Wrestlecade 2025 Graphing Recap

Last weekend, Wrestlecade was back in Winston-Salem; an annual wrestling convention that Chris and I had attended once before (last year).  We looked forward to it all year, and this iteration didn't disappoint.   I went to the convention with a plan to get Ron Simmons to sign an 8 x 10 photo from last year.  I also bought some cards of a few other wrestlers to get signed at the show.

I got Simmons quickly after we arrived (after getting Tito Santana and Big Show on a couple cards below).  I was only going to get Simmons and move along, but he kept calling me by my name and talked me into paying for another photo op (this time with Bradshaw) and getting a dual auto on another 8 x 10.  Let's face it, he could have talked me into buying a car while I was there. 

The photo op turned out great, and both guys were awesome.  Ron Simmins is such a cool guy.

Backing up a bit, my big planned meeting and greet was with Big Show.  I always enjoyed watching Show wrestle, so when I saw he was going to be there, I sprung for a card that I thought looked cool for him to sign.  The card turned out great (below).

He was really nice, as well.

Here are the cards I got signed.  I didn't get a photo of Santana, but he was very friendly.  He was the first person we met, and his line had only one person ahead of us.

Matt Cardona was really cool.  He greeted us as we walked by his table.  I went back a few minutes later and paid the money for him to sign his card he had on display.  

We were really glad to see Diego Hill again.  He's a local wrestler, who seems to have a very bright future.  He is always cool to us, so I gave him some money for another autograph, to throw him some support.  Once he masters cutting a promo, he likely will make it to the higher level wrestling companies. 

Nikita Koloff is a guy I watched as a kid.  I saw he was going to be at the show, so I bought an old wrestling card of him and got it signed.  He was awesome.  I told him he scared the hell out of me when I was little.  He told me he considered that the best honor he could receive from a fan.

Teddy Long was super cool.  Chris wanted to meet him, so I made the payment for the auto/photo op combo.  He got an 8.5 x 11 photo signed, and Long threw in a card for free.  I got to keep the card.  He asked Chris about his grades and said he needs to keep them up or he "...will go one on one with the Undertaker".  Chris was excited that Long dropped one of his catch phrases on him. 

Finally, we got a photo with Nic Nemeth, otherwise known as Dolph Ziggler.  We told Ziggler the story of three-year old Chris singing along with Ziggler's theme song, except he got the lyrics wrong, singing "I'm here to smell the world, I'm here to smell the world" (instead of "I'm here to show the world...).  Oh, little Chris.  He had a couple of those that he botched as a kid.  Ziggler thought it was hilarious. We had just mentioned it right before the photo.

Chris and I had a blast at the show.  In all, I got the following autographs: Big Show x 1, Matt Cardona x 1, Diego Hill x 1, Nikita Koloff x 1, Teddy Long x 1, Tito Santana x 1, Ron Simmons x 2, JBL x 1 and Butterbean x 1 (10 total autographs).

TTM Success - Larry Zbyszko

This is a Topps Chrome wrestling card of WWE Hall of Famer Larry Zbyszko that I picked up at the National, then sent out TTM for him to sign.  The autograph turned out great.

Zbyszko (b. 1951) wrestled from 1971 to 2015 after cutting his amateur wrestling career at Penn State short.  He was trained by Bruno Sammartino and would go on to be one of Sammartino's chief rivals in the late 70s.  He is a two-time World Champion, having won the AWA World Championship twice.  He would marry the daughter of AWA promoter, Verne Gagne.  He was elected to the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.

I mailed to Zbyszko on August 19 and got the card back on August 29 for a 10-day TAT. 

November 30, 2024 - Wrestlecade

Before all of the events that happened at Thanksgiving, I had bought tickets and an autograph vouchers for Wrestlecade 2024.  We were scheduled to go the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  I wasn't really feeling up to it after losing Grandma, but I thought it would be best that Chris and I get out and get our minds off of things.  I'm glad we went.

I had seen that Ron Si.mons would be at the show, and he was a last-minute decision to meet.  Im so glad I paid to meet him because he was awesome.  I told him that I remembered watching him win the WCW Championship way back in the day.  He told.me he goes back and watches t constantly.  It was impactful to me because at the time, he looked like a 'regular guy' as opposed to the flashy cartoon characters I was used to when watching WWF (WWE). I didn't know own at that time what a bad ass Simmons was as a college football player.  He is a legend at Florida State.  One of only 12 players to have their number retired at Florida State (at the time of his number retirement, he was only one of seven).

He was so awesome to meet.  I told him that I had been wanting to meet him for years. He responded with "I love being met."  He gave me a sweet deal on the photo op, and after the hug he gave us, I asked him if I could trouble him for one more thing; would he say it? He did, "Damn!"

Another cool.meeting was when we met Zilla Fatu.  He is a future member of The Bloodline.  Son of the late Umaga, Zilla is working his way up through the ranks in the independent scene.  A very friendly guy, Zilla hugged Chris and I after the photo op.

We got to see him in action later that evening in a nice independent show that came with our day passes.

The one autograph voucher that I paid for in advance was that of Jim Ross.  He was also super nice and signed the above photo I printed out of Mankind falling off the Hell in a Cell at King of the Ring 1998.  He inscribed the photo "My God, he's broken in half!"

We, then, met Mick Foley, who signed the photo and inscribed it "I was broken in half."

I did a decent job on the photo having recently learned how to use the snippet tool on my computer. I paused the match on YouTube and snipped the scene, printing it out on an 8 x 10.  Not bad.

I also paid to get former NWA wrestler Magnum T. A. on this little card.  I watched him on Friday nights at my cousin Lynn's house when I was little. 

I also got Jake the Snake Roberts on the above Topps Gypsy Queen card.  Of all the guys we met, he was the quietest.  He wasn't rude, he just didn't say much.  All of that being said, we were super happy with everyone we met. I'd definitely go back to Wrestlecade if I got the chance. 

In all, I got the following autographs: Zilla Fatu x 1, Mick Foley x 1, Jim Ross x 1, Ron Simmons x 2, Magnum TA x 1 and Jake the Snake x 1 (7 total autographs).

2024 National Paid Signer - Jerry The King Lawler

While I waited for another paid signer (to come later), I saw that Jerry "the King" Lawler was signing at a table just outside the autograph pavilion at the National.  I saw his prices and decided it was worth it to get the King in person. 

Lawler was super nice, but very quiet.  It turns out that he had a couple strokes, so he is moving a lot slower these days.  He also informed me that he had just recently had knee surgery. 

I liked the photo that I chose, and the white paint pen turned out nicely.  I really like the way they dod the photo, a mixture of color and black and white.

GalaxyCon Richmond 2024

Yesterday, Chris, Jesse and I went to GalaxyCon in Richmond.  I was originally going there to meet Carl Weathers, but after his passing, I settled for Dolph Lundgren and a couple wrestlers.  I was very disappointed in the setup of the Con.  The line to get in the door took us 3 hours, after we circled the venue for almost an hour trying to find parking.

We finally got in and got the autographs we were looking for.  Dolph was really nice.  I didn't get a chance to say a whole lot because it was so crowded, but it was a positive experience meeting him. I wanted my card signed in blue but was in such a hurry getting through the line, I wasn't able to ask him to switch pens.  That was no one's fault.  I was still irritated abd flustered about a guy cutting in front of me in line.

The next booth we stopped at was Barry Windham to finish this 1985 WWF card of the US Express.  They have just been announced as members of WWE's Hall of Fame class of 2024.  Windham was nice enough to add the HOF 24 inscription without us even asking.  I had gotten. Mike Rotunda on the card TTM a couple weeks ago.  I was going to send a picture of this card to my cousin Lynn this morning since I knew she liked Windham and she was the one who got me into wrestling so many years ago.  She passed away this morning, sadly.  It was kind of strange because she was legitimately in my thoughts just yesterday. How short life is astounds me sometimes.

Onto more positive things, I got this card signed by Rikishi yesterday in yellow paint pen.  The card really pops, as Rikishi even said himself.

Rikishi wad really cool, as well.  We talked about who he had in the Wrestlemania match between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes.  We also talked about how I'd like yo sew him come out and get involved in the Bloodline storyline since he is a senior member of the Anoa'i family.

The poor planning and logistics aside, we did have a good time.  I'm glad Jesse was able to come on the trip with Chris and I.  It took an 11th hour miracle in finding a ticket, but it worked out.

Now that the ComiCon is out of the way, it's time for me to focus on getting prepped for the season. 

TTM Success - Mike Rotunda

The next former wrestler that I got TTM was Mike Rotunda, also known as IRS.  I have plans to finish the above 1985 WWF dual card of Rotunda (called Rotundo on the card) and his brother in law, Barry Windham by getting Windham at GalaxyCon in March.

I also picked up this card showing him as IRS, which he inscribed with "pay up".

Rotunda (b. 1958) began wrestling in 1981 and retired in 2003. He is mainly known for his run with the WWF (WWE) as Irwin R Shyster.  He also wrestled in WCW as Michael Wallstreet.  He is the father of Bo Dallas and the late Bray Wyatt.  His father in law was Blackjack Mulligan.  He has held numerous tag team titles with former partners Windham and the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase.

I mailed to Rotunda on February 12 and got the cards back on February 24, for a 12-day TAT. 

TTM Success - Cowboy Bob Orton

A couple weeks ago, I checked SCN to see who recent signers were for the non-sports/other category and came away with a few people to send to.  I jumped on Ebay and picked up some interesting cards.  One of the people I checked into was WWE Hall of Famer, Cowboy Bob Orton. 

Orton (b. 1950) is the son of former wrestler, Bob Orton, Sr. amd is the father of Randy Orton.  He began wrestling in 1972 in Florida.  He wrestled for numerous promotions across the country.  He spent time in the former WWF, where he was involved in the main event of the inaugural Wrestlemania.  He was in the corner of Rowdy Roddy Piper and Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.  

Orton was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and continues to wrestle sporadically. 

I mailed to Orton on February 12 and got the cards back on February 23, for an 11-day TAT. 

February 2024 Mad Monster Party Graphing Recap

On Saturday, my wife, son, mom and I all went to the 2024 Mad Monster Party in Charlotte to do a little graphing.  The main attractions this year were actors from Lost Boys, Jason Patric and Kiefer Sutherland, as well as Kevin Spacey, who was making his first ever Con appearance.

I had set my expectations pretty low; I didn't want to go to the event and expect to get Sutherland, only to see his line wrapped around the building like the time Chris and I went when Robert Englund was there.  I had seen that Tim Capello, the shirtless saxophone guy from the beginning of Lost Boys was going to be there.  That scene in the movie is so random, my brother Andy and I laugh about it a lot.  I thought it would be cool to meet Capello and get an autograph, so that was the goal I set.

Capello was the first person we got.  I paid $40 and got a photo signed and a photo op.  He was such a great guy.  You could tell that he has embraced that small role in a great film.  I didn't realize at the time, but his auto had smeared. So, I went back later and Capello was nice enough to sign another photo for me and apologized.

The next table we went to, after Capello's, and after Mal and Chris split up from Mom and I, was Lou Diamobd Phillips.  He was super nice and polite, asking Mom and I how we were doing.  Mom told him, then asked him how he was doing.  He said he was doing 'fantastic, thanks".  Mom talked to him for a bit while he signed for me.

I told Phillips that I grew up with LA Bamba and Young Guns.  He thanked me for being a fan.

After Phillips, we parked Mom in line for Kiefer Sutherland.  It looked like we might be able to get him quickly, but then they stopped the autograph lines in order to handle all of the paid photo ops.  They had it laid out as such: Jason Patric, Patric and Sutherland dual photo ops, Sutherland only, Sutherland and Phillips and then Phillips only. There were a ton of people in line for all of these photo ops. Mom was fine people watching while Mal, Chris and I took turns hanging with her.  Once Mal finished with Kevin Spacey, I broke away and went for CJ Graham.  Kane Hodder was also there, but I had met him before.

Graham's line was short when I got there, but he was talking with a family of four people (two were teenagers) and he was having a lot of fun with them.  He even got the teem boy to FaceTime his ex girlfriend and filmed himself with the buy telling the ex that she blew her chance to meet him. It was hilarious. I didn't mind waiting to see how all that would play out.  By the time I got to Graham, he thanked me for my patience and signed two photos for me.  He was so nice.

Because Graham took Paypal, I had conserved some cash and went ahead and got John Glover.  I loved this 8 x 10 from Gremlins 2, so that's what I chose to get signed.  Glover was really nice and spoke to me for a few minutes. 

I went back and checked on Mom, who I had left with Chris.  She was doing well; still sitting there people watching. Mal met up with us after Kevin Spacey, and dropped some of out signed photos at the car so we wouldn't have to hang onto them.  She noticed that the Capello photo had smeared, so Chris and I set off to replace that one.  After we got that done, we spotted WWE referee Charles Robinson talking with someone near Arn Anderson's booth.  Chris wanted to meet him, so we waited for him to finish his conversation.

Chris asked Robinson if he could get a photo with him, and got one.  Robinson wasn't a scheduled signer, he was there visiting, but was impressed Chris recognized him and said hello, so he posed for the photo.  He told Chris that since he was nice enough to come say hello, he would give him something in return.  He reached in his bag and brought out an 8 x 10, that he signed in white paint pen.  He asked me if I wanted one as well, which I gladly accepted.  He was really awesome and genuinely glad to be recognized.

We got back to Mal and Mom to see that the Kiefer Sutherland line was actually moving.  I had decided that if it wasn't moving, I was happy with what I had gotten and would be ok leaving.  However, since the line was moving, we hung out some more and finally got into the room to meet Sutherland.  We got up to the photo table while I was pushing Mom along the line.  I stopped and noted a photo for Mal and got a bit distracted.  It was our turn so Mom yelled to me "move me!" to which Sutherland laughed.  So we got up there, and he couldn't have been nicer.  Mom asked him "what did they have to do to get you to come here to podunk North Carolina?" Sutherland stopped what he was doing and looked her in the eye and told her: "You know, I've only done a few of these but these things are maybe the only chances I get to interact with the people who have made it possible to do what I do for the past 40 years. This has been my life and I really appreciate the fans..." It was so cool that he stopped what he was doing to answer her truthfully.  I asked hik how his dad was doing, and he thanked me for asking about him.  He shook my and Mom's hands, asked our names and was just reappky pleasant and persobable.  Then he said "ok, now move her!" Which was pretty funny.  I really enjoyed it.

We had an amazing time.  Mom has been sick lately, which is why we had to push her around the event in a wheelchair.  She's doing pretty well, at the moment.  She's big on "making memories", and this was a big memory made.  I'm glad Mom felt well enough to go with us and that everyone we met was amazing.  We all had an amazing time and I'd definitely do it again. 

In all, I got the following autographs: Kiefer Sutherland x 1, Tim Capello x 1, CJ Graham x 2, Lou Diamond Phillips x 1, John Glover x 1 and Charles Robinson x 1 (7)

Meanwhile At GalaxyCon - Ric Flair

While I was at the National, my wife and son were in Raleigh at GalaxyCon.  I gave Chris some money to meet Ric Flair and get this WWE Heritage card signed for me.

The card looks awesome, and my son got to meet Flair.  He said Flair was looking a bit rough, but told him the autograph was for his dad.  Flair told him to tell me that he'd rip my shirt off and give me a good Ric Flair chop to the chest. Wooooo. I thought that was pretty awesome.

TTM Success - Jeff Hardy

Chris got another TTM success from a wrestler recently, and gave the duplicate to me.  This one is signed by former WWE Champion, Jeff Hardy.  It even came back with a note on the envelope that said "Please do not mail to my house anymore..."  Oops.  Sorry, Jeff.

Hardy (b. 1977) has wrestled since 1994, and made his WWE debut in 1998.  Prior to that, Hady and his brother, Matt, had started their own wrestling organization, Trampoline Wrestling Federation, and wrestled all over North Carolina.

He is a 2-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, a WWE Champion, 5-time Intercontinental Champion, and 8-time Tag Team Champion in WWE (once Smackdown Tag Champ, once RAW Tag Champ and 6-times WWE Tag Champ; all with his brother, Matt).

Thanks, Chris, for giving me the duplicate card that you got signed.

TTM Success - Teddy Long

Chris sent off some TTMs recently, and one of the ones that he got back was former WWE personality, Teddy Long.  He sent to of the same card, and gave one of the duplicates to me, which was really nice.

Long (b. 1947) was a referee, manager and executive in numerous wrestling organizations since 1985.  He got his start in Jim Crockett Promotions and would then go on to work for WCW and WWE until his retirement.  He still appears sporadically on WWE programming and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2017.

I Met WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson

Some of my earliest memories are of watching wrestling at my cousin, Lynn's house when she used to come and pick me up on weekends when I was 3 or so.  I remember Ric Flair, of course, who could miss him?  I also remember seeing Arn Anderson.

I have seen some wrestlers pop up here and there as special signing guests at the Raleigh card show, and sometimes I put some money down so my son, Chris, could meet them, but when I saw Arn Anderson's name pop up, I decided I was going to make sure I got in as well.

I look back fondly on my time at Lynn's house on those weekends.  That was my thing.  Especially since my family was so large, her place, and those weekends were for me.  That feeling of nostalgia is something I will always have when I watch wrestling.  I've had people pick on me for watching it.  I ignore it.  I take breaks from watching it from time to time, but I always find myself checking back in.  Just recently, Chris has gotten back into it, and I have followed suit.  I usually sit there and have to ask him "Now, ok, who's this asshole?" and he will tell me.  It's kind of cool that I can pass that feeling on to him.

Anderson (b. 1958) is now affiliated in the AEW wrestling organization as a manager, but is more widely known for his time in WWE/WWF, WCW, Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, NWA and others.  He has held countless titles since his career began in 1982, but he will always be associated with Ric Flair.  Flair, Anderson, his "uncle" (in storyline only) Ole Anderson and Tully Blanchard would form one of the all-time greatest wrestling stables, the Four Horsemen.  He would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the Four Horsemen in 2012.

Anderson was super nice when we met him at the show today.  He asked if Chris and I watched AEW, which we haven't, yet.  I plan on tuning in, and I was so happy I was able to get to Raleigh today to meet him.

TTM Success - Ron Simmons

Chris gave me the card but I wanted to make sure I got Ron Simmons's autograph while he was signing ttm. He has long been a favorite wrestler of mine and is a college football legend.

Simmons (b. 1958) is a retired former WWE wrestler and former college football player (Florida State). He began wrestling in 1986 and retired in 2010.

Simmons was a former one-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and is recognized by WWE as the first African American to hold a major World title. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012. He played professional football for the Cleveland Browns in 1981 as part of the practice squad only. 

I mailed to Simmons on September 1 and got the card back on September 14, for a 13-day TAT. I paid a fee of $5.

TTM Success - Jack Swagger

Chris had a hand in sending this TTM off, but he and I benefited from a return from former WWE superstar, Jack Swagger.  Chris had 4 cards of Swagger, and we split them when they came back signed.  These were the two he gave me from the return.

Swagger (real name, Jake Hager; b. 1982) has wrestled professionally since 2006.  He is a former WWE World Champion and ECW Champion.  He left WWE in 2017 to pursue a career in mixed martial arts, where he is now 2-0.  He signed with AEW in 2019.

We mailed to Swagger on April 22 and got the cards back on May 8, for a 16-day TAT.

TTM Success - Tully Blanchard

I added another signed wrestling card to my collection with this TTM success from Tully Blanchard.  I remember watching Blanchard on Friday nights at my cousin Lynn's house when I was little.  She would come and pick me up and have me stay the weekend with her.  I always enjoyed watching Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling at her house.  That was where I learned about wrestling legends Magnum TA, Blanchard, and the great Ric Flair.

Blanchard (b. 1954) began wrestling professionally 1975.  He wrestled for his father's Southwest Championship Wrestling before joining Jim Crockett Promotions' Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in 1984.  He is most widely known as a member of the Four Horsemen stable of wrestlers alongside Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and Ole Anderson (and other iterations of the Horsemen after Ole Anderson was forced out of the group).  Blanchard held titles such as NWA National Heavyweight Champion, NWA US Heavyweight Champion, NWA World Tag Team Champion and WWF World Tag Team Champion.  He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the Four Horsemen in 2012.

I mailed to Blanchard on April 18 and got the card back on May 8, for a 20-day TAT.

TTM Success - Jerry The King Lawler

Chris and I went through his box of wrestling cards so he could send a few things out.  He had several duplicates, so we sent them out to see what we could get back and split the autos.  One of those subjects was Jerry "The King" Lawler.

The King is a WWE Hall of Famer and wrestling legend.  For the last 20+ years, he has done commentary on WWE programming, but before that, he was a Memphis wrestling legend.  Lawler wrestled in numerous promotions (usually local wrestling groups) and has held more recognized titles than any wrestler in history, even though he has never held a title while with WWE.

Lawler (b. 1949) has wrestled professionally since 1970.  He suffered a heart attack on air during WWE programming in 2012 and later had a stroke (in 2018).  He has continued to wrestle and provide commentary periodically since then.

I mailed to Lawler on April 18 and got the card back on May 7, for a 19-day TAT.

TTM Success - Bob Backlund

Again, I set out to get some non-baseball cards into my autograph album, and succeeded (and with a 1987 Topps design, no less) when I got this card signed by former WWE Champion, Bob Backlund.

Backlund (b. 1949) wrestled professionally from 1973 until his retirement in 2018.  He won the WWE (then WWF) Championship in 1978 by defeating Superstar Billy Graham at Madison Square Garden.  Backlund would go on to lose his title to the Iron Sheik (who would then lose to one, Hulk Hogan) in 1983.

Backlund would appear on WWE TV for the next few decades.  Backlund was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013.

I mailed to Backlund on November 4 and got the card back on January 9, for a 66-day TAT.

TTM Success - Bret "The Hitman" Hart

Sometimes, I get TTM success from folks other than baseball players.  This one, in particular, I was really excited about, because it was from one of my favorite wrestlers growing up.  I saw the Bret Hart was signing TTM, so I picked up these cards out of a quarter box at a card show in January.  I, then, researched how I could send to Canada, and get the return mail back.  It took buying Canadian stamps online and having them sent to me (thanks, Google), and I was all ready to get them mailed out.

I'm really happy with the cards I sent, and how they turned out.  The card at the top of the page is a bit rougher, but I remembered that set from when I was a kid, and wanted it in my album.

Hart (b. 1957) is a member of the legendary Hart Family of wrestling.  Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the Harts have been a fixture in Canadian wrestling for decades.  Patriarch, Stu Hart, ran Stampede Wrestling in Canada and showcased his sons (most notably, Bret and Owen), along with his sons-in-law, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and The British Bulldog, the Hart Family was a fixture in wrestling in the 80s ad 90s.

Bret made his wrestling debut in 1978 and retired in 2000.  His retirement was due to a concussion he received when he was mule-kicked in the head by Bill Goldberg in a WCW match.  In all, he was a World Champion (WCW and WWE) 9 times, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice (individually in 2006 and as a member of the Hart Foundation in 2019).

I mailed to Hart on March 25 and got the cards back on June 15, for an 82-day TAT.