Hundreds of wrestling fans wrapped around the Kroger at 1310 Powers Ferry Road on Monday, Sept. 7, for a free meet-and-greet with WWE star Cody Rhodes.

Rhodes, known as "The American Nightmare," is a Cobb County native and Lassiter High School graduate. He appeared at the East Cobb store on Labor Day as part of a promotion hosted by Kroger and WWE partner Minute Maid, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.

Some fans camped out overnight. Pamela Billingsley, her husband Austin Billingsley and their 3-year-old daughter Mae'Lynn were first in line. The family drove three hours from Pikeville, Tenn., arriving at 5 p.m. Sunday.

"Our daughter is a big Cody Rhodes fan," Pamela Billingsley said. "Her third birthday party was 'let it go and drop the elbow' because of Cody."

Fan Makayla Yansom said she arrived at 11:30 p.m. Sunday and watched the line swell around 1 a.m. She said the excitement from the previous night's WWE event made the hours fly by. Mel Hernandez brought a camping chair for the wait and said she is considering enrolling at the Nightmare Factory, an Atlanta-based wrestling school co-owned by Rhodes.

Ivan Gutierrez, who works for Kroger's Atlanta Division, described hearing cheering and screaming when Rhodes stepped out to greet fans. He called the event an opportunity for fans and Kroger shoppers to celebrate together on the holiday.

The appearance came one night after Rhodes competed at WWE Sunday Night's Main Event at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Sept. 6. The show marked the first time in the series' four-decade history that it aired on a Sunday, CBS Sports reported. Rhodes lost to Randy Orton in the main event.

Outside the Kroger, an emcee kept the crowd entertained while Minute Maid passed out samples and set up games in the parking lot.

Rhodes attended Lassiter High in Marietta, where he won back-to-back Georgia state high school wrestling championships in 2003 and 2004. He also co-owns the Nightmare Factory wrestling school in Atlanta.