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James J. Dillon returns to Atlanta for NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend

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By Jonathan Williams

While the wrestling manager is almost a lost are these days, it wasn’t that long ago that a good manager could help create the next wrestling star or faction. As the leader of the original Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Ole and Arn Anderson), James J. Dillon played just as big a role in what went on in the ring as his wrestling stablemates. A fixture in the National Wrestling Alliance territories of the ’80s (and a wrestler in his own right prior to that), Dillon maintained manegerial roles on and off camera for the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) and World Championship Wrestling before retiring from the business in 2003. Though he’s no longer actively invovled in wrestling, he will be returning to his one-time galloping grounds in Atlanta this weekend for the NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend.

The NWA Fanfest is being held in Atlanta for the first time. You obviously have a lot of history with the NWA both in Atlanta and in Charlotte, where this fanfest is usually held. What are your thoughts on returning to Atlanta this weekend?

I’m excited for a lot of reasons. I’ve been to almost all of these fanfests and I’ve seen a tremendous growth in this whole thing that Greg Price has done. I come from the original days when it was typical for fans to meet one of their idols and be able to take a Polaroid picture. Now digital cameras are able to print out quality 8 x 10s that people can get signed while the individual is still there.

I was born and raised in New Jersey, so my original exposure to professional wrestling was in the Northeast. When I actually started my professoinal career, it was in Charlotte with Jim Crockett, Sr., and I saw a whole different approach to the profession largely because you didn’t have the huge population centers. So I wrestled in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. I’ve had a tremendous career and have made a lot of friends over the years, so the fan in me comes out at this fanfest.

I spent a lot of time in Amarillo with Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk, and I’ve remained very close friends with Terry to this day. Both of them had a big influence on my career, so anytime I can see them, let alone together, is a big deal. Tully is one of the original Four Horsemen and I’m always excited to spend some time with Tully. Baby Doll will be there and, of course, anytime you have a list of icons, Roddy Piper is on everybody’s list. I don’t get to see him all that frequently anymore, so I’m excited that he will be there as well.

A lot of today’s fans may not remember or even realize that you were a wrestler before you managed the Four Horsemen. By the time you came to Atlanta, you mostly just managing wrestlers, right?

I had well over 3,000 professional wrestling matches and I’m very proud of what I accomplished as a wrestler. I actually started as a referee, so being a referee on a part-time basis for seven or eight years prepared me to be a better wrestler. And my wrestling career, along with my time as a referee, enabled me to be a better manager. So it’s all been part of a total learning experience. I had a wonderful career and I’m very proud of it.

Ole, who was another original member of the Four Horsemen, has had some serious health issues and it’s great that Ole is going to be there. Mr. Wrestling II was in Charlotte last year and I was not there. Then he suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized, but he’s back and is going to be there as well. Paul Orndorff – who I got to know very well, especially during the closing years of WCW, where he was the running the Power Plant – has had some serious health issues and it will be good to see him. Of course, I haven’t seen Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, who I’ve always acknowledged as the greatest manager there ever was and the guy that set the bar by which all the rest of us are measured, in a while. He couldn’t be there at the last few, so I’m really looking forward to seeing Bobby after a number of years.

I also haven’t seen Haku in years and I was in Japan when he first started his career. Then I was in Amarillo when he came to America for the first time and, of course, watched him develop into a huge star in our business. I haven’t seen Haku in years and I’m excited he’s going to be there. Pampero Firpo is about 80 years old and when I first started on a part-time basis in the late ’60s, he was around Detroit. And when I started in the Carolinas in the early ’70s, he was there teaming with Rock Hunter. I haven’t seen Pampero Firpo in all of these years. One guy that I’m really excited to see after a long time is “The Mongolian Stomper” Archie Gouldie. I first met him up in the Canadian Maritimes when I got a break up there in the early ’70s. After Amarillo, I went to Florida and he was wrestling in Florida, so I was around him quite a bit then. Archie left and went to Tennessee with Bearcat Wright as his manager and for some reason it didn’t work out. I was still in Florida when I got a call asking if I’d ever given any thought to managing, which I hadn’t. So we went to Dallas and that was the beginning of a significant chapter in my career. Archie’s been somewhat of a recluse and has had some serious health issues of his own. He’s been kind of reluctant to do any kind of appearances, but they’ve talked him into coming to the fanfest in Atlanta, so I’m really excited to see him. I haven’t seen him in 35 years.

Aside from seeing old friends and meeting fans, will you be part of any panels or other events?

Jim Cornette was supposed to host the Hall of Heroes dinner banquet this year, but he wasn’t able to make it. Of course, there’s no such thing as replacing Jim Cornette, but I’m happy to pitch in and host that. Everybody that’s being honored certainly is Hall of Fame worthy and deserving of the recognition. The one that really got my attention this year is that they’re honoring Ted Turner. He really was a friend of wrestling for so many years. When he started the Superstation way back in 1976, an integral part of the programming was Georgia Championship Wrestling with Gordon Solie, which became World Championship Wrestling. Anybody that’s been in the business as long as I have knows that there’s nothing more valuable than a show with a consistent time slot. I know it was on for more than 25 years and there are still people that talk about how they used to schedule their Saturdays around being home in front of the television at 6:05. It’s certainly deserving that Ted Turner, who has been so good to wrestling, is finally getting the recognition for being a friend to wrestling. He’s been very successful with other ventures, but what he’s done with the Superstation and just the fact that he has given away so much of his wealth for charitable things, it’s just great that he’s getting this kind of recognition.

You’ve been out of wrestling for a few years now. Do you think you’ll ever return to the business in any capacity?

Well, the profession has changed so much. Everything changes in life and change is not always for the better. I participated when WWE did the Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen DVD, I was at Raw when Flair was recognized for what was then to be his retirement match after WrestleMania with Shawn Michaels and I’ve also participated in some of the Legends of Wrestling roundtable discussions that WWE has on its Classics On Demand channel because we’re talking about the very things being emphasized this weekend, and that’s the tremendous history. Unfortuantely, unlike baseball, which is so statistical, and some other professional sports where the history is preserved, the only thing we have is our memories. A lot of times at functions like this, I end up seeing some of these guys for the last time. We lost Sir Oliver Humperdink, who was a dear friend, so it’s great that he’s being recognized at the Hall of Heroes this year, too.

NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend. $20-$224, free for children ages 10 and younger. Aug. 4-7. (Hall of Heroes Dinner & Awards. $75. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5). Atlanta Airport Marriott, 4711 Best Road, Atlanta, Ga. 404-766-7900, www.jjdillon.com, www.nwalegends.com.

Rob Van Dam brings “The Whole F’n Show” to the NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend

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By Jonathan Williams

Rob Van Dam has held many championship titles and been known by many nicknames during his wrestling career. One of the few titles he has yet to hold is a National Wrestling Alliance championship, but that’s not stopping “The Whole F’n Show” from making his first NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest appearance in Atlanta this weekend. As he prepares for the fanfest (as well as a match against Crimson this Sunday at Total Nonstop Action Wrestling‘s Hardcore Justice), RVD talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about his career.

You’ve held many titles in wrestling, and you’ve held titles in companies that have previously been affiliated with the NWA, but you’ve never actually held an NWA title. How did you end up on this weekend’s NWA Fanfest given that you’ve never wrestled for the NWA?

I believe that to be true. One interesting, little-known fact that crossed my ears many years ago is that out of any other WWE Champion, I’ve held more championship titles than any other champion. Meaning that I have been the most decorated and diversified. That’s something that I’m proud of. An NWA title? No, I guess not.

The NWA was mostly defunct when I was coming up in the business. I think it was around for my first few years maybe, but shortly after that WCW was born and the NWA really kind of was unheard of for a while. Then some territories opened up under the NWA banner to carry on and one of those territories was in North Carolina with Greg Price. Greg Price has been a friend of mine for a long time. I met him way back in 1991 when I went to the Carolinas to wrestle Manny Fernandez. Greg Price was one of his promoters in the office and since that day, we’ve continued to do business and he’s always helped me out. I’ve always wanted to attend one of these because every year I hear that the NWA Fanfest is the largest wrestling convention that the fans get to go to. No matter where I’m at all year long for several years, I’ve always heard the fans asking, “Are you going to be at the NWA Fanfest this year, Rob?” I’ve always wanted to make it, but I’m always booked somewhere else. This year I finally get to make it.

The next day I have a pay-per-view for TNA Impact Wrestling, so I’ll be in Atlanta all day on Saturday signing autographs, taking pictures, meeting and talking with the fans and letting them fill my head with positive energy about how awesome I am and how I’ve impacted their lives.

This is the first time the NWA Fanfest has come to Atlanta, and your first NWA Fanfest. Is that a coincidence?

It’s really just a scheduling thing. [Price] usually has this in Charlotte, which is closer to his home base. I would have also been able to make it to Charlotte this year, but from what I understand this thing has been growing so big that having it in Atlanta will be advantageous for travelers to come in and out of the Atlanta airport. I know for sure that fans come to this thing from all over, from England, Australia and all over the country. They really look forward to it, so they make a vacation out of it. If you’re a huge wrestling fan, this is something you don’t want to miss. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of my friends that I bump into here and there, and a lot of friends that I haven’t seen in years, so it’s a good time for us, too.

Many of the guests are legends of the industry, hence the name Legends Fanfest. How does it feel to be one of the few people appearing there that can clearly be considered a legend while also still actively wrestling?

It’s awesome. I’m really enjoying this part of my career where I’ve got more experience than most of the wrestlers and I know what I’m doing in the ring. At the same time, my body feels great and I can still move like when I was 25. There’s not a lot of wrestlers that fit into that category besides RVD. I feel like I’m a phenomenon because of that. I started professionally way back in ’89 and went to the Sheik’s school. And, of course, before that I was a huge dedicated fan and wrestling was a big part of my life. It’s pretty much been a lifelong thing and to be able to still go in the ring and do every move that I’ve ever done after 20-plus years is great.

Some of these guys helped make me a star. When I see Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, I think about back to 1992 or ’93 when the fans didn’t even know who Rob Van Dam was yet. I was wrestling Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and learning about the psychology and he was teaching me to hone my craft. A lot of these legends helped fill that spot.

Of course “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase will be there and he was part of your first on-screen wrestling experience.

Yeah, I was a fan that time when I got into the ring. I was in the crowd when they were doing the promotional piece where “The Million Dollar Man” would prove that everybody has a price. I was the most horrible negotiator in the world, by the way. He had been doing these bits on TV where people would keep raising the money. Like, he went to the emergency room in front of all these broken up people and said, “Nurse, I need a Band-Aid.” And she’d say, “Sir, you’ll have to wait.” Then he said, “Virgil, lay down $100.” And she said, “Sir, there’s a huge line.” And he said, “Virgil, lay down $200.” And she said, “Well it wouldn’t be fair…” And he said, “Virgil, $300” until she said, “Here’s your Band-Aid.” That was the whole deal, but I was so excited when I got to go in the ring and he said, “I’m going to give you $100 to kiss my hot, stinky, sweaty foot.” I don’t think he even finished the sentence before I kissed his foot. Then I was like, “Dude, Virgil. What’s up, bro.” I’ve learned how to negotiate a little better since then.

I was at another wrestling show later that month and I made it into the souvenir program. I was trying to show the person beside me, “You see this picture? You see that kid?” Right away the guy goes, “Oh, that’s all planted.” That’s the attitude with a lot of people with everything. But it’s that suspension of disbelief that you look for when you watch a movie or whatever. You want to forget about what’s draining your energy and invest your time into this, but some people won’t buy anything.

You’re taking on the undefeated Crimson this Sunday at Hardcore Justice. What are your thoughts on that match?

He’s still undefeated and that’s what he’s got going for him. Otherwise, I’d be like, “Who is this kid?” But the fact that he’s undefeated definitely makes people take notice. That’s what people noticed about Goldberg when he came in. And that’s what attracted me to the Ultimate Warrior when I was a kid. He was just crushing everybody and nobody could beat him. Crimson has that momentum and obviously he’s impressing a lot of people. He’s good, but then again I’m “The Whole F’n Show.” That’s how I’m looking at it for Sunday’s match.

NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend. $20-$224, free for children ages 10 and younger. Aug. 4-7. Atlanta Airport Marriott, 4711 Best Road, Atlanta, Ga. 404-766-7900, www.robvandam.com, www.nwalegends.com.

 

 

 

Damn! Ron Simmons scheduled to appear at NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend

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While he is best known to today’s wrestling fans for his emphatic response of “Damn!” during some of WWE‘s more absurd moments, Ron Simmons has had one of the most decorated careers in professional wrestling. Before his three World Wrestling Federation World Tag Team Championship reigns with Bradshaw, Simmons won the National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship in 1990 with Butch Reed (a title reign that was eventually recognized as the first World Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship). And prior to debuting in the WWF as Faarooq, Simmons made wrestling history by becoming the first recognized black World Heavyweight Champion in any promotion when he defeated Big Van Vader for the WCW title in 1992. Also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Simmons talks to Wrestling with Pop Culture about some of his career milestones in preparation for next weekend’s NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend.

You became best known to mainstream audiences in the WWF as Faarooq, but you had your must successful run in the NWA and WCW where you became the first black World Heavyweight Champion.

Right. I tell you what, man. Probably the most memorable days were in the NWA, where I spent the beginning stages of my wrestling career. Some of the guys I encountered then, I will be seeing again at this convention, which I look forward to very much. Dusty Rhodes, Ronnie Garvin, Michael Hayes, “Superfly” Snuka, all the guys that came through there and helped me out so much during the formative stages of my career made it in the NWA. That is the most meaningful thing to me and now I’m getting a chance to see them again and relive some of those old memories. I’m really looking forward to this one more so than any that I’ve done in the past because it will give me the opportunity to be a fan myself again. Seeing some of the guys that I grew up watching, then had a chance to be in the ring with, as well as getting a chance to answer questions and talk to some of the fans, whether they want to ask me about football or professional wrestling, this is going to be an all-around great event. From honoring Gordon Solie right down to talking to all the great fans, this is going to be something for everybody of all ages. And it couldn’t be in a better venue than here in Atlanta.

This fanfest is usually held in Charlotte. Do you know why it is being held in Atlanta this year?

I think they know the market is here. Atlanta is where a lot of these guys came from and it’s where most of the legacy of the NWA was. Most of the fans really grew up watching these guys here in Atlanta, when we were doing most of our matches for TV tapings and things of that nature at the old Turner Studios. So this is the best location possible, I think, to do it.

Another guest this year is your old manager from Doom, Teddy Long.

He and I are going to be there together and I’m looking forward to seeing him. It’s going to be great. We were looking forward to my partner Butch Reed being there, but I’m not sure if he’s going to show or not. We’re still hoping that he does.

You’re still fairly active in the Georgia wrestling scene. What have you been doing in the area lately?

A lot of guys call me from the indie circuit for advice and have me come in and critique the matches and things like that. I love to go out and sit and watch the shows because it reminds me of when I started out doing matches at high schools and things of that nature. I spend a lot of time doing that when I can, and I still pop back up here and there with WWE.

Yeah, I still see you there every so often. You’re most recent appearance was on Raw in May for the Rock‘s birthday, right?

Yeah, that was the last one I did.

What is your role with WWE currently? Are you under any sort of contract there or do they just call you from time to time to make appearances?

No, not at this time. I’m just on-call and they still call me to ask for advice and to critique some of the guys and things like that. I like that role and it works out best for myself and them. At this stage of my career, after 30 years of being on the road, I’m really just enjoying living and being home with family.

Do you think you’ll ever have another run as a wrestler in WWE or elsewhere.

No. Like any other thing that’s physically involved, you’ve got to know when to say, “This is it. I’ve had a great time doing it, I’ve been successful in it and I’m not going to push it no more. I’m going to go out the way it is.” That’s the way I saw it. My football career was good to me, my body’s been good to me and throughout all of that, I’m not going to push it. I know when to say, “That’s enough.” And, hey, I’ve had a good time.

You had plenty of accomplishments as a wrestler, so I guess there’s really nothing for you to go back and prove.

Absolutely. I’m satisfied with it. You hit it right on the point. There’s nothing else for me to go back and accomplish. I had a good time, I accomplished what I wanted to, I worked hard at it and that’s where I want to leave it. One of the things I’m most thankful for is the fans for being there and supporting me through all the years. And that’s what I’m looking forward to doing at this fanfest.

Aside from meeting fans and signing autographs, will you also be taking part in any panels or anything like that?

Yeah. We’ll do some Q&As and things of that nature. Of course, with the dinners and banquets they have going on, it’s going to be really big.

A lot of younger fans may not know about your wrestling background with the NWA and probably just know that you show up sometimes and say, “Damn!” How did that catchphrase first catch on?

Anybody with ringside seats who was sitting there watching when things wouldn’t go the way I wanted them to in the ring, that’s what they would always hear me say in the  middle of the ring. Sometimes that came across on TV, so after a while people seemed to get a big kick out of it. So I thought, “Why don’t I just incorporate that into the show?” It seemed to catch on pretty quick, so I just started using it from then on.

NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Weekend. $20-$224, free for children ages 10 and younger. Aug. 4-7. Atlanta Airport Marriott, 4711 Best Road, Atlanta, Ga. 404-766-7900, www.nwalegends.com.