| 7/1/2008 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| REAL OR FAKE: Wrestling fan Dustin Christman had a photo taken with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. But, was that the real “Stone Cold” or someone pretending to be the famous wrestler? |
| | Clarification - July 1, 2008 | A story about "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in Saturday's paper needs clarification:
Supreme Championship Wrestling of Madison promoted the individual appearing in Madison as "The Texas Rattlesnake." The individual was never referred to by the SCW as "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
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Originally published June 28, 2008
Grappling with the Truth
Local wrestling fans were duped
By Beau Rand
Courier Staff Writer
Professional wrestling on television is scripted, but a real-life scam that hit wrestling fans in the Courierarea felt like an elbow to the gut and a slam to the mat.
One Madison wrestling fan said she had a suspicion that the "Stone Cold" Steve Austin she saw in person recently wasn't the wrestler she had watched beat up on his opponents on television.
Fliers in the area advertised that "Stone Cold" Steve Austin would be making a visit to Madison. However, the "Stone Cold" who appeared here recently is an impostor, according to The Associated Press, which reported that the man is being sought by police on identity theft and fraud charges.
Investigators are working with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), which currently possesses the rights to the name, " 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin."
Longtime wrestling fan and Madison resident Barb Scroggs had noticed a discrepancy in a photograph of the real Austin compared to one of the impostor.
"The real Stone Cold's ears are smaller than the fake's," she said, "His ears are also closer to the top of his head."
Scroggs also noticed a difference in the sizes of the men. She said that the fake Austin was smaller than the actual one.
The fake Austin was in a Wal-Mart in Greensburg recently where he was selling autographs for $10, according to the AP story. The store management became suspicious and called police.
"He claims Wal-Mart knew he was a look-alike. However, they had no material stating he was a look-alike nor did they say he was a look alike," the Associated Press quoted Greensburg Police Chief Brian Heaton saying. "People thought they were getting the real deal."
The fake Austin left the store with the money collected from the autographs, according to the AP.
Supreme Championship Wrestling, a local pro wrestling league in Madison had booked Austin for a July 5 event.
Co-promoter Shawn Sands of SCW said the wrestler he saw wore the "Stone Cold" trademark clothing with the official logos and name.
"He had us call him the 'Texas Rattlesnake'," Sands said, "We weren't allowed to call him 'Stone Cold.' We assumed that was because the WWE owns the rights to the 'Stone Cold' name."
The man, though, still marketed himself as the real deal. The advertisements for his appearance did not state that he was an impersonator. Sands said he had requested proof previously to make sure the man was the real Austin.
"He sent me pictures of him wrestling some well-known WWE wrestlers," he said, "It looked exactly like him. The only thing I noticed was that his voice didn't sound similar."
Sands said the impostor will not be at the July 5 show.
The impostor is still at large with an undetermined about of money, according to the AP. Refunds were made to some customers, according to Wal-Mart company spokesman Phillip Keene.
The Associated Press quoted Keene saying: "We don't approve of our customers being solicited in our stores."
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Reader Comments
Posted: Sunday, June 29, 2008
Article comment by:
Clarence
How could anyone not tell that that guy was not the real Stone Cold Steve Austin? He looks nothing like him. LOL
Posted: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Article comment by:
Christa
It is a pretty mean thing to do to people. However, it really does not look that much like him. Other than the bald head.
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