Along with actually going to live shows with my friends, I really miss meet and greets and autograph sessions. For WrestleMania this year (RIP those plans), I was slated to meet Charlotte Flair, Edge, Roman Reigns, and the Undisputed Era. When my friends and I had tentatively planned to travel to Money in the Bank, my hopes for meet and greets had temporarily risen. Alas, Money in the Bank was also moved to the Performance Center. And staring down a mostly-closed AEW Full Gear in November, I realize that this just wasn’t the year for me to physically get to any meet and greets.
But as many of us have had to do during this pandemic, wrestling promotions have adapted. To keep everyone as safe as possible, they’ve been doing virtual meet and greets; private video calls with the wrestlers. I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in three so far: Seth Rollins, Sasha Banks, and some local talent (that event also doubled as a fundraiser for Covid-19 relief in the area) so I thought I’d give a short review for any fans who might be thinking about trying a virtual meet and greet.
One of the pluses to the virtual meet and greet is the general convenience. There are no lines to stand in, no looking for parking, no weather to worry about, and no people that make you question whether they believe in soap. It’s just you and your device. I really enjoyed being able to just set my laptop up for my meet and greets. It was especially helpful as my anxiety and paranoia have been difficult to manage as of late.
A piggyback plus onto that is the fact that it’s just you and the wrestler. With traditional meet and greets, you’re usually in a crowded place with lots of other fans. Good for those with social anxiety or general nervousness, it also helps you formulate your thoughts before you say them. It also creates a more comfortable environment in which to say things that you might not want others to hear. Seth, who also remembered me from the 2019 Royal Rumble, was once again happy to hear how much he helped me with my depression.
The last plus is that you get to download your video from the meet and greet, much like you get your professional photo in traditional settings. This is a neat keepsake for both you as a fan and also as a reminder of this Pandemic Era that we are all living in currently. From my own experience, my videos have functioned as fantastic pick-me-ups from when I’m feeling down.
One of the negatives about the virtual meet and greets, particularly big promotion ones, is the price. It’s definitely an expense that you have to keep in mind, but most of us know our wrestling hobby isn’t always the cheapest. The prices are set at pretty much standard meet and greet charges, but some may feel that it’s a bit much for just a video chat. With how the economy is looking right now, I would encourage you to consider if this is a doable expense for you.
The other negative is the time. Technically the video chats are only supposed to be about 2-3 minutes long. That’s not very long, but it’s also still about the same time that you would get at a traditional meet and greet. Although from what I’ve heard, a lot of wrestlers have been adding time to their video chats with their fans. Both Seth and Sasha added a few minutes of time to our sessions.
In conclusion, I think that virtual meet and greets are a wonderful way to keep fans connected and interested as we continue to grapple with the pandemic. While it may not be for everybody, it is nevertheless an option and something to bring joy in these uncertain times.
