IrishCanadian25
Going on 10 years with WrestleZone
So on Tuesday, April 28th, the Wrestlezone Tag Team known as Irish-Canadian25 and Mighty NorCal had their second rendezvous - this time a Smackdown taping at Madison Square Garden. ECW and Superstars as well!
For IC25, this was old hat. Been to MSG some 12-15 times. A few hockey games, a few concerts, a house show or two.
But the coolest part of this for me was actually NorCal. The fact that he'd never been to NYC, Times Square, or MSG. Seeing his face in absolute awe of "The World's Most Famous Arena" was a really neat experience. Great to see him so jacked up for this.
Since this was our second time meeting, there was no awkwardness. We greeted each other like 2 old college buddies with a cordial handshake / hug thing. Then I got to meet his Air Force roommate A.J.; an equally awesome, funny, and laid back gentleman.
The experience with NorCal are always cool because, unlike his WZ persona, he is a true gentleman in real life. Even addressing the clerk at the GNC at NY Penn Station as "ma'am" after each statement or question.
Incidentally, GNC is where we had our first meal of the night, and loaded up on Red Bull, 6-hour energy, etc. We wanted to be fired up for the event ahead. We also found AJ a smoothy - apparently his mission in life. To each his own.
Following dinner at GNC (NorCal and I have both added 10-15 lbs of muscle since we last hung out, so dinner at GNC came naturally), we hung out on the steps of the arena so NorCal could comment on how many attractive females hung around NYC. He then told me "but I'm a taken man now" and proceeded to tell me about his girlfriend. During all of this, I texted Becky, who shot NorCal an e-hug. Aw.
After my obligatory spitting on the NY Rangers mural by the entrance (I believed it would curse then for their game 7 vs Washington that night, it worked AND it backfired), we went inside prior to the opening of the doors.
As we hung out by the door (and I got to hear the story of how NorCal almost sacked Aaron Rodgers in high school...ALMOST) we noticed a familiar and obnoxious sound - kids who aren't old enough to know who the fuck Ric Flair TRULY is yelling out pointless "WOOOOOOO's," prompting the crowd of sheep to follow suit. Average body fat percentage of the crowd - 30%.
We then also noticed the overwhelming number of people with two specific peices of merch - John Cena spinner belts and Jef Hardy gloves.
Finally we were heading in, and on the escalator to our seats. While drunken fans yelled out "Cena Sux" NorCal and I channeled our inner SlyFox and chanted back "He Draws Money! He Sells Merch!" Feel free to sig this, Sly.
As we hit our seats, well, NorCal, shall we say, "marked out." Big time. SO we stopped for a pose.
Here's a really neat part of it all - NorCal and I had enough to discuss outside of Wrestlezone, that it wasn't until hour #3 at the event that we even discussed any of you, or any "business." We did breifly discuss a few of you, our mutual adoration for KB, our mutual disdain for 48.7, Luther's adminning, etc. It didn't last long, though it did remind me to text Chris Cash to let him know we were at the MSG event.
Matches kicked off, and started - slowly. ECW came on first, and people went pretty nuts for Christian. The smart thing with ECW being on so early is that fact that fans still have enough energy to pop loud for guys like Christian.
NorCal and I just cheered EVERYONE. Jack Swagger especially. Though Dreamer didn't get the "Hometown Hero" welcome I'd expect. A few people chanted "E-C-Dub," myself included, but there were so many little kids there who'd have NO CLUE what that meant.
When people started the "WHAT?" thing after each Swagger statement, I calmly suggested to them (at 200 decibels) that it's time to move on because that was 8 years ago.
To be continued...
For IC25, this was old hat. Been to MSG some 12-15 times. A few hockey games, a few concerts, a house show or two.
But the coolest part of this for me was actually NorCal. The fact that he'd never been to NYC, Times Square, or MSG. Seeing his face in absolute awe of "The World's Most Famous Arena" was a really neat experience. Great to see him so jacked up for this.
Since this was our second time meeting, there was no awkwardness. We greeted each other like 2 old college buddies with a cordial handshake / hug thing. Then I got to meet his Air Force roommate A.J.; an equally awesome, funny, and laid back gentleman.
The experience with NorCal are always cool because, unlike his WZ persona, he is a true gentleman in real life. Even addressing the clerk at the GNC at NY Penn Station as "ma'am" after each statement or question.
Incidentally, GNC is where we had our first meal of the night, and loaded up on Red Bull, 6-hour energy, etc. We wanted to be fired up for the event ahead. We also found AJ a smoothy - apparently his mission in life. To each his own.
Following dinner at GNC (NorCal and I have both added 10-15 lbs of muscle since we last hung out, so dinner at GNC came naturally), we hung out on the steps of the arena so NorCal could comment on how many attractive females hung around NYC. He then told me "but I'm a taken man now" and proceeded to tell me about his girlfriend. During all of this, I texted Becky, who shot NorCal an e-hug. Aw.
After my obligatory spitting on the NY Rangers mural by the entrance (I believed it would curse then for their game 7 vs Washington that night, it worked AND it backfired), we went inside prior to the opening of the doors.
As we hung out by the door (and I got to hear the story of how NorCal almost sacked Aaron Rodgers in high school...ALMOST) we noticed a familiar and obnoxious sound - kids who aren't old enough to know who the fuck Ric Flair TRULY is yelling out pointless "WOOOOOOO's," prompting the crowd of sheep to follow suit. Average body fat percentage of the crowd - 30%.
We then also noticed the overwhelming number of people with two specific peices of merch - John Cena spinner belts and Jef Hardy gloves.
Finally we were heading in, and on the escalator to our seats. While drunken fans yelled out "Cena Sux" NorCal and I channeled our inner SlyFox and chanted back "He Draws Money! He Sells Merch!" Feel free to sig this, Sly.
As we hit our seats, well, NorCal, shall we say, "marked out." Big time. SO we stopped for a pose.
Here's a really neat part of it all - NorCal and I had enough to discuss outside of Wrestlezone, that it wasn't until hour #3 at the event that we even discussed any of you, or any "business." We did breifly discuss a few of you, our mutual adoration for KB, our mutual disdain for 48.7, Luther's adminning, etc. It didn't last long, though it did remind me to text Chris Cash to let him know we were at the MSG event.
Matches kicked off, and started - slowly. ECW came on first, and people went pretty nuts for Christian. The smart thing with ECW being on so early is that fact that fans still have enough energy to pop loud for guys like Christian.
NorCal and I just cheered EVERYONE. Jack Swagger especially. Though Dreamer didn't get the "Hometown Hero" welcome I'd expect. A few people chanted "E-C-Dub," myself included, but there were so many little kids there who'd have NO CLUE what that meant.
When people started the "WHAT?" thing after each Swagger statement, I calmly suggested to them (at 200 decibels) that it's time to move on because that was 8 years ago.
To be continued...
