WHO'S READY TO SEE A MIDGET BLEED?

[markr]

I do agree that this midget wrestling goes too far. However, this issue of the Holloween attractions at KI pushing the envelope is nothing new and has been going on since the Holloween atractions started in the Paramount/CBS years. It seems to me if P & G had a problem with the Holloween attractions, they would have pulled their outings a long time ago unless they have had blinders on all these years.

[The Interpreter]

There is such a thing as:

* A new CEO, which P&G now has.

* The straw that broke the camel's back...as in midget wrestling.

* Adverse media attention, which happened to some extent last year. If this midget wrestling causes widespread brawling by patrons inside the park, and it may, that cannot be good.

Be advised P&G is known for closely policing the content of shows on which it advertises...it's only a matter of time until one or more of its employees brings this matter to corporate attention.

[markr]

Well, it doesn't appear to me that they have been policing KI closely. If they had been policing closely, you would think they would have raised heck over the Death Row attraction which I found to be very offensive. Just a thought.

[HTCO]

Sometimes I wonder what H.P. Lovecraft would say about all these slasher flicks. While I myself love some good gory haunted houses, In no way will I take part in "Half-Pint Brawlers". I think it is just unacceptable and borderline prejudice.

[Kirk Sheppard]

If this midget wrestling causes widespread brawling by patrons inside the park, and it may, that cannot be good.

Terpy, I have been helping to produce professional wrestling events (of the family friendly variety) for over 11 years. I can count on three fingers the number of times that anyone has ever even been asked to leave the building for behaving inappropriately or too aggressively. Now, I realize that the tone and attitude this particular brand presents is far more extreme than what we do, but I've been part of many wrestling shows in bars where alcohol is served and people mind their manners quite well. I think you are reacting to something you have little first hand knowledge of and are beginning to freak out unnecessarily.

That said, I doubt I will be in the Festhaus during Haunt as I don't care to see the business and sport I love presented in this way.

[The Interpreter]

I am not freaking out...I am hoping someone at the park, or in Sandusky, if need be, will wake up. How much experience do you have in seeing/supervising wrestling in an amusement park venue...without even the added blood for real factor trumpeted? I know much about the Kentucky Kingdom experience, and doubt seriously KI has ANY idea what it is buying into.

I hope and trust they are prepared for consequences that I doubt seriously they have predicted. Hopefully, I am a Nervous Nellie and it won't happen. But it could and may.

And that's just physical consequences...the long term damage to the park's image is a whole nother factor...

You see, I have seen what can happen to a park's image when something horrible happens, as it did with the unrelated Superman: Tower of Power incident at Kentucky Kingdom (without which, I submit, the Six Flags park would still be there today), or the haunted maze fire and resulting deaths at Great Adventure (which took that park many, many years to recover from).

[windshawne]

I think this is a little different than the good natured wrestling you are talking about. This is downright over the top. I guess we will find out what happens in a few short days.

[The Interpreter]

Or, perhaps, it is being way over-marketed and the Half Pint Brawlers are actually operating under strict KI guidelines about what is and is not acceptable in the park...in which case at least some fans will experience the same anticipointment that many coaster fans did after hearing one too many of Jeff Seibert's breathless overpromises about the next new greatest ever attraction to come to Paramount's Kings Island. I do pray this is the case.

[HTCO]

What also really bothers me about Half-Pint Brawlers, is they are treating it as their main attraction. Which, in my opinion, shouldn't be. Like Terpy said... image.

[windshawne]

Or, perhaps, it is being way over-marketed and the Half Pint Brawlers are actually operating under strict KI guidelines about what is and is not acceptable in the park...in which case at least some fans will experience the same anticipointment that many coaster fans did after hearing one too many of Jeff Seibert's breathless overpromises about the next new greatest ever attraction to come to Paramount's Kings Island. I do pray this is the case.

I'm not so sure. If it was being toned down, why would that graphic video be on the website? Even if it's fake, I don't enjoy seeing people hurt each other.

This sure is a different park than what it was when I left in 1986.

[Kirk Sheppard]

I am not freaking out...I am hoping someone at the park, or in Sandusky, if need be, will wake up. How much experience do you have in seeing/supervising wrestling in an amusement park venue...without even the added blood for real factor trumpeted? I know much about the Kentucky Kingdom experience, and doubt seriously KI has ANY idea what it is buying into.

I've produced and performed on shows at fairs, flea markets, high schools, seedy bars, casinos, and many other types of venues. I've seen Ian Rotten's IWA shows live, with barbed wire broken glass death matches. And for your information, all blood on wrestling shows is real. Many times, in cage matches, ladder matches, or other important matches I've seen wrestlers bleed live - and often times a lot more than they meant to. But it is ALWAYS real blood. Again, I've never seen or been part of a major incident with fans in 11 years - mostly because we know what we're doing and would be prepared to isolate and contain any potential incident before it began. And even those times have been extremely rare. It's not the venue that's the problem; and in fact, I'd tell you that if Kings Island would have purchased an event from the company I work with, people would have had a rocking good time and enjoyed cheering and booing and been impressed with the athleticism and story-telling. The problem in this case, if there is one, will be what the midgets are permitted to do. But even then, I'll be surprised if the crowd misbehaves because of what the midgets are doing in terms of violence.

I also am familiar with OVW's productions at KK and was not aware that there were any problems with them. Please fill me in re: what happened there? If I recall, they did them for several years until WWE no longer employed OVW as a developmental territory and thus limited the availability of "stars" for those cards.

[windshawne]

Real blood where people will be eating....gross.

[The Interpreter]

In order to contain potential problems, Six Flags nearly tripled security on the nights of those events. There were several incidents which the park rapidly contained, which could not have been done with the typical levels of security. More than that I am not going to say, but I do hope and trust Kings Island is prepared for what it may well be in for.

[bkroz]

^^ Yeah no kidding... I feel like if a performer of one of the regular-season shows in the Festhaus were to fall and have a cut on their arm or something, they'd quickly move back stage just so as to keep the bodily fluids well away from the guests. Now, we're going to have real blood, sweat, and tears? With sweaty people being thrown into things, their spit knocked right out of their mouth, blood in the ring that they'll be stepping through? My God, this is just horrendous on so many levels.

Halloween Haunt will not be getting a visit from me this season.

How unfortunate it is that this really will be a draw for many... But the "wrong kind of people"? In my opinion, yes. In Kings Island's opinion, perhaps there is no "wrong kind" of customer. Money is money, right? Hopefully, this will trigger a catalyst that will change that train of thought. I don't want to see Kings Island struggle in its image or financially, but if it takes a drop in group sales from churches, businesses, families, etc. to get rid of these ridiculous schemes to garner attention than let it happen now. I absolutely shudder to think how Halloween Haunt will attempt to push the boundaries next season, or five years from now, unless this is stopped.

[The Interpreter]

I had the same types of concern when people were waking tight ropes, jumping over Coca-Cola trucks, etc. Just imagine if, as thankfully did NOT happen, one of these performers had failed and fallen to their death in front of literally thousands of young children. '

Not just a tragedy in and of itself, though it would be, but hundreds and hundreds of psychically damaged kids, from an incident in a place that is supposed to fun and family friendly. Why do they take these risks? Does no one think of the possible, horrid consequences if things go terribly wrong?

[windshawne]

I wasn't living here during Black Sunday, but I am curious as to how long it took the park to recover from that day in the public's eye?

[The Interpreter]

Several years, and for the first year they did not sell alcohol. The park then conveniently blamed the decrease in attendance on the absence of alcohol as a choice in the park, an arguable position at best.

[windshawne]

Several years, and for the first year they did not sell alcohol. The park then conveniently blamed the decrease in attendance on the absence of alcohol as a choice in the park, an arguable position at best.

Yeah, I smell BS on that. I can't understand why they would potentially put themselves in that position again.

[bkroz]

And again I just have to ask, why was our event singled out to be the most trashy one? Kings Dominions, Carowinds, Great Americas, Wonderland's, and certainly all the Legacy Parks have Haunts more along the lines of Knott's. Not in a million years would you find "midget wrestling" at Kings Dominion (though its stereotypically closer to the region in which that sort of thing would be a draw). Imagine if a small, family park like Dorney Park or Valleyfair announced the addition of midget wrestling. How would the community react? Why is Kings Island considered "big" enough and "corporate" enough that what the local community deems offensive doesn't matter? Why does our event, more than ANY of the other eleven, have nudity, blood, rampant sexual themes, and now, white trash midget wrestling?

It just sucks.

As a fan of the park, I've almost grown tired of defending their ridiculous changes & policies. If I were an adult, I'm not sure I'd take my child to Kings Island at all, knowing that the money I spend is going towards funding these incredibly offensive things. The money I pay for my child's ticket and meal going towards a show so violent and grotesque, he can't see it? If you don't approve of an action that the park takes, you're supposed to limit it's future occurance by taking your business elsewhere until policies change. That's why Terp hasn't been to Knott's Berry Farm due to a very strange riding policy for those with eyeglasses. That's why many of us here will not be at Haunt this season. Maybe it'll be enough to cause change next year. Maybe not. But at least we're doing what we think is right.

[Kirk Sheppard]

Not in a million years would you find "midget wrestling" at Kings Dominion (though its stereotypically closer to the region in which that sort of thing would be a draw).

There are at least 6 if not 7 wrestling promotions in the Greater Cincinnati area. The one I am affiliated with has been around for nearly 15 years and is run by someone who was involved with the WWF in the 80s and 90s and thus knows what he's doing. Many of the others are run by people who aren't good enough to work in a promotion like ours but want to be a star so they run their own show with faulty equipment, poorly trained "talent," and no advertising or marketing. And its frustrating.

But my point is that there IS a draw for this sort of thing here and if you'd seen some of these other promotions and their audiences you'd understand. Kings Island is not THAT far from West Virginia and Kentucky, which has large amounts of Appalachian-rooted folks . . . many of whom would probably be labeled "white trash." All you have to do is go to the park on any weekend and you'll see it. I mean, I saw two grown adults walk over to the side of the Eiffel Tower and spit in tandem off the side with no restraint. We probably get what we deserve in terms of what element is typical of the park.

[markr]

Thanks for your 2 cents Kirk. If your company had promoted an event at KI, I probably would have checked it out as it looks like your company produces more light-hearted shows.

[Creed Bratton]

I honestly wish there was something we could do to stop this "attraction". I don't think KI is ready for what kind of trouble this could bring.

[KI-Datro]

I think I'm ready to see a midget bleed to be honest... You guys are making a big deal out of nothing. Get over it.

[The Interpreter]

You, sir, are in the target audience. Again, I merely hope the park is ready to deal with the situation it may well find itself in. Not everyone who shows up will be a well behaved 16 year old male...

[KI-Datro]

I'm sure they'll have security in there. If they don't, they're asking for trouble.

[bkroz]

I'm sure they'll have security in there. If they don't, they're asking for trouble.

Of course they will; that's not the question. The question is, why voluntarily bring an event to the park that requires extra security personnel?

The answer? Because they think that the numbers that this new show attracts will outweigh the cost. Whether that's true or not remains to be seen.

[The Interpreter]

And whether they have accurately assessed and figured in ALL the costs is another question, including damage to the park's reputation, possible vandalism, injury claims, etc.

[Oldiesmann]

Let's not forget increased insurance premiums once the insurance company realizes what's going on...

[RingMaster]

.....so.....how 'bout them werewolves? Can't wait to go through Wolf Pack!

[Dieseltech20]

^^ Neither can I.