Anybody else having a tough time getting back to reality?? What a great weekend from start to finish.  
 
My Recap of things:  
 
Hotel: Shuttle was great, couldn’t have been easier to get to the show! Marriot was nice. There was no microwave or refrigerator and the internet in the room was extra (I left the computer at home). There was an affordable breakfast buffet and the hotel bar (naturally) was hopping with wrestlers and fans. The ballroom where the actual fanfest took place seemed to work out just fine. All things considered, this was an excellent place to hold the event.
 
Check-In: Tommy G took great care of me. My VIP packet had every single 8x10 (20 of them) and prepaid photo op ticket (lots) all set and ready to go. I decided to bring a Tully/Baby Doll photo from 2010 that had not turned out well. The staff quickly decided that I could get a free re-take on that one! This was handled Friday at the “swag” table as well as receiving a free program and additional photo op for buying the 20  8x10’s. The staff did everything possible to make sure I was cocked, locked and loaded to have a great time.  
 
Q&A’s: I can’t really add much to what has already been reported be here goes. Bill Eadie was personable and intelligent as always. Stan Hansen was gracious and very humble. Shultz/Mansfield, ah yes! Well, Eddie went to great lengths to in many cases speak for David. He kept saying “Ask David, he’ll tell you”. I really wish the interviewer would have done just that! Eddie had some rotten things to say about Ole and that didn’t set well with the very pro-Ole crowd. Shultz didn’t say a whole lot, but the crowd seemed to hang on his every word. All in All, 4 hours of talking old school wrestling...who could argue with that??
 
Featured Guests: Great lineup! I have to agree with some of the other folks wrote regarding the fact that mostly all of the guests really seemed to be enjoying themselves at the show. Austin Idol was very enthusiastic in both my photo op and in the signing line. Stan Hansen seemed to always be smiling. Mr. Wrestling II and Nick Bockwinkel spent lots of time on the fanfest floor talking to folks and taking it all in. Ole held court for hours in the lobby. Tony Atlas was bigger than life and seemed to be everywhere. The lines themselves were well organized and ran pretty well.  
 
Photo Ops: Lots of fun! I had pictures taken with most of the guests and they all turned out well. As stated in some other reports, the fanfest staff was tireless in printing, sorting and distributing the photos in a very timely manner. Like some others, I’m wondering if the effort put forth to get all the photos signed for us is worth it. But, they did a terrific job of making things work. All my featured photo ops did get signed with the exception of my Piper’s pit (see below). What a fantastic job done by all those involved in this process from the photogs to the autograph runners to the folks sorting out the photos. Thank you!
 
Live Matches: I did not attend but it sounds like a blonde lady did!  
 
Piper:  Awesome to meet Roddy! He was incredibly gracious and worked very hard to make each fan’s experience memorable. A member of Greg’s staff had tracked me down on Saturday to tell me that my previous day’s PIT Photo had not turned out. He offered to have it reshot during the Saturday session. This is just another example of the outstanding customer attention that Greg Price and fanfest staff provide to us. Had that gentleman (thank you!) not given me that opportunity for a retake, all I’d have today is a blurry photo to show. Awesome! Roddy also had a “stand-up” routine Saturday evening. He was wild and crazy and could have spoke for hours more. He told lots of stories from his book.  It was definitely rated “R” but Roddy is an engaging personality and I enjoyed the show.  
 
Hall of Heroes: Sat with Masked Superstar (Bill Eadie) who was honored later in the evening. Mr. Eadie was terrific (as were my table mates). He took questions from any of the folks who wanted to ask. He is a very interesting man in the fact that he is a certified teacher of at-risk youths in Georgia. I enjoyed the dinner and the company very much.  
 
Vendor Guests:   Good selection.  
 
At Highspots, I visited Maria (lovely), Tatanka (very cool) and Dick Slater. Mr. Slater was in a wheelchair and either was in pain or disinterested. Michael and his staff were friendly and they even delivered your photo ops to you after they were completed. Fifi the maid was also there (and I instantly fell in love with her). She hung out at the event after her shift and was pleasant and gorgeous.  
 
LOTR (Terrance and James) had a good lineup. I visited the Iron Sheik and Honky Tonk Man. These are two of my very favorite personalities from the “Shoot Interview” world and they did not disappoint!  It was a big thrill for me to meet both of them. I also visited Paul Orndorff. He was very nice and accommodating. Please keep him in your prayers as he fighting illness.  
 
Tmart had something for everyone. For me it was Bobby the Brain (enthusiastic, sucks that he is having trouble talking right now, because when you looked in his eyes, you knew he wanted to say something that only Bobby could say. Still a great honor to meet him!) Also met Larry Zybyzko and Jerry Lawler both were great.  
 
Titlematch Wrestling had a superticket for their 4 guests. I wanted to see Raven (he was cool), Manny Fernandez (cool) and Debra (timeless, like fine wine) so I bought the superticket and also got Melissa Coates (I didn’t know who she was but she was nice).  
 
I also met Pampero Firpo (great guest) at Budman’s and Jimmy Hart (great) over at VOC. I didn’t check out any of the other vendor guests.  
 
Random Stuff:  
 
VOC nation was doing a live show throughout the weekend. They put me on the air for a couple of minutes on Friday morning. That was great fun.  
 
Mr. Wrestling II was walking to the lobby and was carrying some stuff and fumbling with his mask. I asked if I could help him with anything and he said “Help me get this darn thing off”. So after so many opponents failed to unmask II, I actually had the rare privilege.  
 
Abdullah the Butcher appeared briefly in the lobby on Saturday. I “negotiated” a photo op with him and it turned out great. I was told later that he was asked to leave.  
 
Fellow Fans: I was very much a “mark” for the folks who post on the board upon meeting them. I saw Pantherfan and the Mrs. I met Albundy, bobbyryates, britishbulldog(I met a guy who met a wrestler), nate the great, flamark, the Bruiser666 and countless others. I’d like to give a shout out to the other fans  who hung out with me a bit and made the weekend as great as it was: Shane-gang (you’re the man), Frank-o (Fifi says Hi!), David from SC (great meeting you and Angela) Sarah from Indy and Lewis from Baltimore.  

Worship Service:  I attended the session held by Ted Dibiase. It was moving to hear his story (all of it) and his commitment to the Lord. For me this was a good way to close out things as I felt very blessed to have had this great weekend.  
 
In closing, all I can say is:  
2011 VIP Pass: $159
Flight from MKE to ATL: $250
NWA Fanfest 2011 Memories: PRICELESS
 
Thank you Greg,  
Steve from Milwaukee

Quote from British Bulldog on Aug 9^th, 2011, 4:01pm:

 
I have to agree with you both on this.  I noticed it when I got my photos with Bobby, Race, and Bockwinkel on Friday.  After the photos, I made it a point to shake his hand and say, "Mr. Heenan, this is an honor for me.  Thank you so much for being here," and that's when I first saw it.  When I came back to the TMart table the next morning for 8 autographs and 2 photo ops, I saw it again through the whole time I was there.  When I picked up all my photos, it was evident in all of them.  
 
I would have paid the full price and made the trip if it had only been Heenan.
 
I still have quite a few things I'd like him to sign.  If things go well and allow it, maybe he'll be in Charlotte next year.

was it you who got to unmask II while we were walking down the hallway and I said to you "for years everyone wrestler had tried to do that and you just did."  That was one of those one in a lifetime experiences that Greg gives everyyear and I am glad that I was there to see it.  
 
mine was talking with Gunner after his photo op and him seeing Mr Bockwinkel and saying I have to go introduce myself to him.  I saw him shake his hand tell him it was a honor meeting him.  I've known Gunner for two years and that really impresssed me after all of this time to see he was as big of a fan as I was.  He even tweeted about it later.  
 
Fanfest equals great times and memories that you can't find anywhere else.  
 
Thanks again Greg.