So here’s the deal: I haven’t actually sat down and watched WWE regularly since last year’s WrestleMania. I’ve loosely kept up with stories and results, but as far as committing to weekly shows or Premium Live Events? The motivation just hasn’t really been there. I have a list of issues with WWE that is probably its own post, honestly. That said… the Royal Rumble is still one of my favorite wrestling events every year, and when I saw it was playing in theaters, my self-control immediately folded. Because let’s be real — you can’t say no to the potential of surprise returns and “oh my god that music hit” debuts, especially with a crowd of like minded people.

You've been looking forward to attending your first (or even your 50th) convention for awhile, but time seems to drag on until the day arrives and you're with your people. Then, because you were having so much fun, it seems like the event is over as soon as it started, and suddenly you're back in the grind of everyday life. In any case, enter the dreaded Post-Con Blues; the feeling of longing for the chaos of the con, surrounded by like-minded people. You want to go back to that amazing weekend spent with friends, but you're back to boring real life and your very real responsibilities (adulting...0/10, do not fucking recommend).

In my last post, I discussed the basics of planning and preparation in terms of budgeting to help make the con a more enjoyable and stress free experience for you.  Well, in the second of this three part series we’ve come to the actual convention itself.  What can you do to make it through the weekend and get the most out of your time at an anime convention while you’re there? Before we get to the actual convention business itself, let’s back up a bit to the days leading up to the convention. 

It seems like there is at least one anime convention going on somewhere in North America on any given weekend and while this is certainly a good thing, it can be overwhelming to someone who has never been to an anime convention before or even to someone who has been to a couple of conventions, but is still relatively new to the convention scene.  As someone who has close to 50 conventions in my con going resume ranging from super small (Pacific Media Expo) to massive (San Diego Comic Con and Anime Expo) I’ve learned plenty about attending conventions over the last 21 years.

If I told you I went to an anime convention for four days and barely attended any programming, you’d probably assume it was a terrible con. Honestly? Fair. But that’s the thing about Anime Los Angeles (ALA)—it’s not the kind of convention where your weekend lives and dies by how many panels you hit. ALA has programming (mostly fan-run, aside from guest events), but for me, it’s always been about something else entirely: the people. ALA is a social con in the purest sense, and if you’ve ever been, you already know the biggest giveaway: badge ribbons.

U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.

AEW's TV product may be inconsistent at times, but their pay-per-views rarely disappoint. With their first PPV at Staples Center (I refuse to call it anything else) and a last-minute extra ticket in hand thanks to a friend, I made the trip to LA for some live wrestling. Was it worth a late Sunday night? Let's find out—onto the results and my thoughts! MJF vs. Hangman Adam Page A heated grudge match between two AEW originals kicked off the show in style. After a back-and-forth battle—including MJF hitting a Tombstone Piledriver on a steel chair—Hangman secured the win with a Buckshot Lariat.

The road to WrestleMania is in full gear and now that we've just had the last main roster PLE before the 'Showcase of the Immortals' set to take place in Las Vegas in April, it's time to go over what happened in Toronto. Women's Elimination Chamber: Bianca Belair defeats Liv Morgan Bianca Belair secured the win by countering ObLIVion into the KOD, pinning Liv Morgan to earn a WrestleMania shot against either Rhea Ripley or Iyo Sky. The match was fast-paced, giving all five women standout moments—including one of the loudest chops ever when Belair whipped Liv with her braid, causing her to start bleeding from her midsection.

You've been looking forward to attending your first (or even your 50th) convention for awhile, but time seems to drag on until the day arrives and you're with your people. Then, because you were having so much fun, it seems like the event is over as soon as it started, and suddenly you're back in the grind of everyday life. In any case, enter the dreaded Post-Con Blues; the feeling of longing for the chaos of the con, surrounded by like-minded people. You want to go back to that amazing weekend spent with friends, but you're back to boring real life and your very real responsibilities (adulting...0/10, do not recommend).