Get Discount 5% Off
Subscribe to our newsletters now and stay up-to-date with new arrivals, updates and deals.
Couldn't load pickup availability
Albuquerque, N.M., March 2016: I'm sitting in the back of a pickup truck in the parking lot of the Westside Community Center, waiting to make my appearance on an independent wrestling show. It took me about eight hours to drive here, but with only minutes to go before showtime, I'll be damned if anybody sees me now. To the promoter of tonight's event, I have repeated my feelings ad nauseum: just keep this thing a secret.
Don't tell anyone who doesn't need to know.
It's hard not to smile back here. The assembled crowd - perhaps a few hundred of them in total - clearly don't suspect a thing. As they excitedly file into the venue, it looks like some of the performers in tonight's show have blended in with them. The very idea of a similar scene occurring elsewhere - prior to an episode of WWE's Monday Night Raw, for example - makes my smile even wider.
One thing is for sure - the contrast between the two worlds is fascinating. This small venue - likely one of the more, ahem, affordable settings that the Destiny Wrestling Organization could get a hold of - doesn't have any of the trappings of a major arena. In fact, it's situated in an area that would never be confused with other, more affluent parts of town - and that's being kind.
Still, I'm here, and not by necessity, by the way - I'm here by choice.
----Sitting in my truck, I think back to an event produced under entirely different circumstances; specifically, my on-screen debut with WWE, the industry leader, televised to millions some 14 years earlier. On that night, the reaction to my surprise appearance - immortalized forever on WWE television - would become almost as famous as the appearance itself. Memorably, and shockingly, it was Vince McMahon himself - once my bitter business rival during the previous decade - with whom I embraced on the stage at Continental Airlines Arena.
That rumbling beneath your feet, I told Vince as 17,000 fans became unglued, is a whole lot of people turning over in their graves.
My agreement then to sign with Vince, the Chairman and driving force of WWE, sent shockwaves throughout the entire wrestling world...
...But here on this night - right now in Albuquerque - the final few patrons are starting to shuffle in. I could be wrong, but it looks like one guy may have spotted me in my truck. I see him slowly turn back to enter the building, and that's enough for me - the time to wait is over. I glance left, glimpse right, and soon make an immediate beeline for the backdoor entrance.
One step inside, and my grin is incandescent: I'm in.
Grateful features exclusive bonus content - enabled via QR codes - at the end of each chapter!You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.
We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.
When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
Subscribe to our newsletters now and stay up-to-date with new arrivals, updates and deals.
Thanks for subscribing!
This email has been registered!
Product | SKU | Description | Collection | Availability | Product Type | Other Details |
---|