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From WOW to AEW to OVW - Tatevik stands out everywhere she wrestles. Give her a follow @therealTatevik

“Before the first All Out, I had purchased a meet with Cody and Brandi, I had a pic for him to keep that was from All In with him with the 10 pounds of gold. Cody asked if we were going to the PPV and I said I could only afford two tickets cause of the prices. Out of nowhere Cody said “I think we can find two more tickets”, I was floored, what we see from Cody on tv is 100 percent real. I’ve always been so grateful to him for that and the memories my kids and I had at All Out.” — John Braun Book Pro Wrestlers Contributor

1986 — A YOUNG WRESTLING FAN MEETS SGT. SLAUGHTER AT A MINNESOTA VIKINGS CHARITY EVENT! Long before smartphones and social media, photographs like this were treasured keepsakes for wrestling fans fortunate enough to meet their favorite stars. In 1986, @_SgtSlaughter was among those appearing at a Minnesota Vikings charity golf and tennis tournament, where a young fan named Jared Huizenga had the opportunity to meet him. Jared’s mother captured this wonderful moment, with his great aunt, who had arranged the tickets, standing beside him. Nearly 40 years later, Jared still has the photograph, and the story doesn’t end there. Jared Huizenga shares his memories: “I met Sgt. Slaughter at the Minnesota Vikings charity golf and tennis tournament in 1986, and my mom captured this picture (my great aunt, who got the tickets, is the woman next to me). Early this year, my local comic book shop brought him in for a signing. I got an action figure signed, but knew I had to get him to sign this picture and get an updated picture together. When he stood up, he smiled and said, ‘Looks like we’ll be about the same height this time.’ Cool full circle moment for me.” There’s something special about seeing a photograph like this resurface four decades later. A young fan looking up at Sgt. Slaughter, a proud family member standing nearby, and a moment that meant enough to preserve all these years. And perhaps the best part is knowing that when Jared brought the photograph back to Sarge nearly 40 years later, the legendary wrestler had a little fun with just how much that young fan had grown. These are the kinds of photographs and firsthand memories we love receiving from our readers. They document a side of professional wrestling history that rarely made the magazines or television broadcasts, but meant the world to the people who experienced it. — Steve Stasiak, Book Pro Wrestlers

“My oldest son and I met Will Ospreay in Indianapolis Indiana at squared circle expo last year, we waited about 4-5 hours as his line was absolutely massive. My father, a long time wrestling fan way before I was even born is a huge Will fan. My father has been battling brain and lung cancer for years and Will is my father’s favorite wrestler currently. My oldest son has autism as does Will so those were two reasons I really wanted to meet Will and thank him for doing what he does, as it’s brought my father happiness in such a terrible time and my son sees someone with autism achieve incredible things. I cried telling Will what it’s meant to me that my son has a great example in front of him that absolutely anything is possible and that Will has brought my father joy in such a horrible time. He hugged me and in the sweetest British accent said “ don’t cry love,” He complimented my sons Godzilla shirt, and I told him all about how my son has autism like him, how they share a birthday ( different years obviously lol) He said he’d be praying for my dad which meant so much. I’ve met so many incredible people in wrestling and I’ll never stop loving conventions that make moments like that possible. — Brittany Llewellyn, Book Pro Wrestlers Contributor

“This was in 1985, taken at the Worcester Centrum. I had driven King Kong Bundy from here back to Boston, and as a favor, he introduced me to Hogan for the first time. The girl in the hat is my daughter, Melissa, and the boy in the yellow is my nephew, Jamie. I also had my sister, my brother, and my niece there too. He was gracious to all of us. I would see him at every show, and he would always say, “Hey kid, how are you doing?” It took him 10 years to remember my name. That was because Mr. Perfect made him feel guilty once because he didn’t know my name. One night, after it took me an hour and a half to find fruit that they both needed for their protein shakes. They asked me to find that fruit at almost 10 o’clock on a Sunday in Springfield, Mass. I drove a half an hour to a friend’s house who had a fruit stand back then. Hogan had a juice maker he was selling, and a lot of the guys would make their protein shakes with it! I had one once, but sold it at a yard sale like a dumbass. I felt bad for that man on so many occasions. He could not have one minute to himself. Sometimes not even in the men’s room. Imagine people following you into the men’s room. 🤦🏻‍♀️ — Ann Marie Ellis, Book Pro Wrestlers contributor

“This was my daughter’s 2nd time attending a WWE show, and at that time, Charlotte Flair was one of her favorites. She made her a poster that said something along the lines of “you’re my queen”. When Charlotte came out (the pic with her robe on), she saw it and waved at my daughter and said, “I’ll see you after my match”. There was a lot of confusion after her match, and security was rushing her out. She went past us and abruptly stopped and told security that she had to go back to “that little girl” and came directly to us. She signed my daughter’s poster, thanked her for making the poster, and thanked her for being such a big fan. She then hugged her and told her again how much she appreciated it and that she loved her. My daughter was through the roof at that point. lol. It was such an amazing and special moment for my baby girl, one that I’m certain she will probably never forget.” — Amber McCrea Book Pro Wrestlers Contributor

“I have many memories of meeting wrestlers but one of my favorite stories involve the Sandman when he was in WCW. They were in town for an event and I wanted a pic with him, but he was drinking with the boys in the bar, and I wasn’t 21 yet, so my mom who was with me walks into the bar and asked him if he would come out to take a photo with me. Sure enough, he stood up, came out of that bar, and took a photo with me. That is one of my favorite memories, and I have told him that story on several occasions. — Trudy Damas, Book Pro Wrestlers reader

“At a big show in Pennsylvania, Nikolai took me around to meet all his buddies. He asked if there was anyone else I wanted to meet. I said Sting. He said, “He does not know me,” and maybe wasn’t sure he’d be able to pull this off. He went to the ECW Arena security guys, who were super nice. They were so happy that Nikolai wanted a favor from them. They checked on Sting, who was on break in the back, and came back saying, “Come on back.” As Sting sat with no crowd but me and Nikolai, they talked like they had been together a while. As we were leaving later in the day, the two ECW guys held the door for us, thanked us for coming, and wished us a nice day.” — Jason Strecker Book Pro Wrestlers Contributor

BEFORE THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS — A YOUNG BOBBY EATON WAS WRITING HOME TO HIS MOTHER. Long before he became one of the most respected wrestlers in the business, Bobby Eaton was a young man traveling from town to town, building his career in professional wrestling and making sure his mother knew he was doing all right. This postcard, mailed from Houston, Texas, offers a glimpse into those early years. Bobby wrote to his mother, Dorothy: “The plane ride was real smooth, I’m sitting here in one of the best motels it’s real nice. I’m trying to find you a gift, see you soon.” He signed it simply, “Love Bobby.” Here was a young wrestler beginning to experience life on the road, excited about the airplane ride and the nice motel, yet still thinking about finding something special to bring home to his mother. Years later, wrestling fans would know him as “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, one of the finest tag team wrestlers of his generation and a cornerstone of the legendary Midnight Express. But those who worked alongside Bobby knew something else about him. For all his accomplishments inside the ring, he was equally admired for his kindness, generosity and humility outside of it. The photographs show Bobby with his mother, along with another handwritten message that reads: “Mama, I love you.” Before the fame, before the Midnight Express, before generations of wrestlers came to admire his work, Bobby Eaton was simply a son who loved his mama. And judging by everything we’ve heard about Bobby over the years, that part of him never changed. RIP to a good guy. “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton — Steve Stasiak, Book Pro Wrestlers

A young Pat Tanaka arrives in Memphis. Pat is an all time great in ring talent and a character outside of the ring. I had never met him and a trainee of mine wanted to work out with him. I wrote him on Facebook and he accepted my friend request and instantly invited us over. We drove five hours to get there. He was throwing a party that had midgets, strippers, wrestlers and carnival workers. Upon arrival, my first time meeting him - he gifts me his credit card and a van. Tells us to go out and have a good time on him. We stayed a few days and learned quite a bit. Much respect for Master Tanaka. Thanks Bjg Mike for this picture from his security guard days in the territory. — Steve Stasiak, Book Pro Wrestlers

Exciting to see this once in a lifetime event Nov. 25 & 26 being covered in the media. Major stars, up and coming talent and all the violence would could expect from an event Onita is featured 🔥🔥🔥

At a time when everything in the world still seemed innocent.

Are you following @therealTatevik

When less was more.

A new historical marker has been unveiled in Ellerbe, North Carolina for André the Giant… and it’s there for a real reason. Andre owned a ranch just outside of town. This wasn’t a quick stop between bookings—this was where he went to live when he wasn’t on the road. He raised cattle there and spent real time in that community. The people in Ellerbe didn’t just know the attraction you saw in arenas. They knew the man. In 1990, he even spoke out locally against a proposed radioactive landfill in the area. That tells you how connected he was to that place. And when Andre passed in 1993, his ashes were spread right there on that land in North Carolina. So when that marker says “Lived nearby”… that’s not filler. That’s the whole story. A man known all over the world chose that small town as home—and now it’s part of history forever. - Steve Stasiak, Book Pro Wrestlers