Statistics
Content View Hits : 6085541
Sponsored Links
Home 
WWE Wrestling WWE Fax Axxess Tour puts shine on rain in Miami
WWE Wrestling WWE Fax Axxess Tour puts shine on rain in Miami| WWE Fax Axxess Tour puts shine on rain in Miami |
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 24 March 2008 21:26 | ||||
|
WWE Fax Axxess Tour puts shine on rain in Miami BY SCOTT FISHMAN Miami Herald Writer Link: http://www.miamiher Not even rain could turn away hundreds of fans who braved bad weather for World Wrestling Entertainment' It was the final stop of the 10-city tour before it heads to Orlando for WrestleMania 24. While the day before had sunny skies, gloomy conditions didn't stop the tour's longtime host Hillbilly Jim from again interacting with the crowd. ''We have such a hotbed of fans in South Florida,'' said Jim, who drew adulation for his good ole country boy persona in the ring during the 1980s. ``It seems like only yesterday this thing got started. It has gotten bigger and better every year. It's got a life of its own now.'' The tour is celebrating its fifth year on the road giving fans a taste of 'Mania. Through it all has been Jim, who loved the concept and wanted to be involved when the idea was brandied about for WrestleMania 20. ''There are not very many times in this business where you can do something and be a part of something that you were there when it started,'' said Jim. ``This is kind of good for me because I've been in the wrestling ring for a lot of years. To get into it and get another bite of the apple, be the first to host this and on the first tour, when it was this smaller thing, is quite thrilling and makes me proud.'' The first day in Miami brought legends Mouth of the South Jimmy Hart and Mean Gene Okerlund. The following day saw former Miami Heat dancer and current WWE diva Layla El return home to South Florida. El recently moved to Los Angeles for business opportunities and to enhance her skills in the ring under Jesse Hernandez at his School of Hard Knocks. ''I miss Miami every single day,'' said El, who celebrates her second year at Axxess. ``Even if it has been raining, this is great. I still consider Miami my home. That's when I had a day off, and I saw Fan Axxess was going to be here, I said, `I want to be there. I want to do this.''' Along with superstar appearances each year, WWE, working with LeadDog Marketing Group, adds new activities to keep the tour exciting and fresh. One of the popular attractions is fans performing their own superstar entrances. Participants are introduced with their choice of superstar theme music and are filmed walking into the ring. The entire experience is burned on a DVD as a WWE take-home prize. Superfan Tye Dye Guy couldn't pass up the chance to get his own theme. He went to Axxess before attending the No Way Out pay-per-view in February in Las Vegas. However, he felt it important to show his support for events like this in Miami so companies like WWE continue visiting the Sunshine State. ''It's really been exciting for the area and great to see so many people turn out,'' said Tye Dye Guy, ``even with the rain, which is something we down here are used to and are going to be used to, if it rains for WrestleMania 24.'' Tye Dye Guy -- who despite not being an official Axxess talent took photos and signed autographs for members of Team Tye Dye -- is heading to Orlando on Friday, March 28 for a complete weekend of events. The trip will be capped off by his seventh WrestleMania before returning for the SmackDown!/WWE ECW tapings 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. Every time Jim arrives with the Axxess tour, he is asked when the biggest show of the year is coming to the land of sun and oranges. He says be careful what you wish for. ''I'm excited about this,'' said Jim, who has a reality show and trip to Dubai in the Middle East in the works. He also recently signed another year with Sirius Satellite Radio to continue hosting his Moonshine Matinee show. ''This great state has been a hot bed for all wrestling, grass roots wrestling for many years,'' he said. ``Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair have spent a lot of time in this great state. ``For us to come back to Florida, I'm hoping one day the show comes to Miami. It's a great town that people love to come to and so much to see with scenery and stuff to do. It's conducive to a party atmosphere which is what WrestleMania is all about.'' With the Fax Axxess Tour complete in South Florida, it's truly an exciting time to be a Florida wrestling fan. Next stop WrestleMania Week. . Defending champ Burke, unscripted The sixth THQ Superstar Video Game Challenge is 7 p.m. Thursday, March 27 during WWE WrestleMania 24 Week at the House of Blues in Orlando. WWE superstars and divas participate in a single-elimination video game tournament using WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 for Xbox 360. WWE's ECW star Elijah Burke won last year's competition during WrestleMania 23 Week in Detroit. Orlando bracket:Raw: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton; Carlito vs. Santino Marella. SmackDown: Finlay vs. MVP; Matt Hardy vs. Rey Mysterio. WWE's ECW: CM Punk vs. defending champ Elijah Burke; Kofi Kingston vs. Tommy Dreamer. Divas: Beth Phoenix vs. Michelle McCool; Layla vs. Ashley. The event also features four finalists from Europe and North America who will compete for two WrestleMania floor seats. Tickets ($15) are on sale at hob.com/tickets/ . WWE HOF The WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony is 7 p.m. EST Saturday, March 29 at The Amway Arena, 600 W Amelia St. in Orlando, Fla. Ric Flair will be inducted by Triple H. Rocky Johnson and the late, great High Chief Peter Maivia will be enshrined by Johnson's son and Maivia's grandson, The Rock. Eddie Graham will be inducted by Dusty Rhodes. Also, Jack and Jerry Brisco and Mae Young will be part of the Class of 2008. Business attire is requested. Tickets ($55) are on sale at the Amway Arena Box Office, all Florida TicketMaster locations (including FYE stores) and on TicketMaster' . HOF on USA The WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony will air taped delay at 11 p.m. Saturday, March 29 on the USA Network. . Power brunch Presented by The David Maus Foundation for the benefit of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the annual WWE Bacon, Bagels & Biceps Brunch is Sunday, March 30 during WrestleMania Weekend at the Rosen Center Hotel on International Drive in Orlando. The Bacon, Bagels & Biceps Brunch was first presented by Donald Trump in 1988 on the morning of WrestleMania IV. For the past 20 years, it would be the jump-start to WrestleMania Sunday for WWE's enthusiastic fans. Tickets are available at TicketMaster online for $125. Purchases include a full brunch, exclusive WrestleMania souvenirs and interaction with a dozen WWE stars before heading to the Citrus Bowl for WrestleMania XXIV. . Commemorative WrestleMania souvenir Order WWE 24/7 and receive a limited edition WrestleMania 24 Chopper Die-Cast. With WWE 24/7 On Demand, gain access to the best classic and current wrestling from the world's largest wrestling library. In March on WWE 24/7, relive the biggest events, stories and superstars in WrestleMania history. New subscribers who order WWE 24/7 On Demand in March will receive a limited edition WrestleMania XXIV Chopper Die-Cast (valued $24.99). Offer valid while supplies last. Offer ends March 31. Not available in all areas. Visit wwe.com for details or call 1-888-My-WWE- . Raw is also Amway WWE Monday Night Raw is 8 p.m. Monday, March 31 at the Amway Arena. Tickets are on sale at TicketMaster outlets, by phone and online. Prices range from $20-70. . Miami SmackDown! WWE SmackDown! tapings and WWE's ECW live are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. Tickets are on sale at the AAA box office, TicketMaster outlets, by phone and online. Prices range from $20-75. Credit: A1 Wrestling Newsletter
|
||||