WEBVTT 1 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:19.800 It's the Lapsed Fan Wrestling podcast special report. The Lapse 2 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.719 Fan presents the Complete Hull Coogan, a real American story 3 00:00:25.320 --> 00:00:26.800 brought to you by Garage Beer. 4 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:32.200 As we charted the complete Hulk Higen Boss the Seminole 5 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:36.759 run in Southeastern Alabama wrestling Andre the Giant and Harley 6 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:40.079 Race and Austin Idel and Ox Baker, you may recall 7 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:42.079 that Hulk Hogan all of a sudden, of course, working 8 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:44.960 as Terry the Hulk Boulder at the time, made a 9 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:51.799 side quest to Memphis brother exactly all of a sudden, 10 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:54.000 as Ron Fuller, the promoter down in Southeastern is doing 11 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:56.119 all of these things to architect what hul Hogan would 12 00:00:56.119 --> 00:00:59.399 become in so many ways. And we talked to over 13 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:03.000 the break here with none other than Charlie Platt, the 14 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:06.480 voice of Southeastern Wrestling. It was our distinct pleasure to 15 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:08.400 bring you that interview as you really put us on 16 00:01:08.439 --> 00:01:10.519 the front row seat of what it was like to 17 00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:12.760 see Terry Boulder come off the Cocoa Beach run and 18 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:16.439 find out what the Hulk was going to be. All 19 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:19.480 of a sudden, He's in Memphis, and we know that 20 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:22.879 there was some connective tissue between the Alabama and Memphis 21 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:24.640 offices at the time, But we didn't get a whole 22 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:26.959 lot into it. Because if we're going to talk about 23 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:29.400 nineteen seventy nine in the life of Terry Boulder or 24 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:34.760 Terry Bolea, Ry God Terry oh Man, I had it, Terry, 25 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:40.280 Terry Boldrea, Terry Boldrea, We've got to slice and dice 26 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:42.200 this thing a million different ways, and we've got to 27 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:45.200 play around with the timeline just a little bit. 28 00:01:45.760 --> 00:01:47.640 Listen, it makes sense. I think I think it's a 29 00:01:47.680 --> 00:01:50.439 good idea to kind of in a way keep it 30 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:54.519 to the territory, you know, like kind of just focus 31 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:59.400 on one Terrier, Terry Tory there. It is territory and 32 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:01.120 one Terry at a time. 33 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:05.959 The territory days as it were, the territorial days. Ough 34 00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:08.840 as we rock into a new year here, but just 35 00:02:08.919 --> 00:02:11.080 turn another page on the complete Hull Cogan journey, and 36 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:15.039 who knows how many more years are to unfold before us, 37 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:18.319 because we will not stop until everything that can be 38 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:24.000 said about Terry Bolea is said. And Memphis was key, 39 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:28.120 but also brief, perhaps even briefer than the things we 40 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:31.000 talked about in our last installment that he did in 41 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:35.240 the Alabama Pensacola Gulf Coast area because it was coming 42 00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:38.120 to Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler, who were running c 43 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:41.319 W a Continental Wrestling Association the Memphis territory at the time. 44 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:43.639 I mean, I know, I know, I know that. I 45 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:47.360 know that he was there obviously because he faced Jerry Lawler, 46 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:50.120 and I have that. I've had that tape forever. But 47 00:02:50.919 --> 00:02:55.199 it's just a it's still fucking weird to know to 48 00:02:55.240 --> 00:03:02.439 even think that even before or he you know, before 49 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:05.840 he was in Minnesota, before he was in New York, 50 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:09.280 he was in Memphis. It just doesn't sit right. It 51 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:11.919 doesn't sit right. Yeah, you know it. 52 00:03:12.319 --> 00:03:14.280 That's why we have to slice in DAE seventy nine 53 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:17.639 because it's Alabama, it's Memphis, it's Georgia Championship Wrestling on 54 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:20.439 the Hobs, and yes, it is the World Ride Wrestling 55 00:03:20.520 --> 00:03:23.000 Federation in New York. All in one year, the first 56 00:03:23.080 --> 00:03:25.960 year that he becomes the Hulk. Everybody wants to book 57 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:27.400 this guy, or at least he finds a way to 58 00:03:27.479 --> 00:03:30.560 navigate the business such that he ends up working for 59 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:33.280 a lot of the most prominent promoters operating on the 60 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:35.639 East coast of the United States. In nineteen seventy nine. 61 00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:38.919 It is a dizzying year not to use upon on 62 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:44.439 the future name for Ed Boulder Dizzy Hogan, which we'll 63 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:44.879 get to. 64 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:48.680 Brother, big dizzy dude, Big dizz dude, what's the dizz 65 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:53.240 ed Boulder. That's what it is. We've got a double 66 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:53.800 dizz brother. 67 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:58.000 Well, we talked so much in the episodes about the 68 00:03:58.039 --> 00:04:00.400 Bolder Brothers. We asked Charlie Platt about it. While he 69 00:04:00.439 --> 00:04:02.800 certainly remembers Eddie Leslie working there as said Boulder, we 70 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:05.439 did kind of press him like was he ever involved 71 00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:07.560 with this Hulk that we're talking about in seventy nine 72 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:09.759 on television? And it was hard. It was hard to 73 00:04:09.800 --> 00:04:12.120 pin down where there is no match result in nineteen 74 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:15.280 seventy nine in the Alabama territory where I had shared 75 00:04:15.319 --> 00:04:17.160 the ring with Hulk, but he was clearly living with him, 76 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:19.680 and they were doing the beach lifestyle in Pensacola with 77 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:22.319 the van and all that stuff and involved in some 78 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:24.959 other activities, as the great Charlie Platt brought to our attention, 79 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:26.600 and I say, yeah, they. 80 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:27.600 Were working as a unit. 81 00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:29.720 Well before they were working as a unit on a 82 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:34.079 wrestling television show where Terry and Ed but it's here 83 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:37.600 in Memphis that the Boulder Brothers become a thing. It's 84 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:42.800 here that Hulk and Ed share the screen and convey 85 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:45.639 to the audience in a way that survives on videotape 86 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:49.759 that they are in fact brothers, and in more than 87 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:52.680 just the sense that Terry calls everybody brother. Of course, 88 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:56.600 at his time on Earth. Going back to their partnership 89 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:59.959 in the gym on Cocoa Beach, they both got gassed hard, 90 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:01.920 hit the weights and hit the Lloyds as hard as 91 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:05.439 they could until they couldn't be denied as attractions. Because 92 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:07.639 one of the key lessons of The Complete Hull Cogan 93 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:09.879 is that if you roid the fuck up, people. 94 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:10.920 Want to see you do things. 95 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:15.319 Yep, and Terry Bulea learned that very early and ran 96 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:18.079 away to the bank with it, despite having to deal 97 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:20.240 with a lifetime chorus of people saying he didn't have 98 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:22.480 it in the ring. Well, we're going to get a 99 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:24.959 lot of a chance this time on the Complete Hull Cogan. 100 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:28.040 To make a true assessment of that is early seventy nine, 101 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:30.480 because right, boss, all we've seen him to this point 102 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:32.000 is him training a little bit at this sport at. 103 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:36.399 Tium, right dam it's that or or you know him 104 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:39.920 him in that arm wrestling match with dere which was 105 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:42.360 a match, but you know it's certainly him. You know 106 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:44.639 he's selling and stuff and he's vicious and whatever. So 107 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:47.839 I'll take it and the bear hug with the outlaw. 108 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:48.959 That's right, that's right. 109 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:51.639 But as we talked about, this is Ron Fuller set 110 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:54.160 saying do this, do this, do that, three minutes that's it. 111 00:05:54.360 --> 00:05:56.279 Fare hug people to blood comes out of their mouth, 112 00:05:56.920 --> 00:05:58.480 and just do the most basic things you want to 113 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:02.600 be Goldberg, Yes, that's the supreme That would have been 114 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:04.639 the supreme irony of Hulk Hogan didn't do business with 115 00:06:04.680 --> 00:06:07.319 Bill Goldberg in nineteen ninety eight, he would have been 116 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:10.680 He would have been protesting a push that mirrored precisely 117 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:13.000 how he became the biggest box office attraction in the 118 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:13.800 history of wrestling. 119 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:17.240 That sounds that's like something he would do to prevent 120 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:20.199 somebody else from becoming the biggest bo box office and draction. 121 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:23.319 So any time you ever find yourself in the future 122 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:27.319 pooh poohing or decrying the Goldberg push, know that it 123 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:29.800 was the Hogan push first, and it's the reason professional 124 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:32.800 wrestling became a multimedia. It's the reason it's a multi 125 00:06:32.839 --> 00:06:36.240 billion dollars It's the reason there was a Goldberg push exactly. 126 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:39.079 A Goldberg push is also known as a real push. 127 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:42.000 There you go, That's right, and not every every promoter 128 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:45.120 took their try at it with Hulk Hogan. And then 129 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:46.920 as soon as they tried that with Hulk, he found 130 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:48.600 a way to leverage that for a better pay day 131 00:06:48.600 --> 00:06:51.240 elsewhere Fuller did it with him. Suddenly he's playing off 132 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:53.680 Memphis and getting a higher pay day there. As we've 133 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:56.439 already alluded to in prior episodes of The Complete Hullkogan, 134 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:58.800 and we'll get into a bit more detail here. He's 135 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:00.560 going to do the same thing to Jerry and Jerry 136 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.480 Lawler and find his way over to vern Gania eventually 137 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:05.399 in the AWA as well as Vince mcmahnon Senior in 138 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:07.000 New York. And then he's gonna do the same thing 139 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:08.600 to vern Gania to make his way over to Vince 140 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:11.040 McMahon Junior. And he's gonna play Japan off of Vince 141 00:07:11.079 --> 00:07:14.000 McMahon Junior and Vince McMahon and he's gonna play the 142 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:18.079 WWF off WCW. He's gonna keep you lying it's fine. 143 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:21.120 I don't see what you're who is. 144 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:28.000 It's just normal, Okay, It's just it's just business, brother, right. 145 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:31.199 And as he wins every single showdown he has with 146 00:07:31.240 --> 00:07:34.920 every promoter he ever faced, you start to understand why 147 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.600 folks in the business get so jealous about the quote 148 00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:42.560 unquote Goldburg push. It allows people like Hull Cogan to 149 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:44.600 make so much more money than they could ever hope 150 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:46.800 to make. And so we're gonna chart that as well 151 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:48.720 as a through line in the complete hul Cogan. 152 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:50.839 It is in new year. It's twenty twenty six. Boss. 153 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:53.560 We are very happy to be back at the controls 154 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:57.800 after a well deserved break. Oh fuck yes, absolutely listen 155 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:02.040 you know I I you say. I do always enjoy 156 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:04.480 the way we close off a year. I think we 157 00:08:04.519 --> 00:08:05.079 do it in stead. 158 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:09.480 Oh does it better? I No fucking way anyone comes close. 159 00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:12.680 So I was. I was pretty proud of that whole 160 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:15.480 of how we rolled out twenty twenty five, and yet 161 00:08:15.519 --> 00:08:18.079 here we are twenty twenty six. Just keeps on fucking rolling. 162 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:19.439 I'll get you with the. 163 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:21.079 Double where me on the main feed. We'll talk about 164 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:23.560 cinemat in a second. But Charlie Platt filling in all 165 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:27.639 the color we could hope to get about Terry Bullay's 166 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:30.759 earliest days in Southeastern and becoming the Hulk, and the 167 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:33.360 match with Harley and all the gimmicks around the fucking 168 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:36.679 rip Use Stadium show and who was selling tickets and 169 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:41.840 vials and royds everywhere, and just a tremendous amount of 170 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:45.720 truth telling. Okay, tremendous amount of truth telling. And then 171 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:48.200 we dropped on you an interview with Kit Parker of 172 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:50.759 the Wrestling Gold Series. You mentioned having that Hulk Hog 173 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:53.120 and Jerry Lawler match from Memphis on PHS Boss. 174 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:54.679 Oh Yes, absolutely, yep. 175 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:57.600 That, among so many other things, including the aforementioned hulkg 176 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:00.200 and Andre Arm wrestling footage from Alabama, came to us 177 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:03.159 courtesy of Kit Parker Films in the Wrestling Gold Series, 178 00:09:03.200 --> 00:09:05.120 and it was our pleasure to welcome him as well 179 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:07.000 as Stuke Gans, who was sort of the co creator 180 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:09.159 of the Wrestling Gold Series and at one time an 181 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:11.960 announcer for the WWF, just as they begin their expansion 182 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:14.759 out in the Bay Area in California. We welcome them 183 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:16.480 for a special interview that we shared with you over 184 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:19.399 the holiday break as well to color in how as 185 00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:22.200 best we could. This hul Cogan Andre footage made it 186 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:25.360 to the surface, yet we don't have anything else from 187 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.200 that time period. Memphis is a little different because, for 188 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:30.960 whatever reason, it was a territory where I don't know, 189 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.639 maybe VCRs were more replete. You can tell that the 190 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:37.159 nineteen seventy nine Memphis footage that survives of Hulk, Hogan 191 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:40.080 and all the rest is taped off of television, unlike 192 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:43.600 the Gulf Coast Andre footage, which appears to be off 193 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:47.120 the Masters. This is clearly just stuff that's on YouTube 194 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:50.159 and taped off TV, and it's been seen a lot. 195 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:52.440 I mean, you've probably seen we'll get to it. Of course. 196 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.279 Have you seen before the vignette where Hulk is set 197 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:58.039 against a completely black background and litten away where he's 198 00:09:58.039 --> 00:10:03.080 heavily shadowed and the announcer dramatic proclamations about his dimensions. 199 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:04.720 And things like that. Yeah, I've seen that one. Yeah. 200 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:06.639 So those are the kind of things that survive because 201 00:10:07.080 --> 00:10:09.600 Memphis was a territory where people hung on to tapes 202 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:11.919 of shows or had VCRs in nineteen seventy nine to 203 00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:14.399 tape the shows. So we did talk about Southeastern really 204 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:18.240 geographically was a relatively tiny territory, especially when you consider 205 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.720 that the stuff Hulk was doing with Andrea didn't even 206 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:23.679 necessarily air in every market that Ron Fuller had under 207 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:27.000 his aegis. It was sometimes just limited to the feed 208 00:10:27.039 --> 00:10:29.919 that a few cities in Alabama even got some of 209 00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:32.120 the stuff we need to feel the most. Like the 210 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:35.600 Dothan match with Harley, I think the homie Matt put 211 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:39.120 it well, Dothan Forever. I think, oh yeah, definitely a 212 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.360 takeaway thus far right. 213 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.960 I think I think yep. I think Dothan extreme is 214 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:46.039 what's called with in extreme wrestle Andre the Giant for 215 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:47.720 the first time in the city. If he's going to 216 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:49.840 attack Andre in a TV studio for the first time 217 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.720 in the city, and if he's going to wrestle Harley 218 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:54.639 Race in an outdoor football stadium for the NBA Championship 219 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:56.799 just a couple of months into the business in the city, 220 00:10:57.080 --> 00:11:00.679 it is indeed Dothan Forever, the original DX with an extreme, 221 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:05.440 but it's it's definitely Memphis time. And I think we've 222 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:09.840 gotten the pump primed with the aforementioned interview series that 223 00:11:09.879 --> 00:11:13.279 we did with folks who played no small part and 224 00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:15.879 why we're able to not only read about and learn about, 225 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:18.120 but you know, feel and re experience what it was 226 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:21.440 like for those earliest days before the whole world was 227 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:23.960 hip to the fact that Terry Bolea was about to 228 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:27.320 become the biggest box office attraction the pro wrestling industry 229 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:29.679 had ever seen. Now that isn't all that we delivered. 230 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:32.720 Over the break, of course, as always, folks subscribe to 231 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:36.200 our patreon aton dot com slash lapsed Fan got a 232 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:39.120 full on, full frontel assault in the form of Christmas 233 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.679 Movie Season, a drop. 234 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:46.919 On Christmas Day. Listen, you know, there there's there's nothing 235 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:51.159 like being Home Alone two and getting lost in New 236 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:55.120 York on Christmas Day. It's just there's there's there's nothing better. 237 00:11:55.559 --> 00:11:58.840 And we had a not only Christmas movie season, but 238 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:02.320 a season of sequels as we charted h A Jingle 239 00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:06.519 all the Way to Die Hard, to Die Harder, and 240 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:10.200 Home Alone two, Lost in New York, the New Batch, 241 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:13.639 and you know, we we got to we got to 242 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:15.480 kind of dig in a little bit on on that 243 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:21.039 on on Donald Trump and his kind of is is 244 00:12:21.039 --> 00:12:26.279 some wacky I mean, listen, his whole affiliation with the 245 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:30.080 ww' is whacky, but some other like something like some things, 246 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:32.919 like you you hadn't heard about the gangrel story that 247 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:34.840 we talked about, and and and there there were some 248 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:38.120 things in there that I just thought were It's just wild. 249 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:42.200 It's just wild to think that that you know, that 250 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:44.279 there were so many other stories besides the ones that 251 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:48.600 we knew from him being on TV. But yeah, I'll 252 00:12:48.600 --> 00:12:50.799 tell you what, I'm very excited. I'm not gonna I'm 253 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:52.600 not gonna blow the lot off of yet, but I 254 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:54.840 think I think we're going to be in for quite 255 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:57.039 a treat twenty twenty six. We got something. I got 256 00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:00.000 something that's been cooking for quite a while, and I'm very, very, 257 00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:03.080 very very excited to drop it on you this week. 258 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:06.120 In the format of under the Cinemat Yeah, in the 259 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:09.279 format of yeah, yes, yes, yes. Perhaps by the time 260 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:12.679 you hear this first TLF episode of twenty twenty six, 261 00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:14.879 you'll already be hip to what we're talking about if 262 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:17.720 you're in the EP tier or above over at patreon 263 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.600 dot com Slash the Laps fan. Of course that is 264 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:22.759 inclusive of the Moat tier. And of course it's a 265 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:26.240 new year, but Mama Sorrow is still up to her tricks. 266 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:28.639 Wrestle Mam Yeah. 267 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:31.440 Mama Sorrow just never stops at her old tricks, and 268 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:36.200 you know, coming I'm trying to what this would have been. So, 269 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.399 you know, every year the week before the Rumble, I 270 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:40.480 try to get a rumble in. I tried it, been 271 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:42.519 doing them in order with my mom and I think 272 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:45.320 I think it's ninety one this year. So that was 273 00:13:45.360 --> 00:13:47.440 a treat for me. Oh that's massive. That was a 274 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:49.240 treat for me. That's coming up in a couple of weeks. 275 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:51.240 You know, there's there was a page one show when 276 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.559 we started this whole podcast. 277 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:55.840 Absolutely it was it was my u it was my 278 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:58.320 was it the first one when we did our little 279 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.240 Chairman's choice before we started on the the Wrestlingia Journey 280 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:03.720 was one of my my shows for that one of 281 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:06.320 my three shows I think that I chose, and it 282 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:08.559 was it was a no brainer. It was like, that's 283 00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:11.759 that's absolutely what's going to happen. And it's because of 284 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:17.039 Hogan later with no longer alive, exactly, it's always Hogan. 285 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:20.879 I was trying to think here what they just what 286 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:25.679 you just would have seen, oh, you would always a 287 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:27.960 good sign when simply reading the title of the episode, 288 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:31.679 const you would have just heard me and my mom 289 00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:35.679 watch the debut of the shock Master. That's how we 290 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:39.480 start twenty twenty six. Yeah, okay, by stumbling through a 291 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:41.759 hole in the wall, through all on the walls how 292 00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:44.200 I started my year two and uh and we go. 293 00:14:44.360 --> 00:14:46.480 We go back to basics for my mom. Actually, this 294 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:49.039 is the next one coming up for those who may 295 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:51.360 be uh, who may still be a little like on 296 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:54.320 the fence. You want to hear my mom go back 297 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:58.679 to like her her fandom days, like her warm and fuzzies. 298 00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:01.960 We get to tell, we get watch a match with 299 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:09.679 the Haystax Calhoun and Tony geriad taken on Tanaka and Fuji. 300 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:13.200 That's about as northeast as it gets. Haystax Calhoun is 301 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:15.000 just the one that you know, my mom gets a 302 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:17.360 big thrill out of that. And Killer Kowalski, the Polish guy, 303 00:15:17.480 --> 00:15:22.960 obviously Polish exponent. So yeah, just because the holiday season 304 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:25.039 is behind us doesn't mean that the warm and fuzzies 305 00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:27.720 of the living room carpet have to be behind you. 306 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:30.799 If you're Remote tier member at Patreon, shared the carpet 307 00:15:30.799 --> 00:15:33.200 with Mamasarrow and the Boss as they take in the 308 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:35.960 wrestling matches of yours all the more difficult access now 309 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:39.600 as Peacock has taken down the entire archive, and it 310 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:41.440 appears that Netflix is going to at least or has 311 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:43.679 already put up all the WWE pay per views in 312 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:45.759 the past. But all that means, you know what that 313 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:48.840 means nice, All that matters is we keep track of 314 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.720 what we don't have, right That's the only thing anyone's 315 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.080 going to talk abou yep, yep. And you know, I 316 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:56.399 do feel very lucky that we do have. We have 317 00:15:56.519 --> 00:16:01.200 a significant archive, you know, elapsed archives. 318 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:03.559 The Solar system isn't going to let that kind of risk. 319 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:05.480 They're not going to tolerate that kind of risk. 320 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.279 You know. It's it's it's really it's unbelievable how much 321 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.960 stuff we've been we've been gifted over the years, and 322 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.799 how much stuff we still have. So you know, we 323 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:19.519 have we have content for years to come, hands down. 324 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:23.440 But enough about the complete Hulk Ogan Brother. Yeah, we'll 325 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:25.759 be covered as well as we get to the points 326 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:27.960 in Hulk's career where we just do traditional deep dives 327 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.840 like you've come to expect from us over a decade, 328 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:32.200 you know, and we've got those shows at the ready 329 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:36.799 in the chamber. Uh fool proof, risk proof, not a 330 00:16:36.840 --> 00:16:39.759 problem as you as you would have expected. By now 331 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:42.559 you talk about what a fucking shit show. I can't believe, 332 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:45.039 you know, it's funny. I actually haven't even been on 333 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:47.120 on on Pecock in a while, and it says, what 334 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:49.519 a what a what a what a fucking I mean, 335 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:52.600 you know, the whole fucking what a mess? What a mess? 336 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.639 That like, they can't I'll tell you what here, here's 337 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:57.159 where them and the gran I know they don't care. 338 00:16:57.360 --> 00:17:00.399 They don't care, number one, that's the bottom that's really 339 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:03.519 the bottom line. They don't care. But my biggest issue 340 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:07.359 is like why couldn't they have Why couldn't they have 341 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:10.039 like all the things like warmed up in Netflix? Why 342 00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:13.680 do they have to just wait? You know, like why 343 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:17.200 couldn't they have everything loaded up? Obviously don't don't, don't 344 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:20.119 drop it when you know, until you until you have 345 00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:25.319 the legal rights to do so. But like, why couldn't 346 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:28.200 they have everything that they have on Peacock or god forbid, 347 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:32.880 the fucking network and the old network and just let it, 348 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.960 you know, like have it ready to go and then 349 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:37.720 all of a sudden you drop it and boom, there 350 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:41.319 it is. But you know, it's all anybody would be 351 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:42.880 talking about. I know, the first of the year. I know. 352 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:45.440 I mean if it was all there and unleashed upon 353 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:47.960 us and we had that that security. But it's fine whatever, 354 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:52.400 it's not. It's not fine going around fucking playing little 355 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.440 games with this content apparently isn't important. It doesn't mean anything. 356 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:57.759 But you're already slicing the dice in it. So Netflix 357 00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:00.880 gets some of the archive, Vault gets some of the whatever. 358 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:03.039 What will be your guide? As always? 359 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:05.720 What will be your beacon in the storm here at TLF. 360 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:09.559 You mentioned lost in New York. Terry Boley is about 361 00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:11.799 to get lost in New York here completely, I'll go 362 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:16.920 good pretty soon. I couldn't let that one pass in 363 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:20.559 terms of where we're heading. But yes, so, Patreon dot 364 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:23.599 com slash the lapsed fan your source for all things 365 00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:26.599 exclusive TLF your way to prove to us that you're 366 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:29.599 worthy of the effort that we put in. And further 367 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:32.359 to the point, it's it's it's live call season. It's 368 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:36.599 gonna get a little silly, little as you can imagine. Yes, So, 369 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:39.759 as a precursor to to the next remarks about what 370 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:43.160 to expect from a programming announcement perspective on our live 371 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.720 calls and such, we should share with the Solar System 372 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:49.200 some exciting news. Boss for those approximate to Broadway. You 373 00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:50.680 you're going to be taking the stage. 374 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:53.559 I'll be I'll be lost in New York myself for 375 00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:55.039 for quite a while. While lost in New York in 376 00:18:55.079 --> 00:19:01.319 twenty twenty six, Uh yeah, just desserts a musical bake off. 377 00:19:02.119 --> 00:19:07.079 I am returning off Broadway this January thirtieth through February 378 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:11.920 twenty through February twenty second short run of this of 379 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:17.279 a of a very funny, hilarious musical that takes place. 380 00:19:20.160 --> 00:19:25.400 It takes place during and around a baking contest. If 381 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:29.039 it's not all about food, okay, I mean, are you 382 00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:35.440 fucking like seriously? And I play an Italian, an Italian 383 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:41.480 from Brooklyn who bakes and eats. So I guess they 384 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:43.359 just looked at me and we're like, oh, okay, we 385 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:44.440 got you. Good. 386 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:46.000 Well, when Hope gets to New York, he'll be an 387 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:48.279 Italian in Brooklyn bakes and eats. 388 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:53.519 He eats, and he bakes and well not necessarily the 389 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:55.920 way you mean bakes, as as it says on the 390 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:58.759 on the on the website, a mysterious man from Brooklyn 391 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:04.119 who arouses suspicion of out his past brother. What dude, 392 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:11.319 sewn o'shay like? But yeah, we're at the the a 393 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.440 MT Theater on forty fifth Street. You can get tickets 394 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:16.079 those who are in the area or who want to 395 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.319 travel to the area a MT Theater dot org slash 396 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:23.640 just Desserts and you can you can buy tickets there. 397 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:28.079 And the fun thing about are about this particular this 398 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:33.079 particular production is that there will be a guest baker 399 00:20:34.039 --> 00:20:38.720 every show really and so there will be like you know, 400 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:43.200 there'll be an array of of of of treats and 401 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:47.960 whatnot every every show. Like they've I got the list 402 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:51.960 right here, we got the uh Invictus Bakery. I'm not 403 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:53.720 sure some of these are all these are most of 404 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:56.000 them are local, obviously, I should take that back. All 405 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:59.400 of them are local, uh New York places. Actually a 406 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:05.720 former uh you know, she's a friend. I'll just call 407 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:08.079 her a friend, Alison Mahoney. She's called the Singing Baker. 408 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:12.359 She's going to be a guest baker on February eleventh, 409 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:15.160 Junior's Oh fucking Juniors Cheesecake is going to be there. 410 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:20.240 Fuck it fuck it, send e nest to go pick 411 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:22.240 up some of that that's already tasty. This is the 412 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:25.839 it's it's it's definitely worth it. If even if you 413 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:28.799 don't like musical theater, come for the food and you know, 414 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:31.720 come to see me play this kind of like the podcast, 415 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:33.599 you know, yeah, right, eat, you don't like us, come 416 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:38.519 for the food. Puns man, right, if you don't like wrestling, 417 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:42.480 stay for the other stuff. There's plenty of that. So yeah, 418 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:45.759 just dessert. It's a musical bake off, very fun, exciting 419 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:48.160 CoA chairs no send us an email LAPS fan at 420 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:50.079 gmail dot com. If boss Man can expect you, I'm 421 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:51.799 sure will be three yes, please do already know some 422 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.880 members of the Solar System are making plans. I do. 423 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:57.440 I've gotten quite a few dms on Instagram specifically, we 424 00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:00.319 had a couple of Black Friday deals and what not 425 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:04.240 going right around Thanksgiving and in the holidays, and some 426 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:06.119 people a message thing they already got their tickets and 427 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:09.519 I really appreciate that, so you know, come on out, 428 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:13.680 come on out. But you know, given that the dates 429 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:18.680 that we have there, it does create some conflict, not 430 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.519 not too much, but to it, we do want to 431 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:23.519 get word out early and often, so Roller Rumble this 432 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:25.880 year is in fucking Saudi Arabia, So it's going to 433 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:27.559 be on at two o'clock in the afternoon, which is 434 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:31.119 already bullshit and already sucks and already gives us all 435 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:33.359 the cover we need to just not do it live. 436 00:22:34.440 --> 00:22:36.559 But because of the show schedule, we're not going to 437 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:38.480 be able to do the Word Rumble until the Sunday night. 438 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:41.640 It's a Saturday afternoon on the East Coast this year. 439 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:44.240 I got I got a two show day that day, 440 00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:46.200 so unfortunately, I will not be able to do it 441 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:51.400 to do it live as I have I have that 442 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:53.319 fucking one. I gotta have it. You're not willing to 443 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:56.920 make it a three show day, that's for sure. Well, hey, 444 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:58.599 you know, I wouldn't mind doing it, but we wouldn't 445 00:22:58.599 --> 00:23:01.599 be starting till eleven o'clock at night. Okay, I'll do it, 446 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:03.559 all right, I'll do it. I'll do it o'clock all right. 447 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:05.480 So maybe maybe we'll hate you with the surprise, but 448 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:07.559 we want to prepare you for it the very least. 449 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:10.039 The fact that the Royal Rumble this year, which is 450 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:12.119 only appropriate because if they're gonna do something as goofy 451 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:13.720 as bring it to Saudi Arabia that we can do 452 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:17.799 whatever the fuck we want when we said is going 453 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:19.960 to at least not be live as far as that afternoon. 454 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:22.079 Every time they've done a premium live event in the 455 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:25.119 afternoon on a Saturday, we all kind of understand that 456 00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:29.000 you're really reaching the bottom of the barrel. I mean, 457 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:31.640 what are you willing to give their whole Saturday away 458 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:34.400 for what you have? I'm fucking doing for God's sakes? 459 00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:37.519 Like what a rumble? What a dumb ass fucking thing, 460 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:41.200 Like you know, I you know what, why even bother? 461 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:43.000 I mean, I know people are like, you know, you 462 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.880 want the live stream and whatever. I know, it's not 463 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:47.480 like ninety two or you can settle with a delay. 464 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:49.640 You're not gonna get any news, but you know, come 465 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:52.079 the fuck on, like, why do that? Why have it 466 00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:54.279 live live for people who are gonna be you know, 467 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:59.039 fucking hu, who's listen? No one's gonna fuck it? I mean, 468 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.519 I know, I know, I'll a lot of people are 469 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:02.960 not going to sit there and fucking watch that thing live. 470 00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.759 I'm sure if you were able to look at the 471 00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:09.759 numbers for United States viewers, let alone people like on 472 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.519 the West Coast where it's going to be on at 473 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:17.079 eleven am, Like, what the fuck? What's the matter with them? 474 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:19.759 You make an interesting point, like you know, it's one 475 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:23.680 thing when they go to Perth, Australia or Paris, France, yes, 476 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:27.599 or any of these markets on a Saturday afternoon where 477 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.960 you know you're not going to be able to stop 478 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:31.079 people from taking video in the arena and uploading it 479 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:34.759 to Twitter and everyone getting spoilers. Saudi Arabia, though, I 480 00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:40.640 don't know, call me, you know, color me prejudicial, but 481 00:24:40.680 --> 00:24:42.960 I'm pretty sure there's a way to stop people from 482 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:46.880 taking video inside of the arena and sharing it of 483 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:50.240 all the arenas, of all the countries. It might not 484 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:53.000 necessarily be legal, but I'm sure that there are ways 485 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:53.960 to stop people from taking. 486 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:56.759 Depends we're talking about international law or saudistraw, but that's 487 00:24:56.799 --> 00:25:00.880 your point, you know, Yeah, there could be away. I'd 488 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:03.680 imagine where they could actually have the rumble at a 489 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:06.000 time that makes sense for the locals and not be 490 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:09.440 available for streaming internationally until or traditional time. 491 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:11.599 Slote. I just they I mean again, they did it 492 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:14.519 for they did it for the summer seminy two. We 493 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:18.039 could delayed for a day or two, like it's it's possible. 494 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:21.279 I know again, you know it's different, the the technology, 495 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:24.359 the internet, everything is is obviously much. You know, we 496 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:27.720 can we can we we can know results before they happen. Yes, 497 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:32.039 you know these days, but still I wouldn't listen. It's 498 00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:34.720 not hard, I think I am. I am a I 499 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.799 think I am at testment to the fact that it 500 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:41.799 is not hard to get to not miss spoilers, wait 501 00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:44.960 wait to miss spoil It's not hard to miss spoilers 502 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:48.480 basically because I don't even I don't even think about it. 503 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:50.319 You know, I don't even think about it. When we 504 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:52.200 have a delayed call and I just go and then 505 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:55.000 it's like, oh yeah shit, I didn't even I didn't 506 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:57.480 nothing came up. I don't even have to hide anything. 507 00:25:58.160 --> 00:26:00.519 So all of this also is to say, I defy 508 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:02.960 you to show me one human being on planet Earth 509 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:07.039 who will not watch the Rumble when it's uploaded. If 510 00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:09.839 you do a delay like we're talking about because they 511 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:13.519 saw spoilers on Twitter. One person, right, one person exactly 512 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.480 who will say I'm not going to watch it. 513 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:19.920 Now everyone's gonna watch it. Yeah, So there goes that argument. 514 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:21.680 So whatever. 515 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:24.839 The whole point is, if you're strapped in at two 516 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:28.240 eastern Saturday afternoon, January thirty first, whenever the fuck it is, 517 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:30.279 we're not gonna have a live call, but it'll be 518 00:26:30.359 --> 00:26:33.279 there soon enough, as soon as we feel like it. 519 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:35.200 Maybe we'll just do the Rumbel matches on Saturday and 520 00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.359 give you the rest of the day. I don't know, 521 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:39.480 but it's they fucked it up, so don't don't fuck 522 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:40.519 don't fucking look at us. 523 00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:40.880 Yep. 524 00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:43.359 Therefore the same they do the same thing to us 525 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:46.440 by pushing WrestleMania out deep into April, when like THISERI 526 00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:49.440 vacation's going on. It's like, whatever, dude, we'll figure that 527 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:51.880 out too. But fair warning there we will be doing 528 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:54.160 the Saturday It's main event, the first live call of 529 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:56.400 twenty twenty six. There was a reason to hang on 530 00:26:56.519 --> 00:27:02.359 to your peacock, Ah, Jesus Christ, that's all. I like 531 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:06.200 my peacock anyway. But man, what the fuck all it 532 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:08.880 is now is Saturday Night's made event and nxt P 533 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:11.599 l E S no no archives, that's it. 534 00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:13.680 That's what you get. They don't even have I just 535 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:15.559 look at they don't even have a WWE thing. Anymore, 536 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.960 Like they don't even have a course, not. 537 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:21.200 They don't have any WW content on there beyond quarterly 538 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.720 Saturday Night's Mad Event specials. 539 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:25.799 Fuck sad, what a fucking bunch of. 540 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:28.440 At WW logo still being off to the left of 541 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:31.680 the peacock home screen was the last vestige to meet 542 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:33.599 the network. It's like, we're gonna pretend we have the 543 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:36.960 network by putting a WW button on our home page. 544 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:39.680 You know, yeah, because they ain't fucking putting a WWE 545 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:41.440 logo on Netflix, that's for sure. 546 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:45.359 No, that's kind of way the kind of start the 547 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:47.119 E is giving us. So we're gonna have to just 548 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:51.119 bake and complete hull cog and goodness to feel right 549 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:53.200 about pro wrestling in twenty twenty six, which is just 550 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:55.279 fine by me and I'm sure fined by you. Yes, 551 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:58.160 so lock it in, And of course, you know, for 552 00:27:58.240 --> 00:28:00.279 your Patreon dollar you get ad free verse of this 553 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.920 show if you have to be listening on the public 554 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:06.559 feed at a million other reasons to lock in. Folks 555 00:28:06.599 --> 00:28:08.680 at livet get it. This episode of the Lapsed Fan, 556 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:10.319 as well as the Complete Hell Cocin, is brought to 557 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:12.240 you by livit. And if it's time to get those 558 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:14.400 New Year's resolutions pumping in the right direction. 559 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:14.720 Boss. 560 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.559 If you're going to hit the gym and up your 561 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:19.400 nutritional value, there is a TLF approved way to do it. 562 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:22.880 Livit lv was built on a simple idea put the 563 00:28:22.920 --> 00:28:25.839 most proven performance ingredients in one system at the right 564 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:28.240 doses so that you don't need a shelf full of 565 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:31.119 supplements like Hulk and Eddie did to train at a 566 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:34.400 high level. Instead of piecing together pre workouts and creating 567 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:37.079 and electrolytes and amino acids from all these different brands, 568 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:40.359 Livit brings together the ingredients with the strongest research behind 569 00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:43.480 them for building muscle and proving endurance, supporting hydration and 570 00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:46.680 maintaining energy. And what's even more important boss about livit 571 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:50.200 that it supports hydration. It's also equally, if not more important, 572 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:52.640 that they support what that fucking cast. 573 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.279 Thank you. 574 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:57.079 Their activate sets the tone before training with clinically supported 575 00:28:57.200 --> 00:29:00.279 ingredients for focused blood flow, endurance is sustained energy. There 576 00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:03.920 recover products deliver what your body relies on afterward, essential 577 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:09.319 amino acids, creating electrolytes, carbohydrates, ruscle stay hydrated and actually 578 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:11.440 benefit from the work you put in. We're talking about 579 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:14.839 a complete clean system designed by doctors and former wrestlers, okay, 580 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:17.839 who wanted formulas based on real evidence, not trends. So 581 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:19.920 if you're looking for performance in the new year, as 582 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:22.160 well as recovery and value in one place, live It 583 00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:25.000 gives you all of it in one system and puts, 584 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:28.039 most importantly, commissions in the co chairs. 585 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:30.960 POSA, Right, are we getting any No one's giving a sample? 586 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:33.680 Have we getting samples in those things? Yeah, we haven't 587 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:35.720 dialed it in yet, we haven't locked it in. But 588 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:38.480 I think, uh, I think you're you're expressing interest. If 589 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:40.839 I'm not here, I am, well, you know I've been 590 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:42.799 hit in the gym, you know, a lot since uh 591 00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:45.160 since the fall to it. So you know I could, uh, 592 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:48.839 I could, you could use little energy performance, whatever the 593 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:51.640 fuck it is. But your performance where your mouth is, brother, 594 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:54.200 put your mouth where your performances. I guess there's more, 595 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:58.599 is it livitnation dot com l I V I T 596 00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:00.880 nation dot com and you can you the promo code lapse. 597 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:03.519 You're gonna get five percent off your order, and more importantly, 598 00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:06.119 let him know the co chairs sent you livitnation dot 599 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:08.599 Com promo code laps. Let us know send us an 600 00:30:08.599 --> 00:30:11.160 email at laps fan at gmail dot com if you convert, 601 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.920 as they say in the business, and we'll be sure 602 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:17.000 to tip our cap to you as well. So proud 603 00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:20.160 to have live it lock in fuck yeah on those 604 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:23.400 guns and those twenty by twenties brother on the Complete 605 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:26.839 Hulk Hogan. But I'll tell you one one key sponsor 606 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:29.039 that you have sampled and we'll continue to sample into 607 00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:32.039 twenty twenty six. Yes, if the gods cooperate, and that 608 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:36.359 is our friends at Garage Beer. Woooo hop on the 609 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:43.880 top on this disruptive brand absolutely reached. Yes, lots of 610 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:46.599 disruptive brands. Fan of that that. 611 00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:50.880 Reached all new heights along with TLF in twenty twenty five. 612 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:54.839 Very proud that Garagebeer is helping present the Complete Hulk 613 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:57.160 Cogan to you because they get it. They get the 614 00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:59.240 truth has to be laid down about the most important 615 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:01.640 figure in the business. So they get that understanding Hull 616 00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:05.599 Kogan is understanding why we're still here as reisn right 617 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:08.240 in twenty twenty six or people of our vintage hour 618 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:11.160 and so Garage Beer fastest growing beer brand in the US, 619 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:14.640 CRISP Crushable Brewed for Good Times, no nonsense. Four percent 620 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:16.880 ABV logger ninety five calories. 621 00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:17.119 That's it. 622 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:20.400 Ninety five calories too, Crans of Carbs, two crowd favorite 623 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:23.680 varieties classic in Lime. Go to their beer finder locator 624 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:26.519 at drink Garage beer dot com and just you know, 625 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:30.119 drink garage beer so you can prove to your coach hes. Ok, yeah, 626 00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:33.359 that you mean business when you say you're on the 627 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:35.319 team and it's and you know what, not only that, 628 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:37.519 but do it for your own enjoyment. It's fucking good. 629 00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:40.680 Oh that's it, man, that's the bottom line. It's fucking good. 630 00:31:41.039 --> 00:31:44.759 Like I like it. I like it a lot, and 631 00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:49.960 it's in and it's honestly, you know, I've I've I've 632 00:31:50.079 --> 00:31:51.880 checked out any other any other kind of beer. I 633 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.359 mean listen, not that I had like a ton of 634 00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:55.880 beer to begin with, but you know, I certainly had 635 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:59.880 my favorites and stuff, and they're gone. Fucking garage beer 636 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:02.640 is fucking money. They know what they're doing over there. 637 00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:05.880 They get it in terms of flavor, absolutely, in terms 638 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:07.440 of they get it in terms of beer taste, and 639 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:11.559 they get it in terms of podcast taste abundantly clear. 640 00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:13.720 So it thumbs up to the pals at Garage Beer 641 00:32:14.160 --> 00:32:16.039 for their support, and we hope you'll support them in 642 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:19.400 the new year as well. Nice counterbalance to the the 643 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:23.599 gym rat performance that we're also putting out there. Yeah, 644 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:26.599 Pro Wrestling Teas dot Com wear your shwag this year. 645 00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:29.359 Send images. Love to see people go into shows wearing 646 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:29.799 the shirts. 647 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:32.319 Well. And also, you know, it also kind of blends 648 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:34.559 both sides because you had Hogan always with a six 649 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:37.079 pack in the back of the Golden Gym talking with 650 00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:39.440 Slavage or whoever. So it's a good you know, it 651 00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:41.559 blends both worlds. It's perfect. 652 00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:44.799 Yeah, nobody appreciated a cold six pack like Terry No. 653 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:48.240 And of course, Cameo dot com Slash the lapsed fan, 654 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:51.079 get those messages out. Valentine's Days not too far. 655 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:53.440 Away, right, Listen, listen. I'll tell you what. I'm sure 656 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:55.799 that there are plenty of loved ones or people who 657 00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:58.400 have loved ones who are LAPS fans. But I'd say 658 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:00.759 even get the loved ones who aren't LAPS fans, give them, 659 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:03.720 you know, a cameo because there's there's you know there, 660 00:33:03.880 --> 00:33:08.079 there's plenty of fodder there to be had for Valentine's Day, 661 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.880 no question, and. 662 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:14.880 We're working hard to present opportunities in twenty twenty six. Yes, 663 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:17.039 for you out there in the Solar System to be 664 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:19.599 with us in person. Yeah, we've got a lot of ideas. 665 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:22.960 We don't want to put any cards before any horses. No, 666 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:27.240 the gears are turning at TLFHQ, so there's no shortage 667 00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:29.880 of ways to support us and no shortage of excuses. 668 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:33.880 So let's fucking go and let's go to Memphis. 669 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:37.839 Memshis boss. Let's let's sort of visit. I'm ready, I'm 670 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:39.920 ready to s going. You mentioned the Restler, you mentioned 671 00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:42.400 the Hogan. I'm so glad you mentioned the Hogan Lawer tape. 672 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:46.400 Yeah you have. Yeah, let's start there because I will 673 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:49.440 point out that match was in nineteen eighty one. Wow, 674 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:53.240 no shit, So it's not this Memphis run, not even then. 675 00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:55.559 It's after fuck, well after. 676 00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:58.519 Well after Hogan has gone to the a WA, well 677 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:00.960 after Hogan has made his presence known in Japan. In fact, 678 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:03.920 the gear he's wearing in that match is the black 679 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:07.839 and silver Japan gear that he would wear. So it's 680 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:10.480 not this brief cup of coffee that him and Ed 681 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:13.280 Boulder had as the Bolder brothers in nineteen seventy nine 682 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:16.519 with the aforementioned vignette and stuff that everyone talks about, 683 00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:19.519 but it is part of the Memphis story because it 684 00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:22.000 kind of brings us back to a lot of the 685 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:24.199 things that we set the foundation for here on this 686 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:26.559 leg of the journey. So we will actually, in the 687 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:29.280 spirit of trying to deal with how unwieldy nineteen seventy 688 00:34:29.360 --> 00:34:31.679 nine was for Terry Bolea, we will kind of spin 689 00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:34.159 the clock forward a little bit on this Memphis installment 690 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:36.840 of things to get to that nineteen eighty one time period, 691 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:39.360 because he comes back to the Mid South Coliseum, the 692 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:42.639 Staple Wrestling Arena in the Memphis circuit Monday nights at 693 00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:46.119 the Mid South Colisseum was wrestling for people in and 694 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:49.719 around Memphis, and he wrestles Jerry Lawler one on one 695 00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:53.719 after becoming a substantial name in the industry and having 696 00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:57.199 already gone through the w WWWF and Wrestling Andre the 697 00:34:57.199 --> 00:35:00.920 Giant Shay Stadium, making an impact Japan, making an impact 698 00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:03.440 in the AWA. What do you remember about that match? 699 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:05.480 How did you come into possession of it? 700 00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:09.159 Good question, you know, I'm trying to remember. It would 701 00:35:09.159 --> 00:35:14.559 have come from either a friend or a family member, 702 00:35:15.480 --> 00:35:20.119 because I know I got it fairly early on, and 703 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:23.719 we had the Wrestling Gold release, yeah, with that creepy 704 00:35:23.840 --> 00:35:26.880 picture of Hogan on it. That creepy leader was released 705 00:35:26.920 --> 00:35:29.159 in nineteen eighty eight. It is a it is a 706 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:32.880 petrifying image of Actually it used to give me like 707 00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:36.800 nightmares for a good moment or two because like, what 708 00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:38.840 is this? Like why like he looks like he's going 709 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:39.679 to kill somebody. 710 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:41.960 We had a lot of fun talking to Kit Parker 711 00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:44.880 about the whole how to deal with calling Hi Hulk 712 00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:48.199 Hogan on a VHS that didn't have the WWFS pimission 713 00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:50.639 and how they sent him cease and assists and stuff 714 00:35:50.760 --> 00:35:53.960 fascinating And this is this is an exhibit a in 715 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.320 so many ways what you're talking about. 716 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:57.480 And I. 717 00:35:59.760 --> 00:36:01.519 Yeah, I'm trying to think because I mean it must 718 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:05.480 have been a mind blowing thing for me to really understand. 719 00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:09.320 I mean part of me is wondering it all. It 720 00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:12.760 all just depends on when in my fandom I got it. 721 00:36:12.880 --> 00:36:14.440 And again, I know I got it early on. I 722 00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:19.079 can I can. I can picture watching it, you know 723 00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:23.639 in a certain setup in my parents' house. All right, 724 00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:29.320 blue blue rug. You know, I had the the old TV, 725 00:36:30.639 --> 00:36:32.880 you know, like the furniture piece TV that with the 726 00:36:33.239 --> 00:36:37.280 volume button that turned the fucking that turned the turn 727 00:36:37.320 --> 00:36:41.800 of the TV on. No clicker, Yes, I guess most importantly, 728 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:44.039 but you took it in at a time where it 729 00:36:44.239 --> 00:36:47.519 was simply revolutionary to see Hulk Cogan do anything that 730 00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:49.800 wasn't in the red, white and blue ropes. Not only that, 731 00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:52.800 but it was revolutionary to see Hulk Cogan as a heel. 732 00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:56.519 Come on, now, that's the part that really concerned me, 733 00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:59.559 and I remember being nervous watching it. Nervous. It was 734 00:36:59.719 --> 00:37:03.280 one of the those tapes because I can't. I can't. 735 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:06.880 I couldn't handle hul Cogan being a bad guy, right, 736 00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:09.480 I couldn't handle it. You know this is so that 737 00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:12.360 also puts it in obviously pre ninety six, so we're talking. 738 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:14.400 It must have been ninety two ninety three. That's when 739 00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:16.320 I got this tape. I get ninety two ninety three, 740 00:37:16.920 --> 00:37:21.559 and it was you know it was. I remember putting 741 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:24.480 it in being feeling very nervous because I number one, 742 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:26.360 if I have this tip, I want Hulk Hogan to win. 743 00:37:26.920 --> 00:37:29.280 Number two. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel 744 00:37:29.599 --> 00:37:32.840 about Hulk Hogan being being a heel like this match 745 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:35.079 that Hulk Hogan doesn't want you to see that whole thing. 746 00:37:35.320 --> 00:37:37.039 It's kind of funny, it's kind of funny. You know 747 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:39.199 what match actually, I think he probably really doesn't want 748 00:37:39.239 --> 00:37:42.239 you to see is him facing Andrew the Giant fucking Alabama. 749 00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:44.039 That's the match he really doesn't want you to see, 750 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:45.920 apparently because he doesn't want to talk about it ever. 751 00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:48.679 Having happened exactly, that would have been the fucking the 752 00:37:48.800 --> 00:37:52.159 real uh, the real gem is to have that fucking match. 753 00:37:53.639 --> 00:37:56.800 And uh but I remember, I remember putting in, I 754 00:37:56.800 --> 00:37:59.480 remember watching I remember how bad the quality, you know, 755 00:37:59.599 --> 00:38:02.440 like more or less the quality not compared to ww 756 00:38:02.840 --> 00:38:08.400 releases at the time, and we weekly television, And yeah, 757 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:10.519 I'm sure I watched it with one of my friends 758 00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:15.280 who I forced to be wrestling fans. Yes, And you 759 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:18.800 know I I because I also I hated Lawler at 760 00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:20.920 the time. I mean, I've always hated La Lawler. I 761 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:23.000 don't ever liked Lawler, but I really you know he 762 00:38:23.199 --> 00:38:25.880 was he was I would have so again, this puts 763 00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:27.880 it in the in the place it would have been 764 00:38:27.920 --> 00:38:30.079 nineteen ninety three because I knew who Lawler was and 765 00:38:30.119 --> 00:38:32.880 The only reason I knew who Laler was was from 766 00:38:35.840 --> 00:38:39.679 really from his I first met Lawler so to speak, 767 00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:46.440 doing commentary on Superstars in ninety two, and then through 768 00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:51.480 the magazine, through the aftermags and learning about the USWA 769 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:56.960 and whatnot, So I couldn't fathom a Lawler Hogan thing either, 770 00:38:57.679 --> 00:38:59.239 let alone the fact I had no idea about like 771 00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:01.079 Andy Coffin, and I didn't know what the fuck that was. 772 00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:03.880 I did no clue about that at this point, and 773 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:06.119 I had no clue about any other territories. So it 774 00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:09.440 was all it was all mind blowing to really see this, 775 00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:12.039 And I wouldn't doubt that there's a part of me 776 00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:16.159 that probably thought this was WWE at some point. I 777 00:39:16.199 --> 00:39:18.239 wouldn't doubt that. I wouldn't doubt that there was a 778 00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:20.599 part of my mind that thought that this tape was 779 00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:26.000 a WW match that somehow somebody found and released on 780 00:39:26.079 --> 00:39:30.239 their own, despite having no you know, despite it not 781 00:39:30.320 --> 00:39:32.360 being a WW release. Do you know what I mean? 782 00:39:33.039 --> 00:39:33.199 Yeah? 783 00:39:33.239 --> 00:39:34.719 Sure, I mean, if you watch some of those earliest 784 00:39:34.760 --> 00:39:37.880 Coliseum tapes and they're playing matches from the seventies early 785 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:42.719 seventies in the Garden, they looked exactly pretty much exactly exactly, 786 00:39:43.199 --> 00:39:46.039 the nondescript rings with no logos or anything or really 787 00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:47.880 any color on them. A lot of the old Bruno 788 00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:51.440 matches we saw fit that bill. So I certainly I 789 00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:53.639 take your point. And yeah, it was just such an 790 00:39:53.639 --> 00:39:56.320 interesting time because everybody was releasing these VHS's because the 791 00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:59.039 WWF on Hogan's back had had so much success, as 792 00:39:59.079 --> 00:40:01.159 we've talked about on the the Scene collection in another 793 00:40:01.280 --> 00:40:04.400 forums with Kit Parker through eighty four, five, six, seven, eight, 794 00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:06.920 that everybody that could release anything that had anything to 795 00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:09.599 do with the hot ticket wrestling acts before they were 796 00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:11.679 in the WWF was figuring out ways to package it 797 00:40:11.719 --> 00:40:14.079 and sell it on vhs, even over and above the 798 00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:18.199 seasoned desist protestations of the WWF in many cases. And 799 00:40:18.320 --> 00:40:21.039 so this is definitely a holy grail because by this point, 800 00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:23.920 you know, this is around Super Clash eighty eight, This 801 00:40:24.119 --> 00:40:27.559 is around all the guys that Vince you know, took 802 00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:29.960 all their lunch money and pissed on them. We're all 803 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:33.079 getting together pretending they could do something. Most prominently Jerry 804 00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:35.079 Jarrett Memphis. You know, we talked about all that during 805 00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:36.960 the life and death of the AWA, and you know, 806 00:40:37.119 --> 00:40:40.039 Nick Bockwinkle's coming in through Memphis quite a bit, and 807 00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:42.320 they're kind of framing the AWA World Champion as a 808 00:40:42.320 --> 00:40:45.440 bigger deal than even the NWA World Champion, even though 809 00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:48.800 the Memphis territory was part of the NBA circuit. And 810 00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:51.320 you know, Dusty and the Crockets feeling some kind of 811 00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:54.920 way about the dominance of Vince McMahon, and so this 812 00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:57.000 you can see a tape like this being part of 813 00:40:57.079 --> 00:40:59.639 the right part of the strategy, like, yes, we got 814 00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:02.079 we've got their guy, We've got their Golden Goose on 815 00:41:02.239 --> 00:41:04.639 tape getting a shit beat out of him by Jerry Lawler, 816 00:41:05.800 --> 00:41:07.679 and we can just you know, show the clips of 817 00:41:07.760 --> 00:41:10.360 him beating the shit out of Hogan with of course 818 00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:13.400 a match in totality. And in fact, it's interesting because 819 00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:17.119 in eighty one there was quite a fuss made on television, 820 00:41:17.159 --> 00:41:19.519 both in Florida where the match played, as well as 821 00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:22.159 in Memphis about the nature of this finish. Even before 822 00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:24.840 Hulk Hogan went on to bigger and better things. Hogan 823 00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:27.159 would go on television as well as we'll address and 824 00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:30.400 get to on on Champions pressing from Florida in eighty one, 825 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:33.239 after we'd already been through AWA and WWF for a 826 00:41:33.320 --> 00:41:36.719 bit and talking about how Lawler's doctoring the footage up 827 00:41:36.760 --> 00:41:39.679 in Memphis. Lawler's doctoring footage this match to make it 828 00:41:39.760 --> 00:41:42.480 seem like he did a lot better against Halt than 829 00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:45.599 he actually did, and the finish being vita qualification as well. 830 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:50.599 I find out that's wacky. That's so crazy, doctoring footage, 831 00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:54.639 that's what they claim. But if you are to believe 832 00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:57.119 Jimmy Hart, who's about to become part of our story 833 00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:59.159 and who actually runs in you recall at the end 834 00:41:59.199 --> 00:42:00.760 of that match, that must have weird for you too, 835 00:42:00.760 --> 00:42:04.760 to see Jimmy Hart for fear at the end. Yeah, yeah, Like, 836 00:42:05.400 --> 00:42:06.280 remind me of what happens. 837 00:42:06.280 --> 00:42:10.039 It's been a while, So Lawler is covering Hogan and 838 00:42:11.199 --> 00:42:13.360 Heart jumps in the ring with basically like a steel 839 00:42:13.400 --> 00:42:15.039 pipe and hits Lawla across the. 840 00:42:15.039 --> 00:42:17.360 Bat and he's right, and he's working on he's working 841 00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:20.840 with Hogan. So it's like managing Hogan in eighty one. 842 00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:23.199 Trying to remember when see this would have been a 843 00:42:23.239 --> 00:42:27.360 whole thing. If I watched in ninety two, this would 844 00:42:27.400 --> 00:42:30.000 have been horrifying. But if I'd watched in ninety three, 845 00:42:30.039 --> 00:42:33.199 it wouldn't be so bad because he had already joined 846 00:42:33.239 --> 00:42:34.840 forces with Jimmy Hart. 847 00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:36.480 But to it it might not have been very clear 848 00:42:36.519 --> 00:42:38.559 to you either, because there really isn't any commentary on 849 00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:41.800 this match, so it's not like they're explaining in great 850 00:42:41.800 --> 00:42:44.039 detail who's doing what on the Wrestling Gold version of this. 851 00:42:45.079 --> 00:42:46.840 But if you recognize Jimmy Hart, this is of course 852 00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:49.599 before the airbrust jacket and the megaphone, right before he 853 00:42:49.719 --> 00:42:51.480 developed the look that would be his signature. But he 854 00:42:51.559 --> 00:42:54.119 started in Memphis under Jerry Lawler, as we'll talk about it, 855 00:42:54.199 --> 00:42:56.599 became acquainted with Hulk Cogan for the first time during 856 00:42:56.639 --> 00:42:58.360 the run we're about to talk about, which is wow, 857 00:42:58.880 --> 00:43:01.559 massively significant for you know, the rest of Hulk Hogan's 858 00:43:01.599 --> 00:43:03.440 life and career. As we've talked about endlessly on the 859 00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:06.159 show over the years, Hulk and Jimmy till Hulk's dying 860 00:43:06.280 --> 00:43:09.199 day were locked at the hip in so many ways. 861 00:43:10.320 --> 00:43:13.119 Then that starts here in Memphis, So all of that 862 00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:16.679 is going on on the videotape, and there's volleying back 863 00:43:16.719 --> 00:43:19.000 and forth on television about Lawler doctoring the footage, and 864 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:22.440 then they rematch do Hogan and Lawler on a show 865 00:43:22.519 --> 00:43:25.400 that was not videotaped later on in the summer of 866 00:43:25.480 --> 00:43:28.760 eighty one. But we're here in seventy nine and before 867 00:43:29.159 --> 00:43:32.440 it's Hogan versus Lawler. I think you'll be surprised to 868 00:43:32.480 --> 00:43:35.440 find boss. It's Hogan and Lawler as a tag team. 869 00:43:35.559 --> 00:43:35.639 Wo. 870 00:43:36.119 --> 00:43:37.320 What yes? 871 00:43:37.960 --> 00:43:38.199 Wow? 872 00:43:38.320 --> 00:43:40.880 Only are they interested in this Terry Boulet, who's becoming 873 00:43:40.920 --> 00:43:42.840 a bit of a sensation down in Alabama. The top 874 00:43:42.880 --> 00:43:45.880 guy in the territory, Jerry Lawler, is interested in getting 875 00:43:45.920 --> 00:43:47.800 some of that shine and bringing him up there and 876 00:43:47.840 --> 00:43:50.719 seeing what they do with him. Need to reset the 877 00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:53.079 table a bit and revisit some of the things we've 878 00:43:53.079 --> 00:43:57.480 already established, because you know, in describing how these two 879 00:43:57.719 --> 00:44:00.320 Hulk and Eddie ended up in the Pensacola Gulf Coo 880 00:44:00.440 --> 00:44:02.480 Southeastern Territory, we also had to say quite a bit 881 00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:05.360 about how Memphis was at the table at the beginning, 882 00:44:05.400 --> 00:44:06.880 according at least to Brutus Beefcake. 883 00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:08.559 I mean, we have talked so many. 884 00:44:08.480 --> 00:44:11.599 Times about who exactly got Hulk and Eddie out of 885 00:44:11.639 --> 00:44:14.039 Cocoa Beach into the wrestling business. Was it a Bob 886 00:44:14.119 --> 00:44:16.639 rup was Did Hulk called Bob Roop? Did Hulk call 887 00:44:16.760 --> 00:44:20.000 Superstar Billy Graham, like he says, did both of them 888 00:44:20.039 --> 00:44:22.440 call Jerry Jarrett first? Did they call Harley Race? That's 889 00:44:22.440 --> 00:44:24.119 another name that comes up. But Harley was interested in 890 00:44:24.199 --> 00:44:25.199 bringing them in Kansas City. 891 00:44:25.559 --> 00:44:30.599 Mikeling, Oh my god, who is that? Which one that 892 00:44:30.840 --> 00:44:33.159 was that? I should have marked him down? And this 893 00:44:33.400 --> 00:44:36.719 is my stick, this is my gimmick that can only 894 00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:43.039 be one. Professor Boris Malinga run the plan detail. Oh 895 00:44:43.079 --> 00:44:45.719 my god, that's just the greatest, the greatest fucking thing. 896 00:44:46.360 --> 00:44:48.360 Yeah, And that's what's one of the things I'm gonna love. 897 00:44:48.360 --> 00:44:51.119 I think about the complete hul Cogan is be at Alabama, 898 00:44:51.199 --> 00:44:54.639 Ron Fuller and Oxville and Plan B be it, Eddie 899 00:44:54.639 --> 00:44:58.440 Graham and the Briscoes and everybody running Florida and Mike 900 00:44:58.480 --> 00:45:01.039 Graham the way they did, U be it here Memphis, 901 00:45:01.119 --> 00:45:03.199 Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jerrett. We're going to get into so 902 00:45:03.280 --> 00:45:06.360 much history of so many territories Georgia Championship at Jimmy Barnett, 903 00:45:06.559 --> 00:45:10.280 that we really probably wouldn't you know. Of course, if 904 00:45:10.360 --> 00:45:12.559 TLF played out per traditional format, it would have been 905 00:45:12.599 --> 00:45:14.119 hard to ever take a time to say, all right, 906 00:45:14.480 --> 00:45:16.400 now's the time to start at the beginning for how 907 00:45:16.480 --> 00:45:19.280 Memphis came to be Memphis for instance. You know we're 908 00:45:19.280 --> 00:45:20.800 not going to go that deep, but we are going 909 00:45:20.840 --> 00:45:22.599 to go deeper than I think we ever had plans to, 910 00:45:23.280 --> 00:45:27.280 uh to properly contextualize how Terry Bollett comes up in 911 00:45:27.360 --> 00:45:29.800 this circuit. So as Bruce beef Cake said in his book, 912 00:45:30.800 --> 00:45:35.679 remember uh, Whitey up in Cocoa Beach, Okay, Whitey Bridges 913 00:45:35.719 --> 00:45:39.039 who own the Anchor Club and who opened up the gym, 914 00:45:39.239 --> 00:45:43.119 and Terry and Ed he gets married, and he closes 915 00:45:43.199 --> 00:45:45.360 the gym that they founded, and closes the Anchor Club 916 00:45:45.400 --> 00:45:47.480 and has Don the Dragon Wilson talked to us about 917 00:45:48.039 --> 00:45:51.159 for many reasons, not just that a business wasn't well 918 00:45:51.159 --> 00:45:53.639 had to get on fire, but federal agents may have 919 00:45:53.679 --> 00:45:57.920 been sniffing around too. So that that ends, and Terry 920 00:45:57.920 --> 00:45:59.960 and that are going to head back to Tampa, both 921 00:46:00.039 --> 00:46:04.599 being Tampa boys. And yeah, of course Ed ed Leslie 922 00:46:04.599 --> 00:46:07.480 in his book takes the credit for suggesting to Hulk 923 00:46:07.559 --> 00:46:09.639 that maybe we should give wrestling another try, and had 924 00:46:09.639 --> 00:46:12.360 shown interest in it. Hulk could already wrestle a few matches, 925 00:46:12.400 --> 00:46:15.239 has talked about in seventy seven in Florida Super Destroyer 926 00:46:16.239 --> 00:46:18.760 and Gordon ed. Hulk quickly admitted, yeah, you know, I'm 927 00:46:18.760 --> 00:46:21.880 getting the itch back myself. Let's try this, Harley had 928 00:46:21.880 --> 00:46:23.960 called them. Harley raised his book. 929 00:46:23.719 --> 00:46:28.960 In hand the city. Yes, and Harley clearly was I 930 00:46:29.039 --> 00:46:39.639 think that's probably what it sounded like. Actually, am what 931 00:46:39.679 --> 00:46:40.199 I'd like to do. 932 00:46:40.280 --> 00:46:43.280 I'd like to sit Harley Race down in nineteen seventy nine, 933 00:46:44.079 --> 00:46:46.440 play him the Plan B tape and then get his immediate. 934 00:46:46.199 --> 00:46:52.400 Ru Oh my god. Oh some ambitious modernfuckers I don't 935 00:46:52.400 --> 00:46:52.760 know about. 936 00:46:53.440 --> 00:46:55.280 I don't know about their matches, but I know mine 937 00:46:55.280 --> 00:46:58.639 are real damn right. No, he would have said something 938 00:46:58.760 --> 00:47:03.400 like oh fucking so Harley was interested. You know, as 939 00:47:03.480 --> 00:47:06.840 talked about, Hogan had some experience with Harley in Florida, 940 00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:09.440 and I think it was d Leslie. You said he 941 00:47:09.480 --> 00:47:11.239 kind of crushed a few beer cans on Hogan's head 942 00:47:11.239 --> 00:47:13.880 while he was forced to drive everybody around. Yes, definitely 943 00:47:13.920 --> 00:47:17.360 didn't get vibes from Harley that he was going to 944 00:47:17.400 --> 00:47:20.119 be very cooperative with him in terms of elevating him. 945 00:47:20.840 --> 00:47:22.880 But at the same time, you know, when Harley gets 946 00:47:22.920 --> 00:47:24.840 wind of what Hulks are doing in Alabama, he comes 947 00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:27.320 out and has no problem and not only putting him 948 00:47:27.320 --> 00:47:29.400 over that first time, but when Hogan showed up as 949 00:47:29.440 --> 00:47:32.840 the replacement to save Ron Fuller. But of course, you know, 950 00:47:33.159 --> 00:47:36.039 going against him for the world title just six months 951 00:47:36.079 --> 00:47:38.320 under the run. Seven months under the run, I wouldn't 952 00:47:38.320 --> 00:47:40.000 be seven months because he started in March and it 953 00:47:40.039 --> 00:47:41.119 was in July that the match was. 954 00:47:41.159 --> 00:47:42.039 It was even less than that. 955 00:47:43.320 --> 00:47:46.320 So Harley clearly knew who Terry Bolea was. Okay, whether 956 00:47:46.360 --> 00:47:49.679 he was actually the first or among the many to 957 00:47:49.800 --> 00:47:51.920 offer these guys a chance to get into the business 958 00:47:51.920 --> 00:47:55.039 after Cocoa Beach went bust, who's to say, But according 959 00:47:55.039 --> 00:47:57.320 to ed Leslie, Harley had called. They called him back 960 00:47:57.559 --> 00:48:00.320 before they ever even went to Dothan, and it was 961 00:48:00.360 --> 00:48:03.440 around this time. They obviously didn't take the offer to 962 00:48:03.559 --> 00:48:05.440 go to Kansas City a whole. I think felt it 963 00:48:05.519 --> 00:48:07.920 was kind of like Kicktown. We talked about that for 964 00:48:08.119 --> 00:48:11.239 the Florida episodes. It's here where they come up. They 965 00:48:11.280 --> 00:48:13.199 did to call themselves the Bolder Brothers. You know, this 966 00:48:13.320 --> 00:48:15.159 idea that people will fuck with us in the business 967 00:48:15.239 --> 00:48:17.679 like they used to if they have to fuck with 968 00:48:17.760 --> 00:48:21.320 both of us. And so ed Leslie Royd's hard he 969 00:48:21.400 --> 00:48:23.599 grows the handlebar mustache just like Terry. 970 00:48:23.840 --> 00:48:24.679 That's crazy. 971 00:48:25.800 --> 00:48:28.400 And they were considering the Harley offer, according to ed Leslie, 972 00:48:28.400 --> 00:48:30.199 but before they take it, they call up Jerry jarreted 973 00:48:30.280 --> 00:48:32.079 in Memphis. This is according to ed Leslie as well, 974 00:48:32.119 --> 00:48:34.199 and they try to play Harley and Jerry Jared off 975 00:48:34.199 --> 00:48:35.800 of each other for the kind of money they can get. 976 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:37.599 One thing we've established all the way back to the 977 00:48:37.639 --> 00:48:41.039 Infinities end Days is Terry boleya is going to see 978 00:48:41.760 --> 00:48:44.039 if he can make just a few more bucks loving 979 00:48:44.159 --> 00:48:44.960 someone in the dust. 980 00:48:45.159 --> 00:48:48.519 You know, it's very simple, brother, Hon'm we gonna do. 981 00:48:48.599 --> 00:48:52.039 What if we play these guys off each other? Brothers 982 00:48:52.239 --> 00:48:55.840 them talking turkey about us? Dude, talk turkey, but talk turkey. Brother, 983 00:48:56.039 --> 00:48:59.199 this is the earliest talking turkey. You're right, it's all 984 00:48:59.320 --> 00:49:02.559 talking turkey. They're playing them off each other. Ed Leslie 985 00:49:02.559 --> 00:49:04.880 says that ultimately Jerry Jarrett gave them the better offer. 986 00:49:04.920 --> 00:49:06.519 Of course, for those who don't know, Jerry Jarrett the 987 00:49:06.559 --> 00:49:09.639 father of Jeff Jarrett. And there's one condition, according to 988 00:49:09.760 --> 00:49:12.880 ed Leslie, these two the bolder brothers, have to polish 989 00:49:13.000 --> 00:49:14.679 up the act that they're trying to sell Jerry on 990 00:49:14.960 --> 00:49:17.840 elsewhere in another territory before he'll bring them into Memphis. 991 00:49:19.079 --> 00:49:21.599 He doesn't say go to Ron Fuller and Pensacola specifically, 992 00:49:22.119 --> 00:49:23.599 but as we're going to get to it might stand 993 00:49:23.679 --> 00:49:25.320 to reason why it would make the most sense to 994 00:49:25.400 --> 00:49:28.280 go there if you're going to, you know, be somewhere 995 00:49:28.320 --> 00:49:32.000 that has connective tissue to Jerry Jarrett. So Ed claims 996 00:49:32.039 --> 00:49:36.039 that Terry was working a little here and there with 997 00:49:36.239 --> 00:49:38.480 him while they were running the bar in the gym 998 00:49:38.519 --> 00:49:40.639 as far as showing him the ropes and how to wrestle, 999 00:49:40.960 --> 00:49:43.039 and showed him pretty much everything he had learned. And 1000 00:49:43.119 --> 00:49:45.000 he also claims that they got in touch as Ed 1001 00:49:45.079 --> 00:49:47.920 Leslie with Bob Rup down in Florida. Of course we 1002 00:49:48.280 --> 00:49:50.559 heard from Bob Rup in his podcast Last Time. He 1003 00:49:50.599 --> 00:49:52.880 says he never heard another word from Terry Bully ever 1004 00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:55.559 after being asked to stretch him in the gym in 1005 00:49:55.679 --> 00:49:57.679 seventy seven when he was breaking in. So I don't 1006 00:49:57.679 --> 00:50:00.599 know how he could then swing around and be part 1007 00:50:00.639 --> 00:50:03.360 of trying to get Terry Bulea to come back to 1008 00:50:03.400 --> 00:50:09.000 Florida afterwards, if that was true. But anyway, there was 1009 00:50:09.159 --> 00:50:11.519 involvement with Bob Roop and Jim Barnett as well and 1010 00:50:12.440 --> 00:50:14.960 the according to Ted Leslie, and they sent them to Pensacola. 1011 00:50:15.679 --> 00:50:17.719 So the way Ed kind of tells it, it was 1012 00:50:17.760 --> 00:50:19.559 sort of like Bob Roup and Jim Barnett liked the 1013 00:50:19.639 --> 00:50:23.599 potential of these two and directed them to Ron Fuller 1014 00:50:23.920 --> 00:50:27.000 in the Southeast Gulf Coast territory. So you take your 1015 00:50:27.039 --> 00:50:29.119 pick as to who you believe. And if there was 1016 00:50:29.159 --> 00:50:31.519 this sort of Memphis pre animal to the whole thing, 1017 00:50:31.840 --> 00:50:37.280 we all know that there's you know, you could just 1018 00:50:37.440 --> 00:50:41.000 just just close your eyes and point that's you're true. 1019 00:50:41.199 --> 00:50:42.920 Yeah, because I mean we can, we can say it 1020 00:50:43.000 --> 00:50:44.800 having done all the work, we did all the diligence, 1021 00:50:45.480 --> 00:50:47.119 like there's there's no clarity here. 1022 00:50:47.400 --> 00:50:48.239 Yeah, you know. 1023 00:50:48.280 --> 00:50:51.760 You hear so often, including Hulk himself, talk about really 1024 00:50:51.840 --> 00:50:54.400 starting his career as the Hulk in Memphis and the 1025 00:50:54.440 --> 00:50:56.639 Memphis territory created and Chris and the idea of him 1026 00:50:56.639 --> 00:50:58.719 as the Hulk that is obviously not true based on 1027 00:50:58.800 --> 00:51:02.480 the newspaper clips in recent episodes about him being called 1028 00:51:02.480 --> 00:51:06.400 the Hulk from day one in Alabama. However, if they 1029 00:51:06.480 --> 00:51:09.840 went to Alabama kind of at the direction of Jerry Jarrett, 1030 00:51:10.039 --> 00:51:13.719 is it possible to say that that was also sort 1031 00:51:13.760 --> 00:51:15.360 of part of the Memphis run, because it's just a 1032 00:51:15.400 --> 00:51:19.079 matter of months before Hogan is taking these side quests 1033 00:51:19.599 --> 00:51:21.519 off to Memphis, and we'll get into all of the 1034 00:51:22.199 --> 00:51:26.519 Perhaps the duplicity of one Louis to lay how that 1035 00:51:26.880 --> 00:51:29.360 Louis was not above serving two masters at the same 1036 00:51:29.440 --> 00:51:32.559 time without bler masters necessarily not knowing about it or 1037 00:51:32.639 --> 00:51:35.360 signing off on it, And so that might be a 1038 00:51:35.480 --> 00:51:39.119 part of the puzzle here as well. It's curious considering 1039 00:51:40.239 --> 00:51:43.400 Jim Barnett did end up calling Hulk Terry Boulder for 1040 00:51:43.480 --> 00:51:45.159 someone who was so interested in him at the beginning, 1041 00:51:45.199 --> 00:51:50.000 Jim Barnett or even use ed Bolea. It appears if he, 1042 00:51:50.199 --> 00:51:52.239 as Ed Leslie says in his book, fell in love 1043 00:51:52.320 --> 00:51:54.960 with the look of the Boulder brothers. He never used Dad, 1044 00:51:55.159 --> 00:51:56.840 And when he got his hands on Terry, he called 1045 00:51:56.920 --> 00:52:00.639 him Sterling Golden and call him at Boulder. But this 1046 00:52:00.760 --> 00:52:02.760 is of course where Ed and Terry get the brown 1047 00:52:02.800 --> 00:52:05.440 Winnebago with the custom air brushing from Whitey Bridges, and 1048 00:52:05.519 --> 00:52:08.360 they installed the bed in there where the weightlifting equipment 1049 00:52:08.440 --> 00:52:10.079 used to go that they would transport to the gym. 1050 00:52:13.400 --> 00:52:16.480 It's too good, Oh my god, it's just a fucking 1051 00:52:16.960 --> 00:52:21.960 just just a bunch of fucking phonies, and they hit 1052 00:52:22.000 --> 00:52:22.360 the road. 1053 00:52:22.519 --> 00:52:24.239 According to Hulk, they lived on the beach and used 1054 00:52:24.239 --> 00:52:26.960 the public showers because they couldn't afford hotel room. Meanwhile, 1055 00:52:27.079 --> 00:52:29.239 Charlie Platt tells us that they had an apartment and 1056 00:52:29.320 --> 00:52:31.719 there were vials all over the place inside the apartment. 1057 00:52:32.559 --> 00:52:35.599 You tell me which of the two you believe. But 1058 00:52:35.800 --> 00:52:39.320 notice how Louis Tilla doesn't factor into ed ed Leslie's 1059 00:52:39.400 --> 00:52:41.599 version of how they were recruited into the wrestling business 1060 00:52:41.639 --> 00:52:44.760 out of Cocoa Beach. Hulk says when Whitey closed, he called. 1061 00:52:44.880 --> 00:52:47.840 Hulk says he called superstar Billy Graham, who referred him 1062 00:52:47.840 --> 00:52:50.519 to Louis Tillett. But there's no mention of Memphis sending 1063 00:52:50.599 --> 00:52:53.519 them there first to Louis toi Lett to find polish, 1064 00:52:53.639 --> 00:52:55.960 no mention of Harley getting in touch first and playing 1065 00:52:56.000 --> 00:52:58.599 Harley off Jeff Jarrett. There's no mention of all of 1066 00:52:58.679 --> 00:53:03.840 that in Hult's versions of the story. Hulk says in 1067 00:53:03.920 --> 00:53:06.000 his book that he wasn't exclusive to Louie Tillette, so 1068 00:53:06.039 --> 00:53:10.119 he started wrestling for some other outfits, including the Memphis Territory. 1069 00:53:11.119 --> 00:53:14.000 During the course of nineteen seventy nine, which which definitely 1070 00:53:14.079 --> 00:53:15.840 tracks when you look at the you know, the public 1071 00:53:16.199 --> 00:53:19.280 record of his matches like Wrestling data dot Com and 1072 00:53:19.360 --> 00:53:21.320 in the other data basis of all of Hogan's matches, 1073 00:53:21.599 --> 00:53:24.000 it's definitely very clear. As we'll talk about here when 1074 00:53:24.039 --> 00:53:26.360 he sort of branches off and tests the waters in Memphis. 1075 00:53:26.679 --> 00:53:28.679 The agree to which he did that with Ron Fuller's 1076 00:53:28.719 --> 00:53:31.599 okay is I think kind of up up for debate. 1077 00:53:31.639 --> 00:53:33.719 Even hearing Ron Fuller go through it on this podcast, 1078 00:53:33.800 --> 00:53:37.760 I was still left wondering, like, did he did he 1079 00:53:37.840 --> 00:53:39.679 okay it or not? You know, was this kind of 1080 00:53:39.840 --> 00:53:43.440 like something that certainly a lot of his wrestlers were 1081 00:53:43.440 --> 00:53:45.880 going to Memphis because his brother Rob, the future Colonel 1082 00:53:45.960 --> 00:53:48.440 Robert Parker was booking up there. But you know, was 1083 00:53:48.480 --> 00:53:51.440 he giving the okay for Terry Boleya to test those waters? 1084 00:53:51.599 --> 00:53:53.440 I'm not really sure that was the case, considering how 1085 00:53:53.519 --> 00:53:55.760 much effort he was putting into the Hulk at that 1086 00:53:55.840 --> 00:54:00.760 particular point in time. This is what makes fucking wrestling 1087 00:54:01.159 --> 00:54:07.000 so fucking hard sometimes true, because there's just no it's 1088 00:54:07.119 --> 00:54:13.079 just there's just so much you know, bullshit, whether it's ego, 1089 00:54:13.519 --> 00:54:16.639 whether it's it's everyone having a claim to be the 1090 00:54:16.760 --> 00:54:19.360 one Ah that is owed to the credit for someone 1091 00:54:19.400 --> 00:54:19.960 else's success. 1092 00:54:20.119 --> 00:54:23.480 That's all it is. And when everyone has to contort 1093 00:54:23.559 --> 00:54:26.400 the story in a way to benefit the people they like, 1094 00:54:27.000 --> 00:54:29.599 stop for God's sake. 1095 00:54:29.840 --> 00:54:32.239 Benefit the people they want to have the credit at 1096 00:54:32.280 --> 00:54:33.840 the expense of the people they do not want to 1097 00:54:33.920 --> 00:54:36.599 have the credit based on grudges that develop over forty 1098 00:54:36.679 --> 00:54:39.000 years after all this happens. That's where you get such 1099 00:54:39.039 --> 00:54:40.960 a complicated sup you know, you think with all these 1100 00:54:40.960 --> 00:54:43.639 shoot interviews and this whole business that's arisen up of 1101 00:54:43.920 --> 00:54:46.039 shoot books and stuff, that we would have clarity, But 1102 00:54:46.119 --> 00:54:49.119 we actually have twelve versions of every story instead of 1103 00:54:50.280 --> 00:54:53.880 putting all the versions together for one clean version of 1104 00:54:53.920 --> 00:54:57.679 what happened. So it's like, you tell me, that's why 1105 00:54:57.760 --> 00:55:00.159 tof exists because we just have the free format to 1106 00:55:00.239 --> 00:55:03.079 tell you everything, and you make your choice because it's 1107 00:55:03.159 --> 00:55:04.719 not going to do you any good to pretend that 1108 00:55:04.800 --> 00:55:06.480 you can land on a truth here. 1109 00:55:06.639 --> 00:55:09.159 It's just not. The wrestling business isn't set up that way. 1110 00:55:09.800 --> 00:55:12.199 And if you ask me who's responsible for hul Coogan 1111 00:55:12.239 --> 00:55:15.440 getting back into the wrestling business, it's everybody you've ever 1112 00:55:15.519 --> 00:55:23.119 heard of in your life. Okay, everybody, everybody Hulk. 1113 00:55:23.199 --> 00:55:24.599 Well, you know, if he's going to claim in his 1114 00:55:24.639 --> 00:55:26.639 book he wasn't exclusive to Louis Tilltt. He also claims 1115 00:55:26.679 --> 00:55:28.400 in his book that he worked briefly for Jim Barnett 1116 00:55:28.440 --> 00:55:30.679 in nineteen seventy eight, which he hadn't even returned to 1117 00:55:30.679 --> 00:55:31.360 the rest of the business. 1118 00:55:31.440 --> 00:55:31.639 Yeah. 1119 00:55:31.639 --> 00:55:34.559 Fuck, this is in seventy eight. He was in Coco 1120 00:55:34.639 --> 00:55:37.159 Beach and expressly out of the wrestling business. But he 1121 00:55:37.239 --> 00:55:39.280 claims he got the name Sterling Golden in nineteen seventy 1122 00:55:39.320 --> 00:55:42.519 eight from Jim Barnett. And I'm still flummixed as to 1123 00:55:42.800 --> 00:55:45.639 Ron Fuller's recollections that there was a whole, you know, 1124 00:55:45.800 --> 00:55:49.079 dispute between Hogan's initial manager, Billy Spears and him over 1125 00:55:49.159 --> 00:55:52.719 calling him Sterling Golden on Southeast Pensacola television shows. You know, 1126 00:55:52.800 --> 00:55:55.119 you know, that whole thing, like he was getting right. 1127 00:55:55.199 --> 00:55:57.000 It's like, there's no Charlie Platt said it to us 1128 00:55:57.000 --> 00:55:58.719 when we talked to him. He was never called Sterling 1129 00:55:58.760 --> 00:56:01.079 Golden in Southeast He does not remember that name at all. 1130 00:56:01.159 --> 00:56:03.159 And he was the guy announcing all the television shows, 1131 00:56:03.440 --> 00:56:05.320 booking a lot of the towns for Ron Fuller and 1132 00:56:05.440 --> 00:56:08.400 really presiding over the immersions. 1133 00:56:07.960 --> 00:56:09.760 Of the Hulk. Unless he was drunk the whole time, 1134 00:56:09.800 --> 00:56:15.400 we don't know, I mean, just just amazing. Here we go. 1135 00:56:15.519 --> 00:56:17.840 Now we're going to turn to uh to Hogan's Okay, 1136 00:56:17.880 --> 00:56:19.360 this is the Hulk Cogan version of the World, The 1137 00:56:19.400 --> 00:56:25.480 World according to Terry part one his initial book. That's 1138 00:56:25.519 --> 00:56:28.599 what I should have been called. The World according to Terry. 1139 00:56:28.719 --> 00:56:31.639 That'd be fantastic. It was in Tennessee that I became 1140 00:56:31.679 --> 00:56:33.679 known as Terry the Hulk Boulder No it wasn't. No, 1141 00:56:34.199 --> 00:56:37.400 and won my first heavyweight championship belt. Not really, well 1142 00:56:37.559 --> 00:56:38.960 wait was Terry was he? 1143 00:56:39.679 --> 00:56:39.800 Was he? 1144 00:56:40.000 --> 00:56:40.360 Yeah? No? 1145 00:56:40.559 --> 00:56:43.000 Wait what was he? Yeah? He was right? Okay, all right, 1146 00:56:43.880 --> 00:56:46.000 trying to think I was trying to think that he was. 1147 00:56:46.480 --> 00:56:51.079 He was Terry Boulder, right, But he wasn't just a hulk, yes, okay, right, 1148 00:56:51.199 --> 00:56:51.880 he was the whole You know. 1149 00:56:51.920 --> 00:56:53.840 There were plenty of newspaper ads where he was simply 1150 00:56:53.880 --> 00:56:56.519 advertised as the Hulk, but as Charlie Platt told us, 1151 00:56:56.559 --> 00:56:58.920 he remembers expressly being told to never refer to him 1152 00:56:58.920 --> 00:57:00.800 as just the Hulk and always needs to be Terry 1153 00:57:00.800 --> 00:57:03.280 the Hulpe Boulder so that Marvel Comics doesn't come after us. 1154 00:57:04.320 --> 00:57:04.880 So funny. 1155 00:57:05.480 --> 00:57:07.079 So it's very clear he was called Terry the Houlpe 1156 00:57:07.079 --> 00:57:10.320 Boulder there, but yet he says it was in Tennessee 1157 00:57:10.360 --> 00:57:12.280 he became known as Terry the Hope Boulder. Again, part 1158 00:57:12.320 --> 00:57:17.079 of that very strange whitewashing of this hugely influential first 1159 00:57:17.159 --> 00:57:19.760 seven months of his return wrestling in Alabama and the 1160 00:57:19.840 --> 00:57:23.239 things he's doing with Van Fuller and Andre the Giant 1161 00:57:23.320 --> 00:57:26.039 and Harley Race that he just never talked about once 1162 00:57:26.639 --> 00:57:28.559 in any of his books, in any of his interviews. 1163 00:57:28.960 --> 00:57:31.000 You think it's gonna be, You think it's something also, 1164 00:57:31.199 --> 00:57:35.079 like I don't know, like you know how how Bischoff 1165 00:57:35.199 --> 00:57:38.679 can't ever say that it was it was you know 1166 00:57:38.840 --> 00:57:42.159 that the nWo was was at post toly we like 1167 00:57:42.280 --> 00:57:43.559 because of the legal thing, Like so. 1168 00:57:43.800 --> 00:57:48.840 He can't ever say that. I don't know, like I 1169 00:57:48.840 --> 00:57:51.159 don't know that that Hogan's got a similar thing where 1170 00:57:51.320 --> 00:57:53.599 that he can't actually ever say it because legally he'll 1171 00:57:54.320 --> 00:57:56.639 you know, Marvel's like you fucking say this will fucking 1172 00:57:56.760 --> 00:57:59.559 kill you, yeah type thing. You know, I don't know 1173 00:57:59.599 --> 00:57:59.880 about that. 1174 00:58:00.760 --> 00:58:03.480 I'd imagine at some point he became rather paranoid about 1175 00:58:03.480 --> 00:58:06.760 how far back Marvel could claim they were violating his copyrights. 1176 00:58:07.639 --> 00:58:09.960 And in Memphis, he's got a Jerry Jarrett who's willing 1177 00:58:10.000 --> 00:58:12.599 to say I created the Hulk name. And so this 1178 00:58:12.719 --> 00:58:14.559 is before Ron Fuller had a podcast or had a 1179 00:58:14.559 --> 00:58:16.880 book anything like that. So it probably made sense to 1180 00:58:16.960 --> 00:58:18.840 point to the other guy that could take the blame 1181 00:58:18.920 --> 00:58:21.079 for calling him the Hulk in a cliance of copyright. 1182 00:58:22.519 --> 00:58:24.880 That's just one thought that I had. But the thing is, 1183 00:58:24.920 --> 00:58:26.679 it doesn't stretch that much further back. I mean, it's 1184 00:58:26.719 --> 00:58:29.239 all in seventy nine. It's not like if he acknowledges 1185 00:58:29.280 --> 00:58:31.559 Alabama happened all of a sudden, there's three four more 1186 00:58:31.679 --> 00:58:35.320 years of IP violations that he's presiding over. But I mean, 1187 00:58:35.360 --> 00:58:37.480 it's as clear as day when you look at the newspapers. Man, 1188 00:58:37.719 --> 00:58:40.000 I mean, he's fucking he's called the Hulk from day 1189 00:58:40.079 --> 00:58:42.239 one all over the place and advertised it such. You've 1190 00:58:42.360 --> 00:58:46.360 established that beyond a reasonable doubt, and so beyond any doubt, 1191 00:58:46.440 --> 00:58:50.039 fuck reasonable doubt, it's right there. He says, I wasn't 1192 00:58:50.119 --> 00:58:52.280 Hulk Cogan quite yet, but I was getting there. It 1193 00:58:52.360 --> 00:58:54.440 was also in Tennessee that I started using a boot 1194 00:58:54.519 --> 00:58:57.320 in the face and a leg drop as a finish. This, 1195 00:58:57.440 --> 00:59:00.360 of course is not true. He would drop the leg, 1196 00:59:00.440 --> 00:59:02.119 but it was not his finish, as we're about to 1197 00:59:02.440 --> 00:59:04.960 make very clear. Yes, if I'm not mistake, and if 1198 00:59:04.960 --> 00:59:06.840 you remember Boston, that Wrestling Gold eighty one match with 1199 00:59:06.920 --> 00:59:08.679 Lawler at the Mid South Coliseum, I think he drops 1200 00:59:08.719 --> 00:59:10.079 the leg as well, and it's not the finish. 1201 00:59:10.199 --> 00:59:13.360 I think so too. Yes, I think you're right. Nobody else, 1202 00:59:13.440 --> 00:59:15.079 he writes, was using the leg drop at the time, 1203 00:59:15.159 --> 00:59:16.920 so it set me apart a little from the other guys. 1204 00:59:16.960 --> 00:59:18.920 It also protected I wasn't using the leg drop. For 1205 00:59:19.000 --> 00:59:19.480 God's sake. 1206 00:59:20.559 --> 00:59:22.239 I can find a million matches where people are doing 1207 00:59:22.320 --> 00:59:25.000 leg drop. They weren't doing it with as much height, 1208 00:59:25.119 --> 00:59:26.840 necessarily with as much as his ass. 1209 00:59:27.400 --> 00:59:29.320 As he always says too, like, no one did it 1210 00:59:30.079 --> 00:59:32.119 like he does it where he lands on his tailbone, 1211 00:59:32.840 --> 00:59:34.760 and and I agree with that. I mean, he definitely 1212 00:59:34.840 --> 00:59:38.079 does a lot of people like will More. You know, 1213 00:59:38.159 --> 00:59:40.039 you end up on your back, like you don't end 1214 00:59:40.119 --> 00:59:46.159 up in that perfect, you know, ninety degree angle like 1215 00:59:46.239 --> 00:59:49.199 he did. I mean, that's it's crazy actually that he 1216 00:59:49.280 --> 00:59:50.079 did that for so long. 1217 00:59:50.480 --> 00:59:52.559 Yeah, there are some really wild action shots of him 1218 00:59:52.920 --> 00:59:56.199 in full extension at his size with big time height 1219 00:59:56.280 --> 00:59:58.920 off that mat. Yeah, it was kind of wild the 1220 00:59:58.960 --> 01:00:00.840 way he did it. It really was, and it's even 1221 01:00:00.880 --> 01:00:02.920 wilder that he did it for years and it wasn't finish. 1222 01:00:03.119 --> 01:00:05.760 It was just a spot in his right. But as 1223 01:00:05.800 --> 01:00:08.039 we'll get to the renular Memphis is one, Hulk really 1224 01:00:08.079 --> 01:00:11.239 starts to get a little like ambitious about what he 1225 01:00:11.320 --> 01:00:12.920 can and can't do in the ring. You know, you 1226 01:00:12.960 --> 01:00:14.920 got a wrong fuller saying you just bear hug, that's it. 1227 01:00:15.960 --> 01:00:18.760 You're too green to do much else. And he starts 1228 01:00:18.800 --> 01:00:21.039 getting getting a little bit of an itch to try 1229 01:00:21.159 --> 01:00:24.159 more as he starts to develop. Here in seventy nine, 1230 01:00:24.599 --> 01:00:27.159 he writes, the leg drop also protected my left knee, 1231 01:00:27.199 --> 01:00:29.199 which had been a nagging problem for me ever since 1232 01:00:29.280 --> 01:00:31.280 junior high school. It would get a lot worse as 1233 01:00:31.360 --> 01:00:34.519 time went on, So even before Matt Souder broke it. 1234 01:00:34.679 --> 01:00:40.480 Okay, he's a lapsed fan wrestling podcast with Jack and 1235 01:00:40.599 --> 01:00:52.920 carn Seo MJP Soro. It's a lapsed fan wrestling podcast. 1236 01:00:54.079 --> 01:00:56.480 So this was nineteen seventy nine, right. According to Hogan, 1237 01:00:56.519 --> 01:01:00.320 this is all seventy nine. One night in this I 1238 01:01:00.360 --> 01:01:03.360 saw Jerry Lawler put a pile driver on comedian Andy Kaufman. 1239 01:01:06.760 --> 01:01:10.480 What then lawa Andy Kaufman showed up on the David 1240 01:01:10.519 --> 01:01:13.000 Letterman Show, Lawler slapp Kaufman and Kaufman through coffee and 1241 01:01:13.079 --> 01:01:15.360 Lawler's face. All of a sudden, Andy Kaufman began showing 1242 01:01:15.440 --> 01:01:17.519 up on wrestling cards on a constant basis. I didn't 1243 01:01:17.599 --> 01:01:19.599 understand why they let a guy like Andy Kaufman get 1244 01:01:19.639 --> 01:01:20.280 into the ring of right. 1245 01:01:20.480 --> 01:01:23.920 Stop saying Kaufman Hogan, stop saying it said fucking like 1246 01:01:24.079 --> 01:01:26.559 eight times in a matter of two sentences. 1247 01:01:26.679 --> 01:01:29.800 Get ready, you take a swig of garage beer every time, 1248 01:01:30.400 --> 01:01:33.960 especially after I worked so hard to pay my dues. Look, 1249 01:01:34.000 --> 01:01:36.119 I'm not saying you didn't get tortured, and but you'd 1250 01:01:36.159 --> 01:01:38.519 fucking quit the business in like four months, and then 1251 01:01:38.599 --> 01:01:40.480 you walk into these main events. 1252 01:01:40.639 --> 01:01:43.920 Not only that, not only that, Kaufman's a fucking megastar, 1253 01:01:45.880 --> 01:01:49.039 Like he's not He's not a wrestler, he's a TV star, right, 1254 01:01:49.320 --> 01:01:53.599 whole different thing. Like he's making you, as an unknown wrestler, 1255 01:01:53.840 --> 01:01:57.480 have to work to fucking make money. He doesn't have 1256 01:01:57.559 --> 01:01:59.679 to do that. He's gonna make money by showing up 1257 01:02:00.639 --> 01:02:03.159 because people know who he is. Very basic. 1258 01:02:04.199 --> 01:02:07.599 Yeah, just hit upon another one. Maybe Hulk doesn't want 1259 01:02:07.599 --> 01:02:09.760 to acknowledge the Gulf Coast Run and the Andre and 1260 01:02:09.800 --> 01:02:12.280 Harley matches because it would push against this idea that 1261 01:02:12.360 --> 01:02:15.840 he spent all this time paying dues because he paid 1262 01:02:15.880 --> 01:02:20.000 no dues. He paid no dues right after getting the 1263 01:02:20.079 --> 01:02:22.519 shit end of the traveling circuit in seventy seven and 1264 01:02:22.599 --> 01:02:24.159 having to drive all over the place and you know, 1265 01:02:24.280 --> 01:02:31.199 basically getting you know, initiated and what's the word, you know, rasmataz. 1266 01:02:31.639 --> 01:02:34.199 He he comes back in seventy nine and he's he's 1267 01:02:34.239 --> 01:02:37.000 instantly getting all kinds of you know, all kinds of 1268 01:02:38.119 --> 01:02:41.719 incredible feature feature roles and all kinds of incredible you 1269 01:02:41.760 --> 01:02:45.119 know upside And he's immediately being positioned to somebody who 1270 01:02:45.199 --> 01:02:48.239 has to do barely nothing, learned, barely anything about being 1271 01:02:48.320 --> 01:02:51.280 in the ring and headlining a territory against some of 1272 01:02:51.320 --> 01:02:53.400 the biggest names in the industry, including the NBA champion. 1273 01:02:54.559 --> 01:02:57.159 So if he starts his life and his career only 1274 01:02:57.239 --> 01:02:59.920 at Memphis, now he's the Boulder Brothers and while he 1275 01:03:00.000 --> 01:03:02.039 he's close to the main events in Memphis, he's still 1276 01:03:02.159 --> 01:03:05.039 kind of being introduced as you know, a tag team act. 1277 01:03:05.159 --> 01:03:08.559 It still seems like he has yet to taste singles glory. 1278 01:03:09.000 --> 01:03:11.599 It can feel like he's still paying his dues. But 1279 01:03:11.719 --> 01:03:14.400 if you have the full sense as we do now 1280 01:03:14.480 --> 01:03:16.800 of what he did in Alabama before he came to Memphis, 1281 01:03:17.880 --> 01:03:20.719 you know, in a coincident with his very first brief 1282 01:03:20.920 --> 01:03:23.679 trip to Memphis and the first seven months of seventy nine, 1283 01:03:23.760 --> 01:03:26.599 you know that it's total bullshit that he's paying his dues. 1284 01:03:27.159 --> 01:03:31.079 He's fucking getting the prince treatment. He is getting the 1285 01:03:31.159 --> 01:03:32.320 best push I've ever heard of. 1286 01:03:32.360 --> 01:03:35.679 In the wrestling business, considering his level of experience beside Goldberg. 1287 01:03:35.800 --> 01:03:38.159 I mean, it's the same thing. It's amazing he's wrestling 1288 01:03:38.280 --> 01:03:40.760 under the Giant in fucking March or whatever it was 1289 01:03:41.719 --> 01:03:44.800 in May of seventy nine. So maybe maybe that's what 1290 01:03:44.920 --> 01:03:46.920 it is. Maybe, Uh, it makes it seem like he 1291 01:03:46.960 --> 01:03:49.119 didn't pay, he didn't pay his due so much if 1292 01:03:49.159 --> 01:03:51.400 he acknowledges he did all this, I don't know who cares, 1293 01:03:51.559 --> 01:03:52.960 Like I know, I'm sure to. 1294 01:03:52.960 --> 01:03:54.599 Put myself in this guy's head. That's the whole mote, 1295 01:03:54.599 --> 01:03:57.079 that's the whole thing here. What did Charlie Platt say, Lord, 1296 01:03:57.159 --> 01:04:00.239 forgive me. We're playing an armbre psychologist with the dad here. Yes, 1297 01:04:00.719 --> 01:04:03.199 and I'm okay with that. Yeah, that's kind of the idea. 1298 01:04:04.280 --> 01:04:06.119 But I was young and green in those days. I 1299 01:04:06.199 --> 01:04:08.159 thought wrestling was about having a good match, getting a 1300 01:04:08.199 --> 01:04:10.159 six pack of beer, and picking up a girl. It 1301 01:04:10.199 --> 01:04:12.000 didn't occur to me that they were trying to draw money. 1302 01:04:13.079 --> 01:04:17.159 Yeah, bullshit, bullshit didn't occur to me. We're trying to 1303 01:04:17.239 --> 01:04:20.320 draw money. Meanwhile, you're playing Jared off Ron Fuller for 1304 01:04:20.320 --> 01:04:23.880 a couple exactly. You're fucking working at the bank, fucking 1305 01:04:23.880 --> 01:04:26.039 find out how much these guys make. Jesus Christ. You 1306 01:04:26.079 --> 01:04:28.039 know what it's about drawing money? Absolutely? 1307 01:04:29.039 --> 01:04:31.920 You know, Hogan, if anything significant happened in the business 1308 01:04:31.960 --> 01:04:34.599 while he was in it, he has to manufacture a 1309 01:04:34.719 --> 01:04:37.719 story where he was party to it, if not responsible 1310 01:04:37.760 --> 01:04:40.119 for it. And the whole coat pardon me. The Jerry 1311 01:04:40.199 --> 01:04:42.840 Lawler Andy Kaufman signature feud that took place in Memphis 1312 01:04:43.480 --> 01:04:44.960 in the early eighties is no exception. 1313 01:04:45.440 --> 01:04:45.840 He writes. 1314 01:04:45.880 --> 01:04:47.960 I remember a time in the old Chicago Amphitheater when 1315 01:04:48.000 --> 01:04:50.000 I was working for Jerry Lawler and Jerry Jarrett that 1316 01:04:50.079 --> 01:04:53.239 really throws one off. Why would they be running Verns building? 1317 01:04:53.320 --> 01:04:53.960 But there was some. 1318 01:04:55.880 --> 01:04:57.360 When I happened to walk in in a meeting in 1319 01:04:57.400 --> 01:04:59.599 the dressing room, Waller was there, Jarrett was there, in 1320 01:04:59.639 --> 01:05:01.760 any ca Offin was there. It was like walk into 1321 01:05:01.760 --> 01:05:04.119 a Pentagon meeting. I knew I needed to back right 1322 01:05:04.199 --> 01:05:05.239 out because I wasn't. 1323 01:05:05.079 --> 01:05:12.039 Well walking in a Pentagon meeting. Oh Man. 1324 01:05:12.599 --> 01:05:14.599 Later on, I passed Andy Kauffman in the hallway. I 1325 01:05:14.639 --> 01:05:16.119 didn't know him, but I didn't think it would hurt 1326 01:05:16.119 --> 01:05:17.559 to be friendly, so I said a load to him. 1327 01:05:17.719 --> 01:05:19.519 His eyes opened real wide, and he looked at me 1328 01:05:19.599 --> 01:05:21.599 like he was scared of death, scared to death, well 1329 01:05:21.599 --> 01:05:24.079 of him to death, scared to death, fell for death death. 1330 01:05:25.320 --> 01:05:27.199 I believe you. I believe he was scared of death. 1331 01:05:27.239 --> 01:05:29.920 I believe that. Yeah, like you thought I was going 1332 01:05:29.960 --> 01:05:31.840 to kill him on the spot. He was out of 1333 01:05:31.840 --> 01:05:36.599 his element, I guess, and he didn't know what to expect. Okay, okay, 1334 01:05:37.079 --> 01:05:41.440 what this happened in nineteen eighty two. The Jerry Lawler 1335 01:05:41.480 --> 01:05:46.920 Andy Kaufman stuff was there in seventy nine, right, and 1336 01:05:47.039 --> 01:05:48.800 then he did the Lawler match and a few other things. 1337 01:05:48.840 --> 01:05:52.039 In the first half of eighty one. Unless I am mistaken, 1338 01:05:53.000 --> 01:05:57.960 there was simply no way these two timelines crossover. I'm 1339 01:05:58.000 --> 01:05:59.800 agreeing with you. I don't think it's happened. 1340 01:06:00.440 --> 01:06:03.760 Why Why does this guy have to feel like he 1341 01:06:03.920 --> 01:06:06.880 was part of in talkin and Cherry Lawler's thing. 1342 01:06:08.159 --> 01:06:12.280 I don't know. Can't he can't stand that he doesn't 1343 01:06:12.280 --> 01:06:16.679 have something to do with it? Right now? I want to. Uh, 1344 01:06:16.840 --> 01:06:20.159 It's like it's like, didn't he say something about the 1345 01:06:21.440 --> 01:06:25.320 North Korea that show? Didn't he say something about that? 1346 01:06:25.440 --> 01:06:28.719 Didn't he draw? Or did we make that up? Did 1347 01:06:28.760 --> 01:06:31.000 he say he drew more people than that and something? 1348 01:06:31.119 --> 01:06:32.360 Or he was going to be on that show or 1349 01:06:32.400 --> 01:06:36.599 something like that. Yeah, Now what he says is, you know, 1350 01:06:37.639 --> 01:06:40.079 he was talking on a video about how Brett Hart 1351 01:06:40.159 --> 01:06:42.920 never drew one hundred fifty thousand of the Buddhacon Oh right, 1352 01:06:43.039 --> 01:06:44.039 that's what yep, yep. 1353 01:06:44.719 --> 01:06:49.320 And it's like people interpret that as him and I 1354 01:06:49.360 --> 01:06:51.039 would not put a past Hulk trying to do this 1355 01:06:51.239 --> 01:06:54.440 on the sly interpreted that as him trying to get 1356 01:06:54.480 --> 01:06:57.519 across to the listener or the viewer of the documentary. 1357 01:06:58.599 --> 01:07:00.679 I think it may have been a confident segment, kind 1358 01:07:00.679 --> 01:07:02.920 of think of it that he was the one that 1359 01:07:03.039 --> 01:07:04.800 did one hundred and fifty thousand at the Budacan, which, 1360 01:07:04.800 --> 01:07:06.559 of course it's not the Budhkan. It's the fucking national 1361 01:07:06.599 --> 01:07:09.519 arena in South and North Korea, right, it's not the 1362 01:07:09.559 --> 01:07:11.320 fucking Boudakan Hall in Tokyo. 1363 01:07:11.519 --> 01:07:11.639 Right. 1364 01:07:12.880 --> 01:07:16.239 And what he was I think trying to say. I 1365 01:07:16.320 --> 01:07:18.159 think what he would say if confronted with that is 1366 01:07:18.199 --> 01:07:19.920 I wasn't saying I drew a hundred and fifty thousand. 1367 01:07:19.920 --> 01:07:22.519 I'm saying he never did. I'm saying he's not on 1368 01:07:22.599 --> 01:07:24.719 the level of someone who did, which would be I 1369 01:07:24.840 --> 01:07:27.119 guess you could say Antonio and Oki and Rick Flair, 1370 01:07:27.519 --> 01:07:30.440 even though those stadiums would have been full if Antonio 1371 01:07:30.480 --> 01:07:31.719 and Oki wrestled Coco. 1372 01:07:31.559 --> 01:07:36.039 Beware Coco be wareing fucking Jim Powers may have vent 1373 01:07:36.079 --> 01:07:39.840 it well, Andoki I think was key, but I don't 1374 01:07:39.880 --> 01:07:41.880 think most of those people had any choice but to 1375 01:07:41.920 --> 01:07:42.760 go to that fucking show. 1376 01:07:42.880 --> 01:07:43.000 Right. 1377 01:07:43.079 --> 01:07:46.519 That's pretty well accepted by now. Uh So, Yeah, that's 1378 01:07:46.599 --> 01:07:47.360 that's another. 1379 01:07:47.320 --> 01:07:49.639 Put that one in the in the scrap book of 1380 01:07:49.719 --> 01:07:54.079 Hogan Tall tales over the years. So he says all 1381 01:07:54.119 --> 01:07:56.679 this about Lawler and Kaufman, but he also says later 1382 01:07:56.840 --> 01:07:58.800 elsewhere in the books, and when I wrestled for Jim Barnett, 1383 01:07:58.840 --> 01:08:01.320 I was Stirling Golden, and I wrestled for Lawler and Jared, 1384 01:08:01.400 --> 01:08:03.239 I was Terry the Hulk Boulder. But no matter what 1385 01:08:03.400 --> 01:08:05.480 name I used, one thing stayed the same. I wasn't 1386 01:08:05.519 --> 01:08:07.920 making very much money. I was wrestling seven days a week, 1387 01:08:07.960 --> 01:08:11.119 which translated into ten matches, two on Wednesday, two on Saturday, 1388 01:08:11.159 --> 01:08:13.079 and two on Sunday. And the biggest check I ever 1389 01:08:13.159 --> 01:08:14.679 got for a whole week was one hundred and twenty 1390 01:08:14.719 --> 01:08:17.119 five dollars my mom's kitchen. I was Terry Bulea. 1391 01:08:18.680 --> 01:08:22.000 If you're trying to keep track, I got tired in 1392 01:08:22.039 --> 01:08:22.680 a hurry. Brother. 1393 01:08:22.920 --> 01:08:24.920 After every one of my little rouns, i'd gone home 1394 01:08:24.960 --> 01:08:26.680 in Tampa. I'd wait for one of the promoters to 1395 01:08:26.760 --> 01:08:29.119 call me. Finally, one time I went home and stayed home. 1396 01:08:29.279 --> 01:08:31.039 As far as I was concerned, I was done with 1397 01:08:31.119 --> 01:08:35.159 professional wrestling. But in his second book, it's the money 1398 01:08:35.199 --> 01:08:39.000 in Alabama that's too short and causes him to go 1399 01:08:39.119 --> 01:08:42.039 to Memphis, or rather Louis to let sparks the idea. 1400 01:08:42.319 --> 01:08:44.680 There's certainly no meeting with Jerry ahead of time to 1401 01:08:44.720 --> 01:08:46.439 send him to work out the gimmick in Alabama. 1402 01:08:46.720 --> 01:08:49.239 You think that that's also because it's a we book 1403 01:08:49.279 --> 01:08:52.119 that there's like they're they're combing through to make sure 1404 01:08:52.159 --> 01:08:53.680 that it fits their narrative as well. 1405 01:08:54.359 --> 01:08:57.760 The first one, yeah, or Hulk is only trying to 1406 01:08:57.800 --> 01:08:59.600 put forward things that would fit the narrative because he 1407 01:08:59.680 --> 01:09:01.800 knows who he's doing the book for. And the second 1408 01:09:01.840 --> 01:09:03.520 book is a little more of a fuck Vince book, 1409 01:09:03.600 --> 01:09:05.359 you know for sure, right, And I'm gonna say a 1410 01:09:05.399 --> 01:09:07.199 lot more about the steroid trial and a lot more 1411 01:09:07.199 --> 01:09:09.840 about you know, pressure being put on me and all that. 1412 01:09:11.800 --> 01:09:13.800 So, so what is it? Did you leave? 1413 01:09:14.880 --> 01:09:18.239 Did you leave Memphis because you weren't happy with the 1414 01:09:18.319 --> 01:09:20.399 money you were making? Or did you go to Memphis 1415 01:09:20.479 --> 01:09:22.439 because you weren't happy with the money you were making? 1416 01:09:23.000 --> 01:09:24.800 And that's why it gets so difficult when you don't 1417 01:09:24.840 --> 01:09:28.359 want to talk about the Alabama run, because it's also 1418 01:09:28.359 --> 01:09:30.319 why I get difficult when you don't fucking tell the truth. 1419 01:09:31.359 --> 01:09:32.960 So in the second book, he says, a few months 1420 01:09:33.000 --> 01:09:35.600 out of this routine, this is to say, this is 1421 01:09:35.720 --> 01:09:38.000 part of what we've already talked about, the routine of 1422 01:09:38.720 --> 01:09:40.960 going back and forth with Louis Toilette and Alabama about 1423 01:09:41.000 --> 01:09:42.560 how strong he's going to be booked. Because, to make 1424 01:09:42.560 --> 01:09:44.359 it abundantly clear, in his second book, he does talk 1425 01:09:44.399 --> 01:09:46.720 about Alabama. He doesn't talk about ever wrestling. Andre does 1426 01:09:46.840 --> 01:09:48.319 never talk about wrestling Harley or any of the m 1427 01:09:48.399 --> 01:09:51.000 key stuff. But he does talk about it. He acknowledges 1428 01:09:51.039 --> 01:09:56.239 it happened. And why do we just decide why he 1429 01:09:57.279 --> 01:10:00.279 like or do we hypothesize rather why he would not 1430 01:10:00.359 --> 01:10:05.239 talk about wrestling Harley? No, I'm just wonrying why that? 1431 01:10:05.439 --> 01:10:07.560 You know, it's one thing Andre, I get the Andre story. 1432 01:10:07.600 --> 01:10:10.159 You want to make it seem like, you know, they 1433 01:10:10.239 --> 01:10:12.279 didn't wrestle until w W and that was the first 1434 01:10:12.319 --> 01:10:14.159 time in But why Harley, why? 1435 01:10:14.279 --> 01:10:14.439 Why? 1436 01:10:14.680 --> 01:10:17.319 Why are you hiding Harley? He had no one hads 1437 01:10:17.359 --> 01:10:19.640 Daddy hides the NWA title match you had with him 1438 01:10:19.640 --> 01:10:21.760 in nineteen eighty three, right like the kil auditory in 1439 01:10:21.800 --> 01:10:26.760 Saint Louis. I mean, I guess, I guess. I mean, 1440 01:10:27.119 --> 01:10:28.359 the only thing I can think of is it? 1441 01:10:28.680 --> 01:10:29.760 Is it? Is? 1442 01:10:29.880 --> 01:10:29.920 It? 1443 01:10:31.800 --> 01:10:31.840 It? 1444 01:10:32.000 --> 01:10:35.319 Kind of it kind of hurts the narrative of him 1445 01:10:37.760 --> 01:10:41.319 going to WWE because he couldn't win the AWA title. 1446 01:10:41.960 --> 01:10:44.319 Interesting you know, like because if he's going for the 1447 01:10:44.439 --> 01:10:47.000 NWA title, because they they you know, up until this, 1448 01:10:47.439 --> 01:10:50.039 I always think of the first world title shots you 1449 01:10:50.079 --> 01:10:53.279 ever got were AWA. But if he's getting world title 1450 01:10:53.319 --> 01:10:58.760 shots in nineteen seventy nine against the NWA champion, it's like, well, 1451 01:10:58.760 --> 01:11:00.920 why didn't he go to w VN Like why why 1452 01:11:01.000 --> 01:11:02.920 is there all of a sudden? I mean, obviously the 1453 01:11:03.119 --> 01:11:07.079 the Rocky you know movie is is a huge thing, 1454 01:11:07.159 --> 01:11:10.760 but I don't know, I'm wondering why. That's the only 1455 01:11:10.800 --> 01:11:12.760 thing I can think of. Why Why why Harley Race 1456 01:11:12.800 --> 01:11:14.680 has never mentioned because you'd think that would be a 1457 01:11:14.720 --> 01:11:17.359 big fucking deal to talk about, considering he never wrestled 1458 01:11:17.399 --> 01:11:19.960 them ever, maybe as the King, maybe on a Sataennus 1459 01:11:20.000 --> 01:11:22.000 madehim in or something like that, but not Harley in 1460 01:11:22.079 --> 01:11:26.159 his prime, Like i'd fucking talk about that. Yeah, I think. 1461 01:11:27.520 --> 01:11:29.800 I think Hogan has a clear idea of all the 1462 01:11:29.880 --> 01:11:33.199 superstars he wrestled, of where he wants to introduce them 1463 01:11:33.239 --> 01:11:36.880 in his story. Yeah, yeah, he you know, he has 1464 01:11:36.960 --> 01:11:39.600 to wrestle Harley after Harley had threatened him and showed 1465 01:11:39.640 --> 01:11:41.880 up at the WWF show backstage, after Vince had begun 1466 01:11:41.920 --> 01:11:44.199 the National expansion, apparently with a gun saying you're not 1467 01:11:44.239 --> 01:11:46.520 coming to Kansas City. That was one of Hogan's favorite 1468 01:11:46.560 --> 01:11:49.359 stories to tell whenever Harley Race came up. And so 1469 01:11:50.520 --> 01:11:53.279 the story continuing on that Harley had to come to 1470 01:11:53.319 --> 01:11:56.479 work for WWF and wrestle Hulkan in WWF and and 1471 01:11:56.600 --> 01:11:58.520 sort of come under the tent and under Hulk's thumb, 1472 01:11:58.800 --> 01:12:01.079 I think is a much more satisfying way for help 1473 01:12:01.159 --> 01:12:05.359 to talk about Harley then to acknowledge that Harley did 1474 01:12:05.359 --> 01:12:07.880 a lot for him early on, and they were not 1475 01:12:08.119 --> 01:12:11.520 chummy but certainly understood each other's drawing power, and that 1476 01:12:11.640 --> 01:12:16.079 he had had plenty of cooperative, mutually beneficial arrangements with 1477 01:12:16.159 --> 01:12:19.479 Harley Race before this this conflict and this confrontation in 1478 01:12:19.560 --> 01:12:22.279 the WWF. So you can't, like, I think, to keep 1479 01:12:22.439 --> 01:12:25.000 alive the electricity of the story that Harley showed up 1480 01:12:25.039 --> 01:12:27.399 with the gun and was this outsider. He's got to 1481 01:12:27.520 --> 01:12:29.800 make Harley kind of like this guy that hated him 1482 01:12:30.119 --> 01:12:32.119 from the minute he got into the business, you know, 1483 01:12:32.159 --> 01:12:34.199 because he would talk, he would he would allude to 1484 01:12:34.720 --> 01:12:36.560 Harley being among the people that were kind of hard 1485 01:12:36.600 --> 01:12:38.319 on him when he first got in the business. So 1486 01:12:38.439 --> 01:12:40.439 it doesn't really compute then to go on and say, well, 1487 01:12:40.520 --> 01:12:42.520 you know, he he gave you a title shot when 1488 01:12:42.560 --> 01:12:45.479 you were three months into the business and has sold 1489 01:12:45.520 --> 01:12:48.760 out football stadium. You know, he sold out Saint Louis 1490 01:12:48.800 --> 01:12:51.600 with you for the NBA Championship. There was clearly a 1491 01:12:51.680 --> 01:12:54.760 lot of apparently he was interested in booking you when 1492 01:12:54.760 --> 01:12:57.239 you came off Coco Beach. According to ed Leslie, so 1493 01:12:57.399 --> 01:12:59.720 how does this, you know, how does all this animosity 1494 01:12:59.760 --> 01:13:01.600 that you're talking about and all this fear that you're 1495 01:13:01.640 --> 01:13:04.560 talking about that he that he got across compute with 1496 01:13:04.640 --> 01:13:06.439 the fact that you know, you knew each other extremely 1497 01:13:06.479 --> 01:13:09.880 well by this point in time. That's just my guess. 1498 01:13:10.319 --> 01:13:10.520 Yeah. 1499 01:13:11.000 --> 01:13:13.520 Yeah, So, as he says again in his second book, 1500 01:13:13.920 --> 01:13:16.359 having acknowledged now that he was in Alabama at all, 1501 01:13:17.479 --> 01:13:19.800 he's talking about how they were going back and forth 1502 01:13:19.800 --> 01:13:23.960 about getting a payday, increasing his pay and he writes 1503 01:13:23.960 --> 01:13:25.640 a few months into this routine, Louis to Lett made 1504 01:13:25.640 --> 01:13:27.760 a big mistake. I'm booking you out this Monday night. 1505 01:13:27.880 --> 01:13:30.479 He told me, I want you to go up to Memphis. 1506 01:13:30.680 --> 01:13:32.640 So here's Hulk in the second book saying that while 1507 01:13:32.680 --> 01:13:34.640 he was working for Louis to Let in Alabama. It 1508 01:13:34.760 --> 01:13:38.760 was Louis to let himself boss. Okay, who says I 1509 01:13:38.840 --> 01:13:42.239 want you to go to Memphis? Okay, wasn't Ron Fuller 1510 01:13:42.279 --> 01:13:46.399 saying it was Louis Tillett. So that's Hogan's version of 1511 01:13:46.439 --> 01:13:48.119 how he ended up going to Jerry Jarrett, none of 1512 01:13:48.199 --> 01:13:50.600 this pretense of like Jerry sent us here to polish 1513 01:13:50.640 --> 01:13:53.000 the gimmick up. By this time, I had started to 1514 01:13:53.039 --> 01:13:55.359 understand the wrestling business a little more, Hulk writes. I 1515 01:13:55.439 --> 01:13:57.199 had picked up on things. I didn't have those. 1516 01:13:57.119 --> 01:13:59.800 Blinders on like I did when I first started in Florida, 1517 01:14:00.239 --> 01:14:02.279 And I knew that Memphis could be a major stepping 1518 01:14:02.319 --> 01:14:05.439 stone to wrestling in New York City. Which is it terry? 1519 01:14:05.960 --> 01:14:08.880 Which is it terry? Well? What do you mean? Which 1520 01:14:08.880 --> 01:14:12.119 is what? Did not making enough in Alabama make you 1521 01:14:12.239 --> 01:14:14.199 throw your hands up and go back to Tampa? Like 1522 01:14:14.279 --> 01:14:17.880 you said in your first book, you're not making it 1523 01:14:17.960 --> 01:14:20.319 up in Memphis? Or did you know or did you 1524 01:14:20.439 --> 01:14:23.960 know Memphis was a stepping stone in New York? I mean, 1525 01:14:24.000 --> 01:14:26.039 did you go home and say fuck the business? Or 1526 01:14:26.119 --> 01:14:27.439 were you thinking this is a way to get to 1527 01:14:27.520 --> 01:14:32.359 New York? It can't be both? What why not who 1528 01:14:32.399 --> 01:14:34.840 said it's both? Who who said it's not both? Who's 1529 01:14:35.680 --> 01:14:38.239 who says brother? I mean, I'm just Bro, I'm just 1530 01:14:38.359 --> 01:14:40.479 I'm just I'm just trying to make a living, dude, 1531 01:14:42.439 --> 01:14:48.479 trying goodbye. Maybe John can help us. 1532 01:14:48.680 --> 01:14:49.039 Maybe. 1533 01:14:52.920 --> 01:14:55.119 Of course, Jerry Jared has done a series of shooting interviews. 1534 01:14:55.199 --> 01:14:57.119 He did a book called The Best of Times where 1535 01:14:57.159 --> 01:14:59.199 he kind of talks about, you know, kind of in 1536 01:14:59.279 --> 01:15:02.439 snapshot for Matt a lot of the most important things 1537 01:15:02.479 --> 01:15:05.199 he presided over. And there's a little section about dealing 1538 01:15:05.279 --> 01:15:09.159 with Terry Bully and I think might provide some clarity 1539 01:15:09.239 --> 01:15:10.560 or at least a different set of eyes on how 1540 01:15:10.600 --> 01:15:14.239 this all came together. Surely, his book The Best of Times, 1541 01:15:14.840 --> 01:15:17.520 he has very detailed recollections, and he's very detailed in 1542 01:15:17.600 --> 01:15:20.800 his recollections of how he handled the biggest box office 1543 01:15:20.800 --> 01:15:21.800 attraction out boss. 1544 01:15:21.840 --> 01:15:25.319 I always think his but his, it's it's a it's 1545 01:15:25.680 --> 01:15:29.159 JJ Dillon's book. That's got the weird fucking title, right, Oh, 1546 01:15:29.399 --> 01:15:34.119 wrestlers are like seagulls. Christ that's an idiot. Read on 1547 01:15:34.239 --> 01:15:36.239 to find out what he means by fucking moron? Yeah? 1548 01:15:36.319 --> 01:15:36.439 Right? 1549 01:15:37.399 --> 01:15:37.560 Or not? 1550 01:15:37.800 --> 01:15:41.079 How about that? All right? Harris want and convey what 1551 01:15:41.279 --> 01:15:44.079 Jerry Jarrett recalls for us about bringing Terry Bulla in. 1552 01:15:46.279 --> 01:15:50.119 Terry Boleya was never a great wrestler, but I doubt 1553 01:15:50.159 --> 01:15:54.840 he will ever be surpassed as to fan appeal. When 1554 01:15:54.920 --> 01:15:57.319 judging the box office appeal of wrestler, you must factor 1555 01:15:57.359 --> 01:16:01.079 in more than the total dollar amount. Hulk Hogan was 1556 01:16:01.479 --> 01:16:06.680 go The was was oh to the w W what 1557 01:16:06.800 --> 01:16:11.600 Jerry Lawler was to Jarrett Promotions. If either was not 1558 01:16:11.720 --> 01:16:14.239 on the top position they enjoyed, one could question if 1559 01:16:14.279 --> 01:16:18.159 the results would have been the same. In spring nineteen 1560 01:16:18.199 --> 01:16:22.039 seventy nine, Louis Tillette called me and said he had 1561 01:16:22.079 --> 01:16:24.039 a giant of a man in Florida who wanted to 1562 01:16:24.079 --> 01:16:27.920 become a professional wrestler. Louis said the man was currently 1563 01:16:27.960 --> 01:16:31.279 playing bass in a band in Tampa. I asked, stop 1564 01:16:31.439 --> 01:16:34.960 doing that. I mean, Jesus Christ like that. That's that's 1565 01:16:35.000 --> 01:16:37.359 not even that's not even hard to figure out. For 1566 01:16:37.439 --> 01:16:41.319 God's sakes, it stopped all that night running the Anchor Club. Oh, 1567 01:16:41.359 --> 01:16:44.079 he was working the bar whatever I mean. I don't 1568 01:16:44.079 --> 01:16:46.079 think he was doing any rock and roll with that. No, 1569 01:16:46.199 --> 01:16:48.840 I don't think everyone seemed to think it was say 1570 01:16:48.840 --> 01:16:52.439 it was over you know. I asked him how much 1571 01:16:52.479 --> 01:16:55.239 experience the guy he's had, and Louis said none. That 1572 01:16:55.439 --> 01:16:59.760 is why I'm calling you, I replied. I replied, thanks, 1573 01:16:59.800 --> 01:17:02.880 but no thanks. Louis then got my attention. He said, Jerry, 1574 01:17:03.199 --> 01:17:05.880 this guy has more potentially than anyone I've ever seen 1575 01:17:05.960 --> 01:17:09.199 the business. You can make a millions after you teach 1576 01:17:09.279 --> 01:17:12.520 him the fundamentals, just say I look at him. Terry 1577 01:17:13.039 --> 01:17:16.439 is willing to drive to Hendersonville just to just for 1578 01:17:16.560 --> 01:17:19.159 you to look at him. Well, what can I lose 1579 01:17:19.279 --> 01:17:22.439 with this proposition? So we set a date in time. 1580 01:17:22.960 --> 01:17:25.199 I was sitting in my home on the lake in Hendersonville, 1581 01:17:25.239 --> 01:17:30.680 and Deborah was at the sink in the kitchen, not Deborah, Michael. 1582 01:17:32.920 --> 01:17:36.239 Deborah was at the sink in the kitchen. Okay, from 1583 01:17:36.319 --> 01:17:38.800 the window at the sink, one could see the driveway 1584 01:17:38.840 --> 01:17:42.079 in front of our house. Deborah said, Jerry, a big 1585 01:17:42.199 --> 01:17:44.359 blond headed guy that is bigger than Andre at the 1586 01:17:44.439 --> 01:17:47.520 giant is standing in the front of our house. Brother. 1587 01:17:49.399 --> 01:17:53.760 What Brother? I went out and was impressed beyond belief, 1588 01:17:54.119 --> 01:17:58.279 was impressed beyond what Louis. I went out and was 1589 01:17:58.359 --> 01:18:03.640 impressed beyond what Louis had expected. What that makes no sense. 1590 01:18:04.840 --> 01:18:06.640 We walked into the house and sat down at the 1591 01:18:06.720 --> 01:18:09.960 table and I began to get to know Terry. After 1592 01:18:09.960 --> 01:18:12.279 about an hour of conversation, he said he had not 1593 01:18:12.520 --> 01:18:17.760 eaten all day. Wow, where did you think this was going? Well? 1594 01:18:17.880 --> 01:18:22.319 You got food, dude, food dude, the food dude, Terry Boley, 1595 01:18:25.640 --> 01:18:33.560 Terry Bowlia they I mean, look, if I wouldn't do 1596 01:18:34.319 --> 01:18:37.279 uh postumania, I would do like you know, bowle a 1597 01:18:37.560 --> 01:18:43.119 like absolutely, yes, yes, yes, yes, Terry Terry and a 1598 01:18:43.159 --> 01:18:47.479 bolia is what I would definitely call it a lotting 1599 01:18:47.600 --> 01:18:48.199 all day dude. 1600 01:18:48.760 --> 01:18:48.880 Uh. 1601 01:18:49.279 --> 01:18:52.640 And if he if I would mind him going to 1602 01:18:52.720 --> 01:18:54.920 get a bite to eat, I asked Debora if she 1603 01:18:55.159 --> 01:19:01.079 would run and pick up some burgers. Terry ordered whoppers. 1604 01:19:04.279 --> 01:19:07.439 I mean I also loved to Okay, so so they're 1605 01:19:07.520 --> 01:19:09.199 not even like something going to a burger. They're just 1606 01:19:09.239 --> 01:19:11.960 going to fucking burger getting fast food. Like they're not 1607 01:19:12.039 --> 01:19:16.319 even getting like food, They're getting fast food. Terry ordered 1608 01:19:16.399 --> 01:19:21.640 six whoppers, three large fries, and two large cokes. I laughed, 1609 01:19:21.680 --> 01:19:25.800 and we went out to get a whopper or something. 1610 01:19:25.960 --> 01:19:29.399 I think that's a key find. Yes, yes, Terry Boulder 1611 01:19:29.680 --> 01:19:34.319 loved whoppers. Oh, absolutely, look, he would fall in love 1612 01:19:34.359 --> 01:19:36.880 with whoppers for the rest of his life. Listen, listen, 1613 01:19:36.960 --> 01:19:39.079 I mean that's honestly, that should have been his nickname. 1614 01:19:39.960 --> 01:19:41.720 He ate him and he told him that's the damn 1615 01:19:41.840 --> 01:19:46.399 right he he he ordered six whoppers. He also told 1616 01:19:46.479 --> 01:19:51.640 six whoppers while they were waiting for the food. I 1617 01:19:51.880 --> 01:19:56.920 love him over ordering. Oh my god, that's it. That's perfect. 1618 01:19:57.159 --> 01:19:59.960 It's perfect. Just you just imagine like the flame broiled 1619 01:20:00.039 --> 01:20:04.640 patty like and the onion seeping into his steroided body. Dude, 1620 01:20:04.800 --> 01:20:09.079 get me hungry, for God's sakes, like a big fucking hulking, 1621 01:20:09.600 --> 01:20:12.760 like muscled up like I mean, I mean, it's smelling 1622 01:20:12.880 --> 01:20:15.680 like a whopper. Look, I can tell you right now. Okay, 1623 01:20:16.000 --> 01:20:22.720 like I the I've never ordered two whoppers. Okay, I've 1624 01:20:22.840 --> 01:20:26.600 had a double whopper and I have even had a 1625 01:20:26.720 --> 01:20:29.000 triple whopper back in the day when they had it 1626 01:20:29.079 --> 01:20:30.479 that this is a fucking thing that Omar and I 1627 01:20:30.479 --> 01:20:32.840 would get, would get a fucking triple whopper something over 1628 01:20:32.920 --> 01:20:36.119 Thanksgiving to kind of like expand our stomachs for the 1629 01:20:36.159 --> 01:20:39.199 fucking for the big day. Would get a triple whopper 1630 01:20:39.600 --> 01:20:43.920 the night before Thanksgiving. But like, I've never ordered you 1631 01:20:44.000 --> 01:20:48.159 know I can at least I can at least rationalize 1632 01:20:48.159 --> 01:20:52.079 the idea of a double whopper because you're getting at 1633 01:20:52.199 --> 01:20:57.319 least two two beef patties. You're not getting two sandwiches. 1634 01:20:58.199 --> 01:20:59.960 You know, you're getting the sand amunt of bread you will, 1635 01:21:00.159 --> 01:21:04.279 but you're getting double the beef. He's ordering six, thank you, 1636 01:21:04.960 --> 01:21:10.720 So basically twelve slices of bread, if you will, all 1637 01:21:10.800 --> 01:21:15.560 right with six burghers. He didn't say if they were 1638 01:21:15.600 --> 01:21:18.800 with cheese, though, so I'm very curious. I think they were. 1639 01:21:19.680 --> 01:21:21.960 I'm sure they were. I always hated that whopper with cheese. 1640 01:21:21.960 --> 01:21:23.279 Like they asked you, if you want cheese, of course 1641 01:21:23.319 --> 01:21:25.479 you want fucking cheese. I know, what are you fucking? 1642 01:21:25.640 --> 01:21:28.279 What are you fucking rates in a barn? Just have 1643 01:21:28.479 --> 01:21:33.000 me say, without cheese, cheese, right exactly, assume assume you 1644 01:21:33.079 --> 01:21:36.119 want the cheese, Like, no, no, fucking no, fucking you know, 1645 01:21:36.800 --> 01:21:40.039 self respecting individual goes and gets a whopper without cheese. 1646 01:21:41.399 --> 01:21:45.520 Fuck's sake? What is wrong with people? Six whoppers? Six whoppers? 1647 01:21:46.279 --> 01:21:48.439 I laughed and told him that other than Andre Andrea, 1648 01:21:48.439 --> 01:21:51.359 I'd never seen I've never eaten with a giant. I 1649 01:21:51.439 --> 01:21:55.640 called Mike Shield, our cameraman, who ran up. I got 1650 01:21:55.640 --> 01:21:57.560 a guy here was eating six whoppers for God's sake, 1651 01:21:57.920 --> 01:21:59.960 got a goddamn camera over. We gonna film the shit. 1652 01:22:04.960 --> 01:22:08.800 He said that, he said, called my child cameraman, who 1653 01:22:08.880 --> 01:22:10.880 ran our production department and acts hip, to bring his 1654 01:22:10.960 --> 01:22:14.680 equipment and come to the house. Yep. After dinner, Mike, 1655 01:22:14.920 --> 01:22:17.399 Terry and I went downstairs, and flying off the cuff, 1656 01:22:17.520 --> 01:22:19.960 produced one of the best videos I had made up 1657 01:22:20.359 --> 01:22:23.960 up to that time. Later Lance Russell added audio, and 1658 01:22:24.000 --> 01:22:26.600 that video alone sold out the Mid South Colisseum. The 1659 01:22:26.720 --> 01:22:30.920 very first time Hulk Hogan appeared, we simply began the 1660 01:22:31.000 --> 01:22:33.079 shot at his feet and slowly brought the camera up, 1661 01:22:33.359 --> 01:22:36.520 and then a wider shot in which Terry did his poses, 1662 01:22:36.640 --> 01:22:40.520 flexing his muscles. These poses later became the trademark when 1663 01:22:40.560 --> 01:22:43.239 he entered the ring. I hired Terry that day at 1664 01:22:43.239 --> 01:22:45.960 the house, and he returned to Florida to get his clothes. 1665 01:22:46.560 --> 01:22:49.720 We took the fucking walk up there naked. He took 1666 01:22:49.800 --> 01:22:51.479 the tape to me. We took the tape to Memphis, 1667 01:22:51.680 --> 01:22:54.319 added music and the voiceover, and as they often say, 1668 01:22:54.439 --> 01:22:58.079 the rest is history. After we felt that Hulk had 1669 01:22:58.119 --> 01:23:00.840 his had run his course in Tennessee. I explained that 1670 01:23:00.960 --> 01:23:03.079 because of his size, it would be difficult to stay 1671 01:23:03.119 --> 01:23:08.199 forever in a territory that has small wrestlers. I explained 1672 01:23:08.239 --> 01:23:12.199 that Vince mcmahonsior a WWE had big men, and I 1673 01:23:12.319 --> 01:23:15.600 felt he would do great up there. I called Vince 1674 01:23:15.760 --> 01:23:17.720 send in the video. After a short run for Vince 1675 01:23:17.760 --> 01:23:21.520 Senior and a longer run with Verne Gagny's a Toba, 1676 01:23:22.039 --> 01:23:24.479 Vince Junior brought Hulk back into the w W and 1677 01:23:24.600 --> 01:23:34.279 as they say, the rest is history. So okay, So so. 1678 01:23:34.479 --> 01:23:37.239 Another person who is to be credited with every hot 1679 01:23:38.760 --> 01:23:42.960 after his first couple of territories apparently, well, I mean 1680 01:23:43.279 --> 01:23:46.359 there's no time like now to listen to the video 1681 01:23:46.479 --> 01:23:48.720 that he's talking about. So as we listen to this 1682 01:23:48.920 --> 01:23:51.439 queue up, if you could on your son ready, h 1683 01:23:51.800 --> 01:23:54.079 you need to picture I mean you really do? You 1684 01:23:54.239 --> 01:23:58.840 have to picture this being in his basement after the whoppers. Okay, 1685 01:23:59.439 --> 01:24:02.039 I think that the very important that's Keith. See if 1686 01:24:02.039 --> 01:24:06.000 you can find like, uh, formations in his stomach of 1687 01:24:06.800 --> 01:24:10.079 burgers or sesame seed buns or something like that. Yeah, 1688 01:24:10.119 --> 01:24:11.640 I think the sesame seed bun is kind of an 1689 01:24:11.640 --> 01:24:14.359 important thing to think about when we picture the state 1690 01:24:14.399 --> 01:24:16.880 of the man. So if you can just move, I'm 1691 01:24:16.920 --> 01:24:19.760 going to make sure we have the same video here 1692 01:24:19.840 --> 01:24:22.880 and that we're starting at the same point. Yeah we are, okay, 1693 01:24:23.359 --> 01:24:26.640 so Wi you go ahead to six seconds. So this 1694 01:24:27.640 --> 01:24:30.640 video premiered, as we'll get to in more detail later 1695 01:24:30.720 --> 01:24:32.920 on this episode or in this installment of the complete 1696 01:24:32.960 --> 01:24:36.159 Hulk Cogan during a Lance Russell interview at the WMC 1697 01:24:36.279 --> 01:24:39.600 TV studios with Eddie Boulder, as we'll get to eventually, 1698 01:24:39.760 --> 01:24:44.560 Eddie Boulder makes a television appearance here first before this 1699 01:24:44.680 --> 01:24:47.600 Hulk Cogan vignette airs, And what's asked backwards about what 1700 01:24:47.680 --> 01:24:50.920 Jerry Jared is saying is that this vignette premiered after 1701 01:24:51.600 --> 01:24:55.319 after Hulk had already done his initial appearances and matches 1702 01:24:55.359 --> 01:24:55.880 in Memphis. 1703 01:24:56.520 --> 01:24:58.640 Wow, like a month and a half after. 1704 01:24:59.000 --> 01:25:01.199 So the idea that this vignette was the first thing 1705 01:25:01.239 --> 01:25:03.560 anyone had ever heard of as it regards Hulk is 1706 01:25:03.640 --> 01:25:04.039 just wrong. 1707 01:25:04.479 --> 01:25:04.600 Now. 1708 01:25:04.800 --> 01:25:07.439 The agree to which his presence was played up and 1709 01:25:07.640 --> 01:25:11.079 framed as this supernatural thing and that very first abbreviated 1710 01:25:11.600 --> 01:25:15.640 run in Memphis is another question entirely. You know, they 1711 01:25:15.680 --> 01:25:18.520 didn't set him up on television as coming in the 1712 01:25:18.560 --> 01:25:22.439 same way because he was still essentially in Southeast and 1713 01:25:22.600 --> 01:25:25.000 was just coming for a couple of weeks. Here, this 1714 01:25:25.159 --> 01:25:26.920 is the vignette they play when they know they have 1715 01:25:27.479 --> 01:25:30.960 Terry Boulder and Ed Boulder for a more prolonged period 1716 01:25:31.000 --> 01:25:33.560 of time, for more of a run, as you would say. 1717 01:25:34.560 --> 01:25:37.079 But this idea, they had already talked about Terry the 1718 01:25:37.119 --> 01:25:39.640 Hulk Boulder in Memphis television. He had already tagged team 1719 01:25:39.680 --> 01:25:42.000 with Jerry Lawler, for Christ's sakes, So it's not like 1720 01:25:42.039 --> 01:25:44.279 people hadn't heard of this guy before. But here we 1721 01:25:44.359 --> 01:25:46.199 go at the six second mark, and you can find 1722 01:25:46.239 --> 01:25:49.199 this very easily on YouTube. Sure, this is the vignette 1723 01:25:49.239 --> 01:25:51.720 that Jerry Jarrett was describing, and we can hit play 1724 01:25:51.840 --> 01:25:53.680 in three two one. 1725 01:25:54.079 --> 01:25:54.319 Play. 1726 01:25:56.840 --> 01:26:03.920 Is not a television illusion. He is not an artist conception. 1727 01:26:05.600 --> 01:26:08.680 He is not a figment of the imagination. 1728 01:26:11.560 --> 01:26:12.159 Is real. 1729 01:26:14.520 --> 01:26:19.399 He stands an amazing six foot seven inches tall. He 1730 01:26:19.600 --> 01:26:25.000 weighs an incredible three hundred and twenty four pounds. He 1731 01:26:25.560 --> 01:26:33.960 is the Hulk, the Wow, the Hulk, without a doubt, 1732 01:26:34.159 --> 01:26:38.640 is the most awesome figure in professional wrestling today. His 1733 01:26:38.880 --> 01:26:43.880 measurements are almost unbelievable. His neck measures twenty four and 1734 01:26:44.159 --> 01:26:49.079 three quarter inches, His chest expands to an incredible fifty 1735 01:26:49.199 --> 01:26:53.560 nine inches, his biceps are twenty six inches, and at 1736 01:26:53.600 --> 01:26:56.359 the end of these powerful arms are two to twelve 1737 01:26:56.600 --> 01:27:01.840 inch fists. This magnificent body tapers off to only a 1738 01:27:02.039 --> 01:27:07.039 thirty four inch waste. The Hulk is supported by treelike 1739 01:27:07.199 --> 01:27:12.960 legs that can leg press over nineteen hundred pounds. Combine 1740 01:27:13.039 --> 01:27:16.520 these amazing measurements with more brute strength than you can imagine, 1741 01:27:17.039 --> 01:27:18.520 and you have the. 1742 01:27:21.119 --> 01:27:29.000 And the Hulk is coming here. Pause there. Okay, So 1743 01:27:29.880 --> 01:27:32.640 for those who don't have the benefit of watching the video, Boss, 1744 01:27:33.199 --> 01:27:35.640 explain to the people what you just saw. I mean, 1745 01:27:35.960 --> 01:27:39.239 it's a I mean, it's very much what Jared describes 1746 01:27:39.319 --> 01:27:43.960 in his book. It's a very dimly lit set, obviously 1747 01:27:44.039 --> 01:27:48.479 his basement, and you see, you know, you've got these 1748 01:27:48.600 --> 01:27:54.520 these very very almost noirsh like lighting where there's a 1749 01:27:54.560 --> 01:27:56.800 lot of heavy shadows and stuff you don't really see. 1750 01:27:57.119 --> 01:27:59.279 You can't even see a clear shot of Hogan's face. 1751 01:27:59.359 --> 01:28:02.760 You just his his eyes are heavily shadowed and whatever. 1752 01:28:03.239 --> 01:28:05.880 And he's just posing. He's doing the Hull Cogan. I mean, 1753 01:28:06.279 --> 01:28:11.239 he's doing a mix of Hogan posing but also doing 1754 01:28:12.039 --> 01:28:17.159 the your your your typical body building competition posing, right, 1755 01:28:17.239 --> 01:28:20.000 He's not doing the stuff he do in WWF. Would 1756 01:28:20.039 --> 01:28:23.560 like the hand out stretched with the cuffed hand next 1757 01:28:23.600 --> 01:28:25.680 to that he did Oh no, well no, he kind 1758 01:28:25.680 --> 01:28:27.319 of did that. He kind of did that that kind 1759 01:28:27.399 --> 01:28:29.760 of It's not the posing, it's not the baby face 1760 01:28:29.800 --> 01:28:32.399 posing routine. It's the look at this monster. 1761 01:28:32.840 --> 01:28:32.960 Right. 1762 01:28:33.079 --> 01:28:35.399 It is exactly like you're saying, it's like the pumping 1763 01:28:35.399 --> 01:28:38.880 iron routine, right, exactly exactly, but. 1764 01:28:38.960 --> 01:28:41.359 It is definitely highlighting the musculature and that lighting does 1765 01:28:41.399 --> 01:28:43.760 serve to enhance it. And the shock of blonde hair 1766 01:28:43.920 --> 01:28:47.039 really stands out because they silhouette essentially like you were saying, 1767 01:28:47.079 --> 01:28:49.920 his face, yeah, and I mean he's got his full 1768 01:28:50.199 --> 01:28:51.920 you know, he's still got he's still got hair on 1769 01:28:51.960 --> 01:28:55.239 the top of his head. He's not yet the hull 1770 01:28:55.319 --> 01:28:57.079 Cogan bald, right. 1771 01:28:57.680 --> 01:28:58.520 And I don't know. 1772 01:28:58.960 --> 01:29:01.399 We covered the whole under the cinemat for a reason. 1773 01:29:02.039 --> 01:29:04.560 Music there, that kind of funky little sci fi music. 1774 01:29:04.600 --> 01:29:05.680 I think I know what they're going for. 1775 01:29:06.079 --> 01:29:09.000 They're going exactly for that, and they're you know, when 1776 01:29:09.000 --> 01:29:11.239 you call them the Hulk, you are trying to you 1777 01:29:11.439 --> 01:29:14.279 are trying to get people to think of Luf for Riigno, 1778 01:29:15.079 --> 01:29:19.960 thank you hands down, and that apparently was accomplished. And 1779 01:29:20.039 --> 01:29:21.600 if you have any doubt about that. As we get 1780 01:29:21.600 --> 01:29:24.479 into some of the materials we've gathered for this installment 1781 01:29:24.560 --> 01:29:27.199 of the complete Hulk Hogan, particularly some of the artwork 1782 01:29:27.239 --> 01:29:29.640 that would appear on some of the Memphis programs, the 1783 01:29:29.680 --> 01:29:32.560 Hulk was appearing on the typeface that they would use 1784 01:29:32.640 --> 01:29:35.960 for Hulk leaves absolutely no doubt that they were just like, 1785 01:29:36.119 --> 01:29:38.680 let's do a television version of the Hulk. At Ron 1786 01:29:38.720 --> 01:29:40.800 Fuller and Charlie Platt said they did the same thing. 1787 01:29:41.000 --> 01:29:44.800 So it's not like Memphis was the first, despite the 1788 01:29:44.880 --> 01:29:48.640 representations that we've conveyed already on this episode, to really 1789 01:29:48.760 --> 01:29:51.520 lean into presenting this guy is essentially the Hulk from television. 1790 01:29:51.960 --> 01:29:54.159 Memphis was famous for this. They were famous for using 1791 01:29:54.479 --> 01:29:57.840 copyrighted music and music videos without any semblance of permission 1792 01:29:57.920 --> 01:30:00.159 or licensing. You got to remember, I mean it's it's 1793 01:30:00.159 --> 01:30:02.319 operating in one television market in one part of the 1794 01:30:02.359 --> 01:30:05.760 country relative to the major media markets. It's a small market, 1795 01:30:05.880 --> 01:30:09.800 though very powerful when it came to influencing the local populace, 1796 01:30:09.920 --> 01:30:12.319 and the share ratings were out of this world in 1797 01:30:12.439 --> 01:30:14.039 terms of how much of the city of Memphis was 1798 01:30:14.079 --> 01:30:17.239 watching a lot of this Saturday Morning wrestling on WMCTV, 1799 01:30:17.840 --> 01:30:20.279 and you know, you just have a situation where they 1800 01:30:20.319 --> 01:30:21.000 can get away with it. 1801 01:30:21.359 --> 01:30:23.840 Paul Ham into the exact same thing in ECW when 1802 01:30:23.840 --> 01:30:26.600 they were under the radar using copyrighted music without permission 1803 01:30:26.640 --> 01:30:28.960 all the time and producing some of the stuff that's 1804 01:30:29.000 --> 01:30:32.840 most well remembered now that is necessarily copyrighted music. We 1805 01:30:32.920 --> 01:30:35.520 heard there, but it's certainly a copyrighted concept that they 1806 01:30:35.560 --> 01:30:41.439 are not shying away from presenting. So Jerry Jarrett says 1807 01:30:41.439 --> 01:30:43.199 in his book that that was a voiceover from Lance 1808 01:30:43.279 --> 01:30:46.319 Russell that very clearly was not Lance Russell by any 1809 01:30:46.359 --> 01:30:49.640 stretch of the imagination. That was a local radio voice 1810 01:30:49.680 --> 01:30:52.960 it's still active in the area in Alabama, called Michael 1811 01:30:52.960 --> 01:30:56.359 Saint John Really Yeah. Upon the passing of hul Hogan, 1812 01:30:56.399 --> 01:30:58.479 he was interviewed by one of the local stations out 1813 01:30:58.520 --> 01:31:01.479 there recollecting what it was like to put this famous 1814 01:31:01.560 --> 01:31:02.159 video together. 1815 01:31:02.520 --> 01:31:04.880 It started out with it's not an optical illusion. 1816 01:31:05.119 --> 01:31:08.600 This man is not a television illusion. 1817 01:31:08.720 --> 01:31:09.840 It's not a TV trick. 1818 01:31:10.000 --> 01:31:13.079 He is not an artist conception. 1819 01:31:13.479 --> 01:31:15.560 I mean this is this is this guy? 1820 01:31:16.159 --> 01:31:17.720 He is the Hulk. 1821 01:31:18.760 --> 01:31:22.760 Before Hulk Hogan became one of the WWE's most iconic stars, 1822 01:31:22.960 --> 01:31:26.640 Holmesville native Michael Saint John helped introduce him to the 1823 01:31:26.680 --> 01:31:27.560 wrestling world. 1824 01:31:28.079 --> 01:31:31.479 In reality, it was his first debut on television as 1825 01:31:31.760 --> 01:31:32.199 the Hulk. 1826 01:31:32.560 --> 01:31:35.479 Hogan made an immediate impression on Saint John when he 1827 01:31:35.640 --> 01:31:39.720 arrived for his debut at Memphis Wrestling in nineteen seventy nine. 1828 01:31:39.920 --> 01:31:41.680 And he starts getting out of the car, and he 1829 01:31:41.760 --> 01:31:43.439 keeps getting out of the car, and he keeps getting 1830 01:31:43.439 --> 01:31:45.640 out of the car, and Debora Jarrett turned to me 1831 01:31:45.720 --> 01:31:47.439 and she said, Oh my god, this is the biggest 1832 01:31:47.680 --> 01:31:48.960 guy I've ever seen in my life. 1833 01:31:49.399 --> 01:31:52.119 As an on air personality. For the promotion, it was 1834 01:31:52.199 --> 01:31:56.760 Saint John's job to help HiPE up Hogan's first appearance and. 1835 01:31:56.920 --> 01:31:59.239 The Hulk is coming here. 1836 01:32:01.600 --> 01:32:01.840 Boy. 1837 01:32:02.720 --> 01:32:05.119 Within about twenty five minutes, I went into the production 1838 01:32:05.199 --> 01:32:08.199 room at the radio station and produced the audio on 1839 01:32:08.359 --> 01:32:09.680 the video that you now see. 1840 01:32:09.920 --> 01:32:13.159 Saint John was paid twenty five dollars to write, narrate, 1841 01:32:13.279 --> 01:32:16.000 and pick music for a video segment. It's become a 1842 01:32:16.079 --> 01:32:17.840 piece of wrestling history. 1843 01:32:18.159 --> 01:32:19.760 When I did it, I didn't think it was, you know, 1844 01:32:19.840 --> 01:32:21.159 I thought it was going to be shown in our 1845 01:32:21.239 --> 01:32:23.560 territory and that was about it, and didn't think anything 1846 01:32:23.640 --> 01:32:23.800 of it. 1847 01:32:24.119 --> 01:32:26.680 His measurements are almost unbelievable. 1848 01:32:26.960 --> 01:32:30.079 It's been seen around the world, and especially this week. 1849 01:32:30.439 --> 01:32:34.079 After Hogan passed away on Thursday at age seventy one. 1850 01:32:34.239 --> 01:32:36.720 I was sad because I think we lost the biggest 1851 01:32:36.920 --> 01:32:40.479 figure in the history of professional wrestling. Nobody else in 1852 01:32:40.600 --> 01:32:43.399 the business I don't think ever achieved or got to 1853 01:32:43.520 --> 01:32:45.640 the plane that hul Cogan did. 1854 01:32:45.840 --> 01:32:48.600 There's all kind of hull Comania's running a Whild's. 1855 01:32:48.119 --> 01:32:51.600 But Saint John met him before Holkomania ran wild or 1856 01:32:52.039 --> 01:32:52.920 he went Hollywood. 1857 01:32:53.079 --> 01:32:55.880 They played the video and he shook his head, smiled, 1858 01:32:56.039 --> 01:32:58.119 liked it. I mean, but he's very quiet. I mean that, 1859 01:32:58.399 --> 01:33:01.000 if anything, the persona that he ended up being was 1860 01:33:01.079 --> 01:33:03.439 the antithesis of what I meant him. 1861 01:33:03.920 --> 01:33:06.199 It was the beginning of creating a larger than life 1862 01:33:06.319 --> 01:33:08.720 character who now stands the test of time. 1863 01:33:08.880 --> 01:33:11.520 And I guess someday I'll sit back and say that 1864 01:33:11.640 --> 01:33:12.800 was a pretty cool era. 1865 01:33:12.760 --> 01:33:15.520 With coverage you could count on. I'm Trevor denton Way 1866 01:33:15.720 --> 01:33:16.399 thirty one. 1867 01:33:16.439 --> 01:33:21.199 Sports Michael Saint John Today owns a radio station, Huntsville's 1868 01:33:21.279 --> 01:33:23.439 fifteen to fifty W A a Y and is something 1869 01:33:23.479 --> 01:33:26.720 of an Alabama broadcasting legend. Twenty five bucks boss to 1870 01:33:26.800 --> 01:33:27.560 voice that one over. 1871 01:33:28.279 --> 01:33:33.319 Wow, I fucking nipped off. I don't yeah, seriously, you 1872 01:33:33.359 --> 01:33:36.920 talk about residuals. And that was the first time he 1873 01:33:37.039 --> 01:33:40.399 was ever called a Hulk on national on television. He said, right, yeah, okay, 1874 01:33:41.119 --> 01:33:43.199 thank you. I'm glad you noticed that. So there's a 1875 01:33:43.239 --> 01:33:48.239 big fucking lie there every time, every time somebody claims 1876 01:33:48.359 --> 01:33:51.840 to have called Hulk Hog and the Hulk for the 1877 01:33:51.880 --> 01:33:53.920 first time. Take a shot as well. Take a swig 1878 01:33:54.000 --> 01:33:56.560 of garage beer down in Memphis. 1879 01:33:57.279 --> 01:33:59.000 I will make it fifteen minutes. I'll be out. 1880 01:34:02.039 --> 01:34:02.079 That. 1881 01:34:02.199 --> 01:34:04.199 In Memphis, they were actually making that kind of a 1882 01:34:04.279 --> 01:34:08.479 little personality vignette a staple of how they would present 1883 01:34:08.560 --> 01:34:11.239 wrestling and how they would introduce new acts, and Michael 1884 01:34:11.279 --> 01:34:14.159 Saint John would provide the voice for a lot of it, 1885 01:34:14.560 --> 01:34:17.319 no matter how alarming. So we're gonna hit just a 1886 01:34:17.399 --> 01:34:19.600 few more to get a sample of how what we 1887 01:34:19.800 --> 01:34:22.840 just heard relative to Hulk Hogan is is not just 1888 01:34:22.920 --> 01:34:27.079 some innovation they came up with just to spotlight Terry Boulder, 1889 01:34:27.159 --> 01:34:29.800 but it was part of a kind of a theme 1890 01:34:29.840 --> 01:34:31.800 of how they would introduce new acts. I don't know 1891 01:34:31.840 --> 01:34:33.840 if you've ever seen this before, boss, but one of 1892 01:34:33.880 --> 01:34:36.720 them think so. One of the other acts that the 1893 01:34:37.319 --> 01:34:40.039 Jerry Jarrett Jerry Lawler Memphis promotion is credited with bringing 1894 01:34:40.119 --> 01:34:43.520 to the four is Kamala, which, of course that would 1895 01:34:43.520 --> 01:34:45.439 go on to be one of Hulk Cogan's best drawing 1896 01:34:45.479 --> 01:34:48.359 opponents in the WWF in the earliest stages of his 1897 01:34:48.680 --> 01:34:52.119 nineteen eighty four campaign. And it started here in terms 1898 01:34:52.159 --> 01:34:56.520 of cross pollinating in the same territory and area as Kamala. 1899 01:34:56.960 --> 01:34:59.600 And here is the video that they produced in Jerry 1900 01:34:59.680 --> 01:35:04.000 Jared's backyard, I believe, as opposed to his basement or Kamala, 1901 01:35:04.199 --> 01:35:06.520 voiced over as well by Michael Saint John. It's on 1902 01:35:06.600 --> 01:35:08.520 YouTube and so if you have it, I have it. 1903 01:35:09.359 --> 01:35:12.359 I have it. I'm ready to go three two one play? 1904 01:35:15.239 --> 01:35:15.640 Look at this? 1905 01:35:20.119 --> 01:35:20.439 Got it? 1906 01:35:25.399 --> 01:35:26.199 Michael Saint John? 1907 01:35:26.239 --> 01:35:30.640 What say you here? 1908 01:35:30.800 --> 01:35:32.960 Moves the mask? Look at him. 1909 01:35:34.840 --> 01:35:40.279 Nine in his tall yes, eight hundred and eighty five pounds, 1910 01:35:44.520 --> 01:35:47.600 the fates Man known to professional rough play. 1911 01:35:47.640 --> 01:35:51.800 Today, I'm from the legs, aren't you tree? 1912 01:35:53.800 --> 01:35:54.319 How strong? 1913 01:35:54.399 --> 01:35:57.359 With some of the largest animals known to man. 1914 01:36:03.279 --> 01:36:03.840 Nine inches. 1915 01:36:07.359 --> 01:36:21.640 Come on, come on, you Gundan giant. I love the 1916 01:36:21.800 --> 01:36:24.079 idea that you show a black man in the woods 1917 01:36:24.119 --> 01:36:27.399 and obviously he's in Africa. Oh they went big on that. Yeah, 1918 01:36:27.439 --> 01:36:30.720 so no no hesitance there at all. And this is 1919 01:36:30.760 --> 01:36:34.039 a guy James Harris from Mississippi, you know, of course, right. 1920 01:36:34.560 --> 01:36:36.479 But so that's how the world got to know Kamala 1921 01:36:36.520 --> 01:36:39.640 as well with the the dulcet tones of Michael Saint 1922 01:36:39.720 --> 01:36:41.560 John laying down the track. There's one more I want 1923 01:36:41.560 --> 01:36:43.039 to look at it, and it's not because he became 1924 01:36:43.079 --> 01:36:45.720 any kind of big opponent to Hultkoguner became famous, but 1925 01:36:45.880 --> 01:36:49.520 just because I think you're really going to enjoy the 1926 01:36:49.720 --> 01:36:54.359 visage of a character that was briefly introduced called Apocalypse. 1927 01:36:55.039 --> 01:36:58.199 Similar vignette. So if you've pulled up that video, I 1928 01:36:58.319 --> 01:37:00.199 have it, we'll play it, and I want you to 1929 01:37:00.239 --> 01:37:02.199 pay close attention to what you're about to see, Okay, 1930 01:37:02.319 --> 01:37:04.239 for the visuals and extact what you're about to see 1931 01:37:04.640 --> 01:37:16.840 three two one play Apocalypse. Yes that's on YouTube as one. Okay, Apocalypse. Wow, 1932 01:37:17.640 --> 01:37:19.600 that's what they're going to be saying. I want you 1933 01:37:19.720 --> 01:37:27.119 to take a look at this guy jar Yard's backyard again. Yep, 1934 01:37:32.319 --> 01:37:40.039 no permission is this music at all? Exactly? Oh no, 1935 01:37:46.600 --> 01:37:48.159 it's like a guy in the camera. 1936 01:37:48.000 --> 01:38:03.079 And the books. But get ready, the face what aspurcha 1937 01:38:03.319 --> 01:38:21.239 for the brush faws out of a tree? 1938 01:38:28.520 --> 01:38:31.319 Look at this face that the fun I mean it. 1939 01:38:33.439 --> 01:38:34.039 I think. 1940 01:38:44.199 --> 01:38:46.439 Should have gone in with a knife and his mouth running. 1941 01:38:48.239 --> 01:38:53.039 Webster's Dictionary defines apocalypse as me and uncovering a revelation 1942 01:38:54.479 --> 01:38:59.600 that happens why this athelete has chosen that name to enter. 1943 01:38:59.479 --> 01:39:00.760 The ring back collapse. 1944 01:39:01.079 --> 01:39:03.359 He was trained by the Special Tactics Force at the 1945 01:39:03.479 --> 01:39:06.760 US Marine Corps, and later he too trained others. 1946 01:39:06.600 --> 01:39:07.479 Then to his profession. 1947 01:39:07.600 --> 01:39:10.359 A black collapse, A true master of hand to hand 1948 01:39:10.520 --> 01:39:13.680 combat one experts feel a martial artists. 1949 01:39:13.840 --> 01:39:15.399 It's as memrine court. 1950 01:39:15.279 --> 01:39:20.920 Champion in Kawai Judo another martial arts combat collapse, and 1951 01:39:21.039 --> 01:39:23.079 so does services to several third. 1952 01:39:22.880 --> 01:39:23.560 World names. 1953 01:39:25.439 --> 01:39:30.520 Disaster his services for whoever pays his feet collapse. Now 1954 01:39:30.760 --> 01:39:34.159 he's returned to the home country to offer him mercenary 1955 01:39:34.279 --> 01:39:36.199 services to whoever wants them. 1956 01:39:38.239 --> 01:39:42.279 To sell his services to the highest bidder. Apock collapse. 1957 01:39:42.560 --> 01:39:46.000 A mercenary Apocalypse collapse. 1958 01:40:02.920 --> 01:40:10.399 Thoughts, well, Apocalypse Now coming soon under the cinemat number one, 1959 01:40:11.279 --> 01:40:13.600 I think that qualified. Holy shit. 1960 01:40:14.680 --> 01:40:16.800 I mean, if you don't know, they have these flashes 1961 01:40:16.800 --> 01:40:18.880 where they just show his red face and his big 1962 01:40:18.960 --> 01:40:22.159 eyes and he looks he's like a characterrifying. 1963 01:40:22.680 --> 01:40:25.359 Yeah, horror movie. Yeah, he looks. I mean, he looks 1964 01:40:25.479 --> 01:40:32.439 kind of like they the the the beast outside the 1965 01:40:32.560 --> 01:40:36.680 window in the Terror at thirty thousand feet or whatever 1966 01:40:36.800 --> 01:40:41.000 they the Twilight Zone episode we talked about with the goonies, 1967 01:40:41.640 --> 01:40:43.399 like that's what he kind of looks like. It's I mean, 1968 01:40:43.479 --> 01:40:48.760 that is I mean, I mean, I mean he's obviously 1969 01:40:49.920 --> 01:40:53.640 he's obviously the whole thing is Apocalypse now. The whole 1970 01:40:53.800 --> 01:40:56.199 fucking thing is Apocalypse now, because I mean it's essentially 1971 01:40:56.880 --> 01:41:01.399 the whole the you know, he's crazy, like like Marlon 1972 01:41:01.479 --> 01:41:08.760 Brando is in the movie and the whole Jesus Christ 1973 01:41:08.840 --> 01:41:14.279 I got. I'm I'm I'm at a loss at that. 1974 01:41:14.439 --> 01:41:17.239 I see that face and they whispered Apocalypse and they 1975 01:41:17.239 --> 01:41:19.479 show his face. It's all I can think of, is you, 1976 01:41:20.680 --> 01:41:25.199 it's something else, It's something you would not be able 1977 01:41:25.279 --> 01:41:27.560 to go to sleep after scene. No, I mean, honestly, 1978 01:41:27.680 --> 01:41:29.600 like how the I don't know what like that is. 1979 01:41:29.680 --> 01:41:33.520 That is disturbing. It is disturbing. I mean because the 1980 01:41:33.560 --> 01:41:36.760 whole you know, I mean again, it's it's all like 1981 01:41:36.880 --> 01:41:39.319 the end of the movie. That's all like the end 1982 01:41:39.399 --> 01:41:46.359 of end of h Apocalypse now, like it's a mix 1983 01:41:46.479 --> 01:41:49.640 of of everything. But I mean, obviously the the the 1984 01:41:50.000 --> 01:41:55.239 Wagner music, plus you got the marine thing like that. 1985 01:41:57.119 --> 01:41:59.399 Not to mention, I imagine that it is somebody who 1986 01:42:00.239 --> 01:42:02.840 who you know, when they created that character, someone was 1987 01:42:03.359 --> 01:42:08.039 was obviously on drugs, yeah, which also a a you know, 1988 01:42:10.000 --> 01:42:15.399 another fucking you know theme of them of the movie. 1989 01:42:16.119 --> 01:42:20.199 Jesus fucking that is disturbing. So you know, if you 1990 01:42:20.239 --> 01:42:23.680 think Vince created cartoons and wrestling, like I know, obviously 1991 01:42:23.720 --> 01:42:26.399 weren't wrestling then in Memphis, And funny, isn't that funny? 1992 01:42:26.439 --> 01:42:29.640 How like enough that I'm you know, Vince made his 1993 01:42:29.960 --> 01:42:33.359 fair share of cartoons, but like, you know, it's kind 1994 01:42:33.399 --> 01:42:35.560 of funny when you really really think about it, like 1995 01:42:36.000 --> 01:42:40.880 there's there you know, there there was some there was 1996 01:42:40.920 --> 01:42:44.319 some pretty fucking goofy shit going on. You didn't create Kamala. 1997 01:42:44.520 --> 01:42:47.239 Jerry Jarrett did, right, And I think it makes all 1998 01:42:47.239 --> 01:42:48.640 the sense in the world in ninety four and Vince 1999 01:42:48.720 --> 01:42:51.039 was going down that he handed the reins to Jerry Jarrett. Yep. 2000 01:42:51.680 --> 01:42:54.319 Yeah, But a lot of the promotional style that he 2001 01:42:54.479 --> 01:42:57.039 had in kind of like this, this cinematic way of 2002 01:42:57.119 --> 01:43:01.279 introducing over the top characters was mom first by Jerry 2003 01:43:01.359 --> 01:43:04.720 Jarrett Memphis, and you know, Vince went ninety four there 2004 01:43:04.800 --> 01:43:07.640 to you know, play heel for the first time. You know, 2005 01:43:07.840 --> 01:43:11.119 that's something that became much more appreciated as footage of 2006 01:43:11.159 --> 01:43:13.119 that got on YouTube over the years that Vince first 2007 01:43:13.159 --> 01:43:17.239 played heel just for the Memphis territory, he clearly had 2008 01:43:17.319 --> 01:43:20.960 an affinity and a working relationship. The us WA was 2009 01:43:21.000 --> 01:43:24.319 what you might consider the first territorial pardon me, the 2010 01:43:24.399 --> 01:43:28.000 first developmental territory the ww have had with Rock and 2011 01:43:28.119 --> 01:43:31.720 so many others coming through there. Sure, and you know 2012 01:43:32.039 --> 01:43:34.239 when Jerry Lawler comes in ninety two, that's huge. I 2013 01:43:34.319 --> 01:43:37.000 mean the way that they worked hand in glove with 2014 01:43:37.079 --> 01:43:39.159 them and Smoking Mountain Wrestling, it was like those were 2015 01:43:40.119 --> 01:43:43.000 the sort of the preferred promotional and developmental partners of 2016 01:43:43.000 --> 01:43:47.079 the WWF in the nineteen nineties for Vince, So you 2017 01:43:47.159 --> 01:43:49.520 can definitely see him, you know, he had those Jerry, 2018 01:43:49.560 --> 01:43:52.199 Jerry stuck about those hours long conversations. They would have 2019 01:43:52.560 --> 01:43:54.560 Vince and Jerry Jared on the phone on Sunday nights 2020 01:43:54.600 --> 01:43:56.720 talking about the business and how to go about it 2021 01:43:56.760 --> 01:43:59.079 and how to approach it. And he calls him in 2022 01:43:59.199 --> 01:44:02.159 when he needs someone perhaps run the show if he 2023 01:44:02.359 --> 01:44:06.039 goes to jail. So I think a lot of the 2024 01:44:06.119 --> 01:44:08.319 things that you can paint the WWF with. When Vince 2025 01:44:08.359 --> 01:44:10.479 finally gets his hands on the controls and gets Hulk 2026 01:44:10.520 --> 01:44:13.119 in there, Jerry Jarrett had already run a ton of 2027 01:44:13.199 --> 01:44:16.319 dry runs that procrrectly this is how it looks and feels. 2028 01:44:17.000 --> 01:44:19.680 Jerry Jarrett was essentially one of the first innovators with 2029 01:44:19.760 --> 01:44:23.720 the aforementioned Mike Shield of music videos set to highlights 2030 01:44:23.760 --> 01:44:27.960 of wrestlers to introduce them. Wonderful way to introduce he 2031 01:44:28.000 --> 01:44:29.880 set them to a popular pop song, which again he 2032 01:44:29.960 --> 01:44:33.520 had absolutely no permission to use, and it made these 2033 01:44:33.560 --> 01:44:36.960 guys sensations before they even came into the territory because 2034 01:44:37.000 --> 01:44:40.039 people saw them not just wrestling, but you know, sort 2035 01:44:40.079 --> 01:44:43.000 of living in the world, driving a car, you know, 2036 01:44:43.239 --> 01:44:46.159 getting attention from girls. World Class picked it up as 2037 01:44:46.199 --> 01:44:48.560 well and did quite a few very successful music videos 2038 01:44:48.600 --> 01:44:50.119 with the free Birds and the von Erics and. 2039 01:44:50.079 --> 01:44:50.680 Stuff as well. 2040 01:44:51.479 --> 01:44:53.039 But in a lot of ways it was innovated up 2041 01:44:53.079 --> 01:44:55.720 there by Jerry Jarrett and Terry Bullay himself was one 2042 01:44:55.760 --> 01:44:58.279 of the beneficiaries, one of the earliest beneficiaries of it, 2043 01:44:58.359 --> 01:45:00.119 as you see. But they would do crazy shit it 2044 01:45:00.279 --> 01:45:03.199 like like a robot and a monster come to life. 2045 01:45:03.239 --> 01:45:06.520 They would do the fucking do you ever see that 2046 01:45:06.720 --> 01:45:09.079 that clip of the wrestling Ninja Turtles on a WWF 2047 01:45:09.159 --> 01:45:14.119 dark match, Yes, that Memphis did that first. Just fucking 2048 01:45:14.159 --> 01:45:15.920 no permission, Just We're to put the Ninja Turtles in 2049 01:45:15.960 --> 01:45:17.000 the ring and see what happened. 2050 01:45:17.079 --> 01:45:20.560 I mean, it's so different than fucking you know, than 2051 01:45:20.640 --> 01:45:25.600 Jim Hurd and Irakna Man, right, for God's sake. So 2052 01:45:26.600 --> 01:45:27.119 this is the. 2053 01:45:28.680 --> 01:45:30.720 This is the first promotional approach to get their hands 2054 01:45:30.760 --> 01:45:32.680 on Terry Bullay, if you don't count Ron Fuller down 2055 01:45:32.680 --> 01:45:35.439 in Southeast. And I think that's very important because he 2056 01:45:35.640 --> 01:45:37.439 was a cartoon from the beginning. He wasn't just a 2057 01:45:37.479 --> 01:45:38.640 cartoon when he went to New York. 2058 01:45:38.760 --> 01:45:42.880 Yeah, and you know, as Hulk tells the story about 2059 01:45:42.920 --> 01:45:45.199 Louis Tullay reaching out to Jerry Jarrett saying I've got 2060 01:45:45.279 --> 01:45:48.439 this guy. You know, that's perhaps confirmation that Hulk and 2061 01:45:48.640 --> 01:45:50.880 Ed Boulder did in fact go to Jerry Jarrett first 2062 01:45:51.600 --> 01:45:54.920 and then was sent to Tulay. But I don't know. 2063 01:45:55.000 --> 01:45:58.760 Here in Jerry's book, you get the intimation that perhaps 2064 01:45:58.840 --> 01:46:02.399 Louis Tulay was in on on funneling Hulk to Memphis. Eventually, 2065 01:46:03.520 --> 01:46:07.720 you know, Harry is after an offering Hulk to Jerry 2066 01:46:07.800 --> 01:46:10.000 on the phone. I could also see such as the 2067 01:46:10.039 --> 01:46:13.319 Memphis territory was constituted with all these cartoonish and ludicrous gimmicks, 2068 01:46:14.560 --> 01:46:18.000 them coming up with the Hulk concept before shipping. 2069 01:46:17.800 --> 01:46:19.079 Terry Bolea to Alabama. 2070 01:46:19.399 --> 01:46:22.960 If if indeed said Leslie says, the concept was presented 2071 01:46:23.000 --> 01:46:25.560 to Jerry before they came into Memphis, and Jerry said, 2072 01:46:25.640 --> 01:46:28.399 do it somewhere else to polish the gimmick up. Knowing 2073 01:46:28.439 --> 01:46:30.359 how hot Luke for Rigno was on television and in 2074 01:46:30.439 --> 01:46:32.239 pop culture at the time, as we talked about Boss, 2075 01:46:33.239 --> 01:46:35.239 I can see in some ways, you know, there being 2076 01:46:35.279 --> 01:46:38.319 an idea to have a wrestling Hulk before they even 2077 01:46:38.479 --> 01:46:42.640 know who would fit the bill. Sure sure comes to 2078 01:46:42.680 --> 01:46:45.399 this guy, and he did do something similar with Jerry 2079 01:46:45.479 --> 01:46:49.960 Lawler way back when Jerry Lawler first became a superstar 2080 01:46:51.039 --> 01:46:55.279 in Memphis as a babyface. Lawler had been introduced to 2081 01:46:55.479 --> 01:46:58.920 Jerry Jarrett by Jackie Fargo, who was of course the 2082 01:46:59.000 --> 01:47:02.119 big territorial suit superstar in Memphis and innovator of the 2083 01:47:02.199 --> 01:47:05.000 Fargo strut which would lead to the Rick Flair strutt 2084 01:47:05.119 --> 01:47:09.159 and many other struts. And Jackie Fargo was an idol 2085 01:47:09.199 --> 01:47:12.239 of Jerry Lawler's growing up watching wrestling on television in Memphis. 2086 01:47:12.680 --> 01:47:14.199 Of course, he was an artist and once got on 2087 01:47:14.319 --> 01:47:16.560 Memphis television to present some of his art at a 2088 01:47:16.680 --> 01:47:18.640 very young age. I think he was like seventeen or something, 2089 01:47:18.680 --> 01:47:21.079 and they said, we've got Jerry Lawler here, Lance Russell 2090 01:47:21.520 --> 01:47:23.560 in studio to show us some of his drawings of 2091 01:47:23.640 --> 01:47:25.680 some of the great Memphis wrestling lenonds. And that was 2092 01:47:25.720 --> 01:47:27.800 kind of his foot in the door for Jerry Lawler, 2093 01:47:28.359 --> 01:47:32.920 and eventually, you know, he got started. Lawler just like 2094 01:47:33.000 --> 01:47:36.319 Hogan went to Alabama first. You believe, wow, I did 2095 01:47:36.359 --> 01:47:38.520 not know that their career has mirrored each other in 2096 01:47:38.560 --> 01:47:40.800 a lot of ways. And Fine Tune did a bit 2097 01:47:40.840 --> 01:47:42.680 before he came and truly set down roots and as 2098 01:47:42.720 --> 01:47:44.720 we'll get to, you know, buying into the Memphis office 2099 01:47:44.760 --> 01:47:46.319 to the point where it never made any sense for 2100 01:47:46.439 --> 01:47:49.239 Lawler to go full time anywhere else besides Memphis because 2101 01:47:49.239 --> 01:47:51.399 he was winning on the back end profits. He was 2102 01:47:51.439 --> 01:47:54.560 going to make more money there than anywhere else. And 2103 01:47:54.640 --> 01:47:57.319 Jerry Jared has said that there was a riff over 2104 01:47:57.479 --> 01:47:59.960 Jerry Lawler not wanting to work a far away town, 2105 01:48:00.159 --> 01:48:04.479 that Jerry had sent him to Montgomery, Alabama actually and 2106 01:48:04.600 --> 01:48:07.600 bringing him back. So it's just all these cross currents 2107 01:48:07.640 --> 01:48:11.600 with how Holt came up as it regards Alabama, and 2108 01:48:11.760 --> 01:48:13.720 you know, further to the point, it's not like there 2109 01:48:13.800 --> 01:48:16.119 was an arm's length difference as we've talked about between 2110 01:48:16.119 --> 01:48:20.880 the Memphis and Alabama offices. Anyway, this also from Jerry 2111 01:48:20.960 --> 01:48:23.439 Jarrett's book. He says from his actions Nick Golis did 2112 01:48:23.479 --> 01:48:24.520 Do you know who Nick Goulis is? 2113 01:48:24.560 --> 01:48:26.560 By any chance? Boss? Do you remember that name is 2114 01:48:26.640 --> 01:48:27.239 very familiar? 2115 01:48:27.720 --> 01:48:31.279 Yes, he was a rather notorious promoter from Memphis before 2116 01:48:31.359 --> 01:48:34.239 Jerry Jarrett consolidated power in the area. And he was 2117 01:48:34.840 --> 01:48:37.479 he was notorious because everyone in the business would talk 2118 01:48:37.479 --> 01:48:39.680 about how shitty his payoffs were and how much of 2119 01:48:39.680 --> 01:48:42.840 an asshole he was. But in a lot of ways 2120 01:48:42.880 --> 01:48:44.960 did Jerry Jarrett tell it, and he was in that 2121 01:48:45.119 --> 01:48:49.439 office from a young, precocious age because his mother, Jerry 2122 01:48:49.479 --> 01:48:52.479 Jared's mother, Christine Jarrett, used to take tickets and run 2123 01:48:52.520 --> 01:48:55.960 the office for Nick Goulis. So that was Jerry Jarrett's 2124 01:48:56.000 --> 01:48:58.359 intro into the wrestling business. His mother basically took a 2125 01:48:58.399 --> 01:49:01.920 part time job working for the wrestling company running the 2126 01:49:02.159 --> 01:49:07.239 ticket sales. And yeah, as a young boy, Jerry Jarrett 2127 01:49:07.319 --> 01:49:10.479 would be in the office kind of observing and eavesdropping 2128 01:49:10.520 --> 01:49:13.359 on how the wrestling business worked. But to hear Jerry 2129 01:49:13.399 --> 01:49:15.479 Jarrett tell it, Nick gulas For as notorious as he 2130 01:49:15.600 --> 01:49:17.399 was and hated as he was, was part of a 2131 01:49:17.479 --> 01:49:20.439 good cop bad cop dynamic in the Memphis wrestling office 2132 01:49:20.640 --> 01:49:22.560 at the time. And do you know who the good 2133 01:49:22.640 --> 01:49:25.159 cop side of the Nick Goulas bad cop side was? 2134 01:49:26.640 --> 01:49:30.359 Roy Welch. Oh, boy, does the Welch name mean anything 2135 01:49:30.399 --> 01:49:36.600 to you? Yes, okay, I do know that name. That 2136 01:49:36.720 --> 01:49:40.600 is indeed Ron Fuller's real last name. Yes, they are 2137 01:49:40.720 --> 01:49:44.920 the Welches, and they descend from Roy Welch, whose son 2138 01:49:45.319 --> 01:49:47.920 Buddy Fuller. He would know, he knows Buddy Fuller and 2139 01:49:47.960 --> 01:49:51.479 wrestling is the father of Ron Fuller. And Rob Fuller. 2140 01:49:52.079 --> 01:49:56.239 So the Welsh family owned Memphis before the Jarretts did. 2141 01:49:56.520 --> 01:50:00.079 That's for sure, before Jerry Jarrett did. And so to 2142 01:50:00.159 --> 01:50:03.720 the point, it's not so far away territory with no 2143 01:50:03.840 --> 01:50:08.159 connective tissue. No, Roy and the Welch family had lived 2144 01:50:08.279 --> 01:50:11.319 around Dire, Tennessee for decades, which is about one hundred 2145 01:50:11.319 --> 01:50:16.119 miles north of Memphis. And Roy was the guy who 2146 01:50:16.279 --> 01:50:19.319 kind of deputized Nick Goulis to. 2147 01:50:19.399 --> 01:50:19.680 Be the. 2148 01:50:21.520 --> 01:50:23.279 You know, the guy who drove a hard bargain and 2149 01:50:23.399 --> 01:50:26.079 ran the territory that way, dealt with the talent, screened 2150 01:50:26.199 --> 01:50:28.439 the talent. But it's really Roy Welch who had his 2151 01:50:28.720 --> 01:50:31.880 hands on the controls and was doing Everything's kind of 2152 01:50:31.960 --> 01:50:34.880 like how it's tried and true in the business. Years later, 2153 01:50:35.159 --> 01:50:37.199 God damn it that Jr. Never gave me a shot. 2154 01:50:37.600 --> 01:50:39.760 It's like, no, it's Vince that didn't give you the shot. 2155 01:50:39.840 --> 01:50:43.079 But he's not going to bother with you. You know, 2156 01:50:43.279 --> 01:50:45.000 he's not going to tell you what he thinks of you. 2157 01:50:45.279 --> 01:50:48.680 He's going to have JR. Pretend that JR. Thinks that 2158 01:50:48.760 --> 01:50:51.159 way of you. The same thing with John Lorianidis. You know, 2159 01:50:51.640 --> 01:50:54.600 you create that degree of separation between the talent and 2160 01:50:54.640 --> 01:50:57.800 the real boss, right, so that you don't have to 2161 01:50:57.840 --> 01:51:01.119 ever be the bad guy to them. In case you 2162 01:51:01.199 --> 01:51:03.000 ever want to do business with them again, you can 2163 01:51:03.119 --> 01:51:05.239 just claim your deputy was the bad guy and it 2164 01:51:05.279 --> 01:51:08.439 was all a misunderstanding, so that that really, at least 2165 01:51:08.439 --> 01:51:11.920 according to Jerry Jarrett's description, is really what Nick Goulas was, 2166 01:51:12.520 --> 01:51:14.760 And eventually Jerry Jarrett boss is going to close in 2167 01:51:14.880 --> 01:51:17.800 on it. Of course's action or fucking believe it. Of course, 2168 01:51:18.199 --> 01:51:21.239 of course, a lot in past episodes of The Complete 2169 01:51:21.439 --> 01:51:24.600 How there was a clear Southeastern Memphis talent exchange. In fact, 2170 01:51:24.680 --> 01:51:26.239 Ron Fuller sent a lot of guys up there that 2171 01:51:26.279 --> 01:51:29.199 he considered pretty important in the beginning stages of his 2172 01:51:29.239 --> 01:51:32.520 brother booking that territory, Rob Fuller booking Memphis until there 2173 01:51:32.680 --> 01:51:35.439 was the falling out we talked about the according Ron Fuller, 2174 01:51:35.479 --> 01:51:37.479 at least the dispute over how much of a percentage 2175 01:51:37.520 --> 01:51:39.760 goes to the boys. Of course, you have to take 2176 01:51:39.800 --> 01:51:41.960 that with a grain of salt. That uh right, He 2177 01:51:42.119 --> 01:51:44.279 left the He left the territory because he didn't think 2178 01:51:44.279 --> 01:51:46.520 the boys were getting paid enough. That would doesn't sound 2179 01:51:46.560 --> 01:51:50.159 like a wrestling promoter to me, But let's not forget 2180 01:51:50.239 --> 01:51:53.720 Roy Welch, his grandfather essentially was involved over there forever 2181 01:51:54.079 --> 01:51:57.720 and was basically running the territory. We talked about how 2182 01:51:57.800 --> 01:51:59.720 Roy Lee Welch, he was the grandson I think, and 2183 01:52:00.079 --> 01:52:02.760 Ester Welch had also helped out getting Hulk Hogan over 2184 01:52:02.800 --> 01:52:04.640 in Alabama. I remember by coming to the TV and 2185 01:52:04.720 --> 01:52:08.880 taking a bear hug leading from the mouth. To say 2186 01:52:08.920 --> 01:52:11.600 nothing of Wayne Ferris, Jerry Lawler's cousin. He was also 2187 01:52:11.800 --> 01:52:14.800 in Alabama in the very earliest days of Hulk Hogan 2188 01:52:14.880 --> 01:52:18.000 arriving there in nineteen seventy nine as Punk Rock Wayne Ferris, 2189 01:52:18.680 --> 01:52:22.560 and eventually Jerry Jarrett opens what would be known with 2190 01:52:22.720 --> 01:52:24.920 c WA instead of just Memphis Wrestling. Is how to 2191 01:52:24.960 --> 01:52:28.199 think about the delineation in seventy seven, when it starts 2192 01:52:28.199 --> 01:52:29.840 to be called c w A, that's when you know 2193 01:52:29.960 --> 01:52:33.119 that Jerry Jarrett has eventually taken the territory essentially, I 2194 01:52:33.159 --> 01:52:35.760 should say, taken the territory and is now running it 2195 01:52:35.840 --> 01:52:37.920 with Jerry Lawler. But there had to be a split 2196 01:52:38.199 --> 01:52:40.119 between Nickolas and Jerry Jarrett and a bit of a 2197 01:52:40.479 --> 01:52:44.359 promotional war before that fully took place. Let's go back 2198 01:52:44.359 --> 01:52:47.399 to nineteen sixty just get a sense of how far 2199 01:52:47.520 --> 01:52:50.520 back this all goes. This is a clipping from the 2200 01:52:50.560 --> 01:52:54.920 Memphis Press Scimitar, which is newspaper out there from nineteen sixty, 2201 01:52:55.479 --> 01:53:01.079 and this is where Fuller is getting some pressure around 2202 01:53:01.159 --> 01:53:05.920 his license. Because we're already we're already starting the gamesmanship 2203 01:53:06.760 --> 01:53:11.079 in this territory. Fuller has had his I think this 2204 01:53:11.159 --> 01:53:13.399 is Buddy Fuller. Let me make sure I get the right. 2205 01:53:14.239 --> 01:53:16.760 I'm sure I'm talking about the right Fuller. Yeah, Buddy Fuller. 2206 01:53:16.840 --> 01:53:21.039 So that is Ron Fuller's dad. Okay, he's promoting in 2207 01:53:21.079 --> 01:53:22.760 the area, but he gets his license pulled by the 2208 01:53:22.800 --> 01:53:24.640 state Athletic Commission. In nineteen sixty. 2209 01:53:25.119 --> 01:53:29.159 He's being told at checks that he had issued, stating 2210 01:53:29.239 --> 01:53:33.319 he had ten days to pay them. We're we're never received, 2211 01:53:33.319 --> 01:53:35.600 even though he claimed in the newspaper that he immediately 2212 01:53:35.680 --> 01:53:38.520 deposited enough money to cover those checks. He said, quote, 2213 01:53:38.520 --> 01:53:40.319 I'm not the best bookkeeper in the world. But then 2214 01:53:40.359 --> 01:53:42.960 the next day I get a letter stating my license 2215 01:53:43.039 --> 01:53:46.479 has been revoked. I think Fuller says there is something 2216 01:53:46.600 --> 01:53:49.479 personal involved in this case. It seems to me that 2217 01:53:49.640 --> 01:53:52.079 someone on the commission is more interested in getting my 2218 01:53:52.319 --> 01:53:53.520 license than my money. 2219 01:53:53.920 --> 01:53:54.159 Wow. 2220 01:53:55.479 --> 01:53:57.000 The second thing that seems strange to me is that 2221 01:53:57.079 --> 01:53:59.239 when a license is revoked there is no hearing. I 2222 01:53:59.359 --> 01:54:01.880 understand that he hearing is usually allowed before the license 2223 01:54:01.960 --> 01:54:04.439 is actually taken up. I had no hearing, no nothing. 2224 01:54:04.760 --> 01:54:07.439 There also seems to be some misunderstanding within the commission. 2225 01:54:07.920 --> 01:54:09.560 So this history of. 2226 01:54:11.079 --> 01:54:14.000 Gulis and Welch taking over from the Fullers, and it's 2227 01:54:14.039 --> 01:54:15.960 kind of weird because it's like it's the same family, 2228 01:54:16.920 --> 01:54:20.760 but in the newspapers Welch and Fuller being used interchangeably 2229 01:54:20.960 --> 01:54:25.199 without renaming Fuller a Welsh. It's very fucking hard to understand. 2230 01:54:25.239 --> 01:54:28.800 But we've talked about how important it was to the 2231 01:54:28.840 --> 01:54:32.920 Fullers that the public not know that they're also the owners, right, 2232 01:54:33.039 --> 01:54:35.640 as it could be seen as self dealing and stuff 2233 01:54:35.800 --> 01:54:39.960 God forbid. Right, But after all, this happens in nineteen 2234 01:54:40.039 --> 01:54:42.760 sixty where Buddy Fuller, the father of Ron Fuller, has 2235 01:54:42.840 --> 01:54:45.560 his license revoked to promote in the area. All of 2236 01:54:45.560 --> 01:54:48.319 a sudden, this hits the papers. The promotion of professional 2237 01:54:48.359 --> 01:54:50.720 wrestling in Memphis last night was passed on to Nick 2238 01:54:50.760 --> 01:54:54.520 Goulis and Roy Welch, veteran Nashville promoters. They will be 2239 01:54:54.640 --> 01:54:57.600 in charge of the shows staged under the sponsorship of 2240 01:54:57.680 --> 01:55:00.359 Memphis Post number one of the American Legion. Wiss and 2241 01:55:00.399 --> 01:55:03.680 Welsh succeed Buddy Fuller, who had his license revoked by 2242 01:55:03.720 --> 01:55:06.640 the Tennessee Athletic Commission last week. Fuller had been wrestling 2243 01:55:06.720 --> 01:55:11.000 promoter here the past two years. Fuller is Welsh's son, Okay, so. 2244 01:55:12.319 --> 01:55:14.920 Okay, so they're not even fucking hiding it anymore. They're 2245 01:55:14.920 --> 01:55:18.319 just fucking okay. He had his license revoked and his 2246 01:55:18.560 --> 01:55:22.439 dad gets it. But this is again, this is this. 2247 01:55:22.560 --> 01:55:25.960 Buddy Fuller is Ron Fuller's dad and running Memphis and well, 2248 01:55:26.119 --> 01:55:29.800 and they handed to his grandfather running Memphis. So to 2249 01:55:29.880 --> 01:55:32.960 pretend that Hult going back and forth between Alabama and 2250 01:55:33.079 --> 01:55:35.920 Memphis is some huge deal is kind of to lose 2251 01:55:35.960 --> 01:55:38.199 sight of the fact that there's a forty well at 2252 01:55:38.359 --> 01:55:41.039 that time, almost a twenty year history of the Welch's, 2253 01:55:41.520 --> 01:55:43.560 you know, basically having their hands on the controls of 2254 01:55:43.600 --> 01:55:46.079 Memphis as well. But Jerry Jarrett is about to change 2255 01:55:46.119 --> 01:55:50.279 that to a pretty significant degree. The article concludes. The 2256 01:55:50.319 --> 01:55:53.039 announcement of the change was made by Fred Lassiter of Nashville, 2257 01:55:53.119 --> 01:55:55.439 chairman of the Tennessee Athletic Commission, who met here with 2258 01:55:55.600 --> 01:55:59.600 Malcolm Forrester of Yorktown Commissioned Secretary, along with Goulis Welch 2259 01:55:59.680 --> 01:56:02.760 and Tony Laiwoe, Memphis commission Member. The first show for 2260 01:56:02.840 --> 01:56:05.600 the new group at Ellis Auditorium will be December nineteenth. 2261 01:56:05.640 --> 01:56:08.159 It will be staged for the Press, Scimitar, Goodfellows and 2262 01:56:08.239 --> 01:56:10.600 Commercial Appeal American Legion Christmas Funds. 2263 01:56:10.760 --> 01:56:13.199 So how about that. We're gonna do wrestling shows so 2264 01:56:13.279 --> 01:56:15.840 the tickets can go to the American Legion Christmas Fund. 2265 01:56:17.199 --> 01:56:18.880 It's one of the old ways they used to sell wrestling. 2266 01:56:18.880 --> 01:56:22.239 It's kind of like charity fundraising. It's still still happens sometimes. Yeah, 2267 01:56:22.760 --> 01:56:24.760 and then this hits the December thirtieth of that year, 2268 01:56:24.880 --> 01:56:27.880 right around the time we're operating in now. Buddy Fuller 2269 01:56:27.960 --> 01:56:31.079 on suspended list. Buddy Fuller, former Memphis wrestling promoter, will 2270 01:56:31.079 --> 01:56:34.279 not appear on the Ellis Auditorium program Monday. He is 2271 01:56:34.359 --> 01:56:36.640 under suspension by the Tennessee Athletic Commission and it is 2272 01:56:36.680 --> 01:56:38.760 not allowed to participate in matches. About that. 2273 01:56:38.840 --> 01:56:40.880 You get your license revoked and then you're under suspension. 2274 01:56:43.840 --> 01:56:46.520 It's just it's the gamesmanship is unbelievable. This is guy, 2275 01:56:46.600 --> 01:56:49.760 Tony Lawo, I I. 2276 01:56:50.439 --> 01:57:00.319 I don't know, I don't know. I'm just I got nothing. Actually, 2277 01:57:00.479 --> 01:57:03.680 continue head spinning, head spinning, Yeah, exactly, that's exactly what 2278 01:57:03.800 --> 01:57:03.960 it is. 2279 01:57:04.119 --> 01:57:08.439 Ron Fuller's dad ran Memphis, right, and then he got 2280 01:57:08.479 --> 01:57:12.039 his license revoked, only for Ron Fuller's granddad to get 2281 01:57:12.039 --> 01:57:16.319 it in concert with Nicholas. So the Welch's are still 2282 01:57:16.439 --> 01:57:19.479 running Memphis. But the papers make it seem like the 2283 01:57:19.560 --> 01:57:22.000 grandfather and the father are competing with each other for 2284 01:57:22.079 --> 01:57:24.880 the license. But it's the same family, just sometimes they're 2285 01:57:24.880 --> 01:57:28.359 called Welch and sometimes they're called Fuller. I mean, can 2286 01:57:28.359 --> 01:57:29.119 you imagine reading the. 2287 01:57:29.119 --> 01:57:32.119 Paper It's it says Fuller is Welch's son. Then why 2288 01:57:32.159 --> 01:57:34.199 the fuck is his last name Fuller? Right? Is no 2289 01:57:34.239 --> 01:57:38.119 one going to talk about this? Should his last name 2290 01:57:38.159 --> 01:57:43.359 be Welch if he's his son? Or you're exposing the business? Right? 2291 01:57:43.479 --> 01:57:47.680 Well you are anyway. So this is my stick, This 2292 01:57:47.880 --> 01:57:48.600 is my gimmick. 2293 01:57:49.760 --> 01:57:52.920 This Police Inspectoris Memphis rep on the five Man Commission. 2294 01:57:52.960 --> 01:57:55.159 This Tony Laiwoe is the guy that's they're kind of 2295 01:57:55.199 --> 01:57:57.760 suspecting of playing games to get Buddy Fuller kicked out 2296 01:57:57.800 --> 01:58:01.399 of owning the territory. So they ask him, like, what happened? 2297 01:58:01.399 --> 01:58:03.279 He says, I have nothing to say except that Fuller's 2298 01:58:03.359 --> 01:58:06.520 license was revoked because of action detrimental to the best 2299 01:58:06.560 --> 01:58:10.000 interest of wrestling. Excuse me, excuse me, now what action 2300 01:58:10.279 --> 01:58:14.079 detrimental to the best interest of wrestling? Love to know 2301 01:58:14.159 --> 01:58:15.399 what the fuck that's supposed to mean. 2302 01:58:16.640 --> 01:58:16.960 I don't know. 2303 01:58:17.159 --> 01:58:19.520 I mean, it's not like Welch and Gulis went on 2304 01:58:19.680 --> 01:58:23.199 to run a clean shop. In nineteen sixty, they were 2305 01:58:23.399 --> 01:58:27.600 charged with conspiring to stop an investigation of their business practices, 2306 01:58:28.279 --> 01:58:32.279 and even accused, in some sworn depositions delivered in a 2307 01:58:32.640 --> 01:58:37.560 future lawsuit, of making bribes to a US senator to 2308 01:58:37.640 --> 01:58:41.199 try to bring scrutiny of their business practices. Yes, these 2309 01:58:41.239 --> 01:58:44.079 things are stated matter of factly in public reports and 2310 01:58:44.079 --> 01:58:48.000 Wikipedia and elsewhere. There was complaints, apparently to the United 2311 01:58:48.039 --> 01:58:53.199 States Department of Justice over these attempts to buy a 2312 01:58:53.319 --> 01:58:55.479 lack of scrutiny of what they were doing. You can't 2313 01:58:55.520 --> 01:58:59.079 forget the NWA was investigated as essentially a racket, essentially, 2314 01:59:00.079 --> 01:59:03.239 you know, something where people were blackballed if they didn't 2315 01:59:03.520 --> 01:59:08.359 participate in this monopolistic activity. You know, the NWA. It 2316 01:59:08.439 --> 01:59:11.119 didn't just exist to benefit the members. That existed to 2317 01:59:11.159 --> 01:59:14.079 make sure nobody else ran in the cities that NWA 2318 01:59:14.159 --> 01:59:17.479 members operated in, and if you did try to run opposition, 2319 01:59:17.520 --> 01:59:19.600 they would flood the market with some of the top 2320 01:59:19.680 --> 01:59:21.880 talent the NBA had to offer so that the wrestling 2321 01:59:21.920 --> 01:59:25.199 fans would, you know, eventually just not patronize your shows 2322 01:59:25.239 --> 01:59:28.760 and shut you down. And these practices over time pissed 2323 01:59:28.800 --> 01:59:32.039 off enough people that they went to the FBI and 2324 01:59:32.119 --> 01:59:35.000 a federal investigation was launched and they basically, you know, 2325 01:59:35.159 --> 01:59:37.399 found enough to put pressure on the NWA to sign 2326 01:59:37.439 --> 01:59:40.239 a consent decree, which is essentially like I'm going to 2327 01:59:40.319 --> 01:59:41.680 do all these things and I'm going to keep all 2328 01:59:41.720 --> 01:59:44.239 these business practices in line, and if I don't, I 2329 01:59:44.359 --> 01:59:46.439 agree that the Department of Justice is going to charge 2330 01:59:46.479 --> 01:59:49.359 me with a crime. Essentially, it's almost like a list 2331 01:59:49.399 --> 01:59:52.479 of things you must do to not get charged. Okay, 2332 01:59:52.560 --> 01:59:56.359 that's like one step away from actually being charged. Because 2333 01:59:56.399 --> 01:59:58.640 you know, the NBA was a monopoly. It's very simple, 2334 01:59:59.199 --> 02:00:02.279 and so it's not like he got shut down or dismantled, 2335 02:00:02.399 --> 02:00:04.600 but they did have to have kind of a little 2336 02:00:04.640 --> 02:00:07.680 dalliance with the Department of Justice about what they could 2337 02:00:07.680 --> 02:00:09.840 and couldn't do. That's why there's so much boss that's 2338 02:00:09.960 --> 02:00:13.600 public record about, you know, the interoffice memos and stuff. 2339 02:00:13.640 --> 02:00:15.800 That's why we have like all these memos from Sam 2340 02:00:15.880 --> 02:00:18.760 Muchnick's office to all the promoters and everything over the 2341 02:00:18.880 --> 02:00:20.880 years because it was all collected as part of this 2342 02:00:21.239 --> 02:00:23.840 dj antitrust investigation in the fifties. 2343 02:00:24.840 --> 02:00:29.119 It's fucking nuts. If you knew the NWA was a racket, yes, yeah, 2344 02:00:29.119 --> 02:00:30.840 I mean, listen, we knew it was a racket to 2345 02:00:30.840 --> 02:00:32.880 begin with, but this is this is just a whole 2346 02:00:32.960 --> 02:00:33.840 other fucking level. 2347 02:00:35.760 --> 02:00:39.680 He's a lapsed fan wrestling podcast with Jack n Carneo 2348 02:00:40.079 --> 02:00:51.119 and JP Soros fan wrestling pods. 2349 02:00:51.159 --> 02:00:57.039 So apparently investigators were looking into the Welsh business practices 2350 02:00:57.079 --> 02:00:59.840 in Memphis along with Nick Gulis, and some attempts were 2351 02:01:00.199 --> 02:01:02.920 to keep that scrutiny off of their back. We'll get 2352 02:01:02.960 --> 02:01:04.319 more into that in just a second, but you know 2353 02:01:04.359 --> 02:01:07.439 who's circling You know who's circling as all of these 2354 02:01:07.560 --> 02:01:13.159 territories are being upended and powers being shifted around Jim Barnett. 2355 02:01:13.600 --> 02:01:17.680 Of course, we turned to Chokehold Pro Wrestling's real mayhem 2356 02:01:17.720 --> 02:01:22.119 out the book from Weldon Johnson and former wrestler Jim Wilson, 2357 02:01:22.119 --> 02:01:23.640 who was one of the guys who really tried to 2358 02:01:23.720 --> 02:01:28.239 take on the NWA stranglehold on the territory because he 2359 02:01:28.279 --> 02:01:32.359 basically blamed that dominance from a former football player. Was 2360 02:01:32.439 --> 02:01:35.880 Jim Wilson from becoming a wrestling star and basically devoted 2361 02:01:35.880 --> 02:01:38.000 the rest of his life to fighting all these promoters 2362 02:01:38.039 --> 02:01:41.079 in court and wrote an incredible book that has a 2363 02:01:41.199 --> 02:01:44.319 ton of detail about how the NWA came to be 2364 02:01:44.399 --> 02:01:47.920 the NWA, and how they exerted control and influence and 2365 02:01:48.039 --> 02:01:50.720 how they kept basically an iron grip on how pro 2366 02:01:50.800 --> 02:01:53.039 wrestling was to work and who was to succeed as 2367 02:01:53.079 --> 02:01:57.920 pro wrestling promoters and owners for decades and decades. The 2368 02:01:57.960 --> 02:02:00.760 book reads in between skirmishes in the Battle Atlanta, Okay, 2369 02:02:00.800 --> 02:02:03.560 So Jim Barnett went up against Anne Gunkle for control 2370 02:02:03.640 --> 02:02:06.079 of Atlanta Wrestling in the early seventies and they battled 2371 02:02:06.119 --> 02:02:06.880 it out like crazy. 2372 02:02:07.079 --> 02:02:11.920 Come on, leaving Gunkle alone, Barnett found time, the book reads, 2373 02:02:11.960 --> 02:02:14.359 to pick a fight with the nwas Memphis promoter Nick 2374 02:02:14.399 --> 02:02:17.199 Goulis trying to muscle Gouliss out of the territory Goulis 2375 02:02:17.279 --> 02:02:19.960 thought he owned So look at this. Barnett tried to 2376 02:02:20.000 --> 02:02:24.159 close in on Memphis in the seventies. I didn't. I didn't. 2377 02:02:24.640 --> 02:02:26.359 That's just an unfair characteristic. 2378 02:02:26.720 --> 02:02:26.880 Look. 2379 02:02:26.960 --> 02:02:30.439 Look there, there's just things going on. I'm not doing 2380 02:02:30.479 --> 02:02:33.800 anything bad. There's just things going on. I must say, 2381 02:02:33.960 --> 02:02:40.800 I'm not being naughty. I'm not a naughty boy. I'm 2382 02:02:40.840 --> 02:02:44.119 a good old country boy. Don't you forget it. I'm 2383 02:02:44.199 --> 02:02:51.000 not naughty now now, if you want to get naughty, 2384 02:02:53.239 --> 02:02:55.279 I'm not saying I have nothing fail you. It doesn't 2385 02:02:55.319 --> 02:02:58.119 think I don't get naughty. I'm just not naughty by nature. 2386 02:02:59.119 --> 02:02:59.479 M hm. 2387 02:03:00.520 --> 02:03:01.479 The midjule. 2388 02:03:03.640 --> 02:03:03.880 For you? 2389 02:03:04.279 --> 02:03:07.520 How about a y? It was yes. 2390 02:03:09.079 --> 02:03:11.800 In spring nineteen seventy four, the book reads, Jim Barnett's 2391 02:03:11.840 --> 02:03:14.920 nWay Partners launched an all out attack on Anne Gunkle's 2392 02:03:14.920 --> 02:03:17.479 promotion by bringing its big name attractions from around the 2393 02:03:17.520 --> 02:03:20.800 country to the Georgia Circuit, where they showcased at Atlanta's 2394 02:03:20.840 --> 02:03:23.279 new Omni Arena. So this is also a battle for 2395 02:03:23.359 --> 02:03:25.640 control of the Omni and Boss. It's Barnett winning this 2396 02:03:25.680 --> 02:03:27.600 battle that puts him in prime position to develop the 2397 02:03:27.680 --> 02:03:32.239 relationship with Ted Turner, thus leading to Georgia Championship, becoming, 2398 02:03:32.920 --> 02:03:35.159 you know, the dominant promotion on what was the earliest 2399 02:03:35.239 --> 02:03:39.279 days of cable and WTBS and eventually becoming WCW with 2400 02:03:39.359 --> 02:03:42.239 Jim Barnett involved the whole way. Well, if you don't 2401 02:03:42.279 --> 02:03:45.560 count the temporary ouster that Oliott Anderson was able to 2402 02:03:45.640 --> 02:03:48.079 engineer leading to Black Saturday. But that's all we do 2403 02:03:49.079 --> 02:03:52.159 to ramp up Georgia Championship's booking clout. Barnett had replaced 2404 02:03:52.199 --> 02:03:54.159 Bill Watts. Bill Watts was booking Georgia at the time 2405 02:03:54.479 --> 02:03:58.680 as booker with who who did Barnett install as booker 2406 02:03:58.760 --> 02:04:00.279 for Georgia Championship in this war? 2407 02:04:00.600 --> 02:04:04.640 Olie Anderson? Jerry Jarrett, Oh, Jerry Jarrett? Wow? All right? 2408 02:04:05.319 --> 02:04:07.960 Who was running Louisville at the time. He started, not 2409 02:04:08.079 --> 02:04:10.680 with Memphis, but just running little I can't even make 2410 02:04:10.760 --> 02:04:13.359 keep track. I can't keep dragging of all these fucking clients. 2411 02:04:15.479 --> 02:04:17.000 What the fuck is going on here? 2412 02:04:17.399 --> 02:04:19.640 Because Jarrett's mom worked for the office, they gave him 2413 02:04:19.680 --> 02:04:21.279 a town. They said, why don't you want you know, 2414 02:04:21.359 --> 02:04:23.319 you want to try your hand at prooding. Do Louisville, 2415 02:04:23.319 --> 02:04:25.239 do Evansville, Indiana. See if you can get these these 2416 02:04:25.399 --> 02:04:27.720 areas going for us, and Jerry did well enough that 2417 02:04:27.800 --> 02:04:29.479 eventually he's like, I'll take the whole fucking thing. You know, 2418 02:04:29.560 --> 02:04:30.399 it's the whole story. 2419 02:04:30.520 --> 02:04:30.680 You know. 2420 02:04:31.119 --> 02:04:33.880 You let someone in so that you know, you can 2421 02:04:33.920 --> 02:04:36.479 sort of outsource the hard work to open up new areas, 2422 02:04:36.920 --> 02:04:38.800 and pretty soon they figure out the playbook and they're like, 2423 02:04:38.840 --> 02:04:40.279 you're just a bitch, Like I can just take this 2424 02:04:40.359 --> 02:04:45.960 from you. You don't do anything the secrets out so yes. 2425 02:04:46.000 --> 02:04:48.119 At the time, Jarrett was just promoting small in Louisville 2426 02:04:48.159 --> 02:04:51.359 and Kentucky small towns and Jim Barnett tapped him and said, 2427 02:04:51.359 --> 02:04:54.800 you're gonna book Georgia Championship Wrestling, and Jarrett brought heel 2428 02:04:54.800 --> 02:04:57.760 manager Gary Hart, the three Garvins, Jerry Lawler, and Dick 2429 02:04:57.800 --> 02:04:59.520 the Bruiser to the OMNI for matches with the n 2430 02:04:59.640 --> 02:05:02.680 WA Georgia standbys like Tim Woods, Mister Wrestling Too, and 2431 02:05:02.840 --> 02:05:05.279 Ron Fuller. Ron Fuller was we talked about this. 2432 02:05:05.359 --> 02:05:07.399 He was in Georgia before he got his own territory 2433 02:05:07.680 --> 02:05:09.920 down on the Gulf Coast, before he bought into Southeastern 2434 02:05:10.319 --> 02:05:12.920 or bought out the prior owner of Southeastern. Ron Fuller 2435 02:05:13.000 --> 02:05:15.520 was a star in WTBS before and then a few 2436 02:05:15.560 --> 02:05:19.199 months later Jarrett left Georgia championship. So Jerry Jarrett didn't 2437 02:05:19.199 --> 02:05:21.439 book Georgia for very long, but he booked it at 2438 02:05:21.439 --> 02:05:25.439 a very important time in terms of establishing credibility connections 2439 02:05:25.479 --> 02:05:28.000 with the NWA, the kind of cloud it would take 2440 02:05:28.079 --> 02:05:31.039 to unseat someone like a Nick Goulis who had been 2441 02:05:31.520 --> 02:05:35.119 owning the territory via Bloodbath since the sixties, since nineteen sixty, 2442 02:05:35.840 --> 02:05:38.199 So Jerry Jarrett is really establishing himself with the power 2443 02:05:38.239 --> 02:05:42.199 structure of the NWA, as evidenced by Jim Barnett picking 2444 02:05:42.279 --> 02:05:45.279 him to book Georgia. And so Jarrett left Georgia when 2445 02:05:45.319 --> 02:05:48.800 he was offered half ownership in the Gulis Welsh promotion 2446 02:05:49.279 --> 02:05:52.840 that did the Tennessee shows Kentucky, parts of Indiana, Mississippi 2447 02:05:52.840 --> 02:05:56.520 and Arkansas as well. And who replaced Jerry Jarrett in 2448 02:05:56.600 --> 02:05:59.840 Georgia when he went to take over half of ten 2449 02:06:00.119 --> 02:06:01.880 See Louis Toillette. 2450 02:06:02.119 --> 02:06:05.840 Oh, Mike, are you fucking serious? All these guys knew 2451 02:06:05.840 --> 02:06:08.159 each other ahead of time? This is like fucking this 2452 02:06:08.399 --> 02:06:12.800 is like, this is like incestuous community theater very much 2453 02:06:13.079 --> 02:06:16.039 is what this is, and it's all important to understanding 2454 02:06:16.239 --> 02:06:20.159 who had their fingers on the controls of Terry Bully's 2455 02:06:20.199 --> 02:06:23.359 career pro wrestling. Yeah, yeah, it's all. It's all vital. 2456 02:06:23.439 --> 02:06:27.520 I mean Jerry by virtue of getting involved with the 2457 02:06:27.600 --> 02:06:29.920 Georgia War and getting the endorsement so to speak of 2458 02:06:30.159 --> 02:06:34.560 Jim Barnett also had a great connection to Eddie Graham. 2459 02:06:34.840 --> 02:06:37.159 You know, they do these nw Way meetings and eventually 2460 02:06:37.239 --> 02:06:39.800 in the power struggle that is to ensue between Nick 2461 02:06:39.840 --> 02:06:42.680 Goulis and Jerry Jarrett, Eddie Graham would vote for the kid, 2462 02:06:42.760 --> 02:06:46.239 would vote for Jerry Jarrett to run Memphis over the 2463 02:06:46.399 --> 02:06:51.279 incumbent Nick gool Wow. Jerry's mother, Christine, as I mentioned, 2464 02:06:52.359 --> 02:06:54.840 was really the first Jarrett entree into the wrestling business. 2465 02:06:54.960 --> 02:06:59.000 Used to sell tickets for the Goulis Welsh operation and 2466 02:06:59.119 --> 02:07:02.079 that's where is mentioned. Glis eventually gives young teenaged Jerry 2467 02:07:02.159 --> 02:07:04.760 jarreted a job, first selling programs and then eventually promoting 2468 02:07:04.800 --> 02:07:07.680 some towns. And as you write in his book, Jerry 2469 02:07:07.720 --> 02:07:10.800 Jarrett does one day and I don't remember why, I 2470 02:07:10.880 --> 02:07:13.319 took the money and report to the wrestling office myself, 2471 02:07:13.359 --> 02:07:15.880 that is to say, you know, the gate receipts. Roy 2472 02:07:15.920 --> 02:07:18.760 Welch was there in the office with Nick. This is 2473 02:07:18.800 --> 02:07:21.800 the day I realized that Nick had a partner. Roy 2474 02:07:21.880 --> 02:07:24.840 asked if I would mind calling him each time I 2475 02:07:24.920 --> 02:07:27.199 went to check up and give him a report on 2476 02:07:27.279 --> 02:07:30.159 how I liked the matches. I enjoyed watching the matches, 2477 02:07:30.479 --> 02:07:32.239 so I told Roy that it would be a pleasure. 2478 02:07:32.479 --> 02:07:35.079 But now bear in mind, boss, this is according to 2479 02:07:35.159 --> 02:07:38.560 Jerry Jarrett, before he knew wrestling was fake. Okay, so 2480 02:07:39.079 --> 02:07:43.760 a teenager selling programs and working doing work for the office, still. 2481 02:07:43.560 --> 02:07:47.319 Thinking it's real, right, Well, what's wrong with that? Roy 2482 02:07:47.359 --> 02:07:48.960 asked if I would mind calling him each time I 2483 02:07:49.039 --> 02:07:50.960 went to check up and give him a report and 2484 02:07:51.039 --> 02:07:53.439 how I liked the matches. I enjoyed watching the matches, 2485 02:07:53.479 --> 02:07:55.000 so I told Roy that it would be a pleasure. 2486 02:07:55.119 --> 02:07:57.119 I went to the matches that night and called Roy 2487 02:07:57.159 --> 02:07:59.920 the next day to give him my report. I advised Roy, 2488 02:08:00.279 --> 02:08:02.520 all the matches were very good except the first one, 2489 02:08:03.039 --> 02:08:07.359 and I'm quite sure they faked the match. Wow. Roy 2490 02:08:07.399 --> 02:08:10.279 asked me to explain, Well, mister Welch, they just acted 2491 02:08:10.359 --> 02:08:12.479 like they punched each other and they would fall down 2492 02:08:12.560 --> 02:08:15.079 and fake getting hurt. All the wrestlers had to dress 2493 02:08:15.119 --> 02:08:17.319 in the same big room and I'm guessing they made 2494 02:08:17.359 --> 02:08:20.880 a deal to not hurt each other. Roy advised that 2495 02:08:20.960 --> 02:08:24.279 he would look into the matter. That's fucking funny. Can 2496 02:08:24.359 --> 02:08:27.840 you imagine that. It's like, I think I think it's fake. Well, 2497 02:08:28.560 --> 02:08:30.399 i'll tell you, young man, if that's what you think, 2498 02:08:30.840 --> 02:08:33.640 I gotta do something about it. And what happens is 2499 02:08:33.720 --> 02:08:35.920 a real consequence. I imagine Roy Welch picks up the 2500 02:08:35.920 --> 02:08:39.000 phone and goes, you motherfuckers are mailing it into the 2501 02:08:39.039 --> 02:08:40.960 point that this kid can tell it's not real. This 2502 02:08:41.319 --> 02:08:45.079 this idiot says it's fucking fake. Now I know it's fake. 2503 02:08:45.159 --> 02:08:47.239 You know it's fake, but they can't know it's fucking fake. 2504 02:08:47.439 --> 02:08:49.680 That's not how the Welches run a wrestling business. Boss, 2505 02:08:49.880 --> 02:08:54.439 you better get real, right boys. So funny, I like 2506 02:08:54.880 --> 02:08:57.800 this kid, like the consequences for these guys are real 2507 02:08:58.000 --> 02:08:58.960 for making it look fake. 2508 02:08:59.239 --> 02:09:02.319 Not that not fake, just making it look fake. And 2509 02:09:02.399 --> 02:09:04.840 he's using young Jerry Jarrett. It's kind of like the 2510 02:09:04.920 --> 02:09:08.319 litmus test for that. Years later, after I became Roy's partner, 2511 02:09:08.439 --> 02:09:12.039 Jarrett continues, he never mentioned our conversation directly. On one occasion, 2512 02:09:12.079 --> 02:09:13.800 as I was leaving the office to go to Memphis, 2513 02:09:13.920 --> 02:09:16.119 Roy said, Jerry, be sure to watch all the matches. 2514 02:09:16.199 --> 02:09:18.079 If any of those bastards have a fake match, it 2515 02:09:18.119 --> 02:09:22.000 will I just replied, okay, Roy, I'll keep an eye 2516 02:09:22.039 --> 02:09:30.039 on them. It got it got serious though, as Jerry began, 2517 02:09:31.079 --> 02:09:32.600 you know, trying to take over more and more in 2518 02:09:32.640 --> 02:09:37.479 the territory and become the the the made man. He's 2519 02:09:37.479 --> 02:09:41.239 a guy named Mario Galento who was on kind of 2520 02:09:41.239 --> 02:09:44.920 the goolest Welsh side of things, who attacks Jerry Jarrett 2521 02:09:44.960 --> 02:09:45.880 during jer. 2522 02:09:45.920 --> 02:09:49.840 Mario Mario Galento. Do you remember when we did a 2523 02:09:49.920 --> 02:09:52.159 show a while ago about like when's the first time 2524 02:09:52.199 --> 02:09:54.640 people would be on TV saying wrestling was fake? When 2525 02:09:54.640 --> 02:09:59.960 we did the whole I'm told the secrets of progress 2526 02:10:00.159 --> 02:10:02.520 revealed special and we went all the way back to 2527 02:10:02.600 --> 02:10:06.760 that Memphis call in show wrestling fans have been tripped again. Yes, 2528 02:10:06.840 --> 02:10:09.239 where there was a Memphis wrestler and studio taking questions 2529 02:10:09.279 --> 02:10:14.079 about it being fake. That was Mario Glento. Wow, and 2530 02:10:14.199 --> 02:10:17.720 this guy was a maniac. I mean just he was 2531 02:10:17.760 --> 02:10:22.199 definitely somebody that had run into the law. At one point, 2532 02:10:22.319 --> 02:10:24.159 Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawla are wrestling each other and 2533 02:10:24.239 --> 02:10:26.640 Mario Glento hits the ring and attacks Jerry Jarrett for 2534 02:10:26.720 --> 02:10:28.399 real and later shows up with a gun at one 2535 02:10:28.399 --> 02:10:31.720 of their matches. This, according to Jerry Jarrett, is just 2536 02:10:31.760 --> 02:10:35.960 part of a campaign to intimidate them out of taking 2537 02:10:36.000 --> 02:10:42.439 too much of the territory. Yes, gun, that's correct. Okay, listen, 2538 02:10:42.600 --> 02:10:42.920 you get it. 2539 02:10:42.960 --> 02:10:46.640 You do what you gotta do, you know, Jared I 2540 02:10:46.720 --> 02:10:49.479 called a friend I had the FBI and explained that 2541 02:10:49.600 --> 02:10:51.920 someone would get killed unless they did something about Galento. 2542 02:10:52.279 --> 02:10:54.359 I returned from Florida and was interviewed by the FBI. 2543 02:10:55.079 --> 02:10:56.840 They then went to Mario and advised him that they 2544 02:10:56.840 --> 02:10:58.640 would find out who had paid him, and all of them, 2545 02:10:58.680 --> 02:11:00.840 Mario included, would be charged with attempted murder. 2546 02:11:00.960 --> 02:11:03.359 Mario disappeared. I later heard they had moved to Florida. 2547 02:11:03.760 --> 02:11:06.079 Did we ever find out for certain, Jerry writes in 2548 02:11:06.159 --> 02:11:10.840 his book if Roy Welch was behind the Mario Galento incidents, No, 2549 02:11:10.960 --> 02:11:13.239 we did not. In fact, we never determined why Mario 2550 02:11:13.359 --> 02:11:15.560 did it at all. The reason we all suspected Roy 2551 02:11:15.680 --> 02:11:17.880 was behind it was many little things he had done 2552 02:11:18.199 --> 02:11:20.399 leading up to the incident. He had asked several wrestlers 2553 02:11:20.399 --> 02:11:22.760 if they thought I might try to steal the business 2554 02:11:23.199 --> 02:11:26.680 by going into business myself. Roy had come from a 2555 02:11:26.720 --> 02:11:28.359 background in the wrestling business in which it was not 2556 02:11:28.479 --> 02:11:31.520 uncommon for a booker to break away and start a promotion. 2557 02:11:32.640 --> 02:11:34.840 Sound like a plan b boss, It sounds like a 2558 02:11:34.920 --> 02:11:38.359 plan A to me. I mean that is no wonder. 2559 02:11:38.479 --> 02:11:42.640 Ron Fuller was so paramoised about this something. Yeah, his 2560 02:11:42.760 --> 02:11:45.479 whole family's history in the business was bereft with stories 2561 02:11:46.199 --> 02:11:49.039 of talent trying to open up an office to run 2562 02:11:50.119 --> 02:11:52.720 opposition to them and take the territory. And in some cases, like. 2563 02:11:52.800 --> 02:11:56.079 Jerry Jarrett, it fucking worked, and Bob Rup tried to 2564 02:11:56.119 --> 02:11:57.359 do one, it didn't work. He tried to do one 2565 02:11:57.399 --> 02:12:01.039 in San Francisco and it didn't work. Was getting forgetful. 2566 02:12:01.640 --> 02:12:04.479 Jerry Wrights and many suspected it had gone past sentinility 2567 02:12:04.600 --> 02:12:08.239 and was Alzheimer's. Roy died without us ever knowing for sure. So, yeah, 2568 02:12:08.640 --> 02:12:10.319 he talks a lot more about this. But Roy Welch 2569 02:12:10.319 --> 02:12:12.159 at this point had started to kind of slip mentally 2570 02:12:13.439 --> 02:12:17.600 and so but in wrestling, it that's always a that's 2571 02:12:17.640 --> 02:12:21.800 always an ailment of convenience, right right, he was always 2572 02:12:21.840 --> 02:12:23.760 mind heart attack. 2573 02:12:25.319 --> 02:12:25.800 Exactly. 2574 02:12:26.439 --> 02:12:28.680 It's to me that sounds more like Jerry Jarrett, who's 2575 02:12:28.680 --> 02:12:32.000 passed on saying, I don't I don't want to believe 2576 02:12:32.079 --> 02:12:34.479 that Roy Welch would send Mario Glento to kill me. 2577 02:12:34.800 --> 02:12:37.800 I would much rather just believe he was slipping mentally, 2578 02:12:39.199 --> 02:12:41.079 and if he did do anything in that direction, it 2579 02:12:41.199 --> 02:12:43.000 was just because he was kind of losing his marbles. 2580 02:12:43.159 --> 02:12:46.560 It's not unlike Hulk citing lou for Rigno having the 2581 02:12:46.600 --> 02:12:49.840 speech impediment and the deafness in an ear as to 2582 02:12:49.960 --> 02:12:53.960 why he wouldn't have necessarily picked up on that infamous 2583 02:12:54.920 --> 02:12:58.560 studio host saying that Terry Bolea was bigger than Lufa. 2584 02:12:58.640 --> 02:13:01.239 Rigno was the real Hulk. Whenever he told that story, 2585 02:13:01.319 --> 02:13:05.399 he'd always Hulkwood fold in the fact that Figna had 2586 02:13:05.399 --> 02:13:08.279 the hearing issue in my mind, so that if anyone 2587 02:13:08.319 --> 02:13:09.880 ever questioned it in the future, I could say, well, 2588 02:13:09.920 --> 02:13:14.840 of course, that brother, God forbid, he didn't fucking remember 2589 02:13:14.920 --> 02:13:18.920 he was actually there. Mark James co authored the book 2590 02:13:18.960 --> 02:13:21.039 with Jerry Jarrett and did a lot of great books 2591 02:13:21.079 --> 02:13:24.880 with Memphis wrestlers, and he fixes an editor's note to 2592 02:13:24.920 --> 02:13:26.560 the end of this chapter about what we just read 2593 02:13:26.600 --> 02:13:29.720 with Mario Galento. He writes, as a fan watching wrestling. 2594 02:13:29.840 --> 02:13:32.439 This was an extremely weird time. The promotion always tried 2595 02:13:32.439 --> 02:13:34.039 to make wrestling as real as possible and make it 2596 02:13:34.119 --> 02:13:35.920 easy for the fans to believe it was real. This 2597 02:13:36.079 --> 02:13:38.960 incident with Mario Gleno crossed that line, and it was real. 2598 02:13:39.279 --> 02:13:41.119 There's no telling what would have happened on the show 2599 02:13:41.159 --> 02:13:43.439 that Saturday morning if Jerry jareded had not gained quick 2600 02:13:43.479 --> 02:13:45.960 control of the situation. That is to say, Mario Glento 2601 02:13:46.039 --> 02:13:47.600 hitting the ring and trying to rip his face off, 2602 02:13:47.760 --> 02:13:50.199 basically without being invited to do so and not being 2603 02:13:50.239 --> 02:13:52.600 part of the show. This happened, and when Jerry Jared 2604 02:13:52.680 --> 02:13:54.680 told the story on Tales from the Territories on Vice TV, 2605 02:13:54.800 --> 02:13:56.680 he had to think about how he basically ripped Galento's 2606 02:13:56.720 --> 02:13:59.319 eye out of his fucking head because he just went 2607 02:13:59.640 --> 02:14:03.039 prime on him trying to stop this guy. Christ their 2608 02:14:03.119 --> 02:14:04.880 fans were treated to a real situation and thought it 2609 02:14:04.960 --> 02:14:06.279 was nothing out of the normal. Again, and then the 2610 02:14:06.319 --> 02:14:08.479 studio audience thinks it's normal, you know, they just think 2611 02:14:08.520 --> 02:14:11.279 it's a run in. Well, yeah, although they don't know 2612 02:14:11.279 --> 02:14:12.279 who this Mario Glento is. 2613 02:14:12.359 --> 02:14:15.319 Necessarily is that the best part is that fucking the 2614 02:14:15.600 --> 02:14:17.840 wrestling audience is like, okay, this is part of the 2615 02:14:17.880 --> 02:14:20.760 fucking action, but any other normal human beings like, no, 2616 02:14:21.000 --> 02:14:26.319 this is not okay. Rights, that's the wrestling fan versus 2617 02:14:26.399 --> 02:14:27.520 the normal human being. 2618 02:14:27.640 --> 02:14:31.079 Exactly exactly, and the wrestlers, even though it's real as fuck, 2619 02:14:31.119 --> 02:14:33.880 can't let that on. They can't like, actly, oh, this 2620 02:14:34.000 --> 02:14:36.640 is actually real, and everything elseide was phony. So it's 2621 02:14:36.680 --> 02:14:39.479 not like the fan would detect really a change in anything. Right, 2622 02:14:40.760 --> 02:14:43.239 it must have felt like the Twilight Zone. Mark James 2623 02:14:43.279 --> 02:14:46.199 Wrights for Jerry when he learned Roy Welch was behind 2624 02:14:46.239 --> 02:14:48.119 the attacks. I don't know how else to describe it. 2625 02:14:48.279 --> 02:14:50.159 Roy was the one who had given Jerry his start 2626 02:14:50.199 --> 02:14:52.159 in the business. Roy was also the one who had 2627 02:14:52.199 --> 02:14:54.479 made Jerry the Memphis booker. That's what makes this whole 2628 02:14:54.520 --> 02:14:57.600 situation so strange. I know that Alzheimer's is an awful disease, 2629 02:14:57.960 --> 02:14:59.720 but I still wonder what Roy was thinking in his 2630 02:14:59.760 --> 02:15:04.600 whole state. But no, Jerry is a He's gaining more 2631 02:15:04.600 --> 02:15:07.079 and more control, he's getting more and more credibility to 2632 02:15:07.079 --> 02:15:11.279 the NWA, and he's buying. He's going to buy out 2633 02:15:11.399 --> 02:15:13.880 Roy Welch's shares and go fifty to fifty within the 2634 02:15:13.960 --> 02:15:14.479 Gulist or. 2635 02:15:14.479 --> 02:15:18.239 So things or so things. Yeah, Jerry writes, I returned 2636 02:15:18.239 --> 02:15:20.399 home to Tennessee and now had a recognized ownership in 2637 02:15:20.439 --> 02:15:23.199 one of the twenty two National Wrestling Alliance territories. The 2638 02:15:23.279 --> 02:15:26.560 fact that I already owned one half of Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, 2639 02:15:26.720 --> 02:15:29.439 and Evansville, Indiana, along with one hundred percent of Tupelo, 2640 02:15:29.479 --> 02:15:33.479 Mississippi and Jonesboro, Arkansas, meant nothing to the NWA membership 2641 02:15:33.560 --> 02:15:35.960 with these towns. I was just a local promoter. However, 2642 02:15:36.439 --> 02:15:39.159 having a ten percent ownership in Gooulish Welts in the 2643 02:15:39.239 --> 02:15:42.680 Gouleist Welsh territories, that's he starts with just ten percent. Okay, 2644 02:15:42.840 --> 02:15:47.319 just know that meant I had a member of the men. 2645 02:15:47.439 --> 02:15:49.600 I was a member of the fraternity. I had attended 2646 02:15:49.720 --> 02:15:52.720 NWA meetings, but had no standing prior to this ten 2647 02:15:52.800 --> 02:15:56.159 percent ownership. Roy Welch's health continued to deteriorate to the 2648 02:15:56.199 --> 02:15:58.560 point where after having an operation, he never really recovered. 2649 02:15:58.920 --> 02:16:02.640 Does Verne get ninety per to ownership? Earns got one 2650 02:16:02.720 --> 02:16:05.640 hundred percent ownership of And while he's kind of like 2651 02:16:06.239 --> 02:16:08.000 you know, he goes to the NBA conventions and the 2652 02:16:08.159 --> 02:16:10.239 NBA promoters are in the Wrestler movie. I remember that 2653 02:16:10.760 --> 02:16:14.000 pool Side. He doesn't really no fuck with this whole 2654 02:16:14.079 --> 02:16:17.319 NWA thing. He's got his own situation there with the 2655 02:16:17.359 --> 02:16:22.159 AWA the incident. Okay, At Roy's death, I this is Jerry. 2656 02:16:22.199 --> 02:16:24.600 Jarrett gave Nick Goulas fifty grand and became a fifty 2657 02:16:24.680 --> 02:16:28.199 percent owner in the business. A company attorney, Cecil Brandstetter, 2658 02:16:28.399 --> 02:16:32.040 drew up the ownership papers, so he gets ten percent 2659 02:16:33.000 --> 02:16:35.920 while Roy Welch is still alive and apparently sicking Mario 2660 02:16:36.000 --> 02:16:40.559 Galento on him. And then Roy Welch dies and Jerry 2661 02:16:40.600 --> 02:16:43.559 gets the rest of Welch. So now it's it's Jarrett 2662 02:16:43.600 --> 02:16:47.319 Goulis instead of Welch Goulss okay, which as we mentioned, 2663 02:16:47.399 --> 02:16:50.799 started in nineteen sixty taking over from taking Buddy Fuller 2664 02:16:50.879 --> 02:16:55.120 Sears away. So it's like it didn't didn't really leave 2665 02:16:55.120 --> 02:16:58.000 the family that much. Now Jarrett is truly outside the 2666 02:16:58.040 --> 02:17:04.760 Welsh family running the show. This is this is back 2667 02:17:04.799 --> 02:17:07.440 to the Jim Wilson book. So you know I mentioned 2668 02:17:07.520 --> 02:17:13.239 the bribery thing. Yes, amazing, all right, So a guy 2669 02:17:13.319 --> 02:17:15.280 named Don Prewitt, who worked for Goulish and Welsh for 2670 02:17:15.360 --> 02:17:17.760 fifteen years as a wrestler and later referee and local 2671 02:17:17.799 --> 02:17:22.879 promoter ends up suing Goulss in Welsh over basically the 2672 02:17:22.959 --> 02:17:25.239 com Wilson Welsh that sounds like a fucking uh I know, 2673 02:17:25.639 --> 02:17:29.399 I got like a law firm and prewit. That also 2674 02:17:29.479 --> 02:17:32.959 sounds like a fucking lawyer. Doesn't sound like yeah right, 2675 02:17:33.000 --> 02:17:34.600 It doesn't sound like the guys they sued. It sounds 2676 02:17:34.600 --> 02:17:36.479 like the firm they used to suit exactly. 2677 02:17:38.760 --> 02:17:41.879 But this gets fascinating, so they write in the book 2678 02:17:41.959 --> 02:17:46.280 to Johnson and Wilson. Yet another controversy alleging Athletic Commission 2679 02:17:46.319 --> 02:17:50.360 corruption and illegal payoffs to United States senator came to light. 2680 02:17:50.440 --> 02:17:53.680 In nineteen sixty The NWA's Nashville promoters, Roy Welch and 2681 02:17:53.719 --> 02:17:58.079 Nickolas were charged with conspiring to stop an investigation of 2682 02:17:58.120 --> 02:18:02.840 their business practices. Wels and Goulis control wrestling in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, 2683 02:18:02.840 --> 02:18:04.479 and parts of Mississippi, and they had a lot to 2684 02:18:04.559 --> 02:18:07.159 lose from an investigation of their business tactics. One of 2685 02:18:07.239 --> 02:18:10.959 their conversations overheard by a third party. Uh oh, hey, 2686 02:18:12.440 --> 02:18:15.239 I heard third party here? I come, is there a 2687 02:18:15.319 --> 02:18:16.200 third party involved? 2688 02:18:16.239 --> 02:18:16.399 Here? 2689 02:18:16.840 --> 02:18:18.520 Hey? You know what I can. I'm glad to be 2690 02:18:19.079 --> 02:18:23.559 a third party. I can be a mediator get things done. 2691 02:18:25.120 --> 02:18:27.680 That's how I do it on the big stage. I 2692 02:18:27.799 --> 02:18:30.799 get it done. What were Goulis and Welch overheard saying 2693 02:18:30.879 --> 02:18:33.879 by this third party, as later revealed in legal proceedings, 2694 02:18:33.920 --> 02:18:36.159 something to the effect of, quote, don't you think we 2695 02:18:36.280 --> 02:18:38.879 better get that money up there? To that guy, Goulish 2696 02:18:38.879 --> 02:18:41.520 said to Welch one day in nineteen sixty it's according 2697 02:18:41.559 --> 02:18:48.239 to sworn testimony or something. And to that Wells replied, 2698 02:18:48.280 --> 02:18:50.079 he is leaving to catch an airplane right away. We 2699 02:18:50.200 --> 02:18:52.399 better get that money up there. Do you want to 2700 02:18:52.399 --> 02:18:54.760 give him a cash or check? Gulis asked, hell, no, 2701 02:18:54.920 --> 02:18:57.520 give him cash. Weld replied, oh my god. 2702 02:18:57.879 --> 02:19:04.440 At this point, Goulis asked his secretary, Christine Jarrett, which 2703 02:19:04.520 --> 02:19:07.000 office safe contained as much as five grand. She told 2704 02:19:07.079 --> 02:19:10.120 him he counted out five grand into a brown paper bag, 2705 02:19:11.959 --> 02:19:13.680 gave it to Uncle Billy, and he lost it at 2706 02:19:13.719 --> 02:19:14.000 the bank. 2707 02:19:14.319 --> 02:19:17.399 She, which is under scured, pulls out a fucking water cash, 2708 02:19:18.680 --> 02:19:21.440 brown paper bag bag in hand. Googleiss walks across the 2709 02:19:21.520 --> 02:19:23.479 room to their booker, Don Pruitt. That's the guy who 2710 02:19:23.520 --> 02:19:24.680 sued them. Eventually Jesus. 2711 02:19:25.200 --> 02:19:27.399 Asking where Prewit had parked his car, Pruitt said his 2712 02:19:27.479 --> 02:19:29.840 car was outside the office at the Maxwell House Hotel. 2713 02:19:29.879 --> 02:19:31.879 Would you drop Roy and I over at the Andrew 2714 02:19:31.959 --> 02:19:34.680 Jackson Hotel. We got to get this money to Estes 2715 02:19:35.079 --> 02:19:37.159 caver Estes Cafaverre, if you want to. 2716 02:19:37.159 --> 02:19:37.959 Google use me. 2717 02:19:38.719 --> 02:19:41.239 Was the US senator from Tennessee at the time, or 2718 02:19:41.280 --> 02:19:47.159 one of them, and he was somebody that was well 2719 02:19:47.319 --> 02:19:51.799 known and remembered for trust busting, for basically bringing congressional 2720 02:19:51.879 --> 02:19:57.479 investigations against monopolies and rackets. Wow, you know industries that 2721 02:19:57.600 --> 02:20:01.319 were sort of using a lee means to maintain their 2722 02:20:01.360 --> 02:20:05.120 grip on power and prices and whatnot. And so here 2723 02:20:05.399 --> 02:20:08.159 we have a guy saying in his lawsuit against Gougliss 2724 02:20:08.159 --> 02:20:09.920 and Welch, the Gougless and Welsh were arranging for a 2725 02:20:10.000 --> 02:20:13.799 payoff to this senator so that he wouldn't scrutinize their 2726 02:20:13.840 --> 02:20:17.879 business practices in his own backyard at Tennessee. I mean, 2727 02:20:17.920 --> 02:20:19.879 this goes up to some pretty high levels. This wrestling 2728 02:20:19.920 --> 02:20:20.680 business bullshit. 2729 02:20:21.399 --> 02:20:24.760 This is so fucking bizarre. Over in Atlanta, you got 2730 02:20:24.799 --> 02:20:26.559 a Jimmy Barnett who's eventually going to be part of 2731 02:20:26.680 --> 02:20:29.760 fucking President Jimmy Carter's cabinet for Christ's sake, or at 2732 02:20:29.840 --> 02:20:33.879 least be his leading appointment for the arts in terms 2733 02:20:33.920 --> 02:20:38.719 of commission for the arts. But they're going back and 2734 02:20:38.840 --> 02:20:41.840 forth according to this Don Pruitt about getting a bribe 2735 02:20:41.879 --> 02:20:44.520 over to this senator and Don Prewitt, the book continues, 2736 02:20:44.879 --> 02:20:47.360 drove Nick Goulass and Roy Welch to the Jackson Hotel 2737 02:20:47.360 --> 02:20:50.680 where the drop to United States Senator Estescafavre was made. 2738 02:20:50.920 --> 02:20:53.440 It should be noted here the book notes that Tennessee's 2739 02:20:53.559 --> 02:20:57.079 US Senator Carrie Estescaffavre was a powerful figure in Washington, 2740 02:20:57.159 --> 02:20:59.200 d C. In the nation from nineteen forty nine to 2741 02:20:59.280 --> 02:21:01.719 the time of his death. The nineteen sixty three Caafavre 2742 02:21:01.840 --> 02:21:05.879 ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination twice. I didn't 2743 02:21:05.879 --> 02:21:08.559 know that he ran for president in nineteen fifty two 2744 02:21:08.600 --> 02:21:11.639 and nineteen fifty six after gaining national attention in nineteen 2745 02:21:11.680 --> 02:21:14.079 fifty as chairman of the Nationally Yeah These hearings were 2746 02:21:14.159 --> 02:21:20.200 nationally televised. Boss that he had against monopolies, so a 2747 02:21:20.319 --> 02:21:23.319 huge deal for the Special Committee on Organized Crime and 2748 02:21:23.399 --> 02:21:26.440 Interstate Commerce, better known as the Kafavre Committee. When Prewitt 2749 02:21:26.440 --> 02:21:29.600 recounted the above conversation under oath, he added the purpose 2750 02:21:29.680 --> 02:21:32.959 for this there was an investigation of the National Wrestling Alliance. 2751 02:21:33.399 --> 02:21:35.600 That was their part that they kicked in to get 2752 02:21:35.639 --> 02:21:40.040 the investigations stopped. So not only according to Don Pruitt 2753 02:21:40.280 --> 02:21:45.239 and sworn testimony, did Nick Gulis and Roy Welch facilitated 2754 02:21:45.319 --> 02:21:48.440 payment to this senator to keep scrutiny off their business practices. 2755 02:21:48.920 --> 02:21:51.559 It was actually just a small part of the money. 2756 02:21:51.639 --> 02:21:54.159 All the promoters in the NWA were asked to chip 2757 02:21:54.239 --> 02:22:00.200 in to deflect scrutiny from their business practices. So fucking 2758 02:22:00.280 --> 02:22:05.000 thumbs up in terms of a history that Terry Boulder 2759 02:22:05.120 --> 02:22:11.920 is walking into. I I mean, it's amazing how the 2760 02:22:12.079 --> 02:22:17.159 wrestling business just never ceases to amaze in terms of 2761 02:22:17.360 --> 02:22:24.840 how like bald faced but inventive right their schemes can 2762 02:22:24.920 --> 02:22:28.280 get just unbelievable. 2763 02:22:29.760 --> 02:22:31.639 There were still a lot of powerful people in the 2764 02:22:31.719 --> 02:22:35.280 NBA that weren't, you know, pieces of shit, like local 2765 02:22:35.319 --> 02:22:39.239 idiots like Sam Muchnick, highly respected guy in Saint Louis, 2766 02:22:39.399 --> 02:22:42.479 like his name was not scoffed at, even though he 2767 02:22:42.639 --> 02:22:45.639 was primarily known as the president of the National Wrestling Alliance. 2768 02:22:45.680 --> 02:22:49.239 He built a substantial respect in Saint Louis sports and 2769 02:22:49.360 --> 02:22:53.920 media and media the biggest fake alliance in history apparently. 2770 02:22:55.040 --> 02:22:57.280 But eventually Jerry Jarrett splits with Nick Gulis, as you 2771 02:22:57.319 --> 02:23:00.239 found out he owned none of Welch's shares. Goulis says, 2772 02:23:00.239 --> 02:23:02.159 you know what you thought you bought fifty percent. You 2773 02:23:02.280 --> 02:23:05.959 thought you obtained all fifty percent of Roy Welts's shares 2774 02:23:06.000 --> 02:23:10.280 when he died. Jerry, Well, guess what if you read 2775 02:23:10.319 --> 02:23:13.559 the contract, all you ever had was an option. If 2776 02:23:13.600 --> 02:23:15.719 you read the fine print, all you ever had was 2777 02:23:15.760 --> 02:23:19.120 an option to buy those shares. Yes, and the date 2778 02:23:19.239 --> 02:23:21.680 by which you had to exercise that option has passed, 2779 02:23:21.719 --> 02:23:22.079 my friend. 2780 02:23:22.520 --> 02:23:24.799 The only if you if you read the fine print, 2781 02:23:25.159 --> 02:23:27.959 you'll realize all you had was an option, an option 2782 02:23:28.159 --> 02:23:28.760 to blow me. 2783 02:23:30.600 --> 02:23:34.200 That's perfectly but so obviously Jerry Jarrett's that's going to 2784 02:23:34.280 --> 02:23:36.520 burn his ass because he thinks he owns fifty percent. 2785 02:23:36.600 --> 02:23:39.159 When push comes to shove, he doesn't own shit because 2786 02:23:39.239 --> 02:23:42.239 the same lawyer represented Jerry Jarrett and Nick Gouliss, according 2787 02:23:42.280 --> 02:23:47.520 to Jerry Jared in the transaction, and there comes a 2788 02:23:47.559 --> 02:23:49.479 time when Nick Goulis wants to get is nothing happened 2789 02:23:49.479 --> 02:23:51.760 in son George Goulis involved at the top of the card, 2790 02:23:53.040 --> 02:23:56.159 and Jerry Jared says, no, I don't. I don't see 2791 02:23:56.159 --> 02:23:57.479 a lot in this guy. I don't think it's good 2792 02:23:57.479 --> 02:24:00.879 for our business to spotlight him just because he's your son. Well, well, 2793 02:24:00.920 --> 02:24:03.079 obviously Nick Goulass is going to would burn the world 2794 02:24:03.159 --> 02:24:05.319 to the ground before he's told now on something. 2795 02:24:05.200 --> 02:24:06.000 Like that, I do. 2796 02:24:06.239 --> 02:24:08.319 I believe I've got something to my son. So once 2797 02:24:08.360 --> 02:24:11.719 you fucking shut up and and I'm going to do 2798 02:24:11.760 --> 02:24:16.280 what I want, Jerry says, fuck this, okay, I'm withdrawing right. 2799 02:24:16.479 --> 02:24:18.920 Not only do I not care that I don't own 2800 02:24:18.959 --> 02:24:21.440 fifty percent, I don't even want it anymore. I'm withdrawing 2801 02:24:21.680 --> 02:24:24.159 entirely from this thing. Because the fact of the matter 2802 02:24:24.239 --> 02:24:25.600 is is, Jerry says in his book, even if he 2803 02:24:25.639 --> 02:24:27.360 goes to court and fights and proves that actually he 2804 02:24:27.399 --> 02:24:29.680 does own fifty percent, he's still stuck with Nick Goulas 2805 02:24:29.680 --> 02:24:32.399 as a fucking business partner. So it's like, forget it, 2806 02:24:32.559 --> 02:24:34.520 Like I don't even want to fight this battle. I'm 2807 02:24:34.520 --> 02:24:37.319 just going to withdraw entirely. Now you can have whatever. 2808 02:24:37.440 --> 02:24:40.000 Roy Welch left behind, and I'm going to start my 2809 02:24:40.159 --> 02:24:42.959 own company. Jerry Jared is going to start the CWA, 2810 02:24:43.239 --> 02:24:44.559 and not only is he going to start it, he's 2811 02:24:44.600 --> 02:24:47.000 going to pull Jerry Lawler, who's quickly becoming the hottest 2812 02:24:47.000 --> 02:24:50.319 attraction away from Nick Goulis to his side of the fence. 2813 02:24:51.280 --> 02:24:53.719 He starts rounding up talent. He calls Eddie Graham down 2814 02:24:53.760 --> 02:24:58.719 in Florida, and there they are again, the Fullers. Okay, 2815 02:25:00.239 --> 02:25:04.079 Jerry Jared Fuller shits. I then contacted the wrestlers and 2816 02:25:04.120 --> 02:25:05.920 told them that I would open a business in a 2817 02:25:06.000 --> 02:25:07.639 few weeks and anyone who wanted to work for me 2818 02:25:07.799 --> 02:25:09.959 was welcome, and I would understand if someone did not 2819 02:25:10.120 --> 02:25:12.200 want to take the risk with a new promotion and 2820 02:25:12.280 --> 02:25:16.040 instead wanted to stay with Nick Goulis. Every single wrestler 2821 02:25:16.120 --> 02:25:17.959 told me to just tell them what to do and 2822 02:25:18.040 --> 02:25:20.040 they would do it. I advise them to take directions 2823 02:25:20.079 --> 02:25:22.680 from Eddie Marlin, who is Jerry Jared's business partner, and 2824 02:25:22.799 --> 02:25:24.799 work as hard as possible to keep the business good. 2825 02:25:25.000 --> 02:25:26.799 I then called my friend Eddie Graham to see if 2826 02:25:26.799 --> 02:25:28.760 he would support me. Eddie said he was offended that 2827 02:25:28.799 --> 02:25:31.159 I would even ask. He suggested that I make some 2828 02:25:31.280 --> 02:25:37.280 kind of a deal with Buddy Fuller. It comes all 2829 02:25:37.280 --> 02:25:39.719 the way back around from getting his license revoked in 2830 02:25:39.799 --> 02:25:43.200 nineteen sixty so his dad can get the promotion along 2831 02:25:43.239 --> 02:25:46.120 with So would he have gone? Would he have gone? 2832 02:25:46.520 --> 02:25:51.719 Hold on? So back up, he refused to help because 2833 02:25:51.799 --> 02:25:56.360 he was asked who refused to add? Oh, no, Eddie 2834 02:25:56.399 --> 02:25:58.719 said that you would even ask I'm offended. Of course 2835 02:25:58.760 --> 02:26:02.479 I'm with you. Oh yeah, like I thought he likes, well, 2836 02:26:02.799 --> 02:26:04.639 I would have helped you. But then you have offended 2837 02:26:04.680 --> 02:26:07.319 that you even asked me. Yeah, but you felt how 2838 02:26:07.479 --> 02:26:09.959 to do that, So fuck you. I definitely see how 2839 02:26:10.000 --> 02:26:13.760 you get interreted that way. So in artful phrasing there 2840 02:26:13.799 --> 02:26:16.600 in the book, for sure. But no, yeah, that's what 2841 02:26:16.680 --> 02:26:18.479 he means, like, of course I'm with you, because you 2842 02:26:18.520 --> 02:26:20.319 know they had no love loss for Nick Goolas either, 2843 02:26:20.319 --> 02:26:22.719 and if Welch was dead, apparently that was the only 2844 02:26:22.760 --> 02:26:25.719 reason anybody respected Nick Goulas anyway, was because they had 2845 02:26:25.760 --> 02:26:28.399 respect for the Welches, and one's Welch's out of the equation. 2846 02:26:28.520 --> 02:26:32.680 Fuck this so so yes, Jerry Jarrett certainly round up 2847 02:26:32.680 --> 02:26:37.000 political support and hilarious that Eddie Graham's got just the 2848 02:26:37.079 --> 02:26:40.680 guy for you, Jerry, get back into business with the 2849 02:26:40.760 --> 02:26:42.920 guy that Goulis took the license from in the first 2850 02:26:42.920 --> 02:26:46.879 place in nineteen sixty Buddy Fuller, of course, fucking just 2851 02:26:47.000 --> 02:26:50.120 a I mean yeah, of course is the father of 2852 02:26:50.280 --> 02:26:52.959 Ron Fuller. With Buddy Fuller because that would help with 2853 02:26:53.000 --> 02:26:56.520 the NWA politics, Jarrett wrote, because of Roy's previous ownership, 2854 02:26:56.600 --> 02:26:58.479 I called Buddy and made a deal with him for 2855 02:26:58.559 --> 02:27:02.239 ownership and my new promotion. This is the editor's note 2856 02:27:02.280 --> 02:27:04.600 here from Mark James on this chapter. Buddy Fuller had 2857 02:27:04.639 --> 02:27:07.079 been in Memphis on and off since the late nineteen fifties, 2858 02:27:07.360 --> 02:27:10.040 when Nick Gulas and Roy Welch bought the city's promotion 2859 02:27:10.159 --> 02:27:14.079 from less Wolf. Buddy's real name was Edward Welch, and 2860 02:27:14.479 --> 02:27:16.920 he was the son of Roy Welch. That family name 2861 02:27:17.000 --> 02:27:18.760 carried a lot of weight in the South during the 2862 02:27:18.879 --> 02:27:21.520 nineteen sixties. Buddy had been a major player back in 2863 02:27:21.559 --> 02:27:24.159 those days. Fast forward to the late nineteen seventies, and 2864 02:27:24.200 --> 02:27:27.079 the playing field had changed. Roy Welch passed away in 2865 02:27:27.200 --> 02:27:30.000 late nineteen seventy seven and Nick Gulis was all but 2866 02:27:30.159 --> 02:27:32.040 out of the business. By the same time, the old 2867 02:27:32.079 --> 02:27:35.000 guard was changing and Buddy's living off the past finally 2868 02:27:35.040 --> 02:27:37.440 caught up with him. So now the Fullers and Terry's 2869 02:27:37.440 --> 02:27:40.239 old friend Eddie Graham Boss and that crew were tied 2870 02:27:40.280 --> 02:27:44.120 in once again as well. And the key thing, one 2871 02:27:44.159 --> 02:27:46.040 of the key things that Jerry Jarrett is able to 2872 02:27:46.120 --> 02:27:51.239 do is Channel five in Memphis WMCTV. This is the 2873 02:27:51.319 --> 02:27:54.040 time slot and this is the channel that drew those 2874 02:27:54.120 --> 02:27:57.680 incredible shares. This is the channel where the stuff like 2875 02:27:57.799 --> 02:28:00.799 the Kamala stuff we just looked at all premiere and 2876 02:28:00.920 --> 02:28:02.639 this is the station that everyone who grew up in 2877 02:28:02.680 --> 02:28:05.440 Memphis loving wrestling in the seventies and eighties remembers being 2878 02:28:05.799 --> 02:28:08.360 where you had to be parked on Saturday mornings, your 2879 02:28:08.440 --> 02:28:13.639 absolutely classic signature studio wrestling show that drove ticket sales, 2880 02:28:14.040 --> 02:28:16.799 particularly Monday night at the Mid South Colosseum. It was 2881 02:28:16.879 --> 02:28:19.159 on a different station than at Gulas and Roy welch Ran, 2882 02:28:19.440 --> 02:28:22.319 but it was Jerry Jarrett who brought it to w MC. 2883 02:28:22.680 --> 02:28:24.200 Just soak this, soak this in. 2884 02:28:27.799 --> 02:28:33.000 Here, this Channel five in Memphis on the Mississippi, the 2885 02:28:33.120 --> 02:28:34.440 showplace of the Sun. 2886 02:28:34.680 --> 02:28:39.879 The showplace of the South. Eventually, this new Jerry Jarrett 2887 02:28:39.920 --> 02:28:42.239 promotion with Jerry Lawler as one of the top stars 2888 02:28:42.319 --> 02:28:45.040 gets so hot that they've got to compensate Jerry Lawler 2889 02:28:45.200 --> 02:28:47.719 kind of over and above the typical talent fee to 2890 02:28:47.840 --> 02:28:50.879 keep him around. So Jerry Lawler ended up getting five 2891 02:28:51.000 --> 02:28:54.600 percent of the territory and now Jerry Lawler is not 2892 02:28:54.680 --> 02:28:57.399 only wrestling for Jerry Jarrett and he's now in business 2893 02:28:57.440 --> 02:29:00.200 with Jerry Jarrett. They also bring over Lance Russ and 2894 02:29:00.319 --> 02:29:03.760 Dave Brown, who were well known to Memphis folks because 2895 02:29:03.760 --> 02:29:07.040 they were news anchors and weathermen on the same w 2896 02:29:07.319 --> 02:29:10.040 MC Channel five that aired the wrestling. We've seen this 2897 02:29:10.120 --> 02:29:14.440 in other markets where you know the local wrestling announcer. 2898 02:29:14.520 --> 02:29:17.360 It's not unlike Charlie Platt, who is known down there 2899 02:29:17.399 --> 02:29:20.360 as well from his TV exploits. You bring in someone 2900 02:29:20.399 --> 02:29:22.600 that's known to the market. It would be like, I 2901 02:29:22.639 --> 02:29:25.959 don't know, Boss Mike Lynch doing the studio wrestling every 2902 02:29:25.959 --> 02:29:28.600 Saturday in Boston, right, Oh my god, think about that. 2903 02:29:29.399 --> 02:29:32.719 Or the weatherman Dick Albert also wrestling on Saturday mornings. 2904 02:29:33.879 --> 02:29:35.920 Shot Love Him Studio that they did the local news 2905 02:29:35.959 --> 02:29:40.760 every every night. I mean, talk about the place to 2906 02:29:40.879 --> 02:29:43.280 be as a wrestling fan. The era you want to 2907 02:29:43.319 --> 02:29:49.120 cook in in Cimmarren instead of the w CVB Channel 2908 02:29:49.159 --> 02:29:52.120 five coverage. You can count on cover covers, you can 2909 02:29:52.239 --> 02:29:55.159 count out covers. You can count out, yeah, coverage, you 2910 02:29:55.239 --> 02:29:58.760 can count two and a half two. Bob Coddle was 2911 02:29:58.799 --> 02:30:00.760 the same thing, you know he was. He was a 2912 02:30:00.959 --> 02:30:04.959 Charlotte area news personality, and Lance Russell and Dave Brown 2913 02:30:05.040 --> 02:30:08.000 certainly in that category, as well ed Whalen Up in 2914 02:30:08.079 --> 02:30:10.760 Calgary I think was much the same. So now Jerry 2915 02:30:10.840 --> 02:30:15.559 Lawler's in business and also owning part of the promotion. 2916 02:30:15.879 --> 02:30:20.520 Was Jared's mother, but she didn't own the Memphis part. 2917 02:30:20.600 --> 02:30:23.639 She owned twenty five percent of Louisville, Evansville and Lexington. 2918 02:30:24.399 --> 02:30:27.239 And so now Jerry, Jared's in business with Buddy Fuller. 2919 02:30:27.360 --> 02:30:30.360 Let me make no mistake about it. Okay, he splits 2920 02:30:30.360 --> 02:30:33.479 ownership now with Buddy Fuller in this new operation, and 2921 02:30:33.600 --> 02:30:36.440 the income was huge. The income was big. He says 2922 02:30:36.479 --> 02:30:38.399 in his book Jerry Jarrett that his share soon reached 2923 02:30:38.440 --> 02:30:40.959 an excess of a million dollars per year in nineteen 2924 02:30:40.959 --> 02:30:45.959 seventy seven. That's big fucking money, especially for one little market. Yeah, seriously, 2925 02:30:46.120 --> 02:30:49.440 that's crazy. Of course, this being wrestling. Eventually, Jerry Lawler 2926 02:30:49.479 --> 02:30:51.239 threatens to break off and go off on his own 2927 02:30:51.639 --> 02:30:55.479 with Lance Russell because Jerry Jarrett didn't boost his ownership 2928 02:30:55.520 --> 02:30:58.479 percentage as originally agreed, past the five percent. So Jerry 2929 02:30:58.559 --> 02:31:01.280 Jarrett says he forgot, okay, he forgot that he had 2930 02:31:01.319 --> 02:31:04.239 made that deal with Jerry Lawler, and fine, I thought 2931 02:31:04.280 --> 02:31:06.680 you were making so much money Jerry, that I didn't 2932 02:31:06.680 --> 02:31:08.959 think money was an issue between us. But fine, I'll 2933 02:31:09.040 --> 02:31:12.200 up your stake from five percent to twenty five percent. Jared, 2934 02:31:12.399 --> 02:31:15.719 let me teach you something here, Okay, money is always 2935 02:31:15.760 --> 02:31:19.440 an issue, always an issue, exactly. Always pay someone more, 2936 02:31:19.520 --> 02:31:23.239 it becomes even more of an issue. Yep. Now, I mean, 2937 02:31:23.959 --> 02:31:26.719 did Jerry Jarrett confront Jerry Lawler in company with a 2938 02:31:26.799 --> 02:31:27.920 gun over this dispute? 2939 02:31:31.200 --> 02:31:31.440 You know? 2940 02:31:32.040 --> 02:31:34.559 It may be suggested in some places that that happened, 2941 02:31:34.600 --> 02:31:37.680 but I'll leave it at that. As for Nick Goulis 2942 02:31:37.760 --> 02:31:41.079 versus Jerry Jarrett, there's a war in the papers because 2943 02:31:41.159 --> 02:31:43.719 Nick Goulas is still trying to run after Jerry opens 2944 02:31:43.760 --> 02:31:47.399 his own promotion and leaves Nick holding the bag. How 2945 02:31:47.440 --> 02:31:50.280 about this clipping which Jerry Jarrett is more than happy 2946 02:31:50.280 --> 02:31:53.200 to include in his book headline Wrestling Draws four hundred 2947 02:31:53.239 --> 02:31:56.479 eighty four people. This is from seventy seven when they're 2948 02:31:56.520 --> 02:31:58.879 warring against each other. A crowd of only four hundred 2949 02:31:58.879 --> 02:32:00.959 and eighty four attended wrestling last night at the Mid 2950 02:32:01.000 --> 02:32:03.959 South Colosseum, where Jackie Fargo won the NWA Central State 2951 02:32:04.040 --> 02:32:06.959 Crown from the Russian Stomper and other matches. Don Kent 2952 02:32:07.159 --> 02:32:10.280 at George defeated William Stone and Mark Roberts Tojo Yamamoto 2953 02:32:10.319 --> 02:32:13.440 beat Doctor x Pez Whatley and Hank James defeated John 2954 02:32:13.479 --> 02:32:15.760 and Rick Davidson and Crazy Luke Graham and Ripper King 2955 02:32:15.840 --> 02:32:19.159 Collins defeated Don Green and Wayne Petty. The attendance was 2956 02:32:19.200 --> 02:32:22.319 the worst for the Nashville based company run by promoter 2957 02:32:22.440 --> 02:32:25.840 Nicholas since it began encountering competition from a new company 2958 02:32:26.000 --> 02:32:29.360 run by Jerry Jarrett two months ago. Jared Hog will 2959 02:32:29.360 --> 02:32:33.040 be held at the Colisseum tomorrow night at eight and 2960 02:32:33.079 --> 02:32:37.200 then Lawler working for Jerry Jarrett's drawing Big. Here's a headline, 2961 02:32:38.159 --> 02:32:41.120 Lawler draws big against two Well. He retained his National 2962 02:32:41.159 --> 02:32:44.600 Wrestling Alliance out the Southern Heavyweight Belt by defeating Robert 2963 02:32:44.639 --> 02:32:48.959 Fuller before a crowd of four thousand and eight eighty 2964 02:32:49.000 --> 02:32:50.040 seven as opposed to four. 2965 02:32:50.000 --> 02:32:53.239 Hundred and eighty four. That's better. That's better, Alsie. I'm 2966 02:32:53.280 --> 02:32:56.360 also working for Jerry Jarrett. Jim Garvin who defeats Jake Smith, 2967 02:32:56.440 --> 02:32:59.680 Junior Igor defeats Tommy Gilbert, Bill Dundee, and Tommy Rich 2968 02:33:00.120 --> 02:33:03.319 the future Tommy Rich defeated the invaders Rocky Johnson. That's right, 2969 02:33:03.399 --> 02:33:05.319 the Rock's father working for Jerry Jarrett in the very 2970 02:33:05.360 --> 02:33:06.600 beginning here. Wow if he did. 2971 02:33:06.680 --> 02:33:09.319 Pat McGinnis, David Schultz, Doctor Dee, who of course is 2972 02:33:10.399 --> 02:33:13.600 about to become well known to Terry Buleigh defeated Paul Orndorf, 2973 02:33:14.520 --> 02:33:16.200 who goes to work for Jerry Jarrett. 2974 02:33:16.239 --> 02:33:19.159 Wow. And Rick and Robert Gibson the future rock and 2975 02:33:19.280 --> 02:33:21.319 Roll Express who got their starret in Memphis and who 2976 02:33:21.680 --> 02:33:24.280 were packaged with the music video by Jerry Jarrett in 2977 02:33:24.399 --> 02:33:26.920 Memphis in terms of explaining what it meant to be 2978 02:33:27.159 --> 02:33:29.680 rock and Roll Express at the time. They retained their 2979 02:33:29.719 --> 02:33:32.479 Southern tag titles by defeating Phil Hackerson and Dennis Condrey 2980 02:33:32.959 --> 02:33:35.680 future a minute Express member right there. Dennis Condrey, so 2981 02:33:36.559 --> 02:33:41.200 big talent for Jerry Jarrett at this point in time. Now, 2982 02:33:41.239 --> 02:33:44.159 Buddy Fuller, Yes, after having been smarted out of the 2983 02:33:44.239 --> 02:33:46.760 territory in nineteen sixty, finding his way back in in 2984 02:33:46.879 --> 02:33:49.479 seventy seven when Jerry Jarrett won the Power Struggle. Do 2985 02:33:49.559 --> 02:33:51.879 you think he's content to just sit back and collect 2986 02:33:51.920 --> 02:33:56.520 a percentage of Jerry Jarrett's success? Absolutely? What I mean, 2987 02:33:57.079 --> 02:33:58.120 why why wouldn't you. 2988 02:33:58.159 --> 02:34:00.920 Be Suddenly he starts, according to Jerry Jared in his book, 2989 02:34:01.120 --> 02:34:03.079 making noise about wanting to open up Ohio. 2990 02:34:03.399 --> 02:34:07.200 Brother with who you ask with who? Well, we turned 2991 02:34:07.239 --> 02:34:08.760 to Jerry Jeard's book again. Oh boy. 2992 02:34:09.440 --> 02:34:11.600 He went on to explain, Fuller came to the house 2993 02:34:11.600 --> 02:34:13.120 one day and told me that he had the itch 2994 02:34:13.680 --> 02:34:15.920 to be involved in the wrestling business again. He went 2995 02:34:15.959 --> 02:34:17.920 on to explain, now he's involved in the business and 2996 02:34:18.000 --> 02:34:21.000 that he collects this passive, passive income right, but he's 2997 02:34:21.040 --> 02:34:24.440 not promoting actively. He's just Jerry Jeork's business partner. Jerry's 2998 02:34:24.479 --> 02:34:27.440 running all of Memphis. But suddenly Buddy Fuller wants to 2999 02:34:27.479 --> 02:34:29.719 do something more hands on. He went on to explain 3000 02:34:29.799 --> 02:34:31.600 that our business was so good here in Tennessee that 3001 02:34:31.959 --> 02:34:34.799 sometimes he felt guilty when he got. 3002 02:34:34.719 --> 02:34:39.799 The big checks for doing eppisode. Bullshit, bullshit. I assured 3003 02:34:39.840 --> 02:34:42.000 Buddy that I was not unhappy with our situation, and 3004 02:34:42.079 --> 02:34:43.840 a deal was a deal. I told him that he 3005 02:34:43.920 --> 02:34:46.600 had stood by me when it counted, so I was happy. 3006 02:34:46.719 --> 02:34:48.959 Buddy then told me his plan. He said that if 3007 02:34:49.000 --> 02:34:54.600 I would help get television in Ohio, he and Louis 3008 02:34:54.639 --> 02:34:58.959 Tillette would move there and run the business Jesus Christ. 3009 02:34:59.319 --> 02:35:02.360 His plan was to used some of the Tennessee talent 3010 02:35:02.559 --> 02:35:04.840 to get started, but he and Louie would start producing 3011 02:35:04.879 --> 02:35:07.479 television and generate income so he could send me a 3012 02:35:07.600 --> 02:35:10.079 check the other way. Said it sounded good to me. 3013 02:35:10.280 --> 02:35:12.639 I began making calls. I not only made calls, but 3014 02:35:12.680 --> 02:35:14.799 by networking with my existing station managers and a couple 3015 02:35:14.799 --> 02:35:18.120 of trips to Ohio, I had television time in Cincinnati, Columbus, 3016 02:35:18.159 --> 02:35:20.639 and one small market I can't recall. I also booked 3017 02:35:20.680 --> 02:35:25.399 three buildings in the television markets, Yeah, three buildings in 3018 02:35:25.440 --> 02:35:28.879 the television market markets, and reported to Buddy my success 3019 02:35:28.959 --> 02:35:31.120 and told him to prepare to move. We ran our 3020 02:35:31.159 --> 02:35:33.959 shows about eight weeks and booked the first tour of towns. 3021 02:35:34.280 --> 02:35:36.479 Buddy and Louis moved to Ohio and found a couple 3022 02:35:36.479 --> 02:35:38.680 of spot shows so the crew had a full week. 3023 02:35:39.040 --> 02:35:41.799 And imagine that Boss Louis Tillette. He's just moving all around. 3024 02:35:41.879 --> 02:35:44.159 He's in Atlanta, he's in Ohio, and then he comes 3025 02:35:44.200 --> 02:35:47.360 to Alabama. That's insane. Buddy and Louis moved to Ohio, 3026 02:35:47.399 --> 02:35:48.879 found a couple of spot shows, so the crew had 3027 02:35:48.879 --> 02:35:50.440 a full week. At the time, we were drawing huge 3028 02:35:50.440 --> 02:35:53.399 gates in Tennessee, so I had no trouble booking a 3029 02:35:53.479 --> 02:35:55.440 good card and still left more than enough talent to 3030 02:35:55.520 --> 02:35:57.920 keep the houses good in Tennessee. I sent superstar Bill 3031 02:35:58.040 --> 02:36:00.959 Dundee to handle the matches and to the cards. Bill 3032 02:36:01.000 --> 02:36:03.319 had served as my assistant booker, so he was very capable. 3033 02:36:03.639 --> 02:36:06.319 After the first event in Ohio, Dundee called me and said, Boss, 3034 02:36:06.719 --> 02:36:09.760 I don't know exactly what's going on here. I don't 3035 02:36:09.799 --> 02:36:11.520 know full of well enough to know if he's joking 3036 02:36:11.600 --> 02:36:14.639 or not. But if he is not joking, we're in trouble. 3037 02:36:16.159 --> 02:36:19.159 I asked the source of his concern. Bill advised that 3038 02:36:19.280 --> 02:36:23.680 the house was ninety percent full and Buddy had come 3039 02:36:23.680 --> 02:36:26.079 to the dressing room looking very concerned. So Bill asked him, 3040 02:36:26.079 --> 02:36:28.959 what's the trouble mate. Bill said Buddy had told him 3041 02:36:28.959 --> 02:36:30.840 that he and Louie had not hired enough security, and 3042 02:36:30.879 --> 02:36:32.559 he found a door in a hall and hundreds of 3043 02:36:32.639 --> 02:36:35.000 people were streaming in before he could get the door 3044 02:36:35.079 --> 02:36:39.239 closed and a guard stationed on the door. Bill laughed 3045 02:36:39.280 --> 02:36:42.360 and advised, I've not heard this one since my early 3046 02:36:42.479 --> 02:36:45.719 days in Australia. Wow. I told Bill, thanks for the 3047 02:36:45.760 --> 02:36:47.520 heads up and keep me posted. Bill would call me 3048 02:36:47.559 --> 02:36:49.440 after each event and give me his estimate of the gates. 3049 02:36:49.479 --> 02:36:51.760 At the end of the tour, I had still not 3050 02:36:52.000 --> 02:36:55.319 heard from Buddy. At the beginning of the next week, 3051 02:36:55.399 --> 02:36:57.239 Buddy called to say that he and Louie were not 3052 02:36:57.360 --> 02:36:59.399 coming home for a couple of weeks because they had 3053 02:36:59.440 --> 02:37:01.639 a lot of work to do in preparation for the 3054 02:37:01.719 --> 02:37:04.319 next week's show and to begin lining up future towns. 3055 02:37:04.719 --> 02:37:06.920 I asked Buddy how the towns had done, and he 3056 02:37:07.120 --> 02:37:09.040 said not very well. 3057 02:37:09.479 --> 02:37:09.840 Mmm. 3058 02:37:10.360 --> 02:37:12.040 He said he was not concerned because he knew it 3059 02:37:12.040 --> 02:37:13.639 would take a lot of work to build the towns 3060 02:37:13.639 --> 02:37:15.959 where they would be profitable. I told Buddy that the 3061 02:37:16.040 --> 02:37:17.840 guys would have to be paid, so I had to 3062 02:37:17.879 --> 02:37:20.600 have the money before Friday. Buddy asked if I would 3063 02:37:20.639 --> 02:37:23.319 front the payroll this week because he really needed to 3064 02:37:23.360 --> 02:37:25.920 stay in Ohio. I told him we could, but I 3065 02:37:26.040 --> 02:37:28.680 had to know the exact amount of the gates. Before 3066 02:37:28.680 --> 02:37:31.680 I could figure out the payroll, Buddy gave some excuse 3067 02:37:31.719 --> 02:37:34.000 about Louis having the reports and that he would call 3068 02:37:34.120 --> 02:37:37.280 me the next day. I began to get concerned about 3069 02:37:37.360 --> 02:37:41.719 Bill Dundee's warnings. The next morning, Buddy called and gave 3070 02:37:41.799 --> 02:37:43.840 me the amounts of the gates. The amounts Buddy gave 3071 02:37:43.959 --> 02:37:47.840 me were less than half of Bill's guests Bill Dundee's guests, 3072 02:37:47.959 --> 02:37:50.440 and this threw up a very red flag. Wrestlers are 3073 02:37:50.440 --> 02:37:54.040 amazing at their ability to guess the gates in wrestling. Yes, 3074 02:37:54.600 --> 02:37:56.399 of course, they got paid in those days based on 3075 02:37:56.440 --> 02:37:58.959 the gate, and most had worked for dishonest promoters. I 3076 02:37:59.000 --> 02:38:01.520 could understand if Bill was off by ten percent, even 3077 02:38:01.559 --> 02:38:04.079 twenty percent, but I was sure he was not off 3078 02:38:04.120 --> 02:38:07.360 by fifty percent. I got on the phone began calling 3079 02:38:07.440 --> 02:38:10.600 each building manager myself. I told him to please not 3080 02:38:10.680 --> 02:38:12.799 report my call to Buddy Fuller, a Louis Tilley, simply 3081 02:38:12.840 --> 02:38:15.200 because I was trying to determine if they were honest people. 3082 02:38:16.959 --> 02:38:19.319 Louis Toillette, Buddy Fuller, honest people. 3083 02:38:19.399 --> 02:38:22.760 He's wondering. I mean, come on, you should know better. 3084 02:38:23.159 --> 02:38:25.959 The guy who took Hulk from Ron Fuller and Louis 3085 02:38:25.959 --> 02:38:30.399 Tillett is wondering if Ron's daddy and Louis are honest people. No, 3086 02:38:31.520 --> 02:38:33.559 the managers felt they were dealing with me because I 3087 02:38:33.639 --> 02:38:36.639 had signed the contract rental agreements. Each one faxed me 3088 02:38:36.680 --> 02:38:39.559 their box office report. Sure enough, Build and d was 3089 02:38:39.559 --> 02:38:41.799 almost dead on for all except two of the gates, 3090 02:38:41.799 --> 02:38:43.280 and he was off by about ten percent high on 3091 02:38:43.360 --> 02:38:45.760 that one and ten percent low on the other. Buddy's 3092 02:38:45.799 --> 02:38:50.000 numbers were about half the box office reports. I was 3093 02:38:50.120 --> 02:38:52.760 much more hurt than I was mad. So you understand here, 3094 02:38:52.799 --> 02:38:56.799 You understand this. What's happening here is they're making all 3095 02:38:56.879 --> 02:38:58.840 kinds of money, and Buddy's saying we're not making a 3096 02:38:58.879 --> 02:39:02.280 lot and putting write the rest in his pocket. That's 3097 02:39:02.360 --> 02:39:08.159 what Jerry is in insinuating here. I had sent Buddy 3098 02:39:08.200 --> 02:39:10.639 Fuller tens of thousands of dollars each month since we 3099 02:39:10.719 --> 02:39:12.879 went in business. His share of the month we were 3100 02:39:12.920 --> 02:39:15.319 in was almost eighty grand. I drew up our divorce 3101 02:39:15.360 --> 02:39:17.559 papers and waited for him to call me. He said 3102 02:39:17.600 --> 02:39:19.959 he wanted me to meet him at Shoney's Restaurant in Hendersonville. 3103 02:39:20.159 --> 02:39:22.319 This seems strange because my house was only ten minutes 3104 02:39:22.360 --> 02:39:25.079 from Shoney's. I put the fat box office report and 3105 02:39:25.159 --> 02:39:26.920 a folder along with the papers I had drawn up 3106 02:39:26.959 --> 02:39:29.319 to separate our partnership. I met Buddy and acted as 3107 02:39:29.360 --> 02:39:31.639 if all was well. He began to pull his reports 3108 02:39:31.680 --> 02:39:33.639 out and go over each one. I asked why there 3109 02:39:33.680 --> 02:39:36.520 was no backup documentation with the reports. He claimed he 3110 02:39:36.600 --> 02:39:39.200 did not know they were necessary. I calmly explained that 3111 02:39:39.239 --> 02:39:41.360 our uncle Sam did not want to have to take 3112 02:39:41.399 --> 02:39:43.079 our word, and that we would have to have a 3113 02:39:43.120 --> 02:39:45.920 box office report attached. He went to reach town report 3114 02:39:46.159 --> 02:39:48.319 and then began pulling out a bunch of wadded papers 3115 02:39:48.360 --> 02:39:51.639 that he claimed were receipts for expenses for himself and Louis. 3116 02:39:52.200 --> 02:39:54.360 He then tried to hand me a check for twelve 3117 02:39:54.440 --> 02:39:57.200 hundred dollars in change. I didn't take the check. I 3118 02:39:57.319 --> 02:39:59.159 stared at Buddy and told him how hurt I was 3119 02:39:59.239 --> 02:40:02.120 that he would steal from me at the first chance. 3120 02:40:03.239 --> 02:40:05.000 I'd expected him to at least to pull a macho 3121 02:40:05.079 --> 02:40:07.639 bluff and raise hell about me calling him a thief. 3122 02:40:07.719 --> 02:40:10.319 But there was nothing, not a word. He just looked 3123 02:40:10.360 --> 02:40:13.440 down at the table. I then folded opened my folder 3124 02:40:13.600 --> 02:40:16.760 and pushed the box office reports across the table and 3125 02:40:17.280 --> 02:40:19.920 told him that the managers had faxed them to me. 3126 02:40:20.479 --> 02:40:23.559 Still nothing, not a word. I then pushed the contract 3127 02:40:23.600 --> 02:40:25.440 in front of him and said he had two choices. 3128 02:40:25.760 --> 02:40:28.200 He could accept my offer to settle our partnership, or 3129 02:40:28.319 --> 02:40:30.719 we could just have a winner takes all for the territory. 3130 02:40:31.479 --> 02:40:33.799 Not a single word but he picked up the pin. 3131 02:40:34.239 --> 02:40:36.719 A winner take all for the territory. Yeah, yeah, I 3132 02:40:36.760 --> 02:40:39.000 guess he means I'll run an opposition to you, and 3133 02:40:39.239 --> 02:40:41.799 I went all the fans over and you'll have to close. 3134 02:40:42.719 --> 02:40:45.079 Not a single word, but he picked up the pin 3135 02:40:46.000 --> 02:40:48.040 and turned to the last page and signed his name 3136 02:40:48.120 --> 02:40:49.959 on the line. I told him that I would make 3137 02:40:50.040 --> 02:40:51.879 new reports based on the box office reports, and I 3138 02:40:51.879 --> 02:40:55.360 would deduct the wrestler's pay, insurance and my half from 3139 02:40:55.440 --> 02:40:58.280 his money due from today back to the start of 3140 02:40:58.319 --> 02:41:01.879 the month. I slid out of the booth and stood 3141 02:41:01.920 --> 02:41:05.280 by the table for a moment. I asked, buddy, did 3142 02:41:05.319 --> 02:41:08.319 he not have anything to say? Finally looked up from 3143 02:41:08.360 --> 02:41:12.559 the table and simply said, I'm sorry. My partnership ended. 3144 02:41:12.959 --> 02:41:15.079 The only person I called to report the situation was 3145 02:41:15.239 --> 02:41:18.760 Eddie Graham, who of course had suggested that he worked 3146 02:41:18.799 --> 02:41:22.200 with Buddy Fuller in the first place. Oh, maybe that's 3147 02:41:22.239 --> 02:41:24.559 what that commissioner member was talking about, boss when he 3148 02:41:24.639 --> 02:41:26.760 said things that were not in the best interest of 3149 02:41:26.799 --> 02:41:31.760 wrestling were happening under Buddy Fuller's launch. Oh maybe did 3150 02:41:31.840 --> 02:41:36.920 that description of the discrepancy and ticket counting and these 3151 02:41:37.120 --> 02:41:40.200 floods of people who got in without paying sound familiar 3152 02:41:40.280 --> 02:41:47.079 at all to you? Yeah, sounds like kind of what 3153 02:41:47.200 --> 02:41:50.879 Bob rup was alleging Ron Fuller was doing. And yes, yes, 3154 02:41:52.000 --> 02:41:55.360 turned back to Bob's podcast quickly, just to close that 3155 02:41:55.520 --> 02:41:57.879 loop as he describes. And you tell me if this 3156 02:41:57.920 --> 02:42:01.719 doesn't sound like the exact same playbook that Jerry Jared 3157 02:42:01.760 --> 02:42:03.319 alleges Buddy Fuller was running. 3158 02:42:04.239 --> 02:42:05.959 Mom was sitting at a table. 3159 02:42:07.879 --> 02:42:12.639 He's describing the ticket takers in Knoxville, a mother and 3160 02:42:12.760 --> 02:42:15.840 daughter combination. Think you have for lunch that day? 3161 02:42:15.920 --> 02:42:19.159 I know, I didn't realize how I played it, that 3162 02:42:19.200 --> 02:42:21.639 I had to set this up. So remember, his whole 3163 02:42:21.639 --> 02:42:26.120 allegation is that he personally observed people who were collecting 3164 02:42:26.399 --> 02:42:30.719 the ticket money for Ron Fuller in Knoxville putting some 3165 02:42:30.879 --> 02:42:33.399 in their pocket and not reporting it as having been 3166 02:42:33.479 --> 02:42:36.239 tickets sold. And then there's this big blow up with Ron, 3167 02:42:36.280 --> 02:42:39.200 who claims that not only did these people, did he 3168 02:42:39.280 --> 02:42:41.159 know these people well and they were incapable of doing 3169 02:42:41.200 --> 02:42:43.200 such a thing. But Ron also claims that in fact, 3170 02:42:43.559 --> 02:42:47.239 he wasn't even involved in deciding who collected tickets and 3171 02:42:47.280 --> 02:42:49.799 took tickets and took ticket money at this particular building 3172 02:42:49.799 --> 02:42:52.079 in Knoxville anyway, that the coliseum handling them, we went 3173 02:42:52.120 --> 02:42:55.159 through all that shit. I'm reaching the limits of my 3174 02:42:55.239 --> 02:42:59.719 interest in this thing. But if we're going to talk 3175 02:42:59.719 --> 02:43:03.120 about out the history with Jarrett and Fuller and going 3176 02:43:03.159 --> 02:43:05.000 back and forth and exchanging Hull cog and it might 3177 02:43:05.000 --> 02:43:07.680 be important to understand. So back to Bob Roup describing 3178 02:43:07.719 --> 02:43:11.079 what he observed in seventy nine in Knoxville while Hogan 3179 02:43:11.200 --> 02:43:12.639 was working over on the Gulf Coast side. 3180 02:43:13.719 --> 02:43:17.760 Mom was sitting at a table. There was a mother daughter, 3181 02:43:18.280 --> 02:43:22.120 ticket taker, ticket seller. Mom sold tickets sitting down. She 3182 02:43:22.280 --> 02:43:25.159 was an older woman, made sense. The daughter stood up 3183 02:43:25.520 --> 02:43:28.680 about ten feet behind her, and there was a like 3184 02:43:28.799 --> 02:43:31.280 a container beside her, one of those things you can 3185 02:43:31.319 --> 02:43:34.959 stick tickets into that's supposed to count the tickets. So 3186 02:43:35.120 --> 02:43:37.959 Mom would sell the tickets and the daughter would take them. 3187 02:43:38.440 --> 02:43:41.959 She would tear the tickets, hand it to the guests, 3188 02:43:42.040 --> 02:43:45.120 to the spectator, and then put the torn half in 3189 02:43:45.239 --> 02:43:46.280 the machine. 3190 02:43:47.120 --> 02:43:48.159 So I'm watching and. 3191 02:43:49.319 --> 02:43:49.840 She does that. 3192 02:43:50.079 --> 02:43:53.399 She takes she takes the tears. Party I think of 3193 02:43:53.479 --> 02:43:56.280 three came in. She took all three tickets and tore them, 3194 02:43:56.799 --> 02:43:59.840 and then a couple of people went by. She took 3195 02:43:59.879 --> 02:44:02.680 the tickets and just told them to go on in. 3196 02:44:03.479 --> 02:44:06.719 She didn't tear them, and she got one her right hand. 3197 02:44:07.559 --> 02:44:09.840 She's holding something in her right hand, you can see it. 3198 02:44:10.680 --> 02:44:13.959 She tears a couple more tickets, and then another two 3199 02:44:14.040 --> 02:44:16.479 or three come by, and she doesn't well. I went 3200 02:44:16.559 --> 02:44:19.000 on for about oh no, I watched for about five minutes, 3201 02:44:19.559 --> 02:44:22.840 and she tore her stay. She tore fifteen tickets, well, 3202 02:44:23.040 --> 02:44:27.920 seven or eight. She didn't tear single tickets. So after 3203 02:44:28.120 --> 02:44:31.120 there was a lull in people coming in. She walked 3204 02:44:31.200 --> 02:44:33.959 up to the desk or her mom was selling. She 3205 02:44:34.159 --> 02:44:37.040 laid down on the desk on the side of her that. 3206 02:44:37.360 --> 02:44:39.719 Uh boy, she could put her hand right hand right 3207 02:44:39.760 --> 02:44:41.840 in front of her mom. But she put her hand 3208 02:44:41.879 --> 02:44:45.280 on the table and her mother reached out almost. I thought, 3209 02:44:45.360 --> 02:44:47.479 my boy, she want to hold hands with her, And 3210 02:44:48.040 --> 02:44:50.879 the daughter opened her hand. As soon as she pulled 3211 02:44:50.920 --> 02:44:54.159 her hand away, Mom's hand was there and Mom all 3212 02:44:54.200 --> 02:44:56.840 of a sudden has something in her hand. So I'm 3213 02:44:56.840 --> 02:45:00.200 watching now. What happened was that it looked like were 3214 02:45:00.239 --> 02:45:04.520 double selling ticket. So or two weeks later we had 3215 02:45:04.559 --> 02:45:08.360 a show and the other one't azard. We had one 3216 02:45:08.399 --> 02:45:10.520 in Orland. I was the area of the building where 3217 02:45:10.520 --> 02:45:12.319 I could see it, and the same thing. 3218 02:45:12.879 --> 02:45:13.600 So I went to Ron. 3219 02:45:14.120 --> 02:45:19.920 I went to Ron four, so. 3220 02:45:21.159 --> 02:45:23.760 Get you get the who's going to do? It's not 3221 02:45:23.840 --> 02:45:26.680 like it's going to continue like he does. 3222 02:45:26.600 --> 02:45:28.520 But that gets a the whole thing of like, you know, 3223 02:45:28.840 --> 02:45:30.680 he confronts him and Ron Fuller would look him in 3224 02:45:30.719 --> 02:45:32.559 the eyes and then he does this whole thing about 3225 02:45:32.879 --> 02:45:35.319 you know, I know body language. And Ron was given 3226 02:45:35.360 --> 02:45:36.799 all the red flags of no one what I was 3227 02:45:36.840 --> 02:45:38.479 talking about and wouldn't look at me and all that. 3228 02:45:39.079 --> 02:45:42.680 But so it's the similar method, right, It's like the 3229 02:45:42.879 --> 02:45:44.719 whole significance is when you tear a ticket and put 3230 02:45:44.760 --> 02:45:47.280 it in the thing, that's that's a sold ticket that 3231 02:45:47.440 --> 02:45:50.120 they have evidence of. But if you never put one 3232 02:45:50.159 --> 02:45:52.719 half of the ticket in there, you can take the 3233 02:45:52.760 --> 02:45:54.719 money for that ticket put in your pocket and there's 3234 02:45:54.799 --> 02:45:57.719 no proof because that ticket wasn't torn, so it doesn't 3235 02:45:57.719 --> 02:45:59.920 look like it was sold right, and that was the scam. 3236 02:46:01.520 --> 02:46:04.440 And it's both sides, it's every side that alleges something 3237 02:46:04.479 --> 02:46:08.280 similar happens. So I just thought that was unbelievable that 3238 02:46:08.559 --> 02:46:13.440 like that, that Jarrett essentially alleges the Fuller is a 3239 02:46:13.479 --> 02:46:15.440 different Fuller did the same thing to him, or at 3240 02:46:15.520 --> 02:46:17.399 least presided over the same thing. 3241 02:46:17.360 --> 02:46:20.159 Happening to him. I don't know, I'm not surprised. 3242 02:46:20.959 --> 02:46:21.719 So that's Uh. 3243 02:46:23.040 --> 02:46:25.319 Those are the people that Hull Hogan is working with 3244 02:46:25.440 --> 02:46:29.840 in the earliest days of his precocious career. This is 3245 02:46:30.200 --> 02:46:32.440 these are the characters that are all around on all sides. 3246 02:46:32.639 --> 02:46:35.000 Makes you think, oh, maybe you know, like who is 3247 02:46:35.040 --> 02:46:38.440 he makes you wonder why he's getting a little nervous right, 3248 02:46:38.559 --> 02:46:40.360 makes you want to way he thinks the wrestling business 3249 02:46:40.440 --> 02:46:43.399 is primarily, you know, populated by people that are looking 3250 02:46:43.440 --> 02:46:45.399 to skim money off of you and fuck you every 3251 02:46:45.440 --> 02:46:48.799 way they can. So let's hear it from Jerry Jarrett's 3252 02:46:49.159 --> 02:46:52.239 lips directly. Yeah, he did a shoot interview along extended 3253 02:46:52.280 --> 02:46:54.639 one that I'd highly recommend with Hannibal before his passing 3254 02:46:54.719 --> 02:46:56.920 at his home in Tennessee, talking about a lot of 3255 02:46:56.959 --> 02:47:00.239 this stuff, and of course in particular the arrival of Hulk. 3256 02:47:00.319 --> 02:47:03.479 Some of this will kind of retread that the passage 3257 02:47:03.520 --> 02:47:05.120 we read from the book when Hulk comes to visit 3258 02:47:05.200 --> 02:47:08.360 has the whoppers and stuff, but there's a bit more 3259 02:47:08.440 --> 02:47:10.479 to to chew on and it's always great to hear 3260 02:47:10.760 --> 02:47:13.559 the voices come to life. So here from the Hannibal 3261 02:47:13.559 --> 02:47:18.079 shooting interview, Jerry Jarrett talking about Louis till that's involvement 3262 02:47:18.120 --> 02:47:18.760 in Hulk coming in. 3263 02:47:20.399 --> 02:47:24.760 Louis to limb or on a book. Are down in 3264 02:47:24.879 --> 02:47:33.600 Florida and Louie called me and said, Jerry, I've got 3265 02:47:33.760 --> 02:47:41.280 this kid down here that is big and looks like 3266 02:47:41.559 --> 02:47:46.840 Charles Atlas and but he can't wrestle. But I think 3267 02:47:47.520 --> 02:47:50.159 if you would spend some time with him, you turn 3268 02:47:50.280 --> 02:47:53.719 him into a talent. So I told Louis send him up, 3269 02:47:54.879 --> 02:47:57.639 and when he got there, when he arrived at my house, 3270 02:47:57.760 --> 02:48:04.760 I thought, Holy cal didn't describe this guy. I mean, 3271 02:48:04.959 --> 02:48:10.680 he was the most impressive person I'd ever seen. So 3272 02:48:10.920 --> 02:48:14.680 we did that. I call my production people and we 3273 02:48:14.799 --> 02:48:19.280 did that first video where we started at his feed pan, 3274 02:48:19.440 --> 02:48:24.760 the camera had him pose and. 3275 02:48:26.760 --> 02:48:27.200 He just. 3276 02:48:29.399 --> 02:48:31.639 You know, there's a funny thing about a wrestler, and 3277 02:48:31.719 --> 02:48:38.280 you've probably experienced this. Most people when they start out 3278 02:48:38.319 --> 02:48:43.479 in the business are pretending to be a wrestler and 3279 02:48:43.600 --> 02:48:46.879 then something snaps in their head and they go, I 3280 02:48:47.000 --> 02:48:56.319 am a wrestler. Hogan, that didn't snap in his head, 3281 02:48:57.639 --> 02:49:03.799 Oh my god, until he left here here he was 3282 02:49:04.159 --> 02:49:07.360 pretending to be arrest and of course he was learning. 3283 02:49:09.440 --> 02:49:14.600 I think he might have been when Vince Senior first, 3284 02:49:14.879 --> 02:49:19.200 when I sent him from here up there haven't snapped yet, 3285 02:49:19.360 --> 02:49:24.280 and I think that's what Senior noticed. You know, he 3286 02:49:24.399 --> 02:49:28.040 don't really think of himself as a wrestler. I think 3287 02:49:28.159 --> 02:49:34.079 it happened when he was overworking for Verncarna. I think 3288 02:49:34.159 --> 02:49:36.760 it dawn know him I am a wrestler. 3289 02:49:39.719 --> 02:49:42.719 So it does not dawn on Terry Bulay that he's 3290 02:49:42.760 --> 02:49:49.479 a wrestler until like nineteen eighty one. Well, brother, exactly, 3291 02:49:49.840 --> 02:49:52.959 talk about a concerning remark a wrestler, dude, we don't 3292 02:49:53.040 --> 02:49:56.799 vout what he's enough of a wrestler to play people 3293 02:49:56.840 --> 02:49:58.600 off each other for a better payday, that's for sure. 3294 02:50:00.239 --> 02:50:02.959 How about the name the Hulk, So who came up 3295 02:50:03.000 --> 02:50:03.559 with that? Jerry? 3296 02:50:03.719 --> 02:50:03.959 Is it you? 3297 02:50:04.760 --> 02:50:07.840 And when he came here, he was known as Terry Boulder. 3298 02:50:08.440 --> 02:50:10.319 And I think you gave him the name of the Hulk. 3299 02:50:10.520 --> 02:50:12.920 Is that true? Yes, he was. 3300 02:50:13.319 --> 02:50:20.319 His room name is Terry Bullay and he introduced himself 3301 02:50:20.399 --> 02:50:24.639 as Terry Boulder. And then when we did that interview, 3302 02:50:25.079 --> 02:50:29.719 I said, I think we're going to call you at 3303 02:50:29.760 --> 02:50:34.639 the Hope. And he said, well, I don't want to 3304 02:50:34.680 --> 02:50:40.719 get in trouble with comic book comic book character. And 3305 02:50:40.840 --> 02:50:43.760 I said, now, as long as you don't call it 3306 02:50:43.799 --> 02:50:50.440 yourself the incredible hup. Hull is a descriptive attitude, he said, okay, 3307 02:50:50.680 --> 02:50:52.479 so we just called him the. 3308 02:50:52.479 --> 02:50:58.559 Houp an adjective. Okay, you don't. You don't have a 3309 02:50:58.680 --> 02:51:01.799 hulk muscle, or a Hulk car or a hulk house. 3310 02:51:01.840 --> 02:51:05.399 It's not an adjective. Check check the adjective. It's Kevin 3311 02:51:05.479 --> 02:51:09.600 Nash's definition. Maybe, but okay. 3312 02:51:09.719 --> 02:51:11.360 So to hear Jerry tell it, he gave him the 3313 02:51:11.399 --> 02:51:13.639 name Hulk when they came up with the fucking vignette 3314 02:51:13.639 --> 02:51:17.399 in the basement or even though he's being advertised as 3315 02:51:17.440 --> 02:51:20.799 Hulk in Alabama for months and newspapers before this. And 3316 02:51:21.559 --> 02:51:27.319 he also says that Hulk himself voiced concern about the 3317 02:51:27.399 --> 02:51:31.559 copyright implications of using the name. So again, maybe Hulk 3318 02:51:31.639 --> 02:51:33.600 gives Jared the nod here of coming up with it 3319 02:51:33.680 --> 02:51:37.040 because he's the one willing to accept the blame for 3320 02:51:37.200 --> 02:51:43.280 violetting copyright. What did you know we talked about the whoppers? 3321 02:51:43.360 --> 02:51:43.479 Right? 3322 02:51:43.959 --> 02:51:49.239 Yes, I'm left wondering what did Terry Boley leave behind 3323 02:51:49.399 --> 02:51:53.319 after consuming all that burger king in Jerry Jarrett's kitchen. 3324 02:51:53.639 --> 02:51:59.319 You know, Oh, I think is toilet toilet, something in 3325 02:51:59.360 --> 02:52:03.000 the category of essence left behind? Jerry? 3326 02:52:03.079 --> 02:52:03.280 What? What? 3327 02:52:04.639 --> 02:52:08.280 What did he leave behind? After they did leave and 3328 02:52:09.600 --> 02:52:16.479 he was went, it was wet, it was wet already 3329 02:52:17.079 --> 02:52:22.760 and he was went. This is before he. 3330 02:52:22.879 --> 02:52:26.440 Got ready for the shoe, and my wife went and 3331 02:52:26.639 --> 02:52:30.120 brought him a towel. And then after it was all 3332 02:52:30.200 --> 02:52:34.799 over and they left, she said, I've never seen anybody 3333 02:52:34.920 --> 02:52:42.360 sweat like that chair he was sitting in was win. Well. 3334 02:52:42.440 --> 02:52:46.879 I don't know what that condition is. I don't know 3335 02:52:47.000 --> 02:52:52.760 if it's steroids caused the shoe to sweat nerves or 3336 02:52:52.840 --> 02:52:56.399 I don't know what it was for. He hes sweated 3337 02:52:56.559 --> 02:52:57.000 a lot. 3338 02:53:00.280 --> 02:53:05.600 I mean, he had six fucking whoppers. It's making meat sweat, 3339 02:53:06.879 --> 02:53:14.120 meat sweats. What what was he Jerry, And he was wet. 3340 02:53:14.520 --> 02:53:19.079 He was wet and he was webb. 3341 02:53:20.280 --> 02:53:25.920 I saw he was wet, and Pussy was wet good 3342 02:53:26.000 --> 02:53:31.319 in the cream all and my watch, Pussy was wet 3343 02:53:31.600 --> 02:53:38.319 when she saw him wet he was, he was weat. 3344 02:53:42.520 --> 02:53:49.559 Oh my god, he was waging. Even then he got 3345 02:53:49.600 --> 02:53:55.879 that detail out of it. Oh oh he was wad. 3346 02:53:56.399 --> 02:53:59.520 But look he was writing so hard that he know 3347 02:53:59.680 --> 02:54:02.120 how my he would sweat. It was course, of course 3348 02:54:02.680 --> 02:54:04.559 when he was in the ring, he'd be like two 3349 02:54:04.600 --> 02:54:08.000 minutes into the match and his hair is stringy. Oh yeah, 3350 02:54:08.479 --> 02:54:11.719 those yes, come on, those were the fucking days that 3351 02:54:12.000 --> 02:54:16.680 it was fucking crazy. But I mean for doing nothing though, 3352 02:54:17.200 --> 02:54:20.440 that's the thing. He did nothing. He did nothing, and 3353 02:54:20.559 --> 02:54:27.239 he was waant. I love also heard that. I don't 3354 02:54:27.239 --> 02:54:28.920 know if I ever heard the word wet with two 3355 02:54:29.000 --> 02:54:43.280 syllables waat and he was wimped wm h fucking Jared's Jarrett. 3356 02:54:44.440 --> 02:54:47.840 I'm I'm left and awe just I just picture him 3357 02:54:47.920 --> 02:54:50.399 leaving this puddle. Oh yeah, I mean I listen, like 3358 02:54:50.479 --> 02:54:53.760 every step he takes like just a little couple of droplets. 3359 02:54:55.840 --> 02:54:59.799 Oh he was waat. They're on their way to wrestle 3360 02:55:00.200 --> 02:55:02.719 Oh my god, Terry and Eddie are on their way 3361 02:55:02.840 --> 02:55:06.959 up to Memphis to give this thing a shot. And uh, 3362 02:55:07.360 --> 02:55:11.399 before we leave, Jerry, or at least uh these clips, 3363 02:55:11.479 --> 02:55:16.600 we got to get to a couple of things. Okay, First, 3364 02:55:16.639 --> 02:55:18.600 I would ask you to read this passage. This is 3365 02:55:18.639 --> 02:55:21.520 from Hogan's second book. They're on the road bus and 3366 02:55:21.559 --> 02:55:29.920 they're headed to Memphis. Heading to Memphis, way we get wet. 3367 02:55:31.440 --> 02:55:33.559 So Bruce and I drove to Memphis with this one 3368 02:55:33.680 --> 02:55:36.399 night to wrestle as the Boulder Brothers, and we put 3369 02:55:36.479 --> 02:55:38.840 on a hell of a show. I know because Jared, 3370 02:55:39.040 --> 02:55:41.559 Because Jared and Lawler pulled me aside immediately after the 3371 02:55:41.600 --> 02:55:44.639 Mattress City. Terry, we wanted to come up work work here. 3372 02:55:45.040 --> 02:55:46.600 I told him I couldn't. I was committed to the 3373 02:55:46.639 --> 02:55:49.680 Alabama territory, you know. Louis to Ledgid giving me a 3374 02:55:49.799 --> 02:55:51.639 break when I really needed it, and I couldn't let 3375 02:55:51.719 --> 02:55:53.719 him down. Then they asked me how much money I 3376 02:55:53.840 --> 02:55:58.159 was making one five a week. I said, well, we'll 3377 02:55:58.239 --> 02:56:02.360 give you eight hundred dollars or a week guarantee. Oh 3378 02:56:02.440 --> 02:56:04.879 I was shocker. So I wasn't as much of a 3379 02:56:05.000 --> 02:56:07.559 mark as I used to be. But I wasn't totally 3380 02:56:07.639 --> 02:56:10.799 disloyal either, So I played real cool and I told 3381 02:56:10.879 --> 02:56:12.719 him I needed to get back and talk to Tilled 3382 02:56:12.840 --> 02:56:15.159 about it. I'm not exactly what I did. I went 3383 02:56:15.239 --> 02:56:17.520 back to Alabama and confronted to let you know, I'm 3384 02:56:17.559 --> 02:56:19.639 rustled seven days a week for you and bolder brothers 3385 02:56:19.719 --> 02:56:22.079 were making a name and drawing audiences. How come I 3386 02:56:22.120 --> 02:56:25.559 only making one to seventy five tops. His response that 3387 02:56:26.239 --> 02:56:29.079 all the year worth and all you desire. So I 3388 02:56:29.200 --> 02:56:31.520 hit him with the eight hundred a week guarantee. I've 3389 02:56:31.559 --> 02:56:33.840 just been offered Memphis and said, Ed and I were 3390 02:56:33.920 --> 02:56:37.360 leaving and just about shit a brick, and he called 3391 02:56:37.440 --> 02:56:40.600 Jared Lawler Memphis Screening. How come you ste your talent? 3392 02:56:41.440 --> 02:56:44.079 I did you a fair for one night, and this 3393 02:56:44.200 --> 02:56:47.159 is what happens. How can you do this? So I 3394 02:56:47.280 --> 02:56:50.719 thought he was in on funneling these guys. You know, 3395 02:56:50.879 --> 02:56:53.760 he was pissed, dude. It didn't matter. You know, Bruce 3396 02:56:53.799 --> 02:56:55.959 and I already had one foot in the van at 3397 02:56:56.040 --> 02:56:58.600 that point. We were on our way to the big 3398 02:56:58.719 --> 02:57:01.040 time and we knew it. You know, the offer came 3399 02:57:01.120 --> 02:57:03.479 at the perfect moment because just as we were rolling 3400 02:57:03.559 --> 02:57:05.840 to Memphis, the motor blew out of the gold van. 3401 02:57:06.399 --> 02:57:08.280 You know, not only was that was that van our home, 3402 02:57:08.719 --> 02:57:11.040 but it was it was the only transportation we had 3403 02:57:11.079 --> 02:57:13.959 to get to wrestling gigs. No one flew in those days, 3404 02:57:14.000 --> 02:57:17.040 and the matches were all over the place. Boss. I'm 3405 02:57:17.120 --> 02:57:20.079 left to wonder, did Jerry just grab Hulk just to 3406 02:57:20.200 --> 02:57:24.040 fuck Louis Toilette for being involved that? I would love that. 3407 02:57:24.360 --> 02:57:27.159 I would love that. We have to consider the possibility, 3408 02:57:28.040 --> 02:57:31.040 you know, like it was Splitsville because he was like, 3409 02:57:31.120 --> 02:57:34.719 fuck these two you know me in Ohio totally and 3410 02:57:34.840 --> 02:57:37.319 they're they're doing well with this Hulk guy down there. 3411 02:57:37.440 --> 02:57:40.399 Let me see what I can do about doubling his money. Yep, 3412 02:57:40.600 --> 02:57:45.799 I believe that quadrupling his money actually more like it. Yeah. Yeah, 3413 02:57:46.680 --> 02:57:49.520 Memphis Territory. You know, it'll be a two hundred mile 3414 02:57:49.680 --> 02:57:52.000 drive to Nashville and one night than two hundred and 3415 02:57:52.040 --> 02:57:54.920 fifty miles to two below Mississippi the fix, you know, 3416 02:57:55.000 --> 02:57:58.879 the next followed by Evans, Indiana, nine hours away. The venues. 3417 02:57:58.879 --> 02:58:00.680 You were never lined up up in a road to 3418 02:58:00.719 --> 02:58:03.760 make it easy. Nobody planned like that, so you were 3419 02:58:03.840 --> 02:58:06.600 literally all over the map. You imagine if the van 3420 02:58:06.680 --> 02:58:09.479 had broken down. While we were broken living in the beach, 3421 02:58:10.040 --> 02:58:12.360 what would he had done? As soon as we rolled 3422 02:58:12.360 --> 02:58:14.920 into Memphis, Jared took me straight out and bought me 3423 02:58:15.000 --> 02:58:18.000 a big green Lincoln Continental. I'll pay him back for it, 3424 02:58:18.120 --> 02:58:20.200 but he was more than happy to front me the money. 3425 02:58:20.639 --> 02:58:22.559 He treated me like his like one of his own 3426 02:58:22.879 --> 02:58:25.319 right away, and since he was paying me eight hundred 3427 02:58:25.319 --> 02:58:27.680 dollars a week, I didn't need a van of sleeping anymore. 3428 02:58:28.760 --> 02:58:31.520 As I started rising to Memphis, Jared asked me to 3429 02:58:31.559 --> 02:58:34.959 go to go on TV now and then to promote matches. 3430 02:58:35.399 --> 02:58:37.959 And I go certainly talk the talk. You know, all 3431 02:58:38.200 --> 02:58:41.440 after all those years listening to Dusty Rhoads and interacting 3432 02:58:41.479 --> 02:58:44.280 with audiences and all those bands, I was a natural. 3433 02:58:44.639 --> 02:58:47.399 I also said, hey, brother in that real Hulk Cogan 3434 02:58:47.440 --> 02:58:50.239 style stuff quite yet, but I could say, Hey, this 3435 02:58:50.399 --> 02:58:52.879 is Terry Boulder, and I wanted you to come down 3436 02:58:52.959 --> 02:58:55.719 to the Mobile Civic Center where you'll see the greatest 3437 02:58:55.760 --> 02:58:58.280 wrestlers in the world. One day, I went on a 3438 02:58:58.319 --> 02:59:01.799 local talk show and wound up sitting on air right 3439 02:59:01.879 --> 02:59:04.559 next to Loof for Rigno. That's right, the guy who's 3440 02:59:04.719 --> 02:59:07.440 who played the incredible Hulk, who was all over people's 3441 02:59:07.479 --> 02:59:10.159 TV with his green body makeup. At the time, he 3442 02:59:10.319 --> 02:59:12.559 was a real nice guy and everyone was so impressed 3443 02:59:12.600 --> 02:59:15.319 by how huge he looked with those big, bulging muscles. 3444 02:59:15.840 --> 02:59:18.639 The thing was sitting next to me at that point 3445 02:59:18.639 --> 02:59:21.120 in my life. The guy looked kind of small, and 3446 02:59:21.239 --> 02:59:23.920 that blew Jerry jard away. I got back to the 3447 02:59:24.000 --> 02:59:25.760 dressing room after the show and Jerry was like, no, 3448 02:59:25.879 --> 02:59:28.000 good God, Terry, you were sitting on TV and you 3449 02:59:28.079 --> 02:59:31.159 were bigger than the Hulk that moment on Jerry Jared 3450 02:59:31.440 --> 02:59:34.440 started billing me as Terry the Hulk Boulder wherever I wrestled. 3451 02:59:36.879 --> 02:59:39.000 I would like to know if anyone had the opportunity 3452 02:59:39.040 --> 02:59:41.959 to confront Hulk Hogan about with news articles. I'm sure 3453 02:59:42.040 --> 02:59:45.760 no one did, but the news articles clearly calling him 3454 02:59:45.799 --> 02:59:48.399 the Hulk way before he was there. Fuck that. How 3455 02:59:48.440 --> 02:59:50.760 about confronting him with what Jerry Jared himself said to 3456 02:59:50.799 --> 02:59:51.680 the Hannibal. 3457 02:59:52.520 --> 02:59:54.799 And I've heard you say this isn't true, But the 3458 02:59:54.879 --> 02:59:57.399 way he tells it in his book is you saw 3459 02:59:57.559 --> 03:00:01.120 him on TV. Wa you know who was the real 3460 03:00:01.239 --> 03:00:04.000 hold and you thought you looked bigger than the whole. 3461 03:00:08.440 --> 03:00:21.319 It was that Jerry en it happened. It didn't happen. 3462 03:00:21.399 --> 03:00:27.120 It happened him, that didn't happen. The Terry ba story 3463 03:00:27.239 --> 03:00:28.680 there it is. That's right. 3464 03:00:29.840 --> 03:00:33.879 Well, the Vans loaded up, the deal is made, the 3465 03:00:34.040 --> 03:00:39.159 terms are agreed to. Control of Memphis is now solidified 3466 03:00:39.719 --> 03:00:43.120 under Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler. The Fullers be damned, 3467 03:00:43.159 --> 03:00:45.399 the welch Is be damned, Louis toi Lett be damned. 3468 03:00:45.440 --> 03:00:48.840 Even it seems like and it's time for the Hulk 3469 03:00:48.920 --> 03:00:53.520 of Alabama to become Terry the Hulk, Boulder, brother to 3470 03:00:53.879 --> 03:00:57.719 Ed Boulder, and foil to none other than Jerry the 3471 03:00:57.799 --> 03:01:01.079 King Lawler, and the Shrine of Memphis Wrestling the Mid 3472 03:01:01.200 --> 03:01:04.920 South Coliseum. As we get into what it looked and 3473 03:01:05.079 --> 03:01:08.799 felt like as Terry Bolea takes to Memphis Television next 3474 03:01:08.879 --> 03:01:10.680 time on the Complete Hulk Hogan. 3475 03:01:11.520 --> 03:01:16.079 The plays a production of the Lapsed Entertainment Group. Its 3476 03:01:16.159 --> 03:01:22.799 content is intended for private use only what we want