I grew up in Charlotte in the 80s when the NWA was big and a lot of the wrestlers lived there because of Jim Crockett.

I lived about 4 or 5 houses down from the Barbarian for a long time. I'd see him outside a lot and he'd often have cookouts with a lot of the Russian dudes like Ivan koloff (koloff now lives in the same town I do in eastern NC, but I've never seen him around). My friends and I would go and watch them all play horseshoes in the Barbarian's backyard.

My friend lived near Arn Anderson, and I helped my friend cut his grass a few times.

One kid on my bus was the son of another semi-decent NWA wrestler, but I forget what his name was. The kid was a dick though.

Always wanted to see Ric Flair but never did. He opened a Golds Gym about 10 min from my house, but I don't know if he ever stopped in.

My best wrestling memory was when a group of us went to an event a few weeks before we all went off to college. One of my friends was real big into the scene (his claim to fame was getting one his letters published in one of the big wrestling magazines of the 80s, lol). The last match was a cage match and somehow he knew the name of the guy setting up the chain link cage. We went down while he was setting it up and asked if we could help take it down. Surprisingly, he agreed, so we stayed after the match and took down the cage and ring. But not before we spent a few minutes doing our own moves in the ring. My personal highlight was climbing the turnbuckle and doing a flying clothesline on one of my friends . I was surprised to see how non-elastic the ropes were and that the ring was simply the mat stretched over top of loose wood boards.

Though he was way before my day, I can say that I've met a world champion. Gene Kiniski retired to my hometown, the tiny little town of Blaine, WA, and still regularly went by my childhood home as part of his running/biking exercise path. He was considerably fatter as an old dude than in his Wiki picture, which is surprising given that he seemed like a hell of a devoted workout guy. Anyway, he was always very nice and friendly and would greet me with a smile and hello if I passed by him on the sidewalks around town. Can't say that I ever stopped and talked to him. Also my mom just told me a few months ago that one of his sons took my aunt to the high school prom back in the day, and that she raved afterward that his sons were really well-mannered and gentlemanly, and had clearly been raised well.

I see that he refereed the Flair v. Race main event of the first Starrcade in '83. That's cool; I didn't realize he remained relevant that late. Jim Ross would drop his name in commentary from time to time. I see that Kiniski died last year, but lived into his 80's, which is basically like living to be 175 if you're a pro wrestler.

(This post hereby explains all the times that I've dropped Gene Kiniski's name in moorobot's direction. He's like the one wrestler I know of before a certain cutoff in time.)

(original) Doink's gf used to cut my hair while he'd kick it in the living room. Got a slightly intimidating call from him once when he didn't recognize my phone # on their caller id, but very nice guy in general.

He blew the finish of that match. It was supposed to be controversial, with Race tripping over Kiniski. Instead, it was a clean pin. Maybe that's why he was never relevant again.

@dukesucks i went to south meck in the 80's and lived in raintree. the rock n roll express and i think also the italian stallion would be at the pool all the time. i also used to work out up at carmel commons with both members of the midnight express sweet stan had that nice 427 cobra.

wrestling hasnt been the same since the end of nwa/wcw. ive always hated wwf.

I went to south meck too and lived very close to carmel commons off carmel rd. wonder if we knew each other lol

i graduated in 1988 and played football. I had an infamous brown celica.
Do you agree after the glory days of nwa/wcw that wwf is just a joke?

I live in Jacksonville, FL and drove to Atlanta just to eat at Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs and Chinese Food. My wife and I are stretching our legs in the parking lot when we see Abby walking in from the mailbox. He was amazing, taking pictures, sticking quarters in his forehead scars, and signing anything. I remember him saying "just don't let me see this on ebay". Of course, I had to keep a fork as a memento.

Met Vampiro at a Nitro show back in the day. Shot the shat with him after the show for like 10 minutes. Met a bunch of the JCW guys also. Slapped Hulk Hogans arm when I was a young Hulkamaniac at a house show in Oakland. My buddy is a wrestler for a local promotion. He got his start in a backyard wrestling gig that we were in. I got inside a ring one time (wrestled) with a guy who got signed on that same day because he was that bad a** (moonsaults from the top rope to the outside!!)

met sky lo lo once when i was driving a cab. he was short tree fiddy but i gave him a lift anyways.

Miss Elizabeth was a neighbor and friend of mine in the early 2000's. When my wife and I moved into a bigger place, she gave us a couple pieces of furniture, one of which was a wedding gift given to her and Macho Man. I met Lex Luger on moving day.

She was awesome. RIP.

About 10 years ago, I was in a bar in southeastern Pennsylvania (Bootleggers?) right before Wrestlemania. Friend of mine pulls me aside and says, "Hey, isn't that guy a wrestler?"

Sure enough, it was the Man of 1000 Holds, Dean Malenko. We walked up and shook his hand, chatted for a second, but he seemed preoccupied with his lady-friend. I wished him good luck on the weekend, but he didn't end up on the main card that weekend.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan and John Cena both at autograph signings.

Rhyno at a Perkins when stopping on my way home from Smackdown.

I've met The Rock!

I was an indy wrestler for JAPW for a few years so I have met a lot and worked with a bunch. Jay Lethal and I got started in the same class. Done some training at Homicides old wrestling school. I worked with Stryker for a while, I have knots in the back on my head from Axl Rotten chair shots. I drove Danel Bryan from North Jersey to Delaware for an ECWA show once, and on the way my tire got flat and we were stranded for a bit. The whole time we talked nothing but wrestling. Worked a benefit show once that CM Punk was on. Did a show once where I was asked to be the Iron Sheik's newphew, that was a lot of fun he's just like he is when doing an interview. I could name a lot of names, a large portion of original TNA talent I have been in the locker room with during a show.