Friend Encounters: John Cena and David Vox Mullen

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring my friends meeting celebrities.

There is so much material in this picture. It is also a bit bittersweet for me.

First, the obvious joke. Why am I featuring my friend David Vox Mullen all by himself? If you know wrestling, you'll get that reference. If you don't know wrestling, look at Cena's hat for a clue.

This meeting between wrestling legend John Cena and my pal Vox happened at Wizard World in 2012. That was before I even knew Vox, but it wasn't before I was covering Wizard World. Henc my angst. Why didn't I get an interview with Cena? Oh well.

I am very happy for Vox though. He landed a big name and he deserved it. Vox is extremely talented, whether singing, hosting, performing comedy or anything else he does. He is also ne of the greatest people I know.

Vox earned everything he has gotten. His most recent projects were a documentary on Wisconsin wrestling promoter David Herro and an unnamed future doc. His very latest accomplishment is his book Go Book Yourself. I am lucky enough to have a special #5 of 20 original copies headed to me. I can't waqit to read it and review it right here.

To learn more info, follow Vox on Instagram. Of course, check back here, too. You'll definitely see more of Vox in the future.

John Cena and Vox in Rosemont, IL-August 2012.

Friendly Encounters: John Cena and Eugene Cresto

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

I've had Eugene Cresto here many times.  Usually I am lamenting the fact that he met some cool celebrity and I did not.  Today, that is only half the case.

Eugene did meet wrestling star John Cena (yes, he qualifies as a cool celebrity in my opinion), but so did I.  I don't care that Eugene met him first and probably has met him a few times.  I only care that at Wizard World in Chicago a few months ago, I met Cena, too.  Eugene doesn't have that one on me.  Even when he first published the pic with Cena, I knew my time was coming and I did not get (too) annoyed that he met him.  

He does have a bunch of other great celebs who I never met.  He is very strong on the wrestling scene, but he also has met other mainstream celebs.  I think I matched him pretty good at this year's Wizard World.  That's a big accomplishment, because Eugene is a legend in this field.

Eugene is a great guy.  I love the pics he posts with his caricature and celebs.  I also always love seeing his kids in the pics.  He and they seem to have so much fun.  At least in the case of Cena, I had that fun, too.

Eugene Cresto and John Cena in Philadelphia, PA-June 2016.

John Cena at Wizard World Chicago 2016

John Cena has had an interesting WWE career.  For the better part of the last 15 years, he has been the good guy face of the WWE.  He's a multi-time champ who usually floats around the main event scene.  Because of this, he is both cheered and booed.

I am in the pro-Cena camp.  I don't screech like a kid for him, but I appreciate all he has done in and out of the ring.  He is tireless.  He has done hundreds of charity events, such as "Make a Wish" appearances.  That type of dedication must be applauded.

His detractors will say he is stale or he hold down other talent.  I don't claim to know what happens backstage and I don't really care.  He is the ultimate performer.

I did not pass the chance to meet Cena at Wizard World.  Like him or not, you must respect his accomplishments and meeting such a legend is always cool.  For his part, Cena was gracious in the limited time given.  He greeted and thanked us individually.  That might sound simple enough, but it isn't a given in these circumstances.

Years from now, Cena will have to be included in the greatest conversation.  The significance of this meeting wasn't lost on me and actually even Jason enjoyed the chance, despite him being more on the fence than I am.

Jason Fleigel, John Cena and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2016.

I Couldn't See John Cena

John Cena's trademark "You can't see me" seemed like a taunt at Wizard World.  Neither my press credentials nor my official video blogger status could get me very close to the WWE superstar last year.
Cena is huge, both physically and in star status.  He was clearly the biggest draw at Wizard World. He signed and posed for an evening shift and when he was announced, the place went insane.  I swear it felt like the convention center shook.
Cena is about as close to a modern day Hulk Hogan as it gets.  He has won numerous titles, including the WWE Heavyweight title ten times.  He does lots of charitable work and has starred in a few movies.
Some wrestling fans dislike Cena calling him stale or griping about his "Super Cena" status and his "5 moves of doom" in-ring abilities.  I like Cena.  This is wrestling.  He works with what he is given and he works hard at everything.
I got quite a few interviews and even more pictures at Wizard World.  Unfortunately the pictures below were about the best I could do with Cena.

John Cena in Rosemont, IL-August 2012.