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The event, held on Saturday in New Port Richey's All Sports Arena was, by all signs, a disorganized mess that didn't even feature ring music or a bell to hold ten bell count in Savage's memory. The promoter, Dino Puglia, instead repeated "ding" into a ring mic during a moment of silence.
Even more maddening was, according to the piece, the following:
"It was billed as a fundraiser for All Children's Hospital and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital — without either hospital's approval. Puglia now says he didn't raise enough money to cut a check to either charity.
Of the eight star names used to promote the event, only half showed up. At least two — Poffo and the Honky Tonk Man, whose real name is Roy Wayne Farris — say they never agreed to attend."
Poffo was interviewed by the piece, commenting, "I've stopped answering (Puglia's) calls, and I don't want to have anything to do with him. I thought it would be a good thing for my brother's name, but I regret the outcome and would prefer to distance myself from the stench."
Honkytonk Man, never one to shy away from controversy, claimed he learned of the event the day before it was held and recorded a phone call where he ripped into the promoter for false advertising him. Puglia, the promoter, blamed those who put the event advertising together.
The only problem with that claim was that those who put the advertising together - former WWE star Big Vito and his longtime girlfriend and valet, Noelle, were doing so under Puglia's instructions based on artwork they received via email.
It should be noted that Vito was involved with organizing the event but pulled out prior to it being held after a falling out with Puglia over pay. Vito's version was that he went from being promised his quoted pay to being told he'd have to get paid off the gate like local independent talents would. Naturally, Puglia blamed Vito for the issues with false advertising.
That doesn't excuse wrestlers not being paid, which Puglia dismissed as stating that the event didn't raise enough money to cover costs, citing that everyone was being paid off of the live gate.
According to the Times piece, the charity the show was being advertised as helping, All Children's Hospital, didn't learn about the event until they were made aware of the advertisements for the event.
"Our people then got in touch with Puglia to inform him that he would need to fill out paperwork for the event," said All Children's media coordinator Anne Miller to The Times. "When we looked at it, we decided that we didn't want our logo used and that he would need to provide copies of various types of event insurance and licenses, but he never did that. He went ahead and did the event using our name without our consenting to the event."
According to the story, at no point did the event try to take donations for the hospital.
"I know Dino, and when he said he wanted to do the event, I said 'go ahead,' " Lanny Poffo said. "This was the first time he's ever asked me to work for him, and I can tell you this is the end of the relationship. He used my brother's name to promote an event and then he turns it into a disgrace. I'm sorry Randy's name was involved, but I know that it won't tarnish his legacy."
To read the complete piece, click here.
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