Pageantry and spectacle have long been a big part of professional wrestling. So, it only makes sense that wrestling has become one of the main attractions of Dragon Con, one of the country’s largest pop culture conventions.
For many of those descending upon Atlanta this Labor Day weekend, Dragon Con Wrestling will be the body-slamming beginning of a weekend filled with panels, concerts and other costumed festivities.
After making his Dragon Con debut in 2011, C.B. Suavé has become known for cosplaying as his favorite wrestling legends for his DCW matches. Having made a name for himself in the Southeastern independent scene, Suavé first paid tribute to one of his heroes in 2013, incorporating part of that costume into his regular ring wear.
“I was ‘Macho Man’ Suavé,” he recalls of his first wrestling cosplay. “I wasn’t trying to do an exact cosplay. I had green and yellow trunks and yellow kneepads. I had my wrists taped up like him and I came out with this sequined robe that was made for C.B. Suavé, but was perfect for Macho Man. That’s actually when I started wearing the glasses with my name on them. I put Suavé on there like the Macho Man thing. After that, I always wore glasses with Suavé across them.”
The following year, Suavé got the biggest crowd reaction of his career when he portrayed the Ultimate Warrior, just months after the Warrior’s shocking demise.
“That’s one of the best responses I’ve ever gotten,” he says. “I still share that video from time to time on Facebook and you can see the whole crowd – and some people in the back – just losing it. I did the whole Ultimate Warrior entrance where I ran through the curtain, all the way through the whole room and back to the ring.”
Since then, Suavé has performed as wrestling greats “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, Shawn Michaels, Sting and Eddie Guerrero. And in 2017, he got to share the ring with an actual dragon while portaying Ric Flair, who was unable to make his scheduled convention appearance due to health issues.
“As a young kid watching WWF and WCW, I never thought I was ever going to touch Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat,” says Suavé. “But, here I am, dressed as Ric Flair. I come out for the Hall of Fame, spin [Steamboat] around, take the plaque, cut a promo on him. Then he spins me around, pops me a few times, and I’m like, ‘I’m literally in the ring with Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat!’ That’s something I’ll never forget.”
With his detailed costumes and impressive athletic displays, Suavé has helped create lasting memories for DCW fans. In 2019, his efforts were rewarded as he was inducted into the DCW Hall of Fame while portraying “Ravishing” Rick Rude.
Depending on the outfit, Suavé begins planning his costumes months in advance. Then he enlists the help of others to fully execute his costumes.
“My grandmother and mother have made most of my wrestling gear,” he says. “This year, Adrian Hawkins is making all my stuff and I’m going to add to it.”
And who will Suavé be portraying at this year’s Dragon Con? While he’s not willing to fully reveal that information, he admits that he’ll be putting the “Dragon” in Dragon Con this year.
“I’ll just say I’m hoping to make Dragon Con Yes-tle Con,” he reveals. “I’m going to print some ‘YES!’ signs for people to hold up. I hope this year’s going to be something special like the Warrior and Ric Flair.”
Dragon Con Wrestling takes place Thursday, Aug. 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Centennial II-IV.