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http://www.charleston.net/stories/020804/moo_08wrestle.shtml

7:49 a.m. Sunday, February 8, 2004 
 
Highs, lows of Legends Convention and Fanfest 

BY MIKE MOONEYHAM 
Of The Post and Courier Staff 

Last weekend's Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Legends Convention and Fanfest
was deemed a huge success by most who attended. A tribute to a
territory that was considered among the very best in the country, the
event featured more than three dozen greats from that era.

While most of the stars still live in the Charlotte area, others came
from as far as Florida (George Scott, Greg Valentine, Dory Funk Jr.),
Kentucky (Jim Cornette), Ohio (Les Thatcher) and Maine (Tony Atlas).

Cornette and Ole Anderson, two of the more controversial figures in
the wrestling business, received rave reviews for their
question-and-answer sessions. Cornette shared road stories with
Thatcher, J.J. Dillon and Bobby Eaton, who all joined him onstage in
front of several hundred fans.

Anderson, who was there selling copies of his new book, signing
autographs and taking fans down memory lane, didn't leave his dry
humor at home. "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas, never known for his ring skills
but still remarkably buffed for his late 40s, greeted Anderson by
telling his former ring adversary and the audience that "this man
taught me everything I know about rasslin.'" Not missing a beat,
Anderson deadpanned, "Hey, don't tell them that."

All, however, didn't go smoothly. Two members of the rap/wrestling
group Insane Clown Posse were asked to leave after reportedly heckling
Cornette during his VIP members-only session. Although ICP had passes
for the event, their loud and disruptive comments prompted their
departure, said several fans in attendance. When the two declared that
they had VIP passes and weren't leaving, Cornette responded, "And that
means one thing. You paid 100 bucks to come see me," before launching
into one of his inimitable diatribes and shouting them down.

"Rap is noise that no one wants to particularly hear, which is why you
boys have to pick up those little outlaw bookings for $25 a shot,"
bellowed Cornette.

Fortunately the two were escorted from the area before Eaton, an
original member of Cornette's Midnight Express, had a chance to
personally walk them out. The two left amid raucous cheers from the
audience which directed a chorus of "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"
at them.

"I don't think it would have gotten that far," Eaton said later. "I
didn't know if it was a work or not. You never know any more. It
wasn't a big deal. Corny didn't care for them because he had trouble
with them in Louisville. He had told the guy in charge that if they
showed up he was going to leave."

"It wasn't like I could take anybody out. Maybe if (longtime midget
wrestlers) Little Tokyo or Lord Littlebrook were available ... maybe I
couldn't beat them if they wouldn't mind," Eaton joked.

Buddy Landel also made a hasty exit from the convention site after
reportedly fighting with a fan outside the motel and exhibiting what
has been described as "crude and rude behavior" at the event. The
incident prompted a torrent of conversation on wrestling message
boards and fan sites.

Landel, a Mid-Atlantic star in the '80s whose career hit a tailspin
due to drug problems, later offered an apology on the 1wrestling.com
Web site, admitting that he went to the convention "with the wrong
motive" and that he was over the top, "but that is me being me."

"I went to the Mid-Atlantic fanfest with the wrong intentions. I
wanted to confront Arn (Anderson) for the things he said about me in
his book.

"On another matter, yes, later on I exchanged some words with a
gentleman outside when he pulled a knife on me. I walked away --
period!

"To set the record straight I was not arrested, I did not go to jail,
and I did not leave owing any monies. I stayed all night at the hotel,
checked out the next morning and there was no mention of me owing
anything!"

Event organizer Greg Price painted a different picture with his
response on Thursday. He claims Landel, who has served as a minister
in recent years, had never even mentioned Anderson when contacted
about the event. "As for Buddy's charge that 'Double A' defamed him in
his book, I can't speak to that. I've heard it isn't in there. Maybe
Buddy can direct us to the disparaging remarks in Arn's book?"

Price said he first approached Landel at the autograph stage early
Saturday afternoon. "I explained to Buddy that Fanfest was a family
event and I did not want drinking or abusive language in the ballroom.
Buddy apologized."

A half-hour later, said Price, he was summoned back to the autograph
stage where Anderson, among others, had gotten "ready to take matters
into their own hands." At that point, Price said, he took Landel to an
off-stage area, where Landel was told he was no longer welcome in the
Fanfest area and was paid his full appearance fee.

Price, along with others, says Landel later started a fight in front
of the motel but left before police arrived. "The Buddy Landel fiasco
at Fanfest wasn't necessary," said Price. "It didn't have to happen. I
can't do anything to change what's already happened. But, I do
apologize by anyone offended by Buddy's rude and crude behavior, and I
can promise you that we will never have that situation again at a
Fanfest event."

Price's statement concluded with a plea for Landel: "Buddy, you need
help. Get some."

The flood of negative comments aimed at Landel prompted yet another
response Friday on the 1wrestling.com Web site where Landel again
apologized.

"There is no way for me to defend my actions, I did not realize how
far gone I was until I read all the comments, how sad that it will be
the memory of how people will remember me. No excuses, Greg is right,
I need to get help. My wife has been telling me for sometime. I have
been married to a great women for 23 years, and she does not deserve
this nor do my children. It used to be cool to be loud and shocking,
but not for a 42-year-old man that says he's a Christian.

"I can't think of anyone I did not embarrass. To Arn, the fans, the
wrestlers, my wife and family, and most of all Greg Price, please
forgive me ... The only thing for me to do is to seek help. The fans
were great to me, and I'm ashamed for the way I treated you. I hope
one day you can forgive me. Please pray for my family and myself."

-- WWE has ended its contractual relationship with Zach Gowen. The
one-legged grappler met with talent chief Jim Ross on Wednesday.

Gowen, 20, was signed last year by the WWE after he had made
appearances on TNA broadcasts. Gowen, who lost a leg at an early age,
enjoyed high-profile encounters with Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar
during his WWE stint.

Sources say Gowen had not blended in well with the talent and was
something of a prima donna behind the scenes.

He could resurface soon in NWA-TNA where he worked as Tenacious Z
prior to his WWE run.

-- Shawn Michaels may be added to the mix for the Chris Benoit-Triple
H WWE title showdown next month at Wrestlemania. If WWE finally pulls
the trigger and puts the strap on Benoit, it may not be until the
following pay-per-view in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Benoit's
hometown. The April 18 Backlash PPV will be the first ever from that
city.

-- Hulk Hogan will serve as the grand marshal for the Florida Dodge
Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Feb. 13. His daughter,
Brooke, will sing the National Anthem.

-- The WWE Web site reported that Mark Henry suffered a shoulder
injury Monday night during his Raw match with Chris Benoit. Henry had
surgery Thursday in Birmingham, Ala., performed by Dr. James Andrews,
and is expected to be out of action for several months.

The match and the crossface finish were designed as a storyline reason
for a pre-existing injury.


--- Internet Rex 2.29