Promoter Tony Hunter short-changes fans and wrestlers.
It sounded too good to be true. In many ways, as fans would find out, it was.
Carolina Championship Wrestling promoter Tony Hunter had advertised a “Night of Legends” professional wrestling event for April 8th at Franklin High School in Franklin, Pennsylvania. As the night would unfold, however, the wrestling show re-defined the phrase “card subject to change”, and a series of unfortunate events played out.
The website
www.carolinachampionshipwrestling.com advertised a host of former WWE and NWA talent appearing on the show. Dusty Rhodes was to take on Ivan Koloff in a Russian Chain match (although the T-shirts on sale that night depicted Dusty Rhodes vs. Greg Valentine in a bullrope match – but more on those T-shirts later). Valentine was instead to face Ronnie Garvin. Marcus Bagwell vs. David Flair was also on the card. An unidentified “woman’s match” was also billed, with local fans believing they were seeing former WWE star Ivory as indicated on other media advertisements for the show. Promotional posters in surrounding business advertised Nikolai Volkoff and Ivan Koloff in a tag team match against Virgil and Tony Atlas. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Jimmy “Boogie Woogie Man” Valiant and Demolition Ax were listed as “also appearing.
Hours before the event, fans who paid fifty dollars each for a seat and a chance to meet and eat dinner with wrestlers at a nearby restaurant waited patiently for their favorite stars to appear. One fan and her plethora of family had traveled from Indiana for the evening’s festivities. The meet and greet was scheduled to happen from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, giving fans plenty of time to get autographs and enjoy a satisfying meal before the night of classic wrestling competition. At 5:00, an hour later than scheduled, the first of several wrestlers arrived at the restaurant after checking into their hotels paid for by Tony Hunter (or so they thought – more on that later).
The first wrestlers to greet fans were led by Afa the Wild Samoan and his family members, son Samu and nephew “Rosey”, along with several superstars from Afa’s Pennsylvania-based World X-Treme Wrestling. While they were more than happy to oblige autograph seeking fans, they were unaware that this was a scheduled autograph signing. Instead, they were just expecting a complimentary meal courtesy of Tony Hunter and his seemingly endless generosity. Within the next hour, Nikolai Volkoff and Jimmy Valiant arrived at the restaurant for dinner, but where were Dusty Rhodes, Ivan Koloff, Ronnie Garvin, Marcus “Buff” Bagwell, David Flair, Ivory, and Virgil? Fans were getting a little restless, and even a little suspicious as most of the advertised talent wasn’t yet appearing.
Meanwhile, at Franklin High School, fans paced back and forth looking for the same superstars to be appearing at the autograph signing scheduled for the Middle School down a connecting corridor. They eagerly awaited seeing their favorite wrestlers that were advertised. When the matches started, it was announced that Dusty Rhodes was unable to attend the event, and a tape was played with him offering an apology. The main event was then changed to D-Von Dudley vs. Rosey, neither of whom were originally advertised. There was no mention of the whereabouts of the others, who were obviously not at the autograph signing or the $50 dinner.
When the event started, fans were treated to several matches of wrestling action. But by intermission, there was still no sign of David Flair, Buff Bagwell, Ivan Koloff, Ronnie Garvin, Ivory (said to be 45 minutes away), and interestingly no sign of promoter Tony Hunter! The intermission ran longer than expected, as event organizers at the school wondered of Hunter’s whereabouts. Fans became restless that they weren’t seeing any action, and weren’t seeing the advertised talent.
Backstage, rumors flew about Tony Hunter, who was accused of taking the money and running. With a total of seven of the advertised wrestlers not being there, and speculation that most of them had never been informed of the show in the first place, the future of the evening became as unclear as the location of the promoter with the money.
Some of the wrestlers became increasingly worried that they weren’t going to be paid for the event. With no locker room leadership in Hunter’s absence, the very future of the rest of the show became unclear. Would the show even go on? Should the show go on? And where was Tony Hunter with the money? Why did the price of T-shirts drop from $15 to two for the price of one, to eventually being sold for $3? Was this a last ditch attempt to drum up extra cash to pay the wrestlers who had not yet been compensated for their talents? Speculation ran rampant through the locker room. Hundreds of fans were left sitting in the stands waiting to see the rest of the wrestlers they expected.
At the urgency of Afa the Wild Samoan, the show went on under his longtime locker room experience and guidance. Makeshift matches were held, using some of his World X-Treme Wrestling talent, who were eager to put on a good show and give the fans their money’s worth. Thanks to Dirty Money, Phil Brown, Doc Daniels, Sugaa, Samu, Rosey and Supreme Lee Great, the fans were treated to more matches than they expected. Female wrestler Mercedes Martinez faced male wrestler Supreme Lee Great, a last minute substitute for Ivory who for all intents and purposes may never have been signed to appear. In the main event, D-Von Dudley defeated Rosey in a tables match, sending the fans home happy – confused but happy.
When the fans poured out of the gymnasium, most were unaware of what was transpiring backstage and outside of the building. Tony Hunter had still not returned and shown his face to the wrestlers at the show. Many remained, waiting for their pay. In addition, Snuka and others were promised rides to the Pittsburgh airport, but no one was there to meet the arranged arrangements. Wrestlers also became aware that their hotel reservations were made null and void by Tony Hunter’s credit card being declined. Many subsequent phone calls to Hunter were unanswered. Not only were wrestlers unpaid, but they were stranded! Wrestlers who had traveled great lengths and hours, some from as far as Connecticut and Virginia, now had to pay for the hotel rooms out of their own (and empty) pockets. At his own expense, Afa generously paid for five of the hotel rooms that were promised to them by Hunter, however.
D-Von Dudley was later seen outside of the school, confronting a man believed to be Hunter’s brother about the unpaid wrestlers. One source claims that Dudley managed to get some of the concession money out of him, but it was obviously not enough and nowhere near the promised paydays. The WXW talents that appeared, including family members Jimmy Snuka and Rosey, only received payment after money was obtained from the school sponsor that Tony Hunter had dealt with in arranging the show.
At the time this reporter left the area, many things had been unsettled between Hunter and the unpaid and stranded wrestlers. Consequently, I would be interested in hearing comments from the other wrestlers who were not paid, and from the ones who were advertised but not there.
In the weeks between now and then, Hunter allegedly promised to pay the money owed to the wrestlers. No financial compensation has reportedly been received at this time. The CCW website is now a blank page with no contact information whatsoever. Promoters, fans, and organizations wishing to host professional wrestling events should be warned of the name Tony Hunter and Carolina Championship Wrestling.
I would like to thank my dear friend Eric for letting us know about this. He was there first hand and all these events happened.
Thank goodness for Afa, who made a horrible situation for the fans, somewhat enjoyable.
KUDOS to AFA !!!........
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