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- The most prestigious
champion in the world,
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Nature Boy Ric Flair!
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[tense music]
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- They all want to be--whoo!
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Like the Nature Boy,
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but there can only be one.
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[upbeat music]
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- Ric Flair,
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the self-professed
dirtiest player in the game.
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A villainous playboy...
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- Whoo!
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- Who openly
displayed attributes
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that the modern society
viewed as evil.
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- He was cocky.
He was arrogant.
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- I'm not like every other
Tom, Dick, and Harry
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that walks on your program.
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- And he was great
at making me hate his guts.
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- When I'm in that ring,
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I don't care
about anybody but me.
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- He'd use every
dirty trick in the book.
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He's the dirtiest player
in the game.
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- I'm the dirtiest player
in the game.
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- Oh, my God!
Right across his knee!
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- He could be
incredibly vicious.
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- There's your pretty boy.
Now he's ugly!
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- Ric is a Scarface-like
figure.
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- Gold around my neck.
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Rolex watch around my wrist
looking so fine.
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- He had everything
that you wanted,
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and he reminded you.
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- I spent more money
on spilled booze
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than you made
in the last six months.
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- His brand wasn't always
family-friendly.
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- I have four or five women
every day of my life.
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- Ric Flair--whoo!
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was selling sex, drugs,
and rock and roll.
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- Beautiful women,
bright lights,
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the big city, limousine rides,
jet flying son of a gun.
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- Nature was really
living all of that.
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There was no pretend
in any of it.
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- You got to be bored to death.
The same woman every night?
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- Paying alimony to three women
at one time was a lot of dough.
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As a matter of fact,
that's got to be
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some kind of record, right?
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I'm not changing my lifestyle.
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- It was weird because
you kind of hated him,
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but you loved hating him.
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- He appeals to what
human beings want.
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We wanna be the Man.
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- Post Malone, my man. Whoo!
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all: Whoo!
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- To this day,
if you say Ric Flair,
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the whole audience will go,
"Whoo!"
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crowd: Whoo!
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- Diamond Ric Flair.
all: Whoo!
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- Everything was just
so over the top with him.
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He loved the glamorous life,
and who doesn't?
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- Whether you like it--whoo!
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Or don't like it,
learn to love it!
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To be the man, daddy,
you got beat the Man.
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[chuckles]
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[dramatic music]
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* *
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- When you're Ric Flair,
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when you're
the world champion--whoo!
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When you're all there is!
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I mean,
let's show them one time.
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Put that camera on this.
Can you get something
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to show them
what's happening right here?
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- Why are we
so captivated by villains?
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- Villains are the people
that drive stories.
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- You need people like me.
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- Essentially, if you think
about any great movie or story
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that's ever been told,
there can't be a great hero...
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- Is he talking to me?
- Without a great villain.
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- Target zero, right...
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here.
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- The best villains
are the ones
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who know
what they have to offer
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and they're not afraid
to talk about it.
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- I want you to deal with
your problems by becoming rich!
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all: Yeah!
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- In an era defined by excess,
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Flair stole the spotlight.
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- The Man.
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- You gotta understand
I'm a hip-hop child, right?
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So seeing somebody like that
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wear jewelry,
and had all the women,
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and had all the cars,
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it's like
that's right up my alley.
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- He's not a demon.
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He's not a monster.
He's a very real man.
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- Whoo!
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- A man
who is better than you.
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- Every great villain
has an origin story.
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- Wanna know
how I got these scars?
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- And Ric Flair
is no different.
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- They all wanna be--whoo!
Like the Nature Boy.
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But there can only be one.
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- So just how
did he become the Nature Boy?
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- I think I was born
the Nature Boy,
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much to the dismay
of my parents.
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I grew up
in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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And I can remember as a kid,
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I liked watching wrestling
on Saturday night.
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My birthday present every year
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was to take me
to wrestling matches.
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I'm adopted,
and couldn't have been adopted
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by two finer people.
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Parents were both so smart.
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My dad a double doctorate,
my mom a master's.
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But I didn't inherit
any of their genes.
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To say that I was difficult
would be an understatement.
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I can remember, one night,
when I was in seventh grade,
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I tied the sheets together,
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just like you see
in the movies,
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got into my friend's Pontiac,
who had borrowed it
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from his dad, who didn't have
a driver's license.
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Then we headed over
to a girl's slumber party.
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This ended up with me in jail
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6:00 a.m. on Father's Day.
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It was an experience,
but you grow up fast.
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Got me to a place where
the judge said to my parents
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it's either military school
or boarding school.
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So my parents found
a real nice boarding school.
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There's a lot to be said
for going to boarding school
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in terms of the responsibility
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that you have to carry
on your shoulders to grow up.
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Either make it or you don't.
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And I mean, a lot of kids
just rely, go back,
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and fall down
on your family's name.
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All the people in that school,
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90% of them came
from very wealthy families.
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So I saw the lifestyle
I wanted.
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I just had to figure out
how to afford it.
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Wasn't really much
to fall back on.
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I wasn't gonna be a doctor.
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So I just found
another way to make it,
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and I'm--I'm just happy
and lucky
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that I wound up in wrestling.
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- In 1972,
Flair was a far cry
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from becoming the Nature Boy.
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- I met Verne, Verne Gagne,
AWA champion,
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and the promoter
and the owner of AWA,
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the American Wrestling
Alliance,
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who I'd met before
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because his son and I
were friends in high school.
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Looked at me and said, "Yeah,
we'll see what you got."
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That's how it all started.
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- You gotta know how to fall.
If you don't know how to fall,
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you're going to get hurt.
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And if you're hurt,
you can't wrestle.
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And if you can't wrestle,
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you don't eat.
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It's that simple.
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- During the era in which
Ric Flair came into wrestling,
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there weren't a lot of trainers
better than Verne Gagne.
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- We had to run 2 miles
the first day
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and then 500 free squats,
200 crunches.
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- 200.
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- In 30-degree weather
in a barn.
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Once I got through that,
I felt I could do anything.
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You've got Mr. Charisma,
Mr. Excitement, Ric Flair,
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and you know
who I got in my mind?
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I got the boy, Conway,
with the funny-looking hairdo.
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- Everything we know
about Ric Flair growing up
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is that he did
get into trouble.
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And I think it was realizing
that the stuff he did
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that got people so riled up
had a real purpose
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in the world
of professional wrestling.
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[bell dings]
- Ric Flair...
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- Ric had been wrestling
for a couple of years,
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and he was still
figuring out who he was.
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- Nothing stood out
about Ric Flair.
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And you got to stand out
to make money.
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You got to stand out
to have some kind of character
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that people
are going to remember.
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He was kind of unspectacular.
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- We're driving 3,000 miles
a week back then.
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I'd met this guy in a bar--
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shocker, right?
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That told me he had a plane.
He could fly us.
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So we'd been flying
with the guy for about a month.
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The plane crash came
in '75, October 4th.
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[dramatic music]
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We ran out of gas
at 6,000 feet
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about a mile and a half
from the runaway.
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The first engine pinned.
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He reached down
to pull reserve.
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There was always reserve gas.
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Second engine pinned.
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[high-pitched ringing]
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[siren wailing]
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The next thing I knew,
I was getting put
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in one of these
old military ambulances.
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I just remember them saying,
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"I think we're gonna lose
this one."
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I thought
they were talking about me.
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Pilot died.
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00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,490
Valentine and Bob Bruggers
were paralyzed.
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I broke my back
in three places.
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00:08:57,287 --> 00:09:00,537
[machines beeping]
203
00:09:00,582 --> 00:09:02,252
I didn't think I'd ever
be able to wrestle again.
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00:09:07,797 --> 00:09:10,427
[siren wailing]
205
00:09:10,467 --> 00:09:13,387
- He has
this horrible plane crash
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00:09:13,428 --> 00:09:16,888
that he's somehow
able to survive.
207
00:09:16,931 --> 00:09:18,391
And while
he's in the hospital,
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00:09:18,433 --> 00:09:21,313
it forces him
to take a step back
209
00:09:21,353 --> 00:09:22,653
early in his career
210
00:09:22,687 --> 00:09:25,317
and to think about what it is
211
00:09:25,357 --> 00:09:26,897
that he wants to do
with this thing.
212
00:09:28,651 --> 00:09:29,941
- I had lost a lot of weight.
213
00:09:29,986 --> 00:09:32,986
I went from 255 to 180
214
00:09:33,031 --> 00:09:35,451
while I was with a broken back.
215
00:09:35,492 --> 00:09:36,912
- Ric probably sitting there
216
00:09:36,951 --> 00:09:38,701
knowing,
"I can't be in the ring.
217
00:09:38,745 --> 00:09:41,115
"I can't go out and be myself.
218
00:09:41,164 --> 00:09:43,004
"How do I turn this
into a positive?
219
00:09:43,041 --> 00:09:45,091
What can I change?"
220
00:09:45,126 --> 00:09:47,086
- That's when he starts
thinking about
221
00:09:47,128 --> 00:09:48,668
the Nature Boy Buddy Rogers.
222
00:09:48,713 --> 00:09:52,683
- Buddy "Nature Boy" Rogers
strutting around the ring.
223
00:09:52,717 --> 00:09:56,347
- In the '60s, Nature Boy
Buddy Rogers had a strut.
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00:09:56,388 --> 00:09:59,598
But he had great promos,
especially for the day.
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00:09:59,641 --> 00:10:01,641
He was cocky, arrogant.
226
00:10:01,685 --> 00:10:04,145
- To a nicer guy
it couldn't happen.
227
00:10:04,187 --> 00:10:07,477
- He had his shiny, sequined
ring gear and jackets
228
00:10:07,524 --> 00:10:09,034
and things like that.
229
00:10:09,067 --> 00:10:10,817
- Ric Flair,
who was a big fan of his
230
00:10:10,860 --> 00:10:13,030
and a student of the game,
probably took that
231
00:10:13,071 --> 00:10:16,241
and was like, "Man, I could
make this 100 times better."
232
00:10:19,035 --> 00:10:21,405
- And that's how it all started
with Nature Boy.
233
00:10:22,414 --> 00:10:24,754
- I don't think that you could
have a better example
234
00:10:24,791 --> 00:10:28,631
of a phoenix rising from the
literal ashes of an airplane.
235
00:10:28,670 --> 00:10:31,590
- Nature Boy, Ric Flair!
236
00:10:32,549 --> 00:10:35,509
- The uncrowned world champion,
the U.S. belt,
237
00:10:35,552 --> 00:10:38,302
the World Tag belt,
doesn't make any difference.
238
00:10:38,346 --> 00:10:40,306
The new Ric Flair.
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- He almost died.
He broke his back.
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He came back.
241
00:10:43,393 --> 00:10:45,523
And he said, "It's not enough
for me to be Ric Flair.
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I have to become
the Nature Boy."
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00:10:47,439 --> 00:10:50,569
- Here I am, looking better
than any man alive.
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00:10:50,608 --> 00:10:54,108
The most gorgeous human being
on the face of this Earth.
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00:10:54,154 --> 00:10:57,494
- In 1978, I felt
pretty comfortable with myself.
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00:10:57,532 --> 00:10:59,242
The Nature Boy thing
was kicking in.
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00:10:59,284 --> 00:11:02,004
- Once he realized
he was "the Man,"
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00:11:02,037 --> 00:11:05,537
I think that's where that
evil persona really took over.
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00:11:05,582 --> 00:11:07,582
- One of the biggest stars
in wrestling today.
250
00:11:07,625 --> 00:11:09,085
He knows it.
251
00:11:09,127 --> 00:11:10,547
He's probably
one of the biggest egotists.
252
00:11:10,587 --> 00:11:13,207
- And the presentation
was all part of the package.
253
00:11:13,256 --> 00:11:16,426
- Ric walked in dressed
to the nines, hair perfect,
254
00:11:16,468 --> 00:11:18,758
and had a swagger about him
and a strut about him.
255
00:11:18,803 --> 00:11:23,183
- You can see that slightly
cocky walk that he has.
256
00:11:23,224 --> 00:11:24,604
- Prior to Ric Flair,
257
00:11:24,642 --> 00:11:26,442
professional wrestling
wasn't the sort of job
258
00:11:26,478 --> 00:11:28,148
that you showed up to
in a suit.
259
00:11:28,188 --> 00:11:30,268
When you see somebody
getting off of a team bus
260
00:11:30,315 --> 00:11:32,275
and for those,
like, 90 seconds
261
00:11:32,317 --> 00:11:33,567
that they're being trailed
by a camera,
262
00:11:33,610 --> 00:11:35,280
they have put on
a three-piece suit
263
00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,030
and a nice watch
and a pair of sunglasses,
264
00:11:37,072 --> 00:11:38,532
there's a little bit
of Ric Flair in all that.
265
00:11:38,573 --> 00:11:43,043
- We're talking
about stylin' and profilin'.
266
00:11:43,078 --> 00:11:45,118
The most expensive stuff
available.
267
00:11:45,163 --> 00:11:47,583
I saw Joe Namath,
and I was gonna be better.
268
00:11:47,624 --> 00:11:50,964
Diamond ring wearing,
kiss-stealing--whoo!
269
00:11:51,002 --> 00:11:53,592
Wheeling, dealing,
limousine-riding,
270
00:11:53,630 --> 00:11:55,920
jet-flying son of a gun.
271
00:11:55,965 --> 00:11:58,465
- He had everything
that you wanted,
272
00:11:58,510 --> 00:12:00,010
and he reminded you
273
00:12:00,053 --> 00:12:02,313
that he had everything
that you wanted.
274
00:12:02,347 --> 00:12:04,927
- Ric stood out
and was different
275
00:12:04,974 --> 00:12:08,064
than everybody else
every single night.
276
00:12:08,103 --> 00:12:11,153
- I dress myself
in alligator shoes.
277
00:12:11,189 --> 00:12:14,359
I wear a $15,000 Rolex.
278
00:12:14,401 --> 00:12:16,071
Rolex owes me
a commercial, man.
279
00:12:16,111 --> 00:12:19,321
A free one. [chuckles]
280
00:12:19,364 --> 00:12:21,034
Rolex, when?
281
00:12:22,450 --> 00:12:24,370
- Ric Flair's full of himself,
282
00:12:24,411 --> 00:12:26,371
and that's what makes it easy
to boo him.
283
00:12:26,413 --> 00:12:29,373
But when he says, like, "You
wish you had what I have,"
284
00:12:29,416 --> 00:12:30,416
he's not wrong.
285
00:12:30,458 --> 00:12:32,958
- Whoo!
Setting the world on fire.
286
00:12:33,003 --> 00:12:34,633
- Private jets?
287
00:12:34,671 --> 00:12:38,801
You didn't know of people
who flew in private airplanes,
288
00:12:38,842 --> 00:12:41,182
and Ric Flair
did this on the regular.
289
00:12:41,219 --> 00:12:43,679
- He was simply
the personification of excess
290
00:12:43,722 --> 00:12:46,772
in a decade defined
by materialism and greed.
291
00:12:46,808 --> 00:12:50,848
- I think the '80s were
an ideal time for Ric.
292
00:12:50,895 --> 00:12:53,565
- "Lifestyles of the Rich
and Famous" on TV,
293
00:12:53,606 --> 00:12:56,106
shows like "Dynasty"
and greed is good, right?
294
00:12:56,151 --> 00:13:01,281
- Greed, for lack
of a better word, is good.
295
00:13:01,322 --> 00:13:04,242
- Ric Flair was
the Gordon Gekko of wrestling.
296
00:13:04,284 --> 00:13:07,334
- This is
what all of them are wearing
297
00:13:07,370 --> 00:13:09,540
on Wall Street, Danny, huh?
298
00:13:09,581 --> 00:13:12,541
- If you had Michael Jordans,
you were Ric Flair life.
299
00:13:12,584 --> 00:13:14,794
If you were wearing PRO-keds
or Converses,
300
00:13:14,836 --> 00:13:15,916
you were just some wrestler
301
00:13:15,962 --> 00:13:17,512
he was gonna beat up
that night.
302
00:13:17,547 --> 00:13:18,877
- When I'm in that ring,
303
00:13:18,923 --> 00:13:21,053
I don't care about anybody
304
00:13:21,092 --> 00:13:24,432
in the whole world but me.
305
00:13:25,388 --> 00:13:28,928
- He understood what a villain
is supposed to do in the ring.
306
00:13:31,353 --> 00:13:34,193
The villain getting his butt
kicked in the right spots
307
00:13:34,230 --> 00:13:36,110
is what makes a match work.
308
00:13:36,149 --> 00:13:39,279
- I can't help but feel that
Dusty has it right here now.
309
00:13:39,319 --> 00:13:42,069
- You have to make a guy
look like he's a guy
310
00:13:42,113 --> 00:13:45,033
that can beat you
for that world championship.
311
00:13:45,075 --> 00:13:46,485
- Oh, he's upside down!
312
00:13:46,534 --> 00:13:48,704
- The toss
into the turnbuckle,
313
00:13:48,745 --> 00:13:51,205
grab the bottom buckle,
flip over,
314
00:13:51,247 --> 00:13:53,377
and run down the side
of the ring
315
00:13:53,416 --> 00:13:55,876
is one of the most classic
316
00:13:55,919 --> 00:13:59,459
"watch the bad guy get
what he deserves" moves.
317
00:13:59,506 --> 00:14:01,756
- And he brings him up
very unceremoniously
318
00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:03,090
right off the top.
319
00:14:03,134 --> 00:14:05,894
- The Flair on his knees,
when he do like that
320
00:14:05,929 --> 00:14:07,469
and that hair be shaking.
321
00:14:07,514 --> 00:14:10,434
- And Flair cowering
in the corner.
322
00:14:10,475 --> 00:14:13,765
- He was begging him,
"Please, please don't do it."
323
00:14:13,812 --> 00:14:15,612
And the referee goes,
"Oh come on."
324
00:14:15,647 --> 00:14:17,397
And then the guy
turns his back,
325
00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:21,070
and then Flair jumps up
and punches him.
326
00:14:21,111 --> 00:14:24,321
- Flair,
thumb to the eye of Sting.
327
00:14:24,364 --> 00:14:26,414
- Would really make you say,
"Wait a minute, man.
328
00:14:26,449 --> 00:14:28,579
You can't be doing that
to the good guys."
329
00:14:28,618 --> 00:14:31,748
- And there's his
play-it-again slam.
330
00:14:31,788 --> 00:14:34,418
- There's your pretty boy.
Now he's ugly.
331
00:14:34,457 --> 00:14:37,457
- When he got on
your good guy,
332
00:14:37,502 --> 00:14:40,262
he could do it
and be incredibly vicious.
333
00:14:40,296 --> 00:14:41,756
- Flair's got a chair!
334
00:14:41,798 --> 00:14:44,508
Oh, my God!
Right across his knees.
335
00:14:44,551 --> 00:14:47,511
- I'm the dirtiest player
in the game!
336
00:14:47,554 --> 00:14:49,974
- He calls himself the dirtiest
player in the game.
337
00:14:50,015 --> 00:14:51,635
When you say that out loud,
338
00:14:51,683 --> 00:14:53,733
it takes a little bit
of the sting off of it, right?
339
00:14:53,768 --> 00:14:56,268
It's like he's telling you
who he is.
340
00:14:56,312 --> 00:14:58,692
- He's cheating.
- Yes, he's cheating.
341
00:14:58,732 --> 00:15:00,862
- Hey, shut up!
342
00:15:00,900 --> 00:15:02,240
- He was leaving
with that title,
343
00:15:02,277 --> 00:15:03,987
and that's
what made him a great villain.
344
00:15:04,029 --> 00:15:09,659
- I am still the world
heavyweight wrestling champion.
345
00:15:09,701 --> 00:15:13,331
- My dad being able to take
you on this roller coaster
346
00:15:13,371 --> 00:15:15,421
and look like
he was about to lose,
347
00:15:15,457 --> 00:15:17,127
but being the dirtiest player
in the game,
348
00:15:17,167 --> 00:15:20,337
he was able to sneak one out,
just makes you hate him more.
349
00:15:20,378 --> 00:15:22,418
Like you weren't
even gonna win.
350
00:15:22,464 --> 00:15:27,264
- To be the man, daddy,
you gotta beat the Man.
351
00:15:27,302 --> 00:15:29,682
- Being a man
was about conquering.
352
00:15:29,721 --> 00:15:31,771
Ric Flair represented
everybody's bully.
353
00:15:31,806 --> 00:15:34,426
- Sting.
Oh, it's great.
354
00:15:34,476 --> 00:15:36,516
The first thing I wanna do
355
00:15:36,561 --> 00:15:40,691
when I get up in the morning
is paint my face.
356
00:15:40,732 --> 00:15:44,742
- His ability to talk [...]
is unparalleled.
357
00:15:44,778 --> 00:15:47,358
- He knew the buttons
to push on people.
358
00:15:47,405 --> 00:15:51,025
- You got to be bored to death.
359
00:15:51,076 --> 00:15:53,826
The same woman every night?
360
00:15:53,870 --> 00:15:56,120
- It's kinda like
that Floyd Mayweather disease
361
00:15:56,164 --> 00:16:00,594
where people pay a lot of money
to watch this guy lose.
362
00:16:00,627 --> 00:16:03,127
- The whole world
363
00:16:03,171 --> 00:16:08,591
wants to shut Slick Ric up,
bottom line.
364
00:16:08,635 --> 00:16:11,425
- Flair's obnoxious
flaunting of wealth and status
365
00:16:11,471 --> 00:16:13,311
made for a perfect rivalry
366
00:16:13,348 --> 00:16:15,428
with the blue-collar
working man.
367
00:16:15,475 --> 00:16:19,555
- Oh, oh. Here he comes!
The American Dream.
368
00:16:19,604 --> 00:16:23,234
- Dusty Rhodes, also known
as the American Dream,
369
00:16:23,274 --> 00:16:27,574
was a working-class guy who
dared to stand up to the Man.
370
00:16:27,612 --> 00:16:31,702
- Get a dream, hold on to it,
and shoot for the sky.
371
00:16:31,741 --> 00:16:35,251
- I wanted to see Dusty Rhodes
beat the tar out him.
372
00:16:35,286 --> 00:16:37,746
Dusty Rhodes
was the everyday working man,
373
00:16:37,789 --> 00:16:39,289
the son of a plumber.
374
00:16:39,332 --> 00:16:42,252
- Who's your favorite wrestler?
- Dusty Rhodes.
375
00:16:42,293 --> 00:16:44,383
- He represented
the average guy.
376
00:16:44,421 --> 00:16:45,591
That's why they loved him.
377
00:16:45,630 --> 00:16:46,590
That's why they connected
with them.
378
00:16:46,631 --> 00:16:48,761
They felt like they were him.
379
00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,050
- Dusty Rhodes, the man
who has caught the heart
380
00:16:51,094 --> 00:16:54,434
and the fancy in the minds
of people everywhere.
381
00:16:54,472 --> 00:16:56,772
- If you were the regular fan,
382
00:16:56,808 --> 00:16:59,768
rooting for the son of
a plumber like Dusty Rhodes,
383
00:16:59,811 --> 00:17:01,771
there was no one worse
than Ric Flair.
384
00:17:01,813 --> 00:17:06,993
He embodied all of this
capitalistic greed.
385
00:17:07,027 --> 00:17:08,947
- This wasn't just a rivalry.
386
00:17:08,987 --> 00:17:11,027
This was class warfare,
387
00:17:11,072 --> 00:17:13,992
the working-class hero taking
on the loud-mouth rich guy
388
00:17:14,034 --> 00:17:15,584
flaunting his spoils.
389
00:17:15,618 --> 00:17:17,788
- I want you to jump
out of that TV.
390
00:17:17,829 --> 00:17:21,329
Yeah, you bad.
Yeah, you bad, Ric.
391
00:17:21,374 --> 00:17:25,214
- Big Dust, you got no belt.
You got no life.
392
00:17:25,253 --> 00:17:26,923
You got nothing to brag about.
393
00:17:26,963 --> 00:17:28,383
Nothing to stand on.
394
00:17:28,423 --> 00:17:30,263
- Don't talk about the
American Dream, Dusty Rhodes.
395
00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:33,510
I am the best, daddy.
There is no other.
396
00:17:33,553 --> 00:17:35,563
- It was
the guy on the pedestal
397
00:17:35,597 --> 00:17:36,637
against the common man.
398
00:17:36,681 --> 00:17:38,931
- I'm tired of looking at hat.
399
00:17:38,975 --> 00:17:42,805
I'm just gonna slip it off
and throw it out to the fans.
400
00:17:42,854 --> 00:17:45,444
Yeah, yeah!
401
00:17:45,482 --> 00:17:48,822
- He would talk about
what a disgusting slob
402
00:17:48,860 --> 00:17:50,110
Dusty Rhodes was.
403
00:17:50,153 --> 00:17:53,993
- Dusty Rhodes,
you're a country-talking fool.
404
00:17:54,032 --> 00:17:56,832
- But he knew that that was
going to get under fans' skin.
405
00:17:56,868 --> 00:18:00,458
- I'm gonna beat you half
to death because I have to.
406
00:18:00,497 --> 00:18:02,327
- He was the guy living
in the biggest house
407
00:18:02,374 --> 00:18:03,834
in the biggest side of town.
408
00:18:03,875 --> 00:18:05,535
The other guy was
the son of a plumber.
409
00:18:05,585 --> 00:18:08,165
Blue collar, white collar.
It was classic.
410
00:18:08,213 --> 00:18:09,883
- Now is the time
411
00:18:09,923 --> 00:18:12,093
that the talking stops
and the fighting begins.
412
00:18:12,133 --> 00:18:13,933
- A battle of two giants
413
00:18:13,968 --> 00:18:16,968
in the wrestling world
here tonight.
414
00:18:17,013 --> 00:18:18,433
- The war
between Flair and Dusty
415
00:18:18,473 --> 00:18:19,773
set a new standard
416
00:18:19,808 --> 00:18:22,438
for what an epic rivalry
could become.
417
00:18:22,477 --> 00:18:24,557
- I wrestled Dusty
in the Orange Bowl,
418
00:18:24,604 --> 00:18:27,324
and we had,
like, 40,000 people.
419
00:18:27,357 --> 00:18:29,357
We did huge business.
420
00:18:30,402 --> 00:18:31,652
- While Flair and Rhodes
421
00:18:31,695 --> 00:18:33,775
were in all-out conflict,
422
00:18:33,822 --> 00:18:37,202
the U.S. was waging a cold war
against the Soviet Union...
423
00:18:37,242 --> 00:18:40,202
- Soviets have been building
their military strength.
424
00:18:40,245 --> 00:18:42,325
The Cold War went right on.
425
00:18:42,372 --> 00:18:43,792
- A real-life issue
426
00:18:43,832 --> 00:18:46,082
that was playing out
in the ring.
427
00:18:46,126 --> 00:18:48,496
- Sports entertainment 101 is
428
00:18:48,545 --> 00:18:51,205
who was the U.S.'s enemy
at this time?
429
00:18:51,256 --> 00:18:55,086
- Russia, number one.
Iran, number one.
430
00:18:55,135 --> 00:18:57,925
USA--[spits]
431
00:18:57,971 --> 00:19:00,471
- You just plug that in.
It's very easy.
432
00:19:00,515 --> 00:19:03,725
There's that sense of pride
and nationalism.
433
00:19:03,768 --> 00:19:05,598
And if you have somebody
that's representing that,
434
00:19:05,645 --> 00:19:07,725
people are gonna cheer
for that person.
435
00:19:07,772 --> 00:19:10,402
- So fast forward
to Nikita Koloff
436
00:19:10,442 --> 00:19:12,072
taking on a Ric Flair.
437
00:19:12,110 --> 00:19:14,820
And Ric Flair,
even though we hated him
438
00:19:14,863 --> 00:19:19,083
and he was this evil guy,
he was our evil guy.
439
00:19:19,117 --> 00:19:23,577
- And as we have seen
so many times, a double-team.
440
00:19:23,621 --> 00:19:27,461
- Flair is locked in a cage.
He's in peril.
441
00:19:27,500 --> 00:19:28,960
- And here's
the American Dream
442
00:19:29,002 --> 00:19:30,712
as he got into the ring.
443
00:19:30,754 --> 00:19:34,924
- In comes Dusty Rhodes,
the American Dream.
444
00:19:34,966 --> 00:19:37,796
- Coming to the aid of
the world heavyweight champion
445
00:19:37,844 --> 00:19:40,434
is Dusty Rhodes,
the world television champion.
446
00:19:40,472 --> 00:19:43,522
- Dusty comes out,
and he helps Ric Flair.
447
00:19:43,558 --> 00:19:45,598
- And right now,
Dusty has cleared the ring,
448
00:19:45,643 --> 00:19:47,193
and there they stand.
449
00:19:48,313 --> 00:19:51,903
And now we're going to see,
Bob, look here, from behind,
450
00:19:51,941 --> 00:19:54,401
both the Andersons
working over Dusty Rhodes.
451
00:19:54,444 --> 00:19:57,114
- And he turns on Dusty Rhodes.
452
00:19:57,155 --> 00:19:59,525
- Ric is not worried
about red, white, and blue.
453
00:19:59,574 --> 00:20:01,874
Ric is worried about green
at the end of the day.
454
00:20:01,910 --> 00:20:04,450
- And now it's a three on one.
455
00:20:04,496 --> 00:20:06,616
- Attacking Dusty,
breaking his leg,
456
00:20:06,664 --> 00:20:08,254
beating on Dusty Rhodes.
457
00:20:08,291 --> 00:20:10,041
- The violence seemed real.
458
00:20:10,085 --> 00:20:14,755
You thought, "Man, Ric
really wants to kill Dusty."
459
00:20:14,798 --> 00:20:15,838
- All of us
sitting there like,
460
00:20:15,882 --> 00:20:18,052
how can we have been so stupid
461
00:20:18,093 --> 00:20:20,353
as to trust the dirtiest player
in the game?
462
00:20:21,846 --> 00:20:24,766
- Fans were trying to climb
the cage
463
00:20:24,808 --> 00:20:27,728
to get inside
to help Dusty Rhodes.
464
00:20:27,769 --> 00:20:29,689
- Took us an hour
to get out of the ring.
465
00:20:29,729 --> 00:20:32,319
We had heat, man,
466
00:20:32,357 --> 00:20:33,897
and it drove people crazy.
467
00:20:33,942 --> 00:20:37,532
- That face
sure tells it all, Tony.
468
00:20:37,570 --> 00:20:38,990
- I'm the man
469
00:20:39,030 --> 00:20:43,160
that put Dusty Rhodes
in a knee-high cast.
470
00:20:43,201 --> 00:20:44,411
Dusty Rhodes.
471
00:20:44,452 --> 00:20:45,582
- Get him, Ric!
472
00:20:45,620 --> 00:20:49,040
- It's only just begun.
473
00:20:53,420 --> 00:20:54,800
- With the sabotage on Dusty,
474
00:20:54,838 --> 00:20:56,628
Flair was a marked man.
475
00:20:56,673 --> 00:20:58,593
He needed reinforcements,
476
00:20:58,633 --> 00:21:00,303
so he created
a faction of henchmen.
477
00:21:00,343 --> 00:21:03,473
- The Four Horsemen!
That's what it's all about!
478
00:21:03,513 --> 00:21:06,563
The mastermind
and all the talent.
479
00:21:06,599 --> 00:21:08,689
The new world
Tag Team champions
480
00:21:08,727 --> 00:21:10,057
Ole and Arn Anderson.
481
00:21:10,103 --> 00:21:14,323
The new world TV champion
Tully Blanchard.
482
00:21:14,357 --> 00:21:15,977
Four guys
that could work and talk.
483
00:21:16,026 --> 00:21:17,146
Real simple.
484
00:21:17,193 --> 00:21:20,663
We are the studs
in professional wrestling.
485
00:21:20,697 --> 00:21:23,237
- Obviously, Ric being
the leader of the group.
486
00:21:23,283 --> 00:21:27,003
JJ Dillon, a manager
of the Four Horsemen.
487
00:21:27,037 --> 00:21:30,077
Arn Anderson
being that enforcer.
488
00:21:30,123 --> 00:21:31,833
And then you have someone
like Ole Anderson,
489
00:21:31,875 --> 00:21:33,705
who was mean as can be.
490
00:21:33,752 --> 00:21:36,632
- How about it now,
Rhodes, huh? How about it now?
491
00:21:36,671 --> 00:21:38,671
- And Tully Blanchard,
he was smooth.
492
00:21:38,715 --> 00:21:40,175
He was the guy in the ring
493
00:21:40,216 --> 00:21:42,136
that maybe was
the closest to Ric.
494
00:21:42,177 --> 00:21:44,137
- The Horsemen
were sitting around
495
00:21:44,179 --> 00:21:45,469
having a little brewski,
496
00:21:45,513 --> 00:21:47,433
looking at a few ladies
on the beach.
497
00:21:47,474 --> 00:21:50,814
- All you have to do is go
like this, and everybody knows
498
00:21:50,852 --> 00:21:52,312
what you're talking about.
499
00:21:52,354 --> 00:21:55,484
- We talking Horsemen.
500
00:21:55,523 --> 00:21:59,403
- Ric Flair elevated every
other member of that team.
501
00:21:59,444 --> 00:22:01,114
all: Whoo-hoo!
502
00:22:01,154 --> 00:22:02,204
- The group embodied
503
00:22:02,238 --> 00:22:04,118
everything
that Flair stood for:
504
00:22:04,157 --> 00:22:08,617
money, women,
and, of course, dirty deeds.
505
00:22:08,661 --> 00:22:11,081
- He's doing it again
like before!
506
00:22:11,122 --> 00:22:12,502
- They weren't the biggest.
They weren't the strongest.
507
00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:13,790
They weren't the fastest,
508
00:22:13,833 --> 00:22:15,293
but they were
the most tight-knit.
509
00:22:15,335 --> 00:22:18,125
- There's Tully Blanchard
and the Andersons
510
00:22:18,171 --> 00:22:20,761
and the Four Horsemen
together.
511
00:22:20,799 --> 00:22:23,759
- If I was a wrestler,
I'd be Killer Mike,
512
00:22:23,802 --> 00:22:25,512
and I'd be the fifth Horseman.
513
00:22:25,553 --> 00:22:29,353
- All for one, Horsemen,
and one for all.
514
00:22:29,391 --> 00:22:31,101
[dramatic music]
515
00:22:31,142 --> 00:22:32,982
- The Four Horsemen
became the blueprint
516
00:22:33,019 --> 00:22:36,399
to every faction to follow
from that point forward.
517
00:22:36,439 --> 00:22:37,729
- They were the first.
518
00:22:37,774 --> 00:22:39,484
I was so influenced by it
519
00:22:39,526 --> 00:22:41,646
that I went off the rails
of my career.
520
00:22:41,695 --> 00:22:43,315
- We are the D-Generation X.
- D-Generation.
521
00:22:43,363 --> 00:22:46,913
- You made your rules,
and we will break them.
522
00:22:46,950 --> 00:22:49,870
- Before DX, the nWo,
523
00:22:49,911 --> 00:22:52,331
and every iconic group
that would follow,
524
00:22:52,372 --> 00:22:55,672
the Horseman
revolutionized the industry.
525
00:22:55,709 --> 00:22:58,499
- Traveling from town to town,
kicking butt.
526
00:22:58,545 --> 00:23:00,875
- We beat up who we want
to beat up,
527
00:23:00,922 --> 00:23:02,342
when we wanna beat them up.
528
00:23:02,382 --> 00:23:04,592
- They just went around saying
they were the best,
529
00:23:04,634 --> 00:23:06,224
and they were.
530
00:23:06,261 --> 00:23:09,391
- There is no greater faction
in the history of pro wrestling
531
00:23:09,431 --> 00:23:11,021
than the Four Horsemen.
532
00:23:11,057 --> 00:23:12,847
- With the Horsemen
by his side,
533
00:23:12,892 --> 00:23:14,482
Flair was unbeatable,
534
00:23:14,519 --> 00:23:17,269
winning championship
after championship.
535
00:23:17,313 --> 00:23:20,073
- Ric Flair
is the champion again!
536
00:23:20,108 --> 00:23:23,738
- You're history, Luger!
Whoo!
537
00:23:25,572 --> 00:23:27,072
- So by the late '80s,
538
00:23:27,115 --> 00:23:29,775
Ric Flair sorta starts
to distance himself
539
00:23:29,826 --> 00:23:31,326
from the Four Horsemen.
540
00:23:31,369 --> 00:23:34,659
As he distanced himself
from the Four Horsemen,
541
00:23:34,706 --> 00:23:36,286
he kind of got back
into his craft,
542
00:23:36,332 --> 00:23:39,212
which is being
an incredible wrestler.
543
00:23:39,252 --> 00:23:41,212
And that kind of started
this rivalry
544
00:23:41,254 --> 00:23:43,054
with Ricky
"the Dragon" Steamboat.
545
00:23:43,089 --> 00:23:45,839
- You're gonna be mine.
Don't make a mistake.
546
00:23:45,884 --> 00:23:47,344
- One-hour time limit
547
00:23:47,385 --> 00:23:49,885
for the heavyweight
championship of the world.
548
00:23:49,929 --> 00:23:52,179
And now Flair,
double arm suplex.
549
00:23:52,223 --> 00:23:53,313
Great move!
550
00:23:53,350 --> 00:23:55,560
- His working the ring
was insane.
551
00:23:55,602 --> 00:23:57,062
- Flair, great movement.
552
00:23:57,103 --> 00:23:58,943
Oh, busts him--my God--
on the top.
553
00:23:58,980 --> 00:24:01,400
- Flair was going 60 minutes
a night.
554
00:24:01,441 --> 00:24:03,611
60 minutes in the main event.
555
00:24:04,861 --> 00:24:07,951
- I am, and you ask
the female audience,
556
00:24:07,989 --> 00:24:10,329
the 60-minute man, pal.
557
00:24:10,367 --> 00:24:13,827
So if you can hang in there,
think about it.
558
00:24:13,870 --> 00:24:16,920
- People start to look
at Ric Flair, like "Huh.
559
00:24:16,956 --> 00:24:18,626
"I know this guy cheats a lot,
560
00:24:18,667 --> 00:24:20,877
"but he really wrestles
his ass off.
561
00:24:20,919 --> 00:24:22,749
He can go." You know?
562
00:24:22,796 --> 00:24:24,336
- It showed the world
563
00:24:24,381 --> 00:24:27,381
that once you put
the microphone down,
564
00:24:27,425 --> 00:24:32,845
Ric Flair is every bit as good
a wrestler as he says he is.
565
00:24:32,889 --> 00:24:34,139
- A slam.
566
00:24:34,182 --> 00:24:36,522
But Flair inside. One, two--
567
00:24:36,559 --> 00:24:38,439
- He did it!
- He did it!
568
00:24:38,478 --> 00:24:40,188
[cheers and applause]
569
00:24:40,230 --> 00:24:44,110
And Flair has done it.
Flair has done it.
570
00:24:44,150 --> 00:24:46,440
- As his fame
and fortune continued to grow,
571
00:24:46,486 --> 00:24:47,986
so did his arrogance.
572
00:24:48,029 --> 00:24:50,119
- Take a look at that, huh?
573
00:24:50,156 --> 00:24:54,236
Arnold Schwarzenegger,
be glad you're making movies.
574
00:24:54,285 --> 00:24:56,615
- But the manner
in which he did it
575
00:24:56,663 --> 00:24:59,253
made his presence undeniable.
576
00:24:59,290 --> 00:25:01,960
- Ric
is a Scarface-like figure...
577
00:25:02,002 --> 00:25:04,002
- Say good night
to the bad guy.
578
00:25:04,045 --> 00:25:07,545
- Because he appeals
to what human beings want.
579
00:25:07,590 --> 00:25:08,680
We wanna be the Man.
580
00:25:08,717 --> 00:25:10,967
- I'm rich. I'm famous.
581
00:25:11,011 --> 00:25:14,181
I'm unparalleled
in sports today.
582
00:25:14,222 --> 00:25:15,852
I'm the Man.
583
00:25:15,890 --> 00:25:18,440
- Ric Flair is the reason
I sit here right now
584
00:25:18,476 --> 00:25:22,646
with a Rolex on my arm
and $150,000 Mercedes outside.
585
00:25:22,689 --> 00:25:24,069
It's not that I thought
586
00:25:24,107 --> 00:25:25,937
that that's what I needed
to be cool.
587
00:25:25,984 --> 00:25:29,824
He was cool,
and that was everything he had.
588
00:25:29,863 --> 00:25:32,573
- I think, secretly,
deep down inside,
589
00:25:32,615 --> 00:25:34,155
we all wanted to be that guy.
590
00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,700
But Ric Flair
was the epitome of that.
591
00:25:36,745 --> 00:25:38,865
- A part of us is like, wow.
592
00:25:38,913 --> 00:25:41,333
It's flash, right?
It's wealth.
593
00:25:41,374 --> 00:25:44,174
It's all of the things
that a lot of people
594
00:25:44,210 --> 00:25:46,050
would aspire to in real life.
595
00:25:47,213 --> 00:25:49,383
- The girls over here
are hollering.
596
00:25:49,424 --> 00:25:51,054
[cheering]
597
00:25:51,092 --> 00:25:53,262
Slick Ric, you know. Hey.
598
00:25:53,303 --> 00:25:55,433
- He wanted to be the guy
that got all the girls.
599
00:25:55,472 --> 00:25:56,812
When you think of him,
that's just the thing
600
00:25:56,848 --> 00:25:58,428
that is attached.
601
00:25:58,475 --> 00:26:00,385
- I tell you, the lifestyle
of this man
602
00:26:00,435 --> 00:26:02,305
never ceases to amaze.
603
00:26:02,354 --> 00:26:05,074
- Hulk was selling milk
and cookies.
604
00:26:05,106 --> 00:26:07,686
- These are the very best
vitamins on the market.
605
00:26:07,734 --> 00:26:09,614
- Ric Flair--whoo!
606
00:26:09,652 --> 00:26:13,072
Was selling sex, drugs,
and rock and roll.
607
00:26:13,114 --> 00:26:16,124
- Hulk Hogan had cartoons,
but what he didn't have
608
00:26:16,159 --> 00:26:18,159
was the ability
to walk into any club
609
00:26:18,203 --> 00:26:20,543
and every woman in that club
610
00:26:20,580 --> 00:26:23,790
instantly think "I wanna ride
Space Mountain tonight."
611
00:26:23,833 --> 00:26:26,503
- You don't have to go
to Disney World
612
00:26:26,544 --> 00:26:27,924
to find Space Mountain.
613
00:26:27,962 --> 00:26:29,262
It's right here.
614
00:26:29,297 --> 00:26:32,047
I just made it up one day.
[laughs]
615
00:26:32,092 --> 00:26:35,432
One night, a woman--whoo!
Just screamed out,
616
00:26:35,470 --> 00:26:38,560
"It's like--it's like--whoo!
Space Mountain."
617
00:26:38,598 --> 00:26:41,728
And next thing I knew,
it was, like, national news.
618
00:26:41,768 --> 00:26:43,228
And I got news for you.
619
00:26:43,269 --> 00:26:45,809
When you get on Space Mountain,
you'll be like this--
620
00:26:47,190 --> 00:26:50,570
Drinks on the Nature Boy.
[laughs]
621
00:26:50,610 --> 00:26:53,150
[dramatic music]
622
00:26:53,196 --> 00:26:56,236
I spent more money
on spilled booze
623
00:26:56,282 --> 00:26:59,202
than you made
in the last six months.
624
00:26:59,244 --> 00:27:00,914
- The Nature Boy's
avarice lifestyle
625
00:27:00,954 --> 00:27:02,414
wasn't an act.
626
00:27:02,455 --> 00:27:05,325
He lived it 24/7.
627
00:27:05,375 --> 00:27:06,535
- Where does
that character end,
628
00:27:06,584 --> 00:27:08,634
and where does
the real guy begin?
629
00:27:08,670 --> 00:27:11,260
We don't really
know that at all.
630
00:27:11,297 --> 00:27:13,257
- It's who he truly was.
631
00:27:13,299 --> 00:27:17,469
The Ric Flair character
was so strong
632
00:27:17,512 --> 00:27:20,222
that I think
it overtook his life.
633
00:27:24,227 --> 00:27:28,647
- No, this is the WWE.
634
00:27:28,690 --> 00:27:31,150
- By 1992, Flair had yet
635
00:27:31,192 --> 00:27:34,152
to style and profile
his way through the WWE.
636
00:27:34,195 --> 00:27:36,905
- There he is
in all his regal-ness.
637
00:27:36,948 --> 00:27:39,578
- At WWE's
Royal Rumble event,
638
00:27:39,617 --> 00:27:42,827
Flair outlasted
29 other superstars
639
00:27:42,871 --> 00:27:45,331
to win the WWE championship.
640
00:27:45,373 --> 00:27:50,803
- It's Flair from behind.
Oh, yes. Yes!
641
00:27:50,837 --> 00:27:54,167
- It was the pinnacle
of his career and his life.
642
00:27:54,215 --> 00:27:56,175
- The promo that Ric Flair
cut after winning
643
00:27:56,217 --> 00:28:00,307
the 1992 Royal Rumble
and becoming the WWE champion
644
00:28:00,347 --> 00:28:03,177
is the most important
Ric Flair promo there is.
645
00:28:03,224 --> 00:28:09,114
- I'm gonna tell y'all
with a tear in my eye,
646
00:28:09,147 --> 00:28:13,317
this is the greatest moment
in my life.
647
00:28:13,360 --> 00:28:14,610
- 'Cause he says,
"With a tear in my eye,
648
00:28:14,652 --> 00:28:16,532
this is the greatest moment
of my life."
649
00:28:16,571 --> 00:28:18,241
He doesn't say, "This is
the greatest moment
650
00:28:18,281 --> 00:28:19,871
of my professional life."
651
00:28:19,908 --> 00:28:23,198
He says, "This is the greatest
moment of my life."
652
00:28:23,244 --> 00:28:25,044
- It's the greatest moment
of my life.
653
00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,250
- It is a real acknowledgment
654
00:28:27,290 --> 00:28:30,130
that there is nothing
more important to him
655
00:28:30,168 --> 00:28:32,628
than being at the top
of his industry.
656
00:28:32,671 --> 00:28:35,131
And that includes family,
and that includes friends,
657
00:28:35,173 --> 00:28:36,343
and that includes anything
658
00:28:36,383 --> 00:28:39,393
that might happen
outside of this universe.
659
00:28:39,427 --> 00:28:41,807
- Whoo! [laughs]
660
00:28:41,846 --> 00:28:43,846
- That was his life.
That's who he was.
661
00:28:43,890 --> 00:28:48,940
I think Ric Flair was 100%
committed to pro wrestling.
662
00:28:48,978 --> 00:28:51,858
- I live and die
663
00:28:51,898 --> 00:28:57,858
and breathe each day
of my life for this business.
664
00:28:57,904 --> 00:28:59,164
- For 15 years,
665
00:28:59,197 --> 00:29:01,447
Flair's deviant actions
in the ring
666
00:29:01,491 --> 00:29:04,581
fueled his lavish lifestyle
outside of it.
667
00:29:04,619 --> 00:29:09,579
Everything I have is because
my name is Ric Flair.
668
00:29:09,624 --> 00:29:12,714
- But it was getting
out of control.
669
00:29:12,752 --> 00:29:17,262
The line between the character
and the man was gone.
670
00:29:17,298 --> 00:29:18,878
- I mean, it wasn't a gimmick.
671
00:29:18,925 --> 00:29:21,965
This was the life
that he ended up leading.
672
00:29:22,012 --> 00:29:23,302
- Come on up here, ladies.
673
00:29:23,346 --> 00:29:25,596
Let this camera get
a little bit of look at you.
674
00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,230
Jan, darlin',
675
00:29:27,267 --> 00:29:30,347
I didn't expect to see you
for another week or two.
676
00:29:30,395 --> 00:29:33,935
- Nature was really
living all of that.
677
00:29:33,982 --> 00:29:37,442
There was no pretend
in any of it.
678
00:29:37,485 --> 00:29:38,855
- Can you believe these women?
679
00:29:38,903 --> 00:29:41,993
Now you know why I come
into this television station
680
00:29:42,032 --> 00:29:44,242
a little weary once in a while.
681
00:29:44,284 --> 00:29:49,164
I have to fulfill
all the dreams, the desires,
682
00:29:49,205 --> 00:29:53,285
the wishes, and the lusts
of thousands of young women
683
00:29:53,335 --> 00:29:56,625
all throughout
this great country.
684
00:29:56,671 --> 00:29:59,631
- The best was in Baltimore,
when I woke up in the morning,
685
00:29:59,674 --> 00:30:02,264
and there were two chicks,
and she said,
686
00:30:02,302 --> 00:30:04,012
"You threw your Rolex
in a bowl of spaghetti
687
00:30:04,054 --> 00:30:05,314
"last night at Sabatino's
688
00:30:05,347 --> 00:30:07,517
and said you had
11 other ones."
689
00:30:09,017 --> 00:30:11,897
- His occupation has made it
difficult at times
690
00:30:11,936 --> 00:30:13,476
to have a family.
691
00:30:13,521 --> 00:30:16,731
Now he is in the final weeks
of an expensive divorce.
692
00:30:16,775 --> 00:30:19,145
- Paying alimony
to three women at one time
693
00:30:19,194 --> 00:30:20,994
was a lot of dough.
694
00:30:21,029 --> 00:30:22,489
As a matter of fact,
695
00:30:22,530 --> 00:30:24,490
that's got to be
some kind of record, right?
696
00:30:24,532 --> 00:30:29,752
Three women, same family,
alimony.
697
00:30:29,788 --> 00:30:31,658
Good Lord.
698
00:30:31,706 --> 00:30:38,086
I am so high on being Ric Flair
each day of my life.
699
00:30:38,129 --> 00:30:40,339
- You play that role enough,
700
00:30:40,382 --> 00:30:42,842
that's like
a cop going undercover,
701
00:30:42,884 --> 00:30:45,934
and sometimes they get
so lost in it,
702
00:30:45,970 --> 00:30:48,060
they never come back.
703
00:30:49,849 --> 00:30:51,809
- I probably neglected
my family a little bit,
704
00:30:51,851 --> 00:30:56,521
but it's been successful for me
in promoting myself
705
00:30:56,564 --> 00:30:58,984
and making me successful
in professional wrestling.
706
00:30:59,025 --> 00:31:01,735
- He doesn't apologize
for being who he is.
707
00:31:01,778 --> 00:31:04,488
The Nature Boy is Ric Flair.
Ric Flair is the Nature Boy.
708
00:31:04,531 --> 00:31:06,831
- The womanizer, the king,
709
00:31:06,866 --> 00:31:11,076
the man that makes wrestling
go round and round.
710
00:31:11,121 --> 00:31:13,461
- I think
I was very naive to it.
711
00:31:13,498 --> 00:31:15,708
Just like, this is my dad.
He has bleached blonde hair.
712
00:31:15,750 --> 00:31:18,090
He brings his big gold belt
to show and tell,
713
00:31:18,128 --> 00:31:19,248
and that was normal for me.
714
00:31:20,588 --> 00:31:22,918
- Are you okay?
- Mm-hmm.
715
00:31:22,966 --> 00:31:24,506
- I'm gonna miss you both.
716
00:31:26,261 --> 00:31:30,431
The WWE
isn't big enough for me.
717
00:31:30,473 --> 00:31:31,933
[emotional music]
718
00:31:31,975 --> 00:31:34,095
Vince came to me and said,
"I'm going to start
719
00:31:34,144 --> 00:31:35,354
"going with youth.
720
00:31:35,395 --> 00:31:36,895
And I know they want you
back,"
721
00:31:36,938 --> 00:31:39,898
'cause WCW never stopped
calling from the day I left.
722
00:31:39,941 --> 00:31:42,741
"You can stay, and I'll have
to push you down the card,
723
00:31:42,777 --> 00:31:45,657
or you can leave on top."
And I said, "I'll go back."
724
00:31:45,697 --> 00:31:52,117
WCW, the Nature Boy
is back to rock and roll.
725
00:31:52,162 --> 00:31:54,292
Whoo!
726
00:31:54,330 --> 00:31:57,790
- In 1993,
Flair returned to WCW,
727
00:31:57,834 --> 00:31:59,254
but times were changing.
728
00:31:59,294 --> 00:32:00,464
- Thanks again, Ric.
729
00:32:00,503 --> 00:32:01,883
I know you're on your way
back to Charlotte.
730
00:32:01,921 --> 00:32:02,961
- Thank you.
731
00:32:03,006 --> 00:32:04,466
- In an era of grunge,
732
00:32:04,507 --> 00:32:06,587
darker and edgier villains
were in the spotlight.
733
00:32:06,634 --> 00:32:09,264
Suddenly
the flamboyant Nature Boy
734
00:32:09,304 --> 00:32:11,644
wasn't the Man
like he used to be.
735
00:32:11,681 --> 00:32:16,901
- WCW had started the nWo,
whose entire cause for being
736
00:32:16,936 --> 00:32:19,356
was to strip down anything
737
00:32:19,397 --> 00:32:22,477
and everyone
that WCW ever held dear.
738
00:32:22,525 --> 00:32:24,395
- By the time the NWO
started emerging
739
00:32:24,444 --> 00:32:25,904
and really blowing up
740
00:32:25,945 --> 00:32:29,115
and overshadowing so much
of the other talent,
741
00:32:29,157 --> 00:32:32,827
I probably didn't look
at guys like Ric Flair
742
00:32:32,869 --> 00:32:34,789
the way a lot
of other people did.
743
00:32:34,829 --> 00:32:39,419
the Man is more of a coward
than he is a fossil.
744
00:32:39,459 --> 00:32:41,129
And that was my mistake.
745
00:32:41,169 --> 00:32:43,339
And that hurt Ric.
746
00:32:43,380 --> 00:32:47,720
- You suck.
You, I hate your guts.
747
00:32:47,759 --> 00:32:50,799
It's natural to say something
if your feelings are hurt
748
00:32:50,845 --> 00:32:53,465
or you think that you've
been under-recognized
749
00:32:53,515 --> 00:32:54,845
or you haven't
been appreciated.
750
00:32:54,891 --> 00:32:57,941
Bischoff, I ain't leaving.
751
00:32:57,977 --> 00:32:59,227
- Wait a minute!
752
00:32:59,270 --> 00:33:01,060
- When Ric was
in the character
753
00:33:01,106 --> 00:33:03,566
of the Nature Boy,
he could do no wrong
754
00:33:03,608 --> 00:33:05,818
and was the most
confident person in the world.
755
00:33:05,860 --> 00:33:10,490
But the human behind that
was much more insecure.
756
00:33:10,532 --> 00:33:12,742
- Ric Flair was put
in positions
757
00:33:12,784 --> 00:33:15,544
where he was shown
as inferior.
758
00:33:15,578 --> 00:33:18,328
- Now they're shaving
Ric Flair's head!
759
00:33:18,373 --> 00:33:20,833
- You don't change Ric Flair.
760
00:33:20,875 --> 00:33:23,705
You don't move Tom Brady
from quarterback to tight end.
761
00:33:23,753 --> 00:33:25,803
Guy's winning you Super Bowls.
762
00:33:25,839 --> 00:33:27,669
It's the same thing
with Ric Flair.
763
00:33:27,716 --> 00:33:30,586
Guy's
a 16-time world champion.
764
00:33:30,635 --> 00:33:32,135
- Whoo!
765
00:33:32,178 --> 00:33:37,268
- When you allow the glory
that a character receives
766
00:33:37,308 --> 00:33:40,058
to become
your own personal glory,
767
00:33:40,103 --> 00:33:42,563
then any tragedy that
that character receives
768
00:33:42,605 --> 00:33:45,025
also has to become
your personal tragedy.
769
00:33:45,066 --> 00:33:49,776
And that's a trap that I think
Ric Flair found himself in.
770
00:33:49,821 --> 00:33:52,121
- I was broken.
771
00:33:52,157 --> 00:33:54,527
I don't think
but a few people understand
772
00:33:54,576 --> 00:33:56,786
how much
that impacted my life.
773
00:33:56,828 --> 00:33:58,828
You know,
trying to be written off.
774
00:33:58,872 --> 00:34:01,712
- This is the last Nitro
on the Turner Network,
775
00:34:01,750 --> 00:34:03,880
and we're going out
with a bang.
776
00:34:03,918 --> 00:34:07,208
- As the doors of WCW
closed in 2001,
777
00:34:07,255 --> 00:34:08,755
the question remained.
778
00:34:08,798 --> 00:34:11,508
Was this the end
for the Nature Boy Ric Flair?
779
00:34:17,390 --> 00:34:20,440
- Forever their names will be
linked to greatness in WCW.
780
00:34:20,477 --> 00:34:22,767
- And tonight,
he and Ric Flair
781
00:34:22,812 --> 00:34:25,482
are gonna finish off Nitro.
782
00:34:25,523 --> 00:34:29,943
- I remember the night
of the last WCW Nitro.
783
00:34:29,986 --> 00:34:31,606
It was weird.
784
00:34:31,654 --> 00:34:33,574
Seeing him come out
in just a black t-shirt
785
00:34:33,615 --> 00:34:35,485
and a short mom cut
786
00:34:35,533 --> 00:34:37,123
just kind of threw me
for a loop for a little bit.
787
00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:39,000
I was like, "Oh."
788
00:34:40,246 --> 00:34:42,576
You can kind of see
in his face that, like,
789
00:34:42,624 --> 00:34:44,794
this isn't the Ric Flair
I kinda grew up with.
790
00:34:44,834 --> 00:34:48,004
He just almost looked like
a shell of his former self.
791
00:34:48,046 --> 00:34:53,126
- Sting defeats Ric Flair
here on the final telecast
792
00:34:53,176 --> 00:34:55,386
on WCW Monday Nitro.
793
00:34:56,179 --> 00:34:57,809
- There was a small part of me
thinking like,
794
00:34:57,847 --> 00:34:59,597
"Damn, this might be
the last time
795
00:34:59,641 --> 00:35:01,981
we ever see Ric Flair wrestle."
796
00:35:02,018 --> 00:35:04,728
- I don't like anything
about that last Nitro
797
00:35:04,771 --> 00:35:07,521
except that it closed.
798
00:35:07,565 --> 00:35:09,105
Vince called me
about a year later and said,
799
00:35:09,150 --> 00:35:10,530
"What are you gonna do?"
800
00:35:10,568 --> 00:35:13,108
I said, "I don't know."
I hadn't thought about it.
801
00:35:13,154 --> 00:35:17,874
Right now, I'm just going out
to the country club at 5:00.
802
00:35:17,909 --> 00:35:21,119
Depending on what kind of mood
I'm in, sometimes at 4:00.
803
00:35:21,162 --> 00:35:22,832
He said, "You want
to come back to work?"
804
00:35:22,872 --> 00:35:25,172
and I said,
"Yeah, I'd love to."
805
00:35:25,208 --> 00:35:28,498
- In 2002,
Ric Flair returned to WWE,
806
00:35:28,545 --> 00:35:30,005
but his trademark swagger
807
00:35:30,046 --> 00:35:33,296
that made the Nature Boy
so iconic was gone,
808
00:35:33,341 --> 00:35:34,841
and his confidence was shot.
809
00:35:36,886 --> 00:35:39,556
- I was down on myself.
I just walked away, saying,
810
00:35:39,597 --> 00:35:40,767
"God, you could do
so much better.
811
00:35:40,807 --> 00:35:42,597
Why don't you get it, Ric?"
812
00:35:42,642 --> 00:35:44,102
And it hurt. No pain.
813
00:35:44,144 --> 00:35:46,814
Just anxiety, right?
814
00:35:46,855 --> 00:35:48,265
I've wrestled
a couple of matches
815
00:35:48,314 --> 00:35:50,484
where I couldn't feel
my hands from anxiety.
816
00:35:50,525 --> 00:35:52,645
I'd pinch myself.
817
00:35:52,694 --> 00:35:55,454
- When you no longer think
that you're the Man,
818
00:35:55,488 --> 00:36:00,118
then the very building blocks
that created the Nature Boy
819
00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:02,040
kinda ceased to exist.
820
00:36:02,078 --> 00:36:04,158
- A villain needs to have
self-confidence.
821
00:36:04,205 --> 00:36:06,665
A villain needs to know
that he could do anything
822
00:36:06,708 --> 00:36:08,208
and beat anyone.
823
00:36:08,251 --> 00:36:11,631
Once you take that away,
the villain becomes vulnerable,
824
00:36:11,671 --> 00:36:13,511
and now it's not
a villain anymore.
825
00:36:13,548 --> 00:36:16,888
Now that villain
is just like you and me.
826
00:36:16,926 --> 00:36:19,096
- What Flair needed
was inspiration.
827
00:36:20,972 --> 00:36:24,142
- You see, in this industry,
just like in life,
828
00:36:24,184 --> 00:36:26,524
everything evolves.
829
00:36:26,561 --> 00:36:29,061
And what you see in this ring
before you
830
00:36:29,105 --> 00:36:32,775
is the greatest example
of evolution you will ever see.
831
00:36:34,569 --> 00:36:36,609
- Evolution was
a new four-man faction,
832
00:36:36,654 --> 00:36:38,744
including main event stalwart
Triple H,
833
00:36:38,782 --> 00:36:40,992
legendary icon Ric Flair,
834
00:36:41,034 --> 00:36:44,374
and newcomers
Batista and Randy Orton.
835
00:36:44,412 --> 00:36:46,622
- Evolution was based kinda
on the Four Horsemen.
836
00:36:46,664 --> 00:36:51,384
- So whether you like it
or not, learn to love it.
837
00:36:51,419 --> 00:36:55,219
- Four guys dress nice.
The ladies love them.
838
00:36:55,256 --> 00:36:58,796
- What made the dynamic
of Evolution so special
839
00:36:58,843 --> 00:37:00,893
is that they weren't all
on the same plane.
840
00:37:00,929 --> 00:37:03,259
You had Ric Flair.
He's kind of the mentor.
841
00:37:03,306 --> 00:37:05,676
He's kind of looking out
for everybody.
842
00:37:05,725 --> 00:37:07,515
- That was
one of the luckiest things
843
00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,310
I had early in my career
was him.
844
00:37:09,354 --> 00:37:12,654
Took me under his wing.
I learned a lot from Ric.
845
00:37:12,691 --> 00:37:16,281
- I was all for it, but it
took me a while to figure out.
846
00:37:16,319 --> 00:37:18,659
Self-confidence issues.
847
00:37:18,697 --> 00:37:20,277
- He didn't have
the confidence in himself,
848
00:37:20,323 --> 00:37:23,283
but Batista, myself, and Hunter
849
00:37:23,326 --> 00:37:25,366
had the confidence for him.
850
00:37:25,412 --> 00:37:29,672
- And standing before you,
Evolution with all the gold.
851
00:37:29,708 --> 00:37:31,668
- And Ric
was a part of something
852
00:37:31,710 --> 00:37:34,590
that was the top
of the business,
853
00:37:34,629 --> 00:37:36,459
so Ric felt big.
854
00:37:36,506 --> 00:37:38,086
- Whoo! It's LA, bitch.
855
00:37:38,133 --> 00:37:40,973
We're going down to the Strip
to party--whoo!
856
00:37:41,011 --> 00:37:42,141
With a champ.
857
00:37:42,178 --> 00:37:44,388
- Ric felt like,
"Okay, this is on me.
858
00:37:44,431 --> 00:37:46,561
I'm the top dog again."
859
00:37:46,599 --> 00:37:48,179
- Ric played the part.
Ric was the part
860
00:37:48,226 --> 00:37:50,306
and never forgot it.
861
00:37:50,353 --> 00:37:53,613
- All night long!
Whoo!
862
00:37:53,648 --> 00:37:55,528
- In Evolution,
Flair found new life
863
00:37:55,567 --> 00:37:57,487
doing what he did best:
864
00:37:57,527 --> 00:37:58,487
breaking the rules.
865
00:37:58,528 --> 00:38:01,278
- And a low blow.
866
00:38:01,322 --> 00:38:03,702
- It was a huge plus
in my life,
867
00:38:03,742 --> 00:38:06,082
you know, to kind of be
where I was a year ago
868
00:38:06,119 --> 00:38:07,789
and kind of down
on the business
869
00:38:07,829 --> 00:38:10,579
and, you know, not really happy
with myself and my role,
870
00:38:10,623 --> 00:38:12,293
and now things
just keep getting
871
00:38:12,334 --> 00:38:13,844
bigger and better for me.
872
00:38:13,877 --> 00:38:15,667
- When he got
that groove back,
873
00:38:15,712 --> 00:38:17,092
look out, man.
874
00:38:17,130 --> 00:38:19,550
- Flair's done it!
Flair's done it!
875
00:38:19,591 --> 00:38:22,761
The Nature Boy is the
intercontinental champion!
876
00:38:22,802 --> 00:38:24,512
- It brought new life into him.
877
00:38:24,554 --> 00:38:25,764
- Whoo.
- Whoo!
878
00:38:25,805 --> 00:38:27,175
- Whoo!
- Whoo!
879
00:38:27,223 --> 00:38:29,143
- We're having a whoo fest.
- Oh, my gosh.
880
00:38:29,184 --> 00:38:30,354
- Whoo! Whoo!
881
00:38:30,393 --> 00:38:32,063
Whoo!
882
00:38:32,103 --> 00:38:34,313
I was back here, wrestling
full time, and it was fun.
883
00:38:34,356 --> 00:38:37,686
- The maestro,
the Man for four decades.
884
00:38:37,734 --> 00:38:39,694
- He's been in our lives
for so long,
885
00:38:39,736 --> 00:38:42,066
but he's been
remarkably consistent.
886
00:38:42,113 --> 00:38:45,583
- 16-time
world heavyweight champion.
887
00:38:45,617 --> 00:38:48,447
- With Ric Flair now
in the twilight of his career,
888
00:38:48,495 --> 00:38:50,035
something unexpected happened.
889
00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:52,370
The bad guy
had become beloved.
890
00:38:52,415 --> 00:38:57,795
- The level of respect that you
have paid me is unbelievable.
891
00:38:58,922 --> 00:39:01,682
- My dad has always been
a bad guy.
892
00:39:01,716 --> 00:39:03,386
The difference is,
now he's beloved
893
00:39:03,426 --> 00:39:06,806
because he's that respected,
because he is the industry.
894
00:39:06,846 --> 00:39:08,886
- So when it got to the end
and you went,
895
00:39:08,932 --> 00:39:11,852
"Oh, he may not get
to be that guy
896
00:39:11,893 --> 00:39:13,193
I loved to boo anymore."
897
00:39:13,228 --> 00:39:18,268
- And I love being
the Nature Boy!
898
00:39:18,316 --> 00:39:21,606
- Nobody really wants
to let that go.
899
00:39:21,653 --> 00:39:24,613
- To appreciate him now
so much just
900
00:39:24,656 --> 00:39:26,486
for everything that he's done.
901
00:39:26,533 --> 00:39:30,793
- It no longer became
about hero-villain.
902
00:39:30,829 --> 00:39:33,459
It just became
about contribution,
903
00:39:33,498 --> 00:39:37,338
which was as much, if not more
904
00:39:37,377 --> 00:39:40,297
than any other name
that you could mention.
905
00:39:40,338 --> 00:39:44,718
- The chairman of the WWE,
Mr. McMahon, made the mandate
906
00:39:44,759 --> 00:39:46,719
that the next match
that Flair lost,
907
00:39:46,761 --> 00:39:48,681
he would retire.
908
00:39:48,722 --> 00:39:51,602
- The next match
that you lose, Ric,
909
00:39:51,641 --> 00:39:54,311
will be your last.
910
00:39:54,352 --> 00:39:58,362
And Ric insisted that
he needed to beat the best,
911
00:39:58,398 --> 00:40:02,608
because to be the man,
you've got to beat the Man.
912
00:40:02,652 --> 00:40:04,612
- Shawn Michaels,
913
00:40:04,654 --> 00:40:10,244
I want to wrestle you
at WrestleMania.
914
00:40:10,285 --> 00:40:12,865
- And if Ric couldn't beat
Shawn Michaels,
915
00:40:12,912 --> 00:40:15,922
then Ric didn't want
to do this anymore.
916
00:40:15,957 --> 00:40:17,577
- From my standpoint,
917
00:40:17,625 --> 00:40:20,625
it was something
that I really took seriously.
918
00:40:20,670 --> 00:40:23,130
I can show the love
and appreciation
919
00:40:23,173 --> 00:40:27,393
that I had for the guy
that I watched growing up.
920
00:40:27,427 --> 00:40:31,427
It would be my honor
to wrestle you at WrestleMania.
921
00:40:33,350 --> 00:40:36,480
- In 2008,
Ric Flair's farewell match
922
00:40:36,519 --> 00:40:39,309
was a fitting celebration
of an epic career.
923
00:40:39,356 --> 00:40:43,026
- Tonight, we celebrate
Nature Boy Ric Flair.
924
00:40:43,068 --> 00:40:44,358
- Whoo!
925
00:40:48,156 --> 00:40:52,656
- The look on Shawn Michael's
face tells a story.
926
00:40:52,702 --> 00:40:54,912
Flair wants to fight.
927
00:40:59,709 --> 00:41:02,459
- My God, what a shot!
928
00:41:02,504 --> 00:41:05,594
all: One, two, three.
929
00:41:05,632 --> 00:41:08,012
[match bell chimes]
930
00:41:08,051 --> 00:41:10,141
- It's one
of my fondest memories.
931
00:41:12,639 --> 00:41:17,019
- Over 70,000 fans
paying their respects
932
00:41:17,060 --> 00:41:20,940
to the greatest
to ever lace a pair of boots.
933
00:41:22,315 --> 00:41:26,855
- I was blown away, like,
to see the respect,
934
00:41:26,903 --> 00:41:31,533
and have the farewell
that he did.
935
00:41:31,574 --> 00:41:32,624
It was incredible.
936
00:41:32,659 --> 00:41:33,949
[emotional music]
937
00:41:33,993 --> 00:41:35,833
- To have that reception
938
00:41:35,870 --> 00:41:39,210
was really
the ultimate achievement.
939
00:41:39,249 --> 00:41:40,829
- The WrestleMania farewell
940
00:41:40,875 --> 00:41:43,245
closed an important chapter
in the book of Ric Flair.
941
00:41:44,587 --> 00:41:47,217
But the Nature Boy
wasn't done just yet.
942
00:41:53,972 --> 00:41:56,982
- Last night, I wrestled
943
00:41:57,017 --> 00:42:02,307
my very last match
at WrestleMania.
944
00:42:02,355 --> 00:42:04,265
You shouldn't be sad
about the fact
945
00:42:04,315 --> 00:42:06,895
that you're not gonna see me
out here.
946
00:42:06,943 --> 00:42:09,073
You should really rejoice
in the fact
947
00:42:09,112 --> 00:42:14,242
that I have had
the greatest wrestling career
948
00:42:14,284 --> 00:42:17,084
in the history
of pro wrestling!
949
00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:20,710
[cheers and applause]
950
00:42:20,749 --> 00:42:23,129
- Ric Flair's
one-of-a-kind personality
951
00:42:23,168 --> 00:42:25,048
is still influencing society.
952
00:42:25,086 --> 00:42:27,296
- Stylin' and profilin'.
953
00:42:27,339 --> 00:42:30,129
- Perhaps
no superstar in history
954
00:42:30,175 --> 00:42:33,215
has more influence
on pop culture than Ric Flair.
955
00:42:33,261 --> 00:42:35,681
- Can I get two claps
and a Ric Flair?
956
00:42:35,722 --> 00:42:36,722
all: Whoo!
957
00:42:36,765 --> 00:42:38,845
- Whoo!
- Whoo!
958
00:42:38,892 --> 00:42:42,152
- He is so influential, people
doing the Ric Flair strut
959
00:42:42,187 --> 00:42:43,557
and whooing during games.
960
00:42:43,605 --> 00:42:45,315
all: Whoo!
961
00:42:45,357 --> 00:42:46,607
- I don't think I ever
would have realized
962
00:42:46,649 --> 00:42:48,649
how much that would
have transcended
963
00:42:48,693 --> 00:42:50,863
and become such an amazing
part of pop culture.
964
00:42:50,904 --> 00:42:53,374
- Whoo!
To be the man,
965
00:42:53,406 --> 00:42:56,026
you've got to beat
the Man, okay?
966
00:42:56,076 --> 00:42:58,366
- Rolex-wearin'...
all: Whoo!
967
00:42:58,411 --> 00:43:00,001
- Kiss-stealing...
all: Whoo!
968
00:43:00,038 --> 00:43:02,168
- Wheeling, dealing...
all: Whoo!
969
00:43:02,207 --> 00:43:04,827
- Limousine-riding...
all: Whoo!
970
00:43:04,876 --> 00:43:06,706
- Ric Flair.
all: Whoo!
971
00:43:06,753 --> 00:43:08,003
- Son of a gun.
all: Whoo!
972
00:43:08,046 --> 00:43:10,216
- It endeared him
to many people.
973
00:43:10,256 --> 00:43:13,926
Post Malone wanted to meet him.
[laughs]
974
00:43:13,968 --> 00:43:17,008
- Post Malone, my man.
Whoo!
975
00:43:17,055 --> 00:43:18,425
all: Whoo!
976
00:43:18,473 --> 00:43:20,433
- * Whoo! I got the Ric Flair *
977
00:43:20,475 --> 00:43:22,885
* Limousine-riding, jet-flying,
kiss-stealing *
978
00:43:22,936 --> 00:43:24,846
* Wheeling, dealing
son of a gun *
979
00:43:24,896 --> 00:43:26,396
- All those records are dope.
980
00:43:26,439 --> 00:43:28,569
All of those can be
directly attributed
981
00:43:28,608 --> 00:43:29,978
to how Flair made us feel.
982
00:43:30,026 --> 00:43:32,356
His relevancy is unmatched.
983
00:43:32,404 --> 00:43:35,704
There has never been
someone as loved or hated
984
00:43:35,740 --> 00:43:37,080
but followed as Ric Flair.
985
00:43:37,117 --> 00:43:38,657
- Whoo! Whoo!
986
00:43:38,702 --> 00:43:40,372
- He's such a GOAT
that he was relevant to me
987
00:43:40,412 --> 00:43:43,042
when I was 5;
he's relevant to me at 45.
988
00:43:43,081 --> 00:43:45,461
That's a 40-year span of being
989
00:43:45,500 --> 00:43:48,380
one of the absolute
best villainous characters
990
00:43:48,420 --> 00:43:50,460
in a sports
and entertainment world.
991
00:43:50,505 --> 00:43:51,625
- I love women.
992
00:43:51,673 --> 00:43:53,843
I'll take that as a compliment.
Whoo!
993
00:43:53,883 --> 00:43:56,553
- He appealed to the different
senses of entertainers
994
00:43:56,594 --> 00:43:59,724
and athletes that made you
continually like him.
995
00:43:59,764 --> 00:44:01,024
- Whoo!
996
00:44:01,057 --> 00:44:03,477
I influenced culture. [laughs]
997
00:44:03,518 --> 00:44:04,598
- * Heyo *
998
00:44:04,644 --> 00:44:07,614
[dramatic music]
999
00:44:07,647 --> 00:44:08,937
* *
1000
00:44:08,982 --> 00:44:10,862
- A two-time hall of famer,
1001
00:44:10,900 --> 00:44:13,450
the Nature Boy's incredible
legacy inside the ring
1002
00:44:13,486 --> 00:44:16,276
shines through a new Flair
these days.
1003
00:44:16,322 --> 00:44:19,582
- Charlotte Flair was built
for the grand stage.
1004
00:44:19,617 --> 00:44:21,907
- Bow down to the Queen.
1005
00:44:21,953 --> 00:44:24,793
- Known as the Queen,
his daughter, Charlotte Flair,
1006
00:44:24,831 --> 00:44:27,041
possesses the same
narcissistic traits
1007
00:44:27,083 --> 00:44:28,923
as her father.
1008
00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:33,470
- No one compares to me.
1009
00:44:33,506 --> 00:44:36,506
Whoo!
1010
00:44:36,551 --> 00:44:38,221
- Whoo!
1011
00:44:38,261 --> 00:44:39,931
- As good as Ric Flair was,
1012
00:44:39,971 --> 00:44:43,601
how head and shoulders he was
above everybody at his time,
1013
00:44:43,641 --> 00:44:45,981
I think the same
goes to Charlotte.
1014
00:44:46,019 --> 00:44:48,859
- My daughter does stuff now
that nobody can do.
1015
00:44:48,897 --> 00:44:50,857
- This is incredible!
1016
00:44:50,899 --> 00:44:53,649
- The best female athlete
in the history of our business.
1017
00:44:53,693 --> 00:44:57,953
- When you talk about the pride
that Ric Flair has had...
1018
00:44:57,989 --> 00:45:01,989
- $1,000 shoes,
big Rolex watches.
1019
00:45:02,035 --> 00:45:05,535
- Now we realize
that he's showing pride
1020
00:45:05,580 --> 00:45:08,790
in what may be
his greatest creation.
1021
00:45:08,833 --> 00:45:10,963
And it wasn't
the alligator shoes.
1022
00:45:11,002 --> 00:45:12,802
It was Charlotte.
1023
00:45:12,837 --> 00:45:16,167
- A 12-time women's champion.
1024
00:45:16,216 --> 00:45:17,626
- Well, I'm like, I'm 5'10",
1025
00:45:17,676 --> 00:45:19,296
I'm blonde,
and I'm super athletic.
1026
00:45:19,344 --> 00:45:20,934
What is there not to like?
1027
00:45:20,970 --> 00:45:22,350
Oh, yeah,
but my last name's Flair.
1028
00:45:22,389 --> 00:45:24,469
I am a franchise player.
1029
00:45:24,516 --> 00:45:26,886
- Custom-made
from head to toe.
1030
00:45:26,935 --> 00:45:28,345
- A genuine superstar.
1031
00:45:28,395 --> 00:45:31,015
- The greatest wrestler
of all time.
1032
00:45:32,273 --> 00:45:33,363
- That's what
he always told me.
1033
00:45:33,400 --> 00:45:36,030
You have to be unapologetic.
1034
00:45:36,069 --> 00:45:40,779
Long live the Queen!
1035
00:45:40,824 --> 00:45:46,834
- Whoo! The Nature Boy is here
to stay forever and ever.
1036
00:45:46,871 --> 00:45:49,711
Whoo!
1037
00:45:51,292 --> 00:45:52,792
- So what are we to make
1038
00:45:52,836 --> 00:45:54,496
of the Nature Boy Ric Flair?
1039
00:45:54,546 --> 00:45:57,416
- You pattern your life
after Ric Flair,
1040
00:45:57,465 --> 00:45:59,425
and you'll be someone.
1041
00:45:59,467 --> 00:46:01,797
- He believed he was the best
'cause he was the best.
1042
00:46:01,845 --> 00:46:03,175
I believe he was the best
1043
00:46:03,221 --> 00:46:04,351
'cause he told me
he was the best.
1044
00:46:04,389 --> 00:46:06,599
It's a circle like that.
It's weird.
1045
00:46:06,641 --> 00:46:10,521
- Really hard to believe
that so much man
1046
00:46:10,562 --> 00:46:13,192
could be wrapped
in such a good-looking package.
1047
00:46:13,231 --> 00:46:15,441
- He was cocky.
He was arrogant.
1048
00:46:15,483 --> 00:46:18,033
And he was great
at making me hate his guts.
1049
00:46:18,069 --> 00:46:19,609
- If you're a lawyer
1050
00:46:19,654 --> 00:46:22,664
who wishes he was making
the money I'm making,
1051
00:46:22,699 --> 00:46:25,239
you better sit down
and shut up!
1052
00:46:25,285 --> 00:46:28,365
- He insulted us.
He made us jealous.
1053
00:46:28,413 --> 00:46:31,923
- My shoes cost more
than your house.
1054
00:46:31,958 --> 00:46:35,128
- But above all,
he always entertained us.
1055
00:46:35,170 --> 00:46:40,050
- Bright lights, big city,
it is Nature Boy!
1056
00:46:40,091 --> 00:46:41,431
- It doesn't matter
1057
00:46:41,468 --> 00:46:43,298
if he's the dirtiest player
in the game.
1058
00:46:43,345 --> 00:46:44,885
It doesn't matter
how full of himself he is.
1059
00:46:44,929 --> 00:46:47,849
It doesn't matter
if you want what he has.
1060
00:46:47,891 --> 00:46:49,731
- [laughing]
1061
00:46:49,768 --> 00:46:51,308
- He's Ric Flair.
1062
00:46:51,353 --> 00:46:53,693
- I'm a kiss-stealing,
wheeling, dealing,
1063
00:46:53,730 --> 00:46:54,940
limousine-riding,
1064
00:46:54,981 --> 00:46:58,231
jet-flying son of a gun.
1065
00:46:58,276 --> 00:47:00,066
With me,
what you see is what you get.
1066
00:47:00,111 --> 00:47:02,161
Hasn't changed in 72 years.
1067
00:47:02,197 --> 00:47:04,367
[laughing]
1068
00:47:04,407 --> 00:47:06,077
- He didn't think about it.
He just did it.
1069
00:47:06,117 --> 00:47:07,577
I'm gonna make you hate me,
1070
00:47:07,619 --> 00:47:09,829
and I'm gonna do it
every single night.
1071
00:47:09,871 --> 00:47:12,041
Was my dad justified?
1072
00:47:12,082 --> 00:47:15,172
He's a 16-time
world heavyweight champion.
1073
00:47:15,210 --> 00:47:16,130
You tell me.
1074
00:47:16,169 --> 00:47:17,919
- Diamonds are forever,
1075
00:47:17,962 --> 00:47:19,342
and so is Ric Flair.
1076
00:47:19,381 --> 00:47:22,471
[echoing] Whoo!