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Fans travel from across the state to meet the "Nature Boy"

Posted: May 4th 2009 By: mikeiles

SHELBY - His name is Ross Thomas. But Saturday night, decked out in a mask and cape straight from "Nacho Libre," the Raleigh resident went by the name of the Masked Groom.
Thomas was one of the many on hand for the Mid-Atlantic Wrestling card held at the Shelby City Park. But he wasn't part of the action. He and several friends who joined in making the drive were there to celebrate Thomas' upcoming nuptials by sitting ringside for a show headlined by an appearance of "the Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
Prior to the show hundreds stood in line for their chance to meet Flair, now retired, and such notable stars as Bobby Eaton, Ricky Morton, Buff Bagwell, and the Barbarian. Flair's son Reid joined his father and the other wrestlers by meeting fans before the show. Many questioned whether the younger Flair, originally scheduled for the main event, would be in attendance after being arrested earlier this week in Charlotte on a charge of heroin possession.
The show marked the first pro wrestling event at the city park since 2006. In the early to mid 1980s, mat action at the city park gym aired in syndication across the country.
Proceeds from Saturday's event are to go towards the city park as well as Shelby Police Department youth prevention programs.
Rikki Nelson, the event's promoter, smiled while taking a break from meeting fans before the show and said he hoped to see the already sizable crowd double in size by the time of the opening bell.
By 7 p.m., an hour before the show's scheduled start time, every parking spot outside the city park was taken. Some fans had to make spots for themselves in the grass while others parked as far away as the city park carousel.
Tony and Heather Feimster often make trips across the state to catch small wrestling shows featuring the stars that Tony grew up with. But the couple, from Denver, doesn't make the trips alone. Kendra and Kayla, their 14-month old twins, are always on hand.
Earlier this month, the couple and their daughters went to a show in Charlotte that saw appearances by Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat and Roddy Piper. Heather joked that Kendra and Kayla learned a few moves from the show. Their father said he hoped they would become die-hard fans like himself.
They said they didn't learn of the Shelby event until late in the week after hearing it mentioned on the radio. And, of course, they had to be there.
When asked who his favorite wrestler was, Tony didn't hesitate with a response.
"Ric Flair," he smiled.

Tags: Ric Flair, Bobby Eaton, Ricky Morton, Roddy Piper