Why You Should Meet Your Wrestling Heroes...
Posted: May 17th 2026 By: DMV Wrestling News
There’s a saying about celebrities that you will hear a lot in online discussions involving pro wrestling fans: never meet your heroes. This is based on bad experiences some people say they have had in the past. As prices for meet and greets, and everything else, skyrocket, it can be tempting not to want to fool with it.
Over the past three or four years, I’ve met plenty of active and retired pro wrestlers, from rising indie stars to hall of famers, and generally I’ve had great experiences, with some minor exceptions who I won’t name here.
A view that many people working in the business have is to just take the picture, since none of us are ever promised tomorrow. This is a view I have even as a fan when it comes to hall of famers and others who are no longer youthful, although it should apply to the young too, with all the premature deaths in pro wrestling over the years. My wife still regrets not going to an MCW show in 2015, long before
either of us had been to an indie show, that ended up being Roddy Piper’s last public appearance before his death the next week.
Recently, I met a WWE Hall of Famer who throws the idea of never meeting your heroes into the trash. Before the Game Changer Wrestling event in Joppa, Maryland, on May 1, I met Ricky Morton, best known as one half of the Rock N Roll Express. He was the primary reason I spent the money to go
to this show and took the night off from work. The passing of Dennis Condrey a few weeks ago helped cement my decision after I had been waffling on whether to go.
From the time he first saw me, he was as nice as anyone could be. After he autographed a picture for me and posed for a photo op, we talked about mutual friends and how I grew up watching him. He talked about coming to Greenville on Monday nights and also going to Fayetteville on the Crockett circuit. I told him what a big part of my childhood he was, and he beamed and told me how much that meant to him.
I stepped over to the bigger lineup of tables of GCW wrestlers and talked to Matt Tremont and 1 Called Manders, and they were both great to talk to as well. As I headed back around to go to my seat, I passed the Mortons’ table again and talked to Kerry, who was now there, as well as Ricky again. We talked about baseball, Tennessee, and the mountains in North Carolina before I started to head to my seat, and Ricky grabbed a Sharpie and signed my shirt for free.
Kerry’s match came up earlier in the show, and he is an amazing heel and was getting “Shut the F up” chants right away. Later in the show, when Ricky wrestled in a trios match, a “Rock and Roll” chant started for him when he was introduced. When he got into the match, he ended up getting the bad end of things and was in the corner selling the damage for a bit before finally getting the pin for his team to win.
After the show, I went over to see some friends near the dressing room entrance, and Ricky came out leaving the arena and was gracious and talked to me again. He also reminded me to come to Philly for NWA 78 in July.
I have met countless pro wrestlers over the past decade, most of them since I started this site in 2022. I haven’t had one truly bad experience, and I’ve had many great ones, even with people who have allegedly bad reputations for meeting fans. I am writing this as a counterpoint to people who say “never meet your heroes.” Sometimes you should meet them, take the picture, and tell them what they meant to you while you still can.
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1965 Bull Curry def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Bill Watts for the TSW North American Title
- 1986 Bruiser Brody def. Rick Rude for the WCCW Television Title
- 1987 The Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner) def. Rick Steiner & Sting for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 1996 The Bad Boyz (Krull Danzig & Brett Knight) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Dan Wilder) for the WWEmp Tag Team Titles
- 2008 El Super Colibri def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2008 Michael York def. Brett Taylor for the SECW Light Heavyweight Title
- 2008 Michael York became the SECW Eastern Oklahoma Champion
- 2009 Kevin Morgan became the AWFUL Heavyweight Champion
- 2014 The Sexy Camachos (Angel Camacho & Roberto Camacho & Vinnie Camacho) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 2025 El Gallardo def. E-Bone for the EPW International Title
- 2025 Anarchy [2nd] def. Brandon Warhawk for the UWE Apex Title
- 2025 Faded Ghoul def. Fuel for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 2025 Deacon Hendrix def. Father Padge for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
Week of Sun 05-17 to Sat: 05-23
- 05-17 1965 Bull Curry def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 05-17 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Bill Watts for the TSW North American Title
- 05-17 1986 Bruiser Brody def. Rick Rude for the WCCW Television Title
- 05-17 1987 The Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner) def. Rick Steiner & Sting for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 05-17 1996 The Bad Boyz (Krull Danzig & Brett Knight) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Dan Wilder) for the WWEmp Tag Team Titles
- 05-17 2008 El Super Colibri def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 05-17 2008 Michael York def. Brett Taylor for the SECW Light Heavyweight Title
- 05-17 2008 Michael York became the SECW Eastern Oklahoma Champion
- 05-17 2009 Kevin Morgan became the AWFUL Heavyweight Champion
- 05-17 2014 The Sexy Camachos (Angel Camacho & Roberto Camacho & Vinnie Camacho) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 05-17 2025 El Gallardo def. E-Bone for the EPW International Title
- 05-17 2025 Anarchy [2nd] def. Brandon Warhawk for the UWE Apex Title
- 05-17 2025 Faded Ghoul def. Fuel for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-17 2025 Deacon Hendrix def. Father Padge for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-18 1970 Boris Malenko def. Mil Mascaras for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 05-18 1973 Jose Lothario def. Blackjack Mulligan for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 05-18 1979 Mark Lewin became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 05-18 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 05-18 2007 Lonnie Valdez & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 05-18 2013 The P.I.N.K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) def. Bobby Burns & Sam Stackhouse (substituting for Psycho Sawyer) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
- 05-18 2013 B-Arthur became the SRPW Womens Champion
- 05-18 2013 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Mercenary for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-18 2014 Striker def. Robert Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 05-18 2019 Skylar Slice def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 05-18 2024 Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & The Faded Ghoul) def. The War Hearts (Brandon Warhawk & Seth Daniels) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 05-18 2024 Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) def. Malachi & Ozzy Hendrix for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
- 05-19 1937 Hugh Nichols def. Bobby Chick for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title
- 05-19 1980 Gino Hernandez def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 05-19 1984 The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) def. The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 05-19 1989 Super Zodiac II & Cactus Jack def. Jeff Jarrett & Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 05-19 1989 Super Zodiac def. Eric Embry for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 05-19 2007 Brent Albright def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Title
- 05-19 2007 Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) def. Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & The Bounty Hunter) for the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Titles
- 05-19 2012 Ignition def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 05-19 2012 Super Skunk Ape, Jr. def. Se7en for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 05-19 2018 Jerry Dean/Jerry Storm became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
- 05-19 2018 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 05-19 2023 Brody Wortman def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Skidz def. Brody Wortman for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Jason Simon def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Drake Gallows def. Jason Simon for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Punk Synister def. Drake Gallows for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Jason Simon def. Punk Synister for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Brandon Groom def. Jason Simon for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Punk Synister def. Brandon Groom for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Jason Simon def. Punk Synister for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Nibira def. Jason Simon for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-19 2023 Mikey O'Shea def. Nibira for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 05-20 1980 Junkyard Dog def. Terry Gordy for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 05-20 2006 Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) def. The Old School Assassins (Brad Michaels & Seth Allen) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 05-20 2006 John O'Malley became the IZW Cruiserweight Champion
- 05-20 2017 Robyn Reid def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
- 05-20 2017 Beach Bod Gods (Angel Camacho & Ray the Bae) def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 05-20 2017 Kevin Morgan def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 05-20 2017 Riker def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-20 2022 Wesley Crane def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-20 2023 Royal Pimpin' (Alex Royal & Mr. Nasty) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 05-20 2023 Cappuccino Jones def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-21 1984 Kevin Von Erich def. Killer Khan for the WCCW Television Title
- 05-21 2004 Cade Sydal def. X-Cal for the SRPW Light Heavyweight Title
- 05-21 2004 Michael Faith def. Butch Dalton for the TPW Heavyweight Title
- 05-21 2004 New Canada (AWOL & Jon Davis) def. Sexy Bologna (Anthony Jackson & Sudden Impact) for the TPW Tag Team Titles
- 05-21 2016 Skylar Slice def. Athena for the IZW Queens Title
- 05-21 2017 Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) def. The Arrow Club (Kyle Hawk & Ky-Ote) for the IWR Tag Team Titles
- 05-21 2017 Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) def. The Arrow Club (Kyle Hawk & Ky-Ote) for the TCW Tag Team Titles
- 05-22 1955 Mike Clancy def. Ricki Starr for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
- 05-22 1972 Bill Watts def. Dale Lewis for the TSW North American Title
- 05-22 1985 The Nightmare [1st]/The Masked Champion/The Champion def. Terry Taylor for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 05-22 2009 Texas Outlaws, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk & Bobby Burns & J. W. Hardin) became the TAP Tag Team Champions
- 05-22 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
- 05-22 2021 Father Padge def. Revan for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
- 05-22 2021 Paul Puertorico became the XDWF New GenX Champion
- 05-23 1984 The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton) def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 05-23 2004 Se7en & Li'l Joe def. Bernie Donderwitz & Mr. Brown for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 05-23 2004 Li'l Joe def. Bernie Donderwitz for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 05-23 2009 Maniac Mike def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 05-23 2009 Sage def. Rage Logan for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
- 05-23 2010 Damien Morte def. Crisstopher Crow for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
- 05-23 2015 Brad Michaels def. Jermaine Johnson for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 05-23 2020 Cody Burns def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Heavyweight Title
- 05-23 2021 Luke Savage def. Garcia for the ASP Mid-American Title
- 05-23 2021 Malik Mayfield became the ASP Livestream Champion
- Billy Red Lyons May 17th Today!
- J. B. Pain May 17th Today!
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- Buzz Markley May 19th
- Will Chambers May 19th
- Bateman May 19th
- Mongol May 19th
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- Andre the Giant May 19th
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- Zach Delt May 22nd
- Santana Jackson May 23rd
- Silento Rodriguez May 23rd
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