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I'm a pro wrestler,
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and I've abused my body
in different ways.
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I haven't been very kind
to myself over the years.
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I will beat the shit
out of my body
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for entertainment, you know?
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But I feel it, you know,
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and I know that cumulative
damage is taking its toll.
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Physically my body
is telling me,
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"You ain't gonna be doing
this shit too much longer."
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I recognize it for
what it is, you know.
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This world is coming to an end.
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Eventually I'm gonna
have to hit this exit ramp.
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Callihan is very well
known all around the world.
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He is a freaking nut.
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When you think about wrestling,
like it's fucking stupid.
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Wrestling's changing,
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and it's not the business
that I came into.
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Like everything else,
wrestling must evolve.
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You started with
the Model T Ford,
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and now you have Teslas...
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Whoa! Stricklin
knew it was coming!
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Bugattis...
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Oh!
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Where the athletes are today,
they are good at everything,
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so it's really difficult
to try to stand out.
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Now you have this
new generation of guys
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that can do incredible things
that you never saw before.
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That was awesome!
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Some guys are willing
to accept the evolution,
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and some guys are
holding fast to,
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"That's not how you do it.
That's not the way it's done."
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Well listen, this is the
fight choreography now.
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This is where we're at.
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Everything evolves.
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Now we're not combat
fighters, we're superheroes.
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♪ Another day another dollar
as I holla to the world ♪
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♪ I love the way I'm living
love the Gucci love the girls ♪
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♪ All the parties and the clubs
all the models in hot tubs ♪
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♪ All the German engineers
set on deep dish dubs ♪
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Hassan Assad is
a pro wrestling superstar,
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known in the ring as Montel
Vontavious Porter, or MVP.
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00:02:20,117 --> 00:02:21,597
And full disclosure,
he's a good friend of mine,
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and also one of my favourite wrestlers of all time
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As famous for his theatrics as he is for his wrestling skills
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MVP has won multiple championships and performed wit
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some of the top wrestling
promotions in the world.
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These days he's a free
agent and in high demand,
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appearing at
independent promotions
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all over North America.
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- And you are?
- I'm MVP.
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- MVP?
- Yes, ma'am.
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- The most valuable player?
- That would be me.
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That'd be my son also.
He's a left-handed pitcher.
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At 44 years old,
Hassan is already feeling
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the long-term effects of
repeated hard impacts,
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falls, and concussions,
and he is approaching
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a major shift in his career.
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He's also been witness to
a shift in the industry.
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Strickland right now
holds multiple championships.
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A new generation of
wrestlers, many of who grew up
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idolizing MVP and the
major wrestling promotion,
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are now making it big on
the independent circuit.
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Rising stars like Shane
Strickland are finding success
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without the help of
top promotions...
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Whoa!
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...and are instead
growing their own fan bases
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through social media.
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My god!
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I'm here
to talk to a veteran
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on the verge of retirement
about where he's come from
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and where he's going now,
and also to get his take on
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the changing face of wrestling.
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- There he is.
- Hello.
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- What's up, man?
- Your place is incredible!
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- Did you find it okay?
- Yeah.
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My humble abode, welcome.
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Well, let me tell ya,
it has humbled me.
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Very few people I know
in my life have a mantle
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full of action
figures of themself!
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It's... It's a rare achievement.
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If you go on eBay
and try to buy it,
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they're on sale for like
3-400 bucks a piece.
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I wouldn't pay that.
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00:04:01,827 --> 00:04:03,786
Look at this,
come look in here.
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I still got 'em.
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A collection of VHS tapes.
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I would wash your mouth piece.
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I'm on steroids there, man.
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00:04:16,494 --> 00:04:17,800
I'm on the vitamin T heavy.
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00:04:19,758 --> 00:04:21,064
Antonio Banks certainly has
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00:04:21,107 --> 00:04:22,544
the athletic ability to become
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00:04:22,587 --> 00:04:24,589
the FIT heavyweight
champion down below.
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Is it just to get bigger, or
does it actually help you train?
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00:04:27,070 --> 00:04:29,942
Back in the day, it was all
about just getting bigger.
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I didn't really understand
until later on that the steroids
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00:04:33,468 --> 00:04:35,383
actually help with recovery.
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The problem is most
professional wrestlers,
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00:04:37,385 --> 00:04:40,431
myself included back then, we
didn't use them, we abused them.
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00:04:40,475 --> 00:04:43,521
Antonio Banks trying to take
the legs out from CM Punk,
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00:04:43,565 --> 00:04:46,002
and connects with that
elbow which sends him down.
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00:04:46,045 --> 00:04:49,397
What lessons do you think this
next generation has learned
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00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:50,789
from your generation?
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00:04:50,833 --> 00:04:52,922
I think the main two things
I would have to say
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is the passion.
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00:04:54,576 --> 00:04:56,795
You can't be a
fly-by-night guy and do this.
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00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,408
The camaraderie, the brotherhood
of pro wrestling still maintains
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that you gotta respect
this fucking craft.
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Which ties in perfectly
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at the end of the day,
it's all about the fans.
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Giving them something
for them to come back to.
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And a lot of the young guys...
you know, you got guys,
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"Oh, I just got all
this cool shit I gotta do,"
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00:05:14,509 --> 00:05:16,641
with no real rhyme
or reason to it.
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00:05:16,685 --> 00:05:19,601
There's a story to tell,
a psychology, to...
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00:05:19,644 --> 00:05:22,430
to solicit a certain
reaction from the fans.
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That's the foundation
of what we do.
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00:05:24,562 --> 00:05:26,172
You just-- You gotta
leave the fans wanting more.
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"Leave 'em wanting more"
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is something Hassan
knows all about.
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Like many fans, I was shocked
when after four years with
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a top wrestling promotion,
MVP unexpectedly quit.
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I had one year left on my deal.
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They were trying to
resign me to a five-year deal.
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And at the time,
I just wasn't happy.
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My passion for wrestling at
that point was waning because
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wrestling had become a job.
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I've always been like fascinated
with Japanese culture,
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00:05:49,674 --> 00:05:52,024
and history, and
bushido, and samurai.
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I wanna wrestle there.
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New Japan is the biggest pro
wrestling promotion in Japan,
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the second biggest in the world and Japanese wrestling is famou
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for strong style, a more
realistic style of wrestling
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which had appealed to Hassan
since he began his training.
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I debuted in Sendai
February 6th, 2011.
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I remember just standing
in the ring that afternoon,
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00:06:18,094 --> 00:06:19,965
and I could hear
the lion's roar.
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"New Japan Pro Wrestling!"
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I got goosebumps, I was
like this is fucking insane!
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I'm here!
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So you were aware enough
of the situation that
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you could take it in
at least, it seems.
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Oh man.
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From 16 to 26 I was
the property of
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00:06:35,241 --> 00:06:37,461
the Florida Department
of Corrections.
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And there were times when
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thinking about the
future was difficult
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'cause I didn't know if I was
gonna make it to tomorrow.
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But it was so surreal.
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00:06:46,905 --> 00:06:48,951
I was waiting for the
prison guard to kick my bunk.
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"Inmate, get up! Wake up!"
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00:06:50,996 --> 00:06:53,477
I went, "Oh! Ah damn,
it was all a dream."
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I remember Booker T said,
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00:06:55,218 --> 00:06:58,743
"Nah, bro, ain't nobody gonna
kick your bunk. You wide awake."
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00:07:02,530 --> 00:07:05,707
Hassan Assad was born Alvin
Burke Jr. and grew up in Miami
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00:07:05,750 --> 00:07:07,752
in a neighbourhood known for
violence and crime since
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the rise of the Miami cocaine
trade in the 1970s and '80s.
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Alvin and his
two younger brothers
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were raised by their mother.
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His father, a police officer, was only an occasional presence
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in his life.
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00:07:18,981 --> 00:07:21,200
My mom worked
a full-time job,
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a part-time job,
and went to school.
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Jeez, and raised two kids.
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- Three.
- Three kids.
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Yeah, three.
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At one point, Opa-locka had...
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I don't know if it was the,
but it was among the nation's
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highest per-capita murder rate.
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So these are now
garden apartments.
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Here on that little
ledge right there
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is where I learned
how to pitch change.
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You know, closest to the
ledge wins everybody's money.
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And there used to be
a bank of pay phones
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where all the drug
dealers would hang out,
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and you know, with their pagers.
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00:07:56,322 --> 00:07:58,890
So it wasn't uncommon to
find a little, you know,
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fucking gram packets
of cocaine and whatnot.
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This is where you
probably knew at a young age
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that I had a chemical imbalance.
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I used to get in trouble
sometimes 'cause I'd climb
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over the railing on the third
floor, and on the outside
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walk on the edge so I could
practice being a ninja.
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They would tell my mom,
I'd get my ass kicked.
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00:08:17,213 --> 00:08:20,695
And my escape route would
be I'd run up the stairs,
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hop that fence on the roof,
and I would jump to this branch.
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But one day the branch,
as I got-- extended out,
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the branch snapped.
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And I fell a full
storey flat on my back.
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That was my first big bump.
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That's your first back bump.
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00:08:36,188 --> 00:08:38,147
Yeah, that was my first back
bump, off the top of the cage!
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00:08:40,062 --> 00:08:42,586
You said that you were a
bad guy at a certain point.
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00:08:42,630 --> 00:08:44,066
Yeah.
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00:08:44,109 --> 00:08:45,981
But from the stories here,
you just sound like a kid
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that's hyperactive, having fun.
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00:08:48,070 --> 00:08:52,161
When was that transition
point for you, do you think?
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00:08:52,204 --> 00:08:55,251
Fourteen is where I
started to turn the corner.
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00:08:55,294 --> 00:08:57,340
It went from just, you know,
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00:08:57,383 --> 00:09:00,648
doing stupid little mischievous
things to, you know,
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00:09:00,691 --> 00:09:04,129
grand theft auto,
and then armed robbery.
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00:09:04,173 --> 00:09:06,044
And then that's when
the gang shit came in,
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00:09:06,088 --> 00:09:08,612
around 15, the gunplay
and all that kind of shit.
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00:09:08,656 --> 00:09:11,223
So it happened fast, man, 14.
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00:09:11,267 --> 00:09:14,139
By 15, I did 6-and-a-half
months in the juvenile program,
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00:09:14,183 --> 00:09:17,099
and by 16 I was
facing life in prison.
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00:09:20,276 --> 00:09:21,973
Right down here in the street,
they used to sell drugs
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00:09:22,017 --> 00:09:23,409
all through here.
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00:09:23,453 --> 00:09:25,629
But I saw little kids,
smaller than me,
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00:09:25,673 --> 00:09:28,066
they had to've been
like kindergarten.
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00:09:28,110 --> 00:09:30,721
The one boy had some leaves,
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00:09:30,765 --> 00:09:33,028
and the other boy
had some little pebbles,
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00:09:33,071 --> 00:09:35,378
and they were playing a
drug transaction, you know.
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00:09:35,421 --> 00:09:37,772
So what future do
you have, you know?
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00:09:40,383 --> 00:09:43,299
Guy we're about to meet,
Bernard, we call him Bert.
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00:09:43,342 --> 00:09:44,822
Left.
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00:09:44,866 --> 00:09:46,128
He's my big brother, you know.
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00:09:46,171 --> 00:09:48,173
He's the dude who kinda
raised me up out here.
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00:09:51,307 --> 00:09:53,657
So this is the neighbourhood
you moved to after?
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00:09:53,701 --> 00:09:56,312
Yeah, from those
apartments to here.
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00:09:56,355 --> 00:09:58,706
- That was my house.
- Right there.
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00:09:58,749 --> 00:10:01,665
My younger brother, Brad,
state champion wrestler.
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00:10:01,709 --> 00:10:03,275
I did amateur wrestling briefly,
223
00:10:03,319 --> 00:10:04,407
but then I wanted
to be an asshole.
224
00:10:04,450 --> 00:10:06,452
I didn't wanna be an athlete.
225
00:10:06,496 --> 00:10:08,759
But at the end, I turned out
to be a champion wrestler.
226
00:10:08,803 --> 00:10:10,369
Yeah, you're the only guy
who's got gold in Japan.
227
00:10:10,413 --> 00:10:12,937
Yeah, right?
228
00:10:12,981 --> 00:10:14,983
Bert!
229
00:10:15,026 --> 00:10:17,289
Man, don't be camera shy, man.
230
00:10:17,333 --> 00:10:18,595
- Hi. Damian.
- Damian, Bert.
231
00:10:18,639 --> 00:10:19,988
- Bert, this is Damian.
- Nice to meet you.
232
00:10:20,031 --> 00:10:21,946
What was it about him
that made you wanna
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00:10:21,990 --> 00:10:23,165
take him under your wing?
234
00:10:23,208 --> 00:10:24,862
Just him being your
neighbour, or is it...
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00:10:24,906 --> 00:10:26,298
Not just that.
236
00:10:26,342 --> 00:10:28,126
I like the fact that he
always asks questions,
237
00:10:28,170 --> 00:10:30,172
always thinking, mind going.
238
00:10:30,215 --> 00:10:33,131
Always had big dreams
as a young kid, you know.
239
00:10:33,175 --> 00:10:35,917
What did you think when
he got locked up for that,
240
00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:37,266
you know, long bit?
241
00:10:37,309 --> 00:10:38,354
That was hurtful.
242
00:10:38,397 --> 00:10:40,008
That hurt me really bad, man.
243
00:10:40,051 --> 00:10:41,836
Just devastating.
244
00:10:41,879 --> 00:10:44,795
The damnest thing about
it is I chose that life.
245
00:10:44,839 --> 00:10:46,405
I didn't have to live
that life, you know,
246
00:10:46,449 --> 00:10:48,320
but something drew me to it.
247
00:10:48,364 --> 00:10:50,845
Just growing up here in
Miami, I wanted that life.
248
00:10:50,888 --> 00:10:52,324
I liked the crimes.
249
00:10:52,368 --> 00:10:55,806
So many guys from around here
just... it's almost like
250
00:10:55,850 --> 00:10:57,852
going to prison was a
rite of passge, you know.
251
00:10:57,895 --> 00:10:59,070
Unfortunately.
252
00:10:59,114 --> 00:11:00,376
You're just
waiting for your turn.
253
00:11:02,378 --> 00:11:04,772
I kinda wanted to
go to the Navy,
254
00:11:04,815 --> 00:11:08,863
and my mom was really
into like superstition.
255
00:11:08,906 --> 00:11:11,953
There was this lady that
she just called "The Lady".
256
00:11:11,996 --> 00:11:15,783
The Lady told her some some very
big things were about to happen
257
00:11:15,826 --> 00:11:19,482
in my life, and that she
saw a boat in my future.
258
00:11:19,525 --> 00:11:21,310
A ship, a big ship.
259
00:11:21,353 --> 00:11:22,833
Oh, I'm going to the Navy!
260
00:11:22,877 --> 00:11:24,400
That must mean the Navy, yeah!
261
00:11:24,443 --> 00:11:26,837
And then I go to prison for
robbing a cruise ship, right?
262
00:11:31,059 --> 00:11:33,757
When he was 16, Alvin Burke Jr. and three accomplices
263
00:11:33,801 --> 00:11:36,760
committed armed robbery
on a casino cruise ship.
264
00:11:36,804 --> 00:11:38,501
At the end of the night, the
group of teenagers appeared
265
00:11:38,544 --> 00:11:41,330
from hiding, held up the
staff with loaded shotguns,
266
00:11:41,373 --> 00:11:44,289
and escaped with
over $80,000 in cash.
267
00:11:45,943 --> 00:11:50,165
One dude got caught,
and he ratted everybody out.
268
00:11:50,208 --> 00:11:52,558
My father told me
to turn myself in.
269
00:11:52,602 --> 00:11:54,473
I was on my way to Mexico.
270
00:11:54,517 --> 00:11:56,780
He's like, "Man, you're 16.
271
00:11:56,824 --> 00:11:58,782
What is it, armed robbery case?
You're gonna get boot camp.
272
00:11:58,826 --> 00:12:00,958
Just come get the shit
over with, you know."
273
00:12:01,002 --> 00:12:02,220
Well, all the
people in the casino,
274
00:12:02,264 --> 00:12:03,569
we locked them in a closet.
275
00:12:03,613 --> 00:12:05,963
I had no idea that in
the state of Florida,
276
00:12:06,007 --> 00:12:07,356
it's considered kidnapping.
277
00:12:07,399 --> 00:12:09,140
And it was nine people?
278
00:12:09,184 --> 00:12:11,534
- Ten with the janitor.
- Ten with the janitor.
279
00:12:13,188 --> 00:12:15,233
And that's why I ended up with
an 18-and-a-half year sentence.
280
00:12:16,495 --> 00:12:19,107
Alvin ended up serving
9-and-a-half years in prison,
281
00:12:19,150 --> 00:12:21,500
where he changed his
name to Hassan Assad.
282
00:12:21,544 --> 00:12:24,286
He spent his final year here
at the Opa-locka Work Release
283
00:12:24,329 --> 00:12:26,941
Center, just a few blocks
away from his childhood home.
284
00:12:28,856 --> 00:12:31,423
This is where his wrestling story begins with a prison guar
285
00:12:31,467 --> 00:12:34,818
named Daryl Davis, who was
also a local Miami wrestler
286
00:12:34,862 --> 00:12:36,907
known in the ring as Primetime.
287
00:12:36,951 --> 00:12:38,256
Well, this is it.
288
00:12:38,300 --> 00:12:40,345
It's been a while since
I've been here, man.
289
00:12:40,389 --> 00:12:42,391
How long did you live here?
290
00:12:42,434 --> 00:12:44,088
About a year.
291
00:12:44,132 --> 00:12:45,350
I put in for a
transfer to come here
292
00:12:45,394 --> 00:12:47,178
when I got regular
work release status.
293
00:12:47,222 --> 00:12:48,876
And then you met fate.
294
00:12:48,919 --> 00:12:50,312
Yeah.
295
00:12:50,355 --> 00:12:51,922
So Prime, do you remember
when he showed up here?
296
00:12:51,966 --> 00:12:53,968
Yeah, I was the one that
had to sign y'all guys out.
297
00:12:54,011 --> 00:12:55,186
Right, in the morning, yeah.
298
00:12:55,230 --> 00:12:57,232
He would bring in VHS tapes
299
00:12:57,275 --> 00:12:59,451
of the pay-per-views
and indie shows.
300
00:12:59,495 --> 00:13:01,453
I remember the guys
would talk like,
301
00:13:01,497 --> 00:13:03,281
"Hey man, don't fuck
with Officer Davis, man.
302
00:13:03,325 --> 00:13:05,544
He know that wrasslin' shit,
man, he'll hit your ass up."
303
00:13:06,894 --> 00:13:10,288
I remember one day
asking Officer Davis,
304
00:13:10,332 --> 00:13:12,290
"Hey man, how y'all do that shit
305
00:13:12,334 --> 00:13:14,205
without really breaking
each other's necks, man?
306
00:13:14,249 --> 00:13:16,642
What's the real deal
with that shit?"
307
00:13:16,686 --> 00:13:19,167
And he gave me a book
by King Kong Bundy about
308
00:13:19,210 --> 00:13:21,299
how to be a pro wrestler,
about life on the road...
309
00:13:22,561 --> 00:13:24,128
- I gave it back to you, man.
- No.
310
00:13:24,172 --> 00:13:25,651
I gave it back to
you the next day!
311
00:13:25,695 --> 00:13:27,653
- No.
- Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
312
00:13:27,697 --> 00:13:29,655
Oh, okay.
313
00:13:29,699 --> 00:13:31,135
But that's how we hit it off.
314
00:13:31,179 --> 00:13:32,528
He goes, "Damn, you read
that quick. You serious, huh?"
315
00:13:32,571 --> 00:13:34,269
I said, "Well,
I'm just curious."
316
00:13:34,312 --> 00:13:37,141
So he said, "I'm gonna start
my won independent promotion,
317
00:13:37,185 --> 00:13:39,230
so when you get out, if you
wanna learn, I'll teach you."
318
00:13:39,274 --> 00:13:42,059
Well shit, I'm getting out
of prison soon, I need a hobby.
319
00:13:42,103 --> 00:13:43,539
Yeah, alright, yeah.
320
00:13:43,582 --> 00:13:45,454
Do you remember when he
called you once he was out?
321
00:13:45,497 --> 00:13:47,195
- He called me.
- Really?
322
00:13:47,238 --> 00:13:49,501
I mean, you can look at
certain guys and say...
323
00:13:49,545 --> 00:13:51,329
and say, "Man, he
ain't gonna make it,"
324
00:13:51,373 --> 00:13:52,940
so why even take his money
325
00:13:52,983 --> 00:13:55,638
or why even just
waste your time with him?
326
00:13:55,681 --> 00:13:58,206
With him, he would ask so
many goddamn questions.
327
00:13:58,249 --> 00:14:00,251
You know, especially here.
328
00:14:00,295 --> 00:14:02,950
That's when you know
okay, this guy's serious.
329
00:14:02,993 --> 00:14:05,517
He got a taste of the
ring, and then I mean,
330
00:14:05,561 --> 00:14:08,956
you know, like this guy,
he just became, you know...
331
00:14:08,999 --> 00:14:11,697
crazy with it, where
this shit becomes a drug.
332
00:14:11,741 --> 00:14:12,829
Yeah.
333
00:14:12,873 --> 00:14:15,049
And once you get
addicted to it, man,
334
00:14:15,092 --> 00:14:17,442
you just wanna keep going
further and further and further.
335
00:14:17,486 --> 00:14:19,923
And then he went the
furthest you can go.
336
00:14:22,317 --> 00:14:24,188
For all the shit that
I've done, you know,
337
00:14:24,232 --> 00:14:25,711
wrestling saved my life.
338
00:14:25,755 --> 00:14:28,105
And I've had this trip through
professional wrestling
339
00:14:28,149 --> 00:14:30,412
to accomplish things that
I never thought I'd do.
340
00:14:30,455 --> 00:14:34,503
And looking back now, I'm
playing with the house's money.
341
00:14:34,546 --> 00:14:37,941
If I got convicted
for all the shit I did,
342
00:14:37,985 --> 00:14:39,638
I'd be under death row.
343
00:14:53,217 --> 00:14:55,480
We're at one of Hassan's
first wrestling schools,
344
00:14:55,524 --> 00:14:57,526
CZW in Fort Lauderdale.
345
00:15:00,181 --> 00:15:01,660
Alright, let me...
346
00:15:04,489 --> 00:15:05,708
Hey, man.
347
00:15:05,751 --> 00:15:07,449
Pablo!
348
00:15:07,492 --> 00:15:09,059
Where's MVP?
349
00:15:09,103 --> 00:15:10,669
I couldn't find no
MVPs, they were taken.
350
00:15:10,713 --> 00:15:12,193
You got fucking Charlie Hoss.
351
00:15:12,236 --> 00:15:14,151
You gotta rectify that, man.
That's not right.
352
00:15:14,195 --> 00:15:16,110
He's fired. You're fired.
353
00:15:16,153 --> 00:15:18,068
No, you stand over there
and start doing squats.
354
00:15:18,112 --> 00:15:19,461
I'll get back to
you in about an hour.
355
00:15:25,336 --> 00:15:27,512
One, two, three!
356
00:15:30,385 --> 00:15:33,257
One of the reason Hassan loves coming back to visit CZW is tha
357
00:15:33,301 --> 00:15:35,477
his old wrestling
coaches are still here,
358
00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:37,653
training young men and women in the ring and running their own
359
00:15:37,696 --> 00:15:39,089
independent promotion.
360
00:15:39,133 --> 00:15:40,656
- Dave Johnson.
- Nice to meet you.
361
00:15:40,699 --> 00:15:45,748
If Primetime introduced me
to the business, Dave gave me
362
00:15:45,791 --> 00:15:48,055
the bumps and the bruises
of the business, you know.
363
00:15:48,098 --> 00:15:50,361
Like Dave was the
enforcer down here.
364
00:15:50,405 --> 00:15:51,754
It's a tough business, it's...
365
00:15:51,797 --> 00:15:52,973
It used to be.
366
00:15:54,409 --> 00:15:56,106
You don't like where it's gone?
367
00:15:56,150 --> 00:15:58,282
Uh, you know,
everything evolves.
368
00:15:58,326 --> 00:15:59,327
Yeah.
369
00:15:59,370 --> 00:16:00,545
There's different styles.
370
00:16:00,589 --> 00:16:02,460
The new school, the old school.
371
00:16:02,504 --> 00:16:04,810
You know, but I mean, now
you don't earn your keep.
372
00:16:04,854 --> 00:16:06,638
You just pay your gym dues.
373
00:16:06,682 --> 00:16:08,553
Just pay your gym
dues, you know?
374
00:16:08,597 --> 00:16:10,251
It sucks to say.
375
00:16:10,294 --> 00:16:12,427
I get the feeling that these coaches may be the kind of vets
376
00:16:12,470 --> 00:16:14,472
who despair at
the new generation
377
00:16:14,516 --> 00:16:16,344
and the shift in the industry.
378
00:16:16,387 --> 00:16:18,476
We've been a business
now for over 14 years.
379
00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:22,045
Well, in that 14 years, how
has running a school changed?
380
00:16:22,089 --> 00:16:24,265
Well, I can tell you how it's
changed over in the last...
381
00:16:24,308 --> 00:16:26,180
since '89 when I
went to Molenko's.
382
00:16:26,223 --> 00:16:29,313
Everybody seem to have
been training, working out.
383
00:16:29,357 --> 00:16:31,489
It seems like the guys just
don't train like they used to.
384
00:16:31,533 --> 00:16:34,275
Prime was saying like from the
first moment he started working
385
00:16:34,318 --> 00:16:37,147
with MVP, he knew
that he had something.
386
00:16:37,191 --> 00:16:38,844
Even before that, you said
you knew he had something.
387
00:16:38,888 --> 00:16:40,368
Did you see that?
388
00:16:40,411 --> 00:16:41,673
Yes, I'd seen it right away.
389
00:16:41,717 --> 00:16:43,197
I didn't tell him.
I was tough on him.
390
00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:44,720
I told everybody else.
391
00:16:44,763 --> 00:16:46,809
It seems like that's an
important part of this business,
392
00:16:46,852 --> 00:16:49,638
is giving it to someone as hard
as you can at first to see
393
00:16:49,681 --> 00:16:52,597
if they have the mettle
to kind of stick around.
394
00:16:52,641 --> 00:16:55,078
Dave will tell you, I mean,
these guys back in the day,
395
00:16:55,122 --> 00:16:56,558
they'd beat the
shit out your ass.
396
00:16:56,601 --> 00:16:59,126
The training was much
more harder than this.
397
00:16:59,169 --> 00:17:02,172
You ask Hassan what
we put his ass through.
398
00:17:02,216 --> 00:17:04,218
They would press
charges on us right now
399
00:17:04,261 --> 00:17:05,654
if we were to do what we did.
400
00:17:05,697 --> 00:17:07,177
Ask him what we did to him.
401
00:17:07,221 --> 00:17:08,744
Now you'd be
afraid of these guys
402
00:17:08,787 --> 00:17:10,615
gonna fall out and drop dead.
403
00:17:10,659 --> 00:17:13,227
Sometimes we're getting guys
that are close to 40 years old
404
00:17:13,270 --> 00:17:15,490
and they're just
starting, you know?
405
00:17:15,533 --> 00:17:18,319
40 years old, you're supposed
to be wrapping it up, you know.
406
00:17:18,362 --> 00:17:20,190
So you're saying it's
not too late for me?
407
00:17:20,234 --> 00:17:21,626
It's not too late,
today's the day.
408
00:17:21,670 --> 00:17:23,715
- Today's the day!
- Today's the day!
409
00:17:23,759 --> 00:17:26,501
If you wanna be a pro
wrestling superstar,
410
00:17:26,544 --> 00:17:28,503
I can tell you right now
you're not working hard enough.
411
00:17:28,546 --> 00:17:29,808
I don't even know you,
412
00:17:29,852 --> 00:17:31,593
I can tell you're not
working hard enough.
413
00:17:31,636 --> 00:17:33,551
You gotta be
honest with yourselves.
414
00:17:33,595 --> 00:17:34,813
Did you raise your hand 'cause
415
00:17:34,857 --> 00:17:36,206
you wanna be a
professional wrestler?
416
00:17:37,251 --> 00:17:38,687
How many people in pro
wrestling look like you?
417
00:17:41,168 --> 00:17:42,430
What are you doing about that?
418
00:17:44,171 --> 00:17:45,781
Are you being
honest with yourself?
419
00:17:48,175 --> 00:17:49,437
No, with yourself.
420
00:17:50,829 --> 00:17:52,222
Okay.
421
00:17:52,266 --> 00:17:54,311
If you wanna be a
professional wrestler,
422
00:17:54,355 --> 00:17:58,533
you have to be
consumed with pro wrestling.
423
00:17:58,576 --> 00:18:00,535
But I do have some good news.
424
00:18:00,578 --> 00:18:03,755
It's easier to get hired
now than it's ever been.
425
00:18:03,799 --> 00:18:06,802
Kevin Owens, a fat
guy in a t-shirt,
426
00:18:06,845 --> 00:18:09,587
beat John Cena, Superman.
427
00:18:09,631 --> 00:18:11,589
That means there's
been a philosophy change.
428
00:18:11,633 --> 00:18:13,809
So if you're a chubby
dude in a sweatshirt,
429
00:18:13,852 --> 00:18:15,724
there's a chance.
430
00:18:15,767 --> 00:18:17,769
But do you have
Kevin Owens' charisma?
431
00:18:17,813 --> 00:18:20,120
Be real with yourself and
your expectations of yourself.
432
00:18:42,229 --> 00:18:44,361
Shane "Swerve"
Strickland is a 28-year-old
433
00:18:44,405 --> 00:18:47,234
wrestler who grew up
watching MVP on TV,
434
00:18:47,277 --> 00:18:49,801
and is a perfect example of the changing face of wrestling.
435
00:18:52,717 --> 00:18:55,459
In less than a year, he's gone from a virtual unknown to one o
436
00:18:55,503 --> 00:18:58,506
the most recognizable and in-demand wrestlers on the indi
437
00:18:58,549 --> 00:19:02,336
circuit, doing shows all over
North America and the world.
438
00:19:02,379 --> 00:19:05,469
He's also the championship belt holder here at Defy Wrestling
439
00:19:05,513 --> 00:19:07,645
in Seattle, and is
famous for his ability
440
00:19:07,689 --> 00:19:09,473
to seamlessly mix
wrestling styles.
441
00:19:12,302 --> 00:19:14,391
You're bringing in the
lucha, the high flying,
442
00:19:14,435 --> 00:19:17,002
but you're also doing like
Japanese strong style
443
00:19:17,046 --> 00:19:18,526
that everyone loves too,
and then there's also like
444
00:19:18,569 --> 00:19:20,354
the American influence.
445
00:19:20,397 --> 00:19:22,834
Is that typified by this
generation that you're part of?
446
00:19:22,878 --> 00:19:25,359
Yeah, it definitely is, because
like everything has been
447
00:19:25,402 --> 00:19:26,708
pushed forward so much now.
448
00:19:26,751 --> 00:19:29,014
The limit's been,
like, well surpassed.
449
00:19:29,058 --> 00:19:31,539
Everybody's like really skilled
and really well rounded
450
00:19:31,582 --> 00:19:33,976
in what they do, and
that's what I try to,
451
00:19:34,019 --> 00:19:35,717
like, be at the forefront of.
452
00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:39,721
I was the one that really tried
to just master or get as...
453
00:19:39,764 --> 00:19:42,289
maybe like a B+
in every category.
454
00:19:42,332 --> 00:19:46,031
You gotta be good at
everything, every style,
455
00:19:46,075 --> 00:19:48,425
like literally doing every
single style of wrestling
456
00:19:48,469 --> 00:19:49,774
in a matter of a week.
457
00:19:52,821 --> 00:19:55,258
There are the detractors
of what's happening
458
00:19:55,302 --> 00:19:57,042
in wrestling right now,
and it tends to be people
459
00:19:57,086 --> 00:19:58,609
that are from an
older generation.
460
00:19:58,653 --> 00:20:00,132
Yep.
461
00:20:00,176 --> 00:20:02,700
Why do you think there is such
resistance to this sort of
462
00:20:02,744 --> 00:20:05,703
new evolution of
wrestling that's happening?
463
00:20:05,747 --> 00:20:07,618
I feel like they only see
the actual aspects of wrestling
464
00:20:07,662 --> 00:20:08,750
that go viral.
465
00:20:08,793 --> 00:20:10,491
They just see like
the hot new thing.
466
00:20:10,534 --> 00:20:13,407
They see Joey Janela
falling off of a building.
467
00:20:13,450 --> 00:20:15,539
You know, they see the Lucha
Underground when people are
468
00:20:15,583 --> 00:20:17,106
falling through glass.
469
00:20:17,149 --> 00:20:18,281
That's what catches people's
attention 'cause it's like...
470
00:20:18,325 --> 00:20:19,891
...it's front page news.
471
00:20:22,677 --> 00:20:25,854
Oh!
472
00:20:32,426 --> 00:20:33,949
Do you think it's
a more exciting time
473
00:20:33,992 --> 00:20:36,865
to be a wrestler now than say
five years ago or something?
474
00:20:36,908 --> 00:20:39,607
Yes, and I feel like a lot of
the guys who've been doing this
475
00:20:39,650 --> 00:20:43,045
for like 15, 12 to 15 years,
they kind of like don't like
476
00:20:43,088 --> 00:20:46,701
that because too many guys
get opportunities very quickly.
477
00:20:56,711 --> 00:20:58,321
There's no gatekeepers now.
478
00:20:58,365 --> 00:20:59,888
The fences are down.
479
00:20:59,931 --> 00:21:02,630
If you're talented and if you
can connect with an audience,
480
00:21:02,673 --> 00:21:05,937
you don't need the industry
leader to market you
481
00:21:05,981 --> 00:21:07,678
and to put you in a place
and be successful.
482
00:21:07,722 --> 00:21:11,334
Now in this information age,
you can create your own market.
483
00:21:11,378 --> 00:21:13,423
As an old school
traditionalist, you know,
484
00:21:13,467 --> 00:21:15,556
I think it allows some
people in the business that,
485
00:21:15,599 --> 00:21:17,340
you know, from my
old school mentality,
486
00:21:17,384 --> 00:21:18,950
don't belong in the business.
487
00:21:18,994 --> 00:21:21,692
But then that's an
outdated thinking.
488
00:21:21,736 --> 00:21:23,433
You know, like,
"It's our business.
489
00:21:23,477 --> 00:21:24,608
You don't belong here, kid."
490
00:21:24,652 --> 00:21:26,175
"Bullshit.
491
00:21:26,218 --> 00:21:29,004
I got-- I got a YouTube channel
with 100,000 subscribers.
492
00:21:29,047 --> 00:21:30,701
What do you got?"
493
00:21:30,745 --> 00:21:32,050
"Well, I gotta wait on
this guy to call me
494
00:21:32,094 --> 00:21:33,138
and book me on this show."
495
00:21:33,182 --> 00:21:34,749
"Oh, okay," you know.
496
00:21:36,838 --> 00:21:38,753
One of the most
successful wrestlers on
497
00:21:38,796 --> 00:21:41,364
the independent scene is
30-year-old Sami Callihan.
498
00:21:41,408 --> 00:21:44,802
Sami actually made it to a top
wrestling promotion in 2012,
499
00:21:44,846 --> 00:21:47,762
and like MVP, after a
few years felt unsatisfied
500
00:21:47,805 --> 00:21:49,590
and requested his release.
501
00:21:49,633 --> 00:21:51,156
How high is the ropes here?
502
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:52,462
- Are they like...
- Yeah.
503
00:21:52,506 --> 00:21:54,072
- Like normal?
- Yeah, normal I'd say.
504
00:21:55,857 --> 00:21:58,512
In Sami's case, he felt he
was being under-utilized,
505
00:21:58,555 --> 00:22:00,905
and believed he could achieve
more on the indie circuit,
506
00:22:00,949 --> 00:22:04,082
a move that would've been
career suicide 10 years ago.
507
00:22:04,126 --> 00:22:06,607
You left there, and
you're bigger now than ever.
508
00:22:06,650 --> 00:22:07,738
Yeah.
509
00:22:07,782 --> 00:22:08,957
It's almost like
that spurred you on.
510
00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:10,741
Oh yeah, man, it like...
it made me cool.
511
00:22:10,785 --> 00:22:12,830
Like it works into the
whole desperado character.
512
00:22:12,874 --> 00:22:15,572
I'm not complacent
sitting around performers
513
00:22:15,616 --> 00:22:17,922
that are collecting a
really good paycheque.
514
00:22:17,966 --> 00:22:19,359
I wanna work for my money.
515
00:22:19,402 --> 00:22:21,970
I didn't stick around and
like try to wait it out.
516
00:22:22,013 --> 00:22:24,494
I knew I was worth more than
I was being used at events,
517
00:22:24,538 --> 00:22:26,017
so I wanted to rock the show.
518
00:22:28,846 --> 00:22:31,414
Sami's success is well known,
but not everyone's a fan.
519
00:22:36,637 --> 00:22:39,030
When veterans of the industry
talk about the cocky new breed
520
00:22:39,074 --> 00:22:41,555
of indie wrestlers,
they often use the phrase
521
00:22:41,598 --> 00:22:43,034
"Sami and friends".
522
00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:54,829
Sami's this guy that a lot
of people have labelled,
523
00:22:54,872 --> 00:22:56,700
you know, even in a
negative sense sometimes,
524
00:22:56,744 --> 00:22:59,050
when people are talking shit,
like "Sami and friends".
525
00:22:59,094 --> 00:23:00,574
Yeah.
526
00:23:00,617 --> 00:23:03,620
You know, like this generation
of wrestlers being like...
527
00:23:03,664 --> 00:23:05,666
you know, led by or
inspired by Sami.
528
00:23:07,145 --> 00:23:08,886
There's always going to be
that negative back push
529
00:23:08,930 --> 00:23:10,105
when you're successful.
530
00:23:18,069 --> 00:23:20,898
And whether you like it or
not, Sami's been successful.
531
00:23:20,942 --> 00:23:22,073
Oh yeah.
532
00:23:26,991 --> 00:23:27,949
That's... yeah.
533
00:23:30,734 --> 00:23:32,257
And Sami's just
like of like a leader.
534
00:23:32,301 --> 00:23:34,521
He has a lot of influence from
a lot of talented young guys
535
00:23:34,564 --> 00:23:35,522
in the business.
536
00:23:37,306 --> 00:23:38,916
Oh!
537
00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:41,484
When you're in demand like Sami
too, there's gonna be issues.
538
00:23:41,528 --> 00:23:43,138
One, two, three!
539
00:23:47,142 --> 00:23:51,799
The winner of
Sami Callihan!
540
00:23:55,629 --> 00:23:58,196
You know, I remember
when I was coming up,
541
00:23:58,240 --> 00:24:02,897
it really wasn't possible
to be an unknown indie guy
542
00:24:02,940 --> 00:24:04,594
and make a living.
543
00:24:04,638 --> 00:24:06,640
- Mm-hmm.
- And now it is.
544
00:24:06,683 --> 00:24:08,598
You know, you can
work domestically
545
00:24:08,642 --> 00:24:10,818
and internationally, and maybe
you're not gonna get rich,
546
00:24:10,861 --> 00:24:12,689
but you're a
professional wrestler.
547
00:24:17,172 --> 00:24:20,044
As a professional wrestler who's
had... I couldn't even tell you
548
00:24:20,088 --> 00:24:23,961
how many concussions, I don't
know, all of these people
549
00:24:24,005 --> 00:24:28,618
who had severe CTE, they
all had the same symptoms.
550
00:24:28,662 --> 00:24:30,881
It scares me sometimes
to think like now,
551
00:24:30,925 --> 00:24:34,145
what's gonna happen
to me in 15, 20 years?
552
00:24:34,189 --> 00:24:35,973
'Cause you know,
I joke about it,
553
00:24:36,017 --> 00:24:39,194
but dude, sometimes
mid-sentence I'll be...
554
00:24:39,237 --> 00:24:41,152
you know, what
was I just saying?
555
00:24:41,196 --> 00:24:43,328
Does that fear play
into part of the reason
556
00:24:43,372 --> 00:24:45,069
that you wanna kinda
step away from this?
557
00:24:45,113 --> 00:24:48,638
Yeah, I mean, I've always
said I wanna walk away,
558
00:24:48,682 --> 00:24:50,292
I don't wanna limp away.
559
00:24:50,335 --> 00:24:51,859
And I had a doctor once
tell me, it was funny.
560
00:24:51,902 --> 00:24:55,079
She said, "You guys always
look great on the outside,
561
00:24:55,123 --> 00:24:56,820
but you're a mess inside."
562
00:25:03,348 --> 00:25:05,699
For the past few years,
MVP has not been signed to
563
00:25:05,742 --> 00:25:07,657
any major wrestling
organizations.
564
00:25:07,701 --> 00:25:09,354
- Good to see you, bro.
- How was your trip?
565
00:25:09,398 --> 00:25:11,182
Instead, he freelances
with independent promotions
566
00:25:11,226 --> 00:25:12,749
all over the United States.
567
00:25:12,793 --> 00:25:15,360
Some big, some... not so big.
568
00:25:18,102 --> 00:25:19,626
And then you kind of hold it
not like you're ripping
569
00:25:19,669 --> 00:25:21,062
her head off, but
a little bit hard,
570
00:25:21,105 --> 00:25:22,237
'cause if not she'll
start to wiggle around.
571
00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:23,630
- Okay.
- Yep.
572
00:25:26,110 --> 00:25:29,026
It is still very much a
privilege and an honour
573
00:25:29,070 --> 00:25:31,681
to perform in a wrestling ring.
574
00:25:31,725 --> 00:25:33,248
We'll just walk and talk, man.
575
00:25:33,291 --> 00:25:36,338
When people pay money because
they wanna see you perform,
576
00:25:36,381 --> 00:25:37,818
that's a huge honour.
577
00:25:37,861 --> 00:25:40,298
And I recognize it,
because at any given time,
578
00:25:40,342 --> 00:25:42,387
you know,
it could be over like that.
579
00:25:42,431 --> 00:25:44,389
You know, blow out a knee, land
on your head and you become
580
00:25:44,433 --> 00:25:47,001
a quadriplegic, or you
know, something terrible.
581
00:25:47,044 --> 00:25:48,219
How old are you?
582
00:25:48,263 --> 00:25:49,743
- 45.
- 45?
583
00:25:49,786 --> 00:25:51,832
I'll be 44 in about 3 weeks.
584
00:25:51,875 --> 00:25:54,225
I'm right there with you, man.
585
00:25:56,184 --> 00:25:58,229
Anything... Any
injuries or anything?
586
00:25:58,273 --> 00:26:00,841
Uh, this shoulder right
here, if you can see,
587
00:26:00,884 --> 00:26:01,972
that's about as high
as I can pick it up.
588
00:26:02,016 --> 00:26:03,278
Okay.
589
00:26:03,321 --> 00:26:04,888
Physically it's a day
by day thing, you know.
590
00:26:04,932 --> 00:26:07,717
There are some days
when man, I feel great!
591
00:26:07,761 --> 00:26:09,632
And there are some days
when my knee's bothering me,
592
00:26:09,676 --> 00:26:12,417
or maybe the previous weekend I
got suplexed on a pile of chairs
593
00:26:12,461 --> 00:26:15,377
and my back's still feeling
a little aah, you know.
594
00:26:15,420 --> 00:26:18,162
You know, with all the
cumulative wear and tear
595
00:26:18,206 --> 00:26:22,079
from the bumping, I don't feel
like the 28, 29-year-old,
596
00:26:22,123 --> 00:26:24,342
you know, uber stud
that I was, you know.
597
00:26:24,386 --> 00:26:25,779
Who's your favourite
wrestler, young man?
598
00:26:26,910 --> 00:26:28,085
Well, guess what?
599
00:26:28,129 --> 00:26:30,958
Damien Wayne gonna be
out very, very soon,
600
00:26:31,001 --> 00:26:32,742
and he's wrestling who?
601
00:26:32,786 --> 00:26:33,961
MVP!
602
00:26:34,004 --> 00:26:36,311
- He's wrestling who?
- MVP!
603
00:26:36,354 --> 00:26:37,921
That's who he's wrestling.
604
00:26:37,965 --> 00:26:39,227
Are we ready?
605
00:26:41,751 --> 00:26:44,972
Some nights I'm just like,
"I don't wanna be here.
606
00:26:45,015 --> 00:26:46,974
I just wanna go home."
607
00:26:47,017 --> 00:26:49,237
But the flipside of that is once
I walk out there in front of
608
00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:51,718
that crowd, it all changes.
609
00:26:51,761 --> 00:26:54,677
The adrenaline kicks in, I find
those people that I connect with
610
00:26:54,721 --> 00:26:57,201
in the audience, and I
appreciate it, you know.
611
00:26:57,245 --> 00:26:59,943
Here we go, the main event.
612
00:26:59,987 --> 00:27:02,685
Oh!
613
00:27:02,729 --> 00:27:04,295
He's coming
through the curtains.
614
00:27:11,825 --> 00:27:13,174
Let it sizzle.
615
00:27:13,217 --> 00:27:15,219
Three, two, one.
616
00:27:21,835 --> 00:27:24,751
Wrestling is a
365 day a year business,
617
00:27:24,794 --> 00:27:27,188
so not every night is
gonna be the Tokyo bill.
618
00:27:27,231 --> 00:27:29,712
But seeing MVP appear in front
of a small crowd and still
619
00:27:29,756 --> 00:27:32,802
give it his all reminded me how dedicated he is to his fans.
620
00:27:38,895 --> 00:27:40,505
MVP!
621
00:27:40,549 --> 00:27:43,726
M... V... P!
622
00:27:59,046 --> 00:28:00,308
One!
623
00:28:15,410 --> 00:28:17,238
Time out!
624
00:28:22,243 --> 00:28:25,202
Oh, you're laughing at him
'cause he's a chicken?
625
00:28:25,246 --> 00:28:26,900
Or you're laughing
at his funny face?
626
00:28:26,943 --> 00:28:29,293
You can't laugh at me.
I can only laugh at you.
627
00:28:31,165 --> 00:28:32,819
Yeah, why can't
she laugh at you?
628
00:28:42,916 --> 00:28:44,787
Don't tell me how
to live my life!
629
00:28:58,279 --> 00:29:01,804
I think David's...
David's scared!
630
00:29:01,848 --> 00:29:04,241
Time out.
631
00:29:04,285 --> 00:29:05,982
That's why live
wrestling's awesome.
632
00:29:06,026 --> 00:29:08,202
I love it, I love being in it.
633
00:29:12,293 --> 00:29:13,337
I gotcha.
634
00:29:16,863 --> 00:29:18,429
There comes a
time when maybe yeah,
635
00:29:18,473 --> 00:29:20,605
you're on the mat in the
major wrestling promotion,
636
00:29:20,649 --> 00:29:23,130
but those people who saw
you on TV remember that,
637
00:29:23,173 --> 00:29:24,261
and they're cheering, you know.
638
00:29:24,305 --> 00:29:26,437
MVP! MVP!
639
00:29:26,481 --> 00:29:29,092
Yeah, classic MVP!
640
00:29:31,616 --> 00:29:34,097
Performance, the
adoration, exhilaration...
641
00:29:36,099 --> 00:29:39,320
...there's no
other drug like it.
642
00:29:39,363 --> 00:29:40,930
And I've tried a few, you know.
643
00:29:42,192 --> 00:29:43,541
There it is!
644
00:29:43,585 --> 00:29:45,282
I can see where it
can be like crack.
645
00:29:46,893 --> 00:29:49,547
Some people can get so addicted
to it to their detriment.
646
00:29:53,203 --> 00:29:54,465
Where do they go?
647
00:29:56,903 --> 00:30:00,515
Here's your up-close,
personal pretty picture of MVP.
648
00:30:03,518 --> 00:30:05,172
Now that's 10 bucks.
649
00:30:06,956 --> 00:30:08,523
Oh!
650
00:30:08,566 --> 00:30:11,874
Sometimes emotionally, I
realize where I'm at right now,
651
00:30:11,918 --> 00:30:13,876
this is the home
stretch, you know.
652
00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,139
When the time
comes when I say okay,
653
00:30:16,183 --> 00:30:20,317
this is it, and I take the
boots off for the last time,
654
00:30:20,361 --> 00:30:22,493
what's that gonna feel like?
655
00:30:30,023 --> 00:30:32,155
Order!
656
00:30:36,638 --> 00:30:38,205
One, two...
657
00:30:44,385 --> 00:30:47,605
I know that, as I said, the
chapter of being an in-ring
658
00:30:47,649 --> 00:30:50,173
performer is coming to a close.
659
00:30:50,217 --> 00:30:54,308
As I approach 44 and knowing
like this is a danger zone
660
00:30:54,351 --> 00:30:56,223
for most pro wrestlers, you
know, if you're gonna drop dead
661
00:30:56,266 --> 00:30:58,660
of a heart attack, it's
usually in the 40s, you know.
662
00:30:58,703 --> 00:31:04,187
And now I have a son, and he's
just changed me in a way that
663
00:31:04,231 --> 00:31:05,710
I can't even verbalize.
664
00:31:05,754 --> 00:31:10,019
No conversation could ever
prepare you for the love that
665
00:31:10,063 --> 00:31:11,673
you develop for your child.
666
00:31:15,982 --> 00:31:18,158
I never wanted kids.
667
00:31:18,201 --> 00:31:21,335
I was perfectly
content to die childless.
668
00:31:23,424 --> 00:31:25,426
And the main reason I didn't
want kids was because I didn't
669
00:31:25,469 --> 00:31:29,212
want the responsibility
that comes with a child,
670
00:31:29,256 --> 00:31:31,388
and the vulnerability.
671
00:31:31,432 --> 00:31:32,999
'Cause I can look after myself.
672
00:31:33,042 --> 00:31:34,478
I've been through
all kinds of shit.
673
00:31:34,522 --> 00:31:36,002
Hey, where you going?
674
00:31:36,045 --> 00:31:37,568
Come back, Camden.
675
00:31:37,612 --> 00:31:40,180
Camden, come here, come here.
676
00:31:40,223 --> 00:31:42,051
Come here, you gotta
wait your turn in line.
677
00:31:44,097 --> 00:31:45,576
He was unplanned.
678
00:31:45,620 --> 00:31:47,230
Certainly not by me!
679
00:31:48,623 --> 00:31:51,756
It took a little bit
of time for me to like
680
00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:54,063
really bond with my child.
681
00:31:54,107 --> 00:31:56,544
Walk, walk, walk, walk!
682
00:31:56,587 --> 00:31:58,285
Alright.
683
00:31:58,328 --> 00:32:00,069
Nice!
684
00:32:00,113 --> 00:32:01,418
Oh, cartwheels! Let's go!
685
00:32:01,462 --> 00:32:05,379
My father was in my life,
but we're not close.
686
00:32:05,422 --> 00:32:09,296
He was around, but my
father and I never like...
687
00:32:09,339 --> 00:32:12,212
had any father/son
stuff that we did together.
688
00:32:12,255 --> 00:32:13,474
Ready?
689
00:32:15,128 --> 00:32:16,085
Go!
690
00:32:16,129 --> 00:32:18,261
Go, Camden! Go, go, go, go, go!
691
00:32:18,305 --> 00:32:20,437
It seems like it was just
yesterday I was trying to
692
00:32:20,481 --> 00:32:22,570
find out what clubs were
open at night, you know.
693
00:32:22,613 --> 00:32:24,615
Like let's get some
bottles, you know.
694
00:32:24,659 --> 00:32:27,662
That's not the case
anymore, you know.
695
00:32:27,705 --> 00:32:30,186
Now I wanna be a dad.
696
00:32:36,323 --> 00:32:37,454
I'm the bully.
697
00:32:37,498 --> 00:32:39,021
Who's the aggressor now?
698
00:32:39,065 --> 00:32:40,457
Who's the one
attacking now, me or him?
699
00:32:40,501 --> 00:32:42,764
Him.
700
00:32:42,807 --> 00:32:46,811
So, shuffle down,
knees on the ground,
701
00:32:46,855 --> 00:32:49,075
hands behind his leg, up.
702
00:32:49,118 --> 00:32:51,120
Push, push, push, push, push!
703
00:32:51,164 --> 00:32:54,080
I'm gonna take
him down, alright?
704
00:32:54,123 --> 00:32:57,300
Now, both of your
hands on his arms.
705
00:32:57,344 --> 00:32:58,345
Punch me, bully, now.
706
00:32:59,563 --> 00:33:02,349
He cannot punch me now.
707
00:33:02,392 --> 00:33:04,786
I don't want my son
to be a pro wrestler.
708
00:33:04,829 --> 00:33:06,744
Whatever he decides,
I hope, you know,
709
00:33:06,788 --> 00:33:09,834
I can enstill enough guidance
and intelligence so that
710
00:33:09,878 --> 00:33:12,272
he'll make some pretty
solid decisions.
711
00:33:12,315 --> 00:33:16,232
But I want him to use his brain,
I want him to be brilliant.
712
00:33:16,276 --> 00:33:18,800
You know, let him compose
music, let him write code,
713
00:33:18,843 --> 00:33:20,758
let him study medicine.
714
00:33:20,802 --> 00:33:23,065
You hungry? You want rice?
715
00:33:23,109 --> 00:33:26,503
Physically, you know, I beat
the shit out of my body
716
00:33:26,547 --> 00:33:28,375
for entertainment, you know.
717
00:33:28,418 --> 00:33:31,247
I don't want him to fucking
deal with that, you know.
718
00:33:38,428 --> 00:33:39,821
Hassan has
brought me to meet
719
00:33:39,864 --> 00:33:42,084
another pro wrestling
super star,
720
00:33:42,128 --> 00:33:45,174
long-time friend and fellow
Houston resident Booker T.
721
00:33:45,218 --> 00:33:46,436
- Yo, how you doing?
- Good.
722
00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:48,221
Booker, this is Damian.
723
00:33:48,264 --> 00:33:51,659
The six-time world champion
was both a hero and mentor
724
00:33:51,702 --> 00:33:53,617
for Hassan early in his career.
725
00:33:53,661 --> 00:33:56,272
Both men are African American wrestlers who overcame criminal
726
00:33:56,316 --> 00:33:59,232
pasts to become champions
in the wrestling world.
727
00:33:59,275 --> 00:34:02,104
Wax on, wax off, baby.
728
00:34:02,148 --> 00:34:04,193
Tie up.
729
00:34:04,237 --> 00:34:05,586
Wax on.
730
00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:10,373
And it looks cool,
and that's what...
731
00:34:12,027 --> 00:34:14,508
No, no, that's what wrestling
mostly is, you know what I mean?
732
00:34:14,551 --> 00:34:17,424
Booker retired from
pro wrestling in 2016,
733
00:34:17,467 --> 00:34:19,730
and as well as his weekly gigs as a wrestling commentator
734
00:34:19,774 --> 00:34:23,560
he now runs a wrestling gym
training the next generation.
735
00:34:23,604 --> 00:34:25,432
Good, good.
736
00:34:25,475 --> 00:34:28,435
Really early on when MVP found
out about your story and the
737
00:34:28,478 --> 00:34:30,524
things that you kind of were
able to overcome to get the
738
00:34:30,567 --> 00:34:34,136
legend that you are today, that
was a huge inspiration for him.
739
00:34:34,180 --> 00:34:37,139
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean,
he stole a lot of my traits.
740
00:34:40,273 --> 00:34:42,797
For me, you know, I
always try to set an example.
741
00:34:42,840 --> 00:34:45,365
I'm all about, you
know, helping young people.
742
00:34:45,408 --> 00:34:48,585
I got, you know, maybe 50 kids
743
00:34:48,629 --> 00:34:51,588
that all look to me
as a father figure.
744
00:34:53,764 --> 00:34:56,724
MVP's someone who's kind of
at a crossroads right now,
745
00:34:56,767 --> 00:34:58,682
like you know, talking
about the end of his career.
746
00:34:58,726 --> 00:35:00,771
Have you guys spoken
about what's next?
747
00:35:00,815 --> 00:35:02,295
Have you given any--
offered him any advice?
748
00:35:02,338 --> 00:35:04,906
We've talked frequently,
you know, about...
749
00:35:04,949 --> 00:35:07,430
...life after wrestling.
750
00:35:07,474 --> 00:35:08,736
You know, especially
when you get a kid.
751
00:35:10,303 --> 00:35:11,608
You gotta start
thinking about...
752
00:35:11,652 --> 00:35:13,523
As well as when you
get older, you know,
753
00:35:13,567 --> 00:35:15,743
the body, you gotta be
able to think about yourself.
754
00:35:15,786 --> 00:35:19,268
You know, I was just
watching a video today,
755
00:35:19,312 --> 00:35:22,532
and it had a couple of the
old wrestlers from the '80s,
756
00:35:22,576 --> 00:35:25,840
and they were still
wrestling on the show in 2017,
757
00:35:25,883 --> 00:35:27,711
and I was like
God, man, you know.
758
00:35:27,755 --> 00:35:29,626
You don't wanna be that guy.
759
00:35:29,670 --> 00:35:31,933
My education is
professional wrestling.
760
00:35:31,976 --> 00:35:34,762
I got a lot of
knowledge in the business.
761
00:35:34,805 --> 00:35:37,286
That's one of the
reasons I opened this school.
762
00:35:37,330 --> 00:35:39,332
And I wanted to be able to
walk away from it and say man,
763
00:35:39,375 --> 00:35:40,594
thanks for the ride, guys.
764
00:35:40,637 --> 00:35:42,161
It's been awesome.
765
00:35:42,204 --> 00:35:44,685
Booker T left the ring at a
point where he was one of the,
766
00:35:44,728 --> 00:35:46,948
you know, still the greatest,
and didn't wait till that point,
767
00:35:46,991 --> 00:35:48,602
that decline.
768
00:35:48,645 --> 00:35:50,647
Was that at all inspiration for
why you're choosing to get out?
769
00:35:50,691 --> 00:35:53,433
I got a few more years left,
you know, it's not--
770
00:35:53,476 --> 00:35:54,651
Well, I don't me now now.
771
00:35:54,695 --> 00:35:56,262
I mean like in
the next few years.
772
00:35:56,305 --> 00:35:57,785
But in the very
near future, yeah.
773
00:35:57,828 --> 00:36:00,309
You don't wanna give them
that mental snapshot of when
774
00:36:00,353 --> 00:36:02,790
you used to be good, and
now when he goes to do
775
00:36:02,833 --> 00:36:04,400
the spinneroni
and his back pops.
776
00:36:06,097 --> 00:36:08,665
Always leave them wanting more.
Always leave them wanting more.
777
00:36:08,709 --> 00:36:11,712
Booker did that, you know,
and that's what I wanna do.
778
00:36:14,758 --> 00:36:16,586
We're back in Hassan's
home state of Florida
779
00:36:16,630 --> 00:36:20,024
at MLW One Shot, a new event
on the outskirts of Orlando.
780
00:36:20,068 --> 00:36:23,332
Hassan's old prison guard
and wrestling inspiration,
781
00:36:23,376 --> 00:36:25,421
Primetime, has travelled
up from Miami to join me
782
00:36:25,465 --> 00:36:27,380
in the audience.
783
00:36:27,423 --> 00:36:29,773
Alex, Primetime.
Primetime, Alex.
784
00:36:29,817 --> 00:36:31,427
Hi, it's so nice to meet you!
785
00:36:31,471 --> 00:36:33,647
I'm gratified for putting
this motherfucker in my life.
786
00:36:35,736 --> 00:36:37,346
Hassan is a busy man tonight.
787
00:36:37,390 --> 00:36:39,348
He's working as an agent
for four young wrestlers
788
00:36:39,392 --> 00:36:40,828
in two of the matches.
789
00:36:40,871 --> 00:36:42,264
- Seven minutes.
- Okay.
790
00:36:42,308 --> 00:36:45,876
They want like a 70/30,
heel, babyface kinda deal.
791
00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:48,705
He'll also be
performing in his own match.
792
00:36:48,749 --> 00:36:51,534
none other than indie upstart
793
00:36:51,578 --> 00:36:54,624
and worldwide desperado
Sami Callihan.
794
00:36:54,668 --> 00:36:56,452
So some brainbusters out.
795
00:36:56,496 --> 00:36:57,932
I can take a
brainbuster, that's fine.
796
00:36:57,975 --> 00:36:59,977
Hassan's plan is
for Sami to win,
797
00:37:00,021 --> 00:37:02,415
creating a kind of
"passing of the torch" moment
798
00:37:02,458 --> 00:37:04,591
from a veteran champion
to a new star.
799
00:37:04,634 --> 00:37:06,723
You're gonna have
ooh, aah, and oh.
800
00:37:06,767 --> 00:37:10,945
Richocet and Swerve
are gonna be the, "Aah!"
801
00:37:10,988 --> 00:37:14,514
Lawler and Jeff Cobb
will give you the, "Ooh!"
802
00:37:14,557 --> 00:37:15,732
And then we're just like, "Oh!"
803
00:37:15,776 --> 00:37:17,734
We're gonna give you the, "Oh!"
804
00:37:17,778 --> 00:37:19,867
We'll just beat each
other up and have fun.
805
00:37:19,910 --> 00:37:22,565
Shortly after arriving
though, he discovers that
806
00:37:22,609 --> 00:37:26,482
the MLW promoters have decided
it's MVP who should win.
807
00:37:26,526 --> 00:37:27,962
Did he talk to you
about the finish?
808
00:37:28,005 --> 00:37:29,093
No.
809
00:37:29,137 --> 00:37:31,792
Okay, um...
810
00:37:31,835 --> 00:37:33,620
Mute this for a second, please.
811
00:37:40,757 --> 00:37:42,846
So there's been a bit of
a change in the plan
812
00:37:42,890 --> 00:37:44,370
for this evening, right?
813
00:37:44,413 --> 00:37:48,591
Uh, originally Sami was
probably gonna come out on top,
814
00:37:48,635 --> 00:37:50,332
but now things
have had to change.
815
00:37:50,376 --> 00:37:53,509
On a night like
tonight, for this venue,
816
00:37:53,553 --> 00:37:56,947
nobody would expect Sami to beat
me, you know what I'm saying?
817
00:37:56,991 --> 00:37:58,645
There's just, you
know, a heirarchy.
818
00:37:58,688 --> 00:37:59,907
Like it's all
bullshit anyway, right?
819
00:38:01,387 --> 00:38:03,998
But it doesn't hurt me
at all to lose to Sami,
820
00:38:04,041 --> 00:38:05,826
but it does something for him.
821
00:38:05,869 --> 00:38:07,784
And you know, from a
business standpoint,
822
00:38:07,828 --> 00:38:09,612
for whatever
reason, things change,
823
00:38:09,656 --> 00:38:12,746
but that's fine because
Sami doesn't give a shit.
824
00:38:12,789 --> 00:38:15,836
And that's one more
reason that I respect him.
825
00:38:15,879 --> 00:38:18,882
He's a guy that's brought up
by a lot of the detractors of
826
00:38:18,926 --> 00:38:22,016
the current generation as
being sort of the figurehead
827
00:38:22,059 --> 00:38:23,974
of what's wrong
with the new kids.
828
00:38:25,541 --> 00:38:26,629
You know, like
"Sami and friends".
829
00:38:26,673 --> 00:38:28,370
He's become sort of
this guy that--
830
00:38:28,414 --> 00:38:30,677
Well then, count me in as
the "and friends", you know,
831
00:38:30,720 --> 00:38:33,941
'cause I like his style,
I like his intensity,
832
00:38:33,984 --> 00:38:35,769
I like his approach to it.
833
00:38:35,812 --> 00:38:38,119
And you know, like I said,
everything evolves, man.
834
00:38:38,162 --> 00:38:41,035
You know, you can't become
a relic, an antique, you know.
835
00:38:41,078 --> 00:38:43,124
Hassan has a pretty
realistic approach to
836
00:38:43,167 --> 00:38:46,127
the business of wrestling, and
doesn't take it too seriously.
837
00:38:46,170 --> 00:38:49,435
It's something he and
Sami seem to have in common.
838
00:38:49,478 --> 00:38:51,785
When you think about wrestling,
like it's fucking stupid.
839
00:38:53,221 --> 00:38:56,006
I'm a cowboy, you're
a basketball player.
840
00:38:56,050 --> 00:38:57,834
There's an undead wizard that
841
00:38:57,878 --> 00:38:59,140
strikes people with
lightning bolts.
842
00:38:59,183 --> 00:39:00,446
Right, you know.
843
00:39:00,489 --> 00:39:01,882
But we're taking
this so seriously,
844
00:39:01,925 --> 00:39:03,666
people wanna get in
fights every time.
845
00:39:03,710 --> 00:39:05,015
That's what I say all the time!
846
00:39:05,059 --> 00:39:06,626
- We're grown men!
- Yeah.
847
00:39:06,669 --> 00:39:07,844
Play-fighting in spandex!
848
00:39:07,888 --> 00:39:09,063
We're Game of Thrones.
849
00:39:09,106 --> 00:39:11,065
Relax, man! Take it easy!
850
00:39:11,108 --> 00:39:12,414
This is supposed to be fun!
851
00:39:16,636 --> 00:39:18,115
He is so agile.
852
00:39:29,736 --> 00:39:31,868
Oh, Strickland knew
it was coming!
853
00:39:31,912 --> 00:39:33,827
Strickland knew it was coming!
854
00:39:33,870 --> 00:39:35,785
Wow, like The Matrix!
855
00:39:35,829 --> 00:39:37,700
Able to get out of
the way of the kick!
856
00:39:37,744 --> 00:39:39,659
- I'm impressed, man.
- Thank you.
857
00:39:39,702 --> 00:39:41,225
I'm watching your
growth, you know.
858
00:39:41,269 --> 00:39:42,662
I appreciate it.
859
00:39:42,705 --> 00:39:45,491
I've been watching more
movies and acting more
860
00:39:45,534 --> 00:39:48,058
to try to finally impliment
that in my wrestling.
861
00:39:48,102 --> 00:39:50,060
I've been talking about the
evolution of the business.
862
00:39:50,104 --> 00:39:51,540
Right.
863
00:39:51,584 --> 00:39:54,064
The old school guys who
shit on the new school guys,
864
00:39:54,108 --> 00:39:57,067
like we used to
have the fight scenes,
865
00:39:57,111 --> 00:39:59,243
Arnold Schwarzenegger
and Sylvester Stallone.
866
00:39:59,287 --> 00:40:02,072
Now it's fucking John Wick
and Jason Statham, you know?
867
00:40:02,116 --> 00:40:03,639
That shit evolves.
868
00:40:03,683 --> 00:40:07,469
And you guys do that shit in
a single take with no wires.
869
00:40:07,513 --> 00:40:08,731
- Imagine that.
- Yeah.
870
00:40:08,775 --> 00:40:10,603
A lot of pressure!
871
00:40:10,646 --> 00:40:11,691
A lot of pressure.
872
00:40:11,734 --> 00:40:13,083
You got it, baby, you got it.
873
00:40:13,127 --> 00:40:14,520
The future's in good hands.
874
00:40:14,563 --> 00:40:15,912
Thank you so much, man.
875
00:40:26,314 --> 00:40:27,794
Suckerpunches right.
Didn't work!
876
00:40:28,969 --> 00:40:29,926
Damn.
877
00:40:29,970 --> 00:40:31,101
Connects there with a kick.
878
00:40:34,888 --> 00:40:38,544
A lot of people I'm sure would
get out of that system of
879
00:40:38,587 --> 00:40:40,763
being incarcerated and find
themselves right back in it.
880
00:40:40,807 --> 00:40:43,592
For him to kinda get out and
then become the very heart
881
00:40:43,636 --> 00:40:46,247
of this industry, that's
like all because of you.
882
00:40:55,952 --> 00:40:57,519
Pull yourself up.
883
00:40:57,563 --> 00:40:59,086
That's what you gotta do.
884
00:40:59,129 --> 00:41:01,088
Sami's a younger guy
and represents a sort of
885
00:41:01,131 --> 00:41:02,916
different generation.
886
00:41:02,959 --> 00:41:04,657
That's why it's such
a dream match show,
887
00:41:04,700 --> 00:41:07,964
because it's like the
two generations colliding.
888
00:41:08,008 --> 00:41:09,923
What in the world
is he doing here?
889
00:41:09,966 --> 00:41:12,055
Mocking MVP, okay.
890
00:41:12,099 --> 00:41:13,796
Oh!
891
00:41:36,036 --> 00:41:37,559
There are times now
when I'm in the ring
892
00:41:37,603 --> 00:41:39,648
from an emotional perspective.
893
00:41:39,692 --> 00:41:43,783
I know like man, I
really have to savour this,
894
00:41:43,826 --> 00:41:47,700
because these days
are coming to an end.
895
00:41:49,702 --> 00:41:51,355
Watching this match,
it's hard to believe
896
00:41:51,399 --> 00:41:54,141
MVP will be retiring soon.
897
00:41:54,184 --> 00:41:56,578
But at 44, he's already
achieved far more than
898
00:41:56,622 --> 00:41:59,842
one might've expected from
an ex-con from Opa-locka.
899
00:41:59,886 --> 00:42:02,105
And for all the veterans that
dump on the new generation for
900
00:42:02,149 --> 00:42:04,891
not wrestling like they used to it's clear the business is
901
00:42:04,934 --> 00:42:07,154
in good hands with talent
who are creating wrestling
902
00:42:07,197 --> 00:42:10,026
by this generation
for this generation.
903
00:42:10,070 --> 00:42:12,289
The wrestling world, especially independent wrestling,
904
00:42:12,333 --> 00:42:14,030
is only getting bigger.
905
00:42:14,074 --> 00:42:17,120
And maybe the high-flying
acrobatics get clicks,
906
00:42:17,164 --> 00:42:19,688
but the brutal combat,
the old school grappling,
907
00:42:19,732 --> 00:42:22,691
and the crowd-pleasing characters are all still there.
908
00:42:22,735 --> 00:42:25,215
From Shane, the unpredictable
golden child who wants to be
909
00:42:25,259 --> 00:42:28,610
good at everything, to
Sami, the jeans-wearing,
910
00:42:28,654 --> 00:42:31,700
spit-throwing,
street-brawling desperado,
911
00:42:31,744 --> 00:42:34,660
young wrestlers are
surprising their audiences,
912
00:42:34,703 --> 00:42:37,053
winning new fans, and
driving the evolution of
913
00:42:37,097 --> 00:42:39,099
American pro wrestling.
914
00:42:40,927 --> 00:42:42,972
And they're fortunate to have
coaches and mentors who can
915
00:42:43,016 --> 00:42:46,236
pass on their experience
and craft, and push them
916
00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:48,891
to work hard and
achieve greatness.
917
00:42:48,935 --> 00:42:50,850
Even if it is just
play-fighting in spandex.
918
00:42:52,155 --> 00:42:54,331
Throws him
in a suplex.
919
00:42:54,375 --> 00:42:56,333
Holds on for the
cover, and that's it!
920
00:42:57,770 --> 00:43:02,905
Ladies and gentlemen,
here is your winner,
921
00:43:02,949 --> 00:43:07,127
M... V... P!
922
00:43:09,129 --> 00:43:11,305
I have to say I'll be sad when MVP finally decides to
923
00:43:11,348 --> 00:43:14,134
hang up his boots, but on
the other side of the coin
924
00:43:14,177 --> 00:43:16,310
lies a bright future
full of new stars
925
00:43:16,353 --> 00:43:18,834
who strive to
burn just as bright.
926
00:43:22,969 --> 00:43:25,058
Hold on,
is this not done?
927
00:43:25,101 --> 00:43:26,712
Well, yeah.
928
00:43:28,104 --> 00:43:30,716
Passions are
running high right now.
929
00:43:33,414 --> 00:43:35,764
There's a prison guard that
helped him pursue his dream of
930
00:43:35,808 --> 00:43:37,374
being a pro wrestler.
931
00:43:37,418 --> 00:43:38,375
We understand that
prison guard is actually
932
00:43:38,419 --> 00:43:40,029
in attendance here tonight.
933
00:43:43,293 --> 00:43:45,687
Callihan's checking to make sur all of his teeth are still in.
934
00:43:45,731 --> 00:43:47,776
Yeah, and it's not the front
that he's gotta worry about,
935
00:43:47,820 --> 00:43:49,125
it's the wisdom teeth.