Just a few observations from a Corporate Controller. I bought a package for this weekend with my bonus last year. I took my sister, who is a schoolteacher, with me. Rey Mysterio was at the 'special access signing' I got with the package. My sister's class is 90 percent Hispanic, and she told him they loved him and he was a role model. He not only signed her picture (with a special message in Spanish-and what he signed for me was only 'Rey Mysterio-619) he got down from behind the podium and took a picture with her. I thought that was great; no one else did that. He was very nice and kind and even asked what grade she taught-which is second grade.

WWE Axxess was a little cheesy, and I was disappointed. The effects are cheap looking, and in the memorabilia section they had three announcing suits of Mr. McMahon's, one of Ric Flair's robes, and the ring gear of Jay Strongbow. The performers they advertised did appear (though John Cena was supposed to be at 8:00 and he did not come out until 8:15-fashionably late, I suppose) and before Cena came out they parted the crowd so distinctively I thought perhaps Moses was going to appear. It was fun and well organized, but seemed more like a set up for the three merchandise stands they had throughout rather than 'fan access.'

At the Hall of Fame last night, Steve Austin of course blew the roof off the place. When he said he grew up 'a hundred miles south up US 59' that got a huge reaction from the Houston based crowd. I'm not picking on anyone; these are just the people I could see (and I am a fan of the two I am about to mention). Until they went to the USA taping section, Triple H had out his cell phone checking messages. Shawn Michaels and his wife talked to each other, and Michaels sat with his legs up until the taping began, but I guess if my back and knees were like his, I would also.

Stephanie McMahon was literally the first to her feet when Vince was introduced, leading the standing ovation for him. The clock that clicked down time for the inductees/presenters talking was distracting, and I guess if Mickey Rourke won't dress up for the academy awards he certainly won't for this. All in all, it was a great show and I am looking forward to tonight, where I'll be on the 6th row.

Houston's Own,
Judith A. Stephenson

***

I had to share this. About ten years ago, I was invited as Press at One of the Brian Pillman memorial shows in Cincinnati. I am used to meeting performers so my markout moments were few and far between. But, as I walked backstage, my mouth dropped open as standing right in front of me was Ricky "By God the Dragon" Steamboat, as I became a five year old boy who sat in front of a TV on saturday morning watching my idol. I basically interrupted a booking in progress with a very rude, " Mr Steamboat, can I get a picture"?

Steamboat politely smiled stopped what he was doing and said "Give me a few minutes and we will do it". I walked away and was like...oh god Steamboat must think I am the biggest mark ever. I continued to do my job interviewing a lot of WWE, WCW, and ECW stars and I felt a little tap on mr shoulder. I turned around and in a totally amazing moment there was Ricky Steamboat. He looked at me with a smile and said...Now you wanted an autograph and picture right?

Ricky had hunted me down among hundreds of fans and delivered an autograph and a picture with me. So I wrote this to let you know that a lot of what Ric Flair said at the Hall of Fame was true. MY brief interaction with Ricky was one of my favorite moments ever. He is an exception to the rule - friendly, smiling, and fan friendly. It meant a lot.

Dan Hudson

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