Pro wrestling packs 4,000 into Convocation Center
DeKALB – As fans entered the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center on Saturday night for WWE’s Road to WrestleMania, the venue became more than a sports arena.
Photos by Katrina J.E. Milton – kmilton@shawmedia.com (Caption: WWE wrestler The Miz holds an NIU stool before an interview with Jeff Hardy during the WWE Road to WrestleMania event Saturday at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb.)
It became the portal where your favorite wrestlers from TV come to life in the ring in front of you, costumes glittering and muscles flexing in the bright white spotlight.
(Caption: WWE wrestler Jeff Hardy meets with fans Saturday during the WWE Road to WrestleMania event at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb. The Miz and Jeff Hardy defeated The Bar during a tag-team match.)
For 7-year-old Rylan Kaus of Sycamore, attending his first WWE event was the chance for his dreams to come true.
Kaus, who attended the event with his dad, Jason, and grandparents, Doug and Michelle Kaus of Aurora, was able to watch his favorite wrestler, AJ Styles (pictured), live.
The Kauses were among the 4,000 in attendance for WWE's first tour stop in DeKalb.
“Having wrestling superstars come to town is unique, especially since this is a first for DeKalb,” said Heather Priest, director of the Convocation Center. “We hope to bring WWE back at least once a year in the future. We want to keep up to date with what the community is interested in and keep bringing live entertainment to DeKalb.”
(Caption: WWE wrestler Lana celebrates after her husband, Rusev, wins a tag-team match with Shinsuke Nakamura against The New Day and The Usos.)
Some fans were dressed in T-shirts with a saying from their favorite wrestler, such as Rusev’s “Happy Rusev Day” or Styles’ “There Can Only Be 1.”
Other fans dressed as referees, and some, such as couple Matt and Amanda Sherman (pictured) of Milwaukee, brought replica championship belts with them.
“We’ve been to too many shows to count, and we’re here in DeKalb for the first time visiting family,” Matt Sherman said. “Wrestling is so much better live than on TV. It’s the entertainment, the excitement. You get to see your favorite wrestlers up close and in action.”
Stone Cold Steve Austin look-alike Ben Morris (right) of Rochelle attended the event with his wife, Mandy, and sons, Kaiden, 12, and Benjamin, 7. Attending the event together was a Christmas present, and the family wore matching WWE logo T-shirts.
“Everyone’s always telling me I look like Stone Cold Steve Austin – I get that a lot,” Ben Morris said. “But it’s OK because I’ve always loved wrestling. WWE is something we can watch together as a family. The boys wrestle on teams in school, but WWE is completely different.”
(Caption: WWE wrestler Asuka prepares to fight Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Live Women's Championship during the WWE Road to WrestleMania event Saturday at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb.)
Here's what you can expect the next time WWE rolls through town: Just as fans settle into their seats with popcorn, lemonade and cotton candy, a wrestler’s entrance song starts to play.
(Caption: Tatsu Aoki of Chicago cheers and holds a sign for WWE wrestler Asuka.)
The crowd gets to their feet and either cheers or boos collectively. Some fans wave signs and jump up and down, while others reach out a hand for a chance to touch their favorite star.
(Caption: WWE wrestler Randy Orton poses before fighting the main event match against AJ Styles during the WWE Road to WrestleMania event at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb.)
Then, as the opposing wrestler enters to his or her song, the crowd yells with excitement for the ensuing upcoming fight.
(Caption: WWE wrestler Tye Dillinger fights with Shelton Benjamin at the turnbuckle.)
With the first “ding ding ding” of the match bell, the crowd grows quiets. Every kick, slap and body slam can be heard throughout the arena. Spit and sweat fly through the air. Some wrestlers rip off their shirts and jewelry and toss them to the crowd as mementos. Jumps from the turnbuckle shake the entire ring, causing a rib-rattling quake throughout the arena.
(Caption: WWE wrestler Naomi celebrates winning a tag-team match with Carmella against Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville.)
Finally, after a long fight, a wrestler is pinned and the crowd counts, “1, 2, 3,” simultaneously with the referee to end the match.
(Caption: WWE wrestler Asuka fights with Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Live Women's Championship during the WWE Road to WrestleMania event at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb.)
There were eight matches on Saturday's card, including a match for the WWE U.S. Championship, with R-Truth defending his title against Andrade; the main event match, in which Styles beat Randy Orton; and the fight for SmackDown Live Women’s Championship between Asuka and Charlotte Flair – the daughter of wrestling legend "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.
The women’s championship match was interrupted and was ruled "no contest" because Becky Lynch stormed the ring and attacked both wrestlers with a crutch.
(Caption: WWE wrestler Jeff Hardy poses for a photo with 7-year-old Romeo Davidson of Aurora during the WWE Road to WrestleMania event Saturday at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb. The Miz and Jeff Hardy defeated The Bar during a tag-team match.)
Don Catlin of Portage, Indiana, attended the event with his 7-year-old son, Dominik, for a father-son night as a Christmas present.
“There are no chairs or ladders or tables, but it’s still very entertaining,” Catlin said. “We go to local wrestling events and try to make it to one or two live WWE shows a year. We have action figures, belts, T-shirts, video games. We watch wrestling every week, but the atmosphere and energy are always better live. For us, it’s not about who wins or loses, it’s about bonding and having a fun night out together.”