, head down, no acknowledgement. I'm sure he's a good guy, it was probably a bad day but I wouldn't be in a hurry to want to watch anything with him mostly just based on talent. He took insane bumps, yes ultimately for us fans but I'd rather support a cool guy with crazy talent like RVD than a guy who got over simply for being a human crash test dummy, who had a bad day and used it to treat fans like crap.
Other than those last three, I think every wrestler I met was either super nice or at least nice enough and doing more than going through the motions. I had a great experience with Alberto which makes me feel bad because of all the crappy fan interactions but with me, it was a situation where I knew someone he liked. I would put him as one of my top nicest guys too but I feel awful how he would be otherwise.
Bret can go either way. He truly does enjoy signing and seeing the fans but he's just not personable at shows, I guess unless you can say something that really catches his attention.
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