Mighty NorCal
SHALL WE BEGIN?
2:59 AM June 21st, the year of our lord 2008.
After leaving a splendid new club, and being propositioned by two bisexual girls, and seeing someone get shot 20 feet from me, friday night was officially over, and my thoughts focused squarley in getting home, and getting up to fan slam. I arrived at the house at roughly 5am.
7:00 AM
My alarm goes off, and I say "fuuuuuck THAT" reset it for 9 am, and go back to sleep.
9:00 AM
I contemplate shooting myself in the face, before proceeding into the shower. Actually for havng such a crazy night, Im feeling rather spry at this time. Time fo muthafuuuuckin fan slam!!!
9:45 AM
Officially hittin the road, after a text to IC25. Ready for the nice little 180 mile jaunt up the road LOL.
Driving, driving and more driving. Accompanied by numerous texts from IC, who is indirectly rushing me LOL. No im just playing im sure he was just checking on my safety. Im highly appologetic, since I was suppose to be there earlier, but Im pulling a Scott Hall on him.
I get to the town around noonish, and what do you FUCKING KNOW, they are having a huge parade in the town that day. Yaaaaayyy paraaaade. In which they are blocking off streets. Streets that NorCal needs to drive on LOL. So I get on the phone with IC's wifey, and she explains to me that the huge Holiday in I passed on the way into town....you know, the one WITH NO FUCKING ADVERTISEMENTS ON IT AT ALL TO INDICATE IT WAS THE PLACE...was were I needed to be. So I turn around, and navigate a city ive never been to with a bunch of closed streets. Fun fun for everyone. Im missing all kinds of shit
I get in the door, and the place is set up all kinds of confusing. Lots of walking around looking like a lost puppy, and already feeling bad for showing up so late.
I go up the stairs to what looks like admission. And walk RIGHT PAST IC25. No bullshit, he really did look like he was a bouncer at the place. I 100% honestly thought he was. Just lke the story he told, he walks up to me, and asks if m looking for something. Dick. And I say "Just looking for were I pay..." and he shakes my hand and says "NorCal, Im IC25".
Son of a bitch. LOL.
Now I will say....IC25 is one of the nicest, most well spoken guys I have ever met. The dude speaks like wrote an entire script out, and had it all planned before hand. Not that he doesnt sound genuine, he is just extremely articulate, and makes you feel at ease. We pretty much clicked from second one. Very level headed, respectfull guy. Right up my alley.
His wife, Becky, is honestly one of nicest, most pleasant people ive ever had the pleasure of being around. She was awesome, and was smiling all day. Both very nice people who were very easy to be at ease and chill with.
So, we go upstairs, get in there, and I see all the guys around, and they have WWE theme music playing. Good stuff. Me and IC25 actually just BSed for the first 20 minutes or so I was there, just talking about life and whatever. He then takes me over to Kevin Kelley, who says "look at THIS guy, what a badass" . Kevin didnt really talk wrestling with me, and He just asked a lot of questions about my military experiences. In what was rather touching, he seemed VERY genuinely greatfull, and spoke glowingly of myself and what I do. He either really did care, or cared enough to try and seem genuine, which he did a VERY good job of. And extremely nice, cool guy.
So then we decide to walk the room, just check some thngs out. As we walk by Diavari, and say to IC "I wonder what it was like for him outside the ring, with the gimmick and shit..." IC gets fired up, and is like " I have GOT to see YOU ask him that question"...So we go over, and I ask him, to which he responds
"Nah, most people were pretty smart to it. They were cool"....
He wasnt an asshole, but I just didnt feel he was REALLY that interested in talking. Lots of short answers. We asked him what Hassan was up to, and he said "stuff with hollywood"....thanks for the inside info there homie, we hadnt heard that LOL.
We then progress over to Eugene's table, were I asked him what it was like working that slaughter with Angle at Summer Slam 2005, which is one of my favorite matches ever, to which he responds
"Uh. yea. He really was kicking my ass. It was about as stiff as you can get. He is a great guy, and very professional outside the ring, but its no joke once you get between the ropes"
We then went back over to the "WZ table" and hung out for a bit, talked a lil more amongst ourselves. Then, the man himself, JJ Dillion walked in. A line instantly formed at his table, so IC and I just kinda hung back for a bit. We eventually went over, and got a good 20 minutes with JJ Dillion. JJ MUTHAFUCKIN DILLION!!!!....then my favorite answer of the day happened..
We ask about Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard, and how vastly underrated we felt they both were, and JJ had this to add..
"well...see the thing is..a lot of guys, you know, they win a bunch of matches get pushed, and they are, ya know pretty happy. Fired up. They get full of themselves. Then they get sent out to loose, and get all down, and flattened out, and dont want to do all they can. Arn and Tully never cared about that, and relished being able to get someone else over, and get whupped, and come back out and do the same thing, every night, for the people"
Yea, so basically JJ Dillion gives heel phsycology 101 right there in person. I marked out right there. Like an idiot LOL. Me and IC walks away giigling and chatterng like school girls (I liked that description IC). Just completely amazing. He also allowed us to throw up the four with him for a picture. This has me so awe struck thinking of all the guys, who had stood in that place, and done the same.
Ric Flair. Arn Anderson. Tully Blanchard. Chris Benoit. Dean Malenko.
IC 25. And Mighty NorCal. I felt truly, truly blessed for this.
Next, we went into the merch room. Actually a shitload of cool stuff in there. Some old school coliseum video "Hulkamania's" ones I had never seen before, that I had true interest in buying. But when the man asked me if I wanted it, I asked him in return "uh, do you have a VCR I can buy here too??"
"WHO is that old porn star lookin broad over there??"
Missy Hyatt had a guy standing in her lil corner section talking to her, and I was looking at merch from the adjacent table. I look up, and this woman is looking at me. she looks back at up at the fan talking to her, but her eyes come back down again. This happened about 4 times. She faked interest in what the dude was saying, and get looking at me LOL. The description IC25 gave of her was pretty accurate. Big ol boobies though. The doc did a great job LOL.
I also found a Giant Gonzales toy that I considered buying for, and sending to Jake. But after some thought I figured he most likely already had it. I wanted to get a sick old school Hulk Hogan figure for my TV stand, but we all totally forgot to go back in there LOL
Next was the Tomko shoot. Good lord, were people asking some STUPID ASS questions. Tomko was very very soft spoken. The three questions that stand out in my mind, that IC didnt talk about n his column, are...
Stupid ass mark: What wrestlers do you think are overrated, or overused?? Like say maybe..Triple H??...for sure triple H?? Ya know Triple H??
(NorCal resists urge to SLAP THE SHIT OUTTA THIS FOOL)
Tomko: Ill say this for the record. And its not like it matters to me, becuase I dont, and wont probably ever work there again...(pause)...
Triple H is probably one of the best pro wrestlers EVER.
You havent seen him at a house show, going for 30 minutes entertaining people, especially as a heel, doing all he possibly can entertaining fans, and getting other guys over. Maybe he gets a little too much mic time on TV, but in ring, there is no one better in the modern era, and maybe ever"
*NorCal pumps his fist*
NorCal: Sir, who is your opinion is underrated, or who havent we seen that are better than we are let on to know??? Who could be a lot bigger than what they are??"
Tomko: Carlito is an amazng preformer. really just awesome. He can be so much more. And CM Punk. He is one of the guys I would love to work with most, and is an amazing worker too"
IC really covered everything else that was interesting. It was a really cool experience.
We then decide to go eat instead of watch the John Cena Sr. show. On the way out of the conference room, I saw Daivari, who at this time was NOT sitting behind a table, revealing that he had RIDICULOSLY, outrageously, hilarious, tiny lil legs. Seriously, the man would be envious of a box of pencils. A macoroni action figure could probably squat more than him. I almost busted out laughing right in front of him LOL.
We go down to the bar to eat, and IC, Becky, and I just talk it out, discuss life. I thought about warning him that I eat absurdly fast, becuase of my line of work and lifestyle, but figured it would come up anyway. It did, and I explained why that happens, and IC answers "hey thats fine, god bless ya man". Awesome guy. I drank ginger ale by the way. LOL. I was glad that IC and Becky didnt feel uncomfortable around me, as some people feel strange, or the need to justify drinking alchohol around me, but things always just felt really chill. I attempted paying for my food, to which IC says "bro, you drove 3 hours, the least I can do is buy you some calamari"....hahaha. Thanks again man.
So we then go back upstairs for the developmental debate, the final event of the day...
IC25 pretty much covered it all in this one, and yes what he was saying was true. Al snow and bill demott pretty much backed every last word Sly, IC25, Myself, Shocky, and Slim, try to cry out to the world. I can basically paraphrase it like this...
93,000 people didnt pay to come see Randy Savage Vs Ricky Steamboat. They paid to see Hulk Hogan Vs Andre the Giant. After Steamboat and Savage, they were looking forward to Hogan and Andre. And 93,000 people felt as if they had spent the best damn money of their lives, AFTER they watched...HOGAN AND ANDRE.
All three panel guys were SO damn insightfull, and just awesome to listen to. I couldve sat there all day. We actually ran late. The little suited up clown who worked for the event kept trying to close it out, but Demott and Snow (more demott) kept talking LOL. I wanted to slap hotel guy across the mouth. Shut the fuck up and let the men talk you little bitch.
They finally closed out, and IC and myself walk to the parking lot, still dreamy about all we had saw, and me myself still in awe over the JJ Dillion thing. He thanked me again for coming up, and I fought sleep the whole way home.
An awesome, memorable experience. We need a larger WZ crowd next time guys, seriously.
Oh yea, and I was right. I look like SHIT in those pics. Just not a photgeneic guy.
Hope you all enjoyed, and hope to see more of you at the next one. Any questions ill be more than happy to answer.
After leaving a splendid new club, and being propositioned by two bisexual girls, and seeing someone get shot 20 feet from me, friday night was officially over, and my thoughts focused squarley in getting home, and getting up to fan slam. I arrived at the house at roughly 5am.
7:00 AM
My alarm goes off, and I say "fuuuuuck THAT" reset it for 9 am, and go back to sleep.
9:00 AM
I contemplate shooting myself in the face, before proceeding into the shower. Actually for havng such a crazy night, Im feeling rather spry at this time. Time fo muthafuuuuckin fan slam!!!
9:45 AM
Officially hittin the road, after a text to IC25. Ready for the nice little 180 mile jaunt up the road LOL.
Driving, driving and more driving. Accompanied by numerous texts from IC, who is indirectly rushing me LOL. No im just playing im sure he was just checking on my safety. Im highly appologetic, since I was suppose to be there earlier, but Im pulling a Scott Hall on him.
I get to the town around noonish, and what do you FUCKING KNOW, they are having a huge parade in the town that day. Yaaaaayyy paraaaade. In which they are blocking off streets. Streets that NorCal needs to drive on LOL. So I get on the phone with IC's wifey, and she explains to me that the huge Holiday in I passed on the way into town....you know, the one WITH NO FUCKING ADVERTISEMENTS ON IT AT ALL TO INDICATE IT WAS THE PLACE...was were I needed to be. So I turn around, and navigate a city ive never been to with a bunch of closed streets. Fun fun for everyone. Im missing all kinds of shit
I get in the door, and the place is set up all kinds of confusing. Lots of walking around looking like a lost puppy, and already feeling bad for showing up so late.
I go up the stairs to what looks like admission. And walk RIGHT PAST IC25. No bullshit, he really did look like he was a bouncer at the place. I 100% honestly thought he was. Just lke the story he told, he walks up to me, and asks if m looking for something. Dick. And I say "Just looking for were I pay..." and he shakes my hand and says "NorCal, Im IC25".
Son of a bitch. LOL.
Now I will say....IC25 is one of the nicest, most well spoken guys I have ever met. The dude speaks like wrote an entire script out, and had it all planned before hand. Not that he doesnt sound genuine, he is just extremely articulate, and makes you feel at ease. We pretty much clicked from second one. Very level headed, respectfull guy. Right up my alley.
His wife, Becky, is honestly one of nicest, most pleasant people ive ever had the pleasure of being around. She was awesome, and was smiling all day. Both very nice people who were very easy to be at ease and chill with.
So, we go upstairs, get in there, and I see all the guys around, and they have WWE theme music playing. Good stuff. Me and IC25 actually just BSed for the first 20 minutes or so I was there, just talking about life and whatever. He then takes me over to Kevin Kelley, who says "look at THIS guy, what a badass" . Kevin didnt really talk wrestling with me, and He just asked a lot of questions about my military experiences. In what was rather touching, he seemed VERY genuinely greatfull, and spoke glowingly of myself and what I do. He either really did care, or cared enough to try and seem genuine, which he did a VERY good job of. And extremely nice, cool guy.
So then we decide to walk the room, just check some thngs out. As we walk by Diavari, and say to IC "I wonder what it was like for him outside the ring, with the gimmick and shit..." IC gets fired up, and is like " I have GOT to see YOU ask him that question"...So we go over, and I ask him, to which he responds
"Nah, most people were pretty smart to it. They were cool"....
He wasnt an asshole, but I just didnt feel he was REALLY that interested in talking. Lots of short answers. We asked him what Hassan was up to, and he said "stuff with hollywood"....thanks for the inside info there homie, we hadnt heard that LOL.
We then progress over to Eugene's table, were I asked him what it was like working that slaughter with Angle at Summer Slam 2005, which is one of my favorite matches ever, to which he responds
"Uh. yea. He really was kicking my ass. It was about as stiff as you can get. He is a great guy, and very professional outside the ring, but its no joke once you get between the ropes"
We then went back over to the "WZ table" and hung out for a bit, talked a lil more amongst ourselves. Then, the man himself, JJ Dillion walked in. A line instantly formed at his table, so IC and I just kinda hung back for a bit. We eventually went over, and got a good 20 minutes with JJ Dillion. JJ MUTHAFUCKIN DILLION!!!!....then my favorite answer of the day happened..
We ask about Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard, and how vastly underrated we felt they both were, and JJ had this to add..
"well...see the thing is..a lot of guys, you know, they win a bunch of matches get pushed, and they are, ya know pretty happy. Fired up. They get full of themselves. Then they get sent out to loose, and get all down, and flattened out, and dont want to do all they can. Arn and Tully never cared about that, and relished being able to get someone else over, and get whupped, and come back out and do the same thing, every night, for the people"
Yea, so basically JJ Dillion gives heel phsycology 101 right there in person. I marked out right there. Like an idiot LOL. Me and IC walks away giigling and chatterng like school girls (I liked that description IC). Just completely amazing. He also allowed us to throw up the four with him for a picture. This has me so awe struck thinking of all the guys, who had stood in that place, and done the same.
Ric Flair. Arn Anderson. Tully Blanchard. Chris Benoit. Dean Malenko.
IC 25. And Mighty NorCal. I felt truly, truly blessed for this.
Next, we went into the merch room. Actually a shitload of cool stuff in there. Some old school coliseum video "Hulkamania's" ones I had never seen before, that I had true interest in buying. But when the man asked me if I wanted it, I asked him in return "uh, do you have a VCR I can buy here too??"
"WHO is that old porn star lookin broad over there??"
Missy Hyatt had a guy standing in her lil corner section talking to her, and I was looking at merch from the adjacent table. I look up, and this woman is looking at me. she looks back at up at the fan talking to her, but her eyes come back down again. This happened about 4 times. She faked interest in what the dude was saying, and get looking at me LOL. The description IC25 gave of her was pretty accurate. Big ol boobies though. The doc did a great job LOL.
I also found a Giant Gonzales toy that I considered buying for, and sending to Jake. But after some thought I figured he most likely already had it. I wanted to get a sick old school Hulk Hogan figure for my TV stand, but we all totally forgot to go back in there LOL
Next was the Tomko shoot. Good lord, were people asking some STUPID ASS questions. Tomko was very very soft spoken. The three questions that stand out in my mind, that IC didnt talk about n his column, are...
Stupid ass mark: What wrestlers do you think are overrated, or overused?? Like say maybe..Triple H??...for sure triple H?? Ya know Triple H??
(NorCal resists urge to SLAP THE SHIT OUTTA THIS FOOL)
Tomko: Ill say this for the record. And its not like it matters to me, becuase I dont, and wont probably ever work there again...(pause)...
Triple H is probably one of the best pro wrestlers EVER.
You havent seen him at a house show, going for 30 minutes entertaining people, especially as a heel, doing all he possibly can entertaining fans, and getting other guys over. Maybe he gets a little too much mic time on TV, but in ring, there is no one better in the modern era, and maybe ever"
*NorCal pumps his fist*
NorCal: Sir, who is your opinion is underrated, or who havent we seen that are better than we are let on to know??? Who could be a lot bigger than what they are??"
Tomko: Carlito is an amazng preformer. really just awesome. He can be so much more. And CM Punk. He is one of the guys I would love to work with most, and is an amazing worker too"
IC really covered everything else that was interesting. It was a really cool experience.
We then decide to go eat instead of watch the John Cena Sr. show. On the way out of the conference room, I saw Daivari, who at this time was NOT sitting behind a table, revealing that he had RIDICULOSLY, outrageously, hilarious, tiny lil legs. Seriously, the man would be envious of a box of pencils. A macoroni action figure could probably squat more than him. I almost busted out laughing right in front of him LOL.
We go down to the bar to eat, and IC, Becky, and I just talk it out, discuss life. I thought about warning him that I eat absurdly fast, becuase of my line of work and lifestyle, but figured it would come up anyway. It did, and I explained why that happens, and IC answers "hey thats fine, god bless ya man". Awesome guy. I drank ginger ale by the way. LOL. I was glad that IC and Becky didnt feel uncomfortable around me, as some people feel strange, or the need to justify drinking alchohol around me, but things always just felt really chill. I attempted paying for my food, to which IC says "bro, you drove 3 hours, the least I can do is buy you some calamari"....hahaha. Thanks again man.
So we then go back upstairs for the developmental debate, the final event of the day...
IC25 pretty much covered it all in this one, and yes what he was saying was true. Al snow and bill demott pretty much backed every last word Sly, IC25, Myself, Shocky, and Slim, try to cry out to the world. I can basically paraphrase it like this...
93,000 people didnt pay to come see Randy Savage Vs Ricky Steamboat. They paid to see Hulk Hogan Vs Andre the Giant. After Steamboat and Savage, they were looking forward to Hogan and Andre. And 93,000 people felt as if they had spent the best damn money of their lives, AFTER they watched...HOGAN AND ANDRE.
All three panel guys were SO damn insightfull, and just awesome to listen to. I couldve sat there all day. We actually ran late. The little suited up clown who worked for the event kept trying to close it out, but Demott and Snow (more demott) kept talking LOL. I wanted to slap hotel guy across the mouth. Shut the fuck up and let the men talk you little bitch.
They finally closed out, and IC and myself walk to the parking lot, still dreamy about all we had saw, and me myself still in awe over the JJ Dillion thing. He thanked me again for coming up, and I fought sleep the whole way home.
An awesome, memorable experience. We need a larger WZ crowd next time guys, seriously.
Oh yea, and I was right. I look like SHIT in those pics. Just not a photgeneic guy.
Hope you all enjoyed, and hope to see more of you at the next one. Any questions ill be more than happy to answer.
