This isn't quite WrestleCon but it's in the same vein kind of, so I figured I'd post here rather than start a separate thread. Yesterday I went to the Big Event 12 in NY. I've been to a bunch of comic con types of events but this was my first wrestling one outside of Axxess or Ringside Fest. Overall, I had a good time and met a lot of cool guys. But as I was walking around I was also kind of bummed. It was kind of a sad state of affairs in my opinion. I think it was really disorganized and a good portion of the talent there seemed either generally miserable or mistreated. Here's my experience:
- A Koko B Ware autograph was included in the admission ticket we bought. So we went up to the table and handed our tickets to the handler. He had some 8x10s on the table to sign. Every con I have ever been to, when you pay for an autograph, you can choose and 8x10 from the table and get it signed. So I grab one and the handler says "8x10s are $5 extra." I really only went to see him because the autograph was free but since I was already up next I paid the $50. I went up to Koko and said "Nice to meet you." Complete silence. Didn't even look at me. Just grabbed a marker and signed the autograph. He handed it to me and I said "Thank you" and went for a hand shake. Again he just completely ignored me and stayed silent. Wish I hadn't met him.
- Next I went to see The Godfather. It was still early and most people hadn't even gotten there yet. Godfather was all smiles and had a ton of energy. I got a photo op with him. His handler grabbed my phone, Godfather put his arm around me and posed for multiple pics (one of which was photobombed by Sid). Funny note was he left around noon then came back like a half hour later as Papa Shango. I saw someone ask him to sign the Elite two pack. He said "This thing is so cool! I had to go out and buy it when I saw that it came out. Mattel won't send me not even one!"
- Next I went to go see Sid since he was right at the next table. Dude is still huge. He was dressed kind of nerdy though. Blue jeans and a plaid button down shirt with a windbreaker. I got a photo op with him. He got up and took his windbreaker off. That's when I got to really see how massive he is. He was quiet but very polite. The one thing that kind of worried me about him was when he put his arm around me for the picture I could feel his arm shaking like crazy. Seemed like he couldn't control it.
- Next we went to see Boogeyman. He posed for a few pictures and made some odd noises. Right before our pic some little kids were passing by. He gave them a creepy smile and went "Hahaha. I'm gonna get you!" Then after we took the pic he suddenly broke character, shook my hand, and went "Thanks for stopping by. What's your name?... Awesome. Nice to meet you." Nice guy.
- DDP was next. Dude looks phenomenal for his age. He had his WCW title with him and let me put it on for a pic. He put his hand up and said "You do the other side. Let's get a Diamond Cutter." After the pic I mentioned that I have his Yoga app and I lost 13 pounds since November. He got real serious and said "That's awesome bro! Keep doing it! Tweet me and keep me posted!" He's legit dedicated to helping people.
- Next I went to get a picture with Bret Hart. Long line as expected. Bret was very professional but low energy as usual. Polite and grateful though. I almost laughed really loud when a guy in front of me had Bret sign his book. Bret asked him if he had a chance to read it yet. The guy said "Yeah. I really enjoyed it." Bret said "Better than Hogan's right?"
- Next I went to get a picture with Dennis Rodman. His line was an absolute mess. It was going in like 3 different directions. No one knew where it started or ended. Plus they just placed him in the hallway of the hotel lobby so tons of people were just walking through the line. I finally walk up next to him for my pic and he's not even looking at the camera. He almost doesn't even notice I'm standing right next to him. Then his handler goes "Hey Dennis! Picture!" Then Rodman goes "Oh" and looks at the camera then goes back to ignoring me as a walked away awkwardly.
- Next we went to get a pic with Mike Tyson. I was kind of excited because he seems like a nice guy. On line there were a lot of super angry meathead type people. His security were complete d**ks to everyone and just like shoving people and yelling. I go up to get my picture with Mike and he's just like staring at me and he looks angry. Then I shake his hand and he pulls me in closer. Then he growls at me and continues staring at me. Then we take the picture and he stares at me for another second. I say "Thank you" then he kind of smirks and mumbles "Thanks for coming." Another odd one. Everyone involved was way more aggressive than necessary.
- Sting was next. Surprisingly short line but I think that was due to how nicely organized it actually was. If people engaged him in a conversation he happily talked to them. I didn't really know what to say so he was just very professional and thanked me for stopping by.
- We then went to see Billy Gunn and X-Pac. Waiting on line and watching everyone see Billy and and kind of ignore X- Pac kind of made me sad. They were also in the lobby hallway next to Rodman. Looking at X- Pac though, I kind of got the feeling he might have been high. He was kind of just watching everyone walking around and he had like a satisfied smile on his face as he observed. I went up for a picture with both of them. They're handler said "Ok were doing everybody in this one." X-Pac smiled and came over and went "All right! Everybody!"
- We went to see Corey Graves next. Easily the nicest guy at the event. I was wearing a shirt my friend got me for Christmas of cartoon animals doing wrestling moves. As Corey was saying hi he was staring at my shirt. Then he said "Sorry I'm not being weird. I'm just reading your shirt. It's awesome!" We took a pic and he thanked me for stopping by and said again that he loved my shirt.
- We saw Cody Rhodes next. He was very well dressed in a full suit. Super chill and a nice guy. Kind of a nice quick interaction. He had a nice crowd.
- Next we went to get a picture with the Headbangers. They had no line but just as we were walking up Gillberg walked up to say hi to them. We stood there awkwardly laughing with they're handler as Gillberg spent maybe 10 minutes talking to them. Gillberg also asked for a picture with them. Thrasher said "You know he's gonna go print this picture out and try to go sell it at his gimmick table." Then Mosh goes "Maybe he'll get $1.50 for it." It was kind of surreal seeing the three of them reminiscing about Wrestlemania. Anyway, after Gillberg left I started to walk over for my picture. Right at that moment Gangrel hops over and starts talking to them. He asked how old Gillberg was. Thrasher said "I think he's 58." Mosh said "That's at least what he'll admit to." Gangrel was like "He looks well. How old are you guys? You're in great shape too." They were actually in really good shape. Mosh kept lifting his shirt up and rubbing his stomach and he kind of had abs. So at this point I'm just awkwardly standing there because I don't know if Gangrel is done or not. Mosh looks at me and goes "Ready?" I say yes. He says "You sure? You look a little nervous." I say I'm good. He's like "Are you positive?... 100%?" I say I'm positive. Then Mosh throws his hands around my throats and they get into a classic headbangers pose. My brother went up next and they started messing with him. Messing with his hair, grabbing at his bag. Then they take the picture and the handler starts laughing. She goes "Wait we gotta do another one. Tony walked right into the shot." Then Tony Atlas turns around and goes "Oh. I'm sorry." Really fun guys.
- I went to go see Tatanka next. I told him I was a huge fan and he seemed genuinely shocked. He was like "Oh thanks man! That's awesome! I really appreciate it!" Then we took a picture and again he was like "Thanks for coming by! Thanks for being a fan!" Then he did his Native American yell so loud and for so long. He put on some weight but still looks like he can go.
- Next I got on line for Harley Race. Super long line that blocked off Demolition and Tito Ortiz. There were some angry people. The guy in front of me got like 30 autographs. He must have been some kind of vendor because it was mostly the same picture. Then he got a photo op too. He had more stuff to get signed but they had to cut him off because he was holding up the line. I felt so bad for Harley. He was visibly getting tired. By the last 15 or so he was struggling to sign. He also had like a waxy look to him, he was in a wheelchair, and he smelled like moth balls. He shook my hand but didn't say anything. Seemed like he didn't want to be there and I really don't blame him.
- Next we went to get a picture with Lita. As we waited on line there was a big commotion on the other side of the room. Alberto Del Rio showed up with Paige so people were flocking over there. Got a picture with Lita. She is still as hot as ever.
- We want over to see Del Rio and Paige next. I get the feeling Paige wasn't technically supposed to be there. It was $20 for a picture with just Del Rio, $100 for both Del Rio and Paige, you couldn't get a picture with just Paige. I went for just Del Rio. He was nice and professional. His handler was kind of an idiot though. My brother was in line behind me. After I got my picture, my brother was standing there with his $20 but the handler wasn't paying attention. So Del Rio came out from behind the table, hit his handler on the arm and went "Can't you see the guy is waiting!?! Do your job man!" Del Rio looked great. Paige is still hot but she doesn't really look well. She was freakishly skinny and her face was kind of wrinkly. She looked much healthier when I saw her in 2015.
- Next I wanted to go see Mean Gene but he had some girl probably in her early 30s sitting on his lap and he did not look like he was gonna let her leave any time soon. I've never seen him look happier. Anyway, as I started to get on line for Mean Gene, Hillbilly Jim's handler walked over and said "Hey. It's getting close to the end of the show. Hillbilly Jim is charging $30 for a combo but if you're interested in meeting him he'll do it for $15." I said sure. So then I go up to the table and the handler asks me if I have anything to get signed. I say know and he tells me 8x10s are $5 extra. I wasn't gonna complain because I was still getting $10 off. While I was dealing with the handler I heard Hillbilly Jim ask another handler where the bathroom was. The handler said "If you give me a few minutes I'll show you where the good bathroom is. This one is really dirty." Hillbilly Jim responded "Son you don't know how dirty my mind is." Anyway, I went up to him and we started talking he asked me if I had a good time and if I met a lot of cool people. Then he was like "Did you get to see anyone you haven't seen in a real long time?" I said yes and he was like "I think that's the best part. When you have a chance to catch up and see people you haven't seen in forever." Seemed like a nice guy but honestly smelled like crap.
- Finally I went over to Mean Gene. I shook his hand as he started to get up for a picture. I felt him shaking so I helped him make sure he didn't fall. He finally got all the way up and started fixing his jacket. He saw his handler getting ready to take the picture and went "Will you hold on!?! Give me a moment to get the gimmick buttoned up!" Then he buttoned up his jacket and had the cheesiest smile on his face. Real professional.
I wanted to meet a bunch of others but didn't due to time, money, or unfortunate table placement. Ran out of time to go see Khali, Ryback, Ron Simmons, and Marty Janetty.
I kinda wanted to see Maria Kanellis and Mike Bennett because Maria looked AMAZING. Unfortunately, they're table was in the hall way right in front of the door to the main room. So there was a ton of humanity in that spot.
I got in line for Victoria but as I was walking to the line Melissa Santos started running toward her. Santos' handler like shoved me so she could get ahead. So then she starts having a conversation with Victoria and there are a few of us online. After a few minutes of them just chatting, Victoria's handler interrupted and was like "Can we just take care of these people in line real quick?" Victoria goes "Can I just have one quick minute? Melissa has to leave." After about 15 minutes they're still chatting and So Cal Val comes over and joins in. So at that point I was just like screw this and I walked away.
I wanted to see Gillberg but he was set up in a crowded hallway and barely at his table. He kept wandering around to go talk to people. I laughed so hard at one moment when I walked passed the bathroom in the hall and the door swung open and out came Gillberg. There was also another moment where just as I was leaving the bathroom in walked Marty Janetty, Kazarian, Matt Jackson, and Daniels.
I felt Christy Hemme had the absolute worst placement. She was dressed all cute for the event in a nice short skirt. But it was 19° out and super windy, and her table was right next to the lobby door. I felt so bad seeing her sitting at her table wearing a coat and wrapped in a blanket. She then had to take that stuff off to take pictures with people.
It was a fun day, but I did hear a lot of people express the same feeling I had that they wouldn't do it again. There was a definitely feeling that it was super disorganized and even the talent was being mistreated.