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- The most prestigious
champion in the world,
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Nature Boy Ric Flair!
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[tense music]
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- They all want to be--whoo!
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Like the Nature Boy,
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but there can only be one.
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[upbeat music]
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- Ric Flair,
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the self-professed
dirtiest player in the game.
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A villainous playboy...
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- Whoo!
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- Who openly
displayed attributes
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that the modern society
viewed as evil.
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- He was cocky.
He was arrogant.
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- I'm not like every other
Tom, Dick, and Harry
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that walks on your program.
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- And he was great
at making me hate his guts.
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- When I'm in that ring,
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I don't care
about anybody but me.
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- He'd use every
dirty trick in the book.
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He's the dirtiest player
in the game.
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- I'm the dirtiest player
in the game.
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- Oh, my God!
Right across his knee!
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- He could be
incredibly vicious.
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- There's your pretty boy.
Now he's ugly!
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- Ric is a Scarface-like
figure.
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- Gold around my neck.
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Rolex watch around my wrist
looking so fine.
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- He had everything
that you wanted,
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and he reminded you.
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- I spent more money
on spilled booze
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than you made
in the last six months.
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- His brand wasn't always
family-friendly.
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- I have four or five women
every day of my life.
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- Ric Flair--whoo!
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was selling sex, drugs,
and rock and roll.
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- Beautiful women,
bright lights,
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the big city, limousine rides,
jet flying son of a gun.
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- Nature was really
living all of that.
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There was no pretend
in any of it.
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- You got to be bored to death.
The same woman every night?
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- Paying alimony to three women
at one time was a lot of dough.
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As a matter of fact,
that's got to be
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some kind of record, right?
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I'm not changing my lifestyle.
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- It was weird because
you kind of hated him,
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but you loved hating him.
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- He appeals to what
human beings want.
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We wanna be the Man.
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- Post Malone, my man. Whoo!
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all: Whoo!
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- To this day,
if you say Ric Flair,
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the whole audience will go,
"Whoo!"
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crowd: Whoo!
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- Diamond Ric Flair.
all: Whoo!
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- Everything was just
so over the top with him.
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He loved the glamorous life,
and who doesn't?
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- Whether you like it--whoo!
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Or don't like it,
learn to love it!
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To be the man, daddy,
you got beat the Man.
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[chuckles]
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[dramatic music]
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* *
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- When you're Ric Flair,
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when you're
the world champion--whoo!
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When you're all there is!
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I mean,
let's show them one time.
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Put that camera on this.
Can you get something
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to show them
what's happening right here?
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- Why are we
so captivated by villains?
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- Villains are the people
that drive stories.
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- You need people like me.
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- Essentially, if you think
about any great movie or story
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that's ever been told,
there can't be a great hero...
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- Is he talking to me?
- Without a great villain.
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- Target zero, right...
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here.
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- The best villains
are the ones
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who know
what they have to offer
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and they're not afraid
to talk about it.
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- I want you to deal with
your problems by becoming rich!
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all: Yeah!
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- In an era defined by excess,
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Flair stole the spotlight.
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- The Man.
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- You gotta understand
I'm a hip-hop child, right?
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So seeing somebody like that
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wear jewelry,
and had all the women,
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and had all the cars,
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it's like
that's right up my alley.
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- He's not a demon.
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He's not a monster.
He's a very real man.
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- Whoo!
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- A man
who is better than you.
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- Every great villain
has an origin story.
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- Wanna know
how I got these scars?
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- And Ric Flair
is no different.
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- They all wanna be--whoo!
Like the Nature Boy.
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But there can only be one.
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- So just how
did he become the Nature Boy?
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- I think I was born
the Nature Boy,
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much to the dismay
of my parents.
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I grew up
in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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And I can remember as a kid,
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I liked watching wrestling
on Saturday night.
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My birthday present every year
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was to take me
to wrestling matches.
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I'm adopted,
and couldn't have been adopted
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by two finer people.
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Parents were both so smart.
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My dad a double doctorate,
my mom a master's.
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But I didn't inherit
any of their genes.
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To say that I was difficult
would be an understatement.
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I can remember, one night,
when I was in seventh grade,
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I tied the sheets together,
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just like you see
in the movies,
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got into my friend's Pontiac,
who had borrowed it
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from his dad, who didn't have
a driver's license.
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Then we headed over
to a girl's slumber party.
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This ended up with me in jail
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6:00 a.m. on Father's Day.
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It was an experience,
but you grow up fast.
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Got me to a place where
the judge said to my parents
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it's either military school
or boarding school.
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So my parents found
a real nice boarding school.
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There's a lot to be said
for going to boarding school
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in terms of the responsibility
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that you have to carry
on your shoulders to grow up.
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Either make it or you don't.
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And I mean, a lot of kids
just rely, go back,
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and fall down
on your family's name.
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All the people in that school,
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90% of them came
from very wealthy families.
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So I saw the lifestyle
I wanted.
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I just had to figure out
how to afford it.
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Wasn't really much
to fall back on.
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I wasn't gonna be a doctor.
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So I just found
another way to make it,
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and I'm--I'm just happy
and lucky
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that I wound up in wrestling.
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- In 1972,
Flair was a far cry
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from becoming the Nature Boy.
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- I met Verne, Verne Gagne,
AWA champion,
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and the promoter
and the owner of AWA,
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the American Wrestling
Alliance,
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who I'd met before
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because his son and I
were friends in high school.
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Looked at me and said, "Yeah,
we'll see what you got."
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That's how it all started.
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- You gotta know how to fall.
If you don't know how to fall,
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you're going to get hurt.
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And if you're hurt,
you can't wrestle.
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And if you can't wrestle,
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you don't eat.
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It's that simple.
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- During the era in which
Ric Flair came into wrestling,
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there weren't a lot of trainers
better than Verne Gagne.
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- We had to run 2 miles
the first day
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and then 500 free squats,
200 crunches.
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- 200.
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- In 30-degree weather
in a barn.
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Once I got through that,
I felt I could do anything.
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You've got Mr. Charisma,
Mr. Excitement, Ric Flair,
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and you know
who I got in my mind?
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I got the boy, Conway,
with the funny-looking hairdo.
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- Everything we know
about Ric Flair growing up
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is that he did
get into trouble.
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And I think it was realizing
that the stuff he did
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that got people so riled up
had a real purpose
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in the world
of professional wrestling.
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[bell dings]
- Ric Flair...
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- Ric had been wrestling
for a couple of years,
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and he was still
figuring out who he was.
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- Nothing stood out
about Ric Flair.
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And you got to stand out
to make money.
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You got to stand out
to have some kind of character
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that people
are going to remember.
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He was kind of unspectacular.
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- We're driving 3,000 miles
a week back then.
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I'd met this guy in a bar--
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shocker, right?
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That told me he had a plane.
He could fly us.
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So we'd been flying
with the guy for about a month.
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The plane crash came
in '75, October 4th.
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[dramatic music]
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We ran out of gas
at 6,000 feet
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about a mile and a half
from the runaway.
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The first engine pinned.
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He reached down
to pull reserve.
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There was always reserve gas.
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Second engine pinned.
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[high-pitched ringing]
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[siren wailing]
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The next thing I knew,
I was getting put
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in one of these
old military ambulances.
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I just remember them saying,
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"I think we're gonna lose
this one."
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I thought
they were talking about me.
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Pilot died.
200
00:08:52,283 --> 00:08:55,536
Valentine and Bob Bruggers
were paralyzed.
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I broke my back
in three places.
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00:08:57,330 --> 00:09:00,583
[machines beeping]
203
00:09:00,625 --> 00:09:02,293
I didn't think I'd ever
be able to wrestle again.
204
00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,468
[siren wailing]
205
00:09:10,510 --> 00:09:13,429
- He has
this horrible plane crash
206
00:09:13,471 --> 00:09:16,933
that he's somehow
able to survive.
207
00:09:16,974 --> 00:09:18,434
And while
he's in the hospital,
208
00:09:18,476 --> 00:09:21,354
it forces him
to take a step back
209
00:09:21,396 --> 00:09:22,688
early in his career
210
00:09:22,730 --> 00:09:25,358
and to think about what it is
211
00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:26,943
that he wants to do
with this thing.
212
00:09:28,694 --> 00:09:29,987
- I had lost a lot of weight.
213
00:09:30,029 --> 00:09:33,032
I went from 255 to 180
214
00:09:33,074 --> 00:09:35,493
while I was with a broken back.
215
00:09:35,535 --> 00:09:36,953
- Ric probably sitting there
216
00:09:36,994 --> 00:09:38,746
knowing,
"I can't be in the ring.
217
00:09:38,788 --> 00:09:41,165
"I can't go out and be myself.
218
00:09:41,207 --> 00:09:43,042
"How do I turn this
into a positive?
219
00:09:43,084 --> 00:09:45,128
What can I change?"
220
00:09:45,169 --> 00:09:47,130
- That's when he starts
thinking about
221
00:09:47,171 --> 00:09:48,715
the Nature Boy Buddy Rogers.
222
00:09:48,756 --> 00:09:52,719
- Buddy "Nature Boy" Rogers
strutting around the ring.
223
00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:56,389
- In the '60s, Nature Boy
Buddy Rogers had a strut.
224
00:09:56,431 --> 00:09:59,642
But he had great promos,
especially for the day.
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00:09:59,684 --> 00:10:01,686
He was cocky, arrogant.
226
00:10:01,728 --> 00:10:04,188
- To a nicer guy
it couldn't happen.
227
00:10:04,230 --> 00:10:07,525
- He had his shiny, sequined
ring gear and jackets
228
00:10:07,567 --> 00:10:09,068
and things like that.
229
00:10:09,110 --> 00:10:10,862
- Ric Flair,
who was a big fan of his
230
00:10:10,903 --> 00:10:13,072
and a student of the game,
probably took that
231
00:10:13,114 --> 00:10:16,284
and was like, "Man, I could
make this 100 times better."
232
00:10:19,078 --> 00:10:21,456
- And that's how it all started
with Nature Boy.
233
00:10:22,457 --> 00:10:24,792
- I don't think that you could
have a better example
234
00:10:24,834 --> 00:10:28,671
of a phoenix rising from the
literal ashes of an airplane.
235
00:10:28,713 --> 00:10:31,632
- Nature Boy, Ric Flair!
236
00:10:32,592 --> 00:10:35,553
- The uncrowned world champion,
the U.S. belt,
237
00:10:35,595 --> 00:10:38,347
the World Tag belt,
doesn't make any difference.
238
00:10:38,389 --> 00:10:40,349
The new Ric Flair.
239
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- He almost died.
He broke his back.
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He came back.
241
00:10:43,436 --> 00:10:45,563
And he said, "It's not enough
for me to be Ric Flair.
242
00:10:45,605 --> 00:10:47,440
I have to become
the Nature Boy."
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00:10:47,482 --> 00:10:50,610
- Here I am, looking better
than any man alive.
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00:10:50,651 --> 00:10:54,155
The most gorgeous human being
on the face of this Earth.
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00:10:54,197 --> 00:10:57,533
- In 1978, I felt
pretty comfortable with myself.
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00:10:57,575 --> 00:10:59,285
The Nature Boy thing
was kicking in.
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00:10:59,327 --> 00:11:02,038
- Once he realized
he was "the Man,"
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00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:05,583
I think that's where that
evil persona really took over.
249
00:11:05,625 --> 00:11:07,627
- One of the biggest stars
in wrestling today.
250
00:11:07,668 --> 00:11:09,128
He knows it.
251
00:11:09,170 --> 00:11:10,588
He's probably
one of the biggest egotists.
252
00:11:10,630 --> 00:11:13,257
- And the presentation
was all part of the package.
253
00:11:13,299 --> 00:11:16,469
- Ric walked in dressed
to the nines, hair perfect,
254
00:11:16,511 --> 00:11:18,805
and had a swagger about him
and a strut about him.
255
00:11:18,846 --> 00:11:23,226
- You can see that slightly
cocky walk that he has.
256
00:11:23,267 --> 00:11:24,644
- Prior to Ric Flair,
257
00:11:24,685 --> 00:11:26,479
professional wrestling
wasn't the sort of job
258
00:11:26,521 --> 00:11:28,189
that you showed up to
in a suit.
259
00:11:28,231 --> 00:11:30,316
When you see somebody
getting off of a team bus
260
00:11:30,358 --> 00:11:32,318
and for those,
like, 90 seconds
261
00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:33,611
that they're being trailed
by a camera,
262
00:11:33,653 --> 00:11:35,321
they have put on
a three-piece suit
263
00:11:35,363 --> 00:11:37,073
and a nice watch
and a pair of sunglasses,
264
00:11:37,115 --> 00:11:38,574
there's a little bit
of Ric Flair in all that.
265
00:11:38,616 --> 00:11:43,079
- We're talking
about stylin' and profilin'.
266
00:11:43,121 --> 00:11:45,164
The most expensive stuff
available.
267
00:11:45,206 --> 00:11:47,625
I saw Joe Namath,
and I was gonna be better.
268
00:11:47,667 --> 00:11:51,003
Diamond ring wearing,
kiss-stealing--whoo!
269
00:11:51,045 --> 00:11:53,631
Wheeling, dealing,
limousine-riding,
270
00:11:53,673 --> 00:11:55,967
jet-flying son of a gun.
271
00:11:56,008 --> 00:11:58,511
- He had everything
that you wanted,
272
00:11:58,553 --> 00:12:00,054
and he reminded you
273
00:12:00,096 --> 00:12:02,348
that he had everything
that you wanted.
274
00:12:02,390 --> 00:12:04,976
- Ric stood out
and was different
275
00:12:05,017 --> 00:12:08,104
than everybody else
every single night.
276
00:12:08,146 --> 00:12:11,190
- I dress myself
in alligator shoes.
277
00:12:11,232 --> 00:12:14,402
I wear a $15,000 Rolex.
278
00:12:14,444 --> 00:12:16,112
Rolex owes me
a commercial, man.
279
00:12:16,154 --> 00:12:19,365
A free one. [chuckles]
280
00:12:19,407 --> 00:12:21,075
Rolex, when?
281
00:12:22,493 --> 00:12:24,412
- Ric Flair's full of himself,
282
00:12:24,454 --> 00:12:26,414
and that's what makes it easy
to boo him.
283
00:12:26,456 --> 00:12:29,417
But when he says, like, "You
wish you had what I have,"
284
00:12:29,459 --> 00:12:30,460
he's not wrong.
285
00:12:30,501 --> 00:12:33,004
- Whoo!
Setting the world on fire.
286
00:12:33,046 --> 00:12:34,672
- Private jets?
287
00:12:34,714 --> 00:12:38,843
You didn't know of people
who flew in private airplanes,
288
00:12:38,885 --> 00:12:41,220
and Ric Flair
did this on the regular.
289
00:12:41,262 --> 00:12:43,723
- He was simply
the personification of excess
290
00:12:43,765 --> 00:12:46,809
in a decade defined
by materialism and greed.
291
00:12:46,851 --> 00:12:50,897
- I think the '80s were
an ideal time for Ric.
292
00:12:50,938 --> 00:12:53,608
- "Lifestyles of the Rich
and Famous" on TV,
293
00:12:53,649 --> 00:12:56,152
shows like "Dynasty"
and greed is good, right?
294
00:12:56,194 --> 00:13:01,324
- Greed, for lack
of a better word, is good.
295
00:13:01,365 --> 00:13:04,285
- Ric Flair was
the Gordon Gekko of wrestling.
296
00:13:04,327 --> 00:13:07,371
- This is
what all of them are wearing
297
00:13:07,413 --> 00:13:09,582
on Wall Street, Danny, huh?
298
00:13:09,624 --> 00:13:12,585
- If you had Michael Jordans,
you were Ric Flair life.
299
00:13:12,627 --> 00:13:14,837
If you were wearing PRO-keds
or Converses,
300
00:13:14,879 --> 00:13:15,963
you were just some wrestler
301
00:13:16,005 --> 00:13:17,548
he was gonna beat up
that night.
302
00:13:17,590 --> 00:13:18,925
- When I'm in that ring,
303
00:13:18,966 --> 00:13:21,094
I don't care about anybody
304
00:13:21,135 --> 00:13:24,472
in the whole world but me.
305
00:13:25,431 --> 00:13:28,976
- He understood what a villain
is supposed to do in the ring.
306
00:13:31,396 --> 00:13:34,232
The villain getting his butt
kicked in the right spots
307
00:13:34,273 --> 00:13:36,150
is what makes a match work.
308
00:13:36,192 --> 00:13:39,320
- I can't help but feel that
Dusty has it right here now.
309
00:13:39,362 --> 00:13:42,115
- You have to make a guy
look like he's a guy
310
00:13:42,156 --> 00:13:45,076
that can beat you
for that world championship.
311
00:13:45,118 --> 00:13:46,536
- Oh, he's upside down!
312
00:13:46,577 --> 00:13:48,746
- The toss
into the turnbuckle,
313
00:13:48,788 --> 00:13:51,249
grab the bottom buckle,
flip over,
314
00:13:51,290 --> 00:13:53,418
and run down the side
of the ring
315
00:13:53,459 --> 00:13:55,920
is one of the most classic
316
00:13:55,962 --> 00:13:59,507
"watch the bad guy get
what he deserves" moves.
317
00:13:59,549 --> 00:14:01,801
- And he brings him up
very unceremoniously
318
00:14:01,843 --> 00:14:03,136
right off the top.
319
00:14:03,177 --> 00:14:05,930
- The Flair on his knees,
when he do like that
320
00:14:05,972 --> 00:14:07,515
and that hair be shaking.
321
00:14:07,557 --> 00:14:10,476
- And Flair cowering
in the corner.
322
00:14:10,518 --> 00:14:13,813
- He was begging him,
"Please, please don't do it."
323
00:14:13,855 --> 00:14:15,648
And the referee goes,
"Oh come on."
324
00:14:15,690 --> 00:14:17,442
And then the guy
turns his back,
325
00:14:17,483 --> 00:14:21,112
and then Flair jumps up
and punches him.
326
00:14:21,154 --> 00:14:24,365
- Flair,
thumb to the eye of Sting.
327
00:14:24,407 --> 00:14:26,451
- Would really make you say,
"Wait a minute, man.
328
00:14:26,492 --> 00:14:28,619
You can't be doing that
to the good guys."
329
00:14:28,661 --> 00:14:31,789
- And there's his
play-it-again slam.
330
00:14:31,831 --> 00:14:34,459
- There's your pretty boy.
Now he's ugly.
331
00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:37,503
- When he got on
your good guy,
332
00:14:37,545 --> 00:14:40,298
he could do it
and be incredibly vicious.
333
00:14:40,339 --> 00:14:41,799
- Flair's got a chair!
334
00:14:41,841 --> 00:14:44,552
Oh, my God!
Right across his knees.
335
00:14:44,594 --> 00:14:47,555
- I'm the dirtiest player
in the game!
336
00:14:47,597 --> 00:14:50,016
- He calls himself the dirtiest
player in the game.
337
00:14:50,058 --> 00:14:51,684
When you say that out loud,
338
00:14:51,726 --> 00:14:53,770
it takes a little bit
of the sting off of it, right?
339
00:14:53,811 --> 00:14:56,314
It's like he's telling you
who he is.
340
00:14:56,355 --> 00:14:58,733
- He's cheating.
- Yes, he's cheating.
341
00:14:58,775 --> 00:15:00,902
- Hey, shut up!
342
00:15:00,943 --> 00:15:02,278
- He was leaving
with that title,
343
00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:04,030
and that's
what made him a great villain.
344
00:15:04,072 --> 00:15:09,702
- I am still the world
heavyweight wrestling champion.
345
00:15:09,744 --> 00:15:13,372
- My dad being able to take
you on this roller coaster
346
00:15:13,414 --> 00:15:15,458
and look like
he was about to lose,
347
00:15:15,500 --> 00:15:17,168
but being the dirtiest player
in the game,
348
00:15:17,210 --> 00:15:20,380
he was able to sneak one out,
just makes you hate him more.
349
00:15:20,421 --> 00:15:22,465
Like you weren't
even gonna win.
350
00:15:22,507 --> 00:15:27,303
- To be the man, daddy,
you gotta beat the Man.
351
00:15:27,345 --> 00:15:29,722
- Being a man
was about conquering.
352
00:15:29,764 --> 00:15:31,808
Ric Flair represented
everybody's bully.
353
00:15:31,849 --> 00:15:34,477
- Sting.
Oh, it's great.
354
00:15:34,519 --> 00:15:36,562
The first thing I wanna do
355
00:15:36,604 --> 00:15:40,733
when I get up in the morning
is paint my face.
356
00:15:40,775 --> 00:15:44,779
- His ability to talk [...]
is unparalleled.
357
00:15:44,821 --> 00:15:47,407
- He knew the buttons
to push on people.
358
00:15:47,448 --> 00:15:51,077
- You got to be bored to death.
359
00:15:51,119 --> 00:15:53,871
The same woman every night?
360
00:15:53,913 --> 00:15:56,165
- It's kinda like
that Floyd Mayweather disease
361
00:15:56,207 --> 00:16:00,628
where people pay a lot of money
to watch this guy lose.
362
00:16:00,670 --> 00:16:03,172
- The whole world
363
00:16:03,214 --> 00:16:08,636
wants to shut Slick Ric up,
bottom line.
364
00:16:08,678 --> 00:16:11,472
- Flair's obnoxious
flaunting of wealth and status
365
00:16:11,514 --> 00:16:13,349
made for a perfect rivalry
366
00:16:13,391 --> 00:16:15,476
with the blue-collar
working man.
367
00:16:15,518 --> 00:16:19,605
- Oh, oh. Here he comes!
The American Dream.
368
00:16:19,647 --> 00:16:23,276
- Dusty Rhodes, also known
as the American Dream,
369
00:16:23,317 --> 00:16:27,613
was a working-class guy who
dared to stand up to the Man.
370
00:16:27,655 --> 00:16:31,743
- Get a dream, hold on to it,
and shoot for the sky.
371
00:16:31,784 --> 00:16:35,288
- I wanted to see Dusty Rhodes
beat the tar out him.
372
00:16:35,329 --> 00:16:37,790
Dusty Rhodes
was the everyday working man,
373
00:16:37,832 --> 00:16:39,333
the son of a plumber.
374
00:16:39,375 --> 00:16:42,295
- Who's your favorite wrestler?
- Dusty Rhodes.
375
00:16:42,336 --> 00:16:44,422
- He represented
the average guy.
376
00:16:44,464 --> 00:16:45,631
That's why they loved him.
377
00:16:45,673 --> 00:16:46,632
That's why they connected
with them.
378
00:16:46,674 --> 00:16:48,801
They felt like they were him.
379
00:16:48,843 --> 00:16:51,095
- Dusty Rhodes, the man
who has caught the heart
380
00:16:51,137 --> 00:16:54,474
and the fancy in the minds
of people everywhere.
381
00:16:54,515 --> 00:16:56,809
- If you were the regular fan,
382
00:16:56,851 --> 00:16:59,812
rooting for the son of
a plumber like Dusty Rhodes,
383
00:16:59,854 --> 00:17:01,814
there was no one worse
than Ric Flair.
384
00:17:01,856 --> 00:17:07,028
He embodied all of this
capitalistic greed.
385
00:17:07,070 --> 00:17:08,988
- This wasn't just a rivalry.
386
00:17:09,030 --> 00:17:11,074
This was class warfare,
387
00:17:11,115 --> 00:17:14,035
the working-class hero taking
on the loud-mouth rich guy
388
00:17:14,077 --> 00:17:15,620
flaunting his spoils.
389
00:17:15,661 --> 00:17:17,830
- I want you to jump
out of that TV.
390
00:17:17,872 --> 00:17:21,375
Yeah, you bad.
Yeah, you bad, Ric.
391
00:17:21,417 --> 00:17:25,254
- Big Dust, you got no belt.
You got no life.
392
00:17:25,296 --> 00:17:26,964
You got nothing to brag about.
393
00:17:27,006 --> 00:17:28,424
Nothing to stand on.
394
00:17:28,466 --> 00:17:30,301
- Don't talk about the
American Dream, Dusty Rhodes.
395
00:17:30,343 --> 00:17:33,554
I am the best, daddy.
There is no other.
396
00:17:33,596 --> 00:17:35,598
- It was
the guy on the pedestal
397
00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:36,682
against the common man.
398
00:17:36,724 --> 00:17:38,976
- I'm tired of looking at hat.
399
00:17:39,018 --> 00:17:42,855
I'm just gonna slip it off
and throw it out to the fans.
400
00:17:42,897 --> 00:17:45,483
Yeah, yeah!
401
00:17:45,525 --> 00:17:48,861
- He would talk about
what a disgusting slob
402
00:17:48,903 --> 00:17:50,154
Dusty Rhodes was.
403
00:17:50,196 --> 00:17:54,033
- Dusty Rhodes,
you're a country-talking fool.
404
00:17:54,075 --> 00:17:56,869
- But he knew that that was
going to get under fans' skin.
405
00:17:56,911 --> 00:18:00,498
- I'm gonna beat you half
to death because I have to.
406
00:18:00,540 --> 00:18:02,375
- He was the guy living
in the biggest house
407
00:18:02,417 --> 00:18:03,876
in the biggest side of town.
408
00:18:03,918 --> 00:18:05,586
The other guy was
the son of a plumber.
409
00:18:05,628 --> 00:18:08,214
Blue collar, white collar.
It was classic.
410
00:18:08,256 --> 00:18:09,924
- Now is the time
411
00:18:09,966 --> 00:18:12,135
that the talking stops
and the fighting begins.
412
00:18:12,176 --> 00:18:13,970
- A battle of two giants
413
00:18:14,011 --> 00:18:17,014
in the wrestling world
here tonight.
414
00:18:17,056 --> 00:18:18,474
- The war
between Flair and Dusty
415
00:18:18,516 --> 00:18:19,809
set a new standard
416
00:18:19,851 --> 00:18:22,478
for what an epic rivalry
could become.
417
00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,605
- I wrestled Dusty
in the Orange Bowl,
418
00:18:24,647 --> 00:18:27,358
and we had,
like, 40,000 people.
419
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,402
We did huge business.
420
00:18:30,445 --> 00:18:31,696
- While Flair and Rhodes
421
00:18:31,738 --> 00:18:33,823
were in all-out conflict,
422
00:18:33,865 --> 00:18:37,243
the U.S. was waging a cold war
against the Soviet Union...
423
00:18:37,285 --> 00:18:40,246
- Soviets have been building
their military strength.
424
00:18:40,288 --> 00:18:42,373
The Cold War went right on.
425
00:18:42,415 --> 00:18:43,833
- A real-life issue
426
00:18:43,875 --> 00:18:46,127
that was playing out
in the ring.
427
00:18:46,169 --> 00:18:48,546
- Sports entertainment 101 is
428
00:18:48,588 --> 00:18:51,257
who was the U.S.'s enemy
at this time?
429
00:18:51,299 --> 00:18:55,136
- Russia, number one.
Iran, number one.
430
00:18:55,178 --> 00:18:57,972
USA--[spits]
431
00:18:58,014 --> 00:19:00,516
- You just plug that in.
It's very easy.
432
00:19:00,558 --> 00:19:03,770
There's that sense of pride
and nationalism.
433
00:19:03,811 --> 00:19:05,646
And if you have somebody
that's representing that,
434
00:19:05,688 --> 00:19:07,774
people are gonna cheer
for that person.
435
00:19:07,815 --> 00:19:10,443
- So fast forward
to Nikita Koloff
436
00:19:10,485 --> 00:19:12,111
taking on a Ric Flair.
437
00:19:12,153 --> 00:19:14,864
And Ric Flair,
even though we hated him
438
00:19:14,906 --> 00:19:19,118
and he was this evil guy,
he was our evil guy.
439
00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:23,623
- And as we have seen
so many times, a double-team.
440
00:19:23,664 --> 00:19:27,502
- Flair is locked in a cage.
He's in peril.
441
00:19:27,543 --> 00:19:29,003
- And here's
the American Dream
442
00:19:29,045 --> 00:19:30,755
as he got into the ring.
443
00:19:30,797 --> 00:19:34,967
- In comes Dusty Rhodes,
the American Dream.
444
00:19:35,009 --> 00:19:37,845
- Coming to the aid of
the world heavyweight champion
445
00:19:37,887 --> 00:19:40,473
is Dusty Rhodes,
the world television champion.
446
00:19:40,515 --> 00:19:43,559
- Dusty comes out,
and he helps Ric Flair.
447
00:19:43,601 --> 00:19:45,645
- And right now,
Dusty has cleared the ring,
448
00:19:45,686 --> 00:19:47,230
and there they stand.
449
00:19:48,356 --> 00:19:51,943
And now we're going to see,
Bob, look here, from behind,
450
00:19:51,984 --> 00:19:54,445
both the Andersons
working over Dusty Rhodes.
451
00:19:54,487 --> 00:19:57,156
- And he turns on Dusty Rhodes.
452
00:19:57,198 --> 00:19:59,575
- Ric is not worried
about red, white, and blue.
453
00:19:59,617 --> 00:20:01,911
Ric is worried about green
at the end of the day.
454
00:20:01,953 --> 00:20:04,497
- And now it's a three on one.
455
00:20:04,539 --> 00:20:06,666
- Attacking Dusty,
breaking his leg,
456
00:20:06,707 --> 00:20:08,292
beating on Dusty Rhodes.
457
00:20:08,334 --> 00:20:10,086
- The violence seemed real.
458
00:20:10,128 --> 00:20:14,799
You thought, "Man, Ric
really wants to kill Dusty."
459
00:20:14,841 --> 00:20:15,883
- All of us
sitting there like,
460
00:20:15,925 --> 00:20:18,094
how can we have been so stupid
461
00:20:18,136 --> 00:20:20,388
as to trust the dirtiest player
in the game?
462
00:20:21,889 --> 00:20:24,809
- Fans were trying to climb
the cage
463
00:20:24,851 --> 00:20:27,770
to get inside
to help Dusty Rhodes.
464
00:20:27,812 --> 00:20:29,731
- Took us an hour
to get out of the ring.
465
00:20:29,772 --> 00:20:32,358
We had heat, man,
466
00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:33,943
and it drove people crazy.
467
00:20:33,985 --> 00:20:37,572
- That face
sure tells it all, Tony.
468
00:20:37,613 --> 00:20:39,031
- I'm the man
469
00:20:39,073 --> 00:20:43,202
that put Dusty Rhodes
in a knee-high cast.
470
00:20:43,244 --> 00:20:44,454
Dusty Rhodes.
471
00:20:44,495 --> 00:20:45,621
- Get him, Ric!
472
00:20:45,663 --> 00:20:49,083
- It's only just begun.
473
00:20:53,463 --> 00:20:54,839
- With the sabotage on Dusty,
474
00:20:54,881 --> 00:20:56,674
Flair was a marked man.
475
00:20:56,716 --> 00:20:58,634
He needed reinforcements,
476
00:20:58,676 --> 00:21:00,344
so he created
a faction of henchmen.
477
00:21:00,386 --> 00:21:03,514
- The Four Horsemen!
That's what it's all about!
478
00:21:03,556 --> 00:21:06,601
The mastermind
and all the talent.
479
00:21:06,642 --> 00:21:08,728
The new world
Tag Team champions
480
00:21:08,770 --> 00:21:10,104
Ole and Arn Anderson.
481
00:21:10,146 --> 00:21:14,358
The new world TV champion
Tully Blanchard.
482
00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:16,027
Four guys
that could work and talk.
483
00:21:16,069 --> 00:21:17,195
Real simple.
484
00:21:17,236 --> 00:21:20,698
We are the studs
in professional wrestling.
485
00:21:20,740 --> 00:21:23,284
- Obviously, Ric being
the leader of the group.
486
00:21:23,326 --> 00:21:27,038
JJ Dillon, a manager
of the Four Horsemen.
487
00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:30,124
Arn Anderson
being that enforcer.
488
00:21:30,166 --> 00:21:31,876
And then you have someone
like Ole Anderson,
489
00:21:31,918 --> 00:21:33,753
who was mean as can be.
490
00:21:33,795 --> 00:21:36,672
- How about it now,
Rhodes, huh? How about it now?
491
00:21:36,714 --> 00:21:38,716
- And Tully Blanchard,
he was smooth.
492
00:21:38,758 --> 00:21:40,218
He was the guy in the ring
493
00:21:40,259 --> 00:21:42,178
that maybe was
the closest to Ric.
494
00:21:42,220 --> 00:21:44,180
- The Horsemen
were sitting around
495
00:21:44,222 --> 00:21:45,515
having a little brewski,
496
00:21:45,556 --> 00:21:47,475
looking at a few ladies
on the beach.
497
00:21:47,517 --> 00:21:50,853
- All you have to do is go
like this, and everybody knows
498
00:21:50,895 --> 00:21:52,355
what you're talking about.
499
00:21:52,397 --> 00:21:55,525
- We talking Horsemen.
500
00:21:55,566 --> 00:21:59,445
- Ric Flair elevated every
other member of that team.
501
00:21:59,487 --> 00:22:01,155
all: Whoo-hoo!
502
00:22:01,197 --> 00:22:02,240
- The group embodied
503
00:22:02,281 --> 00:22:04,158
everything
that Flair stood for:
504
00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:08,663
money, women,
and, of course, dirty deeds.
505
00:22:08,704 --> 00:22:11,124
- He's doing it again
like before!
506
00:22:11,165 --> 00:22:12,542
- They weren't the biggest.
They weren't the strongest.
507
00:22:12,583 --> 00:22:13,835
They weren't the fastest,
508
00:22:13,876 --> 00:22:15,336
but they were
the most tight-knit.
509
00:22:15,378 --> 00:22:18,172
- There's Tully Blanchard
and the Andersons
510
00:22:18,214 --> 00:22:20,800
and the Four Horsemen
together.
511
00:22:20,842 --> 00:22:23,803
- If I was a wrestler,
I'd be Killer Mike,
512
00:22:23,845 --> 00:22:25,555
and I'd be the fifth Horseman.
513
00:22:25,596 --> 00:22:29,392
- All for one, Horsemen,
and one for all.
514
00:22:29,434 --> 00:22:31,144
[dramatic music]
515
00:22:31,185 --> 00:22:33,020
- The Four Horsemen
became the blueprint
516
00:22:33,062 --> 00:22:36,441
to every faction to follow
from that point forward.
517
00:22:36,482 --> 00:22:37,775
- They were the first.
518
00:22:37,817 --> 00:22:39,527
I was so influenced by it
519
00:22:39,569 --> 00:22:41,696
that I went off the rails
of my career.
520
00:22:41,738 --> 00:22:43,364
- We are the D-Generation X.
- D-Generation.
521
00:22:43,406 --> 00:22:46,951
- You made your rules,
and we will break them.
522
00:22:46,993 --> 00:22:49,912
- Before DX, the nWo,
523
00:22:49,954 --> 00:22:52,373
and every iconic group
that would follow,
524
00:22:52,415 --> 00:22:55,710
the Horseman
revolutionized the industry.
525
00:22:55,752 --> 00:22:58,546
- Traveling from town to town,
kicking butt.
526
00:22:58,588 --> 00:23:00,923
- We beat up who we want
to beat up,
527
00:23:00,965 --> 00:23:02,383
when we wanna beat them up.
528
00:23:02,425 --> 00:23:04,635
- They just went around saying
they were the best,
529
00:23:04,677 --> 00:23:06,262
and they were.
530
00:23:06,304 --> 00:23:09,432
- There is no greater faction
in the history of pro wrestling
531
00:23:09,474 --> 00:23:11,059
than the Four Horsemen.
532
00:23:11,100 --> 00:23:12,894
- With the Horsemen
by his side,
533
00:23:12,935 --> 00:23:14,520
Flair was unbeatable,
534
00:23:14,562 --> 00:23:17,315
winning championship
after championship.
535
00:23:17,356 --> 00:23:20,109
- Ric Flair
is the champion again!
536
00:23:20,151 --> 00:23:23,780
- You're history, Luger!
Whoo!
537
00:23:25,615 --> 00:23:27,116
- So by the late '80s,
538
00:23:27,158 --> 00:23:29,827
Ric Flair sorta starts
to distance himself
539
00:23:29,869 --> 00:23:31,370
from the Four Horsemen.
540
00:23:31,412 --> 00:23:34,707
As he distanced himself
from the Four Horsemen,
541
00:23:34,749 --> 00:23:36,334
he kind of got back
into his craft,
542
00:23:36,375 --> 00:23:39,253
which is being
an incredible wrestler.
543
00:23:39,295 --> 00:23:41,255
And that kind of started
this rivalry
544
00:23:41,297 --> 00:23:43,091
with Ricky
"the Dragon" Steamboat.
545
00:23:43,132 --> 00:23:45,885
- You're gonna be mine.
Don't make a mistake.
546
00:23:45,927 --> 00:23:47,387
- One-hour time limit
547
00:23:47,428 --> 00:23:49,931
for the heavyweight
championship of the world.
548
00:23:49,972 --> 00:23:52,225
And now Flair,
double arm suplex.
549
00:23:52,266 --> 00:23:53,351
Great move!
550
00:23:53,393 --> 00:23:55,603
- His working the ring
was insane.
551
00:23:55,645 --> 00:23:57,105
- Flair, great movement.
552
00:23:57,146 --> 00:23:58,981
Oh, busts him--my God--
on the top.
553
00:23:59,023 --> 00:24:01,442
- Flair was going 60 minutes
a night.
554
00:24:01,484 --> 00:24:03,653
60 minutes in the main event.
555
00:24:04,904 --> 00:24:07,990
- I am, and you ask
the female audience,
556
00:24:08,032 --> 00:24:10,368
the 60-minute man, pal.
557
00:24:10,410 --> 00:24:13,871
So if you can hang in there,
think about it.
558
00:24:13,913 --> 00:24:16,958
- People start to look
at Ric Flair, like "Huh.
559
00:24:16,999 --> 00:24:18,668
"I know this guy cheats a lot,
560
00:24:18,710 --> 00:24:20,920
"but he really wrestles
his ass off.
561
00:24:20,962 --> 00:24:22,797
He can go." You know?
562
00:24:22,839 --> 00:24:24,382
- It showed the world
563
00:24:24,424 --> 00:24:27,427
that once you put
the microphone down,
564
00:24:27,468 --> 00:24:32,890
Ric Flair is every bit as good
a wrestler as he says he is.
565
00:24:32,932 --> 00:24:34,183
- A slam.
566
00:24:34,225 --> 00:24:36,561
But Flair inside. One, two--
567
00:24:36,602 --> 00:24:38,479
- He did it!
- He did it!
568
00:24:38,521 --> 00:24:40,231
[cheers and applause]
569
00:24:40,273 --> 00:24:44,152
And Flair has done it.
Flair has done it.
570
00:24:44,193 --> 00:24:46,487
- As his fame
and fortune continued to grow,
571
00:24:46,529 --> 00:24:48,030
so did his arrogance.
572
00:24:48,072 --> 00:24:50,158
- Take a look at that, huh?
573
00:24:50,199 --> 00:24:54,287
Arnold Schwarzenegger,
be glad you're making movies.
574
00:24:54,328 --> 00:24:56,664
- But the manner
in which he did it
575
00:24:56,706 --> 00:24:59,292
made his presence undeniable.
576
00:24:59,333 --> 00:25:02,003
- Ric
is a Scarface-like figure...
577
00:25:02,045 --> 00:25:04,047
- Say good night
to the bad guy.
578
00:25:04,088 --> 00:25:07,592
- Because he appeals
to what human beings want.
579
00:25:07,633 --> 00:25:08,718
We wanna be the Man.
580
00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,012
- I'm rich. I'm famous.
581
00:25:11,054 --> 00:25:14,223
I'm unparalleled
in sports today.
582
00:25:14,265 --> 00:25:15,892
I'm the Man.
583
00:25:15,933 --> 00:25:18,478
- Ric Flair is the reason
I sit here right now
584
00:25:18,519 --> 00:25:22,690
with a Rolex on my arm
and $150,000 Mercedes outside.
585
00:25:22,732 --> 00:25:24,108
It's not that I thought
586
00:25:24,150 --> 00:25:25,985
that that's what I needed
to be cool.
587
00:25:26,027 --> 00:25:29,864
He was cool,
and that was everything he had.
588
00:25:29,906 --> 00:25:32,617
- I think, secretly,
deep down inside,
589
00:25:32,658 --> 00:25:34,202
we all wanted to be that guy.
590
00:25:34,243 --> 00:25:36,746
But Ric Flair
was the epitome of that.
591
00:25:36,788 --> 00:25:38,915
- A part of us is like, wow.
592
00:25:38,956 --> 00:25:41,375
It's flash, right?
It's wealth.
593
00:25:41,417 --> 00:25:44,212
It's all of the things
that a lot of people
594
00:25:44,253 --> 00:25:46,089
would aspire to in real life.
595
00:25:47,256 --> 00:25:49,425
- The girls over here
are hollering.
596
00:25:49,467 --> 00:25:51,094
[cheering]
597
00:25:51,135 --> 00:25:53,304
Slick Ric, you know. Hey.
598
00:25:53,346 --> 00:25:55,473
- He wanted to be the guy
that got all the girls.
599
00:25:55,515 --> 00:25:56,849
When you think of him,
that's just the thing
600
00:25:56,891 --> 00:25:58,476
that is attached.
601
00:25:58,518 --> 00:26:00,436
- I tell you, the lifestyle
of this man
602
00:26:00,478 --> 00:26:02,355
never ceases to amaze.
603
00:26:02,397 --> 00:26:05,108
- Hulk was selling milk
and cookies.
604
00:26:05,149 --> 00:26:07,735
- These are the very best
vitamins on the market.
605
00:26:07,777 --> 00:26:09,654
- Ric Flair--whoo!
606
00:26:09,695 --> 00:26:13,116
Was selling sex, drugs,
and rock and roll.
607
00:26:13,157 --> 00:26:16,160
- Hulk Hogan had cartoons,
but what he didn't have
608
00:26:16,202 --> 00:26:18,204
was the ability
to walk into any club
609
00:26:18,246 --> 00:26:20,581
and every woman in that club
610
00:26:20,623 --> 00:26:23,835
instantly think "I wanna ride
Space Mountain tonight."
611
00:26:23,876 --> 00:26:26,546
- You don't have to go
to Disney World
612
00:26:26,587 --> 00:26:27,964
to find Space Mountain.
613
00:26:28,005 --> 00:26:29,298
It's right here.
614
00:26:29,340 --> 00:26:32,093
I just made it up one day.
[laughs]
615
00:26:32,135 --> 00:26:35,471
One night, a woman--whoo!
Just screamed out,
616
00:26:35,513 --> 00:26:38,599
"It's like--it's like--whoo!
Space Mountain."
617
00:26:38,641 --> 00:26:41,769
And next thing I knew,
it was, like, national news.
618
00:26:41,811 --> 00:26:43,271
And I got news for you.
619
00:26:43,312 --> 00:26:45,857
When you get on Space Mountain,
you'll be like this--
620
00:26:47,233 --> 00:26:50,611
Drinks on the Nature Boy.
[laughs]
621
00:26:50,653 --> 00:26:53,197
[dramatic music]
622
00:26:53,239 --> 00:26:56,284
I spent more money
on spilled booze
623
00:26:56,325 --> 00:26:59,245
than you made
in the last six months.
624
00:26:59,287 --> 00:27:00,955
- The Nature Boy's
avarice lifestyle
625
00:27:00,997 --> 00:27:02,457
wasn't an act.
626
00:27:02,498 --> 00:27:05,376
He lived it 24/7.
627
00:27:05,418 --> 00:27:06,586
- Where does
that character end,
628
00:27:06,627 --> 00:27:08,671
and where does
the real guy begin?
629
00:27:08,713 --> 00:27:11,299
We don't really
know that at all.
630
00:27:11,340 --> 00:27:13,301
- It's who he truly was.
631
00:27:13,342 --> 00:27:17,513
The Ric Flair character
was so strong
632
00:27:17,555 --> 00:27:20,266
that I think
it overtook his life.
633
00:27:24,270 --> 00:27:28,691
- No, this is the WWE.
634
00:27:28,733 --> 00:27:31,194
- By 1992, Flair had yet
635
00:27:31,235 --> 00:27:34,197
to style and profile
his way through the WWE.
636
00:27:34,238 --> 00:27:36,949
- There he is
in all his regal-ness.
637
00:27:36,991 --> 00:27:39,619
- At WWE's
Royal Rumble event,
638
00:27:39,660 --> 00:27:42,872
Flair outlasted
29 other superstars
639
00:27:42,914 --> 00:27:45,374
to win the WWE championship.
640
00:27:45,416 --> 00:27:50,838
- It's Flair from behind.
Oh, yes. Yes!
641
00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:54,217
- It was the pinnacle
of his career and his life.
642
00:27:54,258 --> 00:27:56,219
- The promo that Ric Flair
cut after winning
643
00:27:56,260 --> 00:28:00,348
the 1992 Royal Rumble
and becoming the WWE champion
644
00:28:00,390 --> 00:28:03,226
is the most important
Ric Flair promo there is.
645
00:28:03,267 --> 00:28:09,148
- I'm gonna tell y'all
with a tear in my eye,
646
00:28:09,190 --> 00:28:13,361
this is the greatest moment
in my life.
647
00:28:13,403 --> 00:28:14,654
- 'Cause he says,
"With a tear in my eye,
648
00:28:14,695 --> 00:28:16,572
this is the greatest moment
of my life."
649
00:28:16,614 --> 00:28:18,282
He doesn't say, "This is
the greatest moment
650
00:28:18,324 --> 00:28:19,909
of my professional life."
651
00:28:19,951 --> 00:28:23,246
He says, "This is the greatest
moment of my life."
652
00:28:23,287 --> 00:28:25,081
- It's the greatest moment
of my life.
653
00:28:25,123 --> 00:28:27,291
- It is a real acknowledgment
654
00:28:27,333 --> 00:28:30,169
that there is nothing
more important to him
655
00:28:30,211 --> 00:28:32,672
than being at the top
of his industry.
656
00:28:32,714 --> 00:28:35,174
And that includes family,
and that includes friends,
657
00:28:35,216 --> 00:28:36,384
and that includes anything
658
00:28:36,426 --> 00:28:39,429
that might happen
outside of this universe.
659
00:28:39,470 --> 00:28:41,848
- Whoo! [laughs]
660
00:28:41,889 --> 00:28:43,891
- That was his life.
That's who he was.
661
00:28:43,933 --> 00:28:48,980
I think Ric Flair was 100%
committed to pro wrestling.
662
00:28:49,021 --> 00:28:51,899
- I live and die
663
00:28:51,941 --> 00:28:57,905
and breathe each day
of my life for this business.
664
00:28:57,947 --> 00:28:59,198
- For 15 years,
665
00:28:59,240 --> 00:29:01,492
Flair's deviant actions
in the ring
666
00:29:01,534 --> 00:29:04,620
fueled his lavish lifestyle
outside of it.
667
00:29:04,662 --> 00:29:09,625
Everything I have is because
my name is Ric Flair.
668
00:29:09,667 --> 00:29:12,754
- But it was getting
out of control.
669
00:29:12,795 --> 00:29:17,300
The line between the character
and the man was gone.
670
00:29:17,341 --> 00:29:18,926
- I mean, it wasn't a gimmick.
671
00:29:18,968 --> 00:29:22,013
This was the life
that he ended up leading.
672
00:29:22,055 --> 00:29:23,347
- Come on up here, ladies.
673
00:29:23,389 --> 00:29:25,641
Let this camera get
a little bit of look at you.
674
00:29:25,683 --> 00:29:27,268
Jan, darlin',
675
00:29:27,310 --> 00:29:30,396
I didn't expect to see you
for another week or two.
676
00:29:30,438 --> 00:29:33,983
- Nature was really
living all of that.
677
00:29:34,025 --> 00:29:37,487
There was no pretend
in any of it.
678
00:29:37,528 --> 00:29:38,905
- Can you believe these women?
679
00:29:38,946 --> 00:29:42,033
Now you know why I come
into this television station
680
00:29:42,075 --> 00:29:44,285
a little weary once in a while.
681
00:29:44,327 --> 00:29:49,207
I have to fulfill
all the dreams, the desires,
682
00:29:49,248 --> 00:29:53,336
the wishes, and the lusts
of thousands of young women
683
00:29:53,378 --> 00:29:56,672
all throughout
this great country.
684
00:29:56,714 --> 00:29:59,675
- The best was in Baltimore,
when I woke up in the morning,
685
00:29:59,717 --> 00:30:02,303
and there were two chicks,
and she said,
686
00:30:02,345 --> 00:30:04,055
"You threw your Rolex
in a bowl of spaghetti
687
00:30:04,097 --> 00:30:05,348
"last night at Sabatino's
688
00:30:05,390 --> 00:30:07,558
and said you had
11 other ones."
689
00:30:09,060 --> 00:30:11,938
- His occupation has made it
difficult at times
690
00:30:11,979 --> 00:30:13,523
to have a family.
691
00:30:13,564 --> 00:30:16,776
Now he is in the final weeks
of an expensive divorce.
692
00:30:16,818 --> 00:30:19,195
- Paying alimony
to three women at one time
693
00:30:19,237 --> 00:30:21,030
was a lot of dough.
694
00:30:21,072 --> 00:30:22,532
As a matter of fact,
695
00:30:22,573 --> 00:30:24,534
that's got to be
some kind of record, right?
696
00:30:24,575 --> 00:30:29,789
Three women, same family,
alimony.
697
00:30:29,831 --> 00:30:31,707
Good Lord.
698
00:30:31,749 --> 00:30:38,131
I am so high on being Ric Flair
each day of my life.
699
00:30:38,172 --> 00:30:40,383
- You play that role enough,
700
00:30:40,425 --> 00:30:42,885
that's like
a cop going undercover,
701
00:30:42,927 --> 00:30:45,972
and sometimes they get
so lost in it,
702
00:30:46,013 --> 00:30:48,099
they never come back.
703
00:30:49,892 --> 00:30:51,853
- I probably neglected
my family a little bit,
704
00:30:51,894 --> 00:30:56,566
but it's been successful for me
in promoting myself
705
00:30:56,607 --> 00:30:59,026
and making me successful
in professional wrestling.
706
00:30:59,068 --> 00:31:01,779
- He doesn't apologize
for being who he is.
707
00:31:01,821 --> 00:31:04,532
The Nature Boy is Ric Flair.
Ric Flair is the Nature Boy.
708
00:31:04,574 --> 00:31:06,868
- The womanizer, the king,
709
00:31:06,909 --> 00:31:11,122
the man that makes wrestling
go round and round.
710
00:31:11,164 --> 00:31:13,499
- I think
I was very naive to it.
711
00:31:13,541 --> 00:31:15,752
Just like, this is my dad.
He has bleached blonde hair.
712
00:31:15,793 --> 00:31:18,129
He brings his big gold belt
to show and tell,
713
00:31:18,171 --> 00:31:19,297
and that was normal for me.
714
00:31:20,631 --> 00:31:22,967
- Are you okay?
- Mm-hmm.
715
00:31:23,009 --> 00:31:24,552
- I'm gonna miss you both.
716
00:31:26,304 --> 00:31:30,475
The WWE
isn't big enough for me.
717
00:31:30,516 --> 00:31:31,976
[emotional music]
718
00:31:32,018 --> 00:31:34,145
Vince came to me and said,
"I'm going to start
719
00:31:34,187 --> 00:31:35,396
"going with youth.
720
00:31:35,438 --> 00:31:36,939
And I know they want you
back,"
721
00:31:36,981 --> 00:31:39,942
'cause WCW never stopped
calling from the day I left.
722
00:31:39,984 --> 00:31:42,779
"You can stay, and I'll have
to push you down the card,
723
00:31:42,820 --> 00:31:45,698
or you can leave on top."
And I said, "I'll go back."
724
00:31:45,740 --> 00:31:52,163
WCW, the Nature Boy
is back to rock and roll.
725
00:31:52,205 --> 00:31:54,332
Whoo!
726
00:31:54,373 --> 00:31:57,835
- In 1993,
Flair returned to WCW,
727
00:31:57,877 --> 00:31:59,295
but times were changing.
728
00:31:59,337 --> 00:32:00,505
- Thanks again, Ric.
729
00:32:00,546 --> 00:32:01,923
I know you're on your way
back to Charlotte.
730
00:32:01,964 --> 00:32:03,007
- Thank you.
731
00:32:03,049 --> 00:32:04,509
- In an era of grunge,
732
00:32:04,550 --> 00:32:06,636
darker and edgier villains
were in the spotlight.
733
00:32:06,677 --> 00:32:09,305
Suddenly
the flamboyant Nature Boy
734
00:32:09,347 --> 00:32:11,682
wasn't the Man
like he used to be.
735
00:32:11,724 --> 00:32:16,938
- WCW had started the nWo,
whose entire cause for being
736
00:32:16,979 --> 00:32:19,399
was to strip down anything
737
00:32:19,440 --> 00:32:22,527
and everyone
that WCW ever held dear.
738
00:32:22,568 --> 00:32:24,445
- By the time the NWO
started emerging
739
00:32:24,487 --> 00:32:25,947
and really blowing up
740
00:32:25,988 --> 00:32:29,158
and overshadowing so much
of the other talent,
741
00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:32,870
I probably didn't look
at guys like Ric Flair
742
00:32:32,912 --> 00:32:34,831
the way a lot
of other people did.
743
00:32:34,872 --> 00:32:39,460
the Man is more of a coward
than he is a fossil.
744
00:32:39,502 --> 00:32:41,170
And that was my mistake.
745
00:32:41,212 --> 00:32:43,381
And that hurt Ric.
746
00:32:43,423 --> 00:32:47,760
- You suck.
You, I hate your guts.
747
00:32:47,802 --> 00:32:50,847
It's natural to say something
if your feelings are hurt
748
00:32:50,888 --> 00:32:53,516
or you think that you've
been under-recognized
749
00:32:53,558 --> 00:32:54,892
or you haven't
been appreciated.
750
00:32:54,934 --> 00:32:57,979
Bischoff, I ain't leaving.
751
00:32:58,020 --> 00:32:59,272
- Wait a minute!
752
00:32:59,313 --> 00:33:01,107
- When Ric was
in the character
753
00:33:01,149 --> 00:33:03,609
of the Nature Boy,
he could do no wrong
754
00:33:03,651 --> 00:33:05,862
and was the most
confident person in the world.
755
00:33:05,903 --> 00:33:10,533
But the human behind that
was much more insecure.
756
00:33:10,575 --> 00:33:12,785
- Ric Flair was put
in positions
757
00:33:12,827 --> 00:33:15,580
where he was shown
as inferior.
758
00:33:15,621 --> 00:33:18,374
- Now they're shaving
Ric Flair's head!
759
00:33:18,416 --> 00:33:20,877
- You don't change Ric Flair.
760
00:33:20,918 --> 00:33:23,755
You don't move Tom Brady
from quarterback to tight end.
761
00:33:23,796 --> 00:33:25,840
Guy's winning you Super Bowls.
762
00:33:25,882 --> 00:33:27,717
It's the same thing
with Ric Flair.
763
00:33:27,759 --> 00:33:30,636
Guy's
a 16-time world champion.
764
00:33:30,678 --> 00:33:32,180
- Whoo!
765
00:33:32,221 --> 00:33:37,310
- When you allow the glory
that a character receives
766
00:33:37,351 --> 00:33:40,104
to become
your own personal glory,
767
00:33:40,146 --> 00:33:42,607
then any tragedy that
that character receives
768
00:33:42,648 --> 00:33:45,068
also has to become
your personal tragedy.
769
00:33:45,109 --> 00:33:49,822
And that's a trap that I think
Ric Flair found himself in.
770
00:33:49,864 --> 00:33:52,158
- I was broken.
771
00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:54,577
I don't think
but a few people understand
772
00:33:54,619 --> 00:33:56,829
how much
that impacted my life.
773
00:33:56,871 --> 00:33:58,873
You know,
trying to be written off.
774
00:33:58,915 --> 00:34:01,751
- This is the last Nitro
on the Turner Network,
775
00:34:01,793 --> 00:34:03,920
and we're going out
with a bang.
776
00:34:03,961 --> 00:34:07,256
- As the doors of WCW
closed in 2001,
777
00:34:07,298 --> 00:34:08,800
the question remained.
778
00:34:08,841 --> 00:34:11,552
Was this the end
for the Nature Boy Ric Flair?
779
00:34:17,433 --> 00:34:20,478
- Forever their names will be
linked to greatness in WCW.
780
00:34:20,520 --> 00:34:22,814
- And tonight,
he and Ric Flair
781
00:34:22,855 --> 00:34:25,525
are gonna finish off Nitro.
782
00:34:25,566 --> 00:34:29,987
- I remember the night
of the last WCW Nitro.
783
00:34:30,029 --> 00:34:31,656
It was weird.
784
00:34:31,697 --> 00:34:33,616
Seeing him come out
in just a black t-shirt
785
00:34:33,658 --> 00:34:35,535
and a short mom cut
786
00:34:35,576 --> 00:34:37,161
just kind of threw me
for a loop for a little bit.
787
00:34:37,203 --> 00:34:39,038
I was like, "Oh."
788
00:34:40,289 --> 00:34:42,625
You can kind of see
in his face that, like,
789
00:34:42,667 --> 00:34:44,836
this isn't the Ric Flair
I kinda grew up with.
790
00:34:44,877 --> 00:34:48,047
He just almost looked like
a shell of his former self.
791
00:34:48,089 --> 00:34:53,177
- Sting defeats Ric Flair
here on the final telecast
792
00:34:53,219 --> 00:34:55,430
on WCW Monday Nitro.
793
00:34:56,222 --> 00:34:57,849
- There was a small part of me
thinking like,
794
00:34:57,890 --> 00:34:59,642
"Damn, this might be
the last time
795
00:34:59,684 --> 00:35:02,019
we ever see Ric Flair wrestle."
796
00:35:02,061 --> 00:35:04,772
- I don't like anything
about that last Nitro
797
00:35:04,814 --> 00:35:07,567
except that it closed.
798
00:35:07,608 --> 00:35:09,152
Vince called me
about a year later and said,
799
00:35:09,193 --> 00:35:10,570
"What are you gonna do?"
800
00:35:10,611 --> 00:35:13,156
I said, "I don't know."
I hadn't thought about it.
801
00:35:13,197 --> 00:35:17,910
Right now, I'm just going out
to the country club at 5:00.
802
00:35:17,952 --> 00:35:21,164
Depending on what kind of mood
I'm in, sometimes at 4:00.
803
00:35:21,205 --> 00:35:22,874
He said, "You want
to come back to work?"
804
00:35:22,915 --> 00:35:25,209
and I said,
"Yeah, I'd love to."
805
00:35:25,251 --> 00:35:28,546
- In 2002,
Ric Flair returned to WWE,
806
00:35:28,588 --> 00:35:30,048
but his trademark swagger
807
00:35:30,089 --> 00:35:33,342
that made the Nature Boy
so iconic was gone,
808
00:35:33,384 --> 00:35:34,886
and his confidence was shot.
809
00:35:36,929 --> 00:35:39,599
- I was down on myself.
I just walked away, saying,
810
00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:40,808
"God, you could do
so much better.
811
00:35:40,850 --> 00:35:42,643
Why don't you get it, Ric?"
812
00:35:42,685 --> 00:35:44,145
And it hurt. No pain.
813
00:35:44,187 --> 00:35:46,856
Just anxiety, right?
814
00:35:46,898 --> 00:35:48,316
I've wrestled
a couple of matches
815
00:35:48,357 --> 00:35:50,526
where I couldn't feel
my hands from anxiety.
816
00:35:50,568 --> 00:35:52,695
I'd pinch myself.
817
00:35:52,737 --> 00:35:55,490
- When you no longer think
that you're the Man,
818
00:35:55,531 --> 00:36:00,161
then the very building blocks
that created the Nature Boy
819
00:36:00,203 --> 00:36:02,080
kinda ceased to exist.
820
00:36:02,121 --> 00:36:04,207
- A villain needs to have
self-confidence.
821
00:36:04,248 --> 00:36:06,709
A villain needs to know
that he could do anything
822
00:36:06,751 --> 00:36:08,252
and beat anyone.
823
00:36:08,294 --> 00:36:11,672
Once you take that away,
the villain becomes vulnerable,
824
00:36:11,714 --> 00:36:13,549
and now it's not
a villain anymore.
825
00:36:13,591 --> 00:36:16,928
Now that villain
is just like you and me.
826
00:36:16,969 --> 00:36:19,138
- What Flair needed
was inspiration.
827
00:36:21,015 --> 00:36:24,185
- You see, in this industry,
just like in life,
828
00:36:24,227 --> 00:36:26,562
everything evolves.
829
00:36:26,604 --> 00:36:29,107
And what you see in this ring
before you
830
00:36:29,148 --> 00:36:32,819
is the greatest example
of evolution you will ever see.
831
00:36:34,612 --> 00:36:36,656
- Evolution was
a new four-man faction,
832
00:36:36,697 --> 00:36:38,783
including main event stalwart
Triple H,
833
00:36:38,825 --> 00:36:41,035
legendary icon Ric Flair,
834
00:36:41,077 --> 00:36:44,414
and newcomers
Batista and Randy Orton.
835
00:36:44,455 --> 00:36:46,666
- Evolution was based kinda
on the Four Horsemen.
836
00:36:46,707 --> 00:36:51,421
- So whether you like it
or not, learn to love it.
837
00:36:51,462 --> 00:36:55,258
- Four guys dress nice.
The ladies love them.
838
00:36:55,299 --> 00:36:58,845
- What made the dynamic
of Evolution so special
839
00:36:58,886 --> 00:37:00,930
is that they weren't all
on the same plane.
840
00:37:00,972 --> 00:37:03,307
You had Ric Flair.
He's kind of the mentor.
841
00:37:03,349 --> 00:37:05,727
He's kind of looking out
for everybody.
842
00:37:05,768 --> 00:37:07,562
- That was
one of the luckiest things
843
00:37:07,603 --> 00:37:09,355
I had early in my career
was him.
844
00:37:09,397 --> 00:37:12,692
Took me under his wing.
I learned a lot from Ric.
845
00:37:12,734 --> 00:37:16,320
- I was all for it, but it
took me a while to figure out.
846
00:37:16,362 --> 00:37:18,698
Self-confidence issues.
847
00:37:18,740 --> 00:37:20,324
- He didn't have
the confidence in himself,
848
00:37:20,366 --> 00:37:23,327
but Batista, myself, and Hunter
849
00:37:23,369 --> 00:37:25,413
had the confidence for him.
850
00:37:25,455 --> 00:37:29,709
- And standing before you,
Evolution with all the gold.
851
00:37:29,751 --> 00:37:31,711
- And Ric
was a part of something
852
00:37:31,753 --> 00:37:34,630
that was the top
of the business,
853
00:37:34,672 --> 00:37:36,507
so Ric felt big.
854
00:37:36,549 --> 00:37:38,134
- Whoo! It's LA, bitch.
855
00:37:38,176 --> 00:37:41,012
We're going down to the Strip
to party--whoo!
856
00:37:41,054 --> 00:37:42,180
With a champ.
857
00:37:42,221 --> 00:37:44,432
- Ric felt like,
"Okay, this is on me.
858
00:37:44,474 --> 00:37:46,601
I'm the top dog again."
859
00:37:46,642 --> 00:37:48,227
- Ric played the part.
Ric was the part
860
00:37:48,269 --> 00:37:50,354
and never forgot it.
861
00:37:50,396 --> 00:37:53,649
- All night long!
Whoo!
862
00:37:53,691 --> 00:37:55,568
- In Evolution,
Flair found new life
863
00:37:55,610 --> 00:37:57,528
doing what he did best:
864
00:37:57,570 --> 00:37:58,529
breaking the rules.
865
00:37:58,571 --> 00:38:01,324
- And a low blow.
866
00:38:01,365 --> 00:38:03,743
- It was a huge plus
in my life,
867
00:38:03,785 --> 00:38:06,120
you know, to kind of be
where I was a year ago
868
00:38:06,162 --> 00:38:07,830
and kind of down
on the business
869
00:38:07,872 --> 00:38:10,625
and, you know, not really happy
with myself and my role,
870
00:38:10,666 --> 00:38:12,335
and now things
just keep getting
871
00:38:12,377 --> 00:38:13,878
bigger and better for me.
872
00:38:13,920 --> 00:38:15,713
- When he got
that groove back,
873
00:38:15,755 --> 00:38:17,131
look out, man.
874
00:38:17,173 --> 00:38:19,592
- Flair's done it!
Flair's done it!
875
00:38:19,634 --> 00:38:22,804
The Nature Boy is the
intercontinental champion!
876
00:38:22,845 --> 00:38:24,555
- It brought new life into him.
877
00:38:24,597 --> 00:38:25,807
- Whoo.
- Whoo!
878
00:38:25,848 --> 00:38:27,225
- Whoo!
- Whoo!
879
00:38:27,266 --> 00:38:29,185
- We're having a whoo fest.
- Oh, my gosh.
880
00:38:29,227 --> 00:38:30,395
- Whoo! Whoo!
881
00:38:30,436 --> 00:38:32,105
Whoo!
882
00:38:32,146 --> 00:38:34,357
I was back here, wrestling
full time, and it was fun.
883
00:38:34,399 --> 00:38:37,735
- The maestro,
the Man for four decades.
884
00:38:37,777 --> 00:38:39,737
- He's been in our lives
for so long,
885
00:38:39,779 --> 00:38:42,115
but he's been
remarkably consistent.
886
00:38:42,156 --> 00:38:45,618
- 16-time
world heavyweight champion.
887
00:38:45,660 --> 00:38:48,496
- With Ric Flair now
in the twilight of his career,
888
00:38:48,538 --> 00:38:50,081
something unexpected happened.
889
00:38:50,123 --> 00:38:52,417
The bad guy
had become beloved.
890
00:38:52,458 --> 00:38:57,839
- The level of respect that you
have paid me is unbelievable.
891
00:38:58,965 --> 00:39:01,718
- My dad has always been
a bad guy.
892
00:39:01,759 --> 00:39:03,428
The difference is,
now he's beloved
893
00:39:03,469 --> 00:39:06,848
because he's that respected,
because he is the industry.
894
00:39:06,889 --> 00:39:08,933
- So when it got to the end
and you went,
895
00:39:08,975 --> 00:39:11,894
"Oh, he may not get
to be that guy
896
00:39:11,936 --> 00:39:13,229
I loved to boo anymore."
897
00:39:13,271 --> 00:39:18,317
- And I love being
the Nature Boy!
898
00:39:18,359 --> 00:39:21,654
- Nobody really wants
to let that go.
899
00:39:21,696 --> 00:39:24,657
- To appreciate him now
so much just
900
00:39:24,699 --> 00:39:26,534
for everything that he's done.
901
00:39:26,576 --> 00:39:30,830
- It no longer became
about hero-villain.
902
00:39:30,872 --> 00:39:33,499
It just became
about contribution,
903
00:39:33,541 --> 00:39:37,378
which was as much, if not more
904
00:39:37,420 --> 00:39:40,339
than any other name
that you could mention.
905
00:39:40,381 --> 00:39:44,761
- The chairman of the WWE,
Mr. McMahon, made the mandate
906
00:39:44,802 --> 00:39:46,763
that the next match
that Flair lost,
907
00:39:46,804 --> 00:39:48,723
he would retire.
908
00:39:48,765 --> 00:39:51,642
- The next match
that you lose, Ric,
909
00:39:51,684 --> 00:39:54,353
will be your last.
910
00:39:54,395 --> 00:39:58,399
And Ric insisted that
he needed to beat the best,
911
00:39:58,441 --> 00:40:02,653
because to be the man,
you've got to beat the Man.
912
00:40:02,695 --> 00:40:04,655
- Shawn Michaels,
913
00:40:04,697 --> 00:40:10,286
I want to wrestle you
at WrestleMania.
914
00:40:10,328 --> 00:40:12,914
- And if Ric couldn't beat
Shawn Michaels,
915
00:40:12,955 --> 00:40:15,958
then Ric didn't want
to do this anymore.
916
00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:17,627
- From my standpoint,
917
00:40:17,668 --> 00:40:20,671
it was something
that I really took seriously.
918
00:40:20,713 --> 00:40:23,174
I can show the love
and appreciation
919
00:40:23,216 --> 00:40:27,428
that I had for the guy
that I watched growing up.
920
00:40:27,470 --> 00:40:31,474
It would be my honor
to wrestle you at WrestleMania.
921
00:40:33,393 --> 00:40:36,521
- In 2008,
Ric Flair's farewell match
922
00:40:36,562 --> 00:40:39,357
was a fitting celebration
of an epic career.
923
00:40:39,399 --> 00:40:43,069
- Tonight, we celebrate
Nature Boy Ric Flair.
924
00:40:43,111 --> 00:40:44,404
- Whoo!
925
00:40:48,199 --> 00:40:52,703
- The look on Shawn Michael's
face tells a story.
926
00:40:52,745 --> 00:40:54,956
Flair wants to fight.
927
00:40:59,752 --> 00:41:02,505
- My God, what a shot!
928
00:41:02,547 --> 00:41:05,633
all: One, two, three.
929
00:41:05,675 --> 00:41:08,052
[match bell chimes]
930
00:41:08,094 --> 00:41:10,179
- It's one
of my fondest memories.
931
00:41:12,682 --> 00:41:17,061
- Over 70,000 fans
paying their respects
932
00:41:17,103 --> 00:41:20,982
to the greatest
to ever lace a pair of boots.
933
00:41:22,358 --> 00:41:26,904
- I was blown away, like,
to see the respect,
934
00:41:26,946 --> 00:41:31,576
and have the farewell
that he did.
935
00:41:31,617 --> 00:41:32,660
It was incredible.
936
00:41:32,702 --> 00:41:33,995
[emotional music]
937
00:41:34,036 --> 00:41:35,872
- To have that reception
938
00:41:35,913 --> 00:41:39,250
was really
the ultimate achievement.
939
00:41:39,292 --> 00:41:40,877
- The WrestleMania farewell
940
00:41:40,918 --> 00:41:43,296
closed an important chapter
in the book of Ric Flair.
941
00:41:44,630 --> 00:41:47,258
But the Nature Boy
wasn't done just yet.
942
00:41:54,015 --> 00:41:57,018
- Last night, I wrestled
943
00:41:57,060 --> 00:42:02,356
my very last match
at WrestleMania.
944
00:42:02,398 --> 00:42:04,317
You shouldn't be sad
about the fact
945
00:42:04,358 --> 00:42:06,944
that you're not gonna see me
out here.
946
00:42:06,986 --> 00:42:09,113
You should really rejoice
in the fact
947
00:42:09,155 --> 00:42:14,285
that I have had
the greatest wrestling career
948
00:42:14,327 --> 00:42:17,121
in the history
of pro wrestling!
949
00:42:17,163 --> 00:42:20,750
[cheers and applause]
950
00:42:20,792 --> 00:42:23,169
- Ric Flair's
one-of-a-kind personality
951
00:42:23,211 --> 00:42:25,088
is still influencing society.
952
00:42:25,129 --> 00:42:27,340
- Stylin' and profilin'.
953
00:42:27,382 --> 00:42:30,176
- Perhaps
no superstar in history
954
00:42:30,218 --> 00:42:33,262
has more influence
on pop culture than Ric Flair.
955
00:42:33,304 --> 00:42:35,723
- Can I get two claps
and a Ric Flair?
956
00:42:35,765 --> 00:42:36,766
all: Whoo!
957
00:42:36,808 --> 00:42:38,893
- Whoo!
- Whoo!
958
00:42:38,935 --> 00:42:42,188
- He is so influential, people
doing the Ric Flair strut
959
00:42:42,230 --> 00:42:43,606
and whooing during games.
960
00:42:43,648 --> 00:42:45,358
all: Whoo!
961
00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:46,651
- I don't think I ever
would have realized
962
00:42:46,692 --> 00:42:48,694
how much that would
have transcended
963
00:42:48,736 --> 00:42:50,905
and become such an amazing
part of pop culture.
964
00:42:50,947 --> 00:42:53,408
- Whoo!
To be the man,
965
00:42:53,449 --> 00:42:56,077
you've got to beat
the Man, okay?
966
00:42:56,119 --> 00:42:58,413
- Rolex-wearin'...
all: Whoo!
967
00:42:58,454 --> 00:43:00,039
- Kiss-stealing...
all: Whoo!
968
00:43:00,081 --> 00:43:02,208
- Wheeling, dealing...
all: Whoo!
969
00:43:02,250 --> 00:43:04,877
- Limousine-riding...
all: Whoo!
970
00:43:04,919 --> 00:43:06,754
- Ric Flair.
all: Whoo!
971
00:43:06,796 --> 00:43:08,047
- Son of a gun.
all: Whoo!
972
00:43:08,089 --> 00:43:10,258
- It endeared him
to many people.
973
00:43:10,299 --> 00:43:13,970
Post Malone wanted to meet him.
[laughs]
974
00:43:14,011 --> 00:43:17,056
- Post Malone, my man.
Whoo!
975
00:43:17,098 --> 00:43:18,474
all: Whoo!
976
00:43:18,516 --> 00:43:20,476
- * Whoo! I got the Ric Flair *
977
00:43:20,518 --> 00:43:22,937
* Limousine-riding, jet-flying,
kiss-stealing *
978
00:43:22,979 --> 00:43:24,897
* Wheeling, dealing
son of a gun *
979
00:43:24,939 --> 00:43:26,441
- All those records are dope.
980
00:43:26,482 --> 00:43:28,609
All of those can be
directly attributed
981
00:43:28,651 --> 00:43:30,027
to how Flair made us feel.
982
00:43:30,069 --> 00:43:32,405
His relevancy is unmatched.
983
00:43:32,447 --> 00:43:35,742
There has never been
someone as loved or hated
984
00:43:35,783 --> 00:43:37,118
but followed as Ric Flair.
985
00:43:37,160 --> 00:43:38,703
- Whoo! Whoo!
986
00:43:38,745 --> 00:43:40,413
- He's such a GOAT
that he was relevant to me
987
00:43:40,455 --> 00:43:43,082
when I was 5;
he's relevant to me at 45.
988
00:43:43,124 --> 00:43:45,501
That's a 40-year span of being
989
00:43:45,543 --> 00:43:48,421
one of the absolute
best villainous characters
990
00:43:48,463 --> 00:43:50,506
in a sports
and entertainment world.
991
00:43:50,548 --> 00:43:51,674
- I love women.
992
00:43:51,716 --> 00:43:53,885
I'll take that as a compliment.
Whoo!
993
00:43:53,926 --> 00:43:56,596
- He appealed to the different
senses of entertainers
994
00:43:56,637 --> 00:43:59,766
and athletes that made you
continually like him.
995
00:43:59,807 --> 00:44:01,059
- Whoo!
996
00:44:01,100 --> 00:44:03,519
I influenced culture. [laughs]
997
00:44:03,561 --> 00:44:04,645
- * Heyo *
998
00:44:04,687 --> 00:44:07,648
[dramatic music]
999
00:44:07,690 --> 00:44:08,983
* *
1000
00:44:09,025 --> 00:44:10,902
- A two-time hall of famer,
1001
00:44:10,943 --> 00:44:13,488
the Nature Boy's incredible
legacy inside the ring
1002
00:44:13,529 --> 00:44:16,324
shines through a new Flair
these days.
1003
00:44:16,365 --> 00:44:19,619
- Charlotte Flair was built
for the grand stage.
1004
00:44:19,660 --> 00:44:21,954
- Bow down to the Queen.
1005
00:44:21,996 --> 00:44:24,832
- Known as the Queen,
his daughter, Charlotte Flair,
1006
00:44:24,874 --> 00:44:27,085
possesses the same
narcissistic traits
1007
00:44:27,126 --> 00:44:28,961
as her father.
1008
00:44:29,003 --> 00:44:33,508
- No one compares to me.
1009
00:44:33,549 --> 00:44:36,552
Whoo!
1010
00:44:36,594 --> 00:44:38,262
- Whoo!
1011
00:44:38,304 --> 00:44:39,972
- As good as Ric Flair was,
1012
00:44:40,014 --> 00:44:43,643
how head and shoulders he was
above everybody at his time,
1013
00:44:43,684 --> 00:44:46,020
I think the same
goes to Charlotte.
1014
00:44:46,062 --> 00:44:48,898
- My daughter does stuff now
that nobody can do.
1015
00:44:48,940 --> 00:44:50,900
- This is incredible!
1016
00:44:50,942 --> 00:44:53,694
- The best female athlete
in the history of our business.
1017
00:44:53,736 --> 00:44:57,990
- When you talk about the pride
that Ric Flair has had...
1018
00:44:58,032 --> 00:45:02,036
- $1,000 shoes,
big Rolex watches.
1019
00:45:02,078 --> 00:45:05,581
- Now we realize
that he's showing pride
1020
00:45:05,623 --> 00:45:08,835
in what may be
his greatest creation.
1021
00:45:08,876 --> 00:45:11,003
And it wasn't
the alligator shoes.
1022
00:45:11,045 --> 00:45:12,839
It was Charlotte.
1023
00:45:12,880 --> 00:45:16,217
- A 12-time women's champion.
1024
00:45:16,259 --> 00:45:17,677
- Well, I'm like, I'm 5'10",
1025
00:45:17,719 --> 00:45:19,345
I'm blonde,
and I'm super athletic.
1026
00:45:19,387 --> 00:45:20,972
What is there not to like?
1027
00:45:21,013 --> 00:45:22,390
Oh, yeah,
but my last name's Flair.
1028
00:45:22,432 --> 00:45:24,517
I am a franchise player.
1029
00:45:24,559 --> 00:45:26,936
- Custom-made
from head to toe.
1030
00:45:26,978 --> 00:45:28,396
- A genuine superstar.
1031
00:45:28,438 --> 00:45:31,065
- The greatest wrestler
of all time.
1032
00:45:32,316 --> 00:45:33,401
- That's what
he always told me.
1033
00:45:33,443 --> 00:45:36,070
You have to be unapologetic.
1034
00:45:36,112 --> 00:45:40,825
Long live the Queen!
1035
00:45:40,867 --> 00:45:46,873
- Whoo! The Nature Boy is here
to stay forever and ever.
1036
00:45:46,914 --> 00:45:49,751
Whoo!
1037
00:45:51,335 --> 00:45:52,837
- So what are we to make
1038
00:45:52,879 --> 00:45:54,547
of the Nature Boy Ric Flair?
1039
00:45:54,589 --> 00:45:57,467
- You pattern your life
after Ric Flair,
1040
00:45:57,508 --> 00:45:59,469
and you'll be someone.
1041
00:45:59,510 --> 00:46:01,846
- He believed he was the best
'cause he was the best.
1042
00:46:01,888 --> 00:46:03,222
I believe he was the best
1043
00:46:03,264 --> 00:46:04,390
'cause he told me
he was the best.
1044
00:46:04,432 --> 00:46:06,642
It's a circle like that.
It's weird.
1045
00:46:06,684 --> 00:46:10,563
- Really hard to believe
that so much man
1046
00:46:10,605 --> 00:46:13,232
could be wrapped
in such a good-looking package.
1047
00:46:13,274 --> 00:46:15,485
- He was cocky.
He was arrogant.
1048
00:46:15,526 --> 00:46:18,071
And he was great
at making me hate his guts.
1049
00:46:18,112 --> 00:46:19,655
- If you're a lawyer
1050
00:46:19,697 --> 00:46:22,700
who wishes he was making
the money I'm making,
1051
00:46:22,742 --> 00:46:25,286
you better sit down
and shut up!
1052
00:46:25,328 --> 00:46:28,414
- He insulted us.
He made us jealous.
1053
00:46:28,456 --> 00:46:31,959
- My shoes cost more
than your house.
1054
00:46:32,001 --> 00:46:35,171
- But above all,
he always entertained us.
1055
00:46:35,213 --> 00:46:40,093
- Bright lights, big city,
it is Nature Boy!
1056
00:46:40,134 --> 00:46:41,469
- It doesn't matter
1057
00:46:41,511 --> 00:46:43,346
if he's the dirtiest player
in the game.
1058
00:46:43,388 --> 00:46:44,931
It doesn't matter
how full of himself he is.
1059
00:46:44,972 --> 00:46:47,892
It doesn't matter
if you want what he has.
1060
00:46:47,934 --> 00:46:49,769
- [laughing]
1061
00:46:49,811 --> 00:46:51,354
- He's Ric Flair.
1062
00:46:51,396 --> 00:46:53,731
- I'm a kiss-stealing,
wheeling, dealing,
1063
00:46:53,773 --> 00:46:54,982
limousine-riding,
1064
00:46:55,024 --> 00:46:58,277
jet-flying son of a gun.
1065
00:46:58,319 --> 00:47:00,113
With me,
what you see is what you get.
1066
00:47:00,154 --> 00:47:02,198
Hasn't changed in 72 years.
1067
00:47:02,240 --> 00:47:04,409
[laughing]
1068
00:47:04,450 --> 00:47:06,119
- He didn't think about it.
He just did it.
1069
00:47:06,160 --> 00:47:07,620
I'm gonna make you hate me,
1070
00:47:07,662 --> 00:47:09,872
and I'm gonna do it
every single night.
1071
00:47:09,914 --> 00:47:12,083
Was my dad justified?
1072
00:47:12,125 --> 00:47:15,211
He's a 16-time
world heavyweight champion.
1073
00:47:15,253 --> 00:47:16,170
You tell me.
1074
00:47:16,212 --> 00:47:17,964
- Diamonds are forever,
1075
00:47:18,005 --> 00:47:19,382
and so is Ric Flair.
1076
00:47:19,424 --> 00:47:22,510
[echoing] Whoo!