Former WWE stars set to meet fans at Wizard World Chicago
By Mike Pankow
August 19, 2019
(Editor’s note: This story was updated on August 21 with the announcement of wrestler panels)
Pro wrestling has always been an integral part of Wizard World and this no year is no exception as a host of former WWE Superstars are coming to Rosemont this weekend.
Freshly-minted WWE Hall of Famers The Honky Tonk Man and Torrie Wilson headline the group of wrestlers appearing at this edition of Wizard World Chicago at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center from Thursday through Sunday.
Lisa Marie Varon (formerly Victoria in WWE), right, poses with a fan at Warrior Wrestling 4 in March 2019. Varon will appear all four days at Wizard World Chicago in Rosemont this weekend. (Photo by Mike Pankow)
Lisa Marie Varon (formerly Victoria in WWE), current IMPACT Wrestling star Rob Van Dam, longtime WWE ring announcer Lilian Garcia and independent wrestler Katie Forbes round out the pro wrestling guest list.
Varon, who lived in Chicago for a few years while running the now-closed Squared Circle restaurant, will be appearing all four days. Wilson will appear Friday and Saturday while Honky Tonk Man, RVD, Garcia and Forbes will be there from Friday till Sunday.
All of the talent will be signing autographs and offering photo ops. Prices vary depending on the talent and some also allow photo ops at their booths.
Last year Wizard World Chicago had a blockbuster lineup, including Mick Foley, Kane, Christian, Tommy Dreamer, Billy Gunn, Road Warrior Animal, the Nasty Boys, Enzo Amore and Velvet Sky. In past years, John Cena, CM Punk, Batista, Bruno Sammartino, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose (aka Jon Moxley), Dolph Ziggler, Ricky Steamboat, Bray Wyatt, the Bella Twins, Charlotte Flair, Paige, Becky Lynch, Bayley, AJ Lee, Alexa Bliss and Lita were among the stars who visited.
Tommy Dreamer appeared at Wizard World Chicago 2018. (Photo by Mike Pankow)
There will be two panels featuring the wrestling talent. Van Dam and Honky Tonk Man will be part of a panel on Friday at 4 p.m. while Varon, Wilson, Garcia and Forbes will partake in a Women of Wrestling discussion on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Another wrestling panel that has been confirmed is Pro Wrestling 101 with WrestlingAudio.com’s Mo Lightning, a longtime wrestling fan and Wizard World panel moderator. The Panel will be Friday afternoon at 1:30. Mo will break down the upcoming boom of televised wrestling with All Elite Wrestling and WWE battling for attention and will also give away autographed memorabilia from your favorite wrestlers.
Also, members of Too Sweet Cosplay, a Chicago-area group of die-hard wrestling fanatics, will be hosting their photoshoot in the convention center lobby on Saturday at 1 p.m.
In addition to wrestling craziness, many other celebrities, artists and vendors will be at Wizard World Chicago. John Travolta, Jeff Goldblum, Zachary Levi, Melissa Joan Hart, George Wendt, Henry Winkler, Dean Cain and Thomas Ian Nicholas are among the big names in attendance.
For more information and for tickets, go to www.wizardworld.com.
