Marisa's Tale:
The next day, Sunday August 1, 2004, I went to Smackdown's Red White and Bruised in Bridgeport, CT. My brother is a wrestling fan and was able to get us floor tickets! We were only 11 rows back and I got some great close up pictures. We were so close and John Cena was the last match. He was to face JBL. In the end John Cena won and the crowd went wild. It was the best weekend I had the entire summer and I will NEVER for get it.
Back to the Retro
I was looking through the pages of WWEE.com and I notice that John Cena was going to make an appearance and sign autographs at the Wrestling Central in Yonkers, New York on Saturday July 31, 2004. I told my Dad immediately that we HAD to go and see my favorite wrestler. When I got to the store the line was so long. Many of the others waiting in line came every month when a new wrestler came. The lady in-front of me said that this was one of the longest lines she had ever seen! The month before Chris Beniot came and the month before that Rey Mysterio was there. After 3 hours of waiting I finally was inside and seconds away from meeting him. When i fist got a glimpse he was taking a picture with another fan. He was wearing all white and I didn't see an ounce of imperfection. When it was my turn to meet him I started shaking. I asked him to please make my autograph out to "Marisa - M-a-r-i" and then I just started crying. My father had to tell him. I started walking away still crying and he called my back and asked for a hug! I got so happy and wouldn't stop shaking the rest of the way home.