Angle (2023)

1. > > KURT, HOW OLD ARE YOU?

2. > > 21.

3. > > DO YOU GO TO COLLEGE?

4. > > YES, I DO.

5. I ATTEND CLARION UNIVERSITY

6. ABOUT TWO HOURS NORTH FROM HERE.

7. > > NOW YOU'RE IN THE WRESTLING

8. TEAM AT CLARION?

9. > > YES, I AM.

10. > > DO YOU ALSO WRESTLE BESIDES

11. CHESTER CLARION?

12. > > YES, I DO.

13. I REPRESENT THE USA TEAM IN MANY

14. EVENTS.

15. I'M LOOKING TO WRESTLE IN THE

16. OLYMPICS.

17. > > AT THE OLYMPICS, IT IS ONE

18. SHOT AT MOST ONCE EVERY FOUR

19. YEARS, AND FOR MANY ONCE IN A

20. LIFETIME.

21. WIN HERE, IT'S FOREVER.

22. FALL SHORT, AND THE OPPORTUNITY

23. MAY NEVER BE REVISITED.

24. > > I THINK I WANT KURT ANGLE TO

25. BE REMEMBERED NOT FOR THE

26. MISTAKES HE'S MADE BUT WHAT HE

27. WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN HIS

28. LIFETIME.

29. SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID, I

30. ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING

31. GREAT.

32. > > WE WERE FROM PITTSBURGH, WE

33. WERE THE CITY OF CHAMPIONS BACK

34. THEN, THE STEELERS, PIRATES,

35. WORLD SERIES, SUPER BOWLS.

36. FOOTBALL WAS MY FIRST LOVE.

37. NOT WRESTLING, NOT BASEBALL, NOT

38. BASKETBALL.

39. I EXCELLED AT ALL OF THEM, BUT

40. FOOTBALL WAS THE ONE.

41. > > I LIKE TO BE ALLSTATE IN THE

42. BIG 33 GAME.

43. I LIKE TO GO ON EITHER PENN

44. STATE, PITT, WEST VIRGINIA, OR

45. RUTGERS AS A LINEBACKER.

46. > > REAL COMPETITIVE.

47. KURT, HE WAS SET ON BEING A

48. CHAMPION FROM THE BEGINNING.

49. OVER IN DORMONT, IT WAS QUITE AN

50. EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE HAD A

51. CROWDED HOUSE.

52. ME AND KURT WERE LIKE THE ODD

53. TWO OUT BECAUSE WE'RE THE

54. YOUNGEST.

55. JUST PUT THEM ON THE FLOOR.

56. WE SLEPT ON THE FLOOR A LOT OF

57. TIMES.

58. > > WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT GROWING

59. UP.

60. WHAT WE DID HAVE IN COMMON WAS

61. WE LIKED SPORTS, ALL OF US, MY

62. MOTHER, FATHER, MY BROTHERS, MY

63. SISTER, MYSELF.

64. IF WE WERE SITTING AT THE DINNER

65. TABLE, WE WOULD STRICTLY ABOUT

66. SPORTS.

67. IT'S WHAT KEPT US TOGETHER.

68. > > THEY PLAYED A LOT OF SPORTS,

69. THE ANGLE BOYS.

70. KURT, HE WAS, HE'S GOOD AT

71. EVERYTHING.

72. ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT WAS JUST

73. A GREAT ATHLETE.

74. I THINK HIS BROTHERS WERE TOO.

75. THEY WERE ALL TOUGH GUYS.

76. YOU DID NOT WANT TO MESS WITH

77. THE ANGLE BOYS, FOR SURE.

78. > > ERIC WAS A YEAR AND A HALF

79. OLDER THAN ME, HAD A BAT OF AN

80. EYE.

81. IF YOU PISSED HIM OFF, YOU WERE

82. GOING TO GET PUNCHED IN THE

83. FACE.

84. HE FLICKED ME IN THE BACK OF THE

85. EAR AND I THREW A SPOON AT HIM

86. AND HE STOOD UP AND I STOOD UP

87. AND BEFORE I GOT UP, HE KNOCKED

88. ME OUT.

89. I MEAN, HE KNOCKED ME OUT.

90. I'M NOT TELLING THAT STORY.

91. > > WE HAD THESE BIG BOXING

92. GLOVES DOWNSTAIRS, 16-OUNCE,

93. THEY WOULD GO DOWN THERE AND BOX

94. FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

95. > > THEY'D GO AT IT, MAN.

96. THEY WOULD GO AT IT UNTIL ONE OF

97. THEM STARTED CRYING AND RUN INTO

98. THE OTHER ROOM.

99. HE'S LIKE, "LITTLE SISSY, GET

100. OUT HERE."

101. > > IT WAS THEIR GLADIATOR GAME.

102. THAT'S WHAT I'D CALL IT.

103. THEY GOT THEIR ENTERTAINMENT OUT

104. OF WATCHING US BEAT EACH OTHER

105. UP.

106. > > I'D BE THE REF OR SOMEONE

107. WOULD TO BE THE REF UNTIL ONE OF

108. THEM CRIED.

109. DON'T SAY NOTHING.

110. IT WAS USUALLY KURT.

111. > > GROWING UP IN PITTSBURGH, MY

112. BROTHERS HAD A REPUTATION OF

113. BEING FIGHTERS.

114. TOUGH GUYS.

115. WE HAD A HARD TIME WITH THE

116. POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AREA

117. WHERE WE LIVED BECAUSE MY

118. BROTHERS WERE IN SO MUCH

119. TROUBLE.

120. > > NO, HARDLY EVER.

121. > > YES.

122. YES, WE GOT IN TROUBLE HERE AND

123. THERE, BUT KURT NEVER GOT IN

124. TROUBLE.

125. NEVER.

126. DIDN'T CAUSE MY MOM NO GRIEF.

127. NONE.

128. THAT'S WHY SHE LOVED HIM.

129. SHE ADORED HIM.

130. THAT WAS HER WHOLE LIFE.

131. KURT WAS UNREAL.

132. THE BOND THAT THEM TWO HAD.

133. > > LE'ANNE WAS THEIR SISTER WHO

134. WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY SWEET.

135. ONLY GIRL IN A HOUSE FULL OF

136. TOUGH BOYS.

137. > > LE'ANNE WAS A REALLY GOOD

138. SISTER.

139. SHE WAS THE ONLY GIRL IN OUR

140. FAMILY.

141. MY SISTER WAS MY DAD'S PRINCESS.

142. SHE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT MY DAD

143. EVER HUGGED.

144. > > MY FATHER WAS IN THE SERVICE

145. FOR 25 YEARS, MASTER SERGEANT,

146. FIRST CLASS.

147. WE GOT A LOT OF OUR DISCIPLINE

148. FROM MY FATHER.

149. > > THE GUY WAS THE MOST SOLID

150. MOTHER — YOU'D EVER WANT TO

151. MEET.

152. PEOPLE SAY GETTING SHIRT OFF

153. THEIR BACK, — THEM, THIS GUY

154. WOULD REALLY DO IT.

155. HE WAS THAT KIND OF GUY.

156. HE WAS A SOLID, SOLID MAN.

157. > > HE KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO

158. BE CAPABLE OF DOING SOMETHING

159. GREAT.

160. HE SEEMED TO KNOW THAT EARLY ON,

161. AT SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS OF

162. AGE.

163. HE WOULD WAKE ME UP EARLY ON

164. SATURDAY MORNINGS AND SAY,

165. "YOU'RE GOING TO A WRESTLING

166. TOURNAMENT."

167. I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T WANT TO

168. GO."

169. HE SAID, "GET DRESSED, YOU'RE

170. GOING."

171. THE GREAT THING ABOUT MY DAD,

172. THOUGH, HE DIDN'T PRESSURE US.

173. HE DIDN'T TELL US WE HAD TO BE

174. GOOD.

175. HE JUST WANTED US TO GIVE OUR

176. BEST.

177. > > HE WAS MY COACH UP UNTIL A

178. TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND HE FELT

179. THAT IT WAS TIME THAT SOMEBODY

180. ELSE TAUGHT ME, AND HE BECAME MY

181. FAN, MY NUMBER ONE FAN.

182. > > MY DAD WAS A VERY FUNCTIONAL

183. ALCOHOLIC.

184. MY BROTHERS DON'T LIKE TO SAY

185. THAT.

186. THEY LIKE TO THINK OF MY FATHER

187. AS A VERY STRONG MAN THAT

188. NOTHING HAD CONTROL OVER HIM,

189. BUT HE DRANK ALL DAY.

190. IT WASN'T A LOT.

191. IT WASN'T LIKE HE WOULD DRINK A

192. CASE EVERY TWO HOURS, HE LOVED

193. HIS RUM AND GIN AND HE DRANK IT

194. STRAIGHT FROM A GLASS.

195. HE HAD A FEW BOTTLES UP IN THE

196. CABINET.

197. I'D WAKE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING

198. AND HE WOULD PULL THAT RUM DOWN

199. AND PUT TWO GLASSES AND DRINK

200. THEM BOTH AND HEAD TO WORK.

201. > > I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT

202. YOUR FAMILY.

203. YOUR DAD WAS DAVE ANGLE?

204. > > YES.

205. > > WHAT DID YOUR DAD DO FOR A

206. LIVING?

207. > > HE WAS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER.

208. > > NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART OF

209. THE QUESTIONS.

210. YOUR DAD THE RECORD WILL SHOW

211. HAD AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 27TH,

212. 1985.

213. DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE

214. WHEN THAT HAPPENED?

215. > > YES.

216. I WAS AT FOOTBALL PRACTICE AND

217. SOMEBODY CAME UP TO ME, RECEIVED

218. A PHONE CALL, ONE OF MY COACHES,

219. AND TOLD ME THAT MY FATHER WAS

220. IN AN ACCIDENT AND THAT HE WAS

221. AT MERCY HOSPITAL AND IT WASN'T

222. SERIOUS AT THE TIME.

223. > > WHAT HAPPENED WAS HE WENT

224. INTO THE CAB TO GET HIS LUNCH

225. AND WHEN HE STEPPED BACK, HE

226. STEPPED ON SOME REBAR, LOST HIS

227. BALANCE, AND WENT AGAINST THE

228. GUARDRAIL AND FELL THROUGH IT.

229. 13 FEET ON THE BACK.

230. HE HIT HIS SHOULDER AND HIS HEAD

231. AT THE SAME TIME.

232. HE ACTUALLY BROKE HIS SHOULDER

233. AND FRACTURED HIS SKULL ALL THE

234. WAY THROUGH LIKE AN EGG.

235. > > HOW LONG DID YOUR DAD LIVE

236. FROM WHEN HE WAS INJURED UNTIL

237. WHEN HE DIED?

238. > > I THINK IT WAS TWO AND A HALF

239. DAYS.

240. > > WERE YOU THERE AT THE END?

241. > > YES, I WAS.

242. > > MY MOTHER HAD TO MAKE A

243. DECISION TO EITHER KEEP HIM ON

244. OR PULL HIM OFF OF THE MACHINE.

245. SHE DECIDED THAT SHE WASN'T

246. GOING TO LET HIM JUST STAY LIKE

247. THAT.

248. I REMEMBER HER GETTING ON HER

249. KNEES AND BEFORE SHE GAVE THE

250. DOCTOR THE PERMISSION TO DO IT,

251. SHE BEGGED MY DAD TO COME BACK.

252. SHE ASKED HIM, OR SHE ACTUALLY

253. TOLD HIM IF YOU COME BACK, WE

254. WILL MAKE THIS WORK.

255. SHE SAID SHE'LL BE THE WIFE THAT

256. HE WANTED HER TO BE.

257. IT JUST CRUSHED ME.

258. THEN RIGHT BEFORE THEY PULLED

259. THE PLUG, MY SISTER STARTED

260. CRYING AND SHE JUMPED ON MY DAD.

261. SHE BEGGED HIM NOT TO GO.

262. UGH.

263. WE PULLED HER OFF OF HIM AND

264. THEY PULLED THE PLUG AND THAT

265. WAS IT.

266. MY DAD WAS GONE.

267. I JUST HATED SEEING MY MOTHER

268. LIKE THAT.

269. > > YOUR MOM TOLD ME SOMETHING

270. ABOUT YOU PRAYING BEFORE THE

271. MATCHES.

272. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL US ABOUT

273. THAT?

274. > > BEFORE EVERY MATCH, I PRAY

275. AND LOOK UP AND THINK OF MY

276. FATHER RIGHT BEFORE I WRESTLE

277. EVERY MATCH.

278. IT GIVES ME A LITTLE EXTRA

279. MOTIVATION FOR WHAT HE DID FOR

280. ME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE, AND I

281. DEDICATE STUFF TO HIM,

282. EVERYTHING I DO.

283. IT HELPS ME TO DO BETTER.

284. MY FATHER PASSED AWAY ON A

285. WEDNESDAY, AND THAT WAS THE

286. FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL.

287. I DECIDED TO PLAY FOOTBALL THAT

288. WEEK.

289. I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL

290. FOR MY DAD KNOWING THAT HE WOULD

291. WANT ME TO PLAY.

292. I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY,

293. BUT IT JUST FELT LIKE SOMEBODY

294. WAS TUGGING AT ME THAT WAS

295. TELLING ME, GET UP.

296. KEEP MOVING.

297. THAT'S WHAT KEPT GOING IN MY

298. HEAD, KEEP MOVING, JUST KEEP

299. MOVING.

300. I REMEMBER MY COACH, WE HAD A

301. QUICK PRAYER RIGHT BEFORE THE

302. GAME AND HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT

303. MY DAD THAT MADE ME FEEL REALLY

304. GOOD.

305. I WENT OUT THERE AND I—

306. SOMETHING JUST SWITCHED, A LIGHT

307. SWITCH WENT OFF IN ME.

308. I HAD A GAME THAT YOU DON'T

309. NORMALLY HAVE.

310. IT WASN'T JUST SPECTACULAR, IT

311. WAS BEYOND UNBELIEVABLE.

312. IT WAS PERFECT.

313. I HAD TWO TOUCHDOWNS AS A FULL

314. BACK, I HAD 14 SOLO TACKLES, TWO

315. FUMBLE RECOVERIES, AN

316. INTERCEPTION.

317. > > GET YOUR HANDS UP, GET YOUR

318. HANDS UP.

319. > > THIS GAME WAS LIKE EVERYTHING

320. THAT COULD GO RIGHT FOR ME DID.

321. IT JUST BLEW MY MIND.

322. I HAD SOME SPECTACULAR GAMES

323. AFTER THAT, BUT NOTHING CLOSE TO

324. THAT, AND I DID IT FOR MY DAD, I

325. DID IT FOR MY FATHER.

326. I DID IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE

327. WANTED ME TO DO, THAT'S THE

328. PLAYER HE WANTED ME TO BE, AND I

329. ALWAYS WANTED TO MAKE HIM PROUD.

330. IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS REALLY

331. GREAT FOOTBALL PLAYER, BUT THE

332. WRESTLING STARTED OUTWEIGHING

333. THE FOOTBALL.

334. THE HIGH SCHOOL COACH, COACH

335. LAMPRINAKOS, PULLED ME ASIDE AND

336. SAID, "LISTEN, I HAVEN'T HAD A

337. WRESTLER LIKE YOU IN 20 YEARS.

338. YOU'RE GOING TO BE STATE

339. CHAMPION."

340. I WAS GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT

341. DOMINATED THE WEIGHT CLASS, AND

342. I DID, I DOMINATED.

343. I WENT ON THAT SUMMER TO WRESTLE

344. IN THE JUNIOR NATIONALS IN

345. FREESTYLE WRESTLING.

346. IT WAS MY THIRD TIME GOING AND

347. MY FIRST TIME THAT I WON.

348. I WAS CONSIDERED THE NATIONAL

349. CHAMPION IN HIGH SCHOOL BEFORE I

350. ENDED UP GOING TO COLLEGE.

351. > > WE RECRUITED HIM OUT OF MOUNT

352. LEBANON HIGH SCHOOL.

353. HE WAS BLESSED WITH QUICKNESS

354. AND TALENT.

355. > > COACH BUBB WAS A GENIUS.

356. HE IS THE REASON I WENT TO

357. CLARION.

358. HE WAS A DRILL SERGEANT.

359. HE GOT IN THAT ROOM, HE WORKED

360. HARD.

361. IT'S ALL YOU HAD TO DO, YOU HAD

362. TO WORK HARD.

363. > > HE WAS THE ONE THAT GAVE THE

364. EXTRA TIME, THE COMMITMENT TO

365. THE WEIGHT ROOM AND THE PRACTICE

366. ROOM.

367. OF COURSE, THE FINER YOU HONE

368. YOUR SKILLS IN OUR SPORT, THE

369. BETTER YOU'RE GOING TO BE.

370. > > I WAS BEATING GUYS THAT WERE

371. OLYMPIANS.

372. IT WAS CRAZY.

373. I WAS A 19-YEAR-OLD KID AND I'M

374. BEATING ALL THESE GREAT

375. ATHLETES.

376. > > THE TREND IN HEAVYWEIGHT

377. WRESTLING, IN COLLEGIATE

378. WRESTLING WERE THESE GREAT BIG

379. HUGE GUYS, AND THEN COMES ALONG

380. KURT WHO'S A LITTLE BIT SHORTER

381. THAN THAT, WALKING AROUND 220,

382. 230 POUNDS.

383. HE WAS THAT FIRST KIND OF NEW

384. BREED OF HEAVYWEIGHT THAT'S

385. ATHLETIC THAT CAN SHOOT GREAT

386. SHOTS, AND THEN JUST WALTZING

387. AROUND SEEING WHO WAS GOING TO

388. TRIP WHO FIRST.

389. > > HE AMAZED ME A LOT OF THE

390. TIMES.

391. STAYING IN IT TILL THE VERY END

392. AND WINNING WITH SOMEONE THAT HE

393. SHOULDN'T HAVE BEAT.

394. HIS MATCH WITH SYLVESTER TERKAY

395. IN THE NCAA FINALS HIS SENIOR

396. YEAR IS AN EPIC MATCH.

397. > > I WAS A NATIONAL CHAMPION IN

398. 1993.

399. OVER HALF MY WINS WERE BY

400. PINFALL.

401. THAT WAS MY THING.

402. I PINNED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

403. > > ROCK HARD, 260 POUNDS GREEK

404. GOD LOOKING MAN.

405. > > A LOT OF THE SMALLER

406. HEAVYWEIGHTS I PRETTY MUCH JUST

407. SMASHED THEM.

408. I GRABBED THEM, I PILED THROUGH

409. THEM, I PINNED THEM.

410. STARTED OUT WINNING BIG

411. PRESTIGIOUS TOURNAMENTS AND

412. THAT'S HOW WE STARTED TO BUILD

413. TOWARD A LITTLE BIT OF MY

414. RIVALRY WITH KURT.

415. > > WELCOME BACK TO THE MARRIOTT

416. IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AS KURT ANGLE

417. IS SET FOR HIS HEAVYWEIGHT MATCH

418. AGAINST SYLVESTER TERKAY.

419. > > KURT'S UP HERE LOOKING AT AND

420. THEN SYLVESTER'S DOWN HERE.

421. THIS WAS A DAVID AND GOLIATH

422. STORY ALL THE WAY.

423. KURT'S 5'10", THIS GUY IS 6'6".

424. KURT'S 200 POUNDS.

425. THIS GUY'S 275.

426. > > THE FIRST THREE MINUTES, THE

427. MATCH WAS DEAD EVEN.

428. HE KNOCKED ME DOWN, FLATTENED ME

429. OUT.

430. I THOUGHT HE'S GOING TO PIN ME.

431. HE'S GOING TO TURN ME AND PIN

432. ME.

433. > > I WAS A BIG TALL LANKY GUY

434. AND HERE'S THE GUY THAT'S A LOT

435. MORE STOCKIER, COMPACT, HE WAS

436. KIND OF HARD TO GET A HOLD OF.

437. > > THERE'S A MINUTE LEFT.

438. IT CAME DOWN TO WHO WAS GOING TO

439. GET THE FIRST TAKE DOWN.

440. > > I THINK THAT I WANTED TO TRY

441. AND SET UP MY SHOT, AND AS I DID

442. THAT, HE HIT HIS I'LL CALL IT

443. HIS BEST MOVE.

444. > > HE HAD THIS LITTLE DUCK

445. UNDER, FAKED IT, AND GONE TO

446. SYLVESTER'S RIGHT.

447. THEN WHEN HE COUNTERED, HE

448. SWITCHED OFF THE LEFT SIDE.

449. > > HE SHOOTS ONE WAY.

450. HE PULLED ONE FOOT BACK, THIS

451. FOOT IS OPEN.

452. > > SYLVESTER REACTED TO THE FAKE

453. AND HE DUCKED OFF WHAT WE CALL

454. THE WEAK SIDE.

455. > > HE WAS ABLE TO HIT THAT ON

456. ME.

457. THERE WAS AROUND 13 SECONDS LEFT

458. AND THAT'S WHAT I CALL WAS

459. KYLE'S THE KILLER, SO TO SPEAK.

460. > > IT WAS LIKE A FALLING TIMBER.

461. HE WENT DOWN AND KURT RODE HIM

462. ABOUT THREE, FOUR SECONDS AND

463. CUT HIM LOOSE.

464. > > TECHNICIAN AGAINST JUST A BIG

465. BURLY DUDE.

466. THE TECHNICIAN WON.

467. > > A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT

468. MIGHT BE MY NIGHT, SO IT DIDN'T

469. QUITE WORK OUT THAT WAY.

470. > > HE'S THE NATIONAL CHAMPION.

471. DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN

472. THAT.

473. IT'S A VERY SMALL GROUP OF GUYS

474. THAT ARE IN THAT ELITE CLASS OF

475. WRESTLERS IN THE COLLEGE RANKS.

476. > > IT WAS THE SMARTEST MATCH I

477. EVER WRESTLED.

478. IT SHOWED THAT I WAS READY FOR

479. THE NEXT LEVEL.

480. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE OLYMPIC

481. LEVEL.

482. I JUST GRADUATED COLLEGE.

483. I KNEW I HAD FOUR YEARS TO

484. PREPARE FOR THE OLYMPICS, AND I

485. WAS DOING EVERYTHING I COULD.

486. I STILL DIDN'T FIGURE MYSELF

487. OUT.

488. IN OTHER WORDS, I DIDN'T FIGURE

489. OUT WHAT MY STRENGTHS WERE AND

490. MY WEAKNESSES AS AN OLYMPIC

491. WRESTLER.

492. IN 1993 AND 1994, I ENDED UP

493. BEING THE NUMBER TWO GUY ON THE

494. OLYMPIC TEAM, THE WORLD TEAM.

495. > > HE DOES.

496. THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.

497. THAT ENDS THE MATCH WITH A

498. MINUTE AND SIX LEFT IN THIS

499. SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME.

500. KURT ANGLE IS STILL DOWN.

501. > > MY CONFIDENCE WAS CRUSHED.

502. I DIDN'T KNOW WHY, SO I DECIDED

503. TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I NEEDED TO

504. DO TO WIN.

505. I HAD THE ABILITY TO GO TO A

506. STATE-OF-THE-ART, NOTHING BETTER

507. THAN THIS FACILITY CALLED

508. FOXCATCHER.

509. FOXCATCHER WAS A FACILITY IN

510. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

511. IT WAS OWNED BY JOHN DU PONT,

512. AND HE WANTED TO GET INVOLVED IN

513. WRESTLING FOR A LONG TIME.

514. HE GOT A HOLD OF USA WRESTLING,

515. STARTED FUNDING THEM EVERY YEAR,

516. THEN HE STARTED HIS OWN CLUB AND

517. HE RECRUITED THE BEST OF THE

518. BEST.

519. > > MY NAME'S DAVE SCHULTZ.

520. MY INVOLVEMENT HERE AT

521. FOXCATCHER IS AS AN ATHLETE, I

522. TRAIN HERE, I WORK WITH DU PONT.

523. > > DAVE SCHULTZ WAS THE

524. RECRUITER.

525. DAVE WAS REALLY GOOD AT SPOTTING

526. TALENT AND EVERYBODY WANTED TO

527. BE THERE TO WORK WITH DAVE.

528. > > KURT ANGLE WENT AND TRAINED

529. AT FOXCATCHER BECAUSE DAVE

530. SCHULTZ COULD HELP HIM, AND HOW

531. MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WENT TO

532. FOXCATCHER OR WENT AROUND DAVE

533. BECAUSE DAVE COULD HELP THEM.

534. > > DAVE SCHULTZ WHO I CONSIDER

535. AS THE GREATEST WRESTLER OF ALL

536. TIME.

537. HE LEARNED SEVEN DIFFERENT

538. LANGUAGES SO HE COULD LEARN THE

539. SPORT OF WRESTLING FROM A

540. UNIVERSAL STANDPOINT.

541. HE NOT ONLY DID IT ALL, HE WOULD

542. TRAIN WITH YOU.

543. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I

544. WRESTLED DAVE, HE WAS 40, 50

545. POUNDS LIGHTER THAN ME.

546. HE BEAT THE — OUT OF ME.

547. > > HE THOUGHT KURT WAS AS HARD

548. WORKING AN INDIVIDUAL IN

549. WRESTLING AS HE HAD EVER SEEN.

550. I COULD JUST SEE KURT REALLY

551. RESPECTED DAVE AND DAVE REALLY

552. RESPECTED KURT FOR THE WORK THAT

553. HE WAS PUTTING IN, SO I THINK

554. DAVE WAS A MENTOR AND OF COURSE

555. A GOOD FRIEND.

556. > > HE HAD SUCH AN IMPACT IN MY

557. CAREER, BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED AT

558. HIM, HE WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED

559. TO BE.

560. HE LOVED WRESTLING, HE LOVED

561. TEACHING IT, HE LOVED COMPETING.

562. HE WAS THE BEST COACH I EVER

563. HAD.

564. DAVE SCHULTZ WAS THE KIND OF

565. COACH THAT COULD PICK APART

566. OPPONENTS, AND WORKING WITH

567. DAVE, HE SHOWED ME SO MANY

568. DIFFERENT WAYS TO BEAT PEOPLE.

569. WE WOULD WATCH WRESTLERS LIKE

570. MARK COLEMAN, MARK KERR, KIRK

571. TROST, DAN CHAID, AND THEY WERE

572. BIGGER GUYS.

573. THEY WERE QUICK, THEY WERE

574. STRONG, BUT THEY SLOWED THE PACE

575. DOWN, AND THEY WOULD SLOW ME

576. DOWN SO I WOULD GO AT THEIR

577. PACE.

578. I REALIZED, WATCHING FILM, THAT

579. I WASN'T PICKING UP THE PACE AND

580. PUTTING THE PRESSURE ON THEM.

581. I DECIDED, IF I WAS GOING TO DO

582. THIS, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE

583. MY CONDITIONING LEVEL TO A LEVEL

584. WHERE IT'S NEVER BEEN BEFORE.

585. > > THOSE OTHER BOYS WERE A

586. LITTLE BIT OLDER, REAL DEFENSIVE

587. WRESTLERS, WHO WEREN'T IN REAL

588. GOOD SHAPE.

589. HE JUST DECIDED TO TAKE THEIR

590. WIND AWAY FROM THEM AND GET IN

591. SUPER TIP-TOP SHAPE LIKE A

592. LIGHTWEIGHT WOULD BE IN.

593. > > I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE FASTER,

594. BIGGER, OR STRONGER.

595. IF I DIDN'T GET TIRED, I WAS

596. GOING TO WIN.

597. THAT'S WHAT I DID.

598. I DID WHAT YOU CALL EXHAUST

599. TRAINING.

600. I TRAINED TILL I WAS EXHAUSTED

601. AND THAT'S WHEN THE TRAINING

602. STARTED.

603. > > KURT ANGLE SET HIS GOALS REAL

604. HIGH.

605. HE DIDN'T BELIEVE HE COULDN'T DO

606. ANYTHING.

607. HE DIDN'T HAVE A LIMIT THAT HE

608. THOUGHT HE COULDN'T ACHIEVE.

609. HE BELIEVED IN HIMSELF MORE

610. PROBABLY THAN MOST PEOPLE DID.

611. > > HE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A

612. WORLD CHAMPION.

613. HE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AN

614. OLYMPIC CHAMPION.

615. HE LIVED IT.

616. HE BREATHED IT AND HE SLEPT IT.

617. > > MY SCHEDULE EVERY DAY WAS—

618. THIS IS HOW CRAZY IT WAS.

619. I'D DO A 6-MILE RUN AND I WOULD

620. DO IT IN ABOUT 38 MINUTES.

621. WHEN I GOT DONE, I WOULD DO 10

622. 200-YARD HILL SPRINTS WITH

623. SOMEBODY ON MY BACK.

624. THEN WHEN I GOT DONE WITH THAT,

625. I WOULD DO 10 WITHOUT ANYONE ON

626. MY BACK.

627. THEN I WOULD RUN HOME, GET ON

628. THE AIRDYNE, AND I WOULD SPRINT

629. AND GO IDLE FOR AN HOUR.

630. > > I'D SEE THE STORY ABOUT HIM

631. RUNNING UP THE HILL OVER MOUNT

632. LEVEL WITH A GUY ON HIS

633. SHOULDERS LIKE THIS.

634. ON HIS SHOULDERS LIKE A LOG LIKE

635. THIS.

636. > > AFTER MY MORNING SESSION, I

637. WOULD DO THE AFTERNOON SESSION.

638. I WOULD WARM UP AND DO AN HOUR

639. OF TECHNIQUE, AND I WOULD

640. WRESTLE FOR PROBABLY FOR TWO

641. HOURS.

642. > > HE WOULD DRILL FOUR OR FIVE

643. GUYS.

644. THEY'D TAKE TURNS.

645. HE WOULD NEVER STOP.

646. HE'D GET A FRESH GUY, THEY'D

647. KEEP JUMPING IN.

648. HE WOULDN'T STOP FOR HALF AN

649. HOUR.

650. > > I WOULD HAVE THREE OF THEM

651. ROTATING ON ME, 3-MINUTE

652. PERIODS, AND I WOULD DO THAT FOR

653. ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

654. THEN I WOULD TAKE A BREAK AND DO

655. IT AGAIN.

656. > > THESE GUYS THAT WANT TO BE

657. OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS, THEY'RE

658. OBSESSED.

659. THEY WON'T STOP.

660. WITH KURT, WE HAD TO WATCH HIM

661. BECAUSE HE'D OVERWORK.

662. HE WOULD WORK TOO HARD.

663. > > IN THE EVENING, I WOULD DO

664. ALL MY PLYOMETRICS AND WEIGHT

665. TRAINING.

666. WHEN I WOULD LIFT WEIGHTS, IT

667. WASN'T ABOUT MAXING OUT A BUNCH

668. OF WEIGHT OR HITTING A BUNCH OF

669. REPETITIONS.

670. IT WAS ABOUT HOW TIRED I CAN GET

671. MY BODY.

672. > > I SEEN HIM WITH 315 ON HIS

673. BACK DO LIKE 65 TIMES.

674. 315 POUNDS IS A LOT OF WEIGHT.

675. > > WE WORKED A LITTLE BIT MORE

676. LIKE MULES AND KURT WORKED A

677. LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE A

678. RACEHORSE.

679. THERE WAS A PURPOSE FOR WHY HE

680. WAS DOING THE TRAINING THAT HE

681. WAS DOING.

682. > > I WOULD TRAIN EVERY DAY, 3

683. TIMES A DAY FOR 28 AND A HALF

684. DAYS A MONTH OUT OF 30 DAYS.

685. I DID THAT CONSISTENTLY FOR TWO

686. YEARS.

687. I DID NOT STOP.

688. IT WAS 10 HOURS A DAY, ALMOST

689. EVERY SINGLE DAY.

690. > > HE WAS ONE OF THE

691. BEST-CONDITIONED ATHLETES IN THE

692. WORLD.

693. HAD TO BE.

694. THE WAY HE WORKED OUT AND

695. TRAINED, HE HAD TO BE.

696. > > NOBODY WORKED OUT LIKE KURT.

697. NOBODY.

698. THAT'S WHY HE'S A CHAMPION.

699. > > HE LIVED HERE WITH ME AND I

700. NEVER SEEN HIM.

701. HE WOULD COME IN TO EAT AND RUN

702. BACK OUT, CHANGE HIS CLOTHES AND

703. DIFFERENT CLOTHES.

704. HE'D GO WRESTLE FOR TWO HOURS,

705. THEN HE COME BACK, CHANGE, GO TO

706. WORK OUT AT THE GYM FOR TWO MORE

707. HOURS, COME BACK, GO JUMP ROPE.

708. HE RUNS THESE HILLS OVER HERE.

709. HE PUTS EVERYTHING INTO

710. EVERYTHING HE DOES.

711. I GUESS NOT BECAUSE I'M

712. BRAGGING, BUT I'M TRYING TO SAY

713. THAT WHEN HE DOES SOMETHING, HE

714. DOES IT THE BEST.

715. > > THAT MAN RIGHT THERE, KURT

716. ANGLE OF THE USA, IS GETTING SET

717. TO WRESTLE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP

718. AND HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT THE

719. OLYMPIC GAMES.

720. IN FACT, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING

721. ON HIS MIND TONIGHT AT THE OMNI.

722. > > THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP'S

723. RIGHT NOW.

724. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I'M NOT

725. GOING TO THINK ABOUT ANYTHING

726. ELSE.

727. THIS IS AS BIG AS THE OLYMPICS.

728. IT'S JUST NOT OLYMPIC YEAR AND

729. I'M GOING TO GIVE EVERYTHING

730. I'VE GOT TO WIN THIS TITLE.

731. ARAWAT SABEJEW WAS THE WORLD

732. CHAMPION FROM 1994.

733. HE ALSO PINNED ME IN 38 SECONDS

734. 3 YEARS PRIOR.

735. HE WAS GOOD.

736. > > KURT ANGLE WRESTLING FOR HIS

737. FIRST-EVER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

738. AGAINST THE DEFENDING WORLD

739. CHAMP, ARAWAT SABEJEW OF

740. GERMANY.

741. > > SABEJEW HAS THE LEG, MOVES IN

742. AND TRIES TO PICK UP THE

743. TAKEDOWN.

744. ANGLE SCRAMBLES.

745. IT'S NOT DONE YET.

746. NO TAKEDOWN.

747. SABEJEW HAS A HOLD ON THAT LEG.

748. ANGLE COUNTERS.

749. REVERSES.

750. SABEJEW TURNED RUN AROUND BY

751. KURT ANGLE.

752. > > I TOOK HIM INTO OVERTIME.

753. AS THE OVERTIME STARTED GETTING

754. LONGER AND LONGER, AND FURTHER

755. INTO IT, HE WAS GETTING REALLY

756. TIRED.

757. > > SABEJEW NOW CLAIMS HE'S GOT

758. AN INJURY.

759. > > I HAD A NEW WEAPON, EXHAUST

760. TRAINING AND IT WAS WORKING.

761. I WAS STICKING AND MOVING.

762. I WAS GETTING HIM OUT OF

763. POSITION.

764. HE WAS SO TIRED.

765. HE KEPT ASKING FOR INJURY

766. TIMEOUTS.

767. HE'S FAKING INJURIES AND I KNEW

768. I HAD HIM.

769. > > WAY BACK TO THE MIDDLE, SOME

770. SUSPENSE.

771. I THINK SABEJEW KNOWS IN HIS

772. HEART, AND HE DOES.

773. 27-YEAR-OLD KURT ANGLE FROM

774. PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

775. GET USED TO THAT NAME BECAUSE HE

776. IS JUST NOW EMERGING ON THE

777. WORLD SCENE AND HAS JUST NOW

778. CAPTURED HIS FIRST-EVER WORLD

779. FREESTYLE WRESTLING TITLE.

780. > > THIS SPORT IS THE TOUGHEST

781. SPORT IN THE WORLD.

782. I DON'T REGRET ONE MINUTE OF IT.

783. IT'S HARD.

784. YOU WORK HARDER THAN ANY OTHER

785. SPORT, AND WHEN YOU WIN, YOU

786. MIGHT NOT GET THE MONEY LIKE

787. THOSE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OR

788. BASKETBALL PLAYERS OR BASEBALL,

789. BUT YOU GET A LOT MORE IN HERE.

790. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS

791. SPORT.

792. THE VICTORY AGAINST ARAWAT

793. SABEJEW PUT ME ON THE MAP.

794. IT LET EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD

795. KNOW THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS

796. CONTENDER FOR THE OLYMPIC GOLD

797. IN 1996.

798. > > KURT, YOU'RE ON A NEW

799. MOUNTAIN.

800. WHAT IS YOUR NEW HORIZON?

801. > > OH, OLYMPICS NEXT YEAR.

802. WIN THE OLYMPICS, RETIRE.

803. WHEN DAVE SAW ME WRESTLE THERE

804. AFTER COACHING ME THE PRIOR

805. YEAR, HE KNEW THAT I WAS GOING

806. TO WIN A GOLD MEDAL.

807. HE KNEW BEFORE I DID, AND HE

808. WANTED TO BE A PART OF IT.

809. A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "I'M

810. NOT GOING TO HELP HIM OUT.

811. WHY SHOULD I HELP HIM OUT?

812. WHAT'D HE EVER DO FOR ME?"

813. FOR DAVE, IT WASN'T ABOUT WHAT

814. YOU DID FOR HIM.

815. IT WAS ABOUT GIVING BACK.

816. > > THE STANDOFF BETWEEN A SWAT

817. TEAM AND THE HEIR TO A FORTUNE

818. CONTINUES TONIGHT.

819. > > SWAT TEAM STILL SURROUND THE

820. DU PONT MANSION OUTSIDE

821. PHILADELPHIA.

822. > > POLICE NEGOTIATORS HAVE BEEN

823. CALLING DU PONT APPROXIMATELY

824. ONCE EVERY HOUR.

825. > > ECCENTRIC MILLIONAIRE WITH AN

826. AVID INTEREST IN OLYMPIC SPORTS

827. AND GUNS.

828. > > A 14,000 SQUARE FOOT

829. FOXCATCHER TRAINING CENTER ON

830. HIS ESTATE AND RECRUITED OLYMPIC

831. CALIBER WRESTLERS, SOME OF WHOM,

832. LIKE SCHULTZ, LIVED ON THE

833. ESTATE.

834. > > I WAS GOING TO HEAD DOWN TO

835. DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY TO HAVE A

836. PRACTICE WITH THEIR HEAVY

837. WEIGHTS BECAUSE I WAS IN

838. PITTSBURGH AT THE TIME.

839. BEFORE I LEFT, I LEFT DAVE A

840. MESSAGE AROUND 1:00 PM THAT I

841. WAS COMING TO THE FARM THE NEXT

842. DAY AND I WANTED TO LET HIM KNOW

843. I WAS GOING TO BE IN THERE TO

844. TRAIN WITH HIM.

845. I LEFT HIM A MESSAGE AND THEN I

846. WENT DOWN TO PRACTICE, AND

847. LITERALLY THREE HOURS LATER, I

848. SAW ON CNN THAT DAVE WAS SHOT

849. AND KILLED.

850. > > NO ONE IS SURE OR SAYING WHY

851. JOHN DU PONT WOULD HAVE KILLED

852. DAVE SCHULTZ, AMERICA'S BEST BET

853. FOR OLYMPIC GOLD IN WRESTLING

854. AND A COACH AT DU PONT'S

855. FOXCATCHER TRAINING CENTER.

856. WHILE THE TWO WERE CLOSE, THEY

857. WERE OFTEN AT ODDS.

858. > > DAVE WOULD TELL JOHN WHAT WAS

859. ON HIS MIND.

860. IF SOMETHING WAS BUGGING HIM,

861. HE'D SAY, "HEY, DU POINT, YOU

862. CAN'T DO THAT."

863. > > DAVE AND I WOULD HAVE A LOT

864. OF CONVERSATIONS.

865. IN NOVEMBER BEFORE HE WAS

866. KILLED, HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO

867. GET OUT SOON, BUT I GOT THINGS.

868. THINGS ARE OKAY DOWN THERE AND

869. SAFE.

870. ALL THE RUMORS THAT YOU HEAR

871. ABOUT JOHN WITH GUNS AND JOHN

872. BEING CRAZY, IT'S NOT AS BAD AS

873. PEOPLE SAY."

874. THEN THREE MONTHS LATER, HE SHOT

875. DAVE.

876. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY WILL

877. EVER KNOW WHY.

878. THAT'S THE SAD PART.

879. > > SCHULTZ, WHO WON A GOLD MEDAL

880. IN THE 1984 SUMMER OLYMPICS,

881. LIVED WITH HIS FAMILY IN A HOME

882. ON THE ESTATE.

883. IT IS AT THAT HOME THAT POLICE

884. SAY DU POINT DROVE UP AND SHOT

885. SCHULTZ IN THE DRIVEWAY.

886. > > HE SCREAMED SO LOUD.

887. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DOOR,

888. DAVE WAS DOWN IN THE SNOW AND

889. JOHN SHOT HIM IN THE BACK.

890. THEN I WENT OVER TO TURN DAVE

891. OVER AND TRY TO DO CPR, BUT HE

892. WAS CRUSHED.

893. WHEN I TOUCHED HIM, IT WAS JUST

894. SOFT.

895. I JUST PUT HIS HEAD IN MY LAP

896. AND TOLD HIM I LOVED HIM.

897. HE DIED VERY QUICKLY.

898. > > DAVE WAS ONE OF MY BEST

899. FRIENDS, AND I JUST WANT HIM TO

900. KNOW THAT I LOVE HIM AND I CARE

901. A LOT ABOUT HIS FAMILY, NANCY

902. AND THE KIDS.

903. I JUST PRAY TO GOD THAT THEY'RE

904. GOING TO BE OKAY.

905. > > DAVE WILL BE MISSED SO MUCH

906. BY HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE

907. WRESTLING COMMUNITY AROUND THE

908. WORLD.

909. AFTER DAVE WAS KILLED, THERE WAS

910. THIS GAP BECAUSE IT WAS JANUARY

911. AND THE OLYMPIC TRIALS WERE IN

912. JUNE.

913. RIGHT?

914. ALL THE FUNDING COME FROM THIS

915. GUY.

916. WE HAVE PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW,

917. 17 TO 20 ELITE-LEVEL ATHLETES

918. WHO ARE COUNTING ON AT LEAST A

919. STIPEND EVERY MONTH.

920. > > I CALLED FOXCATCHER AND TOLD

921. THEIR ATTORNEYS TO TAKE ME OFF

922. THE PAYROLL.

923. I COULDN'T TAKE BLOOD MONEY, AND

924. NANCY SCHULTZ HEARD ABOUT THAT.

925. NANCY CALLED ME RIGHT AWAY AND

926. SHE SAID, "WELL, I'M STARTING A

927. WRESTLING CLUB BECAUSE I GOT A

928. BUNCH OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE

929. CALLED ME THAT WANT TO SPONSOR

930. YOU GUYS, SO I'M GOING TO START

931. THE DAVE SCHULTZ WRESTLING CLUB.

932. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE THE FIRST

933. MEMBER?"

934. I WAS LIKE,

935. "WOW. ME?"

936. I SAID YES.

937. > > KURT WAS THE FIRST ONE TO

938. SAY, "I'M GOING TO WRESTLE FOR

939. THE DAVE SCHULTZ WRESTLING

940. CLUB."

941. IT WAS A HUGE TURNING POINT FOR

942. ME.

943. IT SHOWED ME THAT HE RESPECTED

944. DAVE'S MEMORY AND THAT HE HAD

945. SOME FAITH IN ME AND WHO IS

946. HELPING ME TO PUT TOGETHER THE

947. PROGRAM.

948. KURT STOOD UP IMMEDIATELY AND

949. SAID, "LET'S WRESTLE FOR THE

950. DAVE SCHULTZ WRESTLING CLUB IN

951. DAVE'S HONOR."

952. > > WELL, IN 1996 AT THE US

953. OPEN, THAT WAS THE BEGINNING

954. STAGES OF THE OLYMPIC TRIALS.

955. > > GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT

956. HAPPENED CERTAINLY THERE WAS A

957. VOID WITH DAVE GONE.

958. A RIFT IN THE NATIONAL TEAM.

959. > > I WAS HAVING A FANTASTIC

960. TOURNAMENT.

961. I WAS DOMINATING MY WEIGHT

962. CLASS.

963. I WOULD SCORE MY OPPONENTS BY

964. DOZENS OF POINTS.

965. I GOT TO THE SEMI-FINALS AND I

966. HAD A WRESTLER THAT WAS PRETTY

967. TOUGH NAMED JASON LOUKIDES.

968. WE WERE WRESTLING AND I DUG FOR

969. AN UNDER HOOK, GET MY ARM UNDER

970. HIS ARMPIT, AND HE HIT ME WITH

971. THIS ARM THROW.

972. AS HE THREW ME WITH AN ARM

973. THROW, I WENT TO PUT MY HAND UP

974. TO BLOCK THE GROUND SO I

975. WOULDN'T ROLL OVER MY BACK.

976. I COULDN'T GET MY HAND OVER IN

977. TIME, SO I PUT MY HEAD UP TO

978. STOP ME FROM LANDING ON MY BACK.

979. I LANDED RIGHT DOWN ON MY FACE.

980. ALL I HEARD WAS A BUNCH OF

981. CRACKING AND CRUNCHING IN MY

982. NECK.

983. I KNEW I DID SOMETHING.

984. RIGHT WHEN I LANDED, JASON, THE

985. WRESTLER, WAS TRYING TO

986. GUT-WRENCH ME TO ROLL ME OVER

987. AGAIN BECAUSE HE KNEW I WAS

988. HURT.

989. I WOULD'VE DONE THE SAME THING

990. TO HIM.

991. THAT'S PART OF THE SPORT.

992. > > WHEN I GOT UP, I COULDN'T

993. FEEL MY ARMS.

994. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED IT WAS A

995. LOT WORSE THAN I THOUGHT.

996. IT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE

997. MATCH, AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I

998. GAVE THE POINTS UP.

999. NOW, I'M LOSING 3-0.

1000. I GET BACK IN THERE, AND I

1001. COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

1002. I HAD NO STRENGTH.

1003. MY NECK WAS KILLING ME.

1004. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND I

1005. KEPT THINKING ABOUT MY NECK.

1006. I JUST COULDN'T GET BACK INTO

1007. THE FOCUS ON THE MATCH AND WHAT

1008. I HAD TO DO TO WIN.

1009. > > COME ON, KURT.

1010. YOU GOT TO WANT IT.

1011. LET'S GO.

1012. > > LITTLE BY LITTLE, I WAS

1013. SCORING A COUPLE OF POINTS HERE

1014. AND THERE, AND I BELIEVE WITH

1015. ABOUT 20 SECONDS LEFT, I SCORED

1016. MY FIFTH POINT.

1017. > > HEY.

1018. GOOD JOB.

1019. > > IT GOT ME INTO THE FINALS.

1020. THE PROBLEM WAS I DIDN'T KNOW

1021. HOW BAD MY NECK WAS INJURED.

1022. > > I WENT OVER TO THE TRAINER

1023. AND I TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED.

1024. I WAS HAVING A LOT OF PAIN IN MY

1025. LOWER NECK.

1026. THE TRAINER TOLD ME TO GET DOWN,

1027. LAY DOWN ON MY BACK, AND HE

1028. STARTS CRACKING MY NECK.

1029. EVERY TIME THEY CRACKED IT, A

1030. SHARP PAIN WOULD GO DOWN MY

1031. SPINE OR DOWN MY ARMS.

1032. I SAID, "WHOA, WHOA.

1033. THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG HERE.

1034. I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE

1035. CRACKING MY NECK."

1036. > > WE KNEW HE WASN'T RIGHT, BUT

1037. HIS NECK'S THIS BIG.

1038. I HAD NO IDEA HIS NECK WAS THAT

1039. BAD.

1040. > > EIGHT HOURS AFTER THAT MATCH,

1041. THE SEMI-FINAL MATCH WITH JASON

1042. LOUKIDES, I HAD THE FINAL MATCH

1043. AGAINST KERRY MCCOY.

1044. > > KERRY MCCOY IS AN ANIMAL

1045. HIMSELF.

1046. HE'S ONE OF THE BEST WRESTLERS

1047. WE'VE EVER HAD IN HIS OWN RIGHT.

1048. > > I DON'T THINK I CAN DO THIS.

1049. HOW ABOUT I'LL JUST TAKE A BREAK

1050. HERE AND I'LL GO HOME?

1051. I'LL TAKE SECOND PLACE AND I'LL

1052. GO TO THE OLYMPIC TRIALS AS THE

1053. SECOND-PLACE WRESTLER.

1054. NOW, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS IF

1055. YOU DON'T WIN THE US OPEN,

1056. YOU'RE NOT IN THE FINALS OF THE

1057. OLYMPIC TRIALS.

1058. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU WIN THE

1059. US OPEN, YOU GO TO THE FINALS OF

1060. THE TRIALS.

1061. ALL THE OTHER PLACED WINNERS

1062. UNDERNEATH WRESTLE EACH OTHER

1063. AND THE WINNER OF THAT GETS TO

1064. WRESTLE THE WINNER FROM THE US

1065. OPEN.

1066. THAT'S HOW THE OLYMPIC TRIALS

1067. WORKS.

1068. > > WINNING THE US OPEN, SO

1069. IMPORTANT.

1070. IT TAKES A WHOLE TOURNAMENT OUT

1071. OF YOUR PATH BECAUSE IT TAKES

1072. YOU OUT OF THIS MINI-TOURNAMENT.

1073. > > THE COACH SAID, "LISTEN, DO

1074. YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT

1075. CRAZY ASS TOURNAMENT WHERE

1076. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRESTLE

1077. ALL THESE GUYS AND THEN YOU'RE

1078. GOING TO BE EXHAUSTED AND YOUR

1079. NECK MIGHT NOT BE HEALED UP AND

1080. THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO

1081. WRESTLE THE US OPEN CHAMPION?"

1082. I KEPT TELLING THEM I DON'T

1083. THINK I CAN WRESTLE.

1084. > > I BELIEVE MY BROTHER, MARK,

1085. WAS AROUND.

1086. HE KEPT SAYING, "SHUT UP.

1087. YOU'RE WRESTLING."

1088. > > I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

1089. ALL I DID WAS PUMMEL WITH HIM.

1090. I TRIED TO TIE HIM UP.

1091. I WAS DIGGING UNDERHOOKS.

1092. ALL I DID WAS PUSHED HIM AROUND

1093. THE MAT, GOT HIM CALLED FOR

1094. STALLING.

1095. HE WAS TRYING TO WRESTLE ME.

1096. I WAS TRYING TO NOT WRESTLE HIM.

1097. > > KURT'S DECISION TO LAY IT ALL

1098. ON THE LINE, REGARDLESS OF HIS

1099. OWN HEALTH, SERIOUS THINGS, EVEN

1100. MORE SERIOUS BECAUSE OF WHAT

1101. HAPPENED TO HIM, BUT IT'S THAT

1102. DRAW OF BECOMING OLYMPIC

1103. CHAMPION.

1104. THAT'S SO STRONG.

1105. THEY'LL LITERALLY DO ANYTHING

1106. NECESSARY.

1107. THEY'LL DO ANYTHING.

1108. > > THE US OPEN IS A WONDERFUL

1109. THING TO WIN, BUT WHEN YOU'RE

1110. THINKING ABOUT WINNING A GOLD

1111. MEDAL FOR YOUR COUNTRY, IT'S

1112. JUST PART OF IT.

1113. I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE

1114. OLYMPIC TRIALS.

1115. ALTHOUGH, I HAD A MONTH TO THINK

1116. ABOUT IT, I WAS MORE CONCERNED

1117. WOULD THIS HEAL BY THEN.

1118. WHATEVER IT IS.

1119. HOPEFULLY, IT'S NOT TOO BAD, BUT

1120. WOULD I BE READY?

1121. > > AFTER THE TOURNAMENT, I WENT

1122. TO A CHIROPRACTOR.

1123. HE TOOK AN X-RAY OF MY NECK.

1124. HE SAID, "YOU KNOW YOU HAVE FOUR

1125. BROKEN VERTEBRAE, RIGHT?

1126. TWO OF YOUR DISCS ARE STICKING

1127. DIRECTLY INTO YOUR SPINAL CORD.

1128. YOU'RE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU

1129. CAN DO SOME REAL DAMAGE TO YOUR

1130. BODY LIKE PARALYSIS."

1131. I WENT TO TWO OTHER DOCTORS HERE

1132. IN PITTSBURGH AND I TOLD THEM I

1133. HAD TO BE READY IN, I BELIEVE,

1134. FOUR WEEKS FOR THE OLYMPIC

1135. TRIALS.

1136. HE LOOKED AT THE X-RAY AND HE

1137. LOOKED AT ME, HE SAID, "YOU'RE

1138. NOT DOING IT.

1139. IF YOU GO OUT THERE AND YOU

1140. WRESTLE AND YOU LAND ON YOUR

1141. HEAD AGAIN, YOU PROBABLY WON'T

1142. LIVE."

1143. I WAS AT A LOSS FOR WORDS.

1144. I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT I

1145. COULD DO.

1146. I CALLED BRUCE BURNETT OF USA

1147. WRESTLING.

1148. I CALLED HIM AND SAID, "LISTEN,

1149. I HAVE A REALLY SEVERE NECK

1150. INJURY AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE

1151. THIS BEFORE WHERE GUYS HAVE BEEN

1152. INJURED AND YOU PUSHED BACK THE

1153. DATE OF THEIR TRIALS.

1154. I NEED ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO."

1155. HE STRAIGHT UP SAID, "YOU'RE NOT

1156. GETTING IT."

1157. I KNEW THEN I DIDN'T HAVE AN

1158. OPTION.

1159. I HAD TO BE READY.

1160. I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO GO UP

1161. TO EDINBORO TO TRAIN WITH BRUCE

1162. BAUMGARTNER.

1163. RIGHT WHEN BRUCE LOCKED UP WITH

1164. ME, A SHARP PAIN IN MY NECK WENT

1165. RIGHT DOWN MY ARMS.

1166. I DROPPED TO MY KNEES.

1167. I WAS IN THE WORST PAIN IN THE

1168. WORLD.

1169. IT WAS UNBEARABLE.

1170. FINALLY, I MET WITH TWO DOCTORS,

1171. JULIAN BAILES AND DR. MAROON.

1172. THESE GUYS DEALT WITH

1173. PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES ALL THE

1174. TIME.

1175. > > MY CONCERN IS ALWAYS

1176. NEUROLOGICAL.

1177. IS THERE POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE

1178. BRAIN OR THE SPINAL CORD?

1179. I THINK HE'S QUITE SAFE IN THAT

1180. REGARD.

1181. YOU STILL LOOK AT HIM.

1182. HIS NECK IS LIKE THIS.

1183. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NECK TO BREAK

1184. IT.

1185. HE HAS NO NECK.

1186. > > THEY HAD A DIFFERENT METHOD.

1187. BEFORE I WRESTLED EACH TIME IN

1188. THE OLYMPIC TRIALS, THEY WERE

1189. GOING TO HAVE A DOCTOR THERE

1190. PRESENT AND HE WAS GOING TO

1191. STICK ME IN THE NECK WITH 12

1192. DIFFERENT SHOTS OF A TYPE OF

1193. NOVOCAIN TO NUMB MY NECK.

1194. > > MAKE THE OLYMPIC TEAM,

1195. COMPETE IN THE OLYMPICS,

1196. REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY, MEDAL,

1197. I'D TAKE NOVOCAIN.

1198. > > FEELING THE NOVOCAIN AND

1199. FEELING HOW IT MADE ME

1200. COMPLETELY PAIN-FREE, IT GAVE ME

1201. CONFIDENCE WHEN I GOT TO THE

1202. OLYMPIC TRIALS, THIS MIGHT WORK

1203. OUT.

1204. > > MAYBE YOU COULD'VE GOT THERE

1205. IN '96, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT GET

1206. THERE IN 2000.

1207. CARPE DIEM, SEIZE THE DAY.

1208. HE WAS GOING TO GET WHAT HE HAD

1209. TRAINED FOR.

1210. > > I COULDN'T TRAIN WRESTLING.

1211. I COULD LIFT WEIGHTS.

1212. I COULD RUN AND SPRINT AND DO MY

1213. PLYOMETRICS, BUT I COULDN'T

1214. WRESTLE.

1215. MY NECK'S PRACTICE WAS GOING TO

1216. BE MY FIRST ROUND OF THE OLYMPIC

1217. TRIALS.

1218. I JUST NEVER CONSIDERED

1219. QUITTING, NEVER CONSIDERED

1220. GIVING UP BECAUSE OF MY NECK

1221. INJURY.

1222. THERE WAS NO PAUSE.

1223. IT WAS, "WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO

1224. GET BACK IN THE GAME?"

1225. I DID THAT.

1226. NOBODY WAS GOING TO STOP ME.

1227. THE PROBLEM WAS EVERYBODY KNEW I

1228. BROKE MY NECK.

1229. MY OPPONENT IN THE OLYMPIC

1230. TRIALS ALREADY KNEW MY NECK WAS

1231. BROKEN.

1232. DAN CHAID WAS TOUGH.

1233. HE WAS A FIGHTER.

1234. HE WAS MORE OF A BRAWLER TYPE OF

1235. WRESTLER.

1236. I LIKE DAN AS A PERSON, BUT WHEN

1237. HE GOT ON THAT MAT, HE WAS

1238. EITHER GOING TO HURT YOU OR YOU

1239. WERE NEVER GOING TO FORGET HIS

1240. NAME.

1241. > > DAN CHAID WANTED TO BE A

1242. WORLD OLYMPIC CHAMPION TOO AND

1243. THAT'S A GUY THAT WILL TAKE

1244. ADVANTAGE OF AN INJURY.

1245. > > I WASN'T SURE WHO WOULD WIN.

1246. YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY

1247. WOULDN'T BE FOND OF EACH OTHER.

1248. SOMEBODY'S DREAMS ARE GOING TO

1249. BE CRUSHED.

1250. > > I GOT INJURED EVERY TIME I

1251. WRESTLED HIM.

1252. I KNEW HOW DAN WAS AND I KNEW

1253. WHAT I HAD IN FRONT OF ME IN THE

1254. OLYMPIC TRIALS.

1255. HE WAS GOING TO TRY TO HURT MY

1256. NECK.

1257. HAVING NECK PAIN AND NOT KNOWING

1258. HOW MUCH DAMAGE I WAS DOING TO

1259. MY BODY AND HAVING THE

1260. UNCERTAINTY OF THAT, AND THEN

1261. GETTING STUCK IN THE NECK WITH

1262. 12 SHOTS OF NOVOCAINE AND THEN

1263. GOING OUT, NOT FEELING IT, IT

1264. MAKES YOU THINK, IS THIS WORTH

1265. IT?

1266. IS IT WORTH IT TO NUMB THAT UP,

1267. KNOWING HOW DAMAGED IT IS AND

1268. HOW I COULD END UP BEING

1269. PARALYZED OR EVEN DEAD IF I LAND

1270. WRONG?

1271. > > TIME WILL ONLY TELL AND ONLY

1272. KURT CAN TELL IF THAT WAS WORTH

1273. IT OR NOT IN HIS LIFE'S PATH AND

1274. LIFE'S DREAMS, AND LIFE'S

1275. DEVELOPMENT.

1276. > > IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT

1277. HE DID WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO TO

1278. PUT HIMSELF BACK ON THE MAT, TO

1279. COMPETE, TO MAKE THAT OLYMPIC

1280. TEAM, BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS

1281. DREAM, THAT WAS HIS GOAL.

1282. IT WAS KNOWN FROM THE MINUTE HE

1283. HIT THE SENIOR CIRCUIT UNTIL HE

1284. WON THAT I'M HERE TO BE THE BEST

1285. IN THE WORLD.

1286. > > DAN CHAID WAS A BULLY.

1287. HE LIKED TO INFLICT PAIN AND

1288. THAT'S WHAT HE WAS GOING TO TRY

1289. TO DO TO ME.

1290. THE FIRST THING HE DID IS HE

1291. WENT RIGHT FOR MY NECK.

1292. PUT BOTH OF HIS HANDS AROUND MY

1293. BACK OF MY NECK AND WAS HOLDING

1294. ME DOWN TRYING TO INFLICT PAIN.

1295. > > HE COME OUT AND HE WAS TRYING

1296. TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF KURT'S

1297. INJURY.

1298. HE COMES OUT AND HE JUST STARTS

1299. CLUBBING ON THE BACK OF HIS

1300. HEAD.

1301. > > I COULDN'T FEEL IT.

1302. IT WASN'T WORKING.

1303. HIS MINDSET WAS, GO FOR THE

1304. NECK, GO FOR THE NECK.

1305. EVERY TIME HE DID, HE LEFT

1306. HIMSELF OPEN.

1307. THE GUY THOUGHT HE WOULD TRY TO

1308. GET ME TO QUIT BY TRYING TO

1309. RE-INJURE MY NECK.

1310. THE WHOLE GAME PLAN BACKFIRED ON

1311. HIM AND IT BENEFITED ME.

1312. I JUST MADE THE OLYMPIC TEAM BY

1313. BEATING DAN CHAID.

1314. I HAD A SOLID PERFORMANCE.

1315. I THOUGHT IT WAS AS GOOD AS I

1316. COULD HAVE WRESTLED, EVEN

1317. WITHOUT THE BROKEN NECK, EVEN IF

1318. I WAS HEALTHY, IT WAS GOOD.

1319. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT BUILT MY

1320. CONFIDENCE, THAT MADE ME REALIZE

1321. MAYBE YOU'RE MORE READY THAN YOU

1322. THINK YOU ARE.

1323. > > WELCOME TO ATLANTA'S OLYMPIC

1324. STADIUM FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY

1325. OF THESE CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC

1326. GAMES.

1327. > > EVERYBODY WANTS TO WIN THE

1328. OLYMPICS ON THE DAY OF THE

1329. OLYMPICS, BUT YOU HAVE TO WANT

1330. TO WIN THE OLYMPICS EVERY SINGLE

1331. DAY WHEN YOU WAKE UP LEADING UP

1332. TO THE OLYMPICS.

1333. EVERY SINGLE TIME, EVERY SINGLE

1334. ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS COME UP,

1335. YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE THE OLYMPICS

1336. OVER EVERYTHING ELSE.

1337. > > GOING INTO ATLANTA, HE WAS

1338. MENTALLY PREPARED TO WIN A GOLD

1339. MEDAL, AND THAT WAS HIS ONLY

1340. VISION.

1341. HE WOULDN'T LET FALLING OFF THE

1342. CLIFF ENTER HIS HEAD.

1343. IT WAS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE

1344. GOLD MEDAL GOING AROUND HIS

1345. NECK.

1346. > > I DECLARE OPEN THE GATES OF

1347. ATLANTA, CELEBRATING THE 26TH

1348. OLYMPIAN OF THE MODERN ERA.

1349. > > I BELIEVE ONE OF THE GREATEST

1350. OLYMPIC TEAMS EVER IN 1996.

1351. OBVIOUSLY, WE WERE ALL STILL

1352. HEARTBROKEN OVER DAVE.

1353. BOY, WE WISH DAVE COULD HAVE

1354. BEEN HERE.

1355. > > WHEN I WALKED IN FOR THE

1356. OPENING CEREMONIES, THE PLACE

1357. WENT CRAZY.

1358. I WAS LIKE, "WOW.

1359. THEY KNOW WHO I AM?

1360. THIS IS CRAZY."

1361. I'M LIKE, "YES, ALL RIGHT."

1362. I'M WAVING AND THEY'RE GETTING

1363. LOUDER AND LOUDER.

1364. I LOOK BEHIND ME AND THE DAMN

1365. DREAM TEAM JUST SNUCK IN BEHIND

1366. US.

1367. IT WAS A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE TO

1368. THINK THE FANS WERE CHEERING FOR

1369. ME AND IT WAS THE BOYS IN THE

1370. BACK.

1371. IT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY FUNNY.

1372. IT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY FUNNY.

1373. > > EVERYBODY THAT WRESTLED KURT

1374. KNEW THAT HIS NECK WAS HURT AND

1375. DON'T THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT

1376. THEIR COACHES WOULDN'T LIKE,

1377. "LOOK, IF YOU GET IN A CLINCH,

1378. YOU NEED TO CRANK HIM."

1379. HE WAS AWARE THAT PEOPLE WERE

1380. TRYING TO TAKE HIM OUT.

1381. > > MY NECK WAS STILL BROKEN UP

1382. UNTIL THE OLYMPICS.

1383. I'D HAVE A LOT OF PAIN IN THERE,

1384. BUT IT USUALLY STAYED IN THE

1385. NECK.

1386. IT WASN'T RUNNING DOWN MY ARMS

1387. ANYMORE.

1388. I FELT MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT

1389. WHERE I WAS AT THAT TIME, HOW MY

1390. NECK WAS FEELING, AND I FELT

1391. LIKE THIS IS ABOUT AS READY AS I

1392. WILL BE.

1393. I REMEMBER MY FIRST MATCH BEING

1394. AGAINST MONGOLIA.

1395. HE WAS GOING TO BE QUITE A

1396. FORCE.

1397. I WAS LEADING 2-0 AND WE WENT TO

1398. OVERTIME.

1399. I GOT REGISTERED FOR TWO MORE

1400. POINTS AND I WON 4-0 OVERTIME.

1401. A CUBAN, A SEVEN-FOOT TALL CUBAN

1402. MONSTER.

1403. I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO GIVE ME A

1404. HARD TIME BECAUSE HE WAS A BIG

1405. DUDE.

1406. WE WENT 0-0 REGULATION, 0-0

1407. OVERTIME UNTIL 5 SECONDS LEFT.

1408. I TOOK HIM DOWN OVERTIME.

1409. I WON 1-0 DOUBLE OVERTIME FROM

1410. THE CUBAN.

1411. THE NEXT ROUND, I HAD A RUSSIAN,

1412. I DUG FOR AN UNDERHOOK AND HE

1413. KNEW I WAS GOING TO DO IT.

1414. RIGHT WHEN I DID THAT, HE HIT ME

1415. WITH A FIREMAN'S CARRY.

1416. NOW IT'S DOWN 3-0 AGAINST A

1417. RUSSIAN.

1418. I'M LIKE, "OH, GOD."

1419. YOU NEVER WANT TO GO DOWN THREE

1420. POINTS TO A RUSSIAN BECAUSE

1421. THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP GOOD

1422. POSITIONING AND THEY'RE GOING TO

1423. STALL THE REST OF THE MATCH AND

1424. WIN.

1425. A COUPLE OF MINUTES WENT BY, I

1426. TOOK HIM DOWN, I TURNED HIM.

1427. > > ANGLE.

1428. HE'S GOING TO GET IT.

1429. IT'S A TIED MATCH.

1430. > > I TIED THE MATCH THREE TO

1431. THREE.

1432. RIGHT WHEN I TURNED HIM, HE PUT

1433. HIS HANDS ON HIS FACE LIKE THIS.

1434. I SAID, "HOLY —.

1435. HE'S GOING TO GIVE UP."

1436. WE WENT BACK IN THE MIDDLE AND I

1437. TOOK HIM DOWN 5 SECONDS LATER,

1438. WON 4-3.

1439. > > HE SCORES ANOTHER TAKEDOWN.

1440. A SUPER JOB BY KURT ANGLE TO

1441. HANG ON TO THAT-

1442. > > I DIDN'T

1443. HAVE TO HAVE A PRETTY

1444. PERFORMANCE.

1445. I JUST WANTED THE GOLD ANY WAY I

1446. COULD GET IT.

1447. THE GOLD MEDAL REPRESENTS BEING

1448. THE BEST OF THE BEST.

1449. THE GOLD MEDAL REPRESENTS THAT

1450. THERE'S NOBODY BETTER THAN YOU

1451. ON THIS PLANET.

1452. I DIDN'T WANT MONEY.

1453. I DIDN'T WANT FAME.

1454. I WANTED THAT GOLD MEDAL.

1455. IF I HAVE THAT GOLD MEDAL AROUND

1456. MY NECK, MY LIFE IS FINE.

1457. > > KURT HAD TO WRESTLE PROBABLY

1458. AT THAT POINT THE MOST FAMOUS

1459. IRANIAN OF ALL TIME, ABBAS

1460. JADIDI.

1461. > > ABBAS JADIDI, WHO I BELIEVE

1462. EVEN INCLUDING ME, WAS BY FAR

1463. THE BEST WRESTLER IN THE WEIGHT

1464. CLASS.

1465. HE WON THE WORLDS IN 1993.

1466. HE GOT SUSPENDED FOR TWO YEARS

1467. FOR AN ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE.

1468. HE DOMINATED EVERYBODY.

1469. THIS GUY WAS UNBEATABLE.

1470. > > THEIR NATIONAL SPORT IN IRAN

1471. IS WRESTLING.

1472. WHEN YOU'RE STEPPING ON THE MAT

1473. WITH AN IRANIAN, YOU BETTER BE

1474. READY.

1475. > > KURT, HE WAS THE UNDERDOG.

1476. FOR SURE, HE WAS THE UNDERDOG.

1477. > > THE ONLY CHANCE OF BEATING

1478. HIM WAS NOT TO OUT TECHNIQUE

1479. HIM.

1480. IT WAS TO GET HIM TIRED.

1481. > > I JUST REMEMBER HIM BEING

1482. RELAXED, FOCUSED, CONFIDENT, AND

1483. JUST READY TO GO TO WAR.

1484. > > I REMEMBER BEING REALLY HARD

1485. FOUGHT AND IT WAS JUST A BATTLE.

1486. AN ALL-OUT ATTACK FOR THE ENTIRE

1487. MATCH BY KURT.

1488. > > THERE WAS SO LITTLE SCORING.

1489. IT WAS LIKE A FAST CHESS MATCH

1490. OUT THERE.

1491. > > WE HAD A COUPLE OF TAKEDOWNS

1492. WHERE HE ALMOST TOOK ME DOWN OUT

1493. OF BOUNDS.

1494. I ALMOST TOOK HIM DOWN.

1495. I FEEL A POP IN MY GROIN,

1496. PROBABLY A PARTIAL TEAR.

1497. IT WAS HORRIBLE BECAUSE NOW I'M

1498. LIKE, "OH, GOD, NOT MY GROIN

1499. NOW."

1500. ABBAS JADIDI NOW GETS ME DOWN

1501. AND HE'S GOING FOR A LEG LACE,

1502. AND THAT MEANS HE WAS WRAPPING

1503. MY LEGS TOGETHER TO SPIN ME OVER

1504. ONTO MY BACK.

1505. WELL, AS HE WAS DOING THAT, I

1506. DIDN'T HAVE ANY STRENGTH IN MY

1507. GROIN.

1508. IT WAS KILLING ME.

1509. I HAD TO GIVE UP A POINT.

1510. > > HE KNEW THAT IT FELT PRETTY

1511. EASY, SO HE TRIED IT AGAIN, AND

1512. I WAS LIKE, "SCREW IT.

1513. I'M GOING TO USE ALL MY STRENGTH

1514. TO MAKE SURE I DON'T GET TURNED,

1515. AND IF IT POPS, IT POPS."

1516. HE WENT AGAIN AND HE ALMOST HAD

1517. ME TURNED.

1518. I JUST ROUGHED IT OUT AND

1519. STRAIGHTENED MY LEGS AND STAYED

1520. ON MY STOMACH AND HE GAVE UP.

1521. I WAS LIKE, "THANK GOD."

1522. NOW HE TOOK A NICE LITTLE SLICK

1523. SHOT AND I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT MY

1524. WEIGHT OVER ON HIM, AND I

1525. KNOCKED HIM ON HIS HIP AND SPUN

1526. BEHIND HIM AND TOOK HIM DOWN.

1527. > > I'M LIKE, WOW.

1528. THAT WAS A PRETTY SLICK

1529. TAKEDOWN."

1530. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT WHAT I

1531. DID.

1532. IT WAS JUST STRICTLY INSTINCT.

1533. > > TACTICALLY, STRATEGICALLY,

1534. KURT WRESTLED WELL.

1535. THE LATER THE MATCH WENT, THE

1536. BETTER HE GOT, THE FASTER HE

1537. GOT.

1538. KURT WAS NONSTOP AND JADIDI WAS

1539. STALLING THE WHOLE TIME, THE

1540. WHOLE TIME.

1541. > > JUST GETTING TO CATCH YOUR

1542. WIND FOR ANOTHER FIVE, MAYBE

1543. SEVEN SECONDS, YOU REVITALIZE A

1544. LITTLE BIT.

1545. IF THEY WOULD HAVE MADE HIM COME

1546. BACK TO THE MIDDLE, THERE WOULD

1547. HAVE BEEN A POINT WHERE HE BROKE

1548. HIM DOWN.

1549. HE COULD'VE DID WHATEVER HE

1550. WANTED TO HIM.

1551. > > THIS GUY COULD NOT GET UP OFF

1552. THE MAT.

1553. THIS IS A WORLD-CLASS ATHLETE

1554. THAT KURT JUST PUNKED AND HE

1555. CAN'T GET UP OFF THE MAT GOING

1556. LIKE THIS.

1557. > > KURT ANGLE LOOK LIKE A

1558. FREAKING GYMNAST.

1559. YOU TALK ABOUT WRESTLING AND THE

1560. BATTLE OF TWO WILLS.

1561. HERE'S A GUY UNDERNEATH A GUY

1562. HANDS BEHIND HIS LEGS, DRIVING

1563. LIKE A CLYDESDALE INTO HIM, AND

1564. HERE'S KURT ANGLE, CAPTAIN

1565. FREAKING AMERICA WITH HIS HANDS

1566. SPRAWLING, BLOCKING, BACK ARCH,

1567. HEAD TO THE CEILING.

1568. IT WAS AMAZING.

1569. > > NOW WE'RE IN OVERTIME.

1570. IT'S ONE TO ONE AND HE'S GETTING

1571. REALLY TIRED, AND THE LITTLE

1572. VOICE IN MY HEAD SAID, YOU NEED

1573. TO DO SOMETHING.

1574. YOU HAVE TO TAKE HIM DOWN.

1575. I SHOT A LITTLE SINGLE TO ONE

1576. SIDE AND I KNOCKED ABBAS DOWN

1577. ONTO HIS BUTT.

1578. I GOT BOTH OF HIS LEGS AND I HAD

1579. THE TAKEDOWN.

1580. ONE REF GAVE ME A POINT, THE

1581. OTHER TWO DIDN'T GIVE ME IT YET.

1582. THEY'RE WAITING FOR ME TO MOVE

1583. UP ON TO HIS HIPS A LITTLE

1584. HIGHER.

1585. IF THEY DON'T GIVE ME IT,

1586. THEY'LL AT LEAST AWARD ME IT

1587. BECAUSE THE MATCH WAS DEAD EVEN.

1588. > > THE WAY THAT IT WAS A REF'S

1589. DECISION, IT LOOKED LIKE IT

1590. COULD'VE WENT EITHER WAY.

1591. > > KURT'S MOM VERY NERVOUS.

1592. SOMETIMES SHE LEAVES.

1593. SHE GETS SO NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS,

1594. BUT SHE'S GOING TO STAY HERE FOR

1595. THIS ONE.

1596. THIS IS AS TIGHT AS IT CAN

1597. POSSIBLY GET.

1598. IT IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE

1599. REFEREE, MAT JUDGE, MAT CHAIRMAN

1600. TO MAKE A DECISION.

1601. KURT ANGLE WAS THE MORE

1602. AGGRESSIVE AT THE END OF THIS

1603. MATCH, JEFF.

1604. > > MY HEART WENT DOWN TO MY

1605. STOMACH.

1606. FIRST THING I THOUGHT WAS, FOUR

1607. MORE YEARS.

1608. AFTER THIS, FOUR MORE YEARS

1609. BECAUSE I CAN'T JUST STOP AT A

1610. SILVER.

1611. > > WHAT WILL BE THE OUTCOME?

1612. THEY CAN'T DECIDE.

1613. THERE IT IS.

1614. KURT ANGLE.

1615. KURT ANGLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

1616. > > FIRST THING I THOUGHT ABOUT,

1617. GOT ON MY KNEES AND I THANKED

1618. GOD, AND I THOUGHT ABOUT MY DAD

1619. AND I THOUGHT ABOUT DAVE

1620. SCHULTZ.

1621. HOW PROUD THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN

1622. OF ME.

1623. MAN, DAVE WOULD'VE— HE WOULD'VE

1624. RUN OUT THAT MAT AND LIFTED ME

1625. UP ON HIS SHOULDERS.

1626. WHAT A TOUGH YEAR.

1627. DAVE GETS KILLED AND FOXCATCHER

1628. BREAKS DOWN, AND YOU DON'T HAVE

1629. A CLUB, AND THEN NANCY SCHULTZ

1630. GIVES YOU DAVE'S SCHULTZ

1631. WRESTLING CLUB.

1632. EVERYTHING THAT WE WENT THROUGH

1633. THAT YEAR, MY BROKEN NECK, AND

1634. ALL THIS WORK YOU PUT IN, IT'S

1635. DONE.

1636. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ANYMORE.

1637. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STRESS

1638. ANYMORE.

1639. NO MORE WAKING UP AT 4:00 AM, NO

1640. MORE STAYING TILL ONE O'CLOCK IN

1641. THE MORNING AT THE WEIGHT ROOM,

1642. NO MORE TRAINING LIKE A MAD MAN

1643. IN THE WRESTLING ROOM.

1644. IT WAS DONE.

1645. I PLANNED FOR THIS FOR SO LONG.

1646. NO, NOT JUST THE PAST TWO MONTHS

1647. OR THE PAST YEAR, OR TWO, OR

1648. FOUR, BUT EVER SINCE I WAS A

1649. KID.

1650. WHEN I FINALLY DROPPED TO MY

1651. KNEES AND REALIZED I WON,

1652. THERE'S NOTHING BUT JOY.

1653. IT WAS MY DAD AND DAVE, AND

1654. THANK YOU LORD FOR LETTING ME

1655. STICK THROUGH ALL OF THIS AND

1656. STILL COME OUT ON TOP.

1657. IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

1658. > > WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THIS

1659. MOMENT?

1660. > > I WORKED FOR THIS MOMENT ALL

1661. MY LIFE.

1662. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAPPENED.

1663. IT'S THE BEST FEELING I'VE EVER

1664. HAD.

1665. I THANK GOD.

1666. > > I SAW YOU KNEEL ON THE MAT

1667. AND PRAY.

1668. WERE YOU TALKING TO YOUR DAD?

1669. > > YES, MY DAD'S ALWAYS WITH ME.

1670. DAVE SCHULTZ, MY UNCLE FRED, MY

1671. GRANDMOTHER.

1672. THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER PULLING

1673. FOR ME, ROOTING FOR ME UP THERE,

1674. AND I KNOW IT CAME DOWN TO THAT.

1675. I KNEW THEY WERE WITH ME.

1676. I WASN'T SURE IF I WON.

1677. THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT'S

1678. EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

1679. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

1680. ALL I WANTED TO DO IS WIN A

1681. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND AN

1682. OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, AND I DID

1683. THEM BOTH.

1684. IF I DIED TONIGHT, I'D BE THE

1685. HAPPIEST MAN IN THE WORLD.

1686. I LOVE YOU, MOM.

1687. I DID THAT ONE FOR YOU.

1688. > > PLEASE WELCOME KURT ANGLE.

1689. NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU GIVING

1690. THAT TO YOUR MOM, THOUGH, HUH?

1691. > > YES, I FIGURED SHE DESERVED

1692. THIS MORE THAN I DID.

1693. SHE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR ME.

1694. SHE RAISED ME FROM WHEN I WAS

1695. JUST A KID.

1696. > > YOU KNOW WHAT'S FUNNY ABOUT

1697. THAT?

1698. MY MOM TOO.

1699. WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

1700. > > TO BE HONEST, NOBODY'S GOING

1701. OFF TO WIN OLYMPICS TO LIKE BE A

1702. MILLIONAIRE.

1703. NO ONE EVER THINKS THAT, BUT YOU

1704. AT LEAST THINK THAT YOU SHOULD

1705. HAVE A PATH FOR A CAREER FOR THE

1706. REST OF YOUR LIFE.

1707. USUALLY, PEOPLE JUST END UP WITH

1708. AN OLYMPIC MEDAL ON ONE HAND AND

1709. THEIR — IN THE OTHER.

1710. > > WHEN YOU WIN SOMETHING OR

1711. YOU'RE AWARDED SOMETHING THAT

1712. YOU DREAMED ABOUT SINCE YOU WERE

1713. A KID, AND YOU FELT LIKE THERE

1714. WAS NOTHING ELSE MORE IMPORTANT

1715. THAN THAT, AND YOU FINALLY

1716. ACCOMPLISH IT, YOU WAKE UP THE

1717. NEXT DAY AND YOU SAY, "WHAT AM I

1718. GOING TO DO NOW?"

1719. > > IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT

1720. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN HERE IN THE

1721. WORLD WRESTLING —, BUT

1722. NOW MORE THAN EVER TRUER WORDS

1723. HAVE NEVER BEEN SPOKEN.

1724. THIS IS A CONSCIOUS EFFORT ON

1725. OUR PART TO OPEN THE CREATIVE

1726. ENVELOPE, SO TO SPEAK, IN ORDER

1727. TO ENTERTAIN YOU IN A MORE

1728. CONTEMPORARY MANNER.

1729. EVEN THOUGH WE CALL OURSELVES

1730. SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT, BECAUSE OF

1731. THE ATHLETICISM INVOLVED, THE

1732. KEYWORD IN THAT PHRASE IS

1733. ENTERTAINMENT.

1734. > > YOU MENTIONED TO ME EARLIER

1735. THAT VINCE MCMAHON FROM THE

1736. WORLD WRESTLING — HAS

1737. IN FACT CONTACTED KURT ANGLE.

1738. IF VINCE MCMAHON WERE TO GIVE

1739. YOU A PHONE CALL TOMORROW AND

1740. SAY, "KURT, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT,

1741. I'LL GIVE YOU A THREE-YEAR DEAL

1742. WORTH $2.5, $3 MILLION TO BECOME

1743. A WORLD WRESTLING —

1744. PERFORMER."

1745. WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT?

1746. > > I THINK I'D SAY NO.

1747. ONE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM A

1748. WRESTLER, A TRUE WRESTLER, AN

1749. OLYMPIC CHAMPION WRESTLER.

1750. MY FIRST THOUGHTS AS AN OLYMPIC

1751. GOLD MEDALIST WAS DON'T DO IT.

1752. I STARTED WATCHING THESE GUYS

1753. AND THEY WERE DOING SOME OF THE

1754. MOST ATHLETIC THINGS I'VE EVER

1755. SEEN.

1756. > > WE'VE SEEN A LOT UP THERE.

1757. OVER THE TOP.

1758. > > AJ, SECOND ROPE.

1759. OH, MAN.

1760. > > LOOK AT THIS.

1761. > > OH, GOD.

1762. WHAT ATHLETICISM.

1763. > > SHELTON LANDING ON HIS FEET.

1764. > > LOOK OUT.

1765. WHOA.

1766. > > THERE WAS A WRESTLER ON THERE

1767. THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY INTEREST.

1768. HIS NAME WAS "STONE COLD" STEVE

1769. AUSTIN.

1770. > > HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OUT

1771. HERE.

1772. > > IF YOU THINK THE ROCK IS A

1773. SORRY SELL OUT —, GIVE ME A

1774. HELL YEAH.

1775. > > THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I

1776. THOUGHT.

1777. > > THERE'S NOTHING LIKE WHEN

1778. YOU'RE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT

1779. BUSINESS GRABBING A CROWD AND

1780. HAVING THEM HOOK, LINE AND

1781. SINKER, AND YOU WERE DICTATING

1782. TO THEM YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING

1783. AND GETTING A RESPONSE AND

1784. THEY'RE BUYING INTO YOUR STORY.

1785. IT'S INTOXICATING.

1786. IT'S SO UPLIFTING, IT'S SO

1787. POWERFUL.

1788. IF YOU CAN BOTTLE THAT STUFF AND

1789. SELL IT, YOU'D BE A BILLIONAIRE.

1790. > > I LOVED HIS CHARACTER.

1791. HE WAS A LOT OF FUN TO WATCH,

1792. AND WHY AM I SO BITTER ABOUT

1793. THESE GUYS MAKING ALL THIS

1794. MONEY?

1795. WHY DON'T I TRY IT?

1796. > > THE ONLY OLYMPIC GOLD

1797. MEDALIST TO EVER GRACE A WWE

1798. RING.

1799. > > I REMEMBER SEEING THIS GUY

1800. AND I'M THINKING, OKAY.

1801. HE'S A GOOD-LOOKING GUY, GREAT

1802. PHYSIQUE, YOU KNOW THE TENACITY,

1803. STUD ATHLETE WITH A BIG ASS

1804. NECK.

1805. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS GUY SHOWS

1806. UP AND I'M THINKING, NOW CAN HE

1807. MAKE THE TRANSITION?

1808. > > YOU SEE, KURT ANGLE, THIS

1809. ISN'T THE OLYMPICS.

1810. YOU'RE NOT FACING THE ROMANIANS,

1811. YOU'RE NOT FACING THE

1812. BULGARIANS, YOU'RE FACING THE

1813. ROCK, THE BRAHMA BULL, A MAN WHO

1814. HAS NO QUIT.

1815. A MAN WHO HAS NO FEAR.

1816. KURT ANGLE, BRING YOUR GOLD

1817. MEDALS.

1818. > > HE APPROACHED OUR PROCESS

1819. WITHOUT EGO.

1820. HE'D WON A GOLD MEDAL IN THE

1821. OLYMPICS AND CAME IN WITH ALL

1822. THIS CACHET AND ALL THIS

1823. INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT BEHIND

1824. HIM.

1825. HE CAME IN AGAIN WITH GREAT

1826. HUMILITY AND SAID, "I JUST WANT

1827. TO LEARN.

1828. I'M GOING BACK TO DAY ONE FOR ME

1829. AND CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR."

1830. > > HE IS A BLUE-CHIPPER, NO

1831. DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

1832. > > IT'S MY FIRST MATCH, MY DEBUT

1833. IN WWE.

1834. THE FANS DIDN'T REALLY CARE

1835. ABOUT THE MATCH.

1836. THEY WERE CHANTING BORING AND

1837. THIS MATCH SUCKS.

1838. > > KURT ANGLE WENT AND WON A

1839. GOLD MEDAL AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

1840. THAT SUMMER, AND OF COURSE,

1841. ANGLE, AS WE SAID, WAS

1842. SUCCESSFUL.

1843. > > VINCE MCMAHON TOLD ME TO GO

1844. OUTSIDE, GRAB THE MICROPHONE,

1845. AND TELL THESE FANS YOU DO NOT

1846. BOO AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION.

1847. I WAS LIKE, "HOLY —."

1848. > > HERE'S THIS GUY.

1849. HE'S SO SQUEAKY CLEAN THAT YOU

1850. COULD SEE WITH THE RIGHT SPIN ON

1851. IT HE COULD BE VERY ARROGANT.

1852. I'M BETTER THAN YOU.

1853. > > YOU DO NOT BOO AN OLYMPIC

1854. GOLD MEDALIST.

1855. I'M THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

1856. I CAME HERE FOR YOU.

1857. YOU DO NOT BOO ME.

1858. > > THE FANS RESPONDED, AND THEY

1859. STARTED BOOING ME EVEN MORE.

1860. IT WAS THE BIRTH OF THE HEEL

1861. KURT ANGLE.

1862. > > I'VE SEEN SO MANY AMATEUR

1863. WRESTLERS COME ALONG,

1864. LEGITIMATELY TOUGH GUYS, THAT

1865. COULD NEVER GET IT.

1866. > > SO MANY GUYS COME FROM THE

1867. AMATEUR RANKS AND, BECAUSE OF

1868. THE EGO INVOLVED, CAN'T STAND

1869. BEING ON THE BOTTOM OR SHINING A

1870. GUY UP.

1871. KURT WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH ALL

1872. THAT.

1873. > > FROM THE PSYCHOLOGY OF

1874. WRESTLING TO THE TECHNIQUE TO

1875. BEING A CHARACTER TO BEING

1876. ENTERTAINING, IT JUST ALL CAME

1877. TO ME VERY QUICKLY.

1878. > > AT THAT TIME, THE COMPANY HAD

1879. NOT GONE PUBLIC YET.

1880. IT WAS STILL A MOM-AND-POP

1881. COMPANY THAT FLEW UNDER THE

1882. RADAR IN MANY RESPECTS.

1883. IT WAS LIKE THE WILD WILD WEST.

1884. IT WAS — CRAZY AND IT WAS

1885. AWESOME.

1886. > > THE KING OF THE RING SET.

1887. GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY.

1888. OH, NOT AGAIN.

1889. OH, MY GOD.

1890. > > I LOVE THE ATTITUDE ERA.

1891. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE

1892. GREATEST PERIODS IN THE HISTORY

1893. OF THE BUSINESS.

1894. IT WAS FULL-TILT, FULL-SPEED

1895. AHEAD, MAKE NO APOLOGIES, PUSH

1896. THE ENVELOPE.

1897. > > AT THAT TIME, I WAS RUNNING

1898. AROUND GOING, "IF YOU SMELL WHAT

1899. THE ROCK IS COOKING."

1900. STEVE AUSTIN WAS LIKE MIDDLE

1901. FINGERS, DRINKING HIS BEERS.

1902. IT WAS THE ATTITUDE ERA.

1903. KURT CAME ALONG AT A TIME WHERE

1904. HE WAS TRYING TO FIND HIS NICHE

1905. AND JUST CLICKED.

1906. > > I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AS

1907. AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION.

1908. > > TAKE THOSE METALS, TURN THOSE

1909. — SIDEWAYS, AND STICK THEM

1910. RIGHT UP YOUR OLYMPIC ASS.

1911. > > MY FIRST GIMMICK IN WWE WAS

1912. THE OLYMPIC HERO.

1913. I WAS THE PERSON WITH THE THREE

1914. I'S, INTENSITY, INTEGRITY, AND

1915. INTELLIGENCE.

1916. IT WAS A FUN GIMMICK.

1917. IT WAS COMICAL.

1918. YOU WANT TO GO TOE TO TOE WITH

1919. ME?

1920. TO QUOTE THE POPULAR SINGER

1921. SHAKIRA, "WHENEVER, WHEREVER."

1922. > > KURT BROUGHT TO THE TABLE

1923. THIS NAIVETY, THIS INNOCENT I

1924. LOVE MILK, MAN, I LOVE COOKIES

1925. AND THE AMERICAN WAY AND I FIGHT

1926. FOR FREEDOM AND MY COUNTRY AND I

1927. BELIEVE IN GOOD.

1928. AUDIENCES LOVED HIM.

1929. THEY LOVED TO LOVE HIM AND CHEER

1930. HIM.

1931. THEY ALSO LOVED TO HATE HIM.

1932. > > YOUR CHANCES AT WINNING THE

1933. TITLE IN FRONT OF THESE SLEAZY

1934. HOMETOWN LOSERS JUST WENT FROM

1935. SLIM TO NONE.

1936. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

1937. > > WHAT KURT ALLOWED TO TAKE

1938. PLACE BECAUSE HE HAD THE TALENT

1939. TO PULL IT OFF WAS KURT COULD DO

1940. ANYTHING.

1941. HE COULD BE SERIOUS, HE COULD BE

1942. FUNNY.

1943. > > THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD I'M HERE

1944. IN THIS TOWN BECAUSE IF THERE

1945. WAS EVER A TOWN THAT CAN RELATE

1946. TO LOSING, IT'S DETROIT,

1947. MICHIGAN.

1948. > > WHAT?

1949. > > OH, BOY.

1950. > > IT'S TRUE.

1951. > > KURT GOT COMFORTABLE IN HIS

1952. OWN SKIN AND STARTED DOING THESE

1953. JUST HILARIOUS THINGS THAT YOU

1954. WOULDN'T EXPECT FROM AN OLYMPIC

1955. GOLD MEDALIST.

1956. > > LOOK OUT.

1957. > > OH, MAN, COME ON.

1958. > > YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

1959. > > MAE YOUNG ATTACKING KURT

1960. ANGLE.

1961. FOR GOD'S SAKES.

1962. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

1963. > > OH, MY GOSH.

1964. > > WHAT KIND OF HUMAN BEING HAS

1965. KURT ANGLE BECOME?

1966. > > I WAS A BAD GUY.

1967. A HEEL, AND I DID A LOT OF

1968. PREACHING.

1969. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

1970. THE FANS HATED MY GUTS.

1971. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU

1972. TONIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT

1973. GIVES YOUR OLYMPIC HERO GREAT

1974. JOY.

1975. THE JOY OF CELIBACY.

1976. PEOPLE TELL ME TODAY, "KURT, I

1977. HATED YOUR GUTS BACK THEN."

1978. I GOT ON PEOPLE'S NERVES.

1979. THAT'S HOW BAD IT WAS.

1980. I NOTICED THAT THE CITY OF

1981. CHICAGO IS A LITTLE SHORT ON

1982. WINNERS, AND A LITTLE WORN ON

1983. FAT SWEATY PIGS.

1984. > > IT'S TRUE.

1985. IT'S DAMN TRUE.

1986. > > I REMEMBER WALKING THROUGH

1987. THE AIRPORT ONE MORNING, AND I

1988. THINK I HAD A HANGOVER.

1989. I LOOKED OVER AND I SAW THIS

1990. LITTLE BITTY COWBOY HAT.

1991. I SAID, "MAN, KURT WOULD LOOK

1992. AMAZING IN THAT HAT BECAUSE HE'S

1993. GOT THIS 22-INCH NECK."

1994. HIS NECK IS LIKE A COBRA.

1995. > > I WAS IN THE CUB SCOUTS, THE

1996. WEBELOS, BOY SCOUTS, I DID THEM

1997. ALL.

1998. > > WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DID THEM

1999. ALL?

2000. > > THE BUILD-UP TO ALL OF OUR

2001. MATCHES WERE ALWAYS FUN BECAUSE

2002. I WOULD TALK — TO HIM.

2003. I PROBABLY KNOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT

2004. ABOUT YOU.

2005. SOMEBODY GOT A HAIRCUT.

2006. HE WOULD TRY AND TALK — TO ME,

2007. BUT HE WAS ONE OF THESE GUYS

2008. WHEN HE TALKS —, HIS CHARACTER

2009. TALKS —, HE WAS JUST OFF BY A

2010. COUPLE OF STEPS.

2011. > I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER ONE

2012. THING, YOU'RE A BOY IN A MAN'S

2013. WORLD AND I'M A MAN WHO LOVES TO

2014. PLAY WITH BOYS.

2015. > > WHAT THE?

2016. > > NO, WAIT A MINUTE.

2017. SHUT UP.

2018. > > KURT JUST WANTED TO

2019. ENTERTAIN.

2020. HE JUST WANTED TO ENTERTAIN THE

2021. CROWD AND IF THAT MEANT HIM

2022. BEING THE BADASS AND SPRAYING

2023. MILK ON EVERYBODY.

2024. > > MILK A MANIA IS RUNNING WILD.

2025. > > RALLYING THE 20,000, 25,000,

2026. 30,000 PEOPLE TO CHANT "YOU

2027. SUCK".

2028. THEN THE B SIDE AND ALSO THE

2029. MOST IMPORTANT SIDE WAS THE

2030. PROMISE OF AN AMAZING MATCH.

2031. > > LOOK OUT.

2032. OH, GOD.

2033. > > LOOK OUT.

2034. > > ONE OF THE MATCHES THAT I

2035. REMEMBER THE MOST, IT WAS A CAGE

2036. MATCH.

2037. KURT GETS ON THE TOP OF THAT

2038. CAGE AND DOES A MOONSAULT.

2039. > > HE'S GOING TO ESCAPE, KURT

2040. ANGLE'S GOING TO ESCAPE.

2041. IT'S OVER.

2042. > > YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

2043. OH, MY GOD.

2044. MY GOD, ANGLE WENT FOR

2045. EVERYTHING.

2046. > > THAT GUY WILL GO TO THE END

2047. OF THE WORLD TO PUT ON A DAMN

2048. GOOD MATCH.

2049. AS I'M SITTING THERE, I'M

2050. THINKING HOLY —.

2051. PARDON MY LANGUAGE, YOU — IS

2052. CRUSHING IT.

2053. > > HE HAD A NATURAL PROPENSITY

2054. TO BE A PRO WRESTLER.

2055. IT JUST CAME TO HIM.

2056. HE WAS LIKE A SAVANT, A GENIUS

2057. AT THIS STUFF.

2058. > > I BECAME A BETTER TECHNICIAN,

2059. I BECAME BETTER AT PSYCHOLOGY.

2060. I GOT INTO MY ZONE, I GOT INTO

2061. MY CRAFT WHERE I KNEW WHAT I HAD

2062. TO DO.

2063. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT

2064. "STEVE COLD" STEVE AUSTIN AND

2065. MYSELF WERE ONE OF THE GREATEST

2066. MATCHES OF ALL TIME AT

2067. SUMMERSLAM.

2068. > > ANGLE WITH THE MOONSAULT.

2069. OH, MY GOD.

2070. > > TO ME, WHAT I WAS DOING IN

2071. THAT MATCH WAS THE TRUE

2072. PERSONIFICATION OF TRYING TO BE

2073. A BADASS PIECE OF —.

2074. > > THE STUNNER THAT CAME OUT OF

2075. NOWHERE.

2076. > > STUNNER.

2077. > > KURT HAD GREAT CHEMISTRY, NOT

2078. JUST WITH ME.

2079. HE HAD GREAT CHEMISTRY WITH

2080. BASICALLY ANYBODY HE STEPPED

2081. FOOT IN THE RING WITH.

2082. THAT'S HOW GOOD HE WAS.

2083. > > EDDIE GUERRERO MATCHES, SHAWN

2084. MICHAELS MATCHES, BROCK LESNAR,

2085. EDGE, 2006 NO WAY OUT AGAINST

2086. UNDERTAKER.

2087. > > LOOK AT THIS.

2088. > > WATCH OUT.

2089. > > CHOKESLAM.

2090. > > GOSH.

2091. > > ANGLE SLAM.

2092. > > OH, MY GOD.

2093. > > THE MATCH I HAD WITH HIM,

2094. WITH A BIG MAN AND THE STORY WE

2095. WERE ABLE TO TELL, EVEN WITH THE

2096. SUBMISSION TRADE OFFS, WAS

2097. UNREAL.

2098. > > CHECK IT OUT NOW, CHOKESLAM.

2099. > > THE OTHER MATCH WAS SHAWN

2100. MICHAELS, 2005 WRESTLEMANIA.

2101. > > SHAWN MICHAELS.

2102. SHAWN MICHAELS-LIKE MANEUVER.

2103. > > LOOK OUT.

2104. > > THAT'S A GUY THAT I'VE NEVER

2105. GOTTEN IN A RING WITH BEFORE.

2106. THE CHEMISTRY WE HAD WAS UNREAL.

2107. > > NO, NO.

2108. > > LOOK OUT.

2109. > > OH, MY GOD.

2110. > > NO, NO, NO.

2111. > > ANGLE SLAM OFF THE TOP.

2112. > > THOSE MATCHES WERE WHAT MADE

2113. ME THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS

2114. DURING THOSE YEARS.

2115. > > HE WAS JUST MEANT TO WRESTLE,

2116. WHETHER IT'S COMPETITIVELY OR

2117. PROFESSIONALLY.

2118. TO MAKE PEOPLE LOVE YOU AND TO

2119. MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH, IT'S VERY

2120. DIFFICULT.

2121. KURT DID IT AS GOOD AS ANYBODY

2122. EVER DID.

2123. > > I'M IN LOVE WITH THE SPORT.

2124. I'M IN LOVE WITH SPORTS

2125. ENTERTAINMENT.

2126. I ENJOY DOING IT.

2127. I LOVE PERFORMING.

2128. > > ANY TOP GUY THAT'S EVER

2129. STEPPED FOOT OR WATCHED KURT

2130. KNOWS WHAT A BADASS HE IS AND

2131. HOW TALENTED HE IS IN THE RING.

2132. HE IS AT THE VERY, VERY TOP OF

2133. THAT LIST.

2134. HANDS DOWN, BAR NONE.

2135. > > AGAIN, HE HAD THIS NAIVETY TO

2136. HIM, THIS INNOCENCE TO HIM, BUT

2137. THEN HE DISRUPTED THAT WITH I'M

2138. ALSO A BAD MOTHER — AND I WILL

2139. ANGLE SLAM YOU THROUGH THE —

2140. MAT IN WHICH HE HAS DONE TO ME

2141. ON MANY OF OCCASIONS.

2142. > > ANGLE WITH AN OVERHEAD

2143. SUPLEX.

2144. > > THE BRAHMA BULL HAS TAPPED

2145. OUT.

2146. > > THAT GUY'S A —..

2147. > > I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT PRO

2148. WRESTLING.

2149. FIRST TIME I'D MET HIM, HE

2150. WALKED IN AND I WAS LIKE, "OH,

2151. MY GOD, HE IS SO HANDSOME."

2152. HE HAD THESE BIG BLUE EYES.

2153. I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT HIM AT ALL.

2154. WE WENT ON A DATE AT APPLEBEE'S,

2155. AND AFTER OUR FIRST DATE, WE

2156. JUST WERE INSEPARABLE.

2157. > > LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BEFORE

2158. WE GET THIS PARTY STARTED, I

2159. HAVE ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT TO

2160. MAKE.

2161. I HAVE THE THREE MOST BEAUTIFUL

2162. CHILDREN IN THE WORLD AND I

2163. WOULD NEVER EVER WANT TO BE

2164. WITHOUT THEM.

2165. THEY'RE VERY SPECIAL TO ME.

2166. KYRA, MY NINE-YEAR-OLD.

2167. SHE'S MY PRINCESS.

2168. KODY, HE'S MY LITTLE MMA

2169. FIGHTER, LITTLE FIVE-YEAR-OLD.

2170. I HAVE MY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE

2171. SQUEAKS, GIULIANA, MY

2172. ONE-YEAR-OLD.

2173. I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE TO ALL

2174. OF YOU, WE HAVE ANOTHER BABY

2175. COMING BY DECEMBER OR JANUARY,

2176. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FOURTH.

2177. > > THE IRONY OF THE SUCCESS AND

2178. THE BRIGHT LIGHTS IS VERY

2179. EXCITING AND IT COULD BE VERY

2180. ALLURING, BUT THEN THERE'S A

2181. DARK SIDE.

2182. THERE'S ALSO AN UNDERBELLY THAT

2183. SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY

2184. MEMBERS HAVE GONE THROUGH AND

2185. EXPERIENCE.

2186. SOME HAVE GONE THROUGH AN

2187. EXPERIENCE AND WOUND UP ON THE

2188. OTHER SIDE BETTER AND STRONGER

2189. FOR IT.

2190. SOME NOT BETTER.

2191. > > GUYS LIKE KURT WHO WRESTLED

2192. ALL THEIR LIFE, YOU CAN'T EXPECT

2193. HIM TO BE TOTALLY HEALTHY.

2194. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

2195. PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THESE

2196. GUYS ARE TAKING THEIR OWN FALLS,

2197. THEY'RE BOUNCING AROUND OVER

2198. THAT MAT AND THE MAT'S NOT

2199. POSTHERPETIC CURE.

2200. YOU DO THAT 200 DAYS A YEAR OR

2201. MORE, SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, IT'S

2202. OBVIOUS WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO TO

2203. YOUR BODY.

2204. I THINK ALSO GUYS ON HIS LEVEL,

2205. GREAT WORLD-CLASS LEVEL

2206. ATHLETES, THEY JUST HAVE THIS

2207. FEAR OF FAILING THAT COULD

2208. MANIFEST ITSELF INTO A GREAT

2209. BLESSING, AND MORE DRIVE, AND

2210. MORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OR IT CAN

2211. BECOME THE KISS OF DEATH.

2212. > > BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2003 AND

2213. 2006, I HAD A VERY BAD STRING OF

2214. LUCK.

2215. IN EARLY 2003, I WAS ON BROCK

2216. LESNAR'S BACK.

2217. I HAD HIM IN A CHOKE HOLD, AND

2218. HE WAS RUNNING FROM ONE SIDE OF

2219. THE RING TO THE OTHER.

2220. HE TURNED SIDEWAYS AND I HIT THE

2221. TURNBUCKLE AND MY HEAD SNAPPED

2222. SIDEWAYS.

2223. I LITERALLY LOST FEELING IN MY

2224. LEFT ARM.

2225. I COULDN'T RAISE MY ARM.

2226. IT WAS JUST DEAD.

2227. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG, AND

2228. I WENT TO SEE A DOCTOR, AND I

2229. WAS TOLD WHAT IT WAS AND THAT I

2230. BROKE MY NECK.

2231. IT WAS "STONE COLD" STEVE

2232. AUSTIN'S DOCTOR.

2233. HE DID STONE COLD'S NECK FUSION.

2234. WHEN I WENT TO SEE HIM, HE

2235. WANTED TO DO FUSION RIGHT AWAY.

2236. > > WHEN I HAD TO LEAVE TO GO GET

2237. MY SURGERY, I WAS GONE FOR 12 OR

2238. 15 MONTHS.

2239. THAT'S CAREER SUICIDE FOR 9 OUT

2240. OF 10 PEOPLE.

2241. KURT HAD THAT SAME FEAR.

2242. HE'S NOT A DUMMY.

2243. > > I WAS VERY TENTATIVE ABOUT

2244. THAT BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO

2245. TAKE A YEAR OFF, AND I DON'T

2246. WANT TO TAKE THAT LONG OFF.

2247. I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT, I WENT

2248. OVER TO MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE AND

2249. THERE'S A REALLY NICE KID.

2250. HIS NAME'S JOHNNY AND HE SAID,

2251. "I HEAR YOU'RE NOT WRESTLING

2252. BROCK AT WRESTLEMANIA."

2253. I SAID, "YES."

2254. HE SAID, "I REALLY WISH YOU'D BE

2255. ABLE TO WRESTLE BROCK."

2256. HE HANDED ME A DIRECT TV

2257. MAGAZINE AND ON THE COVER WAS

2258. BROCK LESNAR VERSUS KURT ANGLE

2259. AT WRESTLEMANIA.

2260. I LOOK DOWN AND I WAS LIKE,

2261. "THIS MIGHT NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN."

2262. I CALLED VINCE.

2263. I SAID, "LISTEN, I'M DOING

2264. WRESTLEMANIA."

2265. > > THIS MATCH WE HAVE BEEN

2266. WAITING FOR FOR MONTHS.

2267. TWO OF THE MOST DECORATED

2268. ATHLETES IN WWE HISTORY.

2269. > > I WRESTLED BROCK WITH A

2270. BROKEN NECK AT WRESTLEMANIA 19.

2271. > > THIS IS WRESTLEMANIA, IT'S

2272. LIKE THE SUPER BOWL.

2273. THESE GUYS ARE WORLD-CLASS

2274. ATHLETES AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO

2275. OUT AND GIVE YOU EVERYTHING THEY

2276. GOT.

2277. > > POWERSLAM.

2278. > > WOW, WHAT A SLAM BY LESNAR.

2279. > > OH, THAT'S HOW HE CAN WIN THE

2280. MATCH.

2281. > > OH, LOOK AT THIS.

2282. SPINEBUSTER.

2283. > > THAT'S WHERE LESNAR TRIED THE

2284. SHOOTING STAR.

2285. > > BROCK LESNAR, HE'S CLIMBING

2286. TO THE TOP ROPE.

2287. > > I REMEMBER LESNAR TRIED THE

2288. SHOOTING STAR PRESS AND HE

2289. MISSED IT.

2290. > > BROCK.

2291. WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

2292. > > WHAT THE HELL'S LESNAR DOING,

2293. COLE?

2294. OH, MY GOD.

2295. > > BROCK LESNAR WENT FOR THE

2296. SHOOTING STAR PRESS AND KURT

2297. ANGLE ROLLED OUT OF THE WAY.

2298. > > WIND UP BEING A HELL OF A

2299. MATCH AND THEY WERE BOTH REALLY

2300. SORE AFTERWARDS.

2301. I CAN REMEMBER.

2302. IT WAS PRETTY BAD.

2303. THEY WERE BOTH BUSTED UP.

2304. > > LOOK AT LESNAR.

2305. > > THE POWERSLAM TO KURT ANGLE.

2306. > > I WENT BACK HOME AND DECIDED,

2307. AM I GOING TO DO THIS?

2308. AM I GOING TO GET FUSION OR DO I

2309. FIND SOMEBODY ELSE?

2310. A MAN NAMED DR. JHO GOT A HOLD

2311. OF MY MANAGER AND HE SAID,

2312. "LISTEN, I CAN FIX KURT ANGLE.

2313. HE WILL ONLY BE OUT FOR SIX

2314. WEEKS."

2315. I THOUGHT THIS WAS BOGUS.

2316. I WAS LIKE, "THIS IS TOO GOOD TO

2317. BE TRUE."

2318. HE WAS GOING TO GIVE ME A

2319. MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY.

2320. I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED A

2321. LAMINECTOMY, AND HE WOULD CUT

2322. OUT THE PROBLEM AND LET THE NECK

2323. HEAL, SO I DECIDED TO DO THAT

2324. SURGERY AND IT WORKED EXTREMELY

2325. WELL.

2326. > > THE SURGERY HE HAD DONE, IN

2327. MY OPINION, I THOUGHT IT WAS

2328. LIKE PUTTING A PATCH ON AN

2329. INDYCAR, A SUPER CAR, AND THEN

2330. EXPECT IT TO GO OUT ON A TRACK

2331. AND RUN 250 MILES AN HOUR AGAIN.

2332. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A

2333. HIGH-PERFORMANCE MACHINE AND I

2334. THOUGHT IT WAS A PATCH JOB

2335. RATHER THAN A FIX JOB.

2336. > > YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING

2337. TO HAPPEN.

2338. HOPEFULLY, I'LL GET BACK IN THE

2339. LINE UP.

2340. IF I CAN STAY IN THERE FOR A

2341. WHILE AND STAY INJURY FREE AND

2342. MY NECK IS INJURY FREE, THEN I

2343. MADE THE RIGHT MOVE.

2344. AFTER SIX WEEKS OF HEALING, I

2345. WENT RIGHT BACK TO WRESTLING.

2346. I DON'T BELIEVE MY NECK FULLY

2347. HEALED.

2348. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER, BROCK

2349. LESNAR HIT ME OVER IN THE HEAD

2350. WITH A CHAIR, BUT HE WENT

2351. STRAIGHT OVER ON TOP OF MY HEAD

2352. INSTEAD OF SWINGING IT SIDEWAYS.

2353. WHEN HE DID THAT, HE BROKE MY

2354. NECK AGAIN.

2355. I BELIEVE IT WAS THREE OR FOUR

2356. MONTHS AFTER MY FIRST BREAK I

2357. HAD MY SECOND BREAK.

2358. MY THIRD OVERALL, BUT MY SECOND

2359. IN WWE.

2360. I WENT BACK TO THE DOCTOR, HE

2361. DECIDED TO DO SURGERY AGAIN.

2362. DID THE SAME THING AGAIN.

2363. CLIPPED OUT PART OF THE DISC AND

2364. LET THE NECK HEAL.

2365. I GOT BACK AND DO IT AGAIN.

2366. > > WOW, DOES ANGLE LOOK READY

2367. OR WHAT?

2368. > > IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF 2004.

2369. I MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO

2370. WRESTLEMANIA AGAINST EDDIE

2371. GUERRERO, WRESTLEMANIA 20.

2372. > > BOTH THESE MEN ARE

2373. WORLD-CLASS ATHLETES.

2374. > > LANDED ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD

2375. AND I BROKE MY NECK AGAIN.

2376. > > DDT ON THAT SURGICALLY

2377. REPAIRED NECK.

2378. > > THERE GOES EDDIE.

2379. > > THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN A

2380. YEAR.

2381. BROKE THE VERTEBRAE.

2382. I WAS TAKEN OFF THE SHELF.

2383. VINCE MCMAHON SAID, "THAT'S

2384. ENOUGH.

2385. WE'LL LET YOU REST UP.

2386. TAKE FIVE, SIX MONTHS OFF."

2387. SO I DID THAT.

2388. CAME BACK AND I STARTED

2389. WRESTLING.

2390. I BELIEVE EARLY 2006 I BROKE MY

2391. NECK AGAIN.

2392. I BROKE FOUR VERTEBRAE AND I

2393. DON'T REMEMBER WHAT MATCH I DID

2394. IT IN.

2395. IT WAS JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION

2396. GOING ON IN MY HEAD.

2397. A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AT THAT

2398. TIME, BUT THAT WAS FOUR BREAKS

2399. IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

2400. IT WAS A REALLY BAD TIME FOR ME.

2401. IN MY LIFE, I'VE HAD 40

2402. INJURIES.

2403. I'VE HAD THREE KNEE SURGERIES, I

2404. BROKE MY NECK FOUR TIMES, I'VE

2405. HAD SOME BAD SPRAINS, MUSCLE

2406. TEARS, I'VE TORN BOTH OF MY

2407. HAMSTRINGS, I TORE MUSCLES IN MY

2408. QUADRICEPS, I DISLOCATED MY

2409. RIGHT SHOULDER.

2410. I WOULD SAY PROBABLY HAD AT

2411. LEAST 150 STITCHES ON MY HEAD,

2412. BROKE MY NOSE TWICE, HAD ALL

2413. FOUR TEETH KNOCKED OUT TWICE.

2414. THAT SUCKED.

2415. THAT WAS A PRETTY PENNY.

2416. I THINK OTHER THAN THAT, I'M

2417. GOOD.

2418. > > FROM THE TOP OF THE

2419. TURNBUCKLE, GETS PULLED OFF ONCE

2420. AGAIN.

2421. > > HERE HE COMES AGAIN.

2422. THERE YOU GO.

2423. OH, MY GOD.

2424. THERE YOU GO.

2425. > > THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM.

2426. ANGLE SLAM FROM THE TOP

2427. TURNBUCKLE.

2428. WHAT IMPACT.

2429. > > IN KURT'S INJURIES IN THE

2430. BEGINNING, I COULD TELL HE WAS

2431. IN PAIN, BUT HE HID IT VERY

2432. WELL, AND I DIDN'T PUT TWO AND

2433. TWO TOGETHER UNTIL THINGS GOT

2434. WORSE.

2435. > > WHEN I BROKE MY NECK AT NO

2436. WAY OUT 2003, I MET WITH A

2437. DOCTOR THAT PRESCRIBED ME PAIN

2438. MEDICATION, OPIOIDS.

2439. I REMEMBER TAKING THE FIRST ONE.

2440. IT DEFINITELY MASKED THE PAIN.

2441. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PAIN.

2442. I FELT A LITTLE MORE ENERGETIC,

2443. MORE EUPHORIC, AND I LIKE THE

2444. FEELING, SO I STARTED TAKING

2445. MORE.

2446. > > I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO SAY

2447. DON'T TAKE MEDICATION BECAUSE I

2448. DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE HOW SEVERE

2449. HIS INJURIES WERE.

2450. I KNOW THAT HE BROKE HIS NECK

2451. AND ALL THAT STUFF, SO WHO AM I

2452. TO SAY, YOU CAN'T TAKE A PILL?

2453. > > YOUR BODY BUILDS A TOLERANCE

2454. AND THE MORE YOU TAKE, THE MORE

2455. YOU NEED.

2456. I WAS TAKING ABOUT FOUR A DAY,

2457. FOUR PAINKILLERS.

2458. DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG.

2459. I'D SAY ABOUT A MONTH OR SO

2460. BEFORE I DOUBLED UP TO EIGHT.

2461. AFTER THAT, I GO IN HIGHER,

2462. HIGHER, HIGHER.

2463. > > I GAVE HIM A CALL, AND AS WE

2464. WERE TALKING THERE FOR ABOUT A

2465. HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF, HIS

2466. VOICE CHANGED FROM BEING VERY

2467. COHERENT TO STARTING TO SLUR.

2468. I'VE BEEN AROUND ENOUGH GUYS AND

2469. I'VE GIVEN A FEW OTHER CALLS

2470. LIKE THAT AND I SORT OF SAID,

2471. "DUDE, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"

2472. HE'S SAYING, HE GOES "STEVE, I'M

2473. TELLING YOU I'M FINE."

2474. I CAN'T IMITATE HIS SLURRING

2475. VOICE, BUT HE DIDN'T SOUND GOOD

2476. AND I WAS HONESTLY SCARED FOR

2477. HIM.

2478. > > VINCE MCMAHON SAW A CHANGE IN

2479. MY BEHAVIOR AND HE HAD JIM ROSS

2480. CALL ME AND HE SAID, "LISTEN,

2481. YOU NEED TO GET OFF THE STUFF."

2482. I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING

2483. ABOUT?"

2484. HE SAID, "WE KNOW YOU'RE DOING

2485. SOMETHING."

2486. > > SOME OF THOSE GUYS ARE REALLY

2487. PROUD, MAN.

2488. THEY WON'T ADMIT THEY GOT

2489. PROBLEMS, THEY DON'T SHOW ANY

2490. WEAKNESS.

2491. IT'S A SICKNESS.

2492. THEY'RE OVERMEDICATING AND THEY

2493. START FEELING VERY GUILTY AND

2494. THEY FEEL VERY VULNERABLE, THEN

2495. STUFF JUST STARTS UNRAVELING.

2496. IT'S HAPPENED TO A LOT OF— AND

2497. IT'S NOT JUST WRESTLING.

2498. DRUG ISSUES ARE NOT A

2499. PRO-WRESTLING ISSUE.

2500. IT'S ALL OF OUR ISSUE.

2501. > > THIS IS TOUGH.

2502. THERE WAS A POINT WHERE MY

2503. SISTER WAS GETTING IN A LOT OF

2504. TROUBLE.

2505. SHE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY.

2506. SHE WAS LIVING IN VIRGINIA

2507. BEACH.

2508. SHE WAS TAKING A LOT OF DRUGS,

2509. AND I KNEW SHE WAS.

2510. I ADORED HER.

2511. SHE WAS A GREAT WOMAN.

2512. SHE JUST ENDED UP IN THREE BAD

2513. MARRIAGES.

2514. HER VALUE OF HERSELF BECAME

2515. NOTHING.

2516. SHE JUST THOUGHT SHE WAS USELESS

2517. AND IT DROVE HER TO A POINT

2518. WHERE SHE STARTED USING DRUGS.

2519. SHE KEPT CALLING ME FOR MONEY.

2520. I KEPT SENDING HER MONEY.

2521. SHE KEPT TELLING ME THE BILLS

2522. WERE RACKING UP.

2523. I FOUND OUT LATER SHE WAS USING

2524. IT FOR DRUGS.

2525. WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT SHE WAS

2526. $35,000 IN DEBT, I GAVE HER AN

2527. ULTIMATUM.

2528. I TOLD HER, SHE HAS TO MOVE UP

2529. TO PITTSBURGH, LIVE WITH MY

2530. MOTHER OR I WOULDN'T PAY HER

2531. DEBT, SO SHE MOVED.

2532. SHE CAME BACK.

2533. SHE DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT SHE

2534. DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.

2535. SHE MOVED BACK TO PITTSBURGH, I

2536. PAID OFF THAT $35,000 DEBT, AND

2537. SHE SEEMED TO BE DOING OKAY FOR

2538. A WHILE.

2539. THEN SHE RELAPSED,

2540. SO I GAVE HER

2541. ANOTHER ULTIMATUM.

2542. I TOLD HER THAT IF SHE DIDN'T

2543. GET CLEANED, I WASN'T GOING TO

2544. TALK TO HER EVER.

2545. SHE DIDN'T GET CLEAN, SO FOR THE

2546. NEXT EIGHT MONTHS, I DIDN'T TALK

2547. TO HER, AND THEN SHE OVERDOSED.

2548. I WISH I WOULD'VE TALKED TO HER.

2549. NOW, I FIND OUT THAT NIGHT THAT

2550. MY SISTER DIED OF HEROIN

2551. OVERDOSE.

2552. THE NEXT DAY, I HAVE A 60-MINUTE

2553. IRON MAN MATCH WITH BROCK

2554. LESNAR.

2555. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT I

2556. FIGURED IF I DID DO IT, IT'LL

2557. TAKE MY MIND OFF LE'ANNE JUST

2558. FOR THAT ONE HOUR, SO I DID IT.

2559. WE BURIED LE'ANNE, AND BY THIS

2560. TIME, I WAS ALREADY 40 DEEP INTO

2561. PAINKILLERS, SO I STARTED TAKING

2562. MORE.

2563. THE HIGHER I GOT, THE BETTER I

2564. FELT, OR I SHOULD SAY THE LESS I

2565. FELT BECAUSE PAINKILLERS CAN

2566. HIDE A LOT OF PAIN.

2567. NOT JUST PHYSICAL BUT EMOTIONAL.

2568. > > AS HE'S OVERMEDICATING

2569. HIMSELF, TRYING TO MANAGE HIS

2570. PAIN, HIS PERSONALITY START

2571. CHANGING, AND HE KNEW HE WAS

2572. CARRYING A BURDEN AND YOU COULD

2573. SEE THAT THAT BURDEN WAS

2574. STARTING TO WEAR ON HIM.

2575. > > THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS

2576. THAT WERE GOING THROUGH MY MIND

2577. THAT I HAD TO GET AWAY FROM.

2578. I WAS ALWAYS RUNNING AWAY FROM

2579. PROBLEMS.

2580. THE PILLS WERE MY SANCTUARY.

2581. > > I REMEMBER KURT TELLING ME

2582. THAT HE WOULD JUST HAVE TO TAKE

2583. A BUNCH OF PILLS JUST TO GET OUT

2584. OF BED BECAUSE OF THE PAIN HE

2585. WAS IN.

2586. > > I WOULD SAY THAT EVERY

2587. EVENING I WENT TO BED, I WOULD

2588. PUT ABOUT 18 PILLS NEXT TO MY

2589. COUNTER.

2590. I'D BE GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWAL

2591. WHEN I WOKE UP, I WOULD THROW

2592. THOSE DOWN AND CHEW THEM UP AND

2593. SWALLOW THEM.

2594. I WAS MEDICATING MYSELF NOT JUST

2595. FOR THE PAIN, BUT THE

2596. PSYCHOLOGICAL PAIN OF BEING IN

2597. AND OUT AND WONDERING IF I'M

2598. GOING TO BE ABLE TO WRESTLE

2599. ANYMORE.

2600. WHEN I DID TAKE THE PILLS

2601. HEAVILY, I DO IT IN THE MORNING

2602. AND AFTER MY MATCH AT NIGHT.

2603. I MADE SURE I DIDN'T LOOK MESSED

2604. UP OR HIGH WHEN I WORKED OUT, OR

2605. MESSED UP OR HIGH WHEN I WAS

2606. DOING THE SHOW.

2607. WHEN THE SHOW WAS OVER, IT WAS

2608. FAIR GAME.

2609. > > COUNTER, COUNTER.

2610. > > LOOK AT THIS.

2611. > > OH, MY GOD.

2612. > > OH, MY GOD.

2613. > > KURT, YOU JUST FIGURE THIS

2614. GUY WHO'S AN OLYMPIC GOLD

2615. MEDALIST, ONE OF THE TOUGHEST

2616. GUYS I KNOW, YOU DON'T THINK

2617. ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN TO HIM AND

2618. YOU THINK HE'S BULLETPROOF, BUT

2619. NOBODY IS.

2620. > > I WAS TAKING PILLS TO FEEL

2621. NORMAL.

2622. OVER TIME, YOU BUILD A TOLERANCE

2623. AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE AND

2624. MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

2625. ONE LED TO TWO, TWO LED TO FOUR,

2626. FOUR LED TO EIGHT.

2627. BEFORE I KNOW IT, WITHIN SIX

2628. MONTHS, I WAS TAKING 65 OF THEM

2629. A DAY.

2630. 65 EXTRA STRENGTH VICODIN.

2631. I WAS GETTING ABOUT 1,300 PILLS

2632. A MONTH.

2633. IT'S ABOUT 65 A DAY.

2634. THE HARDEST PART ABOUT BEING AN

2635. ADDICT IS KNOWING WHERE YOU'RE

2636. GOING TO GET YOUR DRUGS NEXT.

2637. WHENEVER I WOULD RUN OUT, I'D GO

2638. THROUGH THE WORST WITHDRAWAL AND

2639. IT WOULD MAKE YOU DO CRAZY

2640. STUFF.

2641. I STARTED STEALING PAIN MEDS AND

2642. JUST DOING CRAZY STUFF THAT I

2643. NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER DO.

2644. I HAD TO HAVE MY FIX EVERY DAY

2645. AND I HAD TO SET UP A SCHEDULE.

2646. I HAD A CALENDAR WHERE EVERY

2647. OTHER DAY I WOULD CALL A DOCTOR

2648. TO GET A SCRIPT AND THEN EVERY

2649. COUPLE WEEKS, I WOULD CALL MY

2650. MEXICO CONTACT TO GET MY

2651. PAINKILLERS ILLEGALLY SENT TO

2652. ME, AND I HAD TO KEEP UP ON THIS

2653. SCHEDULE.

2654. IT WAS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

2655. IT WAS ABOVE MY FAMILY, ABOVE MY

2656. WORK, IT WAS EVERYTHING.

2657. > > I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR

2658. KURT LIKE A BIG BROTHER, AND TO

2659. SEE HIM LIKE SHAKING, IT JUST

2660. MADE ME ANGRY.

2661. I JUST GOT ANGRY WITH HIM AND

2662. WAS LIKE, "MAN, DON'T LET PEOPLE

2663. SEE YOU LIKE THAT.

2664. MAN, YOU'RE KURT ANGLE."

2665. > > I WAS HIDING THE PAIN

2666. KILLERS, I WAS HIDING THE

2667. INJURIES.

2668. WHEN YOU GET A HOLD OF THESE

2669. DRUGS AND THEY GET A HOLD OF

2670. YOU, THERE'S NO WAY TO QUIT.

2671. I WAS TAKING ENOUGH TO KILL A

2672. HORSE.

2673. I JUST WISH THAT I WOULD'VE

2674. KNOWN AT THAT TIME YOU'RE DOING

2675. THIS TO YOURSELF.

2676. IT WAS JUST HARD FOR ME TO

2677. ACCEPT.

2678. I WAS SO OUT OF CONTROL AND SO

2679. DANGEROUS TO MYSELF, I JUST

2680. WANTED TO KEEP GOING UNTIL I

2681. COULDN'T GO ANY LONGER.

2682. I REMEMBER GOING IN TO MEET WITH

2683. VINCE AND HE TOLD ME, "LISTEN,

2684. YOU GOT TO GET YOUR ASS

2685. STRAIGHT.

2686. YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.

2687. WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO GO TO

2688. REHAB.

2689. YOU CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS."

2690. THAT IS THE REASON I QUIT.

2691. > > WHY EXACTLY KURT ANGLE WAS

2692. RELEASED?

2693. CAN YOU SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

2694. RIGHT NOW?

2695. > > SOME OF IT IS CONFIDENTIAL

2696. AND I'D LOVE TO TELL YOU EXACTLY

2697. WHAT THE STORY IS, BUT IT REALLY

2698. REVOLVES AROUND KURT'S HEALTH

2699. MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

2700. > > I DIDN'T GO TO REHAB BECAUSE

2701. I DIDN'T THINK I HAD TO.

2702. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS READY FOR

2703. IT.

2704. I DIDN'T WANT TO LET GO OF THE

2705. DRUGS.

2706. I DID WANT TO QUIT, SO THE

2707. ULTIMATUM WAS LEAVE, LEAVE WWE.

2708. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO I DID.

2709. > > HERE'S THIS ONCE IN A

2710. LIFETIME TALENT BECAUSE HE'S ONE

2711. OF THE BEST EVER AND NOW HE'S

2712. DOWN AT TNA.

2713. I'M THINKING, "MAN, TNA, THEY'RE

2714. NOT AT OUR LEVEL."

2715. > > NOW SAMOA JOE HAS GOT ANGLE.

2716. LOOK OUT.

2717. HE JUST GRABBED HIM, SLUNG HIM

2718. RIGHT INTO THE BARRICADE.

2719. > > WHEN I LEFT WWE, I STARTED

2720. DRINKING ALCOHOL IN TNA, SO NOW

2721. I WAS MIXING THE PILLS WITH THE

2722. ALCOHOL.

2723. > > THE DEBACLE OF A RUN HE HAD

2724. IN TNA WAS— HE'S LUCKY, ONE,

2725. HE'S NOT DEAD.

2726. SERIOUSLY.

2727. > > HAPPY NEW YEAR.

2728. > > HAPPY NEW YEAR.

2729. I LOVE YOU.

2730. I AIN'T GOING TO MAKE IT TO NEW

2731. YEAR.

2732. > > IT JUST GOT WORSE AND WORSE

2733. AND WORSE.

2734. DRINKING AND MIXING PILLS

2735. TOGETHER, THAT'S NOT GOOD AT

2736. ALL.

2737. > > WHAT'S DADDY STEALING?

2738. OF COURSE GIULIANA'S FOOD.

2739. > > SHE'S NOT GOING TO EAT IT.

2740. > > NOW I'M TAKING THESE

2741. COCKTAILS.

2742. I WAS TAKING PROBABLY SIX XANAX

2743. A DAY, PROBABLY EIGHT ZONAS A

2744. DAY, TWO MORPHINE PILLS.

2745. FROM 2007 TO 2012, I WAS SO OUT

2746. OF CONTROL I WAS DRIVING AT

2747. NIGHT ON MEDICATION AND 12 BEERS

2748. IN ME.

2749. > > CHANNEL 11 IN PCNC GRAPPING

2750. WITH EMOTIONS.

2751. A JUDGE'S DECISION NEARLY BRINGS

2752. A FORMER OLYMPIAN AND

2753. PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER TO TEARS.

2754. CHANNEL 11 NEWS REPORTER GORDON

2755. LASH WAS THERE AS KURT ANGLE

2756. FACED A JUDGE ON DUI CHARGES.

2757. > > I GOT FOUR DUIS IN FIVE

2758. YEARS.

2759. I WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T GET MORE.

2760. > > LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DRUGS IN

2761. YOUR CAR A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE

2762. THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE AND PEOPLE

2763. PROBABLY WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY

2764. WHAT THAT IS.

2765. > > I WAS SO OUT OF CONTROL, MY

2766. LIFE COMPLETELY SPUN OUT OF

2767. CONTROL.

2768. THE DRUGS TOOK OVER MY LIFE.

2769. IT WAS THE WORST FEELING IN THE

2770. WORLD.

2771. > > I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE

2772. INTERESTED TO KNOW WHAT YOU TOOK

2773. OUT OF THE HOUSE WAS YOUR

2774. OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL.

2775. HOW MUCH DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

2776. THAT'S HOW PITTSBURGH REMEMBERS

2777. YOU.

2778. > > SINCE I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD,

2779. THAT'S ALL I EVER WORKED FOR.

2780. ONCE I WON THAT, I TRIED

2781. EVERYTHING I COULD TO DO BETTER

2782. THAN THAT.

2783. > > HE WAS DRUNK AND HE WAS

2784. SITTING THERE, AND THIS IS WHEN

2785. HE HAD THE CHEW IN HIS MOUTH,

2786. AND HE HAD A BEER IN HIS HAND

2787. AND HE WAS JUST PASSED OUT

2788. WATCHING TV.

2789. HE'S JUST TALKING IN HIS SLEEP,

2790. AND HE'S JUST DROOLING, AND HE

2791. JUST DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE'S

2792. DOING.

2793. > > MY LOWEST POINT WAS AFTER I

2794. GOT MY FOURTH DUI.

2795. I ACTUALLY GOT ON MY KNEES AND I

2796. PRAYED.

2797. I SAID, "GOD, WHAT AM I DOING

2798. WRONG?"

2799. BECAUSE I LITERALLY STILL DIDN'T

2800. BELIEVE I WAS A DRUG ADDICT.

2801. I JUST THOUGHT THAT I HAD SOME

2802. BAD LUCK.

2803. > > WHEN HE WAS GOING TO JAIL,

2804. THAT WAS THE WORST TIME OF MY

2805. LIFE.

2806. I WAS SCARED.

2807. IT WAS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, IT

2808. WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS, PEOPLE

2809. WERE CALLING ME, I JUST HAD A

2810. BABY.

2811. > > I REMEMBER WHEN I GOT MY

2812. FOURTH DUI, GIOVANNA GOT A CALL

2813. FROM ME FROM JAIL AND SHE WAS

2814. PISSED.

2815. > > I DIDN'T WANT TO PICK UP.

2816. I WAS THINKING ABOUT MAYBE WHEN

2817. HE COMES HOME, I SHOULD BE IN A

2818. HOTEL SO HE KNOWS WHAT HE COULD

2819. LOSE.

2820. HE CALLED ME AGAIN AND I'M LIKE,

2821. "I HAVE TO PICK UP.

2822. I HAVE TO PICK UP."

2823. THE FIRST THING I DID AND I

2824. SAID, "WHY?

2825. WHY'D YOU DO THIS?

2826. WHY DID YOU GET IN TROUBLE

2827. AGAIN?"

2828. HE'S LIKE, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S

2829. WRONG WITH ME.

2830. I'M SITTING HERE IN JAIL AND I'M

2831. LIKE THE LOWEST POINT IN MY

2832. LIFE, GIOVANNA.

2833. I NEED HELP."

2834. I SAID, "YES, YOU DO NEED HELP."

2835. > > SHE SAID, "LISTEN, IF YOU

2836. DON'T GO TO REHAB AND GET YOUR

2837. ASS STRAIGHT, I CAN'T STAY WITH

2838. YOU ANYMORE.

2839. I DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY, I DON'T

2840. WANT TO LIVE HERE, I JUST ONLY

2841. HAVE TO LEAVE."

2842. > > I NEEDED TO SHOW HIM THIS IS

2843. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE THE

2844. WRONG CHOICES IN LIFE.

2845. YOU CHOOSE DRUGS OVER US AND

2846. YOUR KIDS ARE GOING TO KNOW THAT

2847. AND SEE THAT.

2848. MY HUSBAND, HOW DID HE GET FROM

2849. WHERE HE WAS TO THIS POINT OF

2850. HIS LIFE, AND I KNOW HOW MUCH

2851. ASHAMED HE WAS.

2852. I KNOW THAT.

2853. HE DIDN'T WANT HIS KIDS TO SEE

2854. HIM THAT WAY.

2855. > > SHE WAS TELLING ME, SHE'S ON

2856. HER LAST LEG.

2857. THIS IS IT.

2858. YOU EITHER STEP UP AND BE A MAN

2859. AND GET CLEAN OR I'M GONE.

2860. THAT WAS WHEN I DECIDED TO GO TO

2861. REHAB.

2862. > > I GAVE HIM ONE LAST CHANCE.

2863. I WAITED TILL HE GOT HOME AND I

2864. SAID, "YOU NEED HELP."

2865. BECAUSE HE NEVER TRIED REHAB.

2866. > > MY DAD, HE USED TO DO THE

2867. SAME THING WITH HIS ALCOHOL.

2868. HE WOULD ISOLATE HIMSELF AWAY

2869. FROM US.

2870. HE WOULD DRINK WHEN WE WERE

2871. SLEEPING.

2872. HE WOULD DRINK WHEN HE WAS ALONE

2873. AWAY FROM US, AND I STARTED

2874. DOING THAT SAME THING.

2875. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE LIKE MY DAD.

2876. I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE MY

2877. MARRIAGE.

2878. THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT

2879. THING BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO

2880. LOSE MY KIDS.

2881. I KNEW IF I CONTINUE DOWN THAT

2882. ROAD, I WAS GOING TO END UP

2883. GETTING SOBER AND GETTING CLEAN

2884. IS THE TOUGHEST THING I'VE EVER

2885. DONE.

2886. HOW DO I EXPLAIN HOW IT IS?

2887. IT'S LIKE GETTING TORTURED.

2888. THE INSIDES OF YOUR BODY

2889. POUNDING, AND YOUR SKIN'S

2890. CRAWLING, YOU'RE SWEATING

2891. BECAUSE YOUR HOT, BUT YOU'RE

2892. ALSO SWEATING BECAUSE YOU'RE

2893. COLD.

2894. YOU CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT, YOUR

2895. BODY'S SHAKING THE WHOLE TIME,

2896. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY

2897. INSIDES, YOU'RE OUT OF BREATH

2898. ALL THE TIME, YOUR HEAD'S

2899. POUNDING, YOUR BODY'S POUNDING,

2900. YOU GO INTO THE BATHROOM, YOU'RE

2901. THROWING UP.

2902. IT DOESN'T STOP.

2903. THERE'S NOTHING THAT COMPARES TO

2904. THE PAIN YOU FEEL WHEN YOU'RE

2905. GOING THROUGH WITHDRAWAL.

2906. IT IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST FEELING

2907. I'VE EVER HAD AND IT SEEMS LIKE

2908. IT'LL LAST FOREVER.

2909. I HAD TO GO THROUGH WITHDRAWAL

2910. FOR FIVE DAYS AND IT WAS LIKE

2911. DEATH.

2912. I ACTUALLY WISHED A FEW TIMES I

2913. WOULD DIE.

2914. THAT'S HOW BAD IT IS.

2915. I DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE THAT

2916. EXPERIENCE AGAIN.

2917. I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH

2918. WITHDRAWAL.

2919. I AM SCARED TO DEATH OF IT.

2920. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO LAST

2921. AN ETERNITY.

2922. I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT ANY OTHER

2923. WAY.

2924. > > KURT, YOU ALWAYS FIGURED,

2925. HELL, I'M OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, I

2926. CAN HANDLE IT, AND ME AS A

2927. FRIEND WOULD THINK THE SAME

2928. THING.

2929. HE'S OVERCOME SO DAMN MUCH, THE

2930. DEATH OF HIS FATHER, WINNING A

2931. GOLD MEDAL, ALL THIS STUFF.

2932. KURT ANGLE CAN OVERCOME IT AND

2933. IT TOOK A NIGHTMARE FOR HIM TO

2934. OVERCOME IT.

2935. > > READY?

2936. HERE.

2937. THE HARD PART WAS YOU START

2938. THINKING, WHAT IF I — UP WHEN I

2939. GET OUT?

2940. WHAT IF I CAN'T STAY CLEAN?

2941. WHAT IF I AM A COMPLETE — UP?

2942. WHAT IF I JUST GO BACK TO THE

2943. PILLS AND I START ON IT AGAIN?

2944. YOU START DOUBTING YOURSELF.

2945. > > SOON AS HE CAME HOME, YOU

2946. COULD TELL THAT HE WAS LIKE

2947. THIS.

2948. HE DIDN'T HOW TO DEAL WITH THE

2949. BABY CRYING WITHOUT TAKING PILLS

2950. AND DRINKING.

2951. HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH

2952. A NAGGING WIFE WITHOUT TAKING

2953. PILLS AND DRINKING.

2954. HE MESSED UP HIS KNEE A YEAR

2955. AFTER HE GOT OUT OF REHAB.

2956. I TOLD THEM MANY TIMES, HE'S AN

2957. ADDICT.

2958. HE'S NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE

2959. MEDICATION.

2960. HE SAID, "WHAT IF HE JUST GAVE

2961. ME ONE?

2962. WHAT IF YOU JUST MONITOR IT TO

2963. ME?"

2964. I SAID, "NO, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED

2965. TO TAKE THIS."

2966. HE SAID, "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO

2967. HEAL?

2968. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GO BACK TO

2969. WORK?"

2970. I SAID, "YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO

2971. DO THIS.

2972. YOU'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO DO

2973. THIS WITHOUT TAKING MEDICATION

2974. BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO

2975. THAT TO US AGAIN."

2976. > > THE ONLY TRIGGERS I HAVE IS

2977. THE PAIN THAT I HAVE.

2978. SOMETIMES I SAY, "MAN, I COULD

2979. REALLY USE A COUPLE OF

2980. PAINKILLERS RIGHT NOW."

2981. THAT'S THE TRIGGER.

2982. I HAVE CHRONIC NECK PAIN, BACK

2983. PAIN, KNEE PAIN.

2984. I DO ALL I CAN TO MAINTAIN MY

2985. BODY AND IT WORKS PRETTY WELL.

2986. IT'S NOT A CHOICE, I HAVE TO DO

2987. IT OR I'M NOT GOING TO FEEL

2988. RIGHT.

2989. I CAN'T TAKE DRUGS ANYMORE, SO I

2990. DO A LOT OF MAINTENANCE

2991. TRAINING, NECK TRACTION,

2992. ANTI-GRAVITY DEVICE, STRETCHING,

2993. YOGA.

2994. THESE THINGS REALLY HELP ME

2995. EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THEY KEEP

2996. ME HEALTHY.

2997. AS OPPOSED TO SIX YEARS AGO, I

2998. WOULD HAVE JUST TAKEN A COUPLE

2999. OF PILLS AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN

3000. ALL RIGHT.

3001. > > IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK FOR HIM

3002. TO KNOW THE NEW HIM AND I SAID,

3003. "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FEEL THE

3004. BEST WAY YOU USED TO FEEL, BUT

3005. YOU'RE GOING TO TOLERATE YOUR

3006. PAIN.

3007. YOU'RE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

3008. WE ARE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT

3009. TOGETHER."

3010. I HAD TO SLOWLY GET HIM INTO

3011. BEING A HUSBAND AGAIN AND SLOWLY

3012. GETTING HIM BEING A FATHER.

3013. > > I WASN'T THERE QUITE A BIT

3014. FOR MY FIRST DAUGHTER, KYRA.

3015. > > HI, KYRA.

3016. > > HI.

3017. > > WHEN I WAS HOME, I WAS ALWAYS

3018. PRETTY HIGH AND I WAS ONLY HOME

3019. FOR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS A MONTH,

3020. SO I REALLY DIDN'T GET TO SPEND

3021. MUCH TIME WITH MY FIRST

3022. DAUGHTER.

3023. HI.

3024. > > WHAT GIOVANNA WAS ABLE TO DO

3025. FOR ME THAT I COULDN'T DO FOR MY

3026. FIRST TWO KIDS IS BE A GOOD

3027. FATHER FOR MY LAST THREE KIDS.

3028. I GOT CLEAN AND I STARTED

3029. SPENDING TIME WITH MY CHILDREN.

3030. I HAVE TOO MUCH ON THE LINE

3031. RIGHT NOW.

3032. IT'S NOT ABOUT ME ANYMORE.

3033. IT'S ABOUT MY KIDS.

3034. IT'S ABOUT MY WIFE.

3035. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY

3036. LIFE THAT I NO LONGER PUT ME

3037. FIRST.

3038. I DON'T WANT TO BE A SCREW UP.

3039. YOU GOT TO STAY CLEAN.

3040. IF YOU'RE AN ADDICT AND YOU HAVE

3041. A PROBLEM WITH DRUGS, YOU GOT TO

3042. STAY CLEAN.

3043. > > I DON'T THINK KURT WOULD EVER

3044. TAKE A PILL AGAIN.

3045. I THINK KURT KNOWS THE NEW HIM

3046. NOW AND HE'S HAPPY WITH THE NEW

3047. VERSION OF HIM.

3048. I DON'T KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT

3049. WILL GET HERE FROM THERE.

3050. HE MISSED OUT A LOT ON LIFE, BUT

3051. HE'S TRYING TO MAKE IT UP WITH

3052. THESE KIDS.

3053. THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY

3054. AND SO PROUD FOR HIM TO BE THE

3055. LOVE OF MY LIFE.

3056. > > SAY DADA.

3057. SAY DADA.

3058. > > DADA.

3059. > > DADA.

3060. > > YAY.

3061. > > YAY.

3062. CLAP HANDS.

3063. CLAP HANDS.

3064. YAY.

3065. > > WITH THE FRIENDS THAT I'VE

3066. HAD WHO'VE DEALT WITH ADDICTION,

3067. AND AGAIN, SOME SUCCESSFULLY AND

3068. SOME NOT SUCCESSFULLY, I ALWAYS

3069. FELT THOUGH IN MY HEART AND DEEP

3070. IN MY BONES THAT KURT WAS A MAN

3071. WITH GREAT RESOLVE.

3072. I FELT LIKE WITH THE RIGHT

3073. PEOPLE AROUND HIM AND THE RIGHT

3074. SUPPORT AROUND HIM, HE WAS GOING

3075. TO OVERCOME IT.

3076. I'M VERY PROUD OF MY FRIEND FOR

3077. CONTINUING TO PUSH HIMSELF TO BE

3078. THE BEST HUSBAND, FATHER,

3079. FRIEND, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT

3080. HE IS TO MANY, MANY PEOPLE THE

3081. BEST HE CAN BE.

3082. > > I WANT TO THANK THE GOOD LORD

3083. FOR GIVING ME THE ABILITY TO DO

3084. WHAT I DO.

3085. I WANT TO THANK MY FIVE

3086. BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, KYRA, KODY,

3087. GIULIANA, SOPHIA, AND NIKOLETTA.

3088. YOU GUYS ARE MY LIFE.

3089. > > LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT

3090. TO THANK THE ONE PERSON THAT

3091. SAVED MY LIFE.

3092. SHE WAS THERE AT MY WORST AND

3093. SHE'S HERE NOW AT MY VERY BEST.

3094. THAT'S MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE,

3095. GIOVANNA.

3096. I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK,

3097. BABE.

3098. > > I THINK THAT I WANT KURT

3099. ANGLE TO BE REMEMBERED NOT FOR

3100. THE MISTAKES HE'S MADE BUT WHAT

3101. HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN HIS

3102. LIFETIME.

3103. SINCE I WAS A YOUNG KID, I

3104. ALWAYS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING

3105. GREAT.

3106. > > HE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW AFTER

3107. THE '95 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS WHEN

3108. HE WON, THEY ASKED HIM WHAT HE

3109. WAS GOING TO DO AND HE SAID,

3110. "I'M GOING TO GO TO '96.

3111. GO FOR THE GOLD AND LAND IT FOR

3112. MY FATHER."

3113. HE DID IT.

3114. > > BEING ABLE TO WIN THAT

3115. OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL, IT WAS

3116. EVERYTHING THAT I EVER DREAMED

3117. OF AS A KID.

3118. IT WAS WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED.

3119. > > HE'S ONE OF THE GREATEST

3120. OLYMPIC HEROES THAT WE EVER HAD.

3121. THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE THAT CAN

3122. SAY, "I WON AN OLYMPIC WITH A

3123. BROKEN NECK."

3124. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S

3125. NOBODY.

3126. > > TO COME OUT AND BE THE MAN

3127. THAT YOU ARE AND HAVE BEEN AND

3128. TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT YOU

3129. HAVE IN SPITE OF ALL THIS

3130. TRAGEDY, IT SPEAKS VOLUMES IN

3131. WHAT KIND OF A PERSON YOU ARE.

3132. I'M PROUD TO CALL YOU A FRIEND.

3133. I'M HONORED AND THAT MAKES MY

3134. STORY LOOK VERY LAME.

3135. > > I SAW HIM WORK SO HARD TO GET

3136. WHERE HE IS TODAY, I SAW THE

3137. STRENGTH THROUGH EVERY LITTLE

3138. THING, AND I THINK HE WAS

3139. EXCITED OF WHAT CAN THIS KURT

3140. ANGLE BE, WHAT CAN THIS KURT

3141. ANGLE DO?

3142. > > IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A

3143. FIGHT FOR HIM.

3144. HE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE BATTLING

3145. AND STAYING FOCUSED ON THE RIGHT

3146. THINGS IN HIS LIFE, THE GOOD

3147. THINGS IN HIS LIFE, AND NOT THE

3148. BAD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO

3149. HIM.

3150. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO MAKE

3151. CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE.

3152. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.

3153. IT SURE AS HELL ISN'T TOO LATE

3154. TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.

3155. THAT'S WHAT KURT ANGLE DID.

3156. > > I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW

3157. THAT NONE OF US ARE PERFECT.

3158. I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I

3159. WASN'T PERFECT EITHER, BUT I WAS

3160. ABLE TO OVERCOME MANY OBSTACLES

3161. BECAUSE I'M A FIGHTER.

3162. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANT

3163. PEOPLE TO REMEMBER ME AS, A

3164. FIGHTER THAT NEVER GAVE UP ON

3165. ANYTHING.