TNA Impact Wrestling was in Louisville recently.
I just happened to be in town on a getaway for the entire duration of when they were in town. I also happened to nab my most-wanted meet.
Thus, I got some graphing in…
Here’s the results (my wife assisted me, so I’ll be totaling what we got together)…
First up was ODB. She was on her way to Ohio Valley Wrestling’s event, but she signed four photos. I commented on how hectic the past few days in TNA have been and she joked she wasn’t turning her phone on for fear that she’d be next.
Next up was Mike Tenay, who signed two pics for me.
Then, after a wait of a few hours, Bully Ray showed up and we got him on seven photos. Bully wasn’t very talkative, but he signed for everyone and was cordial.
Day 2 in Louisville had me hit a pretty good motherload..
Those I obtained an in no particular order were:
Jeff Hardy – 10 photos (was a signing machine as usual. Didn’t say much, but signed and took photos with everyone that wanted something.)
Mickie James – 1 photo (was meeting some old pals where I was at and seemed to be in a hurry.)
Sonjay Dutt – two photos (had met him years ago and got on an index card. Glad to add some promos to my collection.)
Bobby Roode – four photos (much like Hardy in that he was very quiet, but signed for everyone.)
Magnus – two photos (another quiet one.)
Earl Hebner – one photo (had to chase him down as he was in a hurry.)
Homicide – one photo (like Dutt, I’d met him before, but didn’t have a signed pictured in my collection.)
So Cal Val – one photo (sweet, as usual.)
Velvet Sky – five photos (was running late as Chris Sabin was waiting for her, but still signed five photos.)
Mr. Anderson – six photos (cleaned me out and was willing to sign everything one had on this day. Pretty much finished with him unless a gnarly pic comes out.)
Petey Williams – four photos (like Dutt and Homicide, I only had a signed index card of him. Glad to get some pics in my collection, including one from Lucha Libre USA.)
Chris Sabin – four photos, one was a prior photo-op (Sabin becomes the first wrestler I’ve ever gotten on the day they won a World Title. That’s a cool factoid. Joked that he’d made the cut for now in TNA when I commented on the wild few weeks in the company.)
Austin Aries – three photos (was in an outstanding mood, commenting on the pics I had and looking for a good spot to sign the in.)
Devon – two photos, one was a prior photo-op (had one of his younger children with him, wearing an Aces and Eights vest. Devon wrote a long, long inscription. That’s fine by me.)
AJ Styles – three photos (wasn’t in his zombie working the fans mode that he’s be in as of late with his gimmick change.)
Kenny King – two photos (a first-time meet for me. I’ve seen him wrestle in ROH, but he missed that show’s meet-and-greet.)
Christopher Daniels – one photo (wasn’t with Kaz, which is weird, but I’m sure there was a valid excuse for it.)
And finally, the big hitters…
After missing Hulk Hogan on Day 1, I caught up with him on Day 2. Hulk signed four photos, commenting on how old school they were (1980s pre-winged eagle belt.)
Also got Brooke Hogan on the FHM magazine she was on the cover of and on another photo.
However, Day 2 was a huge bummer because I missed Sting by 10 minutes at the place I got Hogan. Then, he and Hogan went to get a drink and I had already left. So, I missed Sting twice in the span of an hour.
Long story short, Sting has long-been my top want. I’ve tried numerous times to get him and had some great plans, but it seems he changed his each time. It’s been a long chase to say the least, dating back to 2007.
In that year, I went to Slammiversary Interaction and most everyone else on that show was there, but Sting.
Then, in 2011, I went to Basebrawl in Marion, IL. Sting was the company’s World Champion at the time, but not on the show. He was at the Basebrawl in Memphis the following evening.
Flash forward to 2012 and Lockdown Interaction. I bought tickets largely in part to the fact that Sting, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair were to be offered in the Main Event session. Sting had to back out of the booking and I missed him again.
Then, I missed him another combined three times at the Impact tapings in Tupelo, Miss., and Jonesboro, Ark.
After missing him on Day 2, I had one more shot on Day 3. I waited and waited and waited some more, while staying on the lookout for Sting. Finally, I got up to wonder around and see if I could get a closer look at the door where I theorized he would exiting.
Within minutes, some bright neon shoes caught my attention. I followed the shoes to see the guy wearing these pieces of footwear and noticed a soulpatch on his face. It was my most-wanted.. It was the Stinger.
After collecting myself, I approached and asked him if he could sign some photos for me. He inquired as to how many I had because he said he’d been bombed the night before by someone with a load of autos. I told him three or four and he said he could do that.
We talked for about five minutes as I told him about missing him at Lockdown. Sting and his lovely wife thought back and informed me of why he was unable to be at Lockdown 2012.
Then, we talked a little more about Louisville, Mrs. Borden asked where I was from and my name and Sting listened to me as I told him some of my favorite moments of his career.
After he signed three pics and a magazine for me, I asked Sting for a photo and his wife jumped up to take the photo. We took one and then she said. Hold on, let me take another one to make sure. How cool is that!
Looking back, I’m so glad I missed him on Thursday when he got bombed by the other collectors and was in a bad mood because I got an once-in-a-lifetime one-on-one meeting with Sting and his wife that I’ll never forget.
Here’s some of the graphs..
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