Jerry Wiseman Looks at Ohio State Fair Wrestling

The Ohio State Fair has learned how quickly things can change in the world of professional wrestling. Wanting to showcase a pro wrestling show as part of the fair this year, the OSF contacted World Pro Wrestling based in Orlando, Florida and run by Jerry Grey to host the show on August 1. Advertising began almost immediately with Dan Severn to face Butterbean for some made up MMA title, The Honkytonk Man was to tackle Tommy Rich for another made up title and it was touted as the return of the Steiner Brothers who were going to wrestle for a made up tag team championship.

A few days after the initial announcement was made and the promotional machine started to churn, Scott Steiner allegedly spoke up and said that he had never been contacted by WPW and never agreed to do the show in August for WPW. WPW promoter Grey then contacted the OSF and said he misspoke and that he “thought” he could get the Steiner Brothers for the show and to stop using Scott Steiner’s name in any promotional materials.

Now, NWA Michigan is advertising that they will be running the show at the OSF in August instead of WPW and again, Scott Steiner’s name appears in NWA Michigan’s advertising as well as touting an NWA World Title match between Adam Pearce and the NWA National Heavyweight champion Phil Shatter.

There is no mention of the show on the NWA Michigan website as of this writing nor is there any information available on the OSF website other than there will be a pro wrestling show on August 1. As for Scott Steiner, he is in Puerto Rico at the moment and has not made any further comment about whether he will be in Ohio for this show.

Professional wrestling is making a comeback at county fairs in Ohio with WAR being part of the Auglaize County Fair again and SWI being part of the Shelby County Fair this year. With the instability and potential for fair promoters to be worked by wrestling promoters, especially since most fair shows are bought shows (a bought show is where the wrestling promoter is paid a fixed amount of money to bring in talent and run the show, it is basically prepaid), the mess with WPW, NWA Michigan and the OSF can have damaging results for legit promoters trying to run the county fairs.

I have contacted NWA Michigan as well as World Pro Wrestling and as of this writing have received no response to my inquiries about the OSF situation. Shark Boy, who is listed as appearing by NWA Michigan told me that he will be part of the show and that Steiner is indeed listed as appearing in the main event but he knows nothing more. I will keep everyone updated as warranted.

Update: I contacted the office of Bill Behrens, the President of the NWA and he informed me that he decided to take over the promotion of the show when the OSF canceled their deal with WPW promoter Jerry Grey. The press release from the NWA follows.

NWA WRESTLING AT THE OHIO STATE FAIR

Tickets go on sale at noon on Saturday, May 29, 2010 at all Ticketmaster locations and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Ringside seats are $15, and general admission seats are $10. Tickets purchased in advance include admission to the Ohio State Fair.

As always I am Jerry Wiseman…and then the bell rings.