Black Widow
06-20-2008, 03:59 PM
A promotion may have backfired and soured local fans’ interest in professional wrestling.
Sarah Fuhrmann, 25, of Keller and her husband Robert have been avid fans of World Wrestling Entertainment, tuning in several times a week to watch the company’s various televised events.
When WWE Chairman Vince McMahon announced that he would give away a million dollars every Monday on WWE Raw – televised weekly on the USA Network – the Fuhrmanns made sure to register daily.
Sarah would win a portion of the money, but instead of getting one of the $50,000 or $250,000 chunks being given out, she ended up with just $2.
Roller coaster call
Sarah, her husband, and daughter Katelynn were in front of the TV Monday, June 9 when McMahon gave away the first million.
They watched as the WWE head called fans on the phone and gave out the money in increments from $75,000 to $200,000.
Then their phone rang.
"I got that whole, heart-pounding feeling," Sarah Fuhrmann said. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh. Is this real? Is someone playing a prank on me?’"
It was real, but wasn’t short of a prank played by McMahon who isn’t afraid to let his abrasive wrestling persona show.
Before Sarah could think, the line was cut off and she sat there in disbelief, shocked that she was just on national television , and also won only $2.
Sarah, a scheduler at Spine Team Texas in Southlake, described it as a "roller coaster" – going from the jubilation of being a winner, to the disappointment of getting a sum that couldn’t even buy a gallon of gas.
McMahon then immediately made another call and awarded a man from Mississippi $200,000.
Robert, a professional wrestling fan since he was young, said they started to get calls and emails from people they knew, while internet message boards lit up with posts about the "$2 winner."
Quick trip to NYC
In an attempt to prove that professional wrestling isn’t without a heart, WWE invited the Fuhrmanns to New York City to take part in a press conference promoting the weekly giveaway.
WWE flew the family of three to New York for the two-day trip last Wednesday and at the press conference Sarah met wrestlers John Cena and Triple H, WWE Diva Maria, and McMahon.
"I kind of wanted to slap him," Sarah said. "Everyone there was really nice though."
She said Triple H was especially friendly and made friends with 2-year-old Katelynn, though the 2-year-old was a little frightened of Cena. Triple H also gave Sarah $3 more to increase her winnings to $5.
Sarah shared the stage with the WWE personalities and the June 9 big winner, Steven Rosenzweig of Mount Horeb, Wis. who won $250,000.
About 400 to 500 people were on hand for the event including media members and excited WWE fans.
"It was kind of crazy," Sarah Fuhrmann said.
Prior to the trip she said she was excited to be able to visit New York as she had never been there before.
However, the press conference took up most of the Fuhrmanns’ Thursday and Sarah said they weren’t able to see much else of the city spending just two days there.
Although she was happy for the opportunity, she said it still didn’t make up for getting the short end of the sweepstakes.
Frustrating experience
Sarah Fuhrmann didn’t get into professional wrestling until she met Robert four years ago. She had since become an ardent fan, the family tuning in regularly for various WWE events.
"It’s just entertaining," she said. "It’s fun to watch the fights and root for certain people."
While winning $2 was not the life-changing figure the Fuhrmanns were hoping for, it may have turned out to be life-changing in a way WWE wouldn’t prefer.
Sarah said her experience may have an effect on her future interest in pro wrestling.
"It was an experience," Fuhrmann said. "It kind of felt like one of broken promises though. I don’t know how much more we’re going to watch WWE events."
McMahon handed out another million dollars again on this past Monday night’s Raw, and again hung one fan out to dry.
While every other winner received sums of more than $50,000, Becky Carmon of Advance, N.C. took home just $16 in winnings.
kellercitizen.com
Sarah Fuhrmann, 25, of Keller and her husband Robert have been avid fans of World Wrestling Entertainment, tuning in several times a week to watch the company’s various televised events.
When WWE Chairman Vince McMahon announced that he would give away a million dollars every Monday on WWE Raw – televised weekly on the USA Network – the Fuhrmanns made sure to register daily.
Sarah would win a portion of the money, but instead of getting one of the $50,000 or $250,000 chunks being given out, she ended up with just $2.
Roller coaster call
Sarah, her husband, and daughter Katelynn were in front of the TV Monday, June 9 when McMahon gave away the first million.
They watched as the WWE head called fans on the phone and gave out the money in increments from $75,000 to $200,000.
Then their phone rang.
"I got that whole, heart-pounding feeling," Sarah Fuhrmann said. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh. Is this real? Is someone playing a prank on me?’"
It was real, but wasn’t short of a prank played by McMahon who isn’t afraid to let his abrasive wrestling persona show.
Before Sarah could think, the line was cut off and she sat there in disbelief, shocked that she was just on national television , and also won only $2.
Sarah, a scheduler at Spine Team Texas in Southlake, described it as a "roller coaster" – going from the jubilation of being a winner, to the disappointment of getting a sum that couldn’t even buy a gallon of gas.
McMahon then immediately made another call and awarded a man from Mississippi $200,000.
Robert, a professional wrestling fan since he was young, said they started to get calls and emails from people they knew, while internet message boards lit up with posts about the "$2 winner."
Quick trip to NYC
In an attempt to prove that professional wrestling isn’t without a heart, WWE invited the Fuhrmanns to New York City to take part in a press conference promoting the weekly giveaway.
WWE flew the family of three to New York for the two-day trip last Wednesday and at the press conference Sarah met wrestlers John Cena and Triple H, WWE Diva Maria, and McMahon.
"I kind of wanted to slap him," Sarah said. "Everyone there was really nice though."
She said Triple H was especially friendly and made friends with 2-year-old Katelynn, though the 2-year-old was a little frightened of Cena. Triple H also gave Sarah $3 more to increase her winnings to $5.
Sarah shared the stage with the WWE personalities and the June 9 big winner, Steven Rosenzweig of Mount Horeb, Wis. who won $250,000.
About 400 to 500 people were on hand for the event including media members and excited WWE fans.
"It was kind of crazy," Sarah Fuhrmann said.
Prior to the trip she said she was excited to be able to visit New York as she had never been there before.
However, the press conference took up most of the Fuhrmanns’ Thursday and Sarah said they weren’t able to see much else of the city spending just two days there.
Although she was happy for the opportunity, she said it still didn’t make up for getting the short end of the sweepstakes.
Frustrating experience
Sarah Fuhrmann didn’t get into professional wrestling until she met Robert four years ago. She had since become an ardent fan, the family tuning in regularly for various WWE events.
"It’s just entertaining," she said. "It’s fun to watch the fights and root for certain people."
While winning $2 was not the life-changing figure the Fuhrmanns were hoping for, it may have turned out to be life-changing in a way WWE wouldn’t prefer.
Sarah said her experience may have an effect on her future interest in pro wrestling.
"It was an experience," Fuhrmann said. "It kind of felt like one of broken promises though. I don’t know how much more we’re going to watch WWE events."
McMahon handed out another million dollars again on this past Monday night’s Raw, and again hung one fan out to dry.
While every other winner received sums of more than $50,000, Becky Carmon of Advance, N.C. took home just $16 in winnings.
kellercitizen.com