03.25.2009

Hey Guys

If you read my last email , then you know I am in the middle of some great events these next few weeks. Well here is story #1 from my most recent trip to Syracuse for the Sgt. Chris Simpson Charity event at which I appeared .

I've been very blessed in my life over the years and had some really cool experiences... I've gone to see our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on several occasions... I've spoke to kids about the importance of reading and they actually listened... and many times I‘ve had 20,000 people chanting DDP while I was in the ring at a deafening level... but this weekend I was able to touch lives at another level... I t all started in Atlanta... I was heading to the airport to go to see the mother (Kate) and fiancé (Carol) of one of our fallen Soldiers... A true American Hero , Sgt Christopher Simpson... Kate and Carol asked me if I would come and speak at the first Sgt Chris Simpson Fundraiser... Obviously I told them it would be an honor... Here is that story.

I took a cab on Friday at rush hour in Atlanta to the airport to head towards Syracuse. Leaving two hours ahead of time... I figured I'd given myself plenty of time to get to the airport and check in. To be fair to myself , my email was down this week so I couldn't confirm my flight reservations... A t that moment I remembered that I've had it on my phone! So I looked it up on my iPhone , and t hat's when I realized that the flight wasn't leaving at 6:30, it was leaving at 6:04. It was about that time that the 285 Freeway in Atlanta had become a parking lot. BTW you can't check bags after 45 minutes before a flight. So my driver starts driving like a mad man to get me there while I'm on the phone talking to the woman at Delta, trying to get a backup flight…which of course is sold out!

Did I tell you that Chris's Mom Kate had a huge meet and greet for me that night, but the odds of me making that flight where a slim to none ? We got to the airport 27 minutes before my flight got ready to take off. Have you ever been to the Atlanta airport? My chances now of making this flight are a thousand to one! Thank God the sky cab was a fan, he ran me into where the security section was at a full speed run. There was about 150 people in line ahead of me. The sky cab walked me up front but won't let me in line because it's against the rules to cut in front of people. Realizing that he's not going to let me go in yet, I yell out , "Hey everyone, I'm Diamond Dallas Page, and I'm on my way to see the mother and fiancé of one of our fallen soldiers. Does anyone have a problem with me cutting in line I have a less than 20 minutes to catch this flight?" Magically everyone backed up a couple of feet. Even the people who where putting their stuff on a conveyer belt let me go first. I threw all my stuff on the conveyer belt and luckily the person checking my bag was a wrestling fan.. They loved the belt! I crammed everything one on top of the other and started running to the escalator. If any of you know Atlanta airport, you know that gate 36C is a looooong way away! Throughout the trip so far, it was doing some serious deep breathing.. trying to remain calm and believe that I was going to make it. I've got 12 or 13 minutes at this point. I get off the Tram and I think I'm the first cart, no... I'm the furthest from the escalator. So, I start sprinting through the escalator yelling to the people, " P lease let me go first!" What I forgot to tell you is that I'm carrying my suit jacket and tie, and it's hooked to the back of my collar and it's waving behind me like a damn cape. If you've been to Atlanta you know it's a really tall escalator. I took 2 to 3 stairs at a time... I finally get to the top and sprint towards gate 36. As I get to 30 I hear "LAST CALL.. GATE 36"
So I sprint faster. It felt like it was a mile away! I finally got there, and the door is closed! Now as any of you know, when the door is closed.. it's closed, they don't reopen the door. I start to go , "Noooooooo I can't believe this!" As I'm about to start pounding on the door, it opens and the guy behind it says " You' re just making it!" and I say "No kidding!"

By the time I get to the plane the stewardess looks at me and say s, " You look like you could use some water" . I say , " How about a bottle?". I took my bottle and sat down... as I realized that I wasn't going to ruin the night... I thought.. Thank God!

When I got to Syracuse I was greeted by Kate and Carol. I had a very emotional greeting from both of them. From there we headed to the family get together. I was greeted by maybe one of the warmest families ever! I was immediately transformed into Mickey Mouse with tattoos,


Click for More Photos

taking pictures and saying hi, making everyone feeling comfortable. All the pictures are on the site. Later that night Carol, Kate and I went to dinner to have some private time.. A e talked about Chris and the fund raiser that we where doing the next day. I asked them if they've seen "It's a Wonderful Life" . T o my surprise, neither of them where familiar with the movie, so I told them that they needed to watch it this Christmas because I felt that I was at George Bailey's house. I remember the first time I talked to Carol was on her birthday… here is a recap from her Dad.

From: Michael Fries Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 2:07 PM Subject: Carol's Birthday Call Hello DDP, I just wanted to thank you for the call that you made to my daughter Carol on her birthday a couple of days ago. She, as you probably know, was at the homecoming for Chris Simpson’s unit in Colorado when you called. It was an intensely emotional few days for her and the thoughtfulness and caring of your call really brightened the moment. As you have said, most of getting somewhere in life is not about what life deals you but how you respond to it. Six months after Chris was killed Carol started medical school. This is a daunting task for anyone but to do it in a state of grief and emotional exhaustion is almost unthinkable. She has worked so hard while feeling such despair and has performed with excellence. It would be so easy for her to give up but she won’t. I think you can identify with that kind of struggle. Sometimes we don’t know how meaningful small things can be. I wanted to tell you that your call was meaningful for my daughter and for me and I am grateful. Yours, Mike Fries

One thing that came out of the many interesting things that came from dinner was the perspective of the fiancé in a situation like this. Kate and Carol want to lobby for the fiancés of fallen soldiers to also be acknowledged. I totally agree.
The next day the event started at noon and I got there at 1:30 to speak at 2:00. The place was packed with about 500 people. My buddy Dennis Dipaolo asked Jim Kelly to send a few autographed items. There was a bunch of sports memorabilia and electronics that were donated by the community that brought nice money at that silent auction.

It amazed me how this little town outside of Syracuse came together for their fallen hero. This was America at its best. People drove from hours away for the event that the family had not seen in years. I wish I had taped my inspirational speech because it was one of the best ones I had ever done. It was in a firehouse building . I had a couple hundred people sitting down, a couple hundred people standing and a 100 people at the bar that I had to talk over. This was a great test for me and it was by far the best inspirational talk to date ending with a standing ovation. Scott and Kate, Chris’s parents and Carol, gave me a plaque to show their appreciation.

Click for More Photos
Afterwards I signed autographs, DVD, books and Action Figures that I had donated to the event. Out of all the things I have ever done in my life this was the most gratifying of them all.

I have two new t-shirts at the store . One is in honor to Chris Simpson and any that are sold from my site will have the total profit go to the Christopher Simpson Fund
Before the trip to Syracuse, Dr. Don Austin (pictured in the black shirt) , who is the Principal of Laguna Beach High School and a really great guy, asked me to come back and speak to some of the athletes, students and faculty of Laguna Beach High School. The kids at Laguna don’t know how lucky they are to have a Principal like Dr. Austin. Maybe if I had a Principal like that I would have focused a little more on learning in school… well... maybe…lol

I got to the school and found out that Jennifer Muir of the OC Register was going to do a feature article on DDP and YRG. Not only was she going to check it out, she actually wanted to do the YRG workout which I love.

We started in the gym for my inspirational speech. Usually it is a 60 minute speech but I cut it down to 25 minutes and it had a phenomenal impact on everyone. Angie and Alan, my team YRG people, were there and they said during the speech there were kids with their mouths dropping at the stuff they were hearing and seeing.

After the speech we headed down to the baseball field for the workout. I thought some kids would peel off and ditch the workout but to my surprise more kids saw us and actually piled on and joined the workout. This was a great group with a ton of energy. I took them through a high level workout and as challenging as I made it, they kept asking for more… A t the end they were feeling good and as they marched back up to the school they were chanting “DDP” and flashing Diamond Cutter signs to each other.

This was the most fun I have had doing the YRG Workout since I was in Iraq doing it with the troops. That is one of the great things about the YRG Workout. We had top High School athletes doing YRG right next to their teachers. You can modify YRG at an easier level or you can challenge yourself as much as you want.
Click for More Photos

One of the real cool things is that I know YRG and DDP left an impact on the school. Not only am I getting emails from parents, faculty and students but I hear that the Volleyball team is now flashing Diamond Cutters after a kill shot and they are still chanting DDP in the halls of Laguna Beach High School.
YRG Warriors Newsflash!:
The Laguna Beach Boys Volleyball team just upset #3 ranked San Clemente and the match was televised as the High School game of the week. Also the Laguna Beach Baseball team is now undefeated in league and the top 5 batting averages in their league is all Laguna Beach Baseball players. Great Job Guys!
YRG Warriors Newsflash! #2:
Check out this link. The top 5 hitters in league are all from one High School…Laguna Beach!
http://www.maxpreps.com/california/baseball/orange-coast/leaders.aspx?leagueid=e55fda69-ed09-42d7-9685-f0148371334f&urpath=,local,league
Don’t forget on April 3rd I will be in Houston, TX at Booker T’s “Legends of Wrestling Fanfest”, which raises money for his charity Fight for Kids Foundation. Joining me there will be Sting, Kevin Nash, Samoa Joe, Jake the Snake Roberts and a lot of others. It‘s at that George Brown Convention Center in Houston, I will forward more info as I get it.
Also, just so everyone knows the launch of the New YRG Fitness program has been pushed back two weeks to the 17th + 18th.

Get Healthy... Stay Strong... Be Unstoppable and Do your YRG or else!
Live Life at 90%
DDP

Sgt. Chris Simpson Charity event

Hey Guys

If you read my last email , then you know I am in the middle of some great events these next few weeks. Well here is story #1 from my most recent trip to Syracuse for the Sgt. Chris Simpson Charity event at which I appeared .

I've been very blessed in my life over the years and had some really cool experiences... I've gone to see our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan on several occasions... I've spoke to kids about the importance of reading and they actually listened... and many times I‘ve had 20,000 people chanting DDP while I was in the ring at a deafening level... but this weekend I was able to touch lives at another level... I t all started in Atlanta... I was heading to the airport to go to see the mother (Kate) and fiancé (Carol) of one of our fallen Soldiers... A true American Hero , Sgt Christopher Simpson... Kate and Carol asked me if I would come and speak at the first Sgt Chris Simpson Fundraiser... Obviously I told them it would be an honor... Here is that story.

I took a cab on Friday at rush hour in Atlanta to the airport to head towards Syracuse. Leaving two hours ahead of time... I figured I'd given myself plenty of time to get to the airport and check in. To be fair to myself , my email was down this week so I couldn't confirm my flight reservations... A t that moment I remembered that I've had it on my phone! So I looked it up on my iPhone , and t hat's when I realized that the flight wasn't leaving at 6:30, it was leaving at 6:04. It was about that time that the 285 Freeway in Atlanta had become a parking lot. BTW you can't check bags after 45 minutes before a flight. So my driver starts driving like a mad man to get me there while I'm on the phone talking to the woman at Delta, trying to get a backup flight…which of course is sold out!

Did I tell you that Chris's Mom Kate had a huge meet and greet for me that night, but the odds of me making that flight where a slim to none ? We got to the airport 27 minutes before my flight got ready to take off. Have you ever been to the Atlanta airport? My chances now of making this flight are a thousand to one! Thank God the sky cab was a fan, he ran me into where the security section was at a full speed run. There was about 150 people in line ahead of me. The sky cab walked me up front but won't let me in line because it's against the rules to cut in front of people. Realizing that he's not going to let me go in yet, I yell out , "Hey everyone, I'm Diamond Dallas Page, and I'm on my way to see the mother and fiancé of one of our fallen soldiers. Does anyone have a problem with me cutting in line I have a less than 20 minutes to catch this flight?" Magically everyone backed up a couple of feet. Even the people who where putting their stuff on a conveyer belt let me go first. I threw all my stuff on the conveyer belt and luckily the person checking my bag was a wrestling fan.. They loved the belt! I crammed everything one on top of the other and started running to the escalator. If any of you know Atlanta airport, you know that gate 36C is a looooong way away! Throughout the trip so far, it was doing some serious deep breathing.. trying to remain calm and believe that I was going to make it. I've got 12 or 13 minutes at this point. I get off the Tram and I think I'm the first cart, no... I'm the furthest from the escalator. So, I start sprinting through the escalator yelling to the people, " P lease let me go first!" What I forgot to tell you is that I'm carrying my suit jacket and tie, and it's hooked to the back of my collar and it's waving behind me like a damn cape. If you've been to Atlanta you know it's a really tall escalator. I took 2 to 3 stairs at a time... I finally get to the top and sprint towards gate 36. As I get to 30 I hear "LAST CALL.. GATE 36"

So I sprint faster. It felt like it was a mile away! I finally got there, and the door is closed! Now as any of you know, when the door is closed.. it's closed, they don't reopen the door. I start to go , "Noooooooo I can't believe this!" As I'm about to start pounding on the door, it opens and the guy behind it says " You' re just making it!" and I say "No kidding!"

By the time I get to the plane the stewardess looks at me and say s, " You look like you could use some water" . I say , " How about a bottle?". I took my bottle and sat down... as I realized that I wasn't going to ruin the night... I thought.. Thank God!

When I got to Syracuse I was greeted by Kate and Carol. I had a very emotional greeting from both of them. From there we headed to the family get together. I was greeted by maybe one of the warmest families ever! I was immediately transformed into Mickey Mouse with tattoos,

Click for More Photos

taking pictures and saying hi, making everyone feeling comfortable. All the pictures are on the site. Later that night Carol, Kate and I went to dinner to have some private time.. A e talked about Chris and the fund raiser that we where doing the next day. I asked them if they've seen "It's a Wonderful Life" . T o my surprise, neither of them where familiar with the movie, so I told them that they needed to watch it this Christmas because I felt that I was at George Bailey's house. I remember the first time I talked to Carol was on her birthday… here is a recap from her Dad.

From: Michael Fries Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 2:07 PM Subject: Carol's Birthday Call Hello DDP, I just wanted to thank you for the call that you made to my daughter Carol on her birthday a couple of days ago. She, as you probably know, was at the homecoming for Chris Simpson’s unit in Colorado when you called. It was an intensely emotional few days for her and the thoughtfulness and caring of your call really brightened the moment. As you have said, most of getting somewhere in life is not about what life deals you but how you respond to it. Six months after Chris was killed Carol started medical school. This is a daunting task for anyone but to do it in a state of grief and emotional exhaustion is almost unthinkable. She has worked so hard while feeling such despair and has performed with excellence. It would be so easy for her to give up but she won’t. I think you can identify with that kind of struggle. Sometimes we don’t know how meaningful small things can be. I wanted to tell you that your call was meaningful for my daughter and for me and I am grateful. Yours, Mike Fries

One thing that came out of the many interesting things that came from dinner was the perspective of the fiancé in a situation like this. Kate and Carol want to lobby for the fiancés of fallen soldiers to also be acknowledged. I totally agree.

The next day the event started at noon and I got there at 1:30 to speak at 2:00. The place was packed with about 500 people. My buddy Dennis Dipaolo asked Jim Kelly to send a few autographed items. There was a bunch of sports memorabilia and electronics that were donated by the community that brought nice money at that silent auction.

It amazed me how this little town outside of Syracuse came together for their fallen hero. This was America at its best. People drove from hours away for the event that the family had not seen in years. I wish I had taped my inspirational speech because it was one of the best ones I had ever done. It was in a firehouse building . I had a couple hundred people sitting down, a couple hundred people standing and a 100 people at the bar that I had to talk over. This was a great test for me and it was by far the best inspirational talk to date ending with a standing ovation. Scott and Kate, Chris’s parents and Carol, gave me a plaque to show their appreciation.

Click for More Photos

Afterwards I signed autographs, DVD, books and Action Figures that I had donated to the event. Out of all the things I have ever done in my life this was the most gratifying of them all.

I have two new t-shirts at the store . One is in honor to Chris Simpson and any that are sold from my site will have the total profit go to the Christopher Simpson Fund

Before the trip to Syracuse, Dr. Don Austin (pictured in the black shirt) , who is the Principal of Laguna Beach High School and a really great guy, asked me to come back and speak to some of the athletes, students and faculty of Laguna Beach High School. The kids at Laguna don’t know how lucky they are to have a Principal like Dr. Austin. Maybe if I had a Principal like that I would have focused a little more on learning in school… well... maybe…lol

I got to the school and found out that Jennifer Muir of the OC Register was going to do a feature article on DDP and YRG. Not only was she going to check it out, she actually wanted to do the YRG workout which I love.

We started in the gym for my inspirational speech. Usually it is a 60 minute speech but I cut it down to 25 minutes and it had a phenomenal impact on everyone. Angie and Alan, my team YRG people, were there and they said during the speech there were kids with their mouths dropping at the stuff they were hearing and seeing.

After the speech we headed down to the baseball field for the workout. I thought some kids would peel off and ditch the workout but to my surprise more kids saw us and actually piled on and joined the workout. This was a great group with a ton of energy. I took them through a high level workout and as challenging as I made it, they kept asking for more… A t the end they were feeling good and as they marched back up to the school they were chanting “DDP” and flashing Diamond Cutter signs to each other.

This was the most fun I have had doing the YRG Workout since I was in Iraq doing it with the troops. That is one of the great things about the YRG Workout. We had top High School athletes doing YRG right next to their teachers. You can modify YRG at an easier level or you can challenge yourself as much as you want.

Click for More Photos

One of the real cool things is that I know YRG and DDP left an impact on the school. Not only am I getting emails from parents, faculty and students but I hear that the Volleyball team is now flashing Diamond Cutters after a kill shot and they are still chanting DDP in the halls of Laguna Beach High School.

YRG Warriors Newsflash!:
The Laguna Beach Boys Volleyball team just upset #3 ranked San Clemente and the match was televised as the High School game of the week. Also the Laguna Beach Baseball team is now undefeated in league and the top 5 batting averages in their league is all Laguna Beach Baseball players. Great Job Guys!

YRG Warriors Newsflash! #2:
Check out this link. The top 5 hitters in league are all from one High School…Laguna Beach!
http://www.maxpreps.com/california/baseball/orange-coast/leaders.aspx?leagueid=e55fda69-ed09-42d7-9685-f0148371334f&urpath=,local,league

Don’t forget on April 3rd I will be in Houston, TX at Booker T’s “Legends of Wrestling Fanfest”, which raises money for his charity Fight for Kids Foundation. Joining me there will be Sting, Kevin Nash, Samoa Joe, Jake the Snake Roberts and a lot of others. It‘s at that George Brown Convention Center in Houston, I will forward more info as I get it.

Also, just so everyone knows the launch of the New YRG Fitness program has been pushed back two weeks to the 17th + 18th.

Get Healthy... Stay Strong... Be Unstoppable and Do your YRG or else!
Live Life at 90%DDP

Update

Hey Guys

Just want to let you know where I am going to be over the next couple of weeks so you can come by and see me.

This Monday, I will at Laguna Beach High School, that’s right, the one that was on the MTV television show a few years ago. I will be doing a YRG workout with 150-200 students, athletes, parents and teachers. So how did the happen? Well their head Baseball Coach, Jeff Sears, is friends with my business partner, Alan Ludloff. Coach Sears had been doing YRG for awhile, so one day while they were driving, Alan called me and handed the phone to the Coach…who was also a huge DDP fan. I gave him a few YRG tips and he said, “My baseball team would love this”. 2 weeks later I show up at the high school and take his Varsity baseball team through the workout…with Dr. Austin, the High School principal. That was a month ago. Since then the principal, the coach, the baseball players and a lot of other students have been doing YRG. They asked if I would come back and I said “only if it was with a 100 kids on the football field”. Well on Monday March 16 at 2:30 I will be in Laguna Beach…the real OC!

Then I leave for Syracuse, NY for a fundraising event on March 21 for Sgt. Chris Simpson. The story at the end of this email explains the chain of events that lead to this. I met Chris in Iraq about a year ago and about 2 weeks later I got an email that said “Diamond Dallas Page fan dies in the line of duty”…You get the idea of what happened, but when you read emails from the families, then you will know why am I there for them. At the fundraising event I will be giving my Living Life at 90% speech and signing autographs. I donated some Positively Page Books, YRG Workout DVD’s and action figures with all proceeds going to the foundation

On April 3rd I will be in Houston, TX at Booker T’s “Legends of Wrestling Fanfest”, which raises money for his charity Fight for Kids Foundation. Joining me there will be Sting, Kevin Nash, Samoa Joe, Jake the Snake Roberts and a lot of others. It‘s at that George Brown Convention Center in Houston, I will forward more info as I get it.

After Booker’s event I am going to Wrestlemania Hall of Fame induction to see my bro, Stone Cold Steve Austin, get inducted into the WWE HOF.

From Texas I will be heading back to LA to celebrate my 53rd birthday which is on April 5th. This is a really big B-Day weekend for me because we are also finally launching the YRG Fitness System infomercial on television. It will be airing around the country on April 4th and 5th. To give you a little trivia, 13 years earlier on my Birthday when I turned 40, Randy Savage put me over in the middle of the ring with the Diamond Cutter. I have a lucky #13 next to a charicature of my favorite cat Spooki on my left arm and I am writing this email on Friday the 13th. 13 has always been lucky for me. Say a prayer it continues. So this is really you last chance to get the Original YRG Workout dvds on the YRG site... Wait till you see the NEW YRG site (Coming in April!)... it is out of site!

Speaking of my wrestling days, I have some new You Tube videos that the fans did on the Old School wrestling section of my website.

Here is the Sgt. Christopher Simpson email I sent out a year ago and the emails back from his family:

As most of you know I have been on tours of Afghanistan and Iraq to visit the troops... When I get back from a place like Afghanistan or Iraq I always have a whole bunch of stories from the places I've been and people I've met and lived with... stories about our troops... the guys and gals that who put their lives on the line for US everyday... Heroes... Real Heroes... it doesn't matter if you believe in the war or you Hate the war... as Americans we always should LOVE the WARRIOR..

So I got an email from Navy CPT Francis Lukenbill who shared with me what happened to his nephew after I left Iraq on one of my tours.

He was one of those kids who grew watching DDP in his living room when he was growing up, maybe ages 5 through 12... like so many kids growing up in the late 90’s he loved the Monday Night Wrestling Wars every Monday and Thursday... So when he saw me in Iraq on his way to a mission I must of seemed like a mirage... From what I heard he was more than a little excited to meet DDP... Sometimes these guys are so excited to meet one of their childhood heroes, they will run over one of the beautiful women also on tour to get to me... It’s amazing the impact you can have on someone life... It's something I have never taken for granted... His name was SGT Christopher C. Simpson... When ever I take pictures with anyone I almost always put my left hand straight out in from of me making half my trademarked Diamond Cutter hand sign and get the other person to complete the sign... everyone always laughs or at least smiles and has good time with it... I may have done that same picture a 100 times in a row, and then out of Nowhere I go to do the hand sign and I reach up and grab the guys neck in the real Diamond Cutter and everyone POPS BIG TIME... they love it... this email is the about one of those times... it's so personal to me that after reading this email over and over again I realize that this is the only thing that belongs in this email about my trip to Iraq...

These are the exact emails ... I asked the families if it was OK to let you read them and they loved the idea... like so many families they do not want their sons to be forgotten...

Subject: Diamond Dallas Page Fan Killed in the Line of Duty Dear Diamond Dallas, My name is Francis Lukenbill, Uncle of SGT Christopher C. Simpson USA. The attached photo is of the two of you during a recent visit you made to Iraq. This is a beautiful picture...one loved by Chris. Sadly, Christopher was killed in action on Monday 17 March while honorably and willingly serving his country. He and his friendSSGT Mike Elledge were taken swiftly and painlessly as their Humvee was cowardly attacked. His mother, father, brother, fiancé , and a multitude of relatives and friends are grief stricken by this tragedy. Please accept the family's thanks for giving us the image of the two of you that we laughed over many an hour during the past few weeks. Remember him and all who serve. Thank you, too, for visiting them in country... Sincerely, (Uncle) Luke

Needless to say this hit me hard…I had to breath through it and then wrote Uncle Luke this note:

Luke, Hey bro I just received your email and I can't begin to tell you how sorry I was to read about your loss... it brings tears to my eyes as I am writing this email while flying back home from NY where I did a personal appearance and reffed a match last night... Of course I hit someone with a Diamond Cutter as well... Chris would have loved it...Many people have let me know that they are proud of me for going over to see our boys in Iraq and Afghanistan yet there are others who ask me why I continue to do it... it's to dangerous they say... My response is always the same... I quote Demi Moore from "A Few Good Men" when she is asked the question why do you love the guys so much... her reply ... "Because they are the ones who stand on the wall and risk there lives every day and say... you’re going to be safe tonight..." I'm not sure if that is the exact quote but it gets the point across... So many guys come up to me while I was over there (this was my 4th trip over... once to Afghanistan and my 3rd to Iraq) ... they would tell me how they grew up watching me in there living rooms and many have even told me... it was like I was part of their family... That's powerful to me... and then they say something like... you just don't know DDP... you just don't know... but I do... I know what it means to these boys to get to hang out with a guy they dreamed of being like...their childhood hero... I do know and it always brings a HUGE smile to my face as I see their faces light up... no matter how burned out I am at the time those guys and gals totally energizes me... that's why when I go over there I try to do more than just shake hands and make them laugh by putting them in the Diamond Cutter like I did to Chris... Btw... I did the Diamond Cutter picture hundreds of times on that last tour and I actually remember taking this picture with Chris... He loved it... I hadn't done it that day till right there and he loved it... The Diamond Cutter move would always come out of no where... so it surprised the boys and made them laugh and remember... it took them out of that shit hole they were living in for just a moment and all of a sudden they were back in there living rooms and DDP just popped through their TV and put a Diamond Cutter on them... when ever I did it like that it was always priceless... and I then I wouldn't do it for awhile unless some asked to have me to put them in the Diamond Cutter...which was always my honor to do... When ever I would get the chance to do a setting where I could actually have the boys sit down and speak to them for about an hour I would talk about my concept of Living Life at 90% ... the formula is (Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% about how you react to it... then I would do a Q an A with them or even take them through my YRG workout... I really love spending that kind of Quality time with them... but any contact at all is always as morale boosting for them as it is for ME... I may have been one of Chris' heroes, but just so you know... he was and is my HERO and I won't forget him... I put his picture up on my wall in my house... So he's never forgotten... (there are more pictures up on the site of this area of my home) Click for More Photos Thank you so much for sending me the picture of Chris and I together... if it's Ok with you I would like to put this up when I write my next email story about going to Iraq for my Diamond Dallas Page site... I would also like to put the email you wrote me within my email as well if it is all right with you... I think too many people forget who and where these guys are (out of site out of mind) and I believe it's important that they are reminded so they are not forgotten... but you let me know bro... I'll do what ever works for you... Deepest Sympathy to all your family and friends D. Dallas Page

This is Uncle Luke’s emails me and then one from Chris’s his Mom:

Dear DDP, I can not tell you how your awesome note has blessed and touched our family. I called Chris' mom, Kate (my sister) when I saw your note in my in box. I could not wait to share it...she was on the cell phone with Chris' father, Scott, at the same time (kinda two fisting it...). He was equally touched. I immediately forwarded your e-mail to as many family and friends as I could and Kate and Scott are doing the same as we speak. As a friend of mine just said after reading your note, "This is really beautiful...I can't believe how Chris is still affecting people's lives in new and beautiful ways..." How true this is... Chris' family is totally supportive of your use of the photo and e-mail...anything to help your cause and others in Harms Way. We live in a great country for sure...Chris would want to share...his heart was huge and his love for his fellow man was equally grand. The fact that you actually remembered Chris is very special...you are family now! There are many military personnel in our clan and please know that if there is anything we can ever do for you in support of your outreach...you must let me know. Thank you for your courage and I know I speak for you when I say, thank you, SGT Christopher Curtis Simpson, for yours. God's Speed to you... Gratefully, Uncle Luke, Captain, United States Navy PS. My wife, Joy, quoted Demi Moore this week as well...you got it perfect!

From: Kate Mclaughlin Subject: Re: I am so very sorry for your loss... DDP Chris's MOM Dear Diamond Dallas, My name is Kate and I am the mother of our Fallen HERO Christopher. I will never forget the phone call that I got shortly after his Diamond Cutter. He said. "Mom you are never going to believe what happened to me" Of course my response “No, Chris, probably not”. He said Diamond Dallas Page just put me in a Diamond Cutter. I say " Chris who and what is that and he proceeded to tell me. When I saw the picture that he sent me my heart was filled with joy, I was very excited for him that he got to meet some great people. He touched the lives of many. I thank you for touching his life in the time of need when i was not there. He was a mommy’s boy and called me ever other day if not ever day even being over there. I would continuously tell him how proud I was and how much I love him. Maybe at some point if you are ever in the Hampton VA area I would be happy to share videos. I am going to miss his smile his soft spoken words and the phone calls but I know that someone had a greater mission for him. I thank you again for all you do and continue to do to support our troops. I am honored that that picture will be hanging in your house you were his HERO. Please use the picture again I am Honored but if you could send me you web page site I would love to see the article. As I told Chris I'm computer illiterate so e-mail is about my speed. Thanks again for what you do and never hesitate to contact my brother for what ever he will be more then happy to help. He is incredible. He has been military for 25 years and he told me his most difficult but honorable mission was escorting his nephew home. I have a bond with him that will last forever (even closer then siblings) It gave me comfort to know that Chris was with someone he loved and respected very much and Luke talked to him the whole trip. Thanks again for our memory that I will cherish for ever and your picture will to hang in my house. GOD BLESS THE GOOD GUYS HOME OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE Kate Mclaughlin (Chris's Mom)

I got this email the other day from Chris’s dad... 

Dear DDP, My name is Scott Simpson, father of Christopher Simpson. I’m writing to you to thank you for your generous acts of kindness to our family and those directly affected by our son’s death last March 17, 2008. You see I was in Colorado at a little gathering we had for Chris’s closest friends when they got back from Iraq. Carol Fires, Chris’s Fiancée received a phone call from whom other than DDP. The timing of that phone call was impeccable as the whole weekend was full of bitter sweet emotion. We were glad to see Chris’s friends receive their heroes welcome but grief stricken that our Chris didn’t get off the plane with them. She almost didn’t take the call but, as she puts it, “ a little voice told her to” and to her surprise you where on the other end to wish her a Happy Birthday. I have to say, that phone call put the icing on the cake and really helped her except and celebrate her birthday….which because of the timing and emotion packed weekend she really did not want to do. Now on the anniversary of her birthday she will have that phone call to remember and to help balance the anniversary of a bitter sweet homecoming. The call generated a lot of excitement for the guys also as they remember your visit in Iraq and have the pictures to prove it. I remember Chris’s phone call right after you landed in a chopper before they went out on a mission. It really made his day and can still here his excitement in his voice as he said “ Dad you’re not going believe what just happened, DDP and a bunch of other clebs just landed right next to us and we got to hang out with them and take a few pictures”. Those trips really make a difference even if for only a brief moment they get to pose for a picture. It’s people like yourself that help the troops get through another wise difficult day, month….year and a half! The picture of the two of you with the signature Diamond Cutter pose, is one of my favorites ……his smile says it all! I think our family has been in shock and it finally is starting to sink in …..he’s not coming home.. I also thank you for volunteering your time to speak at our upcoming Scholarship Fundraiser. We are all looking forward to it and also meeting you in person.  Thanks for all the support, especially to Carol and Kate…. It has made all the difference! Sincerely, Scott Simpson

I hope this email helps you understand just how important these young men and women are who put their lives on the line for US on a daily basis. Hero’s everyone of them. This is going to be a very emotional trip for me. I will fill you in when I get home.

Get Healthy... Stay Strong... Be Unstoppable and Do your YRG or else!
Live Life at 90%DDP

03.14.2009

Hey Guys
Just want to let you know where I am going to be over the next couple of weeks so you can come by and see me.
This Monday, I will at Laguna Beach High School, that’s right, the one that was on the MTV television show a few years ago. I will be doing a YRG workout with 150-200 students, athletes, parents and teachers. So how did the happen? Well their head Baseball Coach, Jeff Sears, is friends with my business partner, Alan Ludloff. Coach Sears had been doing YRG for awhile, so one day while they were driving, Alan called me and handed the phone to the Coach…who was also a huge DDP fan. I gave him a few YRG tips and he said, “My baseball team would love this”. 2 weeks later I show up at the high school and take his Varsity baseball team through the workout…with Dr. Austin, the High School principal. That was a month ago. Since then the principal, the coach, the baseball players and a lot of other students have been doing YRG. They asked if I would come back and I said “only if it was with a 100 kids on the football field”. Well on Monday March 16 at 2:30 I will be in Laguna Beach…the real OC!

Then I leave for Syracuse, NY for a fundraising event on March 21 for Sgt. Chris Simpson. The story at the end of this email explains the chain of events that lead to this. I met Chris in Iraq about a year ago and about 2 weeks later I got an email that said “Diamond Dallas Page fan dies in the line of duty”…You get the idea of what happened, but when you read emails from the families, then you will know why am I there for them. At the fundraising event I will be giving my Living Life at 90% speech and signing autographs. I donated some Positively Page Books, YRG Workout DVD’s and action figures with all proceeds going to the foundation

On April 3rd I will be in Houston, TX at Booker T’s “Legends of Wrestling Fanfest”, which raises money for his charity Fight for Kids Foundation. Joining me there will be Sting, Kevin Nash, Samoa Joe, Jake the Snake Roberts and a lot of others. It‘s at that George Brown Convention Center in Houston, I will forward more info as I get it.

After Booker’s event I am going to Wrestlemania Hall of Fame induction to see my bro, Stone Cold Steve Austin, get inducted into the WWE HOF.
From Texas I will be heading back to LA to celebrate my 53rd birthday which is on April 5th. This is a really big B-Day weekend for me because we are also finally launching the YRG Fitness System infomercial on television. It will be airing around the country on April 4th and 5th. To give you a little trivia, 13 years earlier on my Birthday when I turned 40, Randy Savage put me over in the middle of the ring with the Diamond Cutter. I have a lucky #13 next to a charicature of my favorite cat Spooki on my left arm and I am writing this email on Friday the 13th. 13 has always been lucky for me. Say a prayer it continues. So this is really you last chance to get the Original YRG Workout dvds on the YRG site... Wait till you see the NEW YRG site (Coming in April!)... it is out of site!
Click for More Photos
Speaking of my wrestling days, I have some new You Tube videos that the fans did on the Old School wrestling section of my website.
Here is the Sgt. Christopher Simpson email I sent out a year ago and the emails back from his family:

As most of you know I have been on tours of Afghanistan and Iraq to visit the troops... When I get back from a place like Afghanistan or Iraq I always have a whole bunch of stories from the places I've been and people I've met and lived with... stories about our troops... the guys and gals that who put their lives on the line for US everyday... Heroes... Real Heroes... it doesn't matter if you believe in the war or you Hate the war... as Americans we always should LOVE the WARRIOR..

So I got an email from Navy CPT Francis Lukenbill who shared with me what happened to his nephew after I left Iraq on one of my tours.
He was one of those kids who grew watching DDP in his living room when he was growing up, maybe ages 5 through 12... like so many kids growing up in the late 90’s he loved the Monday Night Wrestling Wars every Monday and Thursday... So when he saw me in Iraq on his way to a mission I must of seemed like a mirage... From what I heard he was more than a little excited to meet DDP... Sometimes these guys are so excited to meet one of their childhood heroes, they will run over one of the beautiful women also on tour to get to me... It’s amazing the impact you can have on someone life... It's something I have never taken for granted... His name was SGT Christopher C. Simpson... When ever I take pictures with anyone I almost always put my left hand straight out in from of me making half my trademarked Diamond Cutter hand sign and get the other person to complete the sign... everyone always laughs or at least smiles and has good time with it... I may have done that same picture a 100 times in a row, and then out of Nowhere I go to do the hand sign and I reach up and grab the guys neck in the real Diamond Cutter and everyone POPS BIG TIME... they love it... this email is the about one of those times... it's so personal to me that after reading this email over and over again I realize that this is the only thing that belongs in this email about my trip to Iraq...
These are the exact emails ... I asked the families if it was OK to let you read them and they loved the idea... like so many families they do not want their sons to be forgotten...

Subject: Diamond Dallas Page Fan Killed in the Line of Duty Dear Diamond Dallas, My name is Francis Lukenbill, Uncle of SGT Christopher C. Simpson USA. The attached photo is of the two of you during a recent visit you made to Iraq. This is a beautiful picture...one loved by Chris. Sadly, Christopher was killed in action on Monday 17 March while honorably and willingly serving his country. He and his friend SSGT Mike Elledge were taken swiftly and painlessly as their Humvee was cowardly attacked. His mother, father, brother, fiancé , and a multitude of relatives and friends are grief stricken by this tragedy. Please accept the family's thanks for giving us the image of the two of you that we laughed over many an hour during the past few weeks. Remember him and all who serve. Thank you, too, for visiting them in country... Sincerely, (Uncle) Luke

Needless to say this hit me hard…I had to breath through it and then wrote Uncle Luke this note:

Luke, Hey bro I just received your email and I can't begin to tell you how sorry I was to read about your loss... it brings tears to my eyes as I am writing this email while flying back home from NY where I did a personal appearance and reffed a match last night... Of course I hit someone with a Diamond Cutter as well... Chris would have loved it...Many people have let me know that they are proud of me for going over to see our boys in Iraq and Afghanistan yet there are others who ask me why I continue to do it... it's to dangerous they say... My response is always the same... I quote Demi Moore from "A Few Good Men" when she is asked the question why do you love the guys so much... her reply ... "Because they are the ones who stand on the wall and risk there lives every day and say... you’re going to be safe tonight..." I'm not sure if that is the exact quote but it gets the point across... So many guys come up to me while I was over there (this was my 4th trip over... once to Afghanistan and my 3rd to Iraq) ... they would tell me how they grew up watching me in there living rooms and many have even told me... it was like I was part of their family... That's powerful to me... and then they say something like... you just don't know DDP... you just don't know... but I do... I know what it means to these boys to get to hang out with a guy they dreamed of being like...their childhood hero... I do know and it always brings a HUGE smile to my face as I see their faces light up... no matter how burned out I am at the time those guys and gals totally energizes me... that's why when I go over there I try to do more than just shake hands and make them laugh by putting them in the Diamond Cutter like I did to Chris... Btw... I did the Diamond Cutter picture hundreds of times on that last tour and I actually remember taking this picture with Chris... He loved it... I hadn't done it that day till right there and he loved it... The Diamond Cutter move would always come out of no where... so it surprised the boys and made them laugh and remember... it took them out of that shit hole they were living in for just a moment and all of a sudden they were back in there living rooms and DDP just popped through their TV and put a Diamond Cutter on them... when ever I did it like that it was always priceless... and I then I wouldn't do it for awhile unless some asked to have me to put them in the Diamond Cutter...which was always my honor to do... When ever I would get the chance to do a setting where I could actually have the boys sit down and speak to them for about an hour I would talk about my concept of Living Life at 90% ... the formula is (Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% about how you react to it... then I would do a Q an A with them or even take them through my YRG workout... I really love spending that kind of Quality time with them... but any contact at all is always as morale boosting for them as it is for ME... I may have been one of Chris' heroes, but just so you know... he was and is my HERO and I won't forget him... I put his picture up on my wall in my house... So he's never forgotten... (there are more pictures up on the site of this area of my home) Click for More Photos Thank you so much for sending me the picture of Chris and I together... if it's Ok with you I would like to put this up when I write my next email story about going to Iraq for my Diamond Dallas Page site... I would also like to put the email you wrote me within my email as well if it is all right with you... I think too many people forget who and where these guys are (out of site out of mind) and I believe it's important that they are reminded so they are not forgotten... but you let me know bro... I'll do what ever works for you... Deepest Sympathy to all your family and friends D. Dallas Page

This is Uncle Luke’s emails me and then one from Chris’s his Mom:

Dear DDP, I can not tell you how your awesome note has blessed and touched our family. I called Chris' mom, Kate (my sister) when I saw your note in my in box. I could not wait to share it...she was on the cell phone with Chris' father, Scott, at the same time (kinda two fisting it...). He was equally touched. I immediately forwarded your e-mail to as many family and friends as I could and Kate and Scott are doing the same as we speak. As a friend of mine just said after reading your note, "This is really beautiful...I can't believe how Chris is still affecting people's lives in new and beautiful ways..." How true this is... Chris' family is totally supportive of your use of the photo and e-mail...anything to help your cause and others in Harms Way. We live in a great country for sure...Chris would want to share...his heart was huge and his love for his fellow man was equally grand. The fact that you actually remembered Chris is very special...you are family now! There are many military personnel in our clan and please know that if there is anything we can ever do for you in support of your outreach...you must let me know. Thank you for your courage and I know I speak for you when I say, thank you, SGT Christopher Curtis Simpson, for yours. God's Speed to you... Gratefully, Uncle Luke, Captain, United States Navy PS. My wife, Joy, quoted Demi Moore this week as well...you got it perfect!

From: Kate Mclaughlin Subject: Re: I am so very sorry for your loss... DDP Chris's MOM Dear Diamond Dallas, My name is Kate and I am the mother of our Fallen HERO Christopher. I will never forget the phone call that I got shortly after his Diamond Cutter. He said. "Mom you are never going to believe what happened to me" Of course my response “No, Chris, probably not”. He said Diamond Dallas Page just put me in a Diamond Cutter. I say " Chris who and what is that and he proceeded to tell me. When I saw the picture that he sent me my heart was filled with joy, I was very excited for him that he got to meet some great people. He touched the lives of many. I thank you for touching his life in the time of need when i was not there. He was a mommy’s boy and called me ever other day if not ever day even being over there. I would continuously tell him how proud I was and how much I love him. Maybe at some point if you are ever in the Hampton VA area I would be happy to share videos. I am going to miss his smile his soft spoken words and the phone calls but I know that someone had a greater mission for him. I thank you again for all you do and continue to do to support our troops. I am honored that that picture will be hanging in your house you were his HERO. Please use the picture again I am Honored but if you could send me you web page site I would love to see the article. As I told Chris I'm computer illiterate so e-mail is about my speed. Thanks again for what you do and never hesitate to contact my brother for what ever he will be more then happy to help. He is incredible. He has been military for 25 years and he told me his most difficult but honorable mission was escorting his nephew home. I have a bond with him that will last forever (even closer then siblings) It gave me comfort to know that Chris was with someone he loved and respected very much and Luke talked to him the whole trip. Thanks again for our memory that I will cherish for ever and your picture will to hang in my house. GOD BLESS THE GOOD GUYS HOME OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE Kate Mclaughlin (Chris's Mom)

I got this email the other day from Chris’s dad...

Dear DDP, My name is Scott Simpson, father of Christopher Simpson. I’m writing to you to thank you for your generous acts of kindness to our family and those directly affected by our son’s death last March 17, 2008. You see I was in Colorado at a little gathering we had for Chris’s closest friends when they got back from Iraq. Carol Fires, Chris’s Fiancée received a phone call from whom other than DDP. The timing of that phone call was impeccable as the whole weekend was full of bitter sweet emotion. We were glad to see Chris’s friends receive their heroes welcome but grief stricken that our Chris didn’t get off the plane with them. She almost didn’t take the call but, as she puts it, “ a little voice told her to” and to her surprise you where on the other end to wish her a Happy Birthday. I have to say, that phone call put the icing on the cake and really helped her except and celebrate her birthday….which because of the timing and emotion packed weekend she really did not want to do. Now on the anniversary of her birthday she will have that phone call to remember and to help balance the anniversary of a bitter sweet homecoming. The call generated a lot of excitement for the guys also as they remember your visit in Iraq and have the pictures to prove it. I remember Chris’s phone call right after you landed in a chopper before they went out on a mission. It really made his day and can still here his excitement in his voice as he said “ Dad you’re not going believe what just happened, DDP and a bunch of other clebs just landed right next to us and we got to hang out with them and take a few pictures”. Those trips really make a difference even if for only a brief moment they get to pose for a picture. It’s people like yourself that help the troops get through another wise difficult day, month….year and a half! The picture of the two of you with the signature Diamond Cutter pose, is one of my favorites ……his smile says it all! I think our family has been in shock and it finally is starting to sink in …..he’s not coming home.. I also thank you for volunteering your time to speak at our upcoming Scholarship Fundraiser. We are all looking forward to it and also meeting you in person. Thanks for all the support, especially to Carol and Kate…. It has made all the difference! Sincerely, Scott Simpson

I hope this email helps you understand just how important these young men and women are who put their lives on the line for US on a daily basis. Hero’s everyone of them. This is going to be a very emotional trip for me. I will fill you in when I get home.

Get Healthy... Stay Strong... Be Unstoppable and Do your YRG or else!
Live Life at 90%
DDP