WWE® Superstar Batistaâ„¢ and WWE® Hall of Famer Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboatâ„¢ To Attend Wizard World Richmond Comic Con, Saturday, September 13

“The Animal” And “The Dragon” To Attend Inaugural Wizard World Event At Greater Richmond Convention Center

WWE Superstar Batista and WWE Hall of Famer ‘The Dragon’ Ricky Steamboat, will attend the inaugural Wizard World Richmond Comic Con on Saturday, September 13, as announced today by Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD). Steamboat will sign autographs and pose for photo ops from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., while Batista will sign autographs and pose for photo ops from 2 p.m.- 5:15 p.m. followed by a Guardians of the Galaxy questions and answer session at 5:15 p.m.

Wizard World Richmond Comic Con is the third announced appearance by Batista on the Wizard World Tour. Batista (credited as Dave Bautista) is featured as “Drax” in the upcoming Marvel blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy, which debuts in theaters just weeks before his Wizard World Richmond Comic Con appearance.

“I am originally from the DC area, and it’s great to be coming home,” says Batista. “I’m thrilled that I get to meet fans of Guardians of the Galaxy and talk to them about ‘Drax’ in person, and it’s always great meeting the WWE Universe from my neck of the woods.”

Wizard World Richmond Comic Con will mark the return of WWE Hall of Famer ‘The Dragon’ Ricky Steamboat to the Wizard World Tour after successful appearances at Wizard World Comic Cons in Philadelphia and Chicago in 2013.

Steamboat spent much of his ring career in WWE where he was best known as The Dragon. Admired by WWE fans for his physical rivalries with the likes of Don Muraco and Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Steamboat’s greatest contribution to WWE history remains his WrestleMania III bout against Randy Savage. In front of a sold-out crowd of more than 93,000, The Dragon beat Macho Man to win the Intercontinental Title in a bout that was so technically sound and exciting it has been shortlisted on “Best of” lists ever since.

“I’ve performed many times here in Virginia during my WWE Hall of Fame career, and I am excited to be back,” says Steamboat. “It’s always great to meet and give back to the fans that had an opportunity to see me perform. I am looking forward to Wizard World Richmond Comic Con.”

Batista and Steamboat join such noted pop culture figures as Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Jon Bernthal and Michael Rooker of “The Walking Dead,” James Marsters (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Torchwood”), Manu Bennett (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, “Arrow”), Adam West and Burt Ward (“Batman”), Alan Tudyk (“Firefly,” Wreck-It Ralph), Eliza Dushku (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” True Lies), Michael Madsen (“Tilt,” Reservoir Dogs) and others currently scheduled to attend Wizard World Richmond Comic Con, set for August 1-3 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Additional celebrities will be announced in the coming weeks.

Wizard World Richmond Comic Con is the 11th of 16 events scheduled in the 2014 series produced by Wizard World, Inc. and will also feature a top-drawer collection of well-known comics artists and writers and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions. Show hours are Friday, Sept. 12, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-richmond.html.