Several times this past Saturday I was asked: “10 years ago would you have thought you would be spending a few hours with Ric Flair?” Regardless of ten years, one year, whatever time frame – the answer is still no.
It is hard to maintain a professional countenance when you are within inches of a man who you religiously watched growing up, and who kept you watching wrestling many a time that you considered quitting. I was however able to compose myself…at least until after I left the building.
Saturday I was in Jacksonville, NC for Premiere Wrestling Showcase/Highspots to shoot the first of six planned autograph sessions with Flair. I was accompanied on the trip with my “wife” ER (or would I be the wife?) and cousin, Adam Jaxon (still recuperating from his broken leg).
We left Spartanburg at 10.30 and it did take us a solid six hours to get there. Drove by the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial in Wilmington.
Flair arrived at 6.15 in great spirits and ready to go. He was there with his reps from The Gillespie Agency (check out their great video of Ric here), Elaine Gillespie and Nola Armstrong. Two super nice ladies.
I want to say thanks to Highspots and PWS for letting me be a part of this venture. It is a true honor and a bonafide “moment” for me to do this.
Here are the results from the PWS show: 1. Mike Lee b. Jay Clinton…2. Ares b. Caleb Konley…3. Jake Manning b. Charlie Dreamer…4. Daffney b.Lexie Fyfe…5.Joey Silvia b. Shannon Moore.
Apologies to Mike and Jay, as I was still tied up in the autograph room and didn’t get to shoot any of their match. Great main event, as Jacksonville’s own Silvia bested Moore.
Now to the trip back. We left right after the show, as everyone knows I value my Sundays at home. Stopped at Ruby Tuesday’s for a quick meal.
Approximately 2am we stopped at South of the Border in Dillon, SC off I95. Here they have “sometheeng for every juan” - and before you get upset, that line comes directly from their website: http://www.pedroland.com/
I will soon have some photos up from our stop there. It was sort of a “Carnival of Souls” experience, as there was no one around while everything was lit up in this tourist trap.
Here is where the trip takes a turn down a windy path. I have been having some chronic issues with my driver’s side window. It has been going off track, and would not go up. Saturday morning we discovered that it wasn’t working…again. I declared the window off limits for the duration of the trip.
At “South of the Border”, the window got lowered and stayed lowered. Yes, we (I should say Adam and ER) drove for three and a half hours on interstate highway with the driver’s side window down. I, pouting the entire time, threw ER’s jacket over my head (which smells really good by the way), curled up in the back seat (not easy for a man of my girth) and went to sleep.
Back in Spartanburg at 6.30am Sunday morning, and back at my home at 7am, leaving Adam asleep in the back. Mission accomplished.
Coming up next is Flair’s appearance in Columbia, SC at the Jamil Temple with Champions With Attitudes wrestling on October 3rd. Keep up with the tour at Highspots.
Check out exclusive photos of the Flair Shoot Interview at the Highspots. Ric Flair Shoot Interview 4 Disc Exclusive Set!
