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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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00:02:06,996 --> 00:02:09,826
♪ 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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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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00:04:01,806 --> 00:04:03,766
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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00:04:10,902 --> 00:04:14,562
I would wash your mouth piece.
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00:04:14,602 --> 00:04:16,432
I'm on steroids there, man.
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00:04:16,473 --> 00:04:17,783
I'm on the vitamin T heavy.
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00:04:19,737 --> 00:04:21,037
Antonio Banks certainly has
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00:04:21,086 --> 00:04:22,516
the athletic ability to become
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00:04:22,566 --> 00:04:24,566
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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00:04:27,049 --> 00:04:29,919
Back in the day, it was all
about just getting bigger.
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00:04:29,965 --> 00:04:33,395
I didn't really understand
until later on that the steroids
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00:04:33,447 --> 00:04:35,357
actually help with recovery.
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The problem is most
professional wrestlers,
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00:04:37,364 --> 00:04:40,414
myself included back then, we
didn't use them, we abused them.
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00:04:40,454 --> 00:04:43,504
Antonio Banks trying to take
the legs out from CM Punk,
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00:04:43,544 --> 00:04:45,984
and connects with that
elbow which sends him down.
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00:04:46,024 --> 00:04:49,384
What lessons do you think this
next generation has learned
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00:04:49,419 --> 00:04:50,769
from your generation?
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00:04:50,812 --> 00:04:52,902
I think the main two things
I would have to say
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is the passion.
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00:04:54,555 --> 00:04:56,765
You can't be a
fly-by-night guy and do this.
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00:04:56,818 --> 00:05:00,388
The camaraderie, the brotherhood
of pro wrestling still maintains
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00:05:00,430 --> 00:05:02,610
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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00:05:14,488 --> 00:05:16,618
with no real rhyme
or reason to it.
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There's a story to tell,
a psychology, to...
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00:05:19,623 --> 00:05:22,413
to solicit a certain
reaction from the fans.
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That's the foundation
of what we do.
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00:05:24,541 --> 00:05:26,151
You just-- You gotta
leave the fans wanting more.
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"Leave 'em wanting more"
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00:05:27,936 --> 00:05:29,936
is something Hassan
knows all about.
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00:05:29,981 --> 00:05:32,161
Like many fans, I was shocked
when after four years with
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00:05:32,201 --> 00:05:36,161
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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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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00:06:18,073 --> 00:06:19,943
and I could hear
the lion's roar.
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00:06:19,988 --> 00:06:22,428
"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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00:06:27,517 --> 00:06:29,477
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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00:06:35,220 --> 00:06:37,440
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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00:06:46,884 --> 00:06:48,934
I was waiting for the
prison guard to kick my bunk.
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00:06:48,973 --> 00:06:50,933
"Inmate, get up! Wake up!"
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00:06:50,975 --> 00:06:53,455
I went, "Oh! Ah damn,
it was all a dream."
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I remember Booker T said,
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00:06:55,197 --> 00:06:58,717
"Nah, bro, ain't nobody gonna
kick your bunk. You wide awake."
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00:07:02,509 --> 00:07:05,689
Hassan Assad was born Alvin
Burke Jr. and grew up in Miami
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00:07:05,729 --> 00:07:07,729
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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00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,180
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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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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00:08:14,581 --> 00:08:17,151
They would tell my mom,
I'd get my ass kicked.
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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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00:08:36,167 --> 00:08:38,127
Yeah, that was my first back
bump, off the top of the cage!
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00:08:40,041 --> 00:08:42,571
You said that you were a
bad guy at a certain point.
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00:08:42,609 --> 00:08:44,049
Yeah.
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00:08:44,088 --> 00:08:45,958
But from the stories here,
you just sound like a kid
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that's hyperactive, having fun.
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00:08:48,049 --> 00:08:52,139
When was that transition
point for you, do you think?
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00:08:52,183 --> 00:08:55,233
Fourteen is where I
started to turn the corner.
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00:08:55,273 --> 00:08:57,323
It went from just, you know,
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00:08:57,362 --> 00:09:00,632
doing stupid little mischievous
things to, you know,
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00:09:00,670 --> 00:09:04,110
grand theft auto,
and then armed robbery.
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00:09:04,152 --> 00:09:06,022
And then that's when
the gang shit came in,
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00:09:06,067 --> 00:09:08,587
around 15, the gunplay
and all that kind of shit.
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00:09:08,635 --> 00:09:11,195
So it happened fast, man, 14.
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00:09:11,246 --> 00:09:14,116
By 15, I did 6-and-a-half
months in the juvenile program,
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00:09:14,162 --> 00:09:17,082
and by 16 I was
facing life in prison.
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00:09:20,255 --> 00:09:21,945
Right down here in the street,
they used to sell drugs
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00:09:21,996 --> 00:09:23,386
all through here.
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00:09:23,432 --> 00:09:25,612
But I saw little kids,
smaller than me,
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00:09:25,652 --> 00:09:28,052
they had to've been
like kindergarten.
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00:09:28,089 --> 00:09:30,699
The one boy had some leaves,
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00:09:30,744 --> 00:09:33,014
and the other boy
had some little pebbles,
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00:09:33,050 --> 00:09:35,360
and they were playing a
drug transaction, you know.
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00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,750
So what future do
you have, you know?
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00:09:40,362 --> 00:09:43,282
Guy we're about to meet,
Bernard, we call him Bert.
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00:09:43,321 --> 00:09:44,801
Left.
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00:09:44,845 --> 00:09:46,105
He's my big brother, you know.
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00:09:46,150 --> 00:09:48,150
He's the dude who kinda
raised me up out here.
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00:09:51,286 --> 00:09:53,636
So this is the neighbourhood
you moved to after?
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00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:56,290
Yeah, from those
apartments to here.
220
00:09:56,334 --> 00:09:58,694
- That was my house.
- Right there.
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00:09:58,728 --> 00:10:01,638
My younger brother, Brad,
state champion wrestler.
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00:10:01,688 --> 00:10:03,248
I did amateur wrestling briefly,
223
00:10:03,298 --> 00:10:04,388
but then I wanted
to be an asshole.
224
00:10:04,429 --> 00:10:06,429
I didn't wanna be an athlete.
225
00:10:06,475 --> 00:10:08,735
But at the end, I turned out
to be a champion wrestler.
226
00:10:08,782 --> 00:10:10,352
Yeah, you're the only guy
who's got gold in Japan.
227
00:10:10,392 --> 00:10:12,922
Yeah, right?
228
00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:14,960
Bert!
229
00:10:15,005 --> 00:10:17,265
Man, don't be camera shy, man.
230
00:10:17,312 --> 00:10:18,572
- Hi. Damian.
- Damian, Bert.
231
00:10:18,618 --> 00:10:19,968
- Bert, this is Damian.
- Nice to meet you.
232
00:10:20,010 --> 00:10:21,930
What was it about him
that made you wanna
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00:10:21,969 --> 00:10:23,139
take him under your wing?
234
00:10:23,187 --> 00:10:24,837
Just him being your
neighbour, or is it...
235
00:10:24,885 --> 00:10:26,275
Not just that.
236
00:10:26,321 --> 00:10:28,111
I like the fact that he
always asks questions,
237
00:10:28,149 --> 00:10:30,149
always thinking, mind going.
238
00:10:30,194 --> 00:10:33,114
Always had big dreams
as a young kid, you know.
239
00:10:33,154 --> 00:10:35,904
What did you think when
he got locked up for that,
240
00:10:35,939 --> 00:10:37,249
you know, long bit?
241
00:10:37,288 --> 00:10:38,328
That was hurtful.
242
00:10:38,376 --> 00:10:39,986
That hurt me really bad, man.
243
00:10:40,030 --> 00:10:41,820
Just devastating.
244
00:10:41,858 --> 00:10:44,768
The damnest thing about
it is I chose that life.
245
00:10:44,818 --> 00:10:46,378
I didn't have to live
that life, you know,
246
00:10:46,428 --> 00:10:48,298
but something drew me to it.
247
00:10:48,343 --> 00:10:50,823
Just growing up here in
Miami, I wanted that life.
248
00:10:50,867 --> 00:10:52,297
I liked the crimes.
249
00:10:52,347 --> 00:10:55,787
So many guys from around here
just... it's almost like
250
00:10:55,829 --> 00:10:57,829
going to prison was a
rite of passge, you know.
251
00:10:57,874 --> 00:10:59,054
Unfortunately.
252
00:10:59,093 --> 00:11:00,363
You're just
waiting for your turn.
253
00:11:02,357 --> 00:11:04,747
I kinda wanted to
go to the Navy,
254
00:11:04,794 --> 00:11:08,844
and my mom was really
into like superstition.
255
00:11:08,885 --> 00:11:11,925
There was this lady that
she just called "The Lady".
256
00:11:11,975 --> 00:11:15,755
The Lady told her some some very
big things were about to happen
257
00:11:15,805 --> 00:11:19,455
in my life, and that she
saw a boat in my future.
258
00:11:19,504 --> 00:11:21,294
A ship, a big ship.
259
00:11:21,332 --> 00:11:22,812
Oh, I'm going to the Navy!
260
00:11:22,856 --> 00:11:24,376
That must mean the Navy, yeah!
261
00:11:24,422 --> 00:11:26,822
And then I go to prison for
robbing a cruise ship, right?
262
00:11:31,038 --> 00:11:33,738
When he was 16, Alvin Burke Jr. and three accomplices
263
00:11:33,780 --> 00:11:36,740
committed armed robbery
on a casino cruise ship.
264
00:11:36,783 --> 00:11:38,483
At the end of the night, the
group of teenagers appeared
265
00:11:38,523 --> 00:11:41,313
from hiding, held up the
staff with loaded shotguns,
266
00:11:41,352 --> 00:11:44,272
and escaped with
over $80,000 in cash.
267
00:11:45,922 --> 00:11:50,142
One dude got caught,
and he ratted everybody out.
268
00:11:50,187 --> 00:11:52,537
My father told me
to turn myself in.
269
00:11:52,581 --> 00:11:54,451
I was on my way to Mexico.
270
00:11:54,496 --> 00:11:56,756
He's like, "Man, you're 16.
271
00:11:56,803 --> 00:11:58,763
What is it, armed robbery case?
You're gonna get boot camp.
272
00:11:58,805 --> 00:12:00,935
Just come get the shit
over with, you know."
273
00:12:00,981 --> 00:12:02,201
Well, all the
people in the casino,
274
00:12:02,243 --> 00:12:03,553
we locked them in a closet.
275
00:12:03,592 --> 00:12:05,942
I had no idea that in
the state of Florida,
276
00:12:05,986 --> 00:12:07,336
it's considered kidnapping.
277
00:12:07,378 --> 00:12:09,118
And it was nine people?
278
00:12:09,163 --> 00:12:11,513
- Ten with the janitor.
- Ten with the janitor.
279
00:12:13,167 --> 00:12:15,207
And that's why I ended up with
an 18-and-a-half year sentence.
280
00:12:16,474 --> 00:12:19,094
Alvin ended up serving
9-and-a-half years in prison,
281
00:12:19,129 --> 00:12:21,479
where he changed his
name to Hassan Assad.
282
00:12:21,523 --> 00:12:24,273
He spent his final year here
at the Opa-locka Work Release
283
00:12:24,308 --> 00:12:26,918
Center, just a few blocks
away from his childhood home.
284
00:12:28,835 --> 00:12:31,395
This is where his wrestling story begins with a prison guar
285
00:12:31,446 --> 00:12:34,796
named Daryl Davis, who was
also a local Miami wrestler
286
00:12:34,841 --> 00:12:36,891
known in the ring as Primetime.
287
00:12:36,930 --> 00:12:38,240
Well, this is it.
288
00:12:38,279 --> 00:12:40,319
It's been a while since
I've been here, man.
289
00:12:40,368 --> 00:12:42,368
How long did you live here?
290
00:12:42,413 --> 00:12:44,073
About a year.
291
00:12:44,111 --> 00:12:45,331
I put in for a
transfer to come here
292
00:12:45,373 --> 00:12:47,163
when I got regular
work release status.
293
00:12:47,201 --> 00:12:48,861
And then you met fate.
294
00:12:48,898 --> 00:12:50,288
Yeah.
295
00:12:50,334 --> 00:12:51,904
So Prime, do you remember
when he showed up here?
296
00:12:51,945 --> 00:12:53,945
Yeah, I was the one that
had to sign y'all guys out.
297
00:12:53,990 --> 00:12:55,170
Right, in the morning, yeah.
298
00:12:55,209 --> 00:12:57,209
He would bring in VHS tapes
299
00:12:57,254 --> 00:12:59,434
of the pay-per-views
and indie shows.
300
00:12:59,474 --> 00:13:01,434
I remember the guys
would talk like,
301
00:13:01,476 --> 00:13:03,256
"Hey man, don't fuck
with Officer Davis, man.
302
00:13:03,304 --> 00:13:05,524
He know that wrasslin' shit,
man, he'll hit your ass up."
303
00:13:06,873 --> 00:13:10,273
I remember one day
asking Officer Davis,
304
00:13:10,311 --> 00:13:12,271
"Hey man, how y'all do that shit
305
00:13:12,313 --> 00:13:14,183
without really breaking
each other's necks, man?
306
00:13:14,228 --> 00:13:16,618
What's the real deal
with that shit?"
307
00:13:16,665 --> 00:13:19,145
And he gave me a book
by King Kong Bundy about
308
00:13:19,189 --> 00:13:21,279
how to be a pro wrestler,
about life on the road...
309
00:13:22,540 --> 00:13:24,110
- I gave it back to you, man.
- No.
310
00:13:24,151 --> 00:13:25,631
I gave it back to
you the next day!
311
00:13:25,674 --> 00:13:27,634
- No.
- Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
312
00:13:27,676 --> 00:13:29,626
Oh, okay.
313
00:13:29,678 --> 00:13:31,108
But that's how we hit it off.
314
00:13:31,158 --> 00:13:32,508
He goes, "Damn, you read
that quick. You serious, huh?"
315
00:13:32,550 --> 00:13:34,250
I said, "Well,
I'm just curious."
316
00:13:34,291 --> 00:13:37,121
So he said, "I'm gonna start
my won independent promotion,
317
00:13:37,164 --> 00:13:39,214
so when you get out, if you
wanna learn, I'll teach you."
318
00:13:39,253 --> 00:13:42,043
Well shit, I'm getting out
of prison soon, I need a hobby.
319
00:13:42,082 --> 00:13:43,522
Yeah, alright, yeah.
320
00:13:43,561 --> 00:13:45,431
Do you remember when he
called you once he was out?
321
00:13:45,476 --> 00:13:47,166
- He called me.
- Really?
322
00:13:47,217 --> 00:13:49,477
I mean, you can look at
certain guys and say...
323
00:13:49,524 --> 00:13:51,314
and say, "Man, he
ain't gonna make it,"
324
00:13:51,352 --> 00:13:52,922
so why even take his money
325
00:13:52,962 --> 00:13:55,622
or why even just
waste your time with him?
326
00:13:55,660 --> 00:13:58,190
With him, he would ask so
many goddamn questions.
327
00:13:58,228 --> 00:14:00,228
You know, especially here.
328
00:14:00,274 --> 00:14:02,934
That's when you know
okay, this guy's serious.
329
00:14:02,972 --> 00:14:05,502
He got a taste of the
ring, and then I mean,
330
00:14:05,540 --> 00:14:08,940
you know, like this guy,
he just became, you know...
331
00:14:08,978 --> 00:14:11,678
crazy with it, where
this shit becomes a drug.
332
00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:12,810
Yeah.
333
00:14:12,852 --> 00:14:15,032
And once you get
addicted to it, man,
334
00:14:15,071 --> 00:14:17,421
you just wanna keep going
further and further and further.
335
00:14:17,465 --> 00:14:19,895
And then he went the
furthest you can go.
336
00:14:22,296 --> 00:14:24,166
For all the shit that
I've done, you know,
337
00:14:24,211 --> 00:14:25,691
wrestling saved my life.
338
00:14:25,734 --> 00:14:28,084
And I've had this trip through
professional wrestling
339
00:14:28,128 --> 00:14:30,388
to accomplish things that
I never thought I'd do.
340
00:14:30,434 --> 00:14:34,484
And looking back now, I'm
playing with the house's money.
341
00:14:34,525 --> 00:14:37,915
If I got convicted
for all the shit I did,
342
00:14:37,964 --> 00:14:39,624
I'd be under death row.
343
00:14:53,196 --> 00:14:55,456
We're at one of Hassan's
first wrestling schools,
344
00:14:55,503 --> 00:14:57,513
CZW in Fort Lauderdale.
345
00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:01,640
Alright, let me...
346
00:15:04,468 --> 00:15:05,688
Hey, man.
347
00:15:05,730 --> 00:15:07,430
Pablo!
348
00:15:07,471 --> 00:15:09,041
Where's MVP?
349
00:15:09,082 --> 00:15:10,652
I couldn't find no
MVPs, they were taken.
350
00:15:10,692 --> 00:15:12,172
You got fucking Charlie Hoss.
351
00:15:12,215 --> 00:15:14,125
You gotta rectify that, man.
That's not right.
352
00:15:14,174 --> 00:15:16,094
He's fired. You're fired.
353
00:15:16,132 --> 00:15:18,052
No, you stand over there
and start doing squats.
354
00:15:18,091 --> 00:15:19,441
I'll get back to
you in about an hour.
355
00:15:25,315 --> 00:15:27,485
One, two, three!
356
00:15:30,364 --> 00:15:33,244
One of the reason Hassan loves coming back to visit CZW is tha
357
00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:35,460
his old wrestling
coaches are still here,
358
00:15:35,499 --> 00:15:37,629
training young men and women in the ring and running their own
359
00:15:37,675 --> 00:15:39,065
independent promotion.
360
00:15:39,112 --> 00:15:40,642
- Dave Johnson.
- Nice to meet you.
361
00:15:40,678 --> 00:15:45,728
If Primetime introduced me
to the business, Dave gave me
362
00:15:45,770 --> 00:15:48,030
the bumps and the bruises
of the business, you know.
363
00:15:48,077 --> 00:15:50,337
Like Dave was the
enforcer down here.
364
00:15:50,384 --> 00:15:51,734
It's a tough business, it's...
365
00:15:51,776 --> 00:15:52,946
It used to be.
366
00:15:54,388 --> 00:15:56,088
You don't like where it's gone?
367
00:15:56,129 --> 00:15:58,259
Uh, you know,
everything evolves.
368
00:15:58,305 --> 00:15:59,305
Yeah.
369
00:15:59,349 --> 00:16:00,519
There's different styles.
370
00:16:00,568 --> 00:16:02,438
The new school, the old school.
371
00:16:02,483 --> 00:16:04,793
You know, but I mean, now
you don't earn your keep.
372
00:16:04,833 --> 00:16:06,623
You just pay your gym dues.
373
00:16:06,661 --> 00:16:08,531
Just pay your gym
dues, you know?
374
00:16:08,576 --> 00:16:10,226
It sucks to say.
375
00:16:10,273 --> 00:16:12,413
I get the feeling that these coaches may be the kind of vets
376
00:16:12,449 --> 00:16:14,449
who despair at
the new generation
377
00:16:14,495 --> 00:16:16,315
and the shift in the industry.
378
00:16:16,366 --> 00:16:18,456
We've been a business
now for over 14 years.
379
00:16:18,499 --> 00:16:22,019
Well, in that 14 years, how
has running a school changed?
380
00:16:22,068 --> 00:16:24,238
Well, I can tell you how it's
changed over in the last...
381
00:16:24,287 --> 00:16:26,157
since '89 when I
went to Molenko's.
382
00:16:26,202 --> 00:16:29,292
Everybody seem to have
been training, working out.
383
00:16:29,336 --> 00:16:31,466
It seems like the guys just
don't train like they used to.
384
00:16:31,512 --> 00:16:34,252
Prime was saying like from the
first moment he started working
385
00:16:34,297 --> 00:16:37,127
with MVP, he knew
that he had something.
386
00:16:37,170 --> 00:16:38,820
Even before that, you said
you knew he had something.
387
00:16:38,867 --> 00:16:40,347
Did you see that?
388
00:16:40,390 --> 00:16:41,650
Yes, I'd seen it right away.
389
00:16:41,696 --> 00:16:43,176
I didn't tell him.
I was tough on him.
390
00:16:43,219 --> 00:16:44,699
I told everybody else.
391
00:16:44,742 --> 00:16:46,792
It seems like that's an
important part of this business,
392
00:16:46,831 --> 00:16:49,621
is giving it to someone as hard
as you can at first to see
393
00:16:49,660 --> 00:16:52,580
if they have the mettle
to kind of stick around.
394
00:16:52,620 --> 00:16:55,060
Dave will tell you, I mean,
these guys back in the day,
395
00:16:55,101 --> 00:16:56,541
they'd beat the
shit out your ass.
396
00:16:56,580 --> 00:16:59,110
The training was much
more harder than this.
397
00:16:59,148 --> 00:17:02,148
You ask Hassan what
we put his ass through.
398
00:17:02,195 --> 00:17:04,195
They would press
charges on us right now
399
00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:05,630
if we were to do what we did.
400
00:17:05,676 --> 00:17:07,156
Ask him what we did to him.
401
00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:08,720
Now you'd be
afraid of these guys
402
00:17:08,766 --> 00:17:10,586
gonna fall out and drop dead.
403
00:17:10,638 --> 00:17:13,208
Sometimes we're getting guys
that are close to 40 years old
404
00:17:13,249 --> 00:17:15,469
and they're just
starting, you know?
405
00:17:15,512 --> 00:17:18,302
40 years old, you're supposed
to be wrapping it up, you know.
406
00:17:18,341 --> 00:17:20,171
So you're saying it's
not too late for me?
407
00:17:20,213 --> 00:17:21,613
It's not too late,
today's the day.
408
00:17:21,649 --> 00:17:23,689
- Today's the day!
- Today's the day!
409
00:17:23,738 --> 00:17:26,478
If you wanna be a pro
wrestling superstar,
410
00:17:26,523 --> 00:17:28,483
I can tell you right now
you're not working hard enough.
411
00:17:28,525 --> 00:17:29,785
I don't even know you,
412
00:17:29,831 --> 00:17:31,571
I can tell you're not
working hard enough.
413
00:17:31,615 --> 00:17:33,525
You gotta be
honest with yourselves.
414
00:17:33,574 --> 00:17:34,794
Did you raise your hand 'cause
415
00:17:34,836 --> 00:17:36,186
you wanna be a
professional wrestler?
416
00:17:37,230 --> 00:17:38,670
How many people in pro
wrestling look like you?
417
00:17:41,147 --> 00:17:42,407
What are you doing about that?
418
00:17:44,150 --> 00:17:45,760
Are you being
honest with yourself?
419
00:17:48,154 --> 00:17:49,424
No, with yourself.
420
00:17:50,808 --> 00:17:52,198
Okay.
421
00:17:52,245 --> 00:17:54,285
If you wanna be a
professional wrestler,
422
00:17:54,334 --> 00:17:58,514
you have to be
consumed with pro wrestling.
423
00:17:58,555 --> 00:18:00,505
But I do have some good news.
424
00:18:00,557 --> 00:18:03,727
It's easier to get hired
now than it's ever been.
425
00:18:03,778 --> 00:18:06,778
Kevin Owens, a fat
guy in a t-shirt,
426
00:18:06,824 --> 00:18:09,574
beat John Cena, Superman.
427
00:18:09,610 --> 00:18:11,570
That means there's
been a philosophy change.
428
00:18:11,612 --> 00:18:13,792
So if you're a chubby
dude in a sweatshirt,
429
00:18:13,831 --> 00:18:15,701
there's a chance.
430
00:18:15,746 --> 00:18:17,746
But do you have
Kevin Owens' charisma?
431
00:18:17,792 --> 00:18:20,102
Be real with yourself and
your expectations of yourself.
432
00:18:42,208 --> 00:18:44,338
Shane "Swerve"
Strickland is a 28-year-old
433
00:18:44,384 --> 00:18:47,214
wrestler who grew up
watching MVP on TV,
434
00:18:47,256 --> 00:18:49,776
and is a perfect example of the changing face of wrestling.
435
00:18:52,696 --> 00:18:55,436
In less than a year, he's gone from a virtual unknown to one o
436
00:18:55,482 --> 00:18:58,492
the most recognizable and in-demand wrestlers on the indi
437
00:18:58,528 --> 00:19:02,318
circuit, doing shows all over
North America and the world.
438
00:19:02,358 --> 00:19:05,448
He's also the championship belt holder here at Defy Wrestling
439
00:19:05,492 --> 00:19:07,622
in Seattle, and is
famous for his ability
440
00:19:07,668 --> 00:19:09,448
to seamlessly mix
wrestling styles.
441
00:19:12,281 --> 00:19:14,371
You're bringing in the
lucha, the high flying,
442
00:19:14,414 --> 00:19:16,984
but you're also doing like
Japanese strong style
443
00:19:17,025 --> 00:19:18,505
that everyone loves too,
and then there's also like
444
00:19:18,548 --> 00:19:20,328
the American influence.
445
00:19:20,376 --> 00:19:22,806
Is that typified by this
generation that you're part of?
446
00:19:22,857 --> 00:19:25,337
Yeah, it definitely is, because
like everything has been
447
00:19:25,381 --> 00:19:26,691
pushed forward so much now.
448
00:19:26,730 --> 00:19:28,990
The limit's been,
like, well surpassed.
449
00:19:29,037 --> 00:19:31,517
Everybody's like really skilled
and really well rounded
450
00:19:31,561 --> 00:19:33,961
in what they do, and
that's what I try to,
451
00:19:33,998 --> 00:19:35,698
like, be at the forefront of.
452
00:19:35,739 --> 00:19:39,699
I was the one that really tried
to just master or get as...
453
00:19:39,743 --> 00:19:42,273
maybe like a B+
in every category.
454
00:19:42,311 --> 00:19:46,011
You gotta be good at
everything, every style,
455
00:19:46,054 --> 00:19:48,404
like literally doing every
single style of wrestling
456
00:19:48,448 --> 00:19:49,748
in a matter of a week.
457
00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,240
There are the detractors
of what's happening
458
00:19:55,281 --> 00:19:57,021
in wrestling right now,
and it tends to be people
459
00:19:57,065 --> 00:19:58,585
that are from an
older generation.
460
00:19:58,632 --> 00:20:00,112
Yep.
461
00:20:00,155 --> 00:20:02,675
Why do you think there is such
resistance to this sort of
462
00:20:02,723 --> 00:20:05,683
new evolution of
wrestling that's happening?
463
00:20:05,726 --> 00:20:07,596
I feel like they only see
the actual aspects of wrestling
464
00:20:07,641 --> 00:20:08,731
that go viral.
465
00:20:08,772 --> 00:20:10,472
They just see like
the hot new thing.
466
00:20:10,513 --> 00:20:13,393
They see Joey Janela
falling off of a building.
467
00:20:13,429 --> 00:20:15,519
You know, they see the Lucha
Underground when people are
468
00:20:15,562 --> 00:20:17,092
falling through glass.
469
00:20:17,128 --> 00:20:18,258
That's what catches people's
attention 'cause it's like...
470
00:20:18,304 --> 00:20:19,874
...it's front page news.
471
00:20:22,656 --> 00:20:25,826
Oh!
472
00:20:32,405 --> 00:20:33,925
Do you think it's
a more exciting time
473
00:20:33,971 --> 00:20:36,841
to be a wrestler now than say
five years ago or something?
474
00:20:36,887 --> 00:20:39,587
Yes, and I feel like a lot of
the guys who've been doing this
475
00:20:39,629 --> 00:20:43,019
for like 15, 12 to 15 years,
they kind of like don't like
476
00:20:43,067 --> 00:20:46,677
that because too many guys
get opportunities very quickly.
477
00:20:56,690 --> 00:20:58,300
There's no gatekeepers now.
478
00:20:58,344 --> 00:20:59,874
The fences are down.
479
00:20:59,910 --> 00:21:02,610
If you're talented and if you
can connect with an audience,
480
00:21:02,652 --> 00:21:05,922
you don't need the industry
leader to market you
481
00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:07,660
and to put you in a place
and be successful.
482
00:21:07,701 --> 00:21:11,311
Now in this information age,
you can create your own market.
483
00:21:11,357 --> 00:21:13,397
As an old school
traditionalist, you know,
484
00:21:13,446 --> 00:21:15,536
I think it allows some
people in the business that,
485
00:21:15,578 --> 00:21:17,318
you know, from my
old school mentality,
486
00:21:17,363 --> 00:21:18,933
don't belong in the business.
487
00:21:18,973 --> 00:21:21,673
But then that's an
outdated thinking.
488
00:21:21,715 --> 00:21:23,405
You know, like,
"It's our business.
489
00:21:23,456 --> 00:21:24,586
You don't belong here, kid."
490
00:21:24,631 --> 00:21:26,151
"Bullshit.
491
00:21:26,197 --> 00:21:28,977
I got-- I got a YouTube channel
with 100,000 subscribers.
492
00:21:29,026 --> 00:21:30,676
What do you got?"
493
00:21:30,724 --> 00:21:32,034
"Well, I gotta wait on
this guy to call me
494
00:21:32,073 --> 00:21:33,123
and book me on this show."
495
00:21:33,161 --> 00:21:34,731
"Oh, okay," you know.
496
00:21:36,817 --> 00:21:38,727
One of the most
successful wrestlers on
497
00:21:38,775 --> 00:21:41,335
the independent scene is
30-year-old Sami Callihan.
498
00:21:41,387 --> 00:21:44,777
Sami actually made it to a top
wrestling promotion in 2012,
499
00:21:44,825 --> 00:21:47,735
and like MVP, after a
few years felt unsatisfied
500
00:21:47,784 --> 00:21:49,574
and requested his release.
501
00:21:49,612 --> 00:21:51,142
How high is the ropes here?
502
00:21:51,179 --> 00:21:52,439
- Are they like...
- Yeah.
503
00:21:52,485 --> 00:21:54,045
- Like normal?
- Yeah, normal I'd say.
504
00:21:55,836 --> 00:21:58,486
In Sami's case, he felt he
was being under-utilized,
505
00:21:58,534 --> 00:22:00,884
and believed he could achieve
more on the indie circuit,
506
00:22:00,928 --> 00:22:04,058
a move that would've been
career suicide 10 years ago.
507
00:22:04,105 --> 00:22:06,585
You left there, and
you're bigger now than ever.
508
00:22:06,629 --> 00:22:07,719
Yeah.
509
00:22:07,761 --> 00:22:08,941
It's almost like
that spurred you on.
510
00:22:08,979 --> 00:22:10,719
Oh yeah, man, it like...
it made me cool.
511
00:22:10,764 --> 00:22:12,814
Like it works into the
whole desperado character.
512
00:22:12,853 --> 00:22:15,553
I'm not complacent
sitting around performers
513
00:22:15,595 --> 00:22:17,895
that are collecting a
really good paycheque.
514
00:22:17,945 --> 00:22:19,335
I wanna work for my money.
515
00:22:19,381 --> 00:22:21,951
I didn't stick around and
like try to wait it out.
516
00:22:21,992 --> 00:22:24,472
I knew I was worth more than
I was being used at events,
517
00:22:24,517 --> 00:22:25,997
so I wanted to rock the show.
518
00:22:28,825 --> 00:22:31,385
Sami's success is well known,
but not everyone's a fan.
519
00:22:36,616 --> 00:22:39,006
When veterans of the industry
talk about the cocky new breed
520
00:22:39,053 --> 00:22:41,533
of indie wrestlers,
they often use the phrase
521
00:22:41,577 --> 00:22:43,007
"Sami and friends".
522
00:22:51,979 --> 00:22:54,809
Sami's this guy that a lot
of people have labelled,
523
00:22:54,851 --> 00:22:56,681
you know, even in a
negative sense sometimes,
524
00:22:56,723 --> 00:22:59,033
when people are talking shit,
like "Sami and friends".
525
00:22:59,073 --> 00:23:00,553
Yeah.
526
00:23:00,596 --> 00:23:03,596
You know, like this generation
of wrestlers being like...
527
00:23:03,643 --> 00:23:05,653
you know, led by or
inspired by Sami.
528
00:23:07,124 --> 00:23:08,874
There's always going to be
that negative back push
529
00:23:08,909 --> 00:23:10,079
when you're successful.
530
00:23:18,048 --> 00:23:20,878
And whether you like it or
not, Sami's been successful.
531
00:23:20,921 --> 00:23:22,051
Oh yeah.
532
00:23:26,970 --> 00:23:27,930
That's... yeah.
533
00:23:30,713 --> 00:23:32,243
And Sami's just
like of like a leader.
534
00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,500
He has a lot of influence from
a lot of talented young guys
535
00:23:34,543 --> 00:23:35,503
in the business.
536
00:23:37,285 --> 00:23:38,895
Oh!
537
00:23:38,939 --> 00:23:41,459
When you're in demand like Sami
too, there's gonna be issues.
538
00:23:41,507 --> 00:23:43,117
One, two, three!
539
00:23:47,121 --> 00:23:51,781
The winner of
Sami Callihan!
540
00:23:55,608 --> 00:23:58,178
You know, I remember
when I was coming up,
541
00:23:58,219 --> 00:24:02,879
it really wasn't possible
to be an unknown indie guy
542
00:24:02,919 --> 00:24:04,569
and make a living.
543
00:24:04,617 --> 00:24:06,617
- Mm-hmm.
- And now it is.
544
00:24:06,662 --> 00:24:08,582
You know, you can
work domestically
545
00:24:08,621 --> 00:24:10,801
and internationally, and maybe
you're not gonna get rich,
546
00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:12,670
but you're a
professional wrestler.
547
00:24:17,151 --> 00:24:20,021
As a professional wrestler who's
had... I couldn't even tell you
548
00:24:20,067 --> 00:24:23,937
how many concussions, I don't
know, all of these people
549
00:24:23,984 --> 00:24:28,604
who had severe CTE, they
all had the same symptoms.
550
00:24:28,641 --> 00:24:30,861
It scares me sometimes
to think like now,
551
00:24:30,904 --> 00:24:34,124
what's gonna happen
to me in 15, 20 years?
552
00:24:34,168 --> 00:24:35,948
'Cause you know,
I joke about it,
553
00:24:35,996 --> 00:24:39,166
but dude, sometimes
mid-sentence I'll be...
554
00:24:39,216 --> 00:24:41,126
you know, what
was I just saying?
555
00:24:41,175 --> 00:24:43,305
Does that fear play
into part of the reason
556
00:24:43,351 --> 00:24:45,051
that you wanna kinda
step away from this?
557
00:24:45,092 --> 00:24:48,622
Yeah, I mean, I've always
said I wanna walk away,
558
00:24:48,661 --> 00:24:50,271
I don't wanna limp away.
559
00:24:50,314 --> 00:24:51,844
And I had a doctor once
tell me, it was funny.
560
00:24:51,881 --> 00:24:55,061
She said, "You guys always
look great on the outside,
561
00:24:55,102 --> 00:24:56,802
but you're a mess inside."
562
00:25:03,327 --> 00:25:05,677
For the past few years,
MVP has not been signed to
563
00:25:05,721 --> 00:25:07,641
any major wrestling
organizations.
564
00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:09,330
- Good to see you, bro.
- How was your trip?
565
00:25:09,377 --> 00:25:11,157
Instead, he freelances
with independent promotions
566
00:25:11,205 --> 00:25:12,725
all over the United States.
567
00:25:12,772 --> 00:25:15,342
Some big, some... not so big.
568
00:25:18,081 --> 00:25:19,611
And then you kind of hold it
not like you're ripping
569
00:25:19,648 --> 00:25:21,038
her head off, but
a little bit hard,
570
00:25:21,084 --> 00:25:22,224
'cause if not she'll
start to wiggle around.
571
00:25:22,259 --> 00:25:23,609
- Okay.
- Yep.
572
00:25:26,089 --> 00:25:29,009
It is still very much a
privilege and an honour
573
00:25:29,049 --> 00:25:31,659
to perform in a wrestling ring.
574
00:25:31,704 --> 00:25:33,234
We'll just walk and talk, man.
575
00:25:33,270 --> 00:25:36,320
When people pay money because
they wanna see you perform,
576
00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:37,800
that's a huge honour.
577
00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:40,280
And I recognize it,
because at any given time,
578
00:25:40,321 --> 00:25:42,371
you know,
it could be over like that.
579
00:25:42,410 --> 00:25:44,370
You know, blow out a knee, land
on your head and you become
580
00:25:44,412 --> 00:25:46,982
a quadriplegic, or you
know, something terrible.
581
00:25:47,023 --> 00:25:48,203
How old are you?
582
00:25:48,242 --> 00:25:49,722
- 45.
- 45?
583
00:25:49,765 --> 00:25:51,805
I'll be 44 in about 3 weeks.
584
00:25:51,854 --> 00:25:54,204
I'm right there with you, man.
585
00:25:56,163 --> 00:25:58,213
Anything... Any
injuries or anything?
586
00:25:58,252 --> 00:26:00,822
Uh, this shoulder right
here, if you can see,
587
00:26:00,863 --> 00:26:01,953
that's about as high
as I can pick it up.
588
00:26:01,995 --> 00:26:03,255
Okay.
589
00:26:03,300 --> 00:26:04,870
Physically it's a day
by day thing, you know.
590
00:26:04,911 --> 00:26:07,701
There are some days
when man, I feel great!
591
00:26:07,740 --> 00:26:09,610
And there are some days
when my knee's bothering me,
592
00:26:09,655 --> 00:26:12,395
or maybe the previous weekend I
got suplexed on a pile of chairs
593
00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:15,360
and my back's still feeling
a little aah, you know.
594
00:26:15,399 --> 00:26:18,139
You know, with all the
cumulative wear and tear
595
00:26:18,185 --> 00:26:22,055
from the bumping, I don't feel
like the 28, 29-year-old,
596
00:26:22,102 --> 00:26:24,322
you know, uber stud
that I was, you know.
597
00:26:24,365 --> 00:26:25,755
Who's your favourite
wrestler, young man?
598
00:26:26,889 --> 00:26:28,059
Well, guess what?
599
00:26:28,108 --> 00:26:30,938
Damien Wayne gonna be
out very, very soon,
600
00:26:30,980 --> 00:26:32,720
and he's wrestling who?
601
00:26:32,765 --> 00:26:33,935
MVP!
602
00:26:33,983 --> 00:26:36,293
- He's wrestling who?
- MVP!
603
00:26:36,333 --> 00:26:37,903
That's who he's wrestling.
604
00:26:37,944 --> 00:26:39,214
Are we ready?
605
00:26:41,730 --> 00:26:44,950
Some nights I'm just like,
"I don't wanna be here.
606
00:26:44,994 --> 00:26:46,954
I just wanna go home."
607
00:26:46,996 --> 00:26:49,216
But the flipside of that is once
I walk out there in front of
608
00:26:49,259 --> 00:26:51,699
that crowd, it all changes.
609
00:26:51,740 --> 00:26:54,660
The adrenaline kicks in, I find
those people that I connect with
610
00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:57,180
in the audience, and I
appreciate it, you know.
611
00:26:57,224 --> 00:26:59,924
Here we go, the main event.
612
00:26:59,966 --> 00:27:02,656
Oh!
613
00:27:02,708 --> 00:27:04,268
He's coming
through the curtains.
614
00:27:11,804 --> 00:27:13,154
Let it sizzle.
615
00:27:13,196 --> 00:27:15,196
Three, two, one.
616
00:27:21,814 --> 00:27:24,734
Wrestling is a
365 day a year business,
617
00:27:24,773 --> 00:27:27,173
so not every night is
gonna be the Tokyo bill.
618
00:27:27,210 --> 00:27:29,690
But seeing MVP appear in front
of a small crowd and still
619
00:27:29,735 --> 00:27:32,775
give it his all reminded me how dedicated he is to his fans.
620
00:27:38,874 --> 00:27:40,484
MVP!
621
00:27:40,528 --> 00:27:43,708
M... V... P!
622
00:27:59,025 --> 00:28:00,285
One!
623
00:28:15,389 --> 00:28:17,219
Time out!
624
00:28:22,222 --> 00:28:25,182
Oh, you're laughing at him
'cause he's a chicken?
625
00:28:25,225 --> 00:28:26,875
Or you're laughing
at his funny face?
626
00:28:26,922 --> 00:28:29,272
You can't laugh at me.
I can only laugh at you.
627
00:28:31,144 --> 00:28:32,804
Yeah, why can't
she laugh at you?
628
00:28:42,895 --> 00:28:44,765
Don't tell me how
to live my life!
629
00:28:58,258 --> 00:29:01,778
I think David's...
David's scared!
630
00:29:01,827 --> 00:29:04,217
Time out.
631
00:29:04,264 --> 00:29:05,964
That's why live
wrestling's awesome.
632
00:29:06,005 --> 00:29:08,175
I love it, I love being in it.
633
00:29:12,272 --> 00:29:13,322
I gotcha.
634
00:29:16,842 --> 00:29:18,412
There comes a
time when maybe yeah,
635
00:29:18,452 --> 00:29:20,582
you're on the mat in the
major wrestling promotion,
636
00:29:20,628 --> 00:29:23,108
but those people who saw
you on TV remember that,
637
00:29:23,152 --> 00:29:24,242
and they're cheering, you know.
638
00:29:24,284 --> 00:29:26,424
MVP! MVP!
639
00:29:26,460 --> 00:29:29,070
Yeah, classic MVP!
640
00:29:31,595 --> 00:29:34,075
Performance, the
adoration, exhilaration...
641
00:29:36,078 --> 00:29:39,298
...there's no
other drug like it.
642
00:29:39,342 --> 00:29:40,912
And I've tried a few, you know.
643
00:29:42,171 --> 00:29:43,521
There it is!
644
00:29:43,564 --> 00:29:45,264
I can see where it
can be like crack.
645
00:29:46,872 --> 00:29:49,532
Some people can get so addicted
to it to their detriment.
646
00:29:53,182 --> 00:29:54,442
Where do they go?
647
00:29:56,882 --> 00:30:00,492
Here's your up-close,
personal pretty picture of MVP.
648
00:30:03,497 --> 00:30:05,147
Now that's 10 bucks.
649
00:30:06,935 --> 00:30:08,495
Oh!
650
00:30:08,545 --> 00:30:11,845
Sometimes emotionally, I
realize where I'm at right now,
651
00:30:11,897 --> 00:30:13,857
this is the home
stretch, you know.
652
00:30:13,899 --> 00:30:16,119
When the time
comes when I say okay,
653
00:30:16,162 --> 00:30:20,302
this is it, and I take the
boots off for the last time,
654
00:30:20,340 --> 00:30:22,470
what's that gonna feel like?
655
00:30:30,002 --> 00:30:32,132
Order!
656
00:30:36,617 --> 00:30:38,177
One, two...
657
00:30:44,364 --> 00:30:47,584
I know that, as I said, the
chapter of being an in-ring
658
00:30:47,628 --> 00:30:50,148
performer is coming to a close.
659
00:30:50,196 --> 00:30:54,286
As I approach 44 and knowing
like this is a danger zone
660
00:30:54,330 --> 00:30:56,200
for most pro wrestlers, you
know, if you're gonna drop dead
661
00:30:56,245 --> 00:30:58,635
of a heart attack, it's
usually in the 40s, you know.
662
00:30:58,682 --> 00:31:04,172
And now I have a son, and he's
just changed me in a way that
663
00:31:04,210 --> 00:31:05,690
I can't even verbalize.
664
00:31:05,733 --> 00:31:10,003
No conversation could ever
prepare you for the love that
665
00:31:10,042 --> 00:31:11,652
you develop for your child.
666
00:31:15,961 --> 00:31:18,141
I never wanted kids.
667
00:31:18,180 --> 00:31:21,310
I was perfectly
content to die childless.
668
00:31:23,403 --> 00:31:25,413
And the main reason I didn't
want kids was because I didn't
669
00:31:25,448 --> 00:31:29,188
want the responsibility
that comes with a child,
670
00:31:29,235 --> 00:31:31,365
and the vulnerability.
671
00:31:31,411 --> 00:31:32,981
'Cause I can look after myself.
672
00:31:33,021 --> 00:31:34,461
I've been through
all kinds of shit.
673
00:31:34,501 --> 00:31:35,981
Hey, where you going?
674
00:31:36,024 --> 00:31:37,554
Come back, Camden.
675
00:31:37,591 --> 00:31:40,161
Camden, come here, come here.
676
00:31:40,202 --> 00:31:42,032
Come here, you gotta
wait your turn in line.
677
00:31:44,076 --> 00:31:45,556
He was unplanned.
678
00:31:45,599 --> 00:31:47,209
Certainly not by me!
679
00:31:48,602 --> 00:31:51,742
It took a little bit
of time for me to like
680
00:31:51,779 --> 00:31:54,039
really bond with my child.
681
00:31:54,086 --> 00:31:56,516
Walk, walk, walk, walk!
682
00:31:56,566 --> 00:31:58,256
Alright.
683
00:31:58,307 --> 00:32:00,047
Nice!
684
00:32:00,092 --> 00:32:01,402
Oh, cartwheels! Let's go!
685
00:32:01,441 --> 00:32:05,361
My father was in my life,
but we're not close.
686
00:32:05,401 --> 00:32:09,281
He was around, but my
father and I never like...
687
00:32:09,318 --> 00:32:12,188
had any father/son
stuff that we did together.
688
00:32:12,234 --> 00:32:13,454
Ready?
689
00:32:15,107 --> 00:32:16,057
Go!
690
00:32:16,108 --> 00:32:18,238
Go, Camden! Go, go, go, go, go!
691
00:32:18,284 --> 00:32:20,424
It seems like it was just
yesterday I was trying to
692
00:32:20,460 --> 00:32:22,550
find out what clubs were
open at night, you know.
693
00:32:22,592 --> 00:32:24,592
Like let's get some
bottles, you know.
694
00:32:24,638 --> 00:32:27,638
That's not the case
anymore, you know.
695
00:32:27,684 --> 00:32:30,174
Now I wanna be a dad.
696
00:32:36,302 --> 00:32:37,432
I'm the bully.
697
00:32:37,477 --> 00:32:38,997
Who's the aggressor now?
698
00:32:39,044 --> 00:32:40,444
Who's the one
attacking now, me or him?
699
00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:42,740
Him.
700
00:32:42,786 --> 00:32:46,786
So, shuffle down,
knees on the ground,
701
00:32:46,834 --> 00:32:49,054
hands behind his leg, up.
702
00:32:49,097 --> 00:32:51,097
Push, push, push, push, push!
703
00:32:51,143 --> 00:32:54,063
I'm gonna take
him down, alright?
704
00:32:54,102 --> 00:32:57,282
Now, both of your
hands on his arms.
705
00:32:57,323 --> 00:32:58,323
Punch me, bully, now.
706
00:32:59,542 --> 00:33:02,332
He cannot punch me now.
707
00:33:02,371 --> 00:33:04,771
I don't want my son
to be a pro wrestler.
708
00:33:04,808 --> 00:33:06,718
Whatever he decides,
I hope, you know,
709
00:33:06,767 --> 00:33:09,807
I can enstill enough guidance
and intelligence so that
710
00:33:09,857 --> 00:33:12,247
he'll make some pretty
solid decisions.
711
00:33:12,294 --> 00:33:16,214
But I want him to use his brain,
I want him to be brilliant.
712
00:33:16,255 --> 00:33:18,775
You know, let him compose
music, let him write code,
713
00:33:18,822 --> 00:33:20,742
let him study medicine.
714
00:33:20,781 --> 00:33:23,041
You hungry? You want rice?
715
00:33:23,088 --> 00:33:26,478
Physically, you know, I beat
the shit out of my body
716
00:33:26,526 --> 00:33:28,346
for entertainment, you know.
717
00:33:28,397 --> 00:33:31,227
I don't want him to fucking
deal with that, you know.
718
00:33:38,407 --> 00:33:39,797
Hassan has
brought me to meet
719
00:33:39,843 --> 00:33:42,063
another pro wrestling
super star,
720
00:33:42,107 --> 00:33:45,147
long-time friend and fellow
Houston resident Booker T.
721
00:33:45,197 --> 00:33:46,417
- Yo, how you doing?
- Good.
722
00:33:46,459 --> 00:33:48,199
Booker, this is Damian.
723
00:33:48,243 --> 00:33:51,643
The six-time world champion
was both a hero and mentor
724
00:33:51,681 --> 00:33:53,601
for Hassan early in his career.
725
00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:56,250
Both men are African American wrestlers who overcame criminal
726
00:33:56,295 --> 00:33:59,205
pasts to become champions
in the wrestling world.
727
00:33:59,254 --> 00:34:02,084
Wax on, wax off, baby.
728
00:34:02,127 --> 00:34:04,167
Tie up.
729
00:34:04,216 --> 00:34:05,566
Wax on.
730
00:34:08,698 --> 00:34:10,348
And it looks cool,
and that's what...
731
00:34:12,006 --> 00:34:14,486
No, no, that's what wrestling
mostly is, you know what I mean?
732
00:34:14,530 --> 00:34:17,400
Booker retired from
pro wrestling in 2016,
733
00:34:17,446 --> 00:34:19,706
and as well as his weekly gigs as a wrestling commentator
734
00:34:19,753 --> 00:34:23,543
he now runs a wrestling gym
training the next generation.
735
00:34:23,583 --> 00:34:25,413
Good, good.
736
00:34:25,454 --> 00:34:28,414
Really early on when MVP found
out about your story and the
737
00:34:28,457 --> 00:34:30,497
things that you kind of were
able to overcome to get the
738
00:34:30,546 --> 00:34:34,116
legend that you are today, that
was a huge inspiration for him.
739
00:34:34,159 --> 00:34:37,119
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean,
he stole a lot of my traits.
740
00:34:40,252 --> 00:34:42,782
For me, you know, I
always try to set an example.
741
00:34:42,819 --> 00:34:45,339
I'm all about, you
know, helping young people.
742
00:34:45,387 --> 00:34:48,557
I got, you know, maybe 50 kids
743
00:34:48,608 --> 00:34:51,568
that all look to me
as a father figure.
744
00:34:53,743 --> 00:34:56,703
MVP's someone who's kind of
at a crossroads right now,
745
00:34:56,746 --> 00:34:58,656
like you know, talking
about the end of his career.
746
00:34:58,705 --> 00:35:00,745
Have you guys spoken
about what's next?
747
00:35:00,794 --> 00:35:02,274
Have you given any--
offered him any advice?
748
00:35:02,317 --> 00:35:04,887
We've talked frequently,
you know, about...
749
00:35:04,928 --> 00:35:07,408
...life after wrestling.
750
00:35:07,453 --> 00:35:08,723
You know, especially
when you get a kid.
751
00:35:10,282 --> 00:35:11,592
You gotta start
thinking about...
752
00:35:11,631 --> 00:35:13,501
As well as when you
get older, you know,
753
00:35:13,546 --> 00:35:15,716
the body, you gotta be
able to think about yourself.
754
00:35:15,765 --> 00:35:19,245
You know, I was just
watching a video today,
755
00:35:19,291 --> 00:35:22,511
and it had a couple of the
old wrestlers from the '80s,
756
00:35:22,555 --> 00:35:25,815
and they were still
wrestling on the show in 2017,
757
00:35:25,862 --> 00:35:27,692
and I was like
God, man, you know.
758
00:35:27,734 --> 00:35:29,614
You don't wanna be that guy.
759
00:35:29,649 --> 00:35:31,909
My education is
professional wrestling.
760
00:35:31,955 --> 00:35:34,735
I got a lot of
knowledge in the business.
761
00:35:34,784 --> 00:35:37,274
That's one of the
reasons I opened this school.
762
00:35:37,309 --> 00:35:39,309
And I wanted to be able to
walk away from it and say man,
763
00:35:39,354 --> 00:35:40,574
thanks for the ride, guys.
764
00:35:40,616 --> 00:35:42,136
It's been awesome.
765
00:35:42,183 --> 00:35:44,663
Booker T left the ring at a
point where he was one of the,
766
00:35:44,707 --> 00:35:46,927
you know, still the greatest,
and didn't wait till that point,
767
00:35:46,970 --> 00:35:48,580
that decline.
768
00:35:48,624 --> 00:35:50,634
Was that at all inspiration for
why you're choosing to get out?
769
00:35:50,670 --> 00:35:53,410
I got a few more years left,
you know, it's not--
770
00:35:53,455 --> 00:35:54,625
Well, I don't me now now.
771
00:35:54,674 --> 00:35:56,244
I mean like in
the next few years.
772
00:35:56,284 --> 00:35:57,764
But in the very
near future, yeah.
773
00:35:57,807 --> 00:36:00,287
You don't wanna give them
that mental snapshot of when
774
00:36:00,332 --> 00:36:02,772
you used to be good, and
now when he goes to do
775
00:36:02,812 --> 00:36:04,382
the spinneroni
and his back pops.
776
00:36:06,076 --> 00:36:08,636
Always leave them wanting more.
Always leave them wanting more.
777
00:36:08,688 --> 00:36:11,688
Booker did that, you know,
and that's what I wanna do.
778
00:36:14,737 --> 00:36:16,567
We're back in Hassan's
home state of Florida
779
00:36:16,609 --> 00:36:19,999
at MLW One Shot, a new event
on the outskirts of Orlando.
780
00:36:20,047 --> 00:36:23,307
Hassan's old prison guard
and wrestling inspiration,
781
00:36:23,355 --> 00:36:25,395
Primetime, has travelled
up from Miami to join me
782
00:36:25,444 --> 00:36:27,364
in the audience.
783
00:36:27,402 --> 00:36:29,752
Alex, Primetime.
Primetime, Alex.
784
00:36:29,796 --> 00:36:31,406
Hi, it's so nice to meet you!
785
00:36:31,450 --> 00:36:33,630
I'm gratified for putting
this motherfucker in my life.
786
00:36:35,715 --> 00:36:37,325
Hassan is a busy man tonight.
787
00:36:37,369 --> 00:36:39,329
He's working as an agent
for four young wrestlers
788
00:36:39,371 --> 00:36:40,811
in two of the matches.
789
00:36:40,850 --> 00:36:42,240
- Seven minutes.
- Okay.
790
00:36:42,287 --> 00:36:45,857
They want like a 70/30,
heel, babyface kinda deal.
791
00:36:45,899 --> 00:36:48,679
He'll also be
performing in his own match.
792
00:36:48,728 --> 00:36:51,508
none other than indie upstart
793
00:36:51,557 --> 00:36:54,597
and worldwide desperado
Sami Callihan.
794
00:36:54,647 --> 00:36:56,427
So some brainbusters out.
795
00:36:56,475 --> 00:36:57,905
I can take a
brainbuster, that's fine.
796
00:36:57,954 --> 00:36:59,964
Hassan's plan is
for Sami to win,
797
00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:02,390
creating a kind of
"passing of the torch" moment
798
00:37:02,437 --> 00:37:04,567
from a veteran champion
to a new star.
799
00:37:04,613 --> 00:37:06,703
You're gonna have
ooh, aah, and oh.
800
00:37:06,746 --> 00:37:10,916
Richocet and Swerve
are gonna be the, "Aah!"
801
00:37:10,967 --> 00:37:14,487
Lawler and Jeff Cobb
will give you the, "Ooh!"
802
00:37:14,536 --> 00:37:15,706
And then we're just like, "Oh!"
803
00:37:15,755 --> 00:37:17,705
We're gonna give you the, "Oh!"
804
00:37:17,757 --> 00:37:19,847
We'll just beat each
other up and have fun.
805
00:37:19,889 --> 00:37:22,539
Shortly after arriving
though, he discovers that
806
00:37:22,588 --> 00:37:26,458
the MLW promoters have decided
it's MVP who should win.
807
00:37:26,505 --> 00:37:27,935
Did he talk to you
about the finish?
808
00:37:27,984 --> 00:37:29,074
No.
809
00:37:29,116 --> 00:37:31,766
Okay, um...
810
00:37:31,814 --> 00:37:33,604
Mute this for a second, please.
811
00:37:40,736 --> 00:37:42,826
So there's been a bit of
a change in the plan
812
00:37:42,869 --> 00:37:44,349
for this evening, right?
813
00:37:44,392 --> 00:37:48,572
Uh, originally Sami was
probably gonna come out on top,
814
00:37:48,614 --> 00:37:50,314
but now things
have had to change.
815
00:37:50,355 --> 00:37:53,485
On a night like
tonight, for this venue,
816
00:37:53,532 --> 00:37:56,932
nobody would expect Sami to beat
me, you know what I'm saying?
817
00:37:56,970 --> 00:37:58,620
There's just, you
know, a heirarchy.
818
00:37:58,667 --> 00:37:59,887
Like it's all
bullshit anyway, right?
819
00:38:01,366 --> 00:38:03,976
But it doesn't hurt me
at all to lose to Sami,
820
00:38:04,020 --> 00:38:05,810
but it does something for him.
821
00:38:05,848 --> 00:38:07,758
And you know, from a
business standpoint,
822
00:38:07,807 --> 00:38:09,587
for whatever
reason, things change,
823
00:38:09,635 --> 00:38:12,725
but that's fine because
Sami doesn't give a shit.
824
00:38:12,768 --> 00:38:15,818
And that's one more
reason that I respect him.
825
00:38:15,858 --> 00:38:18,858
He's a guy that's brought up
by a lot of the detractors of
826
00:38:18,905 --> 00:38:21,995
the current generation as
being sort of the figurehead
827
00:38:22,038 --> 00:38:23,948
of what's wrong
with the new kids.
828
00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:26,610
You know, like
"Sami and friends".
829
00:38:26,652 --> 00:38:28,352
He's become sort of
this guy that--
830
00:38:28,393 --> 00:38:30,663
Well then, count me in as
the "and friends", you know,
831
00:38:30,699 --> 00:38:33,919
'cause I like his style,
I like his intensity,
832
00:38:33,963 --> 00:38:35,753
I like his approach to it.
833
00:38:35,791 --> 00:38:38,101
And you know, like I said,
everything evolves, man.
834
00:38:38,141 --> 00:38:41,011
You know, you can't become
a relic, an antique, you know.
835
00:38:41,057 --> 00:38:43,097
Hassan has a pretty
realistic approach to
836
00:38:43,146 --> 00:38:46,106
the business of wrestling, and
doesn't take it too seriously.
837
00:38:46,149 --> 00:38:49,409
It's something he and
Sami seem to have in common.
838
00:38:49,457 --> 00:38:51,757
When you think about wrestling,
like it's fucking stupid.
839
00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:55,990
I'm a cowboy, you're
a basketball player.
840
00:38:56,029 --> 00:38:57,809
There's an undead wizard that
841
00:38:57,857 --> 00:38:59,117
strikes people with
lightning bolts.
842
00:38:59,162 --> 00:39:00,432
Right, you know.
843
00:39:00,468 --> 00:39:01,858
But we're taking
this so seriously,
844
00:39:01,904 --> 00:39:03,654
people wanna get in
fights every time.
845
00:39:03,689 --> 00:39:04,989
That's what I say all the time!
846
00:39:05,038 --> 00:39:06,608
- We're grown men!
- Yeah.
847
00:39:06,648 --> 00:39:07,818
Play-fighting in spandex!
848
00:39:07,867 --> 00:39:09,037
We're Game of Thrones.
849
00:39:09,085 --> 00:39:11,035
Relax, man! Take it easy!
850
00:39:11,087 --> 00:39:12,387
This is supposed to be fun!
851
00:39:16,615 --> 00:39:18,085
He is so agile.
852
00:39:29,715 --> 00:39:31,845
Oh, Strickland knew
it was coming!
853
00:39:31,891 --> 00:39:33,811
Strickland knew it was coming!
854
00:39:33,849 --> 00:39:35,759
Wow, like The Matrix!
855
00:39:35,808 --> 00:39:37,678
Able to get out of
the way of the kick!
856
00:39:37,723 --> 00:39:39,643
- I'm impressed, man.
- Thank you.
857
00:39:39,681 --> 00:39:41,201
I'm watching your
growth, you know.
858
00:39:41,248 --> 00:39:42,638
I appreciate it.
859
00:39:42,684 --> 00:39:45,474
I've been watching more
movies and acting more
860
00:39:45,513 --> 00:39:48,043
to try to finally impliment
that in my wrestling.
861
00:39:48,081 --> 00:39:50,041
I've been talking about the
evolution of the business.
862
00:39:50,083 --> 00:39:51,523
Right.
863
00:39:51,563 --> 00:39:54,043
The old school guys who
shit on the new school guys,
864
00:39:54,087 --> 00:39:57,047
like we used to
have the fight scenes,
865
00:39:57,090 --> 00:39:59,220
Arnold Schwarzenegger
and Sylvester Stallone.
866
00:39:59,266 --> 00:40:02,046
Now it's fucking John Wick
and Jason Statham, you know?
867
00:40:02,095 --> 00:40:03,615
That shit evolves.
868
00:40:03,662 --> 00:40:07,452
And you guys do that shit in
a single take with no wires.
869
00:40:07,492 --> 00:40:08,712
- Imagine that.
- Yeah.
870
00:40:08,754 --> 00:40:10,584
A lot of pressure!
871
00:40:10,625 --> 00:40:11,665
A lot of pressure.
872
00:40:11,713 --> 00:40:13,063
You got it, baby, you got it.
873
00:40:13,106 --> 00:40:14,496
The future's in good hands.
874
00:40:14,542 --> 00:40:15,892
Thank you so much, man.
875
00:40:26,293 --> 00:40:27,773
Suckerpunches right.
Didn't work!
876
00:40:28,948 --> 00:40:29,908
Damn.
877
00:40:29,949 --> 00:40:31,079
Connects there with a kick.
878
00:40:34,867 --> 00:40:38,517
A lot of people I'm sure would
get out of that system of
879
00:40:38,566 --> 00:40:40,736
being incarcerated and find
themselves right back in it.
880
00:40:40,786 --> 00:40:43,566
For him to kinda get out and
then become the very heart
881
00:40:43,615 --> 00:40:46,225
of this industry, that's
like all because of you.
882
00:40:55,931 --> 00:40:57,501
Pull yourself up.
883
00:40:57,542 --> 00:40:59,072
That's what you gotta do.
884
00:40:59,108 --> 00:41:01,068
Sami's a younger guy
and represents a sort of
885
00:41:01,110 --> 00:41:02,900
different generation.
886
00:41:02,938 --> 00:41:04,638
That's why it's such
a dream match show,
887
00:41:04,679 --> 00:41:07,939
because it's like the
two generations colliding.
888
00:41:07,987 --> 00:41:09,897
What in the world
is he doing here?
889
00:41:09,945 --> 00:41:12,025
Mocking MVP, okay.
890
00:41:12,078 --> 00:41:13,778
Oh!
891
00:41:36,015 --> 00:41:37,535
There are times now
when I'm in the ring
892
00:41:37,582 --> 00:41:39,632
from an emotional perspective.
893
00:41:39,671 --> 00:41:43,761
I know like man, I
really have to savour this,
894
00:41:43,805 --> 00:41:47,675
because these days
are coming to an end.
895
00:41:49,681 --> 00:41:51,331
Watching this match,
it's hard to believe
896
00:41:51,378 --> 00:41:54,118
MVP will be retiring soon.
897
00:41:54,163 --> 00:41:56,563
But at 44, he's already
achieved far more than
898
00:41:56,601 --> 00:41:59,821
one might've expected from
an ex-con from Opa-locka.
899
00:41:59,865 --> 00:42:02,075
And for all the veterans that
dump on the new generation for
900
00:42:02,128 --> 00:42:04,868
not wrestling like they used to it's clear the business is
901
00:42:04,913 --> 00:42:07,133
in good hands with talent
who are creating wrestling
902
00:42:07,176 --> 00:42:10,006
by this generation
for this generation.
903
00:42:10,049 --> 00:42:12,269
The wrestling world, especially independent wrestling,
904
00:42:12,312 --> 00:42:14,012
is only getting bigger.
905
00:42:14,053 --> 00:42:17,103
And maybe the high-flying
acrobatics get clicks,
906
00:42:17,143 --> 00:42:19,673
but the brutal combat,
the old school grappling,
907
00:42:19,711 --> 00:42:22,671
and the crowd-pleasing characters are all still there.
908
00:42:22,714 --> 00:42:25,194
From Shane, the unpredictable
golden child who wants to be
909
00:42:25,238 --> 00:42:28,588
good at everything, to
Sami, the jeans-wearing,
910
00:42:28,633 --> 00:42:31,683
spit-throwing,
street-brawling desperado,
911
00:42:31,723 --> 00:42:34,643
young wrestlers are
surprising their audiences,
912
00:42:34,682 --> 00:42:37,032
winning new fans, and
driving the evolution of
913
00:42:37,076 --> 00:42:39,076
American pro wrestling.
914
00:42:40,906 --> 00:42:42,946
And they're fortunate to have
coaches and mentors who can
915
00:42:42,995 --> 00:42:46,215
pass on their experience
and craft, and push them
916
00:42:46,259 --> 00:42:48,869
to work hard and
achieve greatness.
917
00:42:48,914 --> 00:42:50,834
Even if it is just
play-fighting in spandex.
918
00:42:52,134 --> 00:42:54,314
Throws him
in a suplex.
919
00:42:54,354 --> 00:42:56,314
Holds on for the
cover, and that's it!
920
00:42:57,749 --> 00:43:02,879
Ladies and gentlemen,
here is your winner,
921
00:43:02,928 --> 00:43:07,108
M... V... P!
922
00:43:09,108 --> 00:43:11,278
I have to say I'll be sad when MVP finally decides to
923
00:43:11,327 --> 00:43:14,107
hang up his boots, but on
the other side of the coin
924
00:43:14,156 --> 00:43:16,286
lies a bright future
full of new stars
925
00:43:16,332 --> 00:43:18,812
who strive to
burn just as bright.
926
00:43:22,948 --> 00:43:25,038
Hold on,
is this not done?
927
00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:26,690
Well, yeah.
928
00:43:28,083 --> 00:43:30,703
Passions are
running high right now.
929
00:43:33,393 --> 00:43:35,743
There's a prison guard that
helped him pursue his dream of
930
00:43:35,787 --> 00:43:37,347
being a pro wrestler.
931
00:43:37,397 --> 00:43:38,347
We understand that
prison guard is actually
932
00:43:38,398 --> 00:43:40,008
in attendance here tonight.
933
00:43:43,272 --> 00:43:45,672
Callihan's checking to make sur all of his teeth are still in.
934
00:43:45,710 --> 00:43:47,760
Yeah, and it's not the front
that he's gotta worry about,
935
00:43:47,799 --> 00:43:49,099
it's the wisdom teeth.