WWF OFFERS SOMETHING FOR EVERY FAN; TYPICALLY LARGE CROWD AT SHOW ME CENTER EVENT

Wrestling fans from St. Louis who identified themselves as, from left, Shelly Desmond, Carre Takor and Norma Desmond dressed in wrestling garb for the World Wrestlng Federation match at the Show Me Center Wednesday night.

With boos and hisses or oohs and ahs, fans welcomed the World Wresting Federation to the Show Me Center Wednesday night.

They carried signs, they bought T-shirts, they debated whether Sable was really the hottest babe to ever grace the ringside.

And they packed the Show Me Center for a few hours of body slams, biceps and emoting.

Many of the fans were there to see "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the WWF's newest bad boy.

"We'll follow him around the world," said Beverly Johnson of Sikeston. She and her 10-year-old son, Andrew, were waiting in line to buy souvenir T-shirts. "We've been to Memphis, to St. Louis. You name it, we go," she said.

Andrew said he is a Degeneration X fan, but added Austin "rules."

Marvelous Mark Mero, with a little help from Sable, his bodacious sidekick, won the first match, slamming Tom Brandi to the canvas.

The fans cheered Sable; Mero drew boos and hisses.

Some fans came dressed to the nines.

A St. Louis woman, clad in leather, including a face mask, was there to see Mankind "and deliver these fan letters," she said. The woman, Shelly, and her sister, who identified herself as Norma Desmond, said they were reluctant to give their names.

"People here know us," Shelly said, adjusting the leather mask.

The sisters have been to Chicago and Kansas City to see wrestling.

There seems to be some debate as to whether professional wrestling is actually competitive or just well-muscled theatrics.

Johnson said she think it's genuine. "We think it's real," she said. "We go for it."

Kim and James Donahoo of Campbell said they watch WWF wresting every Monday night.

They were there to see Austin, one of the headliners on Wednesday night's card. Their homemade sign hailed Austin as "The Real Cape Fear."

James Donahoo said his favorite part is "not knowing what's going to happen."

The Donahoos think the matches are staged. "But we still watch it," Kim Donahoo said.

Evan Batteron, 15, of Cape Girardeau, calls himself "a diehard" WWF fan and an Austin fanatic.

"I tape it every Monday night and watch it repeatedly," he said.

If people think professional wrestling is fake, "let them get in the ring," Batterson said.

Mike Krantz of West Frankfort, Ill., brought his sons to see Austin.

The boys make it home on time every Monday night to watch WWF, Krantz said.

His son, Adam, 10, grinned when asked if he thought the matches were genuine.

"Half and half," he replied.

Johnny Ray Wyatt Jr. of Scott City was there to see Austin, too.

"He speaks his mind," Wyatt said.

The feudin' and fightin' and reconciliations of professional wrestling are what the fans want to see, Wyatt said.

"It's just like a soap opera, just like everybody else's `As the World Turns,'" he said.

Paula Pinkston and her daughter, Amanda, 17, drove down from Farmington to see Austin.

"It's one of those deals: You know it's staged, but you've got to admire their athleticism," Paula Pinkston said.

And, Amanda added, Austin "is cute, too."

Kathy Hamilton of Benton said she was there more for the biceps than the brawling. She's a big Shawn Michaels fan, "mainly 'cause he's cute," she said.

Shawn Colbert, 12, and his sister, Crystal, also of Benton, watch WWF every Monday night. They were there to see Austin.

"He's the best," Shawn said. "The best there ever was, the best there ever will be."

Wrestling has always been a big draw at the Show Me Center. More than 7,600 people bought tickets to see Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan when they were here. That was the second-biggest event in the Show Me Center's history. President Ronald Reagan drew a crowd of 7,700 in 1978.