Friend Encounters: Mickie James and Troy

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends meeting celebrities.

Squared Circle Expo is the biggest and best wrestling convention. It features a huge lineup of wrestling legends and current stars, vendors, panels, Q&As and more. It also features Troy!

Troy can always be found at SCX. He usually assists a wrestler at his table, but he also does other things, pretty much anything that is needed. He is a Troy of all trades and he is a great guy.

Last year, although he wasn't working her table, Troy got a picture with Mickie James, former WWE and Impact women's champ. James is a future Hall of Famer and she also dabbled in music. I really enjoy her singing, as I told her at SCX IV. She talked about doing more singing and I hope she does.

James did not need a manager in her wrestling career, but Troy would have made a good one. I also believe Troy could have worked both as a heel and a fan favorite.

SCX V has been announced for April 25-26, 2025 in Indianapolis. For more info, go to SquaredCircleX.com. I'll be there. Troy will be there. Mickie might be there, but there will be 50+ other wrestlers for sure.

Troy and Mickie James in Indianapolis, IN-March 2024.

Mickie James at Motor City Comic Con 2010

Motor City Comic Con takes place May 17-19 in Novi, MI. I continue looking back on some of my favorite guests from previous years.

Mickie James was a fan of wrestling as she grew up.  She attended a wrestling school and made her debut in 1999.  Since then, she has wrestled for the WWE, Impact, ROH and many other companies, winning titles everywhere.

Several years ago, Mickie released Strangers and Angels, an 11 track cd.  Mickie wasn't the first wrestler to incorporate singing into her gimmick, but she was one of the most legit to do so.

Mickie co-wrote a couple songs on the cd.  She also opened shows for Montgomery Gentry, Randy Houser, Gretchen Wilson, and Rascal Flatts.
I bought this cd directly from her at the Motor City Comic Con.  I'm not usually a fan of country music, but I do like this cd (and not because I like her).  Years later, it is still in my cd rotation in my car.  Especially if you like country music, check out the cd on YouTube.
A few years later, she released Somebody's Gonna Pay.  I never got this cd, but I really need to do that.

You can get more news and updates by following Mickie James on twitter.  Also, all of Mickie's music is still available on Amazon.
For this year's celebrity and artist lineup, head to MotorCityComicCon.com. I'll be "On the Beat" all weekend (May 18-20). Mickie is not scheduled to be there, but plenty of other great celebrities and creators will be there..

Jason Fleigel, Mickie James and me in Novi, MI-May 2010.

Mickie James Shot a Raspberry My Way

I have been a big fan of Mickie James since her debut in wrestling.  Mickie is the perfect woman wrestler.  She is attractive (but not in a Barbie doll way), she can cut a great promo and she is a fantastic wrestler.  How about that...a cute woman who can actually wrestle?!
I was really excited about meeting Mickie at last year's MCCC.  Mickie did not disappoint.  She was very nice when we first met her.  We talked about her career and her new music venture.  I really like her cd Strangers and Angels.
After meeting her, we walked away figuring that was the end of our Mickie experience.  We were wrong.
Later in the day, we reconvened near her booth to plan the rest of the day.  When we looked over, we saw Mickie sticking out her tongue at us.
This was a first for me.  A celeb sticking her tongue out!
Fortunately, I recovered from my surprise quick enough to snap the photo to capture this moment.  Mickie then laughed and went back to her business at her booth.
Okay, this wasn't a huge moment in time, but it was just a small example of the extra fun that can be had at the Motor City Comic Con.  Everyone at the MCCC, from the fans to the celebs to the MCCC staff helps create such a great atmosphere.
If you don't believe me, then I say you should look to the picture below for my proof!

Mickie James in Novi, MI-May 2011.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #116 Mickie James and Mike Bucci (aka Bear Down Sunday #4 Bears vs. Cowboys)

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a regular series which attempts to combine my passion for bubblegum cards and my interest in celebrities.  Bear Down Monday appears for every Bears game and features some connection to the Bears or their opponent.  Today, I combine the two features.

Today, the Bears play the Dallas Cowboys.  Both teams are 2-1 and tied for first place in their respective division.
I have always been a Bears fan, but much to the dismay of my childhood best friend, I was also a fan of the Cowboys.  I loved Danny White, Golden Richards, Charlie Waters and on and on.  Sometime around the time I reached adulthood, I left the Cowboys behind.  I never hated them.  I just became ambivalent towards them.
While debating what to write for today's game, I came across a couple of celebrities wearing Cowboys jerseys.  Actually, they happen to be two of my favorite wrestling personalities.  I might have to rethink my stance on the Cowboys.

Mickie James is one of the most talented female wrestlers today.  She has also embarked on a musical career.  I met Mickie at the Motor City Comic Con and she was as sweet as could be.  Mickie is wearing Tony Romo's #9 for her Celebrity Jersey Card.  Many women might say that Romo is dreamy, but I think Mickie wears it much better!

Mickie James and me in Novi, MI-May 2011.

I first met Mike Bucci at Wizard World.  I had always been a fan, but after interviewing him, I was so impressed.  Since then, I have met him many times at Resistance Pro Wrestling events and Mike continues to be a great guy.  He is also a huge Dallas Cowboys fan.

JayHawk Evans, Mike Bucci and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2011.

Friendly Encounters

This is a regular series featuring friends who have met celebs.

I met Scott Blair at Wizard World in Chicago.  Actually, I saw his work before I saw him.  I was meandering through the artist area when Scott's stunning art caught my eye.  He was gracious enough to give us a quick interview.
His booth was full of his fantastic illustrations of some of wrestling's most beautiful women, including Christy Hemme, Velvet Sky, April Hunter and more.  Scott's work is stunning.  The women virtually pop off of his posters, sketches and book pages.  He obviously has a great working relationship with these women who pose for him.
Recently I saw one of his Facebook posts which featured Mickie James.  He commented that he was working on a new idea for her.  I checked his previous work and found he hadn't done any art of her.  I am very interested in what Scott has in mind for Mickie.  I'd also like to see Scott do illustrations of Tammy Sytch and Trish Stratus, but that's just me.
I asked Scott for a quick update and he responded with...
HARD CANDY : Modern Pinups by Scott Blair
Softcover. 64 Pages - 64 Pin-ups in Full Color
This book is a collection of my favorite digital pin-ups created from 2007 to 2011. With full color modern pin-up artworks of models Velvet Sky, Christy Hemme, Shelly Martinez, SoCalVal, Angelina Love, Traci Brooks, April Hunter, Daffney and many more!
To get more info or to purchase Hard Candy, click here.
Whichever diva you prefer, I am sure Scott either has her or can create a piece of her.  See for yourself at ScottBlairArt.com, the Scott Blair Facebook page or Scott's twitter.

Mickie James and Scott Blair in Orlando, FL-November 2011.

Mickie James is Hardcore Country

Mickie James made her wrestling debut in an indy group.  She later wrestled for the WWE and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.  She has held the championship belt everywhere she has wrestled, including being the current Women's champ of TNA.
Mickie is what I like in women's wrestling.  She actually wrestles!  She's not simply eye candy (which real wrestling fans ignore anyway).  Mickie cuts a good promo, has good moves and generally puts on a solid show.
When we met her at the Motor City Comic Con, she was promoting her cd Strangers & Angels, but she wasn't obnoxious about it.  I am not a huge country fan, but I liked the cd, especially the title track (Strangers & Angels).
Mickie is getting ready to head back into the studio to work on a new project.  On Mickie's Kickstarter page, she announced a special offer.for fans to pre-order the cd and to have a chance at some other cool goodies. Check out Mickie's short video to learn more about her special offer or check out her Kickstarter page.
You don't have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy Mickie's music.  I am proof you don't even have to be a country music fan either.  Check out her first cd Strangers and Angels to get a sampling and then go to her page to learn more about her new project.  You won't be disappointed.

 Mickie James and me in Novi, MI-May 2011.

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly feature highlighting friends who have met celebs.

This is a different sort of Friendly Encounters, because Michele Mupo (aka Fuchsia) is the friend, but she is also a celeb. I met Michele for the first time last October, but I had been a fan of her work for a while. Recently, Michele was in the recording studio with former WWE champion Mickie James to work on a future project. This is quite a tag-team!
Michele is a dynamo. She writes (music and scripts), sings and represents celebrity talent with her agency. Michele's music can be heard on YouTube and her site. Her site features seven songs, covering different styles. There is even a version of the Star Spangled Banner. I think my favorite is Real.
Mickie's first album can be found at Country Showcase. You can also hear a sample, as well as learn more about Mickie. Mickie's musical career is just starting, but it is going well. She'll be opening for Gretchen Wilson in the near future.
I encourage everyone to give both Michele and Mickie a listen. I also thank Michele for sharing this here.

Michele Mupo and Mickie James in North Brunswick, NJ-July 2010.