Thanks Adam Grindrod for sending this in:
As an avid UK-based reader of your website, I thought I would share with you my own experience of the TNA 'VIP Meet & Greet' package earlier this year in Manchester, England following your recent story (http://wrestlezone.preprod.vip.gnmedia.net/news/275551-report-major-paperwork-issues-cause-top-tna-talents-to-miss-this-weekends-live-event-refunds-issued)
All in all, I paid over £110 for my 2nd row ticket and the following 'Fan Interaction' experience (I use the term 'Fan Interaction' very loosely) – this is a message I sent to Dixie Carter via Facebook that I never received an acknowledgement or response to:
Dear Mrs Carter,
I recently attended the TNA TV taping in Manchester, England and paid the additional £35 to attend the "meet and greet" afternoon session, and I must say, I was very disappointed. What I thought was going to be a relaxed, un-rushed time to meet plenty of the roster, turned out to be exactly the opposite. Just 8 of the roster were on hand for the "meet & greet" and no disrespect to Tarryn Terrell, but having the Knockouts referee as one of the chosen 8 seemed rather weak to me. 7 of the 8 were ready on time but the session started 45 minutes late because we had to wait for Hulk Hogan. So because of TNA's failing to start it on time, we, the paying customers, were rushed through a line with barely no time at all to converse with the wrestlers and were bluntly informed by your rude security personnel that we could not take pictures WITH the wrestlers, just pictures OF them. Although I got a picture with Hulk Hogan, this was clearly against the wishes of the security person assigned to Mr. Hogan who, quite frankly, was one of the rudest people I have ever encountered (the security person, not Hulk. Mr. Hogan was actually very accommodating, as were Samoa Joe & Joseph Park). I also did not appreciate being rushed along even more to accommodate your annoying cameramen trying to film the wrestlers' comments, particularly one Kenny King who, after signing my programme (that he wasn't even included in) commented that he was trying to talk to the camera but couldn't because "this dude's in the way" – referring to me. In the way Mrs. Carter? Oh I'm sorry, is the fact that I paid £35 to attend this getting in the way of your precious interview segments that you could re-shoot as many times as you wish? It should also be noted that while I expect certain wrestlers to remain 'in-character' to an extent, Austin Aries was just rude. He clearly did not want to be there and made it very clear that the fans were beneath him. So what was supposed to be a "meet & greet" turned into nothing more than a brief opportunity to get a quick autograph. That Mrs. Carter, is NOT a meet & greet. For the first time in 2 years, I have not re-booked my event ticket for next year and very much doubt I will be attending. I will certainly not be attending the "meet & greet" and would not recommend it to anyone else who has expectations of getting more than a quick signature."
The constant clips from the UK tour that TNA shows on it's Impact broadcast on UK Television featuring fans talking about how much "TNA cares about its fans" really do make me laugh. I hope you print the above account as a cautionary tale for anyone willing to give TNA over £100 of their money – it's really not worth it.
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
