How the Miz changed my look

2010

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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On January 22, 2010; I received a golden opportunity. WWE was coming to Cape Girardeau for a house show and because it's in the same television market that I work in, I took a shot at getting an interview with a Superstar. This is the only time I've gotten a "yes" to an in-person interview. When I found out the Miz is who I'd be interviewing I was elated.

This was months before My 1-2-3 Cents was even a thought. So when I interviewed the former United States Champion it was with a news camera and the whole purpose was for our newscast. I archived the footage and held on to it and later that year I added the entire interview to the My 1-2-3 Cents YouTube channel.

The Miz was great. He was not like his cocky, pompous persona on WWE TV. We chatted before and after the interview and he even took the time to take a pic with me even though he had to rush off for another round of interviews on the local radio stations. I am still impressed with how cool he was and we chatted like we'd known each other for years.

It was that conversation that inspired me to make a change in my look. The very next time I went for a haircut I opted for a faux hawk. Some nine years later I'm still sporting the look, however with more gray in it than ever before. 

WWE House Show 2018

Last summer I went to another house show, this time in Carbondale. I tried getting a Superstar interview again but this time fell short. But when I arrived at the SIU Arena I was blessed to find a front row ticket waiting for me. I stood up when the Miz (and all the Superstars) came out to wrestle. I was wearing my custom My 1-2-3 Cents suit by Shinesty. Miz actually looked at me and questioned what the heck I was wearing. I had a mini-mark out moment.

The Miz in 2018

I am still a big fan of the Miz and have enjoyed his evolution. He's overcome a lot of haters and proven a lot of fans wrong through the years. I'm proud of that and glad to see he's still a major player on SmackDown Live today. 

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WWE's history at the Show Me Center

Cheryl Roberts vs. Rick Rude (Show Me Center)
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Easter Sunday 2017 WWE returned to the Show Me Center. Because of my work schedule, I was not able to make the hour-long drive to Cape Girardeau to see Randy Orton retain the WWE World Championship against AJ Styles and Bray Wyatt. But by attending Southeast Missouri State University, I attended several WWE house shows in the early and mid-1990s.

My first WWE show at the Show Me Center
December 1991

My first show I watched Roddy Piper battle Ric Flair. I've seen Bret Hart defend the WWE Championship against Papa Shango and Randy Savage face Razor Ramon. I witnessed Shawn Michaels retain against Mankind, Sid battle Goldust and an up and coming Steve Austin in the curtain jerker against "The Stalker" Barry Windham. More recently my son and I watched the likes of John Cena, Triple H and The Big Show do their thing in southeast Missouri. I even met and interviewed The Miz at the SMC prior to a live event in 2010.

Cheryl and Rude
Courtesy: WWE

However, one of the most memorable storylines from the late 80s was actually recorded in Cape Girardeau. It wasn't until I moved to southern Illinois and talked with some friends who were there that I realized the incident happened here. It was 1988 and in the post-WrestleMania IV era of wrestling.

Cheryl says "no"
Courtesy: WWE

"Ravishing" Rick Rude had just beaten an enhancement talent and a beautiful woman in the crowd caught his eye. He wanted her to accept his "Rude Awakening" which involved a kiss in the middle of the ring. The woman objected, which had never happened before. When pressed as to why she explained her husband was a WWF Superstar. Rude balked and grabbed the woman by the wrist. That's when Jake "The Snake" Roberts sprang into action and protected the honor of his wife.

This lead to a great feud between Rude and Roberts. Cheryl Roberts became the centerpiece for the battle and gave Rude a snap to the face a time or two during the war. I find it very cool that this all happened in a small town (comparatively) speaking like Cape Girardeau. I never knew WWE did TV tapings at the Show Me Center. That building holds an iconic part of wrestling history.

The night I stalked WWE Superstars

Searching for Superstars (circa 1996)

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I've been a wrestling fan for more than 30 years. Twenty years ago this week I was back in my college town of Cape Girardeau, Missouri for Homecoming weekend festivities. I also had tickets for the WWF house show the next day at the Show Me Center. Back then, none of my friends were wrestling fans, so I was dragging my fiance (now wife) to the show.

But the night before we were all hanging out at the Outback Steakhouse in town having dinner before the Homecoming social was set to begin. A couple of my fraternity brothers walked into the restaurant and asked me if I knew about the WWF semi parked in the hotel parking lot next door. I had no idea but instantly became interested. We hadn't been seated yet and I looked Lisa who simply nodded and said go.

Goldust at the Show Me Center (1996)

Remember this was 1996 so there were no smartphones or social media. I did have a regular old camera loaded with film in my pocket. I quickly entered the hotel lobby and headed for the elevator. I was dressed in a shirt and tie so I figured I didn't look like a crazed wrestling fan. The hotel only had three or four floors, so I started at the top, walking down the halls hoping to run into a Superstar or two. Shawn Michaels, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Mankind, Goldust, Sid, Owen Hart and the British Bulldog were all scheduled to wrestle so I really didn't want to miss a chance to meet one of them.

Shawn Michaels wins (1996)

I walked the halls of each floor with hope fading. I never did run into any Superstars or even anyone who resembled a WWF employee. Little did I know the wrestlers were still in St. Louis for a show up there before making the two-hour drive to Cape Girardeau. I did get my picture taken in front of that semi and I thought it would be the closest I'd ever get to such a thing. But if you read this blog you know in the 20 years that have passed I've enjoyed some amazing opportunities. Here's to another 20 years of wrestling fandom and hopefully no more stalking.