Some scattered meets in January and February including more WWE

January and February has been largely slow for me (in preparation for a packed march). I haven't been coming out too much, and some of the times I did come out I sadly didn't do well. Failed on the likes of Leslie Odom, Paul Reiser, Madison Bailey, and Madelyn Cline. Let's look at some of the things that did result in ops.

First off, there was an event I was hoping to see Warren Buffet. But sadly he would not show up. I wound up getting some politicians I didn't care for and an autograph from Cal Ripken Jr.

Full list of photo ops

Autograph

Next up, had a flight for Natalie Horner. She is an early 2000s pop singer in the group Cascada, known for hits like "Every time We Touch" and "Miracle". Waited for her and she was nice doing ops and autographs.

Natalie Horler of Cascada

Autographs

Keeping up with music I went for Dave Pirner, the original lead singer of Soul Asylum. Waited after the show. Started with one barely valid member. Then David comes out and was super cool. After I got the combo he inquired if he met me before but I told him truthfully that it was my first time meeting him. He said he remembers someone last night with the same camera. I clarified that it was  who he had met the prior evening and that we indeed have similar cameras. He goes "did you guys buy the cameras together"?

Who?

Dave Pirner

Autograph

Then, a quick WWE run. I had a flight on all 4 members of Legado Del Fantasma. Since I never met the 3 male members, I thought I'd go. Plus who knows who else I would see. 

Wait and I see Zelina Vega. I ask for her auto and she says she would do one. I tell her all I have is two but she reiterates she would only do one. I say ok, she signs, and I thank her. 

Next up I see Santos Escobar (with shades), then Cruz Del Toro, then Joaquin Wilde. All fresh meets for me and all super nice and happy to do combos. All signed the same 8x10 Zelina signed. 

In all this I realized I saw Shotzi but didn't ask her. DOH! It's ok I have a good idea where she's going next. I go there and wait. I first see Joaquin Wilde again and have him sign his entry on the WWE_E V4. Then while waiting I see Sarah Logan and Erik of the Viking Raiders with their child. I ask Sarah for an auto on the WWE_E V4 but she excused herself cause she was chasing the child. After a while Erik is carrying the child I ask Sarah and she signs. 

Then I say hi to Erik and tell him as soon as he's free from the child I will get his autograph. He says he can sign right now and I say ok. I get him to complete the Viking Raiders entry. Sarah then says "only when the child is running".

Wait some more and there is this guy, middle aged, on the phone, yelling and cursing out someone, probably his wife. Saying things like "I go buy groceries bla bla bla". While that was happening Joaquin Wilde walks by and chuckles with me about it and I tell him "airport entertainment". 

I see Shotzi and ask her for the op she declines using no make up as an excuse. DAMMIT! I am 0-3 on Shotzi as the first 2 times I got mask shots and this time she declines. 

Then Cruz Del Toro and Santos Escobar come together and I ask for a group shot. This was also an excuse to get Santos with no shades. While they are in line I get Cruz to sign the Raul Mendoza entry of the WWE_E V4 and Santos on the inside cover. This ended the quick haul. 

After this I go for actress Jennette McCurdy. But she refuses to take off the mask for ops and refuses to sign. Another epic disaster meet. Then one guy spotted a football play, a complete WHO name for me. He did ops.

Joaquin Wilde

Cruz Del Toro and Santos Escobar

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

WWE_E V4

Erik (Viking Raiders entry)
Cruz Del Toro (Raul Mendoza entry)
Joaquin Wilde
Sarah Logan
Santos Escobar (inside cover)

First con of 2023: Baltimore Celebfest 6

Attended my first con of 2023, Baltimore Celebfest 6. I had very few main wants. I had lots of lower wants but needed to save up for upcoming cons. So I stuck with my core wants. 

First up, I go for child actor and little Johnny Wyatt in WWE, James DiGiacomo (son of Jamison). Got a photo op. 

Then I go to his father where I needed him to complete an old WWF mag already signed by Ted Dibiase and King Kong Bundy. That completion was actually the main reason I came to this con.

Of all the other wants on my list, I simply got Rosemary and Jessicka Havok. I had lots of other females on the list but chose to skip them to save money.

Besides that I just chilled in the con, said hi to people, said hi to So Cal Val who knows me. She now lives in England and barely comes to the US anymore. Ended my time with a slightly better shot with Bushwacker Luke. He will be reunited with Butch for Wrestlecon in LA. Told him to please tell Butch to come to Philadelphia in 2024.

James DiGiacomo

Rosemary and Jessicka Havok

Bushwacker Luke

Autograph

First haul of 2023 is a WWE one

As I ended my 2022 combo endeavors with a WWE haul, I scored my first combos of 2023 with the same thing! A WWE haul!

It was the RAW XXX in Philadelphia. I was on the fence about going cause I don't need very many people from RAW and the legends I've seen so many times by now. But when I saw that LA Knight and Imperium were there, that tipped the scale for me. So during RAW I rushed to Philly. My plan was to swing by the hotel to see what could still be had, then do the airport. 

I rush hoping I don't fall asleep in my drive, and I make it to the hotel. As I arrive I see the Street Profits going up to their room. Apparently The Undertaker is still in the bar. I also see Drake Maverick sitting but I have him so there was no need to bother him.

After about 20 minutes or so Undertaker leaves the bar, people swarm him. About 4 of us get him before he dashes away, and by MIRACLE I manage to not only be one of those few, but I got a photo op and two autographs! I got him on two WWF magazines. 

This marks my first combo of 2023 and my second ever photo op with the Undertaker. It's an upgrade and a downgrade at the same time. I have an over the table shot from the signing near Tampa that I attended in 2010, so this is a standing shot. And one of the appeals of a photo op with wrestlers is how big they are compared to you. So because he's standing it's an upgrade. But in a way it's also a downgrade because he looks older.

The Undertaker

I start my airport trek going for Michin (Mia Yim). While there I spot Bobby Lashley and got my first photo op with him since 2008. Also got an auto. Then I saw Michin and got a combo. This marks my first fresh meet of 2023. 

As I am walking to the next flight I see Imperium. I ask Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser for the group shot and while taking the photo op Giovanni Vinci joins us! How cool is that? That group shot was the money shot right there! I still needed a solo shot with Giovanni Vinci since he's not next to me in the photo but they went to a lounge. It's ok I knew where they were going next (basically same place I was going).

I walk there and saw Bronson Reed sitting down. Asked him for the combo and he was nice. I got Finn Balor (repeat), Nikki Cross (repeat), LA Knight combo (fresh op). Saw Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae. Have them already but got the group shot plus autos. Saw the Street Profits and Bianca Belair but they were all not friendly. Saw Dakota Kai, Rea Ripley, Akira Tazawa, Adam Pearce but I had them all so no need to bother them. Solo Sikoa came with his hoddie and shades. I didn't even bother approaching him but saw others try and he waved them off before they could even ask. Thank God I didn't need him.

Imperium then came through, I got my photo op with Giovanni Vinci and autos with all three. The woman at the counter goes "do you want my signature?". 

Now we have down time. The Miz and Baron Corbin were at another gate but I didn't have a need for them and was tiered. So I rested while others went for them. Then saw Io Sky walk but didn't need to bother her. Then all of a sudden, Austin Theory and Dominik Mysterio walk by. I've needed a Dominik upgrade for a while. We go up to them and Austin remembered me from when I met him last August. I get the op with both and the auto from Dominik. 

Then I see Omos. I ask him to sign me an 8x10, he looks at me with a weird face as if saying "what the fuck? This guy again?". I guess like Austin he also remembered me from when I met him last August. I made it clear I only had one photo and he signed it while giving me that weird look.

Next up, got repeat ops with Kevin Owens and Alexa Bliss. Then saw Asuka. She kept the mask on for ops but I didn't even bother asking her to remove it as I have a great no mask op from pre COVID times. We got word that Bray Wyatt came through. Haven't seen him in years so wouldn't have minded getting him again. We go looking for him but don't find him.

Next up, Undertaker again. We are on our way to go for him, but run into X-Pac. I get an updated shot plus two autographs. Then continue on to Undertaker and we see him just sitting down waiting for his plane. I remove my coat and put away my camera so he doesn't recognize me from the prior evening (which worked). He was grumpy and complacent but signed for us. I got him on two encyclopedias. Essentially between my photo op and four autographs I got a 1K convention value! This ended the airport trek.

Imperium

LA Knight

Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae

Dominik Mysterio

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

WWE_E V4

Undertaker
X-Pac
Mia Yim
Bobby Lashley
Bronson Reed
Candice LeRae
Johnny Gargano
LA Knight (inside cover)
Dominik Mysterio (inside cover)
Gunther (inside cover)
Ludwig Kaiser (inside cover)
Giovanni Vinci (inside cover)

WWE_E V3

Undertaker
X-Pac

Final day of 2022 meets is a quick WWE haul

NOTE: Please read my final week report (previous post) before reading this.

My EIGHTH day in a row where I was out at least in some form (a new record for me outside of the festivities of the televisions in NYC), and my final day of 2022 meets, I would do some WWE. RAW would be in town and I had two main wants, Solo Sikoa and Michin (Mia Yim).  I got both their flights out. Both were leaving around the same time - from different airports! So I had to choose one. I of course chose Solo, the only member of the Bloodline I have yet to meet. 

I go to the airport and it's largely repeat meets for me. I get Alexa Bliss (combo), Bayley (op only, refused autos), and Elias. I told Elias that I never met Ezekiel and he goes "maybe someday". I got Baron Corbin to sign a card. Didn't get another op with him. Solo Sikoa came through wearing a full green jumpsuit and hoodie. We asked him for ops he goes "sorry I'm late have to go through". I was floored because it seems he's already a dick. It was 90 minutes before his flight. After a very rough week, I wasn't going to give up on my main want for the day so easily! 

I decide to go through and see if I can meet him where he waits. So I do. While doing this I get Nikki Cross (combo). I go to Solo spot I then see him just sitting in front of a window with his back turned to the entire airport, headphones on, head down. I decide to wait for him to get up and board the plane to ask again. While waiting I see Sami Zyan and get another op. I also see Bayley again but decide not to bother her again. 

When the plane boards he gets up, I ask him, and he signals for me to take the op! I get the full combo from him. Success! My solo (pun intended) fresh meet for the day! Walking back to where I was I see Rea Ripley and get another op. Wait back at the original spot and I see Byron Saxton. He is wearing a mask. He knows who I am so I simply go up to him and say hi and chat a little. I could have waited more and scoured the airport more, but sadly I had to bail as I had non-combo related life things to do. This ended 2022 combos for me. 

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

WWE_E V4 additions: 

Alexa Bliss
Nikki Cross

Final week of 2022 combo hunting

The last week of combo hunting in 2022 was largely rough. In part because of my bad luck, in part because I have so many people already that success is harder. In my last week of 2022 combo hunting, I would be out every day. Let us begin.

Day 1

First up is an early morning flight for actor and Big Time Rush lead singer Kendall Schmidt. He was cool, he did the op, but wasn't too thrilled to sign (and has a horrid auto). Then went on to mooch some breakfast. 

Next up an event where my main goal is Shania Twain. Sadly she would not stop throughout the day and night. But I got autographs from Gloria and Emilio Estefan (didn't need more ops with them). I got Any Grammer (update) and Joss Stone (fresh). I missed actress Ariana DeBose (spoiler alert, I would make that up).

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Day 2

This evening would be horrid as I went back for Shania. To my dismay I missed her entering by 5 minutes where she stopped. However, others who were waiting on a different side missed her because they were waiting on the wrong side. So I guess I could have been there and still missed her. I did manage to get Ariana DeBose, although that score would be negated as I would see her for the rest of the week. And I got an update with Gloria's daughter Emily.

Full list of photo ops

Day 3

This day would start badly. I heard about Shania stopping leaving the hotel, so I beat her to a different stop to intercept her. And she didn't stop at that location. Wow I have the most horrid luck! Things like this truly make me want to quit combo hunting for good!

At night, I would get some scores. We start at the spot and as we get 2 or 3 photo ops one guy who is secret service comes up to us and tells us to "cut this". Knowing we were on the sidewalk and he has no right to tell us this, we completely ignore him and continue what we are doing. And as more people come we ask them for combos as he is just standing there (about halfway through the night he wasn't even there anymore and we were still getting people). 

A lot of people I got were political names I don't really care for. Photo op wise I got a major reporter for the 9/11 attacks, Mika Brzezinski. I got Elvis director Baz Luhrmann, an expected score. On entry I got an update with actress Jennifer Garner, on exit I got an update with actress Julia Louis Dreyfus. On entry I also got an op with Apple CEO Tim Cook, and scored his autograph on exit. Saw actress Ariana DeBose again. 

Autograph wise on entry I scored two autographs with John Legend's wife Chrissy Teigen (I have ops with both him and her from before so I focused on autographs that I needed). The one magazine with both of them had John's autograph from before.

Also got Stephen Colbert to sign for me on entry and exit (again, didn't bother with ops as I have him). Karine Jean-Pierre signed blanks for me on exit in addition to the photo op. And the world's richest man Bernard Arnault signed but refused ops as he left.

Tim Cook

Jennifer Garner

Baz Luhrmann

Julia Louis Dreyfus

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Day 4

This day would be quick for me. I would wait for actress Taylor Schilling to return to a spot. But I later found out that she was back inside by the time I arrived. So I hoped she would go out for dinner and she did. Nice as can be. I didn't do anything else that day but people waiting at one spot got Eddie Vedder autographs (which I would have liked to get) and at another spot  they got George Clooney autographs (which again would have been cool). No one knew they would be at these spots in advance but people just waited. But at least these are names I have. Bono who was also at the George Clooney spot but he didn't stop.

Taylor Schilling

The next two days would be long, hard ones, and sadly miserable ones. In part because I have so many names already so that limited my prospects. But also in part because of bad luck and bad decisions. 

Day 5

Op wise it starts with Michael Tilson Thomas, Edward Villella (update), and Mickey Guyton (update). I get autos from Edward and Garth Brooks (couldn't get his wife Trisha Yearwood's auto). Shery Crow was wearing shades when she came to me so I only got an auto. But leaving she did no shades shot in the other side. Could have used a no shades upgrade. 

Get a combo with Amy Grant (update photo) and autograph from Vince Gill. We never see Bono or Larry from U2, but leaving I manage to score a combo from The Edge (upgrading by previous blurry shot) and getting an autograph from Adam Clayton (my op has shades but here he had a beard plus he wasn't being too friendly). 

George Clooney is stopping but since I have him I focused on an op with Amal Clooney. Plus my op is with a much younger Clooney not an older bearded Clooney. Got a photo with Tania Leon. I tried hard to get autos from Glady Knight but was not successful (I have an op from before). Richard Kind was super nice taking care of everyone. Got autos. Also got Amanda Shires and BeBe Winans among others. Brandi Carlile and Natalie Hemby were not being friendly, barely stopping. CeCe Winans didn't stop. 

The night ended with Patti Labelle who was being nice. I got her on two, didn't need an op.

There was one other late night spot, which in the past wasn't good. I was so tiered I decided to go home. But people got Julia Roberts (she took at least one op) and Eddie Vedder signed at least a couple. This would be my biggest blunder of the year (possibly even the last 10 years). Again, things like that make me want to quit combo hunting. 

The Edge

Amy Grant

Amal Clooney

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Signed U2 album

Day 6 (and Day 7)

Ops wise it starts off with singer Kirk Franklin, Ariana DeBose again (this time got autos too), Dianne Reeves, Jamala, updates with Marren Morris and Carmen De Lavallade, Jason Moran, actress Anna Deavere Smith, and Andrew Hozier (update).

I get autos from actress Chita Rivera and actor Don Cheadle. Thankfully have great ops from before so did not have to bother with that. Also got an auto from Herbie Hancock (have many ops). Matt Damon is being nice and I didn't bother with a shades shot so I focused on autos. Got LL Cool J autos (and eventually an update) and another auto from Patti Labelle. 

Sadly Sean Penn and Julia Roberts were not stopping. At the red carpet function Julia did it for one child and his mother. Sasha Baron Cohen (Borat) and his wife actress Isla Fisher didn't stop either. U2 snuck in.

It's quite telling to see 86 year old dancer Edward Villella shaking and barely able to walk accommodate combos while much younger able bodied celebs avoid fans or say no.

Later in the evening I tried some more to see what I could get, but sadly no dice. Some people broke the rules and got Eddie Vedder to sign in another part of the venue. When Sasha Baron and Isla left I tried to beg Isla but she said it was cold. I got Marren Morris again, Amanda Shires again (this time the shot is better), among other things. The night is officially a bust.

Full list of photo ops part 1

Full list of photo ops part 2

Autographs part 1

Autographs part 2

The next day I tried to go for an Eddie Vedder flight, but he was a complete dick. The most painful thing was finding out he signed at the hotel just before coming here and Isla did ops. I knew of the spot but no one knew she was staying there. Again, things like this make me want to quit combo hunting. I also tried Bono at a hotel later on, but they snuck him out. The worst ending I ever had to any year, combo wise. PUNCH after PUNCH after PUNCH.