1 00:00:13,643 --> 00:00:15,253 Well, Ethan Page again 2 00:00:15,297 --> 00:00:17,690 brutalized young Darby Allin. 3 00:00:19,170 --> 00:00:20,998 Oh my goodness! 4 00:00:21,042 --> 00:00:24,393 Page has treated Allin like he was a fly who's beneath him. 5 00:00:24,436 --> 00:00:28,092 Face first into the wall! 6 00:00:28,136 --> 00:00:31,704 And Allin has been busted open! 7 00:00:34,533 --> 00:00:37,188 I'll stop it now. Stop it now? 8 00:00:39,538 --> 00:00:42,019 Allin has got a trash can. 9 00:00:45,892 --> 00:00:48,330 He just jumped off the balcony! 10 00:00:48,373 --> 00:00:52,899 Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! 11 00:00:55,685 --> 00:00:59,471 Allin taking that trash can back with him to the ring. 12 00:00:59,515 --> 00:01:02,953 Page asking for mercy and getting none! 13 00:01:02,996 --> 00:01:06,565 Oh! Oh! Oh! 14 00:01:09,220 --> 00:01:11,614 That's so cool! 15 00:01:13,398 --> 00:01:16,140 Allin to the top of the ladder! 16 00:01:16,184 --> 00:01:18,099 No. Ugh. 17 00:01:25,236 --> 00:01:26,977 One! Two! Three! 18 00:01:27,020 --> 00:01:28,718 It's over! 19 00:01:30,285 --> 00:01:33,940 The winner of Darby Allin! 20 00:01:33,984 --> 00:01:36,160 No matter what you think of professional wrestling 21 00:01:36,204 --> 00:01:40,295 on a pure physicality level, if you aren't taken aback 22 00:01:40,338 --> 00:01:43,950 by what we just saw, I don't know what's gonna take you. 23 00:01:52,002 --> 00:01:53,656 We don't know, we don't know. 24 00:02:00,184 --> 00:02:01,707 Professional wrestling is experiencing 25 00:02:01,751 --> 00:02:03,492 a global renaissance. 26 00:02:03,535 --> 00:02:05,624 Brought on by a cross pollination of styles, 27 00:02:05,668 --> 00:02:08,236 it has its own language, each style a different dialect. 28 00:02:11,108 --> 00:02:12,892 As a lifelong wrestling fan, I've always felt there's more 29 00:02:12,936 --> 00:02:15,547 to wrestling than just choreographed violence. 30 00:02:15,591 --> 00:02:17,984 At the core of every wrestler there's a storyteller, 31 00:02:18,028 --> 00:02:20,813 every ring a stage to reflect the struggles of its audience, 32 00:02:20,857 --> 00:02:24,382 whether it be gender, sexuality, race, religion or class. 33 00:02:24,426 --> 00:02:25,775 A theatre for the masses that gives us 34 00:02:25,818 --> 00:02:27,994 the heroes and villains we need. 35 00:02:28,038 --> 00:02:30,997 From the skyscrapers of Japan to the alleyways of the Congo, 36 00:02:31,041 --> 00:02:32,869 we're gonna meet some of the most influential figures 37 00:02:32,912 --> 00:02:35,567 in the sport, and examine their global impact. 38 00:02:35,611 --> 00:02:39,136 In a world where the President of the United States is in 39 00:02:39,180 --> 00:02:41,269 a wrestling hall of fame, and global politics 40 00:02:41,312 --> 00:02:44,228 increasingly resemble theatre, it's impossible to ignore 41 00:02:44,272 --> 00:02:46,361 wrestling's place in our society. 42 00:02:48,711 --> 00:02:50,669 Wrestling has always had a complicated relationship 43 00:02:50,713 --> 00:02:52,193 with the truth. 44 00:02:52,236 --> 00:02:53,846 For decades, bookers tried to maintain that 45 00:02:53,890 --> 00:02:56,022 the matches were not fixed. 46 00:02:56,066 --> 00:02:59,983 It wasn't until the 1980s, after a slew of investigative reports, 47 00:03:00,026 --> 00:03:02,159 that it became widely known that the winners and losers 48 00:03:02,203 --> 00:03:04,248 were predetermined. 49 00:03:04,292 --> 00:03:06,685 For non-fans, it's proven difficult for wrestling 50 00:03:06,729 --> 00:03:09,035 to shake the moniker of fake. 51 00:03:09,079 --> 00:03:11,212 But to dismiss wrestling as a fake sport 52 00:03:11,255 --> 00:03:13,344 is to misread it completely. 53 00:03:13,388 --> 00:03:16,129 To understand why, I'm taking you to one of the best bookers 54 00:03:16,173 --> 00:03:18,610 Gabe Sapolsky. 55 00:03:18,654 --> 00:03:21,396 His promotion Evolve is widely considered the top indie 56 00:03:21,439 --> 00:03:24,268 wrestling company in America, and he's agreed to show us 57 00:03:24,312 --> 00:03:26,618 exactly what happens behind the curtain. 58 00:03:33,190 --> 00:03:36,193 Gabe Sapolsky, I was like I gotta meet this guy. 59 00:03:36,237 --> 00:03:38,848 He's the top promoter on the indies. 60 00:03:38,891 --> 00:03:41,981 Getting on Evolve set up the rest of my career. 61 00:03:42,025 --> 00:03:44,027 As a promoter, he knows what he's looking for. 62 00:03:44,070 --> 00:03:45,768 He has a vision. 63 00:03:45,811 --> 00:03:49,206 Gabe understands what I want to achieve. 64 00:03:49,250 --> 00:03:52,296 That's the guy that you want to impress. 65 00:03:52,340 --> 00:03:54,907 If you don't know who Gabe Sapolsky is when we're talking 66 00:03:54,951 --> 00:03:58,563 about wrestling, you just don't know what you're really doing. 67 00:03:58,607 --> 00:04:00,870 He's just the guy. 68 00:04:16,755 --> 00:04:19,018 Special treat Friday. Right, Jack? 69 00:04:19,062 --> 00:04:20,629 Yeah. 70 00:04:20,672 --> 00:04:24,850 If we eat well during the week and really don't have any treats 71 00:04:24,894 --> 00:04:27,984 - or maybe just one - and we work hard all week, 72 00:04:28,027 --> 00:04:29,768 we get to go for a special treat on Friday. 73 00:04:29,812 --> 00:04:31,248 - Right, Jack? - Yeah. 74 00:04:35,034 --> 00:04:37,341 I have a lot of work to do this weekend, okay? 75 00:04:37,385 --> 00:04:38,908 Mm-hmm. 76 00:04:38,951 --> 00:04:40,475 But then I'll be back Monday to pick you up from school. 77 00:04:42,041 --> 00:04:43,652 Oh! 78 00:04:44,696 --> 00:04:47,177 is pro wrestling fake? 79 00:04:47,220 --> 00:04:50,528 The drama and the physicality of it is not fake at all. 80 00:04:50,572 --> 00:04:54,663 The way people would describe wrestling forever, 81 00:04:54,706 --> 00:04:59,798 for years, would be it's a fake sport, it's not real. 82 00:04:59,842 --> 00:05:02,801 I don't think that they've ever seen an actual wrestler, 83 00:05:02,845 --> 00:05:05,282 because there's nothing fake about what they do. 84 00:05:05,326 --> 00:05:10,461 And it's very hard to explain to them that that isn't the case. 85 00:05:10,505 --> 00:05:12,333 You either get it or you don't. 86 00:05:16,685 --> 00:05:17,947 Whoa! 87 00:05:17,990 --> 00:05:20,123 It kinda sikes you, right? 88 00:05:20,166 --> 00:05:22,473 It's kinda... hypnotizing, eh? 89 00:05:23,996 --> 00:05:25,607 Looking around, Gabe, 90 00:05:25,650 --> 00:05:28,610 there's not a lot of wrestling ephemera in here. 91 00:05:28,653 --> 00:05:29,872 Is there any? 92 00:05:29,915 --> 00:05:32,396 The Dragon Gate USA title belt. 93 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,268 It's symbolic to me because I was done, I was dead in 94 00:05:35,312 --> 00:05:38,402 the industry, and that belt signifies the comeback. 95 00:05:38,446 --> 00:05:42,188 The original merchandising contract we had with Sabu. 96 00:05:42,232 --> 00:05:44,669 So if it wasn't for this contract right here, 97 00:05:44,713 --> 00:05:46,192 none of this would've happened. 98 00:05:46,236 --> 00:05:48,238 And then you of course have 99 00:05:48,281 --> 00:05:50,719 the picture of the godfather of hardcore wrestling. 100 00:05:50,762 --> 00:05:53,069 Yes, I have that Terry Funk plaque. 101 00:05:53,112 --> 00:05:55,201 Terry Funk of course was like the beginning of everything too 102 00:05:55,245 --> 00:05:57,116 with ECW. 103 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,728 September '93 is my first year, so we're talking... 104 00:05:59,771 --> 00:06:01,730 you know, moving on 24 years now. 105 00:06:01,773 --> 00:06:03,862 I appreciate the fact that I've been able to do this 106 00:06:03,906 --> 00:06:07,083 for so long, and also I realize the fact that 107 00:06:07,126 --> 00:06:09,390 the next show can be my last show. 108 00:06:09,433 --> 00:06:12,218 Like that's how quickly it ends. 109 00:06:14,743 --> 00:06:18,486 When I was booker for Ring of Honor, it was my life 24/7. 110 00:06:18,529 --> 00:06:22,315 Every minute of every day was spent thinking about it, 111 00:06:22,359 --> 00:06:24,361 and I was very unhealthy. 112 00:06:24,405 --> 00:06:27,103 A lot of people in the business become so immersed 113 00:06:27,146 --> 00:06:29,410 that they kinda lose themselves in it. 114 00:06:29,453 --> 00:06:32,674 There was a couple of years where he was on the road 115 00:06:32,717 --> 00:06:35,677 like every weekend, every weekend. 116 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,507 Having that routine, it definitely has brought 117 00:06:39,550 --> 00:06:41,683 a balance to him for sure. 118 00:06:41,726 --> 00:06:43,598 I just don't wanna be a person 119 00:06:43,641 --> 00:06:45,556 that's having somebody else raise their kid. 120 00:06:47,210 --> 00:06:49,517 Once he stops holding your hand walking home from school, 121 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,693 he is never holding your hand again. 122 00:06:51,736 --> 00:06:54,652 Wrestling's giving me this luxury to raise my kid. 123 00:06:54,696 --> 00:06:58,917 I try to do the logistics and the promotional stuff 124 00:06:58,961 --> 00:07:00,528 during the day. 125 00:07:00,571 --> 00:07:03,444 Most of the writing I do takes place after midnight. 126 00:07:03,487 --> 00:07:06,055 I can be up till 4:00 or 5:00 and 6:00 in the morning 127 00:07:06,098 --> 00:07:08,405 writing wrestling storylines. 128 00:07:10,451 --> 00:07:12,322 Wrestling is a thing that goes up and down. 129 00:07:12,365 --> 00:07:15,456 It might be very high, very popular right now, 130 00:07:15,499 --> 00:07:17,762 but in two years it can hit bottom. 131 00:07:17,806 --> 00:07:19,808 And that's not his fault or anyone's fault. 132 00:07:19,851 --> 00:07:22,941 So we know that he's made his mark in wrestling, 133 00:07:22,985 --> 00:07:26,075 but it's not something that is... 134 00:07:26,118 --> 00:07:28,077 that we expect to go on steadily. 135 00:07:29,165 --> 00:07:32,647 A professional wrestling booker is a dying breed these days. 136 00:07:32,690 --> 00:07:34,257 I could've gotten a 9-to-5 job. 137 00:07:34,300 --> 00:07:35,998 Maybe I'd be better off now if I did. 138 00:07:36,999 --> 00:07:38,870 I mean, ultimately it's his decision, 139 00:07:38,914 --> 00:07:41,133 and I've always told him that throughout the whole time 140 00:07:41,177 --> 00:07:42,439 we've been together. 141 00:07:42,483 --> 00:07:43,919 It's your decision, that's your career path. 142 00:07:43,962 --> 00:07:46,269 Whatever it may be, I'll support you. 143 00:07:46,312 --> 00:07:48,924 At the same time, I know... I know how much he loves it. 144 00:07:53,581 --> 00:07:56,671 Much like in boxing, a booker in wrestling is the matchmaker, 145 00:07:56,714 --> 00:07:58,673 and they also decide which match happens when 146 00:07:58,716 --> 00:08:00,936 to maximize the audience's reaction. 147 00:08:00,979 --> 00:08:04,592 But unlike boxing, the booker decides who wins and who loses. 148 00:08:06,202 --> 00:08:08,378 In wrestling, the booker becomes like a stage director 149 00:08:08,421 --> 00:08:10,772 of an athletic improv troupe. 150 00:08:10,815 --> 00:08:12,817 I would-- You know what, I'm gonna change this. 151 00:08:12,861 --> 00:08:16,255 I would hit the double team finish on Fred, okay? 152 00:08:16,299 --> 00:08:18,301 Maybe dump him out of the ring, you turn to Harper... 153 00:08:18,344 --> 00:08:19,824 But then how is Harper gonna be legal? 154 00:08:19,868 --> 00:08:21,043 - What's that? - How's Harper gonna be legal? 155 00:08:21,086 --> 00:08:22,131 You guys figure that out. 156 00:08:22,174 --> 00:08:24,002 It's... It's un-figure-out-able! 157 00:08:24,046 --> 00:08:25,308 No, it's not! 158 00:08:25,351 --> 00:08:26,875 Everything is figure-out-able. That's your job. 159 00:08:26,918 --> 00:08:28,224 - Alright. - Alright. 160 00:08:29,442 --> 00:08:30,879 Exposing the business 101! 161 00:08:32,445 --> 00:08:34,317 A big part of being a booker 162 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,232 is being able to manage the big picture. 163 00:08:36,275 --> 00:08:39,670 You're dealing with maybe about 20 talents, 30 talents. 164 00:08:39,714 --> 00:08:42,499 Wrestlers look at things from a perspective of just themselves, 165 00:08:42,543 --> 00:08:44,893 because they're focused on their careers. 166 00:08:44,936 --> 00:08:47,069 A part of that is getting the talent to understand 167 00:08:47,112 --> 00:08:48,331 the big picture. 168 00:08:54,642 --> 00:08:56,948 If you're out at the merch table while the matches are 169 00:08:56,992 --> 00:08:59,647 in the ring, all the focus of the fans should be on... 170 00:08:59,690 --> 00:09:01,431 Yeah, you don't want a fan thinking, 171 00:09:01,474 --> 00:09:03,476 "Oh, well this match, I got another option. 172 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,217 I can go hang out with Matt Riddle at the merch table," 173 00:09:05,261 --> 00:09:06,610 you know what I mean? 174 00:09:06,654 --> 00:09:08,612 It's disrespectful to the guys in the ring. 175 00:09:08,656 --> 00:09:10,745 That's the old school mentality. 176 00:09:10,788 --> 00:09:12,485 Alright, cool, thank you. 177 00:09:12,529 --> 00:09:14,836 Everyone has different talents in life. 178 00:09:14,879 --> 00:09:18,056 I can't fix a cabinet, but somehow I'm able to write these 179 00:09:18,100 --> 00:09:20,972 storylines and recognize this quality in wrestlers. 180 00:09:21,016 --> 00:09:22,844 Same way with each of these wrestlers. 181 00:09:22,887 --> 00:09:24,715 They all have a different skill set. 182 00:09:24,759 --> 00:09:26,499 Take a guy like Darby Allin. 183 00:09:26,543 --> 00:09:28,850 I recognize that this is a guy who wants to create. 184 00:09:36,335 --> 00:09:38,337 Two years into his wrestling career and one year after 185 00:09:38,381 --> 00:09:40,731 walking into an Evolve open tryout, 186 00:09:40,775 --> 00:09:43,081 Darby Allin has had a very quick ascent. 187 00:09:43,125 --> 00:09:45,083 It's Darby Allin! 188 00:09:45,127 --> 00:09:47,608 Still in his early 20s, he's achieved what takes 189 00:09:47,651 --> 00:09:50,349 other wrestlers years to accomplish, moving quickly up 190 00:09:50,393 --> 00:09:53,570 the Evolve card in increasingly bloody matches. 191 00:09:53,614 --> 00:09:55,137 Get rid of that towel. 192 00:10:18,987 --> 00:10:20,597 Damn it! 193 00:10:20,641 --> 00:10:22,207 By the end, I will get one. 194 00:10:22,251 --> 00:10:24,470 The Executioner will get one of them. 195 00:10:24,514 --> 00:10:27,212 Two of the boys from Atlanta are playing a game of 196 00:10:27,256 --> 00:10:29,954 who can board slide this rail over here first, 197 00:10:29,998 --> 00:10:32,740 and the loser gets maced. 198 00:10:35,220 --> 00:10:37,875 Okay, um... why? 199 00:10:37,919 --> 00:10:40,225 Life's kinda boring at times, and you gotta... 200 00:10:40,269 --> 00:10:42,140 spice things up. 201 00:10:47,755 --> 00:10:50,018 I'd say there's a lot more on the-- 202 00:10:52,585 --> 00:10:54,065 It's finally over! 203 00:10:54,109 --> 00:10:55,501 Someone's getting pepper-sprayed! 204 00:10:56,546 --> 00:10:58,113 You're gonna break your board! 205 00:10:59,897 --> 00:11:01,246 - Keep it close like this. - Okay. 206 00:11:06,774 --> 00:11:10,603 The thing that's exciting about pain is when you videotape it, 207 00:11:10,647 --> 00:11:13,781 and you remember it, and you can hold onto that forever. 208 00:11:20,352 --> 00:11:23,573 This is my face after I got pepper-sprayed years ago, 2013. 209 00:11:23,616 --> 00:11:25,096 Oh, come on! 210 00:11:25,140 --> 00:11:26,663 Yeah, I couldn't even see. 211 00:11:26,707 --> 00:11:28,534 Now get the rag. 212 00:11:32,538 --> 00:11:34,976 This is why we need community centres 213 00:11:35,019 --> 00:11:36,412 and art spaces in suburbia. 214 00:11:38,806 --> 00:11:41,417 What do you say to this older mentality that looks at 215 00:11:41,460 --> 00:11:44,507 wrestling today as being too dangerous? 216 00:11:44,550 --> 00:11:46,770 Like there's too many risks? 217 00:11:46,814 --> 00:11:50,034 At the end of the day, people are gonna do what they want. 218 00:11:50,078 --> 00:11:52,863 There's a lot of times people love wrestling, 219 00:11:52,907 --> 00:11:55,083 and then they're out there doing wrestling, 220 00:11:55,126 --> 00:11:57,259 and it just looks like they're playing a wrestler. 221 00:11:57,302 --> 00:12:00,436 But I come from a standpoint where I don't get inspired 222 00:12:00,479 --> 00:12:03,004 from that wrest-- you know, wrestling too much. 223 00:12:03,047 --> 00:12:04,832 So where do you find inspiration from 224 00:12:04,875 --> 00:12:07,051 if it's not just in the ring? 225 00:12:07,095 --> 00:12:11,360 There's a whole world out there, so that's why I try not to just 226 00:12:11,403 --> 00:12:14,929 recycle into the wrestling world what's already been done. 227 00:12:14,972 --> 00:12:17,366 If I watched everything from the '80s and I tried to recycle it 228 00:12:17,409 --> 00:12:19,934 and give it to the 2000s, it would feel like pro wrestling. 229 00:12:22,501 --> 00:12:24,982 I like to show people pain, 'cause that's like a daily thing 230 00:12:25,026 --> 00:12:26,810 people experience. 231 00:12:26,854 --> 00:12:28,769 I'm not out there to try and like have my wrestling be 232 00:12:28,812 --> 00:12:31,815 some type of utopia where it's some fake thing. 233 00:12:31,859 --> 00:12:33,382 Take the real life situations 234 00:12:33,425 --> 00:12:35,210 and put it in that squared circle. 235 00:12:35,253 --> 00:12:37,386 That's what pro wrestling is to me at least. 236 00:12:37,429 --> 00:12:39,518 You know, that's what I try to convey and create. 237 00:12:40,911 --> 00:12:45,046 He told me what's important to him is storytelling and drama. 238 00:12:45,089 --> 00:12:47,352 This guy has a different way of thinking than everybody else. 239 00:12:50,791 --> 00:12:53,228 There's a lot of symbolism why I picked those two names, 240 00:12:53,271 --> 00:12:54,795 Darby Crash and GG Allin. 241 00:12:54,838 --> 00:12:56,448 Oh man! 242 00:12:56,492 --> 00:12:59,800 They were known around the world for just being themselves. 243 00:12:59,843 --> 00:13:02,585 And in a way it's ironic because I'm straight edge, 244 00:13:02,628 --> 00:13:05,283 and those two died of drug overdoses. 245 00:13:08,112 --> 00:13:11,986 He's willing to drop everything in Seattle and drive to Florida 246 00:13:12,029 --> 00:13:16,120 to live there so he can hop in a van and drive hours and hours 247 00:13:16,164 --> 00:13:18,775 and hours to all of our shows. 248 00:13:18,819 --> 00:13:20,864 This is a guy who wants it. 249 00:13:24,912 --> 00:13:30,352 Six, five, four, three, two, one... 250 00:13:32,876 --> 00:13:35,009 It's amazing how much stuff you have to juggle 251 00:13:35,052 --> 00:13:36,184 to make this come off. 252 00:13:36,227 --> 00:13:37,750 Like obviously you've got partners... 253 00:13:37,794 --> 00:13:39,927 It's like four hours a day, though I'm good at delegating. 254 00:13:39,970 --> 00:13:41,711 That's what-- you know? 255 00:13:41,754 --> 00:13:44,583 Like you know, you get people you trust, 256 00:13:44,627 --> 00:13:46,063 and you delegate stuff to them. 257 00:13:46,107 --> 00:13:47,543 Yeah, but even with the delegation, 258 00:13:47,586 --> 00:13:48,849 you haven't stopped moving once. 259 00:13:51,764 --> 00:13:53,375 Darby, did you get everything under the ring? 260 00:13:53,418 --> 00:13:55,551 Priscilla, make sure you stay dead, okay? 261 00:13:55,594 --> 00:13:57,945 Larry Dallas! Zack Sabre! 262 00:13:57,988 --> 00:13:59,424 Keith Lee, please. 263 00:13:59,468 --> 00:14:01,122 Larry! Trevor! 264 00:14:01,165 --> 00:14:02,384 Larry Dallas! 265 00:14:02,427 --> 00:14:03,907 Drew Galloway? 266 00:14:03,951 --> 00:14:06,214 Hey, Drew Galloway, where do you want the sledgehammer? 267 00:14:06,257 --> 00:14:07,824 I'll probably open in like 10 minutes. 268 00:14:07,868 --> 00:14:09,870 Yo, five minutes, guys! Five minutes! 269 00:14:11,132 --> 00:14:13,351 So this is gonna be the... 270 00:14:16,485 --> 00:14:19,009 Alright, so, just be... 271 00:14:19,053 --> 00:14:21,098 I'm thinking. 272 00:14:21,142 --> 00:14:25,798 And an immense amount of respect on display by the fans 273 00:14:25,842 --> 00:14:28,976 here in Queens and New York for Austin Theory. 274 00:14:29,019 --> 00:14:31,761 Traditionally the booker stands behind the curtain 275 00:14:31,804 --> 00:14:33,632 in the gorilla position, the point just before 276 00:14:33,676 --> 00:14:35,983 the wrestler enters and returns from the arena. 277 00:14:36,026 --> 00:14:38,420 It's here that Gabe will impart any last-minute bits of wisdom, 278 00:14:38,463 --> 00:14:40,509 encouragement, or changes to the script, 279 00:14:40,552 --> 00:14:43,033 and the vantage point from which he will read the room. 280 00:14:43,077 --> 00:14:45,253 Gabe has invited me to stand with him on this tour, 281 00:14:45,296 --> 00:14:47,646 a very rare opportunity for an outside to catch 282 00:14:47,690 --> 00:14:49,474 the inner workings of a match. 283 00:14:49,518 --> 00:14:51,302 I try to be here every match. 284 00:14:51,346 --> 00:14:53,174 When they come through the curtains, 285 00:14:53,217 --> 00:14:55,437 give 'em a handshake and thank them, and I mean, 286 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:56,960 they're risking their bodies in the ring for you. 287 00:14:57,004 --> 00:14:58,396 He's the man! 288 00:15:00,007 --> 00:15:01,922 It's like a huge sign of respect for the... 289 00:15:01,965 --> 00:15:04,228 It's a sign of respect for what they do, yeah. 290 00:15:04,272 --> 00:15:07,275 The history between Darby Allin and Ethan Page 291 00:15:07,318 --> 00:15:09,103 goes back over a year. 292 00:15:09,146 --> 00:15:11,975 Who knows what damage these two men can do to each other. 293 00:15:12,019 --> 00:15:14,847 You know both guys are really gonna put 294 00:15:14,891 --> 00:15:17,067 a lot physically on the line in this match, 295 00:15:17,111 --> 00:15:19,069 and I trust them in knowing their limits, 296 00:15:19,113 --> 00:15:20,462 but you still have those butterflies 297 00:15:20,505 --> 00:15:22,290 'cause the risk is increased. 298 00:15:23,595 --> 00:15:26,163 Ever since Ethan Page beat the hell out of Darby Allin 299 00:15:26,207 --> 00:15:28,644 moments into his Evolve debut, the two have been 300 00:15:28,687 --> 00:15:30,776 locked in a nasty feud. 301 00:15:30,820 --> 00:15:32,996 In a year of matches that've been punctuated with brutal 302 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:34,998 violence, the two have found themselves the talk of 303 00:15:35,042 --> 00:15:37,914 the wrestling world, and the main event on the Evolve card. 304 00:15:37,958 --> 00:15:41,265 This could be a feud that people will look back at for years, 305 00:15:41,309 --> 00:15:43,485 with the proper close. 306 00:15:43,528 --> 00:15:45,008 You have to have that finale. 307 00:15:46,270 --> 00:15:48,707 It's the match card for tonight. 308 00:15:48,751 --> 00:15:51,188 Thinking of all the stuff we have to compete against. 309 00:15:51,232 --> 00:15:53,712 The last match we had, you either gotta top it 310 00:15:53,756 --> 00:15:56,454 or you gotta compete with it, you can't go any lower. 311 00:15:56,498 --> 00:15:58,761 So it's time to rock and roll. 312 00:15:58,804 --> 00:16:02,504 From Seattle, Washington, Darby Allin! 313 00:16:05,811 --> 00:16:09,337 And his opponent, "All Ego" Ethan Page! 314 00:16:12,079 --> 00:16:15,299 The anticipation for the match will be high, 315 00:16:15,343 --> 00:16:17,040 so we don't really have to do much. 316 00:16:17,084 --> 00:16:18,955 I can do a suicide dive, 317 00:16:18,999 --> 00:16:20,565 like if your back's against the guard rail. 318 00:16:22,045 --> 00:16:25,657 Beautiful elevation, and a suicide dive! 319 00:16:25,701 --> 00:16:28,530 And then I'll get on the top rope, diving headbutt. 320 00:16:28,573 --> 00:16:32,055 Darby Allin at the behest of Ethan Page, 321 00:16:32,099 --> 00:16:33,970 and is he gonna throw himself?! 322 00:16:35,537 --> 00:16:38,583 My god, a flying headbutt! 323 00:16:38,627 --> 00:16:41,325 You get the shovel, and then you come in, you go to swing it. 324 00:16:46,461 --> 00:16:48,463 The chaos is the stuff that's an accident. 325 00:16:51,379 --> 00:16:54,295 The one thing I turn my back on and I wasn't paying attention to 326 00:16:54,338 --> 00:16:55,861 is the one that got me. 327 00:17:14,141 --> 00:17:16,752 It just clipped me in the elbow. 328 00:17:16,795 --> 00:17:18,841 Before I knew it there was blood, 329 00:17:18,884 --> 00:17:21,713 and the muscle was showing, everything like that. 330 00:17:21,757 --> 00:17:26,327 But I was so in the sense of not letting go of any opportunity, 331 00:17:26,370 --> 00:17:27,763 telling the referee-- he's like, "We gotta end it." 332 00:17:27,806 --> 00:17:29,678 I was like, "No, you're not gonna end this." 333 00:17:29,721 --> 00:17:31,506 I work too hard for this. 334 00:17:31,549 --> 00:17:33,725 I put in too much time in a year, and I told 335 00:17:33,769 --> 00:17:36,076 too hard of a story to have you end it. 336 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:38,121 In a sense, it's just a shovel cutting me open 337 00:17:38,165 --> 00:17:40,036 and fracturing my arm. 338 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:42,560 We're gonna finish this match. 339 00:17:48,914 --> 00:17:50,960 He's gonna fill that body bag with thumb tacks. 340 00:17:54,833 --> 00:17:56,748 Ahhhh. 341 00:17:56,792 --> 00:17:58,924 No... Ugh... 342 00:18:00,665 --> 00:18:02,145 Oh! Oh! 343 00:18:05,583 --> 00:18:08,499 So I was real hesitant about the thumb tack idea, 344 00:18:08,543 --> 00:18:10,632 but I trusted them. 345 00:18:10,675 --> 00:18:12,590 I don't know how he's gonna get out of this. 346 00:18:15,419 --> 00:18:18,335 But I think he's okay. 347 00:18:18,379 --> 00:18:19,945 Oh no. 348 00:18:23,340 --> 00:18:24,907 Power bomb! 349 00:18:24,950 --> 00:18:28,128 Darby Allin has not let go of that arm in quite some time. 350 00:18:28,171 --> 00:18:29,955 I don't know if he's... 351 00:18:29,999 --> 00:18:31,957 if Ethan Page has broken Darby's arm. 352 00:18:32,001 --> 00:18:33,568 Oh, thank God it's over. 353 00:18:35,787 --> 00:18:36,788 You alright? 354 00:18:38,399 --> 00:18:39,400 Darby's fucked up? 355 00:18:40,879 --> 00:18:42,142 On what? 356 00:18:42,185 --> 00:18:46,363 Darby! Darby! Darby! Darby! 357 00:18:46,407 --> 00:18:48,191 What happened, man? Sorry, you alright? 358 00:18:48,235 --> 00:18:50,237 My elbow got sliced open with a shovel. 359 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:52,848 Oh shit... 360 00:18:52,891 --> 00:18:54,589 Alright, let's get him to the back. 361 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:58,680 Do you know where the doctor is? 362 00:18:58,723 --> 00:18:59,985 Is he still here? 363 00:19:00,029 --> 00:19:01,726 Thank you, Darby! 364 00:19:05,077 --> 00:19:07,210 We got paramedics and the doctor. 365 00:19:11,214 --> 00:19:12,868 Sorry, dude. 366 00:19:12,911 --> 00:19:14,565 It's okay. 367 00:19:17,742 --> 00:19:19,266 Like that's totally cool. 368 00:19:19,309 --> 00:19:21,050 Yeah, shit happens, you know what I mean? 369 00:19:23,270 --> 00:19:25,794 - Go to a hospital. - You gotta get stitches. 370 00:19:25,837 --> 00:19:27,578 Can someone drive me there then? 371 00:19:27,622 --> 00:19:29,276 We have an ambulance that will take you there. 372 00:19:29,319 --> 00:19:30,973 I don't wanna take an ambulance though. 373 00:19:31,016 --> 00:19:33,193 I'll just-- Let me just have someone drive me. 374 00:19:33,236 --> 00:19:34,498 - Alright. - That's just between-- 375 00:19:34,542 --> 00:19:36,413 Yeah, I just don't wanna pay for no ambulance. 376 00:19:54,431 --> 00:19:56,651 It's kinda hard to protect yourself 377 00:19:56,694 --> 00:19:58,261 when a shovel is coming. 378 00:19:58,305 --> 00:19:59,871 Yeah, I know. 379 00:19:59,915 --> 00:20:02,178 Darby goes to the hospital for surgery. 380 00:20:02,222 --> 00:20:04,485 He won't be wrestling the next day, and is looking at 381 00:20:04,528 --> 00:20:07,488 2 to 3 months before he'll be back in the ring. 382 00:20:12,275 --> 00:20:13,842 Since the beginning, wrestlers have travelled 383 00:20:13,885 --> 00:20:15,931 long distances between matches. 384 00:20:15,974 --> 00:20:17,846 The Evolve crew is no different. 385 00:20:17,889 --> 00:20:20,152 They think nothing of logging thousands of miles in a single 386 00:20:20,196 --> 00:20:23,155 weekend, or driving for 24 hours straight. 387 00:20:23,199 --> 00:20:25,854 It's a claustrophobic journey broken up by the occasional 388 00:20:25,897 --> 00:20:28,726 gas station sandwich spot or pancake joint. 389 00:20:30,380 --> 00:20:32,295 Well, now we've been in the car for... 390 00:20:32,339 --> 00:20:33,949 I don't know how many hours. 391 00:20:33,992 --> 00:20:36,168 Um... 392 00:20:36,212 --> 00:20:38,040 My butt is so numb. 393 00:20:38,083 --> 00:20:39,694 It's like just humming. 394 00:20:43,350 --> 00:20:46,178 So Austin, you... how many times a day do you eat normally? 395 00:20:46,222 --> 00:20:48,006 Uh, usually six meals a day. 396 00:20:48,050 --> 00:20:49,356 Six meals a day. 397 00:20:49,399 --> 00:20:51,575 I eat every two hours. 398 00:20:51,619 --> 00:20:53,969 Every two hours you're gonna eat a protein-heavy meal? 399 00:20:54,012 --> 00:20:55,492 Exactly. 400 00:20:55,536 --> 00:20:56,798 So when you're on the road though, 401 00:20:56,841 --> 00:20:58,103 there must be temptation to eat junk, right? 402 00:20:58,147 --> 00:20:59,757 Like every time you stop at those gas stations 403 00:20:59,801 --> 00:21:01,281 and things like that. 404 00:21:01,324 --> 00:21:03,195 It's not really a temptation 'cause I do it, you know? 405 00:21:03,239 --> 00:21:04,545 Yeah. 406 00:21:04,588 --> 00:21:06,764 I train so much that I can eat this kinda stuff. 407 00:21:06,808 --> 00:21:07,983 Mm-hmm. 408 00:21:08,026 --> 00:21:09,550 It's just all day I work out. 409 00:21:09,593 --> 00:21:12,074 That's why I look like this, and then I eat every two hours. 410 00:21:12,117 --> 00:21:14,163 So you identify as being straight edge, right? 411 00:21:14,206 --> 00:21:15,556 Absolutely. 412 00:21:15,599 --> 00:21:17,645 And so that's like no drugs, no alcohol, 413 00:21:17,688 --> 00:21:18,907 no cigarettes, none of that stuff. 414 00:21:18,950 --> 00:21:20,212 Nothing. 415 00:21:20,256 --> 00:21:22,345 I imagine in the sport of body building, 416 00:21:22,389 --> 00:21:23,868 and even pro wrestling, like you know, I'm not... 417 00:21:23,912 --> 00:21:25,217 you hear about this stuff. 418 00:21:25,261 --> 00:21:26,436 Yeah, absolutely. 419 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:28,133 Performance-enhancing drugs are a reality, 420 00:21:28,177 --> 00:21:31,354 and people use these drugs, but you're straight edge. 421 00:21:31,398 --> 00:21:34,966 Yeah, it's something I've heard since I was in high school. 422 00:21:35,010 --> 00:21:37,752 You know, somebody sees like a little muscle on you, 423 00:21:37,795 --> 00:21:40,232 it's like, "Oh, he's doing this, he's doing that!" 424 00:21:40,276 --> 00:21:41,756 But no, man. 425 00:21:41,799 --> 00:21:43,540 I don't even have the money for that. 426 00:21:43,584 --> 00:21:45,760 Well, now we're gonna have some turkey, right? 427 00:21:45,803 --> 00:21:47,327 This is gonna be good. 428 00:21:47,370 --> 00:21:48,502 And you know what's crazy? 429 00:21:48,545 --> 00:21:51,505 I eat a lot of tilapia, but I hate fish. 430 00:21:51,548 --> 00:21:56,336 But I eat it because it makes my arm look like this, so... 431 00:21:56,379 --> 00:21:57,946 That's probably why mine look like this. 432 00:21:59,643 --> 00:22:00,992 - 'Cause you don't eat fish? - I don't eat fish! 433 00:22:02,603 --> 00:22:05,432 Austin Theory is a pro wrestling prodigy. 434 00:22:05,475 --> 00:22:07,912 Austin has been streamed for wrestling stardom 435 00:22:07,956 --> 00:22:09,871 for over half his life. 436 00:22:09,914 --> 00:22:12,177 He drives an hour and a half every day to practice at 437 00:22:12,221 --> 00:22:15,224 World Wrestling Alliance, located behind a strip club 438 00:22:15,267 --> 00:22:17,182 in West Atlanta. 439 00:22:17,226 --> 00:22:19,794 At the age of 19, he stands fully equipped to take over 440 00:22:19,837 --> 00:22:21,361 the wrestling industry. 441 00:22:24,059 --> 00:22:25,495 Look, check it out. 442 00:22:25,539 --> 00:22:27,454 My hand's acting like my foot, okay? 443 00:22:27,497 --> 00:22:31,240 I'm gonna raise it up, and I'm gonna plant it there. 444 00:22:31,283 --> 00:22:32,850 I'm just gonna put it there. 445 00:22:32,894 --> 00:22:36,332 The main thing is all this too, this whole presence, 446 00:22:36,376 --> 00:22:38,639 this whole... you know what I mean, acting. 447 00:22:38,682 --> 00:22:40,205 This whole-- The face already. 448 00:22:40,249 --> 00:22:41,903 So if I'm going aah! 449 00:22:41,946 --> 00:22:44,906 You know, no, don't shy away from it. 450 00:22:44,949 --> 00:22:46,995 So I'm just doing that. 451 00:22:47,038 --> 00:22:48,823 Come on, come on, you got it. 452 00:22:48,866 --> 00:22:49,911 Okay. 453 00:22:49,954 --> 00:22:51,391 Damn it! 454 00:22:51,434 --> 00:22:52,827 Are you worried about this, man? 455 00:22:52,870 --> 00:22:54,132 I mean, 'cause it's pretty much... 456 00:22:55,438 --> 00:22:57,397 Alright, look, let me put it like this. 457 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,050 If it was real, it'd be easy, right? 458 00:22:59,094 --> 00:23:00,487 Kick this person in the gut. 459 00:23:00,530 --> 00:23:03,403 You're doing that, but just not for real. 460 00:23:07,319 --> 00:23:09,017 Ar Fox is one of the most influential 461 00:23:09,060 --> 00:23:11,498 independent wrestlers of his generation. 462 00:23:11,541 --> 00:23:16,024 His fearless style has inspired many fan and wrestler alike. 463 00:23:16,067 --> 00:23:19,114 The first time I met Austin, I didn't know what to expect. 464 00:23:19,157 --> 00:23:21,769 You know, and then he started wrestling and stuff, 465 00:23:21,812 --> 00:23:24,206 and I could just tell this kid gets it. 466 00:23:26,034 --> 00:23:28,471 I'm like I will put a little extra work in this kid, 467 00:23:28,515 --> 00:23:31,518 and I'm gonna push him, and I'm also gonna like give him a few 468 00:23:31,561 --> 00:23:35,173 snug shots to see if he comes back the next day. 469 00:23:36,523 --> 00:23:38,786 And that's gonna see how bad you want it. 470 00:23:38,829 --> 00:23:42,093 Some guys still are like trying to get on Evolve that I know 471 00:23:42,137 --> 00:23:44,748 that've been wrestling for 8 years. 472 00:23:44,792 --> 00:23:47,577 Me and Gabe actually had a small falling out. 473 00:23:47,621 --> 00:23:49,623 Once Austin started doing real good, 474 00:23:49,666 --> 00:23:52,539 I just swallowed my pride and I wrote on my Facebook and I said, 475 00:23:52,582 --> 00:23:54,236 "Can I call you?" 476 00:23:54,279 --> 00:23:57,239 Ar Fox said, "Hey, I got this student, Austin Theory. 477 00:23:57,282 --> 00:23:59,023 He's gonna be a star." 478 00:23:59,067 --> 00:24:03,375 What got me with Austin Theory was his facial expressions. 479 00:24:03,419 --> 00:24:06,553 And the facial expressions most guys don't get till 3 to 5 years 480 00:24:06,596 --> 00:24:08,685 down the line, some guys 10 years. 481 00:24:08,729 --> 00:24:10,339 Austin Theory almost going right through 482 00:24:10,382 --> 00:24:12,210 the mat there. 483 00:24:12,254 --> 00:24:15,126 The fact that he was able to have these kind of instincts at 484 00:24:15,170 --> 00:24:18,521 his experience level and age, if this was sports or baseball, 485 00:24:18,565 --> 00:24:22,612 this is a five-tool player, and a natural professional wrestler. 486 00:24:22,656 --> 00:24:25,485 We immediately signed him, we signed him the next day. 487 00:24:27,356 --> 00:24:29,663 Wrestling is everything to me. 488 00:24:29,706 --> 00:24:32,230 It's what I've known since I was 8 years old. 489 00:24:32,274 --> 00:24:34,319 I just was so drawn to it. 490 00:24:34,363 --> 00:24:36,931 It was like real life superheroes. 491 00:24:36,974 --> 00:24:40,195 My first show, I remember going with my grandfather. 492 00:24:40,238 --> 00:24:43,546 I remember a guy coming out and being real scary to me. 493 00:24:43,590 --> 00:24:46,549 And I was not knowing if I wanted to be there or not. 494 00:24:46,593 --> 00:24:49,378 And then the next guy comes out, and he's like the hero. 495 00:24:49,421 --> 00:24:51,511 And I was like wait, I wanna see this. 496 00:24:51,554 --> 00:24:55,036 After that night, I was completely hooked. 497 00:24:55,079 --> 00:24:58,126 My mom had me doing baseball and basketball, 498 00:24:58,169 --> 00:25:01,172 but once I'd seen wrestling at 8, I was done with that. 499 00:25:01,216 --> 00:25:03,523 Like I knew this is all I care about. 500 00:25:05,350 --> 00:25:10,355 The way he is, he's driven, and he don't wanna be held down. 501 00:25:10,399 --> 00:25:13,097 And when he sees something he wants, he goes for it, 502 00:25:13,141 --> 00:25:15,535 and he will give up anything to get it. 503 00:25:16,927 --> 00:25:20,844 I can go out of town, and I could leave alcohol, 504 00:25:20,888 --> 00:25:23,630 you know, here, and I don't have to worry about it. 505 00:25:23,673 --> 00:25:26,197 The only thing that's gonna be missing is protein. 506 00:25:27,242 --> 00:25:28,809 I think I was 12 years old. 507 00:25:28,852 --> 00:25:31,376 I told my mom, I was like, "Can I start going to the gym?" 508 00:25:31,420 --> 00:25:34,336 But I wasn't old enough to work out, but I'd sneak in. 509 00:25:34,379 --> 00:25:37,557 I just know getting on that main stage, 510 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:39,950 there's no way you're getting there without hard work. 511 00:25:44,694 --> 00:25:47,001 Oh shit! Oh shit! 512 00:26:17,335 --> 00:26:19,076 Most intimate thing I've ever seen in the ring. 513 00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:21,339 You know, it felt like it was a private match just for me. 514 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:29,217 My parents, I think they split before I was born. 515 00:26:29,260 --> 00:26:31,654 My dad, there would be times where we'd be in a store 516 00:26:31,698 --> 00:26:33,438 and he'd steal stuff. 517 00:26:33,482 --> 00:26:36,746 I wanna say I was 15 years old, and I was in the car with him. 518 00:26:36,790 --> 00:26:39,575 I had got like my learner's permit so I could drive now. 519 00:26:39,619 --> 00:26:42,143 We were riding, and he was telling me some story, 520 00:26:42,186 --> 00:26:44,232 but he just kinda starts like dazing off. 521 00:26:45,712 --> 00:26:48,671 He basically was geeking out from like a reaction from 522 00:26:48,715 --> 00:26:50,717 some type of drug. 523 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:53,197 That moment really stuck with me. 524 00:26:54,111 --> 00:26:55,678 Straight over. 525 00:26:55,722 --> 00:26:59,203 It brought me to the point of being straight edge. 526 00:26:59,247 --> 00:27:02,119 Never in my life have I had alcohol, 527 00:27:02,163 --> 00:27:04,600 or smoked, or done any type of drug. 528 00:27:07,255 --> 00:27:08,909 It's amazing watching him interact with 529 00:27:08,952 --> 00:27:10,388 his two younger brothers. 530 00:27:10,432 --> 00:27:13,478 To me, Austin's a role model for all of his siblings. 531 00:27:13,522 --> 00:27:15,916 And with his brothers, they both look up to him. 532 00:27:17,613 --> 00:27:19,746 I just want them to always be good, 533 00:27:19,789 --> 00:27:22,618 and not go through kinda what I went through. 534 00:27:22,662 --> 00:27:24,533 They just think he's cool because he's a wrestler, 535 00:27:24,576 --> 00:27:26,143 and they have t-shirts that's got him on it. 536 00:27:29,538 --> 00:27:32,454 One day I'll have kids, and I wanna be somewhere 537 00:27:32,497 --> 00:27:34,412 where they have nothing to worry about. 538 00:27:36,414 --> 00:27:39,243 Before I go out to the ring, I definitely get nervous. 539 00:27:39,287 --> 00:27:41,202 I'm a freakin' train wreck. 540 00:27:42,943 --> 00:27:47,164 I love what I do so much that I know when I go out there, 541 00:27:47,208 --> 00:27:49,645 I wanna give them everything I got. 542 00:27:49,689 --> 00:27:52,474 I want them to see Austin Theory. 543 00:27:57,261 --> 00:27:59,524 - Oh my. - Ooh-wee. 544 00:27:59,568 --> 00:28:01,352 Yeah. 545 00:28:03,790 --> 00:28:05,530 I've been on my fast all day too, so... 546 00:28:07,010 --> 00:28:08,882 Yeah, me too, I haven't eaten anything all day. 547 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:12,276 Alright, Pudding Pie, go ahead. 548 00:28:14,888 --> 00:28:16,237 Pudding Pie? 549 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:17,847 That's the name for the ring, dude! 550 00:28:17,891 --> 00:28:19,109 Pudding Pie! 551 00:28:19,153 --> 00:28:20,589 Pudding Pie Yehi! 552 00:28:21,938 --> 00:28:23,244 Pudding Pie Yehi! 553 00:28:24,593 --> 00:28:26,334 Pudding Pie Yehi! 554 00:28:26,377 --> 00:28:27,596 Alright. 555 00:28:29,337 --> 00:28:31,905 Without the size that fast tracks someone for success 556 00:28:31,948 --> 00:28:36,300 in wrestling, Fred Yehi has had to fight for every opportunity. 557 00:28:36,344 --> 00:28:39,477 But Fred's ability to make the most of each and every match, 558 00:28:39,521 --> 00:28:42,437 and an undeniable charisma, have helped him kick down the door to 559 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:44,395 some of wrestling's biggest indies. 560 00:28:44,439 --> 00:28:47,747 Fred's a guy who has done my favourite thing, 561 00:28:47,790 --> 00:28:50,575 which is improve every aspect of his game. 562 00:28:50,619 --> 00:28:53,143 He's very impressive, and he brings it in the ring 563 00:28:53,187 --> 00:28:55,058 like no other. 564 00:28:55,102 --> 00:28:57,844 'Cause I wrestled him, and it's a rough time. 565 00:29:02,196 --> 00:29:04,241 Fred would destroy me in the ring. 566 00:29:04,285 --> 00:29:06,548 He's really good at technical wrestling. 567 00:29:06,591 --> 00:29:08,724 His biggest challenge is his height. 568 00:29:08,768 --> 00:29:11,292 He's not a super tall guy. 569 00:29:11,335 --> 00:29:13,816 There's guys who are his height that have become stars 570 00:29:13,860 --> 00:29:16,688 on national TV, but it's not a strength of his. 571 00:29:16,732 --> 00:29:19,126 He has taken that and made it part of his persona, 572 00:29:19,169 --> 00:29:20,736 made it part of his move set. 573 00:29:20,780 --> 00:29:22,869 Something as small as hitting the ropes, 574 00:29:22,912 --> 00:29:25,088 which is when the guys run into the ropes 575 00:29:25,132 --> 00:29:26,524 and bounce off of them. 576 00:29:26,568 --> 00:29:28,526 If you notice, Fred does this off the second rope. 577 00:29:28,570 --> 00:29:30,746 He's the only guy that does this off the second rope. 578 00:29:30,790 --> 00:29:32,313 Bouncing off the second rope. 579 00:29:32,356 --> 00:29:34,271 So unique, the way he comes out and you see that tackle. 580 00:29:34,315 --> 00:29:37,187 His wrestling style, stomping on the hands... 581 00:29:37,231 --> 00:29:38,667 I was waiting for it there! 582 00:29:38,710 --> 00:29:41,713 ...they all bring his opponent down in size. 583 00:29:41,757 --> 00:29:43,498 So he took what was a weakness of his, 584 00:29:43,541 --> 00:29:45,543 his height, and he made it into a strength. 585 00:29:45,587 --> 00:29:46,849 Stomp on the foot! 586 00:29:46,893 --> 00:29:47,981 I mean, that's smart. 587 00:29:49,330 --> 00:29:51,854 Wrestling in the South, it's really tough. 588 00:29:51,898 --> 00:29:56,859 The crowd is pretty much like an all-white crowd, country crowd. 589 00:29:56,903 --> 00:29:59,688 60% of the crowd is grossly obese. 590 00:29:59,731 --> 00:30:03,692 Are they gonna identify with the 350-pound, beer belly, 591 00:30:03,735 --> 00:30:06,260 out of shape guy who comes out in a cowboy hat? 592 00:30:06,303 --> 00:30:07,914 He's the guy they're gonna put in the main event. 593 00:30:07,957 --> 00:30:10,220 He's the guy they wanna put on the posters. 594 00:30:10,264 --> 00:30:11,569 I wouldn't say there are any 595 00:30:11,613 --> 00:30:14,007 African American companies per se. 596 00:30:14,050 --> 00:30:17,445 There's just a decent amount of us who wrestle here in Georgia. 597 00:30:17,488 --> 00:30:19,142 And in the end, we all go through that same struggle. 598 00:30:19,186 --> 00:30:20,622 We all do. 599 00:30:25,801 --> 00:30:28,369 You met this dude training. 600 00:30:28,412 --> 00:30:30,327 Let's bring you back to that moment. 601 00:30:30,371 --> 00:30:32,677 Do you remember the first time you saw Pudding Pie? 602 00:30:32,721 --> 00:30:34,070 When I first saw him wrestle, 603 00:30:34,114 --> 00:30:35,898 there was this girl who was just flipping out. 604 00:30:35,942 --> 00:30:37,726 She's like, "Oh my god, aah! Fred! Fred!" 605 00:30:37,769 --> 00:30:39,902 And I was like uhn, whatever, I don't see the hype. 606 00:30:39,946 --> 00:30:41,512 I was like I don't even think he's that cute. 607 00:30:41,556 --> 00:30:43,210 And this is literally what I said, 608 00:30:43,253 --> 00:30:44,820 that's literally what I said! 609 00:30:44,864 --> 00:30:47,214 My trainer's like, "Okay, we're gonna do drop down drills," 610 00:30:47,257 --> 00:30:48,824 which is... you know, the person lays down, 611 00:30:48,868 --> 00:30:50,391 you jump over 'em, jump over 'em. 612 00:30:50,434 --> 00:30:52,480 So I hit the drop down, and I can't get back up in time. 613 00:30:52,523 --> 00:30:53,916 What does this guy do? 614 00:30:53,960 --> 00:30:55,483 What do you do, Fred? 615 00:30:55,526 --> 00:30:57,137 He keeps going! 616 00:30:57,180 --> 00:30:58,616 Straight on my ribs. 617 00:30:58,660 --> 00:31:00,749 I flip over on my back, I'm like, "Aah! Oh my god!" 618 00:31:02,098 --> 00:31:03,665 I love to tell people to embarrass him. 619 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:09,627 Dating in pro wrestling, it has its pros and it has its cons. 620 00:31:09,671 --> 00:31:11,586 Oh, fuck! 621 00:31:11,629 --> 00:31:13,240 We're both in this business, 622 00:31:13,283 --> 00:31:15,024 so we have to be really understanding. 623 00:31:15,068 --> 00:31:16,721 There has to be trust. 624 00:31:16,765 --> 00:31:19,072 What's it like being in a relationship when both of you 625 00:31:19,115 --> 00:31:20,943 are on the road? 626 00:31:20,987 --> 00:31:23,424 It's honestly really hard, I'm not even gonna lie. 627 00:31:23,467 --> 00:31:25,252 - Thank you, thank you. - Bye! 628 00:31:33,173 --> 00:31:35,175 What motivates you to get in the van and do this 629 00:31:35,218 --> 00:31:37,351 weekend after weekend? 630 00:31:37,394 --> 00:31:41,224 I remember being kinda stuck, and like stuck in Georgia, 631 00:31:41,268 --> 00:31:46,447 doing like these rink-a-dink backwoods shows with like 632 00:31:46,490 --> 00:31:48,884 maybe 20 to 50 people. 633 00:31:48,928 --> 00:31:50,233 The pay was dirt. 634 00:31:50,277 --> 00:31:51,669 You know, 30 to 50 bucks. 635 00:31:51,713 --> 00:31:53,584 Maybe half that money, if not all of it, 636 00:31:53,628 --> 00:31:55,151 is going back into the tank. 637 00:31:55,195 --> 00:31:56,631 I appreciate that we have a van. 638 00:31:56,674 --> 00:31:57,980 We don't have to worry about gas, 639 00:31:58,024 --> 00:31:58,981 we don't have to worry about food. 640 00:31:59,025 --> 00:32:00,635 All that stuff is covered. 641 00:32:00,678 --> 00:32:02,463 And taking all that in consideration, 642 00:32:02,506 --> 00:32:03,986 shoot, I'll stay crammed up in the van. 643 00:32:05,335 --> 00:32:06,858 You know, and deal with it, so... 644 00:32:06,902 --> 00:32:09,122 I don't know if you ever heard that quote where it's like, 645 00:32:09,165 --> 00:32:12,212 you know, if you're the hardest worker in the room, 646 00:32:12,255 --> 00:32:14,170 then you're in the wrong room. 647 00:32:14,214 --> 00:32:15,867 As long as I'm a wrestler, I don't think I'm ever gonna 648 00:32:15,911 --> 00:32:18,653 arrive because I'm not gonna... 649 00:32:18,696 --> 00:32:20,481 I won't allow myself to be, you know? 650 00:32:20,524 --> 00:32:23,440 I won't allow myself to believe that I just know it all, 651 00:32:23,484 --> 00:32:25,051 that I'm there. 652 00:32:25,094 --> 00:32:27,183 There's always someone working harder, you know? 653 00:32:28,793 --> 00:32:31,535 Shoot, like I mean Austin, he got his contract. 654 00:32:31,579 --> 00:32:33,407 He was like, "Man, that's freakin' awesome!" 655 00:32:33,450 --> 00:32:35,104 It's like I don't want him to catch me, you know? 656 00:32:36,845 --> 00:32:40,544 So you know, there is that sense of like competition. 657 00:32:40,588 --> 00:32:42,590 Like you have to stay on top of your game. 658 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:55,081 It's real, guys. 659 00:32:55,124 --> 00:32:57,431 Very real. 660 00:33:08,268 --> 00:33:10,096 I need to be back -on a 4 -G connection. 661 00:33:10,139 --> 00:33:12,141 -I cannot be on a 3 -G connection. 662 00:33:12,185 --> 00:33:14,535 Three, two, one... 663 00:33:14,578 --> 00:33:15,971 That one's a clam. 664 00:33:16,015 --> 00:33:17,625 Got it! 665 00:33:17,668 --> 00:33:20,584 And you wonder how we pass time when we're away from our family. 666 00:33:20,628 --> 00:33:22,151 - That's it! - Goofing off. 667 00:33:22,195 --> 00:33:25,633 It's crazy with Evolve, 'cause you have legitimately like... 668 00:33:25,676 --> 00:33:27,635 the most talented people in this industry 669 00:33:27,678 --> 00:33:29,158 in that locker room right now. 670 00:33:29,202 --> 00:33:31,726 There's the future of this industry, you know? 671 00:33:31,769 --> 00:33:33,902 Like some of the greatest talents that are gonna emerge 672 00:33:33,945 --> 00:33:36,209 in this generation of wrestling. 673 00:33:36,252 --> 00:33:38,646 Oh man. 674 00:33:38,689 --> 00:33:40,169 Man, I hate all y'all. 675 00:33:40,213 --> 00:33:42,302 Bring all these cheesecakes and hot wings, 676 00:33:42,345 --> 00:33:43,912 and I just gotta sit here like... 677 00:33:43,955 --> 00:33:47,220 The wings might mess me up, 678 00:33:47,263 --> 00:33:48,786 but I don't think the cheesecake will. 679 00:33:50,527 --> 00:33:52,964 You can't eat cheesecake in front of the biggest guy 680 00:33:53,008 --> 00:33:54,749 in the locker room, eat the cheesecake 681 00:33:54,792 --> 00:33:56,577 and then show off that you're ripped too. 682 00:33:56,620 --> 00:33:57,795 That's rude. 683 00:33:57,839 --> 00:34:00,015 Shut up, Fred! 684 00:34:01,147 --> 00:34:03,932 One, two, three, four, five... 685 00:34:06,891 --> 00:34:09,111 I never wanted to be a wrestler myself. 686 00:34:09,155 --> 00:34:11,679 When everybody was cutting wrestling promos and imagining 687 00:34:11,722 --> 00:34:14,812 characters for themselves as like a kid or growing up, 688 00:34:14,856 --> 00:34:17,206 I was actually putting together matches. 689 00:34:17,250 --> 00:34:20,079 The whole side as far as being in front of a crowd 690 00:34:20,122 --> 00:34:23,125 and performing never really appealed to me. 691 00:34:23,169 --> 00:34:25,301 I always wanted to be the guy backstage 692 00:34:25,345 --> 00:34:27,347 kind of pulling the strings. 693 00:34:27,390 --> 00:34:31,394 If this is what Catch Point is gonna stand for, then I quit. 694 00:34:33,004 --> 00:34:35,529 And when you say to Tracy Williams hi, 695 00:34:35,572 --> 00:34:37,487 make sure... 'cause you're saying that to Tracy. 696 00:34:37,531 --> 00:34:39,794 That's who's back to Orlando, okay? 697 00:34:39,837 --> 00:34:41,578 So you're saying that right to Tracy, okay? 698 00:34:41,622 --> 00:34:44,146 Like as a fuck you to him for earlier, okay? 699 00:34:44,190 --> 00:34:47,497 What's it like dealing with bookers and dealing with someone 700 00:34:47,541 --> 00:34:51,675 who is telling you how to work with your art like a director? 701 00:34:51,719 --> 00:34:53,547 I get paid to show up and play a role 702 00:34:53,590 --> 00:34:55,157 that they write the script for. 703 00:34:55,201 --> 00:34:59,683 So whether I disagree or agree, I 9 times out of 10 will just do 704 00:34:59,727 --> 00:35:02,033 exactly what they say to the best of my ability. 705 00:35:02,077 --> 00:35:04,471 And usually people understand that whoever wrote the show 706 00:35:04,514 --> 00:35:06,821 is in control of all the moving parts. 707 00:35:06,864 --> 00:35:10,433 Ego! Ego! Ego! Ego! 708 00:35:10,477 --> 00:35:12,392 I go by my gut, you know that, okay? 709 00:35:12,435 --> 00:35:13,915 - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - My gut's 100% right. 710 00:35:13,958 --> 00:35:15,612 - That's been... - That's not true. 711 00:35:15,656 --> 00:35:17,136 No, that is 100% true. 712 00:35:17,179 --> 00:35:20,922 You... Your gut said to do another match after Orlando. 713 00:35:20,965 --> 00:35:22,880 No, that was me thinking. 714 00:35:22,924 --> 00:35:27,276 My thinking is 50/50, my gut is 100%, okay? 715 00:35:27,320 --> 00:35:30,453 Being an experienced wrestler and someone who's been in this, 716 00:35:30,497 --> 00:35:33,456 a lot of what you do is manage expectations of the younger 717 00:35:33,500 --> 00:35:36,067 wrestlers you're working with, and also translate their ideas 718 00:35:36,111 --> 00:35:37,982 into the world of wrestling so they work. 719 00:35:38,026 --> 00:35:42,248 That's a very... I don't know, strong ability that I have. 720 00:35:42,291 --> 00:35:46,165 I assume that's why Gabe puts me in the ring with younger talent. 721 00:35:48,689 --> 00:35:50,256 Tonight though, what we're looking at here 722 00:35:50,299 --> 00:35:51,779 is actually a rematch. 723 00:35:55,609 --> 00:35:57,567 His face nearly taken off by Ethan Page. 724 00:35:57,611 --> 00:35:59,221 Yeah, that's a rookie mistake right there. 725 00:35:59,265 --> 00:36:03,094 I would imagine it must feel like a mark of accomplishment 726 00:36:03,138 --> 00:36:05,401 that you're trusted again to kinda be that guy. 727 00:36:05,445 --> 00:36:09,013 It is a mark of accomplishment, but it's also frustrating 728 00:36:09,057 --> 00:36:13,714 because if you're always the guy that has to cater to the 729 00:36:13,757 --> 00:36:18,240 inexperienced and essentially make the stars of tomorrow, 730 00:36:18,284 --> 00:36:19,981 you'll never be the star of today. 731 00:36:20,024 --> 00:36:22,375 Ladies and gentlemen, if you've never seen Austin Theory before, 732 00:36:22,418 --> 00:36:24,377 you're about to see this young man fly. 733 00:36:24,420 --> 00:36:26,901 Over the top rope, moonsault! 734 00:36:26,944 --> 00:36:29,338 Spring-boarding off of the top rope, Tim! 735 00:36:31,906 --> 00:36:34,038 I like the split crowd reaction here. 736 00:36:34,082 --> 00:36:35,649 Austin Theory clearly already endearing himself 737 00:36:35,692 --> 00:36:37,564 for the WWN and Evolve faithful. 738 00:36:37,607 --> 00:36:40,044 Pisses me off, but it's also a pat on the back 739 00:36:40,088 --> 00:36:41,785 that I'm good at my job. 740 00:36:41,829 --> 00:36:44,310 I don't know, it's... I'm being pulled both ways. 741 00:36:45,354 --> 00:36:46,790 Is that the same shovel? 742 00:36:46,834 --> 00:36:48,139 No, they left it out in the room. 743 00:36:48,183 --> 00:36:49,880 I mean, but does it look like the same shovel? 744 00:36:49,924 --> 00:36:51,055 No, it was green. 745 00:36:51,099 --> 00:36:52,492 Yeah, then that does us no good. 746 00:36:52,535 --> 00:36:54,102 Those fucking assholes, man. 747 00:36:54,145 --> 00:36:56,322 I told them like 10 fucking times to bring a goddamn shovel. 748 00:36:56,365 --> 00:36:59,673 So there's always unbelievable risk with every wrestling match 749 00:36:59,716 --> 00:37:01,283 and every wrestling move, but with these hardcore 750 00:37:01,327 --> 00:37:04,286 wrestling matches, is that like a mental leap you have to make 751 00:37:04,330 --> 00:37:07,158 to be able to inflict that much pain on someone? 752 00:37:07,202 --> 00:37:08,769 Yeah, I hate it. 753 00:37:08,812 --> 00:37:12,076 Like I hated everything about it because you have the guy 754 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:14,296 that's taking the moves saying he wants to do it, 755 00:37:14,340 --> 00:37:18,300 and it's his idea, and then you have your boss who's obviously 756 00:37:18,344 --> 00:37:21,825 concerned for our health, but also genuinely excited about 757 00:37:21,869 --> 00:37:24,741 the reaction that you'll get online or with the crowd. 758 00:37:24,785 --> 00:37:27,353 In today's day and age, you're looking for hits, 759 00:37:27,396 --> 00:37:30,834 and that's how people thrive and keep their businesses alive. 760 00:37:32,662 --> 00:37:35,752 The winner of the match, Ethan Page! 761 00:37:35,796 --> 00:37:39,278 I try to give these guys a safe working environment, 762 00:37:39,321 --> 00:37:41,454 and at the end of the day 763 00:37:41,497 --> 00:37:43,804 these are highly trained professionals. 764 00:37:43,847 --> 00:37:46,241 Anything can hurt anybody in that ring. 765 00:37:46,285 --> 00:37:50,680 There have been times where I've almost quit because I just... 766 00:37:50,724 --> 00:37:53,204 I didn't wanna be a part of that aspect. 767 00:37:53,248 --> 00:37:56,338 They're literally risking their lives and serious injury 768 00:37:56,382 --> 00:37:59,080 every single match, every single move. 769 00:37:59,123 --> 00:38:02,344 If something goes wrong and their concentration isn't there, 770 00:38:02,388 --> 00:38:04,172 that can end their career. 771 00:38:10,526 --> 00:38:12,006 This is a match-up that once upon a time 772 00:38:12,049 --> 00:38:13,573 I could never even imagine. 773 00:38:13,616 --> 00:38:15,923 Fred Yehi, Kyle O'Reilly, here in an Evolve wrestling ring! 774 00:38:15,966 --> 00:38:17,359 Coming in here tonight, probably one of 775 00:38:17,403 --> 00:38:19,405 the more highly anticipated match-ups 776 00:38:19,448 --> 00:38:21,276 here on the Evolve 83 card. 777 00:38:22,451 --> 00:38:25,062 So tell me about what kind of opportunity this is for Fred. 778 00:38:25,106 --> 00:38:26,629 It's a huge opportunity. 779 00:38:26,673 --> 00:38:28,588 Putting the spotlight solely on him, 780 00:38:28,631 --> 00:38:31,199 it also put him in there with Kyle O'Reilly, 781 00:38:31,242 --> 00:38:34,289 a world-class guy from all over the place. 782 00:38:34,333 --> 00:38:37,510 I have a sense right now that the crowd is ready for him 783 00:38:37,553 --> 00:38:39,076 to be in a bigger role. 784 00:38:39,120 --> 00:38:41,383 So then you break him away, and if you're right, 785 00:38:41,427 --> 00:38:43,167 he's gonna blow up. 786 00:38:43,211 --> 00:38:46,083 If you're wrong, you could screw up his career. 787 00:38:54,178 --> 00:38:57,312 Place some very powerful maneuvers on top of it. 788 00:38:58,966 --> 00:39:00,402 Yeah, and taking him down as he begins 789 00:39:00,446 --> 00:39:02,012 that submission here. 790 00:39:04,188 --> 00:39:06,756 What the hell submission is this? 791 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:08,367 What the fuck is this?! 792 00:39:08,410 --> 00:39:10,020 Yeah, Fred's got a lot of unique stuff. 793 00:39:13,763 --> 00:39:16,375 It's like some kind of yoga pose with pressure. 794 00:39:16,418 --> 00:39:19,116 He's just twisting the body of O'Reilly 795 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:22,032 into a pretzel, and just... what, he's holding the leg down? 796 00:39:26,036 --> 00:39:27,516 Coming off the ropes looking for that kick. 797 00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:29,823 Yehi with the reversal, stomp on the foot. 798 00:39:29,866 --> 00:39:31,868 And the stomp followed by the forearm. 799 00:39:31,912 --> 00:39:33,957 Move by Kyle O'Reilly. 800 00:39:34,001 --> 00:39:36,090 However, that chop block there taking him down. 801 00:39:36,133 --> 00:39:37,526 Right to that same knee. 802 00:39:37,570 --> 00:39:39,136 Figure 4 leg lock! 803 00:39:39,180 --> 00:39:40,790 Ooooh! 804 00:39:40,834 --> 00:39:42,401 And you can see Fred doing everything he can 805 00:39:42,444 --> 00:39:44,490 to stop him from rolling through, but instead 806 00:39:44,533 --> 00:39:46,753 O'Reilly able to get just enough momentum to do it. 807 00:39:49,973 --> 00:39:51,714 This kind of wrestling I love, 808 00:39:51,758 --> 00:39:55,283 just good, straightforward, two hungry guys, you know. 809 00:39:55,326 --> 00:39:57,241 I mean, they're leaving their heart and their soul on the ring 810 00:39:57,285 --> 00:39:58,591 right now, both of them. 811 00:40:01,158 --> 00:40:03,683 A great wrestling match will build, and it'll build, 812 00:40:03,726 --> 00:40:06,642 and build, and take the fans on a rollercoaster ride. 813 00:40:06,686 --> 00:40:08,949 Give them something that they can grab onto, 814 00:40:08,992 --> 00:40:11,299 but then surprise them, play with their emotions. 815 00:40:15,259 --> 00:40:17,653 One stomp to the knee, Yehi so effective. 816 00:40:20,613 --> 00:40:22,571 And that release German, just full top Kyle O'Reilly. 817 00:40:22,615 --> 00:40:23,964 This could be it, Tim! 818 00:40:24,007 --> 00:40:27,054 Two... And O'Reilly kicks out. 819 00:40:27,097 --> 00:40:29,578 Cannot question the tenacity of Kyle O'Reilly... 820 00:40:31,275 --> 00:40:34,278 ...nor can you question the reaction we're hearing here 821 00:40:34,322 --> 00:40:37,456 for Fred Yehi from the WWN faithful now. 822 00:40:40,241 --> 00:40:42,025 Nuked again by Fred Yehi! 823 00:40:43,723 --> 00:40:45,551 Your goal is to make them forget that 824 00:40:45,594 --> 00:40:46,987 they're watching a performance. 825 00:40:51,295 --> 00:40:52,558 Seven! 826 00:40:52,601 --> 00:40:54,516 Oh wait, he gets up! 827 00:40:56,475 --> 00:40:58,564 Now you hear the crowd is realizing what they're watching. 828 00:41:04,221 --> 00:41:06,876 I think this is gonna be it right here, if he gets the arm. 829 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:09,705 He's gonna try to get the arm out. 830 00:41:09,749 --> 00:41:11,359 Gonna get the shot. 831 00:41:11,402 --> 00:41:13,535 And I mean, at some point he's got no choice. 832 00:41:13,579 --> 00:41:16,756 In fact, the brain buster we saw last night! 833 00:41:16,799 --> 00:41:19,541 This could put him away... Oh no! 834 00:41:19,585 --> 00:41:21,456 Now to go for the arm bar, the armageddon! 835 00:41:21,500 --> 00:41:22,762 Yehi's in trouble! 836 00:41:22,805 --> 00:41:23,980 He is in the centre of the ring! 837 00:41:24,024 --> 00:41:25,242 This is perfect. 838 00:41:25,286 --> 00:41:26,722 Holding on for dear life! 839 00:41:26,766 --> 00:41:28,898 Trying to not let that arm free. 840 00:41:28,942 --> 00:41:31,379 But you can see the fingers just slipping away 841 00:41:31,422 --> 00:41:34,774 from one another as Yehi trying to hold on desperately, 842 00:41:34,817 --> 00:41:37,820 not allowing Kyle O'Reilly to lock in that arm bar! 843 00:41:37,864 --> 00:41:40,431 What a fucking match. 844 00:41:40,475 --> 00:41:42,346 What a match, Jeff! 845 00:41:42,390 --> 00:41:44,087 Fucking phenomenal, man. 846 00:41:46,350 --> 00:41:48,744 We told you Kyle O'Reilly coming back to 847 00:41:48,788 --> 00:41:51,138 Evolve Wrestling, there's no question. 848 00:41:51,181 --> 00:41:54,010 This is a main event star, with a victory over Fred Yehi 849 00:41:54,054 --> 00:41:56,578 tonight at Evolve 83! 850 00:41:56,622 --> 00:41:58,014 That was beautiful. 851 00:41:58,058 --> 00:42:00,843 We got Kyle established as a main event guy for us. 852 00:42:00,887 --> 00:42:04,107 It elevated Fred right there, but you're still hungry for 853 00:42:04,151 --> 00:42:06,066 the big win by Fred. 854 00:42:06,109 --> 00:42:07,546 That was beautiful. 855 00:42:07,589 --> 00:42:09,286 Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. 856 00:42:12,246 --> 00:42:13,900 Sign of respect. 857 00:42:13,943 --> 00:42:17,381 There's nobody sitting down, and Fred Yehi, 858 00:42:17,425 --> 00:42:20,602 he showed he does not need to be a part of Catch Point. 859 00:42:20,646 --> 00:42:22,256 Fucking grand slam, out of the park. 860 00:42:22,299 --> 00:42:23,736 - Thank you. - Fucking phenomenal. 861 00:42:23,779 --> 00:42:25,433 Phenomenal, man. Be proud of that. 862 00:42:25,476 --> 00:42:26,739 Be proud of that, okay? 863 00:42:26,782 --> 00:42:28,523 - Thank you. - Thank you. 864 00:42:28,567 --> 00:42:32,483 I truly hope we see a rematch between these two athletes 865 00:42:32,527 --> 00:42:35,574 in the future here in the World Wrestling Network. 866 00:42:35,617 --> 00:42:37,445 For someone to pursue their dream in the world of 867 00:42:37,488 --> 00:42:40,187 professional wrestling is to knowingly subject themselves to 868 00:42:40,230 --> 00:42:42,406 a life that makes the saying "blood, sweat and tears" 869 00:42:42,450 --> 00:42:44,713 a literal experience. 870 00:42:44,757 --> 00:42:47,716 Months of their lives will be spent cramped up in a van, 871 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:51,154 years inside a gym, and hopefully at the very best 872 00:42:51,198 --> 00:42:54,375 only a few injuries to nurse along the way. 873 00:42:54,418 --> 00:42:57,813 It's a solitary endeavour, but what makes wrestling so unique 874 00:42:57,857 --> 00:43:00,860 compared to other combat sports is collaboration. 875 00:43:00,903 --> 00:43:02,513 They aren't just going out there to physically 876 00:43:02,557 --> 00:43:05,038 destroy each other, they work together to build a narrative 877 00:43:05,081 --> 00:43:07,997 that aims to surprise, enrage, and gratify. 878 00:43:08,041 --> 00:43:11,697 On some level, every wrestling fan knows the winners and losers 879 00:43:11,740 --> 00:43:13,916 are predetermined, but that's not the point. 880 00:43:13,960 --> 00:43:16,876 What's beautiful is that we as an audience choose to suspend 881 00:43:16,919 --> 00:43:20,531 our disbelief in order to become a part of that narrative. 882 00:43:20,575 --> 00:43:23,143 It's art, so it doesn't work all the time. 883 00:43:23,186 --> 00:43:26,363 But when it does, that's the magic of pro wrestling. 884 00:43:27,843 --> 00:43:29,192 This is awesome! 885 00:43:30,454 --> 00:43:31,978 This is awesome!