AS I SEE IT

by: Bob Magee

With the NWA 50th Anniversary events coming up this Saturday, I wanted to lend over the column to repeat information on the NWA 50th for anyone who might be thinking of attending one last time.

Several of the PWBTS staff will be present...we hope to see you there.

Until next time...

Bob Magee

THE FAN CONVENTION

The "NWA 50th Anniversary Celebration Weekend" kicks off with a Fan Convention on Saturday morning, at 9:00 a.m. and will now run through 7 p.m., with a break from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. to allow both fans and vendors to attend the Cauliflower Alley Club Banquet.

There, fans will have the opportunity to view and purchase all sorts of pro wrestling memorabilia and merchandise from the common to the hard to find. Not only will there be items such as hats and tee shirts of all sorts to choose from, but there will be dealers from all over the U.S. offering everything from action figures and dolls to magazines and programs. Everything you can imagine such as video tapes, trading cards, posters, wrestling masks, belt buckles, Japanese and Mexican items and just about anything else you can think of that says "wrestling" will be on display and available for purchase.

The Highlight of the Fan Convention will be special autograph and photo sessions with some of wrestling's biggest personalities including "Mr. NWA" James E. Cornette, Abdullah the Butcher, Missy Hyatt, the NWA National Heavyweight Champion Dancin' Stevie Richards, ECW founder and leader of Hotstuff International Tod Gordon, former National Heavyweight Champion Doug Gilbert, the current NWA North American Tag Team Champion Tennessee Volunteerz, former NWA World Tag Team Champions Barry Windham and Tully Blanchard, current NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan "the Beast" Severn, and both future and current Superstars of the WWF courtesy of the WWF Training Facility such as "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, Tiger Ali Singh & Babu, and 1996 U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle among others.

Honored will be some of wrestling's greatest legends like Harley Race, Killer Kowalski, and Classy Freddie Blassie just to name a few. Also appearing are former WWF Champ Yokozuna and former ECW tag team champs Public Enemy.

Tickets for the event will be only $8 in advance through Ticketmaster at (215) 336-2000, or $10 at the door on the day of the convention.

Dealers and vendors who are interested in displaying their merchandise at the NWA 50th Anniversary Fan Convention, should contact Kathy Fitzpatrick or Howard Brody via e-mail at NWA Web Master via e-mail at nwa_wrestling@hotmail.com for exact vendor details. Dealer pricing for spaces are $100 per table and $25 for each additional table up to a maximum of four (4) tables per vendor. The price includes a complimentary ticket to the 50th Anniversary show at 8 p.m. Dealer space is limited and is available to vendors on a first come, first serve basis.

THE BANQUET

The "NWA 50th Anniversary Celebration Weekend" continues on Saturday afternoon, October 24th at 2 p.m. with the "Fourth Annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Convention."

This year's Banquet will be in Celebration of the NWA's 50th Anniversary, honoring those individuals who have had an impact on the history and growth of the National Wrestling Alliance. "Classy" Freddie Blassie; Dory Funk Jr.; Danny Hodge; Harley Race; Gordon Solie; and Lou Thesz. Jim Ross and Kevin Kelly of the WWF will be on hand to present awards.

Tickets for the "Fourth Annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Convention In Celebration of the NWA's 50th Anniversary" are only $55 and can be paid by Check or Money Order. All Payments are to be made payable to:Cauliflower Alley Club and sent to:

Cauliflower Alley Club,
c/o George Napolitano
1235 80th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11228

THE SHOW

The "NWA 50th Anniversary Celebration Weekend" concludes on Saturday evening, October 24th at 8 p.m. with the "NWA 50th Anniversary Show."

The card:

NWA World Title Match
Dan "the Beast" Severn (Champion) versus Steven Regal (Challenger)

NWA World Tag Team Titles/Four Corners Match
The Border Patrol (Champions) versus Barry Windham & Tully Blanchard (Former Champions) versus Kit Carson & Khris Germany (Challengers - NWA Southwest) versus "Suicide" Erich Sbraccia & Knuckles Nelson (Challengers - NWA New England)

NWA North American Tag Team Title Match
Tennessee Volunteerz (Reno Riggins & Steven Dunn) (Champions-MCW) versus The Headbangers (Challengers)

Rage in the Cage
NWA vs. Hot Stuff International
Doug Gilbert, Lance Diamond, Steve Corino, Rik Ratchett and Dennis Coralluzzo versus Stevie Richards, The Pitbulls, Too Cold Scorpio and Tod Gordon (with Missy Hyatt)

NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title/ 3-Way Dance
Mr. Gillis (NWA PNW / ECCW) versus E.Z. Ryder (NWA CWF) versus Slater Jeffreys (NWA Maple Leaf Wrestling)

WWF Dojo Battle Royal featuring current and future stars of the WWF Courtesy of the WWF Funking Dojo Training Facility: Giant Silva, Glen Kulka, Barry Houston, Andrew Martin, "Fallen Angel" Chris Daniels, Dr. Tom Pritchard, Tiger Ali Singh & Babu, Kurt Angle and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams

NWA 2000 Tag Team Title Match
The Misfits Harley Lewis & Twiggy Ramirez /managed by Lupus (Champions) versus Ace Darling & Devon Storm (Challengers)

NWA Inter-Promotional Tag Team Match
TNT (NWA Ohio/West Virginia) and Tarzan Boy (IWA / W*ING) versus Patch (PWA) and Danny Dominion (NWA Midwest)

Abdullah the Butcher versus T-Rantula (NWA East / PWX)

Primo Carnera III (NWA Northeast) versus Lord Zieg (NWA New York)

Tickets for the "NWA 50th Anniversary Show" will be: $35 for Golden Ringside; $30 for Ringside; $25 for Reserved; and $20 for General Admission.

If you have comments or questions, I can be reached by e-mail at magee@uscom.com.