I have been in the wrestling business for seven years. In those seven years, I have interacted and befriended some of the biggest names in the business. I have been on trips with them, ate dinner with them – and even had them over my house. Spending this much time with wrestlers has made me a witness to some very funny moments that never made the Titantron.

• My absolute favorite story is when I took Captain Lou Albano and Afa The Wild Samoan to Grotta D’Oro, a popular Brooklyn eatery. Besides the priceless look on the Maitre D’s face when a four hundred pound barefooted Samoan with an Afro and a guy wearing a Hawaiian shirt on his chest and rubber bands on his face walked through the door – it was the waitress who’s face showed the most fear – because it’s quite obvious that Afa wasn’t going to order just a side salad. When the waitress asked him what he would like, he proceeded to ask her if they had clams on the half shell, when she said yes – he asked her to bring him all of them. After the waitress asked Afa to repeat himself – it was clear what he wanted – and it was even clearer that she was not going to say no to someone who asked for every clam in the kitchen. With only his hands, I watched this man eat at least twelve dozen clams – in less then fifteen minutes. On the way out of the restaurant, the Maitre D’s face went from shocked to amazed – especially when he had to put a sign on the door that said “No Clams Today”.

• During dinner – and between clams – Afa told me another funny story involving the late Yokozuna. He said that one day while he was over Yoko’s house, Yoko excused himself to use the bathroom. After a few minutes, Afa heard a loud crash and ran to see what happened. What happened was the toilet that Yoko was sitting on broke in half under his tremendous weight and gave the former WWF Champion a gash on his rather large bottom that needed sixteen stitches – and a bathroom that needed a new toilet.

• I had dinner with Ivan and Scott Putski after a house show. I noticed that a table of guys next to us kept staring at our table. One of them finally interrupted us and said that he overheard us talking about wrestling and asked if we were wrestlers. We said that we work in the business and went back to our conversation. The guy then said to Ivan that he looks a lot like Polish Power Ivan Putski and that he is a big fan of The Polish Power – instead of disclosing his legendary identity – Ivan turned to the guy and said, “Yeah, I get that a lot.”

• During a flight to a show in Hilton Head, South Carolina, it was I who now saw someone famous – or so I thought. I was on line to board the plane with Captain Lou Albano and I noticed a rather tall white haired man in front of us. When he turned his head, he was a dead ringer for Donald Sutherland. Even Lou said to me that he looks like Donald Sutherland. When the man’s boarding pass was stamped, he received a smile from the flight attendant as she said, “Enjoy your flight Mr. Sutherland.”

• But I have to say it was when I was backstage at the WWF’s 1996 Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony that I had the funniest moment of all. I was standing back stage with Vince McMahon when Shawn Michaels came backstage and joined us in conversation. My friend was standing in front of us holding my camera – and it didn’t even occur to him to take a picture. Believe it or not – it was Vince McMahon himself that looked at my friend and said, “Well, are you going to take a picture?”

So besides the enjoyment I get from working in the wrestling business, it’s the priceless moments like those I just mentioned that make it worth while, fun – and unforgettable.