[MUSIC]
> > KURT, HOW OLD ARE YOU?
> > 21.
> > DO YOU GO TO COLLEGE?
> > YES, I DO.
I ATTEND CLARION UNIVERSITY
ABOUT TWO HOURS NORTH FROM HERE.
> > NOW YOU'RE IN THE WRESTLING
TEAM AT CLARION?
> > YES, I AM.
> > DO YOU ALSO WRESTLE BESIDES
CHESTER CLARION?
> > YES, I DO.
I REPRESENT THE USA TEAM IN MANY
EVENTS.
I'M LOOKING TO WRESTLE IN THE
OLYMPICS.
[MUSIC]
> > AT THE OLYMPICS, IT IS ONE
SHOT AT MOST ONCE EVERY FOUR
YEARS, AND FOR MANY ONCE IN A
LIFETIME.
WIN HERE, IT'S FOREVER.
FALL SHORT, AND THE OPPORTUNITY
MAY NEVER BE REVISITED.
> > I THINK I WANT KURT ANGLE TO
BE REMEMBERED NOT FOR THE
MISTAKES HE'S MADE BUT WHAT HE
WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN HIS
LIFETIME.
SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID, I
ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING
GREAT.
[MUSIC]
> > WE WERE FROM PITTSBURGH, WE
WERE THE CITY OF CHAMPIONS BACK
THEN, THE STEELERS, PIRATES,
WORLD SERIES, SUPER BOWLS.
FOOTBALL WAS MY FIRST LOVE.
NOT WRESTLING, NOT BASEBALL, NOT
BASKETBALL.
I EXCELLED AT ALL OF THEM, BUT
FOOTBALL WAS THE ONE.
> > I LIKE TO BE ALLSTATE IN THE
BIG 33 GAME.
I LIKE TO GO ON EITHER PENN
STATE, PITT, WEST VIRGINIA, OR
RUTGERS AS A LINEBACKER.
> > REAL COMPETITIVE.
KURT, HE WAS SET ON BEING A
CHAMPION FROM THE BEGINNING.
OVER IN DORMONT, IT WAS QUITE AN
EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE HAD A
CROWDED HOUSE.
ME AND KURT WERE LIKE THE ODD
TWO OUT BECAUSE WE'RE THE
YOUNGEST.
JUST PUT THEM ON THE FLOOR.
WE SLEPT ON THE FLOOR A LOT OF
TIMES.
> > WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT GROWING
UP.
WHAT WE DID HAVE IN COMMON WAS
WE LIKED SPORTS, ALL OF US, MY
MOTHER, FATHER, MY BROTHERS, MY
SISTER, MYSELF.
IF WE WERE SITTING AT THE DINNER
TABLE, WE WOULD STRICTLY ABOUT
SPORTS.
IT'S WHAT KEPT US TOGETHER.
> > THEY PLAYED A LOT OF SPORTS,
THE ANGLE BOYS.
KURT, HE WAS, HE'S GOOD AT
EVERYTHING.
ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT WAS JUST
A GREAT ATHLETE.
I THINK HIS BROTHERS WERE TOO.
THEY WERE ALL TOUGH GUYS.
YOU DID NOT WANT TO MESS WITH
THE ANGLE BOYS, FOR SURE.
> > ERIC WAS A YEAR AND A HALF
OLDER THAN ME, HAD A BAT OF AN
EYE.
IF YOU PISSED HIM OFF, YOU WERE
GOING TO GET PUNCHED IN THE
FACE.
HE FLICKED ME IN THE BACK OF THE
EAR AND I THREW A SPOON AT HIM
AND HE STOOD UP AND I STOOD UP
AND BEFORE I GOT UP, HE KNOCKED
ME OUT.
I MEAN, HE KNOCKED ME OUT.
[LAUGHS]
I'M NOT TELLING THAT STORY.
> > WE HAD THESE BIG BOXING
GLOVES DOWNSTAIRS, 16-OUNCE,
THEY WOULD GO DOWN THERE AND BOX
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
> > THEY'D GO AT IT, MAN.
THEY WOULD GO AT IT UNTIL ONE OF
THEM STARTED CRYING AND RUN INTO
THE OTHER ROOM.
HE'S LIKE, "LITTLE SISSY, GET
OUT HERE."
> > IT WAS THEIR GLADIATOR GAME.
THAT'S WHAT I'D CALL IT.
THEY GOT THEIR ENTERTAINMENT OUT
OF WATCHING US BEAT EACH OTHER
UP.
> > I'D BE THE REF OR SOMEONE
WOULD TO BE THE REF UNTIL ONE OF
THEM CRIED.
DON'T SAY NOTHING.
IT WAS USUALLY KURT.
[LAUGHS]
> > GROWING UP IN PITTSBURGH, MY
BROTHERS HAD A REPUTATION OF
BEING FIGHTERS.
TOUGH GUYS.
WE HAD A HARD TIME WITH THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AREA
WHERE WE LIVED BECAUSE MY
BROTHERS WERE IN SO MUCH
TROUBLE.
> > NO, HARDLY EVER.
> > YES.
YES, WE GOT IN TROUBLE HERE AND
THERE, BUT KURT NEVER GOT IN
TROUBLE.
NEVER.
DIDN'T CAUSE MY MOM NO GRIEF.
NONE.
THAT'S WHY SHE LOVED HIM.
SHE ADORED HIM.
THAT WAS HER WHOLE LIFE.
KURT WAS UNREAL.
THE BOND THAT THEM TWO HAD.
> > LE'ANNE WAS THEIR SISTER WHO
WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY SWEET.
ONLY GIRL IN A HOUSE FULL OF
TOUGH BOYS.
> > LE'ANNE WAS A REALLY GOOD
SISTER.
SHE WAS THE ONLY GIRL IN OUR
FAMILY.
MY SISTER WAS MY DAD'S PRINCESS.
SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT MY DAD
EVER HUGGED.
> > MY FATHER WAS IN THE SERVICE
FOR 25 YEARS, MASTER SERGEANT,
FIRST CLASS.
WE GOT A LOT OF OUR DISCIPLINE
FROM MY FATHER.
> > THE GUY WAS THE MOST SOLID
MOTHER -- YOU'D EVER WANT TO
MEET.
PEOPLE SAY GETTING SHIRT OFF
THEIR BACK, -- THEM, THIS GUY
WOULD REALLY DO IT.
HE WAS THAT KIND OF GUY.
HE WAS A SOLID, SOLID MAN.
> > HE KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO
BE CAPABLE OF DOING SOMETHING
GREAT.
HE SEEMED TO KNOW THAT EARLY ON,
AT SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS OF
AGE.
HE WOULD WAKE ME UP EARLY ON
SATURDAY MORNINGS AND SAY,
"YOU'RE GOING TO A WRESTLING
TOURNAMENT."
I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T WANT TO
GO."
HE SAID, "GET DRESSED, YOU'RE
GOING."
THE GREAT THING ABOUT MY DAD,
THOUGH, HE DIDN'T PRESSURE US.
HE DIDN'T TELL US WE HAD TO BE
GOOD.
HE JUST WANTED US TO GIVE OUR
BEST.
> > HE WAS MY COACH UP UNTIL A
TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND HE FELT
THAT IT WAS TIME THAT SOMEBODY
ELSE TAUGHT ME, AND HE BECAME MY
FAN, MY NUMBER ONE FAN.
> > MY DAD WAS A VERY FUNCTIONAL
ALCOHOLIC.
MY BROTHERS DON'T LIKE TO SAY
THAT.
THEY LIKE TO THINK OF MY FATHER
AS A VERY STRONG MAN THAT
NOTHING HAD CONTROL OVER HIM,
BUT HE DRANK ALL DAY.
IT WASN'T A LOT.
IT WASN'T LIKE HE WOULD DRINK A
CASE EVERY TWO HOURS, HE LOVED
HIS RUM AND GIN AND HE DRANK IT
STRAIGHT FROM A GLASS.
HE HAD A FEW BOTTLES UP IN THE
CABINET.
I'D WAKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING
AND HE WOULD PULL THAT RUM DOWN
AND PUT TWO GLASSES AND DRINK
THEM BOTH AND HEAD TO WORK.
> > I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT
YOUR FAMILY.
YOUR DAD WAS DAVE ANGLE?
> > YES.
> > WHAT DID YOUR DAD DO FOR A
LIVING?
> > HE WAS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER.
> > NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART OF
THE QUESTIONS.
YOUR DAD THE RECORD WILL SHOW
HAD AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 27TH,
1985.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE
WHEN THAT HAPPENED?
> > YES.
I WAS AT FOOTBALL PRACTICE AND
SOMEBODY CAME UP TO ME, RECEIVED
A PHONE CALL, ONE OF MY COACHES,
AND TOLD ME THAT MY FATHER WAS
IN AN ACCIDENT AND THAT HE WAS
AT MERCY HOSPITAL AND IT WASN'T
SERIOUS AT THE TIME.
> > WHAT HAPPENED WAS HE WENT
INTO THE CAB TO GET HIS LUNCH
AND WHEN HE STEPPED BACK, HE
STEPPED ON SOME REBAR, LOST HIS
BALANCE, AND WENT AGAINST THE
GUARDRAIL AND FELL THROUGH IT.
13 FEET ON THE BACK.
HE HIT HIS SHOULDER AND HIS HEAD
AT THE SAME TIME.
HE ACTUALLY BROKE HIS SHOULDER
AND FRACTURED HIS SKULL ALL THE
WAY THROUGH LIKE AN EGG.
> > HOW LONG DID YOUR DAD LIVE
FROM WHEN HE WAS INJURED UNTIL
WHEN HE DIED?
> > I THINK IT WAS TWO AND A HALF
DAYS.
> > WERE YOU THERE AT THE END?
> > YES, I WAS.
> > MY MOTHER HAD TO MAKE A
DECISION TO EITHER KEEP HIM ON
OR PULL HIM OFF OF THE MACHINE.
SHE DECIDED THAT SHE WASN'T
GOING TO LET HIM JUST STAY LIKE
THAT.
I REMEMBER HER GETTING ON HER
KNEES AND BEFORE SHE GAVE THE
DOCTOR THE PERMISSION TO DO IT,
SHE BEGGED MY DAD TO COME BACK.
SHE ASKED HIM, OR SHE ACTUALLY
TOLD HIM IF YOU COME BACK, WE
WILL MAKE THIS WORK.
SHE SAID SHE'LL BE THE WIFE THAT
HE WANTED HER TO BE.
IT JUST CRUSHED ME.
THEN RIGHT BEFORE THEY PULLED
THE PLUG, MY SISTER STARTED
CRYING AND SHE JUMPED ON MY DAD.
SHE BEGGED HIM NOT TO GO.
UGH.
WE PULLED HER OFF OF HIM AND
THEY PULLED THE PLUG AND THAT
WAS IT.
MY DAD WAS GONE.
I JUST HATED SEEING MY MOTHER
LIKE THAT.
> > YOUR MOM TOLD ME SOMETHING
ABOUT YOU PRAYING BEFORE THE
MATCHES.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL US ABOUT
THAT?
> > BEFORE EVERY MATCH, I PRAY
AND LOOK UP AND THINK OF MY
FATHER RIGHT BEFORE I WRESTLE
EVERY MATCH.
IT GIVES ME A LITTLE EXTRA
MOTIVATION FOR WHAT HE DID FOR
ME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, AND I
DEDICATE STUFF TO HIM,
EVERYTHING I DO.
IT HELPS ME TO DO BETTER.
MY FATHER PASSED AWAY ON A
WEDNESDAY, AND THAT WAS THE
FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL.
I DECIDED TO PLAY FOOTBALL THAT
WEEK.
I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL
FOR MY DAD KNOWING THAT HE WOULD
WANT ME TO PLAY.
I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY,
BUT IT JUST FELT LIKE SOMEBODY
WAS TUGGING AT ME THAT WAS
TELLING ME, GET UP.
KEEP MOVING.
THAT'S WHAT KEPT GOING IN MY
HEAD, KEEP MOVING, JUST KEEP
MOVING.
I REMEMBER MY COACH, WE HAD A
QUICK PRAYER RIGHT BEFORE THE
GAME AND HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT
MY DAD THAT MADE ME FEEL REALLY
GOOD.
I WENT OUT THERE AND I--
SOMETHING JUST SWITCHED, A LIGHT
SWITCH WENT OFF IN ME.
I HAD A GAME THAT YOU DON'T
NORMALLY HAVE.
IT WASN'T JUST SPECTACULAR, IT
WAS BEYOND UNBELIEVABLE.
IT WAS PERFECT.
I HAD TWO TOUCHDOWNS AS A FULL
BACK, I HAD 14 SOLO TACKLES, TWO
FUMBLE RECOVERIES, AN
INTERCEPTION.
> > GET YOUR HANDS UP, GET YOUR
HANDS UP.
> > THIS GAME WAS LIKE EVERYTHING
THAT COULD GO RIGHT FOR ME DID.
IT JUST BLEW MY MIND.
I HAD SOME SPECTACULAR GAMES
AFTER THAT, BUT NOTHING CLOSE TO
THAT, AND I DID IT FOR MY DAD, I
DID IT FOR MY FATHER.
I DID IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE
WANTED ME TO DO, THAT'S THE
PLAYER HE WANTED ME TO BE, AND I
ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE HIM PROUD.
IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS REALLY
GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER, BUT THE
WRESTLING STARTED OUTWEIGHING
THE FOOTBALL.
THE HIGH SCHOOL COACH, COACH
LAMPRINAKOS, PULLED ME ASIDE AND
SAID, "LISTEN, I HAVEN'T HAD A
WRESTLER LIKE YOU IN 20 YEARS.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE STATE
CHAMPION."
I WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT
DOMINATED THE WEIGHT CLASS, AND
I DID, I DOMINATED.
I WENT ON THAT SUMMER TO WRESTLE
IN THE JUNIOR NATIONALS IN
FREESTYLE WRESTLING.
IT WAS MY THIRD TIME GOING AND
MY FIRST TIME THAT I WON.
I WAS CONSIDERED THE NATIONAL
CHAMPION IN HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE I
ENDED UP GOING TO COLLEGE.
> > WE RECRUITED HIM OUT OF MOUNT
LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL.
HE WAS BLESSED WITH QUICKNESS
AND TALENT.
> > COACH BUBB WAS A GENIUS.
HE IS THE REASON I WENT TO
CLARION.
HE WAS A DRILL SERGEANT.
HE GOT IN THAT ROOM, HE WORKED
HARD.
IT'S ALL YOU HAD TO DO, YOU HAD
TO WORK HARD.
> > HE WAS THE ONE THAT GAVE THE
EXTRA TIME, THE COMMITMENT TO
THE WEIGHT ROOM AND THE PRACTICE
ROOM.
OF COURSE, THE FINER YOU HONE
YOUR SKILLS IN OUR SPORT, THE
BETTER YOU'RE GOING TO BE.
> > I WAS BEATING GUYS THAT WERE
OLYMPIANS.
IT WAS CRAZY.
I WAS A 19-YEAR-OLD KID AND I'M
BEATING ALL THESE GREAT
ATHLETES.
> > THE TREND IN HEAVYWEIGHT
WRESTLING, IN COLLEGIATE
WRESTLING WERE THESE GREAT BIG
HUGE GUYS, AND THEN COMES ALONG
KURT WHO'S A LITTLE BIT SHORTER
THAN THAT, WALKING AROUND 220,
230 POUNDS.
HE WAS THAT FIRST KIND OF NEW
BREED OF HEAVYWEIGHT THAT'S
ATHLETIC THAT CAN SHOOT GREAT
SHOTS, AND THEN JUST WALTZING
AROUND SEEING WHO WAS GOING TO
TRIP WHO FIRST.
> > HE AMAZED ME A LOT OF THE
TIMES.
STAYING IN IT TILL THE VERY END
AND WINNING WITH SOMEONE THAT HE
SHOULDN'T HAVE BEAT.
HIS MATCH WITH SYLVESTER TERKAY
IN THE NCAA FINALS HIS SENIOR
YEAR IS AN EPIC MATCH.
> > I WAS A NATIONAL CHAMPION IN
1993.
OVER HALF MY WINS WERE BY
PINFALL.
THAT WAS MY THING.
I PINNED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
> > ROCK HARD, 260 POUNDS GREEK
GOD LOOKING MAN.
> > A LOT OF THE SMALLER
HEAVYWEIGHTS I PRETTY MUCH JUST
SMASHED THEM.
I GRABBED THEM, I PILED THROUGH
THEM, I PINNED THEM.
STARTED OUT WINNING BIG
PRESTIGIOUS TOURNAMENTS AND
THAT'S HOW WE STARTED TO BUILD
TOWARD A LITTLE BIT OF MY
RIVALRY WITH KURT.
> > WELCOME BACK TO THE MARRIOTT
IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AS KURT ANGLE
IS SET FOR HIS HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH
AGAINST SYLVESTER TERKAY.
> > KURT'S UP HERE LOOKING AT AND
THEN SYLVESTER'S DOWN HERE.
THIS WAS A DAVID AND GOLIATH
STORY ALL THE WAY.
KURT'S 5'10", THIS GUY IS 6'6".
KURT'S 200 POUNDS.
THIS GUY'S 275.
> > THE FIRST THREE MINUTES, THE
MATCH WAS DEAD EVEN.
HE KNOCKED ME DOWN, FLATTENED ME
OUT.
I THOUGHT HE'S GOING TO PIN ME.
HE'S GOING TO TURN ME AND PIN
ME.
> > I WAS A BIG TALL LANKY GUY
AND HERE'S THE GUY THAT'S A LOT
MORE STOCKIER, COMPACT, HE WAS
KIND OF HARD TO GET A HOLD OF.
> > THERE'S A MINUTE LEFT.
IT CAME DOWN TO WHO WAS GOING TO
GET THE FIRST TAKE DOWN.
> > I THINK THAT I WANTED TO TRY
AND SET UP MY SHOT, AND AS I DID
THAT, HE HIT HIS I'LL CALL IT
HIS BEST MOVE.
> > HE HAD THIS LITTLE DUCK
UNDER, FAKED IT, AND GONE TO
SYLVESTER'S RIGHT.
THEN WHEN HE COUNTERED, HE
SWITCHED OFF THE LEFT SIDE.
> > HE SHOOTS ONE WAY.
HE PULLED ONE FOOT BACK, THIS
FOOT IS OPEN.
> > SYLVESTER REACTED TO THE FAKE
AND HE DUCKED OFF WHAT WE CALL
THE WEAK SIDE.
> > HE WAS ABLE TO HIT THAT ON
ME.
THERE WAS AROUND 13 SECONDS LEFT
AND THAT'S WHAT I CALL WAS
KYLE'S THE KILLER, SO TO SPEAK.
> > IT WAS LIKE A FALLING TIMBER.
HE WENT DOWN AND KURT RODE HIM
ABOUT THREE, FOUR SECONDS AND
CUT HIM LOOSE.
> > TECHNICIAN AGAINST JUST A BIG
BURLY DUDE.
THE TECHNICIAN WON.
> > A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT
MIGHT BE MY NIGHT, SO IT DIDN'T
QUITE WORK OUT THAT WAY.
> > HE'S THE NATIONAL CHAMPION.
DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN
THAT.
IT'S A VERY SMALL GROUP OF GUYS
THAT ARE IN THAT ELITE CLASS OF
WRESTLERS IN THE COLLEGE RANKS.
> > IT WAS THE SMARTEST MATCH I
EVER WRESTLED.
IT SHOWED THAT I WAS READY FOR
THE NEXT LEVEL.
I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE OLYMPIC
LEVEL.
I JUST GRADUATED COLLEGE.
I KNEW I HAD FOUR YEARS TO
PREPARE FOR THE OLYMPICS, AND I
WAS DOING EVERYTHING I COULD.
I STILL DIDN'T FIGURE MYSELF
OUT.
IN OTHER WORDS, I DIDN'T FIGURE
OUT WHAT MY STRENGTHS WERE AND
MY WEAKNESSES AS AN OLYMPIC
WRESTLER.
IN 1993 AND 1994, I ENDED UP
BEING THE NUMBER TWO GUY ON THE
OLYMPIC TEAM, THE WORLD TEAM.
> > HE DOES.
THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.
THAT ENDS THE MATCH WITH A
MINUTE AND SIX LEFT IN THIS
SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME.
KURT ANGLE IS STILL DOWN.
> > MY CONFIDENCE WAS CRUSHED.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHY, SO I DECIDED
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I NEEDED TO
DO TO WIN.
I HAD THE ABILITY TO GO TO A
STATE-OF-THE-ART, NOTHING BETTER
THAN THIS FACILITY CALLED
FOXCATCHER.
FOXCATCHER WAS A FACILITY IN
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.
IT WAS OWNED BY JOHN DU PONT,
AND HE WANTED TO GET INVOLVED IN
WRESTLING FOR A LONG TIME.
HE GOT A HOLD OF USA WRESTLING,
STARTED FUNDING THEM EVERY YEAR,
THEN HE STARTED HIS OWN CLUB AND
HE RECRUITED THE BEST OF THE
BEST.
> > MY NAME'S DAVE SCHULTZ.
MY INVOLVEMENT HERE AT
FOXCATCHER IS AS AN ATHLETE, I
TRAIN HERE, I WORK WITH DU PONT.
> > DAVE SCHULTZ WAS THE
RECRUITER.
DAVE WAS REALLY GOOD AT SPOTTING
TALENT AND EVERYBODY WANTED TO
BE THERE TO WORK WITH DAVE.
> > KURT ANGLE WENT AND TRAINED
AT FOXCATCHER BECAUSE DAVE
SCHULTZ COULD HELP HIM, AND HOW
MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WENT TO
FOXCATCHER OR WENT AROUND DAVE
BECAUSE DAVE COULD HELP THEM.
> > DAVE SCHULTZ WHO I CONSIDER
AS THE GREATEST WRESTLER OF ALL
TIME.
HE LEARNED SEVEN DIFFERENT
LANGUAGES SO HE COULD LEARN THE
SPORT OF WRESTLING FROM A
UNIVERSAL STANDPOINT.
HE NOT ONLY DID IT ALL, HE WOULD
TRAIN WITH YOU.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I
WRESTLED DAVE, HE WAS 40, 50
POUNDS LIGHTER THAN ME.
HE BEAT THE -- OUT OF ME.
> > HE THOUGHT KURT WAS AS HARD
WORKING AN INDIVIDUAL IN
WRESTLING AS HE HAD EVER SEEN.
I COULD JUST SEE KURT REALLY
RESPECTED DAVE AND DAVE REALLY
RESPECTED KURT FOR THE WORK THAT
HE WAS PUTTING IN, SO I THINK
DAVE WAS A MENTOR AND OF COURSE
A GOOD FRIEND.
> > HE HAD SUCH AN IMPACT IN MY
CAREER, BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED AT
HIM, HE WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED
TO BE.
HE LOVED WRESTLING, HE LOVED
TEACHING IT, HE LOVED COMPETING.
HE WAS THE BEST COACH I EVER
HAD.
DAVE SCHULTZ WAS THE KIND OF
COACH THAT COULD PICK APART
OPPONENTS, AND WORKING WITH
DAVE, HE SHOWED ME SO MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS TO BEAT PEOPLE.
WE WOULD WATCH WRESTLERS LIKE
MARK COLEMAN, MARK KERR, KIRK
TROST, DAN CHAID, AND THEY WERE
BIGGER GUYS.
THEY WERE QUICK, THEY WERE
STRONG, BUT THEY SLOWED THE PACE
DOWN, AND THEY WOULD SLOW ME
DOWN SO I WOULD GO AT THEIR
PACE.
I REALIZED, WATCHING FILM, THAT
I WASN'T PICKING UP THE PACE AND
PUTTING THE PRESSURE ON THEM.
I DECIDED, IF I WAS GOING TO DO
THIS, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE
MY CONDITIONING LEVEL TO A LEVEL
WHERE IT'S NEVER BEEN BEFORE.
> > THOSE OTHER BOYS WERE A
LITTLE BIT OLDER, REAL DEFENSIVE
WRESTLERS, WHO WEREN'T IN REAL
GOOD SHAPE.
HE JUST DECIDED TO TAKE THEIR
WIND AWAY FROM THEM AND GET IN
SUPER TIP-TOP SHAPE LIKE A
LIGHTWEIGHT WOULD BE IN.
> > I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE FASTER,
BIGGER, OR STRONGER.
IF I DIDN'T GET TIRED, I WAS
GOING TO WIN.
THAT'S WHAT I DID.
I DID WHAT YOU CALL EXHAUST
TRAINING.
I TRAINED TILL I WAS EXHAUSTED
AND THAT'S WHEN THE TRAINING
STARTED.
> > KURT ANGLE SET HIS GOALS REAL
HIGH.
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE HE COULDN'T DO
ANYTHING.
HE DIDN'T HAVE A LIMIT THAT HE
THOUGHT HE COULDN'T ACHIEVE.
HE BELIEVED IN HIMSELF MORE
PROBABLY THAN MOST PEOPLE DID.
> > HE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A
WORLD CHAMPION.
HE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN
OLYMPIC CHAMPION.
HE LIVED IT.
HE BREATHED IT AND HE SLEPT IT.
> > MY SCHEDULE EVERY DAY WAS--
THIS IS HOW CRAZY IT WAS.
I'D DO A 6-MILE RUN AND I WOULD
DO IT IN ABOUT 38 MINUTES.
WHEN I GOT DONE, I WOULD DO 10
200-YARD HILL SPRINTS WITH
SOMEBODY ON MY BACK.
THEN WHEN I GOT DONE WITH THAT,
I WOULD DO 10 WITHOUT ANYONE ON
MY BACK.
THEN I WOULD RUN HOME, GET ON
THE AIRDYNE, AND I WOULD SPRINT
AND GO IDLE FOR AN HOUR.
> > I'D SEE THE STORY ABOUT HIM
RUNNING UP THE HILL OVER MOUNT
LEVEL WITH A GUY ON HIS
SHOULDERS LIKE THIS.
ON HIS SHOULDERS LIKE A LOG LIKE
THIS.
> > AFTER MY MORNING SESSION, I
WOULD DO THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
I WOULD WARM UP AND DO AN HOUR
OF TECHNIQUE, AND I WOULD
WRESTLE FOR PROBABLY FOR TWO
HOURS.
> > HE WOULD DRILL FOUR OR FIVE
GUYS.
THEY'D TAKE TURNS.
HE WOULD NEVER STOP.
HE'D GET A FRESH GUY, THEY'D
KEEP JUMPING IN.
HE WOULDN'T STOP FOR HALF AN
HOUR.
> > I WOULD HAVE THREE OF THEM
ROTATING ON ME, 3-MINUTE
PERIODS, AND I WOULD DO THAT FOR
ABOUT 30 MINUTES.
THEN I WOULD TAKE A BREAK AND DO
IT AGAIN.
> > THESE GUYS THAT WANT TO BE
OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS, THEY'RE
OBSESSED.
THEY WON'T STOP.
WITH KURT, WE HAD TO WATCH HIM
BECAUSE HE'D OVERWORK.
HE WOULD WORK TOO HARD.
> > IN THE EVENING, I WOULD DO
ALL MY PLYOMETRICS AND WEIGHT
TRAINING.
WHEN I WOULD LIFT WEIGHTS, IT
WASN'T ABOUT MAXING OUT A BUNCH
OF WEIGHT OR HITTING A BUNCH OF
REPETITIONS.
IT WAS ABOUT HOW TIRED I CAN GET
MY BODY.
> > I SEEN HIM WITH 315 ON HIS
BACK DO LIKE 65 TIMES.
315 POUNDS IS A LOT OF WEIGHT.
> > WE WORKED A LITTLE BIT MORE
LIKE MULES AND KURT WORKED A
LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE A
RACEHORSE.
THERE WAS A PURPOSE FOR WHY HE
WAS DOING THE TRAINING THAT HE
WAS DOING.
> > I WOULD TRAIN EVERY DAY, 3
TIMES A DAY FOR 28 AND A HALF
DAYS A MONTH OUT OF 30 DAYS.
I DID THAT CONSISTENTLY FOR TWO
YEARS.
I DID NOT STOP.
IT WAS 10 HOURS A DAY, ALMOST
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
> > HE WAS ONE OF THE
BEST-CONDITIONED ATHLETES IN THE
WORLD.
HAD TO BE.
THE WAY HE WORKED OUT AND
TRAINED, HE HAD TO BE.
> > NOBODY WORKED OUT LIKE KURT.
NOBODY.
THAT'S WHY HE'S A CHAMPION.
> > HE LIVED HERE WITH ME AND I
NEVER SEEN HIM.
HE WOULD COME IN TO EAT AND RUN
BACK OUT, CHANGE HIS CLOTHES AND
DIFFERENT CLOTHES.
HE'D GO WRESTLE FOR TWO HOURS,
THEN HE COME BACK, CHANGE, GO TO
WORK OUT AT THE GYM FOR TWO MORE
HOURS, COME BACK, GO JUMP ROPE.
HE RUNS THESE HILLS OVER HERE.
HE PUTS EVERYTHING INTO
EVERYTHING HE DOES.
I GUESS NOT BECAUSE I'M
BRAGGING, BUT I'M TRYING TO SAY
THAT WHEN HE DOES SOMETHING, HE
DOES IT THE BEST.
> > THAT MAN RIGHT THERE, KURT
ANGLE OF THE USA, IS GETTING SET
TO WRESTLE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP
AND HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT THE
OLYMPIC GAMES.
IN FACT, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING
ON HIS MIND TONIGHT AT THE OMNI.
> > THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP'S
RIGHT NOW.
LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I'M NOT
GOING TO THINK ABOUT ANYTHING
ELSE.
THIS IS AS BIG AS THE OLYMPICS.
IT'S JUST NOT OLYMPIC YEAR AND
I'M GOING TO GIVE EVERYTHING
I'VE GOT TO WIN THIS TITLE.
ARAWAT SABEJEW WAS THE WORLD
CHAMPION FROM 1994.
HE ALSO PINNED ME IN 38 SECONDS
3 YEARS PRIOR.
HE WAS GOOD.
> > KURT ANGLE WRESTLING FOR HIS
FIRST-EVER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
AGAINST THE DEFENDING WORLD
CHAMP, ARAWAT SABEJEW OF
GERMANY.
> > SABEJEW HAS THE LEG, MOVES IN
AND TRIES TO PICK UP THE
TAKEDOWN.
ANGLE SCRAMBLES.
IT'S NOT DONE YET.
NO TAKEDOWN.
SABEJEW HAS A HOLD ON THAT LEG.
ANGLE COUNTERS.
REVERSES.
SABEJEW TURNED RUN AROUND BY
KURT ANGLE.
> > I TOOK HIM INTO OVERTIME.
AS THE OVERTIME STARTED GETTING
LONGER AND LONGER, AND FURTHER
INTO IT, HE WAS GETTING REALLY
TIRED.
> > SABEJEW NOW CLAIMS HE'S GOT
AN INJURY.
> > I HAD A NEW WEAPON, EXHAUST
TRAINING AND IT WAS WORKING.
I WAS STICKING AND MOVING.
I WAS GETTING HIM OUT OF
POSITION.
HE WAS SO TIRED.
HE KEPT ASKING FOR INJURY
TIMEOUTS.
HE'S FAKING INJURIES AND I KNEW
I HAD HIM.
> > WAY BACK TO THE MIDDLE, SOME
SUSPENSE.
I THINK SABEJEW KNOWS IN HIS
HEART, AND HE DOES.
[CROWD CHEERS]
27-YEAR-OLD KURT ANGLE FROM
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
GET USED TO THAT NAME BECAUSE HE
IS JUST NOW EMERGING ON THE
WORLD SCENE AND HAS JUST NOW
CAPTURED HIS FIRST-EVER WORLD
FREESTYLE WRESTLING TITLE.
> > THIS SPORT IS THE TOUGHEST
SPORT IN THE WORLD.
I DON'T REGRET ONE MINUTE OF IT.
IT'S HARD.
YOU WORK HARDER THAN ANY OTHER
SPORT, AND WHEN YOU WIN, YOU
MIGHT NOT GET THE MONEY LIKE
THOSE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OR
BASKETBALL PLAYERS OR BASEBALL,
BUT YOU GET A LOT MORE IN HERE.
THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS
SPORT.
THE VICTORY AGAINST ARAWAT
SABEJEW PUT ME ON THE MAP.
IT LET EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD
KNOW THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS
CONTENDER FOR THE OLYMPIC GOLD
IN 1996.
> > KURT, YOU'RE ON A NEW
MOUNTAIN.
WHAT IS YOUR NEW HORIZON?
> > OH, OLYMPICS NEXT YEAR.
WIN THE OLYMPICS, RETIRE.
WHEN DAVE SAW ME WRESTLE THERE
AFTER COACHING ME THE PRIOR
YEAR, HE KNEW THAT I WAS GOING
TO WIN A GOLD MEDAL.
HE KNEW BEFORE I DID, AND HE
WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "I'M
NOT GOING TO HELP HIM OUT.
WHY SHOULD I HELP HIM OUT?
WHAT'D HE EVER DO FOR ME?"
FOR DAVE, IT WASN'T ABOUT WHAT
YOU DID FOR HIM.
IT WAS ABOUT GIVING BACK.
> > THE STANDOFF BETWEEN A SWAT
TEAM AND THE HEIR TO A FORTUNE
CONTINUES TONIGHT.
> > SWAT TEAM STILL SURROUND THE
DU PONT MANSION OUTSIDE
PHILADELPHIA.
> > POLICE NEGOTIATORS HAVE BEEN
CALLING DU PONT APPROXIMATELY
ONCE EVERY HOUR.
> > ECCENTRIC MILLIONAIRE WITH AN
AVID INTEREST IN OLYMPIC SPORTS
AND GUNS.
> > A 14,000 SQUARE FOOT
FOXCATCHER TRAINING CENTER ON
HIS ESTATE AND RECRUITED OLYMPIC
CALIBER WRESTLERS, SOME OF WHOM,
LIKE SCHULTZ, LIVED ON THE
ESTATE.
> > I WAS GOING TO HEAD DOWN TO
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY TO HAVE A
PRACTICE WITH THEIR HEAVY
WEIGHTS BECAUSE I WAS IN
PITTSBURGH AT THE TIME.
BEFORE I LEFT, I LEFT DAVE A
MESSAGE AROUND 1:00 PM THAT I
WAS COMING TO THE FARM THE NEXT
DAY AND I WANTED TO LET HIM KNOW
I WAS GOING TO BE IN THERE TO
TRAIN WITH HIM.
I LEFT HIM A MESSAGE AND THEN I
WENT DOWN TO PRACTICE, AND
LITERALLY THREE HOURS LATER, I
SAW ON CNN THAT DAVE WAS SHOT
AND KILLED.
> > NO ONE IS SURE OR SAYING WHY
JOHN DU PONT WOULD HAVE KILLED
DAVE SCHULTZ, AMERICA'S BEST BET
FOR OLYMPIC GOLD IN WRESTLING
AND A COACH AT DU PONT'S
FOXCATCHER TRAINING CENTER.
WHILE THE TWO WERE CLOSE, THEY
WERE OFTEN AT ODDS.
> > DAVE WOULD TELL JOHN WHAT WAS
ON HIS MIND.
IF SOMETHING WAS BUGGING HIM,
HE'D SAY, "HEY, DU POINT, YOU
CAN'T DO THAT."
> > DAVE AND I WOULD HAVE A LOT
OF CONVERSATIONS.
IN NOVEMBER BEFORE HE WAS
KILLED, HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO
GET OUT SOON, BUT I GOT THINGS.
THINGS ARE OKAY DOWN THERE AND
SAFE.
ALL THE RUMORS THAT YOU HEAR
ABOUT JOHN WITH GUNS AND JOHN
BEING CRAZY, IT'S NOT AS BAD AS
PEOPLE SAY."
THEN THREE MONTHS LATER, HE SHOT
DAVE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY WILL
EVER KNOW WHY.
THAT'S THE SAD PART.
> > SCHULTZ, WHO WON A GOLD MEDAL
IN THE 1984 SUMMER OLYMPICS,
LIVED WITH HIS FAMILY IN A HOME
ON THE ESTATE.
IT IS AT THAT HOME THAT POLICE
SAY DU POINT DROVE UP AND SHOT
SCHULTZ IN THE DRIVEWAY.
> > HE SCREAMED SO LOUD.
BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DOOR,
DAVE WAS DOWN IN THE SNOW AND
JOHN SHOT HIM IN THE BACK.
THEN I WENT OVER TO TURN DAVE
OVER AND TRY TO DO CPR, BUT HE
WAS CRUSHED.
WHEN I TOUCHED HIM, IT WAS JUST
SOFT.
I JUST PUT HIS HEAD IN MY LAP
AND TOLD HIM I LOVED HIM.
HE DIED VERY QUICKLY.
> > DAVE WAS ONE OF MY BEST
FRIENDS, AND I JUST WANT HIM TO
KNOW THAT I LOVE HIM AND I CARE
A LOT ABOUT HIS FAMILY, NANCY
AND THE KIDS.
I JUST PRAY TO GOD THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO BE OKAY.
> > DAVE WILL BE MISSED SO MUCH
BY HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE
WRESTLING COMMUNITY AROUND THE
WORLD.
AFTER DAVE WAS KILLED, THERE WAS
THIS GAP BECAUSE IT WAS JANUARY
AND THE OLYMPIC TRIALS WERE IN
JUNE.
RIGHT?
ALL THE FUNDING COME FROM THIS
GUY.
WE HAVE PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW,
17 TO 20 ELITE-LEVEL ATHLETES
WHO ARE COUNTING ON AT LEAST A
STIPEND EVERY MONTH.
> > I CALLED FOXCATCHER AND TOLD
THEIR ATTORNEYS TO TAKE ME OFF
THE PAYROLL.
I COULDN'T TAKE BLOOD MONEY, AND
NANCY SCHULTZ HEARD ABOUT THAT.
NANCY CALLED ME RIGHT AWAY AND
SHE SAID, "WELL, I'M STARTING A
WRESTLING CLUB BECAUSE I GOT A
BUNCH OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE
CALLED ME THAT WANT TO SPONSOR
YOU GUYS, SO I'M GOING TO START
THE DAVE SCHULTZ WRESTLING CLUB.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE THE FIRST
MEMBER?"
[CHUCKLES]
I WAS LIKE,
"WOW. ME?"
I SAID YES.
> > KURT WAS THE FIRST ONE TO
SAY, "I'M GOING TO WRESTLE FOR
THE DAVE SCHULTZ WRESTLING
CLUB."
IT WAS A HUGE TURNING POINT FOR
ME.
IT SHOWED ME THAT HE RESPECTED
DAVE'S MEMORY AND THAT HE HAD
SOME FAITH IN ME AND WHO IS
HELPING ME TO PUT TOGETHER THE
PROGRAM.
KURT STOOD UP IMMEDIATELY AND
SAID, "LET'S WRESTLE FOR THE
DAVE SCHULTZ WRESTLING CLUB IN
DAVE'S HONOR."
[MUSIC]
> > WELL, IN 1996 AT THE US
OPEN, THAT WAS THE BEGINNING
STAGES OF THE OLYMPIC TRIALS.
> > GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENED CERTAINLY THERE WAS A
VOID WITH DAVE GONE.
A RIFT IN THE NATIONAL TEAM.
> > I WAS HAVING A FANTASTIC
TOURNAMENT.
I WAS DOMINATING MY WEIGHT
CLASS.
I WOULD SCORE MY OPPONENTS BY
DOZENS OF POINTS.
I GOT TO THE SEMI-FINALS AND I
HAD A WRESTLER THAT WAS PRETTY
TOUGH NAMED JASON LOUKIDES.
WE WERE WRESTLING AND I DUG FOR
AN UNDER HOOK, GET MY ARM UNDER
HIS ARMPIT, AND HE HIT ME WITH
THIS ARM THROW.
AS HE THREW ME WITH AN ARM
THROW, I WENT TO PUT MY HAND UP
TO BLOCK THE GROUND SO I
WOULDN'T ROLL OVER MY BACK.
I COULDN'T GET MY HAND OVER IN
TIME, SO I PUT MY HEAD UP TO
STOP ME FROM LANDING ON MY BACK.
I LANDED RIGHT DOWN ON MY FACE.
ALL I HEARD WAS A BUNCH OF
CRACKING AND CRUNCHING IN MY
NECK.
I KNEW I DID SOMETHING.
RIGHT WHEN I LANDED, JASON, THE
WRESTLER, WAS TRYING TO
GUT-WRENCH ME TO ROLL ME OVER
AGAIN BECAUSE HE KNEW I WAS
HURT.
I WOULD'VE DONE THE SAME THING
TO HIM.
THAT'S PART OF THE SPORT.
[WHISTLE BLOWING]
> > WHEN I GOT UP, I COULDN'T
FEEL MY ARMS.
THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS A
LOT WORSE THAN I THOUGHT.
IT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE
MATCH, AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I
GAVE THE POINTS UP.
NOW, I'M LOSING 3-0.
I GET BACK IN THERE, AND I
COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.
I HAD NO STRENGTH.
MY NECK WAS KILLING ME.
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND I
KEPT THINKING ABOUT MY NECK.
I JUST COULDN'T GET BACK INTO
THE FOCUS ON THE MATCH AND WHAT
I HAD TO DO TO WIN.
> > COME ON, KURT.
YOU GOT TO WANT IT.
LET'S GO.
> > LITTLE BY LITTLE, I WAS
SCORING A COUPLE OF POINTS HERE
AND THERE, AND I BELIEVE WITH
ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT, I SCORED
MY FIFTH POINT.
> > HEY.
GOOD JOB.
> > IT GOT ME INTO THE FINALS.
THE PROBLEM WAS I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW BAD MY NECK WAS INJURED.
[WHISTLE BLOWING]
> > I WENT OVER TO THE TRAINER
AND I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED.
I WAS HAVING A LOT OF PAIN IN MY
LOWER NECK.
THE TRAINER TOLD ME TO GET DOWN,
LAY DOWN ON MY BACK, AND HE
STARTS CRACKING MY NECK.
EVERY TIME THEY CRACKED IT, A
SHARP PAIN WOULD GO DOWN MY
SPINE OR DOWN MY ARMS.
I SAID, "WHOA, WHOA.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG HERE.
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE
CRACKING MY NECK."
> > WE KNEW HE WASN'T RIGHT, BUT
HIS NECK'S THIS BIG.
I HAD NO IDEA HIS NECK WAS THAT
BAD.
> > EIGHT HOURS AFTER THAT MATCH,
THE SEMI-FINAL MATCH WITH JASON
LOUKIDES, I HAD THE FINAL MATCH
AGAINST KERRY MCCOY.
> > KERRY MCCOY IS AN ANIMAL
HIMSELF.
HE'S ONE OF THE BEST WRESTLERS
WE'VE EVER HAD IN HIS OWN RIGHT.
> > I DON'T THINK I CAN DO THIS.
HOW ABOUT I'LL JUST TAKE A BREAK
HERE AND I'LL GO HOME?
I'LL TAKE SECOND PLACE AND I'LL
GO TO THE OLYMPIC TRIALS AS THE
SECOND-PLACE WRESTLER.
NOW, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IF
YOU DON'T WIN THE US OPEN,
YOU'RE NOT IN THE FINALS OF THE
OLYMPIC TRIALS.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU WIN THE
US OPEN, YOU GO TO THE FINALS OF
THE TRIALS.
ALL THE OTHER PLACED WINNERS
UNDERNEATH WRESTLE EACH OTHER
AND THE WINNER OF THAT GETS TO
WRESTLE THE WINNER FROM THE US
OPEN.
THAT'S HOW THE OLYMPIC TRIALS
WORKS.
> > WINNING THE US OPEN, SO
IMPORTANT.
IT TAKES A WHOLE TOURNAMENT OUT
OF YOUR PATH BECAUSE IT TAKES
YOU OUT OF THIS MINI-TOURNAMENT.
[MUSIC]
> > THE COACH SAID, "LISTEN, DO
YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT
CRAZY ASS TOURNAMENT WHERE
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRESTLE
ALL THESE GUYS AND THEN YOU'RE
GOING TO BE EXHAUSTED AND YOUR
NECK MIGHT NOT BE HEALED UP AND
THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
WRESTLE THE US OPEN CHAMPION?"
I KEPT TELLING THEM I DON'T
THINK I CAN WRESTLE.
[MUSIC]
> > I BELIEVE MY BROTHER, MARK,
WAS AROUND.
HE KEPT SAYING, "SHUT UP.
YOU'RE WRESTLING."
[MUSIC]
> > I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.
ALL I DID WAS PUMMEL WITH HIM.
I TRIED TO TIE HIM UP.
I WAS DIGGING UNDERHOOKS.
ALL I DID WAS PUSHED HIM AROUND
THE MAT, GOT HIM CALLED FOR
STALLING.
HE WAS TRYING TO WRESTLE ME.
I WAS TRYING TO NOT WRESTLE HIM.
> > KURT'S DECISION TO LAY IT ALL
ON THE LINE, REGARDLESS OF HIS
OWN HEALTH, SERIOUS THINGS, EVEN
MORE SERIOUS BECAUSE OF WHAT
HAPPENED TO HIM, BUT IT'S THAT
DRAW OF BECOMING OLYMPIC
CHAMPION.
THAT'S SO STRONG.
THEY'LL LITERALLY DO ANYTHING
NECESSARY.
THEY'LL DO ANYTHING.
[MUSIC]
> > THE US OPEN IS A WONDERFUL
THING TO WIN, BUT WHEN YOU'RE
THINKING ABOUT WINNING A GOLD
MEDAL FOR YOUR COUNTRY, IT'S
JUST PART OF IT.
I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
OLYMPIC TRIALS.
ALTHOUGH, I HAD A MONTH TO THINK
ABOUT IT, I WAS MORE CONCERNED
WOULD THIS HEAL BY THEN.
WHATEVER IT IS.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S NOT TOO BAD, BUT
WOULD I BE READY?
[MUSIC]
> > AFTER THE TOURNAMENT, I WENT
TO A CHIROPRACTOR.
HE TOOK AN X-RAY OF MY NECK.
HE SAID, "YOU KNOW YOU HAVE FOUR
BROKEN VERTEBRAE, RIGHT?
TWO OF YOUR DISCS ARE STICKING
DIRECTLY INTO YOUR SPINAL CORD.
YOU'RE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU
CAN DO SOME REAL DAMAGE TO YOUR
BODY LIKE PARALYSIS."
I WENT TO TWO OTHER DOCTORS HERE
IN PITTSBURGH AND I TOLD THEM I
HAD TO BE READY IN, I BELIEVE,
FOUR WEEKS FOR THE OLYMPIC
TRIALS.
HE LOOKED AT THE X-RAY AND HE
LOOKED AT ME, HE SAID, "YOU'RE
NOT DOING IT.
IF YOU GO OUT THERE AND YOU
WRESTLE AND YOU LAND ON YOUR
HEAD AGAIN, YOU PROBABLY WON'T
LIVE."
I WAS AT A LOSS FOR WORDS.
I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT I
COULD DO.
I CALLED BRUCE BURNETT OF USA
WRESTLING.
I CALLED HIM AND SAID, "LISTEN,
I HAVE A REALLY SEVERE NECK
INJURY AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE
THIS BEFORE WHERE GUYS HAVE BEEN
INJURED AND YOU PUSHED BACK THE
DATE OF THEIR TRIALS.
I NEED ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO."
HE STRAIGHT UP SAID, "YOU'RE NOT
GETTING IT."
I KNEW THEN I DIDN'T HAVE AN
OPTION.
I HAD TO BE READY.
I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO GO UP
TO EDINBORO TO TRAIN WITH BRUCE
BAUMGARTNER.
RIGHT WHEN BRUCE LOCKED UP WITH
ME, A SHARP PAIN IN MY NECK WENT
RIGHT DOWN MY ARMS.
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES.
I WAS IN THE WORST PAIN IN THE
WORLD.
IT WAS UNBEARABLE.
FINALLY, I MET WITH TWO DOCTORS,
JULIAN BAILES AND DR. MAROON.
THESE GUYS DEALT WITH
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ALL THE
TIME.
> > MY CONCERN IS ALWAYS
NEUROLOGICAL.
IS THERE POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE
BRAIN OR THE SPINAL CORD?
I THINK HE'S QUITE SAFE IN THAT
REGARD.
YOU STILL LOOK AT HIM.
HIS NECK IS LIKE THIS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NECK TO BREAK
IT.
HE HAS NO NECK.
> > THEY HAD A DIFFERENT METHOD.
BEFORE I WRESTLED EACH TIME IN
THE OLYMPIC TRIALS, THEY WERE
GOING TO HAVE A DOCTOR THERE
PRESENT AND HE WAS GOING TO
STICK ME IN THE NECK WITH 12
DIFFERENT SHOTS OF A TYPE OF
NOVOCAIN TO NUMB MY NECK.
> > MAKE THE OLYMPIC TEAM,
COMPETE IN THE OLYMPICS,
REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY, MEDAL,
I'D TAKE NOVOCAIN.
> > FEELING THE NOVOCAIN AND
FEELING HOW IT MADE ME
COMPLETELY PAIN-FREE, IT GAVE ME
CONFIDENCE WHEN I GOT TO THE
OLYMPIC TRIALS, THIS MIGHT WORK
OUT.
> > MAYBE YOU COULD'VE GOT THERE
IN '96, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT GET
THERE IN 2000.
CARPE DIEM, SEIZE THE DAY.
HE WAS GOING TO GET WHAT HE HAD
TRAINED FOR.
> > I COULDN'T TRAIN WRESTLING.
I COULD LIFT WEIGHTS.
I COULD RUN AND SPRINT AND DO MY
PLYOMETRICS, BUT I COULDN'T
WRESTLE.
MY NECK'S PRACTICE WAS GOING TO
BE MY FIRST ROUND OF THE OLYMPIC
TRIALS.
I JUST NEVER CONSIDERED
QUITTING, NEVER CONSIDERED
GIVING UP BECAUSE OF MY NECK
INJURY.
THERE WAS NO PAUSE.
IT WAS, "WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO
GET BACK IN THE GAME?"
I DID THAT.
NOBODY WAS GOING TO STOP ME.
THE PROBLEM WAS EVERYBODY KNEW I
BROKE MY NECK.
MY OPPONENT IN THE OLYMPIC
TRIALS ALREADY KNEW MY NECK WAS
BROKEN.
DAN CHAID WAS TOUGH.
HE WAS A FIGHTER.
HE WAS MORE OF A BRAWLER TYPE OF
WRESTLER.
I LIKE DAN AS A PERSON, BUT WHEN
HE GOT ON THAT MAT, HE WAS
EITHER GOING TO HURT YOU OR YOU
WERE NEVER GOING TO FORGET HIS
NAME.
[MUSIC]
> > DAN CHAID WANTED TO BE A
WORLD OLYMPIC CHAMPION TOO AND
THAT'S A GUY THAT WILL TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF AN INJURY.
> > I WASN'T SURE WHO WOULD WIN.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY
WOULDN'T BE FOND OF EACH OTHER.
SOMEBODY'S DREAMS ARE GOING TO
BE CRUSHED.
> > I GOT INJURED EVERY TIME I
WRESTLED HIM.
I KNEW HOW DAN WAS AND I KNEW
WHAT I HAD IN FRONT OF ME IN THE
OLYMPIC TRIALS.
HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO HURT MY
NECK.
HAVING NECK PAIN AND NOT KNOWING
HOW MUCH DAMAGE I WAS DOING TO
MY BODY AND HAVING THE
UNCERTAINTY OF THAT, AND THEN
GETTING STUCK IN THE NECK WITH
12 SHOTS OF NOVOCAINE AND THEN
GOING OUT, NOT FEELING IT, IT
MAKES YOU THINK, IS THIS WORTH
IT?
IS IT WORTH IT TO NUMB THAT UP,
KNOWING HOW DAMAGED IT IS AND
HOW I COULD END UP BEING
PARALYZED OR EVEN DEAD IF I LAND
WRONG?
> > TIME WILL ONLY TELL AND ONLY
KURT CAN TELL IF THAT WAS WORTH
IT OR NOT IN HIS LIFE'S PATH AND
LIFE'S DREAMS, AND LIFE'S
DEVELOPMENT.
> > IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT
HE DID WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO TO
PUT HIMSELF BACK ON THE MAT, TO
COMPETE, TO MAKE THAT OLYMPIC
TEAM, BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS
DREAM, THAT WAS HIS GOAL.
IT WAS KNOWN FROM THE MINUTE HE
HIT THE SENIOR CIRCUIT UNTIL HE
WON THAT I'M HERE TO BE THE BEST
IN THE WORLD.
> > DAN CHAID WAS A BULLY.
HE LIKED TO INFLICT PAIN AND
THAT'S WHAT HE WAS GOING TO TRY
TO DO TO ME.
THE FIRST THING HE DID IS HE
WENT RIGHT FOR MY NECK.
PUT BOTH OF HIS HANDS AROUND MY
BACK OF MY NECK AND WAS HOLDING
ME DOWN TRYING TO INFLICT PAIN.
> > HE COME OUT AND HE WAS TRYING
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF KURT'S
INJURY.
HE COMES OUT AND HE JUST STARTS
CLUBBING ON THE BACK OF HIS
HEAD.
> > I COULDN'T FEEL IT.
IT WASN'T WORKING.
HIS MINDSET WAS, GO FOR THE
NECK, GO FOR THE NECK.
EVERY TIME HE DID, HE LEFT
HIMSELF OPEN.
THE GUY THOUGHT HE WOULD TRY TO
GET ME TO QUIT BY TRYING TO
RE-INJURE MY NECK.
THE WHOLE GAME PLAN BACKFIRED ON
HIM AND IT BENEFITED ME.
I JUST MADE THE OLYMPIC TEAM BY
BEATING DAN CHAID.
I HAD A SOLID PERFORMANCE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS AS GOOD AS I
COULD HAVE WRESTLED, EVEN
WITHOUT THE BROKEN NECK, EVEN IF
I WAS HEALTHY, IT WAS GOOD.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT BUILT MY
CONFIDENCE, THAT MADE ME REALIZE
MAYBE YOU'RE MORE READY THAN YOU
THINK YOU ARE.
> > WELCOME TO ATLANTA'S OLYMPIC
STADIUM FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY
OF THESE CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC
GAMES.
> > EVERYBODY WANTS TO WIN THE
OLYMPICS ON THE DAY OF THE
OLYMPICS, BUT YOU HAVE TO WANT
TO WIN THE OLYMPICS EVERY SINGLE
DAY WHEN YOU WAKE UP LEADING UP
TO THE OLYMPICS.
EVERY SINGLE TIME, EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS COME UP,
YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE THE OLYMPICS
OVER EVERYTHING ELSE.
> > GOING INTO ATLANTA, HE WAS
MENTALLY PREPARED TO WIN A GOLD
MEDAL, AND THAT WAS HIS ONLY
VISION.
HE WOULDN'T LET FALLING OFF THE
CLIFF ENTER HIS HEAD.
IT WAS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE
GOLD MEDAL GOING AROUND HIS
NECK.
> > I DECLARE OPEN THE GATES OF
ATLANTA, CELEBRATING THE 26TH
OLYMPIAN OF THE MODERN ERA.
> > I BELIEVE ONE OF THE GREATEST
OLYMPIC TEAMS EVER IN 1996.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE ALL STILL
HEARTBROKEN OVER DAVE.
BOY, WE WISH DAVE COULD HAVE
BEEN HERE.
> > WHEN I WALKED IN FOR THE
OPENING CEREMONIES, THE PLACE
WENT CRAZY.
I WAS LIKE, "WOW.
THEY KNOW WHO I AM?
THIS IS CRAZY."
I'M LIKE, "YES, ALL RIGHT."
I'M WAVING AND THEY'RE GETTING
LOUDER AND LOUDER.
I LOOK BEHIND ME AND THE DAMN
DREAM TEAM JUST SNUCK IN BEHIND
US.
IT WAS A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE TO
THINK THE FANS WERE CHEERING FOR
ME AND IT WAS THE BOYS IN THE
BACK.
IT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY FUNNY.
> > EVERYBODY THAT WRESTLED KURT
KNEW THAT HIS NECK WAS HURT AND
DON'T THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT
THEIR COACHES WOULDN'T LIKE,
"LOOK, IF YOU GET IN A CLINCH,
YOU NEED TO CRANK HIM."
HE WAS AWARE THAT PEOPLE WERE
TRYING TO TAKE HIM OUT.
> > MY NECK WAS STILL BROKEN UP
UNTIL THE OLYMPICS.
I'D HAVE A LOT OF PAIN IN THERE,
BUT IT USUALLY STAYED IN THE
NECK.
IT WASN'T RUNNING DOWN MY ARMS
ANYMORE.
I FELT MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT
WHERE I WAS AT THAT TIME, HOW MY
NECK WAS FEELING, AND I FELT
LIKE THIS IS ABOUT AS READY AS I
WILL BE.
I REMEMBER MY FIRST MATCH BEING
AGAINST MONGOLIA.
HE WAS GOING TO BE QUITE A
FORCE.
I WAS LEADING 2-0 AND WE WENT TO
OVERTIME.
I GOT REGISTERED FOR TWO MORE
POINTS AND I WON 4-0 OVERTIME.
[CROWD CHEERS]
A CUBAN, A SEVEN-FOOT TALL CUBAN
MONSTER.
I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO GIVE ME A
HARD TIME BECAUSE HE WAS A BIG
DUDE.
WE WENT 0-0 REGULATION, 0-0
OVERTIME UNTIL 5 SECONDS LEFT.
I TOOK HIM DOWN OVERTIME.
I WON 1-0 DOUBLE OVERTIME FROM
THE CUBAN.
THE NEXT ROUND, I HAD A RUSSIAN,
I DUG FOR AN UNDERHOOK AND HE
KNEW I WAS GOING TO DO IT.
RIGHT WHEN I DID THAT, HE HIT ME
WITH A FIREMAN'S CARRY.
NOW IT'S DOWN 3-0 AGAINST A
RUSSIAN.
I'M LIKE, "OH, GOD."
YOU NEVER WANT TO GO DOWN THREE
POINTS TO A RUSSIAN BECAUSE
THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP GOOD
POSITIONING AND THEY'RE GOING TO
STALL THE REST OF THE MATCH AND
WIN.
A COUPLE OF MINUTES WENT BY, I
TOOK HIM DOWN, I TURNED HIM.
> > ANGLE.
HE'S GOING TO GET IT.
IT'S A TIED MATCH.
> > I TIED THE MATCH THREE TO
THREE.
RIGHT WHEN I TURNED HIM, HE PUT
HIS HANDS ON HIS FACE LIKE THIS.
I SAID, "HOLY --.
HE'S GOING TO GIVE UP."
WE WENT BACK IN THE MIDDLE AND I
TOOK HIM DOWN 5 SECONDS LATER,
WON 4-3.
[MUSIC]
> > HE SCORES ANOTHER TAKEDOWN.
A SUPER JOB BY KURT ANGLE TO
HANG ON TO THAT-
> > I DIDN'T
HAVE TO HAVE A PRETTY
PERFORMANCE.
I JUST WANTED THE GOLD ANY WAY I
COULD GET IT.
THE GOLD MEDAL REPRESENTS BEING
THE BEST OF THE BEST.
THE GOLD MEDAL REPRESENTS THAT
THERE'S NOBODY BETTER THAN YOU
ON THIS PLANET.
I DIDN'T WANT MONEY.
I DIDN'T WANT FAME.
I WANTED THAT GOLD MEDAL.
IF I HAVE THAT GOLD MEDAL AROUND
MY NECK, MY LIFE IS FINE.
> > KURT HAD TO WRESTLE PROBABLY
AT THAT POINT THE MOST FAMOUS
IRANIAN OF ALL TIME, ABBAS
JADIDI.
> > ABBAS JADIDI, WHO I BELIEVE
EVEN INCLUDING ME, WAS BY FAR
THE BEST WRESTLER IN THE WEIGHT
CLASS.
HE WON THE WORLDS IN 1993.
HE GOT SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS
FOR AN ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE.
HE DOMINATED EVERYBODY.
THIS GUY WAS UNBEATABLE.
> > THEIR NATIONAL SPORT IN IRAN
IS WRESTLING.
WHEN YOU'RE STEPPING ON THE MAT
WITH AN IRANIAN, YOU BETTER BE
READY.
> > KURT, HE WAS THE UNDERDOG.
FOR SURE, HE WAS THE UNDERDOG.
> > THE ONLY CHANCE OF BEATING
HIM WAS NOT TO OUT TECHNIQUE
HIM.
IT WAS TO GET HIM TIRED.
> > I JUST REMEMBER HIM BEING
RELAXED, FOCUSED, CONFIDENT, AND
JUST READY TO GO TO WAR.
> > I REMEMBER BEING REALLY HARD
FOUGHT AND IT WAS JUST A BATTLE.
AN ALL-OUT ATTACK FOR THE ENTIRE
MATCH BY KURT.
> > THERE WAS SO LITTLE SCORING.
IT WAS LIKE A FAST CHESS MATCH
OUT THERE.
> > WE HAD A COUPLE OF TAKEDOWNS
WHERE HE ALMOST TOOK ME DOWN OUT
OF BOUNDS.
I ALMOST TOOK HIM DOWN.
I FEEL A POP IN MY GROIN,
PROBABLY A PARTIAL TEAR.
IT WAS HORRIBLE BECAUSE NOW I'M
LIKE, "OH, GOD, NOT MY GROIN
NOW."
ABBAS JADIDI NOW GETS ME DOWN
AND HE'S GOING FOR A LEG LACE,
AND THAT MEANS HE WAS WRAPPING
MY LEGS TOGETHER TO SPIN ME OVER
ONTO MY BACK.
WELL, AS HE WAS DOING THAT, I
DIDN'T HAVE ANY STRENGTH IN MY
GROIN.
IT WAS KILLING ME.
I HAD TO GIVE UP A POINT.
[MUSIC]
> > HE KNEW THAT IT FELT PRETTY
EASY, SO HE TRIED IT AGAIN, AND
I WAS LIKE, "SCREW IT.
I'M GOING TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH
TO MAKE SURE I DON'T GET TURNED,
AND IF IT POPS, IT POPS."
HE WENT AGAIN AND HE ALMOST HAD
ME TURNED.
I JUST ROUGHED IT OUT AND
STRAIGHTENED MY LEGS AND STAYED
ON MY STOMACH AND HE GAVE UP.
I WAS LIKE, "THANK GOD."
NOW HE TOOK A NICE LITTLE SLICK
SHOT AND I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY
WEIGHT OVER ON HIM, AND I
KNOCKED HIM ON HIS HIP AND SPUN
BEHIND HIM AND TOOK HIM DOWN.
[CROWD CHEERS]
> > I'M LIKE, WOW.
THAT WAS A PRETTY SLICK
TAKEDOWN."
I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT I
DID.
IT WAS JUST STRICTLY INSTINCT.
> > TACTICALLY, STRATEGICALLY,
KURT WRESTLED WELL.
THE LATER THE MATCH WENT, THE
BETTER HE GOT, THE FASTER HE
GOT.
KURT WAS NONSTOP AND JADIDI WAS
STALLING THE WHOLE TIME, THE
WHOLE TIME.
> > JUST GETTING TO CATCH YOUR
WIND FOR ANOTHER FIVE, MAYBE
SEVEN SECONDS, YOU REVITALIZE A
LITTLE BIT.
IF THEY WOULD HAVE MADE HIM COME
BACK TO THE MIDDLE, THERE WOULD
HAVE BEEN A POINT WHERE HE BROKE
HIM DOWN.
HE COULD'VE DID WHATEVER HE
WANTED TO HIM.
> > THIS GUY COULD NOT GET UP OFF
THE MAT.
THIS IS A WORLD-CLASS ATHLETE
THAT KURT JUST PUNKED AND HE
CAN'T GET UP OFF THE MAT GOING
LIKE THIS.
[MUSIC]
> > KURT ANGLE LOOK LIKE A
FREAKING GYMNAST.
YOU TALK ABOUT WRESTLING AND THE
BATTLE OF TWO WILLS.
HERE'S A GUY UNDERNEATH A GUY
HANDS BEHIND HIS LEGS, DRIVING
LIKE A CLYDESDALE INTO HIM, AND
HERE'S KURT ANGLE, CAPTAIN
FREAKING AMERICA WITH HIS HANDS
SPRAWLING, BLOCKING, BACK ARCH,
HEAD TO THE CEILING.
IT WAS AMAZING.
> > NOW WE'RE IN OVERTIME.
IT'S ONE TO ONE AND HE'S GETTING
REALLY TIRED, AND THE LITTLE
VOICE IN MY HEAD SAID, YOU NEED
TO DO SOMETHING.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE HIM DOWN.
I SHOT A LITTLE SINGLE TO ONE
SIDE AND I KNOCKED ABBAS DOWN
ONTO HIS BUTT.
I GOT BOTH OF HIS LEGS AND I HAD
THE TAKEDOWN.
ONE REF GAVE ME A POINT, THE
OTHER TWO DIDN'T GIVE ME IT YET.
THEY'RE WAITING FOR ME TO MOVE
UP ON TO HIS HIPS A LITTLE
HIGHER.
IF THEY DON'T GIVE ME IT,
THEY'LL AT LEAST AWARD ME IT
BECAUSE THE MATCH WAS DEAD EVEN.
> > THE WAY THAT IT WAS A REF'S
DECISION, IT LOOKED LIKE IT
COULD'VE WENT EITHER WAY.
> > KURT'S MOM VERY NERVOUS.
SOMETIMES SHE LEAVES.
SHE GETS SO NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS,
BUT SHE'S GOING TO STAY HERE FOR
THIS ONE.
THIS IS AS TIGHT AS IT CAN
POSSIBLY GET.
IT IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE
REFEREE, MAT JUDGE, MAT CHAIRMAN
TO MAKE A DECISION.
KURT ANGLE WAS THE MORE
AGGRESSIVE AT THE END OF THIS
MATCH, JEFF.
> > MY HEART WENT DOWN TO MY
STOMACH.
FIRST THING I THOUGHT WAS, FOUR
MORE YEARS.
AFTER THIS, FOUR MORE YEARS
BECAUSE I CAN'T JUST STOP AT A
SILVER.
> > WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME?
THEY CAN'T DECIDE.
THERE IT IS.
KURT ANGLE.
KURT ANGLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
[MUSIC]
> > FIRST THING I THOUGHT ABOUT,
GOT ON MY KNEES AND I THANKED
GOD, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT MY DAD
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT DAVE
SCHULTZ.
HOW PROUD THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN
OF ME.
MAN, DAVE WOULD'VE-- HE WOULD'VE
RUN OUT THAT MAT AND LIFTED ME
UP ON HIS SHOULDERS.
WHAT A TOUGH YEAR.
DAVE GETS KILLED AND FOXCATCHER
BREAKS DOWN, AND YOU DON'T HAVE
A CLUB, AND THEN NANCY SCHULTZ
GIVES YOU DAVE'S SCHULTZ
WRESTLING CLUB.
EVERYTHING THAT WE WENT THROUGH
THAT YEAR, MY BROKEN NECK, AND
ALL THIS WORK YOU PUT IN, IT'S
DONE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ANYMORE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO STRESS
ANYMORE.
NO MORE WAKING UP AT 4:00 AM, NO
MORE STAYING TILL ONE O'CLOCK IN
THE MORNING AT THE WEIGHT ROOM,
NO MORE TRAINING LIKE A MAD MAN
IN THE WRESTLING ROOM.
IT WAS DONE.
I PLANNED FOR THIS FOR SO LONG.
NO, NOT JUST THE PAST TWO MONTHS
OR THE PAST YEAR, OR TWO, OR
FOUR, BUT EVER SINCE I WAS A
KID.
WHEN I FINALLY DROPPED TO MY
KNEES AND REALIZED I WON,
THERE'S NOTHING BUT JOY.
IT WAS MY DAD AND DAVE, AND
THANK YOU LORD FOR LETTING ME
STICK THROUGH ALL OF THIS AND
STILL COME OUT ON TOP.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
> > WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THIS
MOMENT?
> > I WORKED FOR THIS MOMENT ALL
MY LIFE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAPPENED.
IT'S THE BEST FEELING I'VE EVER
HAD.
I THANK GOD.
> > I SAW YOU KNEEL ON THE MAT
AND PRAY.
WERE YOU TALKING TO YOUR DAD?
> > YES, MY DAD'S ALWAYS WITH ME.
DAVE SCHULTZ, MY UNCLE FRED, MY
GRANDMOTHER.
THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER PULLING
FOR ME, ROOTING FOR ME UP THERE,
AND I KNOW IT CAME DOWN TO THAT.
I KNEW THEY WERE WITH ME.
I WASN'T SURE IF I WON.
THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT'S
EVER HAPPENED TO ME.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
ALL I WANTED TO DO IS WIN A
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND AN
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, AND I DID
THEM BOTH.
IF I DIED TONIGHT, I'D BE THE
HAPPIEST MAN IN THE WORLD.
I LOVE YOU, MOM.
I DID THAT ONE FOR YOU.
[MUSIC]
> > PLEASE WELCOME KURT ANGLE.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU GIVING
THAT TO YOUR MOM, THOUGH, HUH?
> > YES, I FIGURED SHE DESERVED
THIS MORE THAN I DID.
SHE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR ME.
SHE RAISED ME FROM WHEN I WAS
JUST A KID.
> > YOU KNOW WHAT'S FUNNY ABOUT
THAT?
MY MOM TOO.
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
> > TO BE HONEST, NOBODY'S GOING
OFF TO WIN OLYMPICS TO LIKE BE A
MILLIONAIRE.
NO ONE EVER THINKS THAT, BUT YOU
AT LEAST THINK THAT YOU SHOULD
HAVE A PATH FOR A CAREER FOR THE
REST OF YOUR LIFE.
USUALLY, PEOPLE JUST END UP WITH
AN OLYMPIC MEDAL ON ONE HAND AND
THEIR -- IN THE OTHER.
> > WHEN YOU WIN SOMETHING OR
YOU'RE AWARDED SOMETHING THAT
YOU DREAMED ABOUT SINCE YOU WERE
A KID, AND YOU FELT LIKE THERE
WAS NOTHING ELSE MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THAT, AND YOU FINALLY
ACCOMPLISH IT, YOU WAKE UP THE
NEXT DAY AND YOU SAY, "WHAT AM I
GOING TO DO NOW?"
> > IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN HERE IN THE
WORLD WRESTLING --, BUT
NOW MORE THAN EVER TRUER WORDS
HAVE NEVER BEEN SPOKEN.
THIS IS A CONSCIOUS EFFORT ON
OUR PART TO OPEN THE CREATIVE
ENVELOPE, SO TO SPEAK, IN ORDER
TO ENTERTAIN YOU IN A MORE
CONTEMPORARY MANNER.
EVEN THOUGH WE CALL OURSELVES
SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT, BECAUSE OF
THE ATHLETICISM INVOLVED, THE
KEYWORD IN THAT PHRASE IS
ENTERTAINMENT.
> > YOU MENTIONED TO ME EARLIER
THAT VINCE MCMAHON FROM THE
WORLD WRESTLING -- HAS
IN FACT CONTACTED KURT ANGLE.
IF VINCE MCMAHON WERE TO GIVE
YOU A PHONE CALL TOMORROW AND
SAY, "KURT, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,
I'LL GIVE YOU A THREE-YEAR DEAL
WORTH $2.5, $3 MILLION TO BECOME
A WORLD WRESTLING --
PERFORMER."
WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT?
> > I THINK I'D SAY NO.
ONE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM A
WRESTLER, A TRUE WRESTLER, AN
OLYMPIC CHAMPION WRESTLER.
MY FIRST THOUGHTS AS AN OLYMPIC
GOLD MEDALIST WAS DON'T DO IT.
I STARTED WATCHING THESE GUYS
AND THEY WERE DOING SOME OF THE
MOST ATHLETIC THINGS I'VE EVER
SEEN.
> > WE'VE SEEN A LOT UP THERE.
OVER THE TOP.
> > AJ, SECOND ROPE.
OH, MAN.
> > LOOK AT THIS.
> > OH, GOD.
WHAT ATHLETICISM.
> > SHELTON LANDING ON HIS FEET.
> > LOOK OUT.
WHOA.
> > THERE WAS A WRESTLER ON THERE
THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY INTEREST.
HIS NAME WAS "STONE COLD" STEVE
AUSTIN.
> > HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OUT
HERE.
> > IF YOU THINK THE ROCK IS A
SORRY SELL OUT --, GIVE ME A
HELL YEAH.
[CROWD YELLS "HELL YEAH"]
> > THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I
THOUGHT.
> > THERE'S NOTHING LIKE WHEN
YOU'RE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT
BUSINESS GRABBING A CROWD AND
HAVING THEM HOOK, LINE AND
SINKER, AND YOU WERE DICTATING
TO THEM YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING
AND GETTING A RESPONSE AND
THEY'RE BUYING INTO YOUR STORY.
IT'S INTOXICATING.
IT'S SO UPLIFTING, IT'S SO
POWERFUL.
IF YOU CAN BOTTLE THAT STUFF AND
SELL IT, YOU'D BE A BILLIONAIRE.
> > I LOVED HIS CHARACTER.
HE WAS A LOT OF FUN TO WATCH,
AND WHY AM I SO BITTER ABOUT
THESE GUYS MAKING ALL THIS
MONEY?
WHY DON'T I TRY IT?
> > THE ONLY OLYMPIC GOLD
MEDALIST TO EVER GRACE A WWE
RING.
> > I REMEMBER SEEING THIS GUY
AND I'M THINKING, OKAY.
HE'S A GOOD-LOOKING GUY, GREAT
PHYSIQUE, YOU KNOW THE TENACITY,
STUD ATHLETE WITH A BIG ASS
NECK.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS GUY SHOWS
UP AND I'M THINKING, NOW CAN HE
MAKE THE TRANSITION?
> > YOU SEE, KURT ANGLE, THIS
ISN'T THE OLYMPICS.
YOU'RE NOT FACING THE ROMANIANS,
YOU'RE NOT FACING THE
BULGARIANS, YOU'RE FACING THE
ROCK, THE BRAHMA BULL, A MAN WHO
HAS NO QUIT.
A MAN WHO HAS NO FEAR.
KURT ANGLE, BRING YOUR GOLD
MEDALS.
> > HE APPROACHED OUR PROCESS
WITHOUT EGO.
HE'D WON A GOLD MEDAL IN THE
OLYMPICS AND CAME IN WITH ALL
THIS CACHET AND ALL THIS
INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT BEHIND
HIM.
HE CAME IN AGAIN WITH GREAT
HUMILITY AND SAID, "I JUST WANT
TO LEARN.
I'M GOING BACK TO DAY ONE FOR ME
AND CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR."
> > HE IS A BLUE-CHIPPER, NO
DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
> > IT'S MY FIRST MATCH, MY DEBUT
IN WWE.
THE FANS DIDN'T REALLY CARE
ABOUT THE MATCH.
THEY WERE CHANTING BORING AND
THIS MATCH SUCKS.
> > KURT ANGLE WENT AND WON A
GOLD MEDAL AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
THAT SUMMER, AND OF COURSE,
ANGLE, AS WE SAID, WAS
SUCCESSFUL.
> > VINCE MCMAHON TOLD ME TO GO
OUTSIDE, GRAB THE MICROPHONE,
AND TELL THESE FANS YOU DO NOT
BOO AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION.
I WAS LIKE, "HOLY --."
> > HERE'S THIS GUY.
HE'S SO SQUEAKY CLEAN THAT YOU
COULD SEE WITH THE RIGHT SPIN ON
IT HE COULD BE VERY ARROGANT.
I'M BETTER THAN YOU.
> > YOU DO NOT BOO AN OLYMPIC
GOLD MEDALIST.
I'M THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
I CAME HERE FOR YOU.
YOU DO NOT BOO ME.
> > THE FANS RESPONDED, AND THEY
STARTED BOOING ME EVEN MORE.
IT WAS THE BIRTH OF THE HEEL
KURT ANGLE.
> > I'VE SEEN SO MANY AMATEUR
WRESTLERS COME ALONG,
LEGITIMATELY TOUGH GUYS, THAT
COULD NEVER GET IT.
> > SO MANY GUYS COME FROM THE
AMATEUR RANKS AND, BECAUSE OF
THE EGO INVOLVED, CAN'T STAND
BEING ON THE BOTTOM OR SHINING A
GUY UP.
KURT WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH ALL
THAT.
> > FROM THE PSYCHOLOGY OF
WRESTLING TO THE TECHNIQUE TO
BEING A CHARACTER TO BEING
ENTERTAINING, IT JUST ALL CAME
TO ME VERY QUICKLY.
> > AT THAT TIME, THE COMPANY HAD
NOT GONE PUBLIC YET.
IT WAS STILL A MOM-AND-POP
COMPANY THAT FLEW UNDER THE
RADAR IN MANY RESPECTS.
IT WAS LIKE THE WILD WILD WEST.
IT WAS -- CRAZY AND IT WAS
AWESOME.
> > THE KING OF THE RING SET.
GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY.
OH, NOT AGAIN.
OH, MY GOD.
[MUSIC]
> > I LOVE THE ATTITUDE ERA.
I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE
GREATEST PERIODS IN THE HISTORY
OF THE BUSINESS.
IT WAS FULL-TILT, FULL-SPEED
AHEAD, MAKE NO APOLOGIES, PUSH
THE ENVELOPE.
> > AT THAT TIME, I WAS RUNNING
AROUND GOING, "IF YOU SMELL WHAT
THE ROCK IS COOKING."
STEVE AUSTIN WAS LIKE MIDDLE
FINGERS, DRINKING HIS BEERS.
IT WAS THE ATTITUDE ERA.
KURT CAME ALONG AT A TIME WHERE
HE WAS TRYING TO FIND HIS NICHE
AND JUST CLICKED.
> > I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AS
AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION.
> > TAKE THOSE METALS, TURN THOSE
-- SIDEWAYS, AND STICK THEM
RIGHT UP YOUR OLYMPIC ASS.
> > MY FIRST GIMMICK IN WWE WAS
THE OLYMPIC HERO.
I WAS THE PERSON WITH THE THREE
I'S, INTENSITY, INTEGRITY, AND
INTELLIGENCE.
IT WAS A FUN GIMMICK.
IT WAS COMICAL.
YOU WANT TO GO TOE TO TOE WITH
ME?
TO QUOTE THE POPULAR SINGER
SHAKIRA, "WHENEVER, WHEREVER."
> > KURT BROUGHT TO THE TABLE
THIS NAIVETY, THIS INNOCENT I
LOVE MILK, MAN, I LOVE COOKIES
AND THE AMERICAN WAY AND I FIGHT
FOR FREEDOM AND MY COUNTRY AND I
BELIEVE IN GOOD.
AUDIENCES LOVED HIM.
THEY LOVED TO LOVE HIM AND CHEER
HIM.
THEY ALSO LOVED TO HATE HIM.
> > YOUR CHANCES AT WINNING THE
TITLE IN FRONT OF THESE SLEAZY
HOMETOWN LOSERS JUST WENT FROM
SLIM TO NONE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
> > WHAT KURT ALLOWED TO TAKE
PLACE BECAUSE HE HAD THE TALENT
TO PULL IT OFF WAS KURT COULD DO
ANYTHING.
HE COULD BE SERIOUS, HE COULD BE
FUNNY.
> > THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD I'M HERE
IN THIS TOWN BECAUSE IF THERE
WAS EVER A TOWN THAT CAN RELATE
TO LOSING, IT'S DETROIT,
MICHIGAN.
> > WHAT?
[CROWD BOOS]
> > OH, BOY.
> > IT'S TRUE.
> > KURT GOT COMFORTABLE IN HIS
OWN SKIN AND STARTED DOING THESE
JUST HILARIOUS THINGS THAT YOU
WOULDN'T EXPECT FROM AN OLYMPIC
GOLD MEDALIST.
> > LOOK OUT.
> > OH, MAN, COME ON.
> > YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
[BELL RINGS]
> > MAE YOUNG ATTACKING KURT
ANGLE.
FOR GOD'S SAKES.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.
> > OH, MY GOSH.
> > WHAT KIND OF HUMAN BEING HAS
KURT ANGLE BECOME?
> > I WAS A BAD GUY.
A HEEL, AND I DID A LOT OF
PREACHING.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
THE FANS HATED MY GUTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU
TONIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT
GIVES YOUR OLYMPIC HERO GREAT
JOY.
THE JOY OF CELIBACY.
PEOPLE TELL ME TODAY, "KURT, I
HATED YOUR GUTS BACK THEN."
I GOT ON PEOPLE'S NERVES.
THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS.
I NOTICED THAT THE CITY OF
CHICAGO IS A LITTLE SHORT ON
WINNERS, AND A LITTLE WORN ON
FAT SWEATY PIGS.
[CROWD BOOS]
> > IT'S TRUE.
IT'S DAMN TRUE.
> > I REMEMBER WALKING THROUGH
THE AIRPORT ONE MORNING, AND I
THINK I HAD A HANGOVER.
I LOOKED OVER AND I SAW THIS
LITTLE BITTY COWBOY HAT.
I SAID, "MAN, KURT WOULD LOOK
AMAZING IN THAT HAT BECAUSE HE'S
GOT THIS 22-INCH NECK."
HIS NECK IS LIKE A COBRA.
> > I WAS IN THE CUB SCOUTS, THE
WEBELOS, BOY SCOUTS, I DID THEM
ALL.
> > WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DID THEM
ALL?
> > THE BUILD-UP TO ALL OF OUR
MATCHES WERE ALWAYS FUN BECAUSE
I WOULD TALK -- TO HIM.
I PROBABLY KNOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT
ABOUT YOU.
SOMEBODY GOT A HAIRCUT.
HE WOULD TRY AND TALK -- TO ME,
BUT HE WAS ONE OF THESE GUYS
WHEN HE TALKS --, HIS CHARACTER
TALKS --, HE WAS JUST OFF BY A
COUPLE OF STEPS.
. > I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER ONE
THING, YOU'RE A BOY IN A MAN'S
WORLD AND I'M A MAN WHO LOVES TO
PLAY WITH BOYS.
> > WHAT THE?
> > NO, WAIT A MINUTE.
SHUT UP.
> > KURT JUST WANTED TO
ENTERTAIN.
HE JUST WANTED TO ENTERTAIN THE
CROWD AND IF THAT MEANT HIM
BEING THE BADASS AND SPRAYING
MILK ON EVERYBODY.
> > MILK A MANIA IS RUNNING WILD.
> > RALLYING THE 20,000, 25,000,
30,000 PEOPLE TO CHANT "YOU
SUCK".
THEN THE B SIDE AND ALSO THE
MOST IMPORTANT SIDE WAS THE
PROMISE OF AN AMAZING MATCH.
> > LOOK OUT.
OH, GOD.
> > LOOK OUT.
> > ONE OF THE MATCHES THAT I
REMEMBER THE MOST, IT WAS A CAGE
MATCH.
KURT GETS ON THE TOP OF THAT
CAGE AND DOES A MOONSAULT.
> > HE'S GOING TO ESCAPE, KURT
ANGLE'S GOING TO ESCAPE.
IT'S OVER.
> > YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
OH, MY GOD.
MY GOD, ANGLE WENT FOR
EVERYTHING.
> > THAT GUY WILL GO TO THE END
OF THE WORLD TO PUT ON A DAMN
GOOD MATCH.
AS I'M SITTING THERE, I'M
THINKING HOLY --.
PARDON MY LANGUAGE, YOU -- IS
CRUSHING IT.
> > HE HAD A NATURAL PROPENSITY
TO BE A PRO WRESTLER.
IT JUST CAME TO HIM.
HE WAS LIKE A SAVANT, A GENIUS
AT THIS STUFF.
> > I BECAME A BETTER TECHNICIAN,
I BECAME BETTER AT PSYCHOLOGY.
I GOT INTO MY ZONE, I GOT INTO
MY CRAFT WHERE I KNEW WHAT I HAD
TO DO.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT
"STEVE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN AND
MYSELF WERE ONE OF THE GREATEST
MATCHES OF ALL TIME AT
SUMMERSLAM.
> > ANGLE WITH THE MOONSAULT.
OH, MY GOD.
> > TO ME, WHAT I WAS DOING IN
THAT MATCH WAS THE TRUE
PERSONIFICATION OF TRYING TO BE
A BADASS PIECE OF --.
> > THE STUNNER THAT CAME OUT OF
NOWHERE.
> > STUNNER.
> > KURT HAD GREAT CHEMISTRY, NOT
JUST WITH ME.
HE HAD GREAT CHEMISTRY WITH
BASICALLY ANYBODY HE STEPPED
FOOT IN THE RING WITH.
THAT'S HOW GOOD HE WAS.
> > EDDIE GUERRERO MATCHES, SHAWN
MICHAELS MATCHES, BROCK LESNAR,
EDGE, 2006 NO WAY OUT AGAINST
UNDERTAKER.
> > LOOK AT THIS.
> > WATCH OUT.
> > CHOKESLAM.
> > GOSH.
> > ANGLE SLAM.
> > OH, MY GOD.
> > THE MATCH I HAD WITH HIM,
WITH A BIG MAN AND THE STORY WE
WERE ABLE TO TELL, EVEN WITH THE
SUBMISSION TRADE OFFS, WAS
UNREAL.
> > CHECK IT OUT NOW, CHOKESLAM.
> > THE OTHER MATCH WAS SHAWN
MICHAELS, 2005 WRESTLEMANIA.
> > SHAWN MICHAELS.
SHAWN MICHAELS-LIKE MANEUVER.
> > LOOK OUT.
> > THAT'S A GUY THAT I'VE NEVER
GOTTEN IN A RING WITH BEFORE.
THE CHEMISTRY WE HAD WAS UNREAL.
> > NO, NO.
> > LOOK OUT.
> > OH, MY GOD.
> > NO, NO, NO.
> > ANGLE SLAM OFF THE TOP.
> > THOSE MATCHES WERE WHAT MADE
ME THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS
DURING THOSE YEARS.
> > HE WAS JUST MEANT TO WRESTLE,
WHETHER IT'S COMPETITIVELY OR
PROFESSIONALLY.
TO MAKE PEOPLE LOVE YOU AND TO
MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH, IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT.
KURT DID IT AS GOOD AS ANYBODY
EVER DID.
> > I'M IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT.
I'M IN LOVE WITH SPORTS
ENTERTAINMENT.
I ENJOY DOING IT.
I LOVE PERFORMING.
> > ANY TOP GUY THAT'S EVER
STEPPED FOOT OR WATCHED KURT
KNOWS WHAT A BADASS HE IS AND
HOW TALENTED HE IS IN THE RING.
HE IS AT THE VERY, VERY TOP OF
THAT LIST.
HANDS DOWN, BAR NONE.
> > AGAIN, HE HAD THIS NAIVETY TO
HIM, THIS INNOCENCE TO HIM, BUT
THEN HE DISRUPTED THAT WITH I'M
ALSO A BAD MOTHER -- AND I WILL
ANGLE SLAM YOU THROUGH THE --
MAT IN WHICH HE HAS DONE TO ME
ON MANY OF OCCASIONS.
[MUSIC]
> > ANGLE WITH AN OVERHEAD
SUPLEX.
> > THE BRAHMA BULL HAS TAPPED
OUT.
> > THAT GUY'S A --..
[LAUGHS]
> > I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT PRO
WRESTLING.
FIRST TIME I'D MET HIM, HE
WALKED IN AND I WAS LIKE, "OH,
MY GOD, HE IS SO HANDSOME."
HE HAD THESE BIG BLUE EYES.
I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HIM AT ALL.
WE WENT ON A DATE AT APPLEBEE'S,
AND AFTER OUR FIRST DATE, WE
JUST WERE INSEPARABLE.
> > LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BEFORE
WE GET THIS PARTY STARTED, I
HAVE ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT TO
MAKE.
I HAVE THE THREE MOST BEAUTIFUL
CHILDREN IN THE WORLD AND I
WOULD NEVER EVER WANT TO BE
WITHOUT THEM.
THEY'RE VERY SPECIAL TO ME.
KYRA, MY NINE-YEAR-OLD.
SHE'S MY PRINCESS.
KODY, HE'S MY LITTLE MMA
FIGHTER, LITTLE FIVE-YEAR-OLD.
I HAVE MY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE
SQUEAKS, GIULIANA, MY
ONE-YEAR-OLD.
I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE TO ALL
OF YOU, WE HAVE ANOTHER BABY
COMING BY DECEMBER OR JANUARY,
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FOURTH.
> > THE IRONY OF THE SUCCESS AND
THE BRIGHT LIGHTS IS VERY
EXCITING AND IT COULD BE VERY
ALLURING, BUT THEN THERE'S A
DARK SIDE.
THERE'S ALSO AN UNDERBELLY THAT
SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY
MEMBERS HAVE GONE THROUGH AND
EXPERIENCE.
SOME HAVE GONE THROUGH AN
EXPERIENCE AND WOUND UP ON THE
OTHER SIDE BETTER AND STRONGER
FOR IT.
SOME NOT BETTER.
> > GUYS LIKE KURT WHO WRESTLED
ALL THEIR LIFE, YOU CAN'T EXPECT
HIM TO BE TOTALLY HEALTHY.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THESE
GUYS ARE TAKING THEIR OWN FALLS,
THEY'RE BOUNCING AROUND OVER
THAT MAT AND THE MAT'S NOT
POSTHERPETIC CURE.
YOU DO THAT 200 DAYS A YEAR OR
MORE, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, IT'S
OBVIOUS WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO TO
YOUR BODY.
I THINK ALSO GUYS ON HIS LEVEL,
GREAT WORLD-CLASS LEVEL
ATHLETES, THEY JUST HAVE THIS
FEAR OF FAILING THAT COULD
MANIFEST ITSELF INTO A GREAT
BLESSING, AND MORE DRIVE, AND
MORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR IT CAN
BECOME THE KISS OF DEATH.
> > BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2003 AND
2006, I HAD A VERY BAD STRING OF
LUCK.
IN EARLY 2003, I WAS ON BROCK
LESNAR'S BACK.
I HAD HIM IN A CHOKE HOLD, AND
HE WAS RUNNING FROM ONE SIDE OF
THE RING TO THE OTHER.
HE TURNED SIDEWAYS AND I HIT THE
TURNBUCKLE AND MY HEAD SNAPPED
SIDEWAYS.
I LITERALLY LOST FEELING IN MY
LEFT ARM.
I COULDN'T RAISE MY ARM.
IT WAS JUST DEAD.
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG, AND
I WENT TO SEE A DOCTOR, AND I
WAS TOLD WHAT IT WAS AND THAT I
BROKE MY NECK.
IT WAS "STONE COLD" STEVE
AUSTIN'S DOCTOR.
HE DID STONE COLD'S NECK FUSION.
WHEN I WENT TO SEE HIM, HE
WANTED TO DO FUSION RIGHT AWAY.
> > WHEN I HAD TO LEAVE TO GO GET
MY SURGERY, I WAS GONE FOR 12 OR
15 MONTHS.
THAT'S CAREER SUICIDE FOR 9 OUT
OF 10 PEOPLE.
KURT HAD THAT SAME FEAR.
HE'S NOT A DUMMY.
> > I WAS VERY TENTATIVE ABOUT
THAT BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO
TAKE A YEAR OFF, AND I DON'T
WANT TO TAKE THAT LONG OFF.
I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT, I WENT
OVER TO MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE AND
THERE'S A REALLY NICE KID.
HIS NAME'S JOHNNY AND HE SAID,
"I HEAR YOU'RE NOT WRESTLING
BROCK AT WRESTLEMANIA."
I SAID, "YES."
HE SAID, "I REALLY WISH YOU'D BE
ABLE TO WRESTLE BROCK."
HE HANDED ME A DIRECT TV
MAGAZINE AND ON THE COVER WAS
BROCK LESNAR VERSUS KURT ANGLE
AT WRESTLEMANIA.
I LOOK DOWN AND I WAS LIKE,
"THIS MIGHT NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN."
I CALLED VINCE.
I SAID, "LISTEN, I'M DOING
WRESTLEMANIA."
> > THIS MATCH WE HAVE BEEN
WAITING FOR FOR MONTHS.
TWO OF THE MOST DECORATED
ATHLETES IN WWE HISTORY.
> > I WRESTLED BROCK WITH A
BROKEN NECK AT WRESTLEMANIA 19.
> > THIS IS WRESTLEMANIA, IT'S
LIKE THE SUPER BOWL.
THESE GUYS ARE WORLD-CLASS
ATHLETES AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO
OUT AND GIVE YOU EVERYTHING THEY
GOT.
> > POWERSLAM.
> > WOW, WHAT A SLAM BY LESNAR.
> > OH, THAT'S HOW HE CAN WIN THE
MATCH.
> > OH, LOOK AT THIS.
SPINEBUSTER.
> > THAT'S WHERE LESNAR TRIED THE
SHOOTING STAR.
> > BROCK LESNAR, HE'S CLIMBING
TO THE TOP ROPE.
> > I REMEMBER LESNAR TRIED THE
SHOOTING STAR PRESS AND HE
MISSED IT.
> > BROCK.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?
> > WHAT THE HELL'S LESNAR DOING,
COLE?
OH, MY GOD.
> > BROCK LESNAR WENT FOR THE
SHOOTING STAR PRESS AND KURT
ANGLE ROLLED OUT OF THE WAY.
> > WIND UP BEING A HELL OF A
MATCH AND THEY WERE BOTH REALLY
SORE AFTERWARDS.
[LAUGHS]
I CAN REMEMBER.
IT WAS PRETTY BAD.
THEY WERE BOTH BUSTED UP.
> > LOOK AT LESNAR.
> > THE POWERSLAM TO KURT ANGLE.
> > I WENT BACK HOME AND DECIDED,
AM I GOING TO DO THIS?
AM I GOING TO GET FUSION OR DO I
FIND SOMEBODY ELSE?
A MAN NAMED DR. JHO GOT A HOLD
OF MY MANAGER AND HE SAID,
"LISTEN, I CAN FIX KURT ANGLE.
HE WILL ONLY BE OUT FOR SIX
WEEKS."
I THOUGHT THIS WAS BOGUS.
I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS TOO GOOD TO
BE TRUE."
HE WAS GOING TO GIVE ME A
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY.
I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED A
LAMINECTOMY, AND HE WOULD CUT
OUT THE PROBLEM AND LET THE NECK
HEAL, SO I DECIDED TO DO THAT
SURGERY AND IT WORKED EXTREMELY
WELL.
> > THE SURGERY HE HAD DONE, IN
MY OPINION, I THOUGHT IT WAS
LIKE PUTTING A PATCH ON AN
INDYCAR, A SUPER CAR, AND THEN
EXPECT IT TO GO OUT ON A TRACK
AND RUN 250 MILES AN HOUR AGAIN.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A
HIGH-PERFORMANCE MACHINE AND I
THOUGHT IT WAS A PATCH JOB
RATHER THAN A FIX JOB.
> > YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN.
HOPEFULLY, I'LL GET BACK IN THE
LINE UP.
IF I CAN STAY IN THERE FOR A
WHILE AND STAY INJURY FREE AND
MY NECK IS INJURY FREE, THEN I
MADE THE RIGHT MOVE.
AFTER SIX WEEKS OF HEALING, I
WENT RIGHT BACK TO WRESTLING.
I DON'T BELIEVE MY NECK FULLY
HEALED.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, BROCK
LESNAR HIT ME OVER IN THE HEAD
WITH A CHAIR, BUT HE WENT
STRAIGHT OVER ON TOP OF MY HEAD
INSTEAD OF SWINGING IT SIDEWAYS.
WHEN HE DID THAT, HE BROKE MY
NECK AGAIN.
I BELIEVE IT WAS THREE OR FOUR
MONTHS AFTER MY FIRST BREAK I
HAD MY SECOND BREAK.
MY THIRD OVERALL, BUT MY SECOND
IN WWE.
I WENT BACK TO THE DOCTOR, HE
DECIDED TO DO SURGERY AGAIN.
DID THE SAME THING AGAIN.
CLIPPED OUT PART OF THE DISC AND
LET THE NECK HEAL.
I GOT BACK AND DO IT AGAIN.
[BELL RINGS]
> > WOW, DOES ANGLE LOOK READY
OR WHAT?
> > IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF 2004.
I MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO
WRESTLEMANIA AGAINST EDDIE
GUERRERO, WRESTLEMANIA 20.
> > BOTH THESE MEN ARE
WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES.
> > LANDED ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD
AND I BROKE MY NECK AGAIN.
> > DDT ON THAT SURGICALLY
REPAIRED NECK.
> > THERE GOES EDDIE.
> > THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN A
YEAR.
BROKE THE VERTEBRAE.
I WAS TAKEN OFF THE SHELF.
VINCE MCMAHON SAID, "THAT'S
ENOUGH.
WE'LL LET YOU REST UP.
TAKE FIVE, SIX MONTHS OFF."
SO I DID THAT.
CAME BACK AND I STARTED
WRESTLING.
I BELIEVE EARLY 2006 I BROKE MY
NECK AGAIN.
I BROKE FOUR VERTEBRAE AND I
DON'T REMEMBER WHAT MATCH I DID
IT IN.
IT WAS JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION
GOING ON IN MY HEAD.
A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AT THAT
TIME, BUT THAT WAS FOUR BREAKS
IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
IT WAS A REALLY BAD TIME FOR ME.
IN MY LIFE, I'VE HAD 40
INJURIES.
I'VE HAD THREE KNEE SURGERIES, I
BROKE MY NECK FOUR TIMES, I'VE
HAD SOME BAD SPRAINS, MUSCLE
TEARS, I'VE TORN BOTH OF MY
HAMSTRINGS, I TORE MUSCLES IN MY
QUADRICEPS, I DISLOCATED MY
RIGHT SHOULDER.
I WOULD SAY PROBABLY HAD AT
LEAST 150 STITCHES ON MY HEAD,
BROKE MY NOSE TWICE, HAD ALL
FOUR TEETH KNOCKED OUT TWICE.
THAT SUCKED.
THAT WAS A PRETTY PENNY.
I THINK OTHER THAN THAT, I'M
GOOD.
> > FROM THE TOP OF THE
TURNBUCKLE, GETS PULLED OFF ONCE
AGAIN.
> > HERE HE COMES AGAIN.
THERE YOU GO.
OH, MY GOD.
THERE YOU GO.
> > THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM.
ANGLE SLAM FROM THE TOP
TURNBUCKLE.
WHAT IMPACT.
> > IN KURT'S INJURIES IN THE
BEGINNING, I COULD TELL HE WAS
IN PAIN, BUT HE HID IT VERY
WELL, AND I DIDN'T PUT TWO AND
TWO TOGETHER UNTIL THINGS GOT
WORSE.
> > WHEN I BROKE MY NECK AT NO
WAY OUT 2003, I MET WITH A
DOCTOR THAT PRESCRIBED ME PAIN
MEDICATION, OPIOIDS.
I REMEMBER TAKING THE FIRST ONE.
IT DEFINITELY MASKED THE PAIN.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PAIN.
I FELT A LITTLE MORE ENERGETIC,
MORE EUPHORIC, AND I LIKE THE
FEELING, SO I STARTED TAKING
MORE.
> > I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO SAY
DON'T TAKE MEDICATION BECAUSE I
DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE HOW SEVERE
HIS INJURIES WERE.
I KNOW THAT HE BROKE HIS NECK
AND ALL THAT STUFF, SO WHO AM I
TO SAY, YOU CAN'T TAKE A PILL?
> > YOUR BODY BUILDS A TOLERANCE
AND THE MORE YOU TAKE, THE MORE
YOU NEED.
I WAS TAKING ABOUT FOUR A DAY,
FOUR PAINKILLERS.
DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG.
I'D SAY ABOUT A MONTH OR SO
BEFORE I DOUBLED UP TO EIGHT.
AFTER THAT, I GO IN HIGHER,
HIGHER, HIGHER.
> > I GAVE HIM A CALL, AND AS WE
WERE TALKING THERE FOR ABOUT A
HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF, HIS
VOICE CHANGED FROM BEING VERY
COHERENT TO STARTING TO SLUR.
I'VE BEEN AROUND ENOUGH GUYS AND
I'VE GIVEN A FEW OTHER CALLS
LIKE THAT AND I SORT OF SAID,
"DUDE, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"
HE'S SAYING, HE GOES "STEVE, I'M
TELLING YOU I'M FINE."
I CAN'T IMITATE HIS SLURRING
VOICE, BUT HE DIDN'T SOUND GOOD
AND I WAS HONESTLY SCARED FOR
HIM.
> > VINCE MCMAHON SAW A CHANGE IN
MY BEHAVIOR AND HE HAD JIM ROSS
CALL ME AND HE SAID, "LISTEN,
YOU NEED TO GET OFF THE STUFF."
I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT?"
HE SAID, "WE KNOW YOU'RE DOING
SOMETHING."
> > SOME OF THOSE GUYS ARE REALLY
PROUD, MAN.
THEY WON'T ADMIT THEY GOT
PROBLEMS, THEY DON'T SHOW ANY
WEAKNESS.
IT'S A SICKNESS.
THEY'RE OVERMEDICATING AND THEY
START FEELING VERY GUILTY AND
THEY FEEL VERY VULNERABLE, THEN
STUFF JUST STARTS UNRAVELING.
IT'S HAPPENED TO A LOT OF-- AND
IT'S NOT JUST WRESTLING.
DRUG ISSUES ARE NOT A
PRO-WRESTLING ISSUE.
IT'S ALL OF OUR ISSUE.
> > THIS IS TOUGH.
THERE WAS A POINT WHERE MY
SISTER WAS GETTING IN A LOT OF
TROUBLE.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY.
SHE WAS LIVING IN VIRGINIA
BEACH.
SHE WAS TAKING A LOT OF DRUGS,
AND I KNEW SHE WAS.
I ADORED HER.
SHE WAS A GREAT WOMAN.
SHE JUST ENDED UP IN THREE BAD
MARRIAGES.
HER VALUE OF HERSELF BECAME
NOTHING.
SHE JUST THOUGHT SHE WAS USELESS
AND IT DROVE HER TO A POINT
WHERE SHE STARTED USING DRUGS.
SHE KEPT CALLING ME FOR MONEY.
I KEPT SENDING HER MONEY.
SHE KEPT TELLING ME THE BILLS
WERE RACKING UP.
I FOUND OUT LATER SHE WAS USING
IT FOR DRUGS.
WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS
$35,000 IN DEBT, I GAVE HER AN
ULTIMATUM.
I TOLD HER, SHE HAS TO MOVE UP
TO PITTSBURGH, LIVE WITH MY
MOTHER OR I WOULDN'T PAY HER
DEBT, SO SHE MOVED.
SHE CAME BACK.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT SHE
DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.
SHE MOVED BACK TO PITTSBURGH, I
PAID OFF THAT $35,000 DEBT, AND
SHE SEEMED TO BE DOING OKAY FOR
A WHILE.
THEN SHE RELAPSED,
SO I GAVE HER
ANOTHER ULTIMATUM.
I TOLD HER THAT IF SHE DIDN'T
GET CLEANED, I WASN'T GOING TO
TALK TO HER EVER.
SHE DIDN'T GET CLEAN, SO FOR THE
NEXT EIGHT MONTHS, I DIDN'T TALK
TO HER, AND THEN SHE OVERDOSED.
I WISH I WOULD'VE TALKED TO HER.
NOW, I FIND OUT THAT NIGHT THAT
MY SISTER DIED OF HEROIN
OVERDOSE.
THE NEXT DAY, I HAVE A 60-MINUTE
IRON MAN MATCH WITH BROCK
LESNAR.
I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT I
FIGURED IF I DID DO IT, IT'LL
TAKE MY MIND OFF LE'ANNE JUST
FOR THAT ONE HOUR, SO I DID IT.
WE BURIED LE'ANNE, AND BY THIS
TIME, I WAS ALREADY 40 DEEP INTO
PAINKILLERS, SO I STARTED TAKING
MORE.
THE HIGHER I GOT, THE BETTER I
FELT, OR I SHOULD SAY THE LESS I
FELT BECAUSE PAINKILLERS CAN
HIDE A LOT OF PAIN.
NOT JUST PHYSICAL BUT EMOTIONAL.
> > AS HE'S OVERMEDICATING
HIMSELF, TRYING TO MANAGE HIS
PAIN, HIS PERSONALITY START
CHANGING, AND HE KNEW HE WAS
CARRYING A BURDEN AND YOU COULD
SEE THAT THAT BURDEN WAS
STARTING TO WEAR ON HIM.
> > THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS
THAT WERE GOING THROUGH MY MIND
THAT I HAD TO GET AWAY FROM.
I WAS ALWAYS RUNNING AWAY FROM
PROBLEMS.
THE PILLS WERE MY SANCTUARY.
> > I REMEMBER KURT TELLING ME
THAT HE WOULD JUST HAVE TO TAKE
A BUNCH OF PILLS JUST TO GET OUT
OF BED BECAUSE OF THE PAIN HE
WAS IN.
> > I WOULD SAY THAT EVERY
EVENING I WENT TO BED, I WOULD
PUT ABOUT 18 PILLS NEXT TO MY
COUNTER.
I'D BE GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWAL
WHEN I WOKE UP, I WOULD THROW
THOSE DOWN AND CHEW THEM UP AND
SWALLOW THEM.
I WAS MEDICATING MYSELF NOT JUST
FOR THE PAIN, BUT THE
PSYCHOLOGICAL PAIN OF BEING IN
AND OUT AND WONDERING IF I'M
GOING TO BE ABLE TO WRESTLE
ANYMORE.
WHEN I DID TAKE THE PILLS
HEAVILY, I DO IT IN THE MORNING
AND AFTER MY MATCH AT NIGHT.
I MADE SURE I DIDN'T LOOK MESSED
UP OR HIGH WHEN I WORKED OUT, OR
MESSED UP OR HIGH WHEN I WAS
DOING THE SHOW.
WHEN THE SHOW WAS OVER, IT WAS
FAIR GAME.
> > COUNTER, COUNTER.
> > LOOK AT THIS.
> > OH, MY GOD.
> > KURT, YOU JUST FIGURE THIS
GUY WHO'S AN OLYMPIC GOLD
MEDALIST, ONE OF THE TOUGHEST
GUYS I KNOW, YOU DON'T THINK
ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN TO HIM AND
YOU THINK HE'S BULLETPROOF, BUT
NOBODY IS.
> > I WAS TAKING PILLS TO FEEL
NORMAL.
OVER TIME, YOU BUILD A TOLERANCE
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE AND
MORE AND MORE AND MORE.
ONE LED TO TWO, TWO LED TO FOUR,
FOUR LED TO EIGHT.
BEFORE I KNOW IT, WITHIN SIX
MONTHS, I WAS TAKING 65 OF THEM
A DAY.
65 EXTRA STRENGTH VICODIN.
I WAS GETTING ABOUT 1,300 PILLS
A MONTH.
IT'S ABOUT 65 A DAY.
THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING AN
ADDICT IS KNOWING WHERE YOU'RE
GOING TO GET YOUR DRUGS NEXT.
WHENEVER I WOULD RUN OUT, I'D GO
THROUGH THE WORST WITHDRAWAL AND
IT WOULD MAKE YOU DO CRAZY
STUFF.
I STARTED STEALING PAIN MEDS AND
JUST DOING CRAZY STUFF THAT I
NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER DO.
I HAD TO HAVE MY FIX EVERY DAY
AND I HAD TO SET UP A SCHEDULE.
I HAD A CALENDAR WHERE EVERY
OTHER DAY I WOULD CALL A DOCTOR
TO GET A SCRIPT AND THEN EVERY
COUPLE WEEKS, I WOULD CALL MY
MEXICO CONTACT TO GET MY
PAINKILLERS ILLEGALLY SENT TO
ME, AND I HAD TO KEEP UP ON THIS
SCHEDULE.
IT WAS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
IT WAS ABOVE MY FAMILY, ABOVE MY
WORK, IT WAS EVERYTHING.
> > I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR
KURT LIKE A BIG BROTHER, AND TO
SEE HIM LIKE SHAKING, IT JUST
MADE ME ANGRY.
I JUST GOT ANGRY WITH HIM AND
WAS LIKE, "MAN, DON'T LET PEOPLE
SEE YOU LIKE THAT.
MAN, YOU'RE KURT ANGLE."
> > I WAS HIDING THE PAIN
KILLERS, I WAS HIDING THE
INJURIES.
WHEN YOU GET A HOLD OF THESE
DRUGS AND THEY GET A HOLD OF
YOU, THERE'S NO WAY TO QUIT.
I WAS TAKING ENOUGH TO KILL A
HORSE.
I JUST WISH THAT I WOULD'VE
KNOWN AT THAT TIME YOU'RE DOING
THIS TO YOURSELF.
IT WAS JUST HARD FOR ME TO
ACCEPT.
I WAS SO OUT OF CONTROL AND SO
DANGEROUS TO MYSELF, I JUST
WANTED TO KEEP GOING UNTIL I
COULDN'T GO ANY LONGER.
I REMEMBER GOING IN TO MEET WITH
VINCE AND HE TOLD ME, "LISTEN,
YOU GOT TO GET YOUR ASS
STRAIGHT.
YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.
WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO GO TO
REHAB.
YOU CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS."
THAT IS THE REASON I QUIT.
> > WHY EXACTLY KURT ANGLE WAS
RELEASED?
CAN YOU SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
RIGHT NOW?
> > SOME OF IT IS CONFIDENTIAL
AND I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU EXACTLY
WHAT THE STORY IS, BUT IT REALLY
REVOLVES AROUND KURT'S HEALTH
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
> > I DIDN'T GO TO REHAB BECAUSE
I DIDN'T THINK I HAD TO.
I DIDN'T THINK I WAS READY FOR
IT.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LET GO OF THE
DRUGS.
I DID WANT TO QUIT, SO THE
ULTIMATUM WAS LEAVE, LEAVE WWE.
GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO I DID.
> > HERE'S THIS ONCE IN A
LIFETIME TALENT BECAUSE HE'S ONE
OF THE BEST EVER AND NOW HE'S
DOWN AT TNA.
I'M THINKING, "MAN, TNA, THEY'RE
NOT AT OUR LEVEL."
> > NOW SAMOA JOE HAS GOT ANGLE.
LOOK OUT.
HE JUST GRABBED HIM, SLUNG HIM
RIGHT INTO THE BARRICADE.
> > WHEN I LEFT WWE, I STARTED
DRINKING ALCOHOL IN TNA, SO NOW
I WAS MIXING THE PILLS WITH THE
ALCOHOL.
> > THE DEBACLE OF A RUN HE HAD
IN TNA WAS-- HE'S LUCKY, ONE,
HE'S NOT DEAD.
SERIOUSLY.
> > HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I LOVE YOU.
I AIN'T GOING TO MAKE IT TO NEW
YEAR.
> > IT JUST GOT WORSE AND WORSE
AND WORSE.
DRINKING AND MIXING PILLS
TOGETHER, THAT'S NOT GOOD AT
ALL.
> > WHAT'S DADDY STEALING?
OF COURSE GIULIANA'S FOOD.
> > SHE'S NOT GOING TO EAT IT.
> > NOW I'M TAKING THESE
COCKTAILS.
I WAS TAKING PROBABLY SIX XANAX
A DAY, PROBABLY EIGHT ZONAS A
DAY, TWO MORPHINE PILLS.
FROM 2007 TO 2012, I WAS SO OUT
OF CONTROL I WAS DRIVING AT
NIGHT ON MEDICATION AND 12 BEERS
IN ME.
> > CHANNEL 11 IN PCNC GRAPPING
WITH EMOTIONS.
A JUDGE'S DECISION NEARLY BRINGS
A FORMER OLYMPIAN AND
PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER TO TEARS.
CHANNEL 11 NEWS REPORTER GORDON
LASH WAS THERE AS KURT ANGLE
FACED A JUDGE ON DUI CHARGES.
> > I GOT FOUR DUIS IN FIVE
YEARS.
I WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T GET MORE.
> > LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DRUGS IN
YOUR CAR A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE
THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE AND PEOPLE
PROBABLY WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT THAT IS.
> > I WAS SO OUT OF CONTROL, MY
LIFE COMPLETELY SPUN OUT OF
CONTROL.
THE DRUGS TOOK OVER MY LIFE.
IT WAS THE WORST FEELING IN THE
WORLD.
> > I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE
INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT YOU TOOK
OUT OF THE HOUSE WAS YOUR
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL.
HOW MUCH DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
THAT'S HOW PITTSBURGH REMEMBERS
YOU.
> > SINCE I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD,
THAT'S ALL I EVER WORKED FOR.
ONCE I WON THAT, I TRIED
EVERYTHING I COULD TO DO BETTER
THAN THAT.
> > HE WAS DRUNK AND HE WAS
SITTING THERE, AND THIS IS WHEN
HE HAD THE CHEW IN HIS MOUTH,
AND HE HAD A BEER IN HIS HAND
AND HE WAS JUST PASSED OUT
WATCHING TV.
HE'S JUST TALKING IN HIS SLEEP,
AND HE'S JUST DROOLING, AND HE
JUST DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE'S
DOING.
> > MY LOWEST POINT WAS AFTER I
GOT MY FOURTH DUI.
I ACTUALLY GOT ON MY KNEES AND I
PRAYED.
I SAID, "GOD, WHAT AM I DOING
WRONG?"
BECAUSE I LITERALLY STILL DIDN'T
BELIEVE I WAS A DRUG ADDICT.
I JUST THOUGHT THAT I HAD SOME
BAD LUCK.
> > WHEN HE WAS GOING TO JAIL,
THAT WAS THE WORST TIME OF MY
LIFE.
I WAS SCARED.
IT WAS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, IT
WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS, PEOPLE
WERE CALLING ME, I JUST HAD A
BABY.
> > I REMEMBER WHEN I GOT MY
FOURTH DUI, GIOVANNA GOT A CALL
FROM ME FROM JAIL AND SHE WAS
PISSED.
> > I DIDN'T WANT TO PICK UP.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT MAYBE WHEN
HE COMES HOME, I SHOULD BE IN A
HOTEL SO HE KNOWS WHAT HE COULD
LOSE.
HE CALLED ME AGAIN AND I'M LIKE,
"I HAVE TO PICK UP.
I HAVE TO PICK UP."
THE FIRST THING I DID AND I
SAID, "WHY?
WHY'D YOU DO THIS?
WHY DID YOU GET IN TROUBLE
AGAIN?"
HE'S LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
WRONG WITH ME.
I'M SITTING HERE IN JAIL AND I'M
LIKE THE LOWEST POINT IN MY
LIFE, GIOVANNA.
I NEED HELP."
I SAID, "YES, YOU DO NEED HELP."
> > SHE SAID, "LISTEN, IF YOU
DON'T GO TO REHAB AND GET YOUR
ASS STRAIGHT, I CAN'T STAY WITH
YOU ANYMORE.
I DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY, I DON'T
WANT TO LIVE HERE, I JUST ONLY
HAVE TO LEAVE."
> > I NEEDED TO SHOW HIM THIS IS
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE THE
WRONG CHOICES IN LIFE.
YOU CHOOSE DRUGS OVER US AND
YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO KNOW THAT
AND SEE THAT.
MY HUSBAND, HOW DID HE GET FROM
WHERE HE WAS TO THIS POINT OF
HIS LIFE, AND I KNOW HOW MUCH
ASHAMED HE WAS.
I KNOW THAT.
HE DIDN'T WANT HIS KIDS TO SEE
HIM THAT WAY.
> > SHE WAS TELLING ME, SHE'S ON
HER LAST LEG.
THIS IS IT.
YOU EITHER STEP UP AND BE A MAN
AND GET CLEAN OR I'M GONE.
THAT WAS WHEN I DECIDED TO GO TO
REHAB.
> > I GAVE HIM ONE LAST CHANCE.
I WAITED TILL HE GOT HOME AND I
SAID, "YOU NEED HELP."
BECAUSE HE NEVER TRIED REHAB.
> > MY DAD, HE USED TO DO THE
SAME THING WITH HIS ALCOHOL.
HE WOULD ISOLATE HIMSELF AWAY
FROM US.
HE WOULD DRINK WHEN WE WERE
SLEEPING.
HE WOULD DRINK WHEN HE WAS ALONE
AWAY FROM US, AND I STARTED
DOING THAT SAME THING.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE LIKE MY DAD.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE MY
MARRIAGE.
THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO
LOSE MY KIDS.
I KNEW IF I CONTINUE DOWN THAT
ROAD, I WAS GOING TO END UP
GETTING SOBER AND GETTING CLEAN
IS THE TOUGHEST THING I'VE EVER
DONE.
HOW DO I EXPLAIN HOW IT IS?
IT'S LIKE GETTING TORTURED.
THE INSIDES OF YOUR BODY
POUNDING, AND YOUR SKIN'S
CRAWLING, YOU'RE SWEATING
BECAUSE YOUR HOT, BUT YOU'RE
ALSO SWEATING BECAUSE YOU'RE
COLD.
YOU CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT, YOUR
BODY'S SHAKING THE WHOLE TIME,
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
INSIDES, YOU'RE OUT OF BREATH
ALL THE TIME, YOUR HEAD'S
POUNDING, YOUR BODY'S POUNDING,
YOU GO INTO THE BATHROOM, YOU'RE
THROWING UP.
IT DOESN'T STOP.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT COMPARES TO
THE PAIN YOU FEEL WHEN YOU'RE
GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWAL.
IT IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST FEELING
I'VE EVER HAD AND IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'LL LAST FOREVER.
I HAD TO GO THROUGH WITHDRAWAL
FOR FIVE DAYS AND IT WAS LIKE
DEATH.
I ACTUALLY WISHED A FEW TIMES I
WOULD DIE.
THAT'S HOW BAD IT IS.
I DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE THAT
EXPERIENCE AGAIN.
I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH
WITHDRAWAL.
I AM SCARED TO DEATH OF IT.
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO LAST
AN ETERNITY.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT ANY OTHER
WAY.
> > KURT, YOU ALWAYS FIGURED,
HELL, I'M OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, I
CAN HANDLE IT, AND ME AS A
FRIEND WOULD THINK THE SAME
THING.
HE'S OVERCOME SO DAMN MUCH, THE
DEATH OF HIS FATHER, WINNING A
GOLD MEDAL, ALL THIS STUFF.
KURT ANGLE CAN OVERCOME IT AND
IT TOOK A NIGHTMARE FOR HIM TO
OVERCOME IT.
> > READY?
HERE.
THE HARD PART WAS YOU START
THINKING, WHAT IF I -- UP WHEN I
GET OUT?
WHAT IF I CAN'T STAY CLEAN?
WHAT IF I AM A COMPLETE -- UP?
WHAT IF I JUST GO BACK TO THE
PILLS AND I START ON IT AGAIN?
YOU START DOUBTING YOURSELF.
> > SOON AS HE CAME HOME, YOU
COULD TELL THAT HE WAS LIKE
THIS.
HE DIDN'T HOW TO DEAL WITH THE
BABY CRYING WITHOUT TAKING PILLS
AND DRINKING.
HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH
A NAGGING WIFE WITHOUT TAKING
PILLS AND DRINKING.
HE MESSED UP HIS KNEE A YEAR
AFTER HE GOT OUT OF REHAB.
I TOLD THEM MANY TIMES, HE'S AN
ADDICT.
HE'S NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE
MEDICATION.
HE SAID, "WHAT IF HE JUST GAVE
ME ONE?
WHAT IF YOU JUST MONITOR IT TO
ME?"
I SAID, "NO, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED
TO TAKE THIS."
HE SAID, "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO
HEAL?
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GO BACK TO
WORK?"
I SAID, "YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO
DO THIS.
YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO DO
THIS WITHOUT TAKING MEDICATION
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO
THAT TO US AGAIN."
> > THE ONLY TRIGGERS I HAVE IS
THE PAIN THAT I HAVE.
SOMETIMES I SAY, "MAN, I COULD
REALLY USE A COUPLE OF
PAINKILLERS RIGHT NOW."
THAT'S THE TRIGGER.
I HAVE CHRONIC NECK PAIN, BACK
PAIN, KNEE PAIN.
I DO ALL I CAN TO MAINTAIN MY
BODY AND IT WORKS PRETTY WELL.
IT'S NOT A CHOICE, I HAVE TO DO
IT OR I'M NOT GOING TO FEEL
RIGHT.
I CAN'T TAKE DRUGS ANYMORE, SO I
DO A LOT OF MAINTENANCE
TRAINING, NECK TRACTION,
ANTI-GRAVITY DEVICE, STRETCHING,
YOGA.
THESE THINGS REALLY HELP ME
EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THEY KEEP
ME HEALTHY.
AS OPPOSED TO SIX YEARS AGO, I
WOULD HAVE JUST TAKEN A COUPLE
OF PILLS AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN
ALL RIGHT.
> > IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK FOR HIM
TO KNOW THE NEW HIM AND I SAID,
"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FEEL THE
BEST WAY YOU USED TO FEEL, BUT
YOU'RE GOING TO TOLERATE YOUR
PAIN.
YOU'RE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT
TOGETHER."
I HAD TO SLOWLY GET HIM INTO
BEING A HUSBAND AGAIN AND SLOWLY
GETTING HIM BEING A FATHER.
> > I WASN'T THERE QUITE A BIT
FOR MY FIRST DAUGHTER, KYRA.
> > HI, KYRA.
> > HI.
> > WHEN I WAS HOME, I WAS ALWAYS
PRETTY HIGH AND I WAS ONLY HOME
FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS A MONTH,
SO I REALLY DIDN'T GET TO SPEND
MUCH TIME WITH MY FIRST
DAUGHTER.
[LAUGHS]
HI.
> > WHAT GIOVANNA WAS ABLE TO DO
FOR ME THAT I COULDN'T DO FOR MY
FIRST TWO KIDS IS BE A GOOD
FATHER FOR MY LAST THREE KIDS.
I GOT CLEAN AND I STARTED
SPENDING TIME WITH MY CHILDREN.
I HAVE TOO MUCH ON THE LINE
RIGHT NOW.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ME ANYMORE.
IT'S ABOUT MY KIDS.
IT'S ABOUT MY WIFE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY
LIFE THAT I NO LONGER PUT ME
FIRST.
I DON'T WANT TO BE A SCREW UP.
YOU GOT TO STAY CLEAN.
IF YOU'RE AN ADDICT AND YOU HAVE
A PROBLEM WITH DRUGS, YOU GOT TO
STAY CLEAN.
> > I DON'T THINK KURT WOULD EVER
TAKE A PILL AGAIN.
I THINK KURT KNOWS THE NEW HIM
NOW AND HE'S HAPPY WITH THE NEW
VERSION OF HIM.
I DON'T KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT
WILL GET HERE FROM THERE.
HE MISSED OUT A LOT ON LIFE, BUT
HE'S TRYING TO MAKE IT UP WITH
THESE KIDS.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY
AND SO PROUD FOR HIM TO BE THE
LOVE OF MY LIFE.
> > SAY DADA.
SAY DADA.
> > DADA.
> > YAY.
CLAP HANDS.
YAY.
> > WITH THE FRIENDS THAT I'VE
HAD WHO'VE DEALT WITH ADDICTION,
AND AGAIN, SOME SUCCESSFULLY AND
SOME NOT SUCCESSFULLY, I ALWAYS
FELT THOUGH IN MY HEART AND DEEP
IN MY BONES THAT KURT WAS A MAN
WITH GREAT RESOLVE.
I FELT LIKE WITH THE RIGHT
PEOPLE AROUND HIM AND THE RIGHT
SUPPORT AROUND HIM, HE WAS GOING
TO OVERCOME IT.
I'M VERY PROUD OF MY FRIEND FOR
CONTINUING TO PUSH HIMSELF TO BE
THE BEST HUSBAND, FATHER,
FRIEND, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT
HE IS TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE THE
BEST HE CAN BE.
> > I WANT TO THANK THE GOOD LORD
FOR GIVING ME THE ABILITY TO DO
WHAT I DO.
I WANT TO THANK MY FIVE
BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, KYRA, KODY,
GIULIANA, SOPHIA, AND NIKOLETTA.
YOU GUYS ARE MY LIFE.
[APPLAUSE]
> > LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT
TO THANK THE ONE PERSON THAT
SAVED MY LIFE.
SHE WAS THERE AT MY WORST AND
SHE'S HERE NOW AT MY VERY BEST.
THAT'S MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE,
GIOVANNA.
I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK,
BABE.
[MUSIC]
> > I THINK THAT I WANT KURT
ANGLE TO BE REMEMBERED NOT FOR
THE MISTAKES HE'S MADE BUT WHAT
HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN HIS
LIFETIME.
SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID, I
ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING
GREAT.
> > HE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW AFTER
THE '95 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WHEN
HE WON, THEY ASKED HIM WHAT HE
WAS GOING TO DO AND HE SAID,
"I'M GOING TO GO TO '96.
GO FOR THE GOLD AND LAND IT FOR
MY FATHER."
HE DID IT.
> > BEING ABLE TO WIN THAT
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, IT WAS
EVERYTHING THAT I EVER DREAMED
OF AS A KID.
IT WAS WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED.
> > HE'S ONE OF THE GREATEST
OLYMPIC HEROES THAT WE EVER HAD.
THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN
SAY, "I WON AN OLYMPIC WITH A
BROKEN NECK."
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S
NOBODY.
> > TO COME OUT AND BE THE MAN
THAT YOU ARE AND HAVE BEEN AND
TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT YOU
HAVE IN SPITE OF ALL THIS
TRAGEDY, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES IN
WHAT KIND OF A PERSON YOU ARE.
I'M PROUD TO CALL YOU A FRIEND.
I'M HONORED AND THAT MAKES MY
STORY LOOK VERY LAME.
> > I SAW HIM WORK SO HARD TO GET
WHERE HE IS TODAY, I SAW THE
STRENGTH THROUGH EVERY LITTLE
THING, AND I THINK HE WAS
EXCITED OF WHAT CAN THIS KURT
ANGLE BE, WHAT CAN THIS KURT
ANGLE DO?
> > IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A
FIGHT FOR HIM.
HE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE BATTLING
AND STAYING FOCUSED ON THE RIGHT
THINGS IN HIS LIFE, THE GOOD
THINGS IN HIS LIFE, AND NOT THE
BAD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO
HIM.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE
CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.
IT SURE AS HELL ISN'T TOO LATE
TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT KURT ANGLE DID.
> > I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
THAT NONE OF US ARE PERFECT.
I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I
WASN'T PERFECT EITHER, BUT I WAS
ABLE TO OVERCOME MANY OBSTACLES
BECAUSE I'M A FIGHTER.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANT
PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ME AS, A
FIGHTER THAT NEVER GAVE UP ON
ANYTHING.
[MUSIC]