My Night Working At WWE Raw

I love professional wrestling.

Anyone who is around me for a few minutes knows I love professional wrestling.  The stories.  The athleticism.  The performers.  The business itself.  It’s always intrigued and captivated me.  I’ve been a fan for over 30 years…and it shows.

Official with a headset

When the WWE announced that their flagship show, RAW, would be live from Des Moines on April 22^nd, 2019, I knew I had to do one thing…work security for it?  Yes, for the last few months I have been working part time security through CSC, who handles security for venues in Des Moines, including the Wells Fargo Arena.  The second they posted available shifts I jumped at the chance.  I took a shift starting at 3:00 in the afternoon and left the arena around 11:30 that night.  See, I try to take shifts that work for my schedule but are also fun.  This definitely fit the bill.

I parked my car and started walking the two blocks to the arena.  As I reached the street across from the venue, I glanced over to see my favorite tag team performers, The Usos.  After a double take and a mutual head nod to each other, they drove off as I proceeded to the employee entrance, while they went to the performer parking.  As I walked through the arena doors, I now fully understand how the children felt when they walked into Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

I opened the door for Downtown Bruno…known as Harvey Whippleman in the 80’s.

Production equipment everywhere.

The WWE interview area.

AJ Styles at a table autographing posters.

The catering area…where a plethora of WWE superstars mingled and ate.

Wait…Kurt Angle is walking right towards me!  Holy s***, Kurt Angle just said hello to me!!

 

Jason Jordan & Kurt Angle

Jason Jordan, who is no longer an active wrestler but a backstage producer, gave me a wide smile and asked how I was.

Alexa Bliss is checking her phone, looked up at me, smiled and continued walking.

The Miz just cut a promo into his phone 10 feet away.

My wrestling fandom is on overload!

I reached the hallway where our security offices are located to check in, grabbed a shirt and waited to find out where my position for the night would be.  The event coordinator for the night said to me, “tunnel”.  Now, keep in mind, I’m only a few months into the job so I don’t really know all the verbiage yet.  We’re in an arena and there are a lot of tunnels so I asked for clarification.  He told me where it was and a chair would be there.  Easy enough.  I walked out of the office and headed down to my post.

I walked past the seamstresses and wardrobe containers.

I walked past some lighting equipment.

I walked past an ironing board.

My initial view

There it was.  My chair.  My spot for the night.  I looked around to find what the credentials looked like for the night, so I knew who would be allowed to access my tunnel.  I saw a sign for the hallway that said Still Photo and another that said Network Originals.  I quickly realized that I’d be seeing a few superstars over the course of the evening.  Little did I know, once I lifted my head and observed around me, there would be so much more.

I looked around to get an idea of where I was.  I started on the left where I saw a basic, paper sign that read: Vince’s Office.  Hold on a second.  Did they really just post me right near WWE owner Vince McMahon’s office??  Holy balls.  I scanned to the right where the hair and makeup ladies were starting work.  Scan a little more to the right…locker room entrance for the male performers.  Again…holy balls.  Not only would I be seeing a few people I recognize here and there, I’d see the entire Raw roster!  Continuing to scan the right, I see the Gorilla Position, where every on screen talent goes prior to walking on stage.  Not only was I in a cool spot, I was literally in the heart and soul of the WWE production of a Monday night Raw.

WWE 24 on WWE Network

“Stay professional, Ryan.”  That became my mental mantra for the evening.  As I stood there, watching the crew and talent prepare for their weekly show, I was blown away at how smooth this complex production went.  Everyone knew their job.  Everyone worked together.  People had smiles on their faces and seemed to enjoy what they did.  I had the pleasure of talking with a director/editor/videographer from their network series 24.  We talked about our shared love of wrestling, how he got involved in the WWE and so much more.  As he waited for Seth Rollins to finish practicing his segment with Triple H, we joked about me going to get Seth as the interview was more important.  As the videographer went to get him, he turned and said, “If Triple H is still talking I’ll just tell him Security Ryan said it was time to get Seth.”  I nodded and said I had his back.  Good times.

Wait, there’s more!

Who’s walking up behind me?  Wait, that’s Rey Mysterio without his mask!

 

Corey Graves

The original inspiration for my haircut, Corey Graves, just sat down to get his hair done.  Why am I watching this man get his hair done??

Sami Zayn practiced his promo for the night while pacing through the halls, occasionally locking eyes with me.  Knowing he wasn’t actually talking to me and likely looking through me, it was odd not to respond and to look away.

Paul Heyman is giving advice to Bobby Lashley and Becky Lynch in front of me!

Who’s behind me?  Oh, just the Usos practicing their promo for the night.

Why did they turn those lights on?  Bobby Roode needed to film a promo…3 feet away from me.

Hey Ceasaro.  Just doing a quick post match interview while walking towards me?  Cool.

Speechless…Triple H and Vince McMahon just walked past to get to their position for the show.

Sorry for interrupting your filming, Iiconics.  Like you jokingly said to me, I won’t mess with the champs.

I tried to make my Raw debut but the director nixed it since it would be weird if I was the only one in the background.  Maybe next time.  I’ll give Baron Corbin a solo promo without me.

Becky Lynch and Alicia Fox put their match together right in front of me.  Becky wanted to practice a flying head scissors…so she did on the concrete floor.  Um…risky but did it flawlessly.

Don’t mind me Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, Bobby Lashley and Alexa Bliss.  Enjoy your conversation while I awkwardly stare at you.

The Usos just referred to me as "Uce".  I think we're family now.

My new family, the Usos

It couldn’t get any better than this overload of wrestling fandom, could it?  Welp, my supervisor had a different plan.  “Hey Ryan,” he says, “do you know how to work the freight elevator?”  Let’s be real.  I didn’t know we had a freight elevator, let alone how to work it.  “Talent is going to start leaving so come with me and I’ll show you how.”  The next two hours consisted of escorting WWE superstars from the arena to the freight elevator and taking them to the secret parking garage they could load up and leave the arena in peace.  Seriously, name a Raw superstar and I likely had an interaction of some sort.

Ruby Riott

The night ended and I was blown away with the crazy night at work.  Witnessing how the show, promos and matches were put together.  Observing this crazy business and happy culture that people were working in.  The graciousness of the performers with everyone they came into contact with.  It was really a fun environment to be part of.  I’m still a little surprised at how professional I was, not allowing myself to be the nerdy fan I am.  I’ll just leave it in the words of WWE Superstar Ruby Riott, “Man, you are so f***ing polite.”

Thank you, Ruby and WWE for a good time.  I got paid for this but I think I owe someone money for the memories.