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♪
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[Narrator] In 1995, a group of
professional wrestlers
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were deployed to
communist-ruled North Korea,
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to partake in one of the
most bizarre diplomatic
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missions ever conceived.
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What could be more
international than having
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two big shows in
Pyongyang, North Korea?
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Vince can't do that.
(laughs)
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I run out and I look up,
and I actually see the stadium,
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and the crowd, and the people.
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And I just stop.
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Over 300,000 locals gathered
to witness Collision in Korea.
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It was unbelievable.
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A wrestling extravaganza
orchestrated in the name of
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world peace, which in reality,
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casts wrestlers as unwitting
players in a high-risk act
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of political theatre.
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You realize you're
surrounded by a bunch of
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people that think
you're the devil.
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I mean, we were
totally under their control.
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You walk out the room,
bam, they're there.
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You go in the library,
bam, those guys was there.
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{\an1}Under the strict surveillance
of North Korean authorities...
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We're living the wrestling life.
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You hit North Korea, man,
that shit stops, like boom!
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Wrestlers found
themselves trapped
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in a surreal nightmare.
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It was like being in
The Twilight Zone.
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And helplessly in
over their heads,
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leaving some
fighting for their lives.
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Next thing we know,
somebody's punching somebody.
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I'm gonna run,
jump off these stairs,
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and I'm gonna curb
stomp him to death.
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I mean, it was just like,
thumbs down, kill 'em.
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♪
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(birds chirping)
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♪
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My name is Eric Bischoff,
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coming to you from
Cody, Wyoming.
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Spent a couple minutes in the
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professional
wrestling business...
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{\an8}And now I spend all my
time looking back upon it.
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{\an8}(chuckles)
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Well, as I said when
I first got to WCW
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as a announcer, I was like a
fly on the wall, you know.
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I got to see things
happening from a perspective
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that sometimes the current
management didn't see.
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There was a lot of
financial abuse,
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and some fraud and theft
that I saw a lot of in WCW
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as that fly on the wall.
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So, when I finally got the
opportunity to run WCW and
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was made Vice President,
I instituted a lot of changes.
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By 1994, WCW was still seen
as a regional promotion,
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and if it had any chance
of competing against the
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powerhouse brand of WWF,
Eric Bischoff had to reach
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a wider, global
wrestling audience.
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Make no mistake about it,
WCW is set to dominate the
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globe when it comes to
professional wrestling.
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[Eric] One of the first things I
did was reestablish a
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failed relationship with
New Japan Pro Wrestling.
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You know, WCW had
engaged in some...
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shaky tactics and, and left
the Japanese with a very
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bitter taste in their mouth
in terms of doing business
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with Americans.
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[Announcer] From the land
of the rising sun, The Great...
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Muta!
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So, we wanted to reengage
New Japan Pro Wrestling and,
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just to see if I could
possibly resurrect that
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relationship and it went
really well and we did,
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and I started bringing a lot
of the top Japanese stars
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over to the United States
on a real consistent basis.
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[Japanese Announcer]
Steiner Brothers!
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But also, to do the
same thing with our
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WCW talent over in Japan.
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[Japanese commentary]
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Because that way, our talent
was getting more exposure
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in that market, their talent
was getting great exposure
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in our market and
everybody's happy.
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With increased
international exposure,
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WCW was gaining traction,
but still lagged behind WWF
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when it came to
drawing power and
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staging mammoth events.
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Over 80,000 fans!
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All that was about to change
when Eric Bischoff was
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offered a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.
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Antonio Inoki, who was
the Chairman of
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New Japan Pro Wrestling,
founder,
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reached out to me,
asking me if I would be
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willing and interested in
bringing all our WCW roster
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over to North Korea
to compete in a peace festival.
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Antonio Inoki, wow, he's,
he's really kind of an enigma.
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He was the Vince McMahon
of Japan is probably
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the best way to say it.
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He was one of the most
well-known wrestling
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personalities in Japan,
and a great athlete.
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(cheering)
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He was just the most popular
professional wrestler
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I've ever seen in my life,
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{\an8}and I've been around
almost off of 'em.
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{\an8}I'm Professional Wrestler,
Scott Norton.
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[Commentary]
Now... oh!
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I was touring in Japan,
doing my arm wrestling stuff.
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I was the world champion,
and that's what led me
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to be a professional wrestler.
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And so, that's when I
started learning about Inoki.
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One of his favourite
moves in wrestling,
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he would slap the
taste buds out your mouth.
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And when he slapped you,
it was in there.
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What's up?
How y'all doing?
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{\an8}This is 2 Cold Scorpio.
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{\an8}One of the most famous
high flyers in the world.
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{\an8}Waz up!
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Scorpio's going to the top.
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- Oh!
- (cheering)
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Oh, my!
Oh, my gosh!
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After me being trained in Japan
and being there for years,
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I would have to let people know,
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Inoki is somebody
like Hulk Hogan,
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but two times above
that level in Japan.
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While Inoki was operating
his wrestling company,
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he was also a fairly
high profile politician.
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And, became really one of
the most famous people in Japan.
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Inoki constantly
defied the limits
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of professional wrestling
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by staging events that made
international headlines
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for their shocking audacity.
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In 1976, Inoki boldly
combined wrestling and
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boxing for a match against
the legendary Muhammad Ali.
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He also used the sport to
successfully negotiate the
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release of Japanese
hostages held in Iraq.
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But bringing wrestlers into
the heart of North Korea
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was designed to
eclipse them all.
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{\an8}(speaking Japanese)
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Among Inoki's more
unpopular moves
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were frequent trips to
North Korea and meeting with
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officials from the
reclusive regime.
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Antonio Inoki asked me
if I could help him
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get a meeting with Muhammad Ali.
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You know, I called Muhammad Ali
and he got excited about it
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immediately because
he lived most of his life
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trying to be an ambassador
to world peace and he really
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believed in breaking down
barriers of cultures and
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religion and race,
and he didn't hesitate, at all.
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So, I thought, man,
if I put that piece of the
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puzzle together, I get the rest
of my team together...
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sure, I've never been
to Pyongyang, North Korea.
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Let's do that!
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(laughs)
That was a comedy.
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Inoki wanted Hogan.
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Hulk was the biggest name in
wrestling at that point in time.
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It would make a lot of news,
it would be good for Inoki
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and his political career.
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I did ask, but it
was a short answer.
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"Hm... can't make
that one, brother."
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(laughs)
That was it, man.
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It was a five-minute
conversation.
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Ric Flair.
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- Woo!
- (cheering)
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While he may not have been
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quite as popular as
Hulk Hogan, nationwide,
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he had such a fantastic
reputation of being able to
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put on a great match with
just about anybody...
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to my face, he was all for it,
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he was excited about it.
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I think, subsequently, I learned
that his feelings were hurt
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just a little bit knowing he
was the second choice.
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Alright... we're sitting in
the locker room,
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just got done
working out before a show.
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Hattori and Masa come
into the locker room.
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They go, "Scott-san?"
I said, "Yes?"
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He says, "We have big match,
North Korea, next month.
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You on it."
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Then I look around the
locker room and the
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Japanese boys are
just going nuts,
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and they're squabbling back
and forth, they're talking.
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I'm going, what the
hell is going on?
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So, I went over
to Chono, I says,
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"Chono," I says,
"What's going on?"
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He says,
"We go North Korea?"
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And I says, "That's what
Masa just told me,
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we're going to North Korea."
He says, "They want us dead.
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They don't like
us very much."
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(laughing)
And I go, "Okay."
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[Eric] It was a little
bit controversial,
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which is one of the reasons
that Inoki was trying to
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establish this rapport with
the North Koreans because
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the Japanese and
North Koreans had been
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killing each other for
thousands of years,
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and there's no love lost between
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{\an8}North Koreans and Japanese.
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{\an8}And tonight, after just
returning from
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{\an8}a tour of Japan...
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{\an8}For me, I was very
excited to go to
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another place in the world.
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Every place I've ever been,
South Africa, India,
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everything I've ever been
is because of wrestling.
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So, for me to be able to
have a chance to go over to
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North Korea was like,
man, I've never been
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to a communist country.
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I had no idea what
it was gonna be like.
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I didn't know the
difference being in America,
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being in a communist country,
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I had no clue, none whatsoever.
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Ah... It's definitely a
different experience for me.
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[Eric] When it came to
traveling to North Korea,
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00:10:39,138 --> 00:10:41,408
the United States
government, even then,
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00:10:41,432 --> 00:10:44,370
viewed North Korea as a
much more hostile
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potential enemy, so
Americans were not
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supposed to be in North Korea.
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And even going to the
federal government to get
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permission to do something,
it could take 6 months to
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00:10:53,903 --> 00:10:55,589
get a yes or a no,
so I just said,
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00:10:55,613 --> 00:10:57,007
"Yeah, I'm just gonna go."
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My boss didn't even
know I was doing it.
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Joining Ric Flair, Scott Norton,
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00:11:01,953 --> 00:11:04,306
and 2 Cold Scorpio on
the trip would be
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00:11:04,330 --> 00:11:05,558
Road Warrior Hawk,
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00:11:05,582 --> 00:11:07,852
the Steiner Brothers,
Chris Benoit,
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00:11:07,876 --> 00:11:11,230
{\an8}and some of New Japan Pro
Wrestling's top performers.
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00:11:11,254 --> 00:11:14,066
{\an8}But no one could match the
star power of one of
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the world's most
recognizable celebrities.
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We found out that
Muhammad Ali was gonna be
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on the tour, biggest...
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boxing hero of
all time, you know,
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and I'm just going, holy smokes.
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So, when we got to
the airport in Japan,
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it's me, Flair,
Steiners, Hawk, Benoit.
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00:11:29,314 --> 00:11:32,126
We're all standing there,
and the airport's just packed.
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00:11:32,150 --> 00:11:34,003
There's reporters everywhere.
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Then all of a sudden, this
commotion comes rolling in.
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00:11:38,823 --> 00:11:41,677
And it's Muhammad Ali
with his entourage.
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00:11:41,701 --> 00:11:44,805
And all the reporters
that were on us just went...
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00:11:44,829 --> 00:11:47,099
(shuffling)
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And all of a sudden,
he comes right to me,
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and he started doing
magic tricks for everybody.
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♪
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00:11:57,717 --> 00:11:59,403
And we all, "Whoa!"
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And he had the
biggest smile on his face.
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00:12:01,888 --> 00:12:04,116
It just made him happy.
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00:12:04,140 --> 00:12:07,036
Then a lot of people were a
lot more comfortable
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00:12:07,060 --> 00:12:09,997
because you got Inoki
and Muhammad Ali,
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they're huge, huge names.
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00:12:13,024 --> 00:12:16,837
The North Korean military
sent over a plane...
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00:12:16,861 --> 00:12:18,422
to Tokyo. You know,
you couldn't, you know,
245
00:12:18,446 --> 00:12:21,550
call up Delta and get
a flight to Pyongyang.
246
00:12:21,574 --> 00:12:25,346
That was the moment, when we
all got on that plane, and...
247
00:12:25,370 --> 00:12:27,431
realized it was a
military transport,
248
00:12:27,455 --> 00:12:30,017
wasn't the safest-looking plane.
249
00:12:30,041 --> 00:12:32,102
Certainly, not comfortable,
you know,
250
00:12:32,126 --> 00:12:34,563
not what the guys were used to.
251
00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:37,816
This plane was
like made in the 40s,
252
00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:40,903
and I'm telling ya,
it was a piece of garbage.
253
00:12:40,927 --> 00:12:43,238
Flair was the funniest.
"We can't fly on this thing.
254
00:12:43,262 --> 00:12:45,199
We can't... "He's just
losing it, I mean...
255
00:12:45,223 --> 00:12:46,367
(laughs)
256
00:12:46,391 --> 00:12:48,827
[Eric] And it just kind of set
the tone before we even got
257
00:12:48,851 --> 00:12:50,829
out of Japan, you knew
you were, you were about
258
00:12:50,853 --> 00:12:52,373
to do something quite different.
259
00:12:52,397 --> 00:12:54,375
I think that's when I
started sensing people
260
00:12:54,399 --> 00:12:57,378
getting a little nervous.
261
00:12:57,402 --> 00:12:59,088
[Scorpio] So, we're flying
over and, man,
262
00:12:59,112 --> 00:13:01,840
that was quite scary to me.
263
00:13:01,864 --> 00:13:03,801
I had the window
seat so, for me,
264
00:13:03,825 --> 00:13:06,971
I seen the south
side of South Korea,
265
00:13:06,995 --> 00:13:09,723
then all of a sudden, as you
get closer to the border,
266
00:13:09,747 --> 00:13:13,060
you see all these cannons and,
you know, set up,
267
00:13:13,084 --> 00:13:16,021
and army stuff set up,
aiming toward the north.
268
00:13:16,045 --> 00:13:19,024
But we kept flying over,
we seen all the north tanks and
269
00:13:19,048 --> 00:13:21,652
shit pointing toward the
south on this ridge,
270
00:13:21,676 --> 00:13:24,446
it's like, man,
this look like war time.
271
00:13:24,470 --> 00:13:28,367
I was like, okay, what am I
really getting myself into?
272
00:13:28,391 --> 00:13:30,744
And when the plane landed,
they finally brought
273
00:13:30,768 --> 00:13:33,080
the stairs out, and we
got off the plane.
274
00:13:33,104 --> 00:13:34,915
We were all standing around...
275
00:13:34,939 --> 00:13:37,209
{\an8}Looking around
and there's nobody.
276
00:13:37,233 --> 00:13:39,461
{\an8}And, we're getting our bags.
277
00:13:39,485 --> 00:13:41,171
{\an8}We're walking to the airport.
278
00:13:41,195 --> 00:13:44,717
{\an8}Once we got inside, it was
caked with dust this high.
279
00:13:44,741 --> 00:13:46,176
It was unbelievable.
280
00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,178
Nobody's been in
this room forever.
281
00:13:48,202 --> 00:13:49,722
And all of a sudden,
these military people
282
00:13:49,746 --> 00:13:52,599
started coming up to us.
"Where's your passport?"
283
00:13:52,623 --> 00:13:54,435
I had it in an inside pocket,
284
00:13:54,459 --> 00:13:56,562
and I went in and I grabbed
my passport like this and
285
00:13:56,586 --> 00:14:00,399
I'm looking back at my bag,
and he just snatched it.
286
00:14:00,423 --> 00:14:02,359
I said, "What the
are you doing?"
287
00:14:02,383 --> 00:14:04,820
You don't lose your passport
when you do what we do.
288
00:14:04,844 --> 00:14:07,031
They took my Walkman,
they took the tapes.
289
00:14:07,055 --> 00:14:08,615
Anything to do with America,
290
00:14:08,639 --> 00:14:10,200
they didn't want it
in their country.
291
00:14:10,224 --> 00:14:11,744
And Flair went nuts.
292
00:14:11,768 --> 00:14:13,746
He goes, "Scott,
they got our passports.
293
00:14:13,770 --> 00:14:15,748
Why would they
take everything?"
294
00:14:15,772 --> 00:14:19,585
They hated us. I mean,
you got that right away.
295
00:14:19,609 --> 00:14:22,838
I'm in a communist country.
You took my passport.
296
00:14:22,862 --> 00:14:24,590
Now what's gonna happen to us?
297
00:14:24,614 --> 00:14:27,742
♪
298
00:14:30,745 --> 00:14:35,059
♪
299
00:14:35,083 --> 00:14:38,562
{\an8}Going to North Korea is a
really strange experience.
300
00:14:38,586 --> 00:14:40,773
{\an8}It's like going
through the looking glass.
301
00:14:40,797 --> 00:14:43,609
{\an8}It's an utterly different
society for somebody like
302
00:14:43,633 --> 00:14:45,611
myself who'd grown
up in the States.
303
00:14:45,635 --> 00:14:47,237
We are accompanied by guides,
304
00:14:47,261 --> 00:14:49,031
and we do have some
limits on where else
305
00:14:49,055 --> 00:14:51,158
we can go in the country.
306
00:14:51,182 --> 00:14:52,284
I'm Mike Chinoy.
307
00:14:52,308 --> 00:14:54,703
I was a foreign
correspondent for CNN,
308
00:14:54,727 --> 00:14:58,707
and one of the assignments
that I had was to cover
309
00:14:58,731 --> 00:15:02,669
this big wrestling event
in North Korea.
310
00:15:02,693 --> 00:15:06,507
The wrestling event in 1995
311
00:15:06,531 --> 00:15:09,635
has to rank as one
of the weirdest,
312
00:15:09,659 --> 00:15:12,971
most bizarre experiences
that I witnessed
313
00:15:12,995 --> 00:15:16,225
as a journalist because
you had this combination
314
00:15:16,249 --> 00:15:20,187
of North Korea, which is remote,
315
00:15:20,211 --> 00:15:22,731
isolated, highly regimented,
316
00:15:22,755 --> 00:15:25,442
largely cut off from the
rest of the world
317
00:15:25,466 --> 00:15:28,237
and certainly cut off
from North America.
318
00:15:28,261 --> 00:15:30,322
And then, suddenly,
in the middle of this,
319
00:15:30,346 --> 00:15:34,409
you had this collection of
eccentric characters from
320
00:15:34,433 --> 00:15:38,872
the world of wrestling,
and Muhammad Ali,
321
00:15:38,896 --> 00:15:41,542
showing up in the capitol of
North Korea and being
322
00:15:41,566 --> 00:15:45,546
part of one of the mass events
which the North Koreans
323
00:15:45,570 --> 00:15:48,298
are masters of staging so,
it was this absolutely
324
00:15:48,322 --> 00:15:51,969
bizarre collision of what
almost, you could call,
325
00:15:51,993 --> 00:15:54,471
alien civilizations.
326
00:15:54,495 --> 00:15:56,932
Upon their arrival,
the wrestlers are greeted
327
00:15:56,956 --> 00:16:00,519
with unsettling hostility,
but unbeknownst to them,
328
00:16:00,543 --> 00:16:03,063
this is only the
beginning of what's to come.
329
00:16:03,087 --> 00:16:05,274
{\an8}We were paired off into two's.
330
00:16:05,298 --> 00:16:08,110
And we were escorted to
our cars that assigned
331
00:16:08,134 --> 00:16:11,530
an attaché who was going
to be with us 24/7.
332
00:16:11,554 --> 00:16:15,117
And, driven into Pyongyang.
333
00:16:15,141 --> 00:16:19,621
My attaché, she told me that
I was only the 7th American
334
00:16:19,645 --> 00:16:24,084
to step foot in North Korea
that hadn't been
335
00:16:24,108 --> 00:16:27,504
either shot down or captured.
336
00:16:27,528 --> 00:16:29,840
Right there, that moment,
337
00:16:29,864 --> 00:16:32,759
that puts everything
into perspective.
338
00:16:32,783 --> 00:16:35,179
And this is the pass
that they gave us,
339
00:16:35,203 --> 00:16:36,680
when we got there.
340
00:16:36,704 --> 00:16:39,183
It's in Korean.
My nationality.
341
00:16:39,207 --> 00:16:40,559
They wanted to keep track of us,
342
00:16:40,583 --> 00:16:42,978
you know, that was,
that was the big, main thing.
343
00:16:43,002 --> 00:16:44,438
My name is Sonny Onoo.
344
00:16:44,462 --> 00:16:47,191
{\an8}I was the evil Japanese manager
345
00:16:47,215 --> 00:16:50,235
{\an8}for World Championship
Wrestling.
346
00:16:50,259 --> 00:16:52,988
My job started
out with, you know,
347
00:16:53,012 --> 00:16:56,891
liaison officer between WCW
and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
348
00:17:00,853 --> 00:17:02,623
I was told by my
government, "Hey,
349
00:17:02,647 --> 00:17:05,417
we can't guarantee your safety.
You shouldn't go."
350
00:17:05,441 --> 00:17:08,337
We were evil,
including the Japanese.
351
00:17:08,361 --> 00:17:10,714
That's what their propaganda is,
352
00:17:10,738 --> 00:17:12,507
and so, the first
thing we were told is,
353
00:17:12,531 --> 00:17:14,468
"You can't do this.
You can't do that."
354
00:17:14,492 --> 00:17:17,638
And, you know, "By the way,
don't rape our women."
355
00:17:17,662 --> 00:17:20,849
Japan colonized North Korea
at the beginning of the
356
00:17:20,873 --> 00:17:24,269
20th century, and the Japanese
ruled North Korea
357
00:17:24,293 --> 00:17:25,896
until the end of World War II.
358
00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,483
It was a brutal colonial rule
and there is tremendous
359
00:17:29,507 --> 00:17:32,277
bad feeling toward the Japanese
360
00:17:32,301 --> 00:17:35,781
that persists until this day.
361
00:17:35,805 --> 00:17:39,618
The first stop on our way to
the hotel was to
362
00:17:39,642 --> 00:17:42,955
pay homage to the
dear leader, Kim Il-sung,
363
00:17:42,979 --> 00:17:44,915
who had died a year before.
364
00:17:44,939 --> 00:17:47,042
North Korean government
would hand us bouquets of
365
00:17:47,066 --> 00:17:50,879
flowers and we all were
forced to walk up the steps
366
00:17:50,903 --> 00:17:52,756
and lay our flowers at the
foot of the statue
367
00:17:52,780 --> 00:17:53,799
of the dear leader.
368
00:17:53,823 --> 00:17:57,135
And then, the North Korean
news media would film us.
369
00:17:57,159 --> 00:18:00,430
They wanted it to look like
we were so excited to be in
370
00:18:00,454 --> 00:18:03,642
North Korea, we flew all the
way there so we could
371
00:18:03,666 --> 00:18:06,186
pay homage to the dear leader.
372
00:18:06,210 --> 00:18:10,691
We are all very touched and
honoured to be here today.
373
00:18:10,715 --> 00:18:14,319
The North Koreans were
always trying to leverage
374
00:18:14,343 --> 00:18:17,781
these visits for propaganda
purposes and
375
00:18:17,805 --> 00:18:21,868
subtlety is not a
North Korean strong point.
376
00:18:21,892 --> 00:18:23,704
When we got to the hotel,
377
00:18:23,728 --> 00:18:26,164
{\an8}we had to carry our
luggage up 7 floors.
378
00:18:26,188 --> 00:18:30,377
{\an8}We're big guys, man.
We don't do stairs very well.
379
00:18:30,401 --> 00:18:35,465
The military guys, they would
follow you around.
380
00:18:35,489 --> 00:18:37,259
When I got to my room,
he stopped about
381
00:18:37,283 --> 00:18:39,845
10 feet from the hall...
382
00:18:39,869 --> 00:18:42,306
Opened my door and I
stepped inside my room.
383
00:18:42,330 --> 00:18:44,933
I take my bags and I
looked around the room...
384
00:18:44,957 --> 00:18:46,059
the guy is following us,
385
00:18:46,083 --> 00:18:47,769
they're just hanging
outside your room.
386
00:18:47,793 --> 00:18:50,522
We had like four guys
spying on us,
387
00:18:50,546 --> 00:18:51,773
watching us at all times.
388
00:18:51,797 --> 00:18:53,650
{\an8}It's like, man,
we can't do nothing.
389
00:18:53,674 --> 00:18:55,777
{\an8}So, as far as really
trying to pass the time,
390
00:18:55,801 --> 00:18:58,739
{\an8}sit in your room,
try to watch TV,
391
00:18:58,763 --> 00:19:01,408
and all you get is
three government channels,
392
00:19:01,432 --> 00:19:02,868
all political.
393
00:19:02,892 --> 00:19:04,411
So, it was like,
why even bother?
394
00:19:04,435 --> 00:19:07,581
So, it was really kind of,
drive you kind of nuts.
395
00:19:07,605 --> 00:19:09,207
♪
396
00:19:09,231 --> 00:19:11,251
[Scott] Hawk was right in the
room next to me, right?
397
00:19:11,275 --> 00:19:14,212
So, I step out the door, and as
soon as I started walking,
398
00:19:14,236 --> 00:19:16,131
that little dude started
following me.
399
00:19:16,155 --> 00:19:17,924
Then I realized...
400
00:19:17,948 --> 00:19:20,677
that the other guy's
about 10 feet down here,
401
00:19:20,701 --> 00:19:22,262
that's at Hawk's room.
402
00:19:22,286 --> 00:19:24,222
♪
403
00:19:24,246 --> 00:19:26,141
I'm talking to Hawk,
I'm going, you know,
404
00:19:26,165 --> 00:19:28,477
"One of these little bastard's
gonna... with me, Mike,
405
00:19:28,501 --> 00:19:29,770
and I'm gonna
take him out."
406
00:19:29,794 --> 00:19:34,107
I mean, there was no reason
to stay in this hotel room.
407
00:19:34,131 --> 00:19:36,818
Me, Benoit, Hawk, and
a couple guys go down
408
00:19:36,842 --> 00:19:39,154
to the lobby, and they
had a pool table.
409
00:19:39,178 --> 00:19:41,615
And I was just as surprised
as hell they had a pool table.
410
00:19:41,639 --> 00:19:43,033
I said, "Well, let's
play some pool.'
411
00:19:43,057 --> 00:19:45,452
Anyways, I mean, do something.
412
00:19:45,476 --> 00:19:48,497
It took me two hours for
that gal at the desk
413
00:19:48,521 --> 00:19:49,748
to give me the balls.
414
00:19:49,772 --> 00:19:51,750
They had to clear it
through the military guys.
415
00:19:51,774 --> 00:19:56,671
It was crazy.
So, one time I shot...
416
00:19:56,695 --> 00:20:01,343
and the ball jumped and
it went off the table...
417
00:20:01,367 --> 00:20:04,179
(thud)
418
00:20:04,203 --> 00:20:06,223
That ball went bing, bing, bing,
419
00:20:06,247 --> 00:20:08,499
on hard marble floors.
420
00:20:11,377 --> 00:20:14,523
It pissed them off so damn bad.
421
00:20:14,547 --> 00:20:18,026
The pool game was over and,
for that ball leaving the table,
422
00:20:18,050 --> 00:20:21,571
they looked at you like,
"How dare you?
423
00:20:21,595 --> 00:20:24,199
How dare you to do
something like that."
424
00:20:24,223 --> 00:20:25,867
They took the
balls away from us.
425
00:20:25,891 --> 00:20:27,411
You know,
he starts smashing 'em,
426
00:20:27,435 --> 00:20:29,538
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
427
00:20:29,562 --> 00:20:32,040
So, we're just standing
there like, what the...?
428
00:20:32,064 --> 00:20:34,668
We were getting pissed off,
the way we were being treated.
429
00:20:34,692 --> 00:20:37,629
Hawk didn't like it,
Scottie Steiner didn't like it.
430
00:20:37,653 --> 00:20:40,465
And I was pissed
to a point where...
431
00:20:40,489 --> 00:20:42,050
grab one of these
little bastards and,
432
00:20:42,074 --> 00:20:44,177
you know, give it to 'em.
433
00:20:44,201 --> 00:20:45,804
Masa just got me
off to the side, said,
434
00:20:45,828 --> 00:20:48,765
"Scott, you've
got to settle down.
435
00:20:48,789 --> 00:20:51,476
Just promise me you'll get
through these next four days."
436
00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:54,312
And I says, "Alright, man."
I mean, in my mind, I'm going,
437
00:20:54,336 --> 00:20:57,858
what the 'F' are we
doing in this country?
438
00:20:57,882 --> 00:21:00,318
Nobody wants us here.
439
00:21:00,342 --> 00:21:02,863
As the harsh reality of
their situation comes
440
00:21:02,887 --> 00:21:05,574
crashing down, the wrestlers
find themselves
441
00:21:05,598 --> 00:21:07,784
strangers in a strange land.
442
00:21:07,808 --> 00:21:10,954
With tensions on the
rise and tempers flaring,
443
00:21:10,978 --> 00:21:13,707
they must adapt to their
surroundings or face
444
00:21:13,731 --> 00:21:16,525
the dire consequences
that await.
445
00:21:22,239 --> 00:21:23,842
♪
446
00:21:23,866 --> 00:21:26,636
Struggling to adjust to
the surreal circumstances
447
00:21:26,660 --> 00:21:29,097
in North Korea,
the wrestling outsiders
448
00:21:29,121 --> 00:21:31,349
search for ways to cope.
449
00:21:31,373 --> 00:21:33,602
[Eric] So, by the time I
got to North Korea,
450
00:21:33,626 --> 00:21:35,979
I was kind of craving a run.
451
00:21:36,003 --> 00:21:39,149
So, I went to bed one night
and planned on
452
00:21:39,173 --> 00:21:40,525
getting up early and running.
453
00:21:40,549 --> 00:21:43,403
{\an8}Didn't even think that
I should probably
454
00:21:43,427 --> 00:21:45,655
{\an8}let my attaché know.
455
00:21:45,679 --> 00:21:46,907
I thought, well, I'm just
gonna get up and
456
00:21:46,931 --> 00:21:47,949
go for a run.
457
00:21:47,973 --> 00:21:50,785
I'll be back before I'm
supposed to be anywhere else
458
00:21:50,809 --> 00:21:54,998
and boom, it'll be fine.
I took off by myself.
459
00:21:55,022 --> 00:21:59,085
It's dark out, the streets
were completely deserted.
460
00:21:59,109 --> 00:22:01,755
I'm running, I'm running,
I'm running. Sun's coming up.
461
00:22:01,779 --> 00:22:04,591
Now, all of a sudden,
I see people
462
00:22:04,615 --> 00:22:06,384
starting to come
out into the street,
463
00:22:06,408 --> 00:22:08,136
and as I'm running through
the streets of Pyongyang,
464
00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:09,513
they're parting.
465
00:22:09,537 --> 00:22:11,515
They were looking at me like
466
00:22:11,539 --> 00:22:14,226
something out of
a monster movie.
467
00:22:14,250 --> 00:22:16,019
Now the school kids
are coming out.
468
00:22:16,043 --> 00:22:19,272
The look of terror...
469
00:22:19,296 --> 00:22:20,398
they weren't afraid of me,
470
00:22:20,422 --> 00:22:23,276
they were terrorized
by my presence.
471
00:22:23,300 --> 00:22:25,028
You know, I don't want to
see terror in anybody's eyes,
472
00:22:25,052 --> 00:22:27,364
especially kids.
473
00:22:27,388 --> 00:22:29,407
You got this American
that's supposed to be
474
00:22:29,431 --> 00:22:31,326
{\an8}the idea of evil...
475
00:22:31,350 --> 00:22:32,744
{\an8}That they have never... mind you,
476
00:22:32,768 --> 00:22:34,746
{\an8}most of these people have
never seen an American so,
477
00:22:34,770 --> 00:22:36,206
you know, this guy's
coming, running at them.
478
00:22:36,230 --> 00:22:38,291
Can you imagine what
these people thought?
479
00:22:38,315 --> 00:22:41,670
When I saw the look of
terror in people's eyes as
480
00:22:41,694 --> 00:22:43,755
I was running down the street,
it really made a big
481
00:22:43,779 --> 00:22:48,009
impression on me and made me
realize just how easy it is
482
00:22:48,033 --> 00:22:52,472
to foment hate and fear,
and how dangerous that is.
483
00:22:52,496 --> 00:22:56,643
I got back to the hotel and,
my attaché was there.
484
00:22:56,667 --> 00:22:58,478
She was livid.
485
00:22:58,502 --> 00:23:01,147
And I thought, God, if I
don't see her tomorrow,
486
00:23:01,171 --> 00:23:03,108
it's because they're gonna
shoot her for letting me
487
00:23:03,132 --> 00:23:05,986
go out and run through the
streets in downtown Pyongyang.
488
00:23:06,010 --> 00:23:07,904
I was literally
concerned for her.
489
00:23:07,928 --> 00:23:09,763
♪
490
00:23:16,061 --> 00:23:17,354
Yeah.
491
00:23:23,152 --> 00:23:24,236
No.
492
00:23:28,616 --> 00:23:30,552
No, that...
493
00:23:30,576 --> 00:23:32,244
Not until this moment.
494
00:23:35,789 --> 00:23:40,353
{\an8}(laughs) Wow. Well,
it all started out with,
495
00:23:40,377 --> 00:23:43,064
prior to even
going to North Korea,
496
00:23:43,088 --> 00:23:45,900
I had heat with Flair
because of an incident that
497
00:23:45,924 --> 00:23:49,070
happened overseas on
one of Ric Flair's trips that
498
00:23:49,094 --> 00:23:52,324
he had booked, I got
into some trouble.
499
00:23:52,348 --> 00:23:54,701
I felt like Ric Flair
was messing with me,
500
00:23:54,725 --> 00:23:57,996
I got fired from WCW.
501
00:23:58,020 --> 00:23:59,372
And still to this day,
I don't give a damn
502
00:23:59,396 --> 00:24:01,625
what he say, I still will
feel that, truly,
503
00:24:01,649 --> 00:24:02,917
that it was because of him.
504
00:24:02,941 --> 00:24:05,545
I let it build up, 7, 8 years,
505
00:24:05,569 --> 00:24:08,506
and I'm still holding a
grudge against somebody
506
00:24:08,530 --> 00:24:12,344
who I think was the cause
of me getting fired.
507
00:24:12,368 --> 00:24:15,722
And so now,
we're all in North Korea,
508
00:24:15,746 --> 00:24:17,182
going to all of these sights.
509
00:24:17,206 --> 00:24:21,519
And everywhere we went,
Hawk was riding with Flair.
510
00:24:21,543 --> 00:24:23,563
Well, Hawk decided this
day he wants to
511
00:24:23,587 --> 00:24:26,524
ride the bus this day.
So, he comes out on the bus.
512
00:24:26,548 --> 00:24:28,234
So, Ric Flair comes
out of the hotel,
513
00:24:28,258 --> 00:24:29,569
we're all on the bus.
514
00:24:29,593 --> 00:24:32,822
So, Ric Flair, he's kind
of looking around like this and,
515
00:24:32,846 --> 00:24:35,784
Hawk goes, "Man, he, he looks
like he's looking for somebody.
516
00:24:35,808 --> 00:24:36,826
Maybe he's looking for me.
517
00:24:36,850 --> 00:24:38,912
Maybe he wants me to
ride with him again."
518
00:24:38,936 --> 00:24:42,499
"that pussy.
Let him ride by himself."
519
00:24:42,523 --> 00:24:44,751
Hawk said,
"What did you say?"
520
00:24:44,775 --> 00:24:48,588
I says, "You didn't hear me?"
I says, "... that pussy.
521
00:24:48,612 --> 00:24:50,173
Let him ride by himself."
522
00:24:50,197 --> 00:24:51,841
I said, "What part of
it you didn't hear,
523
00:24:51,865 --> 00:24:54,052
was it the '... him,
let him ride by himself?'
524
00:24:54,076 --> 00:24:55,970
or was it the 'pussy' part?"
525
00:24:55,994 --> 00:24:58,306
And he got mad about it and
he came back there and
526
00:24:58,330 --> 00:24:59,724
he called me the
N word, he said,
527
00:24:59,748 --> 00:25:01,351
"You ...," and
he swung, he missed.
528
00:25:01,375 --> 00:25:03,269
I hit that mother... er
about five, six times,
529
00:25:03,293 --> 00:25:06,231
and I was wearing
his ...ing ass out.
530
00:25:06,255 --> 00:25:08,233
{\an8}Scorp said something to Hawk,
531
00:25:08,257 --> 00:25:11,069
{\an8}and Mike responded
back in his typical way,
532
00:25:11,093 --> 00:25:12,987
{\an8}and I guess Scorp...
533
00:25:13,011 --> 00:25:16,116
hit him and dazed him
a couple times.
534
00:25:16,140 --> 00:25:17,742
Now he's bleeding from his face,
535
00:25:17,766 --> 00:25:19,661
bleeding from his mouth,
and all this.
536
00:25:19,685 --> 00:25:22,747
Japanese boys grab me,
I fall down in the seat.
537
00:25:22,771 --> 00:25:24,207
You know,
they're holding me down.
538
00:25:24,231 --> 00:25:26,710
He comes over, gets on me,
he's trying to punch me.
539
00:25:26,734 --> 00:25:29,879
I'm ducking and dodging,
he can't hit me.
540
00:25:29,903 --> 00:25:32,841
I jumped on him, stuck my
finger in his eye and
541
00:25:32,865 --> 00:25:35,009
I was on my way
out with his eye.
542
00:25:35,033 --> 00:25:37,971
I had his eye halfway out
of its socket and stuff and,
543
00:25:37,995 --> 00:25:39,723
the Japanese boys jumped on me.
544
00:25:39,747 --> 00:25:41,516
"Oh, Scorp, stop"...
545
00:25:41,540 --> 00:25:45,019
And then we kind of got up,
I ripped open my shirt and
546
00:25:45,043 --> 00:25:46,479
I just gave him a 'wow',
547
00:25:46,503 --> 00:25:49,149
a straight kick
right in the face.
548
00:25:49,173 --> 00:25:51,192
Backed him up, you know,
and that's when it
549
00:25:51,216 --> 00:25:54,195
slowed him down and the
boys had enough distance
550
00:25:54,219 --> 00:25:57,741
to get between us
and calm us down.
551
00:25:57,765 --> 00:26:00,368
He gave me his
best shot and, tell ya,
552
00:26:00,392 --> 00:26:04,205
if that's his best shot,
bro, you in trouble.
553
00:26:04,229 --> 00:26:06,833
This was when Mike was
battling his Hepatitis C and
554
00:26:06,857 --> 00:26:08,960
he was on Interferon.
555
00:26:08,984 --> 00:26:10,587
When you take that Interferon,
556
00:26:10,611 --> 00:26:12,547
it makes you very sick,
557
00:26:12,571 --> 00:26:16,801
very flu like symptoms
and just very ill.
558
00:26:16,825 --> 00:26:21,264
And, you know, Scorp can
think what he wants...
559
00:26:21,288 --> 00:26:23,892
but, the regular Mike...
560
00:26:23,916 --> 00:26:26,311
would 'a killed his ass.
561
00:26:26,335 --> 00:26:31,107
♪
562
00:26:31,131 --> 00:26:33,109
When we got back to the hotel,
563
00:26:33,133 --> 00:26:35,111
I wanted to call home
and call my wife.
564
00:26:35,135 --> 00:26:38,323
I've been trying to
contact her for three days.
565
00:26:38,347 --> 00:26:41,326
I get through to my wife.
I says, "Hey, babe."
566
00:26:41,350 --> 00:26:43,953
She goes,
"Where the hell you been?"
567
00:26:43,977 --> 00:26:45,830
I said, "Tammy, you don't
understand what kind of,
568
00:26:45,854 --> 00:26:47,457
what we're going through here,"
and I'm trying to
569
00:26:47,481 --> 00:26:49,918
explain to her the situation.
570
00:26:49,942 --> 00:26:51,544
She ain't gonna have
nothing to do with it.
571
00:26:51,568 --> 00:26:54,506
She thinks that I'm out
partying with the guys.
572
00:26:54,530 --> 00:26:57,133
And I says, "Tammy,
you don't understand
573
00:26:57,157 --> 00:26:59,010
what kind of shithole
I'm in here."
574
00:26:59,034 --> 00:27:00,845
And all of a sudden,
the phone went click.
575
00:27:00,869 --> 00:27:04,224
I thought she hung up on me.
576
00:27:04,248 --> 00:27:05,767
I took the phone,
I'm throwing it down,
577
00:27:05,791 --> 00:27:08,144
I'm just going,
"What the 'F'?"
578
00:27:08,168 --> 00:27:13,566
♪
579
00:27:13,590 --> 00:27:16,569
Then all of a sudden,
somebody pounds on my door.
580
00:27:16,593 --> 00:27:19,155
♪
581
00:27:19,179 --> 00:27:20,907
And here's some guy,
582
00:27:20,931 --> 00:27:23,993
this guy could speak
perfect English.
583
00:27:24,017 --> 00:27:27,413
And he's telling me,
"You're coming with us."
584
00:27:27,437 --> 00:27:30,124
With a dangerous
new line crossed,
585
00:27:30,148 --> 00:27:32,335
their fate now hangs
in the balance
586
00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:34,128
between life and death.
587
00:27:34,152 --> 00:27:37,239
♪
588
00:27:40,951 --> 00:27:42,887
♪
589
00:27:42,911 --> 00:27:45,640
After wrestler Scott Norton's
phone call with his wife
590
00:27:45,664 --> 00:27:49,561
is intercepted, North Korean
officials materialize
591
00:27:49,585 --> 00:27:52,689
and he is forcibly
taken from his hotel room.
592
00:27:52,713 --> 00:27:54,816
And I'm looking at
these guys, man, and I mean...
593
00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:56,609
{\an8}They'd as soon shoot me
right there and then.
594
00:27:56,633 --> 00:28:00,822
{\an8}I'm just going, "What the
hell is going on here?"
595
00:28:00,846 --> 00:28:03,491
Now, nobody knows where I'm at.
596
00:28:03,515 --> 00:28:07,412
I'm in this room...
597
00:28:07,436 --> 00:28:10,582
I mean, it just felt
like at any point in time,
598
00:28:10,606 --> 00:28:12,292
I was just gonna be dealt with.
599
00:28:12,316 --> 00:28:15,295
It was like a movie.
600
00:28:15,319 --> 00:28:16,588
I swear to God,
601
00:28:16,612 --> 00:28:18,590
and I'm just sitting there,
I'm going, oh, my lord,
602
00:28:18,614 --> 00:28:21,467
they could care less
if I lived or died.
603
00:28:21,491 --> 00:28:24,262
♪
604
00:28:24,286 --> 00:28:26,306
Then, this guy comes in.
You could just tell,
605
00:28:26,330 --> 00:28:29,350
the way he came in the room,
that he was the top dude.
606
00:28:29,374 --> 00:28:31,769
And then he spoke English
to me and he told me,
607
00:28:31,793 --> 00:28:34,856
he says, "You can't say nothing
wrong about North Korea."
608
00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:38,651
And I says, "I mean, you know
what I said to my wife?"
609
00:28:38,675 --> 00:28:40,862
I says, "We were
just back and forth.
610
00:28:40,886 --> 00:28:42,655
I've been trying
to call home."
611
00:28:42,679 --> 00:28:45,658
He says, "No more phone calls,
you don't talk to nobody.
612
00:28:45,682 --> 00:28:47,744
We hear you say something
bad about North Korea.
613
00:28:47,768 --> 00:28:49,370
That's it."
614
00:28:49,394 --> 00:28:52,415
I mean, he's pointing his
finger at me, he's saying,
615
00:28:52,439 --> 00:28:54,626
"You can't say anything
bad about North Korea.
616
00:28:54,650 --> 00:28:56,377
This is a superior country."
617
00:28:56,401 --> 00:28:58,421
He's telling me
all this bullshit,
618
00:28:58,445 --> 00:29:01,132
and I'm getting it now.
I mean, I'm just like,
619
00:29:01,156 --> 00:29:04,093
"I ain't gonna say a word
about North Korea."
620
00:29:04,117 --> 00:29:07,555
And I was just soaked, freaking.
621
00:29:07,579 --> 00:29:09,891
I'll do anything to
get out of this room.
622
00:29:09,915 --> 00:29:12,769
I apologized.
I mean, this is serious.
623
00:29:12,793 --> 00:29:15,313
And the looks on
these people's face,
624
00:29:15,337 --> 00:29:16,898
there's no doubt in my mind
they'd just put
625
00:29:16,922 --> 00:29:18,816
a bullet in my head.
626
00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:20,610
You know, after he'd
been interrogated,
627
00:29:20,634 --> 00:29:22,362
{\an8}then I think
Mr. Inoki's people,
628
00:29:22,386 --> 00:29:25,239
{\an8}or New Japan people,
got him out of there and,
629
00:29:25,263 --> 00:29:26,950
and I'm sure they were told
to make sure to tell him
630
00:29:26,974 --> 00:29:30,578
to watch what he says.
631
00:29:30,602 --> 00:29:34,916
Finally, "You go now."
632
00:29:34,940 --> 00:29:36,709
I got to my room
and I'm just going,
633
00:29:36,733 --> 00:29:40,838
"Oh, my god.
What just happened here?"
634
00:29:40,862 --> 00:29:43,466
Can't mess with
these people, Scott.
635
00:29:43,490 --> 00:29:46,511
But, you think they might
have had a little talk with us
636
00:29:46,535 --> 00:29:49,055
and give us a little
heads up on this stuff.
637
00:29:49,079 --> 00:29:50,264
They just told you as you went,
638
00:29:50,288 --> 00:29:52,558
you know what I mean?
639
00:29:52,582 --> 00:29:55,687
Before the grand event
is to finally kick off,
640
00:29:55,711 --> 00:29:57,855
the wrestlers are
ushered to one last
641
00:29:57,879 --> 00:30:02,110
propaganda opportunity,
a visit to a sacred tomb
642
00:30:02,134 --> 00:30:05,780
honouring the founder of
Korea's first kingdom.
643
00:30:05,804 --> 00:30:08,992
{\an8}We finally get to this
5-year-old hundred
644
00:30:09,016 --> 00:30:11,077
{\an8}temple site that we
gotta go look at.
645
00:30:11,101 --> 00:30:13,538
{\an8}I ain't got no
damn clue who it is.
646
00:30:13,562 --> 00:30:15,873
So, anyways, we're walking
and we're walking,
647
00:30:15,897 --> 00:30:18,126
and the next thing you know,
we notice Muhammad Ali
648
00:30:18,150 --> 00:30:20,086
is taking his jacket off.
649
00:30:20,110 --> 00:30:22,046
And he rolled his sleeves up,
650
00:30:22,070 --> 00:30:25,049
and he started
jogging up the stairs.
651
00:30:25,073 --> 00:30:26,592
And, you know,
we're following Ali,
652
00:30:26,616 --> 00:30:28,803
and all of a sudden,
Ali got to the top.
653
00:30:28,827 --> 00:30:30,763
♪
654
00:30:30,787 --> 00:30:33,725
And he's shadow boxing.
It was unbelievable.
655
00:30:33,749 --> 00:30:35,852
And here's Muhammad Ali
just snapping them off,
656
00:30:35,876 --> 00:30:37,437
boom, boom, bang!
657
00:30:37,461 --> 00:30:39,522
And he's dancing around
and he's doing like
658
00:30:39,546 --> 00:30:42,233
all these,
shuffling a little bit.
659
00:30:42,257 --> 00:30:46,362
And he was moving
like it was the old times, man.
660
00:30:46,386 --> 00:30:47,947
He's just having
the time of his life.
661
00:30:47,971 --> 00:30:50,408
I mean, we're the only
people in the world saw this.
662
00:30:50,432 --> 00:30:53,870
And we're just like blown away.
663
00:30:53,894 --> 00:30:55,204
You know, that's Ali, brother.
664
00:30:55,228 --> 00:30:57,498
I mean, it was unbelievable.
665
00:30:57,522 --> 00:31:00,376
That, within itself,
made my whole trip.
666
00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:02,795
♪
667
00:31:02,819 --> 00:31:05,173
So, as we make our way
out of the temple and...
668
00:31:05,197 --> 00:31:07,050
we're making our
way down the stairs,
669
00:31:07,074 --> 00:31:08,676
I finally go up to Hawk.
670
00:31:08,700 --> 00:31:11,220
I says, "Look, bro," I said,
"we're supposed to be
671
00:31:11,244 --> 00:31:14,057
over here on a peace treaty,"
and I said,
672
00:31:14,081 --> 00:31:15,725
"and we're over here acting
like mother... ing fools.
673
00:31:15,749 --> 00:31:18,269
We're fighting amongst
each other, Americans."
674
00:31:18,293 --> 00:31:20,229
He walks three
steps in front of me,
675
00:31:20,253 --> 00:31:24,150
turns and swings as hard
as he can,
676
00:31:24,174 --> 00:31:26,110
hits me...
677
00:31:26,134 --> 00:31:29,530
I don't go down.
I look at him like he's crazy.
678
00:31:29,554 --> 00:31:31,616
I jump after him,
I go after him.
679
00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:34,827
The Japanese boys grab me,
snatch me out of the air,
680
00:31:34,851 --> 00:31:36,329
and I started going off.
681
00:31:36,353 --> 00:31:38,456
Cameras are on us,
cameras is filming.
682
00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:40,083
I'm saying,
"You ...ing pussy!"
683
00:31:40,107 --> 00:31:42,335
I said, "That's all you got?
That's all you got?"
684
00:31:42,359 --> 00:31:43,711
I was like, "You hit me
with your best shot,
685
00:31:43,735 --> 00:31:46,255
that's all you got?"
I said, "I'm gonna kill you!"
686
00:31:46,279 --> 00:31:49,884
And so, now,
I'm thinking street smarts.
687
00:31:49,908 --> 00:31:52,095
I'm 'a get him, I'm 'a hurt him.
688
00:31:52,119 --> 00:31:54,680
♪
689
00:31:54,704 --> 00:31:57,225
So, we had to go to
that special state dinner,
690
00:31:57,249 --> 00:31:59,685
that's where they had the
stainless steel chopsticks.
691
00:31:59,709 --> 00:32:01,938
So, I was taking one of
the pair of stainless steel
692
00:32:01,962 --> 00:32:04,398
chopsticks, eat with it,
drop one,
693
00:32:04,422 --> 00:32:06,984
pick it up,
slid it into my pocket.
694
00:32:07,008 --> 00:32:09,112
Grabbed another one,
did the same thing,
695
00:32:09,136 --> 00:32:11,364
dropped it,
slid it into my pocket.
696
00:32:11,388 --> 00:32:13,908
♪
697
00:32:13,932 --> 00:32:16,077
Me and Chris had to
share a room, Chris Benoit.
698
00:32:16,101 --> 00:32:17,745
And we're back at the room
and Chris is sitting there
699
00:32:17,769 --> 00:32:20,081
looking at me and
he's watching me and...
700
00:32:20,105 --> 00:32:22,583
all of a sudden, I open up
the window sill and I pull
701
00:32:22,607 --> 00:32:24,627
out the chopsticks,
and the window sill
702
00:32:24,651 --> 00:32:26,796
is all rough concrete.
703
00:32:26,820 --> 00:32:30,007
I'm sharpening the stainless
steel chopsticks on the window,
704
00:32:30,031 --> 00:32:33,094
bringing 'em to more of a point.
705
00:32:33,118 --> 00:32:34,595
Chris is like,
"What are you doing?"
706
00:32:34,619 --> 00:32:36,097
I said, "Man,
I'm making a shiv."
707
00:32:36,121 --> 00:32:37,306
He goes, "What?"
I was, like,
708
00:32:37,330 --> 00:32:38,516
"Yeah, I'm gonna
stab that mother... er."
709
00:32:38,540 --> 00:32:40,852
{\an1}I was taping the ends together,
like, I know how to make a shiv,
710
00:32:40,876 --> 00:32:42,770
you know what I'm saying.
My dad ain't been to prison
711
00:32:42,794 --> 00:32:44,689
and don't know how to do
this shit with no reason.
712
00:32:44,713 --> 00:32:45,773
I know how to do this shit.
713
00:32:45,797 --> 00:32:47,567
I'm like, okay,
I'm gonna get him.
714
00:32:47,591 --> 00:32:48,901
I'm gonna take him out.
Chris just said,
715
00:32:48,925 --> 00:32:49,902
"Man, don't do it, man."
716
00:32:49,926 --> 00:32:51,821
He's like, "Man, you
don't want to do that, man.
717
00:32:51,845 --> 00:32:55,324
If you kill Hawk over here,
you will just be here
718
00:32:55,348 --> 00:32:58,995
for the rest of your life."
What am I gonna do?
719
00:32:59,019 --> 00:33:01,122
I can't let this
punk get away with it.
720
00:33:01,146 --> 00:33:02,915
You know, we're gonna
have to settle this.
721
00:33:02,939 --> 00:33:05,192
♪
722
00:33:10,488 --> 00:33:13,384
After surviving days of
grueling conditions and
723
00:33:13,408 --> 00:33:16,804
life threatening situations,
the wrestlers head to the
724
00:33:16,828 --> 00:33:19,932
massive May Day Stadium
where festivities
725
00:33:19,956 --> 00:33:21,726
are about to commence.
726
00:33:21,750 --> 00:33:23,769
And I'm riding with Ric,
and we're driving
727
00:33:23,793 --> 00:33:26,272
down the road and two lanes...
728
00:33:26,296 --> 00:33:30,276
{\an8}Where nothing but
people walking to the show.
729
00:33:30,300 --> 00:33:33,070
And I says, "Ric, man, we're
really drawing a crowd here.
730
00:33:33,094 --> 00:33:35,323
I mean, these people
really want to see this."
731
00:33:35,347 --> 00:33:37,116
And all of a sudden,
the driver goes, "No,"
732
00:33:37,140 --> 00:33:38,659
he says,
"they don't want to come."
733
00:33:38,683 --> 00:33:41,704
He says, "If they don't show up,
they get a bullet in the head.
734
00:33:41,728 --> 00:33:43,289
Forced attendance."
735
00:33:43,313 --> 00:33:46,417
And I'm just going,
"You got to be kidding me."
736
00:33:46,441 --> 00:33:48,002
{\an8}We got there our first night,
737
00:33:48,026 --> 00:33:50,213
{\an8}170,000 people there.
738
00:33:50,237 --> 00:33:52,423
{\an8}And I thought, oh, my God.
739
00:33:52,447 --> 00:33:56,093
Antonio Inoki is a genius.
740
00:33:56,117 --> 00:33:58,554
This is... amazing!
741
00:33:58,578 --> 00:34:01,873
We're leaving
WrestleMania in the dirt!
742
00:34:20,809 --> 00:34:23,287
The way that you had over a
hundred and something
743
00:34:23,311 --> 00:34:25,122
thousand people working and
744
00:34:25,146 --> 00:34:27,959
moving together and flashing
all at the same time,
745
00:34:27,983 --> 00:34:29,210
{\an8}it was mind blowing.
746
00:34:29,234 --> 00:34:31,045
{\an8}You didn't even have to
be high to trip off that.
747
00:34:31,069 --> 00:34:34,298
{\an8}I mean, it was
straight up mind blowing.
748
00:34:34,322 --> 00:34:37,009
Their show made the half
time of the Super Bowl
749
00:34:37,033 --> 00:34:38,886
look like a high school.
750
00:34:38,910 --> 00:34:41,973
I'm not kidding ya,
it was just unbelievable.
751
00:34:41,997 --> 00:34:44,725
Before the matches started,
we were all jacked, man.
752
00:34:44,749 --> 00:34:46,727
We thought, this is
gonna be awesome.
753
00:34:46,751 --> 00:34:50,314
And then the matches start,
and I realize that none of
754
00:34:50,338 --> 00:34:54,568
these people have a clue
what they're watching,
755
00:34:54,592 --> 00:34:56,946
why they're watching it...
756
00:34:56,970 --> 00:35:01,284
It makes no sense to them.
757
00:35:01,308 --> 00:35:04,161
First match, went out there,
it was quieter than it is
758
00:35:04,185 --> 00:35:06,872
in this room right now
doing this interview.
759
00:35:06,896 --> 00:35:08,708
And that's hard to do.
760
00:35:08,732 --> 00:35:10,501
♪
761
00:35:10,525 --> 00:35:14,630
Hawk, during his match,
stood on the second rope
762
00:35:14,654 --> 00:35:17,091
and yelled, and he says,
"What in the 'F'
763
00:35:17,115 --> 00:35:19,760
are you even doing here,
you rotten..."
764
00:35:19,784 --> 00:35:22,972
And he cussed the crowd out.
(laughs)
765
00:35:22,996 --> 00:35:24,724
♪
766
00:35:24,748 --> 00:35:27,435
This is a society where
767
00:35:27,459 --> 00:35:30,021
{\an8}this kind of extravagant display
768
00:35:30,045 --> 00:35:31,814
{\an8}of people throwing
themselves around,
769
00:35:31,838 --> 00:35:35,276
{\an8}especially, for example,
the female wrestlers...
770
00:35:35,300 --> 00:35:39,488
must have been utterly
alien to the North Koreans.
771
00:35:39,512 --> 00:35:42,366
I wrestled Hashimoto the
first night in a main event.
772
00:35:42,390 --> 00:35:45,202
The North Koreans just
stood there and watched us.
773
00:35:45,226 --> 00:35:48,706
We never got a
reaction to anything.
774
00:35:48,730 --> 00:35:51,167
Just, this stuff doesn't
happen in this business.
775
00:35:51,191 --> 00:35:53,753
And you're just busting your
tail trying to get these people
776
00:35:53,777 --> 00:35:55,713
to respond to you and nothing.
777
00:35:55,737 --> 00:35:57,506
{\an8}Absolutely nothing.
778
00:35:57,530 --> 00:36:00,343
{\an8}The challenge to engage the
crowd would now fall
779
00:36:00,367 --> 00:36:03,262
{\an8}on the shoulders of
promoter Antonio Inoki,
780
00:36:03,286 --> 00:36:05,598
{\an8}whose connection to the
people of North Korea
781
00:36:05,622 --> 00:36:07,892
{\an8}was even deeper than it seemed.
782
00:36:07,916 --> 00:36:11,062
For Inoki, this event would
also pay tribute to his
783
00:36:11,086 --> 00:36:15,191
fallen mentor Rikidozan,
a wrestling icon in Japan
784
00:36:15,215 --> 00:36:18,069
who struggled to keep his
North Korean nationality
785
00:36:18,093 --> 00:36:20,678
a secret until it was too late.
786
00:36:50,834 --> 00:36:52,019
As the story goes,
787
00:36:52,043 --> 00:36:54,688
he was murdered by
Japanese gangsters in a bar.
788
00:36:54,712 --> 00:36:58,216
♪
789
00:37:10,520 --> 00:37:12,081
The Japanese Yakuza,
790
00:37:12,105 --> 00:37:13,749
which is their
version of the mafia,
791
00:37:13,773 --> 00:37:16,335
killed him because
he was North Korean.
792
00:37:16,359 --> 00:37:19,880
♪
793
00:37:19,904 --> 00:37:21,590
And, he wasn't Japanese,
794
00:37:21,614 --> 00:37:24,301
and he was becoming
very, very popular.
795
00:37:24,325 --> 00:37:26,178
In the North Korean mythology,
796
00:37:26,202 --> 00:37:28,848
his death becomes this
glorious, tragic thing
797
00:37:28,872 --> 00:37:30,975
wherein his final breaths
he expresses
798
00:37:30,999 --> 00:37:33,227
his loyalty to North Korea.
799
00:37:33,251 --> 00:37:35,521
♪
800
00:37:35,545 --> 00:37:38,190
And the fact that Inoki had
this association with him
801
00:37:38,214 --> 00:37:41,652
gave Inoki credibility in
North Korea eyes.
802
00:37:41,676 --> 00:37:44,238
The North Koreans
understood the connection
803
00:37:44,262 --> 00:37:45,948
between Inoki and Rikidozan.
804
00:37:45,972 --> 00:37:49,118
He got kind of the
hometown treatment.
805
00:37:49,142 --> 00:37:51,245
Ric Flair, they didn't know
what to make of Ric Flair.
806
00:37:51,269 --> 00:37:55,458
Bleach blond hair, sequins robe.
807
00:37:55,482 --> 00:37:57,001
They didn't understand it.
808
00:37:57,025 --> 00:38:00,087
Again, this match starts,
and it's quiet.
809
00:38:00,111 --> 00:38:01,589
And I'm going, God, man.
810
00:38:01,613 --> 00:38:04,675
Amazing to me that this
is the first ever matchup
811
00:38:04,699 --> 00:38:06,969
between these two
wrestling legends.
812
00:38:06,993 --> 00:38:08,554
They went to a different place.
813
00:38:08,578 --> 00:38:10,264
They kind of went old school.
814
00:38:10,288 --> 00:38:12,349
One to the chest,
one to the forehead.
815
00:38:12,373 --> 00:38:13,851
And they kept working,
all of a sudden, you could...
816
00:38:13,875 --> 00:38:16,896
You could hear the people
start coming with Inoki.
817
00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:18,939
We hear the crowd for
one of the few times
818
00:38:18,963 --> 00:38:22,485
at Collision in Korea.
Really responding to Inoki.
819
00:38:22,509 --> 00:38:24,361
And about halfway
through that match,
820
00:38:24,385 --> 00:38:28,073
that place is going
absolutely crazy.
821
00:38:28,097 --> 00:38:29,909
Inoki now coming off the
ropes sets up...
822
00:38:29,933 --> 00:38:31,785
Firmly plants his feet
and takes the
823
00:38:31,809 --> 00:38:33,537
Nature Boy
Ric Flair off his feet.
824
00:38:33,561 --> 00:38:35,706
This is a testament to Ric
because Ric's job
825
00:38:35,730 --> 00:38:37,625
was to get Inoki over.
826
00:38:37,649 --> 00:38:40,044
Ric's job was to showcase Inoki.
827
00:38:40,068 --> 00:38:41,712
There's nobody better at that.
828
00:38:41,736 --> 00:38:44,715
Flair in a lot of trouble.
Inoki tosses Flair!
829
00:38:44,739 --> 00:38:47,134
And I remember the
finish of the match...
830
00:38:47,158 --> 00:38:49,178
♪
831
00:38:49,202 --> 00:38:50,471
Chest kick.
832
00:38:50,495 --> 00:38:52,765
And, Inoki went over...
833
00:38:52,789 --> 00:38:55,476
and the place just came unglued.
834
00:38:55,500 --> 00:38:59,313
♪
835
00:38:59,337 --> 00:39:01,315
These people were
entertained for probably
836
00:39:01,339 --> 00:39:03,067
the first time in their lives.
837
00:39:03,091 --> 00:39:06,237
I mean, 'cause there was
no happiness in this place, man.
838
00:39:06,261 --> 00:39:09,114
This was like going
to hell and living.
839
00:39:09,138 --> 00:39:10,908
They had a little
fun that night, you know,
840
00:39:10,932 --> 00:39:13,285
and I guess
that forced attendance,
841
00:39:13,309 --> 00:39:15,037
they were glad they
were forced there,
842
00:39:15,061 --> 00:39:17,289
you know, for that one anyways.
843
00:39:17,313 --> 00:39:20,417
That was the greatest match
that's ever happened
844
00:39:20,441 --> 00:39:23,671
in this business. Ever.
845
00:39:23,695 --> 00:39:26,215
With the largest wrestling
event in history
846
00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:29,343
coming to a close,
and freedom within reach,
847
00:39:29,367 --> 00:39:33,138
the Americans must stay in line
for just a few more hours,
848
00:39:33,162 --> 00:39:36,767
or else this bizarre trip will
become a permanent stay.
849
00:39:36,791 --> 00:39:39,168
♪
850
00:39:43,339 --> 00:39:45,651
♪
851
00:39:45,675 --> 00:39:47,945
As the epic event
draws to a close,
852
00:39:47,969 --> 00:39:51,073
and with just hours remaining
before the group departs,
853
00:39:51,097 --> 00:39:53,659
a final ceremonial
dinner is Scorpio's
854
00:39:53,683 --> 00:39:56,912
last chance to settle
the score with Hawk.
855
00:39:56,936 --> 00:39:59,164
I hear doors closing,
"ch-ch-ch,"
856
00:39:59,188 --> 00:40:00,791
everybody's going
down to dinner.
857
00:40:00,815 --> 00:40:02,710
I open my door, I go out,
858
00:40:02,734 --> 00:40:05,045
I walk around the corner,
it's me and Hawk.
859
00:40:05,069 --> 00:40:07,548
♪
860
00:40:07,572 --> 00:40:10,843
We're face-to-face now.
861
00:40:10,867 --> 00:40:12,303
We're looking at each other,
I'm looking at him,
862
00:40:12,327 --> 00:40:13,387
I'm like, "What do you
want to do?
863
00:40:13,411 --> 00:40:15,556
You want to finish
this right now?"
864
00:40:15,580 --> 00:40:17,266
He pushes the button
for the elevator,
865
00:40:17,290 --> 00:40:19,351
so I turn and I back
into the elevator,
866
00:40:19,375 --> 00:40:21,395
keep my eye on him at all times.
867
00:40:21,419 --> 00:40:23,731
I got my shank with me.
868
00:40:23,755 --> 00:40:26,275
He gets into the elevator.
He's not saying nothing,
869
00:40:26,299 --> 00:40:27,610
we're just looking
at each other.
870
00:40:27,634 --> 00:40:28,861
I'm like,
"What do you want to do?
871
00:40:28,885 --> 00:40:31,905
You want to finish
this right now?"
872
00:40:31,929 --> 00:40:34,950
And all of a sudden,
he says, "I ran out of pills.
873
00:40:34,974 --> 00:40:36,952
I ain't got no steroids,
got no smoke,
874
00:40:36,976 --> 00:40:39,455
I got no nothing.
875
00:40:39,479 --> 00:40:43,834
My nerves got to me,
I was upset."
876
00:40:43,858 --> 00:40:45,836
I said, "I accept
your apology," I said,
877
00:40:45,860 --> 00:40:48,005
"But I'll tell you what,
we get back to Tokyo,
878
00:40:48,029 --> 00:40:49,590
if you still want
to finish this,
879
00:40:49,614 --> 00:40:50,924
we're gonna finish this."
880
00:40:50,948 --> 00:40:52,843
I said, "Alright, man,
whatever you want to do."
881
00:40:52,867 --> 00:40:54,511
We ended up squashing it
in North Korea,
882
00:40:54,535 --> 00:40:57,097
got to Japan.
I was ready.
883
00:40:57,121 --> 00:40:59,141
And that never happened, man.
884
00:40:59,165 --> 00:41:01,352
But he got an ass whooping
and learned that Scorpio
885
00:41:01,376 --> 00:41:04,563
ain't the one to mess with,
I'll tell you that shit.
886
00:41:04,587 --> 00:41:07,358
We were in North Korea
for four days.
887
00:41:07,382 --> 00:41:09,276
It was a relatively
short period of time
888
00:41:09,300 --> 00:41:10,653
that felt like a lifetime.
889
00:41:10,677 --> 00:41:13,530
So, by the time it
was the day to leave...
890
00:41:13,554 --> 00:41:14,865
Everybody was on edge.
891
00:41:14,889 --> 00:41:17,826
We were physically tired,
we were mentally tired.
892
00:41:17,850 --> 00:41:20,120
And there was a little
bit of a tension in the air
893
00:41:20,144 --> 00:41:22,581
because we still didn't
have our passports yet.
894
00:41:22,605 --> 00:41:26,168
But, once we physically had
our passports in our hand
895
00:41:26,192 --> 00:41:27,878
and we were on the plane
and we were headed
896
00:41:27,902 --> 00:41:31,757
back to Japan,
everything changed.
897
00:41:31,781 --> 00:41:33,634
It wasn't until
the plane landed.
898
00:41:33,658 --> 00:41:36,595
Ric Flair literally walked
down the stairs of the plane,
899
00:41:36,619 --> 00:41:37,971
walked down to the tarmac,
900
00:41:37,995 --> 00:41:41,100
got down on the ground
and kissed the pavement.
901
00:41:41,124 --> 00:41:43,352
That's how
excited Ric Flair was.
902
00:41:43,376 --> 00:41:45,896
♪
903
00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:49,983
$3000 suit on, alligator shoes.
904
00:41:50,007 --> 00:41:51,443
Got down on his hands and knees,
905
00:41:51,467 --> 00:41:54,822
and kissed the ground,
says, "I love Japan."
906
00:41:54,846 --> 00:41:56,990
And I mean, he was woo'ing and...
907
00:41:57,014 --> 00:41:58,909
Now he's Ric Flair again.
908
00:41:58,933 --> 00:42:01,245
He was happier than a lark, man.
909
00:42:01,269 --> 00:42:04,289
And we all felt the same way.
910
00:42:04,313 --> 00:42:08,252
{\an8}The event failed to energize
Inoki's political ambitions
911
00:42:08,276 --> 00:42:11,964
{\an8}as he lost his reelection
bid and left politics behind
912
00:42:11,988 --> 00:42:14,299
{\an8}for almost two decades.
913
00:42:14,323 --> 00:42:16,927
{\an8}While this fusion of
staged combat and
914
00:42:16,951 --> 00:42:20,013
international politics seems
like an unlikely pairing,
915
00:42:20,037 --> 00:42:23,392
it revealed a fascinating
parallel between wrestling
916
00:42:23,416 --> 00:42:26,228
and North Korea, as they are
both masters of
917
00:42:26,252 --> 00:42:30,149
blurring the lines between
fantasy and reality.
918
00:42:30,173 --> 00:42:33,444
The show, itself,
was super cool.
919
00:42:33,468 --> 00:42:35,988
Meeting Muhammad Ali
on top of it,
920
00:42:36,012 --> 00:42:37,740
wrestling in front of that dude.
921
00:42:37,764 --> 00:42:40,909
I mean, I remember
after my first match,
922
00:42:40,933 --> 00:42:43,579
he told me, he says,
"Oh, you, you're really good.
923
00:42:43,603 --> 00:42:44,955
You're very good."
I says, "Thank..."
924
00:42:44,979 --> 00:42:46,790
I mean, this is
Muhammad Ali, brother.
925
00:42:46,814 --> 00:42:49,585
So, being a part of that was,
926
00:42:49,609 --> 00:42:53,547
was absolutely... awesome.
927
00:42:53,571 --> 00:42:56,133
And it's 2 Cold Scorpio
up and over!
928
00:42:56,157 --> 00:42:58,218
Two nights in a row,
929
00:42:58,242 --> 00:43:02,848
189,000 people.
930
00:43:02,872 --> 00:43:06,351
I've, I've never seen that many
people together, ever.
931
00:43:06,375 --> 00:43:09,438
That's the only thing that I
can ever brag about to Hogan
932
00:43:09,462 --> 00:43:11,607
that I've done something
that he has not done,
933
00:43:11,631 --> 00:43:14,026
is I wrestled for 199,000 people
934
00:43:14,050 --> 00:43:16,278
two nights in a row, not one.
935
00:43:16,302 --> 00:43:19,698
And that's all I got on him.
(laughs)
936
00:43:19,722 --> 00:43:21,658
I've been a part of
WrestleMania and
937
00:43:21,682 --> 00:43:23,619
I've been to Super Bowls.
I've, you know,
938
00:43:23,643 --> 00:43:27,331
I've been to a lot of
different big events.
939
00:43:27,355 --> 00:43:30,834
They pale in comparison
940
00:43:30,858 --> 00:43:33,670
to what I saw in Pyongyang.
941
00:43:33,694 --> 00:43:35,631
I knew...
942
00:43:35,655 --> 00:43:39,593
that Vince McMahon
was probably...
943
00:43:39,617 --> 00:43:42,846
{\an8}livid that there was a
wrestling event that
944
00:43:42,870 --> 00:43:47,392
{\an8}drew a bigger house
than WrestleMania.
945
00:43:47,416 --> 00:43:50,062
{\an8}But, my joy is mitigated by
the fact that none of them
946
00:43:50,086 --> 00:43:52,231
{\an8}were paying customers and
947
00:43:52,255 --> 00:43:54,191
{\an8}they were kind of
forced to be there.
948
00:43:54,215 --> 00:43:57,402
{\an8}But technically,
if you go to Wikipedia, folks,
949
00:43:57,426 --> 00:44:00,572
{\an8}largest wrestling
event in the world...
950
00:44:00,596 --> 00:44:02,616
{\an8}you know, I did that.
951
00:44:02,640 --> 00:44:06,853
{\an9}♪