WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:04.599 You can ask a plenty questions too. All right, all right, John, 2 00:00:04.599 --> 00:00:11.400 I'm alright. We're here with John Nord, here at wrestling. Don't 3 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:15.279 click legendary John Nord, the Berserker. Thank you for the time, man. 4 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:17.800 We really appreciate you. Bet you bet. What's up? Man? 5 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:20.920 Where are we going with this? Well? Go ahead. Well, you 6 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:25.519 know, as a fan in the in the early nineties of WWE, like 7 00:00:26.719 --> 00:00:30.359 i've I've always the if I was ever a wrestler, I always wanted to 8 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:33.280 be in a royal rumble to me, that was so exciting. You were 9 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:37.000 in a couple two ninety three, I think, right, Yeah, what 10 00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:42.439 was that like? Um? Uh, well, wasn't there a battle Royal? 11 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:44.840 I want too? Yes? You know what was that? You did? 12 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:46.600 You did? You want to? You want a battle Royal? It 13 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:50.359 was aired on Primetime Wrestling. Yeah, I was. That's the one I 14 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:55.399 remember because, uh, just the way it came down Scanner. I don't 15 00:00:55.479 --> 00:00:59.880 remember many endings of the matches, but that one I did. And care 16 00:01:00.119 --> 00:01:07.120 von Eric h You know they carry had a prosthetic leg and he moved around 17 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:11.519 amazingly. But I got in from a town the night before and I missed 18 00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:15.040 my flight. I got to the locker room late. I was hung over 19 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:21.599 brutally. And now when I look at that match, I watched myself running 20 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:27.280 around and I remember hitting the ropes, going I'm trying to keep going. 21 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:34.200 I look like a guy and now you know one of them hangovers and pug 22 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:42.239 oh my go and uh I remember after that, Uh, a guy came 23 00:01:42.359 --> 00:01:47.599 up to me from one of the amazinges. Uh North, what was that 24 00:01:48.439 --> 00:01:52.840 the worst thing that ever happened to in a match? I said, Uh, 25 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:55.319 well, I sent a guy into the ropes. I went to leap 26 00:01:55.400 --> 00:02:00.079 frog him. Everybody knows I can jump seven feet in the air. And 27 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:04.400 he goes, yeah, I know that, and I that fucker didn't get 28 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:09.520 low enough right, and my head hit his balls? No his yeah, 29 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:14.759 my balls hit his head and he goes, oh no, Then what happened? 30 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:16.759 I said? Then my nuts came around, hit me in the back 31 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:21.120 of the head, knocked me out, called and that guy goes, that 32 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:23.759 hadn't hurt how big man? I'm like, God, tell me John. 33 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:28.879 Why did they change the name from Viking to Preserker? The Viking name was 34 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:35.319 trademark. Some guy wrestling in Japan was going as the Viking and Vince looked 35 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:42.199 it up in the court system and it was trademark. So Vinceton touched nothing 36 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:47.280 that's trademark. But then when I got hired by Vince, I had nor 37 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:53.479 the Barbarian trademark because we were doing commercials and back home in Minnesota, I 38 00:02:53.599 --> 00:02:59.719 slammed the guy through the woods and so. But then Vince said to me 39 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:01.800 he was Johnny Goes. You know, there was a form of a Viking 40 00:03:01.879 --> 00:03:07.879 that were the worst, the craziest, called Berserkers, And I said, 41 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:10.000 I really didn't like the name. I kind of him. I said, 42 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:15.319 I guess if you think so, Vince, because if Vince gives you something, 43 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:20.199 an idea, you know he's gonna take care of you. If you 44 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:23.400 just go, yeah, I want to be there's m busy by kid. 45 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:27.840 You might get it done, but it don't mean Vince is gonna push it. 46 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:31.639 That's when you're in bad shape. So if he owned it, it 47 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:36.360 was good enough for me. But it ended up being great. Rick tells 48 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:38.439 a story about how when he broke when Bruns out broke in with Verne, 49 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:42.599 how Vern wanted a percentage of the earnings and all that, and Bruns was 50 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:45.759 the only guy to ever go for it. How much did vern want thirty 51 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:52.240 fifty sixty out of mine from burned in want nothing? He didn't pay me 52 00:03:52.360 --> 00:03:57.199 that fucking great, so he probably did figure it in. Yeah, he 53 00:03:57.240 --> 00:04:00.479 found the way right. But listen, burn Gania was my father in law's 54 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:08.080 best friend, so growing up. They graduated Robinsdale High School in nineteen forty 55 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:12.879 three. Well, I got hired in nineteen eighty four. And while I 56 00:04:12.960 --> 00:04:16.279 was in Brad Ringan's camp and burn came by one day, and uh, 57 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:19.360 you know, I was in good shape, And burn said, And I 58 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:24.079 said, Burne, you probably know my father in law. His name's Joe 59 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:29.279 Elson. While his jaw dropped, he said, holding, are you sure 60 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:33.000 you you're Joe Elson's son law? I said, So. It ain't like 61 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:38.800 Burne made me a star or nothing like that. And it ain't like he 62 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:44.800 uh, but one thing I did do, because I was a loaded cannon 63 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:48.160 man, I would no show. I would you know. I never showed 64 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:51.040 up drunk or using drugs or notthing like that. But I was in no 65 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:55.759 show. Just fuck it. I ain't going to that town. You know, 66 00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:59.639 there was the worst town in the start ever fired me. That's amazing. 67 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:02.120 Did did you ever go to his house for dinners like a Sunday dinner 68 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:06.800 or something. I did didn't go to his house for what the hell wasn't 69 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:12.439 it was in the summertime of eighty five. I think it was a Brad 70 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:16.920 Rankins something to do with Brad, and Brad was his guy to stretch guys 71 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:20.600 if they needed it. It was kind of sick, but it was true. 72 00:05:21.319 --> 00:05:26.879 And then, uh, Greg Ganya actually didn't get along with Brad. 73 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.759 And Brad's one of my best friends because, you know, being great guy, 74 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:34.160 you went to Ben Easy, you know, being burns shatter, but 75 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:39.000 Greg never went to the fucking gym. And I used to tell him that, 76 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:43.839 and all you'd retaliate on me was you've got a drinking problem, and 77 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:47.120 just so fuck I was laughing so hard, you know. But in the 78 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.639 Wrestler, the movie with that Asner, uh that, you know, Vern 79 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:55.600 talks about having talent over for his wife's lamb chops. I wonder did his 80 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.319 wife make a mean lamb chop? Is that? What? I didn't know 81 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:00.920 her name was Mary, and I didn't know she did or not. But 82 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:05.680 we were out there for hamburgers on the grill, and and of course you 83 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:14.560 get me handing fucking uh whoever else was well back then, Scott Hall was 84 00:06:15.000 --> 00:06:19.079 and we were just, uh, we were just about the fun. I 85 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:26.399 mean we're passing bike it insto each other, hercassetts, and we had so 86 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:31.360 much damn fun. But guys like me and Kurt and Heggstrand and Rude, 87 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:36.000 we were so tight because we grew up on the same block. You weren't 88 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:43.319 going to separate us guys. And uh we all got uh uh we all 89 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:46.560 got to Vince, you know at a pretty good time to our soul handing 90 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:53.199 uh me, you know, Lorneitis and uh uh Scott Simpson I graduated, 91 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:56.879 he was niki to call. But well all I'm you know. The main 92 00:06:56.920 --> 00:07:00.120 thing is is we were so tight. We were never going to separate us 93 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:03.600 guys. If one guy got fucking fired, we were on the horn going 94 00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:06.439 we got to either get him a job or we got to talk to the 95 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:10.920 poem Minnesota boys. Right. Well now we're you know, I mean not 96 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:13.879 like we had a lot of power, but we had enough power to go, 97 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:15.600 fuck if he goes, I go. Do you think Verne should have 98 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:20.800 sold to Vins because the Vinch just turned around and took Hogan and I don't. 99 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:28.000 But here's the deal is Verne just wasn't gonna get past old school wrestling. 100 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:31.480 And you guys know that and heard that. And but when Vince just 101 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:38.759 called it entertainment, listen, everybody thought that was the biggest gamble. It's 102 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:41.920 either going to be a total flop or it's gonna go to the moon, 103 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:46.480 and ended up going to the moon. Just how do the people take entertainment 104 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:50.680 and then cheer for one side? Right? You figure it out. I 105 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:55.480 can't. Nobody's been able to figure it out. Sets now, if I'm 106 00:07:55.480 --> 00:07:59.959 mistaken, you worked a couple of main events tagging with Bruiser Brody. Yeah 107 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:01.680 right, what was I mean? What was he like? What was his 108 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:07.000 He's an awesome guy and actually on the way to a thing called Wrestle Rock. 109 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:09.360 Remember it? Well? Yeah, did you do a verse on the 110 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:13.439 rat? I think? Oh, what a verse on the Wrestle Rock Rumble 111 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:15.759 Round? No? I didn't, But that's funny as hell you say that 112 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:20.720 because a chic uh you know? Adding on he was like the cheapest son 113 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:24.759 of a bitch. You He would never pay a trans He would go out 114 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:28.519 there and check on his eighty four Eldorado every twenty minutes and you know, 115 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:33.919 like Tommy boy, you know, so with add and I like that. 116 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:39.639 So there was a little verse going on the shake and it's not funny. 117 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:43.080 I got it is man lots of money, right, So now me and 118 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:48.759 Henry started going U, he's the chic and it is not funny, you 119 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:54.519 know. So I was a deal but Brodyan, So we're going to the 120 00:08:54.759 --> 00:09:03.399 uh Civic Center well and Jennings and I got him in from my brand new 121 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:07.919 eighty six pack up my wife and her friend and we're all in the front 122 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:11.759 cap and Frank liked stopping at you guys know what headshops are, you know, 123 00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:16.519 like the skulls and the smoke lights, but they have a lot of 124 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.000 other shit to He loved stopping at these. I said, Frank, there's 125 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:24.919 he goes, would you pull in? Brother? Well, so I pulled 126 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:28.720 in and he didn't gonna buy. You know, we just kind of round. 127 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:33.519 But all of a sudden he sees this uh shoehorn. Right, he 128 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:39.200 was pulling on them boots and he thought the straps from maybe gonna breakers and 129 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:43.559 his feet were just getting tighter. So he bought this shoehorn that was like 130 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:50.519 about twelve fourteen inches long with the handle was like a dear antler and then 131 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:54.799 the rest was like a nice long I mean it was. And anyway, 132 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:56.399 so he left it in my truck, so I brought it here with me 133 00:09:56.559 --> 00:10:01.320 to show people. U it sounds like an hot item, and it is, 134 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:05.320 but Frank could have shown this right. So yeah, that one is 135 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:09.759 what I remember on the way there, and then yeah it was. It 136 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:13.879 was a really good time. And we we got so drunk after and you 137 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:16.039 know, I'm pushing Frank to drink. I go, come on more more 138 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:22.039 and he says, brother, you have killed me. I can't hang around 139 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:26.120 you no more. No, But uh, Frank, Frank really liked me, 140 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:31.639 and uh it's because I was respectful. Were you doing Were you doing 141 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:33.879 Frank as the berserker and in the huts the furry boots? Yeah, yeah, 142 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:37.600 he said, hey, brother, sorry. He told me to start 143 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:45.360 imitating him because we had a deal with Vince for two fifty a year in 144 00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:50.399 nineteen eighty eight. Um I got a front deal of the contract and Frank 145 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:54.960 was making fourteen grand a week in Japan and he wouldn't do it. And 146 00:10:56.039 --> 00:11:00.120 I'm frother that the much maut going me and Brody going to New Year or 147 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:03.559 if we would have fucking slaughtered everybody. Yeah, I mean in a way. 148 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:09.799 And but my point being as two fifty a year and he just John, 149 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:13.960 I'm sorry, you know, but um, that one, that one 150 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:16.440 hurt. And then of course he died a month later. Well, John, 151 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:20.720 we want to thank you so much. Question sorry as a Minnesota guy. 152 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:26.559 Uh you still live there right in Robinsdale, Love what, um, 153 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:28.000 what do you think of Jesse as governor? What was your what was your 154 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:33.799 what was your opinion on that Jesse was a really good governor? Now let 155 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:37.879 me expound on that he was a great governor. But there's nobody else to 156 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:41.399 pick from. But he was great because he was so refreshing, you know, 157 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:46.360 besides Tyrell having parties in the Governor's match. Now that's his son's name, 158 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:52.399 right to be clear. Yeah, but I was running is I ran? 159 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:58.080 Jesse played football with my brother at northender Been Junior College and I was 160 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:03.039 fifteen years old, so I met him at fifteen. But Jesse has the 161 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:07.840 problem. If you ain't talking about fucking Jesse, he don't even make eye 162 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:11.840 contact with you. He tells you all about himself and then I go, 163 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:15.000 well, you know my family, and he's like, yeah, I got 164 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:18.279 you know, and I'm like and and he it just got old after so 165 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:22.600 many years. And then I ran his gym the summer out of high school, 166 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:26.639 and so we knew each other real well, i'd be sad as kids. 167 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:31.759 Did you ever go to Plato's retreat with him? No? Where was 168 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:33.799 that in New York? I think he used to the Plato's Retreat t shirt 169 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:37.639 on w TV. There's like a sex club. There's a sex club. 170 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:43.399 Yeah that's what Danny. Okay, do you think I mean not to get 171 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:46.600 too politically here, but do you think like that's the answer for for like 172 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:52.080 America, a third party candidate? Absolutely? Really? Hell? Yes? 173 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:56.480 Hell? Yes? Another this all or nothing. I'm totally a Democrat or 174 00:12:56.519 --> 00:13:03.320 I'm totally a Republican. You fuck, goofballs. This country wasn't fucking made 175 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:09.000 by that. This country was made by courageous, hard working people that believed 176 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:11.240 in doing the right thing in their mind. You know what I mean. 177 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:18.039 It's just it ain't about a name Republican or Democrat. And of course our 178 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:22.000 moral structure, you know, and I still believe in the Ten Commandments, 179 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:28.919 and I think our country does. But our family unit in this country has 180 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:33.840 fell apart. Nobody walks in anybody doors and go, you guys having dinner. 181 00:13:33.879 --> 00:13:37.559 I'll be back, father, mother, kids, It's gone. Love. 182 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:41.039 It sucks. Thank you John for the reality check. Is very, 183 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:45.879 very nice to meet you. You guys are two pretty good guys. That's 184 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:48.200 why it's hard to tell you. Right now, I'm gonna have to fuck 185 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:48.559 you up.