Albany, NY Rules!!

So this Friday, Dec. 5th,  marks my return to Smackdown, and I want to go on record and thank the Albany crowd for the reception they gave me.  Crowds really do make a difference in a show.  A dead crowd can bring a great show down, while an excited energetic crowd can make an average show seem top notch! The energy from a great crowd is something that I feed off of and I know others do as well. Great crowds and towns are always high on our list of places that we, as performers, like to go to.  Chicago, Detriot, MSG, Toronto, Montreal, and Anaheim are among some of the loudest crowds that I have been in front of and therefore, these are the places that I've always liked the most.  Well now, I must add Albany to that list!  Albany was very good to me!  The various chants they gave me were exciting and I must admit also very touching.  A "Welcome back" chant caught me off gaurd right off the bat, and it bought a touch of emotion to my return.  The "Hurricane" chant was nice to hear after such a long time not hearing it.  The "I'm just saying" chant almost made me chuckle, and right behind the "Welcome Back" was my favorite of the night!  I believe there was a "Rosey" chant too, which I'm sure Big Ro-Ro will be happy to hear about.  There was also a small chant about my tattoo, which I heard,  but I couldn't make out exactly what was being said, but it was still very much appreciated.  This past year and a half was about as tough a year as one could have and by far, the toughest of my life.  The injury notwithstanding, the loss of my mother was, and still is, something that affects me all the time.  On top of that, about 6 months later, I also lost my step-mother Bridgette.  Bridgette was my father's 2nd wife, and was whom I, my brother and my sister were raised by for nearly 13 years.  I kept that loss out of the media as best I could, because to be honest, I just wasn't ready to deal with that yet.  A few months later, two close friends of mine, Brannon and Crystal, and their 7 day old newborn, Skylar, were struck by a train and killed.  A triple funeral was held for them and up until that point I'd never seen an infant in a casket before, and I hope I never do again.  That will indeed put your life in perspective if nothing will.  Finally, as if that wasn't enough, a few months later, an uncle by marriage, Ronald, also passed.  I understand that death is a part of life, but this last year, it played a HUGE part in mine and I honestly need a break from that!!  At least in Ronald's case, their was a small blessing in that it re-connected me and my family with his daughter Tina, my lil cuz who I hadn't seen in years. 

So it is with all that knowledge that I hope everyone watching the show this Friday understands that at the end of the match when I probably should've been a little more jubilant, I was honestly trying my best to hold back a few tears.  I'm far from the most emotional guy on Earth, but that "Welcome Back" chant coupled with the thought that my mom wouldn't be able to see my return got to me at the end.  I haven't seen the playback yet so I'm not even sure what will show up on camera, but just in case, I thought I would let you know.  And Albany....Thank You!!!  You guys are the perfect example of why I do what I do!  I've said before that I didn't get into this industry for the fame and fortune, hell, I fell in love with pro-wrestling before I even knew what fame and forture were!  I've just always loved it and crowds like Albany re-inforce that love.  Thank you again guys.  It's good to be back! 

So be sure to tune in Friday night!  And I'm not sayin'....I'm just sayin!!!  :):)