No Criticism of Kevin Nash Here

Kevin Nash has had an interesting wrestling career.  He has been involved in some of the greatest angles.  He has been a multiple time champion.  Unfortunately, he has also been criticized for various reasons (such as backstage politics and laziness).
I don't know the inside scoop, but I can tell you he seems like a straight up guy to me.  He is always really cool in person and I have met him several times under many different circumstances.  He goes out of his way to give his fans what they want.
For some odd reason, JayHawk and I decided we wanted the big man to put us in headlocks.  He obliged.  Be careful what you ask for, but hindsight is 20/20.  It seemed like a good idea.  Fortunately, Big Kev kept it a loose lock and didn't snap our necks.  Seriously, I do think Kev could have put a hurtin' on us if he wanted.
Kev also is patient and willing to talk about himself, wrestling and his friends in wrestling.
He has enough detractors out there (really too many), but I am not one of them.  Kev is okay in my opinion!

JayHawk Evans, Kevin Nash and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2010.

Queen Sharmell and King Booker

Booker T. Huffman first gained fame tag-teaming with his brother Lane (aka Stevie Ray).  Eventually they went from the Ebony Experience to Harlem Heat and attained real stardom.  Booker T has held 35 major titles in WCW, WWE and TNA.
Things were not always great for Booker.  In his younger days, he spent time in prison for robbing a fast food restaurant.  When he was released, wrestling became his passion and profession.
Sharmell won the 1991 Miss Black America title.  A few years later she joined WCW as Paisley, a member of the Nitro Girls.  This is where she met Booker, whom she later married.
I met Booker and Sharmell at the TNA Bound for Glory event in 2008.  I love the picture below.  It wasn't a rare shot.  These two were smiling the whole afternoon.  They seemed like they were having a ball there.  The whole event was a lot of fun, thanks to the spirit of the wrestlers like Booker and Sharmell.

Booker T and Sharmell in Chicago, IL-October 2008.

Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle

Despite having a severely injured neck, Kurt Angle won a gold medal in wrestling in the 1996 Olympic Games.  While this sounds more like a pro wrestling storyline, it's true.  It's damn true (to borrow Kurt's catchphrase).
Following his amazing effort in the Olympics, Angle did go into a career in pro wrestling.  Over the years, he has won 13 world heavyweight championships between his time in the WWE and TNA.
Angle's character has usually remained similar to his perceived real life persona.  He was one of the first wrestlers to use legit MMA-type submission moves.  He is viewed as a legitimate tough guy.
Angle has also shown his comedic side at times.  He has worked both as a face and a heel.  Basically, I am saying Angle can and has done it all.
I met Angle at a promotional event near Chicago.  He had one of the longest lines waiting for him.  To his credit, Angle did his best to accommodate everyone.  I am willing to bet a few people walked away unhappy and probably bad-mouthed him.  This is always a no-win situation while signing autographs.  You have to stop at some point and someone will usually end up mad.
In this case, Angle did his best, like he always does in the ring.  It was a pleasure meeting him, as it has been a pleasure watching him perform for all f these years.

Kurt Angle in Rosemont, IL-October 2008.

Best-selling Author Mick Foley

There I am again with Mick Foley and I think Foley probably thinks "oh here he is again" every time he sees me. Actually, Foley has been great every time I have seen him.
Foley is a wrestler and an author, a New York Times best-selling author. That distinction isn't just for his autobiography either. Even his autobio isn't the average autobio. Foley wrote it himself. Eight hundred pages of longhand. Really.
His latest effort is Countdown to Lockdown, about his journey to a huge wrestling event in TNA wrestling.  We get inside Foley's mind as he prepares mentally and physically for this match.  Foley has promoted that book here, as well as promoting Johngy's Beat.
He also wrote Tietam Brown and Scooter, two intriguing works of fiction. Oh sure, sometimes they might have gone a bit over the top, but I found both to be completely engrossing.
Another cool thing about Foley is that you can talk to him about anything and get an interesting conversation. We have talked about literature, wrestling, world events, old tv shows and sports.

Mick Foley, JayHawk Evans and me in Rosemont, IL-2008.

On the Beat with Christy Hemme

Wizard World is one of my favorite conventions.  I have attended and covered several of the events in Chicago and elsewhere and have always had a great time.  The vendors, artists and celebrity guests are all very people (and reporter) friendly.
At the last WW con in Chicago, I caught up with Christy Hemme.  I have interviewed Hemme a couple times in the past and she is always ready to talk about her music, travel or wrestling.  She is an excellent spokesperson for TNA Wrestling.

Fans can knock TNA Wrestling for a lot of reasons, but one thing nobody can deny is that they are extremely fan-oriented.  They have a lot of fan events and much of the talent is accessible.  At WW, fellow TNA star Mick Foley also talked to us and Kevin Nash posed with us, but we missed the interview times.

Thanks to Wizard World, TNA Wrestling and Christy Hemme for the time and consideration.They never tell me to write nice things, but this is what they deserve.

All Choked Up

Lisa Marie Varon is a body builder and a pro wrestler. In 1997, she won ESPN2's Fitness America Series. Varon has won the Woman's Championship 5 times (3 in TNA Wrestling and 2 in the WWE).
I met Varon for the first time at Wizard World in Rosemont (IL), right when she was ready to leave. She very politely gave me a few minutes of her time. I got two scoops from Varon. She is planning on moving to Chicago and she is planning on opening a restaurant. She said how much she loves Chicago, but will have to get used to the harsh winters (good luck on that part).
Varon previously owned a pizza place called Fat Tony's in Louisville (KY). She then opened a custom car shop called Black Widow Customs.
Despite achieving a fair amount of success in wrestling, I think the organizations still haven't fully realized her potential. Varon has skills in and out of the ring and should be the top woman in the organization.
I already had respect for her abilities, but after talking to her at Wizard World, I was impressed with her personally. This is why it was so strange when she lunged for my throat (see below). Then again, I have that effect on people.

Lisa Marie Varon and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2010.

Countdown to Lockdown

Mick Foley is a favorite of Johngy's Beat. I have met Mick several times at different events and he is always great.  At the Wrestlers Reunion in 2005, Mick was part of one of the most memorable celebrity encounters I have ever had.
My fascination with Mick started years ago when he was known as Cactus Jack and he was working hard to make it in the business. I saw Mick work his butt off through good times and bad to become one of the greats. His story doesn't end there though.
Mick is also an author, a real author, a New York Times best-selling author. Mick's three autobiographical books were written by Mick without the usual ghost writer. Mick also authored two best-selling novels, Tietam Brown and Scooter.
Tomorrow, Mick's newest book, Countdown to Lockdown, comes out. Mick takes us from his last days in the WWE to his big match with Sting at TNA's Lockdown event. Along the way, Mick shares his life and his thoughts. Mick is open, honest and humorous.
Johngy's Beat was on hand when Mick Foley appeared at Wizard World. Mick gave us a little extra fun by appearing in a quick video promoting Countdown to Lockdown and Johngy's Beat. The video was classic Foley. All that was missing was his old school "cheap plug" comment.
Getting to know Mick a bit more than the usual fan has been a huge pleasure and honor. Mick is an entertaining, hard-working and successful wrestler. He is also an entertaining, intriguing and somewhat offbeat writer. Most importantly, he is a genuine nice guy. To quote an old catchphrase and the title of one of his books, "Foley is Good".
Buy the book. I promise you'll enjoy it. If you ever meet Mick, tell him Johngy sent you.

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly feature highlighting friends who have met celebs.

I have written about Josh Watko a couple times. He runs JW's Wrestling Memorabilia, a website loaded with wrestling pictures, stories and nostalgia.
A couple weekends ago, Josh had a great experience at the NWA Fanfest in Charlotte. Much like his site, this weekend was full of wrestling nostalgia. I asked Josh to share a story and as always, he graciously agreed, but deciding which story to tell was challenging. Finally he settled on Sting, stating that he had the most appeal to fans young and old.
With so much to do at NWA Fanfest, it can sometimes get a little overwhelming. Between waiting in line to get autographs from the featured guests to perusing the vendor floor to trying to meet the extra "vendor guests" who only appear for a few hours, you rarely have time to catch your breath. One guest that fans young and old had to make time to meet was NWA/WCW Legend and current TNA headliner Sting (Steve Borden).
Sting was brought to Fanfest by the promoters of the northeast's premier wrestling convention Legends of the ring. Fans, who paid for a "Superfan" package, received a signed 8x10 TNA promo photo, one of their own items signed and a photo op with Sting, which was quickly printed as a beautiful 8x10, also signed by the legend.
The Stinger, who is known to be one of the more private and reserved wrestlers, was very friendly to his fans of all generations. Dressed in his current TNA attire and face paint, these particular photo ops were some of the most amazing to come out of Fanfest. While fans chose items from all eras of his career, I chose a 1990 WCW Wrestling Wrap-Up magazine from my collection. The entire run of this particular title, albeit short-lived, are extremely hard to find and rarely turn up for sale. This issue features a shot of Sting just after he won his first World Heavyweight Championship from Ric Flair at the 1990 Great American Bash.
It was great that Josh got to meet Sting. I just missed him at the Bound for Glory pre-show event a couple years ago. Josh also met Jim "JR" Ross, Tammy "Sunny" Sytch, Terry Funk, Harley Race, Mickie James and many others. You can check out all of the photos and stories on his site. Hopefully, in the future, he'll share more of his stories here.

Sting (Steve Borden) and Josh Watko in Charlotte, NC-August 2010.

Oz? Vinnie Vegas? Diesel? Kevin Nash!

It seems that every time I meet Kevin Nash, he looks different. It also seems that each time I meet him, he is in a new phase of his wrestling career.
I first met Nash at the Brian Pillman Memorial Show in 2000. Nash was in his second stint in WCW and was perhaps at his popularity peak. His hair was long and he also appeared to have been recovering from a rough night.
I met him again at the first Wrestler Reunion in 2005. Nash was now in TNA wrestling and sporting a new short hair cut. I got my first glimpse of a funny, relaxed Nash.
Thanks to Klinger Promotions, I met Nash again a couple years ago. Nash had regrown his hair, which was gray-white by now. He was pretty quite, but the room was not conducive to a whole lot of intimate talk. I have since met Nash a few more times and he seems to be ever-changing. It's kind of funny.
I have to admit, Nash has grown on me. He has his detractors, but he has accomplished a lot in wrestling and nobody can deny that. Last time I met Nash, he gladly put me in a headlock for a photo (hmm, maybe he just doesn't like me).

Kevin Nash and me in Elgin, IL-early 2008.

The Blueprint:Matt Morgan

As I have written before, the heights and weights of wrestlers have been 'adjusted' to fit whatever role they had at the time. Most are inflated, although some might have been deflated to give them the underdog feel.
Matt Morgan wrestles for TNA and is billed at 6'10". I'd say that is darn close to accurate.
When I met Morgan at the Ultimate Collectibles Show, I was stunned at how big Morgan was. Standing next to him was like standing under a tree. I wish my photog got a better shot, but Morgan's size is obvious anyway. He's huge!
I was also surprised with how friendly he was. I commented that I really thought his overall character development and in-ring work seemed to be improving and he thanked me several times and asked me to elaborate, which I did. He seemed genuinely interest and delighted in my comments.
Morgan seems like a guy who works very hard at his profession. He seems to listen to fans and critics and he seems to want to really learn and improve.

Matt Morgan and me in Oaks, PA-October 2009.

Friendly Encounters

This is another in a series of meetings of my friends and celebs.

I met Ross Forman while working on an online piece on TNA wrestling for Global Traveler magazine. Forman gave us access to the Bound For Glory event in 2008 and to a pre-event fan convention.
Forman is training for his 6th Chicago Marathon (which will be held on October 11). On Sept. 12, he competed in the Walter Payton Run, finishing 3rd in his age division. This event is a fund-raiser for the Walter Payton Cancer Fund. The distance is 19,726 yards (Payton's rushing total) or 9.5 miles.
Forman's effort was featured in a piece on WrestlingFigs.com. Forman also has a blog, Ross:Running a Marathon, detailing his quest for the Chicago Marathon.

Johngy's Beat, Global Traveler and all of the readers wish Forman luck in his bid for a personal best in the Marathon. I know the effort involved and I'll keep good thoughts all Sunday. Forman met Walter Payton several times over the years. At the recent Walter Payton Run, he had the opportunity to meet Payton's widow Connie. That brings us to our Friendly Encounters Payton Doubleheader today.

Ross Forman and Walter Payton in IL-late 70's.

Ross Forman and Connie Payton in Arlington Heights, IL-September 2009.

King Booker, Queen Sharmell and Joker Johngy

To get info for an online piece I was writing for Global Traveler magazine, I attended TNA's Bound For Glory and their fan event in October of 2008. I talked to a few wrestlers and TNA staffers, but so much was happening at once that I couldn't get it all.
Booker T and his wife Sharmell were signing at the next table as we talked to Mick Foley. We did manage to grab a quick photo before they left the room.
Booker T is a true wrestling success story. He worked hard to overcome the odds. He has won many tag and singles titles during his career.
Sharmell is a former Miss Black America (Miss Black Indiana) who has had many roles in the wrestling business. From dancer to singer to valet to wrestler, she had done it all.
They are enjoying their success in TNA, where they seemingly have found a nice comfort zone. Both are good workers from all perspectives. It would have been fun to really talk to them, but at least we had a quick couple of exchanges.

Sharmell and Booker T in Chicago, IL-October 2008.

The Franchise:Shane Douglas

Shane Douglas wrestled for several organizations during his 20+ years in the ring. He won many titles, but was never really a main-eventer in the big companies.
Douglas has stated that Ric Flair is partially responsible for holding him back. The two had feuds on and off-screen. Wrestling, like everything else, can be an ugly business and it is hard to tell what really happened.
I met Douglas at the Brian Pillman Memorial Show in Cincinnati (OH). I was a bit surprised with how fan-friendly Douglas was. Douglas took extra time, beyond his assigned time, to meet as many fans as had lined up for him. Not only that, but he was eager and talkative the whole time. That is really going above the norm.
It makes me wonder even more. He had good wrestling skills, was good on the mic and was a hit with the fans. Who knows why some guys really make it and others don't. Douglas has had a fine career, but I am left curious as to why he did not ascend to greater heights.

Shane Douglas and me in Cincinnati, OH-May 2000.

Lauren Brooke or Lauren Thompson?

Lauren Brooke works for Total Nonstop Wrestling as a backstage interviewer. She also appears on the Golf Channel, but as Lauren Thompson.
I don't know what the deal is with the two names. Maybe it is TNA wanting to own her name, like wrestling companies often do. Still, I don't know why TNA wouldn't want to capitalize on the extra exposure and connection to the Golf Channel.
Brooke is a frequent guest on the celebrity convention circuit. Often, she is more popular than the female wrestlers. At a fan event before a ppv last year in Chicago, Brooke had people waiting in line to meet her, even though she wasn't technically a guest. She was there 'covering' the event for TNA.
Brooke is very nice and willing to discuss TNA. I really hope TNA doesn't destroy her character by dragging her into bad storylines.

Lauren Brooke and me in New York, NY, June 2009.

Catching Up with Christy Hemme

I have met Christy Hemme (of Total Nonstop Action wrestling) several times. Hemme is a great spokesperson for wrestling, as she is always willing to discuss the business honestly. She also has more fun at conventions than any other celebrity I have ever seen.
When I did a piece on TNA wrestling for Global Traveler last year, Hemme was the first person TNA set up on my interview schedule. At the time, she was part of a group called the Rock and Roll Infection. Shortly after that, Hemme was injured and the group split up.
At the 2009 Motor City Comic Con, I had the chance for a quick catch up with Hemme. That brief interview with Hemme is here. Check out all of my interviews on my YouTube channel.

Christy Hemme and me in Novi, MI-May 2009.

Total Nonstop Action at 2007 Motor City Comic Con

One of the fun parts of the Motor City Comic Con is the fans. Many fans will dress as their favorite Superhero or sci-fi character for the costume contest (and some probably just for fun). Previously, I wrote about meeting Aquaman, my favorite Superhero. In 2007, Total NonStop Action wrestlers Gail Kim and Christy Hemme were pretty excited about meeting 'Wonder Woman'.
Much like my meeting with Aquaman, the fact that it wasn't really Wonder Woman did not stop Hemme or Kim from wanting a picture taken with the Amazon Princess. The fan paying the part was no woman, but he did make me wonder. Actually, this fan was one of the most photographed people at the show.








Hemme and Kim are very good wrestlers, who pride themselves on actually being able to wrestle. They also have done acting and Hemme has her own band (HEMME). Both were very fan-friendly.
For me, it was just fun to see Hemme and Kim eagerly call Wonder WoMAN over to pose for a picture. It isn't often that a celeb wants a picture with an attendee.

Gail Kim, Wonder WoMAN and Christy Hemme at Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI-May 2007.

Aaeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhh It's Daffney

Shannon Spruill made her pro wrestling debut in 1999. Since then, Spruill has worked for a variety of organizations under several names, using several gimmicks. Currently, Spruill works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a character named 'the Governor', a gimmick based on Sarah Palin.
Spruill's best and most famous work came as Daffney while in the WCW. Daffmey was a screaming goth character. During this time, she held the WCW Cruiserweight Championship once.
I always wonder why some careers flourish while others flounder. Spruill seemed to have the necessary in-ring skills and mic skills to be a solid performer. Like Nora Greenwald from last week, Spruill lacked the plastic accessories which seem to mandatory today, but would certainly be qualified as an attractive female.
One of the misconceptions of wrestling (even by the promoters themselves) is that fans want to see plastic enhanced females in bikinis fight. I believe fans want to see good matches with interesting storylines and talented performers.
In my world, Spruill and Greenwald could put on a great match. It's too bad neither is in a position to do so. Hopefully, Spruill's character in TNA will develop into something more than what it is so far.

Shannon Spruill (Daffney) and me in Kokomo, IN-October 2007.

New Age Outlaws and Johngy

Monty Sopp and Brian Armstrong have wrestled professionally since 1993. Together and apart, under several different names, they have experienced a decent amount of success. Their high point of success and popularity came in the WWE, when they wrestled as the tag-team, the New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg).
When I met the duo, they were wrestling in TNA Wrestling and they were feuding. However, at the signing, they were seated at the same table and seemed quite friendly. This caused some confusion for some of the people in attendance.
I am not talking just about 10 year olds who don't understand the entire world of pro wrestling. I actually heard several 'adults' question how they could be sitting at the same table, if they were really feuding (and they weren't just being sarcastic). I was a bit scared at this point.
Of course, these 'brilliant' fans didn't seem to notice these TNA stars known as Kip James and BG James, were billed as Billy Gunn and Road Dogg. Their display table featured photos from various parts of their careers in both WWE and TNA.
For their part, the pair hammed it up in the photos, playing up their feud. I even joked with them about stepping in between them. These guys had fun with it. They even delicately sidestepped the feud question from some serious fans.

Kip James, BG James and me in Elgin, IL-early 2008.

Gail Kim is a 'Knockout'

Gail Kim made her wrestling debut as La Felina in December of 2000. For the next 2 years, she worked on the independent circuit in Canada, before making her WWE debut in 2003.
After about 2 years in the WWE during which she won the WWE Women's Championship once, Kim signed with TNA. Reportedly, Kim wanted to be in a company which emphasized and utilized her wrestling ability. Kim spent 3 years in TNA, winning the TNA Women's Knockout Championship once.
Kim has been out of wrestling since late 2008, when her contract with TNA expired. Rumors are circulating as to her future. Kim is a great worker and it would be a loss for TNA if she returns to the WWE, especially if it is a matter of money. Reportedly, TNA's contract offer to Kim was on the cheap side, because they over spent on some other aging stars.
Kim should be wrestling in one of the big 2. Actually, she should be headlining events. She's that good. Kim also has a passion and a respect for the history of wrestling. Plus, she is really very nice.
I have met Kim several times. She is always very outgoing and talkative. I have seen her go out of her way to make sure people get good pictures with her. I have even seen her volunteer to take pictures for others with other wrestlers.

Gail Kim and me at the Motor City Comic Con in Novi, MI-May 2007.

Christy Hemme the Quarterback?

Last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. There was another game scheduled for the same day, but the Lingerie Bowl VI was canceled because of possible nudity, not by the players but by the fans.
The game was scheduled to be played at the Caliente Spa and Resort, a clothing-optional resort. The Lingerie Football League (LFL) requested that people stay dressed in certain areas of the resort. Caliente would not agree to the mandate. Reports differ as to the extent of the LFL's request for clothing beyond the official game area. No agreement could be reached, forcing the game to be stripped...I mean scrapped.
Further adding to the absurdity of this situation was the St. Petersburg Times. Read about the event on their site and make sure to check out who the staff writer was. You just can't make up better stuff than this.
The original Lingerie Bowl was a special pay-per-view event, which was broadcast at halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII. Coincidentally, the NFL's halftime show featured Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson (and we all know what happened there). This silliness evolved into a full-fledged league, currently consisting of 10 teams, including the Chicago Bliss.
One of the former 'players' from the Bliss is Christy Hemme, currently a star with Total Nonstop Action wrestling (TNA). Hemme went from quarterbacking the Bliss to the WWE and then to TNA. I had the opportunity to interview Hemme and her tag team mates, Jimmy Rave and Lance Rock at TNA's Bound For Glory event in Chicago last year. Previously, I met Hemme at the Motor City Comic Con.

Christy Hemme and me in Novi, MI-May 2008.