News Article On Legends Convention Featuring Larry Zbyszko, Magnum TA, Jimmy Garvin, The Koloffs, Tully Blanchard, Rock N Roll Express & More
Article courtesy of The Fayetteville Observer:
Wrestling legends draw crowd
It takes more than the threat of a hurricane and steady rain to keep die-hard wrestling fans from a chance to mingle with legends.
"The hurricane didn't scare us away," said Mike Heumeman, whose family traveled from Norfolk, Va., over the weekend to attend the NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest at the Clarion Hotel on Cedar Creek Road.
About 700 people attended the two-day event to meet the wrestlers who made the National Wrestling Alliance a top draw in the 1970s and 1980s.
Wrestlers in attendance Sunday included Ole Anderson; the "Russians," Ivan and Nikita Koloff; Tully Blanchard; the Rock-n-Roll Express; Larry Zbyszko; James J. Dillon; and Baby Doll.
Saturday's featured wrestlers included Mick Foley, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Mr. Wrestling II, Magnum T.A., Tommy Rich, Jimmy Garvin and Precious, Stan Lane, Tim Horner, Tommy Young, George South, Penny Banner, Bill White, Gene Ligon and David Isley.
For many of the fans, it was a chance to revisit what many believe were the glory days of professional wrestling.
"I came for the memories," said Ben Martin of Roanoke, Va. "It's a look at my past."
Kevin French of Fayetteville said the wrestling was more realistic in the days of the National Wrestling Alliance. "Nowadays, it's more characterized," he said.
Jeff Hoglen of Fayetteville is still a fan, but for other reasons. "It was wrestling back in the days when they didn't cuss and I didn't have to screen it for my kids," Hoglen said. "It's just not family oriented."
Anderson agreed. He was one of the original Four Horsemen. Wrestlers in the earlier years had athletic backgrounds, he said. Today's wrestlers, he said, have no idea what they're doing and can't wrestle.
"Today you've got kids that all they can do is put on a mask," he said.
Blanchard, now a minister, believes that wrestling styles and the athletes are what keeps the fans loyal through.
"There's more of an identity. It's more clean cut. There's good and evil," he said.
Morton and Gibson have spent 22 years as partners and still enjoy wrestling.
"I enjoy what I do," said Morton, who still has long blond hair. "It gives me something to get out of bed for the next day."
The toll has been high for the wrestlers, some of whom are now in their early 60s. Morton suffers from lower back pain and moved slowly up and down steps Sunday. Anderson walked stiffly and needed help getting up and down steps. Ivan Koloff walks with a cane.
"We all are a little older," Morton said, "but we still love the sport."
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