My Royal Rumble Adventure

I took the 7.5 hr. drive to Boston at 3am Saturday morning. We had some stops to make in Rhode Island, as our original plan was to attend the Miz signing. But we ended up getting flight info. late and had to book RI and pass on Miz to get into Boston. We hit the hotel around 1:40pm and got there just as Ted Dibiase, R Truth, Drew McIntyre had gotten their bags. Ted was extremely sick and wasnt signing. In fact, he told R Truth to take the rental and he would get his own. He looked half dead, standing off to the side by himself and trying to avoid contact with anyone. You would have thought he had the plague. I got 2 from Truth in 2 programs I needed him, but missed Drew as he went out the door. Evidently, Tiffany was with Drew as she had some indy events she was doing in the area. I didnt see her though.

After that, we hotfooted it to Randy Orton. Sadly, we got a bit lost, as the airport was huge and confusing and missed Orton signing for people. We saw him on the escalator, but we were on the opposite side. Oops.

Next up was Eve Torres, who was a first time meet for me. So I was very happy to nail Eve. See what I did there? :celebrate1: Got an auto my 2009 program and a photo. David Otunga was next, he had Jennifer Hudson with him. Sadly, Jennifer took 2 pics before her security guard chased everyone away, while David stood and signed about 30 autographs. Crazy how David signs and takes photos and Jennifer turns her back. Got Otunga inside cover of WWE E.

At this point, we had a few hours before the next wave, so we decided to go get a cheap hotel in city of my birth in Saugus, MA. We chose a standard run of the mill place, no need to blow a spot. Checked in and immediately headed to to the drug store to get some disenfectant, as this play smelled like someone died in it. After getting a bottle of carpet room deorderizer and couple bottles of Febreeze, we got some dinner and headed back.

Sheamus was first in the next wave. Sheamus seemed to be back to his old self, signing and taking photos.....not even personalizing unless you requested. I finished everything on Sheamus last week at the signing, so I just got a photo. But I did get a chance to talk to him about Prince Devitt, a fellow countrymen. Sheamus said he knew Devitt very well and heard he was doing phenomenal in Japan. I told him he was coming over for the New Japan tour and Sheamus and shocked and asked me about where the tour was. He said he might have to swing by and stop, if he can.

After Sheamus, a swarm of NXT 4 came in, along with Michael Tarver. I didnt have anything for these folks and the place became swarming in people. I got a pic. with Brodius Clay, as no one else was around. He asked me for my vote for NXT. Interesting. Perhaps the votes do count in some capacity.

Next up was one of the best meets of the weekend....BIG DADDY COOL DIESEL! Kevin Nash came in and you could feel the buzz in the air. Nash was SUPER friendly, very happy to sign and take photos. Luckily, I decided to bring my TNA program....just in case and got Nash to sign it. Still need him on a number of things, as I thought this was a long shot at best. I told him it looked like he stepped out of a time machine from 1995 and he laughed, saying its a miracle what a little hair color can do for a man. Someone asked for a photo, saying he probably will say no cuz of him being a surprise entrant for RR. Nash said sure, as he wasnt here for the Rumble. He said he was here to hang out with under privledged kids and began winking. So I snagged a photo with Diesel. Stellar moment. Nash stood around talking and people followed and listened. I was also able to get my WWE E Diesel entry signed....thanks Dave!

While everyone was crowding to listen to Nash, Cody Rhodes, Layla and William Regal came out. Very few people were going up to them, as they were still with Nash. So I went to Cody and got him in WM 26. He had a big bandage on his nose, so I asked him what had happened. He annoyingly said someone broke it. OOok. Cody was always cool before, guess it hurt real bad or he was really mad about the fact. Who knows. Layla was crowded and Regal, who per usual was standing off to the side watching everyone else sign. I hear this all the time. People see Regal and he stands off to the side and watches with a look of sadness. Everyone wants an auto with Cody Rhodes and Layla, 2 people Regal could wrestle circles around. Being a big admirer of Regal I went up to him and made sure to express my admiration for him, as I got my 2009 program and 2010 program dones. I've always heard Regal will sign as much as you got....but I didnt want to press too hard and was happy with 2 and the photo. Regal was fairly sick as well, but was still very appreciative of the few who did ask for his auto. I was going to Layla next, when Max came up to me and said he had nothing for her and wanted to lend a hand in helping me. I was very appreciative and handed him a program. I grabbed my other, but sadly missed Layla. But Max scored! Big ups to Max for lending a hand. In all honesty, Max turned out to be a pretty damn cool dude. I look forward to marking out with him again and I'm not one to easily make friends with.

Michelle McCool was next. She was VERY friendly. Met her a few times, this was definitely the nicest I had seen her. I got my 2010 program done and helped a friend out with his WM 26 program. Alberto Del Rio was also there, I did not approach him as others complained that he didnt just say no, but cussed them out. And he used to be SO friendly before he got to tv. Sad.

Main event time for me.....as Edge was next. We waited patiently, all kind of huddled up. Funny. Edge comes down and no one seems to move. I was kind of in the middle of the pack and looked around, as people just looked on. I was going to let everyone else go first, as I didnt want to hold up everyone else cuz I wanted a few minutes to talk to him about the dvd compilation I made of his career and see if he had watched them from the last time I gave them to him. I also had 3 more dvds, 26, 27 and 28 in his career comp. to give to him plus a dvd of his last 2 years on the indy circuit. But no one moved. I pushed through and decided I would lead the pack of wolves in. LOL! I moved, they followed. I think everyone was basically waiting for me to approach first. I went up to him and he greeted me with a big smile, asking me how I have been before I could really say anything. I handed him the dvds and he looked down at the numbers and remarked how crazy that his matches, promos, etc. take up 28 dvds. He saw the title of the last dvd, being indy footage from 96 and 97 and he was pretty shocked. He asked how I had gotten this and I told him I had it on VHS since 1997 and just never even thought about putting it on dvd to give to him. He said he couldnt wait to see this. I told him some of the stuff on it and he laughed about Rhino being inducted as an honorary Canadian in Thug Life. He asked what I had him for him to sign and I pulled out WM 26, an 8X10 photo and my favorite cover to WWE Magazine, the Edge Superman cover. He signed it all and I got a photo with him. I asked him if he had a chance to watch any of the dvds and he said he watched a lot of it. In fact, when his feud with Kane started.....he used my dvds to look at old matches he had had with Kane to see what he could use for a blast from the past in his feud with Kane. I told him how much I enjoyed the feud, but he wasnt as happy with it. He felt more could be done. He did say he loved the Last Man Standing match blow off to it though and used my dvd with him vs. Cena Last Man standing to get ready for it. I was like a little kid who just won a spelling bee in school. Blue ribbon for me! I told him my favorite part of that last man stadning match with Kane was when Striker gave him the assist. Edge said it wasnt planned and was just something that happened during the match. He said it was also Striker's. LOL! I told him I wasnt sure if I was the bigger fan or Striker. He said it was close. LOL! Well.....I think the 10 minutes I took was enough and certainly did not want to infringe upon others opportunity, so I gracefully bowed out. Told him to have a great match with Ziggler at the Rumble and moved along.

It worked out for me to go first, as Morrison and Masters were also there and had been waiting the entire time. Since everyone was lined up for Edge....I went to Morrison. Got him in WM 26 and made sure to get a picture, first with bearded Morrison. My friend Dave used his camera, so I anixously await my photo. Hint, hint Dave. I told him how much I enjoyed his feud with Sheamus and the match on Raw against Miz. He has been the highlight of Raw for most of the year and one of only the few brightspots. I told him I really wished he and Miz were at the Rumble though. At this point, I felt like I was ding a shoot interview with Morrison. He said he the same thing, while rolling his eyes and was honestly shocked that it wasnt. I told him I was tired of seeing the same ol same ol Orton or Cena. He rolled his eyes again. He said exactly.....thank God other people get it. I told him there was nothing else for Miz/Orton to do as they have had a poor feud. Miz looks weak as champion against Orton and Orton isnt doing anything to make Miz look good. He nodded his head and said he doesnt write the show. It was cool to get some candid and honest comments from him and wished him luck in the Rumble. By this time others had began to come up.

I rolled over to Masters who NO ONE seemed to even have desire for. I got my 2010 program signed and he was in an extra friendly mood. I met him before and he was nice. But he was really talkative this time. I was gonna walk away after my auto, but he asked if I wanted to do a photo too. I said....ok. And he said cool. I took the photo and told him I had been loving Superstars as of late, mostly b/c of Curt Hawkins. I told him that Curt had been talking about him on twitter. Masters started to laugh and wanted to know what was being said. I told him not much and he wasnt accepting. He said...please let me know....this will be good. So I just told him Hawkins was making fun of him and tweeting that he was gonna find the key to the masterlock. Masters laughed and I left. Hawkins is probably gonna get pounded next time. EEk.

From here it was onto Jack Swagger. I had a number of things for Swagger and by the end of the weekend, I completed all my Swaggers. Jack was pretty nice and I got him in WM 26, while my buddy Dave helped out and got him in my 2009 program. I completely forgot I missed him in that and 2009 is always my priority. I think I only need like 13 names in that one now.

The night was coming to an end, as Chavo was the last on my list. Would have been a first time meet. Sadly, he signed for 1 girl and told us he doesnt sign for guys. Ooooook. Night was over and we headed back to the hotel. Found a bunch of marks in the hotel lobby and was confused. I got inside and was told Swagger just checked in. Huh?!?!? Jack Swagger is staying at this dump?! I was pretty tired and just headed to bed but was getting the 411 about all the people who were staying here as the tv hotel didnt have enough rooms and people got bumped out. But here?! NOOOO!

The morning came and I hit the lobby. Probably about 10 in all of us marks there. In really no order, R Truth, Gail Kim, Rosa Mendez, Wade Barret, Heath Slater, Hornswoggle, Dolph Ziggler and Zach Ryder were all staying there. Ryder and Ziggler were 2 big wants and first time meets. Gail and Rosa ran out the back door, not stopping for anyone. Hornswoggle signed and took photos. Sadly, I still never can get him to personalize for him. 3 times I have gotten him and 3 times no personalization. Yet others constantly get a personazliation. I think the person behind me got his promo personalized. Barrett and Slater signed, but were in a hurry so only a few got stuff. I had nothing for them, but missed a picture.

The last stop on the Boston trip was Hacksaw Jim Duggan. He had a free autograph signing in town, so we went there. I got my WCW US Title signed, my WWE E and my 2009 program. 2009 program and US title are 2 major projects for me, so adding Hacksaw was huge for me. He was very cool and confirmed the guy who keeps tweeting me is not Duggan, as Hacksaw does not tweet. So if you get a tweet from HacksawJDuggan....its not him.

That pretty much concludes the adventure to Boston. Awesome freaking trip! Great meets, got tons of stuff done and some great photos. LONG trip, but well worth it. Enjoy the photos!

P.S. To Kimberly's Ghost......awesome hanging out with you on Sunday. And I promise, you can be a Co host for Color Commentary in an episode in the near future. I wished I had brought my camera. DAMN!