Boy are they fun... yeah, right!  Road trips are something you never forget.  Good or bad... most of the time, you'll always remember road trips that you take within the wrestling business.  I've heard story after story from some of the old-school wrestlers.  Bar fights, women, drugs, alcohol (a must on a road trip), hotel rooms & bad wrestling shows... you mix them all together and you have a story that you'll never forget!

When I broke into the business, I was only 15.  Had my first match when I was 17.  I was invited to go on a road trip to Louisville, Kentucky with a very good friend of mine.  Back then, I didn't know that wrestlers were known to stab each other in the backs.  I didn't know that it was near impossible to trust anyone you come in contact with.  But I was lucky.  I met a friend that invited me to Louisville where the WWE developemental territory was.  Ohio Valley Wrestling is a training ground for WWE wrestlers.  Randy Orton, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Eugene and various other big time wrestlers all went through OVW.  This was a big deal for me.

I won't go into 100% of the details because I don't want to bury myself to the public eye... but there are so many things that go on while you're on the road.

The beer flows like Coca Cola.  If your hanging with the boys and everyone is drinking beer... you better at least be holding one in your hand.  I encountered some of the weirdest people known to man.  I thought wrestling was a phony business... but I soon realized that a part of your character is a part of you in real life. 

For example, I met a guy named Trailer Park Trash... he really was TPT.  That was him.  Not a gimmick.   He wore a wife-beater and blue jeans.  He usually had a bandana on, I guess so he didn't have to worry about his hair.  He actually lived in the training facility of OVW.  I remember telling my buddy, "man, this guy's got the look down-pat!"  He looked at me like I was nuts... "dude, that's him for REAL!"  I was shocked.

I also learned quickly not to let anyone know that you have cash on you.  It's almost like homeless people that stop you in the park or at the gas station.  They always want to "borrow" money.  On the way up to Louisville... a SIX HOUR DRIVE... we picked up another friend.  When I asked if we could stop and get a bite to eat, he quickly replied, "You got money?  Give me five bucks!"  I didn't have a choice, there was too much peer pressure.  So, I gave him some money.  As he went inside the liquor store to grab a "bite to eat", I was informed by my friend to never let anyone know I have money again.  Wrestlers will never pay you back.

I learned a lot on that trip.  One of the main things is if you have an addictive personality, don't get close to the wrestling business.  There's WAY to many things that are too accessible for wrestlers.  Fans know people who know people that can get this or that at a good price... or free.  Drugs are always coming into play.  It's just a nightmare.  Stay away if you have the tendency to be addicted to anything.   

This is just a little insight to my very first road trip.  I'll have to tell you about the time we stayed at Randy Orton's apartment a few years back.  You'll love that one.  Or maybe I can tell you about the time that Mark Henry wanted to take me home with him.  Yes, he was joking... but I was a kid and didn't really get the joke.  

Until next time, keep watching CW30 Memphis Wrestling at 10pm on Saturday nights.