Wrestlers come and go, but only a select few are immortal icons in the sports entertainment industry. And let me tell you something brother, even fewer superstars of that elite group can attract a massive audience who’ll gladly pay $200 to get a photo op with a legend. At the Chicago Sports Spectacular event, Hulkamania was running wild as Hulk Hogan–and longtime rival Ric Flair–drew in a crowd of pro wrestling fans who lined up for their opportunity.
Fans could get a picture with Hogan for $200, or one with him and Flair for $300. Sessions like these have become a big part of the convention industry, and it’s not uncommon for events to host brief meet-and-greets like this where fans can share a moment with their idols and take home proof of their interaction.
Toronto Comic-Con, for example, is offering a One Piece opportunity where you can take a photo with both Buggy the Clown’s anime dub voice actor Mike McFarland and his live-action counterpart Jeff Ward, from Netflix’s live-action adaptation, for $135. Chip in $75, and you could score a photo with Tom Cavanagh, the actor best known for being the arch-nemesis of the Flash and JD from Scrubs.
Hogan has been a big draw at events long after he hung up his wrestling boots, as he has been regarded as one of the most consistently popular wrestlers of all time. From the first Wrestlemania to his days as Hollywood Hogan in WCW, Hogan remained a bankable star and legacy attraction whenever he appeared on WWE programming. Flair has been everywhere the last couple of years, with his most recent wrestling stint being a tour of WWE competitor AEW, as part of Sting’s farewell tour. One person who fans won’t see at conventions ever again is Virgil, as the wrestling superstar passed away last month.
Meanwhile, the WWE is gearing up for its annual Wrestlemania event in April, while former WWE Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler will be making history when she participates in a brutal GCW show. As part of the excitement for Wrestlemania weekend, the annual WWE Hall of Fame will see new inductees like Bull Nakano, Paul Heyman, The US Express, Thunderbolt Patterson, and the late Muhammad Ali.
