Mean Genes Burgers will celebrate its grand opening with a visit from”Mean Gene”himself from 10 p.m.-midnight this Thursday, Jan. 31, in West Virginia Universitys Mountainlair food court.

“Mean Gene”of World Championship Wrestling fame will arrive at 10 p.m. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony , followed by a hamburger taste testing session and autographs.

The evening will feature a hamburger-eating contest with a $200 cash prize; various other prizes will be awarded throughout the evening.

“Mean Gene”has been a dominant voice in professional wrestling for almost 30 years. His career began in 1971 as a ringside announcer with the American Wrestling Association in Minneapolis.

In 1983, Okerlund joined Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, helping to establish it as the premier wrestling promotion company in America. Ted Turner lured”Mean Gene”to World Championship Wrestling in 1993, where his presence brought credibility and viewers to the WCW .

For more information on the grand opening, call Tamara Mackley, 293-2096, ext. 4.