Going through old issues of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter and posting highlights in my own words. For anyone interested, I highly recommend signing up for the actual site at f4wonline and checking out the full archives.
PREVIOUS YEARS ARCHIVE:
1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000

1-1-2001	1-8-2001	1-15-2001	1-22-2001
1-29-2001	2-5-2001	2-12-2001	2-19-2001
2-26-2001	3-5-2001	3-12-2001	3-19-2001
3-26-2001	4-2-2001	4-9-2001	4-16-2001
4-23-2001	4-30-2001	5-7-2001	5-14-2001
5-21-2001	5-28-2001	6-4-2001	6-11-2001
6-18-2001	6-25-2001	7-2-2001	7-9-2001
7-16-2001	7-23-2001

PROGRAMMING NOTE: There will be no Observer Rewind on Friday, because I expect to be recovering from a July 4th, 'Merica-induced hangover. Presuming I still have fingers left, we'll pick back up Monday.

• The Invasion PPV is in the books and appears to have been a major success. As a show, it was nothing special. One great match, a good main event, and everything else was the usual decent, average, bad, forgettable undercard. Early signs are that this show probably did big numbers on PPV (yeah, that's putting it mildly). It ended with Austin turning heel again, after seemingly turning babyface just a week or two ago, and defecting to the WCW/ECW side. Dave talks about how Austin's brief face-turn seemed to reignite business. Raw ratings were the highest they'd been in 3 months, ticket sales for Invasion saw a major boost following the Raw angle with him, etc. Austin's heel turn at Wrestlemania led to an almost instant downturn in TV ratings and attendance so Dave seems kinda befuddled why they decided to do it again at Invasion, considering last week's babyface turn showed instant signs of improving business. Austin also worked the PPV with 3 broken bones in his back and 2 broken bones in his hand (suffered at King of the Ring). He has breaks in the L-2, L-3, and L-4 vertebraes in his back, but he gutted out the match anyway. Chris Jericho worked the show with a hyper-extended elbow and Kurt Angle has whiplash and a black eye.

WATCH: Steve Austin turns on WWF and joins the Alliance

• They were literally still constructing the stage during the show. During the Heat pre-show match, you could see crew members sawing plywood and hammering stuff to form the left side of the "V" ramp. Chavo Guerrero had to come down the "WWF" side of the ramp because the WCW/ECW side wasn't finished yet. WWF usually books an arena 2 days in advance to do all the setup necessary, but a WNBA game was booked the night before and it went long (due to an N'Sync album release party after the game) and the WWF crew wasn't able to get into the arena and start constructing stuff until the morning of the show.
  
• Other notes from the PPV: Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy stole the show, with RVD winning the hardcore title from Jeff. Dave gives it 4 stars. Speaking of titles, if they aren't going to run 2 separate companies, they desperately need to get rid of some of the belts because with all the WCW titles, it has practically doubled the number of champions. X-Pac was booed even though he was a WWF guy and they're supposed to be the babyfaces. And of course, it ended with the Austin turn with him joining the Alliance.
  
• WWF has reached a temporary agreement with the bankruptcy court to be allowed to use the "ECW" name through the end of July. The trustee argued that the ECW intellectual property is owned by the ECW estate they are managing and WWF had been using it without authorization and the court had received complaints from several creditors that ECW owes money too. A couple weeks ago, WWF offered the court $150,000 to buy the ECW trademarks and tape library and were turned down. WWF upped its offer this week to $250,000. In response, the trustee agreed to allow WWF to use the name for now while they figure this out. WWF appears to be the only party interested in purchasing the ECW name and library so it's likely they will make a deal. There's a lot more to this but it's all boring legalese about trademark law and shit like that. Besides, we have a follow up story on this later in this issue....
  
• Last week, Dave had a pretty big obituary for Terry Gordy, but he mentioned that he wasn't able to write a full one by press time. And this week, whew. He's got an exhaustively long obit. But he has more news on it. Gordy died of a heart attack caused by a blood clot in his home. He lived his Freebird gimmick and was a wild partier during his younger days and would get wildly out of control. Dave has stories in here from Michael Hayes and Ted Dibiase about some of Gordy's wild ways. He also tells a story of the Freebirds pissing on somebody and then adds "literally, as the Freebirds in that era were known for giving people they liked--and sometimes didn't like as well--golden showers." Like it was some sort of initiation thing I guess. Well okay then. He also recaps a story about the Freebirds debuting in Memphis and in their very first match on live TV, Michael Hayes shit his pants and had to go backstage during the commercial break to change. There's actually a lot of really funny stories in this obit. But of course, the partying got to be too much and shortly after winning the Triple Crown title in AJPW, Gordy collapsed at a Roppongi night club in Japan from an overdose and his heart stopped beating. He was revived and survived but Giant Baba stripped him of the title and nearly fired him. He managed to keep his job but Baba never fully trusted him again and never again pushed him to the top of the company. In 1993, at the absolute peak of his career (he was making $10,000 a week in Japan and $200,000 a year from WCW), he overdosed again on a flight to Japan and once again fell into a coma. Again, his heart stopped and he had to be revived with CPR. He spent 5 days in a coma and suffered severe brain damage. When he awoke, he was never the same. He had to relearn how to talk, how to walk, and eventually, how to wrestle. He tried to make a comeback, working small indies here and there and even brief runs in ECW and WWF, but the overdose had destroyed his in-ring ability. Despite his success and all the money he made in his career, Gordy died with very little money in the bank and no life insurance. They played "Freebird" at his funeral. Michael Hayes is coming out of retirement next month to take Gordy's place at an indie show that he was booked for before he died. Just 6 days before he passed, Gordy was backstage at the Smackdown tapings and was said to be mentally more clearheaded than anyone had seen him in years and seemed mostly like his old self.
  
• NJPW had their latest Sapporo Dome show and Dave is perplexed by the booking of this company. The show was booked around the idea of NJPW wrestlers facing a bunch of outside wrestlers and MMA fighters, and the NJPW side lost almost all of the matches. Yuji Nagata lost to PRIDE champion Mark Coleman. Former RINGS fighter Masayuki Naruse won the IWGP Jr. title from Minoru Tanaka. Another PRIDE fighrer, Gary Goodridge, beat Manabu Nakanishi, and so on and so forth. The whole thing just made NJPW look weak and this has been going on for months now, with the NJPW guys never getting their wins back and MMA stars basically running roughshod over the company (yeah, we've reached peak Inokism now. This shit damn near killed the company in the early 2000s).
  
• The trustee in the ECW bankruptcy case has hired lawyers to facilitate the sale of the ECW estate to the WWF. Right now, the lawyers have to untangle some stuff, particularly the fact that video game company Acclaim is still making a stink about the fact that they own 15% of ECW and that they should have the rights to it all since Heyman has folded it. But long story short, the lawyers are pretty much just trying to untangle all the legal red tape so that WWF can swoop in and buy it up when they're finished. Heyman's team is still gathering all the records they can and Heyman has to appear before the trustee next week. Heyman himself filed for personal bankruptcy last week, which most people expected. Heyman claimed to have around $2.8 million in personal debt from the filing and is owed $128,000 in back pay for himself (turns out the wrestlers weren't the only ones not getting paid. He wasn't paying himself either). In his filing, Heyman listed the WWF as his current employer, as a television writer, at a salary of $4,000 per month.
  
• NOAH star Kenta Kobayashi has returned from his recent injury and they finally gave him a new name! Since his real name is so similar to one of Japan's biggest stars, he is now going by simply KENTA (and in 6 days, he's going to start kicking heads off in the 2019 G-1).
  
• Bam Bam Bigelow will return to NJPW for the first time since 1992 to work the next tour. He'll be part of the G-1 World tournament, which is basically like the G-1 Climax, but for foreign wrestlers (I can't find any actual details on this tournament so I had to research it by looking up show results. Turns out Bigelow isn't in it after all. Don Frye ends up winning the whole tournament. Scott Norton, Scott Hall, Super J, Giant Silva, and others were also in it).
  
• The elections for the Japanese Diet (their version of Congress basically) will be taking place this week and if you recall, Atsushi Onita is running. Polls indicate that Onita is likely to win, due to his name recognition and certainly not because of his political acumen. Satoru Sayama (the original Tiger Mask) is also running for office but he doesn't have the same mainstream name value and his chances aren't looking as good. But for what it's worth, Sayama has been traveling around his district, with the Tiger Mask on, campaigning for votes. Dave says it's hard enough to trust politicians when you can see their face but he'd never trust one wearing a mask. After all, a vote for La Parka could end up being a vote for DDP!
  
• There's a shoot-fighting show happening in Japan soon, and it's notable because Dos Caras Jr. will be fighting a guy named Kengo Watanabe. Caras Jr. was a top tier amateur wrestler in Mexico and hoped to compete in the 2000 Olympics but it didn't happen. Dave doesn't know if he'll be wearing the mask or not, but if he does, he'll be the first person Dave knows off to compete in an MMA fight while wearing a mask (that would be Alberto Del Rio, and yes he wears the mask. Spoiler: Del Rio wins this fight when Kengo suffers a GNARLY broken arm less than a minute in. They have a rematch in 2002 and Kengo chokes him out to avenge the loss).
  

WATCH: Alberto Del Rio vs. Kengo Watanabe - 2001 shoot fight

• Remember the Atlanta Gold Club strip club that is on trial for a bunch of racketeering charges and alleged connections to the mob? Well, a former dancer named Jana Pelnis testified this week that she performed sexual favors for Eric Bischoff's wife after the couple came to the club and took her to a nearby hotel. Pelnis testified that Bischoff's wife slipped her $200 before they got to the hotel and that the club owner gave her another $800 when she returned. Pelnis also admitted to performing sexual favors for other athletes, such as NBA players Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo. Eric Bischoff was called to testify the next day and he admitted the story, but also claimed to have been very drunk and said the night in question was a blur. Bischoff said he didn't recall having intercourse with Pelis and said he only recalled his wife and the dancer performing sexual acts on each other while he watched. Bischoff claimed it was a spontaneous thing, not prostitution, and that he later gave her another $100 after dropping her off because he wasn't sure if she had been tipped for lap dances she had done earlier that night at the club. Oh Eric, you scoundrel.
  
• We have another case of a child being killed while doing wrestling moves. A 9-year-old boy in NC died after he suffered a broken neck when his 16-year-old mentally handicapped step-brother tried to perform some kind of wrestling move on him. The case immediately got national headlines and was compared to the Lionel Tate case that has been central to the WWF's lawsuit against the PTC. On MSNBC this week, they had a segment debating wrestling's influence on children and WWF Corporate Relations VP Gary Davis appeared on the show to defend wrestling and talked about how kids always imitate what they see on TV, argues that it's the parents' responsibility to monitor what their kids do, etc. Just the usual stuff.
  
• Hulk Hogan says his plans to start a new promotion are on hold for now, saying the major TV networks aren't interested in wrestling right now. Some of the names that have been attached to Hogan's idea were Jimmy Hart, Sting, Bret Hart, Roddy Piper, Kevin Sullivan, Sable, and Chyna. Some of them aren't legally able to do anything until their WCW deals expire and others (like Bret Hart), Dave doesn't believe for a second were even considering it. But either way, not happening for now.
  
• Sandman went on a radio show and said he's going to be starting full-time with a new promotion in Evansville, IN. He said the promotion will also have Curt Hennig, Sabu, Public Enemy, and a whole bunch of other former ECW stars. They already have their first show scheduled for the ECW Arena in Philadelphia and a few cities in between (that would be a company called Main Event Championship Wrestling. That first show had all the big ECW names on it, plus Buff Bagwell, Chris Harris, Mike Rotunda, and more. And far as I can tell, they never ran another show after that).
  
• At another indie show this week, a bunch of ICP fans were heckling all the wrestlers. Steve Corino worked the main event and got into a confrontation with one of the fans and it got physical. Corino ended up having to be pulled off the fan by a bunch of other wrestlers. Corino out here beating up juggalos, you hate to see it. (Here's an article I found on Deadspin where someone who was there writes in and tells the story of what happened).
  

READ: Deadspin Wrestler Run-Ins: Steve Corino beats up a juggalo

• The state of Nevada unanimously agreed to sanction MMA as a sport and confirmed that UFC 33 will take place at the Mandalay Bay Casino (fun fact: this show sucked and to this day, Dana White still calls UFC 33 the worst show they've ever done). Anyway, now that UFC PPVs are available on cable providers again, UFC is likely going to be the closest thing to competition WWF will have anytime soon. Dana White played down the idea of competing with pro wrestling, saying they compete with boxing. But he said if UFC gets a TV deal, he believes they could give WWF a run for their money.
  
• On Sunday Night Heat this week, Bob Holly pinned Mike Awesome clean. Dave thinks that's a pretty dumb decision and that none of the Alliance guys should be losing yet, especially to undercard guys, but apparently some WWF wrestlers (Undertaker specifically) that have worked with Awesome haven't been impressed with him as a worker and, well, here's the result.
  
• Dave finally read The Star tabloid interview with Chyna, where she talked about her reasons for leaving WWF and the Triple H/Stephanie affair. In regards to the affair, she said she was suspicious that Triple H (her boyfriend at the time) was cheating on her with Stephanie and said they admitted it when she confronted them. Chyna said she was heartbroken and had hoped to marry Triple H some day. But despite all that, she says it was unrelated to her leaving WWF, saying she left because they couldn't agree on money terms in her recent contract negotiations.
  
• Chyna did another interview on a Boston radio station and said she was scared and excited to try her luck in the entertainment world without being "Chyna." She also said she was surprised when WWF pulled out of their contract negotiations. She blamed the death of WCW and Vince having a monopoly as the reason she didn't get the money she was looking for. Dave says Chyna was asking to no longer work house shows so she could be off during the weeks to pursue acting roles, while still making top star WWF money, and they weren't going for that. Plus, ya know, the other stuff....
  
• Chris Benoit will be using the song "Whatever" by Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace as his entrance music whenever he eventually returns.
  
• Kane filmed a Chef Boyardee commercial last week, along with the one the Dudleyz filmed. (I can't find the Dudleyz commercial, but here's the Kane one).
  

WATCH: Kane's Chef Boyardee commercial

• Jim Ross did a conference call or something recently and talked about a lot of things. He said ECW didn't have the same number of fans WCW had, but said that WCW had eroded its fanbase so much by the end and said the ECW fans were much more vocal and passionate about the product. Said that Sting is 42-years-old and wants to stay home with his family and said he likely wouldn't be coming to WWF. Admitted that they were interested in bringing in Ric Flair and Goldberg, but it doesn't make economic sense for either side right now, since they still have those WCW contracts. Said a lot of the undercard WCW wrestlers they have under contract will be sent to the developmental companies like OVW or HWA so they don't get rusty and can improve some more. Said the long term goal is still for WWF and WCW to run as 2 separate companies, each with their own prime time weekly show, but there's no word on when that will happen. Said they haven't given any thought about what to do with the women's title now that Chyna is gone from the company and she was the champ, but Ross assumed they'll probably do a tournament for it eventually. Said he expects Jerry Lawler to return sooner or later, but he's dealing with some personal issues right now (yeah, Stacy had just left him at this point). Ross admitted that the locker room situation has been tense and uncomfortable lately, with the WCW guys trying to acclimate to the WWF way of doing things but said that aside from all the Buff Bagwell drama, there's been no serious issues.
  
• Speaking of locker room tensions, there's a lot of concern about job security among all the lower and midcard guys. With so much new talent lately and no other place in the U.S. to make a real living as a wrestler, a lot of guys are worried about not being used. If you're off TV, it's "out of sight, out of mind" and so a lot of wrestlers are hiding serious injuries so they don't get taken off TV and forgotten about. Also, because of the pressure to look good and stand out from the pack, sources tell Dave steroid use is making a big comeback lately.
  
• In a WWF.com column, Jim Ross wrote some veiled comments about people in the company leaking information to the internet and how those sources have hidden agendas and are liars and blah blah. (*laughs in Meltzer*) Dave says this is in reference to recent internet reports that WWF is planning to release a bunch of wrestlers soon. Dave says the stories aren't entirely true, but they're not entirely false either, as there are a lot of names who are on the chopping block right now due to the fact that there's just too many guys and not enough spots, so he expects to see some people gone soon. Dave also says there's major heat on some people in the office right now for these stories leaking out, but no names mentioned.
  
• Triple H has been backstage at the TV tapings for the last few weeks, helping with the booking of the shows. He was told by doctors that all this extra travel was putting him behind schedule on his rehab time and to stop flying out to every TV taping if he wants to make a full recovery. Triple H has decided to listen to the doctors and won't be going to the shows as much.
  
• There was some minor heat on RVD at the Invasion PPV because his airbrushed tights had a skull on it, and that's Austin's gimmick. Goddamn, this petty high school nonsense, I swear......anyway, there was a mixed reaction to RVD's match backstage. Obviously, RVD and Jeff Hardy stole the show and a lot of people loved it, but others criticized it, saying it was only good because RVD had the "right" opponent and wouldn't be able to have that kind of match with anyone else.
  
• The storyline on TV last week with Kurt Angle hugging Vince was an inside joke on DDP. Apparently, when DDP first signed his WWF deal, Vince went to shake his hand and DDP grabbed him and hugged him instead, like they were longtime friends. Apparently they found it funny and decided to parody it with Angle on TV.
  

WEDNESDAY: WWF financial details revealed, more on WCW purchase price, Vince Russo planning to be involved in new Australian promotion, Atsushi Onita elected to government position, Acclaim wants ECW, and more...

If you’ve been a Juggalo for long, you’ve probably heard of or seen a 20+ minute documentary called “American Juggalo”. If not, documentarian Sean Dunne released it back in 2011 and it’s received MILLIONS of views.
An author named Sean Pollock reached out to me a few weeks ago telling me that he had recently completed a play based off of the American Juggalo documentary, as well as his personal experiences at both the Gathering of the Juggalos and some local ICP shows. He has spent the past 3 years of his life putting this play together, and it debuts next week at the New Ohio Theatre in New York City!
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For any ‘los and ‘lettes in the tristate/New York City area, there’s a new play based off the documentary American Juggalo by Sean Dunne by playwright Sean Pollock directed by Drew Weinstein. Here’s the plot synopsis:
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“As a night at The Gathering of the Juggalos unfolds, a group of hardcore Insane Clown Posse (ICP) fans begin to question what being a Juggalo is really about and if their shared love of ICP is strong enough for them to create a chosen family that will stand the test of time.”
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The play will be staged at The New Ohio Theatre in a staged workshop (meaning unfinished, but still staged) on February 5th and February 6th at 7:30.
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He would LOVE it if some Juggalos would come out to his production and let the world know what you think! If you’re in or around NYC and can make it to the debut of American Juggalo on Tuesday, February 5th or Wednesday, February 6th, go ahead and mark your calendars! Tickets are $12.00 each and you can get them at the links below.
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Feb 5: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10364978
Feb 6: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10364981
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To find out more, or RSVP, go to the official Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/337094006883785
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Websites:
American Juggalo Play @ Facebook
AmericanJuggalo.com
While the documentary received mixed reactions from Juggalos, it definitely got people talking. You can see it for yourself here (NSFW):
written by: Scottie D from Faygoluvers
Janaury 29th, 2019
(https://faygoluvers.net/v5/2019/01/american-juggalo-play-debuting-in-new-york-city-details-and-ticket-links-inside/)

• General Information: Below you will find all of the important information for this year’s 20th annual Gathering of the Juggalos (GOTJ), which takes place from 31 July 2019 (Wednesday) at 8 am to 4 Aug 2019 (Sunday) at noon. This section does not cover any of the entertainment that will be available at the Gathering. If you have any questions, please send an email to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).

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• Shimmer Forrest: This year’s GOTJ is being held on a 400-acre fenced-in outdoor music venue known as Shimmer Forest, with an address of 99 Moore Lane, Springville IN, 47462. It is owned and operated by a super cool group of ninjas who are excited to bring our event to their home, and for that alone they deserve our respect. There is enough space at Shimmer Forest to allow everyone to camp directly on the grounds (most of which is beneath the shade of trees) for a truly 24-hour experience.

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• GOTJ Ticket/Wristband: You may purchase GOTJ tickets at the front gate of Shimmer Forest starting on 31 Jul 2019 at 6 a.m. with cash or credit card. In order to purchase a GOTJ ticket online, you will need to click on the Ticket button found on this website. Online purchases can be made with either a credit card or through PayPal. Once purchased, you will receive a confirmation email, and then a physical GOTJ ticket will be mailed out to you starting on 10 June 2018 (please allow a few days for shipping). Tickets ordered after June 10th will be shipped as soon as they are placed. The GOTJ ticket will have a special barcode to be scanned once you arrive at the front gate of Shimmer Forest, at which point you will be given a GOTJ program, a special GOTJ metal amulet, and a GOTJ wristband at no additional charge, for entry. The GOTJ wristband is not to be removed at any time and is your official pass into and out of Shimmer Forest (you may come and go as you please). It is good for the entire duration of the GOTJ, starting Wednesday July 31st (at 8 a.m.) until Sunday August 4th (at Noon). Anyone found inside the venue without a GOTJ wristband will be immediately escorted off the property. If you should lose your GOTJ wristband, you should report immediately to the Box Office. This wristband grants you access to all concerts, wrestling events, comedian shows, parties, sideshows, competitions, carnival rides, seminars, autograph signings, and much more, at no additional expense to you. You may purchase GOTJ tickets from this website up until 21 July 2019. Tickets will not be available for purchase online after this date but will be available for purchase at the front gate of Shimmer Forest during the event (no one will be turned away). All sales are final. Under no circumstances will a replacement ticket be issued for any ticket that has been damaged, lost, stolen, or destroyed.

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• Car Pass: No vehicles are allowed on the campgrounds of Shimmer Forest unless you first purchase a Car Pass (however, you may park for free in the parking lot). These passes allow you to park your vehicle at your campsite, and once there it must remain until the Gathering ends. Car Passes apply to vehicles ranging in size from motorcycles to full-size vans that are not towing trailers.

In order to purchase a Car Pass online, you will need to click on the Ticket button found on this website. Online purchases can be made with either a credit card or through PayPal. Once purchased, you will receive a confirmation email and then a Car Pass will be mailed out to you starting on 10 June 2019 (please allow a few days for shipping). Car Passes ordered after June 10th will be shipped as soon as they are placed.
A Car Pass will have a special barcode to be scanned once you arrive at the front gate of Shimmer Forest. You will then be presented a sticker, which you will need to stick to the outside of your driver’s side windshield, which should not to be removed. It is good for the entire duration of the GOTJ, starting Wednesday July 31st (at 8 a.m.) until Sunday August 4th (at Noon).
You may purchase Car Passes from this website until 21 July 2019. Car Passes will not be available for purchase online after this date but will be available for purchase at the front gate of Shimmer Forest starting on 31 Jul 2019 at 6 a.m. (unless they’re sold out) All sales are final. Under no circumstances will a replacement ticket be issued for any ticket that has been damaged, lost, stolen, or destroyed.
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• RV/Trailer Pass: No RVs, campers, or vehicles towing trailers are allowed on the campgrounds of Shimmer Forest unless you first purchase an RV / Trailer Pass (however, you may park for free in the parking lot). These passes allow you to park your vehicle at your campsite, and once there it must remain until the Gathering ends. RV / Trailer Passes apply to any vehicle bigger than a full-sized van (no 18 wheelers) or any vehicle towing a trailer. This pass covers whatever is being towed, plus the towing vehicle.

In order to purchase an RV / Trailer Pass online, you will need to click on the Ticket button found on this website. Online purchases can be made with either a credit card or through PayPal. Once purchased, you will receive a confirmation email and then an RV / Trailer Pass will be mailed out to you starting on 10 June 2019 (please allow a few days for shipping). RV / Trailer Passes ordered after June 10th will be shipped as soon as they are placed.
An RV / Trailer Pass will have a special barcode to be scanned once you arrive at the front gate of Shimmer Forest. You will then be presented a sticker, which you will need to stick to the outside of your driver’s side windshield and should not to be removed at any time. It is good for the entire duration of the GOTJ starting Wednesday July 31st (at 8 a.m.) until Sunday August 4th (at Noon).
You may purchase RV / Trailer Passes from this website up until 21 July 2019. RV / Trailer Passes will not be available for purchase online after this date but will be available for purchase at the front gate of Shimmer Forest starting on 31 Jul 2019 at 6 a.m. (unless they’re sold out). All sales are final. Under no circumstances will a replacement ticket be issued for any ticket that has been damaged, lost, stolen, or destroyed.
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• Big Balla Campsite (30/50 AMP): With the purchase of a Big Balla Campsite (30 / 50 amp) you are endowed with a super pimp 25’ x 50’ site (approx.) with some useful features. These sites are located in the heart of Shimmer Forest and are a short walk to the Soopa Stage. Each of these sites have running water and individual electricity outlets featuring one 30 / 50 amp outlet for RV hookups. The Big Balla Campsite pass allows you to park one vehicle of RV size (no 18 wheelers) or smaller at your site, where it must stay until the Gathering ends. Any additional vehicles parked on your site will require their own Car or RV / Trailer pass and must fit in your designated area. Keep in mind that you may also put multiple tents on your site, as long as they also fit in your designated area. Big Balla Campsites are not numbered and will be on a first come, first serve basis. The Big Balla Campsite pass also allows you and up to 3 other Juggalos to enter the Gathering grounds one day early, starting on 30 July 2019 at 6 p.m. (a special wristband will be given to these ninjas so they may enter early), along with whatever vehicle the Big Balla Campsite sticker is attached to (and only that vehicle). Keep in mind that everyone getting in early must also have a GOTJ wristband to enter and will be required to remain in the Big Baller campsite area until the official start of the Gathering on July 31st at 8 a.m. No other vehicles, beside those with a Big Balla Campsite sticker, will be allowed to enter the grounds early. Online purchases can be made with either a credit card or through PayPal. Once purchased, you will receive a confirmation email, and then a Big Balla Campsite pass will be mailed out to you starting on 10 June 2019 (please allow a few days for shipping). Big Balla Campsite Passes ordered after June 10th will be shipped as soon as they are placed. You may purchase Big Balla Campsites from this website up until 21 July 2019. Big Balla Campsites will not be available after this time. All sales are final. Under no circumstances will a replacement ticket be issued for any ticket that has been damaged, lost, stolen, or destroyed. A Big Balla Campsite Pass will have a special barcode to be scanned once you arrive at the front gate of Shimmer Forest. You will then be presented a sticker, which you will need to stick to the outside of your driver’s side windshield. It is good for the entire duration of the GOTJ starting Wednesday July 31st (at 8 a.m.) until Sunday August 4th (at Noon). You may only purchase Big Balla Campsites online by clicking on the Ticket button found on this website. All sales are final. Under no circumstances will a replacement ticket be issued for any ticket that has been damaged, lost, stolen, or destroyed.

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• Pavillion Rental: Located throughout Shimmer Forest are 20’ x 40’ roofed Pavilions that are completely bare and have no power. Most of them are being used for official event purposes, but a few of them are available to rent during the Gathering of the Juggalos to use however you see fit. However, Pavilions may not be used for vending. If you wish to sell merchandise from a Pavilion you rented (for an additional fee), then you would need to make a request by writing into [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). You may only rent Pavilions online by clicking on the Ticket button found on this website, up until 21 July 2019. Pavilion rentals will not be available after this time. On the ticket site you will be able to see which Pavilions are available. Each one has its own name which you will be able to find on the site map. Online purchases can be made with either a credit card or through PayPal. Once purchased, you will receive a confirmation email, and then a Pavilion Rental Certificate will be mailed out to you starting on 10 June 2019 (please allow a few days for shipping). A Certificate for any Pavilion rented after June 10th will be shipped as soon as the order is placed. Your certificate that you receive is your proof that you have rented that Pavilion. When you arrive, your Pavilion will be wrapped in caution tape with a notice that it was rented. Simple remove the tape and you can set up. Pavilion rentals are good for the entire duration of the GOTJ starting Wednesday July 31st (at 8 a.m.) until Sunday August 4th (at Noon). All sales are final.

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• All-Star Experience Ticket: This highly valued pass allows access to the Psychopathic All-Star Experience, which includes the following benefits that will take place on 1 August 2019 (Thursday) from 6:00 to 7:30 pm:
• Meet and greet with all the Psychopathic artists (ABK, Big Hoodoo, DJ Clay, Insane Clown Posse, Lyte, Ouija, Rude Boy, Natalie the Ring Girl, Jumpsteady, as well as a bunch of other fresh ninjas) in the backstage area of the Soopa Stage for autograph and photo opportunities all in one setting.
• All-you-can-eat buffet
• Gift bag containing the following limited-edition collectors’ items: GOTJ 20 VIP laminated pass, Flip the Rat Amulet (full color), and a Psychopathic flag.
• The opportunity to stand on the side of the stage to watch the first artist of the Gathering perform.
• The privilege of returning on Saturday night of the Gathering to be able to participate in the Faygo Armageddon during the climax of ICP’s set on the Soopa Stage!

Once you arrive on the Gathering grounds with your ticket, you will be able to pick up the items listed above at the Box Office. You will need to do this before you head backstage, so that the staff can process your ticket. You will then be instructed to gather on the right side of the Soopa Stage at 5:45 pm on 1 August 2019, where you will then be escorted backstage. Keep in mind that you will still need to purchase a GOTJ ticket in order to get into the grounds.
You may only purchase the Psychopathic All-Star Experience online by clicking on the Ticket button found on this website. Online purchases can be made with either a credit card or through PayPal. Once purchased, you will receive a confirmation email and then a Psychopathic All-Star Experience ticket will be mailed out to you starting on 10 June 2019 (please allow a few days for shipping). Psychopathic All-Star Experience tickets ordered after June 10th will be shipped as soon as they are placed.
You may purchase Psychopathic All-Star Experience tickets from this website up until 21 July 2019. Psychopathic All-Star Experience tickets will not be available after this time. All sales are final. Under no circumstances will a replacement ticket be issued for any ticket that has been damaged, lost, stolen, or destroyed.
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• Parking: There is a 20-acre field located near the front entrance to Shimmer Forest where you may park your vehicle for free. Keep in mind there is no camping allowed in the parking area! Due to fire codes, any campsites set up in the parking lot will be moved (go to the Info Tent for help locating your stuff if this happens to you).

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• Camping: Once you enter Shimmer Forest with your GOTJ wristband you are free to camp in any of the designated camping areas on a first come first serve basis. These locations will be clearly marked on the GOTJ map of Shimmer Forest, which will be available in the GOTJ program, and on this website. Keep in mind that the Gathering staff reserve the right to move any tent, vehicle, or campfire, to handle disputes. Or, if they are located on a road, or an unofficial camping area. There are some key rules that everyone must follow when camping:
• There is no camping in the Parking Lot or in the field in front of the Soopa Stage.
• All tents and vehicles must be 15 feet from any other tent, vehicle, or campfire in all directions.
• Do not camp in-between any row of metal poles, as these mark fire lanes.
• Make sure to safely contain, maintain, and extinguish all campfires.
• All vehicles at a campsite must have an appropriate vehicle sticker pass.
• Please be respectful of your neighbors, especially when it comes to excessive noise at night.

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• Tear Down: After the four full days of flavor, it will be time to head out. Sunday (4 Aug 2019) is the official tear-down day when everyone will be expected to be cleared out of Shimmer Forest and the parking lot by noon.

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• GOOD ADVICE:

The following are some good tips that will help you enjoy your GOTJ experience.

1. Bring plenty of food to last you the entire time.
   
2. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
   
3. Wear hats and light-colored clothing while staying in the shade to stay cool.
   
4. Bring warm clothing for nighttime (it can get chilly depending on the weather).
   
5. Sunscreen is always a good idea even on an overcast day.
   
6. When camping, make sure to bring the right supplies (tent, sleeping bag, rain gear, flashlight, bug spray, toiletries, towels, folding chair, etc.).
   
7. Bring a cell phone or some way to communicate.
   
8. Avoid any kind of substance abuse…know your limits.
   

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• RULES

The following is a list of key rules to help keep everyone safe and ensure a good time. We ask that you treat everything on the grounds of Shimmer Forest with respect to show proper respect to the owners who have welcomed us into their homes. We also ask ninjas to refrain from showing up early to the Gathering.

1. No selling of illegal substances or the breaking of any other laws.
   
2. No underage or excessive drinking, or substance abuse.
   
3. NO GOLF CARTS, FOUR WHEELERS, OR MORTORIZED VEHICLES.
   
4. Children must be supervised by adults.
   
5. No vandalism or destruction of property.
   
6. No cutting of trees, damaging plant life, or hurting wild animals.
   
7. The speed limit while on the grounds is 5 mph.
   
8. No animals.
   
9. No weapons, glass, or dangerous objects.
   
10. NO FIREWORKS.
    
11. No spray-paint.
    
12. No littering, especially at the campsites.
    
13. No selling of food or manufactured merchandise (especially bootlegged merch).
    

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• INFO TENT

This helpful tent is staffed 24 hours a day by Gathering Representatives in order to assist you with any questions, concerns, or problems you might have. The people working here have the power to either help you directly or get in contact with those who can. The Info Tent also provides the following other services:
Information (including event times) and problem-solving capabilities.
Maps of the Gathering grounds and spare programs (while they last).
Lost and Found – Please drop off any found items here.
Display of the main prizes you can win at the various contests.
Display of the Psychopathic Auction items.
A promotional area to leave flyers and CD’s.
Volunteer opportunities.
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• MERCH BAZAAR

This dope market will feature a plethora of rare, offensive, and Gathering exclusive merchandise from Psychopathic Records and its entire roster of artists. You will also be able to find merch from all the other artists performing on the Soopa and Shazam Stages, as well as a variety of other vendors.
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• ATM

There are several ATMs located on the grounds for quick leafy green access. Users are responsible for all transactions as there will be no refunds.
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• CONVENIENCE STORE

This 24-hour store will strive to meet all your basic needs, by supplying an abundance of useful items. You will find everything from condoms, to disposable cameras, to over-the-counter-medications, and much more.
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• FOOD COURTS

Several food courts will be located throughout the Gathering grounds, serving delicious food and tasty beverages. So, make sure to stop by to taste some of the delectable treats, such as, Dingleberry Donuts, Nipple Nut Pie, Cheeseburgers, GaryWay Gyros, Pizza, and of course there will be plenty of Faygo on tap to wash it all down.
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• BOTTLE FILL STATIONS

There are several fill stations spaced throughout the Gathering grounds where you may get fresh drinking water to fill your containers. These are located on the GOTJ map.
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• SHOWER BUILDINGS

These free 24-hour shower buildings (one male and one female) are located within Balla Town for all to use.
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• MEDIC TENT

The Medic Tent will be staffed by trained medics 24 hours a day to handle any of your medical needs. There will also be an ambulance on hand to transport anyone with a serious medical emergency quickly and efficiently to a nearby hospital.
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• SECURITY

Anyone who needs to get a hold of security for any reason can either go to the Box Office or the Info Tent. Security personnel will also be located throughout the Gathering grounds and are there to help you if needed. Their purpose is not to restrict people’s fun, but rather ensure everyone is acting in a safe and non-destructive manner while at the Gathering.

Thursday 7th February, 2019 by Scottie D
Our homie Mitchell from the Murder Mayhem Show just posted his latest podcast that’s complete with juggalo news including Gathering location, a special interview with Ouija‘s producer Devereaux, and of course he lets you know his feelings about everything.
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This nearly hour-long podcast is definitely worth a listen, and you can hear it on both Youtube and Spreaker. Check out the episode below: https://youtu.be/K-4Mu0D4-SE
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Devereaux is most known for his production on the Ouija Macc songs Ghost, Body Drop, Choker, Killahoe Tribe Anthem & more he's also produced a few ICP tracks this past year as well