CINCINNATI - WHEN THE 2001 edition of the Brian Pillman Memorial Show finally concluded here around 11:45 p.m. Thursday, my friends and I piled into our car feeling a certain sense of accomplishment.

Not only did we contribute to the welfare of the family of the former WCW and WWF star - the event raised over $41,000 for Pillman's wife and two kids - we were witnesses to history. We were five rows away from Dean Malenko when he announced his retirement.

Even before Malenko made his way out to the ring for his final match, I knew this night was going to be different. I'd been watching him during the photo sessions that took place before the card. It was clear he had something heavy weighing on his mind. Little did I know he was pondering the biggest decision of his professional career. The biggest decision of his life.

Later in the evening, after escorting Pam Hillenbrand to the ring for a ceremony to honor her late husband, Brian (better known as referee Mark Curtis), Malenko stood stoic in the ring. It was clear his mind was elsewhere.

When the referee finally called for the bell to begin his match - Malenko and Perry Saturn took on Raven and Justin Credible - I turned to my friend, Mike, and said, "You know, I think this is it. This is his last match."

And it was.

After defeating Credible with his patented finisher, the Texas Cloverleaf, Malenko asked for the house microphone. I could tell not many fans in the Oak Hills High gymnasium were prepared for the announcement Malenko was going to make. I'm not sure he was really prepared for it, either.

Not that retirement was a spur of the moment thing for Malenko. It had been rumored for quite some time that he was ready to step away from active competition. And he's not leaving the business altogether - he'll remain with the WWF, working backstage as a road agent and helping to train young talent. But to retire, to walk away from your chosen profession, has to be an agonizing decision for anyone to make. And that pain was etched on Malenko's face as he told the crowd he had just wrestled his final match.

Then, in a scene reminiscent of the ECW Arena several years ago, the thousands of fans in this tiny gymnasium, some with tears in their eyes, came to their feet and chanted, "Please don't go." Clearly, this decision was painful for everyone.

Several minutes later, after realizing that no amount of chanting, cheering or crying would change his mind, we stopped. Instead, every single person in that building stood up and applauded one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever to lace up a pair of boots. We didn't yell or scream. We just clapped.

We clapped our hands for every dropkick, every suplex, every match that we had the pleasure of watching Malenko work. And then, just like Malenko's storied career, the applause stopped.

You see, the wrestling world will, of course, go on without Dean Malenko. After all, he is not the first - or the last - man to walk away from the game. But Malenko did accomplish something far too many superstars only hope to achieve - he left on his terms, when he was ready to leave.

And it seems only fitting that, on a night when wrestling's finest came together to say hello to an old friend, one of their own said goodbye.

The retirement of Dean Malenko wasn't the only memorable moment at Pillman 2001. The photo shoot prior to the actual event gave fans the chance to meet many of their favorites, including Lita, Matt Hardy, Kanyon, Perry Saturn, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and Edge and Christian, just to name a few.

Edge and Christian were especially cool, taking the time to talk to and joke around with many of the fans, myself included.

After waiting in line for several minutes, I walked up to Edge and offered a simple, "Hey, what's up?" greeting.

"Word up, G-Dog," he replied. "Keep it real."

I can't remember laughing any harder in my life. In fact, I almost didn't compose myself in time to get my picture taken.

But that wasn't the funniest thing that happened at the shoot. My friend, Mike Tawney, waited nearly an hour before deciding to have his picture taken with Chris Candido and Tammy Lynn Sytch. Things were winding down at that point and Candido asked Mike who he wanted in the picture.

"So, who do you want?" Candido said.

"Everybody, I guess," Mike replied.

With that, Candido proceeded to embarrass my friend in a way I never imagined.

"OK, everyone. Can I have your attention please," Candido yelled out to the crowd, stopping many of fans in their tracks. "This gentleman would like to have his picture taken with everybody, so if you will all please form a line right here in front, we can get this taken care of."

That's right. This world- renowned pro wrestler took time out of his busy schedule to make my buddy look like a total moron. Mike didn't get the entire crowd in his shot, but he did get Candido, Steve Corino, Sytch and Mark Henry. Needless to say, he was happy . . .