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00:00:05,229 --> 00:00:07,231
What about wrestling here?
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00:00:07,231 --> 00:00:09,233
I find the
wrestling here is...
3
00:00:09,233 --> 00:00:10,443
a lot rougher.
4
00:00:10,443 --> 00:00:12,653
You know,
kicking, punching.
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A lot more, I guess you
call it 'dirtiness'. Yeah.
6
00:00:15,698 --> 00:00:17,491
Adams with that superkick,
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00:00:17,491 --> 00:00:19,410
that caught him,
that's his move.
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00:00:19,410 --> 00:00:21,661
[narrator] A judo champion
who came to America
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00:00:21,661 --> 00:00:23,413
with the dream of
becoming a star
10
00:00:23,413 --> 00:00:24,831
of the squared circle,
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00:00:24,831 --> 00:00:27,625
Chris Adams captured
lightning in a bottle.
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00:00:27,625 --> 00:00:28,960
The stardom that
Chris Adams got at
13
00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:30,128
World Class
Championship Wrestling,
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00:00:30,128 --> 00:00:32,380
'cause you gotta
realize on that level
15
00:00:32,380 --> 00:00:33,506
that Chris Adams
was here,
16
00:00:33,506 --> 00:00:35,216
you were a big star
everywhere.
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00:00:35,216 --> 00:00:38,762
The gentleman from
England, Chris Adams.
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Chris was the perfect
gentleman over there.
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00:00:41,848 --> 00:00:45,560
With his athleticism,
determination, and charm,
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00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,855
Chris had all the tools
to become a megastar.
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My dad, in Dallas,
was an A-list celebrity
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00:00:52,192 --> 00:00:54,486
that it was impossible
to go anywhere.
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He had this thing
with Steve Austin
24
00:00:56,196 --> 00:00:57,655
where he trained Steve.
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00:00:57,655 --> 00:00:59,491
Steve was gonna
make it in wrestling.
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00:00:59,491 --> 00:01:02,159
But behind the curtain,
Chris' most challenging
27
00:01:02,159 --> 00:01:04,286
opponent was himself.
28
00:01:04,286 --> 00:01:06,038
Life got in his
way a lot of times.
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00:01:06,038 --> 00:01:08,207
Sometimes Chris probably
got in his own way.
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When he'd get
a drink, man,
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Chris just turned into a
different person, man.
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00:01:12,252 --> 00:01:14,922
He didn't give a damn
about nobody or nothing.
33
00:01:14,922 --> 00:01:18,467
Basically looking for you to
say something that upsets him.
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00:01:18,467 --> 00:01:20,594
He was definitely
a Jekyll and Hyde.
35
00:01:20,594 --> 00:01:22,179
From Jekyll to Hyde.
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00:01:22,179 --> 00:01:24,097
I'm telling ya, it
was Jekyll and Hyde.
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00:01:24,097 --> 00:01:26,433
Alcohol brought out
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00:01:26,433 --> 00:01:29,686
something that
destroyed him.
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00:01:29,686 --> 00:01:32,648
One man with two
personalities on a
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00:01:32,648 --> 00:01:36,068
downward spiral that can
only end one way.
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00:01:36,068 --> 00:01:38,654
Chris got drunk,
got belligerent...
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he just started beating
the hell out of him.
43
00:01:40,822 --> 00:01:42,865
There was a gun.
44
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We were friends.
45
00:01:44,408 --> 00:01:47,036
I was best man
at his wedding.
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00:01:47,036 --> 00:01:48,996
It was a bad situation...
47
00:01:48,996 --> 00:01:50,873
it was a nightmare.
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♪
49
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Well you get at
233lbs from England,
50
00:02:04,053 --> 00:02:05,721
welcome,
Chris Adams!
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00:02:05,721 --> 00:02:08,015
[Cheering]
52
00:02:08,015 --> 00:02:11,602
Okay, so these were
in a storage unit
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00:02:11,602 --> 00:02:15,273
that my dad had, and this
is just an example.
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I know,
I keep everything.
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It was hard, it's still hard.
I still miss him, you know,
56
00:02:21,695 --> 00:02:24,531
I still think about
my dad every day.
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00:02:24,531 --> 00:02:28,618
I'm Jade Adams, daughter of
'Gentleman' Chris Adams.
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When he was traveling, he
would always write me notes,
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00:02:31,204 --> 00:02:34,207
letters, always send me
a birthday card...
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00:02:34,207 --> 00:02:35,959
pour his heart
out in it.
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"Dear Jade. Wow,
how time flies.
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I miss you so much,
munchkin.
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Yep, you're still
my munchkin,
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even though you're
nearly 14 and
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00:02:42,507 --> 00:02:44,217
a beautiful young
woman already.
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It seems that I have always
been struggling trying to
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00:02:46,261 --> 00:02:47,804
make it, and that
before you knew it,
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00:02:47,804 --> 00:02:49,347
half of my life is over,
and I've missed
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00:02:49,347 --> 00:02:50,640
out on so much.
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00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:52,017
I really want to see
you more often,
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family is so important.
I feel so guilty now.
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I think of all the things I
have done in the past that
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have hurt people and often
grieve about them every day.
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00:03:01,191 --> 00:03:02,735
Anyway, I thought
it was time that
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00:03:02,735 --> 00:03:04,028
I told you my true feelings,
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and I hope that you will
be able to forgive me.
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Love, Daddy."
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He didn't want these demons
as much as none of us
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wanted them for him,
I just think they ended up
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kind of catching
up to him.
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00:03:14,622 --> 00:03:16,874
But he was a
great person,
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00:03:16,874 --> 00:03:19,627
and a loving person,
and, you know,
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00:03:19,627 --> 00:03:21,003
he's not here to
defend himself,
84
00:03:21,003 --> 00:03:23,923
so I want to do
that for him.
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00:03:23,923 --> 00:03:26,800
Long before anyone could
imagine that his story
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would end in tragedy,
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00:03:29,511 --> 00:03:32,139
Chris Adams was a
spectacular performer
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who seemed destined
for greatness.
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00:03:34,934 --> 00:03:36,602
The American
heavyweight champion,
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00:03:36,602 --> 00:03:40,605
The 'Gentleman' from
England, Chris Adams.
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00:03:40,605 --> 00:03:42,440
[Cheering]
92
00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:44,192
I knew Chris Adams
very well.
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00:03:44,192 --> 00:03:46,778
He wanted to be the
best he could be,
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00:03:46,778 --> 00:03:48,696
and I had to admire that
about him.
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00:03:48,696 --> 00:03:50,365
I'm Kevin Von Erich.
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00:03:50,365 --> 00:03:51,866
I've been in the
wrestling business for
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00:03:51,866 --> 00:03:53,618
longer than I can count.
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00:03:53,618 --> 00:03:56,704
Chris was one of the toughest
guys I've ever known.
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He was really a master.
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00:03:58,247 --> 00:03:59,791
He knew what he was
doing in the ring.
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00:03:59,791 --> 00:04:02,168
Chris had a special
finishing move,
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it was a 'superkick' and
he kicked like a horse.
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00:04:05,129 --> 00:04:06,673
A superkick!
104
00:04:06,673 --> 00:04:09,092
And Kevin Von Erich
is on the floor.
105
00:04:09,092 --> 00:04:11,386
He invented his finishing
move 'cause when we discussed
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00:04:11,386 --> 00:04:13,930
the match, and how to get
him over when he got here,
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00:04:13,930 --> 00:04:15,682
he said, "Well, my
finish is a superkick,
108
00:04:15,682 --> 00:04:17,225
you'll know it
when you see it."
109
00:04:17,225 --> 00:04:18,935
[Impact]
110
00:04:18,935 --> 00:04:20,852
When he threw the
superkick for the finish,
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00:04:20,852 --> 00:04:23,021
we were like, "Woah"!
112
00:04:23,021 --> 00:04:25,941
Hi, my name is David Manning,
and I was a promoter,
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00:04:25,941 --> 00:04:27,567
a booker and a referee for
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00:04:27,567 --> 00:04:29,361
World Class
Championship Wrestling.
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00:04:29,361 --> 00:04:30,737
The last thing I do,
I'm gonna take...
116
00:04:30,737 --> 00:04:33,782
That costs $500! $500!
You don't get in my face.
117
00:04:33,782 --> 00:04:35,951
I'm the referee here.
Get out!
118
00:04:35,951 --> 00:04:38,745
When Chris did the superkick,
as he would kick he would
119
00:04:38,745 --> 00:04:40,664
also had a way where you
really couldn't see it,
120
00:04:40,664 --> 00:04:43,917
but he would slap his leg,
and it literally sounded like
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00:04:43,917 --> 00:04:45,460
he just tore the
opponent's head off.
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00:04:45,460 --> 00:04:46,420
And it came
back with it...
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00:04:46,420 --> 00:04:48,338
Oh! The superkick!
124
00:04:48,338 --> 00:04:51,717
A tremendous superkick
by Chris Adams!
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00:04:51,717 --> 00:04:52,801
That was it.
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00:04:52,801 --> 00:04:53,969
From there on,
he was just climbing
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00:04:53,969 --> 00:04:56,054
the mountain here
at World Class.
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00:04:56,054 --> 00:04:58,598
When Chris Adams come here
from England, you know,
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00:04:58,598 --> 00:05:00,516
he had them colours from
over there in England
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00:05:00,516 --> 00:05:02,935
and shit, man.
Oh, they loved him.
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00:05:02,935 --> 00:05:05,146
Oh yeah.
For sure.
132
00:05:05,146 --> 00:05:08,065
I tell you what the
situation is, brother.
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00:05:08,065 --> 00:05:10,776
Chris Adams
then went goofy.
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00:05:10,776 --> 00:05:14,780
I'm Iceman, and I used to
wrestle with Chris Adams.
135
00:05:14,780 --> 00:05:16,532
[Cheering]
136
00:05:16,532 --> 00:05:20,077
Chris didn't give a damn.
He was just tough, man.
137
00:05:20,077 --> 00:05:21,871
That dude brought
the superkick, man,
138
00:05:21,871 --> 00:05:23,164
was unbelievable.
139
00:05:23,164 --> 00:05:24,373
[Audience shouting & screaming]
140
00:05:24,373 --> 00:05:26,208
Now there's a superkick.
141
00:05:26,208 --> 00:05:28,252
And he could do
anything in that ring.
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00:05:28,252 --> 00:05:29,628
He was a performer.
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00:05:32,298 --> 00:05:36,177
I knew his brother had
won judo in the Olympics.
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00:05:36,177 --> 00:05:39,679
My brother and I, we were
both introduced into judo,
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00:05:39,679 --> 00:05:44,726
very early age, and it
was very much our life.
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00:05:44,726 --> 00:05:47,312
I'm Neil Adams,
Chris' younger brother,
147
00:05:47,312 --> 00:05:50,231
two times Olympic
silver medalist in judo.
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00:06:03,495 --> 00:06:04,829
Chris was a great fighter.
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00:06:04,829 --> 00:06:06,915
Whatever he did, he wanted
to be the best, you know,
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00:06:06,915 --> 00:06:09,876
and I think he got to a stage
where he knew he couldn't go
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00:06:09,876 --> 00:06:12,629
all the way to Olympics and
world championships and so
152
00:06:12,629 --> 00:06:14,589
he kind of
changed direction.
153
00:06:14,589 --> 00:06:16,883
World of Sport Wrestling,
which was the
154
00:06:16,883 --> 00:06:20,135
British Wrestling group,
they approached him and
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00:06:20,135 --> 00:06:22,679
that's how it started.
156
00:06:22,679 --> 00:06:24,765
Well, of course,
it was 'Big Daddy',
157
00:06:24,765 --> 00:06:28,268
'Giant Haystacks',
Mick McManus,
158
00:06:28,268 --> 00:06:30,312
and then
'Blackbelt' Chris Adams
159
00:06:30,312 --> 00:06:32,272
came into the fold.
160
00:06:32,272 --> 00:06:34,817
We ask you to welcome back,
very popular young star,
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'Blackbelt' Chris Adams!
162
00:06:37,528 --> 00:06:39,738
[Cheering]
163
00:06:39,738 --> 00:06:43,826
His good looks helped,
but also he was a showman,
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00:06:43,826 --> 00:06:46,787
and he could charm
anybody. [Laughing]
165
00:06:46,787 --> 00:06:49,414
He could, he could
really turn it on.
166
00:06:49,414 --> 00:06:53,836
I was 19, and my friend
and I was at the bar,
167
00:06:53,836 --> 00:06:57,172
and he just walked
straight up to me
168
00:06:57,172 --> 00:07:00,716
and said, "My name is
Chris Adams."
169
00:07:00,716 --> 00:07:02,677
My name is
Jeanie Clarke.
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00:07:02,677 --> 00:07:07,348
I was the girlfriend of
Chris Adams.
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00:07:07,348 --> 00:07:09,100
I thought, a very
good looking guy,
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00:07:09,100 --> 00:07:12,186
had really cute dimples.
I said to my friend,
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00:07:12,186 --> 00:07:14,897
"He looks a little bit like
Paul McCartney."
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00:07:14,897 --> 00:07:20,570
And gave me his
phone number.
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00:07:20,570 --> 00:07:24,407
I think I'd moved in with
him within a month.
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00:07:24,407 --> 00:07:27,243
Eager to glamorize and
elevate his TV image,
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00:07:27,243 --> 00:07:30,121
Chris recruits Jeanie
to join his act.
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00:07:30,121 --> 00:07:34,959
He came up with an idea
that I would be his second.
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00:07:34,959 --> 00:07:38,379
I was the girl that would
come in between the rounds,
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00:07:38,379 --> 00:07:40,046
and as in boxing.
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I don't think that it had
been done in wrestling before.
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00:07:43,175 --> 00:07:46,720
I did think he may
make a good star,
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00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,223
but only up to a
certain degree.
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00:07:50,223 --> 00:07:52,559
[Cheering]
185
00:07:52,559 --> 00:07:54,311
Though his fame in
England is growing,
186
00:07:54,311 --> 00:07:56,479
Chris knows it
has a ceiling.
187
00:07:56,479 --> 00:07:58,356
Instead of staying
frustrated,
188
00:07:58,356 --> 00:08:01,651
he and Jeanie pack their
bags for the City of Angels.
189
00:08:01,651 --> 00:08:04,195
After arriving
in Los Angeles,
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00:08:04,195 --> 00:08:07,324
about two or three
months later,
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00:08:07,324 --> 00:08:09,659
I became pregnant.
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00:08:09,659 --> 00:08:12,662
I loved it, and I remember
sunbathing a lot.
193
00:08:12,662 --> 00:08:14,915
Chris and I just
sitting on the beach,
194
00:08:14,915 --> 00:08:17,459
just enjoying
the sunshine.
195
00:08:17,459 --> 00:08:21,212
And then I remember Chris'
head turning a little bit.
196
00:08:21,212 --> 00:08:23,339
Beautiful girls
on the beach.
197
00:08:23,339 --> 00:08:25,007
They were tanned
in bikinis,
198
00:08:25,007 --> 00:08:27,051
you didn't see
that in the UK.
199
00:08:27,051 --> 00:08:30,596
I knew he was looking
at other women.
200
00:08:30,596 --> 00:08:34,516
Probably my first red flags
that something was
201
00:08:34,516 --> 00:08:39,980
going wrong, but because
I was pregnant, I felt...
202
00:08:39,980 --> 00:08:41,899
not good enough.
203
00:08:41,899 --> 00:08:44,693
As Chris and Jeanie settle
into their new life,
204
00:08:44,693 --> 00:08:47,112
a pregnant Jeanie is
often left alone
205
00:08:47,112 --> 00:08:48,864
in Redondo Beach.
206
00:08:48,864 --> 00:08:51,367
I didn't see a lot of Chris.
207
00:08:51,367 --> 00:08:56,205
It was very difficult.
I was very pregnant,
208
00:08:56,205 --> 00:08:59,874
and we didn't actually have
a lot of money at that time,
209
00:08:59,874 --> 00:09:05,004
so Chris, he went to
Mexico for quite some time.
210
00:09:05,004 --> 00:09:07,548
I went back alone
to the UK
211
00:09:07,548 --> 00:09:10,385
to give birth to Jade,
212
00:09:10,385 --> 00:09:14,180
and then finally Chris
came back to the UK.
213
00:09:14,180 --> 00:09:16,265
He was happy,
214
00:09:16,265 --> 00:09:19,352
but he said we were
gonna go back, and...
215
00:09:19,352 --> 00:09:21,396
that was the way it was.
216
00:09:21,396 --> 00:09:23,106
With the family
back together,
217
00:09:23,106 --> 00:09:25,400
Chris is eager to
return to the U.S.,
218
00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:29,612
but for Jeanie,
the thrill is gone.
219
00:09:29,612 --> 00:09:33,116
He started to
stop coming home.
220
00:09:33,116 --> 00:09:36,327
♪
221
00:09:36,327 --> 00:09:39,413
I think he was seeing
a lot of different women.
222
00:09:39,413 --> 00:09:43,291
But I do recall the
last straw was
223
00:09:43,291 --> 00:09:45,544
over a New Years,
224
00:09:45,544 --> 00:09:48,880
because he said, "You
can't come with me,
225
00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:53,385
but if you cook
and get champagne,
226
00:09:53,385 --> 00:09:57,889
we'll have a meal together
when I get back."
227
00:09:57,889 --> 00:10:00,600
And I did do that,
and...
228
00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:04,896
♪
229
00:10:04,896 --> 00:10:09,151
[Voice breaking]
Give me a sec.
230
00:10:09,151 --> 00:10:13,697
He came home
three days later.
231
00:10:13,697 --> 00:10:18,326
I did not want to
share my boyfriend,
232
00:10:18,326 --> 00:10:22,663
and the relationship
was over.
233
00:10:22,663 --> 00:10:27,293
But, remained amicable
after the fact, as friends,
234
00:10:27,293 --> 00:10:31,672
but I did not want a
romantic relationship.
235
00:10:31,672 --> 00:10:35,259
Yeah, he just said he wanted
me to come to Dallas and
236
00:10:35,259 --> 00:10:38,471
we both looked
after Jade.
237
00:10:38,471 --> 00:10:41,265
My mom and my dad were
separated when I was a baby.
238
00:10:41,265 --> 00:10:44,268
So when I lived in Dallas,
I saw him every weekend.
239
00:10:44,268 --> 00:10:47,730
Welcome to World Class
Championship Wrestling.
240
00:10:47,730 --> 00:10:50,066
You're going to meet the
newcomer from England,
241
00:10:50,066 --> 00:10:53,110
the former British Empire
champion, Chris Adams.
242
00:10:53,110 --> 00:10:54,987
I'm very glad to
meet you, Chris.
243
00:10:54,987 --> 00:10:56,697
-Welcome to Texas.
-Thank you.
244
00:10:56,697 --> 00:10:59,783
Well, at last I've
made it to Texas.
245
00:10:59,783 --> 00:11:01,493
Based out of
Dallas, Texas,
246
00:11:01,493 --> 00:11:03,661
World Class
Championship Wrestling
247
00:11:03,661 --> 00:11:05,663
was one of the
hottest and most popular
248
00:11:05,663 --> 00:11:07,540
wrestling companies
in the world.
249
00:11:07,540 --> 00:11:09,375
When Chris came to the
market here in Dallas,
250
00:11:09,375 --> 00:11:11,169
we had Iceman
King Parsons here,
251
00:11:11,169 --> 00:11:13,088
we had three Von Erichs.
252
00:11:13,088 --> 00:11:14,589
We had The Fabulous
Freebirds...
253
00:11:14,589 --> 00:11:17,926
so you had to be exceptional
to be able to draw the crowd
254
00:11:17,926 --> 00:11:21,304
and everything else to
take one of those slots.
255
00:11:21,304 --> 00:11:24,057
It was on par with the
Dallas Cowboys,
256
00:11:24,057 --> 00:11:25,266
and people loved it.
257
00:11:25,266 --> 00:11:27,811
It was incredible in
this area especially.
258
00:11:27,811 --> 00:11:29,479
Hi, I'm James Beard,
I've been in
259
00:11:29,479 --> 00:11:31,856
the wrestling business
about 40 years.
260
00:11:31,856 --> 00:11:33,900
It's not an easy job,
as you can tell.
261
00:11:33,900 --> 00:11:36,820
It gets kind of rough
in there sometimes.
262
00:11:36,820 --> 00:11:38,404
Up and over!
263
00:11:38,404 --> 00:11:40,572
[Cheering]
264
00:11:40,572 --> 00:11:44,493
Chris was incredibly athletic
and then can move like a cat.
265
00:11:44,493 --> 00:11:47,913
All the kip ups and the
dives and the superkick.
266
00:11:47,913 --> 00:11:49,498
There's a superkick!
267
00:11:49,498 --> 00:11:51,708
He was on par with the
Von Erichs, really.
268
00:11:51,708 --> 00:11:53,001
If you're on par
with the Von Erichs,
269
00:11:53,001 --> 00:11:55,295
you're pretty
much godlike.
270
00:11:55,295 --> 00:11:58,048
A tremendous roar
for Chris Adams,
271
00:11:58,048 --> 00:11:59,758
the Gentleman
from England.
272
00:11:59,758 --> 00:12:01,009
He had the charisma,
he had the looks,
273
00:12:01,009 --> 00:12:02,928
and he was a
good worker.
274
00:12:02,928 --> 00:12:04,972
But there was a way with
Chris Adams that
275
00:12:04,972 --> 00:12:08,183
he could be from
Jekyll to Hyde.
276
00:12:08,183 --> 00:12:11,353
Now when you people see
this, I just want you to see
277
00:12:11,353 --> 00:12:14,815
the fire and the
wildness in my eyes.
278
00:12:14,815 --> 00:12:16,900
Let me tell you,
professional wrestlers
279
00:12:16,900 --> 00:12:19,277
are usually ex-bullies
from high school.
280
00:12:19,277 --> 00:12:21,279
Chris was like
that, too.
281
00:12:21,279 --> 00:12:23,614
♪
282
00:12:23,614 --> 00:12:25,158
In Dallas when he first
got in the territory,
283
00:12:25,158 --> 00:12:27,326
I would drive with
him to the towns,
284
00:12:27,326 --> 00:12:28,911
and the guy
got lost once,
285
00:12:28,911 --> 00:12:30,246
and we have a rule
in World Class,
286
00:12:30,246 --> 00:12:31,998
you're at the show
an hour before the show.
287
00:12:31,998 --> 00:12:34,000
If you're not there,
then there's problems.
288
00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:36,210
Well, Chris was late.
289
00:12:36,210 --> 00:12:38,838
He blamed it on the guy
that was driving him.
290
00:12:38,838 --> 00:12:40,756
When you pissed
Chris off,
291
00:12:40,756 --> 00:12:42,925
his eyes would shine red.
292
00:12:42,925 --> 00:12:45,428
[Growling]
293
00:12:45,428 --> 00:12:47,763
Like a light
was on in there.
294
00:12:47,763 --> 00:12:50,141
And he choked them
almost to death.
295
00:12:50,141 --> 00:12:52,310
"Chris, you almost
killed him." He goes,
296
00:12:52,310 --> 00:12:55,688
"Well Kev, some people
are hard learners.
297
00:12:55,688 --> 00:12:59,357
Kev, I don't want him
to do it again."
298
00:12:59,357 --> 00:13:02,402
That's Chris
without being drunk.
299
00:13:02,402 --> 00:13:03,945
It was scared
a lot of people.
300
00:13:03,945 --> 00:13:06,072
Chris had-
gave off an aura,
301
00:13:06,072 --> 00:13:08,408
like this guy is
out of control.
302
00:13:08,408 --> 00:13:10,285
You know, he may hurt
other people, too.
303
00:13:10,285 --> 00:13:14,080
[Growling]
304
00:13:18,043 --> 00:13:19,044
[Cheering]
He is Chris Adams!
305
00:13:19,044 --> 00:13:20,587
Now established
in World Class,
306
00:13:20,587 --> 00:13:23,840
Chris' ambition is to
be the star of the show.
307
00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:25,967
But in a company
crowded with good guys,
308
00:13:25,967 --> 00:13:29,262
the path to stardom is
to become a villain.
309
00:13:29,262 --> 00:13:31,306
Any territory you go in to
where you got the
310
00:13:31,306 --> 00:13:34,059
promoter's sons, they're
always gonna be the top.
311
00:13:34,059 --> 00:13:36,937
Usually every week the main
event was always one of the
312
00:13:36,937 --> 00:13:39,438
Von Erichs taking on
whoever the heel was.
313
00:13:39,438 --> 00:13:41,774
We tied Chris up
with Gino Hernandez.
314
00:13:41,774 --> 00:13:44,902
Gino and Chris actually had
discussed it themselves.
315
00:13:44,902 --> 00:13:47,321
This was a way to shift
to be the main event.
316
00:13:47,321 --> 00:13:49,657
Chris Adams and Kevin Von
Erich ready to go against
317
00:13:49,657 --> 00:13:51,992
Jake 'the Snake' Roberts
and Gino Hernandez.
318
00:13:51,992 --> 00:13:54,620
It was a tag team match
and then Chris
319
00:13:54,620 --> 00:13:56,413
turned on Kevin
during the match.
320
00:13:56,413 --> 00:13:57,665
-[Cheering]
-Whoa!
321
00:13:57,665 --> 00:14:01,085
A superkick
on Kevin Von Erich!
322
00:14:01,085 --> 00:14:03,671
A strange, strange
turn of events.
323
00:14:03,671 --> 00:14:05,589
And the next thing I know
was he hit Billy and then
324
00:14:05,589 --> 00:14:07,549
Chris hit him with a superkick,
out of nowhere!
325
00:14:07,549 --> 00:14:10,302
They turn Chris bad,
got with Gino, you know,
326
00:14:10,302 --> 00:14:12,596
it was a hell of a lit
team together, man.
327
00:14:12,596 --> 00:14:14,014
We're the dynamic duo.
328
00:14:14,014 --> 00:14:16,517
1985 is gonna be our year.
329
00:14:16,517 --> 00:14:18,726
They were good looking
guys, great chemistry.
330
00:14:18,726 --> 00:14:21,062
They both were
great on the mic.
331
00:14:21,062 --> 00:14:22,605
Yeah, well,
we're real bad, right?
332
00:14:22,605 --> 00:14:25,066
We're bad to the bone!
333
00:14:25,066 --> 00:14:27,026
They'd come to the
ring with a strut.
334
00:14:27,026 --> 00:14:28,903
They had a way to
antagonize the fans.
335
00:14:28,903 --> 00:14:30,655
They were bad
to the bone.
336
00:14:30,655 --> 00:14:32,949
Chris and Gino,
what a team that was.
337
00:14:32,949 --> 00:14:34,659
We decided we want
to make the best
338
00:14:34,659 --> 00:14:36,369
wrestling
show we can.
339
00:14:36,369 --> 00:14:39,205
It was a feeling of let's
beat what we did last time.
340
00:14:39,205 --> 00:14:40,957
Let's, let's go.
341
00:14:40,957 --> 00:14:42,625
[Cheering]
342
00:14:42,625 --> 00:14:44,544
[Indistinct
commentary]
343
00:14:44,544 --> 00:14:46,587
One, two, three.
344
00:14:46,587 --> 00:14:50,508
Kerry Von Erich
pinned Chris Adams!
345
00:14:50,508 --> 00:14:52,343
The business was booming.
346
00:14:52,343 --> 00:14:53,970
The crowd, sell out.
347
00:14:53,970 --> 00:14:55,346
Are you listening
to me, man?
348
00:14:55,346 --> 00:15:01,268
Everywhere they turned over
3,000 people away, man.
349
00:15:01,268 --> 00:15:03,312
He was happier
because, you know,
350
00:15:03,312 --> 00:15:05,188
he was making
more money.
351
00:15:05,188 --> 00:15:08,900
He had a red Corvette.
Nice condo.
352
00:15:08,900 --> 00:15:12,029
Chris Adams and Gino
Hernandez, see ya guys!
353
00:15:12,029 --> 00:15:15,073
Well my dad lived
on Lover's Lane,
354
00:15:15,073 --> 00:15:18,285
and Gino Hernandez lived in
the same apartment complex.
355
00:15:18,285 --> 00:15:19,995
Everywhere they went,
356
00:15:19,995 --> 00:15:21,580
there was always
people following them,
357
00:15:21,580 --> 00:15:24,791
you know, wanting
to have a fun time.
358
00:15:24,791 --> 00:15:27,627
Teaming with Gino Hernandez
has elevated Chris Adams
359
00:15:27,627 --> 00:15:30,380
to the main event scene
in World Class.
360
00:15:30,380 --> 00:15:32,382
But along with the
money and the fame,
361
00:15:32,382 --> 00:15:35,135
stardom introduces Chris
to a new world of
362
00:15:35,135 --> 00:15:37,845
dangers and
temptations.
363
00:15:37,845 --> 00:15:39,555
San Antonio.
364
00:15:39,555 --> 00:15:41,474
After the matches we all
went to the Best Western
365
00:15:41,474 --> 00:15:43,517
up on the third
floor, man.
366
00:15:43,517 --> 00:15:46,228
They had three rooms, you
had two tables in each room.
367
00:15:46,228 --> 00:15:48,272
I'm talking about...
368
00:15:48,272 --> 00:15:51,192
bricks of cocaine.
And weed.
369
00:15:51,192 --> 00:15:54,904
Then the next room they
had pills and everything.
370
00:15:54,904 --> 00:15:57,198
They had a
pyramid built of
371
00:15:57,198 --> 00:15:58,908
Jack Daniels for
The Freebirds,
372
00:15:58,908 --> 00:16:00,534
then they had my
champagne over there,
373
00:16:00,534 --> 00:16:01,535
you know what
I'm saying?
374
00:16:01,535 --> 00:16:04,372
And then they had
a cop on each door.
375
00:16:04,372 --> 00:16:07,166
I said, "How in the ---- are
they doing all this dope
376
00:16:07,166 --> 00:16:08,834
and then these
police out here"?
377
00:16:08,834 --> 00:16:10,336
They was given the
police officers
378
00:16:10,336 --> 00:16:12,838
a thousand bucks
a piece, man.
379
00:16:12,838 --> 00:16:16,175
The police just turned
they ----in' heads, man.
380
00:16:16,175 --> 00:16:20,095
And women
un-----ing-believable.
381
00:16:20,095 --> 00:16:21,930
You'd get more
pussy on accident,
382
00:16:21,930 --> 00:16:23,473
then you don't
on purpose.
383
00:16:23,473 --> 00:16:25,892
[Laughing]
Hey.
384
00:16:25,892 --> 00:16:28,561
I'm just keeping
it real, man.
385
00:16:28,561 --> 00:16:30,814
Chris and Gino
outside of the ring,
386
00:16:30,814 --> 00:16:32,399
it was always a
dangerous situation.
387
00:16:32,399 --> 00:16:34,150
It'd be like you lit a fuse.
388
00:16:34,150 --> 00:16:35,693
The question is, when's
it gonna explode?
389
00:16:35,693 --> 00:16:37,112
I mean, we're into
sports cars,
390
00:16:37,112 --> 00:16:39,989
we're into fast cars, faster
women and fast life.
391
00:16:39,989 --> 00:16:41,783
I'm glad that they were
good friends,
392
00:16:41,783 --> 00:16:44,244
but obviously, you know,
it's sad, isn't it?
393
00:16:44,244 --> 00:16:45,203
You know,
what, what...
394
00:16:45,203 --> 00:16:46,705
what happened.
395
00:16:46,705 --> 00:16:48,498
Hernandez, whose real
name is Charles Wolfe,
396
00:16:48,498 --> 00:16:50,291
was only 29 years old.
397
00:16:50,291 --> 00:16:53,002
The popular wrestling star's
badly decomposed body was
398
00:16:53,002 --> 00:16:55,630
discovered late last night
at his home in Highland Park.
399
00:16:55,630 --> 00:16:58,132
He had apparently been
dead for several days.
400
00:16:58,132 --> 00:17:00,634
On February 2nd, 1986,
401
00:17:00,634 --> 00:17:02,511
Gino Hernandez dies of
402
00:17:02,511 --> 00:17:05,514
what was ruled as a
cocaine overdose.
403
00:17:05,514 --> 00:17:07,266
It blew me away, man.
404
00:17:07,266 --> 00:17:09,560
That blew me
the ---- away.
405
00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:10,978
What has happened
is a tragedy.
406
00:17:10,978 --> 00:17:12,521
He was a great competitor.
407
00:17:12,521 --> 00:17:14,064
One time American
heavyweight champion,
408
00:17:14,064 --> 00:17:15,941
several times Texas
heavyweight champion.
409
00:17:15,941 --> 00:17:18,277
When you talk about someone
like Gino Hernandez,
410
00:17:18,277 --> 00:17:21,029
a man who lived the life in
the fast lane and
411
00:17:21,029 --> 00:17:22,990
loved the life
in the fast lane.
412
00:17:22,990 --> 00:17:26,410
In the wake of Gino's death,
Chris' use of drugs and
413
00:17:26,410 --> 00:17:29,913
alcohol begins to worry
those closest to him.
414
00:17:29,913 --> 00:17:31,165
Sometimes he'd phone me,
415
00:17:31,165 --> 00:17:33,500
and I'd know if he'd had
too much to drink.
416
00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:35,043
I really worried
about that.
417
00:17:35,043 --> 00:17:38,838
I said, "You need to calm
down if you can, brother."
418
00:17:38,838 --> 00:17:43,676
Chris was Chris until
alcohol got involved,
419
00:17:43,676 --> 00:17:46,053
and then it was Chris the
demon, and he would
420
00:17:46,053 --> 00:17:49,140
get mean, and he
could get vicious.
421
00:17:49,140 --> 00:17:51,642
In Israel it happened,
and I'll never forget,
422
00:17:51,642 --> 00:17:54,145
I get a call from the local
promoter there and
423
00:17:54,145 --> 00:17:55,271
he's like, "You gotta
get over here.
424
00:17:55,271 --> 00:17:56,522
You gotta get over here.
425
00:17:56,522 --> 00:17:58,065
Chris got in an argument
with the bartender and
426
00:17:58,065 --> 00:17:59,984
he super-kicked him in the
side of the head and
427
00:17:59,984 --> 00:18:01,778
it knocked his eye out."
428
00:18:01,778 --> 00:18:03,905
I mean his eye
literally came out.
429
00:18:03,905 --> 00:18:06,908
But Chris' drinking and bar
fighting don't detract from
430
00:18:06,908 --> 00:18:09,577
his appeal, as he strikes
up a new relationship
431
00:18:09,577 --> 00:18:12,121
with a woman named
Toni Collins.
432
00:18:12,121 --> 00:18:14,373
There was always a bar we
would stop at in Fort Worth,
433
00:18:14,373 --> 00:18:16,541
that gave us free alcohol-
[Chuckling]
434
00:18:16,541 --> 00:18:18,210
for the publicity
if we'd all come by there
435
00:18:18,210 --> 00:18:19,628
after the matches.
436
00:18:19,628 --> 00:18:22,005
And that's actually
where he met Toni.
437
00:18:22,005 --> 00:18:23,173
One thing led to
the other and
438
00:18:23,173 --> 00:18:24,716
they end up
getting married.
439
00:18:24,716 --> 00:18:29,054
It was fast. He loved her,
I know that for a fact.
440
00:18:29,054 --> 00:18:31,056
Toni was my brother,
Chris' mom.
441
00:18:31,056 --> 00:18:33,183
I loved her. She was
like a mother to me.
442
00:18:33,183 --> 00:18:35,310
She was absolutely
amazing.
443
00:18:35,310 --> 00:18:38,230
-[Effort grunting]
-Oh! Oh!
444
00:18:38,230 --> 00:18:39,397
[Laughing]
445
00:18:39,397 --> 00:18:41,274
Would you like a kick too?
Here we go. Agh!
446
00:18:41,274 --> 00:18:45,445
Oh, hey.
[Laughing]
447
00:18:45,445 --> 00:18:49,074
I think my dad met his
match with her, for sure.
448
00:18:49,074 --> 00:18:51,576
My name is Chris Adams Jr.
449
00:18:51,576 --> 00:18:53,370
I am 'Gentleman'
Chris Adams' son.
450
00:18:53,370 --> 00:18:56,622
My dad always said
that she was a 6'4,
451
00:18:56,622 --> 00:18:59,124
400lb man trapped
in the body of a
452
00:18:59,124 --> 00:19:01,126
5'2,
100lb woman.
453
00:19:01,126 --> 00:19:04,129
She was very strong willed,
she was very fierce,
454
00:19:04,129 --> 00:19:06,632
but also very kind
and very loving.
455
00:19:06,632 --> 00:19:10,135
Any hope that marriage
might soften Chris' temper
456
00:19:10,135 --> 00:19:12,930
is quickly lost.
457
00:19:12,930 --> 00:19:14,890
We had had a show
in the Caribbean,
458
00:19:14,890 --> 00:19:17,351
and we were headed back,
and there was some kind of
459
00:19:17,351 --> 00:19:19,436
equipment malfunction
on the plane,
460
00:19:19,436 --> 00:19:21,814
and there was a delay
for hours and hours.
461
00:19:21,814 --> 00:19:24,024
But ain't no air
conditioning or nothing,
462
00:19:24,024 --> 00:19:26,360
it's just hot!
People sweating and shit.
463
00:19:26,360 --> 00:19:28,529
So they serving drinks.
464
00:19:28,529 --> 00:19:30,990
Chris drank until
they took off.
465
00:19:30,990 --> 00:19:32,741
Now they're headed back,
they're in the air,
466
00:19:32,741 --> 00:19:35,786
and after about two more
drinks they cut him off,
467
00:19:35,786 --> 00:19:38,413
and they told him he couldn't
have any more alcohol.
468
00:19:38,413 --> 00:19:42,083
I'm in my seat asleep and
the stewardess comes back and
469
00:19:42,083 --> 00:19:45,128
shakes me awake and says,
"Please get your friend."
470
00:19:45,128 --> 00:19:47,589
He's pissed off.
471
00:19:47,589 --> 00:19:49,173
And Chris Adams already
lit now he said,
472
00:19:49,173 --> 00:19:52,677
"Get out the way, bitch."
And when he said bitch,
473
00:19:52,677 --> 00:19:56,556
she said- Wop!
And slapped him.
474
00:19:56,556 --> 00:19:58,516
And he slapped her back.
475
00:19:58,516 --> 00:20:01,477
[Impact]
476
00:20:01,477 --> 00:20:03,646
And that airplane pilot reach
in there and grabbed him,
477
00:20:03,646 --> 00:20:06,482
and shook him, say,
"What's your problem"?
478
00:20:06,482 --> 00:20:09,569
Chris' eyes were that red
light, goes on his eye.
479
00:20:09,569 --> 00:20:13,489
Chris Adams had that co-pilot
by the lapels of his coat,
480
00:20:13,489 --> 00:20:16,074
and his feet weren't
even touching the ground.
481
00:20:16,074 --> 00:20:19,161
And Chris said,
"Feel the power"!
482
00:20:19,161 --> 00:20:22,789
And was pumpin' his
head into his face.
483
00:20:22,789 --> 00:20:24,917
And blood everywhere.
484
00:20:24,917 --> 00:20:26,418
If he wouldn't have
had the alcohol,
485
00:20:26,418 --> 00:20:28,045
it would have
never happened.
486
00:20:28,045 --> 00:20:30,505
It's just that Chris was
just not Chris Adams
487
00:20:30,505 --> 00:20:32,883
anymore once he
got intoxicated.
488
00:20:32,883 --> 00:20:34,926
Sometimes something like
that's a wakeup call,
489
00:20:34,926 --> 00:20:37,304
but Chris just continued
to have problems.
490
00:20:37,304 --> 00:20:40,098
♪
491
00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:47,522
Arrested for headbutting
a pilot on a flight back
492
00:20:47,522 --> 00:20:49,900
from Puerto Rico,
Chris Adams has put
493
00:20:49,900 --> 00:20:52,736
the future of his
career in jeopardy.
494
00:20:52,736 --> 00:20:54,112
It's one of those kind of
situations that
495
00:20:54,112 --> 00:20:55,780
when you start
to sober up,
496
00:20:55,780 --> 00:20:59,283
you realize the magnitude
of your mistake
497
00:20:59,283 --> 00:21:01,619
and what
you've done wrong.
498
00:21:01,619 --> 00:21:03,954
And that was bad publicity
for World Class.
499
00:21:03,954 --> 00:21:05,122
It didn't go away,
500
00:21:05,122 --> 00:21:07,917
Chris ended up getting
some prison time.
501
00:21:07,917 --> 00:21:10,086
I think that hurt
his reputation a lot,
502
00:21:10,086 --> 00:21:13,547
once fans started finding
out a little bit about that.
503
00:21:13,547 --> 00:21:15,716
This made national news.
504
00:21:15,716 --> 00:21:18,344
A wrestler headbutts pilot.
505
00:21:18,344 --> 00:21:20,304
We had a meeting at the
office, and he told Chris,
506
00:21:20,304 --> 00:21:22,056
you know, "I don't know
what's going on with you,
507
00:21:22,056 --> 00:21:24,433
but you got to
straighten up."
508
00:21:24,433 --> 00:21:25,935
He brought shame on us,
no doubt.
509
00:21:25,935 --> 00:21:27,937
That's... terrible.
510
00:21:27,937 --> 00:21:29,980
And I know that
everybody enjoys a drink.
511
00:21:29,980 --> 00:21:31,941
Everybody likes
that last drink.
512
00:21:31,941 --> 00:21:35,069
But you see, that's
where the problem begins.
513
00:21:35,069 --> 00:21:37,529
I think he realized that
you've got to change.
514
00:21:37,529 --> 00:21:39,531
You know that um,
I've gotta,
515
00:21:39,531 --> 00:21:42,283
I've gotta get a hold of this,
and I gotta change it.
516
00:21:42,283 --> 00:21:46,162
With his dangerous reputation
now hobbling his career,
517
00:21:46,162 --> 00:21:48,248
Chris begins looking
for new ways to
518
00:21:48,248 --> 00:21:50,375
capitalize on his fame.
519
00:21:50,375 --> 00:21:53,795
Chris was always kind of
industrious and looking for
520
00:21:53,795 --> 00:21:56,381
a way to make something
outside the business.
521
00:21:56,381 --> 00:21:58,341
He used, I guess
that, that,
522
00:21:58,341 --> 00:22:00,885
celebrity to kind of draw
people into it.
523
00:22:00,885 --> 00:22:02,554
Hello, everybody.
This is 'Gentleman'
524
00:22:02,554 --> 00:22:04,389
Chris Adams here again
to give you another
525
00:22:04,389 --> 00:22:07,016
update on my own
personalized coaching class.
526
00:22:07,016 --> 00:22:09,477
We'll put you on your own
course that last
527
00:22:09,477 --> 00:22:12,272
anything from nine months
to two years.
528
00:22:12,272 --> 00:22:14,149
Talked him into starting
The Wrestling School
529
00:22:14,149 --> 00:22:15,899
at the Sportatorium
in the day.
530
00:22:15,899 --> 00:22:17,234
Hello, I'm Tom Lance,
531
00:22:17,234 --> 00:22:19,611
and I was very good
friends with Chris Adams.
532
00:22:19,611 --> 00:22:21,363
One of our first
students was, you know,
533
00:22:21,363 --> 00:22:24,116
Steve Williams who became
'Stone Cold' Steve Austin.
534
00:22:24,116 --> 00:22:26,827
'Cause Stone Cold
said so.
535
00:22:26,827 --> 00:22:30,706
The name is not
Steve Williams,
536
00:22:30,706 --> 00:22:33,751
it's Austin.
Steve Austin.
537
00:22:33,751 --> 00:22:35,294
And don't forget it.
538
00:22:35,294 --> 00:22:36,628
What Chris did with
Steve, you know,
539
00:22:36,628 --> 00:22:39,089
was to teach him
some of the basics,
540
00:22:39,089 --> 00:22:42,176
some of the fundamental
principles of, of combat.
541
00:22:42,176 --> 00:22:43,260
[Cheering]
542
00:22:43,260 --> 00:22:45,929
You know the story
on these two.
543
00:22:45,929 --> 00:22:48,807
Steve Austin, an individual
off the street who came
544
00:22:48,807 --> 00:22:51,435
into the USWA
Wrestling Academy.
545
00:22:51,435 --> 00:22:54,062
Chris immediately recognized
the promise in this young
546
00:22:54,062 --> 00:22:56,814
blond, helping develop
his body a little further.
547
00:22:56,814 --> 00:22:59,317
I give Chris credit.
He did train Steve.
548
00:22:59,317 --> 00:23:01,611
While training the
future Steve Austin,
549
00:23:01,611 --> 00:23:05,072
Chris introduces his new
friend to an old flame.
550
00:23:05,072 --> 00:23:09,660
I wanna bring down the
sexiest girl in America.
551
00:23:09,660 --> 00:23:13,498
The gorgeous and
lovely Jeanie.
552
00:23:13,498 --> 00:23:15,500
What relationship
does she have with you?
553
00:23:15,500 --> 00:23:17,460
That's none of
your business, Mark.
554
00:23:17,460 --> 00:23:19,879
What ended up happening was
my dad put my mom and
555
00:23:19,879 --> 00:23:21,631
Steve together to
do like, an angle.
556
00:23:21,631 --> 00:23:24,675
And then they
started dating.
557
00:23:24,675 --> 00:23:27,428
With his ex-girlfriend now
dating his top student,
558
00:23:27,428 --> 00:23:29,722
Chris cooks up an angle
designed to put him
559
00:23:29,722 --> 00:23:31,599
back in the main event.
560
00:23:31,599 --> 00:23:33,684
Jeanie comes in
as the ex,
561
00:23:33,684 --> 00:23:36,728
and she's teaming
with Steve Austin.
562
00:23:36,728 --> 00:23:39,022
And that turned
into a pretty hot angle.
563
00:23:39,022 --> 00:23:41,358
You're jealous of
Steve because
564
00:23:41,358 --> 00:23:44,027
he is a real man.
565
00:23:44,027 --> 00:23:46,863
My mom, my dad,
566
00:23:46,863 --> 00:23:49,032
my stepmom,
and my stepdad
567
00:23:49,032 --> 00:23:51,243
all did an angle
together wrestling,
568
00:23:51,243 --> 00:23:53,203
and it was...
yeah, it was wild.
569
00:23:53,203 --> 00:23:56,164
It was not your traditional
job for your parents.
570
00:23:56,164 --> 00:23:57,332
[Laughing]
571
00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:15,057
But I'll tell
you what, Austin,
572
00:24:15,057 --> 00:24:18,394
there's not room enough
in Texas for you and I.
573
00:24:18,394 --> 00:24:19,895
Be honest,
Chris directed
574
00:24:19,895 --> 00:24:23,023
every single part
of that for me.
575
00:24:23,023 --> 00:24:25,150
He'd give me
every line.
576
00:24:25,150 --> 00:24:29,697
I was to watch
Joan Collins on Dynasty.
577
00:24:29,697 --> 00:24:31,866
Mourning the baby that
she couldn't have,
578
00:24:31,866 --> 00:24:33,367
that is it,
isn't it?
579
00:24:33,367 --> 00:24:35,536
Why you
miserable bitch!
580
00:24:35,536 --> 00:24:38,414
And that was the idea
of the character.
581
00:24:38,414 --> 00:24:42,793
Just remember he Is
thinking about me.
582
00:24:42,793 --> 00:24:45,296
Only in wrestling could
you do something like that.
583
00:24:45,296 --> 00:24:46,630
And when the
women wrestled,
584
00:24:46,630 --> 00:24:49,008
it was sometimes an
all-out catfight.
585
00:24:49,008 --> 00:24:51,427
Jeanie goes after Toni.
586
00:24:51,427 --> 00:24:53,554
Pulling your hair,
scratching eyes,
587
00:24:53,554 --> 00:24:55,221
slapping each other
across the face,
588
00:24:55,221 --> 00:24:57,015
getting the kendo stick,
slapping each other...
589
00:24:57,015 --> 00:24:59,684
anything that they could
do to hurt each other.
590
00:24:59,684 --> 00:25:01,436
It was nasty sometimes.
591
00:25:01,436 --> 00:25:04,606
Well, neither one of us
knew how to wrestle.
592
00:25:04,606 --> 00:25:07,108
The interviews were
my favourite part.
593
00:25:07,108 --> 00:25:08,776
I am far superior to you.
594
00:25:08,776 --> 00:25:11,070
I have royal
blood in my veins.
595
00:25:11,070 --> 00:25:12,405
She was born on
a shrimp boat,
596
00:25:12,405 --> 00:25:13,948
but she's
jealous of me.
597
00:25:13,948 --> 00:25:15,742
She said, "I can't believe
you said that about me."
598
00:25:15,742 --> 00:25:18,995
And I said, "Chris
told me to say it."
599
00:25:18,995 --> 00:25:20,997
I'm sick and tired
of you, girl.
600
00:25:20,997 --> 00:25:22,832
If you both
don't back off,
601
00:25:22,832 --> 00:25:24,876
you're gonna end
up getting hurt.
602
00:25:24,876 --> 00:25:26,961
Even when you get along,
you know there's gonna be
603
00:25:26,961 --> 00:25:29,297
some kind of issues
there that, that,
604
00:25:29,297 --> 00:25:30,673
just don't jive together.
605
00:25:30,673 --> 00:25:32,884
You were my number
one student!
606
00:25:32,884 --> 00:25:35,636
You even wear my
boots to the ring.
607
00:25:35,636 --> 00:25:38,180
There were some issues
with Steve and Chris.
608
00:25:38,180 --> 00:25:40,515
I think there was a little
bit of Chris seeing this guy
609
00:25:40,515 --> 00:25:42,976
is coming along, he is
really gonna be a star.
610
00:25:42,976 --> 00:25:45,103
And I think Steve felt like
he was probably
611
00:25:45,103 --> 00:25:46,730
being held back
a little bit.
612
00:25:46,730 --> 00:25:48,774
There were some real,
real life drama
613
00:25:48,774 --> 00:25:50,400
going on there, too.
614
00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,487
He is accompanied
by Lady Blossom.
615
00:25:53,487 --> 00:25:58,867
The WCW World
Television Champion
616
00:25:58,867 --> 00:26:05,374
'Stunning' Steve Austin!
617
00:26:05,374 --> 00:26:09,920
I think he was jealous
that we went to WCW.
618
00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:14,257
I suppose he was
jealous of the money.
619
00:26:14,257 --> 00:26:16,759
As Steve and Jeanie make
the jump to the big time
620
00:26:16,759 --> 00:26:19,762
with WCW, a frustrated
Chris Adams
621
00:26:19,762 --> 00:26:24,016
turns back to the bottle to
nurse his bruised ego.
622
00:26:24,016 --> 00:26:29,063
When he was sober,
he was, you know, great.
623
00:26:29,063 --> 00:26:31,440
He was Dad, he was
awesome, he was there.
624
00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,610
When he started drinking
it just kind of changed.
625
00:26:34,610 --> 00:26:35,945
I know my mom kind
of told me that
626
00:26:35,945 --> 00:26:38,072
that's what it
was like for her.
627
00:26:38,072 --> 00:26:40,032
When I was older my
mom would tell me,
628
00:26:40,032 --> 00:26:42,618
they had an up and down
roller coaster relationship,
629
00:26:42,618 --> 00:26:44,328
and I think towards the
beginning it was very good,
630
00:26:44,328 --> 00:26:47,248
and I think about halfway
through it got pretty rocky.
631
00:26:47,248 --> 00:26:49,458
I mean, just, just the
screaming and the yelling,
632
00:26:49,458 --> 00:26:50,668
it was intense.
633
00:26:50,668 --> 00:26:52,461
Especially if they both
had been drinking
634
00:26:52,461 --> 00:26:53,838
or something like that.
635
00:26:53,838 --> 00:26:55,338
Chris had told me one time,
they were headed home
636
00:26:55,338 --> 00:26:56,923
from a show, they were
in his Corvette.
637
00:26:56,923 --> 00:26:58,925
Toni's driving, Chris in
the passenger seat,
638
00:26:58,925 --> 00:27:00,927
and the little boy Chris
Junior was in the back,
639
00:27:00,927 --> 00:27:03,179
and he said that some
reason they were arguing,
640
00:27:03,179 --> 00:27:05,015
and she had stopped
on the interstate,
641
00:27:05,015 --> 00:27:06,975
and a semi was coming.
642
00:27:06,975 --> 00:27:09,477
Luckily it went around 'em
and didn't hit 'em.
643
00:27:09,477 --> 00:27:10,437
If it would
have hit 'em,
644
00:27:10,437 --> 00:27:12,063
none of them probably
would have lived.
645
00:27:12,063 --> 00:27:13,940
[Honking]
646
00:27:13,940 --> 00:27:17,235
And it angered him so much
that that's when he
647
00:27:17,235 --> 00:27:20,572
got physical with her,
and...
648
00:27:20,572 --> 00:27:22,032
he beat her up.
649
00:27:22,032 --> 00:27:23,158
You know,
it messed her up.
650
00:27:23,158 --> 00:27:25,201
She had to have
some facial surgery.
651
00:27:25,201 --> 00:27:27,537
I ain't cool
with that shit.
652
00:27:27,537 --> 00:27:29,456
But I remember
653
00:27:29,456 --> 00:27:31,708
it wasn't until I
was much older,
654
00:27:31,708 --> 00:27:34,376
and she had shown me
some of the pictures of
655
00:27:34,376 --> 00:27:36,378
her where that abuse
had happened,
656
00:27:36,378 --> 00:27:38,088
and she was in the
hospital for a while.
657
00:27:38,088 --> 00:27:40,299
I couldn't believe it.
658
00:27:40,299 --> 00:27:42,718
And I say all these
good things about Chris,
659
00:27:42,718 --> 00:27:46,055
but that's heinous.
That's terrible.
660
00:27:46,055 --> 00:27:48,181
It's disgusting.
661
00:27:48,181 --> 00:27:51,018
I'm just now realizing
how much stuff there was.
662
00:27:51,018 --> 00:27:53,979
I didn't put it all
together, I guess.
663
00:27:53,979 --> 00:27:55,814
That's terrible.
664
00:27:55,814 --> 00:27:58,233
♪
665
00:28:04,782 --> 00:28:06,742
The horrific attack on
Toni is a shocking
666
00:28:06,742 --> 00:28:08,702
new low for Chris Adams.
667
00:28:08,702 --> 00:28:10,829
But as the 'Gentleman'
continues to struggle,
668
00:28:10,829 --> 00:28:13,499
his descent to the
bottom will only get worse.
669
00:28:13,499 --> 00:28:15,792
She knew that it
wasn't right for her,
670
00:28:15,792 --> 00:28:17,460
that kind of lifestyle.
671
00:28:17,460 --> 00:28:19,337
I think she knew she
needed to get out.
672
00:28:19,337 --> 00:28:22,298
She said, "I had everything
that I had with your dad.
673
00:28:22,298 --> 00:28:24,717
I had the big house,
I had a Corvette,
674
00:28:24,717 --> 00:28:26,511
everything that anybody
could ever want...
675
00:28:26,511 --> 00:28:29,847
but I just felt
so empty inside."
676
00:28:29,847 --> 00:28:32,850
Chris' bad reputation follows
him to his next company,
677
00:28:32,850 --> 00:28:36,312
the struggling Global
Wrestling Federation.
678
00:28:36,312 --> 00:28:38,189
After World Class and
then Global came in,
679
00:28:38,189 --> 00:28:40,191
and that was a
pretty good run.
680
00:28:40,191 --> 00:28:43,194
Chris Adams against
Rod 'the Bod.'
681
00:28:43,194 --> 00:28:47,448
Rod Price, he and Chris were
battling for the GWF title.
682
00:28:47,448 --> 00:28:49,909
Rod had long blond hair,
683
00:28:49,909 --> 00:28:51,244
but it was starting
to thin out,
684
00:28:51,244 --> 00:28:53,246
so he ended up getting
a weave put in.
685
00:28:53,246 --> 00:28:55,580
Somehow they kind of
sewed it in up there,
686
00:28:55,580 --> 00:28:56,873
I don't know how
it was all done,
687
00:28:56,873 --> 00:28:58,542
but anyway,
Chris knew about it,
688
00:28:58,542 --> 00:29:01,169
we all knew about it, and
it was kinda off limits,
689
00:29:01,169 --> 00:29:04,714
you know,
don't pull the hair.
690
00:29:04,714 --> 00:29:07,509
Well, during this
match, Chris,
691
00:29:07,509 --> 00:29:09,302
because I think he probably
thought it would just
692
00:29:09,302 --> 00:29:12,472
come right off, and
he jerked on it,
693
00:29:12,472 --> 00:29:16,393
and instead of
coming off, it ripped off.
694
00:29:16,393 --> 00:29:18,770
And blood went
everywhere.
695
00:29:18,770 --> 00:29:21,606
I've never seen so much
blood in the ring in my life.
696
00:29:21,606 --> 00:29:23,316
He was just covered.
697
00:29:23,316 --> 00:29:25,318
I mean, he didn't
even finish the match,
698
00:29:25,318 --> 00:29:26,528
he just left the ring,
699
00:29:26,528 --> 00:29:28,488
and we had to take him
to the emergency room.
700
00:29:28,488 --> 00:29:30,532
I'm almost sure it
was like 200 stitches
701
00:29:30,532 --> 00:29:32,826
to come to get that
all straightened out.
702
00:29:34,326 --> 00:29:37,288
Yeah, he did it
on purpose. Yeah.
703
00:29:37,288 --> 00:29:41,917
In 1997, Chris finally
gets the call from WCW-
704
00:29:41,917 --> 00:29:43,627
At the time,
the most popular
705
00:29:43,627 --> 00:29:45,671
wrestling company
in America.
706
00:29:45,671 --> 00:29:48,507
I think when he got that
opportunity to go to WCW,
707
00:29:48,507 --> 00:29:50,426
it was, he was
thinking, "Yeah,
708
00:29:50,426 --> 00:29:53,262
this is gonna be the thing
that restarts my career."
709
00:29:53,262 --> 00:29:56,891
And,
it didn't happen.
710
00:29:56,891 --> 00:29:59,476
WCW was a second
chance for Chris,
711
00:29:59,476 --> 00:30:01,103
but the matches I saw,
it almost looked like
712
00:30:01,103 --> 00:30:04,273
they were using him
to get their next star over.
713
00:30:04,273 --> 00:30:05,566
-Watch out.
-Uh oh.
714
00:30:05,566 --> 00:30:08,194
Choke...
slam city.
715
00:30:08,194 --> 00:30:10,154
The 'Gentleman'
Chris Adams,
716
00:30:10,154 --> 00:30:13,073
was interrupting a cigarette
break and he paid for it.
717
00:30:13,073 --> 00:30:14,282
[Bell ringing]
718
00:30:14,282 --> 00:30:18,244
He was unhappy that
he'd gone to WCW and
719
00:30:18,244 --> 00:30:20,747
was being used
as a jobber.
720
00:30:20,747 --> 00:30:22,582
One, two, three1
721
00:30:22,582 --> 00:30:24,167
[Bell ringing]
722
00:30:24,167 --> 00:30:25,126
I remember him
saying that, like,
723
00:30:25,126 --> 00:30:26,502
he was working
harder. You know,
724
00:30:26,502 --> 00:30:28,588
he worked hard,
and he was getting tired.
725
00:30:28,588 --> 00:30:30,590
And I think he was getting
discouraged about the
726
00:30:30,590 --> 00:30:32,759
whole thing, getting
beat every night.
727
00:30:32,759 --> 00:30:35,428
I don't see how it
couldn't affect someone.
728
00:30:35,428 --> 00:30:37,847
Being at the top like that,
and then very quickly,
729
00:30:37,847 --> 00:30:39,265
you know, if you don't
stay on top of it,
730
00:30:39,265 --> 00:30:41,392
you don't change your angles,
things are changing...
731
00:30:41,392 --> 00:30:42,393
it's gonna happen.
732
00:30:42,393 --> 00:30:43,978
Your career is
gonna dwindle.
733
00:30:43,978 --> 00:30:45,563
I can remember him
talking about,
734
00:30:45,563 --> 00:30:47,982
"I know I'm better than this
guy and that guy."
735
00:30:47,982 --> 00:30:52,111
And in one light,
he probably was.
736
00:30:52,111 --> 00:30:56,281
But you know, wrestling
is not always fair.
737
00:30:56,281 --> 00:30:58,825
Other things were going on
that were working against him.
738
00:30:58,825 --> 00:31:00,953
[Siren wailing]
739
00:31:02,454 --> 00:31:05,457
A few too many drinks and got
a DWI and they let him go.
740
00:31:05,457 --> 00:31:08,126
He was always
struggling with finances.
741
00:31:08,126 --> 00:31:11,213
His status had diminished to
a point to where he wasn't...
742
00:31:11,213 --> 00:31:13,465
he wasn't the guy
you wanted to go to.
743
00:31:13,465 --> 00:31:15,175
He was getting
a little older,
744
00:31:15,175 --> 00:31:17,928
harder to stay in shape,
and people just
745
00:31:17,928 --> 00:31:21,056
weren't coming to him
like they used to.
746
00:31:21,056 --> 00:31:23,016
He got into some other
stuff besides alcohol,
747
00:31:23,016 --> 00:31:25,018
got into GHB real bad.
748
00:31:25,018 --> 00:31:26,812
Basically,
when you do GHB,
749
00:31:26,812 --> 00:31:28,814
if you do too much of it,
you're just comatose.
750
00:31:28,814 --> 00:31:30,482
I don't know why anybody
would want to do it.
751
00:31:30,482 --> 00:31:33,150
GHB was pretty
popular in the day.
752
00:31:33,150 --> 00:31:34,443
You know everybody
kind of done it.
753
00:31:34,443 --> 00:31:35,903
It started off for
bodybuilders if you're sober
754
00:31:35,903 --> 00:31:37,196
and stuff to help
you work out,
755
00:31:37,196 --> 00:31:38,531
but I know it would
help you relax.
756
00:31:38,531 --> 00:31:40,866
And some also would call
it the love drug, too.
757
00:31:40,866 --> 00:31:44,453
There's a fine line of
how much you can take,
758
00:31:44,453 --> 00:31:47,456
and it's a very
dangerous drug.
759
00:31:47,456 --> 00:31:49,417
As the 90s draw
to a close,
760
00:31:49,417 --> 00:31:52,128
Chris Adams' life
is in shambles.
761
00:31:52,128 --> 00:31:54,297
Broke,
unable to find work,
762
00:31:54,297 --> 00:31:56,340
and desperate for
somewhere to live,
763
00:31:56,340 --> 00:31:58,968
Chris moves in with a
friend of Tom Lance,
764
00:31:58,968 --> 00:32:02,513
a local wrestling
fan known as Booray.
765
00:32:02,513 --> 00:32:04,390
Chris was going through
some tough times.
766
00:32:04,390 --> 00:32:06,017
Booray had his place,
767
00:32:06,017 --> 00:32:07,893
Chris was needing kind
of somewhere to stay
768
00:32:07,893 --> 00:32:09,895
and all that, so I
introduced 'em.
769
00:32:09,895 --> 00:32:11,397
If it wasn't for Booray
I don't know
770
00:32:11,397 --> 00:32:12,773
what Chris
would have done.
771
00:32:12,773 --> 00:32:15,650
Super good guy,
cared about people,
772
00:32:15,650 --> 00:32:17,193
went above
and beyond.
773
00:32:17,193 --> 00:32:18,653
That's why he was
helping Chris.
774
00:32:18,653 --> 00:32:19,946
Chris was lost.
775
00:32:19,946 --> 00:32:22,699
But I love Chris, you know,
he was my friend.
776
00:32:22,699 --> 00:32:24,701
Chris was really a nice guy.
777
00:32:24,701 --> 00:32:28,663
He was witty, he was fun,
you know, to be around.
778
00:32:28,663 --> 00:32:30,707
♪
779
00:32:30,707 --> 00:32:34,044
I'm Booray, and Chris
and I were good friends.
780
00:32:34,044 --> 00:32:35,795
He was a good
enough friend that
781
00:32:35,795 --> 00:32:38,423
I trusted him
in my house.
782
00:32:38,423 --> 00:32:40,717
He was really a
delightful guy.
783
00:32:40,717 --> 00:32:44,137
We'd invite people over and
cook out by the swimming pool
784
00:32:44,137 --> 00:32:46,306
and we were having
a good time.
785
00:32:46,306 --> 00:32:48,391
I mean, they seemed to
be getting along great,
786
00:32:48,391 --> 00:32:50,643
him and Booray.
Booray paid the bills.
787
00:32:50,643 --> 00:32:52,270
He had no money.
788
00:32:52,270 --> 00:32:54,563
He might work one little
show here and there,
789
00:32:54,563 --> 00:32:58,067
and it was hard for me to
take money from somebody
790
00:32:58,067 --> 00:32:59,902
that hadn't made money in
791
00:32:59,902 --> 00:33:02,071
you know,
three months.
792
00:33:02,071 --> 00:33:05,449
I was happy to help him,
but also inside
793
00:33:05,449 --> 00:33:08,118
I was feeling I
was being used.
794
00:33:08,118 --> 00:33:09,995
While living with Booray,
795
00:33:09,995 --> 00:33:12,831
Chris meets a young
woman named Linda.
796
00:33:12,831 --> 00:33:14,583
He was in love with Linda,
797
00:33:14,583 --> 00:33:16,210
I know he was in
love with her.
798
00:33:16,210 --> 00:33:18,962
They didn't know each
other all that long either,
799
00:33:18,962 --> 00:33:22,424
but they were, oh God,
they got along so good.
800
00:33:22,424 --> 00:33:24,551
She was the angel,
you know,
801
00:33:24,551 --> 00:33:28,180
so witty and funny.
She was just perfect.
802
00:33:28,180 --> 00:33:32,184
She seemed, like, very
mature, very stable.
803
00:33:32,184 --> 00:33:36,062
I can see how Chris would
find some solace in that,
804
00:33:36,062 --> 00:33:39,190
because I think that's
what he was seeking.
805
00:33:39,190 --> 00:33:41,943
On the night of
April 22nd, 2000,
806
00:33:41,943 --> 00:33:44,195
after dating for
just a few weeks,
807
00:33:44,195 --> 00:33:46,656
Chris brings Linda back
to Booray's house to
808
00:33:46,656 --> 00:33:49,367
keep the party going into
the early morning.
809
00:33:49,367 --> 00:33:51,119
They'd been out all night.
810
00:33:51,119 --> 00:33:53,913
They were having a good
time dancing, you know?
811
00:33:53,913 --> 00:33:55,415
And I said,
"You know what?
812
00:33:55,415 --> 00:33:58,960
Three's a crowd.
I'm going to bed."
813
00:33:58,960 --> 00:34:01,337
Chris told me this
the next night,
814
00:34:01,337 --> 00:34:05,216
that they went on and got
that little bit of GHB,
815
00:34:05,216 --> 00:34:08,970
and got two
small glasses,
816
00:34:08,970 --> 00:34:11,556
and just split it.
817
00:34:11,556 --> 00:34:15,559
I had warned Chris
way before this that
818
00:34:15,559 --> 00:34:19,020
I did not want that
GHB in the house.
819
00:34:19,020 --> 00:34:21,064
You know, I didn't
care what else he had.
820
00:34:21,064 --> 00:34:23,400
That was his business.
821
00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:24,818
The silence, I guess,
822
00:34:24,818 --> 00:34:27,904
woke me up at about
four in the morning.
823
00:34:27,904 --> 00:34:31,241
I came in and they
were both passed out.
824
00:34:31,241 --> 00:34:33,577
Chris was slumped
over a chair,
825
00:34:33,577 --> 00:34:37,497
and Linda was on her
back on the floor.
826
00:34:37,497 --> 00:34:41,042
I was trying to wake 'em up
and I couldn't wake 'em up.
827
00:34:41,042 --> 00:34:46,465
Linda's lung started
kind of...wheezing.
828
00:34:46,465 --> 00:34:49,301
And that's when
I called Tom.
829
00:34:49,301 --> 00:34:51,595
And he was scared to
call 911 because
830
00:34:51,595 --> 00:34:53,929
he knew Chris
would get pissed.
831
00:34:53,929 --> 00:34:57,224
And I was like, "I don't
give a ----, call 911.
832
00:34:57,224 --> 00:34:58,809
They're not breathing."
833
00:34:58,809 --> 00:35:00,561
♪
834
00:35:06,275 --> 00:35:08,402
Booray wakes up in the
middle of the night to find
835
00:35:08,402 --> 00:35:11,155
Chris Adams and
Chris' girlfriend Linda
836
00:35:11,155 --> 00:35:15,284
unresponsive,
passed out on GHB.
837
00:35:15,284 --> 00:35:17,161
The paramedics got there,
and I stayed
838
00:35:17,161 --> 00:35:18,829
on the phone with them,
me and my wife.
839
00:35:18,829 --> 00:35:20,164
They're trying to
wake Chris,
840
00:35:20,164 --> 00:35:21,582
and then they're
working on Linda,
841
00:35:21,582 --> 00:35:24,752
and I hear them say
'flatline.' And I was like,
842
00:35:24,752 --> 00:35:26,837
"Booray did I just
hear 'flatline'?"
843
00:35:26,837 --> 00:35:28,297
Because we know
what that meant.
844
00:35:28,297 --> 00:35:34,010
[Sustained tone]
845
00:35:34,010 --> 00:35:38,640
It's not the easiest thing in
the world to talk about this.
846
00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:43,269
[Clearing throat]
But she...
847
00:35:43,269 --> 00:35:47,190
From seeing somebody that
was just one of the
848
00:35:47,190 --> 00:35:50,818
sweetest people in
the world
849
00:35:50,818 --> 00:35:53,905
die right in front of your
arms, you know?
850
00:36:00,703 --> 00:36:03,122
In my opinion, yes.
851
00:36:03,122 --> 00:36:05,250
He was careless.
852
00:36:05,250 --> 00:36:08,253
I never saw him
use drugs.
853
00:36:08,253 --> 00:36:12,965
He just told me the truth,
that he gave Linda,
854
00:36:12,965 --> 00:36:15,425
you know, too much of this
GHB and she died,
855
00:36:15,425 --> 00:36:19,096
and he was absolutely
devastated.
856
00:36:19,096 --> 00:36:20,389
Several months later,
857
00:36:20,389 --> 00:36:22,015
they charged him with
manslaughter.
858
00:36:22,015 --> 00:36:24,518
I think he definitely
felt responsible for it.
859
00:36:24,518 --> 00:36:25,936
He was torn up about it.
860
00:36:25,936 --> 00:36:27,688
I mean,
he legitimately...
861
00:36:27,688 --> 00:36:29,648
torn down about
what happened.
862
00:36:29,648 --> 00:36:31,149
After Linda died,
he was going through
863
00:36:31,149 --> 00:36:32,776
a lot of ups and downs.
864
00:36:32,776 --> 00:36:34,152
You know, he had
threatened suicide and
865
00:36:34,152 --> 00:36:35,571
this and that and
drinking a lot.
866
00:36:35,571 --> 00:36:38,490
His drinking had
spiralled really bad.
867
00:36:38,490 --> 00:36:42,828
That would have been
self-medicating.
868
00:36:42,828 --> 00:36:45,330
I think he was just
totally freaking out,
869
00:36:45,330 --> 00:36:46,957
wondering if he was
gonna get out of
870
00:36:46,957 --> 00:36:48,875
the manslaughter
charge.
871
00:36:48,875 --> 00:36:53,337
And going from making money
to no money, you know?
872
00:36:53,337 --> 00:36:56,340
He was miserable inside.
873
00:36:56,340 --> 00:36:58,301
I kinda got away from him.
874
00:36:58,301 --> 00:37:01,554
Really didn't want to be
involved that much.
875
00:37:01,554 --> 00:37:04,056
And there's times when
you wonder if maybe
876
00:37:04,056 --> 00:37:08,436
if I'd...
reached out,
877
00:37:08,436 --> 00:37:10,563
maybe I could have
talked to him.
878
00:37:10,563 --> 00:37:11,731
I don't know.
879
00:37:11,731 --> 00:37:13,899
I doubt it, really,
to be honest with you.
880
00:37:13,899 --> 00:37:16,902
I don't know how you can talk
somebody out of that hole.
881
00:37:16,902 --> 00:37:18,904
I really don't.
882
00:37:18,904 --> 00:37:21,741
It's, you know, very obvious
my dad had an issue with,
883
00:37:21,741 --> 00:37:23,367
you know,
drugs and alcohol.
884
00:37:23,367 --> 00:37:26,287
And I just wish that someone
had stepped in
885
00:37:26,287 --> 00:37:29,290
and said, "Hey, Chris,
you're doing too much."
886
00:37:29,290 --> 00:37:30,875
I think if it had
happened today,
887
00:37:30,875 --> 00:37:33,418
I think he might
still be alive.
888
00:37:33,418 --> 00:37:37,130
♪
889
00:37:37,130 --> 00:37:39,090
October the 7th.
890
00:37:39,090 --> 00:37:41,301
I was at my
mother's house, and
891
00:37:41,301 --> 00:37:43,595
Chris had called
me earlier that morning
892
00:37:43,595 --> 00:37:46,181
and told me he was
all bummed out.
893
00:37:46,181 --> 00:37:48,475
I just said, "Why don't
you come on over"?
894
00:37:48,475 --> 00:37:51,144
Finally, about seven,
he showed up.
895
00:37:51,144 --> 00:37:53,772
And I had brandy and
of course we had beer,
896
00:37:53,772 --> 00:37:58,068
and I'm still not sure
what set him off.
897
00:37:58,068 --> 00:38:00,028
I must have said,
you know,
898
00:38:00,028 --> 00:38:02,280
"Chris, could you hold it
down a little bit?
899
00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:03,907
My mother's
trying to sleep."
900
00:38:03,907 --> 00:38:06,368
Anyway, boy, that's when
he went berserk.
901
00:38:06,368 --> 00:38:08,828
I mean, just like,
boom, light switch.
902
00:38:08,828 --> 00:38:11,539
And he'd come at me
with that post.
903
00:38:11,539 --> 00:38:13,874
I had a four post bed,
904
00:38:13,874 --> 00:38:17,336
and he broke the post off
and come at me with it.
905
00:38:17,336 --> 00:38:20,714
I grabbed the post which
cracked my index finger,
906
00:38:20,714 --> 00:38:22,966
and then he put me
in a sleeper hold.
907
00:38:22,966 --> 00:38:25,386
And then here we go
across the room.
908
00:38:25,386 --> 00:38:27,513
He pushed me on a bed,
909
00:38:27,513 --> 00:38:32,810
and he just started
gouging my eyes out,
910
00:38:32,810 --> 00:38:35,145
and he started
biting me.
911
00:38:35,145 --> 00:38:38,399
He bit me on the face
several times
912
00:38:38,399 --> 00:38:40,359
and then on the neck.
913
00:38:40,359 --> 00:38:43,195
He had me pinned down
and was choking me.
914
00:38:43,195 --> 00:38:46,448
He just kept
getting stronger.
915
00:38:46,448 --> 00:38:49,034
His eyes seemed to glow.
916
00:38:49,034 --> 00:38:50,953
I thought I
was gonna die.
917
00:38:50,953 --> 00:38:53,287
I kept a gun on
my end table.
918
00:38:53,287 --> 00:38:56,582
I put the gun as quick as
I could to his shoulder.
919
00:38:56,582 --> 00:39:00,378
The only thing I could
do was pull the trigger.
920
00:39:00,378 --> 00:39:02,714
[Boom]
921
00:39:11,723 --> 00:39:14,475
He went crazy. It was like
he turned into an animal.
922
00:39:14,475 --> 00:39:17,395
[Growling]
923
00:39:17,395 --> 00:39:19,272
And when I pulled
the trigger,
924
00:39:19,272 --> 00:39:20,898
he jumped a little bit.
925
00:39:20,898 --> 00:39:23,359
Enough to hit his heart.
926
00:39:23,359 --> 00:39:26,362
♪
927
00:39:26,362 --> 00:39:27,905
I just wanted to, maybe,
928
00:39:27,905 --> 00:39:30,199
wound him to
where he could,
929
00:39:30,199 --> 00:39:33,869
you know,
get some sense.
930
00:39:33,869 --> 00:39:35,954
It's hard to make decisions
like that when you
931
00:39:35,954 --> 00:39:38,415
don't have much
time to make 'em.
932
00:39:38,415 --> 00:39:40,375
He would have
killed me.
933
00:39:40,375 --> 00:39:42,252
I called 911.
Asked them,
934
00:39:42,252 --> 00:39:44,504
"Please, get here quick."
It was bad.
935
00:39:44,504 --> 00:39:48,508
♪
936
00:39:48,508 --> 00:39:51,344
I remember that
day very vividly.
937
00:39:51,344 --> 00:39:53,096
I was in school.
938
00:39:53,096 --> 00:39:54,681
My mom came
to pick me up.
939
00:39:54,681 --> 00:39:56,725
We get home and I
remember her getting
940
00:39:56,725 --> 00:39:59,060
down on her knees
in front of me.
941
00:39:59,060 --> 00:40:01,480
"Honey, I'm so sorry
to say, but
942
00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:04,191
your dad's dead."
943
00:40:04,191 --> 00:40:07,986
And, ah...
944
00:40:07,986 --> 00:40:09,821
I didn't feel anything
at the moment,
945
00:40:09,821 --> 00:40:14,658
'cause I thought, no.
No, no, no way.
946
00:40:14,658 --> 00:40:18,370
I got a call from my wife,
and she could hardly
947
00:40:18,370 --> 00:40:20,956
draw a breath and then
said, "He's gone."
948
00:40:20,956 --> 00:40:26,754
Chris had been shot.
And I was, just...
949
00:40:26,754 --> 00:40:29,715
to say I was stunned
is an understatement.
950
00:40:29,715 --> 00:40:34,804
I just sat down on the floor,
and I was in total shock.
951
00:40:34,804 --> 00:40:36,931
I was 19 when
my dad died.
952
00:40:36,931 --> 00:40:39,099
It was, like,
very surreal.
953
00:40:39,099 --> 00:40:40,476
I mean, and that was the
first experience
954
00:40:40,476 --> 00:40:42,728
I'd ever really had with
like a profound grief,
955
00:40:42,728 --> 00:40:45,940
'cause it was my dad.
So it was really tough.
956
00:40:45,940 --> 00:40:51,069
Like it took me a really
long time to cope with it.
957
00:40:51,069 --> 00:40:53,363
The funeral,
it was packed.
958
00:40:53,363 --> 00:40:55,406
You had ex-wrestlers
that were there.
959
00:40:55,406 --> 00:40:57,367
You had family that came
all the way from the UK.
960
00:40:57,367 --> 00:41:00,119
And yeah, there was like
people standing out the back,
961
00:41:00,119 --> 00:41:02,372
'cause there were so many
wrestling fans there.
962
00:41:02,372 --> 00:41:03,832
It was a nice tribute.
963
00:41:03,832 --> 00:41:05,792
He had affected so
many people's lives,
964
00:41:05,792 --> 00:41:09,087
and a lot of it
was for the better.
965
00:41:09,087 --> 00:41:11,756
And I just remember being
very solemn when I was there,
966
00:41:11,756 --> 00:41:14,217
but hearing a lot of the
words that people said
967
00:41:14,217 --> 00:41:15,927
were really cool.
968
00:41:15,927 --> 00:41:19,389
A lot of people loved him.
969
00:41:19,389 --> 00:41:21,558
I pulled the trigger.
970
00:41:21,558 --> 00:41:24,102
I'm sad, but...
971
00:41:24,102 --> 00:41:27,605
I wouldn't be sitting here
right now had I not.
972
00:41:27,605 --> 00:41:30,316
I had to go in front
of the grand jury.
973
00:41:30,316 --> 00:41:32,234
They said, "It's over.
974
00:41:32,234 --> 00:41:35,904
What you did was an
act of self-defence."
975
00:41:35,904 --> 00:41:38,240
It was almost like,
him or me.
976
00:41:38,240 --> 00:41:39,783
I feel like Booray
had no choice.
977
00:41:39,783 --> 00:41:42,870
I don't think he wanted
to roll the dice.
978
00:41:42,870 --> 00:41:45,038
Something
happened in there.
979
00:41:45,038 --> 00:41:47,541
Do I believe him that
it was self-defence?
980
00:41:47,541 --> 00:41:50,294
No, I don't.
981
00:41:50,294 --> 00:41:53,463
A very sad and tragic
accident between
982
00:41:53,463 --> 00:41:55,340
two very good friends.
983
00:41:55,340 --> 00:41:58,802
Alcohol being the
common denominator,
984
00:41:58,802 --> 00:42:01,847
and in Booray being
a victim as well,
985
00:42:01,847 --> 00:42:03,932
because he has to
live with it.
986
00:42:03,932 --> 00:42:06,101
So forgiveness
has to be
987
00:42:06,101 --> 00:42:08,937
the best way forward.
988
00:42:08,937 --> 00:42:11,981
When you're close to
somebody like that,
989
00:42:11,981 --> 00:42:14,317
and then something
crazy like that happens,
990
00:42:14,317 --> 00:42:17,403
whether he's trying to
kill you or not, you know,
991
00:42:17,403 --> 00:42:22,867
it's still taking another
person's life away from him.
992
00:42:22,867 --> 00:42:24,702
That's not a good feeling.
993
00:42:24,702 --> 00:42:29,415
It's awful,
it's awful.
994
00:42:29,415 --> 00:42:32,501
The thing about Chris that
I'll never forget is
995
00:42:32,501 --> 00:42:35,671
just how incredibly
talented he was.
996
00:42:35,671 --> 00:42:38,883
And it's a shame that that
talent didn't lead to a
997
00:42:38,883 --> 00:42:41,469
longer and more
fulfilled life.
998
00:42:41,469 --> 00:42:44,263
To me it's just,
just a sad story.
999
00:42:44,263 --> 00:42:45,640
Agh!
1000
00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:47,767
I'll remember Chris Adams as
a great wrestler in the ring,
1001
00:42:47,767 --> 00:42:50,061
a great performer,
a great athlete.
1002
00:42:50,061 --> 00:42:51,686
But when it comes to
outside of the ring,
1003
00:42:51,686 --> 00:42:53,271
when the alcohol
would kick in,
1004
00:42:53,271 --> 00:42:54,856
it was almost like he was
looking for that edge
1005
00:42:54,856 --> 00:42:56,524
of why he'd
get mad at you.
1006
00:42:56,524 --> 00:42:58,985
And he was a person that
once he realized
1007
00:42:58,985 --> 00:43:00,695
he had an alcohol problem,
1008
00:43:00,695 --> 00:43:03,239
he didn't choose
to solve it.
1009
00:43:03,239 --> 00:43:04,616
What a dichotomy.
1010
00:43:04,616 --> 00:43:06,534
He had a great side,
and he had a terrible,
1011
00:43:06,534 --> 00:43:09,496
ugly side, that really
outweighed the good.
1012
00:43:09,496 --> 00:43:13,750
But I'll remember the good.
1013
00:43:13,750 --> 00:43:16,252
I want my dad to be
remembered as an
1014
00:43:16,252 --> 00:43:19,422
amazing athlete who
worked really hard,
1015
00:43:19,422 --> 00:43:22,676
and as a loving
father to his kids,
1016
00:43:22,676 --> 00:43:25,261
because I think his kids
were everything to him.
1017
00:43:25,261 --> 00:43:27,639
Just wish he could be
here to see
1018
00:43:27,639 --> 00:43:29,307
how we all ended up.
1019
00:43:29,307 --> 00:43:30,683
I think he'd
be proud of us.
1020
00:43:30,683 --> 00:43:33,018
I think he'd be proud of
my brother, particularly.
1021
00:43:33,018 --> 00:43:36,105
One, two, three.
1022
00:43:36,105 --> 00:43:39,775
There was so much more
to my dad than just
1023
00:43:39,775 --> 00:43:41,485
the wild, crazy,
party side.
1024
00:43:41,485 --> 00:43:43,112
There is a reason why people
1025
00:43:43,112 --> 00:43:44,613
called him the 'Gentleman.'
1026
00:43:44,613 --> 00:43:47,074
There is a reason why my
friends over in England would
1027
00:43:47,074 --> 00:43:49,034
always say, "He could sing
the birds out of the trees."
1028
00:43:49,034 --> 00:43:51,453
You know? He was,
he was very charming.
1029
00:43:51,453 --> 00:43:53,789
He was very loving.
He was a kind father.
1030
00:43:53,789 --> 00:43:57,418
I want people to remember
him as that person,
1031
00:43:57,418 --> 00:44:00,129
as not just 'Gentleman' Chris
Adams, but as Chris Adams.