1 00:00:01,523 --> 00:00:05,013 [Crowd cheering] 2 00:00:05,048 --> 00:00:08,918 [Applause] 3 00:00:08,965 --> 00:00:13,575 [Chattering] 4 00:00:13,622 --> 00:00:15,232 ANNOUNCER: Well, Ethan Page again 5 00:00:15,276 --> 00:00:17,666 brutalized young Darby Allin. 6 00:00:17,713 --> 00:00:19,113 [Crowd wincing] 7 00:00:19,149 --> 00:00:20,979 Oh my goodness! 8 00:00:21,021 --> 00:00:24,371 Page has treated Allin like he was a fly who's beneath him. 9 00:00:24,415 --> 00:00:28,065 Face first into the wall! 10 00:00:28,115 --> 00:00:31,675 And Allin has been busted open! 11 00:00:31,727 --> 00:00:34,467 [Crowd wincing] 12 00:00:34,512 --> 00:00:37,172 I'll stop it now. Stop it now? 13 00:00:37,211 --> 00:00:39,471 [Booing] 14 00:00:39,517 --> 00:00:41,997 Allin has got a trash can. 15 00:00:42,042 --> 00:00:45,832 [Cheering] 16 00:00:45,871 --> 00:00:48,311 He just jumped off the balcony! 17 00:00:48,352 --> 00:00:52,882 CROWD: Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit! 18 00:00:52,922 --> 00:00:55,622 [Groaning] 19 00:00:55,664 --> 00:00:59,454 Allin taking that trash can back with him to the ring. 20 00:00:59,494 --> 00:01:02,934 Page asking for mercy and getting none! 21 00:01:02,975 --> 00:01:06,535 CROWD: Oh! Oh! Oh! 22 00:01:06,588 --> 00:01:09,158 [Yelling] 23 00:01:09,199 --> 00:01:11,589 [Laughing] That's so cool! 24 00:01:11,636 --> 00:01:13,326 [Crowd yelling] 25 00:01:13,377 --> 00:01:16,117 Allin to the top of the ladder! 26 00:01:16,163 --> 00:01:18,083 No. Ugh. 27 00:01:18,121 --> 00:01:21,951 [Crowd yelling] 28 00:01:21,994 --> 00:01:25,174 [Cheering] 29 00:01:25,215 --> 00:01:26,955 CROWD: One! Two! Three! 30 00:01:26,999 --> 00:01:28,699 It's over! [Bell dinging] 31 00:01:28,740 --> 00:01:30,220 [Cheering] 32 00:01:30,264 --> 00:01:33,924 HOSTESS: The winner of the match: Darby Allin! 33 00:01:33,963 --> 00:01:36,143 No matter what you think of professional wrestling 34 00:01:36,183 --> 00:01:40,273 on a pure physicality level, if you aren't taken aback 35 00:01:40,317 --> 00:01:43,927 by what we just saw, I don't know what's gonna take you. 36 00:01:43,973 --> 00:01:47,023 [Applause] 37 00:01:51,981 --> 00:01:53,641 MAN: We don't know, we don't know. 38 00:01:53,678 --> 00:02:00,118 ♪ 39 00:02:00,163 --> 00:02:01,693 DAMIAN: Professional wrestling is experiencing 40 00:02:01,730 --> 00:02:03,470 a global renaissance. 41 00:02:03,514 --> 00:02:05,604 Brought on by a cross pollination of styles, 42 00:02:05,647 --> 00:02:08,217 it has its own language, each style a different dialect. 43 00:02:08,258 --> 00:02:11,038 ♪ 44 00:02:11,087 --> 00:02:12,867 As a lifelong wrestling fan, I've always felt there's more 45 00:02:12,915 --> 00:02:15,525 to wrestling than just choreographed violence. 46 00:02:15,570 --> 00:02:17,960 At the core of every wrestler there's a storyteller, 47 00:02:18,007 --> 00:02:20,787 every ring a stage to reflect the struggles of its audience, 48 00:02:20,836 --> 00:02:24,356 whether it be gender, sexuality, race, religion or class. 49 00:02:24,405 --> 00:02:25,745 A theatre for the masses that gives us 50 00:02:25,797 --> 00:02:27,967 the heroes and villains we need. 51 00:02:28,017 --> 00:02:30,977 From the skyscrapers of Japan to the alleyways of the Congo, 52 00:02:31,020 --> 00:02:32,850 we're gonna meet some of the most influential figures 53 00:02:32,891 --> 00:02:35,551 in the sport, and examine their global impact. 54 00:02:35,590 --> 00:02:39,120 In a world where the President of the United States is in 55 00:02:39,159 --> 00:02:41,249 a wrestling hall of fame, and global politics 56 00:02:41,291 --> 00:02:44,211 increasingly resemble theatre, it's impossible to ignore 57 00:02:44,251 --> 00:02:46,341 wrestling's place in our society. 58 00:02:46,383 --> 00:02:48,653 [Cheering] 59 00:02:48,690 --> 00:02:50,650 Wrestling has always had a complicated relationship 60 00:02:50,692 --> 00:02:52,172 with the truth. 61 00:02:52,215 --> 00:02:53,825 For decades, bookers tried to maintain that 62 00:02:53,869 --> 00:02:55,999 the matches were not fixed. 63 00:02:56,045 --> 00:02:59,955 It wasn't until the 1980s, after a slew of investigative reports, 64 00:03:00,005 --> 00:03:02,135 that it became widely known that the winners and losers 65 00:03:02,182 --> 00:03:04,232 were predetermined. 66 00:03:04,271 --> 00:03:06,661 For non-fans, it's proven difficult for wrestling 67 00:03:06,708 --> 00:03:09,008 to shake the moniker of fake. 68 00:03:09,058 --> 00:03:11,188 But to dismiss wrestling as a fake sport 69 00:03:11,234 --> 00:03:13,324 is to misread it completely. 70 00:03:13,367 --> 00:03:16,107 To understand why, I'm taking you to one of the best bookers 71 00:03:16,152 --> 00:03:18,592 in the world: Gabe Sapolsky. 72 00:03:18,633 --> 00:03:21,383 His promotion Evolve is widely considered the top indie 73 00:03:21,418 --> 00:03:24,248 wrestling company in America, and he's agreed to show us 74 00:03:24,291 --> 00:03:26,601 exactly what happens behind the curtain. 75 00:03:26,641 --> 00:03:33,131 ♪ 76 00:03:33,169 --> 00:03:36,169 Gabe Sapolsky, I was like I gotta meet this guy. 77 00:03:36,216 --> 00:03:38,826 He's the top promoter on the indies. 78 00:03:38,870 --> 00:03:41,960 Getting on Evolve set up the rest of my career. 79 00:03:42,004 --> 00:03:44,014 As a promoter, he knows what he's looking for. 80 00:03:44,049 --> 00:03:45,749 He has a vision. 81 00:03:45,790 --> 00:03:49,190 Gabe understands what I want to achieve. 82 00:03:49,229 --> 00:03:52,279 That's the guy that you want to impress. 83 00:03:52,319 --> 00:03:54,889 If you don't know who Gabe Sapolsky is when we're talking 84 00:03:54,930 --> 00:03:58,540 about wrestling, you just don't know what you're really doing. 85 00:03:58,586 --> 00:04:00,846 He's just the guy. 86 00:04:02,807 --> 00:04:16,687 [Wipers clicking] 87 00:04:16,734 --> 00:04:19,004 Special treat Friday. Right, Jack? 88 00:04:19,041 --> 00:04:20,611 JACK: Yeah. 89 00:04:20,651 --> 00:04:24,831 If we eat well during the week and really don't have any treats 90 00:04:24,873 --> 00:04:27,963 - or maybe just one - and we work hard all week, 91 00:04:28,006 --> 00:04:29,746 we get to go for a special treat on Friday. 92 00:04:29,791 --> 00:04:31,231 - Right, Jack? - Yeah. 93 00:04:35,013 --> 00:04:37,323 I have a lot of work to do this weekend, okay? 94 00:04:37,364 --> 00:04:38,894 Mm-hmm. 95 00:04:38,930 --> 00:04:40,450 But then I'll be back Monday to pick you up from school. 96 00:04:42,020 --> 00:04:43,630 CROWD: Oh! 97 00:04:44,675 --> 00:04:47,155 The big question is always: is pro wrestling fake? 98 00:04:47,199 --> 00:04:50,509 The drama and the physicality of it is not fake at all. 99 00:04:50,551 --> 00:04:54,641 The way people would describe wrestling forever, 100 00:04:54,685 --> 00:04:59,775 for years, would be it's a fake sport, it's not real. 101 00:04:59,821 --> 00:05:02,781 I don't think that they've ever seen an actual wrestler, 102 00:05:02,824 --> 00:05:05,264 because there's nothing fake about what they do. 103 00:05:05,305 --> 00:05:10,435 And it's very hard to explain to them that that isn't the case. 104 00:05:10,484 --> 00:05:12,314 You either get it or you don't. 105 00:05:13,530 --> 00:05:16,620 [Toy rattling] 106 00:05:16,664 --> 00:05:17,934 Whoa! 107 00:05:17,969 --> 00:05:20,099 It kinda sikes you, right? 108 00:05:20,145 --> 00:05:22,445 It's kinda... hypnotizing, eh? 109 00:05:22,496 --> 00:05:23,926 [Laughing] 110 00:05:23,975 --> 00:05:25,585 Looking around, Gabe, 111 00:05:25,629 --> 00:05:28,589 there's not a lot of wrestling ephemera in here. 112 00:05:28,632 --> 00:05:29,852 Is there any? 113 00:05:29,894 --> 00:05:32,384 The Dragon Gate USA title belt. 114 00:05:32,419 --> 00:05:35,249 It's symbolic to me because I was done, I was dead in 115 00:05:35,291 --> 00:05:38,381 the industry, and that belt signifies the comeback. 116 00:05:38,425 --> 00:05:42,165 The original merchandising contract we had with Sabu. 117 00:05:42,211 --> 00:05:44,651 So if it wasn't for this contract right here, 118 00:05:44,692 --> 00:05:46,172 none of this would've happened. 119 00:05:46,215 --> 00:05:48,215 And then you of course have 120 00:05:48,260 --> 00:05:50,700 the picture of the godfather of hardcore wrestling. 121 00:05:50,741 --> 00:05:53,051 Yes, I have that Terry Funk plaque. 122 00:05:53,091 --> 00:05:55,181 Terry Funk of course was like the beginning of everything too 123 00:05:55,224 --> 00:05:57,104 with ECW. 124 00:05:57,139 --> 00:05:59,709 September '93 is my first year, so we're talking... 125 00:05:59,750 --> 00:06:01,710 you know, moving on 24 years now. 126 00:06:01,752 --> 00:06:03,842 I appreciate the fact that I've been able to do this 127 00:06:03,885 --> 00:06:07,055 for so long, and also I realize the fact that 128 00:06:07,105 --> 00:06:09,365 the next show can be my last show. 129 00:06:09,412 --> 00:06:12,202 Like that's how quickly it ends. 130 00:06:12,241 --> 00:06:14,681 [Cheering] 131 00:06:14,722 --> 00:06:18,472 When I was booker for Ring of Honor, it was my life 24/7. 132 00:06:18,508 --> 00:06:22,288 Every minute of every day was spent thinking about it, 133 00:06:22,338 --> 00:06:24,338 and I was very unhealthy. 134 00:06:24,384 --> 00:06:27,084 A lot of people in the business become so immersed 135 00:06:27,125 --> 00:06:29,385 that they kinda lose themselves in it. 136 00:06:29,432 --> 00:06:32,652 There was a couple of years where he was on the road 137 00:06:32,696 --> 00:06:35,656 like every weekend, every weekend. 138 00:06:37,179 --> 00:06:39,489 Having that routine, it definitely has brought 139 00:06:39,529 --> 00:06:41,659 a balance to him for sure. 140 00:06:41,705 --> 00:06:43,575 I just don't wanna be a person 141 00:06:43,620 --> 00:06:45,540 that's having somebody else raise their kid. 142 00:06:47,189 --> 00:06:49,499 Once he stops holding your hand walking home from school, 143 00:06:49,539 --> 00:06:51,669 he is never holding your hand again. 144 00:06:51,715 --> 00:06:54,625 Wrestling's giving me this luxury to raise my kid. 145 00:06:54,675 --> 00:06:58,895 I try to do the logistics and the promotional stuff 146 00:06:58,940 --> 00:07:00,510 during the day. 147 00:07:00,550 --> 00:07:03,420 Most of the writing I do takes place after midnight. 148 00:07:03,466 --> 00:07:06,026 I can be up till 4:00 or 5:00 and 6:00 in the morning 149 00:07:06,077 --> 00:07:08,377 writing wrestling storylines. 150 00:07:08,428 --> 00:07:10,388 [Applause] 151 00:07:10,430 --> 00:07:12,300 Wrestling is a thing that goes up and down. 152 00:07:12,344 --> 00:07:15,444 It might be very high, very popular right now, 153 00:07:15,478 --> 00:07:17,738 but in two years it can hit bottom. 154 00:07:17,785 --> 00:07:19,785 And that's not his fault or anyone's fault. 155 00:07:19,830 --> 00:07:22,920 So we know that he's made his mark in wrestling, 156 00:07:22,964 --> 00:07:26,054 but it's not something that is... 157 00:07:26,097 --> 00:07:28,057 that we expect to go on steadily. 158 00:07:29,144 --> 00:07:32,634 A professional wrestling booker is a dying breed these days. 159 00:07:32,669 --> 00:07:34,239 I could've gotten a 9-to-5 job. 160 00:07:34,279 --> 00:07:35,979 Maybe I'd be better off now if I did. 161 00:07:36,978 --> 00:07:38,848 I mean, ultimately it's his decision, 162 00:07:38,893 --> 00:07:41,113 and I've always told him that throughout the whole time 163 00:07:41,156 --> 00:07:42,416 we've been together. 164 00:07:42,462 --> 00:07:43,902 It's your decision, that's your career path. 165 00:07:43,941 --> 00:07:46,251 Whatever it may be, I'll support you. 166 00:07:46,291 --> 00:07:48,901 At the same time, I know... I know how much he loves it. 167 00:07:48,946 --> 00:07:53,516 ♪ 168 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,650 Much like in boxing, a booker in wrestling is the matchmaker, 169 00:07:56,693 --> 00:07:58,653 and they also decide which match happens when 170 00:07:58,695 --> 00:08:00,915 to maximize the audience's reaction. 171 00:08:00,958 --> 00:08:04,568 But unlike boxing, the booker decides who wins and who loses. 172 00:08:06,181 --> 00:08:08,361 In wrestling, the booker becomes like a stage director 173 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:10,750 of an athletic improv troupe. 174 00:08:10,794 --> 00:08:12,804 I would-- You know what, I'm gonna change this. 175 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,230 I would hit the double team finish on Fred, okay? 176 00:08:16,278 --> 00:08:18,278 Maybe dump him out of the ring, you turn to Harper... 177 00:08:18,323 --> 00:08:19,803 But then how is Harper gonna be legal? 178 00:08:19,847 --> 00:08:21,017 - What's that? - How's Harper gonna be legal? 179 00:08:21,065 --> 00:08:22,105 You guys figure that out. 180 00:08:22,153 --> 00:08:23,983 It's... It's un-figure-out-able! 181 00:08:24,025 --> 00:08:25,285 No, it's not! 182 00:08:25,330 --> 00:08:26,850 Everything is figure-out-able. That's your job. 183 00:08:26,897 --> 00:08:28,197 - Alright. - Alright. 184 00:08:28,246 --> 00:08:29,376 [Laughing] 185 00:08:29,421 --> 00:08:30,861 Exposing the business 101! 186 00:08:30,901 --> 00:08:32,381 [Laughing] 187 00:08:32,424 --> 00:08:34,304 A big part of being a booker 188 00:08:34,339 --> 00:08:36,209 is being able to manage the big picture. 189 00:08:36,254 --> 00:08:39,654 You're dealing with maybe about 20 talents, 30 talents. 190 00:08:39,693 --> 00:08:42,483 Wrestlers look at things from a perspective of just themselves, 191 00:08:42,522 --> 00:08:44,872 because they're focused on their careers. 192 00:08:44,915 --> 00:08:47,045 A part of that is getting the talent to understand 193 00:08:47,091 --> 00:08:48,311 the big picture. 194 00:08:54,621 --> 00:08:56,931 If you're out at the merch table while the matches are 195 00:08:56,971 --> 00:08:59,631 in the ring, all the focus of the fans should be on... 196 00:08:59,669 --> 00:09:01,409 Yeah, you don't want a fan thinking, 197 00:09:01,453 --> 00:09:03,463 "Oh, well this match, I got another option. 198 00:09:03,499 --> 00:09:05,199 I can go hang out with Matt Riddle at the merch table," 199 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:06,590 you know what I mean? 200 00:09:06,633 --> 00:09:08,593 It's disrespectful to the guys in the ring. 201 00:09:08,635 --> 00:09:10,715 That's the old school mentality. 202 00:09:10,767 --> 00:09:12,457 Alright, cool, thank you. 203 00:09:12,508 --> 00:09:14,818 Everyone has different talents in life. 204 00:09:14,858 --> 00:09:18,038 I can't fix a cabinet, but somehow I'm able to write these 205 00:09:18,079 --> 00:09:20,949 storylines and recognize this quality in wrestlers. 206 00:09:20,995 --> 00:09:22,815 Same way with each of these wrestlers. 207 00:09:22,866 --> 00:09:24,686 They all have a different skill set. 208 00:09:24,738 --> 00:09:26,478 Take a guy like Darby Allin. 209 00:09:26,522 --> 00:09:28,832 I recognize that this is a guy who wants to create. 210 00:09:33,747 --> 00:09:36,267 ♪ 211 00:09:36,314 --> 00:09:38,324 Two years into his wrestling career and one year after 212 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:40,710 walking into an Evolve open tryout, 213 00:09:40,754 --> 00:09:43,064 Darby Allin has had a very quick ascent. 214 00:09:43,104 --> 00:09:45,064 ANNOUNCER: It's Darby Allin! 215 00:09:45,106 --> 00:09:47,586 DAMIAN: Still in his early 20s, he's achieved what takes 216 00:09:47,630 --> 00:09:50,330 other wrestlers years to accomplish, moving quickly up 217 00:09:50,372 --> 00:09:53,552 the Evolve card in increasingly bloody matches. 218 00:09:53,593 --> 00:09:55,123 Get rid of that towel. 219 00:10:00,687 --> 00:10:11,957 ♪ 220 00:10:12,002 --> 00:10:14,742 [Laughing] 221 00:10:14,788 --> 00:10:18,918 ♪ 222 00:10:18,966 --> 00:10:20,576 Damn it! 223 00:10:20,620 --> 00:10:22,190 By the end, I will get one. 224 00:10:22,230 --> 00:10:24,450 The Executioner will get one of them. 225 00:10:24,493 --> 00:10:27,193 Two of the boys from Atlanta are playing a game of 226 00:10:27,235 --> 00:10:29,925 who can board slide this rail over here first, 227 00:10:29,977 --> 00:10:32,717 and the loser gets maced. 228 00:10:32,762 --> 00:10:35,162 [Laughing] 229 00:10:35,199 --> 00:10:37,849 Okay, um... why? 230 00:10:37,898 --> 00:10:40,198 Life's kinda boring at times, and you gotta... 231 00:10:40,248 --> 00:10:42,118 spice things up. 232 00:10:46,036 --> 00:10:47,686 [Sighing] 233 00:10:47,734 --> 00:10:50,004 I'd say there's a lot more on the-- 234 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,520 [Cheering] 235 00:10:52,564 --> 00:10:54,044 It's finally over! 236 00:10:54,088 --> 00:10:55,478 Someone's getting pepper-sprayed! 237 00:10:55,524 --> 00:10:56,484 [Dinging] 238 00:10:56,525 --> 00:10:58,085 You're gonna break your board! 239 00:10:58,135 --> 00:10:59,825 [Cheering] 240 00:10:59,876 --> 00:11:01,226 - Keep it close like this. - Okay. 241 00:11:03,401 --> 00:11:06,711 [Can hissing] 242 00:11:06,753 --> 00:11:10,583 The thing that's exciting about pain is when you videotape it, 243 00:11:10,626 --> 00:11:13,756 and you remember it, and you can hold onto that forever. 244 00:11:13,803 --> 00:11:20,293 ♪ 245 00:11:20,331 --> 00:11:23,551 This is my face after I got pepper-sprayed years ago, 2013. 246 00:11:23,595 --> 00:11:25,075 Oh, come on! 247 00:11:25,119 --> 00:11:26,639 Yeah, I couldn't even see. 248 00:11:26,686 --> 00:11:28,506 Now get the rag. 249 00:11:28,557 --> 00:11:30,247 [Laughing] 250 00:11:30,298 --> 00:11:32,468 [Chattering] 251 00:11:32,517 --> 00:11:34,957 This is why we need community centres 252 00:11:34,998 --> 00:11:36,388 and art spaces in suburbia. 253 00:11:38,785 --> 00:11:41,395 What do you say to this older mentality that looks at 254 00:11:41,439 --> 00:11:44,489 wrestling today as being too dangerous? 255 00:11:44,529 --> 00:11:46,749 Like there's too many risks? 256 00:11:46,793 --> 00:11:50,013 At the end of the day, people are gonna do what they want. 257 00:11:50,057 --> 00:11:52,837 There's a lot of times people love wrestling, 258 00:11:52,886 --> 00:11:55,056 and then they're out there doing wrestling, 259 00:11:55,105 --> 00:11:57,235 and it just looks like they're playing a wrestler. 260 00:11:57,281 --> 00:12:00,421 But I come from a standpoint where I don't get inspired 261 00:12:00,458 --> 00:12:02,978 from that wrest-- you know, wrestling too much. 262 00:12:03,026 --> 00:12:04,806 So where do you find inspiration from 263 00:12:04,854 --> 00:12:07,034 if it's not just in the ring? 264 00:12:07,074 --> 00:12:11,344 There's a whole world out there, so that's why I try not to just 265 00:12:11,382 --> 00:12:14,912 recycle into the wrestling world what's already been done. 266 00:12:14,951 --> 00:12:17,351 If I watched everything from the '80s and I tried to recycle it 267 00:12:17,388 --> 00:12:19,908 and give it to the 2000s, it would feel like pro wrestling. 268 00:12:19,956 --> 00:12:22,436 [Shouting] 269 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:24,960 I like to show people pain, 'cause that's like a daily thing 270 00:12:25,005 --> 00:12:26,785 people experience. 271 00:12:26,833 --> 00:12:28,753 I'm not out there to try and like have my wrestling be 272 00:12:28,791 --> 00:12:31,791 some type of utopia where it's some fake thing. 273 00:12:31,838 --> 00:12:33,358 Take the real life situations 274 00:12:33,404 --> 00:12:35,194 and put it in that squared circle. 275 00:12:35,232 --> 00:12:37,372 That's what pro wrestling is to me at least. 276 00:12:37,408 --> 00:12:39,498 You know, that's what I try to convey and create. 277 00:12:40,890 --> 00:12:45,030 He told me what's important to him is storytelling and drama. 278 00:12:45,068 --> 00:12:47,328 This guy has a different way of thinking than everybody else. 279 00:12:47,375 --> 00:12:50,725 ♪ 280 00:12:50,770 --> 00:12:53,210 There's a lot of symbolism why I picked those two names, 281 00:12:53,250 --> 00:12:54,770 Darby Crash and GG Allin. 282 00:12:54,817 --> 00:12:56,427 Oh man! 283 00:12:56,471 --> 00:12:59,781 They were known around the world for just being themselves. 284 00:12:59,822 --> 00:13:02,562 And in a way it's ironic because I'm straight edge, 285 00:13:02,607 --> 00:13:05,257 and those two died of drug overdoses. 286 00:13:05,306 --> 00:13:08,046 [Yelling] 287 00:13:08,091 --> 00:13:11,971 He's willing to drop everything in Seattle and drive to Florida 288 00:13:12,008 --> 00:13:16,098 to live there so he can hop in a van and drive hours and hours 289 00:13:16,143 --> 00:13:18,753 and hours to all of our shows. 290 00:13:18,798 --> 00:13:20,838 This is a guy who wants it. 291 00:13:24,891 --> 00:13:30,331 ANNOUNCER: Six, five, four, three, two, one... 292 00:13:30,374 --> 00:13:32,814 [Cheering] 293 00:13:32,855 --> 00:13:34,985 It's amazing how much stuff you have to juggle 294 00:13:35,031 --> 00:13:36,161 to make this come off. 295 00:13:36,206 --> 00:13:37,726 Like obviously you've got partners... 296 00:13:37,773 --> 00:13:39,913 It's like four hours a day, though I'm good at delegating. 297 00:13:39,949 --> 00:13:41,689 That's what-- you know? 298 00:13:41,733 --> 00:13:44,563 Like you know, you get people you trust, 299 00:13:44,606 --> 00:13:46,036 and you delegate stuff to them. 300 00:13:46,086 --> 00:13:47,516 Yeah, but even with the delegation, 301 00:13:47,565 --> 00:13:48,825 you haven't stopped moving once. 302 00:13:48,871 --> 00:13:51,701 ♪ 303 00:13:51,743 --> 00:13:53,353 Darby, did you get everything under the ring? 304 00:13:53,397 --> 00:13:55,527 Priscilla, make sure you stay dead, okay? 305 00:13:55,573 --> 00:13:57,923 Larry Dallas! Zack Sabre! 306 00:13:57,967 --> 00:13:59,397 Keith Lee, please. 307 00:13:59,447 --> 00:14:01,097 Larry! Trevor! 308 00:14:01,144 --> 00:14:02,364 Larry Dallas! 309 00:14:02,406 --> 00:14:03,886 Drew Galloway? 310 00:14:03,930 --> 00:14:06,190 Hey, Drew Galloway, where do you want the sledgehammer? 311 00:14:06,236 --> 00:14:07,796 I'll probably open in like 10 minutes. 312 00:14:07,847 --> 00:14:09,847 Yo, five minutes, guys! Five minutes! 313 00:14:11,111 --> 00:14:13,331 So this is gonna be the... 314 00:14:16,464 --> 00:14:18,994 Alright, so, just be... 315 00:14:19,032 --> 00:14:21,082 I'm thinking. [Laughing] 316 00:14:21,121 --> 00:14:25,781 And an immense amount of respect on display by the fans 317 00:14:25,821 --> 00:14:28,961 here in Queens and New York for Austin Theory. 318 00:14:28,998 --> 00:14:31,738 AMIAN: Traditionally the booker stands behind the curtain 319 00:14:31,783 --> 00:14:33,613 in the gorilla position, the point just before 320 00:14:33,655 --> 00:14:35,955 the wrestler enters and returns from the arena. 321 00:14:36,005 --> 00:14:38,395 It's here that Gabe will impart any last-minute bits of wisdom, 322 00:14:38,442 --> 00:14:40,492 encouragement, or changes to the script, 323 00:14:40,531 --> 00:14:43,011 and the vantage point from which he will read the room. 324 00:14:43,056 --> 00:14:45,226 Gabe has invited me to stand with him on this tour, 325 00:14:45,275 --> 00:14:47,625 a very rare opportunity for an outside to catch 326 00:14:47,669 --> 00:14:49,449 the inner workings of a match. 327 00:14:49,497 --> 00:14:51,277 I try to be here every match. 328 00:14:51,325 --> 00:14:53,145 When they come through the curtains, 329 00:14:53,196 --> 00:14:55,416 give 'em a handshake and thank them, and I mean, 330 00:14:55,459 --> 00:14:56,939 they're risking their bodies in the ring for you. 331 00:14:56,983 --> 00:14:58,383 He's the man! 332 00:14:58,419 --> 00:14:59,939 [Shouting] 333 00:14:59,986 --> 00:15:01,896 It's like a huge sign of respect for the... 334 00:15:01,944 --> 00:15:04,214 It's a sign of respect for what they do, yeah. 335 00:15:04,251 --> 00:15:07,251 ANNOUNCER: The history between Darby Allin and Ethan Page 336 00:15:07,297 --> 00:15:09,077 goes back over a year. 337 00:15:09,125 --> 00:15:11,945 Who knows what damage these two men can do to each other. 338 00:15:11,998 --> 00:15:14,828 You know both guys are really gonna put 339 00:15:14,870 --> 00:15:17,050 a lot physically on the line in this match, 340 00:15:17,090 --> 00:15:19,050 and I trust them in knowing their limits, 341 00:15:19,092 --> 00:15:20,442 but you still have those butterflies 342 00:15:20,484 --> 00:15:22,274 'cause the risk is increased. 343 00:15:23,574 --> 00:15:26,144 DAMIAN: Ever since Ethan Page beat the hell out of Darby Allin 344 00:15:26,186 --> 00:15:28,616 moments into his Evolve debut, the two have been 345 00:15:28,666 --> 00:15:30,756 locked in a nasty feud. 346 00:15:30,799 --> 00:15:32,979 In a year of matches that've been punctuated with brutal 347 00:15:33,019 --> 00:15:34,979 violence, the two have found themselves the talk of 348 00:15:35,021 --> 00:15:37,891 the wrestling world, and the main event on the Evolve card. 349 00:15:37,937 --> 00:15:41,237 This could be a feud that people will look back at for years, 350 00:15:41,288 --> 00:15:43,458 with the proper close. 351 00:15:43,507 --> 00:15:44,987 You have to have that finale. 352 00:15:46,249 --> 00:15:48,689 It's the match card for tonight. 353 00:15:48,730 --> 00:15:51,170 Thinking of all the stuff we have to compete against. 354 00:15:51,211 --> 00:15:53,691 The last match we had, you either gotta top it 355 00:15:53,735 --> 00:15:56,425 or you gotta compete with it, you can't go any lower. 356 00:15:56,477 --> 00:15:58,737 So it's time to rock and roll. 357 00:15:58,783 --> 00:16:02,483 HOSTESS: From Seattle, Washington, Darby Allin! 358 00:16:02,526 --> 00:16:05,746 [Cheering] 359 00:16:05,790 --> 00:16:09,320 And his opponent, "All Ego" Ethan Page! 360 00:16:09,359 --> 00:16:12,009 [Cheering] 361 00:16:12,058 --> 00:16:15,278 The anticipation for the match will be high, 362 00:16:15,322 --> 00:16:17,022 so we don't really have to do much. 363 00:16:17,063 --> 00:16:18,933 I can do a suicide dive, 364 00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:20,538 like if your back's against the guard rail. 365 00:16:22,024 --> 00:16:25,644 ANNOUNCER: Beautiful elevation, and a suicide dive! 366 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,510 And then I'll get on the top rope, diving headbutt. 367 00:16:28,552 --> 00:16:32,032 Darby Allin at the behest of Ethan Page, 368 00:16:32,078 --> 00:16:33,948 and is he gonna throw himself?! 369 00:16:33,993 --> 00:16:35,473 [Cheering] 370 00:16:35,516 --> 00:16:38,556 My god, a flying headbutt! 371 00:16:38,606 --> 00:16:41,296 You get the shovel, and then you come in, you go to swing it. 372 00:16:41,348 --> 00:16:46,398 ♪ 373 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,440 The chaos is the stuff that's an accident. 374 00:16:51,358 --> 00:16:54,268 The one thing I turn my back on and I wasn't paying attention to 375 00:16:54,317 --> 00:16:55,837 is the one that got me. 376 00:16:55,884 --> 00:16:58,374 [Cheering] 377 00:16:58,408 --> 00:17:02,018 [Crowd gasping] 378 00:17:02,064 --> 00:17:14,084 ♪ 379 00:17:14,120 --> 00:17:16,730 It just clipped me in the elbow. 380 00:17:16,774 --> 00:17:18,824 Before I knew it there was blood, 381 00:17:18,863 --> 00:17:21,693 and the muscle was showing, everything like that. 382 00:17:21,736 --> 00:17:26,306 But I was so in the sense of not letting go of any opportunity, 383 00:17:26,349 --> 00:17:27,739 telling the referee-- he's like, "We gotta end it." 384 00:17:27,785 --> 00:17:29,655 I was like, "No, you're not gonna end this." 385 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:31,490 I work too hard for this. 386 00:17:31,528 --> 00:17:33,698 I put in too much time in a year, and I told 387 00:17:33,748 --> 00:17:36,058 too hard of a story to have you end it. 388 00:17:36,098 --> 00:17:38,098 In a sense, it's just a shovel cutting me open 389 00:17:38,144 --> 00:17:40,024 and fracturing my arm. 390 00:17:40,059 --> 00:17:42,539 We're gonna finish this match. 391 00:17:43,714 --> 00:17:48,854 [Cheering] 392 00:17:48,893 --> 00:17:50,943 He's gonna fill that body bag with thumb tacks. 393 00:17:50,982 --> 00:17:54,772 [Crowd yelling] 394 00:17:54,812 --> 00:17:56,732 Ahhhh. 395 00:17:56,771 --> 00:17:58,901 No... Ugh... 396 00:18:00,644 --> 00:18:02,124 Oh! Oh! 397 00:18:02,168 --> 00:18:05,518 [Crowd wincing] 398 00:18:05,562 --> 00:18:08,482 So I was real hesitant about the thumb tack idea, 399 00:18:08,522 --> 00:18:10,612 but I trusted them. 400 00:18:10,654 --> 00:18:12,574 I don't know how he's gonna get out of this. 401 00:18:12,613 --> 00:18:15,363 [Crowd yelling] 402 00:18:15,398 --> 00:18:18,308 But I think he's okay. 403 00:18:18,358 --> 00:18:19,918 Oh no. 404 00:18:21,709 --> 00:18:23,279 [Crowd yelling] 405 00:18:23,319 --> 00:18:24,889 ANNOUNCER: Power bomb! 406 00:18:24,929 --> 00:18:28,109 Darby Allin has not let go of that arm in quite some time. 407 00:18:28,150 --> 00:18:29,930 I don't know if he's... 408 00:18:29,978 --> 00:18:31,938 if Ethan Page has broken Darby's arm. 409 00:18:31,980 --> 00:18:33,550 [Bell ringing] Oh, thank God it's over. 410 00:18:33,590 --> 00:18:34,590 [Crowd cheering] 411 00:18:35,766 --> 00:18:36,766 You alright? 412 00:18:38,378 --> 00:18:39,378 Darby's fucked up? 413 00:18:40,858 --> 00:18:42,118 On what? 414 00:18:42,164 --> 00:18:46,344 CROWD: Darby! Darby! Darby! Darby! 415 00:18:46,386 --> 00:18:48,166 What happened, man? Sorry, you alright? 416 00:18:48,214 --> 00:18:50,224 My elbow got sliced open with a shovel. 417 00:18:50,259 --> 00:18:52,829 Oh shit... 418 00:18:52,870 --> 00:18:54,570 Alright, let's get him to the back. 419 00:18:54,611 --> 00:18:57,141 [Crowd chattering] 420 00:18:57,179 --> 00:18:58,659 Do you know where the doctor is? 421 00:18:58,702 --> 00:18:59,962 Is he still here? 422 00:19:00,008 --> 00:19:01,708 FAN: Thank you, Darby! 423 00:19:01,749 --> 00:19:05,009 [Crowd chattering] 424 00:19:05,056 --> 00:19:07,186 We got paramedics and the doctor. 425 00:19:07,233 --> 00:19:11,153 [Chattering] 426 00:19:11,193 --> 00:19:12,853 MEDIC: Sorry, dude. 427 00:19:12,890 --> 00:19:14,540 It's okay. 428 00:19:17,721 --> 00:19:19,251 Like that's totally cool. 429 00:19:19,288 --> 00:19:21,028 Yeah, shit happens, you know what I mean? 430 00:19:23,249 --> 00:19:25,769 - Go to a hospital. - You gotta get stitches. 431 00:19:25,816 --> 00:19:27,556 Can someone drive me there then? 432 00:19:27,601 --> 00:19:29,261 We have an ambulance that will take you there. 433 00:19:29,298 --> 00:19:30,948 I don't wanna take an ambulance though. 434 00:19:30,995 --> 00:19:33,165 I'll just-- Let me just have someone drive me. 435 00:19:33,215 --> 00:19:34,475 - Alright. - That's just between-- 436 00:19:34,521 --> 00:19:36,391 Yeah, I just don't wanna pay for no ambulance. 437 00:19:54,410 --> 00:19:56,630 It's kinda hard to protect yourself 438 00:19:56,673 --> 00:19:58,243 when a shovel is coming. 439 00:19:58,284 --> 00:19:59,854 Yeah, I know. 440 00:19:59,894 --> 00:20:02,164 DAMIAN: Darby goes to the hospital for surgery. 441 00:20:02,201 --> 00:20:04,461 He won't be wrestling the next day, and is looking at 442 00:20:04,507 --> 00:20:07,467 2 to 3 months before he'll be back in the ring. 443 00:20:12,254 --> 00:20:13,824 DAMIAN: Since the beginning, wrestlers have travelled 444 00:20:13,864 --> 00:20:15,914 long distances between matches. 445 00:20:15,953 --> 00:20:17,833 The Evolve crew is no different. 446 00:20:17,868 --> 00:20:20,128 They think nothing of logging thousands of miles in a single 447 00:20:20,175 --> 00:20:23,125 weekend, or driving for 24 hours straight. 448 00:20:23,178 --> 00:20:25,828 It's a claustrophobic journey broken up by the occasional 449 00:20:25,876 --> 00:20:28,706 gas station sandwich spot or pancake joint. 450 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:32,269 Well, now we've been in the car for... 451 00:20:32,318 --> 00:20:33,928 I don't know how many hours. 452 00:20:33,971 --> 00:20:36,151 Um... 453 00:20:36,191 --> 00:20:38,021 My butt is so numb. 454 00:20:38,062 --> 00:20:39,672 It's like just humming. 455 00:20:43,329 --> 00:20:46,159 So Austin, you... how many times a day do you eat normally? 456 00:20:46,201 --> 00:20:47,991 Uh, usually six meals a day. 457 00:20:48,029 --> 00:20:49,339 Six meals a day. 458 00:20:49,378 --> 00:20:51,548 I eat every two hours. 459 00:20:51,598 --> 00:20:53,948 Every two hours you're gonna eat a protein-heavy meal? 460 00:20:53,991 --> 00:20:55,471 Exactly. 461 00:20:55,515 --> 00:20:56,775 So when you're on the road though, 462 00:20:56,820 --> 00:20:58,080 there must be temptation to eat junk, right? 463 00:20:58,126 --> 00:20:59,736 Like every time you stop at those gas stations 464 00:20:59,780 --> 00:21:01,260 and things like that. 465 00:21:01,303 --> 00:21:03,173 It's not really a temptation 'cause I do it, you know? 466 00:21:03,218 --> 00:21:04,518 [Laughing] Yeah. 467 00:21:04,567 --> 00:21:06,737 I train so much that I can eat this kinda stuff. 468 00:21:06,787 --> 00:21:07,957 Mm-hmm. 469 00:21:08,005 --> 00:21:09,525 It's just all day I work out. 470 00:21:09,572 --> 00:21:12,052 That's why I look like this, and then I eat every two hours. 471 00:21:12,096 --> 00:21:14,136 So you identify as being straight edge, right? 472 00:21:14,185 --> 00:21:15,535 Absolutely. 473 00:21:15,578 --> 00:21:17,618 And so that's like no drugs, no alcohol, 474 00:21:17,667 --> 00:21:18,887 no cigarettes, none of that stuff. 475 00:21:18,929 --> 00:21:20,189 Nothing. 476 00:21:20,235 --> 00:21:22,315 I imagine in the sport of body building, 477 00:21:22,368 --> 00:21:23,848 and even pro wrestling, like you know, I'm not... 478 00:21:23,891 --> 00:21:25,201 you hear about this stuff. 479 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:26,420 Yeah, absolutely. 480 00:21:26,459 --> 00:21:28,109 Performance-enhancing drugs are a reality, 481 00:21:28,156 --> 00:21:31,326 and people use these drugs, but you're straight edge. 482 00:21:31,377 --> 00:21:34,947 Yeah, it's something I've heard since I was in high school. 483 00:21:34,989 --> 00:21:37,729 You know, somebody sees like a little muscle on you, 484 00:21:37,774 --> 00:21:40,214 it's like, "Oh, he's doing this, he's doing that!" 485 00:21:40,255 --> 00:21:41,735 But no, man. 486 00:21:41,778 --> 00:21:43,518 I don't even have the money for that. 487 00:21:43,563 --> 00:21:45,743 Well, now we're gonna have some turkey, right? 488 00:21:45,782 --> 00:21:47,312 This is gonna be good. 489 00:21:47,349 --> 00:21:48,479 And you know what's crazy? 490 00:21:48,524 --> 00:21:51,484 I eat a lot of tilapia, but I hate fish. 491 00:21:51,527 --> 00:21:56,317 But I eat it because it makes my arm look like this, so... 492 00:21:56,358 --> 00:21:57,928 That's probably why mine look like this. 493 00:21:57,968 --> 00:21:59,578 [Laughing] 494 00:21:59,622 --> 00:22:00,972 - 'Cause you don't eat fish? - I don't eat fish! 495 00:22:01,015 --> 00:22:02,535 [Laughing] 496 00:22:02,582 --> 00:22:05,412 Austin Theory is a pro wrestling prodigy. 497 00:22:05,454 --> 00:22:07,894 Austin has been streamed for wrestling stardom 498 00:22:07,935 --> 00:22:09,845 for over half his life. 499 00:22:09,893 --> 00:22:12,163 He drives an hour and a half every day to practice at 500 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:15,200 World Wrestling Alliance, located behind a strip club 501 00:22:15,246 --> 00:22:17,156 in West Atlanta. 502 00:22:17,205 --> 00:22:19,765 At the age of 19, he stands fully equipped to take over 503 00:22:19,816 --> 00:22:21,336 the wrestling industry. 504 00:22:21,383 --> 00:22:23,993 [Chattering] 505 00:22:24,038 --> 00:22:25,468 Look, check it out. 506 00:22:25,518 --> 00:22:27,428 My hand's acting like my foot, okay? 507 00:22:27,476 --> 00:22:31,216 I'm gonna raise it up, and I'm gonna plant it there. 508 00:22:31,262 --> 00:22:32,832 I'm just gonna put it there. 509 00:22:32,873 --> 00:22:36,313 The main thing is all this too, this whole presence, 510 00:22:36,355 --> 00:22:38,615 this whole... you know what I mean, acting. 511 00:22:38,661 --> 00:22:40,181 This whole-- The face already. 512 00:22:40,228 --> 00:22:41,878 So if I'm going aah! 513 00:22:41,925 --> 00:22:44,885 You know, no, don't shy away from it. 514 00:22:44,928 --> 00:22:46,968 [Thudding] So I'm just doing that. 515 00:22:47,017 --> 00:22:48,797 Come on, come on, you got it. 516 00:22:48,845 --> 00:22:49,885 [Thudding] Okay. 517 00:22:49,933 --> 00:22:51,373 Damn it! 518 00:22:51,413 --> 00:22:52,813 Are you worried about this, man? 519 00:22:52,849 --> 00:22:54,109 I mean, 'cause it's pretty much... 520 00:22:54,155 --> 00:22:55,365 [Laughing] 521 00:22:55,417 --> 00:22:57,377 Alright, look, let me put it like this. 522 00:22:57,419 --> 00:22:59,029 If it was real, it'd be easy, right? 523 00:22:59,073 --> 00:23:00,473 Kick this person in the gut. 524 00:23:00,509 --> 00:23:03,379 You're doing that, but just not for real. 525 00:23:03,425 --> 00:23:07,255 [Laughing] 526 00:23:07,298 --> 00:23:08,998 Ar Fox is one of the most influential 527 00:23:09,039 --> 00:23:11,479 independent wrestlers of his generation. 528 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:16,000 His fearless style has inspired many fan and wrestler alike. 529 00:23:16,046 --> 00:23:19,086 The first time I met Austin, I didn't know what to expect. 530 00:23:19,136 --> 00:23:21,746 You know, and then he started wrestling and stuff, 531 00:23:21,791 --> 00:23:24,191 and I could just tell this kid gets it. 532 00:23:24,228 --> 00:23:25,968 [Groaning] 533 00:23:26,013 --> 00:23:28,453 I'm like I will put a little extra work in this kid, 534 00:23:28,494 --> 00:23:31,504 and I'm gonna push him, and I'm also gonna like give him a few 535 00:23:31,540 --> 00:23:35,150 snug shots to see if he comes back the next day. 536 00:23:35,196 --> 00:23:36,456 [Thudding] 537 00:23:36,502 --> 00:23:38,772 And that's gonna see how bad you want it. 538 00:23:38,808 --> 00:23:42,068 Some guys still are like trying to get on Evolve that I know 539 00:23:42,116 --> 00:23:44,726 that've been wrestling for 8 years. 540 00:23:44,771 --> 00:23:47,561 Me and Gabe actually had a small falling out. 541 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:49,600 Once Austin started doing real good, 542 00:23:49,645 --> 00:23:52,515 I just swallowed my pride and I wrote on my Facebook and I said, 543 00:23:52,561 --> 00:23:54,221 "Can I call you?" 544 00:23:54,258 --> 00:23:57,218 GABE: Ar Fox said, "Hey, I got this student, Austin Theory. 545 00:23:57,261 --> 00:23:59,001 He's gonna be a star." 546 00:23:59,046 --> 00:24:03,346 What got me with Austin Theory was his facial expressions. 547 00:24:03,398 --> 00:24:06,528 And the facial expressions most guys don't get till 3 to 5 years 548 00:24:06,575 --> 00:24:08,655 down the line, some guys 10 years. 549 00:24:08,708 --> 00:24:10,318 ANNOUNCER: Austin Theory almost going right through 550 00:24:10,361 --> 00:24:12,191 the mat there. 551 00:24:12,233 --> 00:24:15,113 The fact that he was able to have these kind of instincts at 552 00:24:15,149 --> 00:24:18,499 his experience level and age, if this was sports or baseball, 553 00:24:18,544 --> 00:24:22,594 this is a five-tool player, and a natural professional wrestler. 554 00:24:22,635 --> 00:24:25,455 We immediately signed him, we signed him the next day. 555 00:24:27,335 --> 00:24:29,635 Wrestling is everything to me. 556 00:24:29,685 --> 00:24:32,205 It's what I've known since I was 8 years old. 557 00:24:32,253 --> 00:24:34,303 I just was so drawn to it. 558 00:24:34,342 --> 00:24:36,912 It was like real life superheroes. 559 00:24:36,953 --> 00:24:40,173 My first show, I remember going with my grandfather. 560 00:24:40,217 --> 00:24:43,527 I remember a guy coming out and being real scary to me. 561 00:24:43,569 --> 00:24:46,529 And I was not knowing if I wanted to be there or not. 562 00:24:46,572 --> 00:24:49,362 And then the next guy comes out, and he's like the hero. 563 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:51,490 And I was like wait, I wanna see this. 564 00:24:51,533 --> 00:24:55,023 After that night, I was completely hooked. 565 00:24:55,058 --> 00:24:58,108 My mom had me doing baseball and basketball, 566 00:24:58,148 --> 00:25:01,148 but once I'd seen wrestling at 8, I was done with that. 567 00:25:01,195 --> 00:25:03,495 Like I knew this is all I care about. 568 00:25:05,329 --> 00:25:10,329 The way he is, he's driven, and he don't wanna be held down. 569 00:25:10,378 --> 00:25:13,078 And when he sees something he wants, he goes for it, 570 00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:15,510 and he will give up anything to get it. 571 00:25:16,906 --> 00:25:20,816 I can go out of town, and I could leave alcohol, 572 00:25:20,867 --> 00:25:23,607 you know, here, and I don't have to worry about it. 573 00:25:23,652 --> 00:25:26,182 The only thing that's gonna be missing is protein. 574 00:25:27,221 --> 00:25:28,791 AUSTION: I think I was 12 years old. 575 00:25:28,831 --> 00:25:31,361 I told my mom, I was like, "Can I start going to the gym?" 576 00:25:31,399 --> 00:25:34,319 But I wasn't old enough to work out, but I'd sneak in. 577 00:25:34,358 --> 00:25:37,538 I just know getting on that main stage, 578 00:25:37,579 --> 00:25:39,929 there's no way you're getting there without hard work. 579 00:25:39,973 --> 00:25:44,633 ♪ 580 00:25:44,673 --> 00:25:46,983 Oh shit! Oh shit! 581 00:25:47,023 --> 00:25:51,463 ♪ 582 00:25:51,506 --> 00:25:53,116 [Groaning] 583 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:58,170 ♪ 584 00:25:58,208 --> 00:26:02,598 [Grunting] 585 00:26:02,648 --> 00:26:06,608 ♪ 586 00:26:06,652 --> 00:26:08,392 [Groaning] 587 00:26:08,436 --> 00:26:14,176 ♪ 588 00:26:14,224 --> 00:26:15,754 [Laughing] 589 00:26:15,791 --> 00:26:17,271 [Clapping] 590 00:26:17,314 --> 00:26:19,064 Most intimate thing I've ever seen in the ring. 591 00:26:19,099 --> 00:26:21,319 You know, it felt like it was a private match just for me. 592 00:26:21,362 --> 00:26:25,982 ♪ 593 00:26:26,019 --> 00:26:29,199 AUSTIN: My parents, I think they split before I was born. 594 00:26:29,239 --> 00:26:31,629 My dad, there would be times where we'd be in a store 595 00:26:31,677 --> 00:26:33,417 and he'd steal stuff. 596 00:26:33,461 --> 00:26:36,731 I wanna say I was 15 years old, and I was in the car with him. 597 00:26:36,769 --> 00:26:39,549 I had got like my learner's permit so I could drive now. 598 00:26:39,598 --> 00:26:42,118 We were riding, and he was telling me some story, 599 00:26:42,165 --> 00:26:44,205 but he just kinda starts like dazing off. 600 00:26:45,691 --> 00:26:48,651 He basically was geeking out from like a reaction from 601 00:26:48,694 --> 00:26:50,704 some type of drug. 602 00:26:50,739 --> 00:26:53,179 That moment really stuck with me. 603 00:26:54,090 --> 00:26:55,660 Straight over. 604 00:26:55,701 --> 00:26:59,181 It brought me to the point of being straight edge. 605 00:26:59,226 --> 00:27:02,096 Never in my life have I had alcohol, 606 00:27:02,142 --> 00:27:04,582 or smoked, or done any type of drug. 607 00:27:07,234 --> 00:27:08,894 It's amazing watching him interact with 608 00:27:08,931 --> 00:27:10,371 his two younger brothers. 609 00:27:10,411 --> 00:27:13,461 To me, Austin's a role model for all of his siblings. 610 00:27:13,501 --> 00:27:15,901 And with his brothers, they both look up to him. 611 00:27:17,592 --> 00:27:19,732 AUSTIN: I just want them to always be good, 612 00:27:19,768 --> 00:27:22,598 and not go through kinda what I went through. 613 00:27:22,641 --> 00:27:24,511 They just think he's cool because he's a wrestler, 614 00:27:24,555 --> 00:27:26,115 and they have t-shirts that's got him on it. 615 00:27:26,166 --> 00:27:27,206 [Laughing] 616 00:27:29,517 --> 00:27:32,427 AUSTIN: One day I'll have kids, and I wanna be somewhere 617 00:27:32,476 --> 00:27:34,386 where they have nothing to worry about. 618 00:27:34,435 --> 00:27:36,345 [Crowd shouting] 619 00:27:36,393 --> 00:27:39,223 Before I go out to the ring, I definitely get nervous. 620 00:27:39,266 --> 00:27:41,176 I'm a freakin' train wreck. 621 00:27:42,922 --> 00:27:47,142 I love what I do so much that I know when I go out there, 622 00:27:47,187 --> 00:27:49,617 I wanna give them everything I got. 623 00:27:49,668 --> 00:27:52,448 I want them to see Austin Theory. 624 00:27:55,543 --> 00:27:57,203 [Chattering] 625 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,500 - Oh my. - Ooh-wee. 626 00:27:59,547 --> 00:28:01,327 Yeah. 627 00:28:03,769 --> 00:28:05,509 I've been on my fast all day too, so... 628 00:28:05,553 --> 00:28:06,953 [Laughing] 629 00:28:06,989 --> 00:28:08,859 Yeah, me too, I haven't eaten anything all day. 630 00:28:08,904 --> 00:28:10,784 [Chattering] 631 00:28:10,819 --> 00:28:12,259 Alright, Pudding Pie, go ahead. 632 00:28:12,299 --> 00:28:14,819 [Laughing] 633 00:28:14,867 --> 00:28:16,217 Pudding Pie? 634 00:28:16,259 --> 00:28:17,829 That's the name for the ring, dude! 635 00:28:17,870 --> 00:28:19,090 Pudding Pie! 636 00:28:19,132 --> 00:28:20,572 ALL: Pudding Pie Yehi! 637 00:28:20,611 --> 00:28:21,871 [Clapping] 638 00:28:21,917 --> 00:28:23,217 Pudding Pie Yehi! 639 00:28:23,266 --> 00:28:24,526 [Clapping] 640 00:28:24,572 --> 00:28:26,312 Pudding Pie Yehi! 641 00:28:26,356 --> 00:28:27,576 Alright. 642 00:28:29,316 --> 00:28:31,876 DAMIAN: Without the size that fast tracks someone for success 643 00:28:31,927 --> 00:28:36,277 in wrestling, Fred Yehi has had to fight for every opportunity. 644 00:28:36,323 --> 00:28:39,463 But Fred's ability to make the most of each and every match, 645 00:28:39,500 --> 00:28:42,420 and an undeniable charisma, have helped him kick down the door to 646 00:28:42,459 --> 00:28:44,369 some of wrestling's biggest indies. 647 00:28:44,418 --> 00:28:47,728 Fred's a guy who has done my favourite thing, 648 00:28:47,769 --> 00:28:50,549 which is improve every aspect of his game. 649 00:28:50,598 --> 00:28:53,118 He's very impressive, and he brings it in the ring 650 00:28:53,166 --> 00:28:55,036 like no other. 651 00:28:55,081 --> 00:28:57,821 'Cause I wrestled him, and it's a rough time. 652 00:28:57,866 --> 00:29:02,126 ♪ 653 00:29:02,175 --> 00:29:04,215 Fred would destroy me in the ring. 654 00:29:04,264 --> 00:29:06,534 He's really good at technical wrestling. 655 00:29:06,570 --> 00:29:08,700 His biggest challenge is his height. 656 00:29:08,747 --> 00:29:11,267 He's not a super tall guy. 657 00:29:11,314 --> 00:29:13,804 There's guys who are his height that have become stars 658 00:29:13,839 --> 00:29:16,669 on national TV, but it's not a strength of his. 659 00:29:16,711 --> 00:29:19,111 He has taken that and made it part of his persona, 660 00:29:19,148 --> 00:29:20,718 made it part of his move set. 661 00:29:20,759 --> 00:29:22,849 Something as small as hitting the ropes, 662 00:29:22,891 --> 00:29:25,071 which is when the guys run into the ropes 663 00:29:25,111 --> 00:29:26,501 and bounce off of them. 664 00:29:26,547 --> 00:29:28,507 If you notice, Fred does this off the second rope. 665 00:29:28,549 --> 00:29:30,729 He's the only guy that does this off the second rope. 666 00:29:30,769 --> 00:29:32,289 ANNOUNCER: Bouncing off the second rope. 667 00:29:32,335 --> 00:29:34,245 So unique, the way he comes out and you see that tackle. 668 00:29:34,294 --> 00:29:37,174 His wrestling style, stomping on the hands... 669 00:29:37,210 --> 00:29:38,650 I was waiting for it there! 670 00:29:38,689 --> 00:29:41,689 ...they all bring his opponent down in size. 671 00:29:41,736 --> 00:29:43,476 So he took what was a weakness of his, 672 00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:45,520 his height, and he made it into a strength. 673 00:29:45,566 --> 00:29:46,826 Stomp on the foot! 674 00:29:46,872 --> 00:29:47,962 I mean, that's smart. 675 00:29:49,309 --> 00:29:51,829 FRED: Wrestling in the South, it's really tough. 676 00:29:51,877 --> 00:29:56,837 The crowd is pretty much like an all-white crowd, country crowd. 677 00:29:56,882 --> 00:29:59,672 60% of the crowd is grossly obese. 678 00:29:59,710 --> 00:30:03,670 Are they gonna identify with the 350-pound, beer belly, 679 00:30:03,714 --> 00:30:06,244 out of shape guy who comes out in a cowboy hat? 680 00:30:06,282 --> 00:30:07,892 He's the guy they're gonna put in the main event. 681 00:30:07,936 --> 00:30:10,196 He's the guy they wanna put on the posters. 682 00:30:10,243 --> 00:30:11,553 I wouldn't say there are any 683 00:30:11,592 --> 00:30:13,992 African American companies per se. 684 00:30:14,029 --> 00:30:17,419 There's just a decent amount of us who wrestle here in Georgia. 685 00:30:17,467 --> 00:30:19,117 And in the end, we all go through that same struggle. 686 00:30:19,165 --> 00:30:20,595 We all do. 687 00:30:20,644 --> 00:30:25,744 ♪ 688 00:30:25,780 --> 00:30:28,350 You met this dude training. 689 00:30:28,391 --> 00:30:30,311 Let's bring you back to that moment. 690 00:30:30,350 --> 00:30:32,660 Do you remember the first time you saw Pudding Pie? 691 00:30:32,700 --> 00:30:34,050 When I first saw him wrestle, 692 00:30:34,093 --> 00:30:35,883 there was this girl who was just flipping out. 693 00:30:35,921 --> 00:30:37,711 She's like, "Oh my god, aah! Fred! Fred!" 694 00:30:37,748 --> 00:30:39,878 And I was like uhn, whatever, I don't see the hype. 695 00:30:39,925 --> 00:30:41,485 I was like I don't even think he's that cute. 696 00:30:41,535 --> 00:30:43,185 And this is literally what I said, 697 00:30:43,232 --> 00:30:44,802 that's literally what I said! 698 00:30:44,843 --> 00:30:47,193 My trainer's like, "Okay, we're gonna do drop down drills," 699 00:30:47,236 --> 00:30:48,796 which is... you know, the person lays down, 700 00:30:48,847 --> 00:30:50,367 you jump over 'em, jump over 'em. 701 00:30:50,413 --> 00:30:52,463 So I hit the drop down, and I can't get back up in time. 702 00:30:52,502 --> 00:30:53,902 What does this guy do? 703 00:30:53,939 --> 00:30:55,459 What do you do, Fred? 704 00:30:55,505 --> 00:30:57,115 He keeps going! 705 00:30:57,159 --> 00:30:58,599 Straight on my ribs. 706 00:30:58,639 --> 00:31:00,729 I flip over on my back, I'm like, "Aah! Oh my god!" 707 00:31:00,771 --> 00:31:02,031 [Gasping] 708 00:31:02,077 --> 00:31:03,637 I love to tell people to embarrass him. 709 00:31:03,687 --> 00:31:06,257 [Laughing] 710 00:31:06,299 --> 00:31:09,609 Dating in pro wrestling, it has its pros and it has its cons. 711 00:31:09,650 --> 00:31:11,570 Oh, fuck! [Laughing] 712 00:31:11,608 --> 00:31:13,218 We're both in this business, 713 00:31:13,262 --> 00:31:15,002 so we have to be really understanding. 714 00:31:15,047 --> 00:31:16,697 There has to be trust. 715 00:31:16,744 --> 00:31:19,054 What's it like being in a relationship when both of you 716 00:31:19,094 --> 00:31:20,924 are on the road? 717 00:31:20,966 --> 00:31:23,396 It's honestly really hard, I'm not even gonna lie. 718 00:31:23,446 --> 00:31:25,226 - Thank you, thank you. - Bye! 719 00:31:25,274 --> 00:31:31,544 ♪ 720 00:31:33,152 --> 00:31:35,152 What motivates you to get in the van and do this 721 00:31:35,197 --> 00:31:37,327 weekend after weekend? 722 00:31:37,373 --> 00:31:41,203 I remember being kinda stuck, and like stuck in Georgia, 723 00:31:41,247 --> 00:31:46,427 doing like these rink-a-dink backwoods shows with like 724 00:31:46,469 --> 00:31:48,859 maybe 20 to 50 people. 725 00:31:48,907 --> 00:31:50,207 The pay was dirt. 726 00:31:50,256 --> 00:31:51,646 You know, 30 to 50 bucks. 727 00:31:51,692 --> 00:31:53,562 Maybe half that money, if not all of it, 728 00:31:53,607 --> 00:31:55,127 is going back into the tank. 729 00:31:55,174 --> 00:31:56,614 I appreciate that we have a van. 730 00:31:56,653 --> 00:31:57,963 We don't have to worry about gas, 731 00:31:58,003 --> 00:31:58,963 we don't have to worry about food. 732 00:31:59,004 --> 00:32:00,614 All that stuff is covered. 733 00:32:00,657 --> 00:32:02,437 And taking all that in consideration, 734 00:32:02,485 --> 00:32:03,965 shoot, I'll stay crammed up in the van. 735 00:32:04,009 --> 00:32:05,269 [Laughing] 736 00:32:05,314 --> 00:32:06,844 You know, and deal with it, so... 737 00:32:06,881 --> 00:32:09,101 I don't know if you ever heard that quote where it's like, 738 00:32:09,144 --> 00:32:12,194 you know, if you're the hardest worker in the room, 739 00:32:12,234 --> 00:32:14,154 then you're in the wrong room. 740 00:32:14,193 --> 00:32:15,853 As long as I'm a wrestler, I don't think I'm ever gonna 741 00:32:15,890 --> 00:32:18,630 arrive because I'm not gonna... 742 00:32:18,675 --> 00:32:20,455 I won't allow myself to be, you know? 743 00:32:20,503 --> 00:32:23,423 I won't allow myself to believe that I just know it all, 744 00:32:23,463 --> 00:32:25,033 that I'm there. 745 00:32:25,073 --> 00:32:27,163 There's always someone working harder, you know? 746 00:32:27,206 --> 00:32:28,726 [Laughing] 747 00:32:28,772 --> 00:32:31,512 Shoot, like I mean Austin, he got his contract. 748 00:32:31,558 --> 00:32:33,388 He was like, "Man, that's freakin' awesome!" 749 00:32:33,429 --> 00:32:35,079 It's like I don't want him to catch me, you know? 750 00:32:35,127 --> 00:32:36,777 [Laughing] 751 00:32:36,824 --> 00:32:40,524 So you know, there is that sense of like competition. 752 00:32:40,567 --> 00:32:42,567 Like you have to stay on top of your game. 753 00:32:42,612 --> 00:32:52,542 ♪ 754 00:32:52,579 --> 00:32:55,059 It's real, guys. 755 00:32:55,103 --> 00:32:57,413 Very real. [Laughing] 756 00:33:00,500 --> 00:33:08,200 ♪ 757 00:33:08,247 --> 00:33:10,077 I need to be back -on a 4 -G connection. 758 00:33:10,118 --> 00:33:12,118 -I cannot be on a 3 -G connection. 759 00:33:12,164 --> 00:33:14,514 Three, two, one... [Laughing] 760 00:33:14,557 --> 00:33:15,947 That one's a clam. 761 00:33:15,994 --> 00:33:17,604 Got it! [Laughing] 762 00:33:17,647 --> 00:33:20,557 And you wonder how we pass time when we're away from our family. 763 00:33:20,607 --> 00:33:22,127 - That's it! - Goofing off. 764 00:33:22,174 --> 00:33:25,614 It's crazy with Evolve, 'cause you have legitimately like... 765 00:33:25,655 --> 00:33:27,605 the most talented people in this industry 766 00:33:27,657 --> 00:33:29,137 in that locker room right now. 767 00:33:29,181 --> 00:33:31,711 There's the future of this industry, you know? 768 00:33:31,748 --> 00:33:33,878 Like some of the greatest talents that are gonna emerge 769 00:33:33,924 --> 00:33:36,194 in this generation of wrestling. 770 00:33:36,231 --> 00:33:38,631 Oh man. 771 00:33:38,668 --> 00:33:40,148 Man, I hate all y'all. 772 00:33:40,192 --> 00:33:42,282 Bring all these cheesecakes and hot wings, 773 00:33:42,324 --> 00:33:43,894 and I just gotta sit here like... 774 00:33:43,934 --> 00:33:47,204 The wings might mess me up, 775 00:33:47,242 --> 00:33:48,772 but I don't think the cheesecake will. 776 00:33:48,809 --> 00:33:50,459 [Laughing] 777 00:33:50,506 --> 00:33:52,936 You can't eat cheesecake in front of the biggest guy 778 00:33:52,987 --> 00:33:54,727 in the locker room, eat the cheesecake 779 00:33:54,771 --> 00:33:56,561 and then show off that you're ripped too. 780 00:33:56,599 --> 00:33:57,769 That's rude. 781 00:33:57,818 --> 00:33:59,988 Shut up, Fred! [Laughing] 782 00:34:01,126 --> 00:34:03,906 One, two, three, four, five... 783 00:34:03,954 --> 00:34:06,834 [Chattering] 784 00:34:06,870 --> 00:34:09,090 GABE: I never wanted to be a wrestler myself. 785 00:34:09,134 --> 00:34:11,664 When everybody was cutting wrestling promos and imagining 786 00:34:11,701 --> 00:34:14,791 characters for themselves as like a kid or growing up, 787 00:34:14,835 --> 00:34:17,185 I was actually putting together matches. 788 00:34:17,229 --> 00:34:20,059 The whole side as far as being in front of a crowd 789 00:34:20,101 --> 00:34:23,101 and performing never really appealed to me. 790 00:34:23,148 --> 00:34:25,278 I always wanted to be the guy backstage 791 00:34:25,324 --> 00:34:27,334 kind of pulling the strings. 792 00:34:27,369 --> 00:34:31,369 If this is what Catch Point is gonna stand for, then I quit. 793 00:34:32,983 --> 00:34:35,513 And when you say to Tracy Williams hi, 794 00:34:35,551 --> 00:34:37,471 make sure... 'cause you're saying that to Tracy. 795 00:34:37,510 --> 00:34:39,770 That's who's back to Orlando, okay? 796 00:34:39,816 --> 00:34:41,556 So you're saying that right to Tracy, okay? 797 00:34:41,601 --> 00:34:44,131 Like as a fuck you to him for earlier, okay? 798 00:34:44,169 --> 00:34:47,479 What's it like dealing with bookers and dealing with someone 799 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:51,650 who is telling you how to work with your art like a director? 800 00:34:51,698 --> 00:34:53,528 I get paid to show up and play a role 801 00:34:53,569 --> 00:34:55,139 that they write the script for. 802 00:34:55,180 --> 00:34:59,660 So whether I disagree or agree, I 9 times out of 10 will just do 803 00:34:59,706 --> 00:35:02,006 exactly what they say to the best of my ability. 804 00:35:02,056 --> 00:35:04,446 And usually people understand that whoever wrote the show 805 00:35:04,493 --> 00:35:06,803 is in control of all the moving parts. 806 00:35:06,843 --> 00:35:10,413 CROWD: Ego! Ego! Ego! Ego! 807 00:35:10,456 --> 00:35:12,366 I go by my gut, you know that, okay? 808 00:35:12,414 --> 00:35:13,894 - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - My gut's 100% right. 809 00:35:13,937 --> 00:35:15,587 - That's been... - That's not true. 810 00:35:15,635 --> 00:35:17,115 No, that is 100% true. 811 00:35:17,158 --> 00:35:20,898 You... Your gut said to do another match after Orlando. 812 00:35:20,944 --> 00:35:22,864 No, that was me thinking. 813 00:35:22,903 --> 00:35:27,263 My thinking is 50/50, my gut is 100%, okay? 814 00:35:27,299 --> 00:35:30,429 Being an experienced wrestler and someone who's been in this, 815 00:35:30,476 --> 00:35:33,436 a lot of what you do is manage expectations of the younger 816 00:35:33,479 --> 00:35:36,049 wrestlers you're working with, and also translate their ideas 817 00:35:36,090 --> 00:35:37,960 into the world of wrestling so they work. 818 00:35:38,005 --> 00:35:42,225 That's a very... I don't know, strong ability that I have. 819 00:35:42,270 --> 00:35:46,140 I assume that's why Gabe puts me in the ring with younger talent. 820 00:35:46,187 --> 00:35:48,617 [Bell dinging] 821 00:35:48,668 --> 00:35:50,238 ANNOUNCER: Tonight though, what we're looking at here 822 00:35:50,278 --> 00:35:51,758 is actually a rematch. 823 00:35:51,801 --> 00:35:53,761 [Clapping] 824 00:35:53,803 --> 00:35:55,543 [Crowd gasping] 825 00:35:55,588 --> 00:35:57,548 His face nearly taken off by Ethan Page. 826 00:35:57,590 --> 00:35:59,200 ANNOUNCER 2: Yeah, that's a rookie mistake right there. 827 00:35:59,244 --> 00:36:03,074 I would imagine it must feel like a mark of accomplishment 828 00:36:03,117 --> 00:36:05,377 that you're trusted again to kinda be that guy. 829 00:36:05,424 --> 00:36:08,994 It is a mark of accomplishment, but it's also frustrating 830 00:36:09,036 --> 00:36:13,686 because if you're always the guy that has to cater to the 831 00:36:13,736 --> 00:36:18,216 inexperienced and essentially make the stars of tomorrow, 832 00:36:18,263 --> 00:36:19,963 you'll never be the star of today. 833 00:36:20,003 --> 00:36:22,353 Ladies and gentlemen, if you've never seen Austin Theory before, 834 00:36:22,397 --> 00:36:24,357 you're about to see this young man fly. 835 00:36:24,399 --> 00:36:26,879 Over the top rope, moonsault! 836 00:36:26,923 --> 00:36:29,323 Spring-boarding off of the top rope, Tim! 837 00:36:29,361 --> 00:36:31,841 [Crowd chanting] 838 00:36:31,885 --> 00:36:34,015 ANNOUNCER 2: I like the split crowd reaction here. 839 00:36:34,061 --> 00:36:35,631 Austin Theory clearly already endearing himself 840 00:36:35,671 --> 00:36:37,541 for the WWN and Evolve faithful. 841 00:36:37,586 --> 00:36:40,016 Pisses me off, but it's also a pat on the back 842 00:36:40,067 --> 00:36:41,757 that I'm good at my job. 843 00:36:41,808 --> 00:36:44,288 I don't know, it's... I'm being pulled both ways. 844 00:36:45,333 --> 00:36:46,773 Is that the same shovel? 845 00:36:46,813 --> 00:36:48,123 No, they left it out in the room. 846 00:36:48,162 --> 00:36:49,862 I mean, but does it look like the same shovel? 847 00:36:49,903 --> 00:36:51,033 No, it was green. 848 00:36:51,078 --> 00:36:52,468 Yeah, then that does us no good. 849 00:36:52,514 --> 00:36:54,084 Those fucking assholes, man. 850 00:36:54,124 --> 00:36:56,304 I told them like 10 fucking times to bring a goddamn shovel. 851 00:36:56,344 --> 00:36:59,654 So there's always unbelievable risk with every wrestling match 852 00:36:59,695 --> 00:37:01,255 and every wrestling move, but with these hardcore 853 00:37:01,306 --> 00:37:04,266 wrestling matches, is that like a mental leap you have to make 854 00:37:04,309 --> 00:37:07,139 to be able to inflict that much pain on someone? 855 00:37:07,181 --> 00:37:08,751 Yeah, I hate it. 856 00:37:08,791 --> 00:37:12,061 Like I hated everything about it because you have the guy 857 00:37:12,099 --> 00:37:14,279 that's taking the moves saying he wants to do it, 858 00:37:14,319 --> 00:37:18,279 and it's his idea, and then you have your boss who's obviously 859 00:37:18,323 --> 00:37:21,803 concerned for our health, but also genuinely excited about 860 00:37:21,848 --> 00:37:24,718 the reaction that you'll get online or with the crowd. 861 00:37:24,764 --> 00:37:27,334 In today's day and age, you're looking for hits, 862 00:37:27,375 --> 00:37:30,805 and that's how people thrive and keep their businesses alive. 863 00:37:30,857 --> 00:37:32,597 [Applause] 864 00:37:32,641 --> 00:37:35,731 HOSTESS: The winner of the match, Ethan Page! 865 00:37:35,775 --> 00:37:39,255 I try to give these guys a safe working environment, 866 00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:41,430 and at the end of the day 867 00:37:41,476 --> 00:37:43,776 these are highly trained professionals. 868 00:37:43,826 --> 00:37:46,216 Anything can hurt anybody in that ring. 869 00:37:46,264 --> 00:37:50,664 There have been times where I've almost quit because I just... 870 00:37:50,703 --> 00:37:53,183 I didn't wanna be a part of that aspect. 871 00:37:53,227 --> 00:37:56,317 They're literally risking their lives and serious injury 872 00:37:56,361 --> 00:37:59,061 every single match, every single move. 873 00:37:59,102 --> 00:38:02,322 If something goes wrong and their concentration isn't there, 874 00:38:02,367 --> 00:38:04,147 that can end their career. 875 00:38:04,194 --> 00:38:05,244 [Bell dinging] 876 00:38:08,677 --> 00:38:10,457 [Clapping] 877 00:38:10,505 --> 00:38:11,985 ANNOUNCER: This is a match-up that once upon a time 878 00:38:12,028 --> 00:38:13,548 I could never even imagine. 879 00:38:13,595 --> 00:38:15,895 Fred Yehi, Kyle O'Reilly, here in an Evolve wrestling ring! 880 00:38:15,945 --> 00:38:17,335 ANNOUNCER 2: Coming in here tonight, probably one of 881 00:38:17,382 --> 00:38:19,382 the more highly anticipated match-ups 882 00:38:19,427 --> 00:38:21,257 here on the Evolve 83 card. 883 00:38:22,430 --> 00:38:25,040 So tell me about what kind of opportunity this is for Fred. 884 00:38:25,085 --> 00:38:26,605 It's a huge opportunity. 885 00:38:26,652 --> 00:38:28,572 Putting the spotlight solely on him, 886 00:38:28,610 --> 00:38:31,180 it also put him in there with Kyle O'Reilly, 887 00:38:31,221 --> 00:38:34,271 a world-class guy from all over the place. 888 00:38:34,312 --> 00:38:37,492 I have a sense right now that the crowd is ready for him 889 00:38:37,532 --> 00:38:39,062 to be in a bigger role. 890 00:38:39,099 --> 00:38:41,359 So then you break him away, and if you're right, 891 00:38:41,406 --> 00:38:43,146 he's gonna blow up. 892 00:38:43,190 --> 00:38:46,060 If you're wrong, you could screw up his career. 893 00:38:46,106 --> 00:38:54,106 [Clapping] 894 00:38:54,157 --> 00:38:57,287 Place some very powerful maneuvers on top of it. 895 00:38:57,335 --> 00:38:58,895 [Crashing] 896 00:38:58,945 --> 00:39:00,375 ANNOUNCER 2: Yeah, and taking him down as he begins 897 00:39:00,425 --> 00:39:01,985 that submission here. 898 00:39:02,035 --> 00:39:04,115 [Groaning] 899 00:39:04,167 --> 00:39:06,737 What the hell submission is this? 900 00:39:06,779 --> 00:39:08,349 What the fuck is this?! 901 00:39:08,389 --> 00:39:09,999 Yeah, Fred's got a lot of unique stuff. 902 00:39:10,043 --> 00:39:13,703 [Laughing] 903 00:39:13,742 --> 00:39:16,352 It's like some kind of yoga pose with pressure. 904 00:39:16,397 --> 00:39:19,097 ANNOUNCER: He's just twisting the body of O'Reilly 905 00:39:19,139 --> 00:39:22,009 into a pretzel, and just... what, he's holding the leg down? 906 00:39:22,055 --> 00:39:23,485 [Laughing] 907 00:39:23,535 --> 00:39:25,965 [Clapping] 908 00:39:26,015 --> 00:39:27,495 ANNOUNCER 2: Coming off the ropes looking for that kick. 909 00:39:27,539 --> 00:39:29,799 Yehi with the reversal, stomp on the foot. 910 00:39:29,845 --> 00:39:31,845 ANNOUNCER: And the stomp followed by the forearm. 911 00:39:31,891 --> 00:39:33,941 Move by Kyle O'Reilly. 912 00:39:33,980 --> 00:39:36,070 However, that chop block there taking him down. 913 00:39:36,112 --> 00:39:37,512 ANNOUNCER 2: Right to that same knee. 914 00:39:37,549 --> 00:39:39,119 Figure 4 leg lock! 915 00:39:39,159 --> 00:39:40,769 CROWD: Ooooh! 916 00:39:40,813 --> 00:39:42,383 ANNOUNCER: And you can see Fred doing everything he can 917 00:39:42,423 --> 00:39:44,473 to stop him from rolling through, but instead 918 00:39:44,512 --> 00:39:46,732 O'Reilly able to get just enough momentum to do it. 919 00:39:46,775 --> 00:39:49,905 [Clapping] 920 00:39:49,952 --> 00:39:51,692 This kind of wrestling I love, 921 00:39:51,737 --> 00:39:55,257 just good, straightforward, two hungry guys, you know. 922 00:39:55,305 --> 00:39:57,215 I mean, they're leaving their heart and their soul on the ring 923 00:39:57,264 --> 00:39:58,574 right now, both of them. 924 00:39:58,613 --> 00:40:00,013 [Crowd shouting] 925 00:40:01,137 --> 00:40:03,657 A great wrestling match will build, and it'll build, 926 00:40:03,705 --> 00:40:06,615 and build, and take the fans on a rollercoaster ride. 927 00:40:06,665 --> 00:40:08,925 Give them something that they can grab onto, 928 00:40:08,971 --> 00:40:11,281 but then surprise them, play with their emotions. 929 00:40:11,321 --> 00:40:13,761 [Crowd chanting] 930 00:40:13,802 --> 00:40:15,202 [Groaning] 931 00:40:15,238 --> 00:40:17,628 One stomp to the knee, Yehi so effective. 932 00:40:19,068 --> 00:40:20,548 [Crashing] 933 00:40:20,592 --> 00:40:22,552 And that release German, just full top Kyle O'Reilly. 934 00:40:22,594 --> 00:40:23,944 This could be it, Tim! 935 00:40:23,986 --> 00:40:27,026 Two... And O'Reilly kicks out. 936 00:40:27,076 --> 00:40:29,556 ANNOUNCER 2: Cannot question the tenacity of Kyle O'Reilly... 937 00:40:29,601 --> 00:40:31,211 [Crowd chanting] 938 00:40:31,254 --> 00:40:34,264 ...nor can you question the reaction we're hearing here 939 00:40:34,301 --> 00:40:37,441 for Fred Yehi from the WWN faithful now. 940 00:40:38,740 --> 00:40:40,180 [Crowd cheering] 941 00:40:40,220 --> 00:40:42,000 Nuked again by Fred Yehi! 942 00:40:43,702 --> 00:40:45,532 Your goal is to make them forget that 943 00:40:45,573 --> 00:40:46,973 they're watching a performance. 944 00:40:47,009 --> 00:40:51,229 ♪ 945 00:40:51,274 --> 00:40:52,544 Seven! 946 00:40:52,580 --> 00:40:54,500 Oh wait, he gets up! 947 00:40:54,539 --> 00:40:56,409 [Cheering] 948 00:40:56,454 --> 00:40:58,544 Now you hear the crowd is realizing what they're watching. 949 00:40:58,586 --> 00:41:04,156 ♪ 950 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:06,860 I think this is gonna be it right here, if he gets the arm. 951 00:41:06,899 --> 00:41:09,679 He's gonna try to get the arm out. 952 00:41:09,728 --> 00:41:11,338 Gonna get the shot. 953 00:41:11,381 --> 00:41:13,511 And I mean, at some point he's got no choice. 954 00:41:13,558 --> 00:41:16,738 In fact, the brain buster we saw last night! 955 00:41:16,778 --> 00:41:19,518 ANNOUNCER: This could put him away... Oh no! 956 00:41:19,564 --> 00:41:21,444 ANNOUNCER 2: Now to go for the arm bar, the armageddon! 957 00:41:21,479 --> 00:41:22,739 Yehi's in trouble! 958 00:41:22,784 --> 00:41:23,964 He is in the centre of the ring! 959 00:41:24,003 --> 00:41:25,223 This is perfect. 960 00:41:25,265 --> 00:41:26,695 Holding on for dear life! 961 00:41:26,745 --> 00:41:28,875 Trying to not let that arm free. 962 00:41:28,921 --> 00:41:31,361 ANNOUNCER: But you can see the fingers just slipping away 963 00:41:31,401 --> 00:41:34,751 from one another as Yehi trying to hold on desperately, 964 00:41:34,796 --> 00:41:37,796 not allowing Kyle O'Reilly to lock in that arm bar! 965 00:41:37,843 --> 00:41:40,413 What a fucking match. 966 00:41:40,454 --> 00:41:42,334 What a match, Jeff! 967 00:41:42,369 --> 00:41:44,069 Fucking phenomenal, man. 968 00:41:44,110 --> 00:41:46,290 [Applause] 969 00:41:46,329 --> 00:41:48,719 ANNOUNCER 2: We told you Kyle O'Reilly coming back to 970 00:41:48,767 --> 00:41:51,117 Evolve Wrestling, there's no question. 971 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:53,990 This is a main event star, with a victory over Fred Yehi 972 00:41:54,033 --> 00:41:56,563 tonight at Evolve 83! 973 00:41:56,601 --> 00:41:57,991 That was beautiful. 974 00:41:58,037 --> 00:42:00,817 We got Kyle established as a main event guy for us. 975 00:42:00,866 --> 00:42:04,086 It elevated Fred right there, but you're still hungry for 976 00:42:04,130 --> 00:42:06,050 the big win by Fred. 977 00:42:06,088 --> 00:42:07,528 That was beautiful. 978 00:42:07,568 --> 00:42:09,268 Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. 979 00:42:09,309 --> 00:42:10,619 [Clapping] 980 00:42:10,658 --> 00:42:12,178 [Cheering] 981 00:42:12,225 --> 00:42:13,875 ANNOUNCER: Sign of respect. 982 00:42:13,922 --> 00:42:17,362 There's nobody sitting down, and Fred Yehi, 983 00:42:17,404 --> 00:42:20,584 he showed he does not need to be a part of Catch Point. 984 00:42:20,625 --> 00:42:22,235 Fucking grand slam, out of the park. 985 00:42:22,278 --> 00:42:23,718 - Thank you. - Fucking phenomenal. 986 00:42:23,758 --> 00:42:25,408 Phenomenal, man. Be proud of that. 987 00:42:25,455 --> 00:42:26,715 Be proud of that, okay? 988 00:42:26,761 --> 00:42:28,501 - Thank you. - Thank you. 989 00:42:28,546 --> 00:42:32,456 I truly hope we see a rematch between these two athletes 990 00:42:32,506 --> 00:42:35,546 in the future here in the World Wrestling Network. 991 00:42:35,596 --> 00:42:37,416 DAMIAN: For someone to pursue their dream in the world of 992 00:42:37,467 --> 00:42:40,167 professional wrestling is to knowingly subject themselves to 993 00:42:40,209 --> 00:42:42,389 a life that makes the saying "blood, sweat and tears" 994 00:42:42,429 --> 00:42:44,689 a literal experience. 995 00:42:44,736 --> 00:42:47,696 Months of their lives will be spent cramped up in a van, 996 00:42:47,739 --> 00:42:51,129 years inside a gym, and hopefully at the very best 997 00:42:51,177 --> 00:42:54,347 only a few injuries to nurse along the way. 998 00:42:54,397 --> 00:42:57,787 It's a solitary endeavour, but what makes wrestling so unique 999 00:42:57,836 --> 00:43:00,836 compared to other combat sports is collaboration. 1000 00:43:00,882 --> 00:43:02,492 They aren't just going out there to physically 1001 00:43:02,536 --> 00:43:05,016 destroy each other, they work together to build a narrative 1002 00:43:05,060 --> 00:43:07,980 that aims to surprise, enrage, and gratify. 1003 00:43:08,020 --> 00:43:11,680 On some level, every wrestling fan knows the winners and losers 1004 00:43:11,719 --> 00:43:13,899 are predetermined, but that's not the point. 1005 00:43:13,939 --> 00:43:16,859 What's beautiful is that we as an audience choose to suspend 1006 00:43:16,898 --> 00:43:20,508 our disbelief in order to become a part of that narrative. 1007 00:43:20,554 --> 00:43:23,124 It's art, so it doesn't work all the time. 1008 00:43:23,165 --> 00:43:26,335 But when it does, that's the magic of pro wrestling. 1009 00:43:26,386 --> 00:43:27,776 [Clapping] 1010 00:43:27,822 --> 00:43:29,172 This is awesome! 1011 00:43:29,215 --> 00:43:30,385 [Clapping] 1012 00:43:30,433 --> 00:43:31,963 This is awesome! 1013 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:54,280 ♪