My aunt told me a story around 20 years ago now on how her and my cousin had breakfast with none other than Ric Flair himself. He was pretty cool... and then he started talking to somebody about how his match was going to go that evening, which moves were going to be used, who was going to win, and how long they would take. It was at that moment that my aunt discovered that term we know as 'kayfabe' and it sort of ruined it for her. I recall my dad didn't watch as much wrestling after that, or at least until Nitro came on the air.

I've met a lot of wrestlers in my day, nicest guys were DDP, Ron Simmons, Jerry Lawler, William Regal, Mick Foley, Ultimate Warrior, and Dusty Rhodes. Biggest pricks were Sid, Carlito, Tommy Dreamer, and Randy Orton. I once saw Orton swear at a kid asking for an autograph. Another time I saw Mark Henry literally growl like a bear at a group of fans pestering him.

spman: I've met a lot of wrestlers in my day, nicest guys were DDP, Ron Simmons, Jerry Lawler, William Regal, Mick Foley, Ultimate Warrior, and Dusty Rhodes. Biggest pricks were Sid, Carlito, Tommy Dreamer, and Randy Orton. I once saw Orton swear at a kid asking for an autograph. Another time I saw Mark Henry literally growl like a bear at a group of fans pestering him.

Mizark probably had a lot on his mind. I mean, he had a wife and hand to feed.

spman: I've met a lot of wrestlers in my day, nicest guys were DDP, Ron Simmons, Jerry Lawler, William Regal, Mick Foley, Ultimate Warrior, and Dusty Rhodes. Biggest pricks were Sid, Carlito, Tommy Dreamer, and Randy Orton. I once saw Orton swear at a kid asking for an autograph. Another time I saw Mark Henry literally growl like a bear at a group of fans pestering him.

The group had clearly not paid their air bill

/NO PEAS

Cheesus > This Deadspin crap that doesn't even load properly in my browser

Smiths: Cheesus > This Deadspin crap that doesn't even load properly in my browser

So much this. Auntie Cheesus' stories but these to shame.

Last year my nephew was a security guard for a local mall and Hulk Hogan showed up. Apparently, he had called ahead to let them know in case they believe they needed extra security on hand. My nephew walked him and his daughter around the different stores, which all happily closed their doors for a few minutes to let him shop in peace. As he was getting ready to leave, he asked if my nephew wanted a picture with him. My nephew, not a wrestling fan, said no and that he didn't have a camera anyway. Hulk then pointed to the security cameras and asked where the monitors were located. Mall management then quickly let him get a close-up image capture of him and my nephew printed off and, still unrequested, happily signed it before he left. Apparently, they didn't buy much, only a few souvenir tee-shirts. My nephew said it was one of the most pleasant experiences he had ever had with celebrity shoppers.

I saw Bam Bam at Busch Gardens in Tampa when I was a kid. This was during the Goldberg streak and Bam was "next". I spot him as I am walking with my mother and shout "Hey Bam Bam! Kick Goldberg's ass". I turned to my mom because I knew I was in trouble and she had a horrified look on her face. I turned back to see Bam Bam with his kids trying to enjoy their lunch. He smiled and said "thanks" and gave my mom a head nod. The head saved me from getting in trouble so I was always a big Bam Bam fan after that.

Then there was the time he saved my family from the burnin house...

Met Dallas Page, Mick Foley and Ted DiBiase. These are 3 genuinely nice and gracious people.

You weren't aware that Road Dogg loved video games?

Perhaps you should contact someone by telephone.

My grandpappy was good friends with Dick the Bruiser in the 1950s. He was like the prototype for Goldberg or Ryback back then; just a jobber-destroying machine. Gramps had a few good stories, many involving drunken jackasses trying to pick fights with the "fake tough guy" and finding out the hard way that he was a legitimate badass.

Back in the day I managed a KFC in California. One day this humongous guy walks in, easily 6 and a half feet talk and easily over 400 pounds. He spoke softly and was carrying a small ethic kid from South America or Mexico in his arm. He ordered a 21 piece meal, then looked down at the kid to ask him what he wanted.

One of my employees said: "Holy shiat! That's Earthquake!" I did a double take, and sure as hell, it was! At this point, his run in the WWF was over and he was most likely running a smaller circuit, but, he was still just as big as ever. I've always tried to let celebrities do their thing without being mobbed, so I told everyone to leave him alone while he ate. After his meal, we were able to stop him and get pictures and autographs, he was on his way to another show in Sacramento that night and didn't have too much time to glad hand with the crew.

In all he was very polite and a little embarrassed at his celebrity status among us. I think he just wanted some food and to get gone and wasn't expecting all of us wrasslin' fans to come out of the wood work. So, though he did have to get going, and was adamant that his time was short, he was never rude or a jerk to us, and made sure to include his little ethnic kid in all the pictures, and took the time to sign autographs for the crew.

He was a very cool, dude, I was sad to hear he died. And, yes, he ate the whole 21 piece chicken meal in about 45 minutes.

spman: Another time I saw Mark Henry literally growl like a bear at a group of fans pestering him.

Many years ago, I saw Mark Henry in line in a Cracker Barrel. I said, somewhat loudly, "Sexual Chocolate, what's going on?" If his reaction was the norm, I presume many wrestlers are not fond of revisiting past gimmicks.

I met Ted DiBiase (and Virgil sadly...) at the Toronto Comic Con last year. I talked with him for a bit and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. He was pleasant and didn't mind shooting the breeze with me...I wish I could have talked with him a bit longer.

Virgil on the other hand, is a dick.

I have numerous, after working in the media for so long, but here is my favorite:

In 03/04, I was working in production on a movie that filmed in Austin. It is called The Ring, and started Johnny Knoxville.

Anyway one of my first days, while I was doing grunt work revising scripts, etc. One of my supervisors told me that there was an actor coming by to pick up a revised script for a bar scene shoot.

"Yeah, I don't know who he is or what he looks like...I think his name is Terry Fink."

"You mean Terry Funk?"

"I guess."

So he came in...shorts, hat and fanny pack (those wrestlers and their damn fanny packs!)

He was very soft spoken, and so cool. We had to dig around to find his script, he was playing a thug for the bad guy in the movie. We chit chatted a bit about the movie, wrestling all over the world, and just general crap about Austin, where to grab a beer. I did get a picture, and the other staffers were like "who was the crippled old man?"

FinFangFark: I have numerous, after working in the media for so long, but here is my favorite:

In 03/04, I was working in production on a movie that filmed in Austin. It is called The Ring, and started Johnny Knoxville.

Anyway one of my first days, while I was doing grunt work revising scripts, etc. One of my supervisors told me that there was an actor coming by to pick up a revised script for a bar scene shoot.

"Yeah, I don't know who he is or what he looks like...I think his name is Terry Fink."

"You mean Terry Funk?"

"I guess."

So he came in...shorts, hat and fanny pack (those wrestlers and their damn fanny packs!)

He was very soft spoken, and so cool. We had to dig around to find his script, he was playing a thug for the bad guy in the movie. We chit chatted a bit about the movie, wrestling all over the world, and just general crap about Austin, where to grab a beer. I did get a picture, and the other staffers were like "who was the crippled old man?"

That's where Youtube would have come in handy, if it had been around back then.

One good Funker hardcore match and they wouldn't have forgotten him.

spman: I've met a lot of wrestlers in my day, nicest guys were DDP, Ron Simmons, Jerry Lawler, William Regal, Mick Foley, Ultimate Warrior, and Dusty Rhodes. Biggest pricks were Sid, Carlito, Tommy Dreamer, and Randy Orton. I once saw Orton swear at a kid asking for an autograph. Another time I saw Mark Henry literally growl like a bear at a group of fans pestering him.

Interesting. I met Sid while at Disney back in '93. He seemed nice enough. Might have been a bad day or something.

Fisty Bum: I met Ted DiBiase (and Virgil sadly...) at the Toronto Comic Con last year. I talked with him for a bit and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. He was pleasant and didn't mind shooting the breeze with me...I wish I could have talked with him a bit longer.

Virgil on the other hand, is a dick.

Comic Con = future endeavors?

Pants_Optional: spman: I've met a lot of wrestlers in my day, nicest guys were DDP, Ron Simmons, Jerry Lawler, William Regal, Mick Foley, Ultimate Warrior, and Dusty Rhodes. Biggest pricks were Sid, Carlito, Tommy Dreamer, and Randy Orton. I once saw Orton swear at a kid asking for an autograph. Another time I saw Mark Henry literally growl like a bear at a group of fans pestering him.

Interesting. I met Sid while at Disney back in '93. He seemed nice enough. Might have been a bad day or something.

You can tell how your Sid experience is going to go by knowing whether or not there is a pair of scissors or a squeegee close by.

Subdue their bellies: Fisty Bum: I met Ted DiBiase (and Virgil sadly...) at the Toronto Comic Con last year. I talked with him for a bit and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. He was pleasant and didn't mind shooting the breeze with me...I wish I could have talked with him a bit longer.

Virgil on the other hand, is a dick.

Comic Con = future endeavors?

Hahaha...pretty much. Other wrestlers there (whom I avoided) were Tatanka and The Bushwackers. The only one I had any interest in meeting was DiBiase.

Apparently Edge was there at this year's Comic Con.

I met Luna Vachon back in the 90s during her WWF run. One of the nicest people I ever met. When I asked her who the most intimidating person physique-wise in the WWF was, she said Kane and that his arms were just gigantic and seeing them on TV did not do them justice.

machoprogrammer: I met Luna Vachon back in the 90s during her WWF run. One of the nicest people I ever met. When I asked her who the most intimidating person physique-wise in the WWF was, she said Kane and that his arms were just gigantic and seeing them on TV did not do them justice.

Did she say anything about his three foot long penis?

A friend of the family was the house doctor at a WWE show in Hamilton during the early 90's. He said it was the damnest thing to watch backstage because you'd have all these huge, buffed up men in their wrestling outfits sitting around playing bridge or just shooting the breeze and every ten or fifteen minutes two of them would get up for their match, come back and keep right on playing their card game.

Years later I find out a the mother of a high school buddy was a ring rat and apparently Brett Harts favorite piece of tail when he came to Ottawa. Guess he had a bit of a thing for white trash.

Flappyhead: Years later I find out a the mother of a high school buddy was a ring rat and apparently Brett Harts favorite piece of tail when he came to Ottawa. Guess he had a bit of a thing for white trash.

So... She screwed Bret?

Smiths: Flappyhead: Years later I find out a the mother of a high school buddy was a ring rat and apparently Brett Harts favorite piece of tail when he came to Ottawa. Guess he had a bit of a thing for white trash.

So... She screwed Bret?

When she wasn't available and Bret went home alone, Bret screwed Bret.

FirstNationalBastard: Smiths: Flappyhead: Years later I find out a the mother of a high school buddy was a ring rat and apparently Brett Harts favorite piece of tail when he came to Ottawa. Guess he had a bit of a thing for white trash.

So... She screwed Bret?

When she wasn't available and Bret went home alone, Bret screwed Bret.

I award you each one free internets.

Flappyhead: Years later I find out a the mother of a high school buddy was a ring rat and apparently Brett Harts favorite piece of tail when he came to Ottawa. Guess he had a bit of a thing for white trash.

Considering most female wrestling fans, I think nearly all ring rats are/were white trash.

Precious Roy's Horse Dividers: Did she say anything about his three foot long penis?

Hah. I had a huge crush on Ivory back in high school (when it happened), and she said Ivory was her best friend off screen. I was like hook me up!!!

star_topology: You weren't aware that Road Dogg loved video games?

Perhaps you should contact someone by telephone.

I'm so farking ashamed that I get this.

Not a wrestling fan anymore, but RAW is in town this weekend. Just interviewed Beth Phoenix for my radio show.

Back in early 90s, I was maybe 11 or 12 and refereeing in a youth hockey tournament. I walk around the rink to the timekeeper/penalty bench area (the only way on to the ice other than through the players benches), and there, in the penalty box, stood the biggest human being I'd ever laid eyes on. This dude was flatfooted and looking over the glass. Turns out, Big John Studd was running the penalty box for his kid's team.
He was a friendly enough guy, didn't get on us about calls like some of the more assholish parents in the penalty box.
/There were not many penalties on that team. I wouldn't have wanted to be in the penalty box with him either.
//My father once sat next to Brutus Beefcake on an airplane. This is not a euphemism. But it probably should be.

NashMcNash: star_topology: You weren't aware that Road Dogg loved video games?

Perhaps you should contact someone by telephone.

I'm so farking ashamed that I get this.

Not a wrestling fan anymore, but RAW is in town this weekend. Just interviewed Beth Phoenix for my radio show.

Is she too manly up close and personal?

Mick Foley and Malachi McCourt holding a salon on midcentury English literature in the middle of the street, in a fine evening rain. Foley had a vest and jeans on and McCourt was wearing plantantion whites, including hat. Scout's honor.

Fisty Bum: I met Ted DiBiase (and Virgil sadly...) at the Toronto Comic Con last year. I talked with him for a bit and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. He was pleasant and didn't mind shooting the breeze with me...I wish I could have talked with him a bit longer.

Virgil on the other hand, is a dick.

Sheiky Baby thinks Virgil is a dick too.

I remember buying tickets for WCW Thunder way back in the day. The guest signing autographs was... Norman Smiley. I remember feeling awful seeing absolutely no one in line for his autograph. I still didn't get one, just felt bad.

I also got to meet Hawk and Animal during their L.O.D. 2000 run. It was literally the week after Hawk had fallen off the Titantron. We asked him, how the fall was. He replied: "Uh...I hurt my neck."

The next week on Raw he was in a coma, or something like that.

I've only met The Rock, but that was for a quick moment because it was during an autograph signing with a VERY LONG line.

Not a CSB:

I used to date somebody who used to work at this resort down in Oregon. She said that Roddy Piper and his family made a few visits, and he's really nice.

willfullyobscure: Mick Foley and Malachi McCourt holding a salon on midcentury English literature in the middle of the street, in a fine evening rain. Foley had a vest and jeans on and McCourt was wearing plantantion whites, including hat. Scout's honor.

I would have paid to see that. Seriously.

Cool Story time...

I dabbled in pro wrestling for a few years as a referee, some low-level indy stuff in the Midwest. One promotion I worked for regularly would bring in past WWF guys 2-3 times a year. First one after I started was George "The Animal" Steele. He of the eating turnbuckles schtick.

Apparently, the newer turnbuckles don't shred like the old ones do, so he told me to make sure he didn't eat it during his match. That happened a few times, he'd get close, I'd get in there & say "No George, you can't eat this turnbuckle!"

I get to the back after the match, and he just starts laying into me. "This is my gimmick! How the fark are you showing me up like that!" Stuff like that, he kept coming closer and closer. I thought this old man was going to end my life, right then and there.

He gets about two feet away..."Thanks for the match. It was fun." I about collapsed, everyone else in the locker room busted up laughing. Great guy. Very great guy. Others that stood out for being cool were Barry Horowitz and Marty Jannetty. Blue Meanie was pretty awesome too. Jake "The Snake" was just...strange. Talk about living your gimmick.

/CSB, I know

FinFangFark: NashMcNash: star_topology: You weren't aware that Road Dogg loved video games?

Perhaps you should contact someone by telephone.

I'm so farking ashamed that I get this.

Not a wrestling fan anymore, but RAW is in town this weekend. Just interviewed Beth Phoenix for my radio show.

Is she too manly up close and personal?

It was over the phone. Said she was going to bash some biatch's head in.

star_topology: You weren't aware that Road Dogg loved video games?

Perhaps you should contact someone by telephone.

I laffed.

I've met two, Mick Foley and Brian "Grandmaster Sexay" Christopher. I went to Wrestlemania in Houston with my friends, and did the whole meet and greet thing. Mick was very very nice, albeit busy signing autographs so he didn't have much time to talk. Brian Christopher was one of my favorites so I walked up and told him I was "his biggest fan" and he said, "that's bullshiat, I saw a guy a few minutes ago, he was at least 3 times your size." He was very friendly and joked around for a few minutes.

I ended up making a Geocities fan website about him (god what a dork I was) and I used to get so many emails from people thinking I was him. Most of it was fan stuff but occasionally I'd get emails from people that were seriously for Brian Christopher, including one woman asking him to come see if a child was his. He sent me an email telling me he liked the site, and I told him that I thought it would be cool if Scotty did more breakdancing stuff since he supposedly could do the moves and Brian said he'd tell him, and sure enough the next show he did some breakdancing moves in his match.. Later that day Jerry The King Lawler added a link to my site on the front page of his. That was a banner day for me.

I'm a little sad to hear the story about the kid from the article. He seemed like a nice guy to me.

Oh, I forgot to mention I also ran into Earl Hebner and he seemed shocked that anyone wanted to talk to him. He was sitting under some bleachers eating nachos.

Treygreen13: star_topology: You weren't aware that Road Dogg loved video games?

Perhaps you should contact someone by telephone.

I laffed.

I've met two, Mick Foley and Brian "Grandmaster Sexay" Christopher. I went to Wrestlemania in Houston with my friends, and did the whole meet and greet thing. Mick was very very nice, albeit busy signing autographs so he didn't have much time to talk. Brian Christopher was one of my favorites so I walked up and told him I was "his biggest fan" and he said, "that's bullshiat, I saw a guy a few minutes ago, he was at least 3 times your size." He was very friendly and joked around for a few minutes.

I ended up making a Geocities fan website about him (god what a dork I was) and I used to get so many emails from people thinking I was him. Most of it was fan stuff but occasionally I'd get emails from people that were seriously for Brian Christopher, including one woman asking him to come see if a child was his. He sent me an email telling me he liked the site, and I told him that I thought it would be cool if Scotty did more breakdancing stuff since he supposedly could do the moves and Brian said he'd tell him, and sure enough the next show he did some breakdancing moves in his match.. Later that day Jerry The King Lawler added a link to my site on the front page of his. That was a banner day for me.

I'm a little sad to hear the story about the kid from the article. He seemed like a nice guy to me.

Oh, I forgot to mention I also ran into Earl Hebner and he seemed shocked that anyone wanted to talk to him. He was sitting under some bleachers eating nachos.

I still want to know why Earl took that money from the Million Dollar Man!

FirstNationalBastard: I still want to know why Earl took that money from the Million Dollar Man!

I didn't really know what to say to him other than to say hi. I guess he was the only memorable WWF referee so I just said hello. I should have marked out and geeked about the latest screwjob.

I can't think of anyone else I ever met... I saw Kevin Nash at the airport once but I didn't really like WCW so I didn't care.

Alkoholiker: Fisty Bum: I met Ted DiBiase (and Virgil sadly...) at the Toronto Comic Con last year. I talked with him for a bit and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. He was pleasant and didn't mind shooting the breeze with me...I wish I could have talked with him a bit longer.

Virgil on the other hand, is a dick.

Sheiky Baby thinks Virgil is a dick too.

Sheik thinks everyone is a dick. Or a Mexican. Or gay. Are a judicious combo of all three.

hobblekitty: Alkoholiker: Fisty Bum: I met Ted DiBiase (and Virgil sadly...) at the Toronto Comic Con last year. I talked with him for a bit and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. He was pleasant and didn't mind shooting the breeze with me...I wish I could have talked with him a bit longer.

Virgil on the other hand, is a dick.

Sheiky Baby thinks Virgil is a dick too.

Sheik thinks everyone is a dick. Or a Mexican. Or gay. Are a judicious combo of all three.

Sheik's twitter feed is hi-larious.

Alas, I have never met a professional wrestler.

But, I did once see a moss-covered three-handled family gredunza...

Treygreen13: hobblekitty: Alkoholiker: Fisty Bum: I met Ted DiBiase (and Virgil sadly...) at the Toronto Comic Con last year. I talked with him for a bit and he seemed like a genuinely nice guy. He was pleasant and didn't mind shooting the breeze with me...I wish I could have talked with him a bit longer.

Virgil on the other hand, is a dick.

Sheiky Baby thinks Virgil is a dick too.

Sheik thinks everyone is a dick. Or a Mexican. Or gay. Are a judicious combo of all three.

Sheik's twitter feed is hi-larious.

I found an old Sheik figure at the comic shop a few weeks back. I made a sign that he holds which says "Be Humble Or Else". I hide him in weird places around the apartment and it is Mrs. Highway's task to find him (or come across him more accurately). She doesnt know what it means but we have a good time with it.

/Currently in the medicine cabinet.

Anybody ever meet this fella yet?



/I suppose if I ever did, it would be like dividing by zero.

hundreddollarman: Anybody ever meet this fella yet?

[i70.photobucket.com image 275x420]

/I suppose if I ever did, it would be like dividing by zero.

Actually I have. He's a former Longhorn like myself. Was at an event many years ago, and he was there. He looks like such a doughy guy on TV, I was surprised he wasn't as fat-looking in person.

And he was cool. Not super nice, not an a-hole, just cool. I was in the media, so I was there to cover UT football stuff, but while a few people were asking for autographs, I walked off, told him to have a nice night, and gave the 4 Horseman gesture, he smiled and nodded.

HST's Dead Carcass: Back in the day I managed a KFC in California. One day this humongous guy walks in, easily 6 and a half feet talk and easily over 400 pounds. He spoke softly and was carrying a small ethic kid from South America or Mexico in his arm. He ordered a 21 piece meal, then looked down at the kid to ask him what he wanted.

One of my employees said: "Holy shiat! That's Earthquake!" I did a double take, and sure as hell, it was! At this point, his run in the WWF was over and he was most likely running a smaller circuit, but, he was still just as big as ever. I've always tried to let celebrities do their thing without being mobbed, so I told everyone to leave him alone while he ate. After his meal, we were able to stop him and get pictures and autographs, he was on his way to another show in Sacramento that night and didn't have too much time to glad hand with the crew.

In all he was very polite and a little embarrassed at his celebrity status among us. I think he just wanted some food and to get gone and wasn't expecting all of us wrasslin' fans to come out of the wood work. So, though he did have to get going, and was adamant that his time was short, he was never rude or a jerk to us, and made sure to include his little ethnic kid in all the pictures, and took the time to sign autographs for the crew.

He was a very cool, dude, I was sad to hear he died. And, yes, he ate the whole 21 piece chicken meal in about 45 minutes.

I remember watching Earthquake try to get on this ride at Hersheypark:



It... wasn't pretty.

hundreddollarman: Anybody ever meet this fella yet?

[i70.photobucket.com image 275x420]

/I suppose if I ever did, it would be like dividing by zero.

He did some local radio a few years back while promoting his book. The radio guys were jokingly giving him a hard time for having a tiny dog. His response: "Listen. All that dog has to do is let me know you're in my house, and I'll handle your ass myself!"

I lol'd hard at that.Jarrell86: I remember buying tickets for WCW Thunder way back in the day. The guest signing autographs was... Norman Smiley. I remember feeling awful seeing absolutely no one in line for his autograph. I still didn't get one, just felt bad.

I also got to meet Hawk and Animal during their L.O.D. 2000 run. It was literally the week after Hawk had fallen off the Titantron. We asked him, how the fall was. He replied: "Uh...I hurt my neck."

The next week on Raw he was in a coma, or something like that.

I would have killed to hang out with Norman Smiley. By all accounts he's a great guy, and he and his Big Wiggle was one of the most fun parts about the last few years of WCW. Given all the guys that WWE gave a chance, I always wondered why Smiley didn't wrestle there. A totally marketable fan favorite.

star_topology: You weren't aware that Road Dogg loved video games?

Perhaps you should contact someone by telephone.

Still remember the Owen Hart memorial show on RAW when he told the Godfather that instead of fighting "We should light up a fattie and tell some good Owen stories."

I met Raven a while back. He came in to some local diner for breakfast. Got his autograph when he was on his way out. He was very nice and friendly.