Joe Rogan Experience #2423 - John Cena

Joe Rogan podcast. Check it out. >> The Joe Rogan Experience. >> TRAIN BY DAY. JOE ROGAN PODCAST BY. NIGHT. All day. >> We're rolling. What's up, John Cena in. the [ __ ] house on? Yeah. >> Yeah. Let's put these on. Pretend we're. professional. What's up? Good to see. you, man. >> Thanks so much for having me. Appreciate. my pleasure being here. >> And there's no way I'm having a pro. wrestler on without Tony Hinchcliffe. possible. He's the expert. He knows more.

about pro wrestling than I know about. UFC. >> Yeah, sometimes I translate little. things here and there. >> That's cool. It's all right. >> Yeah, he has to. He has to. And he's a. giant fan of yours, too. You know, a. giant fan of yours is Brian Simpson. Brian Simpson was going on last night. about how intelligent you are. It was. really interesting, you know. >> Sure was me. >> Yeah, man. >> Well, you do speak [ __ ] Mandarin, which is kind of crazy. >> Uh, yeah. Yeah. >> How long did it take you to learn that? Uh man, I I was I was doing that for. quite a long time. I've since kind of um.

kind of declined on the studies. Uh I a. wonderful takeaway from the study of. Mandarin. Um just because you know a. language doesn't mean you know the. culture. >> Ah. >> so that was a fantastic experience with. I but I I studied Mandarin for like a. decade and I would say like um not even. conversationally fluent. It was a really. tough hill to climb for me. But it seems. like a really big hill. >> Just it's it's just different. You know, you get used to the language and the. structure. >> You read it, you know, the reading.

>> No, I didn't even bother to read and uh. like reading all the characters, understanding everything. Yeah. >> How long did it take you to learn? >> Around 10 years. >> Whoa. >> Yeah. And then like I mean I I would. dream in Mandarin and like have. conversations and kick down and that. So. it became like a like a a second. language. But you know I I lived in. China for a little bit. I filmed a movie. with Jackie Chan. So I was there for. like six or seven months. I lived there. in um man we were in Inner Mongolia, Yinchuan Province. So like like in. China.

>> Wow. >> And uh it was fun. Yeah. Yeah. >> You were in Mongolia. >> Inner Inner Mongolia. Yeah. >> What's the difference? >> Uh I don't know cuz I've never I've. never been in Mongolia, but Inner. Mongolia was uh man I was I was the only. person that looked like me there. Uh and. everyone would say look it's it's big. white guy Hyundai Byron. and that would. call me. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> Wow. So, what motivated you to learn. that? It seems like such a task. >> Honestly, man, it was everything in my. life seems to be wrestling related. It.

was wrestling related. Like WWE's um. reach spread everywhere. I mean, I' I've. been able to lucky enough to perform. everywhere from like Moscow, Philippines, South Africa, Bangor, Maine, you every place in between except. China. China was like the one place that. didn't understand what we did. So it. it's literally like it's a it's a. universal language because you can turn. it's like UFC like you turn the volume. down but you can see like oh this is two. guys best guy wins. I get it. Uh ch the.

Chinese didn't get it. So I figured if. like one of our superstars spoke the. language maybe that would help break. down the barrier. And we got in. >> your idea. >> Uh it was my idea but the WWE offers and. I think they still offer it. they they. offer a free second language program. So. like when they rolled out the initiative. of like financial advice and um you know. uh they'll pay for portions of your. secondary education and free second. language. This is like 2011. 2012 big talent meeting in like an. auditorium. I'm one of the old guys at.

the time sitting in the front being like. these kids don't know how good they have. it. I should stand up and tell them to. like no [ __ ] that. I'm actually going to. lead by example and take a language. So. I signed up right then then and there. for China Chinese because I wanted to. get us into China. >> Wow. >> And like I said, it worked, but it kind. of only worked. And they I think I think. actually right now China is experiencing. what wrestling is to them cuz like. there's I've read articles that there's. promotions over there that are thriving.

So like now they get it. >> Oh, so they have their own promotions. >> Yeah. Yeah. This is a fairly recent. thing, >> I think. So, like I just read recent. articles that like pro wrestling is. thriving in China and they have their. own like their own way of doing it. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Wow. That's wild. It's wild how like. expansive the pro wrestling business is. that they would be that o-minded to say. like let's let's give second language. programs to the athletes.

>> Well, and you know, I just it's it's. weird. The origins of the business are. carnival related. it as like a carnival. attraction and then uh it it was like. ruthlessly territorial. >> and then when it became national it was. still trying to find its way. It's it's. almost like you see pro sports doing it. You know the more a sport succeeds the. more benefits they offer to their. competitors and athletes. So you know. WWE kind of hit that stride. Yeah. >> It's just such a smart thing to do you. know. >> Yeah. Well, you give your ch give your. talent the opportunities to to gain.

knowledge and and wisdom. And the sad. thing is I don't know how many people. did it or or do it still, you know. >> Was there anybody other than you that. you know of that. >> two other people? >> Who? >> Uh Clauddio Castnoli who speaks I think. four or five languages already and he. just wanted to take like a brush up. course and uh Natty Nightheart. >> Wow. >> Yeah, >> that's it. Everybody else is like. >> not going to do it. >> Too much work. >> Yeah. What was the not knowing the. culture aspect of that?

>> So, man, I got I got put in a bit of a. hot spot with um uh I I I I made a a. pack to myself when I was like, "Okay, I. feel fluent." We would do these global. press tours and I just happened to be on. a global press tour and I'm like, "You. know what? I'm going to do 70% of my. media in Mandarin, like in dialogue.". And I got to say, I did it. Like I went. over there, spoke, people were taking. off the translator headphones. Like life. was good, everything was great. And at. the very end of the day, as with all.

these press tours, you do like a bunch. of prompter reads. So I'm doing prompter. reads for everywhere. And it's like, um, hey, go this place and see this movie. Go this place and see this movie. And. no, my bad. I didn't check the reads. because it's like an end of a 10-hour. day. You do a million of these things. And one of them said like, "Hey, uh, Taiwan, see this this and and uh the the. it was all in Mandarin and the opinion. described Taiwan as a country. So be the.

first country to see this." Now over. there, they they look through a. different lens like geopolitics are. murky waters, man. And that's what when. I learned of like I just said it, left, everybody was cool, I did my thing. Like. I I read the prompt. It was like a Ron. Burgundy moment. Like go [ __ ] yourself, San Diego. was like the most offensive. thing you can say. >> So I'm like, man, you know, good job, John. You you said you you did 70% and. people understood what you were talking. about. And then they put that out and. everybody was like, what the [ __ ] did.

you just say? We don't that's not how we. do it over here. And again, just cuz. like my takeaway and it was a it it was. a pretty tense moment for me. Like I had. to apologize to China. And in. apologizing to China, I I pissed off my. home country. I'm a patriot. I love the. United States of America and everything. it stands for, but like no one it was. never enough. Nobody was happy. Everybody was [ __ ] up. And it was it. was it was like murky waters for me. personally. And I it was weird. Like I'm. the I think I might have been the only.

guy almost to get cancelceled for doing. his homework, >> you know, like for trying to like learn. like learn and and try to do something. But the cool takeaway, you know, we can. learn from every mistake. My mistake was. just because you know the language. doesn't mean you know the culture. Do. they even refer to as Taiwan? I think. they referred to as Chinese Taipei, right? >> Man, what was in the I know what I read. in in the thing. So that's again I don't. know enough depth to know. >> that and now like people like oh man can. you can you speak Mandarin for this? I.

just won't do it. >> It's a skill that I have and it's but. it's a skill that's going to remain with. me because it's I don't understand. I. don't have the depth of field to know. what to call that place in that region. of the world and I haven't done enough. research and I don't have the wisdom and. I don't have like the the cultural. fluency, you know. >> So, it was a cool lesson. It it sucked. >> cuz I thought I was just trying to do. something good, but it was it was a cool. lesson. >> Was it really that big of a deal, >> man? I thought like I I I was filming. Peacemaker season 1 and when they came.

out with all of this stuff, I went. directly to James Gunn and was like, "Hey man, if you have to fire me, I I. understand.". >> Wow. >> And uh. >> it was that serious. But it wasn't even. words that you wrote. Someone the WWE. wrote it. >> That doesn't No, no, it was it was for. the movie I was promoting, >> right? So the movie the people that made. the movie wrote it. So I don't know like. when you do these press tours let's say. if I'm doing a movie for Warner Brothers. let's say let's use Peacemaker as an. example I'm doing a global Peacemaker. tour. >> and we go into China or we go into South.

America. >> you meet like the PR person there and. they have all the stuff you're supposed. to do and they curate your experience. and they hold your hand you like okay. now we're going to go to this station. then by the way they just want you to do. some shoutouts. So anytime I go anywhere. globally now, as much as I want to um thank fans for. their attention and you know investing. in the product, I really shy away from. like speaking the language because I. don't understand the cultural nuance. You know, I just I just want to be like, yo, thanks for watching what we do and I. love the fact that you're entertained,

>> but I want to speak to you at a level. that I understand that I'm fluent cuz. your boots on the ground here every day. and I might say something that's a nice. gesture but completely [ __ ] offend. you. And that's that's not good. That's. not good for anybody. >> So, was the teleprompter in English and. you translate to. >> No, everything was in Mandarin. And in. uh in Chinese, they have the characters, which are virtually impossible for me to. learn. There's like an infinite number, but they have they also have what's. called pin yin, which is it's kind of. spelled out in English with phonetics. So, it has the four tones.

>> Okay. >> So, if you were to put something in. front of me in pinion right now, I could. definitely read it. >> And I got good at reading pin yin. So I. was like, man, I could I could send all. these messages in manner and then more. people will know about this movie and. more people will know about me and more. people will know about wrestling and. more people be excited. Looked good on. paper. It just my followrough was a bit. weak. You know, >> it doesn't even seem like that was your. fault, >> right? It's probably a PR's assistant. assistant that's type that's probably in. charge of doing the grunt work of typing.

in all the different languages and the. different countries. Like it's tedious. you uh uh from from what I know I know. I'm going to learn a lot about you guys. in this episode, but from what I know. about you, you're you're into looking at. looking at things through different. lenses and different perspectives. It. also could have been somebody being like. I'm going to get this kid. >> Oo, >> but here's the thing. I I do appreciate. you saying like it's not your fault. That's not true. It was my fault. And I. think that's when I can start to work on. like, well, what did I learn from this?

And I could easily blame a PR, an. assistant. I could say somebody had a. target on my back. All that stuff. I. [ __ ] up. >> Did you suspect that somebody might have. set you up? >> No. >> Well, you're saying it like it's a. possibility. >> Well, man, when it happened, every every. theory came like here's the thing. The. world doesn't revolve around me, but my. little world, everybody was like, "They. [ __ ] up. They did this on purpose." I. was like, "Well, first of all, who's. they?" So, I was able to kind of. eliminate all that. And once I realized.

I could still go on working, uh, I I. really made a lot of people angry. And. for that, that then I'm sorry. Like. again, I was just trying to. >> That's crazy just by saying that. Taiwan's a country. >> in in Chinese though, >> right? >> You know, like those are murky waters to. begin with, you know, like I. >> I'm not even thoroughly fluent on the US. policy. I think it's like. >> like a territorial ambiguity or some. [ __ ] like that. Like it's it's so weird. and it's it's so fragile and. >> I I uh I got into some water I shouldn't.

have been swimming in. But that's that's. on me. It's not it was my fault. >> and and I think that's important for me. to bear the burden of that and be like, "Yo, what how can I course correct? What. did I learn? Who do I really really. genuinely have to apologize for. offending?" The the biggest thing that. was a kick to the nuts is when like. people state side got pissed off. >> because you apologized. >> Yes. in in Chinese and and I understand. it. I mean, completely like. >> bowing down to the demand of this that.

gosh, what a what a shitty move by me. Like I just I should have taken a. breath. Again, what did I learn? Don't. be reactive. >> Mhm. >> Take a breath, find out what's going on, find out the best path of action, maybe. give it a few days, maybe give it a hot. second, um, >> and then move forward. But immediately I. was like, "Oh, they're mad. You want us. to do this? Fine, no problem. I'll fix. it right now. Man, that not only did I. not try to fix the hole in the boat, I. sunk the Titanic. So, it was But again,

it was a learning experience. >> Well, it speaks to your character that. you don't blame anybody else cuz I blame. everybody else. I'm like, who [ __ ]. wrote that? Don't you don't you know what you're. saying or what you're making me say? >> Uh, the the release you guys have for. the show, I I read it and you're. >> You might be the only person. So that. was that was whoever handed it to me. That was what they said. Like I think. you might be the only person that's ever. read it. >> Yeah. >> Man, if if if you're gonna if you're. gonna take liberties with me, at least I.

want to be able to read that you are. >> Right. >> You know what I'm saying? And I I can't. say I'm perfect with doing that, but. like I was handed a release. I'm like, "Man, can I just glance this over for. Oh, this says what I think it says. Okay, let's go.". >> Trump didn't even read it. Just. [Laughter]. >> to each their own. >> Yeah. know it's very smart of you to. read it. You know who who knows, you. know. >> Who knows? >> So, this is uh Tony, is this is this the. full trifecta now? Is like if you've. gotten all of your heroes on this.

podcast now? >> There's a couple more we could knock off. out of the pro wrestling world. There's. a couple more. >> Talk, if if you don't mind, if I can. indulge, talk pro wrestling heroes. Who. Who do we need to knock off? Who do we. need? >> Well, I mean, in all reality, and it's a. diabolical diabolical And he can he kind. of invite he you can't you can invite. anyone you want in here. You just kind. of got to get him the wish list. >> I mean you got to you got to start with. the number one without a doubt Vince. McMahon who started this gangster [ __ ]. and spread it around.

>> I would definitely have him is a little. >> man I he would be great. >> Yes. >> I whatever magic you have out there and. you have a lot of gravity. >> Do you think he'd be interested in doing. it? >> Are you kidding me? I think he would. love it. >> Really? >> I think he would love it. I I don't know. when the right time is, >> but man, don't don't miss out on that. At least at least send it out to the. universe. >> Yeah. Well, I would definitely Vince, if. you're listening, >> Vince, if you're listening, >> let's go. >> I think this would be a great I think. this experience would be a great one for. you.

>> Is he still involved? Is he out? Is he. in? He's out. >> He's out. >> He's out totally. >> Yep. >> It seems like he's a guy that'll be out. for a little while and then something. will happen that'll bring him back in. >> No, I Well, >> well, >> I don't know. again. That's that's way. we were talking about like. >> why is your last event in this place? I'm like, man, because I don't choose. the events. Like I don't that all that. stuff is so far above me, but I know now. he's out. I I in my eyes, I I'd like to. think that like time heals everything.

and I believe in forgiveness and uh I. also believe in like looking at the body. of work, but I also know there's a lot. of fragile stuff going on there. I don't. know. I don't know, man. I don't know. Yeah, it's a hot subject. It It can get. us into another Chinese Taipei incident. >> Well, no, no, I man, I'm I'm again I've. I've learned to become a little bit more. accountable for for what I say and and. just how just because I feel a certain. way about a person doesn't exonerate. them from being accountable for their. actions, >> right?

>> And just because. >> he did start quote unquote all this. gangster [ __ ]. >> uh that doesn't that doesn't mean he. doesn't need to be accountable for his. actions. So, let's let's figure out what. that means and then figure out if we can. if we can move forward and and and bring. that back in the fold or if if it stays. the way it is. >> What do you think, Tony? You think he's. coming back? >> I think he would come here. >> Yeah, I think he would come here, too. And I think he you know, that's one of. the more entertaining people of all. time. He created the entire universe. So, you got to remember Hogan's Hogan.

because of him. Cena is seen because of. him. >> Yeah. Every single stone cold he's like, "That sounds good. Yeah, keep it going. We'll do the glass breaks thing and. they'll throw you beers. I like it. Let's do it again next week. So. everything that we think. >> when he sits here, you got to do that. impression. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh. yeah. Stone Cold's another one that. hasn't been on. >> Steve would be great. I think you you. would. >> you would dig Steve. >> Oh yeah, >> I'm sure. Yeah. He lives out here, too, doesn't he? >> Yep. >> Does he? >> Well, actually, no.

>> Doesn't he have a ranch out here? >> I think he does somewhere. I. >> think he does. >> Yeah, but I think he's based out of. somewhere else now. New Mexico or. Arizona. He's on the He like He's like. kind of cool and reclusive. He like. doesn't really do a lot. It's amazing. >> He'd be a good get and I I'm pretty I. guarantee you he would do it. Yeah. >> Steve, if you're I know you're watching. Come on. >> Come on. Come on in. >> Let's talk Let's talk some wrestling. >> The man. I mean, everyone has him on. the, you know, the Mount Rushmore. Uh. Triple H, who runs it now, the.

son-in-law of Vince McMahon. Yeah. >> I mean, he runs the entire thing. I. mean, you want you want answers to those. highle questions. There's your guy. >> Yeah, >> that's the guy you need to get in. A lot. of the stuff you'll probably you. probably ask today, I'll be like, "That's way above my pay grade.". >> This type of the year when life ramps up. and demands more of your energy, more. work, more plans with family and friends. and holiday travel, all while it's. getting darker and colder out. You can. let it all drain your juice, or you can. get out ahead of it with AG1. AG1 is a.

daily health drink that can help you. stay one scoop ahead of all the energy. drains coming your way this season. because the superfoods and B vitamins in. every scoop of AG1 support steady energy. production without the crash. In fact, just shaking up one scoop of AG1 in. water covers your multivitamin, your pre. and probiotics, antioxidants, superfoods, and more. It's one simple. step to start your day ahead of anything. that might come your way. And that's why. I partnered with them for years. And. when you need energy support, AG1.

delivers with superfoods and with B. vitamins that help convert nutrients. into energy for vigor and vitality. Subscribe today to get this clinically. backed formula in the flavor of your. choice. Tropical, citrus, berry, or. original to help you stay one scoop. ahead. AG1 has a special offer today. If. you head to drinkag1.com/joen, you'll get the welcome kit, a morning. person hat, a bottle of vitamin D3 K2,

and an AG1 flavor sampler for free with. your first subscription. That's over. $100 in free gifts. Just head over to. drinkagg.com/joan. or visit the link in the description to. get started. Well, you don't if you. don't know the history, Tony at one. point in time was offered a job with the. WWE before he really made it. >> No way. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He was offered a job. to write for the WWE because, you know, Tony was a giant pro wrestling fan and.

you know, he'd already had a Netflix. special so he was known as a Before. that. >> Was it before the Netflix special? >> The first one? The one that you released. yourself? >> Yeah. >> Really? >> Yeah. It was only a couple years into me. doing standup like seven nights a week. at the comedy store all the time. And. somehow I ended up someone's like, "Hey, I have a friend in WWE if you want to. have a meeting with them and just talk.". And I went in with straight up ideas. This that the undertaker's brother comes. back again. This that the next like. everything back and forth. I can't even.

remember any of them. It's been so long. But I went in with the whole thing. This. guy's like, "Where the hell did you like. what? This is crazy. You just like did. this." I'm like, "Yeah, I found out a. couple days ago we were going to talk.". So, but yeah, they offered it, but I. would have had to move to Connecticut. and take a train to New York every night. to do go do standup. And that would have. just been exhausting. And everything I. heard because Patrice O'Neal, the late. great Patrice O'Neal, wrote for WWE for. a while. >> Did he really? >> Yeah. Yeah. For like a couple years, I.

think. >> What did he just wrote lines for them? Like, what did he do? >> The whole shebang. When you're a WWE. writer, they they make you write. It's. not like a cute job at all. No, there's. a lot of there's a lot of television or. there's a lot of content every week. >> Yeah. >> Right now, I think they got they have. three weekly shows. >> So, that's 20 I think one of them's. going back to three hours, 16 like it's. like 50 segments of TV. >> Yeah. >> Every week. >> Yeah. But I remember when you were. talking about it. >> Yeah. >> When you're talking about potentially.

doing it, I was like, >> Yeah. It was tricky. >> And I was like, dude, you do not want to. live in Connecticut. >> No. That's the main thing. If it was. anywhere else other than Connecticut, it. kind of m would have made more sense. If. it was in New York City, it would have. been a no-brainer. If it was in LA, definitely. >> But like, fast forward now. You're. you're more and more involved. >> Yes. >> Well, this is the crazy thing. Like, we. had talked like during the the old days, like we would talk in the green room. I'd be like, that would be your ultimate. dream job, like to make it as a comedian.

and somehow be involved in the UFC the. way I or excuse me, in WWE the way I'm. involved in the UFC. like very similar. >> Yeah, it's look. >> crazy. It's insane. >> I'm going tomorrow night. I'm going to. be in the front row at the arena in my. hometown. >> Are they here at the moment? >> Oh, man. >> Are you messing with me? Are you going. to Is your music going to hit your. >> No, I'm not there. I'm I got one. >> This is what This is what they do, by. the way. >> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, yeah. This is what I didn't even. know they were going to be in town. >> He's correct. There's a lot of You mess.

with people. You're right. But then. somebody like me will actually shoot you. straight and be like, "I'm not going to. be there and I won't be there." And. you'll be like, "Ah, now I'm just I'm. building the equity for people to mess. with people." I'm giving 20 20 mulligans. out there. >> tomorrow. Not a chance. >> Exactly. I heard a great story. You'll. probably love this. You might even know. this story, but um the Undertaker, his. wife, and his podcast co-host went to. Wrestlemania. They're up in a fancy. suite. This was um which one was it? The.

Rock made an appearance. Did you? Yes, you were there, right? This that huge. finish at Wrestlemania like three years. ago where it was just boom boom boom. boom and all these legends were coming. out this huge finish just like they they. can't even like follow it. The ultimate. climax of a Wrestlemania and one. wrestler comes out interrupts this huge. main event and then another one then. another one. Anyway, the Undertaker, his. wife and his podcast co-host were up in. the suite. Undertaker goes, "I'm going. to go use the restroom." They're like, "He's been gone a while." The lights go.

out, the bell tools. They're watching. from the suite. He's been gone for like. 10 minutes, 20 minutes. He went and. changed real quick. And then now he's. >> came out as the Undertaker. >> Yeah. Came out as the Undertaker. They're in the suite like, "OH MY GOD, IT'S the Undertaker.". >> Like they don't tell anybody. It's so. old school and awesome that they keep. secrets so locked up that their own. loved ones, his wife, didn't even know. >> That's hilarious. That is so crazy. >> It's It's fun to be able to surprise a. live audience. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I mean,

it's got to be a big part of it. How did. you get involved in pro wrestling? Were. you Were you a fan as a kid and then? >> I sure was. I I think we have the same. gravity of like, man, I was a super fan. as a kid, but then I fell out of it. admittedly kind of when Hogan went to. WCW. Um, so like I was into wrestling and. then I wasn't. Then I got into sports or. whatever. Uh, and then I got back into. wrestling when everyone else did when. like Stone Cold Steve Austin became big. the rock became big. The attitude era.

hit. >> and I was just um working a dead end job. over at Gold's Gym Venice and like. didn't know what I wanted to do with my. life. >> How old were you? >> Uh 21. >> Wow. >> 21. I'd moved out to to California not. to be famous or anything. My degree was. in Kinesise and I wanted to like that. was the center of the fitness universe. in 99 2000. So like all equipment. manufacturers are there. I'm like, man, I'll go get a job with Hammer Strength. or Cybex or like. >> maybe Golds or like put that piece of. paper to on the wall to to like get a.

good paying job. It did not work. >> So, I ended up like front desk cleaning. toilets, selling protein bars in that. order. So, don't ever buy a protein bar. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. But. no, I was kind of like a jack of all. trades over there. Um and a a friend of. mine, um Chris Bell and Mark Bell. >> Oh, I know those guys. >> Yeah. Yeah. They literally were like, "Dude, you talk about WWF all the time. You know, we train down in Orange. County." And at that time, Chris Bell. was kind of like writing for this. promotion. >> Like, would you want to do it? And I,

man, I that doesn't happen without them. accidentally saying like, "Yo, we we. trained to do this." So, >> his documentaries are [ __ ]. incredible. Bigger, stronger, faster. >> And then the other one, the pill one. What was that one called? >> Magic pill. No. What was the one the the. addiction one. uh that Chris released? But um Bigger, Stronger, Faster is such a [ __ ] great. documentary. >> The Bell family. I've been I've been. friends with them for a long time. >> Great guys. >> Yeah, >> that that documentary like blew the lid.

off of like the reality of steroids. Prescription Thugscription is another. great one. >> Yeah. Crazy thing is he got addicted to. pills while he was doing that because he. had surgery while he was doing that and. got addicted to pills while he's making. a [ __ ] documentary on people being. addicted to pills. That's how potent. pills are. A guy making a documentary. about addiction. He just thinks, "Well, I'm just taking. these cuz I got hip surgery and I'm in. in [ __ ] agony." And then gets hooked.

>> Oh, yeah. >> Like that's how crazy it is. >> Yeah. They're strong. >> Yeah. I would imagine. Did you ever have an issue? >> No. No. As a matter of fact, uh I've. I've had fusion in my neck, right pec. completely detached, reattached, both. triceps reattached. Uh both triceps. scoped. >> Um. nose relocated. Like I I got I probably. I'm in like 10 physical surgeries where. they got to go and correct something. Never taken one uh pain pill.

>> Wow. I have all the prescriptions in the. bottom drawer of my house filled. And. and it's weird because at every. facility, the first thing they the first. hill they climb is pain management. >> You wake up from anesthesia, you're like. gray and murky. And I've been in a bunch. of surgeries at a bunch of different. facilities. The protocol is always the. same. Do you want something for the. pain? Here, we got to make sure you take. this with you because you're not in any. pain. >> Yeah. Like I I understand because you if. you leave, if you're feeling okay, maybe.

you're high off adrenaline, I don't. know. And then the operation sets in of. like, holy [ __ ] this is a 10 out of 10. I can't I need something. I get that. But I I guess from falling down and. hurting my body a lot, like I know my. pain threshold. >> Yeah. And when I the the worst one was. probably the putting the whole pec back. on and then attaching it, but when I. woke up I was able to like mess around. with the stress ball and I never took. one pill. >> That's amazing. >> And I I still have the the full bottles.

of like some are labeled 2008 is when I. had my first surgery and they're just. all there. >> There's a lot of people listening right. now going. >> count them all if they're still good. >> But the find out where John Cena stores. to them. Yeah, >> it was weird because the medical staff. couldn't couldn't believe it. Like. they're like, "You don't want anything.". No, because man, it's a I know how I am. with this. >> It's Yeah, it's a [ __ ] slippery road. >> And I would just I'd be high on opiates. All opioids all the time. >> I got my first knee surgery, I think, in.

93 or 94, and they gave me I got an ACL. reconstruction, and they gave me. Vicodin, I think. Pretty sure it was. Vicodin. I took one one day, and I felt. so stupid. I was lying on lying on my. couch watching TV and I felt so dumb. And my knee still hurt, you know? It was. just like it was distracting me from the. fact that my knee hurt, but I'm like, I. can't be this dumb. I'm dumb enough as. it is. I can't add to my dumbness with. pills. Like, I just saw it coming, you.

know? And also, I knew a bunch of guys. who had pill problems. I w up selling my. pills to a friend of mine that would. sell pills. >> Gosh, I I should have taken your idea. Could have made some cash. I only made. like a couple hundred bucks or. something. I don't even remember. It was. like in the 90s. But but I remember just. that one pill. And so then every surgery. I've had ever since then. They always. offered me stuff and I never took. anything. I got my other ACL. reconstructed in 2003. Never took. anything. I got in my nose fixed. It's. like 2008. I got my nose reconstructed,

deviated septum. The guy was insisting. that I he gave me two prescriptions for. pain med medicine. And I was like, I. don't want anything. I was like, "Is it. going to get worse than this?" He's. like, "It could get." I go, "Right now, it feels like nothing.". >> Yeah. >> It's like, but if you've been, again, like you, you've been beaten up so many. times your body, you're so used to just. being in pain. And I think for some. people just the the daunting anxiety of. pain itself. It's like they just want a. pill before they even realize like I.

could kind of just Yeah, it sucks, but. it's not going to suck forever. It's. going to heal. So, let's just deal with. the suck and just lay here. put some ice. on it or whatever and just relax. >> And uh along with that, it's kind of. like your your body's natural way of. saying like, "Okay, maybe push a little. bit more. Try to get a few more degrees. of range of motion in physical therapy.". Like. >> if if those senses are numbed, >> right, >> and like shut off, >> right? >> First of all, you you do feel just like.

I don't want to do anything. you won't. work or in many cases you won't work to. do the work to get better to get or. >> you just numb. >> You don't know the messaging. You can't. listen to your body. >> Like if it's really really in pain, maybe it's maybe your body's trying to. tell you something. I don't know. >> I always assume that people feel pain. differently. I mean, I just would. imagine like like people feel hot sauce. differently. Like some people they can't. have any spice. Some people [ __ ] can. have like, you know, death peppers and. they're fine. >> So, all right. I'll throw that out to. the group. Is pain a personal.

experience? >> I mean, there's no way I'm as tough as. you guys. So, yeah, it has to be. >> But I think in other dimensions you. might be way tougher. I don't know. >> I don't know. Maybe I think I think. there's something. >> You don't know, Tony. >> I can't imagine the dimension. >> I went and visited a firehouse the other. day and I was going down the pole going. wee. Like you guys wouldn't do that. >> I would do that. >> So, so in that in that aspect, you're. tougher than me. >> Yeah. It can take ridicule and we can. take ridicule really easily, but I don't.

know how what it feels like for other. people. You know what I'm saying? I. mean, I would assume that everybody. feels the same. But, you know, one of. the reasons why I think maybe it is like. it's different, but because my mom my. mom has a crazy tolerance to pain. Like. my guy who uh my stem cell guy in LA uh. my mom had a real knee issue and he was. treating her as well. And he goes, "It's. hilarious. Your mother's just like you. She just takes it like she doesn't even. flinch. She just stick it like he's like. that doesn't happen with like 75year-old.

ladies like take a needle and shove it. in their knee and and push it and she. just doesn't move. >> and you know she's like oh it wasn't. painful. It was no big deal. It's like. you know a lot of 75 year old ladies. would be [ __ ] sweating and freaking. out and seeing the needle. >> Pretty sure I would be. Yeah. >> But I I I I don't know you know I don't. know what it feels like to other people. But like when I got my ACL, my right ACL. reconstructed, it was a lot easier. because it was a cadaavver. And I. recommend it to anybody. The difference.

between a patella tendon graph recovery. and a cadaavver recovery is literally. like six months. The difference is it's. the cadaavver was so much quicker. >> Wow. >> Oh my god. Because the cadaavver they. take it I mean it's all swollen and. everything afterwards, but it's somebody. else's tendon. They take an Achilles. tendon off of a cadaavver. So it's 150%. stronger than an ACL. They [ __ ] screw. that sucker in place. Little tiny. orthoscopic holes, not nearly as. invasive. And then five days later, you.

know, Matt Likenberg, I went to his. party for his birthday party 5 days. later just walking around and he was. like, "Did you just have surgery?" I go, "Yeah, like it's not that big a deal, >> man. It feels fine.". >> You know, it's it was so much easier. The left one was brutal cuz they take a. slice out of your patella tendon and. then they could take a chunk out of your. shin bone and a chunk out of your. kneecap and then they use those to screw. this new tendon that they created into. the shin bone and into your your thigh. bone. That was rough. >> That one was painful as [ __ ] And it.

took a long time before it felt normal. Took a long time before I could go down. on one knee again. >> When was that pain? That was in the 90s. >> And then the other one was. >> 2000 early 2000s. 200 like twoish. somewhere around that two three. >> I mean 10 more years of performing. surgeries 10 more years of. >> medical I just think it's the diff. because they still do that patella. tendon graph and I think George St. Pierre had it done that way. I know a. bunch of people that I I'm friends with. had it done that way and I was like, "Oh, don't do that one." Yeah, >> do the cadaavver. But people are worried.

like, "What if you get AIDS?" Like, you're not Jesus Christ, you're not. going to get AIDS from it. Stop. And. it's also it's like. >> you feel better before you are better, unfortunately, because the way the. tendon works. So, when they replace a. tendon with a cadaavver, it's not like. you have this guy's tendon in your body. What it is like is that tendon is a. scaffolding and then your body. repoliferates that with your own cells. So over the course of six months, my. body had filled in all of what used to.

be a cadaavver with my own cells. So you. have you you'll feel like it's better. before it's better. So a lot of MMA. fighters, they re they start training. too quickly and they blow it out again. because it's still soft. >> That's always the concern. It's always. >> in any you feel good and you're like, man, I can. >> I can do this. >> Especially animals, you know, guys who. are just used to pain and used and used. to pushing, you know, and they just pop. it out again. I know multiple MMA.

fighters that have had knee surgery and. then blew it out while they were. recovering. >> and just a few months more, they could. just they'd be all right. But it's. impatience. You want to get back in. there. And then it's even worse because. you got to drill into the same holes and. pull it out and open you up and it's. more invasive surgery. They got to. remove the screws and. >> [ __ ] Yeah. But I just I don't think. everybody feels pain the same. I think. it's a genetic thing. I I'm It's just an. assumption obviously because I don't. feel what other people feel. But I think.

some people just any kind of pain is. just they can't function. They're. they're just in agony. And I think those. people are way more vulnerable to the. pills. That's just my assumption. >> That's a decent perspective. I. definitely I I would agree with. pain is is a is a personal experience. Like there there are people who. I mean I've seen people like I can't. believe you go through that. And then. people be like but you get the [ __ ]. kicked out of you. I can't believe you. do that. It's all it's all relative. I.

would I would be. >> [ __ ] in cufflinks if you get that stem. cell needle out. I would be sweating. right until the [ __ ] final moment. Like some some stuff I can't take, you. know? So I guess it is. >> it could be combined with like what we. fear in life or maybe. >> maybe fear of hard work or fear of. effort. Who knows? I don't know. I don't. know. >> I think it's also being accustomed to. pain, >> you know. So if you did you wrestle when. you were younger? >> No, I uh played football. >> You played football. Well, that's just. like that in that you're always in pain.

I mean, if you're playing football, you're always colliding with people. You're always you got to have shoulders. [ __ ] with you, your backs [ __ ] with. you. It's like it's never ending. >> I' I've always said that there's. something there's some value into losing. a fight. >> Oh yeah. >> Like I grew up with four brothers and we. kicked the [ __ ] out of each other and. I'm I I was not always on the winning. side. So very early on in my life as a. young person. You know what it's like to. lose a fight. >> Oh, it's very valuable. And I think that. that's there's a lot maybe to do with. the pain conversation there of like just.

flat out getting your ass kicked and. then being able to dust yourself off and. be like, I'll get you next time. You. know, like. >> it's not over. You know what I'm saying? We're brothers. We're going to fight. again. You know, like. >> that's also knowing like why did he beat. me? What can I do to beat him next time? You know, like if you don't have that in. your life, also if you don't know what. it feels like to get your ass kicked, you get a little mouthy. I mean, how. many mouthy people do we know that have. never been [ __ ] up? And I think that's. why like there's real consequences if it. actually comes down. You start yelling.

and you get mouthy. If it actually comes. down to it, and we've all seen many of. these videos on the internet where. someone just. >> don't they don't know what the [ __ ]. they're asking for, what they're getting. into, and then all a sudden they're. getting hit. And man, I I'm not perfect. and there are days where I'm short of. patience, but when it gets to that weird. spot of like, yo, someone's gonna get. hit in the face. I always try to like. lean on diplomacy. >> Always. Always. Yeah. >> Please, let's not do that cuz that. [ __ ] sucks. >> And I bet a lot of people say to you, "Man, if I was you, I'd be [ __ ]. everybody up." That's the dumb people.

always say that. Like, it doesn't end. with that. Then this guy gets his. brother or he shoots you or they run you. over with a car. >> or you think you're going to [ __ ]. somebody up and you get [ __ ] handled, >> right? >> Like you never know, man. You never know. anybody else's story. >> day. You never know. >> to so many people out there that train. today. It's so much different than when. I was younger. Like you would assume. that like I assume that a good solid 10%. of all men you meet have martial arts. skills now.

>> because of the UFC. >> popularity of it. Certainly certainly in. in western society it's you know the gym. there's a gym every plaza. >> also there's so many kids that like. watch UFC and then play practice with. themselves and you could learn a lot. just doing that you guys learn a lot. just watching it on TV and then. emulating it at home with their friends. >> can tell those who watch WWE because. when those moments happen they try to do. some crazy move doesn't work doesn't. >> how many guys have [ __ ] thrown their. buddy onto a conference table or. something because they thought they.

thought it was the way into it. >> It's crazy, >> you know? I mean, the [ __ ] sheer. amount of punishment you guys put. yourself through is staggering. I mean, it really is staggering. >> But, uh, thank you very much. Uh, it is. is all for the good. Like, it's like a a. pro football player, pro hockey player, UFC. I think I think the beautiful. advantage that we have is that it's we. can we can make choices on what we do. So when you're in UFC and they close the. door, it's kind of [ __ ] best person.

wins. You know, you gota it's it's. survival. When we're in WWE and we both. step in the ring and they ring the bell, we're working together, working together. to put on the best show for the. audience. And in that process, you can. calculate the risks you want to take. >> And I think that's what allows somebody. to be able to perform for 23 years. You. know, I I don't know. I know that that. um age-old stat that everybody says. about like the average NFL career is. what two and a half years or three and a. half years. I don't know what the stat. is on average UFC career like how long.

when what's your window to be. functionally profitable in UFC. But I. know because our risks are calculated. and we're working together rather than. against each other. The math is is way. higher for you to have like a 10, 15, 20. year career. >> in WWE. But that also is 10 more years. have fallen down, 15 more years have. fallen down. So you. >> it's weird like you can choreograph the. risk, but you have to do it time and.

time again. And and the schedule in WWE. just changed like. >> to do 70 matches a year now in WWE is. like, man, you you're a workhorse. We. used to do 220 230. >> which is so crazy. >> It's 220 days of trauma in a year cuz. you're getting no matter what you're. getting some trauma. No matter what a. guy body slams you, something hap, you're colliding, you go off the ropes, you're smashing into each other. >> I get such a warm feeling when uh first. timers go into the ring for the first.

time. >> It's like, oh, it's like a it's like a. bouncy floor and then they fall down. once and like the wind's knocked out of. them. and they're like, "My brain. moved." I'm like, "Yeah, yeah, now you. got to do that again and again." But. it's weird. I've I've uh I've gotten to. work with a lot of standups. And WWE is. kind of changing. I I would say it's on. the progression of a standup making it. to just like a stadium tour. But man, when I performed, my sweet spot, we ran. very parallel lives. Like you I've. worked every city Hampton Beach Casino.

Ballroom to Madison Square Garden like. to the Saitama Super Arena to AT&T. Stadium to Bangor Maine or to Valparezo. Indiana. Like you you go to all of these. places and it's like. >> Friday you're in one place, Saturday. you're in another place, Sunday you're. in another place, Monday you're in. another place, Tuesday you're in another. place. One day to drop your [ __ ] one. day to catch your flight out, do it. again. >> Like it's it's it's kind of we we're. kind of like touring standups in that. regard. >> Very similar. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. >> And you're you're responsible for your.

own trans like and I'm speaking from. mighty I don't know how it is now cuz I. got one left and then I'm done. But uh. you were responsible for your own. transportation booking your own hotels. like you you were they were just like. hey we're starting here running here. Good luck. Which is awesome because you. create you people are really independent. when they when they go through that fire. and you weed out the people who don't. want to be there. >> Yeah. Because the just the sheer work. the sheer workload. >> making those clubs and like making doing. a tour. It's Also the adrenaline like. it's like what do you do after a night.

like that? Most jobs people can't wait. to be done and then go home and relax. and fall asleep where if you're doing. standup or obviously wrestling you were. just. >> you're done late at night and you're. like man let the water rush. >> Yeah. >> [ __ ] What can I do better? This [ __ ]. killed. And then it's 4 in the morning. >> Yeah. You're buzzing. Yep. You're. buzzing. And it's also it's really hard. to have any kind of a normal. relationship because you're just. constantly not home. You're constantly. gone. Like even your friends like you.

you really as a touring comic, the best. thing that I ever did is start taking. friends with me on the road. Yeah. Instead of just working with like random. guys that I didn't know in different. towns. >> Those are fun sometimes. Sometimes like. you know two out of 10 times you meet a. new friend. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Eight out of 10 times you're with some. annoying alcoholic who, you know, who. [ __ ] sucks and and they're annoying. and then they want to take you someplace. and, you know, you get in trouble. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I mean that that's. certainly um the the normal life aspect.

of it. It's also. like at full tilt. It's a it's a very. absorbing thing. It's a very selfish. thing. So, I think not only you don't. work regular office hours and you're a. nomad, a gypsy, but especially from a. WWE perspective, you you have to like. you're you're a startup founder. You. have to wake up thinking about it. You. have to think about it all day. You have. to go to sleep thinking about it. Wake. up in in the two hours of sleep that you. get being like, I remember this line or.

maybe we can do this stunt or whatever. >> Right? And it's people who are in your. sphere. At least through my perspective. and my journey, man, if if you were in. my gravity from like 2002 to like 2019, I wasn't a part of a team. You did it my. way. Like bus leaves at 10. If you're. there at 10:01, you're [ __ ] left. Like we're doing this and we're training. here and we're doing this and but it's. it's so it's so the end product is good. So, like the dream job of like, man, I.

never the the six-year-old kid holding. the paper belt can be an adult holding. the real belt and get shekels for doing. that. And I don't ever want to I don't. want to put that in jeopardy. So, you. [ __ ] are going to have to get in line. and we're just going to have to go. Like, it you you know, I I I was absent. a lot in relationships because if it. wasn't on my terms, it didn't exist, >> you know, because here you got you you. catch lightning out of a jar. I'm a kid. from West Newberry who's, you know, come. from a family of five and we there's.

always more broke, but man, we were a. good level of broke and then now like, hey, if you just work hard at this. thing, you can kind of not ever be that. again. All right, [ __ ] this. I'm doing. this thing all the time. But that comes. with, hey, I'm getting married or like. my grandfather died or I got a birthday. coming up or like, hey man, you missed. another Thanksgiving. You're damn right. I did because I'm doing the thing. >> Yeah. >> You know, so that it's al for me at. least it was it was that as well of like. laser focus all things WWE.

>> Well, it's that in everything that you. do where you want to really be. successful. >> It takes saying yes to the thing means. no to everything else. >> I had Jensen Hang on the podcast the. other day who's the CEO of Nvidia and. like one of the biggest companies on. planet Earth. Huge company. [ __ ] dude. still to this day works seven days a. week. And he was talking about when he. goes on vacation, I go, "Do you go on. vacation and just put it all down?" He. goes, "No, I work." He goes, "Even when.

I'm with my family, I have to work. I'm. working. I work seven days a week. I. don't take a day off. I love it." And he. goes, "And I'm terrified of failure." He. goes, "That's my motivation. My. motivation is not I want to succeed. My. motivation is fear of failure." Yeah. Every day I show up saying, "If I don't. do this, we could fail and I'm going to. work seven days a week.". >> Everybody thinks they want to be a CEO. You think you want to be a billionaire? Like, you want to do that? You want to. do that when you're 60 years old? Do you. want to be working seven days a week all.

day long from the moment you wake up? He. wakes up at 4:30 in the morning. He says. he answers thousands of emails a day. I'm like, what? How are you? How is that. even [ __ ] possible? gets up at 4:30. in the morning, answers all these. emails, works all day long, constantly. problem solving, making AI chips. It's. [ __ ] crazy, right? Yeah. But that's. with everything. You want to be at the. top of the heap. >> There's only one way. >> Yeah. When you see something difficult. look easy, >> there's a bunch of 4:30 in the morning.

wakeups that made that happen. >> You know, >> I think with everything in life Yeah. anything in life where you really want. to excel at it, there's no shortcuts. Yeah. doesn't exist. That weeds a lot of. people out. >> It does. It does. And there's a lot of, man, armchair quarterback is the easiest. and best position on the field. >> Yeah. >> I can do that. All I needed to do is do. this. >> Sure. Go right ahead. >> Yeah. >> Take your best shot. >> Yeah. Good luck. >> Yeah. >> It's It's interesting because it must. weed out so many talented people. There's probably a lot of talented. people that you've seen over the years.

that just didn't have that drive to. constantly improve and succeed and. really be thinking about what they're. doing all the time. I I like that. statement because I think the talent is. doing it all. You could you could have a. >> No, you can have one. You could smoke if. you want. I don't care. >> We have fans in here. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. With fans suck all the smoke. >> Okay. >> I think this the statement of um man so. many talented people didn't make it. They may have they may be an acrobat.

>> They may be a fast talker, but that's. not the only attribute that makes one. special. Uh, you may be a great joke. writer, but man, if if you don't master. stage presence and you be a joke a great. joke writer with stage presence, but if. you can't lug the tour, >> yeah, >> you're not you're not talented for it. >> Well, it's it's really the grind. >> It is everything the all-encompassing. thing. So when someone with great. athletic ability decides that it's not. for them because eventually that is we. one thing about WWE um for all the.

arguments of like backstage politico. everybody understands the sound of money. >> and no one refuses it like I [ __ ]. hate this guy but I got to give him. another match. It may not be, but I now. have to give them a 10-year contract. But when they go out there, if the noise. is there, even if the they [ __ ] hate. you, you get another match. I'm I am. proof positive of that meritocracy at.

work. >> Yeah. >> Like everybody [ __ ] hated me. >> Why' they hate you? >> I was just real different. Like I. >> I was just really different. In what. way? >> Um. >> so I didn't rock I didn't ruffle any. feathers when I kind of uh entered the. business. kept quiet, did my stuff, but. I also didn't connect with the audience. and and and I don't know, maybe you guys. see this in standup or not, but then I. got like a personality of like the the. white rap guy, like the the white. hip-hop guy. >> You know about that? >> Yeah. >> But like I [ __ ] went I [ __ ] went.

all in, >> you know, urban gear, like and I'm a. hip-hop head, so it's like, oh man, this. is my sweet spot. This is the the the. avenue. This isn't all of my. personality, but this is one level that. I can show that I think everyone will. get. So, if you go to Madison Square. Garden, you get it. But if we go to. Wheeling, West Virginia, you'll also get. it. And you may like it in some places. and hate it in some places, but everyone. will get it. I will not be selling. apathy. But in doing that, >> I never followed dress code. I was.

saying disrespectful [ __ ] about my. peers. Like, I kind of did it my own. way. M. >> So, I was I was kind of ruffling some. feathers backstage or just I was taking. big swings cuz I was going to [ __ ]. get fired anyway. The alternative was. lose my job. So, I was like, "Fuck it. I'm going down swinging.". >> Yeah. >> And then the people behind the curtain. were like, "Ah, the kid's disrespectful. to the business. He doesn't care about. the business." All the while, I just. want to keep my [ __ ] job, you know? So the they behind the curtain weren't.

really invested, but they were also. humble enough to be like, "There's noise. out there. Got to give them another. match and one match at a time. Times 23. years of compounding interest. We're. here.". >> What did Vince think about your hip-hop? >> Hated it and then loved it. >> He hated it and then loved it. And and I. think I think I'm thinking for somebody, but I think from his perspective is like. when I hear somebody's idea for a. personality, man, I want to be this.

sports agent guy or whatever. Oh, yo, I. have I have the idea of what that is in. my head. And if their projection of that. idea doesn't match my projection that. idea, I'm like, ah, [ __ ] I hate it. But. that doesn't mean it can't work. So, I. think what maybe what happened was my. perspective of the white hip hop guy. from the mean street of West Newberry. and Vince's perspective of John Cena the. rapper we probably missed. Like he had. an idea and I had an idea and usually he.

will craft it to to his vision. I got to. give him respect for allowing me to to. kind of to run with it, you know. Well, it's probably that fear of fire being. fired that like keeps you on the edge. >> Dude, that was it. Of like uh the Nvidia. guy of like I don't want to fail. Yeah, I I got the sit down of like, hey, we're. going to cut you. >> cuz it's not working. Like you you're. out there for your matches. You hear the. same. It's not working. And I there's no. argument there. I'm like [ __ ] all. right. I got to touch the sun. I got to.

make it. I got to play for the Yankees. I got my one at bat. I'm Moonlight. Graham. And then they heard me rap in. the back of the bus and was like, "Man, Stephanie heard me rap in the back of. the bus.". >> Yeah. >> And was like, "Yo, you want to do that. on TV?" I'm like, "Lose my job or. [ __ ] rap?" "Yeah, let's go. Let's. Let's do this.". >> Yeah. >> So, it was Stephanie's idea. >> And it was a [ __ ] accident, dude. It. was an accident. It's my final my final. overseas tour for the WWE. >> And the boys just spend time. Like, that's the one time they get the whole. group together is overseas because you. don't want to be hurting cats like in.

Amsterdam or something. Everybody rides. on the bus. You go from town to town. So. like to pass the time, the boys just do. whatever. And they were freestyling in. the back of the bus. And I normally just. [ __ ] kept to myself because I was. raised in the environment of like keep. your ears open, keep your mouth shut, don't do anything unless spoken to. So I. I did that, but I didn't I also didn't. make any connections with people who. were putting their lives on the line for. me. >> You know, some of the guys you you. really beat the [ __ ] out of in the rings. are like your best friends. Uh, so I.

didn't have any of those connections and. I heard these guys rapping. I just. remember playing Roller Coaster Tycoon. on my laptop, fold that [ __ ] up, putting. it away and be like, I'm going to the. back of the bus and just waited my turn. and then filleted like 12 guys. >> Yeah. >> And Stephanie was like, "How the [ __ ]. did you remember all that?" I'm like, "No, no, it's freestyle. You just make. it up." And she's like, "Well, make up. something about me." And we were. boarding a plane. And I literally like. utilized the plane, the people getting. on the plane, what she was wearing, what. she was eating. She's like, "Would you. do this on TV?".

>> And that's where we got a chance. >> Wow. That's. >> It wasn't like off to the moon. Like, I. got a a shitty chance on a small spot. and that worked. >> So then I got moved to like the dog [ __ ]. Saturday night program that nobody. watches. But the cool thing is no one's. watching. So like I could do whatever I. wanted. So, I started saying more racy. [ __ ] and dressing more outlandish and. having more personality and like. claiming ownership of the show. I call. myself Mr. Saturday Night and it's the.

shitty show. You don't want to be Mr. Saturday Night, but I did. >> and then I got another match and got. another match and one by one it kind of. brought me here. >> Wow. >> Just a [ __ ] happy accident, man. >> That's crazy. >> All the way to. >> even when the bells were like, "Hey, you. want the whole thing's a [ __ ]. accident. You want to start training? [ __ ] yeah, sure." All right, great. And. you want to start rapping? Yeah, [ __ ]. it. Sure. Let's see what happens. >> That's amazing. >> It's a happy accident. >> And for it to go all the way to last. year's massive heel turn. He went heel,

>> dude. And I. >> That was this year, by the way. >> Yeah. Yeah, that was this year. Yeah, it's been a it's crazy year. >> Yeah, that was I was at Mania and man, one literally perhaps I other than maybe. Hogan, right? The greatest heel turn in. wrestling history when a good good good. good crowd-pleasing guy goes bad bad and. dark. You had moments the things you.

were saying, the way you were saying. them. Epic, iconic, iconic heel turn. Cold, dark, working with the rock. He. was in cahoots. That's the good guy, Cody. >> You can like see the people's faces. That That's the fun thing. It's like uh. the stuff is so simple, but it's it's. the if you take out the crowd in that. situation and just put those three guys, it is really [ __ ] up what we do. But. when you add the audience in the back. and all of their faces and what's going. on, that's what makes. >> Bro, even your face, you you you got. like a mean guy face all of a sudden.

It's like you look like a different. person. >> That's interesting. >> I was having a bad day. >> Well, this is also when you'd already. done a bunch of acting. >> Uh, yes. Like this is this year. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. This is uh February this year. Yeah. >> How much of the creative control do you. have over the aspects of that heel turn? Like for example, one thing that I. thought was the coolest, I was I was in. the front row of WrestleMania behind the.

Spanish announce table. So I'm directly. across from the entrance, you know, the. giant Wrestleman is a football stadium. in Las Vegas and there was no music and. it was a black background. Normally he's. the most color with the most iconic. >> loud wild music. No music, black. background, and in white letters it just. said Cena. And you just walked out with. literally the statement was I'm not here.

to entertain you people basically is. what it felt like. And I loved it. I. mean, this is the main event of Mania. >> You are so entertained. I mean, I want. to entertain you. [ __ ] I [ __ ] up. >> Yeah, I have a I'm a I have a the degree. in pro wrestling, but my masters is in. healom. Like it's like the bad I just. love a bad guy. And even ever since that. bad guy turn I feel like and I feel like. most bad guy fans do now newly connected.

with the back to the return of the good. guy scene. >> Yeah. There it is. >> Oh, I mean it's it was literally just. >> I used to come out like a Tasmanian. devil and then just just reversed it. all. >> And it seems like nothing but it's. iconic. just cold as ice. Everyone else for four. hours coming out with colorful music and. pyro and all this stuff. And there's the. guy that normally did it the best and. the biggest just really not giving a. [ __ ]. >> And Wrestlemania, if you're going to do.

it, like you you'd give your best. entrance for Wrestlemania. And this was. I guess we were going for the shittiest. one. >> Oh, but it but it just rang the opposite. and simple and true. The Octagon isn't. just in Las Vegas anymore. It's right in. your hands with DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sports betting partner of. UFC. Get ready because when Dwabish. Willie and Yan face off again at UFC. 323, every punch, every takedown, every. finish, it all has the potential to pay.

off in real time. New customers bet just. $5. And if your bet wins, you get paid. $200 in bonus bets. And hey, Missouri, the wait is over. DraftKings Sportsbook. is now live in the Show Me State. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app. and use promo code Rogan. That's code. Rogan to turn five bucks into 200 in. bonus bets if your bet wins. In. partnership with DraftKings, the crown. is yours. Gambling problem? Call 1800.

gambler. In New York, call 8778 wire or. text hope 467-369. In Connecticut, help. is available for problem gambling. Call. 8887897777. or visit ccpg.org. Please play. responsibly on behalf of Bootill Casino. and Resort in Kansas. Pass through of. per wager tax may apply in Illinois. 21. and over. Age and eligibility varies by. jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Restrictions apply. Bet must win to. receive bonus bets which expire in 7. days. Minimum odds required. For. additional terms and responsible gaming. resources, see dkg.co/audio. Limited time offer. So like for example.

those things those details that's you. mostly pitching to the creative team. like like for example like the even just. the white letters the black entrance is. that how does that kind of come. together? >> So I think that's um I and I've been. lucky enough to kind of take this. perspective of not knowing everything. and realizing that even even with 23. years of fluency I'm not the smartest. guy in the room. I don't know the. technology they have and what they can.

do. Now granted, a black LED board, I I. could probably come up with that, but. what I what I'd like to do is lean on my. resources. Like, hey, let's go to. production and see what production is. thinking. And I I don't want to tell. them what to do because I want to hear. their ideas first. >> Yeah. >> And production was like, what if we just. went basic? I'm like, how basic can you. go? >> Yeah. >> What if we just blacked everything out? Yeah. But I know from what you guys have. said, you also like to light the No. No. What if we just black everything out?

You guys would do that. Oh, that sucks. Yeah, let's do that. >> Yeah. >> So, it's not it's not me with all of. these things. I don't I don't have. enough depth of field to touch all the. bases, but I will go to every. department. >> Yeah. >> And say like, okay, entrance is a big. part of what we do. What do we do for. lighting? What do we do for production? Go to camera. Like, how do you guys want. to shoot it? And then it trickles down. when you talk to the talent you're. working with. How do we portray this. message? Uh and then of course it starts. at the top with creatively, I want to.

make you a bad guy, so we're going to do. that. Okay, sure. We're going to do. that. How do you want to do that? But. it's I think it's getting we have a lot. of talented people and just allowing. them to do their job and and let you. know like, oh, I was kind of thinking. this and then tell them, yeah, that's a. good idea. Let's do that. >> Yeah. You know, >> it's amazing. >> because I don't know what I don't know. what I miss if I'm making all the. demands. >> To show you the contrast, his opponent. that night came out to I think it was 40. people on red, white, and blue dirt. bikes all dressed like American people.

He comes out. >> elevated from inside of the stage. wearing this super goddy mask that he. has to take off. Fireworks, fireworks, fire, sparks, smoke, all of these. different things. And he just comes out. blankfaced. I just got my bunk sock on. the back. Just. >> run on. >> There you go. >> It's so funny hearing Tony talk about. this because for people who don't know, the way Tony runs Kill Tony is basically. a version of a WWE event. I mean, it.

really is like when he does the arena. shows, he's has everything set up like a. WWE event. >> Yeah. I mean, even the thing we did with. Shane when when Shane was playing when. Shane was playing Trump when Trump and I. were supposedly feuding online, Trump. had said something about me online and. then uh Trump's talking [ __ ] like as. Shane's talking [ __ ] and then the music. plays and I show up behind him. It's. pure pro wrestling. >> Oh yeah, >> it's pure pro wrestling. >> And MSG's on their feet shocked. You. know, you're surprising this crowd that. thinks they're just there for a comedy.

show and well there's the panel. I guess. that's what we're going to have tonight. But the surprises, the ups, the downs. And then he brings up Joey Diaz. So it's. like boom boom. Kind of like that big. finish at Mania that I was talking about. like superstar bringing up a superstar, you know, music, music, smoke, fire. >> Yes. >> All these little things. >> The more the more you make it important, the more important it becomes. >> Yeah. As when what he's saying is like. when Trump was there, this was as Trump. was running for president and Trump.

thought that I was endorsing RFK. So he. got mad at me. So I said I am here to. endorse someone and I brought out Joey. Diaz. I mean. >> which is great because you're going to. get a reveal but you get a different. reveal and it's like. >> and everybody went nuts and but it's. like the audience they are into it like. they're into pro wrestling. They want. all the heel turns. They want all the. chaos. They want all the the the. pageantry and the the fire and the. explosions and all the [ __ ]. >> Man, you get you get any live audience, they're into all that. Like watch a. college football game, watch a soccer.

game overseas or or football as they. would say. Like. >> the fans, it's it's like a group think. of energy. >> Mhm. >> That's [ __ ] nuts. >> Like audiences want it. It doesn't. matter where you're at. Like what. >> man, when comics just go out and light. up a stage and they have that [ __ ]. stage presence and they just slay a set, the [ __ ] audience is rolling in the. aisles. like they you you let the you. let them in and they they can help make. a joke that might not hit the night. before. Slay like it's it's all about.

the moment. It's all about being there. and and reading the people. And the the. fun thing about WWE is you can you can. go out there with an idea and and kind I. can only imagine this as kind of like. standup where if you got your set and. you tell the first joke to crickets, >> you may try another joke and if that's. crickets, you got to [ __ ] pivot. >> Yeah. So, we go out, we go out and do. something. >> and oh man, they're into it. Great. All. right, we have them. We just got to. maintain their attention until we get to. act three essentially.

>> But if you hear [ __ ] crickets, you're. like, "All right, we're switching it up. [ __ ] pivot right now.". >> And you That's the beauty. That's That's. one of the things that I love the most. is the. >> It's not just me and the other person. out there. Like the audience is the act. every like that moment only means. something. If you put a blue screen. behind the people, it is super [ __ ]. up. Like, what the [ __ ] are they doing. and why does that mean anything, >> right? >> But when you let the level of the. audience and everybody's on their feet. and they go, "No." Like, >> it's [ __ ] everything. It's.

everything. >> That's why Tonyy's so interested in the. coordination of it all and the setting. and the sabotage and all the chaos. that's involved in all of it. >> But these are these are human emotions. that are universal. Mhm. >> Everyone understands betrayal, jealousy, anger, disappointment, failure, excitement. Like. >> these are universal things that you. don't if we don't speak the same. language, you still have felt these. things. And you could watch that. No one. spoke in that clip. But you could watch. that in anywhere in the world and be.

like, "That kid just got [ __ ] over, >> right? >> Oh, what what's going to happen next?". >> Like that's the beautiful appeal of it, you know? It's it's we don't hit too far. above our weight class. Like we we try. to send largecale universal messages. based on true real human emotion that we. all know. >> Yeah. And up to that day, that moment, like even that thing that we were just. telling you about me bringing uh him. coming out, that being a reveal, him. bringing up Diaz was coordinated.

literally I think 15 minutes before go. time. like literally me with a with a. big piece of paper going, "Hey Joe, what. if we did this?" He confirms it. So I go. to hair and makeup where they're. finishing up Shane as Trump, which in. itself is just hysterical. I pitch it to. him. He loves it. I go to Diaz, I say. Rogan's going to bring you up and and. the thing happens quick. Whereas with. you know every form of entertainment. that we're used to other than wrestling.

and like kind of you know Kill Tony in. this instance everything's so. pre-planned that if we over pre-planned. it we wouldn't have had the topical RFK. endorsement because it was like news. that day. Sure. And uh so again that. inspiration you know totally comes from. there because what else is doing that at. MSG 10 minutes before the show. reorganizing things. So now we have to. go to production and go have Rogan's.

>> uh LED ready and then Diaz in that. order. You know. >> it literally comes from that. >> and when it goes right there's not a. better feeling in the world. >> Exactly. I just get to sit back and. watch. >> Yeah. But it's so funny that that. connection with pro wrestling is really. why you've made Kill Tony the way it is. >> Yeah. >> Like without your love of pro wrestling, it would be such a different show. Like. if it was just run like a traditional. standup show, right, >> it's there's so much else going on that.

makes it the biggest show. >> Yeah. Well, it's long-term storytelling. We had a guy on on Monday that had been. doing it 14 years and man, he just his. timing was off. He struggled even after. the minute. I go, "You've been doing it. 14 years." He goes, "Yeah, man." I go, "What do you how do you make money?" He. goes, "I do this." I go, "You do this. for a living." He goes, "Yeah." I go, "You must have better material. I'm. going to give you another shot. Do. another minute. Here we go, ladies and.

gentlemen." And I introduce him again. And he bombs again. And literally um I. was talking with it about it with. Stephanie after the show because she. just happened to be at Kil Tony on. Monday and she goes a guy like that you. know what h you know what happens next I. go hopefully hopefully the guy gets. pulled out of the bucket in a month or. two has a great set puts it together. realizes oh his timing was off he wasn't. taking a breath he wasn't connecting. with the crowd he was just memorizing.

his stuff and it the story begins to be. told about this guy. And sometimes it. happens in reverse. Sometimes somebody. starts off, you know, fire hot, >> rocket strap to the back. >> Yep. And then that's kind of the sadder. thing, right? Is starting hot and then. never being able to touch that again. Have a moment like your first time. >> Well, it's like we were talking about. people with talent. We all know someone. who killed during open mic days that we. were like, "Wow, this guy's going to be. huge." They have like undeniable talent.

and they just can't manage it. They. can't figure it out. They self-sabotage. They get addicted to drugs or alcohol or. whatever it is. >> There are so many things. >> Yeah. >> It's not just the ability to go out and. do the task. Well, there's so many. variables that will [ __ ] you up. >> Yeah. >> Dude, >> you're right. So many. >> so many gifted people have just just. have that roadblock in front of them. >> Which is why I think conversations with. successful people are so important.

because you get to hear those stories. You get to hear like with Jensen the. other day, he was talking about how. Nvidia was basically bankrupt. They were. they were on their way out and someone. gave them a chance. Like some some one. guy that was an investor gave him a. chance and then they wound up becoming. successful. And then there was this. these moments and people need to know. that you're going to have those hurdles. there. You're going to have those. roadblocks. You're going to have to. figure out how to adjust. It's not easy. None of no one who's been successful at.

anything will tell you the whole ride. was easy. >> Yeah. But a lot of the times sometime. man sometimes we'll be in it. I. So I've been through like three. generations of knowledge and learning uh. 23 years in in the business at operating. at a high level. I have seen thousands. and like it is the man if you're a stud. in peewee football league then you go to. this junior high school and then you're. the number one player in college and. then you're the number one number one.

player high school number one player in. college. >> eke out a spot in the NFL and then a. year later you're gone because the. funnel just gets so thin. >> like WWE has like 200 personnel in their. NXT development program right now. >> maybe 10 will make. Maybe. And of those 10, like really. honestly, maybe one will make it. And. what the hope is is over a six-year. period of those classes of 200 that get. metriculated probably every four months,

so we're talking 6,000 people. >> I'm I'm hoping one makes it. >> Wow. in in five or six years, I need one. because my top guy right now, my Roman. Reigns and Cody Rhodess and and the. Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynches of the. world, like um they'll they'll last half. a decade to draw. Maybe if if we're. lucky, maybe we'll we'll get it more. They can, you know, maybe parlay it into. a decade or two, but that's an anomaly. You got to play the the legit math of. like after five years, I better have.

somebody in the on deck circle. M. >> So, out of like 5 6,000, I just need. one. But it's still everybody's biting. their fingernails of like we don't have. the person yet. It's so many folks just. don't make it. Just don't make it. >> Yeah. That's that's the parallel to. standup. >> Yeah. It's man, >> so that you know, there's so many people. that we we were talking last night in. the green room. >> Thousands. And when I see them like in. the ring do stuff, I'm like, I could. never do that. But they just won't they.

just don't make it. It's just there's so. many things that [ __ ] people up. So much. self- sabotage. So much inability to to. stay the course. >> in our own worst enemy. >> You know, I don't know. >> Yeah. >> I don't know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Happy accidents, though. [ __ ] it. >> Well, yeah. Happy accidents. But not. just that. It's you being able to stay. on course and you being able to. recognize that, you know, okay, this. didn't work. What do I do? You want me. to rap? Okay, I'll [ __ ] rap. Like a.

lot of people would have been like, "I'm. not [ __ ] rapping. >> That's beneath me. I'm here to be a. wrestler. I'm not a gimmick. >> I'm not going to be a buffoon.". >> Yeah. I'll be a buffoon. >> cuz it beats working a real job. >> It's not only that. It's part of the. entertainment of it all. Even the cringe. aspect of it where people ARE LIKE, "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" LIKE, it's. great. He loves that [ __ ]. >> Oh, it's the best. The best. You know. who my guy is right now? Dominic. Mysterio. >> Love Dom. Oh my god. So he's.

>> Were you? >> Uh, no. You're here. I was going to You. weren't at Petco, were you? >> No. >> Ah gosh, we had fun over there. >> I bet I was. I I caught a lot of it. Yeah, >> man. That kid's good, too. Like good. good human being. >> I happen to be in um Salt Lake City. doing a gig. I was doing standup in one. arena and the WWE happened to be in the. other arena in Salt Lake City just a few. weeks ago. And I'm like, "Ah, darn." But. I look it up and it's a 5:00 pm taping. of WWE. So I hit up my friends at WWE. I.

go, I'm coming in. I'm bringing my. openers, right? Uh anyway, Dominic. Mysterio is in a triple threat match and. his whole thing is he's wrestling. royalties. He's Rey Mysterio's son, but. he claims that he might be Eddie. Guerrero's son because he because his. father's, you know, one of the ultimate. good guys of all time. So basically he takes on uh the the the. traits of Eddie Guerrero whose whole. thing was cheating and lying and.

stealing, breaking the rules in original. ways all the time. And he's doing a. triple threat match which means there's. three guys at once, right? But if the if. someone beats anybody, you could lose. your belt. And his Intercontinental. Champion, I think it's Intercontinental, right? is on the line and he gets thrown. outside the ring and I'm having fun, right? I go, "Dominic, cheat. Do. something." Right? And he's kind of on. the other side of the thing and he lifts. up his head and looks at me and goes.

like that. He gives a big wink and then. he goes back down again and I'm cracking. up. I go, "Did you see that?" I'm next. to Paulie Shore. I go, "Did you just see. him wink?" He goes, "Yeah, man. What's. he going to do, bro?" I don't know. But. these two guys in the ring are wrestling. and one of them has the other one in a. submission hold a camel clutch. I can't. remember who it was but anyway. And I'm. like you I literally even me watching. since I was a kid and even though he. just winked at me it was just enough. time I forgot that Dominic was over.

there cuz this action in the ring is. really happening. Something's about to. happen and you hear the bell ring and I. look over and there's Dominic with the. hammer in his hand ringing the bell and. the guy lets go with a submission and. the referee goes, "What the hell?" And. something I hadn't seen in 35 years of. watching this thing. He was He's. innovative enough to find a brand new. way to cheat in this. >> twice.

A brand new way to cheat. and the crowd, everybody's cracking up. It's a whole. new right when you think you've seen it. all. >> This guy who you would love, he's. literally like built like me. He flexes. like Nate Diaz without flexing and he's. just braggadocious. Oh yeah. He thinks, see, he thinks he. won, but the ref's like, "No." And hold. on, they got to cut to Dominic. >> He just loves it.

Yep. >> There's our guy. >> Dirty Dom. >> Yeah. >> And the crowd just loves him. That's all. of us right there. That's Matty Edgar, Joe D. Rosa, Paulie Shore, me. It was D. Roza's first real wrestling event. He. had the time of his life. Childlike. wonder. >> I I love getting people in there live. for the first time. >> Yes. There's something funny about a pro. wrestler that's not built to. >> Oh. Oh yeah. And he's the champ. And all.

all these other guys. That guy pent. >> Man, he just whipped my ass. Dirty dump. He just whipped my ass. >> Yeah, >> for real. I just lost the. Intercontinental Championship to that. son of a [ __ ]. >> Look at him. >> Covered in gold. >> Yeah. >> Probably what 5'9. >> No, he's a tall drink of water. He's. taller than me, but he's 170 lbs. Soaking wet. >> Yeah, exactly. Such a uniquely American. form of art. Yeah, >> it really is. It's weird because um in. pockets of the world like it's uh Japan.

has their own style of doing it. Um. Latin America has their own style of. doing it. The UK has their own style of. doing it. But this. >> Yeah. >> Like the Japanese is very strong style. with respect to martial art. Um the. English style is very like catches catch. can, a real like technical expose. The. Latin American style, the Mexican style. is high-flying. Mhm. >> The the American offering of like steak, sizzle, apple pie, ice cream, Fourth of. July, everything like huge. >> And that's all Vince, right?

>> A lot of it. >> So, is it all ever one person? >> Right. It's not. >> A lot of it is. A lot of it is. But like. uh promotions like World Class. Championship Wrestling were were some of. the first to use music. >> Vince was the first to be like, "Rock. and roll. Get over here and get on cable. and let's let's blow this thing out. I. want to do it. It's It's not just. something we have in a local VFW with. cigar smoke and guys taking side action. on carnival tricks. No, this is a. [ __ ] thing and we are going to make.

this a [ __ ] thing. >> Yeah. >> You know, >> it's also a [ __ ] thing where it's a. lot of it is not televised cuz you're. just traveling around the country doing. these shows. >> Yeah. So that that the business model. has kind of changed where media content. is king now. So uh from what I. understand from TKO and I know their. executives will correct me but from my. perspective we have scaled back on the. live event only uh offerings which helps. you know uh lick the wounds. It's weird.

it like you don't bump enough or you. don't bump as much but you kind of need. to get in there and bump to get your. callous and to get your wind and timing. So it's it's kind of you get your. signals crossed. But anyhow, um the. content that is provided is always. available for media or or 99% where it. used to be the opposite. We used to do. like four live shows, one TV taping. So. you'd have four live shows under your. match, you know, you do you do like um. >> Lafayette, Little Rock, Pensacola, and.

then TV in Orlando, you know, and that. would be the end of the run. And then. you'd do it again of like Bangor, Portsmith, um, Providence, TV in Boston, you know, like, and then you'd go for another week. and go somewhere else. But it's it's. different now. It's like every piece is. televised for the media, which is great. because we get a lot out to our fans. across the world, but like I learned I. learned how to fail in those. non-televised events. M. >> I could take big swings cuz it's like,

man, if I'm on the the middle of a card. in in Valareerezo and I kind of [ __ ] up. in a gymnasium with 3,500 people, they. might they might tell me to [ __ ] off, but there's also the last match that's. going to send them home happy. So, let's. try this new weird thing. And that's. where like me being invisible starts, you know? It's just like, ah, [ __ ]. try it. Who cares? Because it's it's an. environment where you don't want to. fail. Now it's we there's way more. advantage on getting our content out. there, but production is super slick.

It's like really precise. It everyone's. really good. And um I don't know how. many people go out there and just like. like Dom. Like that was an example of. swinging big. >> I'm going to fake ring the bell, >> right? >> Will people even get that? Who cares? Let's try it. like he's he's the only. one of those guys who will or very few. of those guys will stand on an idea like. that where the other guys are like no I. want to have a good choreographed. performance. >> because I want my stuff to look good. because it's on television and going. around the world.

>> you know I loved the non-televised. events but there's just there's not. there's not it's not a good business. model the. >> so how does a young person coming up now. learn how to fail. >> that is I think a conundrum that we're. facing um because you you're failing in. front of the world, >> right? >> You know, um. >> it's it's weird. You can have. >> you can it's like you work out your set, but you can't do it on small clubs. before you go to an arena. >> It's like you would you would work out. your set at home and then you just play.

the in it dome or you play Barclay. Center. Like you don't have a small room. to be like, >> "All right, it landed. Oh man, I got to. [ __ ] rework that one." You don't ever. have that. You just have this. You put. it together in your head. Do you think. it's okay? And then you're out there. So, I I I don't know. Um I'm not saying. it can't work. I think it can because. analytics show that it it does work and. we we have a lot of people watching now. But from my perspective, I really. enjoyed the carefree nature of just.

going out and being ready for anything. and and it being okay if I I [ __ ] up. and I failed. If I told some bad jokes, I could come back and be like, "That. didn't work. That didn't work." And then. you have a partner to be like, "Oh, and. this didn't work, but this slayed. Why. don't you do this again?" Like, literally, that's where this came from. Just [ __ ] around at live events. And, "Oh my god, there's noise. I'll do it. tomorrow night. We're in a different. town. Let's see if they get. >> How did you come up with that?". >> It was a dare. My brother a happy. [ __ ] accident. My brother dared me to.

do it. Like, when we um when I was in. the middle of the the rapping wormhole, I made I I'm a platinum rapper. I made. my own album. So, like in in making. Yes, this is. >> amazing. >> Drink it in. Drink it in. Uh, in uh in. making the album, we would bring home. all the tracks and like my little. brother was our test audience and he. would do this dance where he would like. shake his head and keep his hand in. front of him like that is man, look at. you. He's like, you won't do that on TV.

And again, I was on the programs that no. one was watching. So, it's like no one's. watching anyway. Yeah, [ __ ] you. I will. do it on TV. And I did it on some. meaningless Saturday show and there was. a little bit of noise. So I took it with. me on the road for the next week and did. it on the live events that weren't. televised. There's a little bit of. noise. Okay. Like this is my thing now. This is my thing. And I just You can't. see me. And like that's. >> now it's a thing. >> Yeah. >> Amazing.

>> Yeah. So it's I did it on a dare. >> Wow. But like I also had I was in a. place to be able to tell my brother, "Okay, I can waste two seconds on an. inside joke between you and I." That's. the dare. It's not going to ruin the. match, but if you're watching, if you're. the only one person watching Velocity. that night, you'll be like, "Inside. joke. Got it. All right. It's like. shouting out your gaming group." Like. seven people get the joke, but this is. one of those things where it kind of fit. and it stuck. >> Wow. It's just so many of those things.

in your life. so many of those like. fortuitous moments. >> Well, I you know um admittedly I I have. a I have an optimism bias. I I I will. admit that. But life will will deal. opportunity. It's a it's. it's a matter of understanding that it's. happening. You know, don't get in your. own way. >> Yeah. >> Like say, "Yeah, come here. Sit with you. guys. This is a new experience for me.". Uh like, "Yeah, let's do it." Okay,

great. Um, man, first wrestler to ever. retire. Yes, that's a good idea. We're. just gonna do it. Yeah, but you'll never. be able to come back. Yes, but the let's. just do this thing. Like, life is. throwing me an opportunity to create a. year's worth of programming narrative. that I think will be interesting. The. alternative is to do what everybody else. has done and maybe hang on too long and. people like, man, you should have left a. few years ago. Now, let's let's let's do. this rap. Let's do this. Do you want to. train? It involves you working at this. shitty job where you're probably gonna I.

tried to be a cop and failed. I was. going to go down and join the Marines. That's lifelong employment. I'm I'm. really good with structure. I dig. uniform. Like I give me what to do and. like a a code of conduct to live by. I. have a feeling I would have fit in there. great. I love being in shape. They they. feed you over there. Like I I think I. would have done okay. But life put an. opportunity in front of me and I was. stupid enough to say yes. Going out. naked in the Oscars. I was just on Jimmy. Kimmel last night. He's like, "Man, you. want to do this bit?" I'm like, "Dude, I. am super tired. I'm on I'm on a.

different coast." He's like, "Let me. send you the bit." And I read it. I'm. like, "Yo, [ __ ]. All right. I'm going to do it.". >> What'd you do? >> I shuffled out there with an index card. over my dick. >> Oh, that that thing. Yeah, that's. >> But like, man, in a room full of not. even peers or contemporaries, like the. pantheon of the professional goal that. you try to reach. I don't know any of. these [ __ ] people. I don't belong in. that room. >> Right? >> And he's like, "Yeah, man. Just kind of. walk out there naked. It'll be a fun.

bit." And he's right. It would be a. funny bit, but I could have got in my. own way of like, "Now I got to fly. I'm. exhausted. I'm going to make a fool on. myself. I don't know any one of these. people. It's my first impression. I can. I can sit on the couch. Like that's the. easy part. The tough part is like life. has dealt you this opportunity. [ __ ]. say yes. 15 minutes before the show when. you get a good idea. The easy thing to. do is be like, "Do the show.". >> The hard thing to do is be like, "Yo, let's let's [ __ ] swing. Let's go for. it.". >> Yeah. >> So, it's it's not like I I think those.

moments happen to a lot of us. >> And it doesn't have to be a lottery. ticket. Granted, holy hell, I've been given a lot of. lottery tickets, but it could be. something as simple as like, "Yo, you're. in a crummy mood. Find a way to be. kind.". Like, life just gave you an opportunity. The person getting your coffee is like, "Yo, have a nice day.". You could stay crummy or you could be. like, "Fuck, thank you very much. Appreciate that. >> Appreciate your time." Like that's an. opportunity. You know, life is just a.

matter of like us reacting to what life. throws at at us. >> Pivotal decisions. >> and it doesn't need to be a. worldchanging decision. I think now I. don't want to say nowadays. I think we. always think that like the decision. needs to change the world. No, it's you. just need to [ __ ] commit and do. something. As a 12-year-old, I want to. start working out and I liked it and I. just [ __ ] keep working out. And now. now I can't live without it. It's part. of my life. It's a fabric of my life. But in working out, I've learned. structure and discipline,

accountability, essentially budget. You. if you take in too much and you don't. spend enough, you're going to have some. excess. Like the these lessons that. opportunity can teach you if you allow. it. Me [ __ ] up. the the thing I spoke. about at the beginning like the easiest. thing to do is your fault, but if I take. it as an opportunity of like, all right, you missed. What did we learn? Where's. the gain? >> Yeah, >> you can move forward and I can move. forward and wholeheartedly apologize to.

those I've hurt along the way. And they. don't need to forgive me. That's on. their terms. I can't control that. But. man, this the sleep is a little more. sound at night knowing like. in learning this lesson or having this. opportunity. [ __ ] dude. I kind of trampled on your. [ __ ] and I'm so sorry. Like, I had had. such a shitty relationship with my dad. and just recently we've mended fences. and he's 80, so I'm glad I've done this. cuz I mean, we don't last forever. He's. going, we're all going in the dirt soon, you know? But I just wanted him to be.

something else. I always wanted that. [ __ ] to change. I wanted him to. be something else. And finally, I got. out of my own way. The hard thing is. meeting that guy where he's at. The hard. thing is allowing him to be who he is. take the weight off my backpack and say. like, "Yo, I might have needed you to be. this in my life, but because you. weren't, man, because of your absence in. being uh the dad that I had in my mind, I got all these [ __ ] cool male. mentors. >> who kept gave me a key to the gym at 15.

and said, "You better [ __ ] be here in. the morning." And like, dude, I still. can feel a key in my hand from Dave. Knock. Um the the dean of students at. Coaching Academy who who bet on me. He. was like, "Man, if you get your grades. from C's to A's and you play two varsity. sports, this place cost in 94, this. place cost 35 grand a year. We will give. you aid and you will have a place to. learn." And that allowed me to become an. adult. It allowed me to the opportunity. of being in a diverse group of students. who, man, there's like royalty that goes.

to that school and then there's [ __ ]. poor kids. My roommate was a basketball. player from Compton and then we got kids. with generational wealth through their. name in buildings after. But when it's. just like 450 kids in a social. experiment, money goes away and you just. you you just kick it. So I learned to be. friends with everybody. But I wouldn't. have learned that in West Newbury where. it's 99.9% white, 1200 people in the. small town, no stop lightss, you either. leave or you never leave. Like just. little little things like that. You know.

what I'm saying? Like little. >> like man I should do this. and. deciding to meet my dad where he's at. and be like, "Dude, I whatever I thought. you were, you're not. You're just you. and I love you for you." And man, when. we sit, there's some [ __ ] that he'll say. that's all [ __ ] up. You know, he said. some [ __ ] yesterday that like I don't. think John's last opponent should be. there. And people listen to him because. he's a wrestling fan. He's like in the. kind of like the weird subculture. zeitgeist. And I want to call my dad and. be like, "What the [ __ ] are you doing?".

But then like no, he's doing what he. does. this is him. >> This is the dad I This is the John Cena. I love. This is this is the guy I can. sit down with and and and part of that. is. >> being able to process all that. But the. opportunity I get from that. I've. learned about my father's story. I've. learned about what he what he wants to. do with his life, why he does what he. does, maybe what he wanted to do, dreams. he didn't have, so I can gain wisdom. from there. But it's just that's the. hard part. is like getting out of your. own [ __ ] way.

>> to do the thing you really want to do. The easy thing to do is to hold a grudge. against my dad. What I really wanted to. do was tell my dad I love him and sit. down with him and be like, "Yo, let's. [ __ ] break bread.". >> Yeah. >> Talk about whatever you want. And now we. do that. And it's great. But that's like. that's a small example of. >> the easy thing to do is sit on the couch. and say, "Fuck it. Somebody else's. fault.". >> Right? >> The tough thing to do is like life is. handing me a moment right now. And dude, I don't bat a thousand. I mean, it's. more like Major League Baseball. I'm. hoping 300 gets me in the Hall of Fame. Like, if I can capitalize on 30% of the.

moments that life gives me and squander. the other 70%, I believe I will go into. the ground being like, man, I earned. life. >> If you can capitalize on 30% of the. moments, you are in the 1% of human. beings that have ever lived. >> I earned life. Yeah. >> So, I'm I'm just trying to get that make. it to Coopertown. >> Yeah. That's that's the reality. And the. also the reality is if someone doesn't. give you what you need, it it gives you. a desire to get what you need. >> So many. >> sometimes it's a gift to not have like.

doting parents like. >> I'm like, "Oh my goodness." Like I said, I I would never have gotten those the. beautiful guidance I got in life. I. always had father figures. >> because I was searching for it and they. they found me. And I was also savvy. enough to be like, "This guy needs to. stick in my life for a little bit. I. that sucks and he [ __ ] pushes me but. I got to keep this guy around. >> Like just weird stuff like that. I hear. a lot of wrestlers a lot of times.

>> What do you want to do here? I want to. be champion. Okay. The math of that. really slim. I never wanted to be a. [ __ ] champion. I just wanted to. wrestle. And if you're good, it'll take. you places where one day you can hold. one of those. But if you start with a. goal of I want to hold one of those, man, am I pigeon holeing my goal. What. the [ __ ] do you really want to do? I. just wanted to wrestle and if I got. fired by WWE, I would have tried to go. to Japan. I would have tried to go to. Mexico. I would have tried to go to the. UK. >> [ __ ] it. I because I just wanted to do. it. But that also meant I would put my.

best foot forward. And I wasn't shackled. to I need to be champion or I'm not. validated. I'm not successful, >> right? >> You know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. >> Just give me a chance to go out there. and get the noise and whatever else. falls into place, [ __ ] it. Cool. Because. what I want to do is just go out there. and be in the arena. It's funny because. they talk about the noise the way we. talk about the laughs. Yeah. >> It's the same thing. >> It's the same thing. >> Totally. >> It's the same thing. >> Yeah. >> You know, and I don't need to be the. most decorated person, but it's weird.

because in not even trying. I have a. resume that people will now measure up. against like, oh, that's you got to win. x amount to to pass the hurdle. So, it's. weird. Like, I didn't I didn't even try. to do any of that. All I tried to do is. like, you'll just get me out there. And. and when you look at what I've done and. and you've you've followed a bit like um. it was weird. I was in the main event of. Wrestlemania this year. >> and to talk to people they were like oh. man that's crazy. The last main event of. Wrestlemania I was in was 2012.

So you'd think that like oh John Cena. this guy is everything handed to him. He's always at the top. That was my. first main event Wrestlemania appearance. as an attraction in like 13 years. And. in that span, I worked new wrestlers. I. worked for lower level titles. I sat. ringside and crushed three beers and. then got [ __ ] squashed by the. Undertaker as a fan. >> Yeah. >> Like I did all sorts of [ __ ] you know? But it because it was never about like. I'm not a success unless I'm in the main.

event of Wrestlemania. No, that's just a. position with a ton of stress. Just. [ __ ] get me out in the course. Just. get me in the arena. have me in section one shaking hands. with people from Australia and I'll make. it the best [ __ ] time they ever had. It doesn't matter. Like just get me out. there. What I don't want to do is sit on. the bench, >> right? >> You know, so how did you go from that. into acting? Like what was your first. >> So originally it was a a business. choice. Vince opened WWE Studios and.

with the idea of if we make these guys. movie stars, more people come to the. arena. M. >> now as a young 20some on the road people. chant your name every night I'm like. more people in the arena that sounds. [ __ ] great and his first movie was. supposed to be with Steve Austin and the. it it fell through they were about to. shoot in two weeks so movie. pre-production is way longer than that. but he was like you're going to. Australia to film this movie the Marine. and it it was tough it was tough I went. from arrive in a town at noon work out.

get a good meal in, crush the show, have. some beers on the ride to the next town, fall asleep, do it all again. And it's. like this whirlwind of electricity to, okay, you're in hair and makeup at 6:00. We're doing an explosion today, so the. lights are going to be weird, and we. probably will get to you around 5:30. p.m. You just said it's 6:00 in the. morning. Yeah. So, what the [ __ ] you want me to do from. here until 5:30? I just hang out. And I.

couldn't like as a young 20some, I. wanted to be in the electricity. I. couldn't handle the the nature of the. business. >> Yeah. >> And therefore, my passion wasn't in it. I wasn't fully invested in it. I am I am. [ __ ] here with you guys right now. We. are talking about this. My my mind isn't. elsewhere on other [ __ ] I I want this. to be what I want to give you all I got. So, I'm here with you. I was never there. in those movies. I was always back in. [ __ ] maybe if I had the feud with this. guy or if I could have done this. I was. never there. and you could see it in the.

performance. >> So, I kind of got run out of the movie. business. I did so many shitty movies in. like 2009 10. My my best friend agent. Dan Bame at the time I was like, "Man, we're never doing movies again." Right? And you know, as an agent is supposed to. be the guy to pick you up, he looks at. me dead. He goes, "Nope, we will find. another way though." He was honest. We. are never do we run out of town, >> but we'll find another way. So, we did. We did um hosted some live shows. Uh um. hosted some game shows. did little. appearances here and there and then uh.

Jud Appattow and Amy Schumer gave me a. chance on um. uh gosh, Train Wreck and it was a very. small part but again like just just get. out in the arena and do your best and. and look I was in a [ __ ] room with. comics like funny people. I don't belong. there. But they they created an. environment where I wasn't judged. They. only showed the good jokes. that didn't. they didn't show the [ __ ] 20 takes or. I tried to tell jokes that sucked. The.

only ones that made the final cut were. the ones that made people laugh. So they. they provided an opportunity for. failure. And at that point I've been. playing the same character. This is 2014. 15. I've been playing the same character. on TV for 15 [ __ ] years. And now I'm. like, yo, I get to do something. different. I can do this for 12 hours. You want me to sit? I'll go [ __ ] read. a book. I don't care. I'm in. So I. accepted the patient process of movies. M. >> and then after that I I I got a little. bit of noise and train wreck and then.

Jud sent word to Tina Fay and Amy Polar. who were filming up the road in Long. Island be like if you got a spot you. should hire the kid and they made me a. drug dealer and their thing and then. like things started to roll downhill but. it was very very small parts at a time. and here I am that was 2015 here I am a. decade later and I'm still trying to. advance to fluency. By no means am I. like I'm the the 17time champ of the the. acting community. Those were the. [ __ ] I was looking at when I. was naked, you know,

>> right? >> I'm aspiring to try to be that. But it's. basically the pivot happened when I was. like, yo, if you just invest in this, the hustle you and patience you put into. wrestling, at least you know, you gave it your all. you know, be coachable, be professional, be reliable, be interested, and and see. where the chips fly and and [ __ ] say. yes. >> Well, it's also you had the. the objectivity, like the the.

introspective objectivity to look at. your past performances and say, I wasn't. really in there. >> I wasn't. And I got run out of town. >> Yeah. >> I lost the job. So, like, here's that. here's that mulligan. What? [ __ ] I'm. I'll I'll never work in this town again. I will. All right, let's go. Let's try. What else could go wrong? They've. already fired me, >> you know? So, again, an environment and. no one does it alone. The the people I. was around, uh Tina and Amy are the same. way. Like, only show the funny [ __ ] but.

try whatever you want. Like, fail. It's. okay. And just because you're around. people who do comedy for a living, all. we need is three seconds, and we'll be. patient enough to give you what you need. to give us that 3 seconds, >> you know? >> Yeah. It's uh it's just such a fun. story, you know, and there's so there's. only a few guys that have managed to. make that leap from WWE. Obviously, The. Rock is the big one. >> Sure. >> You know, I mean, he's the biggest one. to make that leap and now become a giant. movie star. >> Well, I think it's a I think it's a leap.

a lot of people can make. Uh it's not. from from lack of talent. We talk about. like obstacles and like we're in our own. way. >> WWE is all consuming. And you got to. remember like I I was their biggest act. So at 220 shows a year for me to be. like, "Hey, I need six months off to. film this action movie." That really. [ __ ] with the bottom line. >> Like. >> Oh, yeah. >> So So the answer is no. >> Right. >> You know, and and and now with less live.

events, it's still you you want to be on. television. It's like, okay, I need to. somehow leverage my relevance with this. to the what it's going to do to film. that in WWE. If you're not, I'm going to. retire on the 13th. They will be moved on by the Royal. Rumble. And that's that is real facts. I. will be forgotten. That is not a plea of. sympathy of like always remember me by. the Royal Rumble and the Road. Wrestlemania. Nobody gives a [ __ ]. because they're focusing on what the. show is. That's like three weeks after I.

retire. three weeks after I retire, nobody's. gonna give a [ __ ] And that's not I'm. not saying like what I did was. meaningless. I've lived the moments. They're great. People move on. So when. if I'm a talent who's on TV and finally. got one of those spots and edged my way. in, do I is this the right time to. leverage taking myself off of TV to do. four months on something that isn't. going to come out for another 18 months. and then I got to go back to TV hoping.

people still care that my my ring work. is still polished that I still have my. finger on the pulse. Like it's it is we. can get in our own way sometimes. You. know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. So I I I was just at the point in. 15, 16, 17. where I was like, man, my body's kind of. banged up. I'm a little older. I would. like to take some time off. And how I. talked about like every five years we. needed somebody in the on deck circle. So I'm I'm running at the front for like. 15. They needed someone in the on deck.

circle and then they finally got some. folks. So they're like, "Yo, we got we. got folks. Yeah, go do the thing. It's. fine. Go do it." So my my passion for it. was ignited at the perfect time when. when the office side of it was like that. won't affect our bottom line too much. Go give this thing a try. >> So. >> it it again just happy accident man and. I'm I'm grateful for it. >> So now you're in the situation you're. going to retire. >> Yep. >> And then are you just going to go all in.

on acting now? >> So that's again beyond my control. If I. could if I could. >> Is that the goal though? Is that what. you would like? >> Uh the the goal is to live useful. That's it. The goal is to live useful. and and not lack like a depth of purpose. in my life, >> you know? I can't control if the phone. rings and they say, "We want the kid in. the picture." That's way beyond me. What. I can do is when someone bets on me, do. my [ __ ] damnest. For every dollar, I. want to give him 10 back. I want to show.

them that you I want to show you your. time was well spent today. I want to. give you by heart and soul. And when I. leave here, you may be like, uh, not my. cup of tea, but the [ __ ] kid's all. right. You know, like that's that's all. I'm trying to do. So, if I can do that, maybe I get another maybe I get another. match. Maybe I get another phone call. But I also realize my mortality in in. the retirement, like it's over. But. also, there'll come a day where y'all. out there are like, "Ah, the kid's not. not cool anymore. I'm done. I'm on to.

the next shiny thing." I'm grateful for. what I got. And I know I don't control. how many times the phone rings. I just. wanna I never want to phone it in, >> right? >> And and when my time is up, it's over. with, man. I like I'll I'll do the rest. of whatever life is. >> So, >> do you think about that? Like what the. rest of life is? Do you have other. interests? I. >> sure do. Sure do. Um love messing around. with music. I I never read as a kid, so. I'm reading more than I ever have. Um. love cars. Love to I'd love to just. drive the like just being in a car and.

driving. not track stuff, just like. going on long drives. Love that. I see a. bunch of sticks. I love an occasional. stick with some conversation. Uh I love. boy did I miss out on loving connections. in my life. So I'm like I have them now. and they're [ __ ] so cool. So if if a. day is just spent with friends or a week. or like man with WWE, I've been around. the world like 12 times. I haven't seen. [ __ ] I've seen the inside of arenas, a. hotel bar, and a [ __ ] airport.

>> Yeah. >> I want to know what Tokyo is all about. I've been there like 20 times. I haven't. seen [ __ ] you know? Like I And and I. don't know if I'll ever get tired of. that. Like um I always have a curious. nature on to to what's next. I don't. know what that'll be, but I'm I never. want to wake up and be like, man, life's. taking forever. >> You know what I'm saying? I think. there's always something to do with the. day. So, I don't I don't know. Would I. love to continue to tell stories and get.

paid for it? [ __ ] that's a great gig, >> but it's also beyond my control. So, instead of being like, I'm going all in. on acting and I want to do this and one. day I want to win an Oscar. And I'm not. saying that approach is bad. I'm just. saying my approach is like, man, when. they do call, be grateful. And don't be. grateful in the easy times. Be grateful. when they ask you to work a 16 hour day. or be grateful in that press tour when. you have to read off the or when you get. to read off the prompter and you're. doing 86 reads and the reads are so you. can dress up in the costume and all that.

other [ __ ] Like that's that's kind of. more where I'm at. That's a great. approach to life. How did you develop. this philosophy is dude I'm not supposed. to be here. Like I'm from [ __ ] West. Newbury, Massachusetts. I'm not supposed. to be here. And and that's another. thing. There's not a day that doesn't go. by where I look at someone I love and. connect with and be like, "Man, what a. life." I I understand how lucky I am, and I understand I have been awarded. more opportunity.

than one human being should get. And. it's it's um from what I've tried to. boil down to it, the best way to honor. that opportunity is to do your best to. try to live a good life. And a good life isn't it's that that's. almost like pain. Everybody's. perspective of a good life is different. I've come up with core values and I try. to live by those. [ __ ] I'm human. I. ain't perfect. But like again, if when I go into the dirt, I feel as if.

I didn't waste it. And I don't mean. grind. Like homeboy from Nvidia, that's. that's a grind. And I think a lot of him. there's fear there, but also a lot of a. lot of that effort, he loves it. And. that's what that's what an ideal life to. him is about. And if he goes in the. ground working 70 hours a week, he'll go. in with a smile on his face, you know? I. just want to go in when it's my time, I. want to know that I honored the luck I. was given by not [ __ ] squandering it, by not wasting it.

>> And that doesn't mean grind to a. monetary number. It just means live a. fulfilled life where the sleep is sound, the love is real, and every day you're. driven with curiosity and purpose. And I. don't know what the [ __ ] that is. And it. could change. Man, I thought I was born. to be a WWE superstar. And then the. elbows start hurting a little bit and. you're like, "Ah, man. I'm born to be a. storyteller.". And then you realize that like I'm not. in control of any of that [ __ ] That's. just luck. That's somebody being like, "I liked him in this. Put him in that.". Yes, no problem. Well, I think a key.

factor you're talking about here is. gratitude. >> I was born to to honor the luck that. I've been given. >> Yeah. >> And just try to do my best to live a. full life. >> Like that's it. >> Yeah. And that having gratitude about. the life that you live and being happy. God, it's so hard but so important. >> And it it's tough when you use that word. because it's such a. >> I know it's a new age. >> Think outside the box like but no man. Like. >> it's a real word though. >> Real thanks. >> Yes. is hard.

>> Yeah. >> Because you have to be thankful for the. suck, for the pain. >> You have to be thankful for the lesson, for the journey. Like, and these are. again, these are all like slangy. hashtaggy terms. I don't know what the. [ __ ] else to call it, so I'm just. calling it what it is. >> They've been they've been co-opted by. people that just sort of [ __ ] and. use those words. But the reality of. those words is strong. It's very. powerful. >> It's like like grind. Grind is another. hashtag word, you know, but like. >> there is there is some realism to it. But that that From what I figured it out.

thus far, that's my path. And uh when. the facts change, so does my opinion. So. we could come back here in a few years. and I I'd be on some other [ __ ] But. right now, that's kind of where I'm at. >> Well, it's such a the the gratitude word. has been really co-opted by goofy. people, unfortunately. But it doesn't. mean you shouldn't use it. >> It's the real word. >> And and if if if the word makes you feel. weird, come up with your own word. >> Right. Thanks. Yeah. Whatever. Having. thanks. I'm with you there. Some.

>> some words make me feel gross just about. how overused they've been, but like I I. I can't stray away from that one. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, we talk about gratitude. all the time. We We're always like. >> talking about how we're living the. dream. >> Yeah. >> Like just being. >> What are we doing? We're just shooting. the [ __ ]. >> I know. >> People are paying attention. >> I know. >> The [ __ ] you guys doing? >> A lot a lot of people. If you're still. with us, I can't believe it. This is. great. >> Yeah. I was thinking uh I was talking to. my buddy the other day, Peter Shore, the. owner of the comedy store, and I was. telling him about how just a few weeks.

ago because I'm now that I have a place. that I like and a car that I like and a. job and everything, everything's finally. it appears how I have always considered. what the dream is. that uh I was saying. to my buddy the other day who I came up. with who I really started with and I'm. talking about like 14 16-hour days at. the comedy store. I'd answer the phone. at 11:00 a.m. because back then they. didn't even have a website. Hello, you.

want to you want tickets tonight? Blah. blah blah blah. Work all night, put on. the t-shirt at 8:00 p.m. tear tickets. and check IDs until 2:30 in the morning. So I would hit ex I would hit overtime. by like Wednesday or Thursday, but they. couldn't pay overtime because the comedy. store in 2007 was half to quarter empty. Anyway, so they would cut my hours and I. was paying $400 a month to sleep on my. buddy's couch in his living room and he. had a bedroom and my other buddy Maddie. had a bedroom, but Sandy was like, you.

know, he was like the apartment was. registered in his name. And I mean, terrible couch, terrible setup. I'd have. to go through one of their bedrooms to. go to the bathroom. So, if you have to. pee in the middle of the night, you're. kind of tiptoeing. >> through, you know, you don't want to. make noise. You don't know what you're. gonna see, whatever. >> And I was talking to Matt a month or so. ago and I go, I think I still owe Sandy. a little bit of rent money because I. just simply didn't have it back then. Isn't that crazy? He goes, you do. I He.

mentioned it last time as we were. talking about how successful you are. >> There's an accountant right there. >> So, I Venmoed him out of nowhere. I. haven't even we haven't even talked. since pre- pandemic. He's got a family. I'm out here. This that I Venmo him a. thousand bucks out of nowhere. And I go. 2007 rent money as the uh as the um the. memo part of it. And he hits me up. saying thanks and we're communicating. And then I remembered that at one point. I couldn't even afford the $400 a month.

uh for the couch. And there was another. comedian that was a door guy at the. store that did have the 400 a month. because he was getting help from his. parents. So I got downgraded to a bean. bag for like a month or two. I was. sleeping. Oh, just horrendous. Exactly. A sore back for two months just in pain. all the time but doing what I loved. So. much of what you're saying about. enjoying the process. Enjoy what you're. doing because I really did back then. And I think about that now more. I've.

been thinking about that bean bag and. that couch and that living room more. than ever the last few months. You know, it's like that's talking about. gratitude. It's like those are the. things that that's who you are is. enjoying that process, >> you know, and making the best out of it. >> And in in in my case of a similar story. and from what I'm hearing from you is. like you you wanted to be there. You you. were not going to give up the bean bag. >> Oh yeah. There's there's a lot of folks. out there who are put behind the. eightball and really have to dig.

themselves out of a trench. When I moved. out to Venice and I was working at. Golds, I was sleeping in the parking lot. in my 91 Continental. >> and everybody's like, "Oh man, you were. homeless." I'm like, "No, no choice. It. was my choice.". >> Yeah. >> I didn't want to leave. My old man had a. room for me. Nobody ever leaves West. Newbury. My dad was like, "Yo, come. back. You got a roof over your head. You. get some [ __ ] up job over here. You. don't have to pay rent." So, I had. choice. I stayed in the car cuz I wanted. to. >> Yeah. >> Life was great. I got to see like the. bodybuilders of the 2000s. I got to. train at the gym and shower at the gym.

and the rock came through. There's like. a old picture of me in the rock. somewhere where I'm in my gold gym club. store shirt and he's [ __ ] doing the. the this one and like I got to see all. these people and it was [ __ ] cool. And I I wouldn't have left if they took. the car away and I got to sleep in the. parking lot. Like I I was by choice, you. know? You you slept on the bean bag cuz. you wanted to be there. And the fun fact. is. >> look at that. >> That's uh that's that's that's me in the. background right there. No, no, no. Keep. that. Hold on. I'm taking the phones. off. I'm going in. Yeah,

>> that's me right there. He had just taken. a photo with me and that's me. >> Wow. >> That's DJ. >> Wow. >> Wow. >> Yeah, >> that's crazy. >> That's 1999. >> Wow. >> [ __ ] rock was white hot. Selling out. every place. Probably Staple Center. Anaheim coming in to press some weights. Wow. >> Wow. >> That's crazy. >> Yeah. What a what a That So, like that's. where the perspective is exists. >> Yeah. >> Because I shouldn't have even been in.

the [ __ ] club store selling candy. bars. I should be, you know, in in in. West Newberry doing what everyone else. does. Like, that's the that's the tale, you know, and I'm not. So, I'm grateful. for it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. There's a lot of people out there. on bean bags right now listening to. this. You need to hear. >> Stay on the bean bag. 24 more hours. Who knows? 24 more hours, something could happen. >> Yeah. And the the success would be so. much sweeter. >> All so much sweeter if you do it that. way. I mean, if you were a trust fund.

kid and you had plenty of money and your. parents gave you 100 grand a year to go. out and pursue your dreams and they paid. for your apartment and. >> man, you know, I don't want to [ __ ] on. anybody's flex. You You're right. But at. the same time, >> same. >> if if you understand that, right? If you. understand I was put on the board ahead. of everybody else. I was born on third. base. >> That's again that shit's beyond your. control, >> right? But I think you need some failure. to understand that. >> So if you're grateful for what you have,

you will swing and miss and and be. accountable. I think. >> because you can't really control what. you have. >> You can't control where you start, >> right? >> You can't control your start. You. control where you're going. >> So if. >> or how you respond along the way. >> Yeah. and and the kind of person you are. to somebody who was born on third base I. think also will dictate your perception. uh from the from the eyes of others. If. you feel you are greater than, [ __ ]. we're all human beings, dog. Like,

nobody greater than nobody, >> right? >> You know, uh, everybody's out there. struggling and and all of us, especially. in this area of the the pale blue dot. >> We all believe in capitalism. So, so the. fact that you were born on third base. means everybody's doing their job and. the whole system's working. Like, you. can't think you're when you start. getting the like I I never use this. word. I feel bad even saying it. Deserve. When you start getting the. deserve mentality of I deserve this. [ __ ] it. What the [ __ ] do you deserve, man? >> Yeah, that's crazy. >> You know, have you earned this? Have you.

earned it? And if you feel as if you. haven't, what steps are you going to. take to earn it? If you're born on third. and you feel bad about it, take some. steps to feel good about it. I don't. know what that is, but if you're born on. third and you feel you deserve it. >> to me, that's [ __ ] sprinting through. a minefield, dog. >> Yeah, that's not a good path. And I. don't I don't ever I don't ever want to. [ __ ] with somebody who turns like a. hundred,000 into 10 million or a million. into a billion. That's good investing. >> That's I mean that that's the system.

You you you learned how to work the. system. It's just in the process if you. think you think you're better than Yeah. murky waters, man. In in in my. perspective. >> Well, it's just a terrible perspective. anyway. >> Like you're just like. >> cuz it's all right. >> It's all kind of fugazy. Like it's all. just paper IUs or whatever. It's digital. ones and zeros like are if it melts down. are you really better than anybody? You. know, >> well a lot of times it's also a defense. mechanism. >> You know, you pretend that you deserve.

it. You pretend you're better than other. people. >> because maybe you don't feel enough or. again everybody's walking through their. own mile, but like I don't feel. validated or or I want attention or I. don't know. I don't know, man. I don't. know. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It was crazy hanging out with. Steph McMahon and how human she was and. hilarious and human. I was telling her. cuz I was telling her like, man, you. know, I always wanted to be a pro. wrestler when I was a kid. And then I. realized I wasn't going to be tall. enough and I wasn't going to be big. enough. And then lately I've been.

meeting these guys and they're not that. huge. And when I tell them that they go, "Look at me." You know, Sami Zayn, hilarious guy, >> literally told me that. He's like, "You. could have done it." I'm like, "Yeah, I. guess I could have actually done it. >> You could probably still do it." And I. was telling Steph that she goes, "Do you. think you can do a little something?" I. go, "I can hit a super kick on anybody. at any time from any place.". >> It's Shawn Michaels finishing move. It's. like kick. >> You would literally you would faint from. laughter because you actually know how. to [ __ ] kick through a wall,

>> but it's a it's a it's a kick and. >> and the goal is not to hit the guy to. come real close. Y. >> and she's so cool. She goes, "Oh, that'd. be funny if next time, you know, I'm. with Triple H, you just super kick me. out of nowhere. I'll sell it. I'll fall. down the whole thing." I'm like, "I. know, Stephanie. This is crazy.". >> There we go. There it is. >> That's a perfect example. >> Come on. There it is, man. This is. You're on it. >> Okay. So, a guy flies through the air. and you kind of catch him. >> That's just one example. Like, that's a. that's a really good example right here.

But it could be from It could be from. standing anywhere. It's just a pretty. much that high that high kick. >> You can do that. >> I can do that. I can. >> You're flexible like that. I'm flexible. At least I think I am. I don't know. We'll see. I wasn't th was throwing a. rock at the tree the other day for the. first time in forever and I coming up. about 15 ft shorter than ever before. There. >> That's what she looks like. >> Yep. >> Whoa. That looks real. >> Yep. >> Yeah, it's on there. >> Looks like it's really hit. >> It's on there. >> Two of the best right there.

>> It's on there. >> Yep. >> You really got that kind of flexibility? >> Yep. You slap your leg at the same time. and it makes everybody actually think. that you did it. Like if I did it to. somebody, you'd be like, "Dude, you just. [ __ ] kicked them because. >> slap the like stomp around when you. punch.". >> Yeah. Yeah. Slide a hand. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> There's magic in the business, man. >> There is. >> I want to see you out there. >> Hey, I wrestled with my pillow for like. eight hours a day as a kid. I would do. the entrances. I would record off of the.

cassette player. Remember how you used. to have to record? Dude, I had a whole. We had a whole league in our basement. >> Yeah. >> With I I didn't need the pillows cuz I. had four brothers. We had belts, a. league, personas like. >> And in one persona, I would get my ass. kicked all the time. And then there was. one persona that could not [ __ ] lose. Like we kept standings and stuff. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's It's. >> Oh, yeah. >> I don't know, man. I don't know. >> That's amazing. >> My brothers and sisters were all much. older, but we had a music class teacher. in my grade school that didn't give a. [ __ ] about his job. We would just sit in.

the corner and play piano the whole time. and let the kids do whatever we wanted. And again, we had entrance music. We. were all different people all the time. We'd run it back again. The entire 45. minutes jumping off of desks, cabinets, chairs. It's crazy how many injuries. didn't happen. It's amazing how. resilient uh kids can be when we were. that. >> the energy of youth just bulletproof. >> God. >> Yeah. It doesn't make sense how arms and.

legs and heads and necks weren't broken. >> You also don't weigh that much back. then. That's part of who you're Man, you're so full of energy. >> Man, I I can tell I'm getting old cuz I. can be like, "Is that chair okay? >> Is it I'm I'm going to be sitting for a. while. Am I going to be all right? Is. everything going to be good?" I'm like, "Oh, man. This bed's going to kill me.". >> Yeah. >> Just laying down like this. The bean. bag. Oh my god. >> Oh, >> I'd spend four hours in that thing. You. have to cart me off. >> I think I'd just sleep on the ground. rather than the bean bag. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Back then it seemed like the.

better option. >> It was the better option. >> Yeah, probably. That's hilarious though. >> Yeah. >> Have you talked to them about possibly. doing something? >> Uh, I mean, no, not exactly. At one point. there was a little a little chatter, but. >> come on, dude. I think you can come up. with an. >> Royal Rumble right around the corner. I. have big shoes to fill over here. >> Sturdy entrance. We need We need bodies. Yeah, I show Speed did a good job at. that,

>> man. He got drilled out of his boots. >> He took uh uh the streamer, famous. streamer, internet guy. He took what's. called a bump from hell. >> Uh he got speared at the Was that the. Rumble? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, he was. The. other spontaneous. >> guy. He does some wild [ __ ]. >> He does. >> He got in the cage with Dan uh the. hangman hooker. >> Yeah. And he's he's like he's game for. anything. Yeah. >> He has like um like a kinesthetic. awareness. Like he's he's obviously an.

athlete. >> Yeah. >> And he's brave. Like. >> look at this [ __ ] Watch this mother. just leave screen. >> SAY IT. >> OH MAN. >> Oh my god. >> You can't fake that. >> Oh my god. >> But like you also have to the reason. that looks so good. A lot of that is. because of Braun, but also a lot of that. is because of I show speed. He committed. to the fall and really tried to fall. with snap and with quickness. Like he's. he's good, man. He really is good. And. like you said, like I I've seen a lot of.

the other stuff he does. He he does. well. He'll get in there and mess. around, you know. >> Oh, yeah. Well, he really sparred with. Dan Hooker and Dan beat the [ __ ] out of. him, but he hung in there. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It's just it's. >> crazy enough to try, you know. >> It's also interesting these YouTube. guys, they're just becoming famous and. there was no avenue for them before. you. know, they would have had to have been. cast in a TV show or become something. else. >> Limited spots. >> Yeah. And now they're doing it. completely on their own and becoming. huge. I mean, he's got like 50 million.

Instagram followers or something crazy. >> Yeah. And and a bunch of content and a. bunch of revenue to match that. And like. >> and always working, always doing. something, puts himself out there. >> Those guys hustle and it's all all the. content creators out there. >> People don't understand the hours. They're they they may end up getting. some financial reward, but when you. break it down to hourly wage, they're. working 24 hours a day, >> 7 days a week. Like they don't stop. because it's a lot of the content they.

make will have short shelf life. It's. not they're not they're not essentially. putting Gone with the Wind out in the. universe. Like it's like you got you're. only as good as your next one, not the. your last one or the one you did. It's. like you're only as good as what you're. doing five minutes from now. And if you. drop off the map, someone will replace. you like there's so many [ __ ]. streamers. There's so many people that. are doing content. >> And they they work hard. They do. They. work hard. And even even the the ones. where it seems like, man, to a a perspective of like, I don't. understand this. Still the effort that.

goes into that. And it's not just what. you saw. It's like, okay, you got to. have a repeat performance and then you. got to keep coming and keep coming and. keep coming. Like I do a movie and like. I said, it's out in 18 months. In 18. months, they've already put out 10,000. videos, >> right? >> Like it's it's bananas. >> It is interesting that nobody saw that. coming, too. Nobody ever thought that. that was going to be a thing. >> I just think it's cuz we get so used to. stuff. >> Mhm. >> We get so used to consuming in a certain. way. When something is new for us, it's.

like, ah man, I don't know if that's. going to take off. But there are young. people who are experiencing everything. at the same time and like, no, this is. cooler, >> right? >> It's way easier to do this. Also, he's. really young and when you start young, there's not a lot of expectations on. you. >> No, >> you you can kind of just do whatever you. want. >> and if it works, great. >> Not young and courageous, too. Like, go. just go for it. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's it's And it's also a great example. for other people that that are thinking. like, I'm kind of entertaining. I just. don't have an avenue. Let me just start.

making videos. >> You got a phone? >> Yeah. >> You got a chance. >> Isn't that crazy? That's all you have to. do is have a phone. >> It's nuts. You see the videos where he. was uh sprinting with uh Ashton Forbes, you know that super jacked guy. >> that does that morning routine that. everybody made fun of because he has. this like morning routine where he dunks. his face in water and then he someone. hands him his gold watch and he puts it. on. It's like really kind of silly. >> Yeah. >> Huh. you know, and he had a whole series. of races with him because he he couldn't. believe that this YouTuber guy could.

beat him because he's like this [ __ ]. superjed ripped guy who a lot of his. online content is him running and he. just looks like a force of nature and I. show speed beat him like three times in. these races, but he didn't want to a. believe that he lost so he wanted to do. it again. Let's do it again. Let's do it. again. I show Speed's talking [ __ ] to. him. He did it again. >> Sorry. See if you can find it. It's very. funny. It's very funny because when you. look at the the guy like this guy looks. like he could run like a horse and I.

show speed is actually faster than him. >> I think he he sprinted an actual Olympic. sprinter. I mean he started [ __ ]. around a little bit but he held his own. >> That's crazy. >> Yeah. >> That's crazy. He was like right there. with an Olympic sprinter. That's nuts. I. >> think he won the gold the guy that he. raced. >> Really? >> That's He's like right next to him. That's crazy. Like and he's not even. [ __ ] training like that guy is. Imagine if he was like that [ __ ] guy. if he wanted to like fully invest.

himself into sprinting. >> Imag he's only what. >> 20 20 years old. >> That's wild. >> Wow. Really? >> Imagine if that kid fully invested in. that and then became an Olympic gold. medalist as well. >> So that's that's where that's where my. mind goes as well. It seems like he can. >> But also, why? >> Why not? Cuz it'll make his dreams even. bigger. >> Will it? >> I don't know. I mean, >> or will sprinting against a gold. medalist, getting in the cage with a.

fighter, getting in the ring with a. champion, uh going to that guy's house. and and besting him at his own thing, like he should keep doing that. >> He shouldn't he shouldn't go into one. the lane he's in. >> I think he's doing pretty well, >> right? It's almost better losing to the. fastest man alive by that much. >> or like so I can tell by watching that. you like I love potential. >> Mhm. >> And you see that you're like, "Oh my. god, potential, right? >> This guy could he could win it all.". >> Find a video of him uh sprinting against.

uh that Ashton guy cuz it's it's kind. >> for what? >> This guy's got the world by the nuts, >> right? >> He should He should do what he's doing. Exactly what he's saying. >> I only know him from that appearance at. the Royal Rumble. like he got booked on. the Rumble because he has a big. following. I'm watching the Rumble. I. go, "Who's this ice show speed guy?" And. I go, "Wow, that kid took a hell of a. bump." So I know him from. >> this Ashton Forbes guy. Now look at the. way this guy's built. >> Oh my. >> He's talking [ __ ] WHILE HE'S RUNNING.

>> OH MAN. >> AND he fell. He's yelling. >> 40 million people. Is that right? The. number of views in the corner. 40. million. >> Unbelievable. >> Wow. No, >> man. Look at that. >> Wow. >> They raced a couple times. >> Yeah, they raced a bunch of times. >> And the the other didn't that other guy, he played football, right? >> Not in the NFL, but I think like college. football or something. >> Look at this [ __ ] size of him, too. The other guy's [ __ ] super jacked.

Like, that's his whole thing. His online. content is him running, being super. jacked, and he has to deal with I show. speed talking [ __ ] to him. And he's. saying like, "Look, play some of this.". >> The first one I slip. Second one, you. barely beat me. Let's run it again. Do I. got to beat you three times? >> Come on, let's do it. >> See, see, when I see that, right, >> let's go again. >> Excuses. >> What is it? 25. >> 26. >> That's hilarious. It's talking so much.

[ __ ]. >> So, I see this and be like, "This kid. should be a wrestler, >> right? Yeah, >> because he is athletic and he can talk. [ __ ] and back it up. My god, this kid. would he would be a 20 time champion. Whatever. No, he should do this. >> Are they running barefoot on the [ __ ]. concrete? They have shoes on. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. >> Uh, bad bad decision. >> I think.

>> that was pretty close. Yeah, but he. started before. Yeah. >> For me is still lost. >> For me is still lost. >> Like he should he should be doing that. >> Yeah. >> But like you see the sprinting. potential. I see the WWE potential. He. should do neither. He should just do. that, >> right? He's already done. I can't. probably want him to do it again. >> Oh my I I think he did a thing. He just. went to like the Performance Center and. did a thing and like. >> Yeah. >> He's really good. >> Really good. >> He's got great instincts. He's got great.

timing. >> That's amazing. >> Yeah. and he's only 20. >> I mean, there's now like this is like. full multi- camera really good shooting. and he's speed versus pros, I think, cuz. he's kind of doing that idea you just. said. >> Yeah. Like where he goes he goes to. people's uh. >> Look at that. 46.2 million subscribers. on YouTube. That's wild. >> Yeah. So, I think I think like he should. just do that, you know, whatever. whatever he's doing. >> I mean, he's obviously doing it. Does he. have like a team behind him? That's [ __ ].

now. >> Probably. Oh, look at that. He's. learning how to do flips. >> Oh, that's crazy. So, he's really in it. >> Yeah. And I think it's just like show up. for a few days and then go on to the. next discipline. >> Wow. >> So, he he does everything. >> Smart. Very smart. >> He spent all summer going to a city. every day. Everything was live stream. for like 24 hours straight. They'd go to. a city, show up. What's the coolest. thing to do in the city. >> and do it? >> Do it. That's. >> like what kind of [ __ ] was he doing?

>> Go to the fair, go ride all rides, try. all the games. There's a bunch of kids. following around. Next day they were. here in Austin going to Terry Blacks. >> I think he went and did standup with. Mark Norman at like in New York City. >> Like that's a very cool he went on stage. for a second. >> That's wild that he's so young, too. Only 20. >> Yeah. >> That talented. >> and just just brave and courageous and. going for it. Like that's. >> regardless of what you and I think he's. doing exactly what he should be doing, you No, you should just keep doing that. >> And obviously not getting in his own.

way. >> Not right at all. All the things you're. saying like capitalizing on every. opportunity. >> Story yet to be told. >> Yeah. >> Story yet still got a still got a lot of. life left. >> Oh yeah. A lot of life left. Yeah. >> We'll see. He's doing he's doing great. so far. >> Yeah. Amazing. >> Uh I think we wrap this up. It [ __ ]. awesome podcast. I really enjoyed it. Thank you very much. It is um it is a. real a real big opportunity for you to. have me on here because uh the the the. WWE folks that you have had. I think I'm.

still I only got one date left, but I. still think I'm the active one. I hope. uh this experience has been good for you. guys. >> Oh, it's been amazing. >> I hope you have more of the the guys and. gals from us in on your show. Absolutely. Every one of them's got a. great story. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. And I think your. philosophy is contagious and I think. it's really good for people to hear and. I think there's a lot of young people. out there that are really going to. benefit from a lot of the things you. said cuz I think it's rock solid. >> That means a lot coming from you. Thank. you so much. I appreciate it. >> My pleasure. >> Tony, you're the man.

>> Awesome. Thank you guys. >> Appreciate you. >> Just call it. >> Bye everybody. Pow. [Music].