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Downloaded from
YTS.BZ
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{\an8}It's the calm before
the storm.
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.BZ
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You know, rehearsals,
everything's done.
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Dotted all the Is,
crossed all the Ts.
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And now you just
sit back and like--
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That's why I eat
so many Dum-Dums.
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I just start slamming
down sugar to kill time.
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That ain't good.
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Got all of our
camera shots up here.
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And this is just sort of the--
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I don't know--
that they say the epicenter.
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And it's the best seat
in the house.
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Welcome to NXT.
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This is NXT.
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This is all about feedback,
coaching, development.
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You just got to get
more energy, more fire.
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We want to get these talent
prepared for the main roster
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as quickly and as efficiently
as we can.
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Good stuff. Way to go, man.
Awesome job.
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{\an8}If you look at this
generation of young talent,
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so many of them will say,
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who was your biggest influence?
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Shawn Michaels.
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Approaching the ring,
from San Antonio, Texas,
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weighing 227 pounds,
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The Heartbreak Kid,
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{\an8}Shawn Michaels.
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{\an8}There's only one HBK.
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Nobody is more flamboyant.
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Michaels loves
the spotlight,
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loves the main event.
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I will give you
a show like you
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have never ever seen before.
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Why?
Because I can.
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Unbelievable!
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Ah, yes, yes, yes.
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He wanted to be the best.
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Shawn Michaels is
the heavyweight champion
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of the world!
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I don't think
there's any difference
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between him and Jordan.
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I'm Shawn Michaels.
I can do whatever I want.
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He was an asshole,
a first-rate asshole.
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I'll be the worst guy
that the WWE has ever seen.
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I'm not going to
sugarcoat anything.
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I wouldn't have pissed
on Shawn Michaels
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if he was on fire.
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There's functioning
drug addicts.
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And that's exactly what I was.
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Backdrop on that
little wooden casket.
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Shawn's back injury
really sent him
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into a downward spiral.
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I felt like my life
and career were over.
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You've got to get to a very
raw place with yourselves
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to step out of being that guy.
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It's the first time
I ever wanted to be better.
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And it gave me
another opportunity.
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Fans all over the world
have been waiting to see HBK.
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Shawn was super into
the behind the scenes
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of the business, like I was.
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Where boom, boom.
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Once Shawn did this to Owen,
he's jumping all in.
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Oh, my goodness.
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Shawn can speak to you
from experience
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because he's done it all.
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Shawn Michaels,
he gave me a chance.
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And I feel like I
earned his respect.
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One of the greatest
ever to get in the ring.
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Who else would you want
teaching the next generations
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of sports entertainers?
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W Performance Center,
it's evolved so much.
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But it has always been
a developmental system
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for talent.
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NXT is the brand
that gets talent
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TV-ready for the main roster.
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Well, it is a big fight feel
in the Performance
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Center tonight.
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{\an8}Welcome to NXT.
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{\an8}The thought was
to create a system
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to train people
in a better way,
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to entice athletes
from around the globe
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to want to be a part of it.
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At the Performance Center,
it's everybody's job
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to make talent good,
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to have them learn
how to do this,
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to have them learn how to be
great and professional
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behind the scenes
and in front of the camera,
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like, all the aspects that
go into doing this job.
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I knew the name
Shawn Michaels.
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I knew that he was
friends with Hunter.
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But that's all I knew.
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I didn't even let him in
the building the first time
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I saw him.
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I was working
at the front desk.
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I was relatively new here.
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One day, a man comes
to the front door,
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cutoff sleeves, shorts.
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I believe he was wearing
sandals and a hat.
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And he did one of these.
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Yeah, she came running,
asking me who this was.
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And I came up,
and I peeked through there.
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And there's
Shawn Michaels looking
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into the Performance Center,
not getting allowed in.
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So I was like,
we can let him in.
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Good morning, everybody.
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Everybody's got their way
of doing things
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and their personality,
but the fundamentals
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are the things that lead you
to long-term success.
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He's able to understand
the athleticism--
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Once you get him up here,
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you can kinda walk
where you need him.
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Zip, boom.
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to understand
the psychology.
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The way we think eventually
becomes our actions.
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As long as you let them
know that there's
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been doubt in there,
that's the difference
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between arrogance and belief.
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Then he also understands
the difficulty,
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different psychology
of people along the way.
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Sorry I'm so neurotic.
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No, that's all right.
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Don't worry about it.
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I was neurotic too.
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So it's quite all right.
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He's similar to me.
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I understand that.
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So in many ways,
he's the best candidate
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for doing what he's doing,
because he can understand them
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on almost every level.
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Maybe if you just take
a little do si do there.
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Oh, like a do si do
right here?
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- Yeah.
- Oh, yeah, yeah.
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I can do that.
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Shawn has a great ability
to connect on a nuts and bolts
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from an in-ring standpoint,
from a character standpoint,
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from a promo standpoint,
but also talk on a human level.
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One of the things I've been
most impressed with is the fact
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that you're still the guy
that's humble enough to say,
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I need to work on my craft
and get better in the ring
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and stuff like that.
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What's great about Shawn is
that he has time for everybody.
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He's accessible.
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You can ask him questions.
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You can collaborate.
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And as a talent, it's sometimes
hard to remember that,
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because he's the greatest
of all time.
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I'd like to think,
in many people's eyes,
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he's probably the best
to ever do it.
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So when you say I'll do
anything to become the best,
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you're saying it to a guy
that was the best
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and did a lot
to become the best.
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So you better hold yourself
accountable to that statement
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because he's gonna hold you
accountable to it.
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Oh, my goodness.
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{\an8}I was 12 years old.
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"Southwest Championship
Wrestling" comes on.
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And it was just something
that captivated me
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from the very beginning.
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I was a very shy kid
when I was growing up.
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I was a military kid.
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But there was that
mystique of the other side
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and that wild life and
something that I was obviously
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always very curious about.
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I played football, baseball.
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{\an8}I was a young athlete.
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{\an8}The only thing I could ever
remember wanting to be
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other than
a professional wrestler,
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when I thought about my life,
was being a stuntman.
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And then years later
to understand that, you know,
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they're kind of synonymous.
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It was kind of the athleticism
and the theatrics.
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And those two worlds
coming together
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is what professional wrestling
was to me.
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And that's why
it appealed to me.
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In the blue corner,
San Antonio, Texas,
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Shawn Michaels.
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Shawn Michaels is going
right after Buddy Landel.
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A really impressive rookie.
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A lot of times
when you see young people
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that are green, inexperienced,
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you can tell
they're inexperienced.
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They're hesitant.
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He didn't have that.
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{\an8}He had an instinct.
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Shawn had a way of being
in the right place
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at the right time and looking
completely comfortable
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and relaxed like he'd been
doing it a long time.
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Young Shawn Michaels
has really got a--
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found a soft spot
in the heart of the fans
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of Mid-South Wrestling.
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I was a singles wrestler
but was wanting
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to continue to grow
in the wrestling business.
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The AWA was the one
that put me with Marty.
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Shawn Michaels
and Marty Jannetty,
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The Midnight Rockers.
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That was sort of never
the plan starting out.
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But you go
with the opportunities
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that were given to you.
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Marty and I clicked
immediately.
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And then it becomes
something that you begin
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to think about
and go, like, hey, this is
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something that
could be successful
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and get me to that next level.
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These are gutsy guys,
so I am told.
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And the Rockers,
I believe, are gonna
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{\an8}set some new standards in the
World Wrestling Entertainment.
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I was excited.
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I can remember thinking,
this is exactly what we need.
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We need a new, fresh team
for the Hart Foundation.
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Double-team.
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Neckbreaker.
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The Rockers were--
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they were the answer to a
youth segment of the audience,
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somebody that the younger
audience could identify with,
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because they were young,
and they were exciting.
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They weren't the big,
lumbering giants that
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seemed to dominate the WWE.
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They were the quintessential
white meat, babyface
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tag team extraordinaire.
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The Rockers were just two
young, hungry, hardworking
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guys just trying to get a win.
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The good old-fashioned
American way, man.
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When it's all said and done,
when the smoke clears
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and the dust settles,
the Rockers
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are gonna be standing tall
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on top of the World
Wrestling Entertainment.
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- Yeah.
- Yeah.
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I worked with him when
he was one of the Rockers.
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I thought he was great.
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Just the way
he carried himself in the ring.
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Ric's going the hard way.
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Suplex over the top rope.
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He was full of himself,
and he knew it.
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He knew he was good.
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You know, as great
a team as the Rockers were,
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Shawn had his mind set
on his own individual career.
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Shawn Michaels is almost a
tag team of his own in there.
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Ooh, what a maneuver.
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I could do this all night.
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{\an8}I don't know that anybody
gets into this line of work
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wanting to be in a tag team.
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Shawn Michaels has
great wrestling skills.
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It just makes him mad
that he has to have a partner
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that can't hold his end up.
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I'd gotten a call
from Vince.
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He had mentioned, I feel
like there's an opportunity
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for you to have a singles run.
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And the minute he dropped that
line, I was like, oh, really?
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You now have a storyline.
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You have characters
on a television show
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that don't like working
with each other anymore.
253
00:10:04,585 --> 00:10:06,412
So you put them on
the Barbershop for Brutus
254
00:10:06,630 --> 00:10:10,024
to say, come on, guys, you've
been a tag team all this time.
255
00:10:10,199 --> 00:10:11,025
Settle your difference.
256
00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:12,462
Come back together.
257
00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:16,247
There are absolutely
no problems
258
00:10:16,465 --> 00:10:19,076
with the Rockers whatsoever.
259
00:10:19,250 --> 00:10:21,905
There was an opportunity
to have a singles career.
260
00:10:22,122 --> 00:10:25,647
So I did what I needed to do
from a business standpoint.
261
00:10:28,563 --> 00:10:29,694
Oh!
262
00:10:29,912 --> 00:10:31,348
Oh, I knew he was
gonna do that.
263
00:10:31,566 --> 00:10:33,481
I just knew
he was gonna do that.
264
00:10:33,698 --> 00:10:35,917
What a despicable
act that was.
265
00:10:36,134 --> 00:10:38,572
You think I'm the wrong man?
266
00:10:38,789 --> 00:10:39,703
No!
267
00:10:39,921 --> 00:10:42,663
Oh, my God!
268
00:10:42,663 --> 00:10:46,231
Right through the glass
window of the Barbershop.
269
00:10:46,448 --> 00:10:51,236
Shawn lets everyone know,
no, screw you, Marty, it's me.
270
00:10:51,410 --> 00:10:53,934
That's the beauty of it all.
271
00:10:54,151 --> 00:10:55,717
No doubt about it,
it's the greatest
272
00:10:55,935 --> 00:10:58,111
tag team breakup of all time.
273
00:10:58,285 --> 00:11:00,287
It was intense and violent.
274
00:11:00,505 --> 00:11:02,811
If you were watching
WWE at that time,
275
00:11:03,029 --> 00:11:05,117
you hadn't seen
anything like that.
276
00:11:05,291 --> 00:11:07,293
It just jumped off the screen.
277
00:11:07,511 --> 00:11:11,297
Is there a problem
with the Rockers?
278
00:11:11,515 --> 00:11:14,213
Shock value, at that time,
was very important.
279
00:11:14,387 --> 00:11:16,345
The biggest shock value
one could get
280
00:11:16,562 --> 00:11:19,043
is turning on his friend.
281
00:11:19,043 --> 00:11:20,087
It was something
that turned out
282
00:11:20,262 --> 00:11:22,916
to be a fantastic storyline.
283
00:11:23,134 --> 00:11:25,353
That thrust me into the
spotlight, which is exactly
284
00:11:25,570 --> 00:11:26,876
what I was looking for.
285
00:11:27,093 --> 00:11:28,965
The Rockers, they're dead.
286
00:11:29,182 --> 00:11:31,881
And now the whole world
is gonna find out
287
00:11:32,098 --> 00:11:35,362
what Shawn Michaels is
really like.
288
00:11:46,981 --> 00:11:48,896
So I will need
verbal confirmation
289
00:11:49,113 --> 00:11:51,290
from everyone in here
that we can use your name
290
00:11:51,507 --> 00:11:52,508
and likeness for all of this.
291
00:11:52,726 --> 00:11:55,075
Ahh.
292
00:11:55,293 --> 00:11:56,729
My name is Andrea Concepcion.
293
00:11:56,946 --> 00:11:59,471
I am a writer
and producer for NXT.
294
00:11:59,688 --> 00:12:02,125
She kind of needs
her villain origin story.
295
00:12:02,300 --> 00:12:03,562
Correct.
296
00:12:03,779 --> 00:12:05,302
I grew up, like,
a huge wrestling fan.
297
00:12:05,476 --> 00:12:07,869
So my first day, I sat down.
298
00:12:08,087 --> 00:12:09,958
I'm, like, all nervous.
And Shawn walks in.
299
00:12:10,176 --> 00:12:11,569
And he's like, oh, my gosh.
Nice to meet you.
300
00:12:11,786 --> 00:12:12,657
My name's Shawn.
301
00:12:12,874 --> 00:12:15,746
Like, I know who you are.
302
00:12:15,963 --> 00:12:17,791
Shawn is the GOAT
for a reason.
303
00:12:18,009 --> 00:12:20,316
Like, there are sometimes
creative things that he
304
00:12:20,490 --> 00:12:23,188
can see that, like,
we're like, what?
305
00:12:23,362 --> 00:12:25,276
Another thing
I wanted to check on,
306
00:12:25,450 --> 00:12:28,453
Vic, are people coming
to you and giving you
307
00:12:28,671 --> 00:12:30,542
the story of their matches
and stuff like that?
308
00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,893
For the most part
we usually have to go to them.
309
00:12:34,111 --> 00:12:36,852
That is something--
talent should--like I said,
310
00:12:37,069 --> 00:12:38,941
I just don't think they
think about their wrestling
311
00:12:39,158 --> 00:12:40,943
matches in that way.
312
00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:42,031
We tell stories.
313
00:12:42,248 --> 00:12:43,902
It's not--you know?
314
00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:47,644
It's more about the stories
than it is the physical aspect
315
00:12:47,644 --> 00:12:51,082
of the matches,
so just trying to help them
316
00:12:51,082 --> 00:12:54,477
{\an8}getting to understand that.
317
00:12:54,477 --> 00:12:57,131
{\an8}They're like that big
around, aren't they?
318
00:12:57,349 --> 00:13:00,482
He'd been waiting for that
chance to be his own star
319
00:13:00,700 --> 00:13:02,528
and to break out on his own.
320
00:13:02,528 --> 00:13:05,965
You step into this spur of
the moment singles career.
321
00:13:05,965 --> 00:13:07,488
From a character standpoint,
322
00:13:07,706 --> 00:13:09,534
I'd actually got taught
from Roddy Piper,
323
00:13:09,751 --> 00:13:11,623
don't ever stop
being who you are.
324
00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,539
If you're Shawn Michaels, you
need to stay Shawn Michaels.
325
00:13:15,756 --> 00:13:18,368
Shawn Michaels
is in the building.
326
00:13:18,368 --> 00:13:22,546
So I kind of just asked them
to allow me to just find out
327
00:13:22,546 --> 00:13:24,548
who it was I was going to be.
328
00:13:24,765 --> 00:13:26,810
You're out there
on a promo, talking.
329
00:13:27,027 --> 00:13:29,726
Shawn Michaels has been
walking around
330
00:13:29,943 --> 00:13:34,165
breaking hearts all over town
for a long, long time.
331
00:13:34,383 --> 00:13:37,385
I guess you could say
I've always been
332
00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:39,387
the Heartbreak Kid.
333
00:13:39,604 --> 00:13:40,866
All of a sudden, the words
334
00:13:40,866 --> 00:13:42,607
Heartbreak Kid came
out of my mouth.
335
00:13:42,825 --> 00:13:46,001
And after that, it kind of just
took on a life of its own.
336
00:13:46,218 --> 00:13:48,482
The Heartbreak Kid,
Shawn Michaels.
337
00:13:48,699 --> 00:13:50,919
Put that camera on him.
338
00:13:51,136 --> 00:13:54,270
He went from being
a guy who kids were
339
00:13:54,444 --> 00:13:58,186
supposed to root for
to a guy that women
340
00:13:58,404 --> 00:14:00,318
were supposed to desire.
341
00:14:00,493 --> 00:14:03,409
The Heartbreak Kid,
that was sexy time.
342
00:14:03,583 --> 00:14:05,497
Has this guy
got it all or what?
343
00:14:05,497 --> 00:14:07,847
When he first turned
into The Heartbreak Kid,
344
00:14:08,064 --> 00:14:10,806
he was clearly
a great performer.
345
00:14:11,024 --> 00:14:12,634
Whoa!
346
00:14:12,634 --> 00:14:15,767
He didn't need anyone's
advice on how to be a star.
347
00:14:15,984 --> 00:14:17,421
I like it.
348
00:14:17,595 --> 00:14:18,422
Zebra-striped.
349
00:14:18,422 --> 00:14:19,727
He had earrings.
350
00:14:19,945 --> 00:14:21,120
And he had the long hair.
351
00:14:21,337 --> 00:14:23,122
How this works is beyond me.
352
00:14:23,339 --> 00:14:25,384
The Kentucky Waterfall
mullet, probably one
353
00:14:25,558 --> 00:14:27,386
of the greatest mullets
of all time.
354
00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:29,170
But he pulled it off.
355
00:14:29,388 --> 00:14:31,608
Shawn Michaels really
became a superstar.
356
00:14:31,608 --> 00:14:32,913
Everybody knew he had it.
357
00:14:32,913 --> 00:14:34,741
Plus, we wrote
the theme song, "Sexy Boy."
358
00:14:34,958 --> 00:14:37,264
♪ I send chills ♪
359
00:14:37,439 --> 00:14:39,136
♪ Up and down their spines ♪
360
00:14:39,353 --> 00:14:40,790
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
361
00:14:41,007 --> 00:14:43,053
♪ Sexy boy ♪
362
00:14:43,270 --> 00:14:44,881
♪ I'm not your boy toy ♪
363
00:14:45,097 --> 00:14:47,056
♪ Boy toy ♪
364
00:14:47,273 --> 00:14:48,884
♪ I'm just a sexy boy ♪
365
00:14:49,101 --> 00:14:54,585
Up to date, right now, it has
24,700,000 hits on Spotify.
366
00:14:54,585 --> 00:14:58,370
And it fits his character.
367
00:14:58,545 --> 00:15:02,287
Every once in a great while,
an athlete
368
00:15:02,462 --> 00:15:07,161
comes along that sets himself
apart from all the rest.
369
00:15:08,945 --> 00:15:11,034
I was out there trying
to prove myself each and every
370
00:15:11,252 --> 00:15:14,211
night and hoping that would
get back to the powers that be
371
00:15:14,429 --> 00:15:15,560
and it would make a difference.
372
00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:16,561
And it did.
373
00:15:16,778 --> 00:15:17,649
From the top.
374
00:15:17,866 --> 00:15:18,737
On his back.
375
00:15:18,954 --> 00:15:20,260
Wait a minute.
376
00:15:20,260 --> 00:15:23,306
We got a new
Intercontinental Champion!
377
00:15:23,481 --> 00:15:26,483
You could tell
how driven he was.
378
00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:28,572
He was gonna take
no prisoners for what
379
00:15:28,789 --> 00:15:32,053
he was willing to do
to ascend that ladder
380
00:15:32,271 --> 00:15:36,753
and show the world
how good he was.
381
00:15:36,970 --> 00:15:39,146
To me, it's just about
applying yourself
382
00:15:39,364 --> 00:15:41,061
in every aspect
of this business.
383
00:15:44,108 --> 00:15:46,457
{\an8}Understanding it from
a television perspective,
384
00:15:46,631 --> 00:15:49,416
a creative standpoint,
and being able to understand
385
00:15:49,591 --> 00:15:52,376
and see the vision
that, at that time,
386
00:15:52,550 --> 00:15:54,639
Vince had for this place,
making it
387
00:15:54,857 --> 00:15:58,729
a much bigger extravaganza,
making it a much bigger show.
388
00:15:58,947 --> 00:16:01,340
Because I'm gonna prove
to everybody that I am
389
00:16:01,515 --> 00:16:05,430
the man that I say I am,
the sexiest Intercontinental
390
00:16:05,605 --> 00:16:07,824
Champion of all time.
391
00:16:08,042 --> 00:16:10,914
This is what I've worked
my entire life to do.
392
00:16:11,132 --> 00:16:13,090
So I just felt like
I had to go out
393
00:16:13,308 --> 00:16:14,961
and be different
and entertaining
394
00:16:15,178 --> 00:16:16,963
on a whole nother level.
395
00:16:22,142 --> 00:16:23,447
Somewhere around
the Intercontinental title,
396
00:16:23,622 --> 00:16:25,536
Shawn was in
the middle of the card.
397
00:16:25,710 --> 00:16:27,538
Then he begins
to change that slightly.
398
00:16:27,712 --> 00:16:29,757
He brings in Kevin Nash
with him.
399
00:16:29,975 --> 00:16:33,195
Shawn wanted to know if I
would be interested in becoming
400
00:16:33,413 --> 00:16:34,935
his bodyguard.
401
00:16:34,935 --> 00:16:37,242
We kind of were pretty much
inseparable for years
402
00:16:37,459 --> 00:16:38,635
after that.
403
00:16:38,852 --> 00:16:40,506
And from behind,
what a clothesline
404
00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:42,160
by this huge Diesel.
405
00:16:42,377 --> 00:16:43,683
Is it my imagination, Diesel,
406
00:16:43,901 --> 00:16:46,380
or have the chicks been
calling me all night?
407
00:16:46,555 --> 00:16:48,208
- Wow.
- Unbelievable.
408
00:16:48,208 --> 00:16:53,736
Shortly after I got there,
it was Shawn and Scott Hall.
409
00:16:53,953 --> 00:16:57,477
Razor Ramon,
gold on his neck.
410
00:16:57,652 --> 00:17:00,002
The three of us
traveled together.
411
00:17:00,219 --> 00:17:03,309
Sean Waltman,
the 1-2-3 Kid, joined us.
412
00:17:03,527 --> 00:17:05,659
Hunter joins us later.
413
00:17:05,659 --> 00:17:07,399
Once we started
riding together,
414
00:17:07,574 --> 00:17:10,098
we immediately just
kind of hit it off.
415
00:17:10,315 --> 00:17:13,101
All those guys
behind the scenes
416
00:17:13,318 --> 00:17:15,232
became known as The Kliq,
417
00:17:15,450 --> 00:17:18,279
because they were real life
best friends who traveled
418
00:17:18,496 --> 00:17:21,978
together, hung together,
and were incredibly
419
00:17:22,196 --> 00:17:24,894
passionate about the business.
420
00:17:25,111 --> 00:17:27,200
As long as we score a goal,
421
00:17:27,417 --> 00:17:29,289
I don't care
who gets the praise.
422
00:17:29,506 --> 00:17:30,769
I just want that ring.
423
00:17:30,986 --> 00:17:33,075
We're all gonna
succeed together.
424
00:17:33,293 --> 00:17:34,729
And that's what
The Kliq was about.
425
00:17:34,946 --> 00:17:36,600
- Top of the world!
- Yeah!
426
00:17:36,817 --> 00:17:39,603
Top of the world, bro!
427
00:17:39,820 --> 00:17:41,082
For years,
I would wrestle Shawn.
428
00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:42,780
Then we'd be riding
down the road
429
00:17:42,997 --> 00:17:45,216
together going, remember
when we were right here?
430
00:17:45,433 --> 00:17:46,347
We did that hammerlock.
431
00:17:46,565 --> 00:17:47,566
We spun into that.
432
00:17:49,612 --> 00:17:51,396
Did you hear the people?
433
00:17:51,614 --> 00:17:52,571
He goes, yeah, yeah.
434
00:17:52,745 --> 00:17:54,094
How about we do this?
435
00:17:54,094 --> 00:17:57,183
And we go, oh, yeah,
let's do that tomorrow.
436
00:17:59,577 --> 00:18:02,449
When it came to The Kliq, we
were a band of brothers that
437
00:18:02,624 --> 00:18:06,975
encouraged and embraced and
helped one another, but also,
438
00:18:07,192 --> 00:18:10,587
in a lot of ways,
maybe fed each other's demons,
439
00:18:10,761 --> 00:18:12,894
maybe in a negative way.
440
00:18:13,111 --> 00:18:14,373
We would all order, like,
441
00:18:14,373 --> 00:18:16,940
six Coors Lights,
first round, each.
442
00:18:17,158 --> 00:18:18,768
And the guy would
leave and come back
443
00:18:18,986 --> 00:18:21,815
and it'd be like,
give me four more beers.
444
00:18:21,815 --> 00:18:23,643
I had lived
a very conservative
445
00:18:23,860 --> 00:18:25,295
life when I was growing up.
446
00:18:25,513 --> 00:18:28,211
And then I had the ability
to be out on my own
447
00:18:28,429 --> 00:18:31,345
and be around other people
that would encourage me to live
448
00:18:31,562 --> 00:18:33,390
a less healthy lifestyle.
449
00:18:33,608 --> 00:18:35,130
And that's the road
I ended up going down.
450
00:18:37,132 --> 00:18:39,178
They were always
out together.
451
00:18:39,395 --> 00:18:41,136
They lived that life.
452
00:18:41,354 --> 00:18:43,965
They lived that rock and roll
life as best they could.
453
00:18:44,183 --> 00:18:46,924
But every one
of those guys in The Kliq
454
00:18:47,141 --> 00:18:49,491
would steal the show
with whoever they were
455
00:18:49,666 --> 00:18:51,363
in the ring with.
456
00:18:51,580 --> 00:18:53,495
If you're with us,
you better step up.
457
00:18:53,670 --> 00:18:54,845
You better get your work right.
458
00:18:55,061 --> 00:18:57,107
- Oh!
- Oh!
459
00:18:57,324 --> 00:19:01,154
Unbelievable.
460
00:19:01,372 --> 00:19:02,590
{\an8}The business was changing--
461
00:19:02,765 --> 00:19:04,375
faster, younger, more exciting.
462
00:19:04,592 --> 00:19:05,941
He was it.
463
00:19:05,941 --> 00:19:09,422
He's going on top
of the 7-foot Diesel.
464
00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,207
{\an8}He wanted to be the best.
465
00:19:11,424 --> 00:19:12,469
I don't think
there's any difference
466
00:19:12,687 --> 00:19:13,688
between him and Jordan.
467
00:19:13,905 --> 00:19:17,168
He's just a perfectionist.
468
00:19:17,386 --> 00:19:20,171
You will not ever,
in your lives,
469
00:19:20,389 --> 00:19:22,739
see a man more charismatic,
470
00:19:22,957 --> 00:19:25,698
more flamboyant,
or more talented
471
00:19:25,915 --> 00:19:28,222
than The Heartbreak Kid
Shawn Michaels.
472
00:19:28,439 --> 00:19:29,789
This is my opportunity.
473
00:19:30,006 --> 00:19:32,269
What do I have to do
to make more of it?
474
00:19:32,487 --> 00:19:33,967
Shawn was ascending.
475
00:19:34,184 --> 00:19:38,231
And I think that Vince saw
Shawn as a heel
476
00:19:38,448 --> 00:19:41,277
that would always be that
antagonist, that there was
477
00:19:41,495 --> 00:19:44,846
nothing to like there
until WrestleMania 11,
478
00:19:44,846 --> 00:19:46,325
and he wrestled Diesel.
479
00:19:46,542 --> 00:19:50,503
Michaels,
high-risk maneuver.
480
00:19:50,721 --> 00:19:54,725
Shawn Michaels is done!
481
00:19:54,941 --> 00:19:55,855
And they booed Diesel
out of the building
482
00:19:56,073 --> 00:19:57,335
and cheered Shawn.
483
00:19:57,552 --> 00:19:59,554
And I was like, oh, wow.
484
00:19:59,729 --> 00:20:01,818
What I enjoyed most
about WrestleMania
485
00:20:02,035 --> 00:20:03,515
was seeing Shawn Michaels.
486
00:20:03,733 --> 00:20:04,734
He should have won.
487
00:20:04,950 --> 00:20:06,343
Shawn Michaels number one.
488
00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:08,301
Shawn Michaels is number one.
489
00:20:08,519 --> 00:20:10,086
- Shawn Michaels is number one.
- He is the best, the best--
490
00:20:10,086 --> 00:20:12,392
- Shawn Michaels, number one.
- the best, the best.
491
00:20:14,133 --> 00:20:17,005
You can feel that momentum
and that shift going on.
492
00:20:17,222 --> 00:20:19,442
That's what it's all
about here at the World
493
00:20:19,659 --> 00:20:20,660
Wrestling Entertainment.
494
00:20:20,835 --> 00:20:22,271
Look at this.
495
00:20:22,488 --> 00:20:25,534
As it continued to work,
I just did more of it.
496
00:20:25,752 --> 00:20:27,188
The Heartbreak Kid,
Shawn Michaels,
497
00:20:27,405 --> 00:20:28,842
is going to be the man of '96.
498
00:20:29,059 --> 00:20:30,278
I guarantee it.
499
00:20:30,495 --> 00:20:31,496
He paid his dues.
500
00:20:31,714 --> 00:20:32,759
He did all the work.
501
00:20:32,976 --> 00:20:35,108
He had earned that chance.
502
00:20:35,325 --> 00:20:36,718
And then it was
just a question of,
503
00:20:36,892 --> 00:20:39,765
you have to live up
to that opportunity.
504
00:20:39,982 --> 00:20:42,768
Bret "The Hitman" Hart
against The Heartbreak Kid,
505
00:20:42,942 --> 00:20:44,291
Shawn Michaels.
506
00:20:44,291 --> 00:20:46,074
Being in the main event
at WrestleMania
507
00:20:46,292 --> 00:20:49,991
is obviously the dream
of every aspiring superstar.
508
00:20:50,209 --> 00:20:52,602
It's one of the highest honors
you could possibly have.
509
00:20:52,777 --> 00:20:57,215
{\an8}But with that honor comes
gigantic responsibility.
510
00:20:57,432 --> 00:20:58,651
You're looking
for the guy that's
511
00:20:58,825 --> 00:21:00,044
gonna draw the most money.
512
00:21:00,261 --> 00:21:02,263
It's not a team sport.
513
00:21:02,481 --> 00:21:04,004
As we headed
into WrestleMania 12,
514
00:21:04,222 --> 00:21:06,701
we were looking
for Shawn to be the man.
515
00:21:06,876 --> 00:21:09,922
We were looking for Shawn
to be the face of the company.
516
00:21:10,140 --> 00:21:12,359
Now you've got
everything riding on you.
517
00:21:20,279 --> 00:21:23,848
{\an8}All right, I'm done.
518
00:21:24,066 --> 00:21:25,457
Business up top.
519
00:21:25,675 --> 00:21:28,199
Party downstairs.
- There you go.
520
00:21:28,417 --> 00:21:32,595
Nothing gives me more joy
than busting HBK's balls
521
00:21:32,813 --> 00:21:34,075
and getting him going.
522
00:21:34,944 --> 00:21:37,773
{\an8}It's a bit late for that,
my man.
523
00:21:37,947 --> 00:21:39,035
Don't worry about the "ones."
524
00:21:39,035 --> 00:21:41,124
I just need to be
able to scroll.
525
00:21:41,342 --> 00:21:44,519
And 3, 2, 1.
526
00:21:44,736 --> 00:21:46,999
The Motor City Machine Guns
will be in action as well.
527
00:21:47,216 --> 00:21:49,349
Columbus, Detroit,
Cleveland, get ready.
528
00:21:49,566 --> 00:21:51,568
One, one, one,
one, one, one, one.
529
00:21:53,832 --> 00:21:55,223
Ron Burgundy.
530
00:21:55,223 --> 00:21:56,572
Ron Burgundy reads
the whole prompter, right?
531
00:21:56,572 --> 00:21:58,139
Ron Burgundy,
if it's on the teleprompter--
532
00:21:58,357 --> 00:22:03,753
{\an8}Get ready, because NXT
is coming your way.
533
00:22:03,928 --> 00:22:04,971
{\an8}- Bing.
- Good.
534
00:22:04,971 --> 00:22:07,060
{\an8}Cut.
535
00:22:07,278 --> 00:22:09,802
{\an8}In 3, 2.
536
00:22:09,976 --> 00:22:11,369
It's my state.
537
00:22:11,586 --> 00:22:13,066
It's my town.
538
00:22:13,284 --> 00:22:14,807
And it's my dream.
539
00:22:14,980 --> 00:22:17,156
WrestleMania and the World
Wrestling
540
00:22:17,374 --> 00:22:18,549
Entertainment championship.
541
00:22:22,074 --> 00:22:24,033
♪ I think I'm cute ♪
542
00:22:24,250 --> 00:22:25,555
♪ I know I'm sexy ♪
543
00:22:25,772 --> 00:22:26,904
♪ I've got the--♪
544
00:22:26,904 --> 00:22:28,775
From the second
the match starts
545
00:22:28,950 --> 00:22:31,517
with the iconic image
we'll have forever of Shawn
546
00:22:31,735 --> 00:22:33,345
going down that zip line--
547
00:22:33,563 --> 00:22:39,176
There's only one Heartbreak
Kid, Shawn Michaels!
548
00:22:39,394 --> 00:22:41,831
Vince McMahon
on commentary just losing
549
00:22:42,005 --> 00:22:43,659
his mind for the moment.
550
00:22:43,877 --> 00:22:45,747
Unbelievable!
551
00:22:45,747 --> 00:22:47,923
What a ride!
552
00:22:48,141 --> 00:22:53,015
It's clearly meant
to tell you, this is the guy.
553
00:22:53,233 --> 00:22:55,321
A great reception
for Shawn Michaels.
554
00:22:57,627 --> 00:23:00,892
{\an8}Shawn was
in incredible condition.
555
00:23:01,109 --> 00:23:02,894
Shawn Michaels now,
what's he going to do
556
00:23:03,111 --> 00:23:04,852
to The Hitman, Bret Hart?
557
00:23:05,025 --> 00:23:08,899
The match,
in my opinion, a classic.
558
00:23:09,116 --> 00:23:12,424
I still say Shawn was
the greatest athlete I ever saw
559
00:23:12,641 --> 00:23:13,947
in the ring.
560
00:23:14,165 --> 00:23:15,774
Look at that.
561
00:23:15,774 --> 00:23:17,907
It was the perfect storm
to put Shawn over the top
562
00:23:18,081 --> 00:23:20,039
and bring him
to the next level.
563
00:23:20,257 --> 00:23:21,040
He got it.
564
00:23:21,258 --> 00:23:22,259
He got all of it.
565
00:23:22,476 --> 00:23:23,434
Michaels got all of it.
566
00:23:23,651 --> 00:23:24,696
Michaels got him covered.
567
00:23:24,913 --> 00:23:27,045
5, 4--
568
00:23:27,263 --> 00:23:28,786
Oh!
569
00:23:32,094 --> 00:23:34,096
Ladies and gentleman,
the winner
570
00:23:34,313 --> 00:23:39,839
of this fight
and the new World Wrestling
571
00:23:40,014 --> 00:23:44,061
Entertainment champion,
The Heartbreak Kid,
572
00:23:44,279 --> 00:23:47,585
Shawn Michaels.
573
00:23:50,153 --> 00:23:53,113
The boyhood dream
has come true
574
00:23:53,330 --> 00:23:56,376
for Shawn Michaels.
575
00:23:56,593 --> 00:23:59,248
I can remember being told,
like, I want you to enjoy this.
576
00:23:59,466 --> 00:24:02,948
But I didn't have
the ability to do that.
577
00:24:03,122 --> 00:24:04,949
You know, Earl not being able
to get the belt on,
578
00:24:05,166 --> 00:24:08,213
and that bothering me.
579
00:24:08,430 --> 00:24:11,303
I just remember,
like, just stop it.
580
00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:13,348
I did not have
the ability to enjoy
581
00:24:13,566 --> 00:24:16,568
that moment,
because it didn't go exactly
582
00:24:16,785 --> 00:24:19,266
the way that I wanted it to.
583
00:24:19,484 --> 00:24:21,834
It wasn't a good
attitude to have.
584
00:24:22,008 --> 00:24:23,053
I was a gloomy Gus.
585
00:24:23,270 --> 00:24:24,184
I mean, if nothing else.
586
00:24:24,184 --> 00:24:27,752
That's putting it lightly.
587
00:24:27,970 --> 00:24:31,364
I waited a long time to get
this precious piece of metal,
588
00:24:31,582 --> 00:24:35,759
and I plan on holding on to it
for as long as I possibly can.
589
00:24:35,977 --> 00:24:37,500
There's a lot
of responsibilities
590
00:24:37,717 --> 00:24:41,243
that come with being
the world champion.
591
00:24:41,460 --> 00:24:43,549
The amount of media--
592
00:24:43,767 --> 00:24:46,203
You can't have a main event
without me, for God's sakes.
593
00:24:46,421 --> 00:24:48,510
There you go.
594
00:24:48,727 --> 00:24:50,120
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
595
00:24:50,338 --> 00:24:53,471
The signings
and the personal appearances.
596
00:24:53,689 --> 00:24:56,952
So to be in those shoes,
it was pressure-filled.
597
00:24:57,126 --> 00:24:58,693
I'm concerned a lot of times
when I come and do
598
00:24:58,910 --> 00:25:00,869
this kind of work,
if I do a good job,
599
00:25:01,043 --> 00:25:02,305
if I'm any good at it.
600
00:25:02,523 --> 00:25:03,437
Huh, a little smile in there?
601
00:25:03,654 --> 00:25:04,655
Huh?
602
00:25:04,872 --> 00:25:06,047
A little smile there, buddy?
603
00:25:06,047 --> 00:25:07,614
I still don't know
if I am or not,
604
00:25:07,614 --> 00:25:11,096
but it's real nice to think
that just your presence
605
00:25:11,313 --> 00:25:12,706
makes people happy.
606
00:25:12,923 --> 00:25:14,316
So if that's all it takes
is me showing up,
607
00:25:14,534 --> 00:25:18,363
then that's--
that's the easy part for me.
608
00:25:18,580 --> 00:25:21,670
I always go back to the,
be careful what you wish for.
609
00:25:21,888 --> 00:25:25,369
On one hand, there is that
boyhood dream aspect of it,
610
00:25:25,369 --> 00:25:27,240
but there's a lot
of responsibility
611
00:25:27,458 --> 00:25:28,633
that goes with that.
612
00:25:28,633 --> 00:25:29,895
- And good luck to you.
- Thank you.
613
00:25:30,069 --> 00:25:30,939
- Say hello to your mama.
- I will.
614
00:25:31,114 --> 00:25:32,376
Thank you so much.
615
00:25:32,376 --> 00:25:34,204
I felt a lot of pressure
in that respect.
616
00:25:34,421 --> 00:25:36,205
And I didn't handle it well.
617
00:25:36,422 --> 00:25:38,772
I'm just nervous about working
with people on this level.
618
00:25:38,990 --> 00:25:42,820
This is a league that I'm
not accustomed to being in.
619
00:25:43,038 --> 00:25:44,561
And action.
620
00:25:44,778 --> 00:25:46,301
You were always bragging
about your daughter,
621
00:25:46,518 --> 00:25:47,780
the lifeguard.
622
00:25:47,998 --> 00:25:49,695
Those are all things
that I did want.
623
00:25:49,913 --> 00:25:52,133
And I just didn't
have the maturity
624
00:25:52,350 --> 00:25:55,657
to allow myself to enjoy those
moments, to embrace them,
625
00:25:55,874 --> 00:25:57,050
to get the most out of them.
626
00:25:57,224 --> 00:25:58,312
{\an8}Is that a camera?
627
00:25:58,529 --> 00:25:59,661
{\an8}A camera's on.
628
00:25:59,661 --> 00:26:02,011
{\an8}Ah, paparazzi.
629
00:26:02,185 --> 00:26:03,317
Except that I love the camera.
630
00:26:03,534 --> 00:26:05,231
Camera's my friend.
631
00:26:05,448 --> 00:26:07,407
Shawn likes the camera.
632
00:26:08,973 --> 00:26:10,366
There's no doubt I could have
handled things
633
00:26:10,584 --> 00:26:12,542
a hell of a lot better.
634
00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:15,979
Shawn had said to me that he
was looking forward to being
635
00:26:16,154 --> 00:26:19,896
champion, and that he thought
he could work with Kevin Nash,
636
00:26:20,071 --> 00:26:22,160
thought he could work
with Scott Hall.
637
00:26:22,377 --> 00:26:24,466
And he basically was like, I
could work with all my buddies.
638
00:26:24,684 --> 00:26:27,033
{\an8}And I just
kind of dismissed it.
639
00:26:27,207 --> 00:26:30,210
As we got into 1996, WCW,
640
00:26:30,428 --> 00:26:32,343
our competitors
had a television
641
00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:33,909
show, "Monday Nitro."
642
00:26:34,084 --> 00:26:36,128
It ran opposite
to "Monday Night Raw."
643
00:26:36,346 --> 00:26:37,782
And they'd been making
a lot of changes
644
00:26:37,999 --> 00:26:41,264
and aggressively
coming after our talent
645
00:26:41,481 --> 00:26:44,658
and trying to get people
to sign and to go there.
646
00:26:44,875 --> 00:26:47,095
This is where
the power lies, brother.
647
00:26:47,312 --> 00:26:49,184
At that time, it was
the Monday Night Wars,
648
00:26:49,401 --> 00:26:51,273
and people were
changing channels.
649
00:26:51,490 --> 00:26:52,839
{\an8}I'm talking to WCW.
650
00:26:53,057 --> 00:26:54,102
{\an8}Man, I got to go.
651
00:26:54,276 --> 00:26:55,537
{\an8}Like, it's not working here.
652
00:26:55,754 --> 00:26:57,539
{\an8}I feel like I've hit
this glass ceiling.
653
00:26:57,756 --> 00:27:00,324
{\an8}Like, Razor's never
gonna go any higher.
654
00:27:00,542 --> 00:27:02,065
And I ended up
giving my notice.
655
00:27:02,239 --> 00:27:03,762
And then like
about a week later,
656
00:27:03,980 --> 00:27:05,894
Kevin Nash gave his notice.
657
00:27:06,112 --> 00:27:08,940
He was really mad
at Scott and I.
658
00:27:09,115 --> 00:27:11,769
And through his eyes,
I would be too.
659
00:27:11,987 --> 00:27:14,250
And just like now,
here I am, the world champion.
660
00:27:14,468 --> 00:27:18,949
And two of the best opponents
I'm gonna have are leaving.
661
00:27:19,124 --> 00:27:21,126
And we're best of friends.
662
00:27:21,300 --> 00:27:22,910
You're talking about a guy
who I spent three years with,
663
00:27:23,128 --> 00:27:24,651
who was my best friend.
664
00:27:24,651 --> 00:27:27,566
And to know that he's found
greener pastures elsewhere
665
00:27:27,783 --> 00:27:30,873
and has made it very clear
that I'm not a part of it,
666
00:27:31,091 --> 00:27:34,355
it's very hard
to deal with that.
667
00:27:34,573 --> 00:27:35,573
He was bitter.
668
00:27:35,790 --> 00:27:36,530
He wanted them to stay.
669
00:27:36,748 --> 00:27:38,228
I wanted them to stay.
670
00:27:38,445 --> 00:27:40,708
More than anything else,
it's your support system.
671
00:27:40,926 --> 00:27:44,712
I don't need nothing but a
belt and my good-time buddies.
672
00:27:44,929 --> 00:27:47,497
Your comfortable, you know,
is getting thrown into chaos.
673
00:27:47,714 --> 00:27:49,455
And that's just never fun.
674
00:27:49,673 --> 00:27:53,024
And when you're already
in a place mentally
675
00:27:53,198 --> 00:27:55,504
and emotionally
that isn't overly stable
676
00:27:55,504 --> 00:28:00,248
in the first place,
it was a scary time.
677
00:28:00,465 --> 00:28:03,642
That time, business is--
it's OK, but it's not great.
678
00:28:05,556 --> 00:28:07,602
There's a lot of banter
about Shawn's not
679
00:28:07,819 --> 00:28:09,430
working as champion.
680
00:28:09,647 --> 00:28:11,388
He's not drawing.
681
00:28:11,606 --> 00:28:13,477
Shawn first took the title.
682
00:28:13,695 --> 00:28:14,869
Ratings dropped.
683
00:28:14,869 --> 00:28:17,567
"WCW's Nitro" started beating
"Raw."
684
00:28:17,785 --> 00:28:20,483
Shawn felt a little
insecure about it.
685
00:28:20,701 --> 00:28:23,138
It wasn't as rosy
as maybe what he wanted,
686
00:28:23,312 --> 00:28:25,313
he expected it to be.
687
00:28:25,531 --> 00:28:28,011
As the champion,
everybody's looking at you.
688
00:28:28,186 --> 00:28:30,449
Well, it's your fault.
You're the top guy.
689
00:28:30,666 --> 00:28:32,015
So it's your fault.
690
00:28:32,190 --> 00:28:35,104
So that's a heavy burden
to bear.
691
00:28:35,279 --> 00:28:37,194
That's the pill
you have to swallow.
692
00:28:37,411 --> 00:28:39,239
You're the champion,
and things aren't going well.
693
00:28:39,457 --> 00:28:41,023
And it sucks to hear that.
694
00:28:41,198 --> 00:28:42,982
And it's hard not to start
to believe those things
695
00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:44,505
and to keep belief in yourself
696
00:28:44,723 --> 00:28:46,245
and to keep positivity.
697
00:28:49,379 --> 00:28:51,207
So yeah, I got resentful.
698
00:28:51,381 --> 00:28:53,774
I got angry, because you
took all of it personally.
699
00:29:00,345 --> 00:29:02,869
{\an8}Here's the challenging part
of this job.
700
00:29:03,087 --> 00:29:05,088
It's not supposed
to be personal.
701
00:29:05,262 --> 00:29:06,481
But there are a lot
of young men and women
702
00:29:06,698 --> 00:29:08,178
that walk through these doors.
703
00:29:08,178 --> 00:29:10,006
There are a lot of things
that go on in this job
704
00:29:10,224 --> 00:29:12,313
that are tough to deal with.
705
00:29:12,530 --> 00:29:14,663
It's mentally--you know?
706
00:29:14,879 --> 00:29:15,706
Yeah, yeah.
707
00:29:15,924 --> 00:29:17,230
It messes with you.
708
00:29:17,230 --> 00:29:19,928
I understand this job
getting to you,
709
00:29:20,145 --> 00:29:23,584
letting them know that
I don't see weakness in that.
710
00:29:23,801 --> 00:29:25,237
Thanks, Coach.
711
00:29:25,454 --> 00:29:27,456
The most surreal thing
to me is the person
712
00:29:27,674 --> 00:29:31,155
that I respect the most
is the one that relates
713
00:29:31,330 --> 00:29:33,897
to me the most,
believes in me the most,
714
00:29:34,115 --> 00:29:35,420
wants to help me the most.
715
00:29:35,637 --> 00:29:37,117
That's why
I like him so much.
716
00:29:37,291 --> 00:29:38,684
He's a lot like me.
He just cares so much.
717
00:29:38,901 --> 00:29:40,425
Yeah.
718
00:29:40,642 --> 00:29:43,123
I know that I can call him
and be like, yo, like,
719
00:29:43,297 --> 00:29:44,820
I'm going through something.
Can I just talk to you?
720
00:29:45,037 --> 00:29:46,473
He'll listen to me.
You know?
721
00:29:46,691 --> 00:29:47,779
- It's OK now?
- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
722
00:29:47,996 --> 00:29:49,389
All right.
723
00:29:49,389 --> 00:29:51,261
I will always be an outlet
if it's something
724
00:29:51,435 --> 00:29:53,393
that they need,
because I care.
725
00:29:56,482 --> 00:29:58,179
{\an8}♪ I send chills ♪
726
00:29:58,354 --> 00:30:00,181
{\an8}♪ Up and down their spine ♪
727
00:30:00,356 --> 00:30:02,923
The World Wrestling
Entertainment championship
728
00:30:03,141 --> 00:30:06,665
brings out either
the very best in all of us,
729
00:30:06,883 --> 00:30:09,581
or it brings out
the very worst.
730
00:30:09,799 --> 00:30:12,192
It feels as if the weight
of the entire company
731
00:30:12,367 --> 00:30:13,933
is on your shoulders.
732
00:30:14,151 --> 00:30:16,848
Everybody says I've got
sort of a bad attitude.
733
00:30:17,066 --> 00:30:18,023
Sometimes you like me.
734
00:30:18,241 --> 00:30:19,111
Sometimes you don't.
735
00:30:19,286 --> 00:30:20,112
I run hot.
736
00:30:20,287 --> 00:30:21,200
I run cold.
737
00:30:21,375 --> 00:30:22,593
I wake up in good moods.
738
00:30:22,811 --> 00:30:24,508
I wake up in bad moods.
739
00:30:24,726 --> 00:30:28,642
It takes its toll,
because there is no day off.
740
00:30:28,859 --> 00:30:31,340
I need a day off.
741
00:30:31,558 --> 00:30:33,473
Just one day.
742
00:30:33,690 --> 00:30:35,735
Even an hour would be nice.
743
00:30:35,952 --> 00:30:37,693
I can see the slide.
744
00:30:37,911 --> 00:30:40,000
I can see him falling apart.
745
00:30:40,217 --> 00:30:42,611
He's collapsing
under the pressure.
746
00:30:42,829 --> 00:30:44,439
That's a bright light.
747
00:30:44,439 --> 00:30:47,093
Shawn felt the pressure
of the world on him.
748
00:30:47,311 --> 00:30:51,750
And instead of just taking it,
I think Shawn just lashed out.
749
00:30:51,967 --> 00:30:52,838
You know who I am?
750
00:30:53,055 --> 00:30:53,926
I'm Shawn Michaels.
751
00:30:54,143 --> 00:30:55,622
I can do whatever I want.
752
00:30:55,622 --> 00:30:57,624
Shawn was not a pleasant
person to be around.
753
00:30:57,624 --> 00:30:59,670
And he could be
extremely difficult.
754
00:30:59,887 --> 00:31:01,889
He could be abrasive.
755
00:31:02,107 --> 00:31:05,022
I don't care
what's going on in your life.
756
00:31:05,239 --> 00:31:07,024
It does not give you
a right to mistreat people--
757
00:31:07,241 --> 00:31:08,939
You wanted goddamn Sue here?
758
00:31:09,156 --> 00:31:10,506
You idiot.
- Calm down, Shawn.
759
00:31:10,723 --> 00:31:12,246
and to demean people.
760
00:31:15,292 --> 00:31:17,076
{\an8}I'm not going
to sugarcoat anything.
761
00:31:17,294 --> 00:31:20,079
On a personal level, I wouldn't
have pissed on Shawn Michaels
762
00:31:20,297 --> 00:31:21,777
if he was on fire.
763
00:31:23,996 --> 00:31:26,302
He was an asshole,
a first-rate asshole.
764
00:31:26,476 --> 00:31:27,869
He said stuff to you.
765
00:31:28,086 --> 00:31:29,740
You know, he disrespected you.
766
00:31:29,958 --> 00:31:31,046
Like, the things that he would
767
00:31:31,046 --> 00:31:32,177
say to you
in the dressing room,
768
00:31:32,177 --> 00:31:34,354
confront you about stuff,
it was like,
769
00:31:34,528 --> 00:31:36,137
where did that come from?
770
00:31:36,355 --> 00:31:38,095
You're the most arrogant,
pompous guy I've ever seen.
771
00:31:38,313 --> 00:31:40,271
I would have to think
it was his drug problems,
772
00:31:40,446 --> 00:31:42,317
which were just starting
to become
773
00:31:42,491 --> 00:31:44,232
a problem at that time.
774
00:31:44,406 --> 00:31:48,409
So mostly it was pills,
blow, and marijuana.
775
00:31:48,627 --> 00:31:51,064
It kind of starts out
as what you believe is fun.
776
00:31:51,281 --> 00:31:53,109
Certainly, then it begins
to delve into something
777
00:31:53,327 --> 00:31:54,807
way more serious.
778
00:31:55,023 --> 00:31:57,678
This Elvis lifestyle,
this Jim Morrison,
779
00:31:57,678 --> 00:32:01,334
this rebel Without a clue
idea, very endearing.
780
00:32:01,508 --> 00:32:03,467
It sounded very cool
and rugged.
781
00:32:03,684 --> 00:32:05,729
And there was a time
in my life,
782
00:32:05,729 --> 00:32:08,035
I didn't really care
if I lived past 35.
783
00:32:08,253 --> 00:32:09,863
I didn't even know
what living until 35
784
00:32:10,081 --> 00:32:12,300
or 45 would even look like.
785
00:32:12,475 --> 00:32:13,867
I didn't think about tomorrow.
786
00:32:16,347 --> 00:32:19,524
Being liked is way better
than being hated.
787
00:32:19,742 --> 00:32:21,483
I knew everybody hated me.
788
00:32:21,483 --> 00:32:24,876
And that's what starts a lot
of the downhill spiral stuff.
789
00:32:25,094 --> 00:32:26,574
It was all about
running and escaping,
790
00:32:26,791 --> 00:32:28,924
and honestly, running
and escaping from the dude
791
00:32:29,141 --> 00:32:30,882
I'd become.
792
00:32:33,668 --> 00:32:37,148
There's very realistic,
functioning drug addicts.
793
00:32:37,366 --> 00:32:39,324
And that's exactly what I was.
794
00:32:39,499 --> 00:32:41,544
You can go
and look at stuff now
795
00:32:41,762 --> 00:32:43,503
and see me doing stuff on TV.
796
00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:44,981
And people are like,
oh, my goodness,
797
00:32:44,981 --> 00:32:46,200
he must have been
out of his gourd.
798
00:32:46,418 --> 00:32:49,943
Like, I was never not well
on TV.
799
00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:53,250
You know what I mean?
I was not well afterwards.
800
00:32:53,425 --> 00:32:56,296
Because it doesn't matter
how I feel right now.
801
00:32:56,470 --> 00:33:00,126
When it comes to crunch time,
Shawn Michaels will be ready.
802
00:33:00,343 --> 00:33:02,302
His moment of existence
was the 20 minutes
803
00:33:02,476 --> 00:33:03,782
in the ring every night.
804
00:33:03,999 --> 00:33:05,130
He'd go in there,
and he'd kill it.
805
00:33:05,347 --> 00:33:07,480
Here comes Michaels.
806
00:33:07,698 --> 00:33:09,177
Unbelievable!
807
00:33:11,266 --> 00:33:13,660
And then the second
he was done--
808
00:33:18,185 --> 00:33:19,448
Right?
809
00:33:22,102 --> 00:33:24,627
I knew the stuff
that I was doing was wrong,
810
00:33:24,843 --> 00:33:26,671
but I didn't care.
811
00:33:26,889 --> 00:33:27,977
When you're in the middle
of the storm,
812
00:33:28,194 --> 00:33:29,108
you don't really notice it.
813
00:33:29,326 --> 00:33:30,893
You're just so used to it.
814
00:33:31,110 --> 00:33:33,461
And you don't really see it
spiraling out of control
815
00:33:33,678 --> 00:33:36,332
like it did.
816
00:33:36,506 --> 00:33:38,160
I tore my first ACL.
817
00:33:38,377 --> 00:33:41,468
And at that time,
ACLs were a year out.
818
00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:48,082
I've never had a doctor
look me in the face and say
819
00:33:48,299 --> 00:33:50,954
that I may never be able
to wrestle again.
820
00:33:51,172 --> 00:33:57,264
And I was--
I was told that the other day.
821
00:33:57,482 --> 00:33:59,309
The emotion is
genuinely palpable,
822
00:33:59,484 --> 00:34:01,573
because you got
the champion of the company,
823
00:34:01,790 --> 00:34:03,836
and ultimately
he's giving it up.
824
00:34:04,053 --> 00:34:05,358
Here's your belt.
825
00:34:05,532 --> 00:34:09,580
I know that
over the last several months,
826
00:34:09,797 --> 00:34:10,929
I've lost a lot of things.
827
00:34:11,146 --> 00:34:13,584
And one of them
has been my smile.
828
00:34:13,801 --> 00:34:15,715
It was illuminating
something that was
829
00:34:15,933 --> 00:34:18,588
going on else in my life,
because I was miserable.
830
00:34:18,805 --> 00:34:20,633
And the champion
and stuff like that--
831
00:34:20,851 --> 00:34:22,287
and I was having
a conversation with my mother,
832
00:34:22,505 --> 00:34:23,810
and her thinking
the same thing,
833
00:34:23,810 --> 00:34:25,245
like, my God, why can't
you just enjoy this?
834
00:34:25,463 --> 00:34:27,030
And she goes, jeez.
835
00:34:27,030 --> 00:34:28,640
You know, she goes, I don't
ever see you smile anymore.
836
00:34:28,858 --> 00:34:30,337
She's like, it's like
you've lost your smile,
837
00:34:30,512 --> 00:34:32,731
and it should be
the best time of your life.
838
00:34:32,949 --> 00:34:36,125
I have to go back
and fix myself.
839
00:34:36,342 --> 00:34:39,737
And I'm gonna go home now.
840
00:34:39,955 --> 00:34:40,869
Goodbye, Shawn.
841
00:34:41,086 --> 00:34:44,350
Godspeed.
842
00:34:50,530 --> 00:34:52,836
{\an8}You can feel the energy
843
00:34:53,054 --> 00:34:56,273
in Lowell, Massachusetts,
tonight.
844
00:34:56,491 --> 00:34:58,624
So we're in Lowell, Mass,
in the same exact building
845
00:34:58,841 --> 00:35:01,757
that they were shooting "Raw"
at, to almost replicate,
846
00:35:01,975 --> 00:35:04,543
to a T,
the same segment that Shawn
847
00:35:04,717 --> 00:35:06,631
did when he lost his smile.
848
00:35:06,848 --> 00:35:08,502
I don't know
if I love this anymore.
849
00:35:08,676 --> 00:35:10,504
And to be honest
with everybody,
850
00:35:10,678 --> 00:35:13,855
I've just lost my smile.
851
00:35:14,073 --> 00:35:16,770
And then Shawn offered
the spin of,
852
00:35:16,988 --> 00:35:19,991
I'm going to replicate this,
but only to trick you.
853
00:35:20,208 --> 00:35:24,604
I should not be worried
about losing my smile.
854
00:35:24,821 --> 00:35:28,259
{\an8}I should worry
about taking yours.
855
00:35:28,476 --> 00:35:29,913
Oh.
856
00:35:31,784 --> 00:35:33,873
On that day,
one of the craziest things
857
00:35:34,091 --> 00:35:35,352
in my wrestling career
ever happened.
858
00:35:37,615 --> 00:35:40,183
So he tells Ethan,
all right, you're gonna put
859
00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:42,794
Je'Von's face in the chair.
860
00:35:43,012 --> 00:35:44,230
And you're gonna kick it.
861
00:35:44,448 --> 00:35:45,970
And it's gonna break his jaw.
862
00:35:46,188 --> 00:35:48,494
I was afraid
of doing it and hurting
863
00:35:48,669 --> 00:35:50,409
another talent on the show.
864
00:35:50,584 --> 00:35:52,194
Do you want me
to stick my head in there?
865
00:35:52,411 --> 00:35:53,456
Here, let me--
866
00:35:53,630 --> 00:35:56,284
And Shawn's like,
do it to me.
867
00:35:56,501 --> 00:35:57,590
And he's like, what?
868
00:35:57,764 --> 00:35:58,591
Jump.
869
00:35:58,765 --> 00:35:59,635
{\an8}Jump?
870
00:35:59,853 --> 00:36:00,854
{\an8}With the chair on his face.
871
00:36:01,071 --> 00:36:02,551
And he's like, yeah, go ahead.
872
00:36:02,725 --> 00:36:03,987
Do it as hard as you can.
873
00:36:04,205 --> 00:36:04,987
{\an8}Like for real?
874
00:36:05,205 --> 00:36:06,336
{\an8}Yes.
875
00:36:06,336 --> 00:36:07,599
{\an8}I think that's
the least you can do
876
00:36:07,816 --> 00:36:09,035
if you're the guy asking--
877
00:36:09,035 --> 00:36:10,819
I would never ask
somebody to do something
878
00:36:11,037 --> 00:36:12,821
I wasn't willing to do.
879
00:36:12,821 --> 00:36:15,475
If they could do that with me,
they'll do it with each other.
880
00:36:15,649 --> 00:36:17,608
- Ready, Shawn?
- Yeah.
881
00:36:17,782 --> 00:36:20,001
OK.
882
00:36:26,528 --> 00:36:28,530
It's my jaw.
883
00:36:28,705 --> 00:36:31,621
So much respect to him,
because to have the balls
884
00:36:31,838 --> 00:36:33,361
to be like, well,
if I want you to do it,
885
00:36:33,361 --> 00:36:34,754
I'll do it first--wherever
you want to go, boss man,
886
00:36:34,971 --> 00:36:35,928
I'm gonna go with you.
887
00:36:36,146 --> 00:36:39,018
Like, I just--utmost respect.
888
00:36:39,236 --> 00:36:41,630
Oh, my God!
889
00:36:48,157 --> 00:36:50,594
{\an8}I seem to be moving
around pretty well.
890
00:36:52,901 --> 00:36:55,554
Nobody told me you didn't
need an ACL, technically,
891
00:36:55,729 --> 00:36:56,991
if you'll throw a brace on it.
892
00:36:57,208 --> 00:36:58,732
That's how we got into
Dr. James Andrews.
893
00:36:58,949 --> 00:37:01,343
That's why everybody
goes to Birmingham now.
894
00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:03,737
A few weeks later,
I go down and see Dr. Andrews.
895
00:37:03,954 --> 00:37:06,216
And it's like, yeah, no,
it's not good.
896
00:37:06,434 --> 00:37:10,090
Yeah, it's a year out, but
you can rehab it a little bit
897
00:37:10,307 --> 00:37:11,657
and put a brace on it.
898
00:37:11,831 --> 00:37:14,572
And so
that's exactly what I did.
899
00:37:14,747 --> 00:37:17,618
Here he comes,
back in action!
900
00:37:17,792 --> 00:37:19,228
Shawn decides to come back.
901
00:37:19,446 --> 00:37:22,754
This was a moment
where things needed to change.
902
00:37:22,971 --> 00:37:24,712
Business was bad.
903
00:37:24,929 --> 00:37:26,800
WCW was starting to kill us.
904
00:37:27,018 --> 00:37:32,937
The NWO is the reason for
the success of "Monday Nitro."
905
00:37:33,154 --> 00:37:35,025
I don't give a damn
906
00:37:35,242 --> 00:37:39,682
{\an8}what anybody thinks of me!
907
00:37:39,899 --> 00:37:42,075
I became one of the most
controversial guys
908
00:37:42,293 --> 00:37:43,990
in this line of work.
909
00:37:44,208 --> 00:37:46,296
All of that was by design.
910
00:37:46,513 --> 00:37:49,168
I'm a very polarizing
WWE superstar.
911
00:37:49,386 --> 00:37:50,909
Everybody's got a hook.
912
00:37:50,909 --> 00:37:54,130
And so I just poked the bear
at every opportunity
913
00:37:54,347 --> 00:37:57,741
I could ever get, because
I felt like it would help.
914
00:37:57,959 --> 00:37:59,874
I'm not the most popular guy
915
00:38:00,091 --> 00:38:02,006
{\an8}in the World Wrestling
Entertainment.
916
00:38:02,224 --> 00:38:07,663
But then again, I'm not looking
to win any popularity contest.
917
00:38:07,837 --> 00:38:10,579
Becoming more of a jerk
and having an edge to him,
918
00:38:10,753 --> 00:38:12,189
that's who he was.
919
00:38:12,189 --> 00:38:16,584
So that's more comfortable
to portray on air.
920
00:38:16,758 --> 00:38:19,543
And at that point
in time, DX is born.
921
00:38:19,718 --> 00:38:21,328
- We are D-Generation X.
- D-Generation.
922
00:38:21,545 --> 00:38:25,287
You make the rules,
and we will break 'em.
923
00:38:25,505 --> 00:38:26,898
Yeah.
924
00:38:26,898 --> 00:38:30,815
{\an8}DX first began as Hunter,
myself, and China.
925
00:38:31,032 --> 00:38:33,034
Felt like we had a really good
idea of where the wrestling
926
00:38:33,252 --> 00:38:36,950
business was going and where
it felt like it needed to go.
927
00:38:37,168 --> 00:38:39,257
Just wanted to push the
envelope a little bit more.
928
00:38:39,474 --> 00:38:41,781
Shawn Michaels
and D-Generation X
929
00:38:41,999 --> 00:38:44,741
want you to suck it.
930
00:38:44,914 --> 00:38:47,612
Every week we're going on TV,
and we're crossing a line.
931
00:38:47,786 --> 00:38:50,093
We're gonna sit down here,
and we're going
932
00:38:50,310 --> 00:38:53,531
{\an8}to play a little strip poker.
933
00:38:53,749 --> 00:38:55,010
Oh!
934
00:38:55,227 --> 00:39:00,189
D-Generation X
was this really brash,
935
00:39:00,406 --> 00:39:05,149
exciting, and, respectfully,
obnoxious group of people.
936
00:39:05,367 --> 00:39:07,804
DX is on its way
to State College.
937
00:39:08,022 --> 00:39:10,459
And in Pennsylvania tonight,
it looks like
938
00:39:10,676 --> 00:39:13,244
it's gonna be a full moon.
939
00:39:15,463 --> 00:39:17,378
It was fun, and it was cool.
940
00:39:17,595 --> 00:39:20,076
There's a shift going on
with our product.
941
00:39:20,294 --> 00:39:22,557
And then our ratings
are getting better.
942
00:39:22,775 --> 00:39:25,037
Shawn and Paul were
such good friends.
943
00:39:25,254 --> 00:39:28,388
They were always talking and
thinking about the business.
944
00:39:28,605 --> 00:39:30,607
What we were doing
was resonating.
945
00:39:30,782 --> 00:39:32,218
While we're having fun
doing it,
946
00:39:32,435 --> 00:39:33,654
we're making ourselves laugh.
947
00:39:33,828 --> 00:39:34,872
We know
we're pissing people off,
948
00:39:35,089 --> 00:39:36,787
and we're trying to be dicks.
949
00:39:36,961 --> 00:39:39,615
We're just trying to make the
other one go like, oh, my God.
950
00:39:39,790 --> 00:39:41,443
I can't believe
you just said that on TV.
951
00:39:41,661 --> 00:39:44,751
Shawn and I both got
jumbo weenies.
952
00:39:44,924 --> 00:39:47,187
That was just crazy,
wild stuff.
953
00:39:47,405 --> 00:39:50,538
All the stars aligned,
and the planets come together,
954
00:39:50,756 --> 00:39:52,714
and life is good
in that respect.
955
00:39:52,889 --> 00:39:56,761
Shawn Michaels,
D-Generation X coming your way.
956
00:39:58,241 --> 00:40:00,634
both: Right.
957
00:40:00,809 --> 00:40:02,506
Can't say I liked it.
958
00:40:02,723 --> 00:40:06,117
You're a disgrace
to professional wrestling.
959
00:40:06,335 --> 00:40:08,728
And there was real tensions
between us.
960
00:40:08,903 --> 00:40:10,600
I'm not gonna lie to you.
961
00:40:10,818 --> 00:40:15,169
Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels
loathe one another,
962
00:40:15,386 --> 00:40:18,476
whether it be out here
or back there.
963
00:40:18,694 --> 00:40:21,828
There's an absolute hatred
between those two
964
00:40:22,002 --> 00:40:23,525
in that moment in time.
965
00:40:23,525 --> 00:40:26,135
I was fine with stirring
stuff with everybody,
966
00:40:26,353 --> 00:40:28,572
because I felt like
it fed my career.
967
00:40:28,790 --> 00:40:30,183
I've seen you on the road.
968
00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:33,403
And bro, you ain't
no role model.
969
00:40:33,621 --> 00:40:37,363
He crossed a line
that nobody should ever cross.
970
00:40:37,580 --> 00:40:40,670
Those are the kind of things
that could topple my marriage.
971
00:40:40,845 --> 00:40:43,848
This was all about
principle and respect.
972
00:40:46,153 --> 00:40:51,202
Welcome, everyone, to the
11th annual Survivor Series.
973
00:40:51,419 --> 00:40:55,031
Heading into Survivor Series
'97 in Montreal,
974
00:40:55,248 --> 00:40:59,687
Bret's time in WWE is actually
about to come to an end.
975
00:40:59,862 --> 00:41:02,212
Bret was negotiating
on the other side,
976
00:41:02,429 --> 00:41:06,911
{\an8}seeing if the grass was
greener down south at WCW.
977
00:41:07,129 --> 00:41:10,872
{\an8}WCW then started to approach.
978
00:41:11,046 --> 00:41:14,701
Bret was able
to get a deal with WCW.
979
00:41:14,875 --> 00:41:16,137
Bret was our champion.
980
00:41:16,354 --> 00:41:18,879
We had to crown
a new champion.
981
00:41:19,096 --> 00:41:21,316
His final date was
going to be in Montreal,
982
00:41:21,533 --> 00:41:22,970
the Survivor Series.
983
00:41:23,187 --> 00:41:24,884
Shawn takes the championship.
984
00:41:25,058 --> 00:41:26,233
Bret goes to WCW.
985
00:41:26,450 --> 00:41:27,495
Everybody's happy.
986
00:41:27,712 --> 00:41:29,671
Bret didn't feel that way.
987
00:41:29,889 --> 00:41:30,933
I told you guys.
988
00:41:31,151 --> 00:41:32,892
I'm not doing
anything like that,
989
00:41:33,109 --> 00:41:36,372
not until Shawn shows me that
he has enough respect for me.
990
00:41:36,590 --> 00:41:38,635
To be honest,
we didn't give a shit.
991
00:41:38,853 --> 00:41:42,291
Bret couldn't be allowed to go
to WCW with the championship.
992
00:41:42,509 --> 00:41:44,206
He had to drop that title.
993
00:41:44,424 --> 00:41:46,251
I went there determined
994
00:41:46,468 --> 00:41:48,079
to not lose to Shawn
no matter what they tried
995
00:41:48,296 --> 00:41:49,689
to do in the ring.
996
00:41:49,907 --> 00:41:53,214
Shawn's loyalty
was to the company.
997
00:41:53,432 --> 00:41:57,217
Him and Vince McMahon
and Triple H
998
00:41:57,435 --> 00:42:02,744
were all aware of what the plan
was at Survivor Series.
999
00:42:02,919 --> 00:42:05,790
Bret Hart was not
a part of those plans.
1000
00:42:05,964 --> 00:42:06,834
Look at this.
1001
00:42:07,009 --> 00:42:08,184
Oh, you're kidding me.
1002
00:42:08,184 --> 00:42:09,707
Michaels--
are you kidding me?
1003
00:42:09,925 --> 00:42:11,883
{\an8}He's gonna try to beat
Bret Hart with a Sharpshooter?
1004
00:42:12,057 --> 00:42:13,624
Yes, he is.
1005
00:42:13,841 --> 00:42:15,799
This is just supposed
to be a moment that would
1006
00:42:15,973 --> 00:42:17,844
happen early on in the match.
1007
00:42:18,019 --> 00:42:19,498
Bret gets out of it.
1008
00:42:19,716 --> 00:42:22,153
I could hear Vince
yelling at the timekeeper.
1009
00:42:22,371 --> 00:42:24,807
I could hear him yelling
at him to ring the bell.
1010
00:42:24,981 --> 00:42:26,504
Ring the bell.
1011
00:42:28,158 --> 00:42:30,508
This is the perfect moment
to have Brett tap
1012
00:42:30,726 --> 00:42:32,380
or say that Brett taps.
1013
00:42:32,597 --> 00:42:34,947
Brett Hart gave up
on the Sharpshooter.
1014
00:42:35,121 --> 00:42:40,082
And Shawn could be champion
as Brett moves on to WCW.
1015
00:42:40,300 --> 00:42:43,172
This is high-level
espionage, man.
1016
00:42:43,390 --> 00:42:46,131
Like, this is as heavy
as it gets in the business.
1017
00:42:46,348 --> 00:42:47,871
This was not an easy thing.
1018
00:42:48,046 --> 00:42:50,091
But the understanding
on our side, on all ends,
1019
00:42:50,309 --> 00:42:53,616
was that there is
no other option than this.
1020
00:42:53,834 --> 00:42:56,270
You could tell
that I had been set up.
1021
00:42:56,488 --> 00:42:59,404
Shawn probably gets
a bad Academy Award
1022
00:42:59,621 --> 00:43:00,971
for pretending
that he wasn't in on it,
1023
00:43:01,145 --> 00:43:02,668
'cause he was like, oh, my.
1024
00:43:02,668 --> 00:43:06,062
He was acting like he didn't
know what was going on.
1025
00:43:06,279 --> 00:43:08,673
It wasn't fun to do.
1026
00:43:08,890 --> 00:43:11,415
For all of our animosity,
for all of the rivalry
1027
00:43:11,632 --> 00:43:14,331
that he and I had,
I was the bad guy.
1028
00:43:14,548 --> 00:43:16,680
And then on that night,
I was gonna
1029
00:43:16,897 --> 00:43:19,117
frickin' make it even worse.
1030
00:43:19,335 --> 00:43:21,598
In this business,
stuff begins to take on
1031
00:43:21,815 --> 00:43:24,427
this life of its own.
1032
00:43:24,644 --> 00:43:27,820
When everything is said and
done, the best thing you can do
1033
00:43:27,995 --> 00:43:30,214
is swallow whatever that is
and figure out how you're gonna
1034
00:43:30,432 --> 00:43:32,347
pick yourself back up,
dust yourself off,
1035
00:43:32,564 --> 00:43:33,957
and get back in the game.
1036
00:43:34,131 --> 00:43:36,959
And The Heartbreak Kid
1037
00:43:37,133 --> 00:43:40,397
is now the new World Wrestling
1038
00:43:40,615 --> 00:43:42,965
Entertainment champion.
1039
00:43:45,097 --> 00:43:47,055
In a storyline
with The Undertaker,
1040
00:43:47,273 --> 00:43:50,537
we end up getting
to this casket match.
1041
00:43:50,754 --> 00:43:53,018
I'm gonna take a backdrop
out of the ring
1042
00:43:53,192 --> 00:43:54,931
but over the casket.
1043
00:43:55,106 --> 00:43:58,935
He went over the top rope,
and he caught the edge of it.
1044
00:44:01,329 --> 00:44:03,375
I take the shot to my back.
1045
00:44:03,592 --> 00:44:06,855
I didn't think much of it.
1046
00:44:07,030 --> 00:44:09,249
A dynamic elbow drop
right off the top.
1047
00:44:09,467 --> 00:44:10,424
Kept it together.
1048
00:44:10,642 --> 00:44:11,904
We finished the match.
1049
00:44:12,078 --> 00:44:13,384
And then, obviously,
he found out
1050
00:44:13,384 --> 00:44:15,472
that he had a much more
significant injury
1051
00:44:15,689 --> 00:44:17,561
than what he had thought.
1052
00:44:17,778 --> 00:44:20,520
Apparently,
I had burst the disc.
1053
00:44:20,738 --> 00:44:24,263
And that, obviously, alters
sort of everything in my career
1054
00:44:24,481 --> 00:44:25,394
from that point on.
1055
00:44:27,613 --> 00:44:29,746
This back injury
was a career-ender.
1056
00:44:29,963 --> 00:44:32,401
But, you know, look, he wanted
to be in that main event
1057
00:44:32,618 --> 00:44:34,272
at WrestleMania.
1058
00:44:34,272 --> 00:44:36,317
You don't get one of these,
pal, which you've never had,
1059
00:44:36,534 --> 00:44:38,623
I might add, by getting
knocked down too much.
1060
00:44:38,841 --> 00:44:41,235
March 29, it's mine.
1061
00:44:41,452 --> 00:44:43,759
Spend the next month
doing everything
1062
00:44:43,976 --> 00:44:46,369
that I can to get myself
in shape for WrestleMania,
1063
00:44:46,587 --> 00:44:48,415
knowing that
I'll never wrestle again
1064
00:44:48,632 --> 00:44:50,591
on the other side.
1065
00:44:50,808 --> 00:44:52,680
The reality of what's
going to happen to me
1066
00:44:52,897 --> 00:44:54,073
is kind of sinking in.
1067
00:44:54,290 --> 00:44:56,900
I really go off the rails.
1068
00:44:57,075 --> 00:45:00,078
Clearly taking way too many
prescription pills.
1069
00:45:00,252 --> 00:45:02,558
I could stay sober
for the two hours on TV,
1070
00:45:02,776 --> 00:45:04,473
but the rest of the day,
you know what I mean,
1071
00:45:04,691 --> 00:45:06,561
I was rolling pretty good.
1072
00:45:06,779 --> 00:45:08,520
Trying to escape,
trying to drown it out,
1073
00:45:08,737 --> 00:45:11,000
trying to not think about it,
not sit in the car,
1074
00:45:11,175 --> 00:45:13,525
and stew, and think about
everything going on.
1075
00:45:13,742 --> 00:45:16,092
And when every single thing
in your life
1076
00:45:16,309 --> 00:45:18,877
is wrapped up around
that moment of success
1077
00:45:19,095 --> 00:45:21,836
and everything around it is
falling apart, what do you do?
1078
00:45:22,054 --> 00:45:23,925
Everybody handles that
differently.
1079
00:45:24,100 --> 00:45:25,752
He won't think about it.
1080
00:45:25,752 --> 00:45:28,015
It's funny, because when you
talk about it in that manner,
1081
00:45:28,190 --> 00:45:30,017
then it sounds like, well,
God damn, why would you
1082
00:45:30,192 --> 00:45:31,628
hang out with this misery 24/7?
1083
00:45:31,845 --> 00:45:32,672
No, it's not.
1084
00:45:32,890 --> 00:45:33,891
We're like this.
1085
00:45:34,109 --> 00:45:35,196
Right?
1086
00:45:35,196 --> 00:45:37,981
It's, again,
like your brother.
1087
00:45:38,155 --> 00:45:41,898
Fact of the matter is,
it should have killed me.
1088
00:45:42,116 --> 00:45:44,379
The reality is, it didn't.
1089
00:45:44,596 --> 00:45:46,597
And a lot of that is because
of Hunter taking care of me,
1090
00:45:46,815 --> 00:45:49,861
watching after me,
making sure that I could
1091
00:45:50,079 --> 00:45:54,562
still function and maintain
and be responsible.
1092
00:45:54,778 --> 00:45:57,129
This is it.
1093
00:45:57,303 --> 00:45:59,827
This is the WWE title match.
1094
00:46:00,044 --> 00:46:03,918
I was kind of checked out
at that time.
1095
00:46:04,136 --> 00:46:05,875
My performance was
always the most important
1096
00:46:06,093 --> 00:46:07,442
thing in the world to me.
1097
00:46:07,660 --> 00:46:09,227
But that was the day I just--
I don't know.
1098
00:46:09,444 --> 00:46:10,706
I didn't care.
1099
00:46:10,706 --> 00:46:13,231
It was just about
getting through it.
1100
00:46:13,448 --> 00:46:16,276
Michaels turned upside down
and inside out.
1101
00:46:16,494 --> 00:46:18,235
And Shawn's got
that bad back anyway.
1102
00:46:18,452 --> 00:46:21,063
I think he's hurt bad.
1103
00:46:21,238 --> 00:46:23,675
I can look back on it
and go, now you're
1104
00:46:23,892 --> 00:46:25,154
a pretty tough son of a gun.
1105
00:46:25,328 --> 00:46:26,590
And the elbow.
1106
00:46:26,807 --> 00:46:29,854
Yes!
1107
00:46:30,071 --> 00:46:32,770
But for all
intents and purposes,
1108
00:46:32,987 --> 00:46:33,945
my life and career were over.
1109
00:46:43,867 --> 00:46:44,823
{\an8}Hello, there.
1110
00:46:45,041 --> 00:46:45,868
How you doing?
1111
00:46:46,085 --> 00:46:47,609
Goodness gracious, dude.
1112
00:46:47,826 --> 00:46:48,610
Doing good?
- Doing well.
1113
00:46:48,827 --> 00:46:49,785
Look at you.
1114
00:46:49,785 --> 00:46:51,178
God, Ilja, you look fantastic.
1115
00:46:51,395 --> 00:46:52,309
Well, thank you.
I try, you know?
1116
00:46:52,527 --> 00:46:53,658
Yeah.
1117
00:46:53,658 --> 00:46:56,312
How long has
the entire rehab been?
1118
00:46:56,530 --> 00:46:57,313
Gonna be a while.
1119
00:46:57,531 --> 00:46:58,836
It's more than a year.
1120
00:46:58,836 --> 00:47:00,490
Coming back from
injury sometimes is hard.
1121
00:47:00,708 --> 00:47:01,926
You know what I mean?
1122
00:47:02,144 --> 00:47:03,450
And sometimes
it messes with your mind.
1123
00:47:03,450 --> 00:47:05,146
But that's what's always
so positive about you.
1124
00:47:05,320 --> 00:47:08,323
Your mind is the strongest
part of your body, man.
1125
00:47:08,541 --> 00:47:09,933
Having this facility
here gives him
1126
00:47:10,151 --> 00:47:11,892
the opportunity
to come back and be
1127
00:47:12,109 --> 00:47:13,546
ready to go at whatever point.
1128
00:47:13,763 --> 00:47:16,374
You know, obviously,
keep training.
1129
00:47:16,591 --> 00:47:19,290
He's just an animal
all the time anyway.
1130
00:47:19,507 --> 00:47:21,683
So I feel sorry for the guys
when he's ready
1131
00:47:21,901 --> 00:47:23,076
to get back and get going.
1132
00:47:23,250 --> 00:47:24,686
You look like a million bucks.
1133
00:47:24,903 --> 00:47:25,991
That's fantastic.
1134
00:47:26,209 --> 00:47:27,253
I look forward to it.
1135
00:47:27,253 --> 00:47:28,515
Hey,
always great to see you.
1136
00:47:28,515 --> 00:47:29,212
Yeah, nice seeing you too.
Thank you.
1137
00:47:29,386 --> 00:47:30,474
Yeah.
1138
00:47:37,523 --> 00:47:40,483
I crushed my disc, L4, L5.
1139
00:47:40,700 --> 00:47:41,875
So you have to get fusion.
1140
00:47:42,093 --> 00:47:43,529
They pull the disc out.
1141
00:47:43,529 --> 00:47:46,357
They just fuse that
with bone out of your hip.
1142
00:47:46,575 --> 00:47:50,056
All they knew at the time was,
1143
00:47:50,231 --> 00:47:51,797
stuff like that
you don't recover from.
1144
00:47:52,015 --> 00:47:53,408
People don't get back
in the ring and wrestle again.
1145
00:47:55,496 --> 00:47:59,195
I was trying to find out
what life looked like
1146
00:47:59,369 --> 00:48:01,589
not being a wrestler.
1147
00:48:01,806 --> 00:48:03,417
{\an8}Clearly, there was
the wrestling school,
1148
00:48:03,634 --> 00:48:05,244
because I felt like
that's something--
1149
00:48:05,418 --> 00:48:07,289
I don't know,
from a "monetary standpoint,"
1150
00:48:07,507 --> 00:48:10,118
I'd built this kind of
brand or this name.
1151
00:48:10,292 --> 00:48:13,295
There's certainly something
there that I'm interested in.
1152
00:48:13,513 --> 00:48:16,645
But the sports thing came up
because it actually
1153
00:48:16,863 --> 00:48:18,734
felt and sounded like
something that might
1154
00:48:18,952 --> 00:48:20,519
have some real security in it.
1155
00:48:20,519 --> 00:48:22,651
Have you ever noticed that
the smallest guy in the band
1156
00:48:22,869 --> 00:48:24,957
is always the guy
carrying that big tuba?
1157
00:48:27,394 --> 00:48:29,831
It was with Kens 5
in San Antonio.
1158
00:48:30,049 --> 00:48:31,268
We started out
with a little thing
1159
00:48:31,442 --> 00:48:33,095
where I was
at high school football
1160
00:48:33,270 --> 00:48:34,271
games on Friday nights.
1161
00:48:34,488 --> 00:48:36,533
I'd do a little fun segment.
1162
00:48:36,750 --> 00:48:37,925
Where's all the spit come out?
1163
00:48:38,143 --> 00:48:39,275
It leaks out.
1164
00:48:39,275 --> 00:48:40,450
So I don't have
to empty it at all.
1165
00:48:40,667 --> 00:48:41,929
Oh, well, it leaks out.
1166
00:48:42,147 --> 00:48:44,280
Well, that's convenient
now, isn't it?
1167
00:48:44,454 --> 00:48:45,845
And of course,
you look at that.
1168
00:48:45,845 --> 00:48:47,630
And you're like, OK,
well, without wrestling,
1169
00:48:47,847 --> 00:48:49,632
I don't know, I guess
a local sportscaster maybe
1170
00:48:49,849 --> 00:48:52,809
makes, I don't know,
75, 100, 150 grand a year.
1171
00:48:53,026 --> 00:48:54,506
That's a good living.
1172
00:48:54,506 --> 00:48:56,333
This reporter will never,
ever look at the band
1173
00:48:56,551 --> 00:48:58,466
quite ever the same again.
1174
00:48:58,683 --> 00:49:01,860
But you do enough drugs, you
screw enough of that stuff up--
1175
00:49:02,078 --> 00:49:04,167
I don't know, you don't really
go about it the right way
1176
00:49:04,341 --> 00:49:05,559
or apply yourself.
1177
00:49:05,559 --> 00:49:07,822
The love and the passion
and all of that
1178
00:49:08,039 --> 00:49:11,869
wasn't there for that
like it was for wrestling.
1179
00:49:12,087 --> 00:49:14,568
And that obviously was
what caused
1180
00:49:14,784 --> 00:49:18,875
so much of the downward spiral
at that time in my life.
1181
00:49:19,093 --> 00:49:22,226
I had never had
anything that I could grasp
1182
00:49:22,401 --> 00:49:24,793
that was bigger
than the wrestling business.
1183
00:49:25,011 --> 00:49:28,536
That's just not enough to base
a life on.
1184
00:49:30,625 --> 00:49:32,018
You look at the Nitro Girls.
1185
00:49:32,235 --> 00:49:33,106
My goodness.
1186
00:49:33,324 --> 00:49:36,282
But it's time for Whisper.
1187
00:49:36,456 --> 00:49:38,153
I'm into the Monday Night
Wars with everybody, too.
1188
00:49:38,328 --> 00:49:39,938
I'm watching both shows.
1189
00:49:40,155 --> 00:49:42,070
And the introduction
of this new Nitro Girl.
1190
00:49:42,288 --> 00:49:44,985
And she's just doing
this dance.
1191
00:49:45,203 --> 00:49:46,857
And she's absolutely
the most beautiful thing
1192
00:49:47,074 --> 00:49:49,250
I've ever seen,
and called her up.
1193
00:49:49,425 --> 00:49:51,209
Probably talked
for three hours
1194
00:49:51,383 --> 00:49:53,342
on the phone each night
for two weeks.
1195
00:49:53,516 --> 00:49:57,519
Think I met her in January
and we got married March 31.
1196
00:49:57,736 --> 00:49:59,042
With Rebecca,
1197
00:49:59,259 --> 00:50:02,959
it started out
so joyful and fun.
1198
00:50:03,176 --> 00:50:06,440
And it appealed to that
romanticized, crazy kind of
1199
00:50:06,657 --> 00:50:10,400
lifestyle atmosphere that
she could not do any drugs,
1200
00:50:10,618 --> 00:50:13,316
but she could still
have fun with me,
1201
00:50:13,490 --> 00:50:16,405
but then at the same time,
recognize
1202
00:50:16,623 --> 00:50:20,061
that, OK, he's not healthy.
1203
00:50:20,278 --> 00:50:23,194
And he doesn't just
do that to have fun.
1204
00:50:23,369 --> 00:50:24,978
He's like that all the time.
1205
00:50:27,850 --> 00:50:29,591
And before long,
it's too late.
1206
00:50:29,809 --> 00:50:31,201
Now she's married to me.
1207
00:50:31,376 --> 00:50:32,420
Eight weeks after
we're married,
1208
00:50:32,638 --> 00:50:34,379
she finds out she's pregnant.
1209
00:50:34,553 --> 00:50:38,120
Cameron Kade Hickenbottom
is born the next year.
1210
00:50:38,338 --> 00:50:39,295
Oh, my God.
1211
00:50:39,470 --> 00:50:41,123
Now the poor girl's locked in.
1212
00:50:41,341 --> 00:50:42,777
And she realized, like,
man, this dude's, like,
1213
00:50:42,995 --> 00:50:44,344
on stuff all the time.
1214
00:50:44,518 --> 00:50:46,780
You ready to go?
Get ready.
1215
00:50:50,001 --> 00:50:52,656
I was actually,
like, real-life in love.
1216
00:50:52,873 --> 00:50:55,397
I was real-life enamored
with being a dad.
1217
00:50:55,614 --> 00:50:59,009
I really wanted to be
good for all of them,
1218
00:50:59,226 --> 00:51:02,447
because I was filled
with love and joy.
1219
00:51:02,665 --> 00:51:05,971
The only thing that isn't
wonderful in this picture
1220
00:51:06,189 --> 00:51:07,669
is you.
1221
00:51:07,886 --> 00:51:09,497
He had kids.
He had a wife.
1222
00:51:09,714 --> 00:51:10,976
Like, come on.
1223
00:51:10,976 --> 00:51:12,804
I told him to get
his act together.
1224
00:51:13,022 --> 00:51:15,153
I didn't want him to die.
1225
00:51:15,371 --> 00:51:17,895
My son, at two years old,
recognized--you know,
1226
00:51:18,113 --> 00:51:19,767
just saying, Daddy's tired.
1227
00:51:19,984 --> 00:51:24,336
And me knowing that's when
the drugs are kicking in
1228
00:51:24,511 --> 00:51:26,599
and I'm not in the best shape.
1229
00:51:26,816 --> 00:51:28,252
But he notices it.
1230
00:51:28,427 --> 00:51:30,211
That was kind of the--
1231
00:51:30,429 --> 00:51:32,735
the dam that broke.
1232
00:51:32,953 --> 00:51:36,564
It's the first time
I ever wanted to be better.
1233
00:51:36,782 --> 00:51:41,395
I've never recklessly
abused anything ever again.
1234
00:51:41,569 --> 00:51:45,442
{\an8}Rebecca, you know,
is helping me find who I am.
1235
00:51:45,616 --> 00:51:47,269
She said, what is it
about you that makes you
1236
00:51:47,444 --> 00:51:49,837
{\an8}dislike yourself so much?
1237
00:51:50,055 --> 00:51:53,450
You've got to get to a very
raw place with yourselves
1238
00:51:53,624 --> 00:51:56,452
to step out of being that guy.
1239
00:51:56,626 --> 00:51:58,192
I don't know.
1240
00:51:58,192 --> 00:52:00,368
I go on this, whatever,
reflective journey that I'm--
1241
00:52:00,543 --> 00:52:03,676
I'm looking for something.
1242
00:52:06,504 --> 00:52:09,202
Shawn became
a born-again Christian.
1243
00:52:09,420 --> 00:52:12,945
And Shawn got saved
probably a month before I did.
1244
00:52:13,163 --> 00:52:15,338
He and I kind of had
this parallel journey.
1245
00:52:15,512 --> 00:52:18,036
So we really connect now,
because we're
1246
00:52:18,254 --> 00:52:19,821
strong in the faith.
1247
00:52:20,038 --> 00:52:21,866
The world doesn't get
to us anymore,
1248
00:52:22,084 --> 00:52:24,565
because we have
that strong faith.
1249
00:52:24,781 --> 00:52:27,958
When your Bible's falling
apart, your life isn't.
1250
00:52:28,176 --> 00:52:29,394
You know what I mean?
1251
00:52:29,394 --> 00:52:30,961
I remember somebody
who said, hey,
1252
00:52:31,179 --> 00:52:33,137
I heard Shawn found religion.
1253
00:52:33,355 --> 00:52:34,964
Yeah.
They laughed.
1254
00:52:35,182 --> 00:52:36,662
And I said, well,
I don't know anybody
1255
00:52:36,879 --> 00:52:38,490
that died OD'ing on religion.
1256
00:52:38,707 --> 00:52:40,927
If it works for him,
good for him.
1257
00:52:41,144 --> 00:52:45,060
If he's off drugs,
I don't care how he did it.
1258
00:52:45,278 --> 00:52:48,803
From my faith standpoint,
it's Jesus seeing me
1259
00:52:49,021 --> 00:52:53,329
the way I am, loving me in
spite of all of my screw-ups.
1260
00:52:53,504 --> 00:52:55,069
And my life is different.
1261
00:52:55,287 --> 00:52:56,723
I've been saved.
1262
00:52:56,941 --> 00:52:58,508
Book of Joshua says
to be strong and courageous,
1263
00:52:58,725 --> 00:52:59,596
for I am with you.
1264
00:52:59,813 --> 00:53:00,640
You know what I mean?
1265
00:53:00,858 --> 00:53:01,641
I can do all things.
1266
00:53:01,859 --> 00:53:03,164
And those things just--
1267
00:53:03,382 --> 00:53:04,861
so anyway, it's early on
in your salvation.
1268
00:53:05,078 --> 00:53:06,515
So I'm like, ah-ah.
1269
00:53:06,732 --> 00:53:09,256
I can do--I can walk
on water, you know?
1270
00:53:09,474 --> 00:53:10,431
So I don't know.
1271
00:53:10,606 --> 00:53:11,955
I just felt, like, invincible.
1272
00:53:14,783 --> 00:53:16,045
We're kind of
having conversations,
1273
00:53:16,045 --> 00:53:17,046
I believe, a little bit
at the time.
1274
00:53:17,263 --> 00:53:18,874
And then he said--
1275
00:53:19,091 --> 00:53:20,571
he was like, I want my son
to see me do this one time.
1276
00:53:20,789 --> 00:53:22,051
He said, I don't know
that I can do it.
1277
00:53:22,268 --> 00:53:23,879
I don't know, physically,
if I can or not.
1278
00:53:24,096 --> 00:53:27,142
And he said, if I'm going to,
I only trust one person.
1279
00:53:27,359 --> 00:53:28,665
It's you.
1280
00:53:28,883 --> 00:53:32,930
But if you'd consider it,
I would love to do it.
1281
00:53:33,148 --> 00:53:36,063
Shawn saying, I might
have another one in me--
1282
00:53:36,280 --> 00:53:39,457
him being away,
it leaves a hole.
1283
00:53:39,632 --> 00:53:42,678
Shawn filled a lot of--
a lot of space, man.
1284
00:53:42,896 --> 00:53:44,550
And having Shawn back
is a blessing.
1285
00:53:44,766 --> 00:53:47,769
{\an8}So of course you're gonna
be happy to have him back.
1286
00:53:51,033 --> 00:53:53,166
He is a showstopper.
1287
00:53:53,383 --> 00:53:59,563
His last match March 29,
1998 at WrestleMania.
1288
00:53:59,737 --> 00:54:02,391
We are witnessing something
that we, quite frankly,
1289
00:54:02,566 --> 00:54:04,611
thought we'd never see!
1290
00:54:04,828 --> 00:54:06,525
So I remember
we just loosely talk
1291
00:54:06,699 --> 00:54:07,744
about some things we'll do.
1292
00:54:07,961 --> 00:54:09,963
And I'll call it in the ring.
1293
00:54:13,053 --> 00:54:14,967
This crowd's chanting
for HBK.
1294
00:54:15,185 --> 00:54:16,926
They're trying
to carry him through.
1295
00:54:19,972 --> 00:54:21,452
Got in the ring,
did a couple of things.
1296
00:54:21,626 --> 00:54:22,714
Shawn Michaels, leapfrog.
1297
00:54:22,714 --> 00:54:23,889
What an athlete.
- Look at this!
1298
00:54:24,107 --> 00:54:25,107
And Triple H--
1299
00:54:25,107 --> 00:54:26,891
Michaels sidestepped The Game.
1300
00:54:27,109 --> 00:54:28,589
Triple H has made
a big mistake
1301
00:54:28,763 --> 00:54:31,504
if he underestimates
Shawn Michaels.
1302
00:54:31,679 --> 00:54:33,071
We did the spot.
1303
00:54:33,289 --> 00:54:35,290
And when we came up,
I said, you are fine.
1304
00:54:35,507 --> 00:54:36,291
You haven't missed a step.
1305
00:54:36,508 --> 00:54:37,597
Let's just go.
1306
00:54:37,814 --> 00:54:38,685
Shawn Michaels.
1307
00:54:38,902 --> 00:54:39,686
Vintage Shawn Michaels.
1308
00:54:39,903 --> 00:54:41,992
{\an8}Skinning a cat.
1309
00:54:42,210 --> 00:54:44,690
He goes, oh, my God,
you're back.
1310
00:54:44,907 --> 00:54:46,474
He's like,
he didn't miss a beat.
1311
00:54:46,648 --> 00:54:47,997
He was right back.
1312
00:54:48,215 --> 00:54:51,261
His timing, everything
was just spot-on.
1313
00:54:51,479 --> 00:54:52,523
It was magic.
1314
00:54:52,523 --> 00:54:53,612
He looks to be
in great shape.
1315
00:54:53,786 --> 00:54:54,656
He looks great.
1316
00:54:54,873 --> 00:54:57,136
You gotta give him credit.
1317
00:54:57,353 --> 00:55:01,183
How is this possible
that he is this good
1318
00:55:01,401 --> 00:55:03,011
after all that time,
1319
00:55:03,229 --> 00:55:05,578
the injury,
and everything else?
1320
00:55:05,752 --> 00:55:07,014
Oh!
1321
00:55:07,014 --> 00:55:09,756
Fans, for the love of God,
the elbow
1322
00:55:09,974 --> 00:55:11,628
right to the heart
of The Game.
1323
00:55:11,845 --> 00:55:14,108
I almost feel like
I'm trying to catch up to him.
1324
00:55:14,326 --> 00:55:15,195
Oh.
1325
00:55:15,413 --> 00:55:16,153
Michaels rolled him.
1326
00:55:16,370 --> 00:55:17,154
Will it be?
1327
00:55:17,371 --> 00:55:18,677
Can it be?
1328
00:55:18,895 --> 00:55:19,678
Yes!
1329
00:55:19,896 --> 00:55:20,984
HBK!
1330
00:55:21,201 --> 00:55:23,682
My God, HBK!
1331
00:55:26,423 --> 00:55:28,425
It gives me chills.
1332
00:55:28,643 --> 00:55:29,731
I mean, it's there.
1333
00:55:29,948 --> 00:55:30,775
You know, it's there.
1334
00:55:30,993 --> 00:55:32,734
It's not gone.
1335
00:55:32,734 --> 00:55:35,170
Any performer will tell you,
your confidence is what makes
1336
00:55:35,387 --> 00:55:37,607
or breaks you half the time.
1337
00:55:37,781 --> 00:55:40,958
And so to get that back
was life-altering for me.
1338
00:55:41,176 --> 00:55:44,483
It gave me
another opportunity.
1339
00:55:46,876 --> 00:55:49,749
A lot of things he took for
granted the first time around.
1340
00:55:49,966 --> 00:55:51,968
And when he came
back around again,
1341
00:55:52,186 --> 00:55:55,101
he's like, I don't know
how many chances I get at this.
1342
00:55:55,318 --> 00:55:58,365
I'm gonna enjoy this,
because I thought it was gone.
1343
00:55:58,582 --> 00:56:00,062
And I got the second chance.
1344
00:56:00,062 --> 00:56:03,979
So I'm gonna ride this
for as long as it's right.
1345
00:56:04,197 --> 00:56:05,284
- Sweet Chin Music!
- Oh, he got him.
1346
00:56:05,501 --> 00:56:06,633
Sweet Chin Music!
1347
00:56:06,807 --> 00:56:08,766
{\an8}The cover!
The cover!
1348
00:56:08,983 --> 00:56:09,810
He's got--yeah!
1349
00:56:10,028 --> 00:56:11,420
What?
1350
00:56:11,420 --> 00:56:13,858
Shawn Michaels is
the world's champion!
1351
00:56:14,075 --> 00:56:16,686
Seeing Shawn win the World
Heavyweight Championship
1352
00:56:16,860 --> 00:56:19,689
at the Elimination Chamber,
it was such a feel-good
1353
00:56:19,863 --> 00:56:21,995
moment as a fan to see that.
1354
00:56:22,213 --> 00:56:26,216
When wrestling is done right,
there's nothing like it.
1355
00:56:26,433 --> 00:56:28,174
The purest form
of entertainment,
1356
00:56:28,392 --> 00:56:30,176
because you can just
lose yourself in it.
1357
00:56:30,394 --> 00:56:33,136
And I think that Shawn's
matches, more than anybody,
1358
00:56:33,353 --> 00:56:34,572
achieved that.
1359
00:56:34,745 --> 00:56:35,833
Oh!
1360
00:56:36,051 --> 00:56:37,705
Oh!
1361
00:56:37,879 --> 00:56:41,926
The Heartbreak Kid, Shawn
Michaels, Mr. WrestleMania.
1362
00:56:42,144 --> 00:56:44,233
He's Mr. WrestleMania
for a reason.
1363
00:56:44,450 --> 00:56:46,669
And he really proved it
in those late stages
1364
00:56:46,843 --> 00:56:47,757
of his career.
1365
00:56:47,757 --> 00:56:51,021
{\an8}Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle.
1366
00:56:51,239 --> 00:56:54,242
{\an8}- Look out!
- Oh my God, Michaels!
1367
00:56:54,459 --> 00:56:55,764
John Cena.
1368
00:56:55,982 --> 00:56:58,724
One future legend
after another,
1369
00:56:58,898 --> 00:57:01,683
Shawn is a part
of making those guys.
1370
00:57:01,857 --> 00:57:05,164
And it's kind of a crazy
foreshadowing of where
1371
00:57:05,381 --> 00:57:08,210
his career and legacy would go
1372
00:57:08,428 --> 00:57:10,735
with what he's doing now
in NXT.
1373
00:57:10,909 --> 00:57:14,651
For him, it was
an opportunity to come back
1374
00:57:14,825 --> 00:57:17,262
and I think maybe
right his wrongs.
1375
00:57:17,479 --> 00:57:18,611
Here you are, my man.
Take care.
1376
00:57:18,785 --> 00:57:20,004
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
1377
00:57:20,004 --> 00:57:22,223
There was
an easiness about him.
1378
00:57:22,441 --> 00:57:24,617
I've been waiting
for my cookies.
1379
00:57:24,790 --> 00:57:27,880
Two months with no
chocolate chip cookies, man.
1380
00:57:28,098 --> 00:57:29,490
Can't take it anymore.
1381
00:57:29,708 --> 00:57:32,102
He was just being Shawn,
the new Shawn.
1382
00:57:32,319 --> 00:57:33,843
You could tell, genuinely,
1383
00:57:34,060 --> 00:57:36,105
that he was
a changed human being.
1384
00:57:36,322 --> 00:57:39,412
Those are the kind of people
that I like to be around.
1385
00:57:39,630 --> 00:57:41,675
And I had a different
outlook on life
1386
00:57:41,850 --> 00:57:45,243
and understanding the things
that were important.
1387
00:57:45,461 --> 00:57:48,856
I was willing to give it
my all but at least
1388
00:57:49,073 --> 00:57:50,422
still have enough time at home.
1389
00:57:50,640 --> 00:57:52,120
I didn't work
a full-time schedule.
1390
00:57:52,337 --> 00:57:54,557
I wanted to balance it
as best I could.
1391
00:57:54,774 --> 00:57:57,777
I wanted to be a part of
their lives, my wife and both
1392
00:57:57,994 --> 00:57:59,169
of our children.
1393
00:58:01,693 --> 00:58:02,956
Cut me some slack.
1394
00:58:02,956 --> 00:58:04,261
Just can't help being able
to see your face.
1395
00:58:05,871 --> 00:58:09,700
Ladies and gentlemen,
for the 23rd time,
1396
00:58:09,875 --> 00:58:13,487
we welcome you
to WrestleMania.
1397
00:58:13,704 --> 00:58:16,402
And now, combining these
two worlds that I've never
1398
00:58:16,619 --> 00:58:18,230
had together.
1399
00:58:18,447 --> 00:58:20,101
If you can have peace and joy
1400
00:58:20,319 --> 00:58:21,886
in the midst
of doing your job,
1401
00:58:22,103 --> 00:58:23,278
and your family,
and all of that
1402
00:58:23,278 --> 00:58:25,802
is in communion
with one another,
1403
00:58:25,976 --> 00:58:27,412
it's as good as it gets.
1404
00:58:27,629 --> 00:58:28,500
It's heaven on Earth.
1405
00:58:34,853 --> 00:58:36,115
{\an8}As you know, there are--
1406
00:58:36,333 --> 00:58:37,421
I--yeah.
1407
00:58:39,162 --> 00:58:40,816
{\an8}I was gonna say,
there's cameras--
1408
00:58:40,990 --> 00:58:41,991
You're mic'd.
1409
00:58:42,208 --> 00:58:43,993
Shawn Michaels is my dad.
1410
00:58:46,037 --> 00:58:48,257
He got treated like everybody
else's dad, I feel like.
1411
00:58:48,474 --> 00:58:49,388
You made fun of him.
1412
00:58:49,606 --> 00:58:50,520
You joked with him.
1413
00:58:50,737 --> 00:58:51,608
We argued.
1414
00:58:51,826 --> 00:58:53,131
We did whatever.
1415
00:58:53,131 --> 00:58:56,438
He wasn't necessarily
this guy on a pedestal
1416
00:58:56,655 --> 00:58:59,833
that came home and was like,
yeah, I'm pretty cool.
1417
00:59:00,050 --> 00:59:01,443
I'm Shawn Michaels.
1418
00:59:01,443 --> 00:59:03,967
So that's--just in case
you guys didn't know.
1419
00:59:04,185 --> 00:59:05,663
He was just my dad.
1420
00:59:05,838 --> 00:59:08,275
And he's always been
like that.
1421
00:59:08,492 --> 00:59:11,974
All my dad has ever cared
about is his wife, his kids,
1422
00:59:12,192 --> 00:59:13,933
providing for those people.
1423
00:59:13,933 --> 00:59:16,499
To this day, all my dad wants
to do is put on a good show
1424
00:59:16,717 --> 00:59:18,850
and go home
to his wife and watch
1425
00:59:19,067 --> 00:59:20,852
TV together
and spend time together,
1426
00:59:21,069 --> 00:59:22,592
or hang out with his kids.
1427
00:59:22,810 --> 00:59:25,203
It's this week, double taping,
and then "Evolve."
1428
00:59:25,420 --> 00:59:26,857
But you're gonna
be gone for that.
1429
00:59:27,031 --> 00:59:29,598
Next week is--
yeah, next week, double taping.
1430
00:59:29,816 --> 00:59:31,339
I started working here
when I was 19.
1431
00:59:31,557 --> 00:59:33,298
And it's actually
a funny story.
1432
00:59:34,951 --> 00:59:37,867
I was on the way to my
high school graduation.
1433
00:59:38,084 --> 00:59:39,694
Hunter was on
a phone call with him.
1434
00:59:39,869 --> 00:59:41,392
He told him
where we were going.
1435
00:59:41,609 --> 00:59:43,394
And he started asking
about what I wanted to do,
1436
00:59:43,611 --> 00:59:44,482
what I was interested in.
1437
00:59:44,698 --> 00:59:46,222
And my dad told him.
1438
00:59:46,439 --> 00:59:48,180
{\an8}I enjoyed hair and makeup.
1439
00:59:48,398 --> 00:59:51,836
That was just a passion of
mine, what I really enjoyed.
1440
00:59:52,010 --> 00:59:55,404
So Hunter got me in touch
with the head of the hair
1441
00:59:55,621 --> 00:59:57,014
and makeup department.
1442
00:59:57,014 --> 01:00:00,191
And then it turned into,
be here on Tuesday.
1443
01:00:00,409 --> 01:00:01,453
And if you make it,
you make it.
1444
01:00:01,671 --> 01:00:02,846
And if you don't, you don't.
1445
01:00:03,020 --> 01:00:05,892
And I've worked here
ever since.
1446
01:00:06,109 --> 01:00:06,893
Oh, my goodness.
1447
01:00:07,110 --> 01:00:08,285
What are you doing here?
1448
01:00:08,503 --> 01:00:09,678
Holy shit.
1449
01:00:09,896 --> 01:00:10,592
I knew he was going
to do that, too.
1450
01:00:10,809 --> 01:00:12,028
Oh, my goodness.
1451
01:00:12,246 --> 01:00:13,900
- Hey.
- What an awesome surprise.
1452
01:00:14,074 --> 01:00:14,900
How are you doing?
1453
01:00:15,074 --> 01:00:16,292
I'm doing great.
1454
01:00:16,292 --> 01:00:17,641
Did they ask you to come down?
- Yeah.
1455
01:00:17,859 --> 01:00:18,947
Oh, my goodness.
That's so awesome.
1456
01:00:19,165 --> 01:00:20,035
I'm here to help out.
1457
01:00:20,253 --> 01:00:21,776
Oh, that's wonderful.
1458
01:00:21,950 --> 01:00:24,039
Looking right into camera.
1459
01:00:24,257 --> 01:00:25,779
Nice.
1460
01:00:25,953 --> 01:00:27,563
My brother's always
been a great artist.
1461
01:00:27,781 --> 01:00:31,524
And he is a part of the
creative department at WWE.
1462
01:00:34,179 --> 01:00:35,744
{\an8}Aw.
1463
01:00:35,919 --> 01:00:39,139
It's a huge opportunity,
a huge responsibility.
1464
01:00:39,357 --> 01:00:40,880
On one hand, people go like,
oh, they're your kids.
1465
01:00:41,054 --> 01:00:42,316
It's easy.
1466
01:00:42,316 --> 01:00:44,752
And in some respects,
I guess it is.
1467
01:00:44,927 --> 01:00:46,711
But then another aspect,
you get held
1468
01:00:46,929 --> 01:00:48,278
to a different standard
as well.
1469
01:00:48,495 --> 01:00:51,020
They have a work ethic
like nobody's business.
1470
01:00:51,237 --> 01:00:53,805
And I couldn't be
more proud of both of them
1471
01:00:53,979 --> 01:00:56,372
for who they are more
importantly than what they do.
1472
01:00:56,589 --> 01:00:57,764
I'm so giddy.
1473
01:00:57,939 --> 01:00:58,635
Thank you guys so much.
- I don't know--
1474
01:00:58,852 --> 01:01:00,158
It's wonderful.
1475
01:01:00,376 --> 01:01:01,507
You get to hang out
with all your kids.
1476
01:01:01,507 --> 01:01:02,944
- I know. This is so cool.
- Yeah.
1477
01:01:02,944 --> 01:01:03,901
You looked at me for,
like, a solid two seconds.
1478
01:01:03,901 --> 01:01:05,293
You see me four times
a week--
1479
01:01:05,510 --> 01:01:06,555
- You--you're all the time.
- all the time.
1480
01:01:06,555 --> 01:01:07,686
- So it's not as cool.
- Yeah.
1481
01:01:07,904 --> 01:01:08,949
- Damn. Damn.
- Get that on camera.
1482
01:01:09,123 --> 01:01:10,211
Neglected.
1483
01:01:10,211 --> 01:01:11,864
And my baby boy
is even better.
1484
01:01:12,039 --> 01:01:13,040
I'm the favorite.
1485
01:01:13,257 --> 01:01:14,432
I'm the favorite.
1486
01:01:27,313 --> 01:01:28,967
I gotta stretch
probably 15 minutes
1487
01:01:29,141 --> 01:01:30,011
before I can even start moving.
1488
01:01:33,449 --> 01:01:36,103
Everything really changes
after I had my back fused.
1489
01:01:36,321 --> 01:01:38,845
That's when I started
doing yoga and obviously
1490
01:01:39,019 --> 01:01:40,890
stretched a lot more,
and understanding
1491
01:01:41,065 --> 01:01:43,197
my body a bit better.
1492
01:01:45,155 --> 01:01:48,549
For me, it was more
about mobility.
1493
01:01:48,767 --> 01:01:54,077
And the older I got, the
mobility helped a lot more.
1494
01:01:54,294 --> 01:01:56,948
This is the player watch,
WrestleMania 24.
1495
01:01:57,122 --> 01:01:59,211
I got one for both
myself and Ric
1496
01:01:59,429 --> 01:02:01,997
when I had his retirement match
at WrestleMania.
1497
01:02:02,214 --> 01:02:03,781
It's something
that means a lot to me.
1498
01:02:03,999 --> 01:02:05,390
So I've just been trying
to wear it a little more.
1499
01:02:09,916 --> 01:02:12,397
I've sort of
submitted to the fact
1500
01:02:12,615 --> 01:02:15,095
that I am not going
to be able to emotionally
1501
01:02:15,312 --> 01:02:17,314
detach myself
from the situation,
1502
01:02:17,532 --> 01:02:19,925
although I have tried.
1503
01:02:20,100 --> 01:02:24,147
The guy I idolized growing up,
my hero, made a request of me.
1504
01:02:24,365 --> 01:02:27,367
And that is to let me know that
the best way that I can honor
1505
01:02:27,584 --> 01:02:30,413
him is to go out there
and give him my best,
1506
01:02:30,631 --> 01:02:32,111
go out there
and be the showstopper,
1507
01:02:32,328 --> 01:02:35,156
be Mr. WrestleMania.
1508
01:02:35,374 --> 01:02:37,593
{\an8}The time has come
for the Nature Boy Ric Flair
1509
01:02:37,811 --> 01:02:41,032
to put his career on the line
against Shawn Michaels.
1510
01:02:41,206 --> 01:02:42,685
Whoo!
1511
01:02:42,903 --> 01:02:44,600
Shawn just said to me that,
I'm leading this,
1512
01:02:44,817 --> 01:02:47,298
and that's the way
it's gonna be.
1513
01:02:47,515 --> 01:02:49,039
It took a load
off my shoulders,
1514
01:02:49,213 --> 01:02:51,780
to know that he felt
that good about it.
1515
01:02:51,998 --> 01:02:55,131
{\an8}He gave everything that
anybody could ever give
1516
01:02:55,348 --> 01:02:57,959
{\an8}to a match that night,
and more.
1517
01:02:58,134 --> 01:02:59,657
Michaels' body is--oh.
1518
01:02:59,874 --> 01:03:01,876
Oh, no.
Out of nowhere.
1519
01:03:02,051 --> 01:03:06,576
Shawn Michaels obviously
grew up idolizing Ric Flair.
1520
01:03:06,793 --> 01:03:10,928
And now he is tasked
with the unenviable mission
1521
01:03:11,102 --> 01:03:14,497
of ending Ric Flair's career.
1522
01:03:14,713 --> 01:03:15,540
I'm sorry.
1523
01:03:15,758 --> 01:03:17,455
I love you.
1524
01:03:17,673 --> 01:03:21,068
Oh!
1525
01:03:21,242 --> 01:03:23,026
It's a great moment
in wrestling.
1526
01:03:23,200 --> 01:03:26,463
1, 2, 3.
1527
01:03:30,250 --> 01:03:31,773
Every time I get
the opportunity
1528
01:03:31,773 --> 01:03:34,297
to talk about that match,
I continue to reminisce.
1529
01:03:34,515 --> 01:03:36,820
And it kind of just
always restores my love
1530
01:03:37,038 --> 01:03:39,432
and joy for doing this job.
1531
01:03:39,649 --> 01:03:42,652
And being in there
with Ric always
1532
01:03:42,870 --> 01:03:46,481
takes me back to the idea
that, can you believe it?
1533
01:03:46,699 --> 01:03:48,048
You're actually
in there with the Naytch
1534
01:03:48,222 --> 01:03:50,094
and gonna have his last match.
1535
01:03:50,311 --> 01:03:52,400
And I got to do my version
of Naytching,
1536
01:03:52,618 --> 01:03:56,751
which is spending a lot of
money on stuff you don't need.
1537
01:03:56,969 --> 01:03:59,406
This was important to me
1538
01:03:59,624 --> 01:04:01,800
and clearly meant a lot
to him.
1539
01:04:04,715 --> 01:04:08,414
About 10 past 24,
if you feel what I'm--
1540
01:04:08,632 --> 01:04:10,982
Watch with a black face
with the 24.
1541
01:04:11,156 --> 01:04:12,636
You've seen it, right?
1542
01:04:12,853 --> 01:04:15,072
He had it all engraved
and everything.
1543
01:04:15,246 --> 01:04:17,379
I'd love to tell you
the time, but the glare off
1544
01:04:17,596 --> 01:04:19,555
our watches is way too bright.
1545
01:04:19,772 --> 01:04:22,166
The glare off of all those
diamonds is blinding me.
1546
01:04:24,776 --> 01:04:28,911
I had the moment
at 24 with Ric.
1547
01:04:29,129 --> 01:04:31,392
And then the opportunity
that I had with Taker.
1548
01:04:34,438 --> 01:04:36,178
When 25 comes along,
1549
01:04:36,396 --> 01:04:38,093
he is a changed human being.
1550
01:04:38,267 --> 01:04:41,966
And we are on a level
now where
1551
01:04:42,141 --> 01:04:44,968
our friendship is
just as important now
1552
01:04:45,143 --> 01:04:46,709
as the business side of it.
1553
01:04:46,927 --> 01:04:50,017
It is game day
for Mr. WrestleMania.
1554
01:04:50,191 --> 01:04:51,758
To me, it's about
the grandeur of it.
1555
01:04:51,975 --> 01:04:53,194
It's about the story
1556
01:04:53,194 --> 01:04:56,109
and I think
just like the visuals
1557
01:04:56,283 --> 01:04:58,764
of seeing Shawn Michaels
and Undertaker just being
1558
01:04:58,981 --> 01:05:02,159
portrayed as visual opposites.
1559
01:05:02,376 --> 01:05:04,161
Big, small.
1560
01:05:04,378 --> 01:05:06,249
Dark and imposing.
1561
01:05:06,466 --> 01:05:08,729
Bright and obnoxious.
1562
01:05:08,947 --> 01:05:11,428
Opposite in every way.
1563
01:05:11,645 --> 01:05:14,431
And to me,
that's freaking awesome.
1564
01:05:14,647 --> 01:05:16,997
All he had to do
was be Shawn Michaels.
1565
01:05:17,172 --> 01:05:20,131
And all I had to do
was be The Undertaker.
1566
01:05:20,305 --> 01:05:24,179
Both of us in the twilight of
our careers, we're going out,
1567
01:05:24,396 --> 01:05:26,136
and we're gonna steal the show.
1568
01:05:26,310 --> 01:05:30,749
We are seeing
two bona fide Hall of Famers.
1569
01:05:30,967 --> 01:05:33,709
A sudden Sweet Chin Music.
1570
01:05:33,926 --> 01:05:36,798
To me, WrestleMania 25,
Shawn-Taker, is one of the
1571
01:05:37,015 --> 01:05:38,756
best WrestleMania matches ever.
1572
01:05:38,974 --> 01:05:40,410
- Oh!
- Tombstone!
1573
01:05:40,628 --> 01:05:41,585
Tombstone!
1574
01:05:41,803 --> 01:05:43,892
{\an8}My God, Michaels got caught!
1575
01:05:44,109 --> 01:05:45,066
{\an8}Tombstone!
1576
01:05:45,240 --> 01:05:46,154
{\an8}The count.
1577
01:05:46,328 --> 01:05:47,111
{\an8}2, 3.
1578
01:05:47,286 --> 01:05:48,200
And a kick out!
1579
01:05:48,374 --> 01:05:50,593
I am not believing this!
1580
01:05:50,811 --> 01:05:51,681
All the stars aligned.
1581
01:05:51,681 --> 01:05:53,030
{\an8}Everything's going right.
1582
01:05:53,205 --> 01:05:55,162
Everything clicks.
It all works.
1583
01:05:55,336 --> 01:05:56,424
Here he comes.
Incoming!
1584
01:05:56,642 --> 01:05:58,078
Catching Michaels.
1585
01:05:58,252 --> 01:05:59,949
One of the greatest
matches of all time,
1586
01:06:00,167 --> 01:06:01,255
and that was magic.
1587
01:06:01,473 --> 01:06:04,779
Tombstone piledriver.
1588
01:06:04,997 --> 01:06:07,173
1, 2, 3.
1589
01:06:07,347 --> 01:06:12,004
He did it!
1590
01:06:14,528 --> 01:06:16,181
It is the best match
that I think
1591
01:06:16,355 --> 01:06:18,357
that I have ever been in,
1592
01:06:18,575 --> 01:06:20,838
and it took
the least amount of effort.
1593
01:06:21,055 --> 01:06:22,622
I had that match
with Taker, and that
1594
01:06:22,840 --> 01:06:24,754
was the first time that
I ever felt like I'd be
1595
01:06:24,971 --> 01:06:26,799
OK if that was the last one.
1596
01:06:27,017 --> 01:06:30,716
It's one glorious moment
after another,
1597
01:06:30,934 --> 01:06:32,283
but how do you end it?
1598
01:06:32,501 --> 01:06:33,328
How does it end?
1599
01:06:35,590 --> 01:06:37,809
{\an8}You're coming back
for another one,
1600
01:06:38,027 --> 01:06:42,553
and this just so happens
to be his retirement match.
1601
01:06:42,771 --> 01:06:45,251
This entire journey,
this entire arc
1602
01:06:45,468 --> 01:06:48,950
of this guy, this character,
that essentially when
1603
01:06:49,167 --> 01:06:51,300
everything is said and done,
is the Heartbreak Kid,
1604
01:06:51,518 --> 01:06:55,260
Shawn Michaels, you know,
to go out on your last one,
1605
01:06:55,477 --> 01:06:58,045
I wanted it to be poetic.
1606
01:06:58,263 --> 01:06:59,829
I have complete peace with it.
1607
01:07:00,047 --> 01:07:03,529
So I just knew that it's like,
I can do this.
1608
01:07:03,746 --> 01:07:05,878
And it does not appear
that Shawn Michaels
1609
01:07:06,095 --> 01:07:08,184
is intimidated at all.
1610
01:07:08,359 --> 01:07:12,928
The resilience of Shawn
Michaels is unbelievable.
1611
01:07:14,799 --> 01:07:17,758
If he's going to go out,
he has to go out on his terms.
1612
01:07:17,976 --> 01:07:19,325
It's art imitating life.
1613
01:07:19,543 --> 01:07:20,805
Oh.
1614
01:07:21,022 --> 01:07:22,937
Well, if Shawn Michaels
is going out,
1615
01:07:23,155 --> 01:07:24,895
he's going out
as defiant as ever.
1616
01:07:25,112 --> 01:07:27,071
{\an8}That look of disbelief
on the face of the Undertaker
1617
01:07:27,289 --> 01:07:28,507
has turned into a look
of rage.
1618
01:07:28,725 --> 01:07:29,552
Ahh!
1619
01:07:29,769 --> 01:07:32,076
Tombstone.
1620
01:07:32,294 --> 01:07:33,382
Here's the cover.
1621
01:07:33,599 --> 01:07:36,514
1, 2, 3.
1622
01:07:39,822 --> 01:07:43,565
Shawn Michaels' career
is over.
1623
01:07:45,479 --> 01:07:48,264
I don't know if I've ever
seen a moment like this.
1624
01:07:48,438 --> 01:07:53,051
This might be the ultimate
WrestleMania moment.
1625
01:07:53,269 --> 01:07:56,315
Shawn, we'll miss you.
1626
01:08:06,149 --> 01:08:07,760
I'm in the background,
arms crossed.
1627
01:08:07,977 --> 01:08:09,501
I'm...
1628
01:08:09,718 --> 01:08:12,417
I hated The Undertaker.
1629
01:08:15,506 --> 01:08:17,595
I very much enjoyed
those matches with him.
1630
01:08:17,812 --> 01:08:20,162
I very much enjoyed my career.
1631
01:08:20,337 --> 01:08:21,642
When everything
is said and done,
1632
01:08:21,860 --> 01:08:24,428
isn't that how it's
supposed to be?
1633
01:08:35,437 --> 01:08:39,179
I thank you all so much
for giving me
1634
01:08:39,354 --> 01:08:43,662
the honor and the privilege
to come out here
1635
01:08:43,880 --> 01:08:47,361
and let me show off in front
of you every night of my life.
1636
01:08:49,101 --> 01:08:52,366
He left the way
you should leave.
1637
01:08:52,540 --> 01:08:55,846
He was at such peace
with his decision.
1638
01:08:56,064 --> 01:08:57,544
He was fulfilled.
1639
01:09:00,851 --> 01:09:03,201
This business is your life
when you're on the road
1640
01:09:03,376 --> 01:09:04,811
and doing it in a lot of ways.
1641
01:09:05,028 --> 01:09:06,116
All right, call you tomorrow.
1642
01:09:06,334 --> 01:09:09,163
I'll call you
tomorrow, buddy.
1643
01:09:09,381 --> 01:09:12,035
When you decide, that's it,
1644
01:09:12,253 --> 01:09:14,820
there's a brick wall
stop moment.
1645
01:09:17,910 --> 01:09:19,346
I'm in it every day.
1646
01:09:19,520 --> 01:09:21,130
It's all I talk about
and all I do to--
1647
01:09:21,348 --> 01:09:22,262
I'm not around it.
1648
01:09:22,436 --> 01:09:24,003
I don't see people.
1649
01:09:24,220 --> 01:09:26,396
I don't talk to those people,
because they're all busy.
1650
01:09:26,613 --> 01:09:28,180
And you understand that.
1651
01:09:28,398 --> 01:09:30,922
So Shawn had gone down
this road where he wasn't
1652
01:09:31,139 --> 01:09:33,098
involved in the business
at all.
1653
01:09:33,315 --> 01:09:34,316
He was doing other things.
1654
01:09:34,491 --> 01:09:36,013
He had a hunting show.
1655
01:09:37,536 --> 01:09:39,190
- Oh.
- Dude.
1656
01:09:39,408 --> 01:09:41,018
Oh, I almost--
1657
01:09:41,235 --> 01:09:42,585
No way.
1658
01:09:42,802 --> 01:09:44,716
We have to thank
each and every one of you
1659
01:09:44,934 --> 01:09:47,545
for making
"MacMillan River Adventures"
1660
01:09:47,763 --> 01:09:50,113
one of, if not the most
successful show
1661
01:09:50,330 --> 01:09:51,593
on the Outdoor Channel.
1662
01:09:51,810 --> 01:09:54,682
Life after wrestling
led me to retirement
1663
01:09:54,899 --> 01:09:57,467
and living out on a ranch
in the middle of nowhere
1664
01:09:57,685 --> 01:10:00,992
in West Texas.
1665
01:10:01,210 --> 01:10:02,994
Seeing Hunter
once in a blue moon
1666
01:10:03,212 --> 01:10:05,343
when I went back to do
a special appearance.
1667
01:10:05,518 --> 01:10:09,522
To Shawn. It's S-H-A-W-N.
1668
01:10:09,739 --> 01:10:10,871
I'm your biggest fan.
1669
01:10:10,871 --> 01:10:12,699
I know you hear that
all the time.
1670
01:10:12,916 --> 01:10:14,700
But...
1671
01:10:14,917 --> 01:10:16,353
- I'm your biggest fan?
- Yeah.
1672
01:10:16,528 --> 01:10:17,529
You're my biggest fan.
1673
01:10:17,746 --> 01:10:20,836
Yeah.
1674
01:10:21,054 --> 01:10:25,536
As Triple H's in-ring career
started to wind down,
1675
01:10:25,753 --> 01:10:30,192
he just naturally transitioned
into the development
1676
01:10:30,410 --> 01:10:33,282
of other talent
in creating NXT.
1677
01:10:33,457 --> 01:10:37,155
NXT is the next generation.
1678
01:10:42,421 --> 01:10:44,683
Shawn was super into
the behind-the-scenes
1679
01:10:44,901 --> 01:10:46,119
of the business like I was,
1680
01:10:46,337 --> 01:10:48,252
but just never saw it
as a path.
1681
01:10:50,123 --> 01:10:52,735
But at some point,
Shawn called me.
1682
01:10:52,952 --> 01:10:55,693
He was bringing his family
to see his wife's family.
1683
01:10:57,390 --> 01:10:58,827
So he was gonna be
in the area for a few weeks
1684
01:10:59,044 --> 01:11:00,872
for, like, a summer vacation.
1685
01:11:01,090 --> 01:11:04,658
He was interested in seeing
the PC and being there.
1686
01:11:04,875 --> 01:11:07,356
I could just see his spark
for the business.
1687
01:11:09,358 --> 01:11:13,884
{\an8}It was just that feeling that
I hadn't felt since retirement
1688
01:11:14,102 --> 01:11:16,799
eased its way back
into my life.
1689
01:11:17,017 --> 01:11:18,497
We're in Florida, Orlando.
1690
01:11:18,714 --> 01:11:20,542
Our friends are taking us
to all these places.
1691
01:11:20,760 --> 01:11:22,065
You're doing
all this fun stuff.
1692
01:11:22,283 --> 01:11:23,719
I'm like, yeah,
and Dad's doing work.
1693
01:11:23,937 --> 01:11:25,851
Great. I don't care.
1694
01:11:26,068 --> 01:11:28,593
We were in Florida
on vacation still,
1695
01:11:28,810 --> 01:11:30,682
and we walked by a house.
1696
01:11:30,899 --> 01:11:32,553
They were like, yeah,
we rented this house.
1697
01:11:32,771 --> 01:11:34,424
We're staying here
for a while.
1698
01:11:34,598 --> 01:11:36,556
Like, we're thinking
about moving here.
1699
01:11:36,774 --> 01:11:39,733
By the time we had
finished that vacation,
1700
01:11:39,951 --> 01:11:43,694
we had made the decision
to go back home to Texas,
1701
01:11:43,911 --> 01:11:46,130
pack up, move our
entire lives to Florida,
1702
01:11:46,347 --> 01:11:47,914
which is exactly what we did.
1703
01:11:49,742 --> 01:11:51,962
I think Shawn becoming
part of NXT
1704
01:11:52,179 --> 01:11:56,922
was this long, sinister
plan by Triple H.
1705
01:11:57,140 --> 01:11:59,838
Hunter knew once
Shawn did this to Owen,
1706
01:12:00,056 --> 01:12:02,014
he was jumping all in.
1707
01:12:02,232 --> 01:12:05,887
To me, the second
Shawn said, I'm in,
1708
01:12:06,104 --> 01:12:07,541
I didn't have a new coach.
1709
01:12:07,758 --> 01:12:10,239
I had one Shawn Michaels.
Oh, good.
1710
01:12:10,456 --> 01:12:12,067
I got somebody with one
of the greatest minds
1711
01:12:12,284 --> 01:12:13,982
in the business
that can help this product
1712
01:12:14,199 --> 01:12:16,810
immensely across the board
no matter what it is.
1713
01:12:17,027 --> 01:12:19,247
When I saw the opportunity,
like you were coming to the PC,
1714
01:12:19,464 --> 01:12:20,422
I literally looked online.
1715
01:12:20,422 --> 01:12:21,597
I was still doing the indies.
1716
01:12:21,597 --> 01:12:22,859
And I was like, wow,
I would be going
1717
01:12:23,077 --> 01:12:24,339
to work for Shawn Michaels.
1718
01:12:24,339 --> 01:12:25,992
I'll drive 10 hours,
a 4-hour round trip
1719
01:12:26,209 --> 01:12:26,993
a couple of days a week.
1720
01:12:27,210 --> 01:12:28,647
That's nothing.
1721
01:12:28,647 --> 01:12:30,431
One of the greatest
to ever get in the ring.
1722
01:12:30,605 --> 01:12:33,260
Who else would you want
teaching the next generations
1723
01:12:33,477 --> 01:12:35,217
of sports entertainers?
1724
01:12:35,435 --> 01:12:37,916
It's the giving back
to the business
1725
01:12:38,133 --> 01:12:40,092
that had been so good
to me and my family.
1726
01:12:40,309 --> 01:12:43,443
I had a great amount of joy
getting to do it.
1727
01:12:44,791 --> 01:12:46,314
I remember him asking me,
like, "Hey,
1728
01:12:46,314 --> 01:12:48,142
so I think I'm ready to start
having my own class."
1729
01:12:48,360 --> 01:12:49,970
And I remember telling
Hunter like,
1730
01:12:50,188 --> 01:12:51,668
he wants his own class now.
1731
01:12:53,539 --> 01:12:54,800
I said, OK.
1732
01:12:54,800 --> 01:12:56,497
Well, we're going to watch
the matches.
1733
01:12:56,672 --> 01:13:00,066
I want you to do the best
you can to listen to the crowd
1734
01:13:00,284 --> 01:13:03,548
while these matches
are going on.
1735
01:13:03,722 --> 01:13:06,768
What they inherently end up
doing is focusing on the moves
1736
01:13:06,985 --> 01:13:08,726
and what they're doing
and getting
1737
01:13:08,944 --> 01:13:10,946
caught up in the action.
1738
01:13:15,340 --> 01:13:17,908
I had us go back,
watch those same matches,
1739
01:13:18,126 --> 01:13:19,431
but turn the lights off
and made everybody
1740
01:13:19,606 --> 01:13:21,520
close their eyes
and then just listen.
1741
01:13:25,828 --> 01:13:28,178
For a while, they all thought
I was kind of crazy
1742
01:13:28,396 --> 01:13:30,267
and didn't understand
what I was doing.
1743
01:13:30,485 --> 01:13:33,053
But after a while,
as they began to sort of
1744
01:13:33,270 --> 01:13:35,141
listen to the crowd
1745
01:13:35,358 --> 01:13:39,058
and then recollect where
they were at in the matches,
1746
01:13:39,275 --> 01:13:41,451
they understood
what I was talking about.
1747
01:13:41,626 --> 01:13:43,105
When you set that standard,
1748
01:13:43,323 --> 01:13:46,586
you sort of got to live up
to it every time.
1749
01:13:46,760 --> 01:13:48,283
I was in his class.
1750
01:13:48,501 --> 01:13:49,763
That's why he has
all these accolades,
1751
01:13:49,763 --> 01:13:52,940
because he was that meticulous
in his art.
1752
01:13:53,158 --> 01:13:55,594
So I remember I was
working with Eric Young.
1753
01:13:55,768 --> 01:13:57,422
For three weeks
leading up to this match,
1754
01:13:57,640 --> 01:13:59,163
we had a hard time finding
our way into the finish.
1755
01:13:59,380 --> 01:14:01,339
So I'm like,
let's just ask Shawn.
1756
01:14:01,556 --> 01:14:03,950
He goes, OK.
1757
01:14:07,039 --> 01:14:10,739
Why don't you slide,
hit those two?
1758
01:14:10,956 --> 01:14:12,523
Go to do
a Skin The Cat back in.
1759
01:14:12,697 --> 01:14:15,394
He grabs you off the ropes,
and hit him.
1760
01:14:15,612 --> 01:14:16,439
Neckbreaker.
1761
01:14:16,657 --> 01:14:17,483
3!
1762
01:14:19,094 --> 01:14:22,663
He got it in, like--
at 15 seconds.
1763
01:14:22,880 --> 01:14:23,881
That's the legendary mind.
1764
01:14:24,099 --> 01:14:26,056
And that's just--that's Shawn.
1765
01:14:28,406 --> 01:14:31,148
The thing about Shawn is,
at first, he was very much,
1766
01:14:31,366 --> 01:14:32,584
you know,
I can contribute like this.
1767
01:14:32,759 --> 01:14:34,456
I can contribute like that,
1768
01:14:34,673 --> 01:14:36,152
you know, but I wouldn't want
any responsibility.
1769
01:14:36,370 --> 01:14:37,719
He wants a job,
but he doesn't want a job.
1770
01:14:37,719 --> 01:14:39,939
He doesn't want
the responsibility of a job.
1771
01:14:40,156 --> 01:14:43,159
{\an8}But I also knew, once you
start to get into this,
1772
01:14:43,377 --> 01:14:44,682
{\an8}it's addictive.
1773
01:14:44,899 --> 01:14:45,987
{\an8}I've joked with him
about this before.
1774
01:14:46,205 --> 01:14:47,206
I just had to give you a taste,
1775
01:14:47,423 --> 01:14:48,337
and then you'd come back
for more.
1776
01:14:48,337 --> 01:14:51,471
Right? Like--like a dealer.
1777
01:14:51,689 --> 01:14:54,256
My role kind of slowly
gets bigger and bigger
1778
01:14:54,474 --> 01:14:56,257
as time goes on.
1779
01:14:56,475 --> 01:14:57,606
Things are gonna move fast.
1780
01:14:57,781 --> 01:14:59,347
And that's how
this line of work is.
1781
01:14:59,565 --> 01:15:00,653
So that's the only thing
I'm gonna say is,
1782
01:15:00,827 --> 01:15:02,176
take the time.
1783
01:15:02,176 --> 01:15:03,917
Every now and then,
when you get out there,
1784
01:15:04,135 --> 01:15:05,439
take a look around.
1785
01:15:05,439 --> 01:15:07,746
Look at those people,
and take it all in.
1786
01:15:07,964 --> 01:15:09,748
I can't speak for everybody,
but let yourself be
1787
01:15:09,966 --> 01:15:12,359
certainly what I was,
and that is
1788
01:15:12,577 --> 01:15:15,057
a 12- to 15-year-old kid
going, oh, my goodness,
1789
01:15:15,274 --> 01:15:18,625
I can't believe I made it
and I'm here doing this.
1790
01:15:18,800 --> 01:15:20,410
Well, I was having fun
doing NXT
1791
01:15:20,627 --> 01:15:22,238
and all that stuff beforehand.
1792
01:15:22,455 --> 01:15:24,283
Now, all of a sudden,
he's back doing it with me,
1793
01:15:24,501 --> 01:15:25,544
sitting next to me.
1794
01:15:25,719 --> 01:15:28,112
{\an8}That's awesome! That's awesome!
1795
01:15:28,330 --> 01:15:29,679
{\an8}Attaboy, Johnny.
1796
01:15:29,853 --> 01:15:31,986
{\an8}That's awesome.
1797
01:15:32,203 --> 01:15:33,683
Being able to work
with your best friend
1798
01:15:33,857 --> 01:15:35,553
on a regular basis,
it really was
1799
01:15:35,728 --> 01:15:38,034
as close as we could get
to getting back
1800
01:15:38,252 --> 01:15:41,037
in the car with one another,
driving down the road,
1801
01:15:41,255 --> 01:15:42,735
and talking about wrestling.
1802
01:15:42,909 --> 01:15:44,997
We both, like, a big fight,
we just--
1803
01:15:47,782 --> 01:15:49,523
I know what he's thinking.
He knows what I'm thinking.
1804
01:15:49,741 --> 01:15:51,830
I can bring up one thing.
He knows exactly what I mean.
1805
01:15:52,047 --> 01:15:54,962
I don't have to long-form
spell it out for him
1806
01:15:55,180 --> 01:15:57,573
or give him the full idea,
and vice versa, same.
1807
01:15:57,748 --> 01:15:58,792
Get it to work.
1808
01:15:59,010 --> 01:16:00,054
Boom, boom, boom, boom.
1809
01:16:00,272 --> 01:16:01,142
Bing, bam, bam.
1810
01:16:01,360 --> 01:16:03,101
Bam, boom, kicks.
1811
01:16:03,101 --> 01:16:05,450
Watching those two know what
the other person is thinking
1812
01:16:05,667 --> 01:16:08,801
and almost watching as--
like it's a movie,
1813
01:16:09,019 --> 01:16:11,804
like you're the firsthand,
like, seat to a movie.
1814
01:16:12,022 --> 01:16:14,719
Having the opportunity to
sit there and listen to them,
1815
01:16:14,893 --> 01:16:16,982
the ideas that they have,
there are times that I'm like,
1816
01:16:17,200 --> 01:16:18,984
oh, why didn't I think of that?
1817
01:16:19,202 --> 01:16:20,420
I want to think of that.
1818
01:16:20,638 --> 01:16:21,857
I want to be on
that level that
1819
01:16:22,074 --> 01:16:23,684
it comes to them like that.
1820
01:16:23,859 --> 01:16:25,947
{\an8}You know, he was kind of
my right hand there.
1821
01:16:26,164 --> 01:16:28,732
{\an8}And then, in my mind,
that was becoming the plan
1822
01:16:28,906 --> 01:16:33,084
{\an8}of, like, OK, if I ever
have to take "Raw,"
1823
01:16:33,302 --> 01:16:34,303
SmackDown, or any of that--
1824
01:16:34,520 --> 01:16:36,130
if I have to move up the line,
1825
01:16:36,347 --> 01:16:39,307
if I have to take on
a different role,
1826
01:16:39,524 --> 01:16:41,788
he could handle that.
1827
01:16:42,005 --> 01:16:43,790
That stuff going on.
1828
01:16:44,007 --> 01:16:45,747
And then that's
sort of what happened.
1829
01:16:51,013 --> 01:16:53,189
{\an8}I'm looking for people
that stand out in a crowd.
1830
01:16:53,407 --> 01:16:55,582
I'm looking for people
that are larger than life.
1831
01:16:55,800 --> 01:17:00,239
We had been running hard,
Vegas, LA, LA back to Orlando.
1832
01:17:00,456 --> 01:17:04,156
And I was sick while
I was along this tour.
1833
01:17:04,373 --> 01:17:06,505
But I just thought I had,
like, flu or something.
1834
01:17:06,722 --> 01:17:09,421
That leads me
to finding out, like--
1835
01:17:09,638 --> 01:17:12,816
getting a phone call
from a doctor telling me,
1836
01:17:12,990 --> 01:17:15,513
hey, you need to go
to pack a little bag
1837
01:17:15,730 --> 01:17:16,514
right this second.
1838
01:17:16,731 --> 01:17:17,515
Do not dillydally.
1839
01:17:17,732 --> 01:17:19,082
Put it in the car.
1840
01:17:19,299 --> 01:17:20,126
Have your wife drive you.
1841
01:17:20,344 --> 01:17:21,780
Don't drive yourself.
1842
01:17:21,954 --> 01:17:24,174
Go to Yale in New Haven.
1843
01:17:24,391 --> 01:17:25,609
And I was like,
what is going on?
1844
01:17:25,609 --> 01:17:26,828
And they go,
"You're in heart failure."
1845
01:17:33,008 --> 01:17:36,837
Looking back on it,
it's all kind of a blur.
1846
01:17:37,011 --> 01:17:40,753
Your buddy, who's had this
very real-life,
1847
01:17:40,928 --> 01:17:44,844
traumatic moment in his life,
that in and of itself,
1848
01:17:45,061 --> 01:17:48,195
on a whole separate level,
was just tough personally.
1849
01:17:49,936 --> 01:17:52,634
In 2021,
we're looking for somebody
1850
01:17:52,852 --> 01:17:55,375
due to Triple H's
health scare.
1851
01:17:55,592 --> 01:17:57,377
OK, who can step in
and just do this?
1852
01:17:57,594 --> 01:17:59,858
It was Shawn. Shawn was there.
1853
01:18:00,032 --> 01:18:02,077
He had prepared for it
his entire life.
1854
01:18:02,295 --> 01:18:03,644
He just didn't know it.
1855
01:18:03,644 --> 01:18:05,558
Honestly, I didn't want
the responsibility.
1856
01:18:05,775 --> 01:18:07,386
I didn't want the pressure.
1857
01:18:07,386 --> 01:18:11,216
I didn't want the anxiety of
doing everything that he did.
1858
01:18:11,433 --> 01:18:14,783
I really wanted a life
where I could contribute
1859
01:18:14,958 --> 01:18:17,786
to this business
that I love but not
1860
01:18:17,961 --> 01:18:20,354
have any of the hardships
or the heartache
1861
01:18:20,572 --> 01:18:23,662
or the pressure or the anxiety
that goes along with it.
1862
01:18:25,489 --> 01:18:28,666
But at the same time,
the responsibility of
1863
01:18:28,884 --> 01:18:30,886
stepping in for my friend
was something that,
1864
01:18:31,060 --> 01:18:33,018
there's no way I could
say no to that.
1865
01:18:33,236 --> 01:18:36,412
You know, you're talking about
somebody who made a great deal
1866
01:18:36,629 --> 01:18:40,677
of sacrifice for me
at times in his career
1867
01:18:40,895 --> 01:18:43,680
where it was very
tough to do that.
1868
01:18:43,898 --> 01:18:46,595
This was a moment that
I felt like I could maybe,
1869
01:18:46,812 --> 01:18:48,814
in some way, pay him back
1870
01:18:48,989 --> 01:18:52,557
for what he had done
so selflessly.
1871
01:18:52,775 --> 01:18:55,733
And so I immediately
jumped in with both feet
1872
01:18:55,908 --> 01:18:59,172
and did everything I could
to at least
1873
01:18:59,389 --> 01:19:02,175
not let the ship go down
while he was off.
1874
01:19:02,392 --> 01:19:03,654
All right, so look,
this is where
1875
01:19:03,872 --> 01:19:05,220
Hunter usually gives
the speech.
1876
01:19:05,438 --> 01:19:06,482
All right? He's not here,
1877
01:19:06,700 --> 01:19:08,789
and I'm not as good at it
as he is.
1878
01:19:08,963 --> 01:19:10,573
You don't feel ready.
1879
01:19:10,791 --> 01:19:13,185
But when the time came,
Shawn was--
1880
01:19:13,402 --> 01:19:15,099
Shawn was Shawn Michaels.
1881
01:19:15,316 --> 01:19:17,144
I retired from this stuff
ten years ago,
1882
01:19:17,362 --> 01:19:19,451
and I was happy
as a pig in mud.
1883
01:19:19,668 --> 01:19:21,670
And I walked in here
five years ago,
1884
01:19:21,888 --> 01:19:24,151
and everybody in here,
all of you,
1885
01:19:24,369 --> 01:19:26,500
made me fall back in love
with this stuff.
1886
01:19:26,718 --> 01:19:28,546
And now I can't get away.
1887
01:19:28,763 --> 01:19:30,113
I'm right back in.
1888
01:19:30,330 --> 01:19:32,637
I'm as hungry and as passionate
as I ever was.
1889
01:19:32,854 --> 01:19:35,073
And it's because of
all of you in here.
1890
01:19:35,291 --> 01:19:37,380
We all knew that Shawn was
ready to take over NXT
1891
01:19:37,597 --> 01:19:39,425
and take over the PC.
1892
01:19:39,643 --> 01:19:41,906
What Shawn definitely
didn't know--
1893
01:19:42,080 --> 01:19:44,343
what was really ahead of him.
1894
01:19:51,262 --> 01:19:54,135
{\an8}The one thing that helped me
with all of this is,
1895
01:19:54,352 --> 01:19:56,310
I like a challenge.
1896
01:19:56,527 --> 01:19:58,529
Unfortunately,
I have such a fragile ego
1897
01:19:58,747 --> 01:20:00,967
that I don't want
a lot of responsibility,
1898
01:20:01,141 --> 01:20:02,707
but when it's thrust upon me,
1899
01:20:02,925 --> 01:20:04,448
I don't want everybody to know
that I don't want it.
1900
01:20:04,665 --> 01:20:05,840
All right, we'll figure it out.
1901
01:20:06,014 --> 01:20:06,928
Live TV.
1902
01:20:07,102 --> 01:20:08,538
What can go wrong?
1903
01:20:08,756 --> 01:20:11,019
This is a 100% challenge,
1904
01:20:11,237 --> 01:20:14,414
a 100% struggle
each and every week.
1905
01:20:14,630 --> 01:20:16,981
It's kind of a sickness,
in a way.
1906
01:20:17,198 --> 01:20:19,287
Oh, my God.
1907
01:20:19,505 --> 01:20:22,377
So I try to just do my job
and do it well
1908
01:20:22,595 --> 01:20:25,727
and put on a very good
two-hour wrestling show.
1909
01:20:25,945 --> 01:20:27,294
Thank you all very much.
1910
01:20:27,512 --> 01:20:28,904
Thank you.
1911
01:20:28,904 --> 01:20:30,428
All I know is that
I'm not sick of it yet.
1912
01:20:30,645 --> 01:20:33,648
So until somebody tells me
to cease and desist,
1913
01:20:33,866 --> 01:20:35,171
I'm gonna be doing this again
tomorrow night.
1914
01:20:41,655 --> 01:20:44,093
{\an8}Shawn had to pick up
that ball really quick
1915
01:20:44,310 --> 01:20:45,919
and run with it.
1916
01:20:46,094 --> 01:20:48,226
In that period of time
where I was down,
1917
01:20:48,444 --> 01:20:51,273
a lot of company upheaval
was happening.
1918
01:20:53,623 --> 01:20:55,580
When I was first
taking over,
1919
01:20:55,798 --> 01:20:57,887
there was a transition
of going from
1920
01:20:58,061 --> 01:21:01,630
{\an8}this black and gold to a 2.0.
1921
01:21:01,847 --> 01:21:04,459
{\an8}The black and gold era,
that was an era
1922
01:21:04,675 --> 01:21:07,852
where Hunter was
building a brand,
1923
01:21:08,027 --> 01:21:09,550
experienced talent.
1924
01:21:09,767 --> 01:21:14,250
We got a new champion here
at NXT, Drew McIntyre.
1925
01:21:14,468 --> 01:21:15,946
You know, 2.0,
we're bringing in
1926
01:21:16,121 --> 01:21:18,036
these athletes now,
1927
01:21:18,210 --> 01:21:20,081
getting them ready for "Raw"
and "SmackDown."
1928
01:21:20,299 --> 01:21:22,997
We're all here right now,
and it's a brand-new chapter.
1929
01:21:23,171 --> 01:21:24,693
All right, three, two, one.
1930
01:21:24,911 --> 01:21:26,173
Shawn Michaels takes over.
1931
01:21:26,391 --> 01:21:28,480
And then everything changed.
1932
01:21:28,697 --> 01:21:32,701
Guys like myself--
Carmelo Hayes, Bron Breakker,
1933
01:21:32,919 --> 01:21:35,921
like, that's when we all
kind of broke in to NXT.
1934
01:21:36,095 --> 01:21:39,055
They threw us out
and see if we can sink or swim.
1935
01:21:39,229 --> 01:21:44,103
Welcome to a brand-new era
in the rich history of NXT.
1936
01:21:44,321 --> 01:21:46,974
What's gone on in NXT 2.0
1937
01:21:47,149 --> 01:21:49,499
in the last six months
is a miracle.
1938
01:21:49,716 --> 01:21:52,415
{\an8}80% of that show are
people that have been
1939
01:21:52,632 --> 01:21:55,852
{\an8}in the wrestling business
for six months.
1940
01:21:58,202 --> 01:22:00,204
At six months,
I'd have shit a golden brick
1941
01:22:00,422 --> 01:22:02,293
had you sat me
in front of that crowd
1942
01:22:02,511 --> 01:22:03,816
that you all were in Saturday.
1943
01:22:03,816 --> 01:22:06,079
We won't be able to show
any of this on film.
1944
01:22:10,866 --> 01:22:12,563
That's OK.
1945
01:22:12,781 --> 01:22:16,218
After a while, you begin
to have an attachment
1946
01:22:16,436 --> 01:22:18,612
to the talent
that comes through
1947
01:22:18,829 --> 01:22:20,309
these Performance Center
doors.
1948
01:22:20,309 --> 01:22:23,791
You start to feel
a real responsibility to them,
1949
01:22:24,008 --> 01:22:26,097
and to understand
that all of this
1950
01:22:26,314 --> 01:22:28,099
doesn't happen
unless somebody is there
1951
01:22:28,316 --> 01:22:31,537
managing this ship.
1952
01:22:31,754 --> 01:22:34,800
Shawn was doing
such a great job running NXT
1953
01:22:35,017 --> 01:22:37,411
that when Triple H was
able to come back
1954
01:22:37,629 --> 01:22:39,457
and return to "Raw"
and "SmackDown"
1955
01:22:39,674 --> 01:22:42,329
to run creative there,
Shawn was able to just
1956
01:22:42,547 --> 01:22:45,897
take the ball
and keep running at NXT.
1957
01:22:46,115 --> 01:22:47,507
One of the things
that Hunter taught me
1958
01:22:47,725 --> 01:22:49,727
that he said Dusty taught him,
1959
01:22:49,944 --> 01:22:52,556
which is kind of the 70% rule,
which is,
1960
01:22:52,773 --> 01:22:56,298
no one's ever going
to be able to convey
1961
01:22:56,515 --> 01:22:58,778
the vision that you have
in your head.
1962
01:22:58,996 --> 01:23:00,563
{\an8}Only you have that.
1963
01:23:00,563 --> 01:23:03,740
{\an8}And you can do everything
you can to best verbalize
1964
01:23:03,957 --> 01:23:06,133
and vocalize that to somebody.
1965
01:23:06,350 --> 01:23:09,875
But it's never going to quite
be the way you're picturing.
1966
01:23:10,093 --> 01:23:12,139
So understand that,
and grade it more in a--
1967
01:23:12,356 --> 01:23:16,142
you know, if you can get 70%
of that, consider that a win.
1968
01:23:16,359 --> 01:23:18,274
You're not gonna be able
to start slow like that.
1969
01:23:18,492 --> 01:23:19,623
- Yeah.
- You know what I mean?
1970
01:23:19,841 --> 01:23:21,190
So I just feel like, again,
1971
01:23:21,408 --> 01:23:23,410
you just got to get
more energy, more fire.
1972
01:23:23,627 --> 01:23:25,715
Right now,
you've got to show people
1973
01:23:25,933 --> 01:23:27,543
that you can do
everything under the sun
1974
01:23:27,761 --> 01:23:28,936
and still follow the rules.
1975
01:23:29,154 --> 01:23:30,155
Thank you both for it.
1976
01:23:30,329 --> 01:23:31,504
But again, I'm not doing my job
1977
01:23:31,721 --> 01:23:33,070
if I don't give you
the honest truth.
1978
01:23:33,245 --> 01:23:34,854
He's always there.
1979
01:23:34,854 --> 01:23:37,335
And he'll give us his feedback
and tell you the truth
1980
01:23:37,552 --> 01:23:39,250
whether you want
to hear it or not.
1981
01:23:39,467 --> 01:23:42,078
And I think that's the best
kind of criticism.
1982
01:23:42,253 --> 01:23:44,906
Like, you can only grow
from getting real critiques.
1983
01:23:45,124 --> 01:23:47,344
And I think
Shawn's great at that.
1984
01:23:47,561 --> 01:23:51,174
Jacy Jayne is now
Women's Champion.
1985
01:23:51,391 --> 01:23:52,784
Attagirl.
1986
01:23:54,133 --> 01:23:56,178
He really does care
about us.
1987
01:23:56,352 --> 01:23:57,527
- Seriously, good job.
- Thank you.
1988
01:23:57,527 --> 01:23:58,876
- Congratulations.
- I appreciate it.
1989
01:23:59,093 --> 01:24:00,573
And it's really funny.
1990
01:24:00,573 --> 01:24:01,618
A lot of my friends
would be like, "Oh, my God,
1991
01:24:01,835 --> 01:24:03,359
you know who
Shawn Michaels is?"
1992
01:24:03,359 --> 01:24:04,403
And I'm like, yeah, I see him
literally every week.
1993
01:24:04,620 --> 01:24:06,404
Like, he's my boss.
He's the best.
1994
01:24:06,622 --> 01:24:08,101
Don't mind if I do.
1995
01:24:08,276 --> 01:24:09,538
You just caught me
after 100 reps, man.
1996
01:24:09,755 --> 01:24:12,149
100 reps. Ah!
1997
01:24:12,323 --> 01:24:14,195
My biggest thing talking
to Shawn is about,
1998
01:24:14,412 --> 01:24:17,545
there's sacrifices that you
have to take to be the man,
1999
01:24:17,762 --> 01:24:21,244
but most importantly,
be great at what you do.
2000
01:24:21,462 --> 01:24:24,899
This is a new era being
led by Trick Williams.
2001
01:24:25,116 --> 01:24:26,814
Shawn Michaels,
he gave me a chance.
2002
01:24:27,031 --> 01:24:29,512
And I feel like
I earned his respect.
2003
01:24:29,730 --> 01:24:30,818
They know I care.
2004
01:24:31,035 --> 01:24:32,211
And that's the reason that
2005
01:24:32,428 --> 01:24:34,125
I always want it
to go so well.
2006
01:24:34,300 --> 01:24:37,519
I see them with this
unbelievable opportunity
2007
01:24:37,737 --> 01:24:40,479
and this unbelievable
amount of ability
2008
01:24:40,696 --> 01:24:44,091
and want them
to harness all that.
2009
01:24:46,266 --> 01:24:48,921
I was like, that's my
wrestling dad right there.
2010
01:24:49,138 --> 01:24:50,705
Wrestling grandpa.
2011
01:24:53,099 --> 01:24:54,187
He's so funny.
2012
01:24:54,187 --> 01:24:56,754
Like, he's such
a character still.
2013
01:24:56,971 --> 01:24:58,103
Is that what you're wearing?
2014
01:24:58,277 --> 01:24:59,539
You don't like the sparkly?
2015
01:24:59,757 --> 01:25:01,062
He'll joke around with you,
2016
01:25:01,237 --> 01:25:02,586
especially if you're
close to him.
2017
01:25:02,803 --> 01:25:04,196
Like, he'll probably
talk trash about you.
2018
01:25:04,370 --> 01:25:06,197
Is that what's fly now?
2019
01:25:06,371 --> 01:25:08,112
Is fly still fly?
2020
01:25:08,286 --> 01:25:10,027
You know, a little drip
for the youngins.
2021
01:25:10,245 --> 01:25:11,158
A little drip
for the youngins?
2022
01:25:11,333 --> 01:25:12,464
Yeah, for the youngins.
2023
01:25:12,682 --> 01:25:14,205
All right,
go ahead and wear it.
2024
01:25:14,379 --> 01:25:15,901
It's all jokes.
It's all jokes.
2025
01:25:15,901 --> 01:25:19,383
But it's so cool, like just
being in the same room,
2026
01:25:19,601 --> 01:25:21,646
or just having, like,
a close enough connection
2027
01:25:21,864 --> 01:25:23,822
to one of the greatest
to ever do it.
2028
01:25:24,040 --> 01:25:25,214
All right, bet. Say less.
2029
01:25:25,214 --> 01:25:26,563
- Hey, I'm just kidding.
- Oh, I know.
2030
01:25:26,781 --> 01:25:28,130
You already know.
- Thank you very much.
2031
01:25:28,130 --> 01:25:28,957
- Yes, we're all good?
- Thank, y'all. Awesome.
2032
01:25:29,174 --> 01:25:30,480
Thank you guys.
2033
01:25:30,480 --> 01:25:32,352
He is somebody
who is never afraid to, like,
2034
01:25:32,569 --> 01:25:35,136
step out and learn a little bit
more about anything.
2035
01:25:35,310 --> 01:25:37,094
Three, two...
2036
01:25:37,269 --> 01:25:40,489
Ooh, this is nice.
2037
01:25:40,707 --> 01:25:42,230
Girl!
2038
01:25:42,404 --> 01:25:43,840
There are old-timers
rolling over
2039
01:25:44,058 --> 01:25:45,841
in their grave
knowing that I'm doing
2040
01:25:46,059 --> 01:25:47,365
TikToks and stuff like that.
2041
01:25:47,582 --> 01:25:49,280
It's been something
that I never thought
2042
01:25:49,454 --> 01:25:50,716
I would have done.
2043
01:25:50,716 --> 01:25:53,066
Well, it's one
of those keys, Shawn.
2044
01:25:53,284 --> 01:25:55,633
But at the same time,
having the opportunity
2045
01:25:55,850 --> 01:25:58,157
to embarrass your children
never gets old,
2046
01:25:58,331 --> 01:25:59,376
even when they get older.
2047
01:26:00,638 --> 01:26:02,074
♪ Go crazy ♪
2048
01:26:02,074 --> 01:26:04,337
We definitely have to,
like, kind of show him
2049
01:26:04,554 --> 01:26:05,903
and, like, talk him through,
like, this is the trend.
2050
01:26:06,120 --> 01:26:07,165
This is how it works.
2051
01:26:07,339 --> 01:26:08,645
Like, all you have to do
is this.
2052
01:26:08,645 --> 01:26:10,037
We try to make it
really, really simple.
2053
01:26:10,255 --> 01:26:12,301
♪ Go crazy ♪
2054
01:26:12,475 --> 01:26:14,346
Some of that is
his real personality,
2055
01:26:14,563 --> 01:26:16,478
which is what makes it funny.
2056
01:26:16,695 --> 01:26:17,522
I do think it's funny.
2057
01:26:17,740 --> 01:26:18,784
I do like it.
2058
01:26:20,308 --> 01:26:23,398
{\an8}He is all about giving
everybody a platform
2059
01:26:23,615 --> 01:26:25,094
to be the best version
of themselves,
2060
01:26:25,312 --> 01:26:27,357
to be the most authentic
version of themselves.
2061
01:26:27,575 --> 01:26:30,795
He truly just wants
everyone to succeed.
2062
01:26:31,013 --> 01:26:32,362
It's a genuine family.
2063
01:26:32,362 --> 01:26:35,451
And he's like--he's
the head of the family.
2064
01:26:35,669 --> 01:26:36,974
Darrell,
it's his birthday today.
2065
01:26:37,192 --> 01:26:38,976
He's a young 45 years old.
2066
01:26:40,413 --> 01:26:43,329
I want to wish him
a very happy birthday.
2067
01:26:43,503 --> 01:26:46,461
- Thank you.
- All right, very much.
2068
01:26:46,679 --> 01:26:49,899
He is legitimately helping
people achieve their dreams.
2069
01:26:50,117 --> 01:26:53,468
Thank you all so much for
doing this and working so hard.
2070
01:26:53,686 --> 01:26:56,252
Fantastic last couple weeks.
2071
01:26:56,427 --> 01:26:59,081
And obviously, next week, man,
we're gonna cut you guys loose.
2072
01:26:59,299 --> 01:27:00,822
Go out there and show the world
who in the hell you are.
2073
01:27:01,040 --> 01:27:01,910
All right?
2074
01:27:10,875 --> 01:27:14,052
{\an8}For so many years, here in
the WWE, it was WWE only.
2075
01:27:14,269 --> 01:27:17,881
And we did everything we could
2076
01:27:18,098 --> 01:27:20,362
to kind of make sure
2077
01:27:20,536 --> 01:27:22,929
we were the absolute
number one,
2078
01:27:23,147 --> 01:27:24,322
and possibly only,
2079
01:27:24,495 --> 01:27:27,759
sports entertainment brand
out there.
2080
01:27:27,977 --> 01:27:29,282
Let's get to tonight.
2081
01:27:29,457 --> 01:27:32,460
A bigger picture here is
NXT under attack by TNA.
2082
01:27:32,677 --> 01:27:34,722
And remember to put
your differences aside.
2083
01:27:34,939 --> 01:27:37,507
This is for brand
supremacy here.
2084
01:27:37,725 --> 01:27:40,162
One thing that comes across
the desk of NXT all the time
2085
01:27:40,380 --> 01:27:42,382
is working with
different promotions.
2086
01:27:42,556 --> 01:27:44,384
There's an opportunity
with TNA.
2087
01:27:44,600 --> 01:27:46,907
TNA Wrestling is
another wrestling
2088
01:27:47,124 --> 01:27:49,170
organization in America.
2089
01:27:49,388 --> 01:27:53,696
And NXT and TNA decided
to begin a partnership
2090
01:27:53,914 --> 01:27:57,438
that was designed to mutually
benefit both parties.
2091
01:27:57,656 --> 01:28:01,007
There will be TNA and us,
TNA and NXT.
2092
01:28:01,224 --> 01:28:03,792
I think it's unprecedented,
TNA wrestlers,
2093
01:28:04,010 --> 01:28:05,576
NXT superstars.
2094
01:28:05,576 --> 01:28:09,188
This truly is the answering
the question of, what if?
2095
01:28:09,406 --> 01:28:11,582
What if these two worlds
collided?
2096
01:28:11,799 --> 01:28:14,106
It happens for the first time
in "Showdown."
2097
01:28:14,323 --> 01:28:15,889
- I appreciate you coming in.
- I'm glad to be here.
2098
01:28:16,107 --> 01:28:17,630
- It's a long time coming.
- Appreciate it.
2099
01:28:17,630 --> 01:28:20,546
To see Shawn Michaels
embracing this collaboration
2100
01:28:20,764 --> 01:28:24,593
between TNA and NXT
was exciting, was refreshing,
2101
01:28:24,810 --> 01:28:26,638
because the possibilities
could be endless.
2102
01:28:26,856 --> 01:28:28,771
Shawn Michaels, like,
this is the guy
2103
01:28:28,988 --> 01:28:31,774
who was on the forefront
of the Monday Night Wars
2104
01:28:31,991 --> 01:28:35,037
between WCW and WWE.
2105
01:28:35,254 --> 01:28:37,039
When you're in the fight,
2106
01:28:37,256 --> 01:28:38,693
when you're one
of the soldiers,
2107
01:28:38,910 --> 01:28:40,564
it seems like
the right thing to do.
2108
01:28:40,564 --> 01:28:43,524
But when you're on the other
side and you're talking about,
2109
01:28:43,741 --> 01:28:47,788
well, why can't
the whole business flourish,
2110
01:28:48,005 --> 01:28:49,442
how bad would that be?
2111
01:28:49,616 --> 01:28:51,095
Just don't make it go long.
2112
01:28:51,095 --> 01:28:52,575
But if I can get it off of him,
get it off of him.
2113
01:28:52,793 --> 01:28:53,663
- Right, yeah.
- OK.
2114
01:28:53,881 --> 01:28:54,837
All right.
2115
01:28:55,055 --> 01:28:56,143
Hey, where is this thing going?
2116
01:28:56,143 --> 01:28:58,101
Oh, it's going here,
"Showdown."
2117
01:28:58,319 --> 01:29:00,582
Here's our best,
and let's see what happens.
2118
01:29:00,800 --> 01:29:02,845
Looking forward
to a good night.
2119
01:29:03,063 --> 01:29:04,890
And nothing we can do
to control it
2120
01:29:05,107 --> 01:29:06,195
once it's executed.
2121
01:29:07,675 --> 01:29:11,200
{\an8}It is a big fight
atmosphere tonight
2122
01:29:11,418 --> 01:29:13,376
{\an8}inside the Performance Center.
2123
01:29:13,551 --> 01:29:14,768
I'm an old guy.
2124
01:29:14,986 --> 01:29:16,509
So for you to, you know--
- No, no.
2125
01:29:16,727 --> 01:29:18,032
You to have any idea,
2126
01:29:18,032 --> 01:29:18,772
as young as you are,
to know what I did...
2127
01:29:18,990 --> 01:29:20,470
- Yeah.
- No, man.
2128
01:29:20,470 --> 01:29:21,296
You're the ultimate performer.
- So I'm flattered.
2129
01:29:21,296 --> 01:29:22,515
That's even better to hear.
2130
01:29:22,515 --> 01:29:23,298
The collab we didn't know
we needed.
2131
01:29:23,473 --> 01:29:24,908
- Yeah, exactly.
- Truly.
2132
01:29:24,908 --> 01:29:25,735
Fastest man in the world
and Mr. WrestleMania.
2133
01:29:25,952 --> 01:29:27,084
Talk about it.
- Yeah.
2134
01:29:27,301 --> 01:29:28,738
That's awesome.
2135
01:29:28,955 --> 01:29:31,262
There are matchups there
that people can talk about
2136
01:29:31,480 --> 01:29:33,351
or think about or "dream about"
2137
01:29:33,525 --> 01:29:36,658
that now you're able
to deliver on.
2138
01:29:36,875 --> 01:29:39,051
It is just awesome
and amazing to see
2139
01:29:39,269 --> 01:29:41,793
how the Hardys have
continued to stay
2140
01:29:42,011 --> 01:29:43,795
at the top of their game.
2141
01:29:44,013 --> 01:29:45,622
They've got some
veterans there
2142
01:29:45,840 --> 01:29:48,495
that many of our
young athletes here
2143
01:29:48,712 --> 01:29:50,584
might not have had
the opportunity to work with
2144
01:29:50,801 --> 01:29:52,107
that they can now have.
2145
01:29:52,107 --> 01:29:53,500
Completely ignore
that you're out there
2146
01:29:53,674 --> 01:29:54,717
with one of the best tag teams
in the world.
2147
01:29:54,935 --> 01:29:56,023
All right?
2148
01:29:56,023 --> 01:29:56,937
Show them who you are,
all right?
2149
01:29:56,937 --> 01:29:57,938
- Yes, sir.
- Go get 'em.
2150
01:29:58,155 --> 01:29:59,548
Go get 'em, boys.
Go do it.
2151
01:29:59,766 --> 01:30:01,245
Yeah.
2152
01:30:01,463 --> 01:30:04,074
Tag team titles versus
tag team titles,
2153
01:30:04,292 --> 01:30:06,162
winner take all!
2154
01:30:08,643 --> 01:30:12,908
{\an8}Jeff Hardy going up
for the Swanton Bomb!
2155
01:30:13,126 --> 01:30:14,083
{\an8}Gotta love it.
2156
01:30:14,301 --> 01:30:17,085
all: One, two, three!
2157
01:30:20,262 --> 01:30:22,264
{\an8}For the first time,
2158
01:30:22,482 --> 01:30:28,531
{\an8}TNA wrestlers are
WWE and NXT champions.
2159
01:30:28,705 --> 01:30:30,576
It's such an honor
to be here
2160
01:30:30,794 --> 01:30:32,056
with him kind of
running the show
2161
01:30:32,273 --> 01:30:33,753
and thanking us for being here.
2162
01:30:33,971 --> 01:30:35,928
I mean, it's just--
it's unreal, man.
2163
01:30:36,146 --> 01:30:37,147
Anything you guys can
pass along--
2164
01:30:37,364 --> 01:30:38,714
they're good boys.
2165
01:30:38,714 --> 01:30:40,193
They don't get the opportunity
to be in there
2166
01:30:40,411 --> 01:30:42,935
with people that are
this much better than them.
2167
01:30:43,153 --> 01:30:45,284
It's so amazing
to come and see Shawn
2168
01:30:45,502 --> 01:30:48,070
in this environment
to be a teacher.
2169
01:30:48,287 --> 01:30:49,419
Thank you, Shawn Michaels,
for giving back
2170
01:30:49,419 --> 01:30:50,855
like you're giving back
right now.
2171
01:30:53,510 --> 01:30:54,902
Here it comes, boys.
2172
01:30:55,119 --> 01:30:57,078
Oh, shit.
2173
01:30:57,295 --> 01:30:58,645
Well, I guess
the thing is, like,
2174
01:30:58,862 --> 01:31:00,429
I'm still a wrestling fan.
2175
01:31:00,429 --> 01:31:04,041
I still find myself getting
caught up in the show.
2176
01:31:04,259 --> 01:31:06,869
He's grabbed my hands a few
times and started a prayer.
2177
01:31:07,087 --> 01:31:09,568
And I was like, yes,
count me in on this prayer.
2178
01:31:09,785 --> 01:31:12,048
Here we go. Let's go.
2179
01:31:12,266 --> 01:31:13,920
both: Ooh!
2180
01:31:14,137 --> 01:31:14,920
Holy shit.
2181
01:31:15,137 --> 01:31:16,095
That was incredible!
2182
01:31:16,312 --> 01:31:17,400
all: One, two...
2183
01:31:17,575 --> 01:31:18,750
Ooh, whoa.
2184
01:31:18,967 --> 01:31:20,665
When he sees the highs,
2185
01:31:20,882 --> 01:31:22,580
he shares the highs
with the talent.
2186
01:31:22,797 --> 01:31:23,755
Holy shit, dude.
2187
01:31:23,972 --> 01:31:25,233
That was good.
- Thank you.
2188
01:31:25,451 --> 01:31:26,757
You happy with that?
That was freaking good.
2189
01:31:26,974 --> 01:31:28,672
You OK?
- I'm OK.
2190
01:31:28,889 --> 01:31:30,325
Oh, yes.
2191
01:31:30,325 --> 01:31:32,458
Drop it like it's hot.
Drop it like it's hot.
2192
01:31:32,632 --> 01:31:33,633
Oh, yes.
2193
01:31:33,633 --> 01:31:35,591
Oh, yes, man.
2194
01:31:35,765 --> 01:31:38,202
Those are the nights
you sleep the soundest.
2195
01:31:38,419 --> 01:31:42,162
That's what you work the other
six days of the week for
2196
01:31:42,380 --> 01:31:44,860
to have that show
that goes off really well.
2197
01:31:45,077 --> 01:31:46,252
Everything clicks.
2198
01:31:46,470 --> 01:31:48,603
It all works.
2199
01:31:51,518 --> 01:31:55,086
A TNA-NXT "Showdown"
that 5, 10, 15 years ago
2200
01:31:55,304 --> 01:31:57,132
nobody thought would happen.
2201
01:31:57,349 --> 01:32:00,614
{\an8}And we made it all happen
here at NXT.
2202
01:32:00,788 --> 01:32:03,660
That turned out really good.
2203
01:32:03,878 --> 01:32:06,096
Hell of a night.
2204
01:32:06,314 --> 01:32:09,186
I'm gonna see
if I can hug HBK.
2205
01:32:09,404 --> 01:32:10,361
Let's see what happens.
2206
01:32:10,579 --> 01:32:11,885
Thanks, brother.
2207
01:32:12,102 --> 01:32:13,364
- Boss man.
- Thank you very much, brother.
2208
01:32:13,582 --> 01:32:14,538
Love you, boss man.
2209
01:32:14,538 --> 01:32:17,846
All right, I get it.
2210
01:32:18,064 --> 01:32:19,369
I see you hamming
to the camera.
2211
01:32:19,587 --> 01:32:20,457
Good boy.
2212
01:32:20,632 --> 01:32:22,068
All right, NXT champions.
2213
01:32:22,285 --> 01:32:23,547
Those of us
that have been doing this
2214
01:32:23,722 --> 01:32:25,548
for a really, really,
really long time
2215
01:32:25,723 --> 01:32:27,812
appreciate all
the hard work and effort
2216
01:32:28,029 --> 01:32:29,552
that goes into this job.
2217
01:32:29,727 --> 01:32:30,902
Thank you, ladies.
- Thank you, Shawn.
2218
01:32:30,902 --> 01:32:32,207
Appreciate it.
- Thank you very much.
2219
01:32:32,207 --> 01:32:33,339
Appreciate it. Thank you, dear.
- Thank you.
2220
01:32:33,339 --> 01:32:34,644
That was fun.
- Thank you very much.
2221
01:32:34,644 --> 01:32:36,254
Sometimes we didn't have
people telling us.
2222
01:32:36,471 --> 01:32:38,125
And we just want to make sure
that we're at least
2223
01:32:38,125 --> 01:32:41,651
a generation that acknowledges
this generation's hard work
2224
01:32:41,825 --> 01:32:43,653
in hopes that they'll do it
with the next.
2225
01:32:43,827 --> 01:32:44,827
Thank you guys very much.
- Thank you.
2226
01:32:45,044 --> 01:32:45,871
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
2227
01:32:46,089 --> 01:32:47,656
Good job, ladies.
2228
01:32:50,528 --> 01:32:53,226
Hey, thank you all very much
for a long night.
2229
01:32:53,444 --> 01:32:54,705
Thank y'all very much.
Appreciate it.
2230
01:32:54,923 --> 01:32:55,793
Thank y'all.
2231
01:32:56,011 --> 01:32:58,187
Overall, fantastic show.
2232
01:32:58,404 --> 01:32:59,971
Everything we do here
at the Performance Center
2233
01:33:00,189 --> 01:33:04,845
is about trying to make
"Raw" and "SmackDown"
2234
01:33:05,062 --> 01:33:06,673
stronger for the future.
2235
01:33:06,847 --> 01:33:08,675
And I think we're doing
a hell of job,
2236
01:33:08,849 --> 01:33:11,939
and I think it speaks well.
2237
01:33:12,156 --> 01:33:14,376
All these unbelievable athletes
are coming through here,
2238
01:33:14,592 --> 01:33:16,986
learning how to do this stuff,
learning how to do it right,
2239
01:33:17,204 --> 01:33:18,901
and hopefully,
2240
01:33:19,119 --> 01:33:21,774
it will be successful
for a long, long time.
2241
01:33:26,168 --> 01:33:26,995
They're ready?
2242
01:33:27,213 --> 01:33:28,301
They're ready.
2243
01:33:28,518 --> 01:33:29,911
Take it home.
2244
01:33:30,129 --> 01:33:31,913
Shawn could be
on a beach right now
2245
01:33:32,131 --> 01:33:35,133
sipping a piña colada
or a Malibu Bay Breeze,
2246
01:33:35,350 --> 01:33:37,613
but he doesn't,
because he loves this.
2247
01:33:37,788 --> 01:33:41,792
If you were to ask in 1995,
2248
01:33:42,009 --> 01:33:44,445
where is Shawn Michaels
gonna be
2249
01:33:44,663 --> 01:33:47,361
in 35 years or whatever?
2250
01:33:47,579 --> 01:33:49,624
You'd say, hopefully,
teaching the future.
2251
01:33:49,799 --> 01:33:51,801
I've been up on him
like this at 7 or 8.
2252
01:33:52,018 --> 01:33:53,150
And I do something, and he--
2253
01:33:53,367 --> 01:33:55,542
ah, boom, down.
2254
01:33:55,717 --> 01:33:58,328
I think he values
the interactions, you know,
2255
01:33:58,545 --> 01:34:01,810
the real life stuff behind
everything that we do on TV,
2256
01:34:02,027 --> 01:34:03,899
making a difference
in people's lives.
2257
01:34:04,116 --> 01:34:05,334
I got an idea.
2258
01:34:05,551 --> 01:34:06,988
It could be stupid.
2259
01:34:06,988 --> 01:34:08,685
I'm all about stupid, Trick.
Lay it on me, man.
2260
01:34:08,859 --> 01:34:12,341
I have experiences
that will benefit people--
2261
01:34:12,558 --> 01:34:14,559
if nothing else,
scare them straight.
2262
01:34:14,734 --> 01:34:15,996
I don't have anything to say.
2263
01:34:17,911 --> 01:34:20,783
Everybody that I had
relationships with back then,
2264
01:34:21,001 --> 01:34:22,742
they're all mended now.
2265
01:34:22,916 --> 01:34:25,178
The stuff that you
worried about 20 years ago...
2266
01:34:25,395 --> 01:34:27,571
- Seems pretty small now.
- Sort of pales--yeah.
2267
01:34:27,746 --> 01:34:29,008
Exactly, yeah.
2268
01:34:29,225 --> 01:34:30,531
I think he's changed a lot.
2269
01:34:30,531 --> 01:34:33,186
He's matured,
and he's a different guy.
2270
01:34:33,403 --> 01:34:35,230
I love telling people
about my dad.
2271
01:34:35,448 --> 01:34:38,190
My dad deserves to be
acknowledged
2272
01:34:38,407 --> 01:34:40,279
as one of the greatest,
'cause he is.
2273
01:34:40,496 --> 01:34:44,891
The Heartbreak Kid,
Shawn Michaels!
2274
01:34:45,109 --> 01:34:46,284
Shawn's one of those guys
2275
01:34:46,501 --> 01:34:48,765
that moved
the business forward.
2276
01:34:48,939 --> 01:34:51,855
That's why he became one
of the greatest of all time.
2277
01:34:52,072 --> 01:34:53,987
For a quarter of a century,
2278
01:34:54,205 --> 01:34:57,860
{\an8}Shawn Michaels has entertained
the WWE Universe.
2279
01:34:58,077 --> 01:35:00,210
To see the passion
that he had as a performer--
2280
01:35:00,427 --> 01:35:02,473
but I think leading
these new generations
2281
01:35:02,690 --> 01:35:04,517
of talent coming up,
that will be
2282
01:35:04,735 --> 01:35:06,432
his biggest contribution
to wrestling.
2283
01:35:06,650 --> 01:35:07,782
Come on. You can do it.
You can do it.
2284
01:35:07,956 --> 01:35:09,348
Ah!
2285
01:35:09,566 --> 01:35:11,307
I don't like to grow up.
2286
01:35:11,524 --> 01:35:15,223
I tried to stay a child
majority of my life.
2287
01:35:15,440 --> 01:35:17,965
And I've had the luxury
of doing that.
2288
01:35:18,182 --> 01:35:20,315
There are two things in
this life that I care about,
2289
01:35:20,532 --> 01:35:23,840
{\an8}and that is my wife
and children and the WWE.
2290
01:35:24,058 --> 01:35:26,973
{\an8}If I can leave them both
better off,
2291
01:35:27,190 --> 01:35:28,931
I'll rest easier in eternity.
2292
01:35:40,420 --> 01:35:41,682
Ah. Oh, my goodness.
2293
01:35:41,856 --> 01:35:43,075
Oh.
2294
01:35:43,075 --> 01:35:44,424
Make sure you come back
and visit me.
2295
01:35:44,640 --> 01:35:45,511
- Of course. What?
- All right?
2296
01:35:45,728 --> 01:35:46,512
All right.
- For sure.
2297
01:35:46,729 --> 01:35:47,556
I appreciate you.
2298
01:35:47,774 --> 01:35:48,688
Congratulations, man.
2299
01:35:48,688 --> 01:35:49,820
- Appreciate it.
- All right.
2300
01:35:49,820 --> 01:35:51,604
Like I told you
a couple weeks ago,
2301
01:35:51,822 --> 01:35:53,040
that number doesn't
change, so...
2302
01:35:53,258 --> 01:35:54,389
- Yes, sir.
- You know what I mean?
2303
01:35:54,606 --> 01:35:55,476
Anything I can do
along the way.
2304
01:35:55,694 --> 01:35:56,521
- Yes, sir.
- All right.
2305
01:35:56,738 --> 01:35:57,522
I appreciate you.
2306
01:36:05,921 --> 01:36:07,574
I'm more nervous for this
than I've ever been,
2307
01:36:07,792 --> 01:36:09,011
simply because
you two are here now.
2308
01:36:09,228 --> 01:36:10,142
My goodness.
2309
01:36:11,274 --> 01:36:13,406
♪ Oh, oh, Shawn ♪
2310
01:36:13,624 --> 01:36:15,407
♪ I think I'm cute ♪
2311
01:36:15,625 --> 01:36:17,453
♪ I know I'm sexy ♪
2312
01:36:17,670 --> 01:36:18,671
I don't know,
but I feel like
2313
01:36:18,846 --> 01:36:19,977
that's a bit of a fake smile.
2314
01:36:19,977 --> 01:36:21,326
You got the whole family
judging now.
2315
01:36:21,544 --> 01:36:22,980
I don't--I don't--
I don't smile that much.
2316
01:36:28,332 --> 01:36:30,682
If he was throwing it
and yelling, that's the photo.
2317
01:36:30,857 --> 01:36:31,988
That's what really happens.
2318
01:36:36,470 --> 01:36:37,384
"I should have just
stayed retired."
2319
01:36:37,384 --> 01:36:39,299
Oh. Not the--
2320
01:36:44,130 --> 01:36:45,304
{\an8}Yeah.
2321
01:36:45,521 --> 01:36:46,566
{\an8}That's it. That's the one.
2322
01:36:46,783 --> 01:36:48,002
- Yeah.
- That's the one.
2323
01:36:50,222 --> 01:36:51,701
Oh, my goodness.