by As I write this I am about to partake in the biggest vacation of my life, and it is all themed around WrestleMania.
This will be my third trip to the grandest stage of them all. I went in 2002 when WrestleMania was held in Toronto. That was no where near what it is now. I went with two friends and we had an easy drive from New York into Ontario. We did some shopping and looking around. We went to the WWE Access event with exhibits and matches and autograph opportunities. I remember there was either a Tim Horton’s or a Pizza Pizza on every corner. Sometimes both. ‘Mania was only one night back then so we headed back Monday morning. I didn’t have a lot of money, working a part to full time retail job at the time. Just enough for food and if memory serves correctly, one souvenir which I still have.
Then last year the now two night event was in Philadelphia. I’ve been to the city of Brotherly Love before, but never with friends. Including one of the same friends I went to Toronto with. Now WrestleMania is more than one day. Two nights of the main show plus WWE’s minor league show, NXT puts on an event. Then there’s the World which is like a traveling convention of shows and autographs and memorabilia and please exit through the giant gift shop where you will want one of everything. Plus there is now an absurd amount of other wrestling related events to go to. We stayed at the WrestleCon hotel last year and every elevator trip is accompanied by a current or retired wrestler who will be at their table shortly, selling photos for $50, autographs for $50 or a cheaper combined rate of $80. Every breakfast saw wrestling legends sitting at the next table over. Yes, Jake “the Snake” Roberts, I am also waiting for more bacon. Robert Gibson of the Rock n’ Roll Express has an endless supply of inappropriate dad jokes. We’re not at the WrestleCon hotel this year, and honestly, I kind of miss him. Every afternoon and night is booked solid with wrestling shows from what seems like every other company in the world. Tough decisions have to be made. Which show do you want to see more? What matches sound more exciting? I went to five shows and an independent wrestling referee I know went to five shows, and they were five different ones. Plus everything else happening.
All of this gives an amazing opportunity to discover a new city. Turn a corner and there’s a historical spot you’ve only seen on TV. Turn another corner and find your new favorite pizza place. Let’s go three times during our trip. We made friends with random wrestling fans from around the world. My friend group grew stronger because of so many shared moments. You haven’t lived until the Sandman comes out as a surprise in the ECW Arena. My only thought when that weekend was over was I can’t wait to do this again.
And a year later here I am. In Las Vegas of all places. Somewhere I never thought I would ever travel to. I don’t gamble, I don’t drink, and as much as my friends pick on me for getting a little too distracted by a pretty girl, I don’t do other things Vegas might be notoriously known for. But I have friends that gamble, and friends that love wrestling, and friends that love me enough to invite me along for this trip. Again, while I don’t gamble I can’t deny the benefits I am privy to thanks to their previous trips.
I arrived while writing this and this city feels like I’m on another planet. It is massive and expansive and is in the middle of nowhere, or so the flight made it appear. It is also alive and everywhere I turn there is an energy. We walked the Strip, we wandered in and out of the biggest buildings I’ve ever been inside in my life. We saw a show. There hasn’t been a second of wrestling yet, but that’s alright. Lots of wrestling is in my immediate future. But for now I’m discovering an amazing city I never expected to see.
For many reasons, these wrestling trips bring out another side of me. In my normal day to day life, I am meek and mild. I’m soft spoken, I slouch, I stammer, I try to not be noticed – I’m Clark Kent. I’m a big comics and wrestling nerd that got picked on growing up for liking comics and wrestling. So I hide it. But then I’m somewhere else for one reason – wrestling – and everyone else is here for the same reason. So the extroverted version of me can come out. Making jokes, striking up conversations, walking with confidence. Move aside, let the man come through.
I will see so much of this city over the next few days. I will have amazing experiences that will last a lifetime. Memories to share and share again for decades. There’s already talk of doing it again next year in New Orleans, another city I never expected to see. Not only is there great joy in this trip, there is great joy in how these trips improve me. I’ve learned I can be Superman, that is within me, and I can be that version of me in my day to day life. These wrestlers work all year to be in peak shape this week and I need to do the same to finance such a thing. This isn’t just a vacation. This is a retreat, a celebration, a goal.
I’m now in the hotel experiencing the time zone difference and it’s time to continue my adventure out there. If you’re watching WrestleMania at home this year (and I strongly suggest watching it) start thinking about your own trip. Something bigger than one day. Something immersive. Something to discover a new place, but most of all to discover something new about yourself.
