Skinner, Slaughter, & Rougeaus Signing Report (09/21/2024)

The annual Hamilton Comic Con takes place this weekend.



The Rougeaus, Heath Slater, Skinner, Rikishi, Sgt. Slaughter, and Tugboat were the line up for today. Commander Azeez is slated for tomorrow but I don’t have anything for him so I’ll likely pass on meeting him until I find his figure some time down the road.



The con doors were to open at 10 and I get there 10 minutes past to see a decent sized line of people still waiting to get it. The line moved pretty fast considering how long it was and I was in very quickly. My plans were to get Rikishi, Skinner, and The Rougeaus. I first walked around the celebrity area to see who was already out and what prices were. The website did post prices in advance online with the exception of Rikishi but prices sometimes change at the event itself. Rougeaus were not yet out but Skinner and Rikishi were. For Rikishi, I wanted to get two figures signed. However, during my walk around, I see his prices. It’s $110 for a premium autograph and figures are usually premium. Worse, it’s an added $30 for an inscription. No thank you. The Rikishi figures that were in my bag stayed in my bag. He’ll be around my area in November for cheaper so I will try to attend that.

Fearing something like this would happen or fearing that someone would cancel, I brought along a Sgt. Slaughter figure to get signed just in case. He had a line of a dozen people so I first went for Skinner. I paid the $70 for the combo and he is very friendly. We start off by exchanging pleasantries and he asks me for my name. From this point on, he would always call me by my name. I tell him that I was really excited to see him here as we often have repeat names so it’s nice to meet someone I haven’t met before. He thanks me and I ask him to sign my encyclopedia using a blue sharpie I provided. He asks, “you don’t want this personalized, do you?”. I say “actually yes please if that’s okay”. He turns to his handler and asks if he’s allowed to do personalizations, to which his handler says he can do whatever he wants. Skinner turns back to me and says “he’s my boss today” and points at his handler. He then spells my name out loud, asking if he got the spelling right. I say he did and he celebrates, saying “I’m on it today!” After he signed, he instinctively caps my sharpie and puts it among his.



We take a photo together which he stands up for. Once the photo was taken, he tells me “nice to meet you, Alex” and I return the thought to him. I then motion to grab my marker among his, saying “I believe this blue one was mine”. Skinner laughs and “help yourself!” Very nice guy.

At this point, the Rougeaus were not yet out and Slaughter’s line hadn’t shrank but it didn’t grow either. I joined it and after 10 minutes, it was my turn. His handler is always the same guy with the same sales pitch so I knew to expect an upcharge on my figure, and to hear then spiel of how much extra a photo-op with the cobra clutch would be. I tell him I only need the autograph as we’ve seen them at many cons before, including Nickel City. I pay the $80 he asks and the handler says he’s still getting used to Canada. I tell him at least the money is coloured so it’s easier to count and he talks about always having to keep the exchange rate in mind. I then hand Slaughter my figure and marker, simply telling him it is nice to see him again and shaking his hand.



While in the Slaughter line, I noticed that Tugboat has the SDCC Shockmaster figure for sale. I join his line after I was done with Slaughter, which had a few people, to inquire about it as it’s a figure I don’t have and always wanted. I tell the handler, I ran out of cash and need to run to an ATM (not true - I just needed an excuse to walk away if the price was too high) and ask how much the figure signed would be. He says it’s $250 which was too much for me.

The Rougeaus are still not here so I roam around the vendor rooms while also chatting with Ryan who is the handler for an actor. I see ARUN there too, who is always a pleasure to see, and tells me he’s also waiting for the Rougeaus but has to leave soon. I tell him I can get his stuff signed for him if needed. We would play it by ear depending on when the Rougeaus actually arrived. Arun did eventually have to leave so we met again and he passed on a couple of items to me to get signed for him.

They finally arrive at almost 12:30 but the line is capped due to all the people (like a couple of dozen) waiting because of the delay. I am told to come back at 1. I do so and as I’m a few people away from meeting them, a Hulk Hogan cosplayer pops out of nowhere, doing his schtick. Jacques plays along, saying “ let me tell YOU something about the time I kicked your a** in Montreal!” The Rougeaus asks for a picture with the cosplayer.



A few minutes later, it is finally my turn. On top of Arun’s items, I needed Raymond to sign my book as well as getting a photo-op with both. I approach the table after paying the handler. Raymond is on the left while Jacques is on the right. I first shake Raymond’s hand and tell him it’s nice to meet him. Just as I began my experience when them, some VIP ticket holders approached. Strangely, the handler let them start getting their stuff signed at the same time as me so it got a bit messy (more on this later). I wanted to shake Jacques hand but he was occupied with those VIP folks. That was okay with me because I’ve met Jacques many times but never met Raymond. However, I will admit that I would have liked to get their full attention. With Raymond, he first signs Arun’s items. He asks me for my name but I tell him I just want the autograph. He also asks me where I’m from. I tell him I’m from Toronto and that I’ve met Jacques many times but this is my first time meeting him. Raymond says that he doesn’t get out here much. I tell him we’re huge fans here and he should come out more often. Raymond then also signs my book which was signed by Jacques years ago.



At this point, the items are signed by Raymond and we are now waiting for Jacques. He tells the VIP folks he’ll quickly do mine and take the photo, then continue with them. He signs Arun’s items and as he does, I ask Raymond how life after wrestling has been. He says it’s been great and that he’s the mayor of his hometown. He says that on the flight here, he had to do some work. I laughed and said, the work never stops. Jacques signed both items and they let me come behind their table for a photo. They also ask if I want the flags in the photos to which I say yes please.

After the photo I thank them both and Jacques proceeds to continue with the VIPs. I’m still at the table. As I pack up my stuff, I tell Jacques I saw him earlier this year at the Reena Rumble. He says “oh yeah?”. He picks up a marker and starts signing for the VIP. He then stops and asks me “wait, which Rumble?” I say “the Reena Rumble. It was the charity event with the Magen Boys.” He replies, “oh Page!” who is the name of the promoter of that event as he signs for the VIP. I say “yeah!” and thank him again. At this point, he realizes he signed the VIP’s item with the wrong marker. He used a regular sharpie on a plastic item rather than the desired paint pen. This was likely due to the challenge of multitasking when it came to signing, conversing with me, and conversing with them at the same time. I walk away as I didn’t need anything else so I don’t know what the outcome of that mishap was. Jacques was cool for what it was - the handler just should have made the VIP folks wait since I had already started meeting the Rougeaus.

With that, I call it a day. Overall a great experience with all the talent I met.

Thanks for reading!