Wrestling Memorabilia Exhibit - would you go?

[The Reverend]

Following on from a post about the recent sale of the 'red logo' IC title, it got me thinking. Would a temporary wrestling memorabilia exhibit work? 

I'm not sure why I've not thought of it before - I've actually worked on similar exhibits for Elvis x 2, Prince and Muhammad Ali (all at the O2), Stanley Kubrick (at the Design Museum), and The Rolling Stones (Saatchi Gallery). 

Most of these were from the estates / companies behind the individuals themselves (obviously Graceland - and the Stones have kept almost everything in their warehouses) but with Kubrick and Ali, some was leased from collectors. 

They all ran for about 6-12 months (Elvis I think was a bit longer IIRC) and all did well financially. Most did extremely well in Merchandise. 

My question is - if the WWE did a non-permanent exhibit of old artefacts, mixed in with newer items, plus interactive displays etc. (mainly to keep the youngsters happy) would you go? What would you like to see? There is a ton of items they have, and they wheel it out for WM weekend, an exhibit in the UK would be a fantastic publicity tool for them. For many of the other exhibits we had fans coming in from all over Europe to be there. 

And before anyone says about shipping - the Prince and Elvis items were all shipped from the US (2,000 plus) including 3 cars and a motorbike for the Elvis. 

So what do you think? Would you go - what would you want to see?

Edited Thursday at 12:13 PM by The Reverend

[Chris B]

3 minutes ago, The Reverend said:

Stanley Kubrick (at the Design Museum)

I went to this and thought it was fantastic. To whatever extent you were involved, well done - took my time and really enjoyed it.

[Cod Eye]

Despite being a wrestling fan for about 35 years, I really doubt I'd make a special journey to visit one of these(obviously if it was 30 mins away from home, that might be different, but chances are it would be in London, no doubt). I might plan a weekend away where I incorporate this along with a show, a night out etc, but not this on its own.

The big issue for me would be that knowing how WWE operate, it would either be a WWE exhibition, or a wrestling exhibition with out WWE. I'd want to go and see things from the Hackenschidt days, the US territory days, World of Sports era, Japan, Mexico as well as WWE and WCW. Basically I'd want to see a proper wrestling history exhibition. 

As much as I love 80's and 90's(and very early 2000's) WWE and WCW, Im not sure it would be enough to get my juices flowing.

[BomberPat]

I've contemplated for a while trying to write a "History Of Wrestling In 100 Objects" book, but usually give up on it because I expect too much of it ends up being this title belt, that trophy, a few different masks...

Again, my interest would be of broader wrestling history rather than purely a WWE exhibition. But WWE have so much stuff crammed in warehouses, and control so much of wrestling's history, that it would be almost impossible to pull it off without involving them.

[DavidB6937]

I'd definitely go. I'm an absolute sucker for stuff like that. I remember going to a Star Trek one when I was younger that had costumes etc and thought it was the best thing ever.

[Chili]

No, no way I'm dealing with any of the clientele.

[Merzbow]

I don't think I'd travel for it if it was a WWE event *but* if it was on while I'm in the area for something else I'd likely make a little time to check it out. I have the same problem as many, I'd want it to be a mix of companies and countries history in wrestling, not just the big corpo.

[SuperBacon]

Yeah, I dunno if I'd make the trip specifically for it, but if it was on and I was in the area then I'd definitely like to.

[HarmonicGenerator]

3 hours ago, BomberPat said:

I've contemplated for a while trying to write a "History Of Wrestling In 100 Objects" book, but usually give up on it because I expect too much of it ends up being this title belt, that trophy, a few different masks...

This is a fantastic idea all the same. I suppose it could sub-divide into categories - 10 masks, 10 belts, etc.

If it can’t be a book, it would make a cracking thread on here.

[Carbomb]

22 hours ago, Chris B said:

I went to this and thought it was fantastic. To whatever extent you were involved, well done - took my time and really enjoyed it.

Yeh, I went to this too. Kudos on the quality of it; it was truly engrossing.

[Carbomb]

21 hours ago, BomberPat said:

I've contemplated for a while trying to write a "History Of Wrestling In 100 Objects" book, but usually give up on it because I expect too much of it ends up being this title belt, that trophy, a few different masks...

 

Sorry for the double post wank.

Just off the top of my head, there are plenty of non-belt and non-mask objects you could discuss: Greg Valentine's Heartbreaker (in conjunction with Jimmy Garvin's Hammer Jammer), the Undertaker's urn, Mr. Fuji's salt bucket, the steel chair, the Wrestlemania mini-ring entrance trolleys, Bret Hart's sunglasses, Atsushi Onita's cigarette, the combo of the table, ladder and chair with relation to the Dudleys, Hardys, and E&C, the nWo's spray can, "Arrogance", Beefcake's face protector, etc...

[The Reverend]

31 minutes ago, Carbomb said:

Sorry for the double post wank.

Just off the top of my head, there are plenty of non-belt and non-mask objects you could discuss: Greg Valentine's Heartbreaker (in conjunction with Jimmy Garvin's Hammer Jammer), the Undertaker's urn, Mr. Fuji's salt bucket, the steel chair, the Wrestlemania mini-ring entrance trolleys, Bret Hart's sunglasses, Atsushi Onita's cigarette, the combo of the table, ladder and chair with relation to the Dudleys, Hardys, and E&C, the nWo's spray can, "Arrogance", Beefcake's face protector, etc...

Don't forget Hogan's War Bonnet / Fist Helmet

[The Reverend]

22 hours ago, Cod Eye said:

Despite being a wrestling fan for about 35 years, I really doubt I'd make a special journey to visit one of these(obviously if it was 30 mins away from home, that might be different, but chances are it would be in London, no doubt). I might plan a weekend away where I incorporate this along with a show, a night out etc, but not this on its own.

The big issue for me would be that knowing how WWE operate, it would either be a WWE exhibition, or a wrestling exhibition with out WWE. I'd want to go and see things from the Hackenschidt days, the US territory days, World of Sports era, Japan, Mexico as well as WWE and WCW. Basically I'd want to see a proper wrestling history exhibition. 

As much as I love 80's and 90's(and very early 2000's) WWE and WCW, Im not sure it would be enough to get my juices flowing.

That is the only problem. I know most of what they have is of the 70's onwards stuff, but I think the WWE do have quite a few older items too. The problem is, it would be near impossible to do it without them, but at the same time if they were involved I doubt they would want anything other than their re-telling of history.