1
00:00:09,009 --> 00:00:11,970
I don't know that there's
been any family in wrestling,
2
00:00:11,970 --> 00:00:14,973
either related for
real or professionally,
3
00:00:14,973 --> 00:00:17,726
that had as much impact,
as much reach,
4
00:00:17,726 --> 00:00:20,979
and as much influence as
the Graham family did.
5
00:00:20,979 --> 00:00:23,232
Graham lands the hardest
punch in wrestling history.
6
00:00:23,232 --> 00:00:25,776
Eddie Graham was not only
a great wrestler and
7
00:00:25,776 --> 00:00:28,320
a great promoter,
he was a visionary.
8
00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,364
Eddie's Championship
Wrestling From Florida,
9
00:00:30,364 --> 00:00:32,783
it was built on wrestling,
10
00:00:32,783 --> 00:00:35,035
and the main events
were violent.
11
00:00:35,035 --> 00:00:36,078
Agh!
12
00:00:36,078 --> 00:00:38,372
He gave the
people the circus.
13
00:00:38,372 --> 00:00:41,083
Eddie Graham coming back
into that ring after...
14
00:00:41,083 --> 00:00:42,668
[narrator] Eddie Graham
was a titan of
15
00:00:42,668 --> 00:00:45,212
professional wrestling,
who ruled his era,
16
00:00:45,212 --> 00:00:47,256
and passed on
his iconic legacy
17
00:00:47,256 --> 00:00:49,007
to his only son,
Mike.
18
00:00:49,007 --> 00:00:51,009
The son of any
great athlete,
19
00:00:51,009 --> 00:00:52,553
they've got the
scrutiny on them.
20
00:00:52,553 --> 00:00:54,596
But Mike Graham didn't
take shit off anybody.
21
00:00:54,596 --> 00:00:57,808
I think maybe he felt
like he had to be
22
00:00:57,808 --> 00:00:59,768
as good as his father.
23
00:00:59,768 --> 00:01:02,145
Mike Graham followed in
his father's footsteps
24
00:01:02,145 --> 00:01:03,564
to wrestling greatness...
25
00:01:03,564 --> 00:01:06,567
and also descended into
his own dark world of
26
00:01:06,567 --> 00:01:09,570
pain, addiction,
and grief.
27
00:01:09,570 --> 00:01:12,447
The wrestling culture
is very cutthroat.
28
00:01:12,447 --> 00:01:14,866
You have to have
this thing about you,
29
00:01:14,866 --> 00:01:16,785
where nothing's
gonna break you.
30
00:01:16,785 --> 00:01:18,662
He was under
tremendous pressure
31
00:01:18,662 --> 00:01:20,664
from so many
different angles.
32
00:01:20,664 --> 00:01:23,667
Mike kept shit to himself,
too, like his father.
33
00:01:23,667 --> 00:01:26,128
The apple didn't fall
far from the tree.
34
00:01:26,128 --> 00:01:29,006
It all gets pushed under
the rug in certain families.
35
00:01:29,006 --> 00:01:31,466
Who are you supposed
to go to for help?
36
00:01:31,466 --> 00:01:34,428
The tragic legacy of
a wrestling dynasty,
37
00:01:34,428 --> 00:01:37,848
haunted by self
-destruction and suicide.
38
00:01:37,848 --> 00:01:40,434
It is with a deep sense of
regret that I announce the
39
00:01:40,434 --> 00:01:43,520
untimely death of a friend,
colleague, and a leader.
40
00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:47,608
It was like somebody
dropped a bomb on all of us.
41
00:01:47,608 --> 00:01:49,026
Grandfather, father...
42
00:01:49,026 --> 00:01:51,153
and then the kid.
43
00:01:51,153 --> 00:01:53,905
That runs in
the family genes, right.
44
00:01:53,905 --> 00:01:56,074
Once that spotlight's gone
or once you
45
00:01:56,074 --> 00:01:58,285
don't have that ring,
like, it's emptiness.
46
00:01:58,285 --> 00:02:02,664
♪
47
00:02:06,126 --> 00:02:08,420
Championship Wrestling
From Florida was one of
48
00:02:08,420 --> 00:02:10,964
the most respected
and successful
49
00:02:10,964 --> 00:02:13,759
wrestling promotions
of modern times.
50
00:02:13,759 --> 00:02:16,386
The legacy of the Graham
family in Florida is,
51
00:02:16,386 --> 00:02:18,597
they meant
professional wrestling
52
00:02:18,597 --> 00:02:21,433
to millions of people,
all over the state,
53
00:02:21,433 --> 00:02:24,144
for almost thirty years.
54
00:02:24,144 --> 00:02:27,439
One member of the Graham
family was on the card,
55
00:02:27,439 --> 00:02:30,233
or in the main event,
or behind the scenes.
56
00:02:30,233 --> 00:02:32,653
In the glory years when
they were selling
57
00:02:32,653 --> 00:02:34,780
a million tickets a year
just in the state of Florida
58
00:02:34,780 --> 00:02:36,198
to see live matches,
59
00:02:36,198 --> 00:02:39,242
and their TV ratings
were Super Bowl level.
60
00:02:39,242 --> 00:02:40,577
I guess I was
used to it, like,
61
00:02:40,577 --> 00:02:41,578
when you don't know
what's different,
62
00:02:41,578 --> 00:02:43,497
it's just what your life is.
63
00:02:43,497 --> 00:02:45,540
I just knew that that
was a huge part of, like,
64
00:02:45,540 --> 00:02:48,168
my grandfather
and my dad's life.
65
00:02:48,168 --> 00:02:51,046
I am Nicole Gossett,
and Eddie Graham was
66
00:02:51,046 --> 00:02:53,632
my grandfather, and Mike
Graham is my father.
67
00:02:53,632 --> 00:02:55,759
And that's Eddie Graham in
the centre of the ring now,
68
00:02:55,759 --> 00:02:57,678
his son Mike watching
very carefully.
69
00:02:57,678 --> 00:02:59,971
Every Sunday,
they'd have matches
70
00:02:59,971 --> 00:03:01,723
at the
Eddie Graham Stadium.
71
00:03:01,723 --> 00:03:03,975
And, the first phone call
in the morning was my
72
00:03:03,975 --> 00:03:06,311
grandfather calling my dad
to talk about the night.
73
00:03:06,311 --> 00:03:09,022
We'd wake up, and we'd walk
into like our family room to
74
00:03:09,022 --> 00:03:10,524
see who was crashed out
on our couch for
75
00:03:10,524 --> 00:03:11,858
a little while,
you know.
76
00:03:11,858 --> 00:03:13,026
'Cause we had
different wrestlers
77
00:03:13,026 --> 00:03:14,861
sleeping on our
couch at times.
78
00:03:14,861 --> 00:03:17,072
Magnum T.A.- Terry Allen-
when he first started,
79
00:03:17,072 --> 00:03:19,741
he slept on our couch,
and he was so sweet.
80
00:03:19,741 --> 00:03:21,952
And so, I was pretty
accustomed to having big,
81
00:03:21,952 --> 00:03:24,371
boisterous personalities
and people around.
82
00:03:24,371 --> 00:03:26,164
The one that scared me
was Andre the Giant.
83
00:03:26,164 --> 00:03:27,541
When he came, like,
crouching through
84
00:03:27,541 --> 00:03:29,084
our front door, I-
he freaked me out,
85
00:03:29,084 --> 00:03:31,169
yeah, I was scared.
[Laughing]
86
00:03:31,169 --> 00:03:32,921
[Cheering]
87
00:03:32,921 --> 00:03:35,716
It was the family business.
88
00:03:35,716 --> 00:03:39,261
Everybody wanted to be
on the roster of
89
00:03:39,261 --> 00:03:41,179
Championship Wrestling
From Florida.
90
00:03:41,179 --> 00:03:44,099
For the money,
the weather, for the girls...
91
00:03:44,099 --> 00:03:47,936
And also, to learn
from Eddie Graham.
92
00:03:47,936 --> 00:03:49,229
I'm Jim Cornette.
93
00:03:49,229 --> 00:03:51,606
I've had a 40-year career
in professional wrestling,
94
00:03:51,606 --> 00:03:52,816
but for even
longer than that,
95
00:03:52,816 --> 00:03:55,444
I've been a collector
and an historian.
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00:03:55,444 --> 00:03:59,865
Eddie could make you believe
that he was the toughest man
97
00:03:59,865 --> 00:04:01,950
in the state of Florida,
which is exactly what
98
00:04:01,950 --> 00:04:03,660
most of the fans believed.
99
00:04:03,660 --> 00:04:05,745
He just had a
magnetism about him,
100
00:04:05,745 --> 00:04:08,248
and he was somebody that
you wanted to listen to,
101
00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:09,624
and if you were
working for him,
102
00:04:09,624 --> 00:04:11,042
you wanted to follow.
103
00:04:11,042 --> 00:04:13,086
A leader,
a general.
104
00:04:13,086 --> 00:04:15,130
I was born up in them
Tennessee Mountains, brother.
105
00:04:15,130 --> 00:04:16,256
If you didn't have
heart and desire,
106
00:04:16,256 --> 00:04:17,883
you were finished
to begin with.
107
00:04:17,883 --> 00:04:19,801
So, I ain't gonna
lay down and quit.
108
00:04:19,801 --> 00:04:21,803
That's my bottom line.
109
00:04:21,803 --> 00:04:23,013
There you have it.
110
00:04:23,013 --> 00:04:25,182
The comments from
Eddie Graham.
111
00:04:25,182 --> 00:04:29,227
There goes a wrestler,
and one hell of a man.
112
00:04:29,227 --> 00:04:31,897
Eddie was a
legend in Florida.
113
00:04:31,897 --> 00:04:35,442
He could get a reaction
just walking to the ring.
114
00:04:35,442 --> 00:04:37,194
My name is Kevin Sullivan.
115
00:04:37,194 --> 00:04:40,030
I worked for the Graham
family for decades,
116
00:04:40,030 --> 00:04:43,283
and I've been a wrestler
for over 50 years.
117
00:04:43,283 --> 00:04:46,661
Your nightmare
is just starting.
118
00:04:46,661 --> 00:04:49,456
Eddie was about
5"10 and a half,
119
00:04:49,456 --> 00:04:52,417
wide shoulders,
bleach blond hair,
120
00:04:52,417 --> 00:04:54,377
and he just had a
presence about him.
121
00:04:54,377 --> 00:04:57,255
Nobody else was
ever in his class.
122
00:04:57,255 --> 00:05:00,383
The genius of the business,
our Einstein.
123
00:05:00,383 --> 00:05:03,303
Eddie was from the hills
in Chattanooga.
124
00:05:03,303 --> 00:05:05,263
Very difficult life.
125
00:05:05,263 --> 00:05:07,557
His father died young.
126
00:05:07,557 --> 00:05:10,685
Eddie came up through the
college of hard knocks.
127
00:05:10,685 --> 00:05:14,272
Just a good old
touch country boy.
128
00:05:14,272 --> 00:05:15,982
My name is Dotty Curtis,
129
00:05:15,982 --> 00:05:21,279
and I am the wife of the
late Don Curtis.
130
00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:25,575
Don was a very, very
knowledgeable wrestler.
131
00:05:25,575 --> 00:05:28,995
Don and Eddie met
back in around '52,
132
00:05:28,995 --> 00:05:30,455
I think it was.
133
00:05:30,455 --> 00:05:33,834
They became friends, and
Eddie asked to Don to
134
00:05:33,834 --> 00:05:36,044
come up here to
Jacksonville, and
135
00:05:36,044 --> 00:05:38,922
he was the promoter up here
for quite a few years.
136
00:05:38,922 --> 00:05:41,800
Now it's Graham, and a good,
solid chop across the throat.
137
00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:45,303
Eddie Graham is
probably one of the
138
00:05:45,303 --> 00:05:49,933
finest wrestlers that was
around in his time.
139
00:05:49,933 --> 00:05:53,728
I don't think there'll ever be
another Eddie Graham.
140
00:05:53,728 --> 00:05:56,481
Though born Edward Gossett,
Eddie's wrestling career is
141
00:05:56,481 --> 00:05:58,942
forever altered when he
adopts the "Graham" name
142
00:05:58,942 --> 00:06:00,986
from one of the
ring's top stars.
143
00:06:00,986 --> 00:06:02,821
♪
144
00:06:02,821 --> 00:06:06,825
The originator of the Graham
wrestling family dynasty
145
00:06:06,825 --> 00:06:08,994
was Dr. Jerry Graham.
146
00:06:08,994 --> 00:06:10,370
He had the bleached hair,
147
00:06:10,370 --> 00:06:12,205
and he carried himself
like a star.
148
00:06:12,205 --> 00:06:14,207
And what's more,
he had the gift of gab.
149
00:06:20,463 --> 00:06:24,634
Brother teams in New York
were over at the time.
150
00:06:24,634 --> 00:06:27,095
But, if you could find a guy
that looks something
151
00:06:27,095 --> 00:06:29,681
like you, nobody's reading
your birth certificate,
152
00:06:29,681 --> 00:06:31,641
just say it's your brother.
153
00:06:31,641 --> 00:06:36,229
Eddie Gossett was in Texas
wrestling as Rip Rogers,
154
00:06:36,229 --> 00:06:38,189
and a lot of people
told him,
155
00:06:38,189 --> 00:06:40,942
"You look like
Jerry Graham."
156
00:06:40,942 --> 00:06:44,446
Jerry and Eddie
connected, and in 1958,
157
00:06:44,446 --> 00:06:47,198
the Graham Brothers,
"The Golden Grahams",
158
00:06:47,198 --> 00:06:49,993
as a team, ruled the
roost in wrestling
159
00:06:49,993 --> 00:06:52,412
in the biggest
TV market in the country,
160
00:06:52,412 --> 00:06:54,623
where wrestling
is already red-hot,
161
00:06:54,623 --> 00:06:56,833
being presented in the most
famous arena in the world,
162
00:06:56,833 --> 00:06:58,460
Madison Square Garden.
163
00:06:58,460 --> 00:07:00,253
Dr. Graham has just
the treatment for that
164
00:07:00,253 --> 00:07:01,921
tired,
nagging backache.
165
00:07:01,921 --> 00:07:03,131
Eddie performs the surgery
166
00:07:03,131 --> 00:07:05,133
while Jerry looks
on approvingly.
167
00:07:05,133 --> 00:07:07,510
If you could sell out
Madison Square Garden,
168
00:07:07,510 --> 00:07:09,429
you could
sell out anywhere.
169
00:07:09,429 --> 00:07:13,850
Eddie and Dr. Jerry
made a fantastic duo,
170
00:07:13,850 --> 00:07:15,560
hated by everybody,
171
00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:19,272
and just really drew
the crowds in.
172
00:07:19,272 --> 00:07:21,733
Just main eventing
Madison Square Garden,
173
00:07:21,733 --> 00:07:25,320
they were probably making
close to six figures per year
174
00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:30,325
in 1958, 1959, and that would
translate into somewhere
175
00:07:30,325 --> 00:07:33,453
over a million bucks apiece
in today's money.
176
00:07:33,453 --> 00:07:34,955
With money and
fame to burn,
177
00:07:34,955 --> 00:07:38,249
Eddie and Jerry are box
office sensations.
178
00:07:38,249 --> 00:07:42,003
But before long, Dr. Jerry's
behaviour outside the ring
179
00:07:42,003 --> 00:07:45,131
becomes even more
notorious than his matches.
180
00:07:45,131 --> 00:07:48,468
Dr. Jerry Graham, as big
of a genius as he was
181
00:07:48,468 --> 00:07:51,179
in wrestling,
was an alcoholic,
182
00:07:51,179 --> 00:07:53,848
was mentally ill, and...
183
00:07:53,848 --> 00:07:56,309
he got in a lot of trouble
and caused a lot of trouble.
184
00:07:56,309 --> 00:07:58,645
Jerry Graham,
to impress fans,
185
00:07:58,645 --> 00:08:01,564
used to light his
cigars with $100 bills.
186
00:08:01,564 --> 00:08:05,235
Or, he would walk into a
biker bar and walk right up
187
00:08:05,235 --> 00:08:07,112
in front of a guy and say-
[Shouting] "Hey!
188
00:08:07,112 --> 00:08:09,489
My name's Balls!
You got any?"
189
00:08:09,489 --> 00:08:11,866
♪
190
00:08:11,866 --> 00:08:13,868
But the most shocking
incident involving
191
00:08:13,868 --> 00:08:16,371
Jerry Graham transpires
years later,
192
00:08:16,371 --> 00:08:19,165
in his hometown of
Phoenix, Arizona.
193
00:08:19,165 --> 00:08:20,875
One day he got
the word that
194
00:08:20,875 --> 00:08:23,420
his mother was sick and
in the hospital.
195
00:08:23,420 --> 00:08:25,463
And he called the hospital,
and he told the doctor that
196
00:08:25,463 --> 00:08:29,467
his mother better come out of
that hospital in good health,
197
00:08:29,467 --> 00:08:32,804
and then she died.
198
00:08:32,804 --> 00:08:37,225
So, Dr. Jerry Graham shows
up with a 12-gauge shotgun...
199
00:08:37,225 --> 00:08:39,102
a .38 caliber revolver,
200
00:08:39,102 --> 00:08:42,147
and an 8-inch long
hunting knife...
201
00:08:42,147 --> 00:08:44,107
And appears...
202
00:08:44,107 --> 00:08:46,818
in the intensive care unit,
where he fires a shot-
203
00:08:46,818 --> 00:08:48,236
[Bang]
204
00:08:48,236 --> 00:08:50,155
...at the doctor.
205
00:08:50,155 --> 00:08:52,032
And then goes down
the hallway and
206
00:08:52,032 --> 00:08:54,701
grabs the gurney...
207
00:08:54,701 --> 00:08:57,245
that his mother's
body is on.
208
00:08:57,245 --> 00:08:59,581
And as he's taking it
down the hallway,
209
00:08:59,581 --> 00:09:02,292
here come the orderlies
and the interns.
210
00:09:02,292 --> 00:09:04,586
And they're trying
to tackle him.
211
00:09:04,586 --> 00:09:07,088
So, he grabs his
mother's corpse and
212
00:09:07,088 --> 00:09:09,841
slings her over
his shoulder.
213
00:09:09,841 --> 00:09:11,092
And he's screaming,
214
00:09:11,092 --> 00:09:13,636
"I just want to take her
and bury her!"
215
00:09:13,636 --> 00:09:16,973
♪
216
00:09:16,973 --> 00:09:20,977
Jerry Graham was so good
at his chosen profession.
217
00:09:20,977 --> 00:09:24,230
And he was also
completely, utterly insane.
218
00:09:24,230 --> 00:09:26,149
♪
219
00:09:26,149 --> 00:09:28,860
After two years,
Eddie Graham
220
00:09:28,860 --> 00:09:30,278
could not put up with
221
00:09:30,278 --> 00:09:33,114
being partners with
Jerry Graham anymore.
222
00:09:33,114 --> 00:09:35,200
And he had to leave
the greatest spot that
223
00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:36,826
he'd ever had.
224
00:09:36,826 --> 00:09:40,038
In 1960, Eddie uproots
his family from New York,
225
00:09:40,038 --> 00:09:42,290
and settles in Tampa,
the hub of
226
00:09:42,290 --> 00:09:44,876
Championship Wrestling
From Florida.
227
00:09:44,876 --> 00:09:47,879
He was a visionary.
He said to himself,
228
00:09:47,879 --> 00:09:50,423
"I know my capabilities
as a wrestler.
229
00:09:50,423 --> 00:09:53,927
I can get over here.
I can be the star.
230
00:09:53,927 --> 00:09:56,471
And this whole thing
can be bigger."
231
00:09:56,471 --> 00:09:58,515
And over the
next 25 years,
232
00:09:58,515 --> 00:10:01,309
not only did he become
the most successful wrestler
233
00:10:01,309 --> 00:10:03,853
in the history of Florida,
and the most popular-
234
00:10:03,853 --> 00:10:06,523
but he worked his way into
being able to buy into the
235
00:10:06,523 --> 00:10:09,692
promotion, then taking
it over completely,
236
00:10:09,692 --> 00:10:12,445
and expanding wrestling
in the state of Florida,
237
00:10:12,445 --> 00:10:16,324
and made it the place that
everybody wanted to go
238
00:10:16,324 --> 00:10:18,409
to wrestle and to learn.
239
00:10:18,409 --> 00:10:21,412
Eddie probably bought the
territory just knowing that
240
00:10:21,412 --> 00:10:25,124
he had the wherewithal,
the brains,
241
00:10:25,124 --> 00:10:27,585
the connections
with the talent,
242
00:10:27,585 --> 00:10:30,713
to take the territory
to another level.
243
00:10:32,090 --> 00:10:33,383
Hi, I'm B. Brian Blair,
244
00:10:33,383 --> 00:10:37,804
and I started wrestling
in Florida in 1977.
245
00:10:37,804 --> 00:10:39,639
Got my start right
here in Tampa.
246
00:10:39,639 --> 00:10:42,183
Blair has him up,
the Airplane Spin!
247
00:10:42,183 --> 00:10:43,768
The Armory was hot.
248
00:10:43,768 --> 00:10:46,145
I would call it like
Saturday Night Fever.
249
00:10:46,145 --> 00:10:48,273
It was so entertaining.
250
00:10:48,273 --> 00:10:51,317
Tonight, we're in a jam
-packed Armory in Tampa,
251
00:10:51,317 --> 00:10:54,154
Florida, the home of
Championship Wrestling.
252
00:10:54,154 --> 00:10:55,738
All the wrestlers from
Championship Wrestling
253
00:10:55,738 --> 00:10:57,031
From Florida gave their all
254
00:10:57,031 --> 00:10:59,325
every Tuesday night
at that place.
255
00:10:59,325 --> 00:11:02,120
Growing up in Tampa,
wrestlers were just huge.
256
00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:03,454
The fans would
come up to them.
257
00:11:03,454 --> 00:11:04,831
We couldn't go anywhere
without someone
258
00:11:04,831 --> 00:11:07,167
wanting to talk to my
dad or my granddad.
259
00:11:07,167 --> 00:11:10,211
And it was telling that
Eddie Graham would have
260
00:11:10,211 --> 00:11:13,798
continued good relations
with Vince McMahon Sr,
261
00:11:13,798 --> 00:11:16,551
and later on with
Vince McMahon Jr.
262
00:11:16,551 --> 00:11:18,720
He was someone that
the other promoters
263
00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:20,930
all called to
ask for advice.
264
00:11:20,930 --> 00:11:23,600
[News] The president of the
NWA, Eddie Graham,
265
00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,144
now describing the
conditions in the contract,
266
00:11:26,144 --> 00:11:27,604
both wrestlers are to...
267
00:11:27,604 --> 00:11:29,147
[Jim] The National Wrestling
Alliance was an
268
00:11:29,147 --> 00:11:31,691
organization of promoters
from regional territories
269
00:11:31,691 --> 00:11:32,942
all over the country.
270
00:11:32,942 --> 00:11:36,988
There was no major decision
made in the NWA
271
00:11:36,988 --> 00:11:39,490
without consulting
Eddie Graham.
272
00:11:39,490 --> 00:11:41,284
He was president twice.
273
00:11:41,284 --> 00:11:43,411
He was well-respected.
274
00:11:43,411 --> 00:11:46,748
But he was a
complicated guy.
275
00:11:46,748 --> 00:11:49,417
Eddie would do some
violent things.
276
00:11:49,417 --> 00:11:51,753
He was a tough,
tough person.
277
00:11:51,753 --> 00:11:54,672
You either did what
he told you to do,
278
00:11:54,672 --> 00:11:56,424
or you were out.
279
00:11:56,424 --> 00:11:57,717
♪
280
00:11:57,717 --> 00:12:01,054
Now, there was the side of
Eddie Graham that
281
00:12:01,054 --> 00:12:02,722
did want to keep
the credibility
282
00:12:02,722 --> 00:12:05,141
of the wrestling business,
and guys were expected
283
00:12:05,141 --> 00:12:08,519
to lay shit in to
make people believe
284
00:12:08,519 --> 00:12:10,063
what they
were doing was real.
285
00:12:10,063 --> 00:12:12,440
Eddie Graham was
a stickler. He said,
286
00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,735
"If anybody here
gets their ass kicked by
287
00:12:15,735 --> 00:12:18,321
a mark, you're fired."
In other words,
288
00:12:18,321 --> 00:12:20,448
you get your butt kicked
by a wrestling fan,
289
00:12:20,448 --> 00:12:21,574
you're out of here.
290
00:12:21,574 --> 00:12:23,493
You protect the
business at all costs.
291
00:12:23,493 --> 00:12:26,120
I guess you could
call it, um...
292
00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:28,539
maybe a, a horror
chamber down there
293
00:12:28,539 --> 00:12:30,083
at the Sportatorium.
294
00:12:30,083 --> 00:12:32,543
The fellas would say they
wanted to wrestle,
295
00:12:32,543 --> 00:12:34,253
and they figured all
you had to do is
296
00:12:34,253 --> 00:12:35,922
get in the ring
and perform.
297
00:12:38,591 --> 00:12:41,010
They put them through
their paces and, you know,
298
00:12:41,010 --> 00:12:43,471
some of them were just-
they couldn't take it.
299
00:12:43,471 --> 00:12:45,640
I had to...
300
00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,892
do things that
I'm not proud of.
301
00:12:47,892 --> 00:12:51,521
Ah, that I didn't
like to do, but-
302
00:12:51,521 --> 00:12:53,898
A couple of 'em, I did.
303
00:12:53,898 --> 00:12:55,900
Well, they wanted you
to break people's bones.
304
00:12:59,946 --> 00:13:01,280
[Wrestler shouting
& groaning]
305
00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,867
Somehow, this guy
got booked for TV.
306
00:13:04,867 --> 00:13:07,787
He said, "Oh, I've
worked some local shows.
307
00:13:07,787 --> 00:13:09,789
I'm a butcher by trade."
308
00:13:09,789 --> 00:13:13,209
And I see Eddie's ears
perk up like a dog's.
309
00:13:13,209 --> 00:13:14,419
And the guy says,
310
00:13:14,419 --> 00:13:15,712
"I'm gonna make
you look good.
311
00:13:15,712 --> 00:13:18,089
I'm gonna tell all the guys
you're a nice guy."
312
00:13:18,089 --> 00:13:20,717
So, the guy drifts off in
the corner, and Eddie said,
313
00:13:20,717 --> 00:13:23,428
"If he doesn't come back
bleeding, you're through."
314
00:13:23,428 --> 00:13:26,973
♪
315
00:13:26,973 --> 00:13:28,683
I kept my job.
316
00:13:34,230 --> 00:13:36,190
I had a family.
317
00:13:36,190 --> 00:13:38,985
At that period,
it was my livelihood.
318
00:13:38,985 --> 00:13:39,986
[Off-screen] Right.
319
00:13:39,986 --> 00:13:41,571
It wasn't his livelihood.
320
00:13:41,571 --> 00:13:44,699
He was gonna go back to
that job no matter what.
321
00:13:44,699 --> 00:13:47,160
Worst thing I
probably ever did.
322
00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,787
Eddie's hard-nosed
ambition to dominate
323
00:13:49,787 --> 00:13:52,332
the wrestling trade
is all-consuming.
324
00:13:52,332 --> 00:13:56,085
But his desire for power
is far from his only flaw.
325
00:14:03,801 --> 00:14:05,470
Wrestler and promoter,
Eddie Graham,
326
00:14:05,470 --> 00:14:09,182
is known for his unrelenting
drive, limitless ambition,
327
00:14:09,182 --> 00:14:12,518
and his determination to
legitimize the business.
328
00:14:12,518 --> 00:14:14,729
Eddie was a go-getter.
329
00:14:14,729 --> 00:14:19,067
He had a portfolio
of a lot of property.
330
00:14:19,067 --> 00:14:22,403
He expanded outside of
the wrestling business.
331
00:14:22,403 --> 00:14:26,532
He wanted to write cheques
rather than receive cheques.
332
00:14:26,532 --> 00:14:30,578
Eddie wanted to elevate the
perception of wrestling.
333
00:14:30,578 --> 00:14:32,830
That's where he started
getting involved with the
334
00:14:32,830 --> 00:14:35,500
Boys Ranch, and with
charitable organizations in
335
00:14:35,500 --> 00:14:38,169
every town and every
county in Florida.
336
00:14:38,169 --> 00:14:41,255
They're furthering amateur
wrestling programs.
337
00:14:41,255 --> 00:14:43,466
Eddie was a rock star
in Florida.
338
00:14:43,466 --> 00:14:46,803
I mean, politicians were
kissing Eddie's ass.
339
00:14:46,803 --> 00:14:49,263
To be seen on Championship
Wrestling Florida
340
00:14:49,263 --> 00:14:52,642
when you were running for
office was a big deal.
341
00:14:52,642 --> 00:14:54,185
And I'm sure...
342
00:14:54,185 --> 00:14:56,437
Eddie got favours
from that too.
343
00:14:56,437 --> 00:15:01,234
Eddie was involved
in everything.
344
00:15:01,234 --> 00:15:04,737
I think Eddie put a lot
of pressure on himself.
345
00:15:04,737 --> 00:15:08,741
He never wanted to fail
in anything he did.
346
00:15:08,741 --> 00:15:10,910
And for most of the
things that he did,
347
00:15:10,910 --> 00:15:14,247
like flying and being a
boatsman and that-
348
00:15:14,247 --> 00:15:17,291
diving-
he was fabulous.
349
00:15:17,291 --> 00:15:21,421
His only problem was that
alcohol got to him.
350
00:15:21,421 --> 00:15:24,340
One night, Eddie was
drinking and,
351
00:15:24,340 --> 00:15:26,801
decided he was going
out on his boat.
352
00:15:26,801 --> 00:15:28,761
And his son, Mike,
was panicking
353
00:15:28,761 --> 00:15:30,596
'cause he took off
in the car.
354
00:15:30,596 --> 00:15:33,808
And so, Mike, as a young boy,
he got on his bicycle,
355
00:15:33,808 --> 00:15:38,729
and he drove to a cross
bridge over the water.
356
00:15:38,729 --> 00:15:40,773
And his idea was
357
00:15:40,773 --> 00:15:43,192
he was going to jump off
that bridge and
358
00:15:43,192 --> 00:15:46,070
onto the boat, 'cause he was
afraid his father would
359
00:15:46,070 --> 00:15:48,030
kill himself out
in the water.
360
00:15:48,030 --> 00:15:50,158
And thank God,
he missed the boat.
361
00:15:50,158 --> 00:15:51,742
I mean,
it wasn't there.
362
00:15:51,742 --> 00:15:54,203
'Cause if he'd have
jumped off of that bridge,
363
00:15:54,203 --> 00:15:58,499
he would have possibly
drowned in the water.
364
00:15:58,499 --> 00:16:00,126
That scared Eddie.
365
00:16:00,126 --> 00:16:02,170
That was one of his
sobering moments,
366
00:16:02,170 --> 00:16:04,213
if you want to call it that.
367
00:16:04,213 --> 00:16:05,840
♪
368
00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,594
Mike idolized his father,
and vice versa.
369
00:16:09,594 --> 00:16:11,471
I believe you told me
that your own boy
370
00:16:11,471 --> 00:16:12,889
does quite a
little wrestling.
371
00:16:12,889 --> 00:16:14,640
Well, yes, he does.
372
00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,559
In fact, I'm hoping
he'll take the state....
373
00:16:16,559 --> 00:16:18,978
state tournament in
the 95-pound division.
374
00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:21,647
-How old is he?
-He's 10 years' old.
375
00:16:21,647 --> 00:16:24,817
Even though he's a lovable
father, he was demanding.
376
00:16:24,817 --> 00:16:27,778
He put high
expectations on Mike.
377
00:16:27,778 --> 00:16:30,740
♪
378
00:16:30,740 --> 00:16:32,200
Then when my dad
started wrestling,
379
00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,785
he obviously started wrestling
under "Mike Graham".
380
00:16:34,785 --> 00:16:36,329
So, maybe that gave him
a little bit more of
381
00:16:36,329 --> 00:16:37,830
a chip on his
shoulder at times.
382
00:16:37,830 --> 00:16:39,832
[Announcer]
At 222 and 1/2 pounds,
383
00:16:39,832 --> 00:16:42,251
Mike Graham,
Mike Graham!
384
00:16:42,251 --> 00:16:46,672
He gave me all the tools
to get as good as
385
00:16:46,672 --> 00:16:48,633
I could get before
I turned pro.
386
00:16:48,633 --> 00:16:50,593
But even at that,
the pressure really-
387
00:16:50,593 --> 00:16:52,011
and a lot of it
came from him-
388
00:16:52,011 --> 00:16:54,138
I loved going someplace
where he wasn't
389
00:16:54,138 --> 00:16:56,098
gonna be 'cause
I knew I could go out,
390
00:16:56,098 --> 00:16:58,059
I could wrestle.
I could come back,
391
00:16:58,059 --> 00:17:01,145
and it wasn't
constant scrutiny.
392
00:17:01,145 --> 00:17:03,231
My grandfather did throw my
dad in the ring, be like,
393
00:17:03,231 --> 00:17:05,066
"Okay, let's see
what you got."
394
00:17:05,066 --> 00:17:07,777
Graham breaking up again.
Arm Drag Takedown.
395
00:17:07,777 --> 00:17:10,446
I remember my dad always
saying, "Nicole, don't worry.
396
00:17:10,446 --> 00:17:12,990
The bigger they are,
the harder they fall."
397
00:17:12,990 --> 00:17:15,785
He was not intimidated
by anyone's size.
398
00:17:15,785 --> 00:17:18,412
[Jim]
Mike was shorter and
399
00:17:18,412 --> 00:17:22,041
didn't have the same
over-the-top personality.
400
00:17:22,041 --> 00:17:24,794
But he had the wrestling
knowledge in there,
401
00:17:24,794 --> 00:17:26,754
growing up with
Eddie Graham.
402
00:17:26,754 --> 00:17:29,298
There it is, there's the
fall right out of the blue.
403
00:17:29,298 --> 00:17:30,758
[Cheering]
404
00:17:30,758 --> 00:17:33,427
So, he was a
very good worker.
405
00:17:33,427 --> 00:17:35,888
He was in plenty
of great tag teams,
406
00:17:35,888 --> 00:17:39,100
but the attention never
went on him, specifically.
407
00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:41,519
And to be honest, he didn't
want to be the top guy.
408
00:17:41,519 --> 00:17:43,271
He didn't want to be the
big star because people
409
00:17:43,271 --> 00:17:46,148
would have said it was
because of his father.
410
00:17:46,148 --> 00:17:47,942
[Kevin] Mike swallowed
a lot of shit,
411
00:17:47,942 --> 00:17:49,986
you know,
and let things go.
412
00:17:49,986 --> 00:17:52,196
He did as well,
if not better,
413
00:17:52,196 --> 00:17:55,032
than anybody I ever saw
at being a promoter's kid,
414
00:17:55,032 --> 00:17:56,492
to blend in
with the guys.
415
00:17:56,492 --> 00:17:58,953
[Announcer] And Graham
after Kevin Sullivan.
416
00:17:58,953 --> 00:18:01,163
I had the pleasure
of being his partner,
417
00:18:01,163 --> 00:18:03,374
and I had the pleasure
of being his opponent.
418
00:18:03,374 --> 00:18:05,626
Can't believe this!
They're going to hang him!
419
00:18:05,626 --> 00:18:07,587
I get violent, Sullivan.
I'm waiting for you.
420
00:18:07,587 --> 00:18:09,046
If you got on
Mike's bad side,
421
00:18:09,046 --> 00:18:12,216
you were on his bad side and
he wasn't gonna back down.
422
00:18:12,216 --> 00:18:14,510
He knew the pressure
he was under.
423
00:18:14,510 --> 00:18:17,847
He couldn't go home if
he got his ass kicked.
424
00:18:17,847 --> 00:18:20,516
My grandpa was bloody
all the time, right?
425
00:18:20,516 --> 00:18:22,351
My dad also was bloody.
426
00:18:22,351 --> 00:18:23,936
So, mornings
in my house,
427
00:18:23,936 --> 00:18:25,646
my mom would get my
brother and I up.
428
00:18:25,646 --> 00:18:27,982
My dad would be in bed
'cause he'd get home so late,
429
00:18:27,982 --> 00:18:30,443
and he was just
hungover and beat up.
430
00:18:30,443 --> 00:18:32,778
And we'd go in to like
kiss my dad goodbye
431
00:18:32,778 --> 00:18:35,990
in the morning, and there'd
be like tape on his forehead
432
00:18:35,990 --> 00:18:39,493
with blood and like bite
marks on his finger, and...
433
00:18:39,493 --> 00:18:42,079
the smell of alcohol
oozing from his body.
434
00:18:42,079 --> 00:18:44,707
[Laughing] And,
we'd kiss him goodbye.
435
00:18:44,707 --> 00:18:46,542
"See you later, Dad!
Have a good day!"
436
00:18:46,542 --> 00:18:48,252
[TV Host] Let me turn right
now to Mike Graham
437
00:18:48,252 --> 00:18:49,754
because I know he's...
438
00:18:49,754 --> 00:18:53,049
As the 1980s dawned,
Mike Graham joins Eddie
439
00:18:53,049 --> 00:18:55,176
in steering the ship at
Championship Wrestling
440
00:18:55,176 --> 00:18:57,011
From Florida, as the
company becomes a
441
00:18:57,011 --> 00:18:59,263
breeding ground for
wrestling legends...
442
00:18:59,263 --> 00:19:02,266
including Hulk Hogan,
Ric Flair,
443
00:19:02,266 --> 00:19:03,893
and Dusty Rhodes.
444
00:19:03,893 --> 00:19:05,978
I am the dream!
I am the man!
445
00:19:05,978 --> 00:19:08,230
Go on with it, baby!
446
00:19:08,230 --> 00:19:11,817
Dusty was like the
original surrogate son.
447
00:19:11,817 --> 00:19:15,112
He loved Dusty, and
Dusty loved him too.
448
00:19:15,112 --> 00:19:17,281
Dusty Rhodes, of course,
was always around.
449
00:19:17,281 --> 00:19:18,991
We'd all go out to
the beach together.
450
00:19:18,991 --> 00:19:21,619
Dusty would always say that
fat looks better tan.
451
00:19:21,619 --> 00:19:23,537
[Laughing]
452
00:19:23,537 --> 00:19:26,749
[Jim] Eddie Graham took
Dusty under his wing,
453
00:19:26,749 --> 00:19:28,376
and he became the most
popular wrestler in the
454
00:19:28,376 --> 00:19:30,044
history in the
state of Florida.
455
00:19:30,044 --> 00:19:32,630
[Brian] When Dusty
turned babyface,
456
00:19:32,630 --> 00:19:34,590
the territory was on fire.
457
00:19:34,590 --> 00:19:37,510
All of us became so close,
we were like family.
458
00:19:37,510 --> 00:19:39,220
[Announcer] And now the
ring beginning to fill.
459
00:19:39,220 --> 00:19:41,430
Gerry Brisco charges in!
Don Serrano!
460
00:19:41,430 --> 00:19:44,183
Brian Blair! And a
host of others!
461
00:19:44,183 --> 00:19:47,103
As this younger generation
elevates the territory to
462
00:19:47,103 --> 00:19:50,189
a whole new level,
Eddie, now in his 50s,
463
00:19:50,189 --> 00:19:52,358
decides to quit the
ring for good...
464
00:19:52,358 --> 00:19:55,194
just as his pursuits
outside of the business
465
00:19:55,194 --> 00:19:57,863
begin to
bring him trouble.
466
00:19:57,863 --> 00:20:00,116
There were a lot of things
going on in Eddie's life.
467
00:20:00,116 --> 00:20:02,118
He was torn
between two women.
468
00:20:02,118 --> 00:20:06,288
He was in business with
some shady characters.
469
00:20:08,541 --> 00:20:11,377
I could tell that Eddie
was drinking too much.
470
00:20:11,377 --> 00:20:15,673
He was maybe taking
too much medication.
471
00:20:15,673 --> 00:20:18,843
He had a lot of struggles
in his life, um...
472
00:20:18,843 --> 00:20:21,721
personally.
473
00:20:21,721 --> 00:20:24,390
[Dotty] When he came
back on the plane
474
00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:27,560
at nighttime...
475
00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:29,520
there was a store
that was open,
476
00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:32,898
and he could get a cheap
bottle of wine there.
477
00:20:32,898 --> 00:20:35,276
Every time he was driving,
478
00:20:35,276 --> 00:20:37,778
he would chug-a-lug
that wine down,
479
00:20:37,778 --> 00:20:39,321
and he would take
the bottle and
480
00:20:39,321 --> 00:20:41,782
he'd throw it
out of the car...
481
00:20:41,782 --> 00:20:44,410
into the grass.
482
00:20:44,410 --> 00:20:45,911
And he came
home one night,
483
00:20:45,911 --> 00:20:47,788
and the place
wasn't open.
484
00:20:47,788 --> 00:20:50,708
And he was so desperate.
485
00:20:50,708 --> 00:20:53,794
He went out into
the field there,
486
00:20:53,794 --> 00:20:57,756
and he grovelled around
in the dirt and
487
00:20:57,756 --> 00:21:03,012
found all these bottles, and
he sat there in the field
488
00:21:03,012 --> 00:21:07,975
and drank the dregs
out of those bottles.
489
00:21:07,975 --> 00:21:11,270
By this time, alcohol
had taken over.
490
00:21:11,270 --> 00:21:13,147
He couldn't stop.
491
00:21:20,988 --> 00:21:22,907
Consumed by
his alcoholism,
492
00:21:22,907 --> 00:21:25,826
and burdened with personal
and professional troubles,
493
00:21:25,826 --> 00:21:27,745
Eddie Graham struggles
to find meaning
494
00:21:27,745 --> 00:21:29,455
beyond the ring.
495
00:21:29,455 --> 00:21:33,125
Over time, people forget
who you are, right?
496
00:21:33,125 --> 00:21:37,004
My grandmother told a story
about how they had gone to
497
00:21:37,004 --> 00:21:40,216
a restaurant, and they
didn't know who he was.
498
00:21:40,216 --> 00:21:42,635
He wasn't in the
spotlight anymore,
499
00:21:42,635 --> 00:21:44,011
but I remember my
grandmother being like,
500
00:21:44,011 --> 00:21:50,226
how he was just not himself
after that encounter.
501
00:21:50,226 --> 00:21:53,479
When that career is over,
who are you?
502
00:21:53,479 --> 00:21:56,607
Who's looking back
in the mirror?
503
00:21:56,607 --> 00:21:58,818
One of the last cheques
my grandfather wrote
504
00:21:58,818 --> 00:22:02,154
was to a liquor
store for $8.
505
00:22:02,154 --> 00:22:06,116
In the memo, it said,
"Peace of Mind".
506
00:22:06,116 --> 00:22:08,369
I think if anyone's had time
of their life and
507
00:22:08,369 --> 00:22:10,955
they just can't find comfort
within themselves,
508
00:22:10,955 --> 00:22:12,915
and they feel like
everything's out of control,
509
00:22:12,915 --> 00:22:14,917
you just don't have
that peace of mind and,
510
00:22:14,917 --> 00:22:17,628
he couldn't find it.
511
00:22:17,628 --> 00:22:19,463
He turned 55.
512
00:22:19,463 --> 00:22:24,843
And, I had gone over to
my grandparents' house.
513
00:22:24,843 --> 00:22:27,096
And I was roller-skating,
and so I was like skating
514
00:22:27,096 --> 00:22:28,847
around him in circles,
and I'm like,
515
00:22:28,847 --> 00:22:30,808
"So, what did you get
for your birthday?"
516
00:22:30,808 --> 00:22:35,437
He's like, "55."
I was like, "55 what?"
517
00:22:35,437 --> 00:22:37,815
He said, "55 years."
518
00:22:37,815 --> 00:22:39,733
Looking back, I realize,
519
00:22:39,733 --> 00:22:43,696
he was telling me
that he was...
520
00:22:43,696 --> 00:22:45,406
done.
521
00:22:45,406 --> 00:22:47,700
♪ [Somber] ♪
522
00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:51,120
That he got 55 years,
was what he had.
523
00:22:51,120 --> 00:22:55,791
♪
524
00:22:55,791 --> 00:22:57,626
I was at the Super Bowl.
The Miami Dolphins
525
00:22:57,626 --> 00:23:00,379
were playing the
San Francisco 49ers.
526
00:23:00,379 --> 00:23:02,673
They paged me,
"Mike Graham!
527
00:23:02,673 --> 00:23:05,426
Mike Graham! Please come
to the box office."
528
00:23:05,426 --> 00:23:07,094
I walked into the box
office, and said, "Hey,
529
00:23:07,094 --> 00:23:09,221
my name's Mike Graham.
You paged me?"
530
00:23:09,221 --> 00:23:12,433
And the woman goes, "Oh,
yeah, you gotta call home."
531
00:23:12,433 --> 00:23:13,809
Call home.
532
00:23:13,809 --> 00:23:15,269
"What's wrong, what's wrong,
what's wrong?"
533
00:23:15,269 --> 00:23:18,314
"It's your dad."
"Dad?
534
00:23:18,314 --> 00:23:20,774
What's wrong
with my dad?"
535
00:23:20,774 --> 00:23:23,402
His wife, Lucy,
went out-
536
00:23:23,402 --> 00:23:27,531
is what she told
my daughter.
537
00:23:27,531 --> 00:23:30,367
And when she came back,
he had shot himself,
538
00:23:30,367 --> 00:23:33,370
not once,
but twice.
539
00:23:33,370 --> 00:23:38,042
That's what I heard from
what the coroner said.
540
00:23:38,042 --> 00:23:40,878
And, I will spare you
the gory details
541
00:23:40,878 --> 00:23:43,130
about the bedroom.
542
00:23:43,130 --> 00:23:45,633
He's in the hospital, and
he's hooked up to machines,
543
00:23:45,633 --> 00:23:47,676
and a family member
has to say to
544
00:23:47,676 --> 00:23:51,221
unplug him or
keep him alive.
545
00:23:51,221 --> 00:23:54,058
And I got back home
the next morning...
546
00:23:54,058 --> 00:23:56,352
and went to the hospital,
and there he sat,
547
00:23:56,352 --> 00:23:58,354
back in the corner of his
head all bandaged up
548
00:23:58,354 --> 00:23:59,730
and everything.
549
00:23:59,730 --> 00:24:02,900
And I said, "Well,
it was no accident."
550
00:24:02,900 --> 00:24:05,611
So, I looked at Mom,
and I said, "Mom,
551
00:24:05,611 --> 00:24:07,905
you know,
we gotta do it.
552
00:24:07,905 --> 00:24:11,241
He wouldn't want to be
here like this."
553
00:24:11,241 --> 00:24:13,827
So, we went out and said,
"Okay, pull it."
554
00:24:13,827 --> 00:24:15,329
And he lived about...
555
00:24:15,329 --> 00:24:17,206
ah, 5 minutes.
556
00:24:21,251 --> 00:24:22,378
It was shocking.
557
00:24:22,378 --> 00:24:27,466
I mean, everybody was
in a state of shock.
558
00:24:27,466 --> 00:24:31,053
It is with a deep set of
regret that I announce to you
559
00:24:31,053 --> 00:24:34,848
at this time the untimely
death of a friend,
560
00:24:34,848 --> 00:24:37,101
a colleague,
and a leader...
561
00:24:37,101 --> 00:24:39,144
Eddie Graham.
562
00:24:39,144 --> 00:24:43,148
♪
563
00:24:43,148 --> 00:24:47,319
I immediately
started crying.
564
00:24:47,319 --> 00:24:50,989
I, I couldn't
believe it, I mean...
565
00:24:50,989 --> 00:24:53,033
Why?
Why, Eddie?
566
00:24:53,033 --> 00:24:56,203
Why would you do
that to your son?
567
00:24:56,203 --> 00:24:57,955
To your...
568
00:24:57,955 --> 00:25:00,541
to your grandchildren.
569
00:25:00,541 --> 00:25:02,751
We were young, but
my brother was like,
570
00:25:02,751 --> 00:25:07,631
"If he loved us so much,
how could he do this?"
571
00:25:07,631 --> 00:25:10,718
My brother was very attached
to my grandfather,
572
00:25:10,718 --> 00:25:14,096
yeah,
very attached.
573
00:25:14,096 --> 00:25:16,724
[Kevin] I think that people
knew he was depressed,
574
00:25:16,724 --> 00:25:20,686
but they never thought
Eddie would go that far.
575
00:25:20,686 --> 00:25:23,981
He was keeping
that to himself.
576
00:25:23,981 --> 00:25:26,775
[Dotty] I think he bottled a
lot of it up because
577
00:25:26,775 --> 00:25:28,277
he didn't want people to
know he wasn't
578
00:25:28,277 --> 00:25:32,072
as strong as his
outside persona was.
579
00:25:32,072 --> 00:25:37,035
He realized that if he let
people know he was weak that
580
00:25:37,035 --> 00:25:40,122
there were people that would
love to have just walked in
581
00:25:40,122 --> 00:25:42,458
and taken over, and I think
he was probably
582
00:25:42,458 --> 00:25:45,127
fighting for the
territory, too.
583
00:25:45,127 --> 00:25:47,671
♪
584
00:25:47,671 --> 00:25:51,300
We hear the news, "Eddie
Graham's dead." And...
585
00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:53,635
holy shit, what's gonna
happen to Florida?
586
00:25:53,635 --> 00:25:56,597
We found out
within a year,
587
00:25:56,597 --> 00:25:59,308
Florida was on
its last legs.
588
00:25:59,308 --> 00:26:01,769
Vince McMahon was starting
the national expansion
589
00:26:01,769 --> 00:26:05,272
in 1984, and the territories
were going out of business
590
00:26:05,272 --> 00:26:08,066
because Vince was trying
to suck up all the talent.
591
00:26:08,066 --> 00:26:11,236
When WWE...
592
00:26:11,236 --> 00:26:12,988
started robbing
the territories,
593
00:26:12,988 --> 00:26:15,949
Eddie saw the writing
on the wall...
594
00:26:15,949 --> 00:26:19,203
probably much earlier than
most of the people did.
595
00:26:23,373 --> 00:26:25,375
Yeah.
596
00:26:26,710 --> 00:26:30,422
Yeah, big time.
597
00:26:30,422 --> 00:26:32,549
Well, Dusty left.
598
00:26:32,549 --> 00:26:35,093
Took the whole
crew with him.
599
00:26:35,093 --> 00:26:38,305
Dad had spent years
getting Dusty over and
600
00:26:38,305 --> 00:26:40,349
creating Dusty Rhodes,
but when Dusty left,
601
00:26:40,349 --> 00:26:42,267
he took half the
territory with him.
602
00:26:42,267 --> 00:26:44,520
And that really
made Dad mad.
603
00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:46,438
It was like he was almost
trying to kill the territory
604
00:26:46,438 --> 00:26:48,357
for taking all the
talent with him.
605
00:26:48,357 --> 00:26:50,984
In 1984, Dusty Rhodes
leaves Florida
606
00:26:50,984 --> 00:26:53,862
to work for
Jim Crockett Promotions.
607
00:26:53,862 --> 00:26:56,240
With the wrestling
industry in chaos,
608
00:26:56,240 --> 00:26:59,284
Mike Graham is still reeling
from his father's death
609
00:26:59,284 --> 00:27:01,703
when he inherits the
daunting task of leading
610
00:27:01,703 --> 00:27:04,248
Championship Wrestling
From Florida.
611
00:27:04,248 --> 00:27:06,458
Mike picked up like a man,
612
00:27:06,458 --> 00:27:09,378
ran the territory and...
613
00:27:09,378 --> 00:27:12,464
you know,
life went on.
614
00:27:12,464 --> 00:27:14,716
[Jim] Mike was,
obviously,
615
00:27:14,716 --> 00:27:17,177
attempting to
fill his father's shoes.
616
00:27:17,177 --> 00:27:19,054
It wasn't just him trying
to do everything,
617
00:27:19,054 --> 00:27:21,223
but it just, it wasn't
the same place.
618
00:27:21,223 --> 00:27:23,016
Where have you been?
You've been home!
619
00:27:23,016 --> 00:27:25,227
-[Indistinct shouting]
-Hey, shut up a second!
620
00:27:25,227 --> 00:27:27,813
They even ran an angle
after Eddie's death.
621
00:27:27,813 --> 00:27:29,356
The Freebirds
were down there,
622
00:27:29,356 --> 00:27:31,900
and they were trying to heat
things up, and they thought,
623
00:27:31,900 --> 00:27:35,737
well, if we desecrate the
memory of Florida's most
624
00:27:35,737 --> 00:27:39,283
popular wrestler ever,
then the fans will hate us.
625
00:27:39,283 --> 00:27:43,036
Like father, like son!
You're a loser!
626
00:27:43,036 --> 00:27:44,538
[Fans shouting
& screaming]
627
00:27:44,538 --> 00:27:49,251
Eddie would have wanted
Mike to use his death
628
00:27:49,251 --> 00:27:52,045
in something that
enhanced wrestling.
629
00:27:52,045 --> 00:27:55,757
I'm gonna prove to you that
he was more of a man
630
00:27:55,757 --> 00:27:59,136
than the three of you will
ever be as long as you live.
631
00:27:59,136 --> 00:28:00,804
Your [censored] are mine.
632
00:28:00,804 --> 00:28:02,890
It was too far,
it was too much.
633
00:28:02,890 --> 00:28:05,517
The fans could tell it was
desperation because
634
00:28:05,517 --> 00:28:08,020
they could see the
crowds had shrunk.
635
00:28:08,020 --> 00:28:10,647
[Nicole] At the time, things
were already shifting.
636
00:28:10,647 --> 00:28:12,691
I guess cable TV was
starting to come out.
637
00:28:12,691 --> 00:28:15,152
And my dad was
just trying to
638
00:28:15,152 --> 00:28:17,529
keep it afloat and,
no matter what he did,
639
00:28:17,529 --> 00:28:20,073
it wasn't gonna
quite stay afloat.
640
00:28:20,073 --> 00:28:22,534
Struggling under the
weight of Eddie's absence,
641
00:28:22,534 --> 00:28:25,537
the once great territory
lasts just two more years
642
00:28:25,537 --> 00:28:28,123
before closing its doors.
643
00:28:28,123 --> 00:28:30,334
Eddie would've been the only
one to be able to save it
644
00:28:30,334 --> 00:28:33,879
because of all
the NWA promoters,
645
00:28:33,879 --> 00:28:36,048
of every other territory
in the country,
646
00:28:36,048 --> 00:28:39,343
the one guy that had the
best relationship
647
00:28:39,343 --> 00:28:40,969
with Vince McMahon Sr,
648
00:28:40,969 --> 00:28:43,597
and would have had
one with Vince Jr,
649
00:28:43,597 --> 00:28:45,974
was Eddie Graham,
and he was gone.
650
00:28:45,974 --> 00:28:47,935
Mike and I were at a bar
651
00:28:47,935 --> 00:28:50,229
having a couple beers...
652
00:28:50,229 --> 00:28:52,147
just talking about his dad,
and all of a sudden,
653
00:28:52,147 --> 00:28:53,607
he broke down.
654
00:28:53,607 --> 00:28:56,902
I could tell that his dad
not being there
655
00:28:56,902 --> 00:29:02,282
weighed heavy on Mike
every single day.
656
00:29:02,282 --> 00:29:05,077
Already grieving the death
of his father and the
657
00:29:05,077 --> 00:29:07,412
loss of their family's
wrestling empire,
658
00:29:07,412 --> 00:29:10,666
Mike Graham is soon to face
another devastating tragedy.
659
00:29:18,298 --> 00:29:20,550
Following his father's death
and the collapse of
660
00:29:20,550 --> 00:29:24,054
their company, Mike Graham
must now forge a new path
661
00:29:24,054 --> 00:29:27,474
outside the promotion that
has defined his life's work.
662
00:29:27,474 --> 00:29:29,017
This should be an
interesting matchup-
663
00:29:29,017 --> 00:29:31,478
Mike Graham and
Diamond Dallas Page-
664
00:29:31,478 --> 00:29:35,232
to take on Bill Cashier and
Jushin "Thunder" Liger.
665
00:29:35,232 --> 00:29:38,318
By that point, Mike was
closing in on 40.
666
00:29:38,318 --> 00:29:41,405
He got a position with WCW,
and he was trying to
667
00:29:41,405 --> 00:29:43,949
help mentor some of
the younger guys.
668
00:29:43,949 --> 00:29:46,284
Obviously, people who knew
Mike and knew Eddie
669
00:29:46,284 --> 00:29:49,329
respected him and etc.,
but I think, unfortunately,
670
00:29:49,329 --> 00:29:54,167
he never made his mark in WCW
as anybody with a lot of pull
671
00:29:54,167 --> 00:29:56,628
because he was just one of
the soldiers at that point.
672
00:29:56,628 --> 00:29:58,296
Ah, right in the face!
673
00:29:58,296 --> 00:30:01,842
I think that when it shifted
and it was more theatrics,
674
00:30:01,842 --> 00:30:05,345
it was being written by
people that had no idea
675
00:30:05,345 --> 00:30:07,514
about wrestling,
he got a little bit bitter
676
00:30:07,514 --> 00:30:08,974
'cause he was old school.
677
00:30:08,974 --> 00:30:11,268
My dad was definitely
not a corporate guy.
678
00:30:11,268 --> 00:30:14,855
Mike never reached the
pinnacle of Eddie's dreams,
679
00:30:14,855 --> 00:30:18,108
but he still had a very
successful wrestling career
680
00:30:18,108 --> 00:30:20,569
and, he was a
good businessman.
681
00:30:20,569 --> 00:30:23,989
He had a great lifestyle,
he lived on the water.
682
00:30:23,989 --> 00:30:26,158
He had a multitude
of boats.
683
00:30:26,158 --> 00:30:29,202
He won a bunch of
offshore races.
684
00:30:29,202 --> 00:30:32,164
[Nicole] My brother loved
racing boats, and so,
685
00:30:32,164 --> 00:30:34,249
my dad and brother
actually got the chance
686
00:30:34,249 --> 00:30:36,710
to race a couple times.
687
00:30:36,710 --> 00:30:39,254
My dad never wanted
to sit still.
688
00:30:39,254 --> 00:30:40,255
He would always
be like,
689
00:30:40,255 --> 00:30:42,215
"Yeah, you sleep
when you die."
690
00:30:42,215 --> 00:30:44,801
He got his first tattoo
when he was 40,
691
00:30:44,801 --> 00:30:48,513
and it was, like a skull
with like fire coming
692
00:30:48,513 --> 00:30:49,848
out of the head and
a lightning bolt
693
00:30:49,848 --> 00:30:51,516
going through it.
694
00:30:51,516 --> 00:30:54,895
And then underneath it,
it said, "Peace of Mind".
695
00:30:54,895 --> 00:30:58,815
So, my dad would always
talk to my brother about it.
696
00:30:58,815 --> 00:31:01,234
Peace of mind, like,
if you don't have it...
697
00:31:01,234 --> 00:31:03,487
you have nothing.
698
00:31:03,487 --> 00:31:05,238
But like his
father before him,
699
00:31:05,238 --> 00:31:07,783
Mike's search for inner
peace often ends
700
00:31:07,783 --> 00:31:10,077
at the bottom of a bottle.
701
00:31:10,077 --> 00:31:11,453
He had two driver's
licenses, actually.
702
00:31:11,453 --> 00:31:13,288
One, legally,
under Mike Gossett,
703
00:31:13,288 --> 00:31:15,082
and one under
Mike Graham.
704
00:31:15,082 --> 00:31:17,250
♪
705
00:31:17,250 --> 00:31:19,419
So, Mike Gossett
got one DUI.
706
00:31:19,419 --> 00:31:21,755
Then Mike Graham got one.
707
00:31:21,755 --> 00:31:26,301
And then, his drinking
got so much worse.
708
00:31:26,301 --> 00:31:27,969
After my grandfather
passed away,
709
00:31:27,969 --> 00:31:30,931
he was miserable and...
710
00:31:30,931 --> 00:31:32,808
it just,
he changed.
711
00:31:32,808 --> 00:31:34,976
Normally, you know,
my dad was not like that.
712
00:31:34,976 --> 00:31:37,521
He never showed that
side to my brother and I.
713
00:31:37,521 --> 00:31:39,272
He was always
just upbeat.
714
00:31:39,272 --> 00:31:41,108
More tough to like
my brother, I think,
715
00:31:41,108 --> 00:31:45,695
because he wanted him to
be a strong, strong man.
716
00:31:45,695 --> 00:31:48,782
Stephen did have
to fight and...
717
00:31:48,782 --> 00:31:53,036
prove that he wasn't
a wimp, growing up.
718
00:31:53,036 --> 00:31:56,081
Because he was from a
wrestling family and
719
00:31:56,081 --> 00:31:58,166
he did have kind of like
a stronger build,
720
00:31:58,166 --> 00:32:00,836
I think everyone
expected him to be
721
00:32:00,836 --> 00:32:04,965
some tough,
mean guy.
722
00:32:04,965 --> 00:32:08,426
I think that that hurt him
in the long run,
723
00:32:08,426 --> 00:32:13,056
but he just kind of
never found his stride.
724
00:32:13,056 --> 00:32:14,975
We talked every day,
you know,
725
00:32:14,975 --> 00:32:17,394
text, phone call,
whatever.
726
00:32:17,394 --> 00:32:19,187
I sent my brother a
text in the morning,
727
00:32:19,187 --> 00:32:20,355
and he didn't respond,
and I just thought
728
00:32:20,355 --> 00:32:21,898
he was working or
doing something.
729
00:32:21,898 --> 00:32:23,400
And then my
dad called me,
730
00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:26,862
asking me if I'd
heard from Stephen.
731
00:32:26,862 --> 00:32:28,697
And I was like,
"I'll go check on him."
732
00:32:28,697 --> 00:32:32,075
♪
733
00:32:32,075 --> 00:32:34,286
And so, that's how
we found out...
734
00:32:34,286 --> 00:32:36,580
that he took his life.
735
00:32:36,580 --> 00:32:42,419
♪
736
00:32:42,419 --> 00:32:45,463
When I found my brother,
I, you know,
737
00:32:45,463 --> 00:32:48,049
ran outside and I
called my dad first.
738
00:32:48,049 --> 00:32:50,051
♪
739
00:32:50,051 --> 00:32:51,470
My dad was saying
he'd be there.
740
00:32:51,470 --> 00:32:53,763
I'm like, "No, no, don't
come here, don't come here."
741
00:32:53,763 --> 00:32:56,683
♪
742
00:32:56,683 --> 00:32:59,603
And so, once I
was able to leave,
743
00:32:59,603 --> 00:33:03,315
I walked in the kitchen
with my dad, and he said...
744
00:33:03,315 --> 00:33:04,608
[Exhaling sharply]
745
00:33:04,608 --> 00:33:06,568
He said, "It's a
good thing you found Stephen
746
00:33:06,568 --> 00:33:08,236
because if I would
have found him,
747
00:33:08,236 --> 00:33:09,696
you'd be burying both of us
'cause I'd have
748
00:33:09,696 --> 00:33:12,073
taken my life right
then and there."
749
00:33:12,073 --> 00:33:14,201
[B. Brian Blair]
It just floored me.
750
00:33:14,201 --> 00:33:18,788
I don't know what the demons
were that got him.
751
00:33:18,788 --> 00:33:22,751
Again, now I hear his, his
sister, poor, little Nicole,
752
00:33:22,751 --> 00:33:25,962
you know, just...
distraught.
753
00:33:25,962 --> 00:33:30,926
His dad, everybody,
distraught, you know.
754
00:33:30,926 --> 00:33:34,471
It just didn't have to be.
755
00:33:34,471 --> 00:33:38,099
I wasn't expecting it,
um, at all.
756
00:33:38,099 --> 00:33:39,684
'Cause Stephen and I went
through and saw
757
00:33:39,684 --> 00:33:41,228
how hard it was with
my grandfather.
758
00:33:41,228 --> 00:33:42,771
We saw what it
did to my dad.
759
00:33:42,771 --> 00:33:45,232
We saw how it absolutely
destroyed our family.
760
00:33:45,232 --> 00:33:48,026
But, with my grandfather
doing what he did,
761
00:33:48,026 --> 00:33:51,863
I felt that it
made it an option.
762
00:33:51,863 --> 00:33:56,076
It turned into something
that my brother felt,
763
00:33:56,076 --> 00:33:59,788
"Ah, he did it." Now we
have my grandfather,
764
00:33:59,788 --> 00:34:01,998
and my brother-
who is my best friend-
765
00:34:01,998 --> 00:34:04,876
you know, and I
found my brother.
766
00:34:04,876 --> 00:34:07,587
So, everyone was so
worried about me.
767
00:34:07,587 --> 00:34:10,423
But, I was worried
about my dad.
768
00:34:19,849 --> 00:34:21,685
Haunted by the death of
his son, Stephen,
769
00:34:21,685 --> 00:34:24,604
in 2010, Mike Graham
struggles with the pain of
770
00:34:24,604 --> 00:34:27,274
losing another family
member to suicide.
771
00:34:27,274 --> 00:34:30,610
I think every parent
blames themself.
772
00:34:30,610 --> 00:34:33,780
He said, "I must have
been a shitty son and
773
00:34:33,780 --> 00:34:37,575
a shitty father."
Pretty heavy.
774
00:34:37,575 --> 00:34:40,829
Sometimes we're our
own worst critics,
775
00:34:40,829 --> 00:34:45,750
and we're hard on ourselves
about different things, and...
776
00:34:45,750 --> 00:34:48,837
I think that, you know,
there's many things that
777
00:34:48,837 --> 00:34:51,298
Mike could have
thought about,
778
00:34:51,298 --> 00:34:53,466
and it was just another
one of the things
779
00:34:53,466 --> 00:34:58,680
just knocking on
the bad side of his brain.
780
00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:01,474
You know, between his dad
and now my brother,
781
00:35:01,474 --> 00:35:05,645
he just, he just absolutely
was crushed.
782
00:35:05,645 --> 00:35:08,648
[Kevin] Mike and I were close,
but we weren't that
783
00:35:08,648 --> 00:35:12,319
fuzzy, fuzzy good
feeling close.
784
00:35:12,319 --> 00:35:14,112
He called me up
and said,
785
00:35:14,112 --> 00:35:16,031
"Hey, you know I
love you, right?"
786
00:35:16,031 --> 00:35:19,159
I said, "I love you too,
Mike."
787
00:35:19,159 --> 00:35:21,578
And that was it,
he hung up the phone.
788
00:35:21,578 --> 00:35:24,080
♪
789
00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:26,958
My dad met my daughter
and I at a park,
790
00:35:26,958 --> 00:35:29,836
and I was like, "Dad,
this ends with Stephen."
791
00:35:29,836 --> 00:35:32,839
I'm like, "Look at her.
She doesn't deserve this.
792
00:35:32,839 --> 00:35:34,716
What your dad
did was horrible.
793
00:35:34,716 --> 00:35:36,301
What Stephen did...
794
00:35:36,301 --> 00:35:39,554
we're never gonna recover
from it, but this ends now.
795
00:35:39,554 --> 00:35:41,931
Look at her.
She doesn't deserve this."
796
00:35:41,931 --> 00:35:42,932
And he was like,
"You're right, Nicole.
797
00:35:42,932 --> 00:35:45,185
You're right, Nicole.
You're right."
798
00:35:45,185 --> 00:35:47,937
[Exhaling sharply]
799
00:35:47,937 --> 00:35:51,900
Less than two years later,
he did the same.
800
00:35:51,900 --> 00:35:53,902
Well, he was in
Daytona Beach.
801
00:35:53,902 --> 00:35:56,821
Bike Week or
something...
802
00:35:56,821 --> 00:36:00,450
with his wife.
803
00:36:00,450 --> 00:36:02,535
And...
804
00:36:02,535 --> 00:36:06,373
from what I gather...
805
00:36:06,373 --> 00:36:08,917
she went outside and said
806
00:36:08,917 --> 00:36:11,836
she was gonna go
see some friends.
807
00:36:11,836 --> 00:36:16,841
♪
808
00:36:16,841 --> 00:36:21,096
When she got back
and opened the door,
809
00:36:21,096 --> 00:36:25,350
simultaneously she
heard a gunshot.
810
00:36:25,350 --> 00:36:29,437
♪
811
00:36:29,437 --> 00:36:34,275
And, there was Mike-
812
00:36:34,275 --> 00:36:37,487
dead- in his son
Stephen's boots.
813
00:36:37,487 --> 00:36:43,368
♪
814
00:36:49,958 --> 00:36:53,586
He couldn't
break the cycle.
815
00:36:53,586 --> 00:36:57,090
You can't see what's
behind the person's eyes.
816
00:36:57,090 --> 00:36:58,925
They're telling you one
thing, they're smiling,
817
00:36:58,925 --> 00:37:00,593
but they may be,
you know,
818
00:37:00,593 --> 00:37:04,472
they may be just absolutely
torn up inside.
819
00:37:04,472 --> 00:37:07,016
Then you realize he's gone.
820
00:37:07,016 --> 00:37:08,893
End of story,
you know.
821
00:37:08,893 --> 00:37:10,937
No more,
there's no more.
822
00:37:10,937 --> 00:37:13,273
I mean, I was still trying
to pick up the pieces
823
00:37:13,273 --> 00:37:14,524
after my brother.
824
00:37:14,524 --> 00:37:17,444
And it wasn't, it was less
than two years apart
825
00:37:17,444 --> 00:37:18,987
between my brother
and my dad.
826
00:37:18,987 --> 00:37:21,030
After the conversations
I had with my dad,
827
00:37:21,030 --> 00:37:22,782
asking him, telling him,
begging him,
828
00:37:22,782 --> 00:37:24,784
"Please, this ends
with Stephen,"
829
00:37:24,784 --> 00:37:28,246
it was just a different
level of pain.
830
00:37:28,246 --> 00:37:30,248
♪
831
00:37:30,248 --> 00:37:33,126
Mike had been away from
wrestling for some time,
832
00:37:33,126 --> 00:37:34,669
and I hadn't seen him
in years,
833
00:37:34,669 --> 00:37:37,922
but then the news
comes out, and I-
834
00:37:37,922 --> 00:37:39,924
That was a shock.
835
00:37:39,924 --> 00:37:42,010
Even if you're not shocked
at anything in wrestling,
836
00:37:42,010 --> 00:37:43,344
you still think, well,
the same thing
837
00:37:43,344 --> 00:37:45,972
can't happen to two
different generations.
838
00:37:45,972 --> 00:37:47,849
They can't do
the same thing.
839
00:37:47,849 --> 00:37:51,060
And it happened to
three generations.
840
00:37:51,060 --> 00:37:53,521
You just,
how much...
841
00:37:53,521 --> 00:37:57,192
the same family, what-
how much more can go on?
842
00:37:57,192 --> 00:37:59,986
The pattern of suicide that
haunts the Gossett family
843
00:37:59,986 --> 00:38:03,990
reaches far beyond Eddie,
Mike, and Stephen.
844
00:38:03,990 --> 00:38:06,242
This heartbreaking
cycle of tragedy actually
845
00:38:06,242 --> 00:38:09,996
spans four generations,
and five men.
846
00:38:09,996 --> 00:38:11,915
A lot of people
don't know this,
847
00:38:11,915 --> 00:38:15,043
but Eddie's father
killed himself.
848
00:38:15,043 --> 00:38:19,422
And also, Eddie's brother,
Skip, killed himself.
849
00:38:19,422 --> 00:38:21,716
It's a very vicious cycle
850
00:38:21,716 --> 00:38:25,553
when you have more
than one suicide.
851
00:38:25,553 --> 00:38:27,680
One suicide is
one too many.
852
00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:29,474
But when you have multiple
suicides within
853
00:38:29,474 --> 00:38:32,477
the same family
structure, it's...
854
00:38:32,477 --> 00:38:34,187
just tragic.
855
00:38:34,187 --> 00:38:36,356
My only explanation
or thought,
856
00:38:36,356 --> 00:38:38,733
'cause I'm not a
doctor, obviously,
857
00:38:38,733 --> 00:38:41,861
but is that when
one happens,
858
00:38:41,861 --> 00:38:44,113
then it makes it viable
for someone else
859
00:38:44,113 --> 00:38:45,657
when they're
having a hard time.
860
00:38:45,657 --> 00:38:48,493
And also, the fact
that depression and
861
00:38:48,493 --> 00:38:50,537
addiction is hereditary.
862
00:38:50,537 --> 00:38:53,331
And unless you have
someone step in and
863
00:38:53,331 --> 00:38:56,834
recognize it, and
get help, and...
864
00:38:56,834 --> 00:39:00,463
let them know that it's not
normal what you're feeling,
865
00:39:00,463 --> 00:39:01,965
but it's gonna be okay,
866
00:39:01,965 --> 00:39:05,426
that just wasn't quite
happening in my family.
867
00:39:05,426 --> 00:39:10,139
Big-time lesson to learn,
because it isn't just...
868
00:39:10,139 --> 00:39:11,766
the people that go.
869
00:39:11,766 --> 00:39:14,310
It's the people that
are left behind.
870
00:39:14,310 --> 00:39:17,647
Every burden for
Nicole to carry,
871
00:39:17,647 --> 00:39:19,691
and every burden
for her daughter.
872
00:39:31,828 --> 00:39:34,622
We are at the old Armory,
which is now the
873
00:39:34,622 --> 00:39:37,500
Brian Glazer Jewish
Community Center.
874
00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:40,378
And, Larry Simon,
who was Boris Malenka,
875
00:39:40,378 --> 00:39:42,714
who my grandfather
had huge feuds with,
876
00:39:42,714 --> 00:39:45,925
his son helped put this
together in a way to
877
00:39:45,925 --> 00:39:48,344
commemorate all the
wrestlers that came here
878
00:39:48,344 --> 00:39:51,097
every Tuesday for
many, many years.
879
00:39:51,097 --> 00:39:54,809
So, it's, it's pretty
great to see, actually.
880
00:39:54,809 --> 00:39:58,146
This is my, my dad
and my grandfather.
881
00:39:58,146 --> 00:40:00,023
[Announcer] Mike and
Eddie Graham have won
882
00:40:00,023 --> 00:40:02,692
the Florida tag team
championship.
883
00:40:02,692 --> 00:40:04,402
"Nothing can keep
the fans away.
884
00:40:04,402 --> 00:40:06,988
This was the home of
the Titans of Tampa.
885
00:40:06,988 --> 00:40:08,615
And this will always be
the house that
886
00:40:08,615 --> 00:40:09,907
Championship Wrestling
From Florida built."
887
00:40:09,907 --> 00:40:13,286
[Voice breaking
& sniffling]
888
00:40:13,286 --> 00:40:14,829
♪
889
00:40:14,829 --> 00:40:17,415
I think wrestling fans
should know that
890
00:40:17,415 --> 00:40:21,377
they absolutely
respected the fans.
891
00:40:21,377 --> 00:40:24,797
And I hope that the fans
that met them felt that.
892
00:40:24,797 --> 00:40:26,507
There was so much good.
893
00:40:26,507 --> 00:40:28,551
So much laughter.
894
00:40:28,551 --> 00:40:31,262
A lot of good times,
and...
895
00:40:31,262 --> 00:40:33,389
those are the things that I
focus on more than anything
896
00:40:33,389 --> 00:40:38,311
else because they were
really exceptional people.
897
00:40:38,311 --> 00:40:42,523
I remember Eddie, my
Papaw, as bare-chested,
898
00:40:42,523 --> 00:40:46,694
with a cast net off the
dock catching mullet for us.
899
00:40:46,694 --> 00:40:49,989
A lot of love,
a lot of love.
900
00:40:49,989 --> 00:40:53,451
My brother, my bestie,
my best friend.
901
00:40:53,451 --> 00:40:56,954
I just wish he knew how
everyone loved him and
902
00:40:56,954 --> 00:41:01,250
wanted to be
there for him.
903
00:41:01,250 --> 00:41:03,878
[Sighing] Dad.
904
00:41:03,878 --> 00:41:06,589
♪
905
00:41:06,589 --> 00:41:08,216
We had that...
906
00:41:08,216 --> 00:41:12,804
tough relationship because
I called him out on things.
907
00:41:12,804 --> 00:41:15,515
But there was so much
love and respect.
908
00:41:15,515 --> 00:41:18,518
♪
909
00:41:18,518 --> 00:41:20,311
I miss my dad so much.
910
00:41:20,311 --> 00:41:22,897
I wish he was here to
see my daughter grow up.
911
00:41:22,897 --> 00:41:24,315
Because he's
missing out on a lot,
912
00:41:24,315 --> 00:41:26,317
but that I miss him.
913
00:41:26,317 --> 00:41:27,610
Some of the best times
of my life were
914
00:41:27,610 --> 00:41:29,362
with the Grahams,
and...
915
00:41:29,362 --> 00:41:31,698
with all the people that the
Grahams brought in.
916
00:41:31,698 --> 00:41:35,785
There is a plethora
of good times.
917
00:41:35,785 --> 00:41:38,246
A plethora of good times.
918
00:41:38,246 --> 00:41:40,665
They were dear
friends of mine.
919
00:41:40,665 --> 00:41:43,084
I enjoyed my
time with them.
920
00:41:43,084 --> 00:41:45,753
Wish we could have
had a lot more days.
921
00:41:45,753 --> 00:41:49,966
The thing to do is
not dwell on the bad.
922
00:41:49,966 --> 00:41:53,678
Dwell on the good, that's
what gets me through.
923
00:41:53,678 --> 00:41:57,724
Nicole,
love her, love her.
924
00:41:57,724 --> 00:42:00,435
She's the legacy
of that family.
925
00:42:00,435 --> 00:42:03,271
This is my grandfather
being silly with me, always.
926
00:42:03,271 --> 00:42:04,439
[Laughing]
927
00:42:04,439 --> 00:42:06,065
And it took me a while
to get to a place where
928
00:42:06,065 --> 00:42:09,277
I felt like I could finally
offer some type of assistance.
929
00:42:09,277 --> 00:42:11,988
And so, I found the Crisis
Center of Tampa Bay.
930
00:42:11,988 --> 00:42:15,283
And they offer
amazing services and,
931
00:42:15,283 --> 00:42:17,827
I feel that I've come to
a point in my recovery and
932
00:42:17,827 --> 00:42:21,164
healing that I can,
hopefully,
933
00:42:21,164 --> 00:42:24,167
get a word out there that may
strike a chord with someone
934
00:42:24,167 --> 00:42:27,378
to make them call for help,
or survivors that are
935
00:42:27,378 --> 00:42:29,672
struggling to get
out of bed because
936
00:42:29,672 --> 00:42:30,798
they've lost
family members,
937
00:42:30,798 --> 00:42:32,550
to know that they should
live their lives,
938
00:42:32,550 --> 00:42:36,345
to honour those
that they have lost.
939
00:42:36,345 --> 00:42:39,265
There has to be a lesson to
everybody that's watching
940
00:42:39,265 --> 00:42:41,517
this program that if
you feel suicidal,
941
00:42:41,517 --> 00:42:43,352
there's help just right
around the corner.
942
00:42:43,352 --> 00:42:45,104
And, I don't care
who you are,
943
00:42:45,104 --> 00:42:47,899
somebody loves you.
Always.
944
00:42:47,899 --> 00:42:50,193
You have to just make that
step by reaching out to
945
00:42:50,193 --> 00:42:53,362
someone, just to say,
"Something's not right.
946
00:42:53,362 --> 00:42:54,864
I'm having
these thoughts."
947
00:42:54,864 --> 00:42:57,992
Just speak up,
is what I'd ask.
948
00:42:57,992 --> 00:43:00,953
You can have fame,
family, money, like,
949
00:43:00,953 --> 00:43:02,872
but if you don't have
that peace of mind,
950
00:43:02,872 --> 00:43:04,165
you have nothing.
951
00:43:04,165 --> 00:43:08,252
My grandfather and my dad
clearly didn't have it.
952
00:43:08,252 --> 00:43:10,463
And, my brother
didn't have it,
953
00:43:10,463 --> 00:43:12,840
but it occurred to me
954
00:43:12,840 --> 00:43:15,218
less than a year ago
that I have it.
955
00:43:15,218 --> 00:43:16,969
And I had been wanting
to get a tattoo-
956
00:43:16,969 --> 00:43:18,596
I'm not a tattoo person-
957
00:43:18,596 --> 00:43:20,431
and all I wanted was my
handwriting that says,
958
00:43:20,431 --> 00:43:21,974
"peace of mind"
and a semicolon,
959
00:43:21,974 --> 00:43:23,601
which represents mental
health, you know,
960
00:43:23,601 --> 00:43:26,562
suicide awareness.
Very simple.
961
00:43:26,562 --> 00:43:28,189
And it's just an
amazing reminder of
962
00:43:28,189 --> 00:43:30,733
where I've gotten
with my life,
963
00:43:30,733 --> 00:43:34,570
and how I feel in peace.
964
00:43:34,570 --> 00:43:36,489
I have so much to
be grateful for,
965
00:43:36,489 --> 00:43:38,699
and I'm going to live my
best life because
966
00:43:38,699 --> 00:43:40,785
that's the best way
I can honour them.
967
00:43:40,785 --> 00:43:43,412
I am so happy right now.
Things are great.
968
00:43:43,412 --> 00:43:46,290
My daughter's thriving.
Amazing friends, family.
969
00:43:46,290 --> 00:43:48,793
Like, I'm, I'm really
happy actually.
970
00:43:48,793 --> 00:43:51,170
Does it show?
[Laughing]
971
00:43:51,170 --> 00:43:56,342
♪
972
00:43:56,342 --> 00:44:01,347
♪
973
00:44:01,347 --> 00:44:05,518
♪