Friend Encounters: Sgt. Slaughter and Mark Ailes at Days of the Dead 2019

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities. With Days of the Dead returning to Las Vegas March 20-22, this is a special Friend Encounters DotD edition.

Mark Ailes is an author and actor. The Valparaiso Indiana resident often mentions his hometown in his books. With titles such as Zombie Park, Undead Worlds and Plague of the Living Dead, it is easy to see his preferred genre.

I have become friends with Mark through the comic con scene, especially Days of the Dead. It's always interesting when I see celebrities excited about meeting other celebrities. Mark is always excited to meet his favorites.

At Days of the Dead Indy, Mark met wrestling legend Sgt. Slaughter. Slaughter is a WWE Hall of Famer and a multi-time champ. He is a real wrestling legend, who was one of the first to cross over into the mainstream. He is also the first real person to be made into a GI Joe doll.

I was able to witness the meeting. Mark was very happy with his moment with Sarge. Mark has met many wrestling legends, but Sarge was one of his favorites. Having met Sarge, I know he is a great celebrity guest.

I hope to see Mark again at an upcoming Days event. There might even be an interview in our future.

Check out all of Mark's books on the Mark Ailes page on Amazon. You can also go to DaysoftheDead.com for more info on this event and allof their other events.

Mark Ailes and Sgt. Slaughter in Indianapolis, IN-July 2019.

Friend Encounters: Sgt. Slaughter and Josh Watko

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

I first came across Josh Watko's JW's Wrestling Memorabilia site many years ago. Josh wrote about wrestling figures and other wrestling-related stuff. He also occasionally veered into other pop culture fun.

Josh was one of the first people I ever saw who consistently met and wrote about meeting wrestlers. He has met so many wrestlers past and present, including many that I haven't met. I am envious of that, but happy for him, because he is a great fan of the business. As evident in the picture below with Sgt. Slaughter, Josh started at a very early age. 

I have followed Josh's work over the years and took special note of his "Joshie" awards. At the end of every year, Josh presented his "Joshie" awards, including a "Thanks for the Memories" award, given to such luminaries as Lance Russell, Chyna, Dusty Rhodes, Roddy Piper and The Ultimate Warrior.

When I first read his "Joshie" awards presentation, I thought it was such a cool idea. His award categories and reasoning behind winning selections made the awards special. Anyone can just give out awards, but a "Joshie" had real meaning.

I write this in all honesty. Josh's site is so well written, that it stands out in a sea of sites on the internet. He is talented, clever, insightful and entertaining.

One year, I mentioned that my goal was to win a "Joshie" award. Was it fair of me to campaign for that honor? I wrote about my goal and I hope to legit earn the award. I figured Josh would get a laugh and maybe have some fun with it, but I never actually thought I would win the award.

As I made my regular stop on his site this morning, I saw "The Winds of Change" as his newest entry. I was surprised to see my picture with Gene Okerlund accompanying the story. As I read the piece, I was even more surprised to see Josh name me as the 2018 "Thanks for the Memories" Joshie award winner.

When I look back at the previous winners, I see wrestling Hall of Famers. While I never expected to win a "Joshie" award, this particular award is even more special. At best, I thought Josh might create some unofficial award for me, just for the fun of it. I never expected to win a legit and established "Joshie" award.

I sincerely appreciate this award and will do my best to continue to live up to it's legacy. Being recognized by one of the best internet writers is very cool.

As the title of his piece indicated, Josh is changing things a bit on his site. He is moving away from the weekly format, but he promises to continue to be an internet presence, as well as a familiar face on the wrestling scene. I'll miss his weekly offerings, but I look forward to his future musings whenever they appear. Josh promises more fun, just in a less structured format.

He also teased a book. Can that be a legit possibility? If anyone could do it, I'd say Josh would be the one. I'd buy his book in a heartbeat. Actually, I would wait for him to do a signing. Then Joshie and Johngy could finally meet.

Until then, Josh, thank you for the memories and looking forward to more Josh fun in the future.

Josh Watko and Sgt. Slaughter in Pennsylvania-1988.

Sgt. Slaughter at C2E2

Robert Remus has had a lengthy and successful career as Sgt. Slaughter.  He has won numerous awards and titles, including the WWF Heavyweight title (once) and a WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2004.  He is also one of a very few real people to be immortalized in the G.I. Joe action figure series.  That's a pretty cool resume.

I nmet Sarge at the recent C2E2 (Chicagoland Comic and Entertainment Expo).  He happily put me in the "Cobra Clutch" (his signature submission move), but he also happily posed for a regular shot.  That was pretty cool of Sarge.  Most celebrity guests would charge fans for two pictures, but Sarge was doing the twofer for one price.

Sarge is one of those old school wrestlers who I love seeing at these events.  I like the new guys, too, but I grew up on Sgt. Slaughter.  He doesn't make a ton of appearances either.  Some of the more recdent wrestlers are a bit overexposed on the appearance circuit.  This is definitely not the case with Sarge.

There is also something different about the older guys.  It is kind of an intangible.  They just seem to carry themselves differently from the younger guys.  Maybe it is generational or maybe it is just older age.  Maybe they just appreciate this new found fandom and revenue stream, too.

It's not that the newer guys are bad in any way.  Most are really cool at these comic cons.  There is just a subtle difference in the actions.

Over the next few days, I will be featuring some interviews I did at C2E2.  Despite this post, none of my interviews feature wrestlers, although one did have a bit of wrestling talk.  Anyway, stay tuned and enjoy the ride.

Sgt. Slaughter and me in Rosemont, IL-April 2015.