On our way to the show.
On Monday I did something I never thought I’d do: Went to a professional wrestling event … and loved every minute of it.
When I was younger, my grandma watched wrestling. I didn’t understand it — and probably poked a little fun at her. Even in the face of criticism, she maintained she watched “for the stories.”
Then I met the Boyfriend, who’s been a fan for years. Eventually, he got me hooked. Now, I look forward to “the stories” myself.
So when I learned, via a Make A Wish press release emailed to me at work, that “Monday Night Raw” was going to be in Phoenix, I knew I had to go. We didn’t make it to Wrestlemania when it was in Phoenix a couple of years ago, so I was bound and determined to get there this time.
Monday afternoon, the Boyfriend and I headed to Phoenix. We stopped at Carl’s Jr. before the event, and I had my usual: the Low-Carb $6 Burger. (Sorry I didn’t think to snap a picture of it.)
US Airways Center ... home (for the night) of WWE's Monday Night Raw.
Then, guided by GPS, I drove us downtown, to US Airways Center. We took advantage of $5 parking about a block from the venue.
Even though we’d just eaten, the Boyfriend had to get popcorn. When we stopped at the concession stand, I decided to grab a drink, too.
Yeah. That wasn’t the smartest move I’ve ever made. $5.50 was a bit pricey for a bottle of Diet Dr Pepper.
Oh well. Live and learn.
Since our seats were in the nosebleed section, we had to climb several flights of stairs to get to them. We climbed so many stairs that the Boyfriend complained he thought he’d have a heart attack.
Sure. The out-of-shape, still-overweight blonde bests the tennis pro for cardiovascular endurance? I don’t think so. He was just trying to make me feel good.
We might have been up high, but had a clear view of the action.
At least we had a fantastic view. Our seats were on the aisle, and we had a crystal clear view of the ring.
The family in front of us was adorable, too. One of the kids held up a “Boo this man” sign every time one of the show’s bad guys made an appearance.
The guys beside us kept booing John Cena, though. I like John Cena. He’s the reason I knew about the show in Phoenix. (The press release from Make A Wish was touting his appearance at some hospital or something.)
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get any pictures of my favorite wrestlers. My iPhone’s camera didn’t zoom close enough without the image turning grainy. (What? A flaw in my beloved iPhone? Say it isn’t so!)
Suffice it to say, Beth Phoenix, who was in the “Superstars” pre-Raw match, looked amazing. I remarked to the Boyfriend that I wished I had her body. She’s tall (her nickname is “the Glamazon,” after all) and … not skinny. She’s not overweight either, but she looks solid and muscular — not like a stiff wind will blow her away.
Huh. I just read on her WWE page that she’s 5’7″. I’d never have guessed. She seems a lot taller than that, towering over the other Divas like she does. (Then again, the other Divas’ profiles I checked said they were 5’5″.)
Live and learn, I guess. It’s certainly a testament to the power of illusion. 
Here's where all the superstars made their entrances.
The show was great. My only complaint was that we couldn’t hear the ring announcers. Not that I missed hearing Michael Cole’s drivel, but I’d assumed watching live would be like watching on TV — at least when it came to hearing the commentary.
All in all, it was a lot of fun — and fun to share a first with the Boyfriend. He said he’d never been to a live wrestling event before. (He was as surprised by the lack of sound from the announcers as I was. We could see Jerry “The King” Lawler, but didn’t hear a word he said.)
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