WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:07.040 It's the Lapsed Fan Wrestling podcast with Jack and carn S e O and JP 2 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:17.920 sorrows He's a lapsed fan in all my years and rest you never seen anything. 3 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:25.000 And it's the laps Fan man number one in the ring begin a Boussada 4 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:28.399 were the real king of swing with the bell goes eggs and the kick like 5 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:32.960 me throwing in the corner but gets rash like stick even Jerry King you can 6 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:37.119 take off the crowd nodding his head like a see low Brown would just getting 7 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:40.280 low down for the goat, even high up flipp you on your head, 8 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:44.759 but you know cool drive you speaking more now and Dragon spits fire if you 9 00:00:44.840 --> 00:00:49.799 more shot than in Edge retire dropping more truth than the con of sniper less 10 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:54.640 you would a coconut Roddy Piper check a JP you like Jay d drop the 11 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:59.200 cupcakes and gold the brain Bob means the best podcast for the start the close 12 00:00:59.320 --> 00:01:03.840 flop you are benefits a classic and pose you know in life in general, 13 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:08.560 I think keeping a promise is a good practice. And one of the things 14 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:12.159 we promised years ago when we launched the Hopper was that we were going to 15 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:15.519 try to, I don't know, make some sort of an allowance for the 16 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:21.799 fact that it gets a little out of control in terms of denominations. Yes, 17 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:26.239 and last year around Christmas time, are you talking about nations of denominations 18 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:32.359 and nations of denominations. That's exactly right. Nations of different branded currencies as 19 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:38.000 it were. Oh yes, different reserve currencies, different references currency. And 20 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:47.400 it's wherewithal. Okay, you appreciate branded currency, and it's wherewithal yes, 21 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:49.400 I do. Right now that that's established, we said, you know, 22 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:53.359 around Christmas time, what we'll do is anyone who keeped kept bidding for the 23 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:57.599 Hopper but didn't win, we're going to pick one of them at random and 24 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:01.159 give them a free Hopper show as an extension of goodwill. And while we 25 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:05.200 wanted to do it around Christmas time, due to lapsed Funk and a ton 26 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:07.879 of other things, we were up against it and it took a while for 27 00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:10.479 us to come up for air, so to speak. Virgil passed away. 28 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:15.000 That put it off. But now here we are a path was the winner, 29 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:19.039 the first sort of winner. You know. We did a warrant to 30 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:22.199 Cliff a year before that when his wife reached out about how much a Hopper 31 00:02:22.199 --> 00:02:23.479 show would cost, and he said, how might we just give it to 32 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:30.400 you for free? And here we are the two thousand because it was like 33 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:35.479 a couple couple hundred bucks something like that, wasn't She's like, well, 34 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:38.400 you know, why don't we tell you what I'm kind of ashamed to tell 35 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:40.960 you how much it goes for so exactly, yeah, you don't want to 36 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.800 know how much your your husband was willing to put down, so we're right. 37 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:47.000 To his credit, he tapped out, that's why I felt like we 38 00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:50.919 should do it, because he was like, guys, can't responsibly do it 39 00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:53.199 for my family. It's like, I get it, but we but but 40 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:57.280 we also have to deeply express her appreciation for those who did go that hard 41 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.199 and did go that that strong. Is this the only thing that makes is 42 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:04.240 worth it? I mean, good luck facing your family taking as much time 43 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:07.560 as we do to make this punch as much as it does without someone in 44 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:10.919 the universe saying it here, it's worth this much, you know. And 45 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:15.599 here we are, thanks to the hopper, thanks to PAV, thanks to 46 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:19.199 the solar system, and thanks to TLFX, and we're landing on the two 47 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:23.919 thousand and eight WWE Royal Rumble. That is the selection the Hopper does it 48 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:35.560 again us thoughts. I mean, it's not a show that I really ever 49 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:40.080 thought i'd revisit in my lifetime. I mean, you know, I think 50 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:47.759 I said, and I know, I don't know if I watched the I 51 00:03:47.800 --> 00:03:53.360 was looking at the dates of everything, and I was going through old emails 52 00:03:53.479 --> 00:04:00.120 from back then, and I definitely know I was not I I wasn't I 53 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:03.439 was in the country when it happened, but I wasn't deaf. I definitely 54 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:08.879 wasn't focused on the royal rumble because I was planning to leave the country on 55 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:15.919 the Monday, the day after the pay per view. But I did watch 56 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:17.439 the replay. I watched the replay in Belgium, which I don't know. 57 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:19.519 If you want to get into my story at this point, yeah, go 58 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:27.800 ahead, Oh god, Okay. So this was a year after Premonition, 59 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:38.079 and I had gone through a rough breakup and was not doing well and was 60 00:04:38.120 --> 00:04:46.279 struggling to find work out in la and I just run the Honolulu Marathon and 61 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:51.079 I'm working on this well you know, you know the movie. You know 62 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:56.360 the documentary that I edited, the documentary, if you will, the documentary 63 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:59.600 that's right. And by the way, nothing more breakup to do the run 64 00:04:59.639 --> 00:05:01.600 of marathon. By the way, Oh, I know, like I was 65 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:06.079 actually kind of pissed that that I'll show her right, well, yeah, 66 00:05:06.279 --> 00:05:12.079 I'll show her moment. But also I was I was pissed that I was 67 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:15.079 pissed that that that Simon Pegg made a fucking movie about the exact same thing 68 00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:21.279 before I could fucking do it. Come on, dude, like really so 69 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:26.639 uh uh So. Anyway, so I'm working on this, this this documentary 70 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:30.000 with my my neighbor, and all of a sudden, I get an email 71 00:05:30.040 --> 00:05:33.439 from her and it says, you have to do this, and I'm like, 72 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:35.720 oh, what does she want now, because she was that kind of 73 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:41.279 a neighbor, like she was just, oh my god, Mirah, Mirah. 74 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:46.160 She was a she was a fucking trip. And so I opened the 75 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:53.319 email and it's about this woman who she was acquainted with. And this woman, 76 00:05:53.480 --> 00:06:00.199 her name is Inga. She's lovely person. She she basically she had 77 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:04.240 adopted. She was in the United States, but she's a Belgian citizen and 78 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:12.079 she and her visa was up and so she had to go back to Belgium. 79 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:18.319 And when she was at Lax flying back, security said that she couldn't 80 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:24.839 take her new bunny that was established in Los Angeles as a you know, 81 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:28.439 what do you call it, like a service animal? Service animal? Yes, 82 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.600 it's a service animal, emotional service animal. And so they said, 83 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:38.319 nope, the bunny doesn't have the proper paperwork. Wow, and so what 84 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:45.360 about the butcher. That's exactly right, And so I said okay. And 85 00:06:45.399 --> 00:06:53.000 so I'm reading this email and so she's basically offering to fly anybody, anybody 86 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:57.480 out to Belgium to bring her bunny to her. And so I'm like, 87 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:00.920 oh my god, like, okay, that's great. I love the idea, 88 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:04.439 but really like, come on, like that's I said, all right, 89 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:06.040 let me think about it. And so I'm like, I'm like running 90 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:10.399 it by friends. I'm calling my parents like you know, what do you 91 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:13.399 I don't know, what do you think? And then everyone's like you should 92 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:16.279 go do it. I'm like okay. And so now three hours have passed 93 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:20.360 and I'm thinking, and I'm what am I I'm twenty seven years old at 94 00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:24.399 the time, and I'm almost I'm twenty six, and I'm like, well, 95 00:07:25.319 --> 00:07:29.240 there's no way that I'm going to be doing this now because hours have 96 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:34.879 passed and somebody's surely bit on a fucking free trip to Belgium, you know. 97 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:40.199 And so I email and I said, hey, you don't know me. 98 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:43.680 I know this person who's acquainted with you that if you still need help, 99 00:07:43.720 --> 00:07:47.639 I'm you know, I'll do it. Five minutes later, I get 100 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:54.000 a call with this woman crying on the phone. She's so grateful, wow 101 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.639 that I won't do this. Wow, Like oh, okay, so this 102 00:07:56.720 --> 00:08:01.439 is going to happen. And I so yeah. So that that was like 103 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:07.959 on a Thursday, and the following Monday, I'm over the weekend. I've 104 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:15.480 had to like basically get this bunny and move it into my apartment and you 105 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:18.519 know, take care of it for the weekend, and then prep it for 106 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:26.120 flight on Monday morning. And I'm like, okay, so I do. 107 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:28.959 And I mean the whole flight was it was a crazy you know. They 108 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:33.720 they say that you shouldn't put bunny rabbits on the floor. You can't put 109 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:37.960 them in in like the the regular animal area, and you shouldn't put them 110 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:45.720 on the ground because the rumble, the rumble from the the engines can kill 111 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:48.600 them. Is that right? Oh yeah, that's what someone told me. 112 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:52.320 This rumble is going to kill us, right, damn right. And so 113 00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:58.639 I was like okay, and so but I'm I'm I'm so, I'm in 114 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:03.759 my flight and I'm I'm squeezed into the far you know, I'm in the 115 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:07.600 window seat and I've got everybody around me. It's like, I'm I'm so 116 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:15.320 confined. And the the you know, the the stewardess or the sorry of 117 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:18.200 the flight attenant comes over and says, sir, you have to put that 118 00:09:18.279 --> 00:09:20.159 down. That that that piece of luggage under the seat in front of you. 119 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:22.440 I'm like, I can't do that. It's like, no, sir, 120 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:24.639 you have to put this down the scene in front of me. I 121 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:28.399 said, I can't do that. Bunny will die, right, Just no, 122 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:31.639 sir, you have to. I'm like okay, And so I put 123 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:33.240 it, put it there, and then I'm like, I put it on 124 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:37.039 the floor, but I put it on, put the carrier on my toes, 125 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:41.200 on my feet and my toes so at least I'm like, okay, 126 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:48.360 at least it's not touching. I'm like doing everything I can and she uh 127 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:52.240 uh uh. And then so the we we get off the ground, you 128 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:54.919 know, we're in the air, and I'm the moment we get off the 129 00:09:54.919 --> 00:10:00.559 ground. The guy in front of me pushes his seat back and it's out. 130 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:03.679 I can't wake him up. He's out, So I can't get down 131 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:07.320 and get the fucking bunny off the floor or off my toes. So I 132 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:16.039 have to fly from La to Colorado's Denver with with my feet, my heels 133 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:20.000 on the ground, feet up the whole fucking flight. Granted, it's not 134 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:22.759 a long flight, so I was kind of lucky, but still it's like 135 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:26.600 not comfortable at all, and I'm like thinking to myself, Oh my god, 136 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:28.960 this bunny's gonna die. Do I tell this woman I mean this fly 137 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:33.279 back home? Or do I lie and not tell her and get my free 138 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:35.320 trip to Belgium? Like what the fuck do I do? Wow? Fortunately, 139 00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:39.720 the bunny was fine and we ended up making it all the way to 140 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:41.080 Belgium and I was there. I was there for three weeks. I was 141 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:46.519 sitting in Belgium for three weeks. This is where this. I was in 142 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:52.759 Belgium when we had that insane ben Wa dialogue over g chat. Is that 143 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:56.960 right? Yeah? I was in Belgium when that happened. And because I 144 00:10:58.080 --> 00:11:01.799 remember sitting at that desk, because the woman she's lovely ingas she's a wonderful, 145 00:11:01.799 --> 00:11:07.080 wonderful person, but she just fibromyalgia. So it's like and she doesn't 146 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:11.360 really she doesn't take care of her She didn't take care of herself in like 147 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:18.440 the right way. Like she would do crazy active activity and then be out 148 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:20.519 like the next day. So it's like if we did something one day, 149 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:24.519 I was basically, you know, isolated to the house for the next day. 150 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:26.519 I see, but it was, you know, it was crazy, 151 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:31.399 and I send it for three weeks and and then at one point again all 152 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:35.480 the craziness happened while you know, the Rumble was happening, and so I 153 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:37.480 didn't even I was like, oh shit, the Royal Rumble happened. And 154 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:41.960 then I don't know how, but there was like a I believe maybe it 155 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:46.000 was on the dot com or it felt like I seemed to remember it was 156 00:11:46.039 --> 00:11:48.840 on YouTube for some reason, and I was able to watch the rumble match, 157 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:52.080 not the whole show, but I watched the Rumble match. Yeah, 158 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:58.559 this was before they were very intense about right copyright strikes and stuff, but 159 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:03.759 it was on It was on there, and I remember watching the whole match 160 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:09.039 and and being shocked by the scene of thing just like blown away by that. 161 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:11.159 Were you aware that he was out with an injury. I knew he 162 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:16.559 was out with an injury. I remember that because I remember you and I 163 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:20.720 laughed about the fact that this guy's fucking entire you know, muscle was ripped 164 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:24.320 off his bone. We joked about that. Really, Yeah, yeah, 165 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:30.759 totally. And yeah, So so I knew he was out, and I 166 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:33.360 thought he was going to be gone till they kept talking about who he was 167 00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:35.480 going to be gone for, you know, at least six to eight months, 168 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:37.879 and and it's like, there's no way he's going to be at the 169 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:41.759 Rumble, There's no way he's going to be WrestleMania. So I go, 170 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:43.639 okay, So I'm like just going going through the motions here and then all 171 00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:52.639 of a sudden, dude, damnay and there there he is, like in 172 00:12:52.679 --> 00:12:56.120 his little pose and and he comes out and takes off his shirt the way 173 00:12:56.159 --> 00:13:00.639 he takes off his shirt, and and uh and he's there. Yeah, 174 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:03.840 I remember. It was It was crazy because I'd watched these things, you 175 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:07.919 know, on days that that she was out and basically sleeping all day, 176 00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:13.159 and so I'd take the opportunity just to do shit on the Internet and whatever. 177 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:18.440 Amazing. Yeah, I remember that. This is how I was in 178 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:22.960 Belgium. Still when when the Patriots lost to the Giants, well this was 179 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:26.320 that. There's references to that game being upcoming on the pay per view are, 180 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:31.519 yes, there are, and I I was the undefeated season that wasn't 181 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:35.360 uh huh. I was up till oh man, it was, it was, 182 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:37.879 but I couldn't watch the game live. We weren't at that level yet 183 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:46.320 in terms of Internet viewing, and so I was basically just on Google and 184 00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:50.480 I had the Super Bowl. You know they have like the the progress of 185 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:54.159 the game, yes, and so refresh, refresh, refresh, refresh. 186 00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:58.039 I was up until well, I mean whatever it was. I must have 187 00:13:58.080 --> 00:14:01.200 been up till like five in the morning. Complete wreck, yeah, complete 188 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:05.159 wreck. And then when they lost, I'm just like I couldn't. I 189 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:09.639 was like, okay, you know what, I was like, I took 190 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:15.960 me so long to go to sleep, and I was just miserable, and 191 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:18.919 I said, okay, just at least at least, you know what, 192 00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:22.759 you're in Europe. You're in Europe, so you know what, You're not 193 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:26.720 going to have to endure any of this shit because nobody cares right, nobody 194 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:33.080 cares. And not only that, you're in Belgium. Nobody fucking cares in 195 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:37.879 Belgium. We go out. The next day, I see a newspaper fucking 196 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:46.159 eighteen and one. I was like, are you fucking it's? Go get 197 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:50.519 the fucking matter with you. Go get some fries. I know. Oh 198 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:52.240 I did, Oh, believe me, I did. I had my fill 199 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:56.440 of waffles and fries they have. Have you been to Belgium, no, 200 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:01.279 sir ah, So they have. They actually have French fries. It's crazy, 201 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:05.759 but I guess the French fry was made in Belgium. Was a venting 202 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:11.600 in Belgium, which is hilarious. And I I they have these stands out 203 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:16.600 there just for French fries and they have so many fucking sauces, so many 204 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:20.039 different kinds of sauces. I fucking loved it. I had a great time. 205 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:24.799 Belgium is a wonderful, underrated country. It's a beautiful, beautiful place. 206 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:28.399 And uh yeah, tons of waffles they actually had. So they have 207 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:33.360 vending machines like anyone else has a veting machine, but they have waffles in 208 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:37.000 the veting machines like bagged waffles or in the vending machines. It's like, 209 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:43.000 okay, all right, I'll take it, heat it up, butter done? 210 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:50.440 Wow? Had had? We went to the place too where the location 211 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:56.639 of where they had the World's Fair whenever that whenever, And in there there's 212 00:15:56.679 --> 00:16:00.799 a snack a snack bar at the kind of the I mean, it's certainly 213 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:03.440 better well kept than the ones in Queens, which is a shame. I 214 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:06.519 love the ones in Queens, but it's very well captain. It's a big 215 00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:11.919 tourist attraction in Belgium, and so I would go there and they have a 216 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:17.159 snack bar and it was like you can either get you know, waffle or 217 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:18.200 ice cream. And I'm like, I don't know. I want a waffle 218 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:22.279 like I had waffles almost every day I was there. But I also want 219 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:23.840 ice cream like they had. I forget what it was. It was some 220 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:29.159 kind of very unique flavored ice cream. And my friend was like Inga was 221 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:32.919 like, I don't you get both? Have the ice cream on the waffle. 222 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:37.440 And I was like, are you cream? Are you crazy? What 223 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:42.639 the fuck I can do that? That's that's the title of my book, 224 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:47.960 Get both, Yes, stopping a bitch, Get both, Ring a bitch 225 00:16:47.960 --> 00:16:49.120 to get both and I did, and it was one of the greatest desserts 226 00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:52.519 I've ever had. Wow, look at that. It's like an ice cream 227 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:56.960 melting on a freshly made crispy waffle. Fuck it, fuck it. Well, 228 00:16:56.960 --> 00:16:59.399 there's a unique way to take in the two thousand and eight Royal Rumble. 229 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.320 It totally was. It totally was. I can picture being in that 230 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.720 place. I was just watching it on pay per view with a pizza. 231 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:08.440 I mean, yeah, I feel not up to snuff at this point. 232 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:12.240 Well, at least you had to watch it in grainy YouTube video. And 233 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:17.720 I got to watch the first ww pay per view ever in high definition HD, 234 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:19.799 and it was. It was the beginning of an earra. We'll talk 235 00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:22.839 to pav later about it. But just the thought, the notion boss that 236 00:17:22.920 --> 00:17:27.240 for some wrestling fans, their childhood memories of wrestling, their core memories, 237 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:33.200 are in HD. That's unbelievable to me. And it's not like these are 238 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:36.440 ten year old kids now. These are you know, going on thirty year 239 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:41.319 olds now that had this experience. These are their glory years. Their glory 240 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:48.279 years were rectangular imagery in HD clarity. And you want to think about TLFX 241 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:51.960 man, people spent their entire thirties listening to that cast. They can't think 242 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:56.440 about that reality, think about that responsibility, right. I spent most of 243 00:17:56.440 --> 00:18:00.519 my thirties recording that cast. Absolutely, yeah, right, spend you spent 244 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:03.799 it listening? Think how long we spent doing it? Because it's recording plus 245 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:07.880 preparation. But I got gray hairs than I should have because of that. 246 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:15.480 It continues to perpetuate itself because it's it's something special and the verdict is in. 247 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:18.240 And before we jump into the two thousand and eight Royal Rumble, another 248 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:26.240 proof point that is absolutely taking off like we couldn't have expected is TLF hitting 249 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:30.359 the City of Brotherly Love April seventh, noon Punchline, Philly. TLF takes 250 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:36.200 the stage for the only premium live event you need as opposed to want WrestleMania 251 00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:40.440 Weekend, and some of our friends from the stand up comedy world, Lameri 252 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:45.079 Lee and so many others ygoots. It's going to be a terrific event. 253 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:48.720 And if I'm to gauge by how many people I'm hearing or buying tickets and 254 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:53.000 what the venue is saying, and this is going to be a fucking oh 255 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:59.640 bakanal. This is going to be a blowout in Philadelphia. I am so 256 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:03.160 excited and horrified like I was last year. Well, you can't have one 257 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.559 without the other, exactly, No, no, no, they go hand 258 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:10.039 in hand and it's going to be it's going to be equally terrifying and amazing 259 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:12.359 at the same time. Can't wait to see so many of these amazing Solar 260 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:17.960 System members and beyond that are coming out to see us do the only wrestlming 261 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:21.359 you preview and review show that you're going to need. And of course TLF 262 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:26.279 delivering the truth of professional wrestling today, right, TLF looking you in the 263 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:30.440 eye and saying, we know how pathetic it is that you can't think of 264 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:34.160 much else besides pro wrestling most of your spare time. Let us figure out 265 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:37.480 why that's the case. We know why you're We know why your days are 266 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:44.039 depressing. We know why you you you you you take a long time to 267 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.799 get out the door in the morning. All right, we get it. 268 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:48.799 We know what you're looking at on your phone when you should be paying attention 269 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:52.920 to other things. Right, We certainly know what you're listening to when you 270 00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:56.279 should be listening to other things. That's right, And let us leave punchline 271 00:19:56.279 --> 00:20:03.440 Philly and the Bozo's Biceps and Bullshit Brunch can the video promo that I made. 272 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:07.480 I'm actually so surprised. The two things that I'm surprised about about that. 273 00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:14.759 Number one the fact that I guess really it. There were no issues 274 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:18.960 on any of the platforms that I've that we posted it to regarding the the 275 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:26.160 cow feces, the secretion of actual manure. And the other thing is nobody 276 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:29.920 comments on it. Nobody actually has said, oh my god, that's so 277 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:33.359 fucking gross, Like nobody said that. I think that's hilarious. I'm not 278 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.880 sure people know what it is they're looking at. Maybe they don't, but 279 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.359 like, you know, if you get it, it's like, you know, 280 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:40.839 we have the Bozo's, the guy flying off the top rope, we 281 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:42.920 have biceps close with the biceps, and we have bullshit and that's literal, 282 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:48.400 literal cowshit coming out of the look if we're going to bring back the Biceps 283 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:52.519 Weekend Brunch. Yes, I mean, I have it on good authority that 284 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:55.799 Lex Luger may attack us with a loaded forearm. I have I have heard 285 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:59.160 about that. I mean I don't have I'm not too worried about avoiding his 286 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:02.240 blow considering can't get out of his wheelchair. But it's gonna be like a 287 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:07.319 slow, you know, wheelchair maneuver. But you know, you never know, 288 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.880 I might just sell it for him, just for the sake of it. 289 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:12.759 Let us leave Punchline Philly on April seventh with some modicum of self respect, 290 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:17.680 or at least having come to terms with what it all means, and 291 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:22.079 what it means that we find ourselves, you know, irreparably connected to a 292 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:26.039 business that puts us in the position that Vince's behavior put us in right, 293 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:27.720 and what do we do about it? We go to WrestleMania. That's what 294 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:33.480 we do about it, and we'll explain why that is the case. Yes, 295 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:37.519 as well on April seventh, only only for live attendees. I think 296 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:40.480 we're really going to stretch that this time because some of the things that we 297 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:42.200 plan on addressing, some of the things that we plan on delivering the truth 298 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:45.720 about, getting to the heart of the matter, saying the kind of things 299 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:49.200 that make you look in the mirror ten minutes longer in the morning. I'm 300 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:53.240 not sure that should be recorded for posterity. Okay, folks, and you 301 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:56.920 should know by now, But if you don't and it's a crowded field, 302 00:21:56.039 --> 00:22:00.000 so your chances are getting lesser by the day in the week. If you 303 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:03.920 buy your ticket ahead of time and send proof of purchase to the Lapsed Fan 304 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:07.240 at gmail dot com, you will be entered into a raffle to win an 305 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:11.880 authentic Terry Funk branding iron, and unbelie listen to the Lapsed Funk knows that 306 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:15.880 as part of that journey, we obtained a branding iron and a series of 307 00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:19.240 other materials from Terry Funk's very own a state sale and we feel it appropriate 308 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:22.720 being just miles from the UCW arena where you lit the thing on fire and 309 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:26.279 kind of lit the promotion on fire as well, that we offer that as 310 00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:30.640 a special gift for your attendance. But again, you cannot qualify for that 311 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:33.480 raffle unless you send us in advance of the show your proof of purchase to 312 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:37.240 the Lapsed Fan at gmail dot com. So we're really excited. I do 313 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:41.119 wish we could have branded somebody. Well, yeah, I mean that's kind 314 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:47.599 of it's kind of tough considering the valves skewering the skin. I mean, 315 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:52.160 if someone volunteers, it's not murder y, well, hopefully not I guess 316 00:22:52.200 --> 00:22:56.799 it depends on how they react to it. But but yeah, this is 317 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:59.240 this is let me tell you this has taken off. The venue is very 318 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:03.359 happy from what we here. It's for a Sunday afternoon. Like sure, 319 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:06.519 we're coming hard, We're coming strong. They're coming from all over, and 320 00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:10.880 we need to give copious thanks and shout outs to all the different folks who 321 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:15.240 have put their hand up to do interviews and to you know, help us 322 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:17.759 get the word out and spread the word. You'll be hearing about those in 323 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:21.559 the days and weeks to come. But let it be known that tf will 324 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:23.440 be in the ground in Philadelphia, and it's going to be very hard to 325 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:26.920 pretend you didn't notice. Oh yes, by the time all is said and 326 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:30.119 done, so we can't hit that hard enough. Punchline Philly. Just go 327 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:34.960 put Punchline Philly into Google, go to their schedule of events, scroll on 328 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:38.039 down April seventh, and there you will see, in all of its glory, 329 00:23:38.039 --> 00:23:44.359 the lapsed fan logo against a backdrop of an apocalyptic burning Philadelphia. Boss. 330 00:23:44.599 --> 00:23:47.559 Yes, absolutely, is that not how it should be. That's what 331 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:51.839 it's going to be. Like what a TLFX celebration. That's the pain we 332 00:23:51.920 --> 00:23:59.200 bring. That's the reality that Philadelphia will be under when TLF gets hard in 333 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:03.799 the city of probably Love. It's exactly correct. And the mailbox is open, 334 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:06.920 by the way for TLFX recollections, which you've been hearing weekly since the 335 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:10.920 dawn of twenty twenty four. Here as we celebrate ten years of TLF love 336 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:14.119 to have your audio recollections on what TLF has meant to you, So send 337 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:17.480 your pieces of audio to the Lapsed Fan at gmail dot com and we'll put 338 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:19.400 the best ones up for all to hear in our main feed. That's rocking 339 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:25.680 and rolling. We're also proud to continue offering strong, full throated thumbs up 340 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:29.440 and support to our friends at Titan Nutrition who are still very much in our 341 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:33.880 corner as we continue to thoroughly pillage the wrestling podcast space. Titan Nutrition, 342 00:24:33.960 --> 00:24:37.400 of course, as you know, offers a full line of expertly formulated nutritional 343 00:24:37.400 --> 00:24:41.000 products to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. 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No better example of lap 355 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:26.640 serendipity than a company called Titan Nutrition falling out of the sky and reaching out 356 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:30.279 looking for an alliance Tighten Nutrition dot net And if you use the promo code 357 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:33.880 Lapsed at checkout, you can receive ten percent off your purchase and free shipping. 358 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:38.599 Again, Yes, tight Nutrition dot Net with discount code lapse. So 359 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:42.599 if you want to get fucking ripped and in shape, buller, do it 360 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:47.960 with a TLF approved product, right break absolutely, come on? Why would 361 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:52.480 you not? Right? You? Should you need to, We're all there, 362 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:55.279 and similar to everything else, we'd love to see proof of purchase at 363 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:57.319 lapsed fan at gmail dot com the lapsed fan at gmail dot com as well 364 00:25:57.359 --> 00:26:00.279 for Titan purchasers, we'd love to give you shadowed as well for for doing 365 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:03.799 the right thing, getting yourself into shape. But of course there's no greater 366 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:07.319 vessel to show support to the podcast than the engine that has kept this thing 367 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:11.039 running for ten years. The upside surprise in those early years that we cannot 368 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:14.640 believe. You know, we knew we were broadcasting to people who needed it, 369 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:18.759 we knew we were delivering a podcast that was resonating always. Not until 370 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:22.880 patreon dot com slashed a lapsed fan went up live collecting those fucking fees, 371 00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:26.000 ah, did we realize that this is actually that this is the kind of 372 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:30.160 proof of concept that the greatest hater in the world has to shut the fuck 373 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:34.680 up about when they notice that the people are willing to put this much toward 374 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:40.000 it to keep us going and willing to give nothing to their bitch asses. 375 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:45.119 And so that's evident. April seventh, that's evident. Patreon dot com slashed 376 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:48.519 the lapsed fan, and that's evident Boston, the enthusiastic response to the latest 377 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:55.759 journey under the cinemat Oh yes, or the executive producer tire and above we 378 00:26:55.880 --> 00:27:00.240 continue, don't we down the James Bond chronology? Yes we do, Yes, 379 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:02.319 we do. And let me tell you, I don't think there's there's 380 00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:06.000 a day that goes by where we're not trying to to to to listen. 381 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:08.759 I'm always trying to get all of them on there always, and there's probably 382 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:12.400 going to be a you know, a substitute journey at some point to go 383 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:18.079 into the missing Bonds. But even even now, I we but but you 384 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:22.440 know what, uh and and I'm so desperate to get them all in that 385 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:25.680 that I have to you know, I even ask Jack I you know, 386 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:30.880 because there was a we were sent a video about to disqualify all James Bonds 387 00:27:30.920 --> 00:27:33.680 just from the on the sheer fact that that there was an entrance that was 388 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:40.400 inspired by James Bond for for mister Czarro in w Right, they showed the 389 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:42.960 yeah, like they have the same kind of in the video. It's like 390 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:47.720 the the little the balls that go across and then he came out like into 391 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:51.400 a spotlight and you know, move around. But but you know, I 392 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.559 said, I don't know, Like there's a part of me that wants to 393 00:27:52.599 --> 00:27:57.160 just accept this, and but I I I feel the need to be true. 394 00:27:57.640 --> 00:28:00.359 But I was like, you know what, maybe it does, Maybe 395 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:02.559 does qualify. So I sent him to Jack and he's like, no, 396 00:28:02.559 --> 00:28:04.920 no, this doesn't work. This doesn't work. I think nothing else. 397 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:08.799 We should at first make sure that we address because there's scopious amounts of this 398 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.880 the Bond films with wrestlers in them, because yeah, or or or or 399 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:21.240 at least the Bond films that inspired something, you know, that does that 400 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:26.400 qualifies if there if there's a wrestling villain out there that is very much inspired 401 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:34.039 by a a James Bond character of any sort, you know that that definitely 402 00:28:34.119 --> 00:28:37.960 qualifies it. That qualifies that Bond film, But not the entire franchise, 403 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:41.039 the entire franchise. No, no, no, that's what the tough call 404 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:42.200 is. You know, it's one thing to do Cape Fear because of bray 405 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:45.240 Wyatt, But if there were thirty Cape Fears? Can we do thirty Cape 406 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:48.839 Fears because the first one inspired bray Riott? I think not the fact that 407 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:53.079 the fact that you know that same thing, like we I'm not doing the 408 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:57.880 original Cape fear, you know, because of that. No, it definitely 409 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:03.200 it they're they're I mean because also I mean in that regard to because the 410 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:08.160 I was reading about how de Malenka was very much they had they gave him 411 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:12.160 a double oh seven character. Don't called like double host seven or something like 412 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:18.200 that, or fucking hell when was this in Russo ti at ww. Yeah, 413 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:21.119 he was given a James Bond like it was a It was a it 414 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:25.920 was a James Bond version of the Godfather. So fucking stupid. It is 415 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:27.839 so fucking stupid. I mean, it's impossible to remember most of this stuff 416 00:29:27.880 --> 00:29:30.839 unless you get like encyclopedic about it, just for the lulls, you know, 417 00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:33.279 which I respect, by the way, there's an element of that, 418 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:38.039 but I like, it's not like all the Bonds inspired that. It's very 419 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:41.640 hard when we say bond and out of the cinemat if you know the franchise, 420 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:45.200 you know the movies we have to do, yes, and we're going 421 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:48.160 to do those first, got it for sure. Whether there's room to expand 422 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:52.720 the aperture a little bit as a future discussion, but right now we've got 423 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:55.839 business to attend to and everything's going to be talked about, and I'm and 424 00:29:55.880 --> 00:30:00.000 i'm again I'm open to adding if they're down, you know, like Sad 425 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:03.920 from Russia's Love. It's it's not going to happen this at this point because 426 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:07.720 we've passed it in the chronology of things and and hopefully it'll come around again 427 00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:11.400 and we can and we can fill that hole because we do like filling holes. 428 00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:15.039 But yeah, that's one thing we do do. That's right. This 429 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:18.119 just this last week Goldfinger, Man, what a fucking journey that was. 430 00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:22.960 Oh, what a terrific episode and Harold Sakata ladies and gentlemen talk about a 431 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:27.200 treasure. Oh, just to be able to you know, that's I've said 432 00:30:27.200 --> 00:30:30.200 it before. I say it pretty much every week. One of my one 433 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:33.920 of the joys that I get out of it is being able to talk about 434 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:38.559 wrestlers that it's not really likely we'll talk about, to be able to watch 435 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:44.079 matches of featuring wrestlers that we're not probably going to talk about on the main 436 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:48.799 show. You know. It just it's just not within within the likelihood. 437 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:51.480 You never know, you know, we've scritically touched on it. It's not 438 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:53.680 going to be like this where Yeah, there's cause to actually go soup to 439 00:30:53.759 --> 00:31:00.799 nuts on the person's contributions and pull up demands from newspaper archives because they're isolated, 440 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:03.200 you know, it's like it's an isolated thing and it's really about that 441 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:06.599 wrestler, and they're not always superstar wrestlers. That's the thing too, Like 442 00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:10.240 Under the cinemat is totally forgiving of the fact that this person might not have 443 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:12.640 been a wrestling superstar and there might not be three hours worth of things to 444 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:17.240 say about the person. Perfect we have a seat at the table for those 445 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:22.160 types of wrestlers as well. Yep, exactly, And and I love I 446 00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:27.039 love digging into that and finding out about these people. And yeah, so 447 00:31:29.400 --> 00:31:32.519 I'm not going to say what's up next on this one because this one's going 448 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:34.680 to be this one's kind of a surprise and it's going to be a little 449 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:40.039 out of left field. That's another thing about not doing every Lapsed Bond movie 450 00:31:40.119 --> 00:31:42.240 in order is that people preserve that sense of surprise, kind of like the 451 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:45.160 two thousand and eight Royal rumble, Who's number thirty going to be? Yes, 452 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:48.680 it is, who's number thirty going to be? You're obliged as a 453 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:52.680 wrestling fan to preserve a surprise if you have, it's what's film number three 454 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:56.680 on? In the Carnies are Forever tour? I have to find out. 455 00:31:56.720 --> 00:32:00.000 And just like I told you to stand down on Virgil research last time, 456 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:07.039 what a fucking how worth it was? That how worth it was that I 457 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:08.960 feel really good about it looking back looking at the feedback, that was an 458 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:15.400 appropriate tribute. That was as tlf as it gets and as TLFX as it 459 00:32:15.480 --> 00:32:20.319 gets. So we're very glad that folks were forgiving of the fact that we 460 00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:22.960 spent so much time on a kind of a fringe wrestler. But you got 461 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:25.279 it by the time it was over. You understood why we were uniquely positioned 462 00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:30.799 to do what we did relative to the now late Virgil. There aren't There 463 00:32:30.839 --> 00:32:32.359 aren't people who really would have had that. I mean, I don't I 464 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:37.640 can't think of you know, I wonder how many fans had such a unique 465 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:45.000 yeah, you know, like interaction with him. It's by far the most 466 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:49.119 personal story we'll ever be able to tell visa via wrestler. Yeah, for 467 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:51.599 sure, And sure we just didn't. We don't spend a lot of time 468 00:32:51.640 --> 00:32:53.319 trying to meet and know these guys or anything like that. We don't want 469 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:54.920 to hang out with them, they don't want to hang out with us. 470 00:32:55.000 --> 00:33:00.920 It's a great thing, right and and so one uh bonus we were able 471 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:04.079 to throw to our patron, speaking of Patreon, was to get our hands 472 00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:07.400 on on the raw video you heard from Bill who actually rolled tape when Virgil 473 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:10.039 showed up at GP's bachelor party in twenty twelve, and he had it on 474 00:33:10.119 --> 00:33:13.279 video when we didn't even know about it, or we forgot about it, 475 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:15.759 whatever the case may be, when we reconvened to pay tribute to Virgil. 476 00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:19.480 There's the video. You heard the audio of it on the episode, but 477 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:22.440 available now to patrons and its entirety. All the video shot that night as 478 00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:30.119 Virgil makes his way through the cigar bar, shot on twenty twelve cell phone 479 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:36.160 camera. Like, it's great, it's it's it's grainy, it's it's it's 480 00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:44.400 dark. The audio sucks, the you know, the it's a little what 481 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:47.440 do you call it when I can't think of the the when the motion isn't 482 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:52.480 completely smooth. Yeah, it's like the motion blur kind of like you know, 483 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:54.599 it's it's what, it's what it should be. Honestly, for a 484 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:59.759 video like that, and to actually sit through and watch it with all those 485 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:02.960 guys who were there. Man, what a what a fucking treat, And 486 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:07.519 it's it's just a hilarious to say nothing of Papasarrow, which the Solar System 487 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:10.039 fell in love with him instantly. Oh I know, Oh, I know, 488 00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:13.360 does he know about it? What do you say? Yeah? I 489 00:34:13.400 --> 00:34:21.159 told him, I I I I took screenshots to some of the the the 490 00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:23.559 comments, and I also I told him too, how we kept in the 491 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:29.039 first conversation and I said, yes, said it's hilarious, and he was 492 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:30.679 like, you did. I was like, yeah, yeah, we kept 493 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:32.039 it in. It was so funny. People love it, you know, 494 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:36.840 and the whole fucking Raymond, Yeah, call me back at nine, oh 495 00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:40.679 right exactly or at nine ah. So yeah, that's that's up there for 496 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:45.280 you. If you're a patron, you can see the entire video patreon dot 497 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:46.880 com slash lapsed. Mean, that's the engine that's the heart of the Solar 498 00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:52.199 System from the moat tier, that elite sort of you know, ruling class 499 00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:54.320 that sits above us all and says, you know, without my beneficence, 500 00:34:54.360 --> 00:35:00.360 you wouldn't have shit to chew on and all the way down to you know, 501 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:02.480 the volume of patrons, all the way down to the three sixteen tier. 502 00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:06.519 We hold you all dear in our hearts and continue to try to deliver 503 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:09.159 for you. And let me tell you if the past is any indication, 504 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:13.760 when you're co chairman, get on the ground in Philadelphia heat of April seventh, 505 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:17.119 we are not going to be able to help ourselves but to begin diaring 506 00:35:17.400 --> 00:35:22.119 the fuck out of this. Listen, as we've done before, TLF will 507 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:25.519 be on the ground, It's absolutely correct, and we'll be noticing things. 508 00:35:25.719 --> 00:35:30.159 We will be noticing things, yes, and we will be documenting. We'll 509 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:34.480 be in attendance at Lincoln Financial Field both Knights of WrestleMania as well, So 510 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:37.039 you want to be plugged into our Patreon for whatever may come from that. 511 00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:43.840 It's going to be an absolute cornacopia of TLF perspective and right hands and left 512 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:47.480 hooks and fucking teep kicks up the middle, okay, because your co chairs 513 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:52.039 don't stop until the referee steps in. That's what's up coming up Wrestlomania weekend. 514 00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:55.119 Patreon is where to be. Patreon is where to prove your worth, 515 00:35:55.719 --> 00:36:00.239 and we're looking forward to delivering for you once again that front, yes, 516 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:05.039 and we do need to encourage folks as well to check out a partnership we're 517 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:08.320 increasingly proud of as responses come in to Dark Side of the Ring Unheard. 518 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:13.519 You know, over the years we formed a bond with those guys because they 519 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:15.679 get it. In particular, Evan Husany's the executive producer. He gets it. 520 00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:22.400 He gets the TLF is definitive. That TLF puts it on the shelf 521 00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:28.360 and provides the launch point for stories worth telling about this strange industry exactly. 522 00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:32.599 And through Unheard we plumb their own archives of sound and insight to you know, 523 00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:36.840 give airing to things that otherwise wouldn't really have a basis. We're good 524 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:38.480 at that, yes we are. We're good at being like our Everybody else 525 00:36:38.519 --> 00:36:43.199 can can gravitate like flies to a moth's to a flame, to the same 526 00:36:43.199 --> 00:36:45.840 insights and the same beats on the same stories. But here's something that has 527 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:50.719 no home. Here's an orphan insight that's fucking fascinating. If you're like us, 528 00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:57.360 uh, that is really our probably are our best. One of our 529 00:36:57.400 --> 00:37:00.719 best calling cards is the idea that we do we no detail is too small 530 00:37:00.760 --> 00:37:05.199 in fact, the smaller the better, right, And and but that we 531 00:37:05.280 --> 00:37:07.760 gravitate towards people, you know, like we we know like when we're on 532 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:12.960 when we're on the ground and we go to any wrestling event, we know 533 00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:16.119 who we want to interview, and we know what you would want us to 534 00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:19.719 notice. You know. It's like, you know, everyone's going to be 535 00:37:19.760 --> 00:37:22.119 like, you know, wanting to gather like a Cody Roads or whatever they 536 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:23.039 like. No, no, we don't want that. I fuck that. 537 00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:28.679 That's that's boring. We want, you know, we want uh, you 538 00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:30.639 know, an oscar for men on a mission that slaps right. That's where 539 00:37:30.639 --> 00:37:34.760 I sat. Yeah, it's it's it's It may not be boring to get 540 00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:38.280 Cody Roads, but the point is we can make something ten levels below Cody 541 00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:44.920 Roads interesting because we have the we have the same brain you do. And 542 00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:47.559 that's the beautiful alchemy of the whole thing, the symmetry of the whole thing, 543 00:37:49.360 --> 00:37:52.239 and so exactly. Dark Side of the Ring unheard, no uh, 544 00:37:52.719 --> 00:37:55.159 no exception to that rule. Check it out on all your major podcasts platforms. 545 00:37:55.159 --> 00:38:00.719 New episodes come out every Wednesday, the day afternoon. Episodes of Dark 546 00:38:00.760 --> 00:38:04.679 Side of the Ring of course premiere on Vice TV. So excited to bring 547 00:38:04.760 --> 00:38:08.880 unheard to the masses and to deliver some fascinating subjects still to come on that 548 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:14.519 series. So it's all rocking and rolling. We're here because Pav said, 549 00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:16.800 you know what twenty oh eight Rumble is where I'm taking you guys, strap 550 00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:21.679 yourselves in and if you're wondering why while we're about to answer the question, 551 00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:23.960 we talked to Pave of course, and we're going to hear from him now 552 00:38:24.599 --> 00:38:32.880 on being selected to get a gratuitous Hopper pick and we'll be back with you 553 00:38:32.880 --> 00:38:37.320 after getting insights from Pave as to why we're here on that fucking cast. 554 00:38:37.519 --> 00:38:39.159 Boss. In general, it's good to keep promises, am I right? 555 00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:47.960 Yes it is, and over ten years as TLF kept its promise absolutely and 556 00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:52.199 no exception. Here today, as at long last, and with much delay 557 00:38:52.280 --> 00:38:55.880 due to a million things going on, we finally are prepared to deliver on 558 00:38:55.960 --> 00:39:00.559 a promise when we launched the Hopper. We know over the years that it 559 00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:06.000 became difficult for people who's understandably ceiling wasn't quite as high as some of the 560 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:08.079 deeper pocketed members of the Solar System to really feel like they had a shot 561 00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:12.000 yep. And when we first did the Hopper, when it was the Patreon 562 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:15.880 listener Request series, all it took was you know, relatively small pledge, 563 00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:19.559 and we realized really quickly, bossed right that we can't do it that way 564 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:25.039 because why because it hurts us and that's and that's and that's unacceptable. It 565 00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:29.320 takes the show over for like three years because of how many people want to 566 00:39:29.320 --> 00:39:31.159 bite at that apple. So fine, we did it as an auction and 567 00:39:31.199 --> 00:39:35.280 it blew away our expectations again. You know, I'm going to say I 568 00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:38.800 have I had my reservations at bert At first, I had my extreme reservations. 569 00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:44.159 I was very opposed to it, and then we kind of it's worked 570 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:47.559 out very well. So absolutely I can't complain. And members of the Solar 571 00:39:47.599 --> 00:39:52.039 System, by winning the Hopper have taken us places that we otherwise never would 572 00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:53.800 have went. And it's always nice to do that with the tailwind of knowing 573 00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:58.280 there's somebody out there for whom it's valuable. And so even if it pushes 574 00:39:58.320 --> 00:40:00.280 us outside of our comfort zone, so be it. Far be it for 575 00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:05.639 us to dictate every single term. We can dictate ninety five percent of them, 576 00:40:05.679 --> 00:40:07.280 thank you very much. But I mean, you know what, sometimes 577 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:12.679 our voice needs to be heard in places that are uncomfortable for us, and 578 00:40:12.800 --> 00:40:16.719 that's correct, and a bit from that category, a bit from this category 579 00:40:16.760 --> 00:40:22.639 here this time, because as the hopper took off, we realized that, 580 00:40:22.679 --> 00:40:24.239 you know, folks kept trying to get in there, kept trying to win, 581 00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:28.000 kept getting out bid at the last minute. It always seems to come 582 00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:30.000 down to the wire. And we thought, well, what can we do 583 00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:34.760 for folks that clearly wanted and need it but can't get across that finish line. 584 00:40:34.880 --> 00:40:37.519 What can we do to incentivize them to continue to bid, to continue 585 00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:38.800 to find value in the hopper and not just view it as some sort of 586 00:40:38.840 --> 00:40:43.159 impediment to what they desire and need and thirst for. So we thought, 587 00:40:43.199 --> 00:40:45.960 you know, we'll do people who lose will get put into a pot, 588 00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:52.360 and we'll choose at random every year as sort of a holiday gift as Christmas 589 00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:53.960 time comes around, someone that gets a free hopper. We started it. 590 00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:58.000 Of course, you might remember with Cliff. It just came out of nowhere. 591 00:40:58.039 --> 00:40:59.840 His wife emailed us said, hey, you know, I heard about 592 00:40:59.840 --> 00:41:01.840 this thing where maybe for a Christmas gift form I can pay for a show. 593 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:06.679 How does that work. Being horrified at how much it actually would cost, 594 00:41:06.719 --> 00:41:09.800 I just you know what, Instead of telling you and then you, 595 00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:13.320 I'm convincing him to never listen to this podcast again. How about we just 596 00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:15.280 give it to him for free as a gift. It was around the holidays, 597 00:41:15.280 --> 00:41:17.119 it made sense, and so we decided going forward that we would give 598 00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:20.440 away a hopper selection. Now all the way back around Christmas time, our 599 00:41:20.480 --> 00:41:24.039 guest here this week, Pav got the message that he indeed was drawn from 600 00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:28.079 the random selection of the list of names of folks that had tried several times 601 00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:31.880 and and didn't win. And it's the two thousand and eight WWE Royal Rumble 602 00:41:31.880 --> 00:41:35.960 and a little fascinating little show in its own right. We're pleased to welcome 603 00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:37.800 Path to the show. Now. Path, First, your reaction when you 604 00:41:37.880 --> 00:41:44.280 realized that you're the guinea pig for this free hopper concept. I mean, 605 00:41:44.440 --> 00:41:45.840 first, I must say, like I've never been happier, so be called 606 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:51.119 it broke boy in my life after just getting the soul out because I did, 607 00:41:51.159 --> 00:41:53.039 I lost a lot of times, even going back to twenty twenty one. 608 00:41:53.159 --> 00:41:57.840 It's funny because I have memories of sending the email because I did make 609 00:41:57.880 --> 00:42:00.719 it pretty far, like I did have some pretty oh yeah bets, so 610 00:42:00.840 --> 00:42:05.000 like I'm my bets, my bet of offers. And it's pretty funny because 611 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:07.880 I remember sitting in my car and sending an email I think for like seven 612 00:42:07.960 --> 00:42:10.199 hundred ones and I'm like, ship that's us d as well. Like so 613 00:42:10.320 --> 00:42:14.199 it's funny how it all came back. So I was sitting and I got 614 00:42:14.239 --> 00:42:15.800 the email and I was like, wow, this is It didn't seem real. 615 00:42:15.960 --> 00:42:20.039 It never seemed real, and it's kind of crazy that a podcast can 616 00:42:20.119 --> 00:42:22.840 have that much power over you and in you. I guess, as you 617 00:42:22.840 --> 00:42:25.519 guys like to say, but it was. It was. It was real. 618 00:42:25.559 --> 00:42:28.280 It was shocking, and I'm like, I didn't think it was real 619 00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:30.360 for a second, Like let me check the email and me like, you 620 00:42:30.400 --> 00:42:32.119 know where you can check the Gmail. I'm like this better not say like 621 00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:36.880 a Yahoo or something. It's like that's not them. So no, it 622 00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:39.280 was. It was surreal, but no, it was. It was amazing. 623 00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:43.039 I'm happy to be here. Thank you guys. Who who you losing 624 00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:45.920 paid off? Well, Hey that's that's that's kind of the laps fan life 625 00:42:45.920 --> 00:42:50.480 and then a wrestling podcast possible. We are wrestling. We got a space 626 00:42:50.519 --> 00:42:52.599 for the losers, right, Yeah, that's right. If anything, I 627 00:42:52.599 --> 00:42:57.559 think the Virgil showing up your bachelor party proved that, right absolutely. I 628 00:42:57.599 --> 00:43:00.880 mean who I mean, you know who suffers most and in the wrestling world 629 00:43:00.920 --> 00:43:06.199 losers. So I mean that's you know else h us creators too, Loki. 630 00:43:06.719 --> 00:43:09.639 Yeah, Pa is the guy behind. Tell him about it. No, 631 00:43:09.679 --> 00:43:12.239 it's okay, it's not that, So it's not about that. But 632 00:43:12.280 --> 00:43:14.400 yeah, I just make wrestling videos on YouTube as well. So it's just 633 00:43:14.440 --> 00:43:16.960 funny because I know kind of the little struggle that we have, as we 634 00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:20.519 talked about before in the wrestling You call in once, it's like, hey, 635 00:43:20.559 --> 00:43:22.639 what do you do? Uh, you know, I make videos on 636 00:43:23.199 --> 00:43:27.559 YouTube? Yeah what about you know where? You know where it goes from 637 00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:30.960 there. So I can only imagine the horror JP when you put up to 638 00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:35.159 New York all excited for your off Broadway show and then it was time to 639 00:43:35.239 --> 00:43:39.000 answer a question. It's always like because then you immediately become a goon, 640 00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:44.239 like you're just completely like you know, it's you're now like a jack in 641 00:43:44.239 --> 00:43:45.840 the box, you know, essentially, and then all they want to do 642 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:50.119 is put you back in the box and then and then and then twist it 643 00:43:50.159 --> 00:43:52.599 around again and wait for you to pop up and laugh at you. We 644 00:43:52.639 --> 00:43:57.360 are subhuman, degenerate. It's like we have no voice anymore. Doesn't matter, 645 00:43:57.400 --> 00:43:58.960 Jack, you worked at the Globe. No, I'm sorry, you 646 00:43:59.039 --> 00:44:01.000 do a wrestling podcast. Nope, doesn't doesn't count. So well, Yeah, 647 00:44:01.039 --> 00:44:04.719 I think that's what it is. Is. It's like the pain and 648 00:44:04.719 --> 00:44:07.880 shame of it all. What we put our finger on here and another folks 649 00:44:07.920 --> 00:44:12.159 are afraid to admit is that when you when people know you're a wrestling fan, 650 00:44:12.239 --> 00:44:15.400 you can be nothing else to them, right like ever ever, it's 651 00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:19.920 horrible Like you know, a lot of people like twelve different things, but 652 00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:22.280 wrestling fans can like twelve different things but have only one of them to find 653 00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:24.639 them. That's the problem too, is like Jack, I'm like you two 654 00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:28.159 where I'm so like obsessed with it. I don't watch week tweek too much, 655 00:44:28.159 --> 00:44:30.079 but I just love every little thing about it. Yeah, JP, 656 00:44:30.320 --> 00:44:34.039 respect to you. You kind of have a personality outside of this shit. 657 00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:37.679 Me and Jack are We're screwed. We're done, Like it's over. At 658 00:44:37.760 --> 00:44:42.480 least JP, you can talk about cinematt and teach me about fucking what's his 659 00:44:42.559 --> 00:44:45.480 name, Eugene Gump? Right, But me and Jack, all we have 660 00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:50.239 to offer is how you know, in nineteen eighty six WrestleMania should have been 661 00:44:50.280 --> 00:44:52.559 in one location instead of this or something, you know, like we're done. 662 00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:55.679 Yeah, so true. That that's part of why the Hopper is there, 663 00:44:55.960 --> 00:44:59.920 you know, and why we we we emphasize so much of the fun 664 00:45:00.199 --> 00:45:02.800 willing to pay for this ship because otherwise it would be a crime, how 665 00:45:02.880 --> 00:45:07.079 much time we'd spend on it with zero recompense. Like I want to add 666 00:45:07.079 --> 00:45:08.320 too, you know, one of my one of my safety things is that, 667 00:45:08.400 --> 00:45:10.920 you know, once when they ask what the podcast is about, and 668 00:45:10.920 --> 00:45:14.480 I and I have to and I have to come out, you know, 669 00:45:14.519 --> 00:45:17.679 overcome those more nerves, by the way, than any than any production I've 670 00:45:17.679 --> 00:45:21.039 ever had to do in my entire life, going on stage, you know, 671 00:45:21.119 --> 00:45:23.079 going on stage, Jack knows going on stage for EDNA at the last 672 00:45:23.079 --> 00:45:27.400 minute, nowhere near the amount of nerves that I have when I have to 673 00:45:27.400 --> 00:45:30.760 come and actually admit what the podcast is about. But but the first thing 674 00:45:30.800 --> 00:45:38.679 I do is I immediately talk about Jack being I go, well, my 675 00:45:38.719 --> 00:45:43.079 co host, you know, my best friend from college, and and and 676 00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:45.199 you know who's valedictorian. Oh yeah, exactly, Yeah, yeah, he's 677 00:45:45.199 --> 00:45:51.719 a real person, I swear, yeah, right, intelligence exactly exactly. 678 00:45:51.840 --> 00:45:53.239 Yes, it's like, let me do as much as I cans for the 679 00:45:53.239 --> 00:45:55.400 Herald, Like you know, he's gonna all you know, he's he's he's 680 00:45:55.400 --> 00:45:59.239 a legit person. He's not like a goof. It's like, no, 681 00:45:59.320 --> 00:46:02.679 but I asked you what your podcast is for me. I know we got 682 00:46:02.679 --> 00:46:05.559 to move on so we won't spend so much time on it. But I 683 00:46:05.559 --> 00:46:07.199 have the whole thing ready to my head where I've like pre planned at this 684 00:46:07.239 --> 00:46:09.480 point, I know what to expect, right, I know the reaction they're 685 00:46:09.480 --> 00:46:13.039 gonna give. I know everything that's gonna happen. I would ever be playing 686 00:46:13.079 --> 00:46:15.239 like yeah, so you know, when I was a kid, I always 687 00:46:15.280 --> 00:46:16.800 liked wrestling, and I just I just admit, I'm like I never really 688 00:46:16.800 --> 00:46:20.519 grew out of it, and I just ended up with a YouTube channel and 689 00:46:20.519 --> 00:46:24.880 it's just yeah, and it's like, oh, oh that's great, So 690 00:46:24.920 --> 00:46:28.960 you're really you're really the worst sorry, the worstest one. They want to 691 00:46:28.960 --> 00:46:31.119 see it though. That's that's the worst problem. I don't know if it's 692 00:46:31.119 --> 00:46:34.559 happened to you, guys, but maybe because it's videos is different. I've 693 00:46:34.599 --> 00:46:37.360 had people like literally pull up the video in front of me and I'm just 694 00:46:37.360 --> 00:46:39.639 there, like, what what are we doing here? Guys? Why you're 695 00:46:39.719 --> 00:46:43.519 gonna understand this? You don't know what the what is going on? I 696 00:46:43.559 --> 00:46:45.519 don't want to hear my voice? What are we doing? I? Oh, 697 00:46:45.559 --> 00:46:47.519 no, it's really cool, it's really cool. Yeah, really proud 698 00:46:47.559 --> 00:46:51.079 of you? No you're not? No? No? Oh oh? Is 699 00:46:51.119 --> 00:46:52.599 that right? Well? How about you agree to record what you say about 700 00:46:52.599 --> 00:46:57.599 me when I leave the room? Right, let me leave see you here 701 00:46:57.599 --> 00:47:00.559 and let's see let's see what's really going on. Yeah, well, I'm 702 00:47:00.599 --> 00:47:04.400 glad you're a fellow passenger on this journey of shame and paying going on ten 703 00:47:04.480 --> 00:47:07.559 years here at TLF and yes, long, so what makes your community stronger? 704 00:47:07.639 --> 00:47:09.559 Right interrupts. Right, That's what I love about this community is it's 705 00:47:09.639 --> 00:47:14.159 the best community because we are not afraid to admit that this ship does not 706 00:47:14.320 --> 00:47:17.199 matter and it's not real, well exactly, and that it's it's and that 707 00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:22.199 we haven't ever lost sight of the fact that it marginalizes us to like it 708 00:47:22.239 --> 00:47:25.000 this much. It's not you. You can't get so serious about wrestling that 709 00:47:25.039 --> 00:47:29.559 it becomes respectable. It just gets it gets less respectable the more into it 710 00:47:29.679 --> 00:47:34.760 you get. Yes, so thank you for that and we stand on that 711 00:47:34.800 --> 00:47:37.400 business and PAV great to have you. So two thousand and eight Royal Rumble 712 00:47:37.480 --> 00:47:42.519 tell us why Yeah, so all right, JP, wasn't that bad? 713 00:47:42.559 --> 00:47:45.440 Come on, man, it can't be that bad. You should be happy 714 00:47:45.440 --> 00:47:49.559 it was an MSG your former workplace. I do like I do like watching 715 00:47:49.559 --> 00:47:53.320 an MSG show that happens before the big renovation. And I must say I 716 00:47:53.360 --> 00:47:57.199 think the show was definitely like because this was one of the first shows, 717 00:47:57.199 --> 00:48:00.000 the first peak of you actually switched to HD as a kid. That's really 718 00:48:00.119 --> 00:48:01.920 blew my mind. I'm like, damn, wrestling can look this good. 719 00:48:01.920 --> 00:48:05.519 And I know they went overboard after with all the LEDs and stuff, but 720 00:48:05.559 --> 00:48:07.960 I thought the setup for the show was really nice, really clean. But 721 00:48:08.559 --> 00:48:13.199 yeah, this show the rumble of wait. So the show means a lot 722 00:48:13.239 --> 00:48:15.679 to me, especially growing up. It was it was an end of an 723 00:48:15.719 --> 00:48:19.239 era. I would say, way more than Triple H and undertake your Circle 724 00:48:19.320 --> 00:48:22.800 jerk ever was, but I will I'll explain so I puto context. If 725 00:48:22.800 --> 00:48:27.519 I start running too long, just feel free to interrupt me. But so 726 00:48:27.559 --> 00:48:30.119 it was more in ninety eight, which I know is probably crazy for you 727 00:48:30.119 --> 00:48:32.239 guys. I'm sorry, what have you listened to our show running? No? 728 00:48:32.280 --> 00:48:35.079 I know, but I know, but I'm on your show. I'm 729 00:48:35.119 --> 00:48:36.760 not trying to you know. You know what you know, I'm not trying 730 00:48:36.800 --> 00:48:39.480 to take a shine, And don't worry. Even if you didn't make the 731 00:48:39.519 --> 00:48:45.360 offer, we would cut you off if we needed to, as I deserve 732 00:48:46.079 --> 00:48:50.960 yep. But anyway, So, yeah, So I was more in ninty 733 00:48:50.960 --> 00:48:52.119 eight, which I know you guys were in like high school at that point. 734 00:48:52.119 --> 00:48:54.159 But I was born an indy eight and I became a wrestling fan around 735 00:48:54.400 --> 00:48:58.480 three oh four. I was five six years old. And the reason I 736 00:48:58.559 --> 00:49:00.840 really gone to wrestling, it's kind of I think it might be fascinating for 737 00:49:00.880 --> 00:49:02.000 you guys to know. So I was born and I'm born, but I 738 00:49:02.039 --> 00:49:05.880 became a fan after the boom, after the lapsed era. But I grew 739 00:49:05.920 --> 00:49:07.159 up around a lot of older cousins, and I group around a lot of 740 00:49:07.199 --> 00:49:10.639 like older kids on my street and they were still wrestling fans, like in 741 00:49:10.639 --> 00:49:13.960 a three or four. I'm sure it was not cool for you guys to 742 00:49:14.000 --> 00:49:16.760 be wrestling fans and Eedmerson anymore. But if you're still like twelve thirteen, 743 00:49:16.880 --> 00:49:20.559 it was still kind of edgy. It was still the fumes of the Attitude 744 00:49:20.559 --> 00:49:22.840 era. So I really just became a wrestling fan because all the older cool 745 00:49:22.920 --> 00:49:27.199 kids without were cool were into it. And I became a wrestling fan because 746 00:49:27.199 --> 00:49:29.679 I wanted to like what they liked. And the other thing they really liked 747 00:49:29.960 --> 00:49:32.199 was hip hop. And you know, that's how they dressed, that's how 748 00:49:32.239 --> 00:49:35.679 they talked, that's what they're into. And I think you guys see what 749 00:49:35.760 --> 00:49:37.920 was kind of going. Became a wrestling fan, became a hip hop head. 750 00:49:38.159 --> 00:49:40.559 I see my boy John Cena, and it was just like, yo, 751 00:49:40.840 --> 00:49:45.280 this is my guy, this is my Hull Kogan, and it's it's 752 00:49:45.320 --> 00:49:50.960 interesting because you Jack wrote an article in O four for the Boston Globe about 753 00:49:50.960 --> 00:49:53.480 how hip hop finally wrestling final is a hip hop gimmick that's not totally cringe 754 00:49:53.519 --> 00:49:57.360 and it might actually, you know, do something. Yeah. I was 755 00:49:57.480 --> 00:50:00.159 literally that kid, because I don't think I would have been as big give 756 00:50:00.199 --> 00:50:04.599 a wrestling fan because when I watched Triple h and a suit wasn't cool to 757 00:50:04.639 --> 00:50:07.199 me. Chrispin wa the serial killer wasn't cool to me, right, But 758 00:50:07.480 --> 00:50:08.360 I had a guy where I'm like, if this guy walked up on my 759 00:50:08.360 --> 00:50:12.280 neighborhood, he would be a cool guy, Like I would want to like 760 00:50:12.719 --> 00:50:15.719 meet him. Right. The only people that were cool were like Eddie Guerrero 761 00:50:15.760 --> 00:50:17.880 and John Cena. Like, I wasn't gonna be an Undertaker dead Cowboy fan. 762 00:50:19.159 --> 00:50:21.440 So it really just put me into the universe and I was like, 763 00:50:21.480 --> 00:50:23.159 holy shit, this is a cool guy. This is like my fifty cent 764 00:50:23.400 --> 00:50:28.599 of wrestling. So I just became a huge fan wrestling at twenty. I 765 00:50:28.639 --> 00:50:31.440 begged my mom to order it. She didn't, so I ordered it anyway, 766 00:50:31.519 --> 00:50:36.320 and then I got beat up for that. But you know, just 767 00:50:36.440 --> 00:50:37.679 and the best part was that was the opening match and you guys were there. 768 00:50:37.679 --> 00:50:40.000 That was opening match, and my mom found out and only let me 769 00:50:40.079 --> 00:50:43.840 watched the opening match, right, So whatever I was down, I saw 770 00:50:43.880 --> 00:50:46.119 my boy Sena. When Sina got stabbed later that year by Jesus, I 771 00:50:46.280 --> 00:50:50.480 cried, I didn't want to go to school because he got stabbed. Apparently 772 00:50:51.119 --> 00:50:52.440 when he won the side of wrestling. It's twenty one, I found on 773 00:50:52.440 --> 00:50:57.239 SmackDown Jumping for joy. I was so into it that I took my dad, 774 00:50:57.280 --> 00:50:59.880 who doesn't even speak English, she only speaks Punjabi, which is probably 775 00:50:59.880 --> 00:51:01.679 the only reason he let me. You know, he took me to buy 776 00:51:01.760 --> 00:51:05.800 seen his album the first day it came out. That's amazing, wow. 777 00:51:05.800 --> 00:51:07.920 And I was just I was so happy because the cover was like the belt, 778 00:51:08.000 --> 00:51:10.880 the spinner belt. I treated the case of the CD like it was 779 00:51:10.880 --> 00:51:14.440 the real championship be I'll just walk around on my waist like, hey, 780 00:51:14.480 --> 00:51:17.519 I'm the champion who. I was just super into it. And as the 781 00:51:17.599 --> 00:51:21.039 years went on, well, go to O seven, I was still a 782 00:51:21.079 --> 00:51:23.239 fan. And I must say, though, you guys always talk about this 783 00:51:23.280 --> 00:51:27.599 because apparently you guys know everything. Even as a kid. Though, I 784 00:51:27.679 --> 00:51:30.639 must say, as the years went on, though, I did notice he 785 00:51:30.719 --> 00:51:34.719 wasn't a rapper anymore, and it did hurt me. And it's funny because 786 00:51:34.719 --> 00:51:36.800 you guys noticed it, and I was like six seven, and even I 787 00:51:36.840 --> 00:51:38.639 was noticing it because in June, I'm buying this guy's album and then by 788 00:51:38.679 --> 00:51:42.840 wrestling, it's twenty two. He's just hustled, little to respect. But 789 00:51:43.440 --> 00:51:45.719 he was still my guy, but the magic was kind of gone. But 790 00:51:45.840 --> 00:51:50.280 yeah, the years went on, I was still a fan. No Mercy 791 00:51:50.320 --> 00:51:52.280 O seven comes and it was supposed to be Randy Ordon versus Seni for the 792 00:51:52.320 --> 00:51:55.679 Last man Standing match for the w title. I beg my mom to order 793 00:51:55.719 --> 00:51:59.599 it because when you're a kid, you know when a match is a gimmick 794 00:51:59.599 --> 00:52:02.280 match, blood, there's gonna be violence, and you will actually see something 795 00:52:02.320 --> 00:52:05.880 that you wouldn't see on RAW. My mom ordered it for me. I 796 00:52:05.880 --> 00:52:07.800 don't know if you guys remember, but that ends up being the show where 797 00:52:07.920 --> 00:52:12.119 Sina is injured and he has to give up the title. Yeah. Yes, 798 00:52:12.199 --> 00:52:14.519 And I didn't know that going in because I was kind of like, 799 00:52:14.679 --> 00:52:16.239 I grew up in a householdhre. I didn't have Internet until like nine or 800 00:52:16.480 --> 00:52:22.119 like oh wait, basically all my friends weren't really into wrestling that much by 801 00:52:22.159 --> 00:52:24.079 that era. So I ordered the show and I'm all excited, and it's 802 00:52:24.159 --> 00:52:30.280 like Sina's not even here. His dad like tores Rotator cuff and it was 803 00:52:30.360 --> 00:52:35.360 pretty heartbreaking. And on the Tuesday because he tore it that Monday. Yeah, 804 00:52:35.400 --> 00:52:37.440 and he announced it on e c W. Who the fuck watches EC 805 00:52:37.559 --> 00:52:42.079 do? They did that because they didn't have a live show between No of 806 00:52:42.079 --> 00:52:44.159 course, yeah, of course, No, that's what I'm saying as a 807 00:52:44.239 --> 00:52:45.840 kid. Though for me, I wasn't gonna watch ecw right, so I 808 00:52:46.119 --> 00:52:49.920 just didn't know it was my fault, and I told my mom, like, 809 00:52:49.920 --> 00:52:52.079 I don't want to watch this scene was not even here, and it 810 00:52:52.199 --> 00:52:54.199 just hurt because I was already kind of like falling out of love because he 811 00:52:54.280 --> 00:52:58.119 wasn't the same guy anymore, and now he's not here. I was like, 812 00:52:58.440 --> 00:53:00.760 ah, man, it was changing, and then suddenly Batistell's like, 813 00:53:00.760 --> 00:53:04.480 hey, the Batista guys beating Undertaker's ass. He's a little cooler than this 814 00:53:04.559 --> 00:53:07.880 guy. But it just hurt. I guess the best example of like Jack, 815 00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:12.239 I mean JP, imagine you're working of the Ring ninety three and holding 816 00:53:12.239 --> 00:53:14.480 like breaks his leg and you found out the pre show. You would be 817 00:53:14.840 --> 00:53:16.920 horribly horrible. You'd be depressed. Listen. It was bad enough when he 818 00:53:16.960 --> 00:53:21.280 lost to Yokozuna. He wasn't even injured. Yeah, at least he at 819 00:53:21.320 --> 00:53:22.760 least he showed up and lost. Right, my guy just got ar killed 820 00:53:22.840 --> 00:53:27.559 on a table and never seen him for like four months. That's amazing. 821 00:53:27.639 --> 00:53:30.280 And you mentioned that thing about, you know, Seena's identity slipping. I'm 822 00:53:30.280 --> 00:53:32.440 sure I've told this story too over the years on TLF. But I remember 823 00:53:32.440 --> 00:53:35.199 one time I went to a show with the Garden and Boston. I was 824 00:53:35.239 --> 00:53:37.119 taking the train home and I could tell that people were like anti scene, 825 00:53:37.159 --> 00:53:40.480 and I was trying to get like a sense like why what was it about? 826 00:53:42.079 --> 00:53:45.199 You know, the scene? And they were saying like things like he's 827 00:53:45.239 --> 00:53:46.639 a wanna be and you know, basically you know the thing someone would say 828 00:53:46.639 --> 00:53:51.079 about eminem in like nineteen ninety nine or something. And I was like, 829 00:53:51.679 --> 00:53:54.199 dude, like that character's gone, Like I know you still see that when 830 00:53:54.199 --> 00:53:59.480 you look at him due to his outfit, but no one started hating him 831 00:53:59.559 --> 00:54:04.039 until he stopped leaning into that, right. Yeah. And it was just 832 00:54:04.079 --> 00:54:07.119 weird too because since I really got to wrestling before all my friends did because 833 00:54:07.119 --> 00:54:12.000 of my older cousins and everything. My friends didn't see it because they became 834 00:54:12.000 --> 00:54:14.800 fans in O six. They became friends when I was in grade two and 835 00:54:14.840 --> 00:54:16.360 grade three. I'm like, do you think this guy is cool? He 836 00:54:16.480 --> 00:54:21.679 was cooler like two years ago when my brass knuckles bos boss, Can I 837 00:54:21.719 --> 00:54:25.119 invite you to consider a world where your childhood wrestling memories are in HD? 838 00:54:28.559 --> 00:54:32.440 I mean, I listen part of the part of the charm is the squiggly 839 00:54:32.519 --> 00:54:37.360 lines that come from the lights when they shoot up too high. You know 840 00:54:37.440 --> 00:54:39.360 you don't, that's true, I must say, though I was lucky enough. 841 00:54:39.400 --> 00:54:42.360 We're up until the Rumble of eight. Though, I had so many 842 00:54:42.400 --> 00:54:45.599 shows taped, and they were all on VHS because we couldn't we weren't getting 843 00:54:45.599 --> 00:54:47.519 a PV or anything. So I kind of I had the little thing to 844 00:54:47.559 --> 00:54:51.559 where would record the tapes over and over again watch him, and that's kind 845 00:54:51.599 --> 00:54:53.400 of what gets the internet thing. But listen, I feel you, guys. 846 00:54:53.440 --> 00:54:55.840 I go back and for some reason, as a kid were in ninety 847 00:54:55.920 --> 00:55:00.760 eight. My comfort zone has become watching nineteen ninety four for some reason, 848 00:55:00.840 --> 00:55:02.960 so I can only imagine how much better it was when it's like affect. 849 00:55:04.079 --> 00:55:07.440 Yeah, so, how did your dad feel about Great Collie? To me, 850 00:55:07.519 --> 00:55:12.679 that's that's exactly the proving of our point is that if you go back 851 00:55:12.719 --> 00:55:15.480 and you start watching those things, no matter what you see, it's so 852 00:55:15.599 --> 00:55:17.360 cozy. I love I love Hasbro. It's so cozy for some reason, 853 00:55:17.639 --> 00:55:23.840 you can figure out that there's something there that is just missing from from today's 854 00:55:23.840 --> 00:55:29.239 product. Uh. But speaking of the Great Collie, That was a weird 855 00:55:29.280 --> 00:55:34.039 time because you get to realize, like I'm in Toronto, right, so 856 00:55:34.159 --> 00:55:37.320 I was born here, but on Punjab you speak at everything fully Punjabi, 857 00:55:37.320 --> 00:55:40.000 your parents fully Punjabi. But you got to realize there's such a disconnect from 858 00:55:40.039 --> 00:55:45.559 being Punjabi here and being like this gorilla from India. Right, it's also 859 00:55:45.639 --> 00:55:49.639 happens to you from a job. I couldn't relate to him because he he 860 00:55:49.639 --> 00:55:52.760 could rarely speak Punjabi, let alone speak English. But there was no like 861 00:55:52.400 --> 00:55:54.400 it was never there. And same thing with my dad and stuff like he's 862 00:55:54.440 --> 00:55:58.119 like, yeah, it's cool. But even my mom to this day, 863 00:55:58.239 --> 00:56:00.920 like she knows obviously into rest of course, but she will roasted too, 864 00:56:00.960 --> 00:56:05.480 Like that guy could barely walk. What are they doing? It didn't go 865 00:56:05.519 --> 00:56:07.639 overwhelm in the community either, like that, Like it was cool, but 866 00:56:07.840 --> 00:56:10.679 they could have they could have found anyone else, They could have done anything 867 00:56:10.719 --> 00:56:15.199 else. It didn't. It wasn't a good look. It's amazing. It's 868 00:56:15.199 --> 00:56:16.039 just so phenomenal. I mean, I just thought of it when you said 869 00:56:16.079 --> 00:56:19.480 that. Because he's in the rumble and he gets in the ring and they 870 00:56:19.559 --> 00:56:22.039 scream, you can't wrestle at him. Immediately or a guy man for a 871 00:56:22.079 --> 00:56:27.480 guy, it's you know what, respect though he still somehow made it work 872 00:56:27.519 --> 00:56:30.360 for a guy who didn't speak the language to go in front of thousands of 873 00:56:30.360 --> 00:56:34.639 people and have matches regardless of how they were. I respect it. But 874 00:56:35.280 --> 00:56:37.639 yeah, just a side note. It's weird because like Ginger Maha is from 875 00:56:37.679 --> 00:56:40.840 Canada and hes Punjab. He speaks the language, like I related to more 876 00:56:40.880 --> 00:56:45.280 to him than I would with KLi, right, but they still did the 877 00:56:45.320 --> 00:56:47.599 same ship with him and made him this anti like foreign heel. It's like, 878 00:56:47.920 --> 00:56:51.639 dude, this guy is like a normal Canadian kid who just happens to 879 00:56:51.679 --> 00:56:52.920 be Punjabi. Like he just a normal guy. Why does he have to 880 00:56:52.960 --> 00:56:57.519 be some like weird foreign heel. But that's beside the plant he just asked. 881 00:56:57.559 --> 00:57:01.000 But yeah, it's it's it's interesting what that's that's the racishm in wrestling 882 00:57:01.079 --> 00:57:06.440 right there, you know, like that's it's in that it's just soaked in 883 00:57:06.480 --> 00:57:09.239 that, in that in that blood where you know, if you if they 884 00:57:09.280 --> 00:57:13.199 can, if they can exploit the idea that you're from another country and make 885 00:57:13.239 --> 00:57:15.519 you a bad guy, they eat it up. But it's so weird because 886 00:57:15.519 --> 00:57:19.119 it doesn't make any sense. It's like, wouldn't you guys make more money 887 00:57:19.199 --> 00:57:21.760 if you kind of made him a cool guy, because then at least us, 888 00:57:21.800 --> 00:57:23.400 people who are pu in job you would actually want to watch him. 889 00:57:23.480 --> 00:57:27.320 But it's like you take him and you make him not even like us anymore, 890 00:57:27.360 --> 00:57:29.360 so so why would we care? Well, that's that's not to get 891 00:57:29.440 --> 00:57:31.239 money from anyone at that point. That's the age old thing. It's like, 892 00:57:31.599 --> 00:57:37.079 you know, people aren't going to support an ethnic babyface unless he's the 893 00:57:37.119 --> 00:57:39.360 world champion or contending for the world title. You know, people aren't going 894 00:57:39.400 --> 00:57:43.440 to get into somebody just because they happen to share an ethnicity with them, 895 00:57:43.440 --> 00:57:46.000 but they're relative losers on the pecking order of the given sport. You know. 896 00:57:46.039 --> 00:57:49.440 It's like people are not going to look at somebody as as a superhero 897 00:57:49.559 --> 00:57:52.920 unless, like Eddie Guerrero, they actually raise to the world title level, 898 00:57:52.119 --> 00:57:55.519 especially if it's in spite of you know, the plans, the outlooks limitations, 899 00:57:55.519 --> 00:57:59.280 and the ceilings placed on him. That's why Eddie took off so much. 900 00:57:59.280 --> 00:58:00.320 And O four it was like, okay, now we have somebody who's 901 00:58:00.639 --> 00:58:04.960 who's Mexican, and then it actually contends to be the face of the company. 902 00:58:05.280 --> 00:58:07.800 But if you're you know, if you're just gonna like like like you're 903 00:58:07.800 --> 00:58:09.719 saying, like I'm going to sort of like reverse engineer a push based on 904 00:58:09.760 --> 00:58:14.760 the fact that this guy is of an ethnicity other than what they're accustomed to 905 00:58:14.800 --> 00:58:16.760 having under their roof, then it's everyone. People sniff that out right away, 906 00:58:16.840 --> 00:58:21.559 like this person isn't going to be a long term person we can be 907 00:58:21.599 --> 00:58:23.159 proud of. You know, even when gender won the title, people knew 908 00:58:23.199 --> 00:58:25.719 the score, you know, Yeah it was the month in and I know 909 00:58:25.760 --> 00:58:29.079 we'll move on from it. But it's like, you're doing this so you 910 00:58:29.079 --> 00:58:31.960 can sell shows in India, right, maybe you guys would have sold more 911 00:58:32.000 --> 00:58:36.360 if you did a house show in Calgary or something because he's from Calgary. 912 00:58:36.400 --> 00:58:38.400 You idiots, like no one in India isn't a care man, Like they 913 00:58:38.400 --> 00:58:40.960 don't care because he's not one of them, And at this point he's not 914 00:58:40.960 --> 00:58:45.280 one of us either anymore. So it's like, you play yourselves fascinating, 915 00:58:45.360 --> 00:58:47.360 So, uh, get me straight here. Did you see this show live 916 00:58:47.480 --> 00:58:52.320 or yeah, one hundred percent I watched it live. I I watched at 917 00:58:52.320 --> 00:58:55.159 my cousin's house. Yeah, that person on person my bad at my cousin's 918 00:58:55.199 --> 00:58:58.159 house. Yeah, no, I uh, I was at my cousin's house 919 00:58:58.159 --> 00:59:00.480 the same order Coasons that got me into this. By this point, they 920 00:59:00.480 --> 00:59:01.880 weren't really into it, but they kind of got it for me. And 921 00:59:02.480 --> 00:59:06.480 yeah, just a nice little like so it gets together. I was watching 922 00:59:06.519 --> 00:59:09.400 it, having your great time, and yeah, I thought it was a 923 00:59:09.440 --> 00:59:13.239 great show. I was. Seena never even crossed my mind. I mean, 924 00:59:13.239 --> 00:59:15.800 it's like, hey, maybe rain Mysterio might beat the piece of shit 925 00:59:15.880 --> 00:59:20.000 Edge, who I still hated from six because he traumatized my childhood for the 926 00:59:20.079 --> 00:59:22.880 cash. But I'm like, maybe Batista might win the rumble. I don't 927 00:59:22.920 --> 00:59:27.519 know, Like Scena never crossed. I genuinely thought I was gonna see that 928 00:59:27.519 --> 00:59:30.599 guy until June or something. Yeah, well that was the reporting, That's 929 00:59:30.639 --> 00:59:34.639 what I was saying. And yeah, and I guess, just to let 930 00:59:34.639 --> 00:59:37.480 you know. So I'm watching the Rumble Sean and Taker started. Everything's great. 931 00:59:37.519 --> 00:59:43.119 I thought the show was pretty solid. I'll just say this. You 932 00:59:43.119 --> 00:59:45.079 know how when you guys are watching like shows and you're doing your deep dive 933 00:59:45.159 --> 00:59:51.960 and I think jpeople like I stood up. I'll just see this. Uh. 934 00:59:52.280 --> 00:59:57.639 When number thirty hit. My shirt was off, like I was attending. 935 00:59:57.679 --> 01:00:00.320 I was like a nine year old kid. Shirt was a off. 936 01:00:00.079 --> 01:00:02.760 You thought I would just scored the game winning goal in the rumble in the 937 01:00:02.760 --> 01:00:06.360 World Cup or something like. It was the greatest moment in my life. 938 01:00:06.559 --> 01:00:08.760 Did you take it off like the way Sina does where he takes it off 939 01:00:08.800 --> 01:00:10.480 one arm and then all of a sudden, it's like, no, I 940 01:00:10.519 --> 01:00:14.039 wish no, I just took it off. I just threw it. I'll 941 01:00:14.039 --> 01:00:17.079 just started to scream like a primal, like genuinely primal. My aunt walked 942 01:00:17.079 --> 01:00:21.039 down and my mom, that's me. That makes even more embarrassing because I'm 943 01:00:21.079 --> 01:00:22.400 just left alone and watched by myself. That's the funny part. In the 944 01:00:22.440 --> 01:00:25.480 side room and by myself. My aunt walks in and say what happened? 945 01:00:25.480 --> 01:00:29.039 When I'm like, I'm just looking at Hi. I'm like, she just 946 01:00:29.159 --> 01:00:30.599 walked away. I have no idea, I don't know what to say to 947 01:00:30.639 --> 01:00:35.000 you. She just walked away. But it was That's what I mean. 948 01:00:35.039 --> 01:00:37.480 By the end of an era, wrestling never felt like that ever again. 949 01:00:37.519 --> 01:00:40.800 For me, that was the moment. Damn. You know. It's it's 950 01:00:40.800 --> 01:00:46.639 fascinating boss to hear someone basically identified the same beats that we identified as Hasbro 951 01:00:46.760 --> 01:00:51.960 kids. Yep, and just those are the core memories. And here's bad 952 01:00:52.000 --> 01:00:54.760 acknowledging that really, no matter when that occurs for you, it kind of 953 01:00:54.760 --> 01:00:59.360 doesn't get that good again. And we can argue the relative merits of the 954 01:00:59.360 --> 01:01:01.840 different eras and make a case that if you strip nostalgia out, it still 955 01:01:01.920 --> 01:01:05.920 was better on its face. But I don't know a lot of familiar rings 956 01:01:05.960 --> 01:01:08.960 and what he's saying, even though we're generations apart. Yeah, for sure, 957 01:01:09.199 --> 01:01:12.280 Sorry not the Trump, but just imagine this, Jack, I mean 958 01:01:12.480 --> 01:01:15.920 JP rumble ninety four, Holgan comes back. What are you doing? I 959 01:01:15.920 --> 01:01:17.639 would have Are you kidding me? I would have been I'd have been screaming 960 01:01:17.639 --> 01:01:21.480 around like a like a like a. Your shirt would have been off. 961 01:01:21.559 --> 01:01:22.440 Your shirt would have been That's all I gotta say. Your shirt would have 962 01:01:22.519 --> 01:01:24.920 enough. I probably would have ripped my shirt off. I probably would have 963 01:01:24.960 --> 01:01:29.559 stood it, you know, and just screamed at the top of my lungs. 964 01:01:29.599 --> 01:01:31.440 My face had been beat red, my thirteen year old face beat right, 965 01:01:31.440 --> 01:01:36.320 and I would have tore my shirt right off. Boss Brett Brett's in 966 01:01:36.360 --> 01:01:38.719 there, lugers in there, Savages in there, maybe a couple of others 967 01:01:38.800 --> 01:01:45.000 and then number thirty American plays. Oh no, they weren't playing music yet, 968 01:01:45.000 --> 01:01:51.719 but of course he's got that correction. I won't play music. That's 969 01:01:51.719 --> 01:01:53.159 one thing. If you're going to pick like out of an out of cannon, 970 01:01:53.480 --> 01:01:55.760 thing, might as well be a rumble, because then I know Boss 971 01:01:55.840 --> 01:02:00.440 is going to absolutely have all the little details. I mean, you'll the 972 01:02:00.440 --> 01:02:02.119 master of what the Big four, right or the big five you guys always 973 01:02:02.159 --> 01:02:05.199 say back in the day, Yeah, back in the day. I mean 974 01:02:05.360 --> 01:02:07.639 I kidd me, I knew every I knew every result by heart, and 975 01:02:07.719 --> 01:02:12.880 I still know enough of it. I know. Yeah, listen, I 976 01:02:12.920 --> 01:02:15.280 don't blame you. Now there's been like forty of them, and there's two 977 01:02:15.360 --> 01:02:17.920 rumbles every year, so I don't blame you. But yeah, it was 978 01:02:17.960 --> 01:02:20.599 just like the greatest moment. And that's what I mean by end of an 979 01:02:20.599 --> 01:02:22.519 era, Like wrestling never felt the same again after that, And there's been 980 01:02:22.519 --> 01:02:25.119 plenty of reasons why, and I've quickly explained it. But it was just 981 01:02:25.159 --> 01:02:29.920 primal, that's the best way I can describe it. Like game winning buzzer 982 01:02:29.960 --> 01:02:32.480 beaters. Something happened just the most surreal thing. Never thought it was possible, 983 01:02:32.719 --> 01:02:36.880 my guy who truly felt like my guy, right cause, like I 984 01:02:36.880 --> 01:02:38.079 said, I had friends who liked him, but like you guys weren't there 985 01:02:38.079 --> 01:02:42.639 in four you know, it just it really just was perfect. And then 986 01:02:42.639 --> 01:02:45.039 he goes in there and he wins, and I was so happy when he 987 01:02:45.239 --> 01:02:49.119 got Triple H out of there. I hated even good guy Triple H back 988 01:02:49.119 --> 01:02:52.079 as a kid, I hated him so much. So it was just it 989 01:02:52.199 --> 01:02:54.559 was perfect. It was beautiful, and I'm pretty sure he was like the 990 01:02:54.599 --> 01:02:58.480 first idiot's appoint at the sign. So even though that's kind of sad, 991 01:02:58.480 --> 01:03:00.760 at least he did it. Respect the ruined everything, but whatever, because 992 01:03:00.800 --> 01:03:04.760 we have to putt the sign every time now, but he won. It 993 01:03:04.840 --> 01:03:07.119 was amazing, and uh, Benevena, it's just I look back at that 994 01:03:07.199 --> 01:03:12.039 time and they instantly ruined him. The next month, he's out here catching 995 01:03:12.119 --> 01:03:15.039 a shot at No Way Out for some reason, because that's what that's what 996 01:03:15.079 --> 01:03:20.280 you do. And then he's losing at WrestleMania in a triple threat match because 997 01:03:20.280 --> 01:03:22.719 we you know, you know Paul has to be there, right Vince, 998 01:03:22.760 --> 01:03:27.159 you know your your former son has to be there. It's just it's Sina 999 01:03:27.280 --> 01:03:29.679 never was the same after this. I feel like this is when he peaked 1000 01:03:29.679 --> 01:03:30.920 in my opinion, like he was just never the same. But soon he's 1001 01:03:31.320 --> 01:03:36.400 wearing colorful T shirts. He just I don't know. This was the last 1002 01:03:36.480 --> 01:03:37.639 night where Seena felt like my guy. It was the last night where he 1003 01:03:37.679 --> 01:03:40.559 had that aur to him, and I slowly just stopped being a fan. 1004 01:03:40.639 --> 01:03:43.920 Eventually later that year, and by what I mean my end of an era. 1005 01:03:44.440 --> 01:03:45.599 Your boy discovered the internet, heead, so you know how that happens 1006 01:03:45.639 --> 01:03:49.320 when you become a wrestling fan. That's never the same. Next thing, 1007 01:03:49.320 --> 01:03:52.480 you know, I'm like, oh, Scena's overrated. This guy online said, 1008 01:03:52.599 --> 01:03:55.679 you know, Scena sucks, and everything changed. But on this night, 1009 01:03:55.760 --> 01:03:59.400 though he was my guy, he was the goat to me. It 1010 01:03:59.440 --> 01:04:01.320 was it was, but after this night, it was end of an air 1011 01:04:01.360 --> 01:04:05.199 of wrestling never hit the same. I stopped taping the shows and watching them 1012 01:04:05.239 --> 01:04:08.760 over and over again. By wrestling at twenty four, it was like, 1013 01:04:08.880 --> 01:04:11.679 yeah, maybe i'll watch it. It's fine. I still watched, but 1014 01:04:12.760 --> 01:04:15.880 it wasn't the fast. I wasn't let's say, I wasn't coming from school 1015 01:04:15.960 --> 01:04:19.000 putting the tape of Rumble eight and playing with my figures over and over again 1016 01:04:19.079 --> 01:04:24.519 until Rock came on after like April, you know, And a lot of 1017 01:04:24.559 --> 01:04:27.920 it had to do with they couldn't top this and they just seen it wasn't 1018 01:04:27.920 --> 01:04:30.960 the same I discovered the Internet. I was getting older. But yeah, 1019 01:04:31.000 --> 01:04:34.119 sorry for the little wrap, but on this night, it's hard. It's 1020 01:04:34.119 --> 01:04:36.880 hard to rap, it's hard to I started to put into words how special 1021 01:04:36.920 --> 01:04:42.519 it was and how down bad it was after this, I big that. 1022 01:04:42.880 --> 01:04:47.480 So imagine being able to extend that period of innocence through to about age twelve 1023 01:04:47.480 --> 01:04:50.519 thirteen fourteen, which we were able to do because of how long it took 1024 01:04:50.559 --> 01:04:55.079 for the Internet to become ubiquitous and for us to get in our respective homes 1025 01:04:55.679 --> 01:04:58.679 twenty Yeah, I mean yeah, JP, you didn't know until like almost 1026 01:04:58.719 --> 01:05:00.679 college days, right you Apparently you only did dot com and stuff, so 1027 01:05:00.880 --> 01:05:03.519 you you had it good. I didn't know all the I didn't know all 1028 01:05:03.519 --> 01:05:06.440 the secrets. I didn't even know that there were like I didn't even know 1029 01:05:06.480 --> 01:05:11.760 that there were such things as as these as He's behind the scenes dirt sheets. 1030 01:05:11.760 --> 01:05:16.239 I thought, you do you even observe bro? No? Do you 1031 01:05:16.239 --> 01:05:20.159 even lords of pain? Dot e? Bro? My eyes were not open. 1032 01:05:20.199 --> 01:05:23.920 I could not observe at the time. So this is fascinating, Pav. 1033 01:05:23.960 --> 01:05:26.360 We have here the ultimate Scena fan, right, we hear about see 1034 01:05:26.440 --> 01:05:29.920 it being the generational guide. It makes sense, just like Hogan was to 1035 01:05:30.039 --> 01:05:32.440 us. But you but your line in the sand is is how they handled 1036 01:05:32.440 --> 01:05:36.920 Awaight. Let's say Sena ghost to WrestleMania Orlando that year beats Randy Orton in 1037 01:05:36.960 --> 01:05:41.800 a one on one match clean to win the belt no elimination chamber Shenanigans. 1038 01:05:42.559 --> 01:05:45.920 Does you or yeah? Would you have been around longer? One hundred percent? 1039 01:05:45.000 --> 01:05:48.840 Because what happened at Summer Slam Batista and seen it? You're telling me 1040 01:05:48.880 --> 01:05:54.000 if he's not champion and he's the undefeated beast and Batista's tweaking on SmackDown and 1041 01:05:54.000 --> 01:05:56.000 they go one on one, I meet of in a Summer Slam, that's 1042 01:05:56.079 --> 01:05:58.599 that. I think that's box office like because those were my guys, right 1043 01:05:58.599 --> 01:06:02.639 like smack nvers Rote six however, was literally Sena and Bautista. It was 1044 01:06:02.679 --> 01:06:06.199 such even though a short period of time, those two really were the faces 1045 01:06:06.239 --> 01:06:11.360 of my childhood, right, and I think they could have extended it now 1046 01:06:11.400 --> 01:06:15.519 by nine would it have been cooked? Absolutely, because O nine it was 1047 01:06:15.559 --> 01:06:17.440 like the one of the worst years in wrestling right in terms of quality, 1048 01:06:17.719 --> 01:06:20.920 And that's when Sina kind of really I'm not one of those people that like 1049 01:06:20.960 --> 01:06:24.960 to blame PG right, I'm not one of those little bringbag TV fourteen, 1050 01:06:25.039 --> 01:06:27.960 I don't care. But the way the product was going, the way they 1051 01:06:27.960 --> 01:06:30.880 wanted seen it to be, it was gonna eventually come crashing down and hurt 1052 01:06:30.920 --> 01:06:35.480 inside. But they could have I think Batista Seena for the title could have 1053 01:06:35.519 --> 01:06:41.159 been really really special in summer Summer level A. Yeah, that's a great 1054 01:06:41.199 --> 01:06:43.880 call. Yeah. I remember kind of being thrown together and stuff, and 1055 01:06:43.880 --> 01:06:46.559 it just chilled awkward. Well, that twenty one oh five it was like 1056 01:06:46.559 --> 01:06:49.239 the last time that they well one of the last times I'm sure since it's 1057 01:06:49.239 --> 01:06:51.760 happened, but it seemed like a twenty year drought where they said, all 1058 01:06:51.840 --> 01:06:56.360 right, we're gonna make guys in the rumble in at Mania the way everybody 1059 01:06:56.400 --> 01:06:59.280 knows it's supposed to happen, the way the fans just sit there waiting for 1060 01:06:59.280 --> 01:07:01.119 it to happen every year, and we always fuck it up or come up 1061 01:07:01.119 --> 01:07:05.000 with some dumb shit to twist it up. And that was like it was 1062 01:07:05.199 --> 01:07:08.880 there were two made men and that those were two horses that they could ride 1063 01:07:08.920 --> 01:07:11.840 on both shows for years, and there's paths sitting there and being like, 1064 01:07:11.880 --> 01:07:15.320 Okay, what that does is make you want to see them clash, and 1065 01:07:15.480 --> 01:07:16.960 they just didn't. They just couldn't. And there's too many injuries and all 1066 01:07:17.039 --> 01:07:20.480 all kinds of bullshit going on. But oh wait, rumble, So how 1067 01:07:20.480 --> 01:07:24.280 did you feel about Jeff Hardy PAV because the things you were saying about, 1068 01:07:24.280 --> 01:07:26.760 why I've seen it connect out. I think I'm gonna get kicked off the 1069 01:07:26.760 --> 01:07:30.679 call because JP might hear this. Oh see, that's why I'm bringing it 1070 01:07:30.760 --> 01:07:32.960 up. Of course, listen, you guys probably seen the memes Jeff party 1071 01:07:32.960 --> 01:07:36.719 and OWA. It was bigger than Obama. Man, this is fascinating. 1072 01:07:36.800 --> 01:07:40.440 Like when I hear about people talk about Jeff Hardy who were young when he 1073 01:07:40.599 --> 01:07:43.199 was, you know, a top guy in WWF his singles guy, they 1074 01:07:43.199 --> 01:07:45.719 talk about it much the same way you just talked about Seena, some like 1075 01:07:45.760 --> 01:07:49.119 total like corn memory superhero, which fascinates me. To tell me about where 1076 01:07:49.119 --> 01:07:51.639 Hardy stood for you. He of course goes against Orton for the title on 1077 01:07:51.679 --> 01:07:55.639 this show, and his first real shot at you know, main event glory 1078 01:07:55.840 --> 01:07:59.119 as much as Jpa's Jeff Hardy. If trust me, if Jeff Hardy was 1079 01:07:59.119 --> 01:08:00.280 around the nineties doing that shit, JP, you would have been a huge 1080 01:08:00.320 --> 01:08:03.159 fan. I'm sorry, you would have loved him. He was around. 1081 01:08:03.199 --> 01:08:06.559 Mind he's doing that shit, And I couldn't say sorry by bad when he 1082 01:08:06.599 --> 01:08:10.679 was beefitting a Razor Ramona of squash Match. I'm sorry he didn't become a 1083 01:08:10.719 --> 01:08:15.479 huge fan. Bad Yeah, the actual Jeff Harvey. But yeah, no, 1084 01:08:16.560 --> 01:08:19.880 Jeff Party was always guy's not gonna believe this shit. But Jeff Hardy 1085 01:08:19.960 --> 01:08:23.880 was like an urban legend in my childhood, Like he was almost like a 1086 01:08:23.920 --> 01:08:26.239 myth. Like. So, so I started watching three o four right, 1087 01:08:26.239 --> 01:08:28.479 and as you guys know, he wasn't in the company back then, but 1088 01:08:28.640 --> 01:08:30.800 I would hear from my older cousins about, Yo, there's this guy Jeff 1089 01:08:30.840 --> 01:08:34.000 Hardy. He used to jump off flatterers, He used to do this shit. 1090 01:08:34.079 --> 01:08:38.520 He used to jump off stages. It literally became an urban legend. 1091 01:08:38.560 --> 01:08:41.439 And I swear to god, there was a rumor that Jeff Party died. 1092 01:08:41.560 --> 01:08:45.479 That's why he wasn't in the company. Warrior, Yeah, that's that's why 1093 01:08:45.520 --> 01:08:47.239 in three oh four and five when he wasn't there, I was like, 1094 01:08:47.279 --> 01:08:49.640 oh, rest in peace, Jeff Party died. That's why he's on the 1095 01:08:49.680 --> 01:08:54.119 video games anymore. That's why he's not wrestling. He must have jumped off 1096 01:08:54.159 --> 01:08:56.960 a stage and broke his like, I swear that was actually the rumors. 1097 01:08:57.199 --> 01:08:59.840 And then I remember tuning into TNA one day just out of nowhere, at 1098 01:08:59.840 --> 01:09:01.119 thought Velocity was gonna be on, and it turned out to be the first 1099 01:09:01.119 --> 01:09:04.000 episode of TNA and I saw Jeff Hardy. I was like, this guy 1100 01:09:04.039 --> 01:09:08.600 is alive. Holy shit. And then the face pain and the knon glow. 1101 01:09:08.720 --> 01:09:11.720 I'm sorry JP. He he was. He was amazing. He looks 1102 01:09:11.800 --> 01:09:14.600 so cool. He was so different. I know it's cringey, I'll be 1103 01:09:14.640 --> 01:09:16.279 I'm a grown up now. I get it's cringey now looking back at it. 1104 01:09:16.600 --> 01:09:18.920 But he was just it was just different. It was just so cool. 1105 01:09:18.960 --> 01:09:23.359 It was so unlike you know, triplet in a suit or whatever you 1106 01:09:23.399 --> 01:09:26.840 would see on the other program. And then when he came to I loved 1107 01:09:26.880 --> 01:09:29.800 it. I thought he was really cool. Uh he jumped listen, he 1108 01:09:29.840 --> 01:09:31.399 jumped off stages. What more do you want? As a kid, You're 1109 01:09:31.399 --> 01:09:35.199 gonna love that And the face pain. It's so marketable. Everybody won the 1110 01:09:35.239 --> 01:09:38.600 sleeves. I used to put the little like. He wasn't my number one 1111 01:09:38.600 --> 01:09:41.119 guy, but he was definitely like top three. I would put like socks 1112 01:09:41.119 --> 01:09:43.119 on my arms and kind of cut him, and my mom a would yell 1113 01:09:43.119 --> 01:09:45.279 at me because I tried to make the arm sleeves. He was just that 1114 01:09:45.359 --> 01:09:48.439 guy. It was. It's hard to really capture why. But you have 1115 01:09:48.520 --> 01:09:51.880 a guy who looks cool as shit doing weird dance moves on the stage. 1116 01:09:51.920 --> 01:09:56.399 He has piro, he has an entrance with purple lighting, and he jumps 1117 01:09:56.399 --> 01:09:59.880 off. Shit. I can't that's all you need. I can totally understand 1118 01:10:00.119 --> 01:10:02.359 where you're coming from, except for the fact that he he looked like an 1119 01:10:02.359 --> 01:10:09.880 idiot and he fucking sucked and he uh the only wait, the only problem 1120 01:10:09.880 --> 01:10:12.600 with the pyro was that it didn't go into his face and burn him. 1121 01:10:12.600 --> 01:10:15.359 Ang it did one time. It did, it actually did. That's the 1122 01:10:15.399 --> 01:10:19.680 crazy not enough. And the fact that he when he jumps off those stupid 1123 01:10:19.720 --> 01:10:25.039 things, risking his life for no reason, was that he didn't actually you 1124 01:10:25.079 --> 01:10:28.800 know, kill himself. So then a hot dog, right, yeah, 1125 01:10:28.880 --> 01:10:31.399 it was it was Boss was a bid for immortality and I'm listening to pav 1126 01:10:31.439 --> 01:10:34.560 and I think it worked. It did. Listen, it's it's tragic the 1127 01:10:34.560 --> 01:10:36.560 fact that you have to do it in the first place. I get it. 1128 01:10:36.560 --> 01:10:39.880 I'm growing up, I get it. But it was just a different 1129 01:10:39.880 --> 01:10:42.359 time and at that point it just worked. Everybody was a Jeff Hardy fan. 1130 01:10:42.479 --> 01:10:44.880 People. It was him like, I mean, at least this you 1131 01:10:44.960 --> 01:10:48.319 respect ri mysterial, right, JP, Sure, totally. Yeah. He 1132 01:10:48.359 --> 01:10:51.720 makes me believe you respect your masterial as the kids too. But once once 1133 01:10:51.920 --> 01:10:55.520 Jeff Hardy came in, it was just like this was the next evolution. 1134 01:10:55.560 --> 01:10:57.960 Obviously he wasn't doing the crazy, high flying tanning, but it was just 1135 01:10:58.319 --> 01:11:00.520 it was a stun show era and that's what people want to see. We 1136 01:11:00.560 --> 01:11:01.840 wanted to, you know, you guys had your stuff in the attitude or 1137 01:11:01.880 --> 01:11:05.000 we just kind of wanted some of that magic too. He he just didn't. 1138 01:11:05.079 --> 01:11:09.319 The thing is is that I could believe Raymisterios. Raymisterio has always made 1139 01:11:09.319 --> 01:11:14.399 me believe that that what he's doing makes sense. I can I can forgive 1140 01:11:14.479 --> 01:11:17.159 that and all the flippy floppy shit. The problem is Jeff Hardy, I 1141 01:11:17.199 --> 01:11:19.960 don't believe any of his shit. Could actually hurt anybody. Yeah, no, 1142 01:11:20.039 --> 01:11:23.119 listen, that's fair. Listen if you're talking to me right now, 1143 01:11:23.159 --> 01:11:26.359 twenty five year old pav I agree, ten year old Pave, though, 1144 01:11:26.359 --> 01:11:29.439 I'm sorry, but play the theme song. Get the purple lighting out. 1145 01:11:29.479 --> 01:11:31.159 We're gonna dance like weirds on the stage. I'm sorry, yeah song. 1146 01:11:31.319 --> 01:11:35.199 Some see the writing on the wall. Yeah, you know what, you 1147 01:11:35.239 --> 01:11:40.479 know, he's just the problem is he was always just modest. Is that 1148 01:11:40.520 --> 01:11:44.800 to the bottom, to the bottom, he was to the bottom. Let 1149 01:11:44.800 --> 01:11:46.600 me just quickly say this. It is funny though, because you guys talking 1150 01:11:46.640 --> 01:11:49.640 about this, I'm hyping up Jeff Hardy. But mind you when you and 1151 01:11:49.640 --> 01:11:54.920 you also mentioned the ages thirteen or fourteen later, I was thirteen, I 1152 01:11:54.960 --> 01:11:58.279 think when the Victory Road incident happened and I was watching it live. So 1153 01:11:58.359 --> 01:12:00.680 if you ever, uh, you know, the whole never meet your heroes 1154 01:12:00.920 --> 01:12:04.640 apparently actually even watch my heroes, because well, I can't that that happened, 1155 01:12:04.880 --> 01:12:08.399 seas that the Oscars tonight naked. I don't know if you guys saw 1156 01:12:08.399 --> 01:12:13.079 that yet, So I saw the twitter. Apparently you shouldn't meet your heels, 1157 01:12:13.079 --> 01:12:15.800 don't watch your heros, just don't watch wrestling. Yeah, that's that's 1158 01:12:15.840 --> 01:12:21.840 that's definitely the that's the that's the moral of everything. The whole Lopstan podcasts 1159 01:12:21.920 --> 01:12:25.840 don't watch wrestling. Well, what's un settling about it is you realize that 1160 01:12:25.960 --> 01:12:30.680 the way these guys achieve immortality is to go into areas that permanently scar them 1161 01:12:30.720 --> 01:12:35.720 psychologically and physically, and you know, just to stick to a playbook that 1162 01:12:35.840 --> 01:12:42.760 keeps them together really is boring, and so they end up. You know, 1163 01:12:43.000 --> 01:12:45.720 it's like, you're not going to get someone that does the things Jeff 1164 01:12:45.720 --> 01:12:48.920 Hardy does without the flip side of that coin, which is intense risk taking 1165 01:12:49.439 --> 01:12:53.640 and borderline behavior outside the ring as well. No, for sure. I 1166 01:12:53.640 --> 01:12:56.960 mean it's like you guys said, you're not going to get people to wrestle 1167 01:12:57.039 --> 01:13:00.000 without having something wrong with them. The history. You're not You're not a 1168 01:13:00.000 --> 01:13:03.039 normal person to want to be a wrestler. There's something missing, you need 1169 01:13:03.119 --> 01:13:08.000 something you like it's it's you're not normal. Yeah, yeah, there's something. 1170 01:13:08.600 --> 01:13:12.359 There's something about you that society doesn't permission that the lifestyle of the pro 1171 01:13:12.399 --> 01:13:15.159 wrestler allows you to continue. I mean we've always seen it, right, 1172 01:13:15.159 --> 01:13:16.760 even back in tough enough days or even Now. I don't know if you 1173 01:13:16.800 --> 01:13:19.399 have seen the OBW show, but just look at the people who want to 1174 01:13:19.439 --> 01:13:21.800 do this, right. I'm not trying to be mean, but a lot 1175 01:13:21.800 --> 01:13:25.039 of them don't have much going for them. But this seems to be like, 1176 01:13:25.119 --> 01:13:27.079 you know, this is this is my shot. It's like the bigger, 1177 01:13:27.119 --> 01:13:29.039 faster, stronger, this is my shot. You know, I'm to 1178 01:13:29.239 --> 01:13:30.600 help do this. I can, I can maybe make some money. I 1179 01:13:30.600 --> 01:13:32.640 have a look, you know, I have charisma, I can I can 1180 01:13:32.680 --> 01:13:38.359 could have prompe. But it's like that's that's that's that's kind of the mo 1181 01:13:38.479 --> 01:13:42.279 of wrestling all around. It's like you always it attracts these people who don't 1182 01:13:42.319 --> 01:13:45.920 know what to do with themselves. Yeah, but they know they know they 1183 01:13:45.960 --> 01:13:49.319 once got praised for looking ripped, you know. And I get so addicted 1184 01:13:49.560 --> 01:13:56.039 to someone saying they're in good shape one time that they absolutely run as fast 1185 01:13:56.039 --> 01:14:00.319 as they can toward any profession that lets them just prioritize being in shape first 1186 01:14:00.319 --> 01:14:01.880 and foremost. And you know, of course a lot now it's been a 1187 01:14:01.920 --> 01:14:04.800 total turnover in the industry. To word, just about everybody of any prominence 1188 01:14:04.800 --> 01:14:08.600 in the industry grew up an absolute obsessive fan of the thing, and so 1189 01:14:09.119 --> 01:14:14.079 you also have that reaching for that, that that sort of a reaction that 1190 01:14:14.119 --> 01:14:16.880 you saw your heroes get on television, and now you're you can't believe you're 1191 01:14:16.880 --> 01:14:19.119 in the position to maybe get that out of people too, and that just 1192 01:14:19.199 --> 01:14:24.439 you'll never that'll never be satiated, and you'll take yourself to you know, 1193 01:14:24.479 --> 01:14:30.119 physical limits that are just completely unreasonable, trying to be worthy of the reactions 1194 01:14:30.119 --> 01:14:33.359 of the fans that you remember having towards your well in PAVs case John Cenas 1195 01:14:33.359 --> 01:14:38.439 and Jeff Hardy. So yeah, again, always so fruitful when a member 1196 01:14:38.439 --> 01:14:41.079 of the Solar System via the hopper can put an era in front of us 1197 01:14:41.079 --> 01:14:45.000 that we would never voluntarily pull up. But there's so much, always, 1198 01:14:45.039 --> 01:14:46.640 so much meat on the bone to this very thing. That is what unites 1199 01:14:46.680 --> 01:14:50.279 us all is the experience across the generations of being a wrestling fan that hasn't 1200 01:14:50.319 --> 01:14:54.600 changed. No matter how much the nature of the business has changed, and 1201 01:14:54.720 --> 01:14:57.640 and how to watch it has changed and how to receive it has changed, 1202 01:14:57.640 --> 01:15:00.880 what doesn't change is how everyone else feels about you for liking wrestling, and 1203 01:15:00.960 --> 01:15:03.239 that's that's where you get the nods from a twenty five year old just as 1204 01:15:03.279 --> 01:15:06.079 quickly as you do from a sixty one year old. And that's, of 1205 01:15:06.119 --> 01:15:10.800 course what the podcast is about. So anything else on the two thousand and 1206 01:15:10.800 --> 01:15:14.319 eight Royal Rumble Path, please the floor is yours. No, nothing really. 1207 01:15:14.399 --> 01:15:16.279 I hope you guys found some enjoyment from here, So I can't wait 1208 01:15:16.319 --> 01:15:24.319 to listen to the podcasting here. How you guys felt Belgium or something. 1209 01:15:24.319 --> 01:15:26.319 You're in a different country, so I can't wait to hear about that. 1210 01:15:26.520 --> 01:15:30.680 Yeah, no, I can't wait. Yeah, I can't wait to listen 1211 01:15:30.680 --> 01:15:31.800 to what. I'm happy I won, you know, never feel happy to 1212 01:15:31.800 --> 01:15:33.880 be a loser. The only thing I do want to say about this is 1213 01:15:33.880 --> 01:15:38.479 one, everybody buy your tickets for Philadelphia. It's not that hard man do 1214 01:15:38.560 --> 01:15:42.239 the damn thing. Second, I want to just give a little shouts under 1215 01:15:42.279 --> 01:15:45.239 the cinemat. I feel like a lot of people don't know how special that 1216 01:15:45.319 --> 01:15:49.840 show is, Like Eugene Gump is my hero and how thanks to JP and 1217 01:15:51.399 --> 01:15:54.359 I know, but for real, like jokes, I'm not trying to kiss 1218 01:15:54.359 --> 01:15:56.920 your ass or whatever, but I really respect how over the years, like 1219 01:15:56.960 --> 01:15:58.960 Jack, you always kind of carry the front on the laps fan with his 1220 01:15:59.079 --> 01:16:01.640 research, the story telling, and as someone who's been I think a Patreonic 1221 01:16:01.680 --> 01:16:04.640 apiece like twenty twenty one, and I've listened to like every cinemat. I've 1222 01:16:04.720 --> 01:16:08.279 learned so much from it and I really respect JP, how like you really 1223 01:16:08.319 --> 01:16:11.399 grew as a host and kind of like telling the stories and the research and 1224 01:16:11.439 --> 01:16:15.319 everything from One thing that's really ingrained in my brain is scream telling the story 1225 01:16:15.319 --> 01:16:18.520 of like he Weinstein and stuff. You really crush it. You're amazing at 1226 01:16:18.560 --> 01:16:21.479 it, and I think it's really undervalued in the Grand Smen things. So 1227 01:16:21.479 --> 01:16:25.119 some people might just listen to this on Spotify or whatever. They don't know. 1228 01:16:25.319 --> 01:16:27.439 And I know you guys advertise it, but trust me, I can 1229 01:16:27.520 --> 01:16:30.640 vouch for it. I low key might even like Under the Cinemat more than 1230 01:16:30.680 --> 01:16:32.680 the main show. And that's not a dig. It's just it's unlike anything. 1231 01:16:32.760 --> 01:16:36.079 And you got to realize these Jack and JP, they have the same 1232 01:16:36.159 --> 01:16:40.920 humor as us listeners. Just imagine it when it comes to movies, and 1233 01:16:40.960 --> 01:16:42.960 there's so much out there, so much you will learn, and there's so 1234 01:16:43.039 --> 01:16:45.279 much stuff that I pass on to my friends and family because everyone loves movies, 1235 01:16:45.359 --> 01:16:47.800 right, So I just want to give a shout out to the cinemat. 1236 01:16:47.880 --> 01:16:51.399 It's a great thing. Definitely check it out, appreciate that. Really 1237 01:16:51.399 --> 01:16:54.960 do well. JP. You know you should just when people ask you what 1238 01:16:54.960 --> 01:16:57.720 your podcast is about, unlike me, you can just say it's about movies. 1239 01:16:58.079 --> 01:17:01.439 Yeah, I get into that. Sometimes they just say sports and entertainment. 1240 01:17:01.680 --> 01:17:05.720 Just follow that. That really clears that doesn't beg any follow ups at 1241 01:17:05.720 --> 01:17:09.720 all. Let me just let me just let ex likely say this. I 1242 01:17:09.760 --> 01:17:11.720 have done that before. I'm like, yeah, I just make videos on 1243 01:17:11.760 --> 01:17:19.159 sports. Yeah, what sporting sports? Entertainment based sports? Say that sports 1244 01:17:19.199 --> 01:17:26.880 of aspecious nature? Have you ever heard of predetermined sports? Have you ever? 1245 01:17:26.960 --> 01:17:31.039 Have you ever heard of fake wrestlings there? Yeah, because honestly, 1246 01:17:31.039 --> 01:17:33.640 if you say wrestling, they might think amateur wrestling. We can't have that 1247 01:17:33.720 --> 01:17:38.760 either. I'm waiting for the day where someone's like, yeah, I went 1248 01:17:38.800 --> 01:17:41.239 for the day it runs like a Jim Ross or somethings like yeah, you 1249 01:17:41.279 --> 01:17:43.800 know, how about them that sooner? How about the you know double leg? 1250 01:17:43.800 --> 01:17:45.840 You no, no, sir, I'm talking about fake wrestling. Oh 1251 01:17:45.920 --> 01:17:48.399 my god. Yeah. Yeah. If you if you're out in Iowa and 1252 01:17:48.439 --> 01:17:50.880 you say you're doing a podcast, and it's about wrestling. They might not 1253 01:17:50.880 --> 01:17:54.760 necessarily think it's pro wrestling. It's true. You got to keep that in 1254 01:17:54.800 --> 01:17:58.840 mind, where kids grow up wrestling at age three and stuff. It's died 1255 01:17:58.880 --> 01:18:00.239 in the wold. Well, there's been terrific. We want to thank you, 1256 01:18:00.239 --> 01:18:04.720 Pav. Glad we could close this loop here and get you the the 1257 01:18:04.720 --> 01:18:08.840 the promise Glad we drew your name and that you can get a little flavor 1258 01:18:08.960 --> 01:18:12.279 and and help influence the show because it is about the listeners. Really, 1259 01:18:12.359 --> 01:18:15.560 I mean, that's that's that's a shoot. So thanks very much for sure. 1260 01:18:15.560 --> 01:18:16.840 And last thing, I'll quickly get your bids in. This was literally 1261 01:18:16.960 --> 01:18:19.399 proof that no matter how much you bid or what you do, you might 1262 01:18:19.439 --> 01:18:23.119 actually win. Because I never thought I would, but hey, this is 1263 01:18:23.159 --> 01:18:26.039 literally proof. Get your bids and whenever it's open and you never know. 1264 01:18:27.000 --> 01:18:30.720 Wonderful. Thanks man. So there you have at lum Sum boss John Seena 1265 01:18:30.760 --> 01:18:34.239 perspective that I don't know. I know it's out there, but to hear 1266 01:18:34.279 --> 01:18:39.760 someone passionately recounted as something else, I mean, we can't all listen. 1267 01:18:39.960 --> 01:18:42.920 I'm actually okay with the John Seena perspective. I'm not okay with the Jeff 1268 01:18:42.920 --> 01:18:45.000 Hardy perspective. But you're right, we got what that was clear, But 1269 01:18:45.279 --> 01:18:48.039 I just I mean, but this is this is wrestling, right, Like, 1270 01:18:48.800 --> 01:18:50.840 what is he What does pav have? Now? He has John Cena 1271 01:18:50.880 --> 01:18:57.840 wearing a three piece suit every where he goes for no discernible reason, like 1272 01:18:57.840 --> 01:19:00.880 you said, and I'm the Oscars though, because he's fucking he was taken 1273 01:19:00.039 --> 01:19:04.079 on stage unless he has something to sell that's offbeat. You know, given 1274 01:19:04.119 --> 01:19:08.640 his druthers, he's going to wear a three piece suit every waking hour of 1275 01:19:08.680 --> 01:19:11.880 his life. Yes, he goes to bed in a three piece like pajama 1276 01:19:11.920 --> 01:19:14.640 suit. And think of how he wrestled. This is around the time two 1277 01:19:14.640 --> 01:19:17.640 thousand and eight when the Institute of the Dress Code and famously Undertaker and Sena 1278 01:19:17.720 --> 01:19:21.680 were exempt because their gimmicks didn't really make sense to be wearing suits on the 1279 01:19:21.760 --> 01:19:25.319 road and in between towns and stuff. It's like, are you fucking kidding 1280 01:19:25.359 --> 01:19:29.640 me? And he's the guy that can't take a suit off of his back 1281 01:19:29.680 --> 01:19:32.039 for ten seconds. Now to maybe he felt left out and so now he's 1282 01:19:32.079 --> 01:19:34.640 like making up for lost time. I think there's something to be said for 1283 01:19:34.640 --> 01:19:39.359 that that he had to run around like a like a teenager from nineteen ninety 1284 01:19:39.359 --> 01:19:42.920 eight for like twenty five years on television that he still does for God's sake. 1285 01:19:43.039 --> 01:19:44.880 Yeah, well when he comes back, that's the look, right, 1286 01:19:45.520 --> 01:19:48.880 because it's now that look is now less about the era that it happened in 1287 01:19:48.920 --> 01:19:53.600 and it's more about the caricature that is John Cena. Like. But I 1288 01:19:53.640 --> 01:19:56.960 see that look, I just think John Cena. I don't think a particular 1289 01:19:57.119 --> 01:20:01.119 year or nope, I think of a goofball, a goofball who makes a 1290 01:20:01.199 --> 01:20:04.520 surprise entrance at number thirty in the Royal Rumble on this particular year getting a 1291 01:20:04.560 --> 01:20:09.039 huge pop from MSG but apropos for two thousand and eight Sena and most have 1292 01:20:09.119 --> 01:20:13.000 seen his run post you know, hardcore rap character. As soon as he 1293 01:20:13.000 --> 01:20:15.239 gets in the ring, they start booing like crazy yep, because he starts 1294 01:20:15.279 --> 01:20:19.880 doing his punches and yeah, all that stuff. It's such a it's such 1295 01:20:19.880 --> 01:20:26.520 a crystal clear sort of like exhibit of the duality of the way the fans 1296 01:20:26.520 --> 01:20:30.319 felt about John Cena at the time this particular show, because they couldn't see 1297 01:20:30.359 --> 01:20:32.680 more happy to see the guy as a surprise entrant. They couldn't be more 1298 01:20:32.720 --> 01:20:35.800 ghassed to see him there in the flesh, and then as soon as he 1299 01:20:35.800 --> 01:20:39.840 starts mixing it up, it's like he's the last person in the world I 1300 01:20:39.920 --> 01:20:43.760 want to see doing well. It's been so funny, and it's so funny. 1301 01:20:43.800 --> 01:20:48.119 How how that's all gone now too, that he's a oh yeah, 1302 01:20:48.399 --> 01:20:54.039 part time or movie star. Totally. They fucking eat the shit out of 1303 01:20:54.039 --> 01:20:57.960 his hand now. All along all they wanted was less yep, not different, 1304 01:20:58.039 --> 01:21:00.800 just less right, right right, always the case. And we'll be 1305 01:21:00.800 --> 01:21:03.560 insterrupting a bit of it later. But he's since done an extended interview with 1306 01:21:03.640 --> 01:21:08.359 Chris van Vliet in which he talked about a time when they talked about turning 1307 01:21:08.439 --> 01:21:11.520 him heel in the twenty twelve Rock series. He actually recorded a heel theme 1308 01:21:11.560 --> 01:21:15.159 song, Wow, no shit. He had a wardrobe ready to go for 1309 01:21:15.199 --> 01:21:17.560 what his heel character will look like, a singlet with a boxing style robe. 1310 01:21:18.640 --> 01:21:21.319 The track kind of bangs. I listened to it. It's pretty good. 1311 01:21:23.039 --> 01:21:26.319 It's sort of like a it's just back to like that hard charging, 1312 01:21:26.720 --> 01:21:33.119 bloodthirsty John Cena voice. That's wild so singlet, that's what he said. 1313 01:21:33.319 --> 01:21:35.439 They didn't show a picture of it, but that's what he said. It 1314 01:21:35.520 --> 01:21:42.199 was going to look like, God help us. It's dirty. Yeah, 1315 01:21:42.239 --> 01:21:46.039 it definitely makes you feel uncomfortable if nothing else. But this is this is 1316 01:21:46.079 --> 01:21:49.960 a sena you know who's right there on the on the line. You're you're 1317 01:21:49.960 --> 01:21:53.239 gonna turn a heel or not You're gonna be a guy who's always going to 1318 01:21:53.239 --> 01:21:57.880 be a perennial superhero. Show down our mouth, babyface so the merch keeps 1319 01:21:57.880 --> 01:22:00.479 moving. Or are you gonna be somebody that the fans can be confident they 1320 01:22:00.479 --> 01:22:01.600 can sway and move kind of like Rock. You know, he comes back 1321 01:22:01.600 --> 01:22:08.319 this year conquering hero. He thinks people can be more gassed for the in 1322 01:22:08.359 --> 01:22:12.319 his mind, the head of the Table storyline, And within weeks he's got 1323 01:22:12.319 --> 01:22:15.600 a pivot because he's not going to be that guy fighting the crowd every week. 1324 01:22:15.960 --> 01:22:17.159 No no, no, no, no way, no way. And 1325 01:22:17.239 --> 01:22:21.439 I give him credit for being that smart for sure, although I don't know 1326 01:22:21.439 --> 01:22:25.560 if I give him credit for his his now skincare line. Well, that's 1327 01:22:25.560 --> 01:22:29.279 not going to stop. I know, too many, too many opportunities, 1328 01:22:29.359 --> 01:22:33.079 too many zoom meetings, too many PowerPoint slide decks. Although I might have 1329 01:22:33.159 --> 01:22:39.479 to you know, my as I was I was sending you that photo that 1330 01:22:39.479 --> 01:22:45.359 that screenshot of him fucking cleaning himself on Instagram, And I was with my 1331 01:22:45.479 --> 01:22:49.119 daughter and she was like, she's so into skincare right now that she was 1332 01:22:49.119 --> 01:22:50.760 like, oh my god, you have to get that. And I'm like, 1333 01:22:51.800 --> 01:22:57.600 oh my god, was it meant for your eyes? Your eyes? 1334 01:22:57.720 --> 01:23:00.560 That's such like a tired play, like women love it, but guys love 1335 01:23:00.600 --> 01:23:05.079 it too. I love it too. Stop stop stop trying. Stop trying 1336 01:23:05.119 --> 01:23:09.760 to hide the fact that you've penetrated your your addressable market, and I have 1337 01:23:09.880 --> 01:23:13.760 to come up with like foolish reasons to sell it to people that don't want 1338 01:23:13.800 --> 01:23:15.399 it. Get it. I'm gonna have to get it now because have fun. 1339 01:23:15.479 --> 01:23:17.600 Let let me know. I want to review. I'll let you know. 1340 01:23:18.199 --> 01:23:21.399 So PAV wasn't the only person that looks back on the two thousand and 1341 01:23:21.399 --> 01:23:25.119 eight Royal rumble and has has a story to tell. Dalton wrote us as 1342 01:23:25.159 --> 01:23:29.239 well. He said, dearest co chairs, Oh, what's that Dalton Castle. 1343 01:23:29.760 --> 01:23:32.479 No, I'm comfortable saying no. I don't want to say the last 1344 01:23:32.560 --> 01:23:35.800 name, but it's not Dalton Castle, so it is to not create any 1345 01:23:35.840 --> 01:23:39.119 concern. Actually, why don't you pass along the yeah, the sentiments here 1346 01:23:39.119 --> 01:23:45.039 if you can, all right, dearest code chairs, Oh we just went 1347 01:23:45.079 --> 01:23:49.119 away there. It is listening to the Hull Cogan nineteen eighty four episode, 1348 01:23:49.119 --> 01:23:53.079 and I heard you'll be doing the Royal Rumble two thousand and eight to show 1349 01:23:53.159 --> 01:23:56.800 I've yet to fully watch, but remember very well for a few reasons. 1350 01:23:57.279 --> 01:24:00.319 This story goes back a few months but leads into the Rumble show. By 1351 01:24:00.359 --> 01:24:03.119 October two thousand and seven, I was twelve years old and was in seventh 1352 01:24:03.199 --> 01:24:06.319 grade. My mom and father were going through a divorce, and one of 1353 01:24:06.359 --> 01:24:11.000 the things I would try to do to get my mind away from that was 1354 01:24:11.039 --> 01:24:15.159 watching SmackDown as it was still on the CW. I remember watching highlights of 1355 01:24:15.199 --> 01:24:20.439 when John Cena tore his peck and kept thinking was he still champ? As 1356 01:24:20.439 --> 01:24:25.479 this was during his one year title reign. I found out quickly that it 1357 01:24:25.520 --> 01:24:29.359 was Randy Orton, then Triple H, then Norton again who were the champs? 1358 01:24:29.760 --> 01:24:32.279 As the months went on, I mostly focused on the SmackDown side since 1359 01:24:32.359 --> 01:24:35.800 we could only afford local television. Plus, I was a huge Undertaker fan 1360 01:24:35.840 --> 01:24:40.600 and watched his story with Edge and Batista going after the World heavyweight title. 1361 01:24:41.359 --> 01:24:44.880 A few days after the RUMBLEO eight. I remember going on my school's computer 1362 01:24:44.960 --> 01:24:47.159 and going to WWE dot com to see who won the rumble, and when 1363 01:24:47.199 --> 01:24:51.399 I saw John Cena pointing at the sign, I was in utter shock. 1364 01:24:53.079 --> 01:24:57.800 I still remember the announcements on SmackDown were Vince McMahon. No, I remember 1365 01:24:57.840 --> 01:25:01.079 the announcements on vinc on SmackDown were Vin sick Man was saying how John Cena 1366 01:25:01.079 --> 01:25:04.760 would be out of action for six to twelve months. Actually on ECW Interestingly 1367 01:25:04.840 --> 01:25:09.079 enough, we'll get to that. Yeah, I shouldn't really be surprised over 1368 01:25:09.119 --> 01:25:12.720 sixteen years later that it was Sena that one, but at the time it 1369 01:25:12.800 --> 01:25:16.399 was still shocking knowing he came back so quick from that injury. The poppy 1370 01:25:16.439 --> 01:25:19.840 gets when his music starts might have been one of the best Sena pops he's 1371 01:25:19.880 --> 01:25:23.720 ever gotten. Thank you guys for reading the email, and thank you for 1372 01:25:23.800 --> 01:25:29.079 Jolka Mania and Sina Mania. So why was it such a surprise to people, 1373 01:25:29.159 --> 01:25:31.960 such a mind blowing twist that John Cena showed up in this royal Rumble? 1374 01:25:32.000 --> 01:25:35.880 Well, as mentioned, started on October first of two thousand and seven. 1375 01:25:36.319 --> 01:25:40.159 Yeah, it's an episode of Ron. He was wrestling mister Kennedy. 1376 01:25:40.640 --> 01:25:43.640 I have to think this is one of the earliest examples of where someone that's 1377 01:25:43.640 --> 01:25:45.520 a big time deal gets hurt working in the ring with mister Kennedy, whether 1378 01:25:45.600 --> 01:25:48.560 or not it's his fault, and that ultimately being his downfall at WWE. 1379 01:25:48.840 --> 01:25:53.560 It usually isn't it usually mister Kennedy who gets injured too. Sounds kind of 1380 01:25:53.560 --> 01:25:57.079 weird. Yeah, well he tore his Yeah he did. He He ended 1381 01:25:57.159 --> 01:26:00.520 up losing the money in the bank opportunity from the wrestling any of the year 1382 01:26:00.560 --> 01:26:02.319 before because he tore his tricep award at something like that is labor him, 1383 01:26:02.319 --> 01:26:05.760 I forget what it was. And then so they rushed to get the briefcase 1384 01:26:05.800 --> 01:26:09.840 off him, him being the first briefcase holder, not the first, but 1385 01:26:10.159 --> 01:26:12.640 him being the one where it's like, okay, this means you're going to 1386 01:26:12.680 --> 01:26:15.000 actually win the belt. You know it's been established right when you cash in. 1387 01:26:15.119 --> 01:26:19.399 This is like a thing. So but they rushed the briefcase off of 1388 01:26:19.479 --> 01:26:21.159 them, get it to edge because they thought he have to be out for 1389 01:26:21.199 --> 01:26:24.960 months and months, And then upon further examination, it turned out the injury 1390 01:26:25.000 --> 01:26:26.800 was not as bad as they thought, and they fucked the whole thing. 1391 01:26:26.840 --> 01:26:30.159 Up for no reason, which which hurts even more, and so he never 1392 01:26:30.199 --> 01:26:33.560 really got back on that track where he was red hot. I mean we 1393 01:26:33.600 --> 01:26:36.880 talked about this during TNH. You needed mister Kennedy. Oh yes, I 1394 01:26:38.119 --> 01:26:41.159 thought he was. You know, I was not a huge fan of his. 1395 01:26:41.239 --> 01:26:46.640 I was not a believer until that fucking money WrestleMania promo after he won 1396 01:26:46.720 --> 01:26:50.399 money in the bank in the year before you know all this, and it 1397 01:26:50.479 --> 01:26:54.439 was like, I was there. We were there live in Detroit, in 1398 01:26:54.560 --> 01:27:00.000 Distois, and I remember just losing my shit over this guy who I I 1399 01:27:00.159 --> 01:27:04.239 was not really impressed with for the most part, but he gave such a 1400 01:27:04.479 --> 01:27:08.560 direct and killer promo. I was like, oh my god, this guy, 1401 01:27:09.199 --> 01:27:13.920 this guy's a fucking star, fiery, fiery exactly, somebody who was 1402 01:27:14.119 --> 01:27:17.520 screaming with conviction because you felt as a fan that the WWE was behind him, 1403 01:27:17.520 --> 01:27:21.439 because he had reason to carry himself with that confidence, and then getting 1404 01:27:21.520 --> 01:27:26.880 the marks against him for people getting hurt in his matches led him losing that 1405 01:27:26.960 --> 01:27:30.239 confidence, and of course that's death for a pro wrestler. If you can't 1406 01:27:30.760 --> 01:27:34.079 if you're second guessing yourself, and if you can't let what you want to 1407 01:27:34.079 --> 01:27:38.319 do instinctually be what you come to be known for. It's death. You 1408 01:27:38.399 --> 01:27:42.439 can't act, can't do it. So this was kind of the beginning of 1409 01:27:42.439 --> 01:27:45.119 that unraveling October first, two thousand and seventies, working John Cena, who 1410 01:27:45.199 --> 01:27:48.359 was long reigning ww champion, had won the belt in the spring of two 1411 01:27:48.399 --> 01:27:53.680 thousand and five and hadn't lost it defending against all comers and pushing against that 1412 01:27:53.720 --> 01:27:58.039 tide of people sort of rejecting him for his kind of you know, kind 1413 01:27:58.039 --> 01:28:01.319 of awkward in ring style is awkward physicality. He just didn't look like a 1414 01:28:01.359 --> 01:28:05.680 guy that looked like he was really kicking ass when the bell sounded, right, 1415 01:28:06.119 --> 01:28:10.159 and people kind of got sick of that. So anyway, despite you 1416 01:28:10.199 --> 01:28:13.800 know, moving so much merchandise that it had been fucking corporate malpractice to take 1417 01:28:13.800 --> 01:28:15.039 the belt off of him and to find him down or even to turn him 1418 01:28:15.079 --> 01:28:17.279 heel, you know, obviously that was the argument against it. So it 1419 01:28:17.359 --> 01:28:23.560 was this very strange thing where people were rejecting him, but nobody else made 1420 01:28:23.600 --> 01:28:26.960 sense in that spot to the degree he did even though he was being rejected 1421 01:28:27.000 --> 01:28:30.039 for the presentation. So that was sort of the defining story of the WWE 1422 01:28:30.079 --> 01:28:33.199 from the mid two thousands to the end of the two thousands through two thousand 1423 01:28:33.840 --> 01:28:40.000 fourteen really fifteen. So here he is and it's a spot where scene does 1424 01:28:40.039 --> 01:28:42.319 the hiptoss and you know it does the hiptos and he lands on his ass. 1425 01:28:42.800 --> 01:28:45.880 Yes, so he did that, but it looked like he kind of 1426 01:28:45.319 --> 01:28:50.119 kept his arms stuck under Kennedy's for a beat too long and it kind of 1427 01:28:50.159 --> 01:28:56.319 stretched out as Kennedy's body went flying without without a release valve, and it 1428 01:28:56.359 --> 01:29:00.399 tore the pack. Just the same injury that Cody Rhodes was able to ride 1429 01:29:00.399 --> 01:29:02.640 to huge fucking drama a couple of years ago. Right, Yeah, I 1430 01:29:02.680 --> 01:29:08.039 think about it. It's remarkable that these two huge moments, Cody recovering coming 1431 01:29:08.039 --> 01:29:12.600 back winning the Brumble and Sina recovering coming back and winning the Rumble exactly are 1432 01:29:12.640 --> 01:29:15.560 these torn peck things. And you know from Cody, he suffered the injury 1433 01:29:15.560 --> 01:29:17.840 at Hell in the Cell in June and didn't come back till January. Here 1434 01:29:17.920 --> 01:29:21.920 Sina suffering the injury in October and he's back in January. That's unbelievable. 1435 01:29:23.399 --> 01:29:25.920 And this is after as it's been mentioned by Pav and you and so many 1436 01:29:25.960 --> 01:29:29.279 others. They went on television and told the fans not to expect to see 1437 01:29:29.319 --> 01:29:31.920 John Cena until the summer of two thousand and eight. So you're thinking, 1438 01:29:31.920 --> 01:29:36.399 no WrestleMania, the last thing you're thinking is rumble. Yeah, exactly exactly. 1439 01:29:36.439 --> 01:29:40.840 I would, Yeah, I would. The brumble was like, was 1440 01:29:41.399 --> 01:29:44.239 not even not even a thought. I'm just like, they're not going to 1441 01:29:44.279 --> 01:29:46.920 have Seena at all for you know, you know, for a year, 1442 01:29:47.000 --> 01:29:53.920 which you know, I don't. I wouldn't say I was heartbroken, but 1443 01:29:54.159 --> 01:29:56.520 I definitely wasn't happy. I'd rather see Triple H out for a year. 1444 01:29:57.279 --> 01:30:00.279 Oh yeah, yeah, that would be much better for him than it was 1445 01:30:00.279 --> 01:30:01.600 for Sena. Yeah. Yeah, as we saw when he came back in 1446 01:30:01.600 --> 01:30:04.159 two thousand and two and the hottest point of his career after his injury. 1447 01:30:04.159 --> 01:30:06.800 And then, I mean, it's it's a sad state of affairs, but 1448 01:30:08.520 --> 01:30:11.880 some of the most resonant stuff in wrestling in the past twenty years has been 1449 01:30:11.880 --> 01:30:14.920 when guys come back from injuries. Yeah, yeah, right, you need 1450 01:30:14.920 --> 01:30:16.439 to have an injury to come back from an injury. It's and have that 1451 01:30:16.479 --> 01:30:19.680 moment. And he won the rumble in his in his case recovering from the 1452 01:30:19.840 --> 01:30:23.960 torn quad in the two thousand and two rumble in the same building MSG. 1453 01:30:24.960 --> 01:30:28.079 So it was. It was. It was quite a turn of events that 1454 01:30:28.159 --> 01:30:30.399 led to see a re emerging before anybody expected him to. He tore in 1455 01:30:30.439 --> 01:30:33.399 the pack he finished the match. He did like this STF where he could 1456 01:30:33.439 --> 01:30:38.319 only use the STFU where he could only use like one hand. So it 1457 01:30:38.319 --> 01:30:42.800 looked it looked bad. Yeah, I'm I'm a little I was. I 1458 01:30:42.840 --> 01:30:45.439 was gonna tell you, I there are a lot of things on this show 1459 01:30:46.079 --> 01:30:51.800 that had me a little a little jarred, all right, Like theme music 1460 01:30:54.359 --> 01:31:00.239 for certain people was very jarring to me because it wasn't yet what you know, 1461 01:31:00.279 --> 01:31:03.640 the familiar stuff. Uh, And Randy Orton is still coming out to 1462 01:31:03.640 --> 01:31:05.960 hey, nothing you can say. It's one of the things, like I 1463 01:31:06.039 --> 01:31:10.680 thought he was. I thought that was gone by this point. I thought 1464 01:31:11.000 --> 01:31:14.720 I thought it was well gone. I mean, I don't even know what 1465 01:31:14.800 --> 01:31:18.079 Cody's theme song was when he came out. It's very uncomfortable. How far 1466 01:31:18.159 --> 01:31:23.640 away two thousand and eight really was. Oh no, the Missess theme song. 1467 01:31:24.199 --> 01:31:27.520 I didn't recognize it at all. This is very much pre I came 1468 01:31:27.520 --> 01:31:31.840 to play. And the fact that Sina was they was they still called his 1469 01:31:32.000 --> 01:31:35.640 move the fu they did. I was like, I thought we were gone. 1470 01:31:35.680 --> 01:31:42.000 I thought that was like a year after he a year after he he, 1471 01:31:42.960 --> 01:31:45.680 you know, won the title, it was changed to attitude adjustment. 1472 01:31:45.840 --> 01:31:49.920 I was very uncomfortable. I was like shocked that Piper and Snooko were in 1473 01:31:49.960 --> 01:31:55.119 this Rumble. Oh my god, I know they they came back around nine 1474 01:31:55.159 --> 01:31:57.640 and ten two and you know they had the matter with Jericho or that wrestled 1475 01:31:57.640 --> 01:32:00.640 me and me along with Steamboat. Yep, but no, there was just 1476 01:32:00.680 --> 01:32:02.560 something like, wait a minute. I was seeing these guys come out and 1477 01:32:02.600 --> 01:32:06.920 I was associating an era five six years after they started bringing back the old 1478 01:32:06.920 --> 01:32:11.359 guys. I thought that was like a two thousand and four to five three 1479 01:32:11.680 --> 01:32:15.640 thing. And here in two thousand and eight, here they are, and 1480 01:32:15.760 --> 01:32:16.840 Dugan is in the in the soup. He's on the show, but he 1481 01:32:16.880 --> 01:32:21.319 was in a qualifying match for the Rumble. So bizarre. It's so bizarre, 1482 01:32:23.039 --> 01:32:25.520 and Foley made it come back. I totally forgot about this run. 1483 01:32:25.680 --> 01:32:28.880 Not only that, but he's in the fucking he's in the match for a 1484 01:32:28.880 --> 01:32:32.199 long time, sure is. And he would go on to try out SmackDown 1485 01:32:32.239 --> 01:32:38.279 announcing and quit an absolute frustration at the micromanaging events on the headset. Wow, 1486 01:32:38.720 --> 01:32:41.439 this was Ada had a few more deals, a few more matches left 1487 01:32:41.439 --> 01:32:44.159 on the deal in two thousand and eight, and I thought he would try 1488 01:32:44.199 --> 01:32:45.720 acting and things. So he was in a weird place in his career at 1489 01:32:45.720 --> 01:32:48.560 the time. But so yeah, Sena suffers the injury, guts out, 1490 01:32:48.560 --> 01:32:53.720 the match finishes at you can see him sitting down after the bell gets around, 1491 01:32:53.760 --> 01:32:55.800 and he's just like screaming at the raft. Is Randy comming? Is 1492 01:32:55.840 --> 01:32:59.079 Randy comming? Because he's like an absolute agony. I can tell he can't 1493 01:32:59.079 --> 01:33:00.359 lift his arm. It's not sure what it is. At first people thought 1494 01:33:00.359 --> 01:33:02.760 it was just a shoulder injury, but then when it became clear was a 1495 01:33:02.800 --> 01:33:04.920 pectoral tear, it's like, oh my god, this is gonna take forever 1496 01:33:05.359 --> 01:33:09.880 to heal. So Orton comes out as planned, because this was the go 1497 01:33:09.960 --> 01:33:12.920 home raw for No Mercy two thousand and seven, which was to feature Sena 1498 01:33:12.960 --> 01:33:16.439 versus Orton in a last man standing match for seen his WW championship, So 1499 01:33:16.680 --> 01:33:20.079 there was a lot of plans in motion that this kind of threw off. 1500 01:33:20.479 --> 01:33:24.079 So as planned, Orton comes out and beats the shit out of Sina as 1501 01:33:24.119 --> 01:33:26.840 the go home angle, and I think he rkaos him on the table and 1502 01:33:26.880 --> 01:33:30.279 gets in his face and does like a ten count sort of telegraphing that he 1503 01:33:30.279 --> 01:33:31.399 can do this to him at theay per view and win the belt. And 1504 01:33:31.479 --> 01:33:34.840 scene is just fucking miserable all the time, dealing with the fact that he 1505 01:33:34.840 --> 01:33:39.560 can't lift his arm, and so they shoot that angle and then they end 1506 01:33:39.680 --> 01:33:42.960 up just using that as the pretense for why he was hurt, you know, 1507 01:33:43.000 --> 01:33:45.560 as if Orton heard him, not a botched hip toss and a match 1508 01:33:45.600 --> 01:33:49.800 with Kennedy yep. So they realized after the show, of course, that 1509 01:33:49.880 --> 01:33:53.000 this is not going to be our main event at the pay per view. 1510 01:33:53.479 --> 01:33:57.720 And this is a funny thing. I remember this too when the title came 1511 01:33:57.720 --> 01:34:00.760 off with somebody and then Jericho came back and won it at Cyber Sunday, 1512 01:34:00.800 --> 01:34:03.800 And remember that time period and I go seven or so, I forget what 1513 01:34:03.840 --> 01:34:06.720 them. Yeah, the injury was that caused the opening. I think it 1514 01:34:06.760 --> 01:34:11.600 was Batista, Yeah, ripping something off the bone, whatever the hell it 1515 01:34:11.720 --> 01:34:14.880 was, and it was it was like a huge at the time. They 1516 01:34:14.880 --> 01:34:16.079 were still running you know, cable pay per view, the traditional pay per 1517 01:34:16.159 --> 01:34:19.279 view was still the main revenue stream, no streaming, no you know, 1518 01:34:19.479 --> 01:34:21.640 for a flat fee a month you get every show, none of that shit. 1519 01:34:23.079 --> 01:34:25.479 So they still month to month, had to convince you to get into 1520 01:34:25.479 --> 01:34:28.800 a match and buy it. And so people watch the pay per view by 1521 01:34:28.880 --> 01:34:30.000 rate story closely, and we had a very good idea of like what was 1522 01:34:30.079 --> 01:34:34.000 drawing and what wasn't as a result of that, and so when that happened, 1523 01:34:34.359 --> 01:34:36.560 and there was this mystery on the week of the show, which seems 1524 01:34:36.600 --> 01:34:40.039 like a disaster as to who they would even put in the title match. 1525 01:34:41.279 --> 01:34:44.039 The fact that no one knew who was going to win the championship, but 1526 01:34:44.119 --> 01:34:46.720 someone was going to leave with the belt. It led to a huge increase 1527 01:34:46.760 --> 01:34:49.039 in buys for a show that wasn't one of the Big four or five. 1528 01:34:49.920 --> 01:34:54.199 And it turns out that's a huge hook in WWE. It's like, if 1529 01:34:54.520 --> 01:34:57.960 you have an injury that compromises your champion, you at least can know that 1530 01:34:58.000 --> 01:35:00.239 you're going to do good business on the pay per view where you side yep, 1531 01:35:00.399 --> 01:35:03.039 it's guaranteed. You know that something that it wasn't in the plans was 1532 01:35:03.079 --> 01:35:06.079 going to happen, and that's people are interested in that. People are very 1533 01:35:06.119 --> 01:35:09.079 very I mean I was interested in that. I didn't I don't think I 1534 01:35:09.119 --> 01:35:12.279 got the show, but I was very interested in that. It's like the 1535 01:35:12.319 --> 01:35:15.920 last bastion of like, didn't didn't you and I watch? Didn't we watch 1536 01:35:15.920 --> 01:35:19.039 the Survivors stories together? This is the one he faced Sean Michaels right in 1537 01:35:19.239 --> 01:35:27.359 Orton? Uh in seven sounds right? And and he sells the super kick 1538 01:35:27.479 --> 01:35:30.279 like a fucking champ. Oh yeah he does. And uh but I think 1539 01:35:30.319 --> 01:35:32.720 we watched that together. I feel like we did. I could be wrong, 1540 01:35:32.760 --> 01:35:39.119 but interesting. I don't quite know where I don't know. So so 1541 01:35:39.159 --> 01:35:42.359 they have this situation where people know whatever is going to happen at No Mercy 1542 01:35:42.680 --> 01:35:45.720 is actually going to be something that they didn't plan on, and it's sort 1543 01:35:45.720 --> 01:35:49.279 of this air of unpredictability, which is still like that last bastion of unpredictability 1544 01:35:49.359 --> 01:35:54.640 Left and Wrestling, Yeah, where you know that the planners, the bookers, 1545 01:35:54.760 --> 01:35:58.680 the bosses don't have any control over the situation either. And they ended 1546 01:35:58.760 --> 01:36:01.159 up doing a thing where Triple H, who is going to wrestle a Maga 1547 01:36:01.199 --> 01:36:04.960 on the show, ends up going three stages. He beats Orton for the 1548 01:36:05.000 --> 01:36:08.439 belt, beats a maga and then loses the belt back to Orton on the 1549 01:36:08.439 --> 01:36:13.760 same show, right right, plugging him into that position. And so Sina 1550 01:36:13.800 --> 01:36:18.640 goes off to have his surgery and it's back when they had live Monday Raw, 1551 01:36:18.680 --> 01:36:21.920 then they would do with live ECW on Sci Fi on Tuesday night, 1552 01:36:23.359 --> 01:36:26.640 Oh my God, and that would be live from the site of the SmackDown 1553 01:36:26.680 --> 01:36:31.680 taping. So the SmackDown, though it air on Friday night, was taped 1554 01:36:31.920 --> 01:36:36.439 on Tuesday. So Tuesday was their only chance to go live with as much 1555 01:36:36.479 --> 01:36:40.920 time as they could, to give the fans as much time as possible to 1556 01:36:41.319 --> 01:36:43.880 you know, adjust to the fact that Sina wasn't going to be on the 1557 01:36:43.880 --> 01:36:46.199 show, and in fact that his very long title reign. I think it 1558 01:36:46.239 --> 01:36:51.880 was the longest since Hogan was over. And so even though it sounds so 1559 01:36:51.920 --> 01:36:55.960 weird to have Vince McMahon go out in the ECW show to make this announcement, 1560 01:36:56.079 --> 01:36:58.199 it was simply the last chance they had to get in front of a 1561 01:36:58.239 --> 01:37:02.520 live television mass audience to they could have inserted in the speckdown. But then 1562 01:37:02.680 --> 01:37:08.159 you're waiting three days for no reason to tell people. So they tell people 1563 01:37:08.279 --> 01:37:11.680 and this is what Vince McMahon says when he hits the ring the night after 1564 01:37:11.720 --> 01:37:19.560 Sina tears his peck in October two thousand and seven, before night, I've 1565 01:37:19.560 --> 01:37:29.479 come before you tonight with bad news. On Monday Night, rob WWA champion 1566 01:37:29.560 --> 01:37:36.119 John Ceno suffered a debilitating injury, requiring immediate surgery to repair all completely torn 1567 01:37:36.720 --> 01:37:45.199 right pectoral muscle. You might ask yourself, how did this happen? Who 1568 01:37:45.279 --> 01:37:55.239 is responsible? Let's go back to raw. As a result of this injury, 1569 01:37:55.319 --> 01:38:00.239 surgeons have informed us that mister Ceno will be out of action anywhere from 1570 01:38:00.319 --> 01:38:06.840 six months to a year. A year, they said, Therefore, it 1571 01:38:06.920 --> 01:38:13.840 is my duty, is w w E jery anyway you inform a worldwide television 1572 01:38:13.880 --> 01:38:17.880 audience and to inform each and every one of you that has of this moment. 1573 01:38:18.800 --> 01:38:39.319 John Cena is no longer w w E champion. He waits, He 1574 01:38:39.359 --> 01:38:44.159 waits to see if a chance will developer someone. The championship is now vacant. 1575 01:38:44.199 --> 01:38:48.960 However, this to be rectified. The championship will not be vacant for 1576 01:38:49.039 --> 01:38:53.640 very long. This sun, do you know, Mercy, there will be 1577 01:38:53.680 --> 01:39:00.479 a w w A Championship match, and what you will declare a new w 1578 01:39:00.720 --> 01:39:11.039 W A champion, therefore ensuring they're no mercy. This Sunday history will be 1579 01:39:11.239 --> 01:39:21.840 made. Pretty dejected Vince making the announcement. This is the post getting his 1580 01:39:21.880 --> 01:39:26.560 hair shaved at WrestleMania twenty three chance too, No, yeah, right, 1581 01:39:26.680 --> 01:39:30.000 exactly. The hair is growing in with the part he's got that weird Yeah, 1582 01:39:30.000 --> 01:39:33.079 it's that weird, very very short hair. Yeah, yeah, I 1583 01:39:33.119 --> 01:39:38.880 remember. So there's the announcement and SNA goes under the knife utter Doctor James 1584 01:39:38.920 --> 01:39:42.319 Andrews out a Birmingham, Alabama who's cut on most of the big Superstars and 1585 01:39:42.439 --> 01:39:46.399 WW over the years. I wonder if he ever like, thanks, you 1586 01:39:46.439 --> 01:39:55.239 know, Vince McMahon for all the injuries, doctor Jim. That's been a 1587 01:39:55.279 --> 01:39:59.880 wonderful uh, I mean the pipeline of business for him. He probably he 1588 01:40:00.000 --> 01:40:04.479 he has probably bought like fifteen boats because of the amount of surgeries he's had 1589 01:40:04.520 --> 01:40:09.239 to do for WB superstars. And if you think about it, like some 1590 01:40:09.279 --> 01:40:12.880 of these injuries, if not correctly repaired, would be career ending. Yep. 1591 01:40:13.039 --> 01:40:15.600 So he's also given Vince some racehorses to ride a little longer, right, 1592 01:40:15.680 --> 01:40:19.399 and think about the millions Jim Andrews has allowed them to make off the 1593 01:40:19.439 --> 01:40:25.199 backs of these guys going at you know, giving new life to guys like 1594 01:40:25.279 --> 01:40:29.239 Austin and Edge with the fucking next next fusion surgeries? Are you kidding you? 1595 01:40:29.319 --> 01:40:32.000 Yep? I mean think about Austin no longer contributing after like two thousand, 1596 01:40:32.439 --> 01:40:34.720 Like you're kidding me. I mean, honestly, I was. I 1597 01:40:35.359 --> 01:40:40.720 kind of half believed it. I was at that at that stage. Yep. 1598 01:40:41.680 --> 01:40:44.680 So Sina gets the surgery and again they're out there on their own television 1599 01:40:44.720 --> 01:40:47.840 saying up to a year. So the fan can be forgiven for not expecting 1600 01:40:47.880 --> 01:40:50.840 Johnsen at the Royal Rumble to summit at least is it? I mean, 1601 01:40:50.920 --> 01:40:54.640 I assume you're going to get into it. But is it a complete work? 1602 01:40:55.960 --> 01:40:58.039 No? I mean he has a surgery, of course not he has 1603 01:40:58.079 --> 01:41:00.159 the injury, but like, is the is the ret a complete work? 1604 01:41:00.279 --> 01:41:08.720 Or did he just really kick ass at recovery? And did he you know, 1605 01:41:09.159 --> 01:41:13.479 are his genetics just absurdly amazing at healing? In another moment of lap 1606 01:41:13.520 --> 01:41:15.760 serendipity, this show is picked out of the clear blue sky by a member 1607 01:41:15.760 --> 01:41:18.800 of the Solar system in terms of the hopper. At the same time that 1608 01:41:18.840 --> 01:41:23.399 seenas sits down for the aforementioned interview with Chris van Vliet, where he talks 1609 01:41:23.439 --> 01:41:27.119 about this very thing in more detail than I can remember him talking about it 1610 01:41:27.159 --> 01:41:30.920 anywhere else. So here is the exact answer to your question. It's something 1611 01:41:30.920 --> 01:41:38.800 we're pretty good at here at TOLF exactly. So I completely respect James Andrews 1612 01:41:38.840 --> 01:41:43.640 who did the surgery, and Kevin Welkin who did help me with physical therapy. 1613 01:41:44.760 --> 01:41:49.720 They have to put a realistic timeline on their work, and that timeline 1614 01:41:49.760 --> 01:41:54.000 is based on the construct that you do physical therapy three times a week. 1615 01:41:54.079 --> 01:41:57.520 On their work, I would do physical therapy three times a day, and 1616 01:41:57.640 --> 01:42:00.960 I moved to Birmingham and my goal as a professional was to get back on 1617 01:42:00.960 --> 01:42:06.359 the field in a safe manner. So because I just did a lot six 1618 01:42:06.479 --> 01:42:13.079 days a week, you heal. You know, I was pretty much put 1619 01:42:13.119 --> 01:42:15.520 in a heel tank. I didn't have to go back. The reason they 1620 01:42:15.520 --> 01:42:18.600 say six months for a peck tear because a lot of people that tear their 1621 01:42:18.640 --> 01:42:23.800 pecks maybe they did it during recreational sport, or maybe they're a student athlete, 1622 01:42:23.880 --> 01:42:28.479 or they have other responsibilities. He's got families or whatever. You have 1623 01:42:28.560 --> 01:42:33.359 to split time I was like a physical therapy terminator. Show up for the 1624 01:42:33.399 --> 01:42:35.760 morning session, go get some food, show up for the noon session, 1625 01:42:35.800 --> 01:42:39.319 Go get some food. Show up for the afternoon session as they're closing. 1626 01:42:39.359 --> 01:42:42.840 All right, guys see in a few hours. And I just did that 1627 01:42:42.920 --> 01:42:48.279 for three months and everyone Doctor Andrews was fine, Kevin was fine. I 1628 01:42:48.319 --> 01:42:53.439 passed all my tests, and I passed it like two and a half months 1629 01:42:53.479 --> 01:42:57.000 in and the rumble was coming up and they're like, okay, we'll keep 1630 01:42:57.000 --> 01:42:59.359 it a secret. I don't want to advertise you because I don't even know 1631 01:42:59.359 --> 01:43:00.800 if you're going to be there. But then when everybody gave the okay, 1632 01:43:01.560 --> 01:43:06.119 they're like, we really, we really have the chance to keep something secret. 1633 01:43:06.479 --> 01:43:12.000 And it was only let out to like a few people. And if 1634 01:43:12.000 --> 01:43:15.760 you see the like once again, we only remember the moments. Tell me 1635 01:43:15.800 --> 01:43:19.640 anything I did in that, you're one bingo. But the action to win 1636 01:43:19.760 --> 01:43:25.960 was very simple. I remember that. Everybody remembers that because and the look 1637 01:43:26.000 --> 01:43:29.520 on Triple Ah's face. Yes, the action was very simple because it was 1638 01:43:29.640 --> 01:43:33.880 as it happens. We couldn't really plan anything crazy because we didn't want people 1639 01:43:33.880 --> 01:43:38.399 to tell people, to tell people to spoil the surprise. So it was 1640 01:43:38.439 --> 01:43:43.600 like, he's coming out, He's gonna win, that's happening now. Oh 1641 01:43:43.960 --> 01:43:46.079 so it was great. What does that mean the other twenty nine people in 1642 01:43:46.079 --> 01:43:51.399 the match thought somebody else was gonna win? Uh I didn't even Yes, 1643 01:43:51.439 --> 01:43:57.079 I think so wow. Yeah. I mean I came up to the gorilla 1644 01:43:57.119 --> 01:44:01.159 position at number thirty when like twenty eight came out, and I've been not 1645 01:44:01.319 --> 01:44:04.760 like WHOA. Usually they'll like nowadays, they'll kind of hide guys off site 1646 01:44:04.840 --> 01:44:08.039 or in a bus or something. I was in like a broom closet at 1647 01:44:08.039 --> 01:44:14.239 the garden and just came up to tourly ramping, walked right into a full 1648 01:44:14.279 --> 01:44:16.159 gear like ready to go, and we just knew that it was going to 1649 01:44:16.199 --> 01:44:20.760 be remedial and basic, but we were hedging on the surprise. They're not 1650 01:44:20.800 --> 01:44:25.359 going to really grade the art, and plus if we keep it basic, 1651 01:44:25.439 --> 01:44:28.520 we don't really test this out. So that gives me another month and a 1652 01:44:28.600 --> 01:44:32.840 half to build and heal and we're fine. So it was all for the 1653 01:44:32.880 --> 01:44:40.239 good of the moment. You satisfied with that answer, I mean that's uh, 1654 01:44:40.479 --> 01:44:44.319 well, what what I'm really I'm satisfied with that answer, but I'm 1655 01:44:44.319 --> 01:44:49.239 not satisfied with is the fact that he sounds like he's he's put himself in 1656 01:44:49.279 --> 01:44:51.760 a closet and doesn't want anyone else to hear that he's doing this interview. 1657 01:44:53.119 --> 01:44:56.039 Well it might be true. Maybe. Yeah, he's got that sort of 1658 01:44:56.079 --> 01:44:59.239 like this is my this voice. You know, he's like a voiceover actor. 1659 01:44:59.279 --> 01:45:01.479 He's got all the voice. I'm going to sit here and I'm going 1660 01:45:01.560 --> 01:45:04.359 to tell you exactly what happened. You see, I was on the toilet 1661 01:45:04.399 --> 01:45:08.359 as i am right now, and all of a sudden, I said, 1662 01:45:08.399 --> 01:45:10.479 you know what, I'm going to tear my back and then I'm going to 1663 01:45:10.520 --> 01:45:14.319 glue it back on with with gorilla glue, and we'll see what happens. 1664 01:45:15.840 --> 01:45:16.800 Do you want to call it gorilla glue? I don't care what you call 1665 01:45:16.840 --> 01:45:21.800 it. Would I be surprised in thirty years to hear someone say that Seene 1666 01:45:21.840 --> 01:45:28.720 actually got his hands on some highly experimental healing accelerators. No oh no, 1667 01:45:28.840 --> 01:45:31.119 yeah, he's trying about you're talking about that kind of shit too. Absolutely, 1668 01:45:31.520 --> 01:45:38.680 listen, listen. If if if you were standing next to Sena In 1669 01:45:38.960 --> 01:45:43.600 in the fall of two thousand and seven, you know, would you see 1670 01:45:44.319 --> 01:45:49.880 needle marks? Absolutely would you see needle moving, would you You might see 1671 01:45:49.920 --> 01:45:56.359 them moving in the wrong direction, but you definitely see you definitely see that 1672 01:45:56.439 --> 01:46:00.880 he had some some some pokage going on. That's you're trying to discredit his 1673 01:46:00.920 --> 01:46:03.199 hard work, and I won't stand for it. Hey, hey, you 1674 01:46:03.239 --> 01:46:06.159 know what, Listen, even when you needle yourself, you can have hard 1675 01:46:06.159 --> 01:46:10.479 work. Yeah. In fact, the whole point of it is it allows 1676 01:46:10.520 --> 01:46:14.680 you to work three times harder than nature would allow. But yeah, it's 1677 01:46:14.840 --> 01:46:15.720 that's where he did. He just moved in. I'm I'd love to hear 1678 01:46:15.840 --> 01:46:18.640 James Andrews tell the story of seeing him in the office three times a week 1679 01:46:18.680 --> 01:46:20.560 and where did he go to eat? And that's what I need to know. 1680 01:46:21.079 --> 01:46:24.479 These are exactly I don't want to know. I want to know what 1681 01:46:24.640 --> 01:46:29.600 Mongolian barbecue, Yes, Mongolian barbecue. You know, maybe on Fridays he'd 1682 01:46:29.840 --> 01:46:32.359 you know, he'd splurge and get a burger someplace and some you know, 1683 01:46:32.439 --> 01:46:36.319 some Alabama dive or whatever, right because he doesn't have to really worry about 1684 01:46:36.319 --> 01:46:41.439 his gut so much yet not yet. So yeah, I mean that that's 1685 01:46:41.439 --> 01:46:44.880 what he said he did, and I was grateful that the interview came out 1686 01:46:44.880 --> 01:46:47.119 when it did, so shout outs to Chris van Vliet, who I know 1687 01:46:47.119 --> 01:46:51.560 knows of the show, for posting that and uh and getting that interview in 1688 01:46:51.600 --> 01:46:56.359 because it helps this this mission quite a bit because that's a bit of detail. 1689 01:46:56.359 --> 01:46:59.800 I'm not sure we'd be able to easily retrieve or at least retrieve with 1690 01:46:59.880 --> 01:47:03.880 the the twenty twenty four eyes looking at it. So that's great. As 1691 01:47:03.960 --> 01:47:08.640 to the question of you know people in the ring thinking someone else was going 1692 01:47:08.640 --> 01:47:10.920 to win the rumble and seen it kind of being flum mixed at the question 1693 01:47:11.319 --> 01:47:14.760 now as like the answers know, like people knew that there was a number 1694 01:47:14.800 --> 01:47:16.680 thirty that was a mystery and that that number thirty was going to win the 1695 01:47:16.720 --> 01:47:19.520 rumble. People knew that, but what they didn't know except for a very 1696 01:47:19.560 --> 01:47:23.399 small circle, is who number thirty was going to be. And we know 1697 01:47:23.479 --> 01:47:26.600 this because of a few bits of testimony on the night that we're going to 1698 01:47:26.640 --> 01:47:30.520 get to here in just a moment. But at least the Figure four Weekly 1699 01:47:30.560 --> 01:47:33.800 said that that there was an expectation going into the show that Undertaker was going 1700 01:47:33.800 --> 01:47:36.800 to win the rumble. Wow, he was going to be a back to 1701 01:47:36.840 --> 01:47:41.079 backer, a back to backer I mean they still closed WrestleMania with him anyway 1702 01:47:41.079 --> 01:47:45.199 against Edge, So you can see that being only accelerated if that was the 1703 01:47:45.239 --> 01:47:48.680 plan, that that being only better if by the way you have you have 1704 01:47:48.760 --> 01:47:51.399 you just have you been on your computer at all? Have you seen this 1705 01:47:51.439 --> 01:47:54.760 fucking clip of John Ceena. I don't want to see it, Pasa. 1706 01:47:54.840 --> 01:47:58.000 I gotta be honest with you. It's so bizarre. I'm not into this 1707 01:47:58.079 --> 01:48:01.119 new bid to like this only fans. I'm not into this like marketing thing 1708 01:48:01.119 --> 01:48:05.800 he's doing is so bizarre. He's got the uh, he's got the envelope 1709 01:48:06.680 --> 01:48:10.800 for the Oscar whatever Oscar he's presenting. He's got it on like that's all 1710 01:48:10.840 --> 01:48:14.199 he's were. He's on his crush. You see the you see like the 1711 01:48:14.199 --> 01:48:18.279 the just all the everything. It's absolutely atrocious, so bizarre. It's so 1712 01:48:18.399 --> 01:48:23.279 bizarre, Like, dude, come on, just you're a fake athlete. 1713 01:48:23.319 --> 01:48:25.800 No, that's all you are. He's brand he's branding a movie. I 1714 01:48:25.800 --> 01:48:28.920 mean, he's gorilla marketing. Yeah, you want to talk about gorilla glue, 1715 01:48:29.000 --> 01:48:35.840 right, So so yeah, Taker winning was was talked about. It 1716 01:48:35.920 --> 01:48:41.600 talked about in you know the wrestling press is like an an expected direction. 1717 01:48:41.800 --> 01:48:47.239 It's not entirely clear. I think Prichard said like six weeks out they knew 1718 01:48:47.239 --> 01:48:54.159 to expect Sena in the rumble. I'm not sure exactly how far out they 1719 01:48:54.239 --> 01:48:56.680 knew that not only was Sena gonna be there, but that we're gonna put 1720 01:48:56.720 --> 01:48:59.039 him over in the match. I think it would be kind of hard, 1721 01:48:59.039 --> 01:49:01.039 honestly. Don't you to actually have him come in and not win? Do 1722 01:49:01.039 --> 01:49:03.640 you think there'd be a way to do that that wouldn't just piss everybody off. 1723 01:49:03.760 --> 01:49:08.159 You can't do that. I mean, you got to have everybody like 1724 01:49:08.199 --> 01:49:10.199 the same thing. When they did the surprise with Edge like a couple of 1725 01:49:10.279 --> 01:49:15.199 years later, didn't he go on to win, Yes, lose, I 1726 01:49:15.239 --> 01:49:17.920 don't remember, but you know you have to do that. If you're going 1727 01:49:18.000 --> 01:49:23.279 to have a surprise guy like that come out at number thirty or come out 1728 01:49:23.279 --> 01:49:25.920 in a late number, he's got to come out of a late number two 1729 01:49:25.920 --> 01:49:28.600 because, like he says in that clip, he's unsure how the peck is 1730 01:49:28.640 --> 01:49:31.399 actually going to hold up right exactly, and that that's the thing about coming 1731 01:49:31.439 --> 01:49:34.279 back early. There are examples. I know Purchard talked about Mark Merrill coming 1732 01:49:34.319 --> 01:49:38.319 back too early from an injury and immediately losing all the progress and having to 1733 01:49:38.319 --> 01:49:40.479 go back on the shelf. That's not what It's not worth it. If 1734 01:49:40.479 --> 01:49:43.600 you're going to talk the time to have the procedure. I mean, Jesus 1735 01:49:43.680 --> 01:49:46.199 Christ, just make sure you're not going to hurt yourself again immediately. And 1736 01:49:46.279 --> 01:49:49.239 so that was kind of obviously on their mind. But I like the idea, 1737 01:49:49.279 --> 01:49:50.920 you know, it's like, if we can get through just a couple 1738 01:49:50.920 --> 01:49:54.720 of and I don't know, he was kind of downplaying it. I thought 1739 01:49:54.720 --> 01:49:56.800 it was pretty hot action when he went in there and did I didn't think 1740 01:49:56.840 --> 01:49:58.800 it was a limit. No, I don't think so at all. I 1741 01:49:58.800 --> 01:50:03.279 mean he seemed like himself seemed he didn't seem like a slow or or or 1742 01:50:03.439 --> 01:50:06.000 reserved. He saw like John Cena when he got in there. Yeah, 1743 01:50:06.039 --> 01:50:10.000 yeah, this he's a kind of him. And Triple A says it too 1744 01:50:10.600 --> 01:50:13.199 when we hear from him on this match. They kind of I don't know, 1745 01:50:13.199 --> 01:50:15.520 there's like some criticism of the time that they seem to that seems to 1746 01:50:15.520 --> 01:50:18.720 have stuck in their craw that they're trying to address that the action between them 1747 01:50:18.720 --> 01:50:20.920 wasn't any good. It's like, what are you talking about? It's like, 1748 01:50:21.079 --> 01:50:26.039 uh, you know, it's not Look, look it's not it's not 1749 01:50:26.079 --> 01:50:30.840 a Hogan Warrior, but it's it's it's decent enough, and you know they 1750 01:50:30.880 --> 01:50:32.319 have that moment. And also, I mean, this is like fucking Steve 1751 01:50:32.359 --> 01:50:36.600 Austin talking about Summer Sam ninety eight. It's a great fucking match, absolutely, 1752 01:50:36.840 --> 01:50:39.680 you know, Like I don't. I'm not saying this Royal Rumble is 1753 01:50:39.680 --> 01:50:42.800 a great fucking match. But it's fine, and the moments are good and 1754 01:50:42.840 --> 01:50:45.720 Johnsena looks great. Yeah, what do you think about the rumble altogether? 1755 01:50:45.760 --> 01:50:47.640 Because I thought it was actually a pretty good rumble. It's fine, It's 1756 01:50:47.680 --> 01:50:51.239 fine, you know, I listen, there are some moments. I appreciate 1757 01:50:51.319 --> 01:50:56.680 rumbles that that that hold off on eliminations. I like a lot of guys 1758 01:50:56.680 --> 01:50:59.319 in the ring, and they definitely you know, I didn't I didn't remember 1759 01:50:59.319 --> 01:51:02.079 that at all being thing. I don't recall it being a thing for a 1760 01:51:02.119 --> 01:51:09.760 lot of a lot of rumbles, kind of like post two thousand, you 1761 01:51:09.760 --> 01:51:12.600 know. And I counted at one point there were thirteen guys in the ring 1762 01:51:12.600 --> 01:51:15.079 at one point, and I'm a big fan of that. Yeah, when 1763 01:51:15.079 --> 01:51:16.439 the ring was really full, I was like yes, there's nowhere to bump. 1764 01:51:16.479 --> 01:51:21.319 This is great, Yeah, exactly. And you know I thought it's 1765 01:51:21.359 --> 01:51:25.359 fine. You know, it's fine. It was it's a pretty good rumble. 1766 01:51:25.560 --> 01:51:30.119 It's not great, but it's a it's it's it's better than I would 1767 01:51:30.159 --> 01:51:32.600 have thought from that time period. I think two thousand and seven way better. 1768 01:51:34.319 --> 01:51:41.000 But this one was was totally, totally fine. I had some funny 1769 01:51:41.039 --> 01:51:44.279 moments and stuff, and you know, I appreciate those. And I also 1770 01:51:44.359 --> 01:51:46.119 like when guys are one of there are a lot of teases. I don't 1771 01:51:46.199 --> 01:51:50.239 like when when guys are just kind of brought in and then they get thrown 1772 01:51:50.279 --> 01:51:54.000 out without being teased to be thrown out at some point, Like I think 1773 01:51:54.439 --> 01:51:59.239 rumble teases are essential to make a rumble good, to make people think or 1774 01:51:59.279 --> 01:52:05.199 to like or false eliminations are very very important in a royal rumble to make 1775 01:52:05.239 --> 01:52:12.479 it just seem you know, like it slows it down but keeps the action 1776 01:52:13.199 --> 01:52:15.760 at a decent pace. You know, like when they just come in and 1777 01:52:15.760 --> 01:52:19.800 people get tossed at random without ever you know, being in jeopardy at one 1778 01:52:19.800 --> 01:52:24.279 point, it just sucks. It's it's it's lame. And they were they 1779 01:52:24.279 --> 01:52:27.199 were doing that for a long time, and they were kind of going back 1780 01:52:27.239 --> 01:52:30.159 to that. I mean, two thousand and seven was the first time I 1781 01:52:30.199 --> 01:52:34.840 remember them really going back to to long runs and people having long runs in 1782 01:52:34.880 --> 01:52:42.039 the Rumble. And you know, Jesus, I remember that being a very 1783 01:52:42.079 --> 01:52:45.520 big thing. Like remember twousand and seven Rumble was a very It was like 1784 01:52:45.560 --> 01:52:47.800 a big throwback to me of of of some of the rumbles that I loved 1785 01:52:47.920 --> 01:52:51.560 growing up. Yep, yep. And I like about this Rumble too, 1786 01:52:51.640 --> 01:52:58.560 is you have you have an actual well spread out star power arrangement, Like 1787 01:52:58.600 --> 01:53:00.279 they get that wrong way too often lately. I feel like in the past 1788 01:53:00.279 --> 01:53:03.479 few rumbles, like you know, you got six people anyone gives a shit 1789 01:53:03.520 --> 01:53:06.560 about, You've got probably three people anyone thinks can win. For God's sakes, 1790 01:53:06.640 --> 01:53:10.560 spread them out, yes, don't have them all come in after twenty 1791 01:53:10.640 --> 01:53:13.720 or like you know, there should be an undertaker, a Shawn Michaels, 1792 01:53:13.720 --> 01:53:16.399 a battista, a triple H caliber in the whole rumble. Like yeah, 1793 01:53:16.439 --> 01:53:20.199 I mean, listen, I I think you should always save your big guns 1794 01:53:20.239 --> 01:53:27.560 for the last the last ten for sure, Like you got to have you 1795 01:53:27.600 --> 01:53:29.560 know, you got to have a top guy in the ring, the whole 1796 01:53:29.640 --> 01:53:32.039 rumble. It doesn't have to be the winner. Sure, I mean, 1797 01:53:32.079 --> 01:53:38.560 you've gotta have somebody special, you know. But yeah, yeah, I 1798 01:53:38.560 --> 01:53:40.800 agree. I agree with that, like you should have it pretty well spread 1799 01:53:40.800 --> 01:53:45.960 out. But I do think you should save your big guns for the twenties 1800 01:53:45.319 --> 01:53:47.600 and up. Yes, I agree, I agree with that. I think, 1801 01:53:48.399 --> 01:53:49.840 you know, it's sort of like, like I said, there's six 1802 01:53:49.840 --> 01:53:53.359 people anyone cares about, there's three that can win. I'm talking about the 1803 01:53:53.359 --> 01:53:56.640 six, not the three. The three go at the end, I unless 1804 01:53:56.640 --> 01:53:59.560 you're doing the gimmick where number one is going to win this year, which 1805 01:53:59.600 --> 01:54:01.680 is always a good move too. So although I like to in fact that 1806 01:54:01.720 --> 01:54:04.239 Batista was in there for a long time, he was number eight what I'm 1807 01:54:04.279 --> 01:54:09.000 saying, Patisa's great exactly and an undertaker and Sean were there for for a 1808 01:54:09.000 --> 01:54:12.079 long time, it just didn't seem like there was this big chunk in the 1809 01:54:12.079 --> 01:54:14.720 middle of the rumble where like you had eight nine people come out that no 1810 01:54:14.760 --> 01:54:16.159 one gives a fuck about. They do that a lot, and both the 1811 01:54:16.199 --> 01:54:18.960 men's and women's rumbles lately. If you know what they do now is they 1812 01:54:19.279 --> 01:54:24.640 save it for a bunch of fucking like nobody cares who who's in the last 1813 01:54:24.680 --> 01:54:29.760 ten for this last Rumble was awful. It was like they got rid of 1814 01:54:29.760 --> 01:54:32.960 all their star power earlier on Yeah, No, No Go it was it 1815 01:54:33.000 --> 01:54:38.239 was spread it out right. Every three four entrance should be someone that you 1816 01:54:38.279 --> 01:54:41.159 know that people can get out of their seat for. And what's cruel about 1817 01:54:41.159 --> 01:54:45.159 this is you had the aforementioned you know that, the core, the Batista, 1818 01:54:45.239 --> 01:54:48.720 Sina, Triple eight, sean Undertaker, but then you also had the 1819 01:54:48.760 --> 01:54:54.079 next generation of guys in a nice glimpse at who they were going to be, 1820 01:54:54.119 --> 01:54:56.520 like seampunk. He comes out, you can hear it, you can 1821 01:54:56.560 --> 01:55:00.439 hear the people are going to get behind this guy. Cody is there, 1822 01:55:00.640 --> 01:55:03.279 which is just fascinating to see him considering where he would go to see him 1823 01:55:03.279 --> 01:55:08.600 in Triple h go at it? What that's something bizarre world man. So 1824 01:55:08.680 --> 01:55:12.319 it actually isn't the worst show to go back and look at in hindsight because 1825 01:55:12.319 --> 01:55:15.720 of the what would end up happening to the people in the rumbling. Yes 1826 01:55:15.199 --> 01:55:18.359 Pritchard, didn't he say on the Conrad Show that was six weeks they had 1827 01:55:18.399 --> 01:55:23.840 about to his memory of knowledge that seeing it was going to be back and 1828 01:55:23.880 --> 01:55:26.880 that they would put him over. So how did they handle it? Seena 1829 01:55:26.920 --> 01:55:30.239 mentioned that clip we played boss a spiral staircase, a ramp. Do you 1830 01:55:30.239 --> 01:55:33.880 know what he's talking about? Like a mini at the garden? Ah? 1831 01:55:36.399 --> 01:55:40.920 No, okay, that's fine. Well I don't think so hopefully, I 1832 01:55:40.920 --> 01:55:43.920 don't know. I don't know. He's what I will say, this is 1833 01:55:44.319 --> 01:55:47.840 pre it's pre renovations. So it's not the Guard Garden. You knew, 1834 01:55:47.880 --> 01:55:53.359 Yeah, you know, it's not that Yeah, because they they it was 1835 01:55:53.399 --> 01:55:56.760 twenty thirteen, I think when when everything changed. So and speaking of the 1836 01:55:56.800 --> 01:55:59.479 look of the building, I mean, if you're going to build a new 1837 01:55:59.520 --> 01:56:01.800 arena, for fuck's sake, can you at least do a signature roof. 1838 01:56:02.199 --> 01:56:06.640 Oh, honest to god, are you not building a roof that's instantly recognizable 1839 01:56:06.640 --> 01:56:13.479 on TV? I mean, that's so, it's so fucking it's so the 1840 01:56:13.640 --> 01:56:15.880 it's the greatest roof. I'll say, it's the greatest ceiling. And honestly, 1841 01:56:15.920 --> 01:56:20.000 it's one of the reasons why I like that fucking like I like that, 1842 01:56:20.279 --> 01:56:25.760 uh, the fucking the scope in Norfolk like because it's got that weird 1843 01:56:25.800 --> 01:56:30.960 looking at. Ceilings are essential to to an arena. But no one is 1844 01:56:30.000 --> 01:56:32.399 ever going to build an arena with the signature roof. Again, apparently they 1845 01:56:32.439 --> 01:56:38.479 all have to be this bottomless cavern of score Bride. Right, come on, 1846 01:56:38.560 --> 01:56:41.800 folks, they they retrofitted the garden. It looks great. It looks 1847 01:56:41.800 --> 01:56:44.119 as modern as it needs to look. So it's not. Don't act like 1848 01:56:44.520 --> 01:56:48.760 it has to look that fucking formulaic and that you know, modular yep to 1849 01:56:48.840 --> 01:56:55.239 be modern and handle modern demands. So there there is the situation, and 1850 01:56:56.119 --> 01:57:00.479 we turn to Hornswoggle's book. Dylan Possel came out with the boat his time, 1851 01:57:00.520 --> 01:57:01.920 and of course he factors in on this show. He does a skip 1852 01:57:01.960 --> 01:57:06.640 backstage with Vince. This is after the revelation Boss that indeed Hornswaggle was Vince 1853 01:57:06.720 --> 01:57:12.920 McMahon's bastard's son. That was the angle thoughts, Oh, I believe that 1854 01:57:13.920 --> 01:57:17.439 you know that that it's important that that the that the owner of the company 1855 01:57:17.479 --> 01:57:24.439 does have multiple children in the idea that we can then progress the story on 1856 01:57:24.520 --> 01:57:30.439 a on a level of excitement and originality. Yeah, I believe that best 1857 01:57:30.479 --> 01:57:36.520 practice requires things to maybe be circled back and right, you know, take 1858 01:57:36.560 --> 01:57:45.520 things offline, you know, create a disruptive value in different entertainers. So 1859 01:57:45.560 --> 01:57:48.600 how does this this storyline create a disruptive value. I believe the fact that 1860 01:57:48.680 --> 01:57:56.960 I that I birthed a little person adds value not only to him, but 1861 01:57:57.520 --> 01:58:05.399 into the prospects of my ability to redistribute my my, my life genes, 1862 01:58:09.880 --> 01:58:15.560 your life genes, well, yes, my my am not to be confused 1863 01:58:15.600 --> 01:58:21.640 with your guest genes or my genes. Are you what genes, my lee 1864 01:58:21.800 --> 01:58:29.560 genes or any other I mean, the genes that I have inside my testicles 1865 01:58:31.479 --> 01:58:39.359 provide any elements of surprise and excitement for a multitude of individuals and things about 1866 01:58:39.399 --> 01:58:42.560 nature. Oh so, I'm glad you said that, because I was wondering 1867 01:58:42.560 --> 01:58:46.680 how far it could extend. And if it is indeed, like every other 1868 01:58:46.720 --> 01:58:50.439 fucking thing you say, also relevant to things of the nature, have the 1869 01:58:50.520 --> 01:58:55.840 thing we're talking about, then then I can I can draw a clearer fence 1870 01:58:55.880 --> 01:59:00.880 around what we're talking about, which is nice when you say circle back, 1871 01:59:00.920 --> 01:59:05.640 what's what's that? Uh? The circle? Well, you know, because 1872 01:59:05.640 --> 01:59:10.319 we're we a lot of times. You know, the WW is a family 1873 01:59:10.319 --> 01:59:14.279 owned business, and so my family has been at the at the forefront of 1874 01:59:14.920 --> 01:59:20.720 the the the company and the television vehicles, and so we thought, maybe, 1875 01:59:20.800 --> 01:59:24.359 hey, you know what, let's let's kind of bring it back to 1876 01:59:24.439 --> 01:59:28.920 family. Let's circle back, let's bring it back. Let's kind of figure 1877 01:59:28.920 --> 01:59:33.640 out how we can again relate this company to a family, a family uh 1878 01:59:34.119 --> 01:59:41.039 orientation, right, a familial orientation. So you said you wanted to go 1879 01:59:41.199 --> 01:59:45.039 more towards a family style product. Yes, you meant having a new, 1880 01:59:45.119 --> 01:59:49.159 illegitimate family member. I thought that that would be the best way to not 1881 01:59:49.239 --> 02:00:00.079 only uh progress the McMahon family storyline, but also add an entertaining value to 1882 02:00:00.079 --> 02:00:06.119 to the television product. Got it. Yeah, So, in addition to 1883 02:00:06.680 --> 02:00:11.920 insight on the storyline that we mentioned and outside for that matter, okay, 1884 02:00:12.039 --> 02:00:16.000 I was afraid of that, Swaggle also gives us a quick glimpse as to 1885 02:00:16.119 --> 02:00:19.359 how the talent was processing the fact that there was this mystery guy in the 1886 02:00:19.439 --> 02:00:21.960 rumble and what they were and were not being told. This is from his 1887 02:00:23.000 --> 02:00:28.119 book Life Is Short and so am I. We knew there was something that 1888 02:00:28.159 --> 02:00:30.279 we weren't being told that night because the lineup for the rubble match backstage only 1889 02:00:30.319 --> 02:00:33.319 had twenty nine guys on it at the pre show meeting. Each year they'd 1890 02:00:33.359 --> 02:00:36.600 get all the people in the brumble together go through the key spots and eliminations 1891 02:00:36.760 --> 02:00:40.399 until they brought it down to the final few. Then they'd ask everyone else 1892 02:00:40.600 --> 02:00:43.399 to leave. That's got to be a moment, man, Wow, we 1893 02:00:43.439 --> 02:00:49.199 everyone to leave the room place. I'd let everyone to please, you know, 1894 02:00:49.359 --> 02:00:56.000 evacuate the the the temple we're currently in. Pleased. Vince needs to 1895 02:00:56.000 --> 02:00:59.199 talk to his top guys. Can everyone please leave? The top guys need 1896 02:00:59.600 --> 02:01:03.439 need needed an education, I'd assume, he writes that year. They then 1897 02:01:03.520 --> 02:01:05.720 told Batista, Hunter, and Kine what was going on, as well as 1898 02:01:05.720 --> 02:01:09.680 maybe mentioning it to Mark, Henry Chavo Junior and Carledo, all of whom 1899 02:01:09.720 --> 02:01:12.640 John eliminated as soon as he got to the ring. But for all I 1900 02:01:12.640 --> 02:01:15.600 know, they might have taken those three guys aside and only said, hey, 1901 02:01:15.720 --> 02:01:18.439 there's a surprise guy coming out at number thirty. He'll eliminate you as 1902 02:01:18.479 --> 02:01:20.920 soon as he comes out. From what I know, John got there after 1903 02:01:20.960 --> 02:01:24.800 the show started and hung out in a bus until just before he came out. 1904 02:01:24.920 --> 02:01:27.319 It's been tough to keep things surprising and wrestling in the age of social 1905 02:01:27.319 --> 02:01:30.000 media, but it's great when it happens. And on that night. It 1906 02:01:30.119 --> 02:01:33.119 made for one of those moments no one we'll ever forget. So that's a 1907 02:01:33.279 --> 02:01:39.039 perspective of the talent, you know, speaking This match is actually still going 1908 02:01:39.079 --> 02:01:44.000 on the Rumbled Nate World Rock talk about it. Hornschwager was never eliminated. 1909 02:01:44.079 --> 02:01:45.720 He was not. He never went over the top row. No, they 1910 02:01:45.720 --> 02:01:48.800 say they just qualified Finley. Yeah, but that had nothing to do with 1911 02:01:49.039 --> 02:01:53.600 we had a separate number than horn Swatt. Yeah, Hornschlocker was in the 1912 02:01:53.640 --> 02:01:56.760 match. He never got to toss over the top rope. So to this 1913 02:01:56.880 --> 02:02:00.840 day he's got a claim that's right. Is there anybody else in rubble history 1914 02:02:00.840 --> 02:02:03.399 they can say the same? I think so, no of I have never 1915 02:02:03.479 --> 02:02:08.479 I don't recall that at all. I mean except no, because he was 1916 02:02:08.520 --> 02:02:13.000 disqualified by not showing into the I don't say Savage potentially because he didn't show 1917 02:02:13.560 --> 02:02:15.720 at the ninety one Rumble, but I don't think so. I don't think 1918 02:02:15.720 --> 02:02:19.159 that that doesn't count. Like when the rumble, if you if you miss 1919 02:02:19.239 --> 02:02:23.680 your your spot, because you have the two minutes to come out, So 1920 02:02:23.720 --> 02:02:29.039 if you if you don't come out within that two minute window, then you're 1921 02:02:29.079 --> 02:02:35.840 eliminated by forfeit. But as somebody who entered the match and was never tossed 1922 02:02:35.880 --> 02:02:40.199 over the top rope. No that I believe Swoggle is the only one. 1923 02:02:40.399 --> 02:02:45.720 The Swags is the only the Swags. The Swags. Remember when we saw 1924 02:02:45.760 --> 02:02:50.600 him at Russell at Starcast. I do remember that at the whole Jelly came 1925 02:02:50.680 --> 02:02:56.079 swaggling by that there was something weird what happened there. He was talking to 1926 02:02:56.239 --> 02:02:59.680 Dave about something. You're talking to Dave Meltzer about a huge crowd that they 1927 02:02:59.760 --> 02:03:03.239 drew, and somebody else showed up, and Madden showed up. Ark Madden 1928 02:03:03.319 --> 02:03:06.640 showed up and like it was just it was, this is a weird thing. 1929 02:03:06.640 --> 02:03:14.479 And I had never felt more awkward at that, like around these people 1930 02:03:14.560 --> 02:03:19.119 like I have no reason to be here at all, tremendous. So that's 1931 02:03:19.119 --> 02:03:21.600 a bit of talent perspective on what was happening in the rumble that night. 1932 02:03:21.640 --> 02:03:25.960 But fortunately Jim Corderis, who went on to be an analyst for the Fight 1933 02:03:26.000 --> 02:03:28.920 Network and read a book and kind of open up about his experiences at WW 1934 02:03:29.279 --> 02:03:31.840 was one of the referees assigned to be in the inner circle for that whole 1935 02:03:31.880 --> 02:03:34.600 thing because you have to smarten up the refs because they have to, you 1936 02:03:34.680 --> 02:03:39.800 know, convey appropriate communication at the end of the rumble from ringside and their 1937 02:03:39.800 --> 02:03:43.680 earpieces to make sure everything's going as planned. And so when it came time 1938 02:03:43.760 --> 02:03:46.199 to smarten up, the four officials that had to know that it was going 1939 02:03:46.239 --> 02:03:49.960 to be John Cena. Oh yeah, Jimmy Corderis. Lets us know really 1940 02:03:50.039 --> 02:03:54.640 how it went down that night in New York. Well, what happened there 1941 02:03:54.800 --> 02:03:58.880 was we were all called to the meeting and there was twenty nine participants, 1942 02:03:59.239 --> 02:04:01.960 twenty nine of the participants in the rumble and the four referees that were there, 1943 02:04:02.680 --> 02:04:05.399 and we all went through the meeting until it came down to the final 1944 02:04:05.439 --> 02:04:11.119 four, and they kept referring to this thirtieth person as the surprise entrant. 1945 02:04:11.199 --> 02:04:15.319 They never named him. And once he got down to the final four, 1946 02:04:15.439 --> 02:04:19.439 which was the three remaining and the surprise, they asked everybody to step out 1947 02:04:19.439 --> 02:04:25.399 of the room except for the four referees and the three guys remaining, and 1948 02:04:25.439 --> 02:04:29.439 then they filled us in and they told us who that thirtieth participant was going 1949 02:04:29.479 --> 02:04:32.119 to be a big surprise because John Cena had an injury. He was supposed 1950 02:04:32.119 --> 02:04:36.560 to be out for the rumble, and even most likely out for WrestleMania, 1951 02:04:38.199 --> 02:04:41.439 and nobody expected him back, so it was a huge surprise. They didn't 1952 02:04:41.439 --> 02:04:44.840 want it leaking out to anybody. They swore us the secrecy. They said, 1953 02:04:45.000 --> 02:04:46.359 if this thing gets out, we're coming to everybody to find out where 1954 02:04:46.399 --> 02:04:49.279 the leak was. So, you know, I got asked several times during 1955 02:04:49.279 --> 02:04:51.960 the day by the other referees, hey, man, who's a surprise, 1956 02:04:53.039 --> 02:04:55.920 And I'm like, dude, I ain't telling you. You should be surprised 1957 02:04:55.960 --> 02:04:59.439 like everybody else. I take a little pride in the fact that I didn't 1958 02:04:59.479 --> 02:05:02.279 spill the be but it was kind of cool because it ended up being John 1959 02:05:02.319 --> 02:05:05.439 Cena, as we all know now. And the funny part was we were 1960 02:05:05.479 --> 02:05:09.520 out at the ring, so we didn't see this happening. We just heard 1961 02:05:09.560 --> 02:05:12.920 from the other guys who were in the back waiting to see this thirtieth guy 1962 02:05:13.000 --> 02:05:15.119 was going to be. And you know, here's this limbo that pulls up 1963 02:05:15.159 --> 02:05:18.279 on the fifth floor of Madison Square Gardens where the arena level is. A 1964 02:05:18.359 --> 02:05:21.760 guy gets out and he's covered in a blanket, you know, and they, 1965 02:05:23.039 --> 02:05:25.560 I first didn't know who it was, but then they saw his feet 1966 02:05:25.600 --> 02:05:30.319 and they saw the pumps, the Rebok pumps and they we know who number 1967 02:05:30.359 --> 02:05:34.359 thirty is. Oh my god, I don't believe that that's funny. If 1968 02:05:34.359 --> 02:05:38.840 it is true, though he didn't pay attention to that little detail, But 1969 02:05:39.520 --> 02:05:43.399 yes, there it is. You know, they they tell everybody at that 1970 02:05:43.520 --> 02:05:47.119 moment. And so to Hornswoggle's question, I guess the other guys who weren't 1971 02:05:47.119 --> 02:05:50.159 in that final three were told that just some generic number thirty is going to 1972 02:05:50.159 --> 02:05:54.479 throw you out and weren't smartened up as to who exactly it was. But 1973 02:05:55.000 --> 02:05:57.760 that's how people had eyes on John Cena to the degree they did that night, 1974 02:05:57.800 --> 02:06:01.159 and how the message was communicated mentioned. It was reported in figure four 1975 02:06:01.199 --> 02:06:04.800 and other publications an undertaker was slotted potentially to win this rumble, and that 1976 02:06:04.840 --> 02:06:08.439 a hunter was put back into the rumble. That there was some back and 1977 02:06:08.439 --> 02:06:11.560 forth about whether Triple H would be in it, and that was another change 1978 02:06:11.560 --> 02:06:14.720 of plans. And then as soon as they decided to do that, Sena 1979 02:06:14.760 --> 02:06:16.520 phoned the office to let them know that he actually might be eligible and ready 1980 02:06:16.680 --> 02:06:20.359 for the show. Wow, it was. It was a lot of back 1981 02:06:20.359 --> 02:06:24.199 and forth. Now we know we end up with a triple threat. Magic 1982 02:06:24.239 --> 02:06:28.119 media right with Sena Orton and Triple h and you love this one because Orton 1983 02:06:28.720 --> 02:06:34.119 triumphs. I you know, I was a big fan of that at the 1984 02:06:34.159 --> 02:06:40.800 time. I was a big fan of that because I mean I wrestled Manning 1985 02:06:40.800 --> 02:06:43.199 you're talking about, that's right. Yeah, Yeah, I was a big 1986 02:06:43.279 --> 02:06:48.600 fan of that because I I thought this was such a great run for him, 1987 02:06:49.600 --> 02:06:54.079 and I thought it was portally. Vince was totally in love with the 1988 02:06:54.159 --> 02:06:57.439 Randy Orton character at this point in time. Yeah, Like, I thought 1989 02:06:57.479 --> 02:07:00.680 it was a great run and I actually didn't want it to end, uh 1990 02:07:01.000 --> 02:07:05.239 Like, because then if you remember, oh, he gave the night after 1991 02:07:05.279 --> 02:07:12.319 WrestleMania, he gave a fucking great promo. It's it's funny the things that 1992 02:07:12.520 --> 02:07:15.039 that of the modern era that stuck with me. Hey, it's because it 1993 02:07:15.079 --> 02:07:18.239 was good stuff. That's the bost Ever. Yeah, he came out and 1994 02:07:18.399 --> 02:07:24.359 that's when he declared it was the Age of Orton, and I was like, 1995 02:07:24.680 --> 02:07:30.560 motherfucker. It just really it worked. It clicked also that Monday, 1996 02:07:30.640 --> 02:07:39.880 I remember it was like things felt unpredictable again because that that Monday, Uh 1997 02:07:40.039 --> 02:07:43.840 Gibble and Bits for some reason decided he wanted in on the world title picture 1998 02:07:44.039 --> 02:07:45.319 and it was like things are coming out of left, out of nowhere, 1999 02:07:45.479 --> 02:07:48.760 like like you didn't know what the fuck was, Like what why is GBL 2000 02:07:49.000 --> 02:07:53.199 like even you know, because it led to that that fatal four way match 2001 02:07:53.239 --> 02:07:56.920 at at whatever the I don't know if it was backlash or not, but 2002 02:07:57.520 --> 02:08:00.600 whatever the next maybe it was Fatal four Way. Maybe that was the name 2003 02:08:00.600 --> 02:08:05.239 of the pay per view, god, but whatever it was, it was 2004 02:08:05.319 --> 02:08:07.800 just a very It was a lot of fun. It was very exciting, 2005 02:08:07.840 --> 02:08:09.439 and I remember being really pissed off that they took the belt off of him 2006 02:08:11.039 --> 02:08:13.960 the pay per view after WrestleMania, because I was like, he just came 2007 02:08:15.039 --> 02:08:18.600 up with that incredible that incredible description of his title run. The age of 2008 02:08:18.760 --> 02:08:22.159 Orton's so stupid, like let's let it go on, let it go on 2009 02:08:22.279 --> 02:08:28.079 to at least Summer Slapt there. You know. It was so fucking money. 2010 02:08:28.680 --> 02:08:31.319 Yeah, that was Yeah. I was a big fan of Randy Orton 2011 02:08:31.319 --> 02:08:35.199 at that time. I was really happy that he got that that run effic 2012 02:08:35.520 --> 02:08:41.279 you know, because he was one of those guys like I remember, like 2013 02:08:41.399 --> 02:08:50.560 when Jericho won the Undisputed Championship and they started putting him over guys that, 2014 02:08:50.920 --> 02:08:54.039 you know, to really kind of get him over as champion, and you 2015 02:08:54.159 --> 02:08:58.439 know, there was just stuff. It just didn't really work as well. 2016 02:08:58.079 --> 02:09:01.119 And I felt maybe I wonder too, if he just didn't have enough time 2017 02:09:01.560 --> 02:09:11.399 as champion to really, uh feel like a real champion. And but Orton, 2018 02:09:11.680 --> 02:09:13.359 they really let it play out and let it build and build, and 2019 02:09:13.479 --> 02:09:18.600 he was like he really came to feel like a true deserving champion. Yes, 2020 02:09:20.640 --> 02:09:22.119 and then they fucking took it away from him right away from And that's 2021 02:09:22.239 --> 02:09:24.760 that's the story of his career. You know. It's like, yeah, 2022 02:09:24.880 --> 02:09:28.359 at the time, they've kind of closed in on a Randy Orton that feels 2023 02:09:28.399 --> 02:09:31.479 like a top guy. They they they fuck it up in a way or 2024 02:09:31.520 --> 02:09:33.479 he fucks it up in a way that when they try to come back to 2025 02:09:33.520 --> 02:09:35.800 it, it's like, no, we've already seen this, Like he's not 2026 02:09:35.960 --> 02:09:39.640 that guy. Yeah, we can't believe that he's going to have a legacy 2027 02:09:39.720 --> 02:09:43.000 title reign right now because there's always some bullshit. Well, I mean, 2028 02:09:43.039 --> 02:09:46.960 think about it too, like he never got that fucking every time with him, 2029 02:09:48.560 --> 02:09:54.760 you know, he gets that he beats uh, he beats Benoit at 2030 02:09:54.800 --> 02:09:58.239 that Summer Slam, and all of a sudden, he's he's he's the guy, 2031 02:09:58.680 --> 02:10:01.359 and and he gets it. He has it for a month before he 2032 02:10:01.479 --> 02:10:07.119 drops the Triple H and has that awful babyface turn that you know completely killed 2033 02:10:07.159 --> 02:10:13.039 him and derailed him for a while, and then and then it takes him 2034 02:10:13.920 --> 02:10:18.720 until two thousand and seven to get everything back, like he's always having huge 2035 02:10:18.800 --> 02:10:22.800 drug and attitude issues in five too. Yeah, that was even thinking about 2036 02:10:22.880 --> 02:10:26.720 later. It's like the Rumble thing, you know, like everything derailed him 2037 02:10:26.760 --> 02:10:33.479 there and he was supposed to beat Ray and but Eddie Guerrero getting fucking dead 2038 02:10:33.560 --> 02:10:37.079 and all that shit, Like there was just so much like he just never 2039 02:10:37.199 --> 02:10:39.239 really got that run. And so when he finally got it, I was 2040 02:10:39.279 --> 02:10:41.760 like, just let him, let it play out. Let it play out 2041 02:10:41.800 --> 02:10:46.399 for a long time. There's no need to rush this off him. Yeah, 2042 02:10:46.439 --> 02:10:50.039 but you know, not that they brush it off him, but they 2043 02:10:50.119 --> 02:10:52.359 still rush it off him. Absolutely. Yeah, it's true. And I 2044 02:10:52.479 --> 02:10:56.359 wonder, you know, if Mania looked any different if Sina went against Orton 2045 02:10:56.399 --> 02:11:00.279 one on one or Triple H went against Orton one on one. I can 2046 02:11:00.319 --> 02:11:03.119 see why it was triple threat and a few reasons. One because you know 2047 02:11:03.239 --> 02:11:05.640 Orton was going to go over, but two because you know, you don't 2048 02:11:05.640 --> 02:11:07.000 know how far and hard scene is going to be able to go. So 2049 02:11:07.159 --> 02:11:11.680 nice to be able to rely on Orton and Triple H to carry most of 2050 02:11:11.720 --> 02:11:13.600 the match. I don't remember being a particularly great match or anything, but 2051 02:11:15.399 --> 02:11:18.840 it was that finish was impactful. Yeah, it was what was it? 2052 02:11:20.000 --> 02:11:26.439 It was? Wasn't Triple H. Was Triple H going for the pin after 2053 02:11:26.520 --> 02:11:30.600 pedigree and then had the running kick to the head, Orton punted him and 2054 02:11:30.600 --> 02:11:33.880 then pinned Sina. Yes, I think, yeah, yeah, it's good. 2055 02:11:33.119 --> 02:11:37.000 Great finish, great finish. So in terms of the game, ww 2056 02:11:37.279 --> 02:11:41.039 I think their BT sport at least that's what the watermark that's on it on 2057 02:11:41.079 --> 02:11:45.279 the YouTube clip I found did an air to segment where Triple H is sitting 2058 02:11:45.359 --> 02:11:48.159 with Shawn Michaels. You could tell it's like an NXT taping because Sean has 2059 02:11:48.199 --> 02:11:50.640 the NXT hat on and they're doing one of those watch back you know, 2060 02:11:50.680 --> 02:11:52.199 put him in a film room kind of things. Yeah, yep. And 2061 02:11:52.479 --> 02:11:56.920 Triple H his stream of consciousness now on the outcome, because of course he 2062 02:11:58.079 --> 02:12:00.760 was the one that seemed to tossed out to win the in two thousand and 2063 02:12:00.760 --> 02:12:07.680 eight, getting a huge reaction I think knowing that people will believe in this 2064 02:12:07.920 --> 02:12:11.680 moment that like, oh, like I see where they're going with this, 2065 02:12:11.920 --> 02:12:16.920 right, Triple H is going over. There's a moment with me at fully 2066 02:12:16.039 --> 02:12:20.199 like all this really cool stuff happens. But in my mind, I know 2067 02:12:20.279 --> 02:12:24.600 where this is really going, and it's really going to the John Cena moment 2068 02:12:24.520 --> 02:12:30.600 of Sina coming back, and I'd like them not knowing that John's coming back. 2069 02:12:30.680 --> 02:12:33.039 This is super early you talk about an injury return. John came back 2070 02:12:33.159 --> 02:12:35.960 like in half the time he was supposed to come back from neck surgery, 2071 02:12:39.119 --> 02:12:50.520 next surgery. They didn't tell me. I didn't know he was coming in. 2072 02:12:50.720 --> 02:12:54.319 Yeah, epic mind blowing moments they hit him all day. He walked 2073 02:12:54.359 --> 02:12:58.720 out and like this is the garden. There are so many moments for me 2074 02:12:58.840 --> 02:13:03.960 in the garden where there's like things that happen where like you can remember in 2075 02:13:03.039 --> 02:13:07.520 your mind going like holy cow, this is incredible. This is one of 2076 02:13:07.560 --> 02:13:11.800 them, like Sina that that moment of right before they were counting us down 2077 02:13:11.840 --> 02:13:15.159 and I knew Sena was about to come out, Like I remember thinking, 2078 02:13:15.239 --> 02:13:18.239 like God, this place is going to go mental when he walks out here 2079 02:13:18.920 --> 02:13:24.439 and they did this is the kind of stuff that you as a performer when 2080 02:13:24.479 --> 02:13:28.119 you know it's about to take place. For a guy like it's just such 2081 02:13:28.159 --> 02:13:31.199 a cool moment. I know firsthand. We just talked about it. What 2082 02:13:31.359 --> 02:13:35.479 this is like that moment where you come back from that injury and you have 2083 02:13:35.600 --> 02:13:39.640 it all sitting there and you're going to get this opportunity to blow the roof 2084 02:13:39.680 --> 02:13:43.000 off the place. But no matter who you are and how big of a 2085 02:13:43.079 --> 02:13:46.159 performer you are, there's that moment where you go, well, I hope 2086 02:13:46.199 --> 02:13:48.800 they give a crap when I walk through that curtain. So knowing what he 2087 02:13:48.920 --> 02:13:52.159 was experiencing in this point, for me was there's a ton of anxiety. 2088 02:13:52.359 --> 02:13:54.359 Oh my god, you know what I mean? Are they going to care? 2089 02:13:54.439 --> 02:13:58.239 How are they going to react? And how am I going to perform? 2090 02:13:58.399 --> 02:14:00.319 Is everything going to hold up? Them? Coming up? And you're 2091 02:14:00.319 --> 02:14:03.560 coming off from an injury nine times out of ten, especially with the first 2092 02:14:03.640 --> 02:14:07.760 one, and for John, I think it's the first time he was you 2093 02:14:07.840 --> 02:14:09.359 know, that was one of us things like John never got hurt. And 2094 02:14:09.479 --> 02:14:13.800 of course now there's a chink in you know, yeah, in Superman's armor 2095 02:14:15.000 --> 02:14:18.119 and that again mentally, what that does to you very difficult. I knew 2096 02:14:18.199 --> 02:14:22.079 how this would feel the John. But I remember Taker one time telling me 2097 02:14:22.159 --> 02:14:28.720 about anxiety that he felt before match, and it was like with mind blowing 2098 02:14:28.760 --> 02:14:33.279 to me that Taker felt anxiety, Like I was like, are you kidding 2099 02:14:33.359 --> 02:14:35.079 me? Like he I remember just remember him talking about it with me and 2100 02:14:35.159 --> 02:14:39.119 me thinking like to make sure, I would have never in my wildest dreams 2101 02:14:39.159 --> 02:14:45.199 imagined that he had that feeling before he walked out there and all his doubts 2102 02:14:45.239 --> 02:14:48.800 and everything else. Because to me, you know, every single time I 2103 02:14:48.840 --> 02:14:50.439 stood in the ring and watched his music kid walk out, I got chills 2104 02:14:50.479 --> 02:14:54.520 and like the reaction was massive. I would have never had a doubt my 2105 02:14:54.640 --> 02:14:58.520 mind about him doing anything, but yet he did. And that's the human 2106 02:14:58.600 --> 02:15:03.359 part of the performance where but it doesn't dawn on you until later in your 2107 02:15:03.439 --> 02:15:09.600 career where that puts you with people. I think that's helped me in with 2108 02:15:09.840 --> 02:15:15.000 NXT as well of being able to put my head in performance a little bit 2109 02:15:15.039 --> 02:15:22.840 and go like, look, it happens to everybody. And again there's the 2110 02:15:22.640 --> 02:15:26.920 point at the sign of the WrestleMania like you know the it's funny now fans 2111 02:15:26.960 --> 02:15:30.119 make oh they're going to give you the point of the sign, like as 2112 02:15:30.159 --> 02:15:33.920 if this is a this hogy thing that has happened over the years, Like 2113 02:15:33.960 --> 02:15:37.560 we tell everybody to point at the sign. We don't tell anybody to point 2114 02:15:37.600 --> 02:15:41.119 at the sign. This is what everybody wants to do, Like you want 2115 02:15:41.159 --> 02:15:46.439 to have the moment that you watched when you were a fan of the man. 2116 02:15:46.479 --> 02:15:50.479 I get that opportunity to point at the sign at WrestleMania. I get 2117 02:15:50.520 --> 02:16:01.279 that opportunity to be the guy that is going there. And you know what 2118 02:16:01.399 --> 02:16:05.159 this feels like for John right this is the stamp on the moment of your 2119 02:16:05.239 --> 02:16:07.760 back and I can't he can't tell you what he says right here either. 2120 02:16:11.039 --> 02:16:13.520 So yeah, they don't tell anybody to point at the sign, of course 2121 02:16:13.640 --> 02:16:16.159 not. I mean, come on, why do you why do you have 2122 02:16:16.279 --> 02:16:18.800 to say that. I know that it bothers you, that it's fucking cheesy, 2123 02:16:18.880 --> 02:16:22.760 and you still do it, But why do you have to come up 2124 02:16:22.760 --> 02:16:24.520 with a story about how we don't, like you're really going to make the 2125 02:16:24.600 --> 02:16:28.760 talent pretend they want to point at the sign, like I don't. Nobody 2126 02:16:28.800 --> 02:16:31.479 wants a point at the sign, nobody, And if they do, they 2127 02:16:31.639 --> 02:16:35.799 they're doing it in my opinion, which doesn't count for anything. I understand 2128 02:16:37.120 --> 02:16:39.000 they're doing it because it's bad form to not want to point at the sign, 2129 02:16:39.200 --> 02:16:41.760 because you're gonna tell me that Ronda Rousey fucking point at the sign. 2130 02:16:43.239 --> 02:16:46.959 Oh so awkward. So she's like worried about where the camera is right, 2131 02:16:46.200 --> 02:16:50.200 and she's pointing it like weir and she does like three times. And that's 2132 02:16:50.799 --> 02:16:54.799 when she's pointing at it like a whaler wilds a harpoon. Right, what 2133 02:16:56.040 --> 02:16:58.319 is this? What is this? Equal police? We find you in here, 2134 02:17:00.239 --> 02:17:03.559 fucking thing? Ums down, stop it. Yes, you can have 2135 02:17:03.680 --> 02:17:05.639 pyro go off around the sign, but to point at it and to look 2136 02:17:05.680 --> 02:17:09.079 at it like, oh my god, my desk. Can have the pyro 2137 02:17:09.280 --> 02:17:11.319 around the sign. You can have your fucking camera angles where you have the 2138 02:17:11.399 --> 02:17:16.360 winner on the fucking corner, and you can have the sign in the background, 2139 02:17:16.399 --> 02:17:18.760 but do not have them point the sign. Ninety seven ninety eight oh 2140 02:17:18.840 --> 02:17:22.920 one, can you picture Steve Austin point at the sign? You know why? 2141 02:17:22.440 --> 02:17:26.200 You know why they didn't do it. There was no fucking sign. 2142 02:17:26.600 --> 02:17:30.840 If there was, you don't do it because if you're a big enough deal 2143 02:17:30.879 --> 02:17:33.959 to win the rumble in headline WrestleMania. WrestleMania should be grateful to have you. 2144 02:17:35.319 --> 02:17:39.200 You shouldn't be grateful to have WrestleMania be a big enough deal that, 2145 02:17:39.319 --> 02:17:41.799 Yeah, of course I'm going to WrestleMania. What the fuck? And in 2146 02:17:41.920 --> 02:17:45.840 fact this is just the beginning. Like the Wrestlmania sign being up there didn't 2147 02:17:46.079 --> 02:17:48.319 start happening until I believe, WrestleMania twenty twenty. Yeah, because they wanted 2148 02:17:48.319 --> 02:17:52.280 to have one longer campaign. The diamond. Yeah, they had it hanging 2149 02:17:52.319 --> 02:17:58.479 since November. I think I don't the rafters to promote it, and it 2150 02:17:58.559 --> 02:18:01.520 was effective that year, making Manius even like an even bigger deal because they 2151 02:18:01.559 --> 02:18:05.399 were signaling it the whole time. But yeah, this is I don't buy 2152 02:18:05.440 --> 02:18:11.079 that explanation at all at all that these people want to do it. Maybe 2153 02:18:11.200 --> 02:18:15.440 like two people want to do it. Here's the thing. Then if they're 2154 02:18:15.440 --> 02:18:16.360 not doing it on there, if they're not doing it because you told them 2155 02:18:16.399 --> 02:18:20.879 to do it, tell them to not do it, right, say you 2156 02:18:20.959 --> 02:18:26.040 know what, you're fucking fired. But now there's all that pyro up there. 2157 02:18:26.040 --> 02:18:28.840 Remember that they let the fire, they let the sign on fire one 2158 02:18:28.920 --> 02:18:31.040 time. That's how out of their mind they were about doing it give me 2159 02:18:31.120 --> 02:18:35.159 a break. Yeah, we have Pyro up there, but we don't tell 2160 02:18:35.200 --> 02:18:39.040 anybody to do it. We just have Pyro up there in case somebody wants 2161 02:18:39.079 --> 02:18:41.440 to do it. We don't draw attention to the fact that it's a you 2162 02:18:41.520 --> 02:18:46.680 know, WrestleMania sign. So that's that's such a triple H thing I'm noticing 2163 02:18:46.719 --> 02:18:50.959 over the years as he does press conferences and kind of makes himself available as 2164 02:18:50.000 --> 02:18:54.760 Paul right instead of triple H. That's his thing. Like there's these little 2165 02:18:54.799 --> 02:18:58.200 things that he knows are valid criticisms, and like he tries to eat them 2166 02:18:58.239 --> 02:19:01.200 alive. When he's talking. He tries to like, you know, after 2167 02:19:01.239 --> 02:19:05.079 wrestled Ania last year's like, you know, it never ceases to amaze me 2168 02:19:05.200 --> 02:19:07.399 of people always question the story. And then we get to the story and 2169 02:19:07.479 --> 02:19:11.360 he's tinting his fingers on the table, and it's like these little things he 2170 02:19:11.440 --> 02:19:16.360 doesn't want to he doesn't want to actually state the criticism, but he does 2171 02:19:16.479 --> 02:19:18.280 want to try to extinguish it well at the same time acting like he didn't 2172 02:19:18.360 --> 02:19:20.920 hear it. It's, you know, there's nothing more annoying than somebody tries 2173 02:19:20.959 --> 02:19:24.440 to answer criticism but feels like too big of a deal to acknowledge that they 2174 02:19:24.559 --> 02:19:28.000 heard it, that they're that much of a loser that they're reading people's comments 2175 02:19:28.040 --> 02:19:33.680 and shit, shut up game, shut up game. So that's his feeling 2176 02:19:33.760 --> 02:19:37.520 on the night and his recollection of everything that that went down. So, 2177 02:19:37.719 --> 02:19:41.399 I mean, with this kind of a superhero comeback, right, this kind 2178 02:19:41.399 --> 02:19:45.000 of huge moment, you have to think people like got over their scene of 2179 02:19:45.040 --> 02:19:46.319 hate, and the next night on Raw when he took the microphone, they 2180 02:19:46.360 --> 02:19:52.120 were just elated. Oh I'm sure they're fucking miserable that he's miserable put in 2181 02:19:52.159 --> 02:19:54.920 all this incredible work to be back there for them. You know, Nah, 2182 02:20:00.000 --> 02:20:07.319 can you hear that? Ladies and gentlemen, I am here tonight to 2183 02:20:07.440 --> 02:20:13.719 answer a question that's put on everyone's mind. What delivery? How could this 2184 02:20:13.879 --> 02:20:20.959 be possible? Yes? In October two thousand and seven, I suffered an 2185 02:20:20.040 --> 02:20:28.760 injury to my pectoralis muscle, which requires surgery. Sounds like a AI voiceover 2186 02:20:28.920 --> 02:20:35.920 you'd us on a TikTok lay, but they says this sucks. He really 2187 02:20:35.959 --> 02:20:39.360 thought they were going to respect them. I ain't even gonna lie, guys, 2188 02:20:39.760 --> 02:20:45.280 that's music to my ears right about now. Yeah, Jess fucking gag 2189 02:20:45.399 --> 02:20:48.319 me. The doctors said I would be out for about twelve months. That 2190 02:20:48.479 --> 02:20:58.239 is one year, which means which means that for the first time in my 2191 02:20:58.399 --> 02:21:05.079 career, I would have to watch from the bench the greatest spectacle in sports 2192 02:21:05.200 --> 02:21:13.879 entertainment history, and that is WrestleMania. And what now now? In my 2193 02:21:15.040 --> 02:21:20.399 absence, a new champion was crowned, new contenders were put in place, 2194 02:21:20.479 --> 02:21:28.280 and for the WWE, life goes on. But in a hospital bed, 2195 02:21:28.399 --> 02:21:33.920 my life was crumbling, and with each day my WrestleMania dreams faded further and 2196 02:21:35.079 --> 02:21:41.840 further away. So in the last second of the final hour, I made 2197 02:21:41.879 --> 02:21:46.920 a choice. I made a gamble. I let it all ride. Yes, 2198 02:21:46.200 --> 02:21:50.879 I risked my career, Yes, I risked my health. Why for 2199 02:21:50.040 --> 02:21:58.600 a chance, just for one damn chance to maybe and they fucking mate it 2200 02:22:00.399 --> 02:22:09.639 amazing, maybe get an opportunity to once again go to WrestleMania. Oh shut 2201 02:22:09.760 --> 02:22:26.280 up. Maybe it was luck, maybe it was skilled, maybe it was 2202 02:22:26.360 --> 02:22:35.799 both. But ladies and gentlemen, the impossible has happened. I am back, 2203 02:22:43.479 --> 02:22:46.200 I am the winner of the twenty first Royal Rumble, and damn it, 2204 02:22:46.319 --> 02:23:07.840 I'm going to WrestleMania. They're overjoed. It was a little bit. 2205 02:23:15.280 --> 02:23:18.680 It was a weird time. It was weird, so very yeah, it 2206 02:23:18.799 --> 02:23:22.319 was such a weird time. It was a weird time that that there was 2207 02:23:22.399 --> 02:23:31.840 such a a a a vocal backlash to him, and uh where yet they 2208 02:23:31.920 --> 02:23:37.879 still fucking they kept it going. There was just something impossibly corny about like 2209 02:23:37.040 --> 02:23:41.079 why is he talking like that like a robot? Like what is he doing? 2210 02:23:41.319 --> 02:23:45.600 Like why does he had that delivery? I don't understand it. It's 2211 02:23:45.680 --> 02:23:48.280 it's like it's one or one way or the other with this guy where he's 2212 02:23:48.319 --> 02:23:50.239 like so a boolliant that he sounds like a cartoon character the whole time. 2213 02:23:50.559 --> 02:23:54.120 I don't understand who thinks that's going to connect with anybody, But there he 2214 02:23:54.239 --> 02:23:58.440 is saying, pectoralis muscle. Oh you know, it's gotta love that. 2215 02:23:58.520 --> 02:24:03.239 Pectoralis the whole thing. And look, nothing but respect for the fact that 2216 02:24:03.319 --> 02:24:09.959 he pedro pectorals, nothing but respect for the fact they put in the hard 2217 02:24:11.000 --> 02:24:13.399 work to get back. But can we not make it sound like you rose 2218 02:24:13.399 --> 02:24:16.040 out of the wheelchair after someone said you're gonna be paralyzed for the rest of 2219 02:24:16.079 --> 02:24:20.239 your life. It's it's a muscle tear, like Sewan Michaels did in two 2220 02:24:20.280 --> 02:24:26.120 thousand and two, like Kevin Nash did in two thousand I thought, then 2221 02:24:26.159 --> 02:24:30.680 Shawn Michael's like he he was at the he had a wheelchair after tripple to 2222 02:24:30.680 --> 02:24:31.840 beat the shit out of him, and then he comes out like out yep, 2223 02:24:33.159 --> 02:24:35.319 yeah, and he gets out of the wheelchair and danced around like a 2224 02:24:35.440 --> 02:24:39.760 fucking buffoon. I mean he in one night. He turns it into like 2225 02:24:39.840 --> 02:24:46.920 a really cool moment into something that's like like yeah, you know, like 2226 02:24:46.399 --> 02:24:50.120 self congratulatory, like you got to do that kind of thing quietly, like 2227 02:24:50.200 --> 02:24:54.239 a like a stealth fucking you know, like a badass like I'm still here, 2228 02:24:54.520 --> 02:24:58.639 you know, as opposed to like I did it like I'm I'm your 2229 02:24:58.680 --> 02:25:01.840 hero, Like I don't know, just doesn't work for me, and I 2230 02:25:01.840 --> 02:25:03.760 don't think it'll worked for anybody else at the time, because you have this 2231 02:25:03.920 --> 02:25:09.040 moment and then it immediately goes right back to people being like that's the art 2232 02:25:09.040 --> 02:25:11.360 of the baby face promo. To me in the modern age, it's it's 2233 02:25:11.440 --> 02:25:13.200 like, how how good are you at reading how the fans are going to 2234 02:25:13.280 --> 02:25:18.760 react so that you say things that avoid the land mines? Yes, you 2235 02:25:18.879 --> 02:25:22.639 avoid the triggers. That's what Cody's so good at. I got to give 2236 02:25:22.680 --> 02:25:26.079 it to him. He knows how to avoid saying the things that people can 2237 02:25:26.120 --> 02:25:28.920 be like, oh fuck this guy, you know, like stop. Yeah, 2238 02:25:28.120 --> 02:25:31.399 No, he's he's very good at that because I mean he's been able 2239 02:25:31.479 --> 02:25:37.399 to navigate, navigate away from from from any sort of hate or disdain. 2240 02:25:39.120 --> 02:25:43.079 Like last year. You think about when with the Sammy's Ain thing, like 2241 02:25:43.200 --> 02:25:46.840 he was able to just really glide along with that, right example, that 2242 02:25:46.879 --> 02:25:50.760 could have that would have eaten Seena live right if he did what Cody did 2243 02:25:50.840 --> 02:25:56.319 in that context. Yeah, yeah, he perfectly. He did it perfectly 2244 02:25:56.840 --> 02:26:01.200 so that nobody nobody, nobody booed him and nobody hated him. And he 2245 02:26:01.319 --> 02:26:03.719 never comes off as somebody that's like, you know, holier than now or 2246 02:26:03.760 --> 02:26:07.120 two weak. And I know there's a lot of people that don't like Cody 2247 02:26:07.159 --> 02:26:07.959 and they can't stand the sound of his voice. And that's fine. I'll 2248 02:26:07.959 --> 02:26:11.920 tell other people in the building. Yes, right. It matters to me 2249 02:26:11.040 --> 02:26:15.719 is if he's able uh people in the building to work the microphone out of 2250 02:26:15.760 --> 02:26:18.319 whether the people don't create the sense of rejection. There's always going to be 2251 02:26:18.360 --> 02:26:20.760 people at home disliking the top babyface, that that's that's to be expected, 2252 02:26:20.799 --> 02:26:24.719 and there's nothing wrong with that, But is the babyface good enough to make 2253 02:26:24.760 --> 02:26:28.600 sure that that doesn't bleed into the actual reaction of the masses when he's before 2254 02:26:28.639 --> 02:26:31.239 the people, because that doesn't serve anybody really a Sena. It was such 2255 02:26:31.239 --> 02:26:35.479 a it was such an albatross around Sena that eventually they kind of crafted this 2256 02:26:35.600 --> 02:26:37.319 story that that's part of the fun of Sena is how people how he's so 2257 02:26:37.399 --> 02:26:41.200 divisive. But all that is is a capitulation. All that is is admitting 2258 02:26:41.280 --> 02:26:45.280 defeat that you can't manipulate the people like you thought you could. Same thing 2259 02:26:45.319 --> 02:26:48.639 with Roman Reigns as a babyface, same exactly. Yep. So uh, 2260 02:26:50.239 --> 02:26:52.600 you and I can remind everybody else that John Seina is their hero, has 2261 02:26:52.639 --> 02:26:56.360 always been their hero, and will always be their hero. God, what 2262 02:26:56.440 --> 02:26:58.879 a great bit that was. That was right smack deb in the middle of 2263 02:26:58.879 --> 02:27:03.920 the time period, right the year before. Unbelievable. So they did. 2264 02:27:03.200 --> 02:27:07.159 They did a lot of qualifiers this year for the Rumble. They had Umaga 2265 02:27:07.200 --> 02:27:11.280 beat Jim Duggan, who was still doing occasional appearances for the company in this 2266 02:27:11.360 --> 02:27:13.360 era, which is easy to forget because that needs to happen. I know 2267 02:27:15.120 --> 02:27:18.360 Snitzky beat Drew McIntyre on a house show. This is all on Wikipedia. 2268 02:27:18.399 --> 02:27:22.719 Triple H did a match against Rick Flair to qualify, but it got decued. 2269 02:27:22.000 --> 02:27:24.760 So they did this little storyline where Triple H was no longer allowed to 2270 02:27:24.799 --> 02:27:30.719 be in the Rumble because of that, and then afterwards he Triple H, 2271 02:27:30.760 --> 02:27:33.040 I guess, had a fit and started destroying the set on Raw, and 2272 02:27:33.120 --> 02:27:37.000 so Vince putting Triple H back in give him a second chance if he could 2273 02:27:37.040 --> 02:27:41.000 defeat three people, and he beat Snitzky, Mark Henry, and Steve Regal 2274 02:27:41.079 --> 02:27:43.559 in a gauntlet match on Raw win Entry. Again, there's a reference made 2275 02:27:43.639 --> 02:27:46.840 during the call to the fact that, you know, Triple ahch had to 2276 02:27:46.879 --> 02:27:48.959 go through health to get into the match, and Snisky has to stay in 2277 02:27:50.040 --> 02:27:52.719 the match too. Oh, I know he's in there. It wasn't his 2278 02:27:52.799 --> 02:27:54.200 fault from what I understand, I do. I did hear that, I 2279 02:27:54.360 --> 02:27:56.920 did hear someone else wanted to book him. I want to talk about Jim 2280 02:27:56.959 --> 02:28:01.520 Duggan in this time period. It is a rare opportunity to offer up a 2281 02:28:01.600 --> 02:28:05.440 little anecdote that sticks with one that reads his book around this very curious run 2282 02:28:05.479 --> 02:28:07.440 he had in WWE, and I'll just leave it, leave it here. 2283 02:28:07.479 --> 02:28:11.239 I'll just state it and let it sit all right. When I got there, 2284 02:28:11.280 --> 02:28:11.959 he writes, I was eager to find out what i'd be doing. 2285 02:28:11.959 --> 02:28:16.399 He's talking about when he got to a shot in London, not the company, 2286 02:28:16.440 --> 02:28:18.520 but a particular event, because I figured that if they were bringing me 2287 02:28:18.559 --> 02:28:20.520 this far and even having me cancel an event to do it, it must 2288 02:28:20.559 --> 02:28:24.000 be somewhat significant. I waited in the catering area while Vince and his creative 2289 02:28:24.000 --> 02:28:26.959 and TV people had their production meeting. After it was over, Barry Wyndham 2290 02:28:26.959 --> 02:28:30.719 before a wrestler who was now at WB Agent came over to me and said, 2291 02:28:30.760 --> 02:28:33.239 Jim, we're going to have you working with Paul Burchhill tonight and he's 2292 02:28:33.239 --> 02:28:37.719 going to beat you in about forty five seconds. I sat there, stunned, 2293 02:28:37.719 --> 02:28:39.120 and I said, you know what, Barry, I'm not going to 2294 02:28:39.159 --> 02:28:39.680 do it. I came all the way over here, and I don't mind 2295 02:28:39.719 --> 02:28:43.079 being used to build up these other guys, but this just isn't right to 2296 02:28:43.120 --> 02:28:45.719 pull me out an event on a weekend I lined up months ago for this. 2297 02:28:46.120 --> 02:28:48.959 He's talking about some charity golf tournament or something that he had to cancel. 2298 02:28:48.479 --> 02:28:52.280 So said my old ass home, I don't care. Barry nodded and 2299 02:28:52.319 --> 02:28:56.319 said, well, you got to tell Vince. I said I would, 2300 02:28:56.360 --> 02:28:58.479 and I went to Vince's makeshift office. I was waiting outside and I was 2301 02:28:58.520 --> 02:29:01.120 pacing back and forth. Finally a guy came out of Vince's office, and 2302 02:29:01.159 --> 02:29:05.079 you could tell I was pissed. A lot of Vince's personal security team was 2303 02:29:05.079 --> 02:29:07.239 made up of ex cops, and I've always gotten along with cops, so 2304 02:29:07.280 --> 02:29:09.479 I was friendly with a bunch of them. One of the main security guys, 2305 02:29:09.559 --> 02:29:11.360 Jim, came up to me, and he could tell I was steaming. 2306 02:29:11.879 --> 02:29:13.399 We talked and I was cordial, but I was still pretty ticked off. 2307 02:29:13.760 --> 02:29:16.920 After a few more minutes on the production, one of the production guys 2308 02:29:16.239 --> 02:29:18.319 came out and said Vince would be with me when he had a minute, 2309 02:29:18.319 --> 02:29:22.159 and I said, very deliberately, I ain't going anywhere. I'll be right 2310 02:29:22.280 --> 02:29:26.319 here. My temper was snowballing, and Jerry Briscoe walked over to try to 2311 02:29:26.319 --> 02:29:28.440 smooth things over, but I wasn't about to be smoothed over. I was 2312 02:29:28.520 --> 02:29:31.319 getting madder and madder When I finally got to see Vince, I walked into 2313 02:29:31.360 --> 02:29:39.639 the office with Barry, and Vince was texting loud someone I'm very I died, 2314 02:29:41.239 --> 02:29:45.399 Jim, pal what's going on? Berry said, Hey, Vince, 2315 02:29:46.280 --> 02:29:48.040 you want me to stay with you. Vince looked up, surprised and said, 2316 02:29:48.079 --> 02:29:50.120 no, I've known Jim for nearly thirty years. No problem. Come 2317 02:29:50.159 --> 02:29:52.680 on in, Jim, sit, now take a load off. I just 2318 02:29:52.760 --> 02:29:58.200 have to finish texting this. Yeah. Yes. He focused on his texting 2319 02:29:58.440 --> 02:30:01.760 what for a few seconds. Then I asked if he asked if I knew 2320 02:30:01.799 --> 02:30:07.680 how to spell a couple of words. I won't say what they were, 2321 02:30:07.760 --> 02:30:13.360 Jim, do you know how to spell tits? Do you know how to 2322 02:30:13.399 --> 02:30:20.760 spell uh? Uh uh? Extramarital fornication? No, I don't, Vince, 2323 02:30:22.040 --> 02:30:26.879 but we're all still looking for it, me too, bell hashtag. 2324 02:30:33.200 --> 02:30:37.840 Oh boy. I won't say what they were, the words he was asking 2325 02:30:37.920 --> 02:30:43.120 me to spell for his texts, because Jim writes, I don't want to 2326 02:30:43.200 --> 02:30:52.559 be disclosing anything he might have been corresponding to someone else. Wow, But 2327 02:30:52.680 --> 02:30:54.079 I didn't know how to spell them anyway, So I said, still in 2328 02:30:54.159 --> 02:30:58.159 kind of a huff. No, this thing drives me crazy? Do you 2329 02:30:58.280 --> 02:31:03.840 text much? Jim? Are you a Dougs? Are you? Are you? 2330 02:31:03.879 --> 02:31:07.639 Are you a Texter? Do you text? Are you on the the 2331 02:31:07.799 --> 02:31:20.479 the smartphone bandwagon? Do you believe in intelligent phonography? Hell? Are you 2332 02:31:22.040 --> 02:31:28.399 Doug Boat? Do you want to Maybe that'd be a new gimme for your 2333 02:31:28.440 --> 02:31:33.079 Doug boat? Huh? Is it a heat heat? It could be. 2334 02:31:33.920 --> 02:31:37.639 Is it a whole holt in a heat heat and a stick your fucking wood 2335 02:31:37.719 --> 02:31:43.040 up your ass type thing? Yeah? How about that? Uh? Are 2336 02:31:43.040 --> 02:31:46.680 you reading your texts again? I think this is a good opportunity, Vince. 2337 02:31:46.680 --> 02:31:50.440 Why don't you keep telling Doug in if he's going to come in here 2338 02:31:50.479 --> 02:31:52.520 with an attitude where things might be headed, you know you don't have to 2339 02:31:52.600 --> 02:31:58.000 go hard, but just let him know. Jim, I don't know what 2340 02:31:58.120 --> 02:32:01.159 the fuck is you want right now, but I can tell you this, 2341 02:32:01.360 --> 02:32:07.639 and I mean this with all sincerity. I don't care. I don't give 2342 02:32:07.680 --> 02:32:11.280 a shit. It's back on his shit. He's back on his bullshit in 2343 02:32:11.319 --> 02:32:15.239 that fucking cast. I'm not interested in what it is that you have to 2344 02:32:15.280 --> 02:32:18.559 say to me because I've never really liked you, I've never cared about you, 2345 02:32:18.959 --> 02:32:22.520 and I've always thought, what can I do to make this guy look 2346 02:32:22.680 --> 02:32:26.879 stupider than he is? You look like you have a disability, because because 2347 02:32:26.000 --> 02:32:31.479 you've always looked like you have some sort of mental mental crack in your brain, 2348 02:32:33.159 --> 02:32:37.280 all right, and now it's more than ever because you're a dumb, 2349 02:32:37.799 --> 02:32:46.520 fucking prick. You don't want to know something. I knew when I flew 2350 02:32:46.559 --> 02:32:48.479 you out here that you were not going to do what you want, what 2351 02:32:48.559 --> 02:32:52.639 I want I told you to do. I did that on purpose, Yes, 2352 02:32:52.360 --> 02:32:56.040 all right. I knew that you had something scheduled, something important. 2353 02:32:56.399 --> 02:33:00.280 I knew that there was something you didn't want to miss. I said, 2354 02:33:00.319 --> 02:33:07.159 you know what, that's a great opportunity to fuck with duggan to fuck with 2355 02:33:07.239 --> 02:33:11.000 that oath totally true. I don't care. It's to me, it's is 2356 02:33:11.120 --> 02:33:16.639 exactly what happened. And I said, I'm going to make him fly out 2357 02:33:16.680 --> 02:33:20.000 to fucking England so that there is and I'm not going to even use him 2358 02:33:20.000 --> 02:33:24.639 for anything remotely important. I'm gonna make him look like a bitch, And 2359 02:33:24.719 --> 02:33:28.120 if he doesn't want to look like a bitch, I make him look like 2360 02:33:28.159 --> 02:33:31.760 a bitch anyway, because he can't go back home and do that fucking thing 2361 02:33:31.840 --> 02:33:35.520 he wanted to do. So who's the winner here, Dugan? You know 2362 02:33:37.479 --> 02:33:45.840 me? Yes, because I'm texting with a female. Oh who's gonna who's 2363 02:33:45.840 --> 02:33:50.479 gonna jump on my jump? All right, I'm going to have my cock 2364 02:33:52.159 --> 02:33:56.840 in hand, Dugan, and I'm going to be putting it inside another female's 2365 02:33:58.200 --> 02:34:03.239 vagina. I don't care if you're sitting here or not. I'll fuck her 2366 02:34:03.280 --> 02:34:09.239 anyway. But one thing I can tell you that won't happen is you won't 2367 02:34:09.600 --> 02:34:18.040 be going to that thing you want to go to. I want to come 2368 02:34:18.120 --> 02:34:24.200 in here. You know you have audience with me, don't. You're not 2369 02:34:24.239 --> 02:34:28.959 gonna have audience with me. You're gonna be my audience as I fucked the 2370 02:34:28.000 --> 02:34:33.399 shit out of this fucking broad Okay, I got to step in. It's 2371 02:34:33.479 --> 02:34:39.040 not April seventh quite yet. But look, I mean he beats beneath the 2372 02:34:39.079 --> 02:34:43.319 surface of everything, you know. But well, I'm watching this awaight rumble 2373 02:34:43.399 --> 02:34:46.159 and suddenly there he is backstage with Swaggle. God, isn't it like a 2374 02:34:46.200 --> 02:34:50.120 whole different world? It is. It's so it's a bizarre thing. It 2375 02:34:50.399 --> 02:34:56.120 it feels like a different time. I mean, it is a different time, 2376 02:34:56.200 --> 02:34:58.760 but it just it's so bizarre. And then when you see Ashley masorrow 2377 02:35:00.079 --> 02:35:03.600 us her soul, God, you know, and the whole Playboy interplay with 2378 02:35:03.719 --> 02:35:09.799 Maria, it's so heart wrenching to see her in that, Like just it's 2379 02:35:09.920 --> 02:35:15.239 so depressing. It's so reality, you know what it is. It's like 2380 02:35:16.479 --> 02:35:20.799 Maria. You know, Ashley did that affidavit for the concussion lawsuit. That's 2381 02:35:20.920 --> 02:35:24.360 just recounting all these horrific things that she said happened to her when they were 2382 02:35:24.399 --> 02:35:26.360 in Kuwait in two thousand and six. I mean, you know, drugged 2383 02:35:26.879 --> 02:35:33.280 to the point of being immovable and being raped by someone in military personnel. 2384 02:35:33.319 --> 02:35:37.399 I mean, I don't know she called him an army doctor, but I 2385 02:35:37.520 --> 02:35:39.879 mean just a horrible, horrible circumstance, and she, you know, basically 2386 02:35:39.959 --> 02:35:43.440 died of suicide as far as him can tell. Years later, and now, 2387 02:35:43.799 --> 02:35:46.959 you know, with what's happened with this lawsuit against Vince, people were 2388 02:35:48.040 --> 02:35:52.959 visiting the things that she said and people coming out to you know, support 2389 02:35:52.040 --> 02:35:56.920 what she said or add color to what she said or extrapolate on it. 2390 02:35:56.079 --> 02:36:00.799 It's a very messy and sad and ugly situation. But to go back and 2391 02:36:00.879 --> 02:36:05.000 watch this rumble where Maria is about to be in Playboy, and Ashley had 2392 02:36:05.000 --> 02:36:09.200 been in Playboy the year before, and they're having basically like a Playboy based 2393 02:36:09.319 --> 02:36:15.559 storyline, so stupid where she's like, you know, convincing Maria that she 2394 02:36:15.639 --> 02:36:20.239 should be in Playboy. It just hits so different now, so differently, 2395 02:36:20.479 --> 02:36:24.799 and a lot of the things that the announcers say, I don't know. 2396 02:36:24.920 --> 02:36:28.520 I mean, I've always watched Vince WWE and I've always known that he's micromanages 2397 02:36:28.559 --> 02:36:33.399 and' but you know now that he's been gone long enough that like a new 2398 02:36:33.520 --> 02:36:37.159 voice is kind of a new prevailing voice has taken over the broadcast. You 2399 02:36:37.280 --> 02:36:41.000 do notice like there's no way Michael Cole said that there's no way Coachman isn't 2400 02:36:41.000 --> 02:36:46.079 just sitting there waiting for precise verbiage to be delivered to him from US McMahon. 2401 02:36:46.280 --> 02:36:48.559 Not to say Coachman at the top of his head would be any better, 2402 02:36:48.799 --> 02:36:50.639 but you can just tell it's I don't know, it's just now so 2403 02:36:50.760 --> 02:36:56.319 much more obvious that the voice of Vince hovers over everything that used to happen 2404 02:36:56.360 --> 02:37:01.639 in this company. Yep. And it really is storylines that like are designed 2405 02:37:01.799 --> 02:37:05.959 to dramatize his peccadillos. Yes, right, designed to put his psychosis on 2406 02:37:07.040 --> 02:37:09.079 the screen, and you know, you come up at the beginning, middle, 2407 02:37:09.079 --> 02:37:11.120 and end to make it look like a cogent storyline, like it was 2408 02:37:11.159 --> 02:37:15.040 presented not just to get him his kicks, but you know, to actually 2409 02:37:15.040 --> 02:37:18.680 advance careers. But well, let's be honest, it's always been about him 2410 02:37:18.760 --> 02:37:22.079 getting his kicks. Have you ever seen the clip of from seven of him 2411 02:37:22.120 --> 02:37:26.280 berating Ashley backstage on top? I probably did. I bet I haven't seen 2412 02:37:26.360 --> 02:37:28.399 him a long time. I mean, I think this is an appropriate time 2413 02:37:28.440 --> 02:37:30.840 to revisit it. I have sound of it, but if you can pull 2414 02:37:30.879 --> 02:37:35.440 it up on your side on YouTube. It resurfaced now in the context of 2415 02:37:35.520 --> 02:37:37.040 people you know, and by the way, this epidavit is out there a 2416 02:37:37.120 --> 02:37:41.559 lot of years and you know they got hurt. Well not they got her, 2417 02:37:41.639 --> 02:37:46.159 but she sent an email apologizing for being involved with the lawyer, and 2418 02:37:46.239 --> 02:37:48.520 you know how that works. You know, you cross the company and then 2419 02:37:48.559 --> 02:37:54.840 you regret doing it because it's not going anywhere, and so this thing kind 2420 02:37:54.840 --> 02:37:58.719 of died down. People didn't really get very activist about it. But now 2421 02:37:58.760 --> 02:38:01.120 that Vince is out of power, it's it's a lot easier to get more 2422 02:38:01.159 --> 02:38:07.959 animated about this without consequence the same kind of consequence, And so this one 2423 02:38:09.120 --> 02:38:13.399 surfaced. This one surfaced again. Just just type Ashley Masorrow Vince McMahon into 2424 02:38:13.440 --> 02:38:18.159 YouTube and you get a video that says, n instinct man brates Ashley Masorrow 2425 02:38:18.600 --> 02:38:22.639 over spilled coffee for two uncomfule minutes. Is that it exactly right? And 2426 02:38:22.799 --> 02:38:28.639 now when you hit play, I'm gonna need you to go to a particular 2427 02:38:28.760 --> 02:38:31.879 time code after Matt Hardy leaves the frame. Matt Hardy, by the way, 2428 02:38:31.959 --> 02:38:35.559 somebody I believe that a dated actually Massorrow for a minute. Go to 2429 02:38:35.639 --> 02:38:39.879 fifty seconds. So this so they do a bit where Vince is backstage. 2430 02:38:39.920 --> 02:38:45.600 This is Maniacal Psycho two thousand and seven ECW. Vince yes, and she 2431 02:38:45.719 --> 02:38:48.360 accidentally bumps into him and he spills coffee on his jacket. And then Matt 2432 02:38:48.399 --> 02:38:52.760 Hardy leaves the scene. And then when you're ready, I'm ready, I'm 2433 02:38:52.760 --> 02:38:56.040 gonna play the audio for the Solar System. Will you play the video? 2434 02:38:56.280 --> 02:39:01.280 Three two one play. I'm terribly sorry mister Rannel had to try a claim 2435 02:39:01.319 --> 02:39:07.239 to I wasn't meant to do that, didn't you? Of course, I 2436 02:39:07.319 --> 02:39:13.959 didn't. It was an accident. I promise. I feel terrible. You 2437 02:39:15.079 --> 02:39:16.600 meant to do that? No, I didn't. Of course you meant to 2438 02:39:16.680 --> 02:39:26.079 do that. Of course I didn't. Double mean what you did? What's 2439 02:39:26.159 --> 02:39:33.879 coffee? Okay? Yeah? How do you really feel? I feel terrible? 2440 02:39:33.920 --> 02:39:35.159 I want to help or I just want to get into how do you 2441 02:39:37.799 --> 02:39:41.399 How do you feel? I feel bad? Feel bad? Yeah? Of 2442 02:39:41.520 --> 02:39:43.719 course it was an accident. I would never want to do that. It 2443 02:39:43.840 --> 02:39:52.239 was how bad you feel? Terrible? You know? I hate to do 2444 02:39:52.399 --> 02:40:03.319 this. You're suspended? What I'm suspended? Suspended? Which which you're suspended? 2445 02:40:03.840 --> 02:40:33.840 Yours? Your girl crying out? You're thoughts? I mean that, 2446 02:40:35.159 --> 02:40:41.000 I mean it's it's disgusting, actually, like I mean, I don't know. 2447 02:40:41.159 --> 02:40:48.920 She looks legitimately disturbed after this happened to her, and this is this 2448 02:40:48.040 --> 02:40:52.040 is a year after that happened to her in Kuwait. Oh, and this 2449 02:40:52.200 --> 02:40:54.440 is according to Paul London, who used to go out there, and we 2450 02:40:54.559 --> 02:41:00.399 did a couple of podcasts about this. You know, Vince would be constantly 2451 02:41:01.399 --> 02:41:07.399 propositioning ah her because I don't know. I don't think it's too far now 2452 02:41:07.520 --> 02:41:13.120 to discern to connect fact patterns such to say that Vince got particularly interested in 2453 02:41:13.200 --> 02:41:16.879 the ones that were in Playboy. Of course, right you think about Oliver 2454 02:41:16.959 --> 02:41:22.600 Tory, Oliver Sable. I imagine that he hand picked them, Emily Feinberg, 2455 02:41:24.760 --> 02:41:26.760 m you know, I imagine that he was the one who said, 2456 02:41:26.799 --> 02:41:31.559 yeah, you know what, I think you should do it, or assign 2457 02:41:31.680 --> 02:41:33.520 it to them or whatever. I just think after they did it, he 2458 02:41:33.680 --> 02:41:39.319 became very interested in them and of course propositioned them constantly. And I saw 2459 02:41:39.319 --> 02:41:46.000 you naked, and I believe I own that now, and then to do 2460 02:41:46.840 --> 02:41:50.079 essentially horrifying after she, you know, because you know, the thing is 2461 02:41:50.120 --> 02:41:52.159 everyone says that she like rejected the advances, not in a way where she 2462 02:41:52.280 --> 02:41:54.799 was like, you know, so you know, so in your face about 2463 02:41:54.799 --> 02:41:58.360 it. They fired her. They you know, she was able to thread 2464 02:41:58.399 --> 02:42:01.360 the needle carefully enough that you know, they kept her working for the company. 2465 02:42:01.520 --> 02:42:07.920 But it's just constantly, constantly these suggestions that maybe we should, you 2466 02:42:07.000 --> 02:42:11.959 know, take this further, knocking on hotel room doors and such, and 2467 02:42:11.079 --> 02:42:18.360 then you do this, I mean, he just looked completely disturbing. You 2468 02:42:18.440 --> 02:42:20.639 think he was, yeah, and it's all like all Vince is so good. 2469 02:42:20.920 --> 02:42:26.120 Vince's it's called method acting, and yeah, I don't think. I 2470 02:42:26.200 --> 02:42:30.040 don't think that there was. And he's not studying somebody else to get the 2471 02:42:30.120 --> 02:42:33.239 nothing I know, it's it's not Stanislavsky at all. It's like we've been 2472 02:42:33.319 --> 02:42:35.479 I don't know, it's not like we haven't been telling you for ten years 2473 02:42:35.559 --> 02:42:41.959 in our own way. It's just I mean that actually really made me feel 2474 02:42:41.159 --> 02:42:46.360 uncomfortable honestly watching that, like shing what we know, knowing what we know. 2475 02:42:46.920 --> 02:42:50.479 And I also think too, it's not even just knowing what we know, 2476 02:42:50.680 --> 02:42:54.680 but in this in this era where it's it's just really come to light 2477 02:42:54.799 --> 02:43:05.159 about you know, the the the how men of power would just take advantage 2478 02:43:05.360 --> 02:43:09.719 of of women of you know, if they could, if they if they 2479 02:43:09.760 --> 02:43:13.000 could do it, I mean if they didn't, if they couldn't do it, 2480 02:43:13.200 --> 02:43:18.120 you were you were you know, completely shamed, you know, like 2481 02:43:18.360 --> 02:43:26.680 you were you would be treated like garbage like she just was. I mean, 2482 02:43:26.920 --> 02:43:30.239 I don't I can't imagine that she's that good of an actor either. 2483 02:43:30.280 --> 02:43:31.680 We're just telling stories here, pal, don't be a mark. Don't be 2484 02:43:31.760 --> 02:43:37.120 a mark. I mean that's the thing, like they're telling stories in in 2485 02:43:37.680 --> 02:43:43.000 wrestling is really just a nightmare sometimes like it's so the only story we seem 2486 02:43:43.040 --> 02:43:50.079 to be telling is Vince McMahon fetishes, I mean and then and and it's 2487 02:43:50.079 --> 02:43:52.280 not only that. It's like there's not a sexual fetish of stories up sex. 2488 02:43:52.280 --> 02:43:56.120 It's fetishes of power. It's kiss my ass, it's all that shit. 2489 02:43:56.360 --> 02:44:00.280 It's not even that. It's also just like this is the way. 2490 02:44:01.000 --> 02:44:05.799 It's kind of that that bullying that was in that that's kind of the nature 2491 02:44:05.840 --> 02:44:11.479 of this business, you know, there's always this bullying going on, Like 2492 02:44:11.760 --> 02:44:16.120 why like in no in no way these guys signed up for a business where 2493 02:44:16.159 --> 02:44:18.879 they could still act like they were in high school without anybody ratting on them. 2494 02:44:20.319 --> 02:44:26.440 In no other business could you treat anybody like this the way that they 2495 02:44:26.559 --> 02:44:30.719 now I'm not talking about And in the affidavit, when this happens to her, 2496 02:44:31.399 --> 02:44:35.639 yeah, the one female member of roster that she calls out as being 2497 02:44:37.159 --> 02:44:39.719 I guess the shoulder to cry on, or at least somebody that was concerned 2498 02:44:39.799 --> 02:44:43.239 enough about what she was reporting having happened to her that she you know, 2499 02:44:43.399 --> 02:44:48.559 offered like guidance as to what to do. Was Maria In like less than 2500 02:44:48.600 --> 02:44:54.719 two years later, they're in the ring at the Royal Rumble, exchanging dialogue 2501 02:44:54.719 --> 02:45:03.760 about how Maria should really do Playboy. Yeah, it's a it's a it's 2502 02:45:03.799 --> 02:45:05.680 a powerful thing, you being exposed. I don't know if we need to 2503 02:45:05.719 --> 02:45:09.440 hear from you at this particular point in times, sir, Thank you said 2504 02:45:09.520 --> 02:45:15.959 it said enough. Reality is what it is. It's reality, fantasy is 2505 02:45:16.040 --> 02:45:20.799 reality. And wrestling hello, yes, there is no such thing as you 2506 02:45:20.879 --> 02:45:24.680 know acting. I love how we always say like the best wrestlers are the 2507 02:45:24.719 --> 02:45:28.280 ones that take their own personality and turn it up to one hundred. But 2508 02:45:28.399 --> 02:45:31.559 somehow that doesn't apply when people are acting like complete fucking psycho, murderous, 2509 02:45:31.680 --> 02:45:35.360 fucking you know what I mean, sexually perverted exactly. I mean, that's 2510 02:45:35.399 --> 02:45:39.520 not the real them. Sopaths. Yeah, that's not the that's not them 2511 02:45:39.559 --> 02:45:43.680 turned up to one hundred in that case. So they were qualifying matches, 2512 02:45:43.799 --> 02:45:46.680 is what I'm trying to say. For the two thousand and eight Royal Robo 2513 02:45:46.120 --> 02:45:54.040 there were also there's also qualifying evidence as well. Here's a quick list from 2514 02:45:54.120 --> 02:45:58.840 a from Wikipedia. Snitsky beats Drew McIntyre, Hardcore Holly beats Trevor Murdoch on 2515 02:45:58.840 --> 02:46:03.959 a show Morrison beats the Morrison in the Miz, beat Jimmy wang Yang, 2516 02:46:03.920 --> 02:46:16.479 What's that Who? Beat Trevor Murdock, Hardcore Holly just to fucking wait, 2517 02:46:18.959 --> 02:46:20.639 Morrison in the Mizz and a tag match beat Jimmy wang Yang and Chin and 2518 02:46:20.680 --> 02:46:24.719 morn a SmackDown ECW Howse Show to both qualify as a tag team. Hornswaggle 2519 02:46:24.760 --> 02:46:28.239 and Foley beat the Highlanders and a tag match on Raw to qualify. Jamie 2520 02:46:28.280 --> 02:46:33.120 Nobles Jesus Christ beats Chuck Palomo and SmackDown to qualify. Cody Rhodes beats William 2521 02:46:33.159 --> 02:46:37.559 Regal on a Raw House show to qualify. Carlito and Santino as a team. 2522 02:46:37.600 --> 02:46:39.799 Beat d H Smith, David boy Smith Junior and Super Crazy on Raw 2523 02:46:39.840 --> 02:46:43.520 House Show to qualify. You know, I wrote down to in my notes. 2524 02:46:43.559 --> 02:46:45.079 As I was watching, I was like, you know, think about 2525 02:46:45.120 --> 02:46:50.879 this. There's Carlito, and you think about what he accomplished in his run 2526 02:46:50.000 --> 02:46:56.239 in we and now he's he comes into the rumble as a legend. He 2527 02:46:56.440 --> 02:46:58.879 is a legend. Yes, that's what we see, you know, like 2528 02:47:00.479 --> 02:47:03.840 people cheer for him like he accomplished something they really really do, you know, 2529 02:47:05.040 --> 02:47:07.239 but he did shit. It's like cheering for Virgil. Honestly, I 2530 02:47:07.360 --> 02:47:13.840 know, but like God Almighty, I mean, at least here's the thing. 2531 02:47:16.040 --> 02:47:20.920 At least Virgil had memorable moments. Yeah. I can't think of anything 2532 02:47:22.200 --> 02:47:28.600 really, not only memorable moments, but memorable moments where he where he triumphed, 2533 02:47:28.879 --> 02:47:31.760 triumphed. The only thing that I can tell you off the top of 2534 02:47:31.799 --> 02:47:35.719 my head that I remember vividly is is him getting beat up by Hulk Hogan. 2535 02:47:37.000 --> 02:47:39.799 Yeah, WrestleMania twenty two. Yeah, spitting an apple in Piper's face. 2536 02:47:41.159 --> 02:47:43.120 Yeah, Like that's a signal they were taking him seriously. But that 2537 02:47:43.280 --> 02:47:48.319 was like the end of it. I remember nothing else about him. But 2538 02:47:48.440 --> 02:47:52.079 now he comes out and people go crazy for him, like he just fucking 2539 02:47:52.200 --> 02:47:56.079 saved the world. Michael's beat Trevor Murdoch, So Murdock getting two bites at 2540 02:47:56.120 --> 02:48:01.520 the apple. Both times you mentioned already Triple beating Snitzky, Henry and Regal 2541 02:48:01.840 --> 02:48:05.319 in a gauntlet match to qualify, and Punk beating Chavo Guerrero on a house 2542 02:48:05.319 --> 02:48:09.079 show in January twenty six to qualify as well. What do you think about 2543 02:48:09.159 --> 02:48:11.760 qualifying for the Rumble? Now? They just do I declare, and you 2544 02:48:11.840 --> 02:48:13.799 can't fill all thirty slots because there's always surprises and you don't know to the 2545 02:48:13.879 --> 02:48:18.559 day of necessarily. I think there should be matches to qualify and every every 2546 02:48:18.639 --> 02:48:24.200 year or or you know, maybe not all, maybe not thirty matches, 2547 02:48:24.319 --> 02:48:28.040 but maybe there are some slots that you need to be qualify, you need 2548 02:48:28.079 --> 02:48:31.799 to qualify for. I'm fine with that. I like that. Again, 2549 02:48:31.840 --> 02:48:35.360 I don't know about the whole like all of them. That seems like a 2550 02:48:35.399 --> 02:48:39.360 lot to me. Yeah, I mean, even spread out, that seems 2551 02:48:39.399 --> 02:48:43.479 like a lot. But I think as a I think, you know, 2552 02:48:43.600 --> 02:48:46.799 for for a good number of them. Absolutely, I think it's a great 2553 02:48:46.920 --> 02:48:50.959 idea. Yeah, makes it valuable. It makes that, It makes that 2554 02:48:50.120 --> 02:48:56.120 thing, makes the being in the rumble valuable. It does. So we 2555 02:48:56.200 --> 02:49:01.399 see Vince as the illegitimate father of Hornswaggles. So let's let Dylan Postel himself 2556 02:49:01.440 --> 02:49:05.760 tell us the story of how that came to be, because this is pretty 2557 02:49:05.799 --> 02:49:09.079 much a show to do it because of that backstage segment and as it reveals, 2558 02:49:09.120 --> 02:49:11.639 it was supposed to lead to potentially Vince McMahon versus Finley at WrestleMania. 2559 02:49:13.920 --> 02:49:16.760 That's a dream match we all wanted, which definitely did not happen. Just 2560 02:49:16.840 --> 02:49:22.520 after SummerSlam, he writes an investigation into online pharmacies prescribing steroids led to ten 2561 02:49:22.639 --> 02:49:26.360 ww wrestlers being suspended for violations of the company wellness policy. I can tell 2562 02:49:26.360 --> 02:49:31.319 you online pharmacies have never distributed steroids, and we distributed them by hand in 2563 02:49:31.399 --> 02:49:35.440 person among them. As I'm sure you could have guessed, given his run 2564 02:49:35.520 --> 02:49:39.479 of luck, was Ken Kennedy. He was written off TV that week and 2565 02:49:39.520 --> 02:49:41.399 suspended for thirty days, just a week before they were scheduled to reveal who 2566 02:49:41.520 --> 02:49:45.879 McMahon's bastard son was. Remember boss, Oh, yes, it's supposed to 2567 02:49:45.879 --> 02:49:50.399 be Kennedy. Kennedy yep. Years later I asked Ken point blank if he 2568 02:49:50.440 --> 02:49:52.719 was supposed to have been Vince's son. He gave me a sly grin and 2569 02:49:52.799 --> 02:49:54.399 just said, I don't think so. We both knew what was meant to 2570 02:49:54.440 --> 02:49:58.120 be him. Ken's luck didn't change over the next couple of years, and 2571 02:49:58.120 --> 02:50:01.159 after a couple of more injuries in a match well Rand Yorking complained about it 2572 02:50:01.200 --> 02:50:03.719 being unsafe in the ring, w B let him go. It was a 2573 02:50:03.760 --> 02:50:05.559 real shame. Ken could have just been a huge star. The entire roster 2574 02:50:05.719 --> 02:50:09.520 was brought into ron Green Bay for the big reveal. No one had any 2575 02:50:09.520 --> 02:50:11.719 idea who it was going to be. I figured it would be just another 2576 02:50:11.799 --> 02:50:13.959 day at work. But mid afternoon, as rehearsal was about to start, 2577 02:50:13.040 --> 02:50:16.479 Vince's right hand man, Bruce Pritchard told me to be in backstage. When 2578 02:50:16.520 --> 02:50:20.079 I got there, the first thing he did was demand my phone. I 2579 02:50:20.120 --> 02:50:22.639 could tell from his expression he was dead serious, so I handed it over 2580 02:50:22.680 --> 02:50:28.000 and then he said the words that changed my life your Vince's son, and 2581 02:50:28.200 --> 02:50:31.079 change his life. Really he go so far to say that for the worst. 2582 02:50:31.799 --> 02:50:35.399 Oh all right now he didn't say that, but I did. The 2583 02:50:35.440 --> 02:50:37.040 big reveal was going to be me. All I could do was stare at 2584 02:50:37.079 --> 02:50:39.879 him blankly and mumble, why, what do you mean why? Bruce replied, 2585 02:50:39.920 --> 02:50:43.239 You're going to be in a storyline with a boss, don't question it. 2586 02:50:43.639 --> 02:50:46.840 Very good for him for saying, well for asking why. I asked 2587 02:50:46.920 --> 02:50:48.799 him I could have my phone back, and then was told I'd get it 2588 02:50:48.840 --> 02:50:52.600 back after the show. Yeah, he'll get it back when we say you 2589 02:50:52.680 --> 02:50:56.680 get it back. You know why they had to confiscate talents phones like middle 2590 02:50:56.719 --> 02:50:58.719 school students, Oh, because they're going to text their friends and say hey 2591 02:51:00.280 --> 02:51:03.959 or text Meltzer nailed it. The office was determined to keep the identity of 2592 02:51:03.040 --> 02:51:05.399 Vince's son a secret and didn't want any risk of the news getting into the 2593 02:51:05.440 --> 02:51:07.600 internet. I told Bruce I understood, but if I was going to be 2594 02:51:07.639 --> 02:51:09.719 featured in the main event on Run My Home State, I wanted to ask 2595 02:51:09.799 --> 02:51:15.399 my dad, Anne and her mom to be there. His dad, Anne, 2596 02:51:15.440 --> 02:51:18.159 who was his girlfriend, and her mom to be there. Bruce agreed 2597 02:51:18.200 --> 02:51:20.520 to arrange complimentary tickets for them and watched me like a hawk as I texted 2598 02:51:22.159 --> 02:51:24.079 a lot of texting in this company asking them to come to the show that 2599 02:51:24.159 --> 02:51:26.760 evening. Then he took my phone away. Sure, I'm sure at the 2600 02:51:26.799 --> 02:51:30.200 time there was this idea that, hey, you know, texting, it's 2601 02:51:30.680 --> 02:51:33.440 you know, it's a you know, no one's going to know. These 2602 02:51:33.479 --> 02:51:37.000 things are very secretive ways. Yes, I'm getting messages across now, not 2603 02:51:37.079 --> 02:51:43.280 when they can confiscate texts like Matt Damon texting in his pocket and the right 2604 02:51:43.360 --> 02:51:46.360 exactly. Bruce agreed to arrange complementary tickets for them and watch me like a 2605 02:51:46.360 --> 02:51:48.840 hawk as I texted asking them to come to the show that evening. Then 2606 02:51:48.879 --> 02:51:50.360 he took my phone away again. Meanwhile, the rest of the roster was 2607 02:51:50.399 --> 02:51:52.959 in the arena rehearsed. In the final segment of the night, Vince was 2608 02:51:54.000 --> 02:51:58.040 explaining how a private investigator quote unquote would appear on the screen and read out 2609 02:51:58.040 --> 02:52:01.399 a series of clues about the identity of his son. Everyone that when something 2610 02:52:01.479 --> 02:52:03.639 came up that took them out of the running, they would go backstage. 2611 02:52:03.719 --> 02:52:05.559 They should go backstage. Then everyone was told it would come down to Vince 2612 02:52:05.559 --> 02:52:09.079 and Hunter in the ring, and that was the end of the rehearsal. 2613 02:52:09.120 --> 02:52:11.520 They didn't even clue the roster into the payoff of the angle to avoid spoilers 2614 02:52:11.760 --> 02:52:16.079 getting out at the rehearsal. As the rehearsal was ending, Bruce told me 2615 02:52:16.440 --> 02:52:18.680 that he'd get me my bag later, but that I needed to get under 2616 02:52:18.680 --> 02:52:22.040 the ring immediately. I made my way to ringside and snuck underneath just as 2617 02:52:22.079 --> 02:52:26.079 everyone else was making their way to the back. Once I was settled, 2618 02:52:26.120 --> 02:52:28.879 I got on the headset. Kevin Dunn was waiting for me and instructed me 2619 02:52:28.920 --> 02:52:31.280 to not speak on the headset unless I was directly spoken to. Around six 2620 02:52:31.360 --> 02:52:35.200 pms, the crowd was beginning to be let into the building, my bag. 2621 02:52:35.920 --> 02:52:37.959 What are you a child in a fucking Catholic high school? Pretty much, 2622 02:52:39.399 --> 02:52:41.840 don't speak unless you've been spoken to. That is exactly the mood. 2623 02:52:43.639 --> 02:52:46.000 Around six pms, the crowd was beginning to be let in the building. 2624 02:52:46.680 --> 02:52:48.239 My bag was slid under the ring Apron and Vince checked in to make sure 2625 02:52:48.239 --> 02:52:50.719 I was alright. He repeated what Kevin had said, explaining that when they 2626 02:52:50.760 --> 02:52:54.559 spoke to me, they could block other people from listening in and only he, 2627 02:52:54.719 --> 02:52:56.959 Kevin, and I would be able to hear each other. They were 2628 02:52:56.040 --> 02:53:00.879 talking, taking rather every precaution to keep this secret under apps. That night 2629 02:53:01.000 --> 02:53:03.879 was one of my longer stays under the ring. I'd already been under there 2630 02:53:03.920 --> 02:53:07.920 for a couple of hours before the show started. Can you imagine having a 2631 02:53:07.000 --> 02:53:11.319 sit under that ring for like six hours? Miserable? I mean, I 2632 02:53:11.399 --> 02:53:15.719 hope they had like food or something. I think they did. I always 2633 02:53:15.760 --> 02:53:18.200 get like a TV or something too, like, oh, the Dark Match, 2634 02:53:18.280 --> 02:53:20.760 Yeah, that would help pretty Like a DVD play, like a portal 2635 02:53:20.840 --> 02:53:24.000 DVD player like I used to have. There's a good one. Yeah, 2636 02:53:24.680 --> 02:53:26.959 can't have your phone, so right, watch a couple of movies, The 2637 02:53:28.040 --> 02:53:30.959 Dark Match and Heat Tapings, took another forty five minutes, and I only 2638 02:53:31.040 --> 02:53:33.159 emerged in the final moments of the last segment of the two hour episode of 2639 02:53:33.239 --> 02:53:35.879 Raw. Every twenty to thirty minutes, Vince would check in and ask if 2640 02:53:35.879 --> 02:53:39.600 I needed anything to eat or drink. I was always appreciated his concern for 2641 02:53:39.680 --> 02:53:41.879 my comfort under there to get Where're you gonna get it from? They could 2642 02:53:43.040 --> 02:53:46.200 have something run down and slipped under the ring. Yeah, that gives it 2643 02:53:46.239 --> 02:53:48.280 away. But there's somebody under the ring. Yeah, you could do it 2644 02:53:48.360 --> 02:53:52.079 the way people wouldn't notice during a Big Stars entrance or something. I don't 2645 02:53:52.079 --> 02:53:54.719 know. I was appreciated his concern for my comfort under there. Later on, 2646 02:53:54.840 --> 02:53:58.440 he went through his cue my cue with me, then asked if I 2647 02:53:58.559 --> 02:54:01.200 was changed yet, and I said I wasn't. He asked, how are 2648 02:54:01.239 --> 02:54:03.280 you going to change under there? I simply said, Vince, I'm a 2649 02:54:03.319 --> 02:54:07.719 midget. Uh. I'm also I'm not in a I'm on a cocoon, 2650 02:54:07.120 --> 02:54:13.479 which earned me a signature Vince laugh, You're a midget, Yeah, a 2651 02:54:13.639 --> 02:54:16.159 lot of it. When I eventually decided to get changed, I opened my 2652 02:54:16.239 --> 02:54:20.040 bag and saw the Cruiserweight title belt sitting there. I started a panic wondering 2653 02:54:20.040 --> 02:54:22.040 whether I should bring it into the ring with me or not. I didn't 2654 02:54:22.040 --> 02:54:24.440 want to screw up in my first moments of this new high profile role, 2655 02:54:24.479 --> 02:54:26.520 and I couldn't ask about it because I'd been forbidden from talking to anyone. 2656 02:54:26.559 --> 02:54:30.079 I thought i'd mention it when Vince checked in next, but when that didn't 2657 02:54:30.079 --> 02:54:33.280 happen for a while, I grew increasingly worried. Finally, during a commercial 2658 02:54:33.319 --> 02:54:35.440 break, I pressed the button to allow me to speak on the headset. 2659 02:54:35.639 --> 02:54:39.399 Kevin nothing, Kevin still nothing, Kevin, Wow, we told you not 2660 02:54:39.520 --> 02:54:41.319 to talk. I'm sorry. I just want to know if I should bring 2661 02:54:41.360 --> 02:54:45.000 the Cruiserweight title out with me. It's about that, he asked soundingly. 2662 02:54:45.000 --> 02:54:48.319 He couldn't believe I'd ask something so stupid, You fucking idiot. Wait a 2663 02:54:48.360 --> 02:54:50.440 second. After a while, I heard Kevin's voice again, saying, Vince 2664 02:54:50.479 --> 02:54:52.520 his son's asking if he should bring the goddamn belt out with him. He 2665 02:54:52.559 --> 02:54:56.559 said, Vince's son, Yes, Oh my god, what a Vince the 2666 02:54:56.719 --> 02:55:01.120 son's asking the Sun's I was relieved to hear Vince say that's a great question. 2667 02:55:01.239 --> 02:55:03.120 Yes, Dylan, you should bring it out. Because one of the 2668 02:55:03.200 --> 02:55:07.120 clues is to do with the titles. When the final segment of the night 2669 02:55:07.159 --> 02:55:09.840 went ahead and the field was thinned out before one final clue was delivered to 2670 02:55:09.840 --> 02:55:13.120 the new McMahon liked to play the game with Triple Aho's nickname being the game. 2671 02:55:13.120 --> 02:55:15.680 The other final contenders cleared out, and Vince and Hunter were left together 2672 02:55:15.719 --> 02:55:18.360 in a moment made more awkward because Hunter is married to Vince's daughter and the 2673 02:55:18.399 --> 02:55:22.239 audience knew it. Vince screened that something was wrong and demanded the name of 2674 02:55:22.319 --> 02:55:26.000 his bastard son. The investigator then explained that the game the son liked to 2675 02:55:26.040 --> 02:55:28.680 play could be hide and seek, horseshoes, or marbles, and the things 2676 02:55:28.719 --> 02:55:39.559 were looking up. Not for Vince looking up. Oh my god, it's 2677 02:55:39.120 --> 02:55:43.000 such a reality check to go back, It really is. Ah, there's 2678 02:55:43.040 --> 02:55:48.159 such a fucking nightmare like post Vince becoming an on screen character. It's such 2679 02:55:48.200 --> 02:55:50.120 a reality check. Yep, oh yes, not for Vince. But as 2680 02:55:50.159 --> 02:55:52.920 for his son, horn swoggle, the crowder rupped it as my music head. 2681 02:55:52.920 --> 02:55:56.159 I got in the ring and danced around like a kid at Christmas. 2682 02:55:56.799 --> 02:56:00.879 Vince looked disgusted, and Hunter and I looked like like all his birthdays had 2683 02:56:00.920 --> 02:56:03.520 come at once. The most watched weekly show in the wrestling industry. Went 2684 02:56:03.520 --> 02:56:05.520 off the year with Hunter pointing and laughing as I hugged Vince mcmaon's left leg. 2685 02:56:07.000 --> 02:56:09.440 Appearing in the main event segment of Raw felt incredible, And it was 2686 02:56:09.479 --> 02:56:11.239 made even better off by the fact that I was happening in Green Bay with 2687 02:56:11.360 --> 02:56:13.840 other people closest to me at that time, right there in the crowd. 2688 02:56:15.719 --> 02:56:18.040 When I talked to my real dad afterward, I was relieved to hear that 2689 02:56:18.079 --> 02:56:22.360 the angle didn't bother him at all. He understood that working with the most 2690 02:56:22.399 --> 02:56:26.079 powerful man in the entire business, arm Son, he looked like a damn 2691 02:56:26.239 --> 02:56:33.399 fool working that fake shit. I guess he migrated to Wisconsin. I just 2692 02:56:33.520 --> 02:56:37.639 don't you know. I don't know you know this, this whole thing that 2693 02:56:37.760 --> 02:56:43.920 you're in, that you're in. Uh, I just don't know. I 2694 02:56:43.959 --> 02:56:48.840 don't know where it's going. I don't know what kind of value you see 2695 02:56:48.879 --> 02:56:50.959 out of it. I don't know what kind of value I see out of 2696 02:56:50.000 --> 02:56:54.600 you. Oh, I don't know if I did you call in here anymore? 2697 02:56:54.639 --> 02:56:58.040 Dylan. I tell you the truth. It was bad enough you were 2698 02:56:58.120 --> 02:57:03.559 born so small. Now you got to make fun of it and make it 2699 02:57:03.639 --> 02:57:11.040 all public. I don't hurt Dad. It's one thing you're making an ass 2700 02:57:11.079 --> 02:57:13.600 out of yourself and a fool out of yourself in front of the entire country. 2701 02:57:15.000 --> 02:57:18.719 But the fact that you made me fly there to experience it in person, 2702 02:57:20.120 --> 02:57:22.840 that's just something I can't help it take personally, like I'm supposed to 2703 02:57:22.920 --> 02:57:30.600 be proud of you for something I've never been proud. Oh shit, oh 2704 02:57:30.799 --> 02:57:37.239 shit, I think we've got the title of the chapter. Do you know 2705 02:57:37.280 --> 02:57:39.680 what my dad said when I was revealed as Vince's bastard son on raw He 2706 02:57:39.840 --> 02:57:46.760 said, I've never been proud of you. Did you mean? Did he 2707 02:57:46.840 --> 02:57:50.760 say, I've never been prouder of you? No? No, I've never 2708 02:57:50.879 --> 02:57:56.959 once been proud. There's no way in hell I'm proud now. And then 2709 02:57:56.200 --> 02:58:01.040 Dylan Postel walks into the Starbucks and the Barns and like he always does as 2710 02:58:01.079 --> 02:58:03.239 part of his routine, and he looks up at the bookshelf, and there 2711 02:58:03.280 --> 02:58:15.840 it is. I was never proud of you my life as Hornswoggle's father with 2712 02:58:16.280 --> 02:58:18.399 I'm a cover. It's his dad, and he's got like a Hornswoggle ahead, 2713 02:58:18.760 --> 02:58:28.680 ripping it in half. Imagine that book comes out and you have no, 2714 02:58:28.799 --> 02:58:35.879 heads up, Dad, What the fuck? Yeah, that's what I 2715 02:58:35.040 --> 02:58:43.319 was asking myself about you. What the fuck? He's a ship. I 2716 02:58:43.399 --> 02:58:52.159 don't like you anymore, son, I'm not proud of you. How I 2717 02:58:52.399 --> 02:59:01.280 came to hate my son Hornswoggle? How I came to hate my son Comma 2718 02:59:01.520 --> 02:59:11.600 Ww's Hornswoggle? Oh god, Oh, so that latte went down rough that 2719 02:59:11.760 --> 02:59:16.319 day. Yeah, I'll say shit. You see you see Hornswoggle at a 2720 02:59:16.319 --> 02:59:18.799 convention. Hey, is it true that your dad was going to come up 2721 02:59:18.799 --> 02:59:22.360 with a book that said, I've never been proud of you? How I 2722 02:59:22.440 --> 02:59:26.760 came to hate my son Hornswoggle? Imagine like the look on his face, 2723 02:59:28.159 --> 02:59:33.840 how I came to hate my son Ww's Hornswoggle. Do you hear about that 2724 02:59:33.879 --> 02:59:35.840 book coming out? Have you heard about that book? Your dad wrote it. 2725 02:59:35.840 --> 02:59:43.719 I'm surprised you didn't hear about it. The kind of dad that would 2726 02:59:43.760 --> 02:59:50.120 sit at a computer and write that book. Can someone tell me how to 2727 02:59:50.319 --> 02:59:54.959 use one of these goddamn things a computer? Now we know I Fred's tried 2728 02:59:54.959 --> 02:59:58.719 to learn Windows ninety five to write a book about why you hated Kevin, 2729 02:59:58.040 --> 03:00:01.799 Why I hated his son. I want you to know that the fund be 2730 03:00:01.879 --> 03:00:11.879 dead. Yeah, I wrote a book, I'm a computer What a Copooter 2731 03:00:15.559 --> 03:00:22.959 the Computer film? Yeah, exactly, that's what I thought. So when 2732 03:00:22.000 --> 03:00:24.319 my dad went to work the next day, people obviously knew what had happened, 2733 03:00:24.319 --> 03:00:26.159 because they joked with him, asking, Hey, is there something you 2734 03:00:26.239 --> 03:00:31.920 need to tell us about Dylan. Oh yeah, yeah, my midget son 2735 03:00:33.000 --> 03:00:35.360 is somebody else's kid. But I've been acting like it's my kid the whole 2736 03:00:35.399 --> 03:00:39.319 time, not my son. Well, of course this all didn't amount to 2737 03:00:39.440 --> 03:00:43.879 much. It was basically like a plan B after they decided to not go 2738 03:00:45.000 --> 03:00:50.399 with Kennedy. Mister Kennedy Kennedy. Yeah. After the rumble, he writes 2739 03:00:50.440 --> 03:00:52.120 in his book, mister McMahon was not pleased that his son had let him 2740 03:00:52.120 --> 03:00:54.639 down. His punishment, he demanded I become the newest member of the Kiss 2741 03:00:54.680 --> 03:00:58.360 My Ass Club, which is exactly what it sounded like the person he was 2742 03:00:58.399 --> 03:01:01.200 attempting to me. It would have to kiss his bare ass on national TV 2743 03:01:03.079 --> 03:01:05.360 again. Again. Boss were right back in that weird like I can't deal 2744 03:01:05.399 --> 03:01:09.559 with it any more. Category. No, it's it's definitely not it's it's 2745 03:01:09.760 --> 03:01:15.559 it's a lot darker than it used to be. This idea was presented to 2746 03:01:15.639 --> 03:01:18.559 me with absolutely no tact. Before the show that night, vincently told me 2747 03:01:18.600 --> 03:01:22.200 you're going to join tonight? Was that? No question, no discussion, 2748 03:01:22.239 --> 03:01:30.200 no argument. Are you prepared to grace my ainus with your lips? Right? 2749 03:01:31.200 --> 03:01:35.079 But that's that's what's going to happen. You are going to kiss my 2750 03:01:35.200 --> 03:01:41.000 ass and you are going to like it and you are going to need it. 2751 03:01:43.719 --> 03:01:46.440 Are you prepared for that? Are you prepared for your life to change? 2752 03:01:46.840 --> 03:01:56.680 Right when you pucker up and kiss my buttocks? We're going to have 2753 03:01:56.719 --> 03:02:09.559 a little person kiss my buttocks, my sweaty buttocks, sweaty, stinky hind 2754 03:02:09.680 --> 03:02:16.799 quarters, hind quarters. Keister a deal? Please? I love that word. 2755 03:02:16.760 --> 03:02:20.760 He's a love that word. Oh my god. The payoff to the 2756 03:02:20.799 --> 03:02:24.479 segment was going to be that instead of kissing his ass, I was going 2757 03:02:24.559 --> 03:02:26.600 to bite it once again. Great ass bite, decent splash. Biting is 2758 03:02:26.680 --> 03:02:31.479 an ass is a standard part of midget wrestling repertoire, but usually the recipient 2759 03:02:31.559 --> 03:02:33.920 was one of the women and it was through some clothes. I didn't mind 2760 03:02:33.959 --> 03:02:35.399 doing it because it got me in a segment on row, but putting my 2761 03:02:35.520 --> 03:02:39.559 mouth on a sixty year old man's bare ass wasn't on my bucket list. 2762 03:02:39.079 --> 03:02:43.959 Still, the crowd seemed to enjoy the segment, and I liked one at 2763 03:02:45.239 --> 03:02:48.959 these people, and I liked it because it was another chance to have the 2764 03:02:50.000 --> 03:02:54.559 spotlight on me. Oh that bite led to Vince ordering me to face him 2765 03:02:54.600 --> 03:02:56.959 on Raw the next week in a rare singles match. First both the match 2766 03:02:56.120 --> 03:02:58.479 was pretty much just Vince daring me to slap him, and when I finally 2767 03:02:58.559 --> 03:03:01.280 did, he took off his belt and prepared to deliver some more tough love. 2768 03:03:01.479 --> 03:03:05.440 Finley got to the ring before the whipping started and stopped Vince getting to 2769 03:03:05.520 --> 03:03:07.079 me. Vince then got on the microphone told Finley he was interfering with family 2770 03:03:07.120 --> 03:03:11.760 business and threatened to fire him. When back down, Vince pointed out that 2771 03:03:11.200 --> 03:03:15.040 to me that he and Finley weren't the same sort of Irish because Finley was 2772 03:03:15.040 --> 03:03:16.639 a coward. Vince then threw me down and turned around to find Fit, 2773 03:03:16.719 --> 03:03:20.120 grinning his gap tooth smile at him. Vince cracked Vince, and the Fit 2774 03:03:20.280 --> 03:03:24.159 rather cracked Vince in the head with the Shaley immediately raising a goose egg and 2775 03:03:24.239 --> 03:03:26.760 then sent me up to the top rope. I hit my tadpole splash on 2776 03:03:26.879 --> 03:03:30.319 Vince and the ref counted three. With that, I became one of the 2777 03:03:30.399 --> 03:03:33.040 very few people to pin Vince McMahon. I know it's not real, but 2778 03:03:33.079 --> 03:03:35.879 it's still a cool piece of trivia. Stone Cold Steve Auston has never pinned 2779 03:03:35.920 --> 03:03:43.159 Vince McMahon, but Hornswoggle has. Over the previous few weeks, there had 2780 03:03:43.200 --> 03:03:46.440 been several backstage segments where Finley had been yelling at Vince. I want you 2781 03:03:46.520 --> 03:03:50.600 to think about what you just fucking I know when you say like these words 2782 03:03:50.680 --> 03:03:54.600 that I know if you spread to a normal human being, they'd be like, 2783 03:03:54.760 --> 03:04:00.920 what did you just say? As Shaley? What now? Who that 2784 03:04:01.040 --> 03:04:03.719 girl? Name? Is that what you said? Yeah? Right? Over 2785 03:04:03.760 --> 03:04:07.360 the previous few weeks, there had been several backstage segment where Finley had been 2786 03:04:07.440 --> 03:04:09.680 yelling at Vince about a secret that I needed to be told, a secret 2787 03:04:09.719 --> 03:04:11.600 he didn't want to hide anymore. The big reveal we'd been building up to 2788 03:04:11.719 --> 03:04:16.479 is that Vince wasn't actually my dad Finley was. I found out years later 2789 03:04:16.520 --> 03:04:18.600 that senging was supposed to lead to a match at wrestle Mania twenty four, 2790 03:04:18.639 --> 03:04:22.399 which would have been at the Battle of the Irish between Finley and Vince himself. 2791 03:04:22.680 --> 03:04:24.040 Oh my god, I can't imagine how much promotion that would have got, 2792 03:04:24.079 --> 03:04:26.760 But unfortunately it didn't happen. Somewhere along the way during the backstage segments, 2793 03:04:26.799 --> 03:04:31.840 Vince apparently changed his mind and Ki bosch his own physical involvement. At 2794 03:04:31.840 --> 03:04:33.000 the time, I had no idea that fits match with the Boss had been 2795 03:04:33.040 --> 03:04:35.639 canceled, so I couldn't feel disappointed. In fact, it was completely the 2796 03:04:35.639 --> 03:04:39.479 opposite. I couldn't believe my luck. When I started wrestling, I never 2797 03:04:39.479 --> 03:04:41.959 thought i'd be on Raw. I never thought I'd be in a cage match. 2798 03:04:41.360 --> 03:04:43.159 I definitely never thought i'd be in a one on one match with the 2799 03:04:43.200 --> 03:04:46.319 most powerful man in the entire industry, and yet there I was about to 2800 03:04:46.360 --> 03:04:50.399 have a cage match on Raw against Vince McMahon. Before rehearsals started that night, 2801 03:04:50.440 --> 03:04:52.360 Fit took me aside and prepared me for the fact that I was going 2802 03:04:52.399 --> 03:04:54.639 to get roughed up, but the Vince would take care of me financially for 2803 03:04:54.760 --> 03:04:58.079 my involvement. Later, Vince reiterated that it was going to be a rough 2804 03:04:58.200 --> 03:05:01.520 night. It's going to be snug tonight, Dylan. He warned me, 2805 03:05:01.680 --> 03:05:07.639 I'm gonna tell you how you're You're You're gonna hurt and I'm gonna hurt you. 2806 03:05:07.200 --> 03:05:13.799 So you see this revolver right here, Dylan a plan tonight the cocks 2807 03:05:13.879 --> 03:05:26.319 it. Hey, Vince Swag, come on over. You see this? 2808 03:05:26.639 --> 03:05:31.440 This is ah, this firearm. What I'm gonna do here is I'm showing 2809 03:05:31.520 --> 03:05:35.840 this to you because I'm actually I'm giving it to you, all right, 2810 03:05:37.200 --> 03:05:41.840 but I'm it's loaded, fully loaded, just like our pay per view all 2811 03:05:41.920 --> 03:05:48.399 right, see that there it is. I'm gonna cock it now and I'm 2812 03:05:48.399 --> 03:05:56.680 gonna hand this to you. If at any time tonight before our match you 2813 03:05:56.719 --> 03:06:07.000 would rather use this on yourself, feel free either way. It's going to 2814 03:06:07.040 --> 03:06:11.920 be a great fucking story and you're going to get destroyed. Oh shit, 2815 03:06:13.680 --> 03:06:22.000 that's hard core. Well I am on ACW I mean so I am hardcore. 2816 03:06:22.280 --> 03:06:24.479 So he takes hilacious punishment, getting thrown into the cage like he's getting 2817 03:06:24.479 --> 03:06:28.239 shut out of a cannon, and then the company gets him a red eye 2818 03:06:28.239 --> 03:06:31.639 flight back home, told him he wouldn't get smacked down to be off to 2819 03:06:31.680 --> 03:06:33.440 sell the injuries. Wednesday, he get another call from the office Tellingham he 2820 03:06:33.440 --> 03:06:37.319 wouldn't be needed for the following week's tapings and then that's about the end of 2821 03:06:37.360 --> 03:06:39.600 it. Oh my god. I'll tell you what. We're not going to 2822 03:06:39.639 --> 03:06:46.520 need you for about three years, and you're going to be without pay for 2823 03:06:46.680 --> 03:06:50.600 three years. And I don't mean that without pay from US. I mean 2824 03:06:50.840 --> 03:06:56.920 you're not going to get paid anywhere. I have seen to it that that 2825 03:06:58.479 --> 03:07:03.959 any business but you attempt to get a job at is going to reject you 2826 03:07:03.079 --> 03:07:09.840 based on your height. All right, my goal is achieved that you will 2827 03:07:11.000 --> 03:07:20.000 not make money for three years. Thanks for playing, Thanks for kissing my 2828 03:07:20.159 --> 03:07:26.559 ass on television. I save this one for you, boss, Okay, 2829 03:07:26.799 --> 03:07:31.360 because a big story of this is Jeff Hardy challenging Randy Orton for the ww 2830 03:07:31.520 --> 03:07:35.040 Championship. Yes, with the exception of a ladder match against Undertaker on Ron 2831 03:07:35.079 --> 03:07:37.920 two thousand and three, Jeff Hardy never really had a proper crack at the 2832 03:07:37.959 --> 03:07:41.120 gold Yeah for good reason too, And it just started to build up after 2833 03:07:41.200 --> 03:07:43.959 he came back from a series of drug issues and a stint in TNA that 2834 03:07:43.200 --> 03:07:46.799 really was sort of a disaster Jeff. It sort of started to rewin the 2835 03:07:46.840 --> 03:07:50.600 confidence of the office that he had put his demons behind him and that he 2836 03:07:50.760 --> 03:07:54.200 was on a path where they could, you know, invest in him with 2837 03:07:54.280 --> 03:07:58.520 the potential title run. And I think it was part of the situation with 2838 03:07:58.600 --> 03:08:01.360 the revolving doors and whether Seeing would do Rumble or not that they eventually decided 2839 03:08:01.360 --> 03:08:05.440 to put Jeff Hardy in there against Randy Orton one on one at RUMBLED a 2840 03:08:05.520 --> 03:08:07.760 challenge for the belt. Of course, as we know, traditionally, rumble 2841 03:08:07.840 --> 03:08:09.680 is thought to be the big draw itself the match, so you can give 2842 03:08:09.760 --> 03:08:13.399 lesser guys world title shots elsewhere in the cart. It's a place to put 2843 03:08:13.440 --> 03:08:16.719 the belt to give someone a title shot that otherwise, you know, couldn't 2844 03:08:16.719 --> 03:08:18.000 carry a pay per view, especially as we said before, in an era 2845 03:08:18.120 --> 03:08:20.559 where they still relied on month to month of pay per view buys to move 2846 03:08:20.600 --> 03:08:24.120 the ship. So Jeff gets a shot here, but by the time they 2847 03:08:24.159 --> 03:08:28.680 get to the show, it was one of those ones that the fans decided, 2848 03:08:28.079 --> 03:08:31.600 what if, you know, it wasn't like a fat of complay that 2849 03:08:31.639 --> 03:08:37.079 he was going to lose to Randy Orton here and the fans in the garden 2850 03:08:37.120 --> 03:08:39.600 try to will it across the finish line. Reportedly, Michael Hayes, who 2851 03:08:39.639 --> 03:08:41.399 was always a strong supporter of the Hardy's on creative was pushing for Jeff to 2852 03:08:41.399 --> 03:08:45.719 actually win the belt on this occasion. No, but Vince was very high 2853 03:08:45.719 --> 03:08:48.200 on the noment and Randy Orton had even if he lost faith in it just 2854 03:08:48.239 --> 03:08:54.399 a couple of months later apparently. And so this was a big moment for 2855 03:08:54.520 --> 03:08:58.479 Jeff where people were starting to entertain the what ifs of him becoming Champion of 2856 03:08:58.520 --> 03:09:01.600 the World. He did have that match against Dumaga on that Red Hot Royal 2857 03:09:01.680 --> 03:09:07.559 Rumble two. What year was that was that? After this match against Dumaga 2858 03:09:07.680 --> 03:09:09.440 on? Uh? No, I don't remember that at all. Let's see, 2859 03:09:09.479 --> 03:09:13.799 Well, I know Sina had the Yumaga match on a rumble. Yes 2860 03:09:13.920 --> 03:09:18.520 he did have. He faced you Manga. I think that was seven seven 2861 03:09:18.680 --> 03:09:22.559 was it? Where? Where Sena did? I don't know where? Jeff, 2862 03:09:22.559 --> 03:09:24.760 I think what it was was. Yeah, Hardy had an amazing cage 2863 03:09:24.799 --> 03:09:28.399 match against Maga on the January seventh, two thousand and eight raw to set 2864 03:09:28.479 --> 03:09:31.559 up his run for the title. I think he won the Icy Belt to 2865 03:09:31.639 --> 03:09:35.840 retain the Icy Belt in that match. I see, so it was part 2866 03:09:35.879 --> 03:09:39.520 of the yeah here, yeah, it was a great match. And so 2867 03:09:39.520 --> 03:09:43.600 so here we get to the Rumble and him being a North Carolinian. Mike 2868 03:09:43.680 --> 03:09:48.079 mouniham over the Charleston Posting Courier picks up the phone and does an interview with 2869 03:09:48.200 --> 03:09:50.479 Jeff about how big of a moment this coun potentially be. This ran in 2870 03:09:50.520 --> 03:09:52.719 the paper January twenty seventh, Wow, the day of the pay per view, 2871 03:09:52.799 --> 03:09:56.799 and uh, I'd love to hear you talk about how excited people were 2872 03:09:56.840 --> 03:10:01.959 about Jeff Hardy. Jeff Hardy has won a slew of titles over the course 2873 03:10:01.000 --> 03:10:05.680 of his career. One major crown, though, has eluded him. It's 2874 03:10:05.719 --> 03:10:09.120 the most prestigious in the business, and Hardy has the chance to do something 2875 03:10:09.200 --> 03:10:13.079 he's dreamed about since the days of bouncing around and a makeshift ring in his 2876 03:10:13.159 --> 03:10:18.159 backyard in Cameron, North Carolina. The high flying, risk taking Hardy challenges 2877 03:10:18.239 --> 03:10:22.639 Randy Orton for the WWE Heavyweight Championship in one of the featured bouts at Tonight's 2878 03:10:22.719 --> 03:10:26.799 Royal Rumble pay per view in the most famous fight venue in the country, 2879 03:10:28.280 --> 03:10:31.680 Madison Square Garden. He also could become part of history by being only the 2880 03:10:31.799 --> 03:10:37.879 third man to hold the Intercontinental and WWE heavyweight titles at the same time. 2881 03:10:37.680 --> 03:10:41.520 Hardy says It's probably the biggest match of his career by far. This is 2882 03:10:41.559 --> 03:10:46.639 the closest I've ever meant being ww champion and actually being one of the top 2883 03:10:46.719 --> 03:10:48.559 guys. I've always kind of felt that I was a top guy, though 2884 03:10:50.040 --> 03:10:52.239 I'm not in main events all the time. But I've always been confident and 2885 03:10:52.280 --> 03:10:54.840 true to myself that I'm good at what I do, and I have a 2886 03:10:54.879 --> 03:10:58.799 ton of people care about me and a lot of really cool fans out there 2887 03:10:58.840 --> 03:11:01.079 who want to see me be heavy champion. Harty, in fact, has 2888 03:11:01.120 --> 03:11:05.920 one of the biggest and most loyal fan bases in the company. He readily 2889 03:11:05.000 --> 03:11:09.840 admits he doesn't fit the bill as the prototypical WWE heavyweight champion, but it's 2890 03:11:09.879 --> 03:11:16.079 his daredevil's style approach and hardcore fan following that propel him to the next level. 2891 03:11:16.159 --> 03:11:18.760 I don't care if I'm just two hundred and twenty five pounds and I 2892 03:11:18.799 --> 03:11:22.959 don't look like the standard champion in whomever's eyes. Hardy's fans, he says, 2893 03:11:22.000 --> 03:11:26.559 are the same kind of fan he was growing up and cheering on his 2894 03:11:26.719 --> 03:11:30.040 mad idols. There's a special connection there. I've always wanted to have that 2895 03:11:30.159 --> 03:11:33.159 same kind of bond with my fans. Hardy has been somewhat of a comeback 2896 03:11:33.280 --> 03:11:37.360 kid since returning to WWE in August two thousand and six. His career took 2897 03:11:37.360 --> 03:11:41.000 a sharp downward spiral in March two thousand and three, when, after a 2898 03:11:41.079 --> 03:11:45.920 series of showing up late for matches, failing drug tests, and refusing to 2899 03:11:45.959 --> 03:11:48.520 go to rehab, he was released by the company that had hired him as 2900 03:11:48.559 --> 03:11:52.319 a teenager, had nurtured him, and had watched him steadily progress through the 2901 03:11:52.399 --> 03:11:56.520 ranks. Hardy, though, refocused his passions and energy, defeated his personal 2902 03:11:56.600 --> 03:12:01.879 demons and made a triumphant return to w DA, and he's done it in 2903 03:12:01.000 --> 03:12:05.799 spectacular fashion. I always knew it would take time, but I always felt 2904 03:12:05.799 --> 03:12:07.879 i'd get there. The hardest thing for me to get used to is being 2905 03:12:07.920 --> 03:12:13.399 away from home so much. These international tours are extremely brutal because there's sometimes 2906 03:12:13.440 --> 03:12:15.799 like twenty days at a time, so it's hard to be consumed by the 2907 03:12:15.879 --> 03:12:18.360 product. But that's what I pretty much knew I was going to have to 2908 03:12:18.360 --> 03:12:20.719 do. Will be where I am now. That's why I am where I 2909 03:12:20.799 --> 03:12:24.200 am now, because I'm one hundred percent committed to WWE. They know I'm 2910 03:12:24.239 --> 03:12:26.040 not going to be missing any flights. They know I've got my head right. 2911 03:12:26.559 --> 03:12:30.280 It's all about wrestling. That's what they want and that's what they need. 2912 03:12:31.120 --> 03:12:33.840 Hardy remains the daredevil he always has been in the ring, and some 2913 03:12:35.000 --> 03:12:39.680 of his recent death defying spots have been highlighting highlight reel gems. One week 2914 03:12:39.719 --> 03:12:43.760 after executing a breath taking whisper of the Wind off the top of a cage 2915 03:12:43.799 --> 03:12:48.000 in a raw match with Yumenga, Hardy followed it up with a swantm bomb 2916 03:12:48.040 --> 03:12:52.879 off a scaffold more than twenty feet high onto a prone orton. Fortunately, 2917 03:12:54.000 --> 03:12:58.319 a potential tragedy on live television was averted. That definitely was one of the 2918 03:12:58.360 --> 03:13:01.680 most massive moves. It was really creepy, but it looked amazing. You 2919 03:13:01.799 --> 03:13:05.959 really feel proud of yourself when you watch something like that back. Because it's 2920 03:13:05.959 --> 03:13:09.040 such a risky move, people will say you're crazy, but that's what my 2921 03:13:09.159 --> 03:13:13.000 character was modeled after things like that. I'm usually pretty comfortable with anything I 2922 03:13:13.079 --> 03:13:16.319 look at or stand on top of. I feel if I can't do it, 2923 03:13:16.479 --> 03:13:18.879 I'll be the first to say I can't do it. I'll continue to 2924 03:13:18.920 --> 03:13:22.440 do things like that and go with my instinct until something goes wrong and I 2925 03:13:22.559 --> 03:13:24.920 do get hurt. But other than that, I can't really downplay my instinct 2926 03:13:24.959 --> 03:13:28.280 because nothing bad has happened to me. That, of course, doesn't mean 2927 03:13:28.360 --> 03:13:33.319 Hardy is injury free. Far from it. I'd beat up. My ankle's 2928 03:13:33.319 --> 03:13:35.280 are really weak. A lot of them stems from motocross in the past. 2929 03:13:35.319 --> 03:13:39.440 I've got a bone chip in my right kneecap now, pain in my elbows 2930 03:13:39.520 --> 03:13:41.159 and two hernia at the disks, and my neck in my back. I'm 2931 03:13:41.200 --> 03:13:45.920 not feeling great, but I've been extremely lucky that I've gone this far without 2932 03:13:45.959 --> 03:13:52.040 surgery, so I'll just keep knocking or on metal or wood. Success hasn't 2933 03:13:52.079 --> 03:13:54.799 spoiled Jeff Hardy. He's just happy to be part of the show and says 2934 03:13:54.920 --> 03:13:58.440 not being at the top of the cart at WrestleMania wouldn't be a disappointment, 2935 03:13:58.520 --> 03:14:01.559 not at all. I'd feel just as successful as long as I'm a part 2936 03:14:01.559 --> 03:14:03.799 of WrestleMania. It doesn't take much for me to want to know that I'm 2937 03:14:03.799 --> 03:14:07.639 popular and needed. I don't have to be in the main event to know 2938 03:14:07.760 --> 03:14:11.959 that I've done something. We'll put that to the test, buddy. They 2939 03:14:13.000 --> 03:14:16.799 were taking it deadly seriously. In the UK a column called Fighting Talk, 2940 03:14:16.840 --> 03:14:20.719 and the Daily Star on January eighteenth ran this column, We've barely dipped our 2941 03:14:20.760 --> 03:14:22.079 toe in the bath water of two thousand and eight, but already the temperature 2942 03:14:22.079 --> 03:14:24.719 should have a health warning for wrestling fans. It's such an exciting time, 2943 03:14:24.760 --> 03:14:28.360 in fact, that we might drop the soap. Jeff Hardy, at established 2944 03:14:28.360 --> 03:14:33.000 tag team genius and pioneered the ladder matches, finally got himself a singles world 2945 03:14:33.040 --> 03:14:35.600 title shot this weekend next weekend rather at the Royal Rumblin looks like a genuine 2946 03:14:35.639 --> 03:14:39.680 Maine event contender. FT can't help wondering if the Carolinian hero viewed as a 2947 03:14:39.719 --> 03:14:43.680 credible singles champion where it matters in WWE, or is he seen as a 2948 03:14:43.719 --> 03:14:46.920 top of the card fodder for more generic and larger characters to chew up and 2949 03:14:46.000 --> 03:14:48.760 the eyes at w B Hardy has to be ticking the boxes in the arenas 2950 03:14:48.920 --> 03:14:52.159 crowds are going insane for the high flying, imaginative spots that have become Hardy's 2951 03:14:52.200 --> 03:14:56.879 trademark. His swanton bomb is evidence done raw is a big weapon and serve 2952 03:14:56.959 --> 03:14:58.159 to save the big singles match with Orton for the pay per view on its 2953 03:14:58.200 --> 03:15:01.879 own last Monday Night. Hardy's story is certainly worth a ninety minute feature if 2954 03:15:01.959 --> 03:15:05.239 he suspected DVD book release off the back of his current push. Whether he 2955 03:15:05.280 --> 03:15:09.360 wins the title now or not, it's a career born of childhood obsession and 2956 03:15:09.520 --> 03:15:13.319 huge sacrifice, flowering to live the dream, then the anguish of nearly blowing 2957 03:15:13.360 --> 03:15:15.879 it all, and then finally his recent redemption. I really thought you were 2958 03:15:15.920 --> 03:15:22.040 going to say it's a story of childhood abuse or obesity. I thought it's 2959 03:15:22.079 --> 03:15:24.799 a story Jeff Hardy's story is one of childhood obesity. I don't know if 2960 03:15:24.799 --> 03:15:26.680 you knew that. Yeah, man, I was a fat kid, you 2961 03:15:26.760 --> 03:15:31.680 know, and then I started jumping off buildings and all of a sudden it 2962 03:15:31.840 --> 03:15:35.879 was okay. And then I started shaving my beard. Man, but I 2963 03:15:35.920 --> 03:15:39.280 would leave two strips there. Yeah, and I said, hey, you 2964 03:15:39.360 --> 03:15:43.079 know what, I think, I'm contracted to myself. Despite Hardy's unique talent, 2965 03:15:43.200 --> 03:15:46.600 his well documented drug problems as a younger man led to an acrimonious departure 2966 03:15:46.639 --> 03:15:50.319 from WW under Cloud and a Younger Man. Yeah, it's like three years 2967 03:15:50.440 --> 03:15:54.040 prior. No, Well, he's got so many redemptions that I guess from 2968 03:15:54.079 --> 03:15:58.159 which few thought he would emerge. He resurfaced in TNA, but Hardly was 2969 03:15:58.200 --> 03:16:01.239 treading water and working to earn a repute, earning to return to what he 2970 03:16:01.319 --> 03:16:05.079 himself refers to as the bigger stage. The last time f he had a 2971 03:16:05.639 --> 03:16:09.360 chin wag with the bizarrely bearded one, he told me he sorely misperforming to 2972 03:16:09.399 --> 03:16:11.440 the larger ww audience, as although he had enjoyed his time in Orlando in 2973 03:16:11.520 --> 03:16:16.120 Nashville with the competition, his efforts since Vince took him back into the fold 2974 03:16:16.200 --> 03:16:18.479 have earned him his buzz Bonanza next Sunday in the Garden. And if there's 2975 03:16:18.479 --> 03:16:22.079 a better feeling in wrestling then Mania, you'd have to travel a long way 2976 03:16:22.440 --> 03:16:26.399 to find it. Hardy will always be considered a smaller bloke, however, 2977 03:16:26.479 --> 03:16:30.840 which is where ftces long term trouble arising he has the hottest property on the 2978 03:16:30.920 --> 03:16:33.440 short list, excused the pun of suitors to Randy Orton's title in fans eyes, 2979 03:16:33.479 --> 03:16:37.479 but memories of Raymisterio Junior's title run two years ago spring to mind when 2980 03:16:37.479 --> 03:16:41.920 you think of the possibility of a Hardy victory. Vince has has to listen 2981 03:16:41.920 --> 03:16:43.040 to the fans, Yes, but it's pretty clear from the stats that he 2982 03:16:43.079 --> 03:16:48.200 doesn't bet to the pot on vertically challenged champions. Perhaps Hardy can expect a 2983 03:16:48.239 --> 03:16:50.000 short run and a big night out in Orlando at best, because removing the 2984 03:16:50.040 --> 03:16:54.799 title from Orton at present just seems like the wrong option. Hardy's tail should 2985 03:16:54.799 --> 03:16:56.280 have the happy ending it deserves. He should get a chance at being the 2986 03:16:56.360 --> 03:17:01.319 top dog. But unlike Sena edge taker, hbk Orton and Batista on the 2987 03:17:01.360 --> 03:17:05.920 prowl around Mania, Hardy you might find it a little crowded at the banquet 2988 03:17:05.000 --> 03:17:07.520 table. As IC champion, you get the feeling that Jeff Hardy has his 2989 03:17:07.600 --> 03:17:13.120 insurance policy win or loose Sunday. The nagging doubt remains whether his employers have 2990 03:17:13.280 --> 03:17:18.040 the balls to put him on top woo. Of course they didn't. He 2991 03:17:18.159 --> 03:17:20.639 took the fall, he barely registered his significant in the ladder match the money 2992 03:17:20.639 --> 03:17:24.399 in the bank ladder match at Mania, but by the end of the year, 2993 03:17:24.959 --> 03:17:28.959 due to several different changes and circumstances, they did put the strap on 2994 03:17:28.040 --> 03:17:31.479 him. It Army again, Oh God, that was that year. Wasn't 2995 03:17:31.479 --> 03:17:33.959 it triple threat match with him? And was it Orton and Trips or seen 2996 03:17:35.040 --> 03:17:37.879 in Trips? It his Orton and trips. He comes off the top of 2997 03:17:37.920 --> 03:17:43.280 the swanton and pins. Uh yeah, Orton had given the pedigree. Triple 2998 03:17:43.399 --> 03:17:46.239 H given the pedigree to Orton, and then Hardy comes off the top swanton 2999 03:17:46.879 --> 03:17:48.680 that that bounces a triple H out of the ring and then he pins him 3000 03:17:48.680 --> 03:17:52.559 for the belt. And that title reign didn't last very long at all, 3001 03:17:52.319 --> 03:17:56.280 like a month something like that. Yeah, let's see. I remember it 3002 03:17:56.440 --> 03:18:00.680 was like because it was like, you know, here he is, he 3003 03:18:00.680 --> 03:18:05.879 gets the belt, fucking Edge and triple H Jeff Hardy Edge and triple H. 3004 03:18:07.760 --> 03:18:13.440 Yeah was the match and uh Edge, that's right, and yeah, 3005 03:18:13.520 --> 03:18:20.079 like who fucking cares? Yeah? And also because like it was a year 3006 03:18:20.239 --> 03:18:22.280 not that I was a fan of him winning it anyway, but it was 3007 03:18:22.319 --> 03:18:26.879 like a year too late, right, Yeah. Yeah, he turned to 3008 03:18:26.879 --> 03:18:31.559 two thousand and nine and then he lost the title at the Rumble to Edge 3009 03:18:31.639 --> 03:18:35.360 after Hardy's brother Matt interfered right turned on him. We've all wanted to see 3010 03:18:35.479 --> 03:18:41.479 brother was brother right disaster. This was the first HD show January twenty first, 3011 03:18:41.479 --> 03:18:46.959 two thousand and eight. Multi Channel News, the travel channel, and 3012 03:18:46.000 --> 03:18:52.159 content distributor World Wrestling Entertainment last week announced new high definition initiatives. The WW 3013 03:18:52.239 --> 03:18:56.079 will finally showcase all of its elbow smashes, body slams, and pins and 3014 03:18:56.200 --> 03:19:00.239 HD beginning on Monday's January twenty first episode of USA Networks Monday Night, So 3015 03:19:00.360 --> 03:19:01.639 January twenty one, two thousand and eight. I remember it well, the 3016 03:19:01.680 --> 03:19:05.760 first HD raw, I don't I had my TV ready to go for it. 3017 03:19:07.079 --> 03:19:09.559 I don't remember that at all. All of a sudden, the margins, 3018 03:19:09.719 --> 03:19:13.600 those black bars on the left and right popped out, and that real 3019 03:19:13.680 --> 03:19:18.840 estate was being used like it was being used on on other channels. So 3020 03:19:18.959 --> 03:19:22.920 weird all that at all. Not one bit remember they were going to switch 3021 03:19:24.000 --> 03:19:26.959 the signal over to like analog wouldn't even work anymore at a certain point. 3022 03:19:26.360 --> 03:19:30.440 Yep, that I do remember. I've seen videos on YouTube of like the 3023 03:19:30.559 --> 03:19:35.440 last second of analog broadcast. Wow, it just stops, just ends, 3024 03:19:35.959 --> 03:19:39.479 and from that point on only digital signals worked. A sad, sad day 3025 03:19:39.559 --> 03:19:43.120 one can one can point to. That day is the end of when it 3026 03:19:43.200 --> 03:19:46.479 used to be better. I will say that, yep. Never forget that 3027 03:19:48.360 --> 03:19:52.239 analog all your black boxes stop working everything? Oh yeah, man, now'll 3028 03:19:52.239 --> 03:19:56.200 we have much more control over everything? Yep. It was all very I 3029 03:19:56.280 --> 03:20:01.799 can't even I coded. Yep. Now it's all it's a it's a nightmare. 3030 03:20:01.840 --> 03:20:07.120 I can't even watch, you know, like you can't even watch your 3031 03:20:07.200 --> 03:20:11.319 own cable provider on another TV. That's right, if it's not on the 3032 03:20:11.360 --> 03:20:16.399 Wi Fi. Yep. Yeah, they acted like you could bring your cable 3033 03:20:16.440 --> 03:20:18.879 anywhere you went, and then they just took that promise back. No, 3034 03:20:20.040 --> 03:20:22.200 you can watch on your phone, go ahead, you just can't watch another 3035 03:20:22.280 --> 03:20:26.079 TV. It was June twelve, two thousand and nine. The transition was 3036 03:20:26.120 --> 03:20:28.840 set back three times, according to this article here. First, December thirty 3037 03:20:28.840 --> 03:20:33.440 one, twenty eight was supposed to be the last day of analog broadcast oh 3038 03:20:33.520 --> 03:20:37.719 Man so sad. June twelve, two thousand and nine, all US full 3039 03:20:37.760 --> 03:20:45.000 power analog TV broadcasts WOW acquired by law to end on that day, and 3040 03:20:45.120 --> 03:20:48.680 so this being a harbinger of that, along with its original cable and broadcast 3041 03:20:48.719 --> 03:20:50.840 series Raw and AM Raw. Remember AM Raw, that's right on USA. 3042 03:20:50.879 --> 03:20:54.239 It was like the Live Wire time slod. Yeah, it was like two 3043 03:20:54.280 --> 03:21:01.000 am. Actually it wasn't a It wasn't nine am Sci Fi anal ZCW Extreme 3044 03:21:01.120 --> 03:21:05.120 terms of Wrestling and the CW's Friday SmackDown. The w W also deliver all 3045 03:21:05.120 --> 03:21:07.479 of its pay per view shows and HD, beginning with the Journy twenty seventh 3046 03:21:07.559 --> 03:21:11.159 Royal Rumble event. The company recently completed a twenty million dollar renovation of at 3047 03:21:11.159 --> 03:21:16.319 Stanford, Connecticut Television studios, along allowing rather the WWT broadcast in HD. 3048 03:21:18.079 --> 03:21:24.479 Thanks Ran Learnt all about HD high defining entertainment and for our purposes as we 3049 03:21:24.559 --> 03:21:28.280 head into our deep dive, HD might as well stand for high Death Toll. 3050 03:21:28.079 --> 03:21:33.319 Oh you know all things? You know that is true? All things 3051 03:21:33.399 --> 03:21:37.799 considering, it's kind of a it's a it's a dark, modern modern show 3052 03:21:37.840 --> 03:21:41.959 because there are quite a few dead. We have six wow, six dead 3053 03:21:43.239 --> 03:21:50.760 for a more modern show. A referee, Mickey j Henson, You Manga, 3054 03:21:52.079 --> 03:22:00.360 Jimmy Snooker, Roddy Piper, Big Daddy V and be under take her 3055 03:22:01.239 --> 03:22:07.079 rest in peace all indeed, and with that we will deliver on our promise 3056 03:22:07.440 --> 03:22:11.799 to deep dive the two thousand and eight WWE Royal Rumble. Boss, it's 3057 03:22:11.879 --> 03:22:16.719 time for the dive in a peacock. Are you ready? I guess it's 3058 03:22:16.799 --> 03:22:20.159 time to rumble. We'll be hearing from Michael Buffer speaking of are you ready, 3059 03:22:20.639 --> 03:22:22.879 damn right, we will be see you on the other side of the 3060 03:22:22.920 --> 03:22:26.200 break on part two, as TLF does what it does best, gets down 3061 03:22:26.360 --> 03:22:31.479 to the nitty gritty and deep dives that two thousand and eight Royal rumble on 3062 03:22:31.600 --> 03:22:31.399 that fucking cast