1
00:00:06,590 --> 00:00:08,443
I see people who emulate him.
2
00:00:08,467 --> 00:00:10,195
(indistinct commentary)
3
00:00:10,219 --> 00:00:13,156
But in my mind, nobody
did it better than Tommy.
4
00:00:13,180 --> 00:00:14,616
The Dynamite Kid, baby.
5
00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:16,784
He was the beginning of the
modern style pro wrestler.
6
00:00:16,808 --> 00:00:18,286
(grunts) Ah!
7
00:00:18,310 --> 00:00:21,289
My mom told me all the time,
"Your dad was the best."
8
00:00:21,313 --> 00:00:23,082
on the top!
Oh, my!
9
00:00:23,106 --> 00:00:26,544
What I was most impressed with
was how explosive he was.
10
00:00:26,568 --> 00:00:28,379
Oh, my!
11
00:00:28,403 --> 00:00:31,674
With extraordinary agility
and technical mastery,
12
00:00:31,698 --> 00:00:35,345
Dynamite Kid took the
wrestling world by storm.
13
00:00:35,369 --> 00:00:38,973
His need to be the best was
fueled by an intense desire
14
00:00:38,997 --> 00:00:41,517
to overcome his small stature...
15
00:00:41,541 --> 00:00:44,020
by pushing his body
to dangerous extremes.
16
00:00:44,044 --> 00:00:46,689
When Tommy found himself
in the land of giants,
17
00:00:46,713 --> 00:00:50,652
the way to stand out was to
make his style more realistic...
18
00:00:50,676 --> 00:00:52,195
harder hitting...
19
00:00:52,219 --> 00:00:53,738
than anybody else's.
20
00:00:53,762 --> 00:00:55,657
You really got
banged up, Dynamite.
21
00:00:55,681 --> 00:00:57,575
What goes around comes around.
It's a dog-eat-dog world.
22
00:00:57,599 --> 00:00:59,118
There's things that
you can do that are
23
00:00:59,142 --> 00:01:01,037
going to destroy your body.
24
00:01:01,061 --> 00:01:02,163
(cheering)
25
00:01:02,187 --> 00:01:04,123
And he did.
He destroyed his body, young.
26
00:01:04,147 --> 00:01:06,251
And that's the willingness
to sacrifice for the sake of
27
00:01:06,275 --> 00:01:09,796
your art, which Tommy
took to an extreme.
28
00:01:09,820 --> 00:01:12,674
Debilitating injuries,
steroid abuse,
29
00:01:12,698 --> 00:01:15,760
and a dependency on
painkillers made Dynamite
30
00:01:15,784 --> 00:01:19,389
an increasing threat to himself
and those around him.
31
00:01:19,413 --> 00:01:20,349
I'm telling you...
32
00:01:20,373 --> 00:01:23,142
he did a complete
personality change.
33
00:01:23,166 --> 00:01:24,103
Outside the ring,
34
00:01:24,127 --> 00:01:26,396
there was a lot of questions
about his character.
35
00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:28,815
I think he probably had
the worst case of little man
36
00:01:28,839 --> 00:01:30,650
syndrome in the
history of the world.
37
00:01:30,674 --> 00:01:33,695
Everybody knew not to
push his buttons because
38
00:01:33,719 --> 00:01:35,196
you would feel his wrath.
39
00:01:35,220 --> 00:01:36,073
We'll wrestle you.
40
00:01:36,097 --> 00:01:37,532
We'll embarrass you,
will humiliate you.
41
00:01:37,556 --> 00:01:38,783
Agh!
42
00:01:38,807 --> 00:01:40,535
He really punched me,
and then he ended up
43
00:01:40,559 --> 00:01:43,371
kicking me in the face.
And, he was like a monster.
44
00:01:43,395 --> 00:01:45,707
It was terrible things
that he did to me.
45
00:01:45,731 --> 00:01:48,876
But that was like a
small chunk of it.
46
00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:52,255
I can't imagine what it would
have been like for her,
47
00:01:52,279 --> 00:01:54,674
having a gun at your head.
48
00:01:54,698 --> 00:01:56,884
Everybody else
who did way worse,
49
00:01:56,908 --> 00:01:59,679
they get their accolades and,
50
00:01:59,703 --> 00:02:00,930
Tom doesn't.
51
00:02:00,954 --> 00:02:02,223
I still have the ability to
52
00:02:02,247 --> 00:02:04,017
watch his matches
and enjoy them.
53
00:02:04,041 --> 00:02:07,103
But, people still praise
him publicly and it's like,
54
00:02:07,127 --> 00:02:08,354
I can't do it.
55
00:02:08,378 --> 00:02:10,773
He sacrificed his
body and his family,
56
00:02:10,797 --> 00:02:12,942
everything, for wrestling.
57
00:02:12,966 --> 00:02:18,764
♪
58
00:02:19,765 --> 00:02:22,327
♪
59
00:02:22,351 --> 00:02:24,412
The Dynamite Kid's impact...
60
00:02:24,436 --> 00:02:27,749
Gigantic. I think he
left an unbelievable
61
00:02:27,773 --> 00:02:29,208
permanent mark on the business.
62
00:02:29,232 --> 00:02:31,002
And, for the most part,
a positive one -
63
00:02:31,026 --> 00:02:33,087
{\an8}on the business.
64
00:02:33,111 --> 00:02:34,422
{\an8}I'm Lance Storm,
65
00:02:34,446 --> 00:02:36,299
{\an8}a professional wrestler
for 30 years.
66
00:02:36,323 --> 00:02:38,384
{\an8}28-year-old Lance Storm!
67
00:02:38,408 --> 00:02:41,846
{\an8}I think if you're a fan of
wrestling today with
68
00:02:41,870 --> 00:02:44,599
{\an8}the faster pace,
higher impact...
69
00:02:44,623 --> 00:02:46,601
I think that's
attributed to Dynamite.
70
00:02:46,625 --> 00:02:49,062
The Dynamite Kid!
71
00:02:49,086 --> 00:02:52,106
And, all of those guys in
Stampede, you know, Bret Hart...
72
00:02:52,130 --> 00:02:55,234
Bret Hart, there's your
opponent for next week.
73
00:02:55,258 --> 00:02:57,653
Oh, he...
They're both over the top!
74
00:02:57,677 --> 00:03:00,198
Stampede Wrestling and
the Calgary Stampede,
75
00:03:00,222 --> 00:03:04,327
{\an8}those are the two things
that Calgary's famous for.
76
00:03:04,351 --> 00:03:06,537
{\an8}My name's Michelle Billington.
77
00:03:06,561 --> 00:03:08,998
{\an8}I used to be married
to The Dynamite Kid.
78
00:03:09,022 --> 00:03:11,584
{\an8}One day, when my sister
Julie and I first came
79
00:03:11,608 --> 00:03:14,796
to Calgary, Julie saw
Bret and she was like,
80
00:03:14,820 --> 00:03:17,173
"Who's that guy?
Oh, my god."
81
00:03:17,197 --> 00:03:18,925
And it was love at first sight,
82
00:03:18,949 --> 00:03:20,510
{\an8}for both of them.
83
00:03:20,534 --> 00:03:21,636
{\an8}♪
84
00:03:21,660 --> 00:03:22,720
{\an8}I'm Julie Hart.
85
00:03:22,744 --> 00:03:25,348
{\an8}I'm the former wife of
Bret "The Hitman" Hart.
86
00:03:25,372 --> 00:03:28,059
And, the sister of
Michelle Billington.
87
00:03:28,083 --> 00:03:30,395
I kind of took
Michelle under my wing.
88
00:03:30,419 --> 00:03:33,481
I've always been
very protective of her,
89
00:03:33,505 --> 00:03:34,857
her whole life.
90
00:03:34,881 --> 00:03:38,194
Julie was more like a
mother to me than my mother.
91
00:03:38,218 --> 00:03:39,612
She was like my hero.
92
00:03:39,636 --> 00:03:42,198
{\an8}And, I started
living with them and,
93
00:03:42,222 --> 00:03:43,783
{\an8}when I first saw
Tom in the ring,
94
00:03:43,807 --> 00:03:45,701
{\an8}it was with Bret.
95
00:03:45,725 --> 00:03:47,537
{\an8}They were incredible matches,
96
00:03:47,561 --> 00:03:49,038
{\an8}and Tom was like
a ping pong ball,
97
00:03:49,062 --> 00:03:50,915
{\an8}just flying around the ring.
98
00:03:50,939 --> 00:03:52,208
{\an8}Oh, survivor!
99
00:03:52,232 --> 00:03:53,793
So, then when Tom
wasn't wrestling,
100
00:03:53,817 --> 00:03:55,962
he would stand
behind me and talk to me,
101
00:03:55,986 --> 00:03:58,256
and I would just,
like, surreptitiously,
102
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,758
like, "Yeah, hey,
how's it going? Good match."
103
00:04:00,782 --> 00:04:03,094
And he's like, "Yeah,
thank you, thank you."
104
00:04:03,118 --> 00:04:04,887
♪
105
00:04:04,911 --> 00:04:07,557
So, we went for a walk
and it was so romantic.
106
00:04:07,581 --> 00:04:10,268
Like, the... it was that
big fluffy snow that was
107
00:04:10,292 --> 00:04:13,729
coming down, and it was like a
blanket of diamonds and...
108
00:04:13,753 --> 00:04:16,149
I just thought he was so
exotic 'cause he had
109
00:04:16,173 --> 00:04:17,650
that English accent.
110
00:04:17,674 --> 00:04:19,652
So, I had this big...
111
00:04:19,676 --> 00:04:25,491
romantic idea of that suave,
debonair Englishman.
112
00:04:25,515 --> 00:04:28,327
I was 18 when he married me.
113
00:04:28,351 --> 00:04:30,705
So, let's read this one.
114
00:04:30,729 --> 00:04:32,999
"Michelle, I can tell you
this little secret now
115
00:04:33,023 --> 00:04:34,667
because we're married.
116
00:04:34,691 --> 00:04:38,129
I think that you
will believe me.
117
00:04:38,153 --> 00:04:40,131
And the next thing on
my mind is that
118
00:04:40,155 --> 00:04:41,716
we will have some babies."
119
00:04:41,740 --> 00:04:43,301
Bronwyne!
120
00:04:43,325 --> 00:04:47,013
"But, only when you are ready.
121
00:04:47,037 --> 00:04:51,225
I wish that is soon because
when I'm on the road,
122
00:04:51,249 --> 00:04:53,478
the babies can look after you.
123
00:04:53,502 --> 00:04:56,105
All for now.
I love you more than ever.
124
00:04:56,129 --> 00:04:58,566
Your ever loving
yard dog, Tom."
125
00:04:58,590 --> 00:05:00,067
(sniffles)
126
00:05:00,091 --> 00:05:01,652
♪
127
00:05:01,676 --> 00:05:04,697
And he didn't hold Bronwyne
until she could walk.
128
00:05:04,721 --> 00:05:07,033
Like, he didn't actually
pick her up 'cause
129
00:05:07,057 --> 00:05:10,244
{\an8}he was so scared to
drop her or hurt her.
130
00:05:10,268 --> 00:05:12,038
{\an8}♪
131
00:05:12,062 --> 00:05:13,706
{\an8}My name is Bronwyne Billington.
132
00:05:13,730 --> 00:05:16,125
{\an8}I am the eldest daughter
of Tom Billington,
133
00:05:16,149 --> 00:05:17,710
{\an8}The Dynamite Kid.
134
00:05:17,734 --> 00:05:19,003
We had a wrestling ring
in our backyard,
135
00:05:19,027 --> 00:05:21,547
so he'd always be
training his friends or,
136
00:05:21,571 --> 00:05:23,090
just wrestling around
with his buddies,
137
00:05:23,114 --> 00:05:25,051
and we used to play
in there as kids.
138
00:05:25,075 --> 00:05:28,221
I remember being backstage
at the wrestling shows.
139
00:05:28,245 --> 00:05:30,348
Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth.
140
00:05:30,372 --> 00:05:32,391
They loved me for some reason.
141
00:05:32,415 --> 00:05:34,435
I think I just wanted to
hang out with them, really.
142
00:05:34,459 --> 00:05:35,645
(laughs)
143
00:05:35,669 --> 00:05:38,231
My dad was a really funny,
goofy guy.
144
00:05:38,255 --> 00:05:39,398
I'd just like to tell you
about this woman.
145
00:05:39,422 --> 00:05:40,775
She's mean, she's lean.
146
00:05:40,799 --> 00:05:43,611
She's 205 pounds
of fighting fury.
147
00:05:43,635 --> 00:05:46,155
She's got 17-inch biceps,
95-inch legs.
148
00:05:46,179 --> 00:05:47,990
And she's muscle,
steel and sex appeal.
149
00:05:48,014 --> 00:05:50,910
He had no teeth at one point.
150
00:05:50,934 --> 00:05:52,912
He had like the retainer teeth,
151
00:05:52,936 --> 00:05:55,081
and he'd pull them out
and like do tricks on me,
152
00:05:55,105 --> 00:05:56,541
so I thought he was magic.
153
00:05:56,565 --> 00:05:58,793
If you look at any of the
pictures with my father and I,
154
00:05:58,817 --> 00:06:01,420
growing up, he was always
holding my hand really tight,
155
00:06:01,444 --> 00:06:03,839
as a little girl.
I think that's a sign of like
156
00:06:03,863 --> 00:06:05,758
how much he loved his daughter.
157
00:06:05,782 --> 00:06:08,219
When I was younger,
my mom would tell me,
158
00:06:08,243 --> 00:06:10,137
"Oh, my god, you're so much
like your dad," because
159
00:06:10,161 --> 00:06:12,557
I learned how to do
flips all by myself.
160
00:06:12,581 --> 00:06:13,975
I thought he could fly.
161
00:06:13,999 --> 00:06:17,228
Like, I've never really seen a
wrestler that could do all that.
162
00:06:17,252 --> 00:06:18,479
{\an8}♪
163
00:06:18,503 --> 00:06:20,106
{\an8}My name's Amaris Billington,
164
00:06:20,130 --> 00:06:23,484
{\an8}and I am The Dynamite Kid's
youngest daughter.
165
00:06:23,508 --> 00:06:26,445
{\an8}And, I'm just so proud of him
for who he was in his career.
166
00:06:26,469 --> 00:06:28,197
And he didn't care
if someone said,
167
00:06:28,221 --> 00:06:30,324
"You're too small."
He's like,
168
00:06:30,348 --> 00:06:32,618
{\an8}(British accent)
"Watch me."
169
00:06:32,642 --> 00:06:36,289
{\an8}By the 1980s, The Dynamite
Kid is not only one of
170
00:06:36,313 --> 00:06:38,958
{\an8}Stampede Wrestling's
top performers...
171
00:06:38,982 --> 00:06:40,626
{\an8}(cheering)
172
00:06:40,650 --> 00:06:42,336
(Japanese commentary)
173
00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,131
He's also catapulted himself
to super stardom
174
00:06:45,155 --> 00:06:46,882
on the other side of the globe.
175
00:06:46,906 --> 00:06:49,719
And some of the greatest
matches took place
176
00:06:49,743 --> 00:06:53,055
{\an8}in front of small
crowds in Japan.
177
00:06:53,079 --> 00:06:54,682
{\an8}My name is Mick Foley.
178
00:06:54,706 --> 00:06:57,351
{\an8}I wrestled from 1985
through 2000 and
179
00:06:57,375 --> 00:06:59,270
{\an8}made several comebacks.
180
00:06:59,294 --> 00:07:03,107
{\an8}There was a series of moves
that he did with Satoru Sayama,
181
00:07:03,131 --> 00:07:04,817
the original Tiger Mask.
182
00:07:04,841 --> 00:07:07,361
And, it looked like magic.
183
00:07:07,385 --> 00:07:09,989
It wasn't what they did...
184
00:07:10,013 --> 00:07:13,284
it was the speed
with which they did it,
185
00:07:13,308 --> 00:07:18,164
and the excellence of
execution that was amazing.
186
00:07:18,188 --> 00:07:22,168
I perused that on VHS tape
the way that most young men
187
00:07:22,192 --> 00:07:25,588
of my generation perused the
Phoebe Cates topless scene
188
00:07:25,612 --> 00:07:27,840
in Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
189
00:07:27,864 --> 00:07:30,259
I rewound it and
slow-motioned it
190
00:07:30,283 --> 00:07:33,429
so often that it just, it broke.
191
00:07:33,453 --> 00:07:34,805
Oh, wow!
192
00:07:34,829 --> 00:07:36,474
The in-ring product that
we see today
193
00:07:36,498 --> 00:07:38,309
starts with him and Tiger Mask.
194
00:07:38,333 --> 00:07:39,852
{\an8}♪
195
00:07:39,876 --> 00:07:40,936
{\an8}My name's Dave Meltzer.
196
00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:42,396
{\an8}I'm the editor of the Wrestling
Observer Newsletter.
197
00:07:42,420 --> 00:07:44,815
{\an8}I do podcasts at
wrestlingobserver.com.
198
00:07:44,839 --> 00:07:46,567
There is no Jushin Liger
199
00:07:46,591 --> 00:07:48,444
without Tiger Mask
and Dynamite Kid.
200
00:07:48,468 --> 00:07:50,363
You know, that opens the
door for Eddie Guerrero and
201
00:07:50,387 --> 00:07:53,032
Chris Benoit, and Owen Hart,
and all of these different guys
202
00:07:53,056 --> 00:07:55,618
who came after and
patterned themselves after him.
203
00:07:55,642 --> 00:07:57,286
I think he always had a
chip on his shoulder,
204
00:07:57,310 --> 00:07:58,663
as far as size and, you know,
205
00:07:58,687 --> 00:07:59,914
he wanted to be the best and,
206
00:07:59,938 --> 00:08:03,125
at his size, you had to over
perform because it was not
207
00:08:03,149 --> 00:08:05,127
what wrestling turned into
years later where
208
00:08:05,151 --> 00:08:06,796
a guy his size was acceptable.
209
00:08:06,820 --> 00:08:08,839
(indistinct commentary)
210
00:08:08,863 --> 00:08:10,675
If you were
looking for illusions,
211
00:08:10,699 --> 00:08:12,259
Tommy was a bunch of things,
212
00:08:12,283 --> 00:08:15,096
but a magician was
not one of them.
213
00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,098
If it looked good and
it looked like it hurt,
214
00:08:17,122 --> 00:08:19,100
it's probably because it did.
215
00:08:19,124 --> 00:08:20,685
It was amazing to see.
216
00:08:20,709 --> 00:08:21,894
But hindsight,
when you think about it,
217
00:08:21,918 --> 00:08:24,855
it's like, oh, yeah, he just
had no regard for his body.
218
00:08:24,879 --> 00:08:26,941
(Japanese commentary)
219
00:08:26,965 --> 00:08:29,443
(cheering)
220
00:08:29,467 --> 00:08:33,489
{\an8}In 1984, the Dynamite Kid's
fearlessness in the ring
221
00:08:33,513 --> 00:08:36,701
{\an8}pays off as he
signs with the WWF,
222
00:08:36,725 --> 00:08:38,953
{\an8}joining cousin Davey Boy Smith,
223
00:08:38,977 --> 00:08:42,665
{\an8}brother-in-law, Bret Hart,
and Jim "The Anvil" Niedhart.
224
00:08:42,689 --> 00:08:44,542
In order to compete at the top,
225
00:08:44,566 --> 00:08:47,545
Tom continues to push
the limits of his body.
226
00:08:47,569 --> 00:08:51,298
Tom's physical changes came
227
00:08:51,322 --> 00:08:53,843
once he went to WWE.
228
00:08:53,867 --> 00:08:57,596
You know, he'd been doing a
lot of steroids at the time.
229
00:08:57,620 --> 00:09:01,308
- The Dynamite Kid!
- (cheering)
230
00:09:01,332 --> 00:09:04,103
Physically, describe
Tommy as one big muscle.
231
00:09:04,127 --> 00:09:05,730
He was like Mighty Mouse.
232
00:09:05,754 --> 00:09:08,983
This guy had
striations in his butt.
233
00:09:09,007 --> 00:09:11,402
Muscles just
ripping out of his ass.
234
00:09:11,426 --> 00:09:15,489
{\an8}I mean, the guy was just
nothing but a pure muscle.
235
00:09:15,513 --> 00:09:16,741
{\an8}My name is Dan Spivey.
236
00:09:16,765 --> 00:09:18,576
{\an8}I'm a friend of Dynamite Kid's.
237
00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,411
{\an8}- (match bell)
- Danny Spivey, of course...
238
00:09:20,435 --> 00:09:22,705
{\an8}People will pay money to
come see a bunch of
239
00:09:22,729 --> 00:09:25,541
{\an8}muscular guys beat
on each other.
240
00:09:25,565 --> 00:09:27,543
Oh, yeah, we talked
about steroids and
241
00:09:27,567 --> 00:09:29,128
did steroids, you know.
242
00:09:29,152 --> 00:09:31,005
Pfft, everybody was taking them.
243
00:09:31,029 --> 00:09:32,757
{\an8}♪
244
00:09:32,781 --> 00:09:34,008
{\an8}My name's Gary Portz.
245
00:09:34,032 --> 00:09:37,845
{\an8}I came over to America
and started wrestling, 1978.
246
00:09:37,869 --> 00:09:40,598
{\an8}And, I met Dynamite Kid.
247
00:09:40,622 --> 00:09:42,808
{\an8}Scott McGee!
248
00:09:42,832 --> 00:09:44,351
{\an8}Here he comes... Oh!
249
00:09:44,375 --> 00:09:48,731
{\an8}We got along -
Danny, myself, and Dynamite -
250
00:09:48,755 --> 00:09:52,902
every day was Christmas.
Every day was like a party.
251
00:09:52,926 --> 00:09:54,987
People would come to one
room and give each other
252
00:09:55,011 --> 00:09:56,614
shots and stuff, and...
253
00:09:56,638 --> 00:10:00,075
throw the needles into the wall,
like a dart board.
254
00:10:00,099 --> 00:10:02,119
And leave 'em there.
255
00:10:02,143 --> 00:10:04,872
Me and Danny,
one time we walk up...
256
00:10:04,896 --> 00:10:07,333
I looked at a wall and
there must have been
257
00:10:07,357 --> 00:10:11,962
10 needles stuck in the wall.
258
00:10:11,986 --> 00:10:14,215
I mean, who does that?
259
00:10:14,239 --> 00:10:16,884
Dumbass wrestlers, you know.
260
00:10:16,908 --> 00:10:18,969
With his new muscular physique,
261
00:10:18,993 --> 00:10:21,722
Dynamite's explosiveness
in the ring makes him
262
00:10:21,746 --> 00:10:24,141
a breakout star in the WWF.
263
00:10:24,165 --> 00:10:28,229
By 1985, he and his tag team
partner Davey Both Smith
264
00:10:28,253 --> 00:10:30,648
are packing arenas
around the country.
265
00:10:30,672 --> 00:10:34,235
Here are the British Bulldogs!
266
00:10:34,259 --> 00:10:35,861
Davey Boy Smith was his cousin.
267
00:10:35,885 --> 00:10:37,571
You know, in many
ways emulated him,
268
00:10:37,595 --> 00:10:38,823
kind of same look.
269
00:10:38,847 --> 00:10:40,616
People went crazy
because they were...
270
00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,284
(cheering)
271
00:10:42,308 --> 00:10:43,203
{\an8}Because they were great.
272
00:10:43,227 --> 00:10:45,246
{\an8}Davey Boy and Dynamite!
273
00:10:45,270 --> 00:10:47,456
{\an8}A much harder, faster style
274
00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,459
{\an8}than almost
everybody else there.
275
00:10:50,483 --> 00:10:52,878
We all wanted to
be the Bulldogs.
276
00:10:52,902 --> 00:10:54,713
They were gods of wrestling.
277
00:10:54,737 --> 00:10:57,508
I remember Dynamite
doing that fast suplex.
278
00:10:57,532 --> 00:10:58,717
Snap suplex!
279
00:10:58,741 --> 00:11:00,302
And he'd do like,
boom, you were gone.
280
00:11:00,326 --> 00:11:02,680
{\an8}Boy, before you knew it.
281
00:11:02,704 --> 00:11:04,515
{\an8}My name is Jacques Rougeau.
282
00:11:04,539 --> 00:11:07,017
{\an8}For 41 years, I was a
professional wrestler.
283
00:11:07,041 --> 00:11:09,186
{\an8}I was the Fabulous
Rougeau Brothers
284
00:11:09,210 --> 00:11:10,187
with my brother, Raymond.
285
00:11:10,211 --> 00:11:12,523
- The Rougeau Brothers.
- Fabulous Rougeau Brothers.
286
00:11:12,547 --> 00:11:14,441
The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers.
287
00:11:14,465 --> 00:11:17,278
I remember Dynamite Kid one
night just walking in the
288
00:11:17,302 --> 00:11:20,656
dressing room with a
needle in his butt.
289
00:11:20,680 --> 00:11:22,825
Needle's sticking,
going like this and...
290
00:11:22,849 --> 00:11:24,243
and he'd go, (shouting)
291
00:11:24,267 --> 00:11:26,537
"I'm gonna have a good
ing match tonight!"
292
00:11:26,561 --> 00:11:28,706
And you know,
he was like a beast.
293
00:11:28,730 --> 00:11:31,417
And the... so,
I was afraid of him.
294
00:11:31,441 --> 00:11:32,418
(laughs)
295
00:11:32,442 --> 00:11:34,378
{\an8}I was afraid of
those kind of guys.
296
00:11:34,402 --> 00:11:36,171
{\an8}Look out!
297
00:11:36,195 --> 00:11:39,508
{\an8}After years of self-sacrifice
and physical strain,
298
00:11:39,532 --> 00:11:42,511
Tom finally earns a
championship victory with
299
00:11:42,535 --> 00:11:45,139
Davey Boy at WrestleMania II.
300
00:11:45,163 --> 00:11:48,851
Tag team champions!
The British Bulldogs!
301
00:11:48,875 --> 00:11:51,145
Now at the top of
the pecking order,
302
00:11:51,169 --> 00:11:54,189
Tom is hell-bent on putting
up and coming wrestlers
303
00:11:54,213 --> 00:11:58,027
through the same hard knocks
he was once forced to endure.
304
00:11:58,051 --> 00:11:59,987
{\an8}♪
305
00:12:00,011 --> 00:12:02,948
{\an8}He was a product of
the Snake Pit in Wigan.
306
00:12:02,972 --> 00:12:05,159
Guys who really knew how
to hurt you in a hurry.
307
00:12:05,183 --> 00:12:06,869
And, I don't know for a fact,
308
00:12:06,893 --> 00:12:10,122
but I'm assuming that Tommy
had the crap beat out of him.
309
00:12:10,146 --> 00:12:13,542
And, I think it created in him
a resiliency and also
310
00:12:13,566 --> 00:12:15,628
maybe a little bit of
bitterness to people who
311
00:12:15,652 --> 00:12:18,923
hadn't endured what he
had to make it through.
312
00:12:18,947 --> 00:12:21,634
And, I found that out firsthand.
313
00:12:21,658 --> 00:12:23,886
{\an8}From Bloomington, Indiana...
314
00:12:23,910 --> 00:12:25,971
{\an8}I showed up in
Providence, Rhode Island,
315
00:12:25,995 --> 00:12:29,099
{\an8}with all of one
match to my credit.
316
00:12:29,123 --> 00:12:32,227
Jack Foley!
317
00:12:32,251 --> 00:12:35,272
It's me and Les Thornton
against The British Bulldogs.
318
00:12:35,296 --> 00:12:36,649
(cheering)
319
00:12:36,673 --> 00:12:39,276
I was excited.
I'm in the ring with, you know,
320
00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:41,111
one of my heroes, Tommy.
321
00:12:41,135 --> 00:12:42,613
[commentary]
Tremendous affection!
322
00:12:42,637 --> 00:12:47,201
I came in and I got a
very, very quick education.
323
00:12:47,225 --> 00:12:49,411
Dynamite starts
shaking the ropes
324
00:12:49,435 --> 00:12:51,288
like he couldn't wait to get in.
325
00:12:51,312 --> 00:12:54,708
And when he was tagged in,
he sent me into the ropes,
326
00:12:54,732 --> 00:12:56,877
and he didn't so much
clothesline me as
327
00:12:56,901 --> 00:13:00,130
he clubbed me with
his bicep, in the jaw.
328
00:13:00,154 --> 00:13:02,549
Oh, wow! Whoa.
329
00:13:02,573 --> 00:13:07,721
And that was the last time I
ate solid food for 3 weeks.
330
00:13:07,745 --> 00:13:08,931
I didn't know it at the time,
331
00:13:08,955 --> 00:13:11,475
but he had dislocated my jaw.
332
00:13:11,499 --> 00:13:15,437
Almost lost my career
because of that.
333
00:13:15,461 --> 00:13:17,731
There were no hard feelings.
I said,
334
00:13:17,755 --> 00:13:19,483
"It was such an honour to
be in there with you guys."
335
00:13:19,507 --> 00:13:21,777
Shook their hands, ah...
336
00:13:21,801 --> 00:13:24,863
went back to my hotel room
and threw up in the toilet.
337
00:13:24,887 --> 00:13:29,201
Tom's appetite for violence
soon spreads beyond the ring
338
00:13:29,225 --> 00:13:32,746
into the locker room, and
eventually into his home life,
339
00:13:32,770 --> 00:13:36,291
setting off a chain of events
that shatters his career,
340
00:13:36,315 --> 00:13:39,378
his marriage,
and ultimately, his legacy.
341
00:13:39,402 --> 00:13:41,738
♪
342
00:13:44,574 --> 00:13:50,014
{\an8}So, this is the
matching cape and vest...
343
00:13:50,038 --> 00:13:52,182
{\an8}my dad wore in WWF...
344
00:13:52,206 --> 00:13:55,436
{\an8}in the British
Bulldogs tag team.
345
00:13:55,460 --> 00:13:56,937
It has his name on the inside.
346
00:13:56,961 --> 00:13:59,356
Well, it says, "Kid".
347
00:13:59,380 --> 00:14:01,108
And these were the
original British Bulldogs
348
00:14:01,132 --> 00:14:03,110
from when I was little.
349
00:14:03,134 --> 00:14:04,570
I used to play
Barbies with those.
350
00:14:04,594 --> 00:14:06,447
Yeah, these would
be our Ken dolls.
351
00:14:06,471 --> 00:14:11,243
From England,
The British Bulldogs!
352
00:14:11,267 --> 00:14:13,787
I really loved the Bulldogs.
353
00:14:13,811 --> 00:14:18,333
{\an8}But, I saw a few
things happen that...
354
00:14:18,357 --> 00:14:21,336
{\an8}Changed my opinion.
355
00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:22,671
{\an8}He was a ribber.
356
00:14:22,695 --> 00:14:25,424
{\an8}He loved giving
people a hard time,
357
00:14:25,448 --> 00:14:26,842
{\an8}you know, jokingly.
358
00:14:26,866 --> 00:14:29,303
{\an8}What some people
wouldn't think was jokingly.
359
00:14:29,327 --> 00:14:32,181
{\an8}Some of the stuff was
pretty stiff that he did.
360
00:14:32,205 --> 00:14:34,683
{\an8}He used to love
to Halcion people.
361
00:14:34,707 --> 00:14:36,310
{\an8}One time, he...
362
00:14:36,334 --> 00:14:40,522
{\an8}he Halcion'd my mother.
363
00:14:40,546 --> 00:14:43,901
Putting a sleeping
drug into their drinks.
364
00:14:43,925 --> 00:14:47,905
There was a guy
called Mitch... Snow.
365
00:14:47,929 --> 00:14:50,032
It's our first
look at Mitch Snow.
366
00:14:50,056 --> 00:14:51,950
And the kid had a
big mouth on him.
367
00:14:51,974 --> 00:14:53,452
He'd just talk shit.
368
00:14:53,476 --> 00:14:56,330
So, Tommy gave him
the Halcion gimmick.
369
00:14:56,354 --> 00:15:00,125
♪
370
00:15:00,149 --> 00:15:05,297
Dynamite and Davey Boy
went on the balcony
371
00:15:05,321 --> 00:15:07,466
to get into his room.
372
00:15:07,490 --> 00:15:09,635
♪
373
00:15:09,659 --> 00:15:13,764
And they sh...
crapped in his bag.
374
00:15:13,788 --> 00:15:17,059
Shaved his eyebrows
and shaved his head.
375
00:15:17,083 --> 00:15:20,104
The kid went back to his
home in South Carolina
376
00:15:20,128 --> 00:15:22,564
somewhere because he
was in fear of his life.
377
00:15:22,588 --> 00:15:25,609
I think he almost had a nervous
breakdown or something.
378
00:15:25,633 --> 00:15:27,903
It's supposed to be a joke and
379
00:15:27,927 --> 00:15:29,738
it's supposed to
make people laugh.
380
00:15:29,762 --> 00:15:32,157
Okay, it's funny now,
but it's not funny
381
00:15:32,181 --> 00:15:33,700
when you're 23 days on the road.
382
00:15:33,724 --> 00:15:35,828
It's not funny when you lost
your bags earlier that week.
383
00:15:35,852 --> 00:15:38,038
It's not funny when you haven't
seen your kid in 20 days.
384
00:15:38,062 --> 00:15:41,583
It's not funny, it's not easy.
385
00:15:41,607 --> 00:15:44,044
{\an8}Well, he wasn't like that
when I first started
386
00:15:44,068 --> 00:15:45,087
{\an8}going out with him.
387
00:15:45,111 --> 00:15:47,631
{\an8}Or, in our first 5 years
in our marriage.
388
00:15:47,655 --> 00:15:50,175
There was none of
that sadistic behaviour.
389
00:15:50,199 --> 00:15:53,470
{\an8}It started happening
after his back operation.
390
00:15:53,494 --> 00:15:57,224
{\an8}During a non-televised
match in 1986,
391
00:15:57,248 --> 00:15:59,852
{\an8}Dynamite does a seemingly
harmless drop down
392
00:15:59,876 --> 00:16:01,270
{\an8}with his opponent.
393
00:16:01,294 --> 00:16:04,064
{\an8}After years of being
pushed past its limits,
394
00:16:04,088 --> 00:16:07,484
{\an8}Dynamite's body
finally breaks down.
395
00:16:07,508 --> 00:16:10,112
{\an8}Tom is rushed to the
hospital with a severe
396
00:16:10,136 --> 00:16:14,575
{\an8}back injury requiring
immediate emergency surgery.
397
00:16:14,599 --> 00:16:15,993
{\an8}When they opened him up,
398
00:16:16,017 --> 00:16:19,163
his 4th and 5th lumbar
was just shredded.
399
00:16:19,187 --> 00:16:23,524
And his, his discs were all
tangled in his spinal cord.
400
00:16:25,735 --> 00:16:27,379
Two discs.
401
00:16:27,403 --> 00:16:29,256
He wasn't supposed
to work anymore,
402
00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,300
you know, after the surgery.
403
00:16:31,324 --> 00:16:33,886
{\an8}And I think he was back in
the ring two weeks later.
404
00:16:33,910 --> 00:16:37,055
{\an8}Vince, you know, needed to
take the titles off of him.
405
00:16:37,079 --> 00:16:39,683
He could not wrestle.
406
00:16:39,707 --> 00:16:43,145
Davey carried him to the ring -
this is off camera...
407
00:16:43,169 --> 00:16:46,315
the television audience
never saw this.
408
00:16:46,339 --> 00:16:48,233
I think he gets hit by
the megaphone or something,
409
00:16:48,257 --> 00:16:49,610
{\an8}he got taken out right away.
410
00:16:49,634 --> 00:16:51,320
{\an8}Jimmy Hart on the
other side of the ring,
411
00:16:51,344 --> 00:16:53,864
{\an8}just striking
Dynamite Kid from behind!
412
00:16:53,888 --> 00:16:55,199
Davey worked the match,
got pinned,
413
00:16:55,223 --> 00:16:56,742
they got the belts off of 'em.
414
00:16:56,766 --> 00:16:58,827
- No, no, no!
- 1, 2, 3!
415
00:16:58,851 --> 00:17:00,412
- (cheering)
- (match bell)
416
00:17:00,436 --> 00:17:03,081
New tag team champions!
417
00:17:03,105 --> 00:17:05,542
He got carried back to my car.
418
00:17:05,566 --> 00:17:08,545
When he got to my house,
he went back in the wheelchair.
419
00:17:08,569 --> 00:17:12,132
And, stayed with me
for a couple of days.
420
00:17:12,156 --> 00:17:15,802
He'd sleep on the floor, not
because I didn't have a bed,
421
00:17:15,826 --> 00:17:19,890
but because that was the
most comfortable place for him.
422
00:17:19,914 --> 00:17:23,769
My wife used to hear him crying,
423
00:17:23,793 --> 00:17:26,688
crying, in the
middle of the night.
424
00:17:26,712 --> 00:17:29,274
It was like a, a whimper.
425
00:17:29,298 --> 00:17:31,235
♪
426
00:17:31,259 --> 00:17:34,988
I can't imagine how
much pain he was in.
427
00:17:35,012 --> 00:17:38,784
{\an8}Contrary to doctor's orders,
Dynamite rushes a return to
428
00:17:38,808 --> 00:17:42,037
{\an8}the ring just months
after the surgery.
429
00:17:42,061 --> 00:17:45,582
{\an8}Wrestling in constant agony,
his temper begins to spiral
430
00:17:45,606 --> 00:17:48,609
{\an8}out of control,
creating chaos at home.
431
00:18:00,913 --> 00:18:04,726
Yeah.
432
00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:06,561
I seen it.
433
00:18:06,585 --> 00:18:08,272
♪
434
00:18:08,296 --> 00:18:10,148
There was one night when
he was taking me out
435
00:18:10,172 --> 00:18:11,608
to show me a nice time.
436
00:18:11,632 --> 00:18:13,360
I didn't want to drink alcohol,
437
00:18:13,384 --> 00:18:15,654
so instead of saying,
"I'm not drinking,"
438
00:18:15,678 --> 00:18:18,657
because that would have
been like a dis to Tom,
439
00:18:18,681 --> 00:18:21,285
I ordered a tonic water and
put lemon in it and
440
00:18:21,309 --> 00:18:23,078
he'll think it's a vodka tonic.
441
00:18:23,102 --> 00:18:24,913
He grabbed my drink
and he drank it,
442
00:18:24,937 --> 00:18:27,457
and he just spit it out,
like as if it was poison.
443
00:18:27,481 --> 00:18:29,626
He said,
"What the... is this?"
444
00:18:29,650 --> 00:18:31,670
And I was like,
"It's tonic water."
445
00:18:31,694 --> 00:18:33,547
And he was like, "Tonic water!
446
00:18:33,571 --> 00:18:35,757
How come you're
drinking tonic water!"
447
00:18:35,781 --> 00:18:39,428
He just wouldn't let it go.
Like, he was so mad.
448
00:18:39,452 --> 00:18:40,762
And then, all the way home,
449
00:18:40,786 --> 00:18:42,639
he was playing
chicken on the road.
450
00:18:42,663 --> 00:18:44,725
A car would be coming
and he'd act like
451
00:18:44,749 --> 00:18:46,727
he's gonna hit the car.
And he'd,
452
00:18:46,751 --> 00:18:48,312
"How could you
ing lie to me?"
453
00:18:48,336 --> 00:18:49,313
And I was like, "Sorry.
454
00:18:49,337 --> 00:18:50,814
I just didn't
want to like drink.
455
00:18:50,838 --> 00:18:52,566
What's the big deal?"
456
00:18:52,590 --> 00:18:55,569
When we got home, I'm just
about to go to sleep and
457
00:18:55,593 --> 00:18:57,612
he's like, "...ing get up!"
458
00:18:57,636 --> 00:18:59,698
And I was like,
"What, what?"
459
00:18:59,722 --> 00:19:01,616
He's like, "Get up, get up!"
460
00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:03,827
♪
461
00:19:03,851 --> 00:19:08,165
Then he shoved me in a closet.
462
00:19:08,189 --> 00:19:09,875
And he goes,
"You ...ing stay in there,
463
00:19:09,899 --> 00:19:12,336
you little yard dog."
464
00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:14,838
I just, I slept on
the floor in there.
465
00:19:14,862 --> 00:19:17,382
And I was glad that
he wasn't bugging me.
466
00:19:17,406 --> 00:19:21,011
I was like,
I'll sleep in the closet.
467
00:19:21,035 --> 00:19:25,349
Anyway, I find out I'm
pregnant with our son.
468
00:19:25,373 --> 00:19:27,893
So, after Marek
was born, he was,
469
00:19:27,917 --> 00:19:31,897
you know, going to great
lengths for what he did
470
00:19:31,921 --> 00:19:34,024
in the closet incident.
471
00:19:34,048 --> 00:19:36,777
And Marek was such
a difficult child.
472
00:19:36,801 --> 00:19:39,488
Like, he was just
really high maintenance.
473
00:19:39,512 --> 00:19:41,948
But Tom was so patient with him.
474
00:19:41,972 --> 00:19:46,119
So, I think he really wanted
to make up for that with Marek.
475
00:19:46,143 --> 00:19:48,872
But, you know, that didn't last.
476
00:19:48,896 --> 00:19:51,291
The Dynamite Kid's
home and work life
477
00:19:51,315 --> 00:19:53,543
have become
increasingly volatile.
478
00:19:53,567 --> 00:19:56,213
After being forced to
surrender the championship,
479
00:19:56,237 --> 00:19:59,758
Tom takes out his rage on
another rising tag team
480
00:19:59,782 --> 00:20:01,468
in the WWF.
481
00:20:01,492 --> 00:20:03,512
{\an8}Vince called the
Bulldogs and the Rougeaus.
482
00:20:03,536 --> 00:20:06,515
{\an8}And he said, "Guys, I'd like
to go ahead and have a great
483
00:20:06,539 --> 00:20:07,974
{\an8}match with you 4 guys
and I'd like to have
484
00:20:07,998 --> 00:20:09,726
{\an8}a 20 minute Broadway."
485
00:20:09,750 --> 00:20:12,687
- (match bell)
- The time limit has expired.
486
00:20:12,711 --> 00:20:16,191
This contest is ruled a draw.
487
00:20:16,215 --> 00:20:17,567
It was a draw.
488
00:20:17,591 --> 00:20:19,611
So, for me, that was
a victory because,
489
00:20:19,635 --> 00:20:21,446
you know, it's like putting us
in the same league as them,
490
00:20:21,470 --> 00:20:23,907
which we were not.
491
00:20:23,931 --> 00:20:25,575
And, lord knows,
after that match,
492
00:20:25,599 --> 00:20:28,203
I was so happy and
everything was good, and...
493
00:20:28,227 --> 00:20:30,497
I never, I never thought
494
00:20:30,521 --> 00:20:32,398
I'd encounter problems
with the Bulldogs.
495
00:20:38,237 --> 00:20:40,090
{\an8}Oh, the Rougeau thing?
I'm tired of it.
496
00:20:40,114 --> 00:20:42,509
I don't want to
hear about it anymore.
497
00:20:42,533 --> 00:20:47,180
Like, is that the only thing
that ever happened to him?
498
00:20:47,204 --> 00:20:50,016
When the Rougeaus came to WWF,
499
00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,894
they seemed to have
this prestige right away.
500
00:20:52,918 --> 00:20:54,521
Tom had the old school way.
501
00:20:54,545 --> 00:20:57,774
You earn your right
to have privilege.
502
00:20:57,798 --> 00:21:00,735
[Jacques] I've always had an
arrogance in me that
503
00:21:00,759 --> 00:21:02,863
made me succeed in the business.
504
00:21:02,887 --> 00:21:05,323
I never was a mean person,
but I was a person
505
00:21:05,347 --> 00:21:07,492
who talked a lot
and joked a lot,
506
00:21:07,516 --> 00:21:09,703
and not everybody liked
to hear jokes, you know.
507
00:21:09,727 --> 00:21:12,164
And that may not have
helped my cause either.
508
00:21:12,188 --> 00:21:15,167
♪
509
00:21:15,191 --> 00:21:17,210
And I came in, I walked
in the dressing room.
510
00:21:17,234 --> 00:21:19,838
And Perfect was sitting
completely at the other end
511
00:21:19,862 --> 00:21:23,133
of the dressing room,
against the wall.
512
00:21:23,157 --> 00:21:24,843
As soon as I walked in,
"Hey, Jacques, Jacques,
513
00:21:24,867 --> 00:21:26,970
let's play cards!"
514
00:21:26,994 --> 00:21:30,599
And he knew he got me
because I'm a card player.
515
00:21:30,623 --> 00:21:34,978
Next thing you know,
it's like, pow!
516
00:21:35,002 --> 00:21:39,649
And, I fell down.
And then I got back up and
517
00:21:39,673 --> 00:21:43,487
then he really punched
me in the face.
518
00:21:43,511 --> 00:21:47,949
Then he ended up
kicking me in the face.
519
00:21:47,973 --> 00:21:50,202
I was swollen up
like the Elephant Man.
520
00:21:50,226 --> 00:21:54,998
♪
521
00:21:55,022 --> 00:21:56,791
Made him look bad in
front of the guys,
522
00:21:56,815 --> 00:21:59,419
{\an8}to the point where he
told Mr. McMahon...
523
00:21:59,443 --> 00:22:00,545
{\an8}...after the fact.
524
00:22:00,569 --> 00:22:02,756
{\an8}Like, he could no longer
shave because
525
00:22:02,780 --> 00:22:04,799
{\an8}he couldn't look himself
in the mirror.
526
00:22:04,823 --> 00:22:06,510
I was in bad shape, mentally,
527
00:22:06,534 --> 00:22:08,011
much more than physically.
528
00:22:08,035 --> 00:22:09,679
I didn't want to
do what was coming.
529
00:22:09,703 --> 00:22:10,829
I just knew I had to.
530
00:22:13,123 --> 00:22:14,476
Get revenge.
531
00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:16,669
♪
532
00:22:20,089 --> 00:22:23,568
In the days following Tom's
brutal locker room assault,
533
00:22:23,592 --> 00:22:27,072
Jacques Rougeau anxiously
plans his retaliation.
534
00:22:27,096 --> 00:22:29,407
{\an8}I had lost 10 pounds
during that week,
535
00:22:29,431 --> 00:22:30,700
{\an8}since Wednesday to Sunday,
536
00:22:30,724 --> 00:22:31,868
{\an8}because I couldn't eat anymore.
537
00:22:31,892 --> 00:22:33,036
{\an8}I was throwing up every time.
538
00:22:33,060 --> 00:22:34,663
{\an8}I think I had to fight.
539
00:22:34,687 --> 00:22:37,541
I... I wasn't sleeping well.
540
00:22:37,565 --> 00:22:39,459
I was afraid of what was coming.
541
00:22:39,483 --> 00:22:42,337
Jacques was not a tough
street fighter or anything.
542
00:22:42,361 --> 00:22:46,132
{\an8}He just felt that he needed
to get his respect back.
543
00:22:46,156 --> 00:22:47,676
And you know what
my father said?
544
00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:50,720
"Before going to the
building tomorrow,
545
00:22:50,744 --> 00:22:52,389
go to the bank.
546
00:22:52,413 --> 00:22:56,643
And get yourself a
roll of quarters."
547
00:22:56,667 --> 00:22:59,479
Just hours before a
television taping,
548
00:22:59,503 --> 00:23:02,440
Jacques lies in wait for
Dynamite's arrival
549
00:23:02,464 --> 00:23:03,900
at the arena.
550
00:23:03,924 --> 00:23:06,987
I saw that curtain open.
551
00:23:07,011 --> 00:23:10,282
And I know Dynamite's coming.
552
00:23:10,306 --> 00:23:11,533
For the first time in a week,
553
00:23:11,557 --> 00:23:13,535
I looked at him in the eyes.
554
00:23:13,559 --> 00:23:16,663
And I said,
"Hey, how ya doing?"
555
00:23:16,687 --> 00:23:19,148
He had a coffee in
his hand and he went...
556
00:23:22,610 --> 00:23:25,046
And I went...
557
00:23:25,070 --> 00:23:27,048
Pow!
558
00:23:27,072 --> 00:23:28,466
You know when you're young
and you see those
559
00:23:28,490 --> 00:23:32,929
monster movies, where the
blood is throwing out,
560
00:23:32,953 --> 00:23:37,517
like a river? It's true.
561
00:23:37,541 --> 00:23:43,064
4 teeth came out.
562
00:23:43,088 --> 00:23:45,233
And then I remember
Dynamite Kid,
563
00:23:45,257 --> 00:23:47,819
(muffled speaking)
"I'm gonna... you!
564
00:23:47,843 --> 00:23:49,779
I m gonna... you up!"
565
00:23:49,803 --> 00:23:52,616
Then I said, "The next time
I'm gonna put you
566
00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,201
in a ...ing wheelchair!"
567
00:23:55,225 --> 00:23:59,414
♪
568
00:23:59,438 --> 00:24:01,750
{\an8}Was it a roll of quarters?
I don't think so.
569
00:24:01,774 --> 00:24:04,127
{\an8}I think it was a
pair of brass knuckles.
570
00:24:04,151 --> 00:24:07,464
{\an8}I just didn't think
what Tom had done
571
00:24:07,488 --> 00:24:10,800
{\an8}deserved getting his
teeth knocked out.
572
00:24:10,824 --> 00:24:12,761
{\an8}His reputation had been damaged.
573
00:24:12,785 --> 00:24:15,430
{\an8}I mean, here you got the guy
that's tougher than nails
574
00:24:15,454 --> 00:24:18,683
{\an8}get physically abused like that.
575
00:24:18,707 --> 00:24:21,978
Tommy couldn't handle it.
It bothered Tommy.
576
00:24:22,002 --> 00:24:24,189
You know, he wanted to
beat the shit out of him,
577
00:24:24,213 --> 00:24:27,067
and then some, probably.
578
00:24:27,091 --> 00:24:30,320
Tom's plan for
revenge comes to a halt.
579
00:24:30,344 --> 00:24:31,780
Well, there's Dino!
580
00:24:31,804 --> 00:24:34,616
As Dino Bravo, a wrestler
with alleged ties to
581
00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:39,412
organized crime gives
him a cautionary warning.
582
00:24:39,436 --> 00:24:44,000
Tom bought a 9 mm
handgun with a clip for me.
583
00:24:44,024 --> 00:24:46,127
I was like, "I don't
want that gun."
584
00:24:46,151 --> 00:24:47,879
Like, I was so scared of it.
585
00:24:47,903 --> 00:24:50,256
He goes, "Look, I don't
want to ...in' scare you.
586
00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,635
I talked to Dino Bravo," and
he said he saw an envelope
587
00:24:53,659 --> 00:24:57,514
with Tom's name, our address,
588
00:24:57,538 --> 00:25:00,350
and inside of it had a
picture of our house,
589
00:25:00,374 --> 00:25:03,937
me and the kids, like,
if there's any retaliation,
590
00:25:03,961 --> 00:25:08,858
like, anything, your family's
gonna be dead.
591
00:25:08,882 --> 00:25:11,236
♪
592
00:25:11,260 --> 00:25:15,407
We sold our house 'cause we
were worried that the mafia,
593
00:25:15,431 --> 00:25:18,243
they knew where we
lived and everything.
594
00:25:18,267 --> 00:25:19,994
Jacques got his respect back.
595
00:25:20,018 --> 00:25:22,163
Dynamite never was allowed
to get his respect back,
596
00:25:22,187 --> 00:25:24,249
I suppose, you could say.
597
00:25:24,273 --> 00:25:28,152
His life was never the same.
He was never the same guy.
598
00:25:39,788 --> 00:25:42,267
That is funny.
599
00:25:42,291 --> 00:25:44,269
But there's something
I gotta tell you guys.
600
00:25:44,293 --> 00:25:46,980
I forgot about that.
Now you're bringing it back.
601
00:25:47,004 --> 00:25:49,858
♪
602
00:25:49,882 --> 00:25:53,695
I didn't like Dino Bravo,
but I knew he was a stooge.
603
00:25:53,719 --> 00:25:55,697
I knew he was a
stooge for the Bulldogs.
604
00:25:55,721 --> 00:25:57,115
That whatever I said to him,
605
00:25:57,139 --> 00:25:59,325
he was gonna bring it
back to the Bulldogs.
606
00:25:59,349 --> 00:26:02,620
I took a piece of paper
and I wrote a name down.
607
00:26:02,644 --> 00:26:04,205
I wrote a fictive name...
608
00:26:04,229 --> 00:26:08,835
an invented name.
And I told Dino, I said...
609
00:26:08,859 --> 00:26:10,420
I said, "You see this name here?
610
00:26:10,444 --> 00:26:12,213
I gotta call him
every night."
611
00:26:12,237 --> 00:26:15,008
And I said, "If I
don't call him one night,
612
00:26:15,032 --> 00:26:18,678
things will be
taken care of."
613
00:26:18,702 --> 00:26:21,598
And I'm glad to
hear that it worked.
614
00:26:21,622 --> 00:26:26,186
{\an8}♪
615
00:26:26,210 --> 00:26:29,856
Finding out about the mafia
possibly coming to kill
616
00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,776
his wife, that really
made him not want to be
617
00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:36,321
a part of that company anymore.
618
00:26:36,345 --> 00:26:40,575
At the 1988 Survivor Series
Pay Per View event,
619
00:26:40,599 --> 00:26:43,953
Tom decides to end
his career in the WWF.
620
00:26:43,977 --> 00:26:46,831
I don't think Dynamite
was ever happy in WWF.
621
00:26:46,855 --> 00:26:48,625
He liked the respect
he had in Japan,
622
00:26:48,649 --> 00:26:50,794
so it was like, we can
cut a deal in Japan,
623
00:26:50,818 --> 00:26:52,670
we can get away from this thing.
624
00:26:52,694 --> 00:26:54,339
(Japanese commentary)
625
00:26:54,363 --> 00:26:57,884
{\an8}Tommy was really hurting on
that tour in Japan.
626
00:26:57,908 --> 00:27:00,637
{\an8}But, you would not have
known it if you were a fan
627
00:27:00,661 --> 00:27:03,681
because he was
still giving 100%.
628
00:27:03,705 --> 00:27:06,184
(cheering)
629
00:27:06,208 --> 00:27:11,314
Yeah, he started to say his,
his arm was "bothering him".
630
00:27:11,338 --> 00:27:13,983
But later I found out
his ligaments
631
00:27:14,007 --> 00:27:16,820
weren't even on the bone.
632
00:27:16,844 --> 00:27:19,030
He got his shoulder operated on.
633
00:27:19,054 --> 00:27:21,616
It was terrible.
634
00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,911
About a week later,
he was upset with me
635
00:27:24,935 --> 00:27:27,539
'cause my girlfriend came
over and he was like,
636
00:27:27,563 --> 00:27:29,499
"You're just ...ing
talking to Sandra.
637
00:27:29,523 --> 00:27:31,292
You don't even
ing care about me."
638
00:27:31,316 --> 00:27:35,004
And I was like,
"Yes, I do, Tom."
639
00:27:35,028 --> 00:27:37,966
He starts going...
640
00:27:37,990 --> 00:27:41,094
He takes his supporting
arm band thing off.
641
00:27:41,118 --> 00:27:43,888
I was like, "Stop it!"
And he's like...
642
00:27:43,912 --> 00:27:47,141
I was like, "Stop it!"
643
00:27:47,165 --> 00:27:50,061
All the shit we've been
through and you're like
644
00:27:50,085 --> 00:27:55,149
trying to set us back
and wreck your arm?
645
00:27:55,173 --> 00:27:58,361
I didn't understand,
like, what the hell?
646
00:27:58,385 --> 00:28:03,557
♪
647
00:28:07,769 --> 00:28:10,790
With countless injuries
from years of self-inflicted
648
00:28:10,814 --> 00:28:13,543
abuse in the ring,
Tom's best days
649
00:28:13,567 --> 00:28:14,919
are now behind him.
650
00:28:14,943 --> 00:28:17,547
{\an8}Tom was slipping
deeper and deeper,
651
00:28:17,571 --> 00:28:21,426
{\an8}I'd say,
into pills and drinking.
652
00:28:21,450 --> 00:28:25,305
This one night, he invited me
to come and watch wrestling.
653
00:28:25,329 --> 00:28:28,141
♪
654
00:28:28,165 --> 00:28:33,021
It was hours watching him
and Tiger Mask.
655
00:28:33,045 --> 00:28:36,691
He said, "Watch this.
Took a 'F' of a bump."
656
00:28:36,715 --> 00:28:38,192
(cheering)
657
00:28:38,216 --> 00:28:40,820
Just him and Tiger Mask,
all night long.
658
00:28:40,844 --> 00:28:42,488
(cheering)
659
00:28:42,512 --> 00:28:44,741
That's my last memory of Tom,
660
00:28:44,765 --> 00:28:48,161
being with him and watching...
661
00:28:48,185 --> 00:28:51,539
the end of greatness.
662
00:28:51,563 --> 00:28:56,109
(Japanese commentary
& crowd chanting)
663
00:29:02,824 --> 00:29:06,471
{\an8}Well, after that, he hit
quite a few other people.
664
00:29:06,495 --> 00:29:08,514
{\an8}You know, he...
665
00:29:08,538 --> 00:29:10,767
{\an8}they broke a few jaws.
666
00:29:10,791 --> 00:29:12,644
♪
667
00:29:12,668 --> 00:29:14,520
It was New Year's Eve.
668
00:29:14,544 --> 00:29:17,190
It was about 10 o'clock, and
Tom came in with his brother
669
00:29:17,214 --> 00:29:22,153
and couple of friends
that he went out with.
670
00:29:22,177 --> 00:29:24,822
And he had this
white sweatshirt on,
671
00:29:24,846 --> 00:29:27,075
and it was just full of blood.
672
00:29:27,099 --> 00:29:30,536
{\an8}And his cheek is like cut,
and it's just the flap,
673
00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:33,289
{\an8}it's just open.
Like, you see his cheekbone.
674
00:29:33,313 --> 00:29:35,708
{\an8}And he's got his sunglasses on.
675
00:29:35,732 --> 00:29:38,962
{\an8}Like, Bronwyne's crying,
"Daddy, daddy, what happened?"
676
00:29:38,986 --> 00:29:40,838
{\an8}I remember, I was scared.
677
00:29:40,862 --> 00:29:42,715
{\an8}I was like, "What
happened to daddy?"
678
00:29:42,739 --> 00:29:45,843
He's like, "I ...ing
fell down, little girl.
679
00:29:45,867 --> 00:29:48,012
Daddy's gonna be okay."
680
00:29:48,036 --> 00:29:50,223
Bronwyne never saw this stuff,
681
00:29:50,247 --> 00:29:53,184
but she was seeing it.
And I was like, oh, my god.
682
00:29:53,208 --> 00:29:54,978
I was feeling
like such a failure,
683
00:29:55,002 --> 00:29:56,521
like as a, as a mother.
684
00:29:56,545 --> 00:29:58,106
And now I'm pregnant and
I'm gonna bring
685
00:29:58,130 --> 00:30:00,441
another child into
this horrible life.
686
00:30:00,465 --> 00:30:02,485
I just couldn't take it anymore.
687
00:30:02,509 --> 00:30:05,780
And that's when I got,
like, suicidal,
688
00:30:05,804 --> 00:30:07,407
and I'm walking
around going like,
689
00:30:07,431 --> 00:30:09,283
I just can't live another...
690
00:30:09,307 --> 00:30:11,744
fricking minute like this.
691
00:30:11,768 --> 00:30:15,540
♪
692
00:30:15,564 --> 00:30:18,584
And, I finally
deiced that was it.
693
00:30:18,608 --> 00:30:22,588
And I gave Tom a
one-way ticket to England.
694
00:30:22,612 --> 00:30:25,425
And I said, "Tom, I would
like you to leave now.
695
00:30:25,449 --> 00:30:29,470
Take whatever you
need and just go."
696
00:30:29,494 --> 00:30:33,516
And then, that's when
the shit went down.
697
00:30:33,540 --> 00:30:38,563
And my dad dragged my mom by
the hair across the floor.
698
00:30:38,587 --> 00:30:45,111
♪
699
00:30:45,135 --> 00:30:47,447
He lost his mind.
He was like,
700
00:30:47,471 --> 00:30:51,159
he had me in some kind of
hold on my jaw, my mouth.
701
00:30:51,183 --> 00:30:53,036
He let me go and I was like...
702
00:30:53,060 --> 00:30:56,164
(crack)
I put my jaw back.
703
00:30:56,188 --> 00:30:57,498
The kids were there.
704
00:30:57,522 --> 00:30:59,208
They have never seen
anything like this.
705
00:30:59,232 --> 00:31:00,251
And they were crying.
706
00:31:00,275 --> 00:31:01,252
I'm trying to act like,
you know,
707
00:31:01,276 --> 00:31:03,421
Daddy's having a moment.
It's gonna be fine.
708
00:31:03,445 --> 00:31:04,756
He's gonna leave.
709
00:31:04,780 --> 00:31:07,425
He goes, "No, I think
you should ...ing go."
710
00:31:07,449 --> 00:31:10,303
And I was like,
"I'm the one pregnant.
711
00:31:10,327 --> 00:31:14,182
I'm the one with a toddler."
Marek was still in diapers.
712
00:31:14,206 --> 00:31:15,767
You know, all my stuff is here,
713
00:31:15,791 --> 00:31:18,186
all their clothes are here."
714
00:31:18,210 --> 00:31:21,022
Um...
715
00:31:21,046 --> 00:31:23,483
And he went downstairs
and he got a gun.
716
00:31:23,507 --> 00:31:27,904
♪
717
00:31:27,928 --> 00:31:32,325
And he said, "If you're not
out in 15 ...ing minutes,
718
00:31:32,349 --> 00:31:34,535
I'm gonna blow your
in' head off."
719
00:31:34,559 --> 00:31:39,415
♪
720
00:31:39,439 --> 00:31:44,796
And I was like,
"No, you're not."
721
00:31:44,820 --> 00:31:46,464
He was like, "I ...ing am."
722
00:31:46,488 --> 00:31:51,302
And my dad then put a
shotgun up to my mom's head.
723
00:31:51,326 --> 00:31:53,012
And I was holding
my little brother,
724
00:31:53,036 --> 00:31:55,515
screaming, "Daddy, no!
Daddy, no!"
725
00:31:55,539 --> 00:31:57,683
They're hysterical.
726
00:31:57,707 --> 00:32:00,186
I'm not though 'cause I'm
like calling his bluff and
727
00:32:00,210 --> 00:32:03,106
I'm like, "No, you're
not blowing my head off.
728
00:32:03,130 --> 00:32:04,857
If you're not gonna leave,
I'm calling the police."
729
00:32:04,881 --> 00:32:07,610
So, I called the
police and, I said,
730
00:32:07,634 --> 00:32:09,987
"My husband's threatening
to blow my head off and
731
00:32:10,011 --> 00:32:12,657
I'm pregnant and I
have children."
732
00:32:12,681 --> 00:32:14,617
And she goes, "Well, honey,
733
00:32:14,641 --> 00:32:18,871
if he said you could leave,
just leave!"
734
00:32:18,895 --> 00:32:20,873
Oh, god.
I was like, not again.
735
00:32:20,897 --> 00:32:24,752
Like, I didn't want to go
to Bret and Julie's 'cause
736
00:32:24,776 --> 00:32:28,714
I just didn't want to bring
our bullshit over there, again.
737
00:32:28,738 --> 00:32:30,049
But I did. I...
738
00:32:30,073 --> 00:32:34,095
I packed up my
little bags and I left.
739
00:32:34,119 --> 00:32:37,765
She was terrified that
740
00:32:37,789 --> 00:32:40,643
he was gonna come and,
741
00:32:40,667 --> 00:32:42,186
who knows, do what...
742
00:32:42,210 --> 00:32:46,566
to her or any of us, you know.
743
00:32:46,590 --> 00:32:51,696
His headspace was not good.
Not good at that time.
744
00:32:51,720 --> 00:32:54,115
Michelle's harrowing
experiences would stay
745
00:32:54,139 --> 00:32:57,201
a family secret for years,
until they were eventually
746
00:32:57,225 --> 00:33:00,538
exposed to the world,
forever altering the legacy
747
00:33:00,562 --> 00:33:02,540
of the Dynamite Kid.
748
00:33:02,564 --> 00:33:04,858
♪
749
00:33:08,612 --> 00:33:11,716
In a final act of violence
after holding his wife
750
00:33:11,740 --> 00:33:15,761
at gun point, Tom leaves his
family behind in Calgary and
751
00:33:15,785 --> 00:33:17,221
returns to England.
752
00:33:17,245 --> 00:33:20,641
{\an8}He moved back to
England in 1991.
753
00:33:20,665 --> 00:33:24,729
{\an8}My mom was about 8 months,
7 months pregnant with me.
754
00:33:24,753 --> 00:33:28,608
{\an8}I wanted a girl because I
had the perfect name...
755
00:33:28,632 --> 00:33:31,110
{\an8}- I had the name Amaris.
- (sneezes)
756
00:33:31,134 --> 00:33:33,279
And it means, "Gift from God,"
757
00:33:33,303 --> 00:33:37,992
and I believe Amaris
saved my life.
758
00:33:38,016 --> 00:33:41,120
I believe she
saved all our lives.
759
00:33:41,144 --> 00:33:46,125
That kid has been a blessing
since the day she was born.
760
00:33:46,149 --> 00:33:49,962
(cheering)
761
00:33:49,986 --> 00:33:54,091
He just had his
retirement match in Japan.
762
00:33:54,115 --> 00:33:58,971
{\an8}Now he'd wrote a letter to
Michelle saying
763
00:33:58,995 --> 00:34:02,850
that he was gonna
come to Calgary.
764
00:34:02,874 --> 00:34:06,854
I really believed that Tom
would come and see his baby.
765
00:34:06,878 --> 00:34:08,856
And thank god he didn't because
766
00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:10,983
in the end,
I think he did the...
767
00:34:11,007 --> 00:34:14,946
you know, like,
he man'd up and let us be.
768
00:34:14,970 --> 00:34:17,365
I think he knew there was
something wrong with him,
769
00:34:17,389 --> 00:34:20,368
like... he wasn't
the same person.
770
00:34:20,392 --> 00:34:22,536
Like, this violence
was out of control.
771
00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:27,208
I don't think he had
control of it anymore.
772
00:34:27,232 --> 00:34:30,920
After he finished wrestling,
he was fighting in garages.
773
00:34:30,944 --> 00:34:33,130
You know, he was
like a, like a dog.
774
00:34:33,154 --> 00:34:34,924
Like a pit bull.
775
00:34:34,948 --> 00:34:38,344
There was just cars parked
in a circle with lights on.
776
00:34:38,368 --> 00:34:41,180
{\an8}And it was just
bare knuck fights.
777
00:34:41,204 --> 00:34:43,039
And he was doing
those to survive.
778
00:34:45,875 --> 00:34:47,520
{\an8}I knew you were
gonna ask me that.
779
00:34:47,544 --> 00:34:50,314
And no, he didn't, because...
780
00:34:50,338 --> 00:34:51,899
that was just Tommy, you know.
781
00:34:51,923 --> 00:34:53,776
His personal stuff was...
782
00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:55,111
he wouldn't let people in.
783
00:34:55,135 --> 00:34:58,072
He didn't let me in because
he didn't want to show me
784
00:34:58,096 --> 00:34:59,949
any sign of weakness.
785
00:34:59,973 --> 00:35:01,951
It's a macho thing,
I know, but...
786
00:35:01,975 --> 00:35:04,370
you know, you had to
keep that reputation,
787
00:35:04,394 --> 00:35:09,250
you know, not being a wimp, hm.
788
00:35:09,274 --> 00:35:11,627
{\an8}(Japanese commentary)
789
00:35:11,651 --> 00:35:14,255
{\an8}5 years after his retirement,
790
00:35:14,279 --> 00:35:17,508
{\an8}Tom returns to Japan
for a comeback match.
791
00:35:17,532 --> 00:35:21,429
{\an8}The comeback match was real sad.
792
00:35:21,453 --> 00:35:23,889
{\an8}He looked like a shell
of the Dynamite Kid.
793
00:35:23,913 --> 00:35:28,227
{\an8}I think all of us like kind
of willingly suspend that
794
00:35:28,251 --> 00:35:31,063
{\an8}state of belief in
order to believe in a,
795
00:35:31,087 --> 00:35:35,985
{\an8}a different reality, that we are
who we're portrayed as being.
796
00:35:36,009 --> 00:35:38,195
And that we are that tough,
797
00:35:38,219 --> 00:35:42,074
and that we are immortal
in some way.
798
00:35:42,098 --> 00:35:45,619
One time he went to ambalate it
799
00:35:45,643 --> 00:35:47,830
and he just hit the deck.
800
00:35:47,854 --> 00:35:50,291
Went to hospital and he said,
801
00:35:50,315 --> 00:35:52,293
"What about my
ing legs?"
802
00:35:52,317 --> 00:35:58,132
And, they told him he
had too much scar tissue.
803
00:35:58,156 --> 00:36:02,219
Too much scar
tissue to operate. So...
804
00:36:02,243 --> 00:36:06,599
♪
805
00:36:06,623 --> 00:36:08,601
You know, guys came
to see him and...
806
00:36:08,625 --> 00:36:11,812
for the most part, he didn't
want anyone to see him.
807
00:36:11,836 --> 00:36:13,981
The greatest wrestler who
changed the business and
808
00:36:14,005 --> 00:36:16,359
everything like that, and
this guy who at times
809
00:36:16,383 --> 00:36:18,110
could be an absolute monster...
810
00:36:18,134 --> 00:36:20,863
and then, the absolute
tragic ending.
811
00:36:20,887 --> 00:36:23,616
Way too young, you know,
in your 40s in a wheelchair.
812
00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:26,410
It's just a sad thing from
813
00:36:26,434 --> 00:36:30,790
being this incredible athlete.
814
00:36:30,814 --> 00:36:33,834
I just, I felt so sad for him.
815
00:36:33,858 --> 00:36:35,544
Of course, I still loved him.
816
00:36:35,568 --> 00:36:38,255
I mean, god, you don't
get married and
817
00:36:38,279 --> 00:36:43,427
have children and
not still love him.
818
00:36:43,451 --> 00:36:47,056
Just didn't love
what was going on.
819
00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:48,516
She always talked about him
820
00:36:48,540 --> 00:36:51,018
like he was like
a prince charming.
821
00:36:51,042 --> 00:36:53,229
She never said anything
negative about him.
822
00:36:53,253 --> 00:36:55,606
It was always positive.
823
00:36:55,630 --> 00:36:59,527
And then, the Chris Benoit
documentary came out.
824
00:36:59,551 --> 00:37:01,821
I think I was
about 16 years old.
825
00:37:01,845 --> 00:37:05,991
And, that was the first time
my mom talked about
826
00:37:06,015 --> 00:37:09,078
any kind of abuse in
the relationship.
827
00:37:09,102 --> 00:37:12,456
As part of a media frenzy
spark by the 2007
828
00:37:12,480 --> 00:37:17,086
Chris Benoit tragedies,
a CNN expose airs with focus
829
00:37:17,110 --> 00:37:20,714
on domestic violence
perpetrated by wrestlers.
830
00:37:20,738 --> 00:37:23,509
Michelle is interviewed,
and for the first time ever,
831
00:37:23,533 --> 00:37:27,638
details her stories of abuse
at the hands of Tom Billington.
832
00:37:27,662 --> 00:37:31,684
Michelle says at home the
Kid was out of control.
833
00:37:31,708 --> 00:37:34,228
At one time,
dragging her by the hair,
834
00:37:34,252 --> 00:37:36,355
holding a gun to her face.
835
00:37:36,379 --> 00:37:38,691
He certainly wasn't the
guy you fell in love with.
836
00:37:38,715 --> 00:37:40,359
No.
837
00:37:40,383 --> 00:37:42,403
The night before her interview,
838
00:37:42,427 --> 00:37:45,322
Michelle reveals to her
children the complicated
839
00:37:45,346 --> 00:37:47,575
truths about their father.
840
00:37:47,599 --> 00:37:52,288
I was just so mad.
I was...
841
00:37:52,312 --> 00:37:57,626
I was mad at my dad for
hurting my mom
842
00:37:57,650 --> 00:38:00,129
because she is like...
843
00:38:00,153 --> 00:38:02,465
the best woman ever.
844
00:38:02,489 --> 00:38:04,383
And I was mad at my mom
because I felt like
845
00:38:04,407 --> 00:38:07,344
she lied to me about
who my dad was.
846
00:38:07,368 --> 00:38:10,306
♪
847
00:38:10,330 --> 00:38:14,518
So, when I found that there
was actually abuse and a gun...
848
00:38:14,542 --> 00:38:17,938
she was pregnant
with me at that time.
849
00:38:17,962 --> 00:38:19,857
That was...
850
00:38:19,881 --> 00:38:24,862
the beginning of a very
dark time in my life.
851
00:38:24,886 --> 00:38:29,366
♪
852
00:38:29,390 --> 00:38:32,578
Despite promising Michelle
he would visit his family,
853
00:38:32,602 --> 00:38:35,789
Tom would never
return to Canada.
854
00:38:35,813 --> 00:38:40,002
{\an8}When I had my first child,
I finally felt whole.
855
00:38:40,026 --> 00:38:41,462
{\an8}I thought that she was
everything that
856
00:38:41,486 --> 00:38:43,047
{\an8}I was looking for.
857
00:38:43,071 --> 00:38:46,467
And eventually, that started
to change again and
858
00:38:46,491 --> 00:38:48,135
I didn't feel whole again.
859
00:38:48,159 --> 00:38:51,680
And, I knew that it was
my dad that I was missing.
860
00:38:51,704 --> 00:38:54,058
She was like,
"Flight's booked. I'm going.
861
00:38:54,082 --> 00:38:58,604
Are you coming with me?"
And I said, "No."
862
00:38:58,628 --> 00:39:01,440
I decided I was just
gonna go see my dad,
863
00:39:01,464 --> 00:39:03,150
without him knowing.
864
00:39:03,174 --> 00:39:05,593
♪
865
00:39:10,098 --> 00:39:13,911
15 years after Tom last
saw his eldest daughter,
866
00:39:13,935 --> 00:39:18,082
Bronwyne travels to England
to pay him a surprise visit.
867
00:39:18,106 --> 00:39:19,792
Walked into the living room,
that's where my dad was
868
00:39:19,816 --> 00:39:21,752
sitting in his wheelchair,
and that was the first time
869
00:39:21,776 --> 00:39:23,963
I'd ever seen him
in a wheelchair.
870
00:39:23,987 --> 00:39:28,133
And I immediately
just broke down crying.
871
00:39:28,157 --> 00:39:30,469
He acted like no time
had passed and he said,
872
00:39:30,493 --> 00:39:31,470
"Why are you crying?"
873
00:39:31,494 --> 00:39:35,307
I said, "'Cause I haven't
seen you in 15 years."
874
00:39:35,331 --> 00:39:38,435
By the third day,
it was just my dad and I,
875
00:39:38,459 --> 00:39:40,980
and I'm sitting on the couch and
my dad's in his wheelchair.
876
00:39:41,004 --> 00:39:42,231
And I was just
looking at him, like,
877
00:39:42,255 --> 00:39:44,275
I want to be close to him.
878
00:39:44,299 --> 00:39:48,404
{\an1}So, I took a chair and moved it
and just sat right next to him.
879
00:39:48,428 --> 00:39:49,947
We held hands and
we started crying,
880
00:39:49,971 --> 00:39:51,740
and he said, "I'm sorry."
881
00:39:51,764 --> 00:39:56,078
♪
882
00:39:56,102 --> 00:39:58,289
And that was the only time
883
00:39:58,313 --> 00:40:01,917
he'd ever apologized
for anything.
884
00:40:01,941 --> 00:40:04,295
I knew in that
moment what it meant.
885
00:40:04,319 --> 00:40:05,629
He didn't have to say
anything else and
886
00:40:05,653 --> 00:40:08,257
I just felt it.
887
00:40:08,281 --> 00:40:09,842
And it was a really
beautiful moment that
888
00:40:09,866 --> 00:40:13,053
we shared and, I'm so
happy that I went.
889
00:40:13,077 --> 00:40:16,724
♪
890
00:40:16,748 --> 00:40:18,892
At the end there I
understand that, you know,
891
00:40:18,916 --> 00:40:20,376
he was very sick.
892
00:40:22,837 --> 00:40:25,715
{\an8}Yeah, I just know it was bad.
893
00:40:30,011 --> 00:40:31,638
{\an8}Yeah.
894
00:40:34,307 --> 00:40:36,285
I...
895
00:40:36,309 --> 00:40:41,498
♪
896
00:40:41,522 --> 00:40:43,876
I can't.
What do you want me...
897
00:40:43,900 --> 00:40:48,297
sit here and cry?
898
00:40:48,321 --> 00:40:52,635
You know, he was a
great friend and...
899
00:40:52,659 --> 00:40:55,095
Somebody I cared about a lot.
900
00:40:55,119 --> 00:40:57,723
And, I miss him.
901
00:40:57,747 --> 00:41:01,018
♪
902
00:41:01,042 --> 00:41:05,189
He loved his friends
and he loved his kids.
903
00:41:05,213 --> 00:41:11,028
And, I love the Dynamite Kid.
904
00:41:11,052 --> 00:41:12,738
I knew it was coming,
905
00:41:12,762 --> 00:41:14,740
but I didn't cry
for like a week.
906
00:41:14,764 --> 00:41:16,575
I was in shock.
907
00:41:16,599 --> 00:41:18,869
I got a call from my mom.
908
00:41:18,893 --> 00:41:21,789
I think I was
consoling her more.
909
00:41:21,813 --> 00:41:24,833
And then, right before
we hung up, she said to me,
910
00:41:24,857 --> 00:41:28,671
"Well, now you know
that he's right beside you."
911
00:41:28,695 --> 00:41:32,132
And I hung up the phone
and I just started...
912
00:41:32,156 --> 00:41:35,576
(sniffles & sighs)
913
00:41:38,830 --> 00:41:40,474
'Cause that's all I ever wanted,
914
00:41:40,498 --> 00:41:42,810
was for him to be beside me.
915
00:41:42,834 --> 00:41:48,774
The week before, Danny
had tried to talk with him.
916
00:41:48,798 --> 00:41:54,947
And, Danny said, "I love ya."
917
00:41:54,971 --> 00:42:01,120
And, Dynamite said, "Why?"
918
00:42:01,144 --> 00:42:02,162
It, it...
919
00:42:02,186 --> 00:42:04,707
you know, brought home a lot
of memories, when he died,
920
00:42:04,731 --> 00:42:06,834
of what an integral
figure he was in the
921
00:42:06,858 --> 00:42:09,294
history of wrestling
that probably he'll never
922
00:42:09,318 --> 00:42:13,966
get the full credit for
because telling that story
923
00:42:13,990 --> 00:42:17,177
is a, is a sad story,
not a happy story.
924
00:42:17,201 --> 00:42:20,806
♪
925
00:42:20,830 --> 00:42:25,811
You don't have that
happy ending story.
926
00:42:25,835 --> 00:42:28,897
Let it go.
Let my kids heal.
927
00:42:28,921 --> 00:42:31,108
My kids can't heal
with this kind of stuff.
928
00:42:31,132 --> 00:42:33,110
You know, and if you do
talk about the violence,
929
00:42:33,134 --> 00:42:35,070
talk about CTE.
930
00:42:35,094 --> 00:42:37,114
Talk about the
signs of depression.
931
00:42:37,138 --> 00:42:39,867
Don't knock him.
932
00:42:39,891 --> 00:42:41,994
Like, he could 'a came back.
933
00:42:42,018 --> 00:42:43,662
We could have perpetuated it.
934
00:42:43,686 --> 00:42:46,457
But we ended it,
we did the right thing.
935
00:42:46,481 --> 00:42:51,128
And my kids did better without,
you know, him around.
936
00:42:51,152 --> 00:42:54,047
Even though it pissed me
off that he said,
937
00:42:54,071 --> 00:42:56,842
"I hope my children are so
proud of my body of work,"
938
00:42:56,866 --> 00:43:00,929
and I said, in my head, why,
why don't you be a father?
939
00:43:00,953 --> 00:43:02,639
They don't need a wrestler.
940
00:43:02,663 --> 00:43:04,558
♪
941
00:43:04,582 --> 00:43:08,562
But, now that I'm older,
I understand that
942
00:43:08,586 --> 00:43:14,151
that's what he wanted
to give the kids.
943
00:43:14,175 --> 00:43:17,196
You know, he's largely been
forgotten by the hands of time,
944
00:43:17,220 --> 00:43:19,531
but those who
witnessed him in his prime,
945
00:43:19,555 --> 00:43:20,824
they'll never forget it.
946
00:43:20,848 --> 00:43:22,117
What is this?
947
00:43:22,141 --> 00:43:24,328
Never seen this,
both men on the top!
948
00:43:24,352 --> 00:43:25,788
Oh, my god!
949
00:43:25,812 --> 00:43:27,289
I remember
Bruce Springsteen saying,
950
00:43:27,313 --> 00:43:30,000
"Trust the art,
not the artist."
951
00:43:30,024 --> 00:43:34,755
And, Tommy had a canvas
and he was brilliant.
952
00:43:34,779 --> 00:43:36,757
- They love it!
- (cheering)
953
00:43:36,781 --> 00:43:38,342
The Dynamite Kid!
954
00:43:38,366 --> 00:43:40,135
He's not the first,
nor will he be the last
955
00:43:40,159 --> 00:43:42,179
to suffer for the
sake of his art.
956
00:43:42,203 --> 00:43:44,765
{\an8}And, there's a sense that a
lot of people who are
957
00:43:44,789 --> 00:43:48,101
{\an8}great at something are not
necessarily great at all
958
00:43:48,125 --> 00:43:50,979
{\an8}aspects of their life and
they find solace
959
00:43:51,003 --> 00:43:52,523
{\an8}in doing what they do.
960
00:43:52,547 --> 00:43:56,109
{\an8}But they pay for
that brief time.
961
00:43:56,133 --> 00:43:58,737
{\an8}You become a bigger star
than you ever imagined,
962
00:43:58,761 --> 00:44:00,614
{\an8}and then you pay for it
every day
963
00:44:00,638 --> 00:44:02,616
{\an8}for the rest of your life.
964
00:44:02,640 --> 00:44:05,601
{\an8}♪