The Cost of Being A Wrestling Fan: November 2024

November became another expensive month in my fandom.

I have no regrets mind you, I just got a little carried away when it came to getting NWA Wonderaama and other cards signed at WrestleCade.  I didn't even buy any merch at either the AEW or New Japan shows that I went to.  Let's get to the breakdown.

I purchased 3 trading cards this month spending $8.21, an AEW Toni Storm and I did an eBay box break where I paid $6.85 for any and all Wendi Richter cards that came up in a WWE 2024 Panini box break.  I had never done that before, I got two cards out of it, it was fun to watch the live break.

I mailed off cards to get signed to Captains Corner and to a couple different people for WrestleCade spending $33.45 at the post office myself to ship them off.

At the Wrestling Classic for $80 my buddy Mikey got me 3 cards signed by Steve Lombardi under his names The Brooklyn Brawler, Abe "Knuckleball" Schwartz, and Kim Chee.  I was very excited to get that dual Kamala and Kim Chee card finished.  Nic with Captains Corner cut me a deal for $115 to get cards signed by Jimmy Valiant and Jim Ross from the NWA Wonderama set. 

WrestleCade this year was once again in Winston-Salem, NC and by good friend Brandon did me a huge solid and finished my grail card from the NWA Wonderama set as he got JJ Dillon to finish off that card. I will have a post soon about it so please check back with the blog to see that post.  He also got JJ to sing 4 other cards from the set and a program for my buddy Jay.  While he was there he also got Baby Doll to sign 2 cards for me.  I tried to get him a 3rd, one that Jim Ross signed she is on as well, but I didn't get it back in time, and with the Thanksgiving it didn't make it to him.  JJ & Baby Doll totaled $154.82.  As Brandon was only going to WrestleCade for me to get my cards signed, specifically JJ Dillon, I paid for his admission at $40.

Continuing at WrestleCade Highspots brought in Toni Storm and it was cheaper to do mail in with them than it was to get things signed in person.  After much deliberation I spent the $102.95 to get two cards signed, that included return shipping that was $12.95.  I had and AEW and Stardom card signed.  The completionist in me will be bothered that I didn't get a WWE card signed as well, but these two cards were more important to me to get signed, and frankly I will get over it.  

The final WrestleCade expenses was $110 to get 5 cards signed by Billie Starkz with $10 of that being the return postage.  I'm working on getting not just all of her cards, but them signed.  This lot is 4 AEW cards and 1 from the 2022 Wrestling Revolver Once Upon a Time in Iowa set.

I bought the AEW Daniel Garcia figure for $20 because I need a figure of my pal Dan, former Limitless Wrestling Champion.

I attended 3 wrestling shows in November, AEW in Manchester, NH on the 6th, NJPW in Lowell, MA on the 8th and NAWA in Fairfield, Maine on the 29th.  Tickets for the AEW and NJPW shows were purchased in September.  I spent $30 on two tickets to NAWA, and purchased a ticket for NXT in Lowell, MA on December 17th for $81.

I drove a total of 695.4 miles to my wrestling shows, spending at total of $159.52 on gas, tolls, parking, snacks, and meals going to these 3 shows.

At NAWA I bought a Tommy Dreamer Microbrawler in package for $5 and a sealed brand new Rise and Fall of ECW DVD Set for $3, that goes for $20 or better on eBay.  I own it so I'm going to resell it.

My streaming services ran me $29.24.  The final $8.75 was my portion of the AEW Full Gear PPV

I can't imagine December will be any bigger than November but I guess we shall see.  I have 3 planned shows in December, the aforementioned NXT event in Lowell, Limitless Wrestling on the 14th and on the 7th North Shore Pro Wrestling in Quebec City, Canada. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

Wrestling On Thanksgiving

I've never been to a wrestling show on Thanksgiving, I would like to.  Growing up pro wrestling on Thanksgiving night was common place starting with Starrcade 83 and then later with Survivor Series.  Before that even in the territories wrestling was huge business on Thanksgiving and Christmas nights.

Starrcade 1983 was the first Starrcade event promoted by Jim Crockett Promotions featuring the stars of the NWA.  That first card was STACKED featuring  the infamous Greg Valentine vs. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper Dog Collar Match, Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood taking the NWA World Tag Team Titles from The Brisco Brothers, and of course the Main Event with Ric Flair claiming his second NWA Worlds Championship from Harley Race.

Starrcade would be held on Thanksgiving night until 1987, airing on closed circuit from 1983 - 1986 and making it's Pay-Per-View debut with the 1987 edition.  They were forced to move Starrcade by the Pay-Per-View companies because of another Thanksgiving night tradition that started in 1987.

The WWF Survivor Series ran it's debut PPV event on Thanksgiving night in 1987 as direct competition to Starrcade 1987.  Vince McMahon used the leverage of the very popular WrestleMania III forcing PPV companies to choose between carrying Starrcade or Survivor Series. This lead to only a few providers carrying Starrcade.

This event featured only 4 matches all being 5 vs 5 elimination matches, or 5 teams vs 5 teams in the instance of the Tag Team match. This even featured the first televised confrontation between Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan since their WrestleMania III main event.

Survivor Series would be held on Thanksgiving Day through 1990, and then in 1991 was moved to Thanksgiving Eve, a night that would host the PPV through 1994.  In 1995 it was moved to Sunday evening.  

One of my all time favorite matches took place 29 years ago today, on Thanksgiving Night November 28, 1985 at Starrcade.  The "I Quit" Steel Cage Match between Tully Blanchard and Magnum TA for the NWA United States Championship. Tully NEVER said "I Quit".

I cannot find any other promotion that ran a PPV in the United States on Thanksgiving.  I'm not aware of any local show happening in Maine on Thanksgiving.   In modern times, the Worcester, Massachusetts based Wrestling Open has now run on Thanksgiving night the last 3 years.

Worcester is just too far to travel on Thanksgiving night for me, thankfully it is broadcast live on IWTV.  Someday I will make it a show on Thanksgiving night mostly to check box to do something that I have read about so extensively in wrestling.   

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

Wrestled In All 50 States: Tommy Dreamer

In this post we take a look of the debut matches Tommy Dreamer in every state, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.   I pulled the results from Cagematch so I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy that it's the first match in the State, but he hit all of them.

UPDATE: Mr. Dreamer messaged me he's wrestled in all the Canadian Provinces and 111 Countries! 

First State: New York 02/20/1991 for IWCCW

Last State: Alaska 04/09/2021 for WrestlePro

1991: 3

1992: 2

1993: 2

1994: 5

1995: 1

1997: 3

1998: 7

1999: 4

2000: 6

2001: 6

2002: 6

2003: 6

2006: 1

2018: 1

2021: 1

Alabama
10/15/1998 Anything Goes: John Kronus, New Jack, Spike Dudley & Tommy Dreamer defeat Jack Victory, Justin Credible, One Man Gang & Rod Price
ECW - Event at the Civic Center in Montgomery

Alaska

04/09/2021 Shane Douglas defeats Tommy Dreamer (7:28)

WrestlePro Alaska Northern Expansion Tour  at the Denali Harley-Davidson in Palmer

Arizona

01/06/2003 Tommy Dreamer defeats Aaron Aguilera

WWE Sunday Night Heat #232 - TV-Show at the America West Arena in Phoenix

Arkansas

01/13/2001 ECW World Tag Team Title: Danny Doring & Tommy Dreamer  defeated The FBI: Little Guido & Tony Mamaluke

ECW - Event at the Pine Bluff Convention Center in Pine Bluff

This was the last ECW Show, so odd to take place in Arkansas.

California

07/16/2000 Stairway To Hell: ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Justin Credible defeated Tommy Dreamer (12:20)

ECW Heat Wave 2000 - Pay Per View at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles

Colorado

08/23/2001 Justin Credible defeats Tommy Dreamer

WWF Sunday Night Heat #161 - Dark Match at the Pepsi Center in Denver

Connecticut

06/28/1992 Ray Odyssey wrestled Tommy Dreamer  to a Time Limit Draw

Century Toyota - Event in Wallingford

Delaware

03/26/1994 Chad Austin, Tommy Cairo & Tommy Dreamer defeat Rockin' Rebel, The Pitbull & The Sandman

ECW - Event at the William Henry Middle School in Dover

Florida

09/24/1994 Tommy Dreamer defeats The Sandman

ECW - Event at the GFCC Gym in Ocala

Georgia

05/03/1998 The Sandman & Tommy Dreamer defeated The Dudley Boyz: Buh Buh Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley

ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998 - Pay Per View at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta

Hawaii

01/02/2003 Lance Storm defeats Tommy Dreamer

WWE RAW House Show - House Show at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu

Idaho

10/04/2002 Test defeats Tommy Dreamer

WWE RAW House Show - House Show at the Bank Of America Center in Boise

Illinois

10/21/1995 The Public Enemy: Johnny Grunge & Rocco Rock and Tommy Dreamer defeated The Eliminators: John Kronus & Perry Saturn and Too Cold Scorpio

Lucha Libre AAA - Event at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago

Indiana

01/04/1998 Axl Rotten, Balls Mahoney & Tommy Dreamer defeated The FBI: Little Guido, Little Guido & Tommy Rich

ECW - Event at the Tyndall Armory in Indianapolis

Iowa

08/25/2001 The APA: Bradshaw & Faarooq defeated Mike Awesome & Tommy Dreamer

WWF House Show - House Show at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Des Moines

Kansas

03/25/2000 Death: Tommy Dreamer defeats Yoshihiro Tajiri

ECW - House Show at the Century II Convention Center in Witchita

Kentucky

01/20/1998 Rob Van Dam & Sabu defeated Mike Samples & Tommy Dreamer

Kentuckiana - Event in Louisville

Louisiana

09/03/1998 Sandman, Spike Dudley & Tommy Dreamer defeated The Dudleys: Big Dick Dudley, Buh Buh Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley

ECW - Event at the Riverfront Center in Alexandria

Maine

04/19/1991 The Georgia Guerillas: Georgia Guerilla #1 & Georgia Guerilla #2 defeated IWCCW Tag Team Champions: The Madison Brothers: GQ Madison & TD Madison to win the titles

IWCCW - Event in South China

Maryland

10/29/1992 Chris Candido defeats Tommy Dreamer

AWF/MEWF/WIN/WWA - Event in Glen Burnie

Massachusetts

10/23/1993 Tony Atlas defeats Tommy Dreamer

CWA - Event in Wakefield

Michigan

01/28/1994 The Tazmaniac defeats Tommy Dreamer

AAPW - Event at the Taylor

01/28/1994 Also competed in a 10 man Battle Royal won by Jim Neidhart

Minnesota

05/05/2000 Tommy Dreamer defeats Lance Storm

ECW - House Show at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in Duluth

Mississippi

10/07/2006 The Sandman & Tommy Dreamer defeat Matt Striker & Rene Dupree

WW-ECW House Show - House Show at the Forrest County Multi-Purpose Center in Hattiesburg

Missouri

04/16/2000 Extreme Bullrope: Dusty Rhodes, New Jack, The Sandman & Tommy Dreamer defeat Jack Victory, Rhino, Steve Corino & Yoshihiro Tajiri (14:49)

ECW on TNN #35 - TV-Show at the Family Arena in St. Charles

Montana

12/05/2003 Mark Henry defeats Tommy Dreamer

WWE RAW House Show - House Show at the Metrapark in Billings

Nebraska

10/23/2001 Russ McCullough defeats Tommy Dreamer

WWF Sunday Night Heat #169 - Dark Match at the Civic Center in Omaha

Nevada

08/17/2001 12 Man Tag: Albert, Billy Gunn, Scotty 2 Hotty, The Big Show & The Hollys: Crash & Hardcore Holly defeated Chuck Palumbo, Hugh Morrus, Mike Awesome, Sean O'Haire, Shawn Stasiak & Tommy Dreamer

WWF House Show - House Show at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas

New Hampshire

06/01/1991 The Billion Dollar Babies: GQ Stratus & Mike Samson defeated IWCCW Tag Team Champions: The Madison Brothers: GQ Madison & TD Madison to win the titles

IWCCW - Event at the Wolfeboro

New Jersey

10/03/1993 Gino Caruso & Tommy Dreamer defeat Flex Lavender & Johnny Rotten

IWCCW - Event at the Parsippany in Troy Hills, New Jersey

10/03/1993 LA Gore won a 15 Man Battle Royal 

New Mexico

06/14/2002 Raven defeats Tommy Dreamer

WWE RAW House Show - House Show at the The Pit in Albuquerque

New York

02/22/1991 TD Madison defeats Equalizer Zap by DQ

IWCCW TV Taping - Event at the Our Lady Of Guadalupe Youth Center in New York City

North Carolina

02/06/1999 Justin Credible defeats Tommy Dreamer

ECW - Event at the Academy Recreation Center in Concord

North Dakota

09/26/2003 Test defeats Tommy Dreamer

WWE RAW House Show - House Show at the Fargo Dome in Fargo

Ohio

05/22/1998 The Dudleys: Big Dick Dudley, Buh Buh Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley defeated Spike Dudley, The Sandman & Tommy Dreamer

ECW - Event at the Masonic Auditorium in Cleveland

Oklahoma

12/21/2002  If Raven Wins He'll Be Back On RAW: Raven defeats Tommy Dreamer (5:43)

WWE Sunday Night Heat #230 - TV-Show at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City

Oregon

11/24/2018 Tommy Dreamer defeats Derek Drexl by DQ

DEFY City Of Thorns - Event at the Hawthorne Theatre in Portland

Pennsylvania

03/06/1993 Tommy Dreamer defeats Peter Weeks

IWCCW TV Taping - Event in Hamburg

03/06/1993 Tommy Dreamer defeats Dr. Johnny Wildside

IWCCW TV Taping - Event in Hamburg

Rhode Island

01/20/2003 Singapore Cane: D-Lo Brown defeats Tommy Dreamer (3:26)

WWE RAW #504 - TV-Show at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence

South Carolina

06/12/1999 Tommy Dreamer defeats Steve Corino

ECW - Event at the Memorial Auditorium in Spartanburg

South Dakota

09/06/2002 Tommy Dreamer defeats Steven Richards

WWE RAW House Show - House Show at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls

Tennessee

06/14/1997 USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion: Jerry “The King” Lawler wrestled Tommy Dreamer to a No Contest

USWA - Event in Memphis

Texas

09/11/1997 ECW World Heavyweight Champion: Shane Douglas defeated Tommy Dreamer

Terry Funk Presents Wrestle Fest: 50 Years Of Funk - Event at the Tri-State Fairgrounds Maxor Pharmacies Coliseum in Amarillo

Utah

04/06/2002 Crash & Spike Dudley defeat Steven Richards & Tommy Dreamer

WWF RAW House Show - House Show at the E Center in Salt Lake City

Vermont

11/09/2003 Batista defeats Tommy Dreamer

WWE RAW House Show - House Show at the Memorial Auditorium in Burlington

Virginia

12/10/1999 ECW World Tag Team Champions: Raven & Tommy Dreamer defeated Jack Victory & Steve Corino

ECW - Event at the Siegel Center in Richmond

Washington

06/28/2001 Tommy Dreamer defeats Ladies Choice

ECCW - Event in Longview

Washington D.C

02/11/2000 Jack Victory, Rhino & Steve Corino vs. Pitbull #1, Sandman & Tommy Dreamer

ECW - House Show at the Nation Nightclub

West Virginia
05/25/1997Beulah McGillicutty & Tommy Dreamer defeat Francine & Shane Douglas
ECW - Event at the State College in West Liberty

Wisconsin

02/18/1999 Sandman & Tommy Dreamer defeat Jack Victory & Steve Corino

ECW - House Show in LaCrosse

Wyoming

09/14/2002 Tommy Dreamer defeats Steven Richards

WWE RAW House Show - House Show at the Events Center in Casper

Puerto Rico

02/21/1994 Tommy Dreamer defeats Hiroshi Hatanaka

IWA Puerto Rico TV Tapings - TV-Show in San Juan

02/21/1994 El Texano & Tommy Dreamer defeat Bull Pain & Hiroshi Hatanaka

IWA Puerto Rico TV Tapings - TV-Show in San Juan

02/21/1994 Lucifer & Tasmaniac defeat El Magnifico & Tommy Dreamer

IWA Puerto Rico TV Tapings - TV-Show in San Juan

I'm not sure who will be next, if you have suggestions let me know.

I pulled the images from the internet, credit to those who took them. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!