THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 27, 1995 TAG: 9511270054
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE
Staff Writer
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
There were no bombs, but ``World War 3'' had its share of explosions Sunday night as a foot-stomping, rafter-shaking crowd of more than 10,000 wrestling fans egged on their heroes before a television audience of millions.
``Take him down! Take him down!'' Danny Riggs shouted from tip-toe on the edge of his seat. The 5-foot-4, 16-year-old from Virginia Beach still had trouble seeing past the crowd standing in front of him.
In the ring, one wrestler had grabbed another from behind and was lifting him. Riggs eyes were fiery, and he wore a wild grin. ``C'mon . . . c'mon . . whooped, ``Yeah!''
So, who was this wrestler, now dancing about his victim, who had earned this fan's loyalty?
``I dunno,'' Riggs said, surprised to be asked. ``Do you?''
Riggs said he had heard the announcer call the names before the match, but they didn't stick in his head.
``This is my first time at wrestling,'' Riggs explained. ``I've never really watched much on TV. But I thought it would be fun.''
On that score, Riggs was not alone. But most of the other fans of World Championship Wrestling seemed to know the contenders - which ones were champs and which ones were chumps.
And they didn't hesitate to say so. Some carried signs proclaiming the distinctions. Others wore T-shirts emblazoned with wrestler's faces. A few even had painted their faces with their heroes' names.
And while they cheered each match, what they mostly awaited was the riot: the ``Battle Royal'' featuring 60 wrestlers - 20 each in three rings, the inspiration for the title ``World War 3'' - sparring for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Randy Savage was the last man in the ring and the presumptive winner. But Hulk Hogan is contesting the decision. Fight tapes are to be reviewed by WCW officials today.
Before the first face met the mat Sunday night, however, there already had been a few knockouts - among would-be fans.
An unknown number of folks showed up at Scope with promotional coupons for free admission ``based on availability.''
There were no seats available. The event was a sellout.
``We feel bad,'' said Alan Sharp, spokesman for the WCW, adding that organizers had not anticipated such a problem. ``We didn't want anyone to go away disappointed.''
To make up, Sharp invited people who had coupons but were turned away to call his office today. Arrangements will be made for them the next time WCW comes to town, he said.
Other than that snafu, Sharp was ecstatic Sunday night. Even a naysayer's time-worn suggestion that ``professial wrestling isn't real'' didn't dull his spirits.
``They are tremendous athletes and they put on a great show,'' Sharp said. ``It's everything you could want in a sporting event.''
As he spoke, Akira Hokuto, a female wrestler from Japan, climbed atop the uppermost cable of the ring and did a full flying back flip, crushing an opponent below who had left the ring.
The crowd roared.
Among the spectators was Flip Grusheksky, 34, of Seaford, who used a small set of binoculars to improve his view.
``This is her birthday party,'' Grusheksky said, pointing to his daughter, Lacey, 11.
She was thrilled to see her hero, Hulk Hogan, up close. And the screaming was fun, too. She couldn't yell that loud at home, she said, lest ``the windows break.''
Their voices were barely audible over the incessant chanting - laryngitis, no doubt, will be a common ailment in Hampton Roads today. But Grusheksky managed to call home to let his wife know ``where we are sitting so she could see us.''
Many adults had kids in tow. And, vice versa.
``She's a wrestling fanatic,'' Sam Morings, 37, of Suffolk said as his daughter Sheneka, 9, bounced on a seat like it was a trampoline. Seeing a match in person was ``a first for her,'' he said.
In her grip she held a foam ``number one'' hand emblazoned with the name of a wrestler, Sting.
While dad said he would have preferred to watch the fights at home on TV, Sheneka obviously preferred the arena.
``I get to see it live!'' she said. And no one told her to quiet down. MEMO: Anyone with a free-admission coupon who was turned away at Sunday's
wrestling event is asked to call the WCW at (404) 827-1679 or (404)
827-2066.
ILLUSTRATION: RICHARD L. DUNSTON
The Virginian-Pilot
This is what ``take a flying leap'' looks like, folks. A member of a
woman's tag team took to the air Sunday night during one of the many
matches that made up World Championship Wrestling's ``World War 3''
extravaganza at Scope. A turnaway crowd lustly cheered its favorite
heroes, heroines and villains and villainesses as millions watched
on TV.
by CNB