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Post by showbizpizzabear81 on Nov 18, 2018 7:37:51 GMT -5
Yesterday, Ricky Steamboat came to Rosemont, IL. I kept the date earmarked because my wife Kristin and I grew up watching 1980s wrestling. I've also heard, Ricky is one of the nicest wrestlers you could ever want to meet, and we weren't disappointed. So, me, my wife, and our daughter went to the Fanatics Sports Con to meet him. Found out his wedding anniversary (10/18) is the same as our engagement anniversary. He told us that in 2009, his matches with Jericho at Mania 25 and Backlash 2009 weren't the only ones. Vince got him to wrestle 20 MATCHES. The other 18 were overseas and untelevised, though. He talked about his diet guidelines and how he stays fit. He said he basically avoids carbs after lunch. After that, it's just the protein. He was even explaining the breakdown and conversion into sugars. The guy was there to interact for sure! But, hes doing well, which is refreshing for a wrestler, and I got my French Hasbro signed with a COA. Awesome time all around. If The Dragon ever comes to your neighborhood, he's well worth the trip!
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Boon
Main Eventer
Joined on: Nov 21, 2011 8:09:33 GMT -5
Posts: 1,409
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Post by Boon on Nov 18, 2018 7:59:28 GMT -5
that's great bro, your wife looks like Cheryl Hines get that figure in a plastic protector case.
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Post by Ruby Fusion on Nov 18, 2018 8:12:05 GMT -5
That's great!
Ricky always seemed like a down to earth guy.
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Post by showbizpizzabear81 on Nov 18, 2018 8:43:12 GMT -5
that's great bro, your wife looks like Cheryl Hines get that figure in a plastic protector case. Haha..that's a first. Shes gotten Kristen Bell more times than she would care too. To the point where she acts dumb and knows it's coming when someone says, "HEY! You look like that actress!!..." And I sure am. I also have to grab one for my Mick Foley signed Retro. I'm a mess lol. I'll be scooping a few tonight.
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Post by showbizpizzabear81 on Nov 18, 2018 8:48:00 GMT -5
That's great! Ricky always seemed like a down to earth guy. Oh man, he really is. He talked about how he would've liked to wrestle Shawn and wished their careers overlapped, and how it was unfortunate that they just missed one another as far as both being active and in primes. But yes, you really actually get sucked into regular conversation. Out of all the things fans could talk about with WWF/NWA 1980s, us and a few other fans in front of us were discussing hurricanes and how Ricky went about properly boarding his house down in St. Pete's, FL...not Flair, not Savage lol. Just a nice, regular guy. All class.
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drnickriviera995
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jul 25, 2010 23:58:50 GMT -5
Posts: 1,992
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Post by drnickriviera995 on Nov 18, 2018 22:46:05 GMT -5
That's great! Ricky always seemed like a down to earth guy. Oh man, he really is. He talked about how he would've liked to wrestle Shawn and wished their careers overlapped, and how it was unfortunate that they just missed one another as far as both being active and in primes. But yes, you really actually get sucked into regular conversation. Out of all the things fans could talk about with WWF/NWA 1980s, us and a few other fans in front of us were discussing hurricanes and how Ricky went about properly boarding his house down in St. Pete's, FL...not Flair, not Savage lol. Just a nice, regular guy. All class. So true, it's also a shame he wasn't really utilized in 91' when he came back to the WWF. Glad to see he takes care of himself.
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Post by Nivro™ on Nov 19, 2018 1:07:51 GMT -5
Ricky has been the nicest wrestling Ive met (followed closely by Alexa, Bret Hart & Arn Anderson). He signed a pic for me and I asked about Richie and he talked for a good 10 mins telling me what his son was doing now. He spends so much time with fans and is generally just a great person.
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Post by MKSavage on Nov 19, 2018 13:46:59 GMT -5
Ricky has been the nicest wrestling Ive met (followed closely by Alexa, Bret Hart & Arn Anderson). He signed a pic for me and I asked about Richie and he talked for a good 10 mins telling me what his son was doing now. He spends so much time with fans and is generally just a great person. That's awesome to hear. He has always been one of my all-time favorite wrestlers. Also good to hear about Bret and Arn as well, two more of my all-time favorites.
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Post by MKSavage on Nov 19, 2018 13:49:03 GMT -5
Oh man, he really is. He talked about how he would've liked to wrestle Shawn and wished their careers overlapped, and how it was unfortunate that they just missed one another as far as both being active and in primes. But yes, you really actually get sucked into regular conversation. Out of all the things fans could talk about with WWF/NWA 1980s, us and a few other fans in front of us were discussing hurricanes and how Ricky went about properly boarding his house down in St. Pete's, FL...not Flair, not Savage lol. Just a nice, regular guy. All class. So true, it's also a shame he wasn't really utilized in 91' when he came back to the WWF. Glad to see he takes care of himself. True, though, I am kind of happy they didn't because if they did we probably wouldn't have gotten that great Ricky Steamboat Rick Rude feud in WCW 1992. Also had a very good run with Stunning Steve Austin as well. Though, you're right, it would have been nice to see Ricky vs. Shawn in early 1992 when Shawn first turned.
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Post by Nivro™ on Nov 19, 2018 15:39:09 GMT -5
Ricky has been the nicest wrestling Ive met (followed closely by Alexa, Bret Hart & Arn Anderson). He signed a pic for me and I asked about Richie and he talked for a good 10 mins telling me what his son was doing now. He spends so much time with fans and is generally just a great person. That's awesome to hear. He has always been one of my all-time favorite wrestlers. Also good to hear about Bret and Arn as well, two more of my all-time favorites. I fully expected Bret to be cranky or irritable but he was super nice. Usually during photo ops you're in and out so fast you cant speak to the person. Bret would stop after the photo, shake your hand and say thanks for coming. Arn greeted me every time "hello young man, like that shirt" and Alexa gives everyone or at least my big sexy self a hug before photo ops. Others Ive met like Flair (who Im a big fan of) and Kelly Kelly just barely acknowledge you exist.
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drnickriviera995
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jul 25, 2010 23:58:50 GMT -5
Posts: 1,992
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Post by drnickriviera995 on Nov 19, 2018 16:19:14 GMT -5
So true, it's also a shame he wasn't really utilized in 91' when he came back to the WWF. Glad to see he takes care of himself. True, though, I am kind of happy they didn't because if they did we probably wouldn't have gotten that great Ricky Steamboat Rick Rude feud in WCW 1992. Also had a very good run with Stunning Steve Austin as well. Though, you're right, it would have been nice to see Ricky vs. Shawn in early 1992 when Shawn first turned. Or with Bret in 91/92.
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Post by showbizpizzabear81 on Nov 20, 2018 6:23:30 GMT -5
Oh man, he really is. He talked about how he would've liked to wrestle Shawn and wished their careers overlapped, and how it was unfortunate that they just missed one another as far as both being active and in primes. But yes, you really actually get sucked into regular conversation. Out of all the things fans could talk about with WWF/NWA 1980s, us and a few other fans in front of us were discussing hurricanes and how Ricky went about properly boarding his house down in St. Pete's, FL...not Flair, not Savage lol. Just a nice, regular guy. All class. So true, it's also a shame he wasn't really utilized in 91' when he came back to the WWF. Glad to see he takes care of himself. YES. As I rotated the card around on the table for him, I asked with a big smile "Who's that guy??," pointing to the stock photo of him all gimmicked up. He basically said what Nash and others said as of matter of factly. "In those days, Vince wanted everyone to be an occupation or their literal gimmick. Like me...a dragon." He kinda had a "it sucked, but it was what it was thing about that." You could tell he does not not like to criticize things in his career or even his life. Hes really just a positive dude. Buying a shoot DVD on him would be REALLY boring and I say that respectfully, if you want the tabloid stuff haha. But yeah, he puts my arms to shame. Until this weekend, I liked my arms haha.
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Post by showbizpizzabear81 on Nov 20, 2018 7:01:05 GMT -5
That's awesome to hear. He has always been one of my all-time favorite wrestlers. Also good to hear about Bret and Arn as well, two more of my all-time favorites. I fully expected Bret to be cranky or irritable but he was super nice. Usually during photo ops you're in and out so fast you cant speak to the person. Bret would stop after the photo, shake your hand and say thanks for coming. Arn greeted me every time "hello young man, like that shirt" and Alexa gives everyone or at least my big sexy self a hug before photo ops. Others Ive met like Flair (who Im a big fan of) and Kelly Kelly just barely acknowledge you exist. I met Bret in Chicago Ridge, IL in June 2006 when Mania 22 was here and he was inducted in the HoF. Naturally, he was making appearances in the area. I was maybe 15 feet away to his right side, with my friends in line and there was this folding table holding a bunch of equipment and suitcases. Well, while my friends and I were talking, I leaned on the end of the table with my plaque and the on side collapsed. My guess, it wasnt secured properly. Everything fell all over the place. Bret stopped in his tracks to see and looked right at me. I felt like some punk fan trying to make a scene. 10 mins later, I met him. Talk about cool and awkward haha. He was nice, but hes a quiet guy. You could tell Bret leans towards the loner side of life. And that's cool.
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Deleted
Joined on: Mar 28, 2024 15:12:46 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2018 22:46:53 GMT -5
Ricky has been the nicest wrestling Ive met (followed closely by Alexa, Bret Hart & Arn Anderson). He signed a pic for me and I asked about Richie and he talked for a good 10 mins telling me what his son was doing now. He spends so much time with fans and is generally just a great person. This is so true. I finally met Steamboat at Cauliflower Alley last year. I told him about when I was a kid, I had a birthday cake made with his image on it, and he literally held my hand as I told him the story because he appreciated my level of excitement. Even let me film a quick video of him for my friend Yuji, where Ricky described his most memorable moment when he fought Yuji's father, Jumbo Tsuruta in Japan. Great guy
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Post by showbizpizzabear81 on Nov 27, 2018 7:30:19 GMT -5
Ricky has been the nicest wrestling Ive met (followed closely by Alexa, Bret Hart & Arn Anderson). He signed a pic for me and I asked about Richie and he talked for a good 10 mins telling me what his son was doing now. He spends so much time with fans and is generally just a great person. This is so true. I finally met Steamboat at Cauliflower Alley last year. I told him about when I was a kid, I had a birthday cake made with his image on it, and he literally held my hand as I told him the story because he appreciated my level of excitement. Even let me film a quick video of him for my friend Yuji, where Ricky described his most memorable moment when he fought Yuji's father, Jumbo Tsuruta in Japan. Great guy I've also met Pillman Jr in September. The impression my wife and I got from him was that he seemed intellectual, social, but at the same time.. antsy as hell...I think he has ADHD like me. He played around with his retainer all night in between a few beers, but please don't ask him to ever sit in a chair haha. A good guy though. It was at the Gary Michael Cappetta Show. Like 8 fans there. We got to talk to him for 45 mins that night. I hope he avoids his father's vices.
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ecdub
Jobber
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Post by ecdub on Nov 28, 2018 17:34:34 GMT -5
my sources in wwe confirm that ricky steamboat is in fact a very nice guy
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jason1980s
Main Eventer
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Post by jason1980s on Nov 29, 2018 7:57:15 GMT -5
I always wanted to meet Ricky but never had the chance, of all the big time wrestlers I watched growing up and got to meet. I do have his autograph a friend got for me, though. I'm glad you guys have good experiences with him. I always heard good things. Also cool he turns the conversation to non-wrestling talk. From my experiences meeting wrestlers, they prefer to keep the wrestling talk with their buddies but would rather hear every day discussion from the fans, like talk about the area they are traveling or hobbies they may have.
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Post by showbizpizzabear81 on Nov 29, 2018 9:36:31 GMT -5
I always wanted to meet Ricky but never had the chance, of all the big time wrestlers I watched growing up and got to meet. I do have his autograph a friend got for me, though. I'm glad you guys have good experiences with him. I always heard good things. Also cool he turns the conversation to non-wrestling talk. From my experiences meeting wrestlers, they prefer to keep the wrestling talk with their buddies but would rather hear every day discussion from the fans, like talk about the area they are traveling or hobbies they may have. You know, I learned that early on when I started meeting these guys, that there probably isn't a wrestling story they haven't had to talk about 100 times over. However, in my own experience, Steamboat seemed more engaged when talking about how his current wife turned him into a Tennessee Vol guy, or even the Florida hurricanes.. I guess I really don't feel like talking about work when I get home lol
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kev85hasbro
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Post by kev85hasbro on Nov 29, 2018 12:25:38 GMT -5
Great to see the pictures and fab stories to match.
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jason1980s
Main Eventer
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Post by jason1980s on Nov 29, 2018 14:48:42 GMT -5
You know, I learned that early on when I started meeting these guys, that there probably isn't a wrestling story they haven't had to talk about 100 times over. However, in my own experience, Steamboat seemed more engaged when talking about how his current wife turned him into a Tennessee Vol guy, or even the Florida hurricanes.. I guess I really don't feel like talking about work when I get home lol I attended a lot of shows with Nikolai Volkoff who was my friend and father-figure and I can't think of one full wrestling related conversation we ever had. If I asked a wrestling question it was usually one a friend had me ask and the answer was usually a one or two word response. The most we ever spoke of wrestling was probably traveling through an area of New Jersey he lived where a lot of other guys from the 1970s lived. Otherwise car or phone conversation were usually basic life stories like our jobs, tv shows we liked or food we liked to eat. When a fan would pose a wrestling question, he would give a one or two word answer before immediately going to into a conversation about their life, job, family members, hobbies or health. He befriended a lot of autograph show assistants based not on wrestling fandom but rather the similar hobbies and interests. On the other hand, when he would meet the other wrestlers they would cut up and laugh with each other over their road stories, especially Iron Sheik stories. As for Ricky, he was and is such a big star. For as big a star as he is, he could probably be even more well known amongst non wrestling fans. Even retiring in 1994 before the next wrestling boom, he was a huge talent. He could have probably retired in 1987 after his son was born and he was suspended or fired from WWF and he'd still have had a huge career because of his talent. I do think he was underrated on his promos. He could always get me fired up, no pun intended.
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