DragonPlay's Taker Encounter World of Wheels, Birmingha, AL on February 7, 2004
Meeting the "Man"
By DragonPlay
Now, I've met 'Taker three times. The first time was a signing he did in Austin, Texas last year when he was still out from his elbow surgery. It was very brief and I did not have a camera at the time so I could not take any pictures. He was very nice to everyone, signing anything put before him and leaning across the table to take pictures with anyone who wanted to. I had one of his new Big Evil skull shirts and wanted him to sign it across the skull. He told me to hold it to keep it stretched out and I did. A young man who was behind me said that now I couldn't wear the shirt. I answered him and said I had bought two of them, one to wear and one for this. Undertaker apparently approved because he immediately said "there ya go". He wasn't finished signing the shirt so I know he was commenting on what I'd just said. I thanked him and went outside. The area he was in was at an arena and it was a glass front, and since I didn't want to head home quite yet I sat down on the curb and just watched till he left. To be honest he seemed a little tired, but he was still pretty good with everyone.
The second time was Birmingham, as everyone knows by now. The crowd formed earlier than I expected so I ended up farther back than I'd have liked. It took me about an hour to get to the stage. When Undertaker came in the crowd exploded. He gave a quick salute, took his jacket off and sat down. They started people almost immediately and it didn't take long for Undertaker to be all smiles. He seemed to be in a good mood from the start. I think the size and reaction of the crowd gave him a lift. I couldn't take any pictures till I got to the front area because I'm not very tall and I just couldn't shoot over everyone's heads. Just as I got to the bottom of the steps to the stage they announced that 'Taker was going to take a five minute break. He got up and left the stage, coming down the steps on my side. So he literally walked right past me. That was the first time I'd been near him when he was standing and could really appreciate just how big the man is. I didn't take a picture then because I didn't want to have the flash going off in his face. When he came back he again walked right past me. Once it was my turn I handed him the 'Tombstoned' magazine I'd chosen as the item I wanted signed. As he was signing it I put down on the table the tube I had a coloured pencil drawing in that I'd done for him. I said 'this is for you'. He said kind of questioningly 'for me?', and I responded with a firm 'yes, FOR you.' He said thank you and handed me the magazine and I told him thank you and held my hand out to him. He smiled and shook it and I moved off. Once off the stage I put the magazine away and secured a good spot on the side of the stage and proceeded to take as many pictures as I could before he had to leave. Undertaker was smiling and laughing a lot and appeared to be enjoying himself. When it was time for him to leave he got on the mic and thanked everyone for coming out and told them how wonderful they'd been.
The third time was Louisville. I didn't think I'd get another chance so soon because I didn't know about this one. Once I found out I managed to get off work, so 2 A.M. Friday morning I headed out for a 12 hour drive having gotten only three hours of sleep. I found the convention complex easily once I reached Louisville. After waiting outside in the freezing wind and light drizzle for about an hour they finally let us in. I made directly for the wing they said Undertaker was going to be at. It was 6 P.M. and he was to be there in only an hour so I knew I had to get there quickly and get in line. As it was I still was back a bit. When Undertaker arrived the crowd once again exploded, but because of the stupid way they set it up I couldn't see much of what was going on without getting out of line. It didn't take long to get close enough to see, and Undertaker was again all smiles and seemed to be in a real good mood. When I got up there (after about 20 minutes) I presented him with an 8x10 enlargement of one of the pictures I'd taken in Birmingham. He took it and leaned back a bit with an ear to ear grin and looked at it for about 20 seconds or so. He then said "this must have been taken recently, Chattanooga?" I replied, 'nope, Birmingham'. He smiled and nodded and as he was signing it I asked him how he liked the coloured pencil drawing in the tube that I'd given him in Birmingham. I don't know if he remembered me till then, but he answered "man it was awesome". He sounded like he really meant it. I then put the other tube down (I had another drawing for him) and said 'this is for you'. He seemed surprised and said "another one?" I said 'yes, but this one is different'. He smiled and handed me the photo he'd signed and I thanked him. I again secured a spot on the side of the stage and just took pictures. The crowd on that side of the stage was a bit lively and yelled to him a lot. He seemed to be amused by us at times so I'd like to think we made it a bit more enjoyable for him. He actually responded to us quite a bit considering how busy he was with the people he had right in front of him. At one point after having a number of people yell for him to look our way so we could take a picture, he did turn toward us and held the pose for a few seconds. Everyone snapped away and cheered that he'd actually done it. But one person yelled at him to look again cause they missed it. He immediately responded with a big grin "you snooze you loose". One lady was very emotional when she met him and he hugged her. That kind of started something because at least a dozen other ladies wanted hugs. He didn't hesitate to do so. He was fantastic with everyone. As he was leaving security was escorting him to the rear door he'd come in and a crowd was following, myself included. I just could not resist and reached right across a security guy and touched Undertaker to get his attention. He looked at me and I told him not to forget the drawing because I'd come 12 hours to bring it to him. He smiled and told me not to worry, that they (meaning the event staff) would gather up and bring everything to the hotel and that he wouldn't forget it. I smiled back and stopped as they continued the short distance left to the door and he was gone. **On a side note, I went across the street to a nice looking hotel to see if they had any vacancy's because I was so damn tired I was about to fall down. They didn't so I left. As I was going out I saw four young men sitting there who were with the auto show. One of them yelled at me and asked if I was looking for 'Taker. First, that told me Undertaker was staying at that hotel. One of the event staff had said a bunch of them were going to take Undertaker out after the show, and I'd noticed a big white limo waiting outside (though I don't know that it was for 'Taker). But second, I did not like the tone the young man used and I took offence at the question so I didn't trust myself to answer. I'd had a real fun time and I didn't want to spoil it by getting angry and going into bitch mode. So I pretended I didn't hear him and just kept going. I would NEVER try to hunt down Undertaker like that. When he's at a signing he is making his time our time so I feel it's ok to call to him and approach him. That's why he's there and he expects it. However, when he's just out and about he's on his OWN time, and I really feel that no matter how tempting it is that he should be left the hell alone to go about his business. To me it would be inconsiderate to do otherwise. I have a great deal of respect for the man and based on what I've seen of him I like him, so I wouldn't bother him like that.
All pictures are property of DragonPlay and are being used with her permission. Do not take them.