Listen up!

Class is in session.

For the longest time, I've been getting e-mails from a promoter named Rob Russen, trying to drum up interest for something called "WrestleReunion 2."

Arrogantly, I would hit the "delete" key. My mask was too buried in WWE and TNA happenings, not caring about the rest of the business.

Well put me in the corner, and put a dunce cap on my noggin.

"WrestleReunion 2" starts Friday night at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King Of Prussia, Pa., about 20 minutes from Philadelphia. It's a wrestling reunion weekend, gathering 50 stars from yesterday and today. There will be tons of autograph and bull sessions with the performers, as well as a big card Saturday night. The whole thing, to be recorded by Clear Channel Communications, will soon show up on pay-per-view and DVD. In short, it offers something the big boys sometimes forget about: connecting with the fans, and having fun.

I chatted with Russen by phone Thursday, and he was thrilled to plug his production and the performers who will be there.

"We bring in the 'A-team.' We present the stars of yesterday and tomorrow," Russen said. "We're actually having to turn wrestlers down."

The reunion circuit, as I've come to realize, is nothing terribly new -- but Russen's gathering might top them all. Working with fellow promoter Sal Corrente, Russen has lured Matt Hardy, Rhyno, Bret Hart, Diamond Dallas Page, Mick Foley, The Dudley Boyz, Larry Zbyszko and Bruno Sammartino to suburban Philly. And that's just for starters.

The great Nick Bockwinkel will serve as the commissioner of the Saturday night wrestling event, which also features Bobby Heenan, Test, Steve Corino, D-Lo Brown, Dusty Rhodes, The Funk Brothers (Dory Jr and Terry), Stan Hansen, Steve Williams, Tito Santana and The Blue Meanie.

That's 18 names, kids, there's 32 I haven't mentioned, but you get the idea. It just sounds fun.

The Professor has been around a while, and I'm very familiar with the legends of the game. I grew up hating Bobby Heenan, Bockwinkel's former AWA manager. There were nights in the St. Paul Civic Center when I thought he was the biggest weasel on Earth. Just when you thought the young Incredible Hulk (pre-legend) Hogan would finally beat Nick for the title (after their seemingly-zillionth match), Heenan would interfere and Bock would walk out with his belt. Aaaargh!

But Heenan was great. The best manager ever, without a doubt.

Heenan will be back in the ring at "WrestleReunion 2," managing the tag team of Foley and the Funk Brothers. That team takes on the Midnight Express team of Dennis Condrey, Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane. Of course, super-slimy Jim Cornette will be in their corner. While I'm reasonably certain there will be a shortage of washboard stomachs in this match, you have to admit it sounds fun.

That's not even the main event. That's reserved for Page and Zbyszko. If Larry The Legend wins, he'll get five minutes with his 70-year-old rival, Sammartino. Something tells me Page will somehow lose so the fans can see Bruno paste Larry. Again, fun.

I know I'll get a few letters from students accusing me of being a geezer, but too bad. There's nothing wrong with pining for a simpler time when everything wasn't so slick.

Russen says all this ("WrestleReunion 1" was held in January in Tampa, Fla.) was all Corrente's idea. The goal was to create a weekend where fans could see their favorites from yesteryear, get some decent autographs and hear great stories in question and answer panels.

So what's next after this weekend? Russen says the plan is to put on monthly cards featuring a mix of legends and current stars, as well as quarterly "WrestleReunion" shows.

"There's never a dull moment. The past is the future," Russen said. "Legends are forever. We've tapped into the vein of baby boomers."

Yep, sounds fun.

Which is what this glorious circus is all about. Sometimes when your head is buried in WWE and TNA, even a scholar can forget that.

Now scram. Class dismissed!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting. He urges you to check out the "WrestleReunion 2" Web site at www.wrestlereunion.com.)