Kevin Von Erich | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #576

Today's guest is a WWE Hall of Famer. He's a member of one of the greatest. wrestling families of all time, the Von. Erics. You may have seen their family. story told recently in The Iron Claw. Uh. he's an inspiration. He's a motivation. He's pretty funny. And um I just feel. honored uh to be able to spend time with. him today. Today's guest is Kevin Von. Eric. Shine on me. [Music].

And I will find a song. [Applause]. I'm feeling good. I feel like I could. throw this off. Okay. If that's a good thing. Um Yeah. So you cuz you were always the. barefoot guy. You were a barefoot guy, huh? Yeah. Uh I sure was. I always, you. know, I've got these really big toes,

you know, and once you stub your toe on. the mat a few times, it gets bigger. And. so, so at first I just took my boots off. because it felt comfortable in the ring, you know, just to move around better. I. felt like I could fly. But with the uh. boots, you. know, they fill with sweat, you know, your socks absorb the sweat and all. They get heavy. I had some knee. surgeries, too, you know, but I'll tell. you, I go barefoot all I can. Yeah. Yeah. It's good for you. It really is, you know. Yeah. Well, I'm sure. Well, I. know you moved out to Kawaii, was it? Or.

Hawaii. Yeah, Kawaii. Uh, it's the It's. the barefoot capital of America. I'll. bet it is. I'll bet it is. It's uh we. all go barefoot out there. I say I'm I'm. always kind of crazy about that. But I. just um I I just hate for my toes to. touch each other, you know? I've was. always like that. I hated shoes when I. was a little kid. And I guess I got old. enough to say no, and I just didn't wear. them anymore. Did you ever wear those uh. toe separator things? You know what I'm. talking about? Yeah, those are great. You know the I wear them in the in the.

river at home, you know, to walk in the. river, but you can walk by a vine and. they'll catch your toe, you know, it can. trip you, you know, it's a little hazard. for those things. Did you feel like a. caveman kind of? Yeah. Yeah. The good kind of caveman, you know, I felt like I mean going to. drag around town by the hair, but uh. Yeah. No domestic disputes or anything. Yeah. you know, because like you feel. the ground, you feel the earth. It's. just something about it. I didn't know. there was anything to it, but Ross tells. me, my son Ross tells me that it's.

there's a an energy in the earth that. you your feet can pick that up, you. know, and I'm think I'm I think I've. been digging that for a long time. without even knowing it was a it was a. thing, you know. But now I cave cave. mounded all the time out Kawaii. That's. the way to live. Yeah, I bet it's Well, it's called Yeah. Right here it says. it's grounding. Grounding, also known as. earthing, is a wellness practice that. involves direct contact with the earth's. surface, like walking barefoot on grass. or sand to potentially connect with the. earth's natural electric charge. I think. it makes sense cuz even if you look at a.

tree or a plant, you don't see them. wearing a shoes or nothing. Like that. would be crazy if you saw a plant like. wearing shoes, you'd be like, "Oh, that. guy's that plant's out of his mind.". Like plants, you know what I'm saying? They're connected to the earth. So I. think that makes good sense, you know? Oh. Oh, I see what you mean. Yeah. Probably kept you pretty locked in. Um, your family lives, you live on your. family's ranch, right? Or you live on a. ranch here? Uh, we bought a ranch. We we. sold we had I lived on my family ranch. in Texas. We sold it about 20 years ago. and moved out to Kawaii and built a big. place, you know, but.

we but I wanted to give my wife that. kind of house, you know. So, everything. was in that was in in the house was. something that I really liked about room. service or some hotel overseas, you. know. I had a bathtub. You could do a. cannonball in it, you know. splash it. all over the wall and it had a drain and. it was just every room had something. like that. But it was it's real. expensive in Kawaii and I have a lot of. kids, you know, and so they all go off. to uh their house and no one wanted to. live in the big house and uh and so we.

happened to trade that to a guy that. just happened to have 27 acres of. waterfall on the land, a big nice spring. and uh five houses, you know, for my for. my sons. And so we traded that house for. that 27 acres and that's where we are. No way. Just a even trade. Even trade. Yeah. Dang. You don't see a lot of that. anymore. No. No. I was glad the guy I. couldn't believe he did it. Really? Did. you have one of those open back uh. verandas or something? It's called maybe.

in Hawaii. What's that back patio? You. know what I'm talking about? Those. porches. And it's just so perfect. Yeah. They call it a lai. Oh god. Oh man. At. my daughter's house there. when we stay. with her. Uh she's got a bed set up for. me on out there and so I sleep in the. wind, you know? It's great. Yeah, dude. You're like that uh Legend of Zelda. character. What's that little guy's. name? Yeah, you're like Link from Zelda. That guy's always in the wind, man. That. guy's a real nature dog. Zelda. It's a. car like a game. It's a character from a. video game. Um so you So the ranch you.

have now, all your family can all live. there. Yeah. Oh, that's awesome. Yeah, that is, man. I'm telling you, Theo, that's. like that's so important to me. You. know, I had a lot of brothers and man, I. loved them so much. We're really close. Super close. For sure. Well, I mean, I. only knew so much, but you know, I just. saw you guys in the ring and stuff like. that and, you know, there's been a lot. of documentaries and smaller. documentaries. There's been the Claw. movie. So, there's been a lot of um, you. know, references to you guys for sure. Yeah. Your father was uh from Texas and.

he he was a wrestler, so I'm assuming. that's where you guys all kind of got. into it. Yeah. Yeah. Just even knew. about it. Yeah. This is, you know, it's. kind of an ugly turn. I don't want to. bum you out, but my dad was living up in. New York and we were all living up there. and I was the baby, but my brother. Jackie was like 6 years old and he would. touched a a house trailer that had a. short in it and it killed him. It it. electrocuted him, knocked him out and he. hit a puddle of frozen water was frozen.

He drowned under the ice, you know, and. broke my dad's heart. my mother, you. know, just killed them. You know, I. can't imagine. I have sons, you know, that I I tell you, Theo, I lost my. brothers and that was hard, but I could. not lose a son. Wow. Yeah. I I couldn't. get up. I couldn't stand on my hind. legs, you know. Did they have to go to. therapy and stuff like that when that. first happened to your old to cuz I. guess that was your oldest brother. Yeah. Did they have therapy back then. and stuff like that or what did you No, no, there was no They didn't. My dad was.

like a rock though, you know. Oh, he was. I couldn't believe he was he just uh he. didn't want my mother to suffer so we. wouldn't suffer around her. But I'm sure. my mother suffered much. And also when. she got married, her little brother. David. um died of a a brain hemorrhage thing, you know, what do you call it? A tumor. A brain tumor. And so just like a year. later, her son died, too. You know, it. was just bang bang, you know. I mean,

and at those times too, things I think there was more probably. tragedy at those times, you know, things. were, you know, you'd have a lot of ch. people had a lot of children uh and a. lot of them working farming and people. would get injured a lot. There was just. um I think it was a different time. probably when it came to safety and. stuff, you know, and they'd have loose. wires. I mean, just things were just. less regulated, you know. Yeah, that's. right. It was, you know, the kind of. stuff we did as kids. Like, shoot, I can. tell you a lot of times lucky to be. alive, you know. Oh god. I've been lit.

up a couple of times. Damn. I was. walking by a damn crab restaurant and. stepped on an outlet. You did? Just took. me down, brother. Yeah. You stepped on. an on an outlet with something. I don't. know. Next thing you know, I just. thought I was thought the earth was just. sucking me into it. Just How long were. you out? I don't know. Probably 40. seconds, maybe. Wow. Yeah. Not long. enough to give up. I guess you didn't. have like a uh experience beyond the. door or anything like that? Yeah, I. didn't get anything. I'm like, God's not.

giving me any previews or nothing. You. know, that might be a bad sign, brother. Yeah, that's true. Actually, if you. start seeing the light, I'm like, "No, I'm not." Um, so yeah. So, your family. had that. Yeah. So, your parents had to. deal with that so early, man. Yeah. I. guess people suffered in silence more. back then, huh? Yeah. People were tough, you know. They were. Well, I was just. going to say, you know, that you brought. up the movie and I mean the movie was. like uh I heard a lot of people talk. about it was like the ironclaw. Yeah. Yeah. That my dad was really hard on us.

when the fact was, you know, that we. were hard on each other. You know, we. answered each other. It was like a. brother thing really. And the, you know, to tell the truth, the suicides and all. that was not because Fritz made us. wrestle or Fritz was a a big monster or. anything of that. That was shame. My. brothers were ashamed of with Carrie. was, you know, when you're in the public. eye, you really feel a lot of pressure. You really do. You know, you don't want. to let those kids down. And when. something happens, you know, you do feel.

like you really let them down and you, you know, I don't know, man, everybody's. not like this. Sometimes you just can't. forgive yourself. And that Carrie just. couldn't let it go. And yeah, Carrie was. Carrie was one of your brothers. I know. you had David, Carrie, um, Jack, um, Chris, and Mike. And Mike. God, that's all the boy names they had. at the time. Yeah. Y'all couldn't add. another brother cuz What were you going. to do? It had to be a girl. It would had.

to been a girl by default, man. No, we. wanted a girl so bad. Did y'all Did your. parents My whole life I never knew. anything about girls, you know? I Oh, yeah. I mean, uh, y'all had enough. beautiful hair in that family. You got. an idea of how to go figure that one. Golly, I know. I What's with that? I I. never took care of myself. I never. expected to live past 50, you know. Oh, I bet. I was having fun my whole life, you know. Oh, I bet. But y'all had so. much dang hair. Y'all were very very. y'all would have been considered trans. women, beautiful, tall trans women these.

days. Y'all would have been cuz you guys. were ahead of your time. Even like all. the rock bands in back then had remember. Poison, all those bands, they had the. big hair. That's the truth. Did you guys. hairds? Y'all had some hairdos. Did Was. that something like a pride? Was that. almost like a lion's mane type of thing. amongst the guys in your household or. what was that like for you guys? Cuz you. guys had some great hair. No, you know. what? It was just laziness to tell the. truth. I mean, you know, I I I cut it. where to keep it out of my eyes, you. know, but then I I cut my own hair, you.

know, cuz I'm paying tell, dude. I cut. my own [ __ ] Yeah. Well, I can't see the. back, you know. No, I don't have a. mullet on purpose, you know, but but I. can cut this up here, you know. Um, so so your dad, I do want to know a. little bit more about him. So you said. that the the film um kind of portrayed. him as being more of a a a stickler, but. what was he like? Was he a businessman? Was he um quiet? I mean, I guess he. wasn't quiet cuz I could see like his. wrestling persona, but was his home.

persona like Well, I guess what was he. like as a father? And what was he like. as a businessman? But let me tell you, my dad was like a mountain of a man. He. was he was he was he was really a. consider full of love god. But I mean he. was serious. And when he would he. wouldn't say anything and like you know. before you go to sleep at night you. think oh man I wish I'd have said that. Wish I'd have thought of that. Well he. thought of it right then and he would. say it right then. And uh at night you. mean? No I mean like whenever something.

came up. Yeah. Whenever he thought of it. it was just right there. I thought, man, perfect answer, you know, but I mean, uh, he was the president. Okay, you know. that movie, The Ironclaw where Fritz. says, uh, the NWA always wanted to screw. me, you know, kind of like, but the. truth is he was the NWA. He was the. president, you know, and uh and and he. was the the other wrestlers, I mean, world champions. I mean, when my dad. came in the room, I mean, they were like. rolling on their backs like dogs, you. know. They respected him. Well, I mean,

they Yeah. heard him like because his. business acumen or just I think it was. his business acumen. I really do. And. and the way he stated himself, he didn't. ever pop off. He didn't ever brag. He. always had the accurate thing to say. that not too much emotion at all. Just. business and and people respected that. I think in the wrestling. business we have a lot of personalities, you know, a lot of big egos and. sometimes these guys don't want to do. something, you know, and uh but my dad.

had the respect. and it it made a great business. It just. I think you have to have that in you. myself, man. You can talk me out of. anything, you know. Oh, is that all the. money you have? Well, I'll take less, you know. I'm I know why I'm like that. Was not like my dad at all. He was he. was great. He was a business guy. He. was. Yeah. Yeah. And what was he like. with your mom? Like do you have a nice. memory of them being together? Like some. like a moment that you remember that was. um that meant something to you? Yeah, I.

guess. so. Oh, one time I was in the the den. and uh my mom and dad were kind of. whispering and they disappeared and my. brothers are really young and so they. went into the little study there, I. guess, to talk and and I thought they've. been in there a long time. And so I took. the little coat hanger and straightened. it out, you know, and pushed it in the. door and opened it up. You know, they. were at it and I thought, "Oh. man, the way I so as a little boy, I.

thought, why are they so mad?" You know, what are they so mad about? You know, they it sounds like they were they were. having fun. It sounded like uh two out. of three falls, huh? Well, I I just felt. like I needed to go in there, you know, and break this up, whatever it is, you. know, and it. was that was kind of one of those. moments, I guess. Break us up. You bring. a whistle in there. That's hilarious. Break. She needs air. That's really. something you remember, though. Yeah, I. remember that. Trying to think of that.

beautiful moment. That's what came up, you know. So, everybody was wrestling, huh? I guess. Yeah. Wow. Um, did you feel like you had to be a. wrestler in your family? Like was it. Well, you know, the truth of it is my. dad didn't want us to wrestle, you know. In fact, you know, he was so his finger. was stuck, you know, and his hands. didn't move, right? And Oh, yeah. He. probably walked around like a damn. crossing guard. Oh god, he was in his.

lower back and knees. And so, you know, I actually said to my sons, you don't. want to do this. myself from you know. here we are in Hawaii and I can't even. run on the beach and I was a high. hurdler you know I used to high jump. over my head you know and I love to move. but a day comes you know where you. traded that traded that away you know so. I told my boys you don't want this you. know you really don't and uh but you. can't tell them that you know they uh. they were just like I was I wanted to do.

what my dad did I thought he was great. and so do my brothers you know we. thought. every everything he did was Great. We. thought and that's why I wanted to do. like that. I'm sure my. sons are thinking the same stuff, you. know. Well, I think there's nothing more. there's something inside of a son. You. just want to make your dad proud, you. know? You want him to look at you and. and Yeah. Just feel a sense of pride. That goes deep. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I. think that's probably the deepest thing. that there is. Me, too. I really I don't. think there's anything less. I mean,

you you ask anybody, do you feel like. your dad's proud of you? It's like that, you know, it really takes them to a. place when they're thinking about that. or answering that, you know. Yeah. Um, were there was people using steroids. and stuff back then? I used to use. steroids in high school. Was it a thing. when you guys were growing up or No. Yeah, it was. It sure was. they. um you know it was uh I I didn't really. ever want to really get into that, you. know, and uh but because we had. naturally good bodies, but my brother.

Carrie was uh a bodybuilder, you know, he'd peel the skin off the chicken and. eat the rice with no soy sauce on it. And I'd never do that, man. I mean, I. eat Twinkies, chocolate milk, five or. six glasses a day. Really? I love. chocolate milk sugar. My favorite food. is sugar, you Oh, I'll eat damn 2 g of. sugar, dude. Me, too, man. I mean, if it. tastes good, then my body must want it. Yeah, because when I was growing up. Yeah. He's so fit, huh? Yeah. He was. probably the most romantically fit of. you guys, huh? He was, man. You just see.

him as a little kid. He was the girls. all loved him. The teachers loved him. Damn. Straight men loved him. He was. I. mean, you got look, if you can go. further enough past women where you get. straight men to love you, you could have. straight I mean, this is, you know, in. rural areas, you could have men that are. were like no gays, but then they'll go. and watch and then just adorn this. gentleman. Yeah. I mean, you know that. those are the times kind of, but yeah,

Barry, he was he was super fit. Did um. we'll see that picture. I remember he. was a little boy. He was so cute. But we. said uh we we went in the barn one day. There's a big old waspness up there, a. red wasp. You know how they stuck to the. ceiling up there. And so, you know, they're in the barn. We're all alone. And so, uh so we uh you know those. things that you should gift wraps, the. long tubes, they come in the Christmas. present. Yeah. So we lit one up and.

said, "Currie, hold it under those those. those red ants, but remember to hold. your breath cuz they can't sting you if. you're holding your breath, you know, and so but so don't breathe." And so we. light it up and we're watching him go in. there, you know, and he they drop all on. him and he runs out crying. We said, "Stupid, we told you not to let to. breathe." And he said, "It's hard to. hold your breath when you're crying.". That is a great It is hard to hold your. breath while you're crying. Yeah. Yeah,

he was right. My favorite when we were. kids, we used to pick on each other at. dinner so bad. And the best part was to. get somebody to cry when they had a. mouth full of food, right? Because they. couldn't swallow cuz they were crying so. hard. So the food just got it like it. just got stuck in the mouth, you know? Just that [ __ ] was so funny, dude. Having siblings was so much fun, huh? Did you guys do like Halloween and stuff. together? any me like did y'all do that? Yeah. Yeah. You mean go out and throw. eggs at people and stuff and we did all. that?

Yeah. And uh um and what was like. birthday parties and stuff like at your. house? Cuz with so many kids, would you. guys combine some of them or you. everybody got their We had a lot of. boys, you know, a lot of us at our. house. And I remember like uh ladies. saying, "Oh, it smells like boy in. here." And uh you know, cuz we smell. they smell like boys, I guess. But uh. but I do remember that it was really. hard for mama to get babysitters because. like we would uh we were really hard on. them, you know, just playing on with. them and stuff, you know, we'd kind of.

make a joke out of it and they'd be. crying and they're never going to watch. these kids again. I was climbing the. walls and stuff like that. Oh, you need. Abdullah the Butcher to be your. babysitter. I feel like probably So you. need somebody big. Um at that time in. wrestling, were steroids like a popular. thing? Like I remember when I was in. high school, we would people use like. test 200, but even growing up like in. Texas, was it did people even know that. steroids were bad for you or was it just. like a a medicine that was like kind of. common in wrestling? Do you feel like.

Well, uh doctors would give it to you. I. mean, uh, I didn't mean I had trouble. gaining weight when I was like, uh, well, my whole life I've had trouble. gaining weight, but, uh, and and so I. took Diana when I was in high school, but I took one a day for like, uh, two weeks and then lay off for two. weeks and then take it again for two. weeks and lay off for two weeks. And. that's that was what kind of that was. vac of a little boy pill is what that.

was for little boys that weren't getting. puberty. And then back then, like you. say, there weren't all these rules and. all. Steroids weren't necessarily a. dirty word, but it doctors did give them. to people like after surgery and things. like that to improve their appetite and. things, you know, and it makes a. difference. But if you don't lift. weights, if you really have a a strict. regimen, then it's just going to give. you pimples on your back and make your. hair fall out and your breath stink and. all that stuff, you know? Yeah. It's.

Yeah. If you're not Yeah. If you're just. shooting steroids and then just. watching, you know, um I dream of genie. or [ __ ] like that. Yeah. Your life's. gonna fall apart. Yeah. Yeah. Look, look. those guys that uh get the uh injections. to make their muscles look big. Can you. believe Have you seen some of these guys. with the They don't even work out. Uh. they go in, they get silicone injections. for muscles, you know. I got to tell. you, Theo, muscles are nothing, you know. It's all You want to know your in. wrestling? Uh, I would lift weights.

because I wanted to be a better. wrestler. I want my kick out. I want to. push my man off. I want be able to. bench, you know, a lot because that's. it's important, but I mean it. it's to look pretty in the mirror. I. mean, that's just a few shades short of. uh Yeah. Fruity if you ask me, you know. Oh, yeah. I mean, look at this. That's. the stuff. That's what I'm talking. about. What in the hell is that? No, I. mean, that guy looks like he's stealing. from Target. Really?

What is that guy doing? What is that guy doing? Yeah. That guy looks like a little. um and I'm going to take that joke out. That was. That's offensive. I just wanted to make. you guys laugh. Um which uh yeah, we used to use them. I'm trying to think. We And we used. them. Yeah. I just like we got in and we. were weightlifting pretty heavy and it.

was fun using them cuz it definitely. made things easier, you know. That was. fun. And you I felt you felt way. more invigorated, you know, for sure. What kind What kind did you do? We were. doing like test 200 and then people. would some people would do the ball. I. never got that. We just would go on. spring break and get test 200 or some. people worked on farms and we'd get test. 200 from them, you know, testosterone or. something. Yeah. Well, some of that. stuff I mean I have to say uh some of. that stuff the guys use you could see uh.

veterary use only on the box you know I. mean ecquin this and all oh some of. you'd open up and it' be like. even when you took the top off you're. like [ __ ] that ain't for us that's what. it was it. really yeah I was never u into that cuz. you really can kill yourself with it you. know it's like it messes your whole body. up you know and was it popular in the. sport when you got into that I'm just. trying to wonder what the times were. like and how men felt like they had to. see your old man. Well, and did and you.

guys were cuz your family was in your. family was in good shape overall, but. some of the shapes in wrestling weren't. it wasn't as much about the shape. You. know, there was a lot of guys out there. that were just Oh, yeah. big tough guys. Well, we wanted to put the best show on. television we could do. And if that. meant take steroids too, we didn't care. I mean, priority one was our body. Yeah. I mean, was our uh was delivering that. punishment, you know? We move quick and.

explode. If you ever you've seen our. wrestling was Harry was so it's. unbelievable watching them. Well, we. just That's the thing. We wanted to and. that was the attitude back then. If if. the guys were wrestling going to do. steroids, well, then it only fair that. we do them, too. Now, we didn't. Don't. get me wrong, it's like I It's not like. we were really into it. Carrie went down. to the University of Houston and was. throwing the discus for coach Tles down. there uh and. uh the stuff he learned down there was. all this like expert stuff about.

weightlifting and and uh weight events. and all, you know, they would take a. cigarette and puff a cigarette right. before they'd throw. Uhuh. And yeah, if. something in the nicotine would kick the. muscles in, you know, kick your body. just a little. It would give them just a. little edge, just a little more. or they. drink or they drink ice cold water. before you have a a go max on your. bench. It helps just a little bit. You. hear that, Coach Hester? Kurt Hester, he's a speed and strength coach of mine. I think he coaches University of Houston.

now. But um I'm going to make sure he. hears that. I'm realizing that anywhere. worth going is worth going in good. boots. Find your perfect pair with. Takovas. That's what I'm wearing. I like. these wide toe they got on them, baby. You know, I sometimes now I like the. wide toe, but sometimes I'll wear that. little pointy toe, that little bird. foot, you know, if I'm doing something, if I'm trying to just, you know, dance. with a woman or impress a parakeet, baby. Being confident isn't about being.

different. It's about being yourself. Every one of Tokova's boots are. handcrafted with over 200 meticulous. steps for broken in comfort right out of. the box. Yeah, I started wearing my. Takovas just during the um evening time, but now they're just growing more and. more on me. It's just like gosh, my feet. are just better now. Now I I won't wear. them when I sleep. I ain't no pervert. You feel me? Right now, get 10% off at.

takovas.com/to when you sign up for. email and text. That's 10% off at. teco.com/theo.co.com/. tovas.com/theo seas site for details. Tcoas point your toes west. You know, so. many of us have dreams, things we think. about and we're like, "Oh, I could make. this or I could create this and then I. could offer it to people, offer a. product or an experience or a modality.

to help others." Well, Shopify is the. thing that connects your dream to your. audience. I'll say that straight up and. that's the truth. You know, when we. started out, we had a a a website and an. interface and then we had a store and at. a certain point we needed help. We. needed a site and a store that could. fluctuate. And Shopify offers just that. You might say, "Well, what if I can't.

design a website?" Shopify's got you. from the get-go with beautiful ready to. go templates to match your brand's. style. What if I need a hand? Get help. with everyday tasks like enhancing. product images, writing product. descriptions, or generating discount. codes with Shopify's AI tools created. for commerce. Turn those dreams into and. give them the best shot at success with. Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month.

trial and start selling today at. shopify.com/theo. That's. shopify.com/tho. Shopify.com/theo. So when you guys were. cuz didn't Carrie almost throw the disc? Did he almost go to the Olympics? Yeah, but the Olympics got cancelled that year. because what year was it? Uh didn't. Johnson cancel the Olympics? 80. It was. the 80. No, wait. That Yeah, 1980. That's what it was. The president. canceled the Olympics, right? Or they we.

didn't go. No, it was that thing. Uh I. believe that was a there was a airliner. flying over Korea and a Russian shut. shot it down. It was over a sensitive. area and they and I believe it was Jimmy. Carter at the time. Oh, Jimmy Carter. Yeah. Yeah. And we didn't do the. Olympics that year. Yeah. But he would. have competed. Carrie would have. competed. Well, you know, uh I think he. would have, but I'm not really sure what. because they would have had to have the. uh I think he went to Champagne for. those uh uh preg games. Yeah, nationals,

but uh I don't think he went to the. other they even took it that far. I'm. not sure. I'm not sure how it went. But. which one of you guys was kind of the. leader of you guys' brothers? And I know. sometimes it goes by age, right? Because. there's always a Well, I was the big. brother, you know, and no doubt about. that. But my brother Dave had a real. responsibility streak. He would just My. dad would come to him and say, "Okay, I. want this fence to be I want it to go. down there 200 yards and I want a good. post. I want it double fenced and I want.

uh and I want everything just right.". And he tell Dave and so Dave would tell. me and Carrie what to do. He's the. foreman. Yeah, he's a foreman. And so. and kind of worked that way in wrestling. too. And uh he had he was good on the. microphone, too. It's important. You got. to be good on the mic. Was there a time. where all all of you guys were wrestling. at the same time? Yeah, just briefly it was. Man, that was. so much fun, too, cuz we never got to go. to Japan together. Dave and I went to.

Japan together and Carrie and I went to. Japan. Never together, though. But when. we could all three to be together just. for the when we first started out, you. know, for that first year, we could all. three of us could go to towns. We had so. much fun, man. We always would stop. We'd scuba dive all the way there. You. know, if we if there's clear water, if. it's just a river or something, we'd. dive in and swim. It was just u Oh, along the way. Just Yeah. We had fun all. day. And we wouldn't even go to the. dressing room. We get dressed out in the. in the woods where the swimming hole.

was, and we could get our resting stuff. on, go right to the show, get in the. rain, come back out into our stuff. You. know, we had it down. We had fun. And. you got a leech in your tights, brother. You know. Hey, don't call it that, you know. Uh. were you all did you all train together. at home at a certain place? Like what. was that kind of? Yeah, we had a gym. outside uh the house and uh on an. adjacent property and. uh this and I'm probably the cause of. all the pressure because I I would put.

up uh Vince Lombardi posters all the. time to for myself, you know, I wanted. to be the best I could be. And that was. what it was like to live in my home back. then. And it was like we lifted weights. uh or three times a week, but we ran, we. swam. Everything was about getting. better because I wanted to play in the. NFL. And uh Carrie. uh well, Carrie just wanted to wrestle, but uh and Dave wanted to wrestle, but I. I was I was a football player. And uh.

and so that's what it was all about. It's just do your best. The quitters. never quit. Winners never quit. Quinners. never win, you know, that kind of stuff. on on I had posters everywhere on the. gym and and we'd spot each other and. push each other and call each other. sissies if we couldn't do it, you know. And I mean, we would spit on each other, you know, we we were savages and we. wanted to get good as we could be. And. when we we wrestled, it was hard, you. know. We we we were rough because.

we anything worth doing is worth doing, right? You know, we wanted to be like. successful as my dad was, but it would. meant just go all out, you know, completely commit. And that means every. day get on Wednesdays, we run five 400. meter uh five lap one lap around the. tracks, 400 meter. Mhm. We'd run five. 400s on Wednesdays. We'd time them. And. Carrie and I uh were both high jumpers. Carrie high jumped two. And we we could. bench Carrie and I figured as long as we.

could bench twice our weight and high. jump over our heads, then we would we'll. always be in shape. And well, yeah, knee. surgeries and you can't do that again. But that was the theory we wanted to go. with. And Dave was the same. Dave didn't. work out in the gym as hard as we did, you know, but Carrie and I did. We. everything we did was to exhaustion and. I where you're kind of nauseated when. you think you're about to throw up now. You've done enough. Dang. We really did, man. It was all the way. I quit way. before that. I realized. Yeah. Well,

everybody does, man. That's the If you. want to look different, you have to do. what everybody else doesn't do, you. know? And I mean, fight through that. And did were all of your brothers kind. of subscribe to that same mentality or. did some of them come along just because. that with that mentality just because. they were your brothers? No. Does that make any sense? Yeah. Yeah. I I guess Yeah. Nobody was just. along for the ride. Yeah. I think they. were all pretty much just wanted to be. like me, Dave, and Carrie wanted to be. like dad. But, you know, things got kind.

of different when we were in when we. were kids. Uh, when I was in uh junior. in high school, sophomore in high. school, my mom and dad were going to get. a divorce, you know, and my dad was. going to move out. Uh, no. So, my freshman year is what it. was. And I I came into the kitchen one. day. My mom and dad are talking and uh. dad said, "Uh, Kev, uh, I'm going to. move to Dallas and just get an apartment. and uh, y'all are going to stay here and. it's going to be just great. Y'all go to. school and come see me on the weekends.".

And I said, "Are y'all talking about a. divorce?" He said, "Yeah, son. We are.". He's trying to describe it to you. without saying divorce. I said, "Well, I. want to go with you, Dad." And uh, Dave. heard me and Carrie came in and said, "We do, too, Dad. We want to go with. you." And so my mom's going to be there. alone it looks like, you know, and I. guess they but I was the mediator with. that, you know, and they kind of worked. it out. But. uh with the deaths, you know, then my. mother was kind of damaged inside. It.

made her like um she was suffering so. much. She, you know, with Dave, she was. tough. I mean, like her little own. little brother and Jackie, but then with. Dave, she toughed it out, you know. But. then baby Mike, he was the baby of our. family, you know. Chris was even. younger, but Mike was the we'd been. traveling around and we weren't home. that much. So when Mike was the baby, you know, traveling with wrestling, you. guys were had been traveling with Yeah. See, Dave, the movie doesn't have the. suit, but Dave and Carrie were both.

married, you know, and Carrie had Dave. had a. daughter died a crib death, but Carrie. had uh two daughters. And uh Holly and. Lacy and beautiful, sweet daughters. They they spend every Christmas with us. And we we told you we I got the big. house for all to have all to have our. Christmases and uh because family is. just like we were saying there's nothing. more important than family to me to any. thinking man. And then then again. there's the uh be being wrestlers and.

our brothers. I mean my dad's a bad guy. you know and they're booing him. It kind. of makes you feel like it's us against. the world. You know these people are. booing my dad. If they hate him then we. hate them too, you know. What was that about? So they because at. what point did they did the what the. audience turned on your father or was. just part of the No, he was like the. perfect bad guy. He was a Nazi. And uh. after my brother Jackie died and they're. up in New York, he was like his.

wrestling changed. He was different. He. was a He was wild inside. And I think it. was like he wanted to just take it out. on people and it showed in the ring. Theo when people would when the. wrestlers would come to out of the. dressing room get in their cars the fans. would stand around and boo, you know, from a distance. But when my dad came. out to get in his car, silence. They. were. like fear. It was like fear. He might. run over here, you know.

Oh, it was such an exciting time back. then when wrestlers would come into the. ring. I mean, there was just God. I. remember being a kid and we would lose. our [ __ ] minds and just beat the [ __ ]. out of our sister. The second the. [ __ ] wrestling program came on. We. would beat the [ __ ] out of our sister. Oh man. For no [ __ ] reason except. because she was she just couldn't get. get used to the schedule and no stay. away at that time of day or something. Oh, if it was more than an hour.

broadcast, she knew she was in for it. I'll tell you that. Um, you hear a lot. of stories about how wrestling was like, you know, we had to wrestle one night. and then the next night you had to. wrestle again. And did you go on road. trips like that where it was like a few. days at a time? Was it weeks and months? I mean, what was it really like back. then? The in 1984 I wrestled 386 times. God. And that's there a lot a lot of. those were triple shots, double shots on. on uh on Sundays, you know, we'd. wrestle we'd do two or three times. But.

after the started to be the deaths, you. know, then I would have to my my dad had. it where Dave could sell out a building. Carrie could sell out of I could sell. out and but Mike was not quite there, you know. And so when Dave died, either. Carrie or me had to fill his slot, you. know, pay work another town and that was. hard. But then Carrie with the foot. Now. I've got two slots to fill, you know,

and so I was wrestling three times a day. almost a couple times a week, but I was. wrestling every day. Was it an option to. take SK take those some of the slots off. the schedule or did you guys feel like. as a family we have to fill this? Did. you feel like your dad was like we have. to fill this or it was just that's what. you did? Well, I got to tell you, we you. know, after the deaths, we were uh we. were down, you know, and we sure didn't. feel like getting back in that ring, but. you know, you have to because after.

death, there's all the publicity and. dad's saying, you know, it's been a. week. It's been two weeks or whatever, but I mean, there were times when we. said, "Dad, I can't do it yet. Can't do. it." You know, but he did want us to get. in that ring. It But it was a family. business. I don't hold it against him. I. understand. But uh it was uh brutal to. make yourself do that. I mean, but. what's on your mind is a love and. brotherhood and seeing him again in. heaven, but you want to project I'm.

going to kick that guy's ass, you know? It's kind of you're torn, you know? A. lot of life's like that, huh? Yeah. Yeah. It's like having two feelings at. the same time. It's. like especially with death cuz it's like. somebody's gone but they're the one. that's gone but you're the one that. hurts and and you don't even know what. they're feeling like and you almost. don't want to like mourn too much. because then it's like are you just. using the morning for yourself? Just. like all that kind of stuff has always.

hit me. I know. I know. You wake up in. the morning and there's nothing. You. can't think about anything else. Man, I'm old enough. If I can tell you a. little something now, I never wanted to. endorse marijuana or put it over. because, you know, I had a position. You. know. what? When I woke would wake up in the. morning, I could not think of anything. else. That's all I thought about. And if. I smoked a joint, I could daydream. I. could think of something else, you know, and I I had to I was grateful for that.

stuff. I'm I mean, it it helped me. Well, I'm sure especially out in uh. Kawaii, it was probably Oh, shoot. Yeah, I was helping everybody. Well, so I had. my knee replaced, you know, and uh it. didn't go very well. It's kind of I I. rehabbed it too quick. See, in college. when you have a knee surgery, you you. fight like hell to get it back, you. know, and uh well, I got out there and I. got a knee replacement, but I'm a senior. citizen and so instead I shouldn't have. rehabbed it like that, you know. I like.

I I was doing flips off the cliff with. the boys and it knocked something. I. smelled glue on my breath. I thought, "Oh, that can't be good." Cuz they use. glue in there. Yeah. And you think some. of it came up your bloodstream? You. could taste it a little bit. I tasted. it. Yeah, I tasted it. That's bad. Anyway, so um Damn, they're using damn. glue. Well, yeah, they do. They use glue. Well, [ __ ] We could use glue. I mean I mean. they had they power tools. Really? I. mean working on you. They got a drill.

The whole deal, you know. They hide it. from you. Yeah. Yeah. With that. anesthesia, dude. Oh man. They just. bring in a couple of cub scouts in there. and they're doing damn wood work on you. in there. Um. with with wrestling, did you have to be. as tough at the wrestling part as you. did at the partying part? Like there. seemed to be this thing when I when I. look back on like wrestling and a lot of. the stories um especially coming up out. of like the ' 70s, '8s, '90s where not.

only did you have to prove yourself in. the ring that you were the toughest guy. that you were able to do the matches, but then you had to prove yourself again. like at the drinking table. Was that. part of the culture as much as Oh man, it was that was the easy part for us. because neither none of us really liked. taste of booze, you know. We uh I mean I. I I I'll have a drink or even two, but. I'm done. I can't drink six of anything, you know, and uh I mean, a lot of people. can, but I think that was a big thing. for us. We never did get that big.

stomach. I guess a lot of my friends, you know, love that beer. All my. teammates, you know, my wrestling. colleagues love beer, but I I I never. did get into it, and I'm glad I didn't. because it it's taken its toll on a lot. of good men. Yeah. But um I'll tell you. this after those knee surgeries I had to. take three Oxycontton a day. Yeah. Shoot. One in the morning, one in uh. noon and or one at 1:00 and then one at. sundown and because they have time they. had time release in them, you know, and.

it freaking worked great. It didn't make. you goofy or anything, but I could ride. a bike, you know, and stuff and I could. I could it it kind of hurt worse later, but with the pain pill, take another. dang pill. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I feel like a. damn care bear if I take one of them. [ __ ] Well, then CO came and I went to. get my medicine cuz we never left our. our ranch except for go to the doctor, you know? I mean, we had everything. there in Kawaii. Yeah, in Kawaii. I grow. four different types of avocado and we. trade them with our neighbors. We have.

uh um turkey, we raise sheep, we have. tilapia, a fish full of thousands of. fish and and every kind of fruit you. could think of, you know. We had a. reason to go. the boys are spearing fish. and throwing the net and catching crabs. and so it was a great way to live, you. know, so we just didn't really leave. But um COVID came and uh so I go to get. my medicine and it's like twice as much. It I was already paying 900 bucks a. month for it. It's two 1,800. And I.

said, "Well, I'm quitting this stuff.". And so, um, I quit, but man, I got these. flu symptoms like, you know, I felt like. I was weird. And, uh, but I fought. through it, you know, but, uh, Ross got. me this stuff calledratom. It's a leaf. on my tree and we could grow, we grow. the tree out there. You can crumble it. up or it comes, you put it in a powder, put it in a pill, and I was able to kick. that uh, Oxycontton. it 10 days I. wouldn't even want another one by using.

you were able did that yeah and then. were you able to get off theratom that. was easy to quitratom I never like that. stuff so smells like hay anyway you know. but it was easy to get off of it but. uh so you know I decided I told you when. he came on I wanted my life to kind of. be help someone all that suffering you. want to look at something good you know. and uh and if anyone is suffering from. any kind of addiction like that opioids. and all, bear that in mind. They're.

creating places all around. I'm not. saying I'm not getting any money for it. I'm just saying it sure helped me. And. if you're an addict and it was bothering. you. I mean, I I could I couldn't. believe I was addicted to this stuff. I. mean, I wanted to quit and I got sick. I. thought, [ __ ] I'm never going to let. something happen like this to me again. How bad did the octid did it did oxy. like feeling like you had to take. Oxycontton get? Well, um, I never kind. of let it get to that point. You're. supposed to take it at one:00, supposed. to take it in the morning and night. before you go to bed. So that's what it.

always did. Yeah. And you don't walk. around high. You just don't hurt, you. know, because it's got the pain relief, the time release in it, you know. But. but that craton was helpful, huh? Oh, yeah. Wow. Sure was. Yeah. I have a. friend who got addicted. toratom. Um, so I think there's probably. there can be a slope there, but I. certainly could see how it could be used. to help people get off of Oxycontton. Yeah, it's illegal in some countries. Isum is. It must be illegal. addictive. Yeah. Was was addiction um.

ever part of the any of your brother's. issues or no? Did addiction run in you. guys' family? It runs in my family. Well, you know, I don't think it does. My my brother Carrie, you know, was. uh he went to the Betty Ford Clinic and. all these places, but he was never. addicted to anything. He just liked all. of it. I mean, he'd do cocaine one day, he'd do pain pills the next day, he'd do. acids. I mean mushrooms. It was It was. something different all the time with. our curry water, you know. And I'm not.

saying I'm so good. No, but it sounds. like it was It sounds like he was. addicted. He was addicted to the. feeling. Ah. To the feeling. Mhm. I see. what you're saying. Just getting out of. his skin, you know. Oh, yeah. God, that's a steel cage match. I don't want. to be in my own skin. Yeah, I know, man. That But you know, that's life. You got. to fight through that crap, man. You got. to You just fight through it. Well, yeah, because to me it sounds like he. might have had he could have had. addiction problems. Like if they had. looked at by at it by today's standards, you know, I think things were definitely.

looked at differently then. Yeah. Yeah. Might as well cuz if you can't stop then. what do you call it, you know? Yeah. Cuz. he I know he wanted to stop cuz it was. cuz he had those beautiful daughters. He. loved them so much, you know. Holly and. what was the other one? Holly and Lacy. Lacy. Lacy lives out in LA and Holly is. out there in East Texas now. And uh. hopefully they'll be with me soon. because you know I've been going back to. Hawaii every few months every month you. know and uh but I haven't been back in a. couple of months now and man it is.

hurting me cuz Benji my little treasures. out there. Jill's Jill has four. She has. two a boy and three daughters. And who's. Benji? Benji is the six-year-old. And. we're like this. We go everything. together. Oh, that's a grandchild. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, got it. No, I've got a lot of. grandchildren. My son Marshall has given. me two. Okay. Well, he can get more out. of him. Yeah. Yeah. He I sure can. Fire. him up. Huh. And then Kristen has given. me plenty. And And but that boy and I. being five, you know,

we four, three, that age, he's just with. me all the time. Oh, it's fun. And now, uh, Marshall has given me a a grandson. and he's just about to turn five. And. we're like that. I mean, it's either. monster trucks or we're turning over. rocks. just throwing rocks and catching. snakes and bugs and lizards and all and. it's just it's just fun all the time, you know, but it's like Yeah, I could. see that for sure. You remind me also uh. I mean if you were my grandfather or. something I would that would be awesome.

And you remind me of Tommy Lee actually. about probably like does anybody ever. tell you that? Who's Tommy Lee? Tommy. Lee from um Mly Crew. Oh that band came. to Sporttorium. A bunch of nice guys. I. know those guys. Of course you do, dude. That's you, dude. That's why you know. him. But, uh, Tommy's a great guy. Tommy's great. You guys just remind the. way you guys talk and stuff. Does that. make any sense to you, Nick? Yeah. Tommy's the greatest dude, man. He's. nice. Just the way you guys sound and.

stuff like that. He's a super guy. Yeah, they're good, man. Um, did you ever. fight somebody high? Could people fight. high in the ring? Did Did people ever. fight high in the ring? Uh, I don't. think so. I mean, not not on purpose, right? You know, but I I I couldn't. remember though. Uh oh, golly. Yeah. Oh, we did it. before. There was this stuff called GHB. Mhm. And it's this super drug, but they.

sold it in like athletic stores, you. know, and sporting goods source because. it was like a fat burner. And so, we're. going to this town and Carrie and uh. Carrie's going there. He told us he told. us not to take too much of it, but by. the time we say you'll probably go to. sleep in the car, by the time we get. there, you know, your body's going to be. burning your fat off, you know. So, we. took that crap and goes shoot. I don't. know how we got through that night. It. was terrible. We're just zombies. Yeah. Yeah, we were. We like like we're just.

sitting there dozing off right match. time and and it'd be just one of the. brothers trying to wake you up, you. know, shut up, you know, and Oh, it was. terrible. terrible. That stuff was. something. Yeah. I could just imagine. what that's like at that time. You're. almost like anything to kind of get an. edge. Everybody's testing out the cool. stuff or I know where the new thing is. I guess that's all that's always been a. part of that bodybuilding world, too. I. think, you know, when you're big into. bodybuilding, a lot of those things kind.

of come along like, you know, there's. different creatines, there's different. um uppers, there's like these uh. testosterone revigorators or whatever. like comes sometimes it comes in like a. huge set of balls the thing the powder. or whatever you're like what the hell is. this but yeah there's all types of um. that that bodybuilding's always been on. the edge of the of like so competitive. yeah using and finding an uh an. advantage yeah you know that that's so. when two guys are going to look at. looking at the mirror with each other.

and. I got better things to do yeah at a. certain point I think Oh. Um, it's. interesting that you refer to other. wrestlers as like a team or you referred. as your team or something. Um, is that. how you guys thought of y'all's. wrestling organization as a team? Yeah, it was a family business and it. was like a team. It was like uh if you. know we we never were jealous of each. other, you know, as to the real truth to. it is you know uh when my dad and I flip.

when Carrie and me flipped the coin for. the world title. Well, the truth to it. was that I was have I had a family and. I'm married and I have children, you. know, and Carrie wanted to be the world. champion. You But to be the world. champion is a special kind of wrestler. to do that and not a carry. You need. somebody that makes the other guy look. good. That's really what it's all about, you know. And uh and uh Dave could have. done that, but and I think Carrie May I.

couldn't have done it, though. I've been. a baby face my whole life, you know. Right. I kiss the babies and I, you. know, do all that stuff. But the real uh. difficult work in wrestling, the hard. stuff is to be a heel. That's the. creative stuff, you know. And for our. listeners that don't know what a heel. is, well, a heel is the heavy, the bad. guy, you know, the bruiser broadies and. the kamalas and the King Kong Bundies, you know. Why is that the tougher spot. to be?

Um well because you're limited for a. good guy what you can do you know but a. bad guy he could do anything and he. better do it too because it's all about. you know it's like you're slaying a. dragon you know there's a the guy the. night and shining armor and there's a. big ugly dragon you know when I first. went out to um Atlanta on WTBS out there. I was a 19 years old and a you know. handsome kid, you know, and the hero.

And here comes the big monster to. wrestle me. It's this Terry Gordy. Yeah. Big monster was his name. No. Yeah. And. I found out talking to him, he was 16. Oh my god. He was a teenager all that. time. What the hell? He was. Y'all are. being damn sex trafficked. You know, that's crazy. Yeah. That's hilarious. You're both scared of. each other. You both haven't even. finished school work. Well, that that's. it. You know, you want each um Bring.

that picture of him up. I'm sorry to. interrupt you, Kevin. Bring that picture. of him up. Look at that fella, dude. Yeah. That's wild, huh? Yeah. He was. something else. You would have loved. him. Yeah. I'm telling you, Michael. Hayes is a he's a character, Buddy. Calbert. But that guy was 100% gold. inside. Oh, he would fight to the death, but he had a heart for little kids and. for girls, and he was just nice. He was. such a good guy, man. But he was a. battleship, too. What um did he pass.

away? Yeah. Yeah. What happened to him? Oh, shoot. He was. uh I he overdid it on the plane. He ODed. on a plane and they had to restart him. Shoot. And then something I believe that his uh. blood was stayed away from his brain too. long and it starved his brain and he had. some damage when he when he came out of. that. Then I I talked to him and he just.

Kev uh I hurt myself brother. I said no. Terry you're fine. He go no I'm not fine. Kev. So he had he could talk to me but. he was real slow. He didn't have. any of this hand eye kind of. coordination. So it cost him something, huh? Dang. But then I'd always heard. that he fell off the jetway getting on a. plane one time, too. I think he did. He. fell off the jetway drunk, landed on his. head, and got back up and got on the.

plane, made the show. Yeah. But so I. thought that was what why he was like. that, but he said, "No, something else.". You know? Yeah. So many guys went. through so much, man. Terry Funk, he's. he's still alive, I believe, isn't he? Man, I hope so, but I hadn't heard the. bad news if if he had. Oh, no. He says. he passed away in August I love that guy. and Dory, too. So, I I hope that I Terry. Funk was he man, he was incredible to.

watch, wasn't he? He sure was. He taught. me so much, too. Me, my brother Dave and I, we're. 19, 18 years old, and we're the bad. guys. And Amarillo wrestling Dory and. Terry, who the great good guys, you. know, they loved them. and Dory Funk as. well. And Dory, they're their brothers. and their dad was uh Dory Funk senior. Okay. A super. badass. Well, these two were in in the. ring and Dave and I, we're just. learning, you know, we're just learning. about this. Dave pretty good he go, but.

I didn't know what to do really. And so. we're in the ring and uh and uh Dory's. telling us everything. He goes, "Spit on. me, kid." I said, "Sir." He said, "Spit. on me.". So I spit on and so Dave unloads on. Terry too and the crowd went wild. They. hated our guts. So they beat us, you. know, and I get on the mic and I say, "You're in trouble now. I'm going to get. my daddy." And so then, oh, they booed. me good, you know, and so I love being a.

heel, but I just wasn't good at like, you know, like Dave was, you know, Irvin. Curry. So that was the real So that So. that was something that was tough to be. a heel. Yeah, it's a lot harder. You. have to have some creativity about it, you know. Yeah. And then you've got to. have a personality where I mean that. that that that you're projecting it's. got to come from in here, you know? Right. And you can't get upset if people. don't like you cuz you're almost the guy. that people don't like. Well, Dave and I. are coming back from the ring in Florida.

one time and this c and Dave's a bad guy. and so I'm ill, too. And so this guy. steps up. You remember people would dip. skull and they spit in those cups. So he. slushed that stuff on us, you know, and. I thought, well, you know, we've been. make we've been begging him to hate our. guts. Finally, we're there. And I look. and Dave's running up in the bleachers. after the. guy, kicked us up in the stands and all. But u so I said, Dave, we worked our. butts off to make him hate us. He goes,

Dave was just, you know, you couldn't. talk to so mad. You know, here's a dirty little secret. the. insurance company would rather keep. under wraps. Insurance companies profit. by holding on to money for as long as. possible. So, after the accident, they'll do whatever they can to delay or. deny your claim. This way, they can keep. those profits growing. Morgan and Morgan. fights hard for their clients, and these. corporate bullies know that. A recent. client in Pennsylvania just received $29.

million. insurers's best offer was. $500,000. Another recent client in. Florida received $20 million. Last offer. was. $0. There's a reason why Morgan and. Morgan is America's largest injury firm. Hiring the wrong firm can be disastrous. Hiring the right firm could. substantially increase your settlement. With Morgan and Morgan, it's easy to get. started and their fee is free unless.

they win. Just visit. forthepeople.com or dial. poundaw. pound529. That's for the people f o r t. h e p e o p l. e.com/theo or dial poundlaw. pound529. This is a paid advertisement. This show is sponsored by. BetterHelp. You know, therapy can feel. like a big investment. and you're like, well, do I have, you know, can I spare.

that? How do I fit it into my budget? But I do think taking care of yourself. and putting yourself in the best space. mentally and emotionally, just the the. effect and payoff and residual effect of. that in your life is pretty magical. With Better Help, you pay a flat fee for. weekly sessions, saving you big on costs. and time. Traditional in-person therapy. can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 per.

session, which adds up fast. But with. BetterHelp online therapy, you can save. on average up to 50% per session. Your. mental health is worth it. And now it's. within reach. It's convenient, too. You. can join a session with the click of a. button, helping you fit therapy into. your busy life. Plus, switch therapists. at any time. Your well-being is worth. it. Visit. betterhelp.com/theo to get 10% off your.

first month. That's betterh elp. betterhelp.com/theo. Carrie um Carrie, do you think he was the most athletic? Yeah, Carrie was a really good athlete. He was he was just everything he he just. it just came easy to him. In fact, when. I watched him play his senior year in. high school, it looked like a play. football. It looked like Terry Gordy. playing against a bunch of pee-wee guys. You know, he was that big. And I sound.

like I'm exaggerating, but he carried. the ball five times and he scored five. touchdowns. And the coach took him off. offense just said he wanted to save him. for defense, but he was great on. offense. He was a good linebacker, too. But, but he was really a good running. back. I've never seen anybody just run. through people like that. Dang. But he. didn't like football. The Texas. University of Texas offered him a. scholarship. He didn't want to go. He. didn't want to play football. He wanted. to do track. Yeah. No, he wanted to do. track. He wanted to do track. And Dave.

the same way basketball. Dave loved. basketball. I love football, you know. But uh we go to North Texas and and Dave. gets his scholarship. We're both there, you know, and uh and uh so I look up on. that hill one day and it's a real hot. day and I hear a pop and I like hits the. ground. So I look up there and I can see. through the dust Dave's big old frame. getting up off of that ground. he's. playing wide receiver and we had some. defensive backs were killers, you know,

and and so uh Dave gets up and I see the. coach is parked over there watching. practice and he walks out to Dave and he. tells Dave we're practicing in that air. conditioned gym out there and when we. get thirsty we get a drink of water. It's not like this out here. And so Dave. quit and went to play basketball at. North Texas and I played football. But. that we all each sports Dave was a. basketball player. I ran I played. football and then Carrie was discus, you. know. And your other brothers, Mike and.

Chris, were you guys a little bit. disconnected from them because of age or. Yeah, that was it because by then we. were wrestling and we weren't home very. much and Mike was the big brother to. Chris. Got it. Yeah. So that was almost. like a second it was almost like um a. second installment. Yeah. Of children in. a way. Yeah, it was. Um yeah, I saw that. match with Carrie and Ric Flair or. there's one match I remember it was. during the daytime, right? And I think. it was in 84 maybe. Yeah. Is this it?

Daytime. It was 84. This was after David. had passed away, right? Um, were you at. this match? Oh, yeah. I I wrestled on. this card, too. And uh cuz he looks so. much more athletic. And no judgment to. Ric Flair. I mean, their age differences. may be huge here, but did he ever have. to slow down with other wrestlers to. make it look more real? Does that make. any sense? Well, I suppose, but yeah, you know, it's all about. uh it it's he had such charisma, you.

know, that his charisma was really his. thing. I mean, he had a great body and a. beautiful build. And I'm going to tell. you, uh Tony Atlas and I were bench. pressing and uh I had a good bench. press. I could bench 445 lbs, but my. brother and Tony were benching 520, both. of them. And I mean repping it, you. know, and I've never seen anybody as. strong as Curry was. I mean, Curry for. his size had the most power I've ever. anybody be able to bring. [Music].

up. And he he was agile, too. I mean, I. told you high jumper. A really good high. jumper. What was it like when Flair came. to town? That must have been a ride, huh? He's quite a character. Yeah, he. was. He's something else. He's something. else, man. You got a show with him, right? and the best time cuz he's just. he's got stories and he like, you know, he likes to, you know, it's fun. He's. all fun all the time. That's and it's no. other side to it really. No, there kind. of isn't. He is a a real gentleman. He's.

got a great voice. You know, when you. hear his voice, you think that should be. a radio man. Yeah. You know, he really. does sound good, but but when he comes. to your town, he's going to give an. interview that's going to rile I don't. care who you are. He's going to make you. furious and you're going to come down to. see him, get his butt kicked. And so he. that's you got to have that. You know, you that's that that's Rick. Now Harley. Race and uh and the other champions uh. the. uh drawing a blank, but I mean the uh.

the Brisos and and they were great, but. these had something else they brought to. the table. Harley was, you know, he has. his rep all of his different holes and. moves and but Rick, what an interview he. gives and he's got the experience, too. You know, he's something else and he's. got a good head for for when to do what. he does. But you see what I mean? That. was that a guy like me. really really wouldn't fit the bill like. Rick would. Rick is going to and he's. going to bump all night. He doesn't ever. get tired, you know? He's the He's going.

to have he's going to drag it out to an. hour or try to. Yeah. Just magnetic, man. That was a magnetic time. He is. Um, what was one of the most traumatic. things that happened to one of your. brothers in their life while they were. alive? Um, was there anything that kind of. started changed their life a little bit. that we didn't really see as much? Well, probably. So, yeah. Uh, my little. brother Mike, you know, with the toxic. shock syndrome, he had a we were.

wrestling in Tel Aviv and uh we're going. to do some shows in Lebanon, too. And so. Mike saw wrestling the guy, but his. shoulder had been uh dislocated and he. popped it back in in the dressing room, got back out there in the ring and it. popped out again and it had really. popped out bad this time. So. uh we flew him back to Texas to get. surgery and with the incision he got uh. toxic shock syndrome. It's a tampon.

thing ladies get. But they had such a. huge incision where the arm was or the. shoulder was that they had shaft ga. gauze in there. Oh. And some of it got. left in. I think that might it didn't. get left in but it got septic or. something maybe. Uh but whatever it was. his fever went up to so high 106. I even. heard 107 but that it didn't kill him. though. In fact, the doctor came down. I. say team, you wouldn't believe it. The.

the hospital was filled. with fans, you know, they wanted to. offer their kidneys or their liver to. Mike, you know, to that such love, you. know, but um the docs told us that he's. just his fever is too high. He's not. he's not going to come back and he's. he's not going to make it through the. night. And so rather than go up there. and say good night like he told them to, like he told us to, then we had uh my. parents were down in this waiting room. at the hospital up here at Baylor and we.

had uh Gary Holder was we had a a. chaplain that would go with our to. shows, you know, big shows and he gave a. a prayer where he talked about he said, "God, you say anything we ask in Jesus'. name, then you will do it. So, we're. asking you to stand on your word. And he. slammed that d Bible down on the desk. Man, I wanted to hide my head. I thought. he went too far, you know. But it was.

just a few seconds later, the door. opened up and he said, "The fever's. broken. We There's hope." And we ran up. to see Mike just like that. It was And. David Manning was right there. My dad. was there. My mom Carrie saw it. It was. a miracle, man. And it was really a. miracle and beautiful. But I don't want to get in an argument. with people and but I would love like I. told you I'd like to my life to have an. experience that people could benefit. from. You know, well, if you're somebody.

that's uh like maybe I was at a time. like life is overwhelming and you know. what it's it's like when you overcome. something, you're so much a better man. than you were before. It's like when. you're pushed to your limit and you have. to adjust or die, you get stronger. You. get stronger. And God, and I would just. say to anybody that's out there lost, if. you want to feel like you'll never be. afraid of man or beast again, you will. not be afraid of dying if you know where.

you're going to go when you die. And I. mean, I know where I'm going to go. And. I I have no fear. I mean, it's a it's a. great life. Did you uh did you have religion. instilled in you when you were growing. up? Did you have like um No, that's the. thing. We went to church on Easter, you. know, I remember. But. uh this is pretty odd story, but um I. spent the night with this my dad's real. estate partner is a doctor and I spent. the night with him one night and the.

next day was Sunday and they took me to. church with him and so I went to church. and so. uh the only reason I went cuz if you. spend the night you get to sleep with. the dog and I love their dog, you know, and Oh yeah, dude. I've stayed over. places just to be by the animals. Uh-huh. Well, uh, we go to church and he these. men surround me and ask me if I want to. accept Jesus. And so, uh, I knew that. song, Jesus loves me, you know, and I'd. been to wrestling before and I'd seen.

people poke the finger and stuff and I. knew that was bad, you know, and I. thought, I don't want to be bad. I want. to be good, you know. So, so I want to. be on that side, you know, cuz I've kind. of seen a little of both sorts, you. know. Yeah. You weren't a good heel. Yeah. No, this was the this was this was choosing. not to be a heel. Yeah. For eternity. I. mean, well, that's Well, you know, not. now that I understand what was going on. cuz I'm just a little boy, you know. So, I I said the prayer, you know, and they.

asked me if I believe Jesus died. You. know, I did. And I felt something move. in my something weird in my chest. And I. thought somebody there were men standing. behind me. I thought they did something. to me like but I actually felt something. move inside me and I think it was that. little bit of evidence gave me a lot of. courage and I know God was with me. I. know he was. And that night I was uh got. out of my bed and I went and I looked on. my porch. I was just looking at this. outside the stars and I'm a little boy.

I could have imagined it but I could. have sworn I saw an angel fly across the. field with a horn in his mouth like it. was blown a horn. I didn't hear any. sound. It looked just like a Christmas. uh ornament to a Christmas tree. But but. in my mind, this this was my best day of. my life and I belong to God now. And I. have never been afraid of anything since. then. Amen. Yeah. It's it's interesting. I think people get have sometimes people. get scared to share like their. testimonies or moments that they've had. where they've just felt like something. stronger than them took care of them.

Yeah. You know, yeah. I remember a. feeling one time where I was just broken. down, man. I was really banged up about. a relationship and just not sure what I. wanted to do with my life. I'd moved. back in with my stepparents and man, I. remember one time I was just ball just. on my knees balling and I felt something. come around my heart, man. I can't even. explain it. Just like this this warm. thing just I mean I'd never felt where. my heart was. I mean I'd put my hand on. it hoping for the best when I was.

pledging allegiance. No deal. He's. knocking on the door, you But I mean, you're beautiful and you're all alone. suffering like that. God, that was God. Theo, yeah, he came to you. You know, we. got one lifetime to learn it. You know. that there is such a thing. I mean, let. me tell you, there is a devil. And. people want to say there's no such. thing, but there is. Boy, I could tell. you a really weird story, but it's 100%. true. Yeah. I mean, your life's full of.

craziest stories ever. Listen to this. one. Okay. So, I'm going to wrestle uh. uh Big Daddy King Kong Bundy and the uh. Sport and the Will Rogers Coliseum in. Fort Worth. So, I'm on the way to the. ring. Carrie said, "Kev, come here." I. said, "What Carrie?" He said, "I was dad. on the phone. Mike's just been in a. terrible car wreck. He's he's dying. now." Dad said, "Don't try to get there. fast because he'll be dead before we get. there anyway." And I said, "What?" And. so, I ran to the ring. I said, "Ring the. bell." They ring the bell. grabbed.

Bundy's leg, school boy in one, two, three, ran to the back carrying a hauled. ass to the hospital, stealing my rust. and stuff. And uh so we get there and. there's cops everywhere and they're. standing by the doors and I I run right. into I bust open and I and there's this. black lady out there and she said, "My. baby, my baby." And uh when I crash. those doors open, there's a little black. kid laying there dead and blood and. stuff. So I go out the other door, open the.

door, and there's Mike. Hey, Kev. He was. fine. Just fine. And so I I'm like, I'm. numb, you know. And so I know my parents. were on their way down here. And so I I. go outside and I see them walking down. the ramp and I said, "He's okay." And my. dad just about fell down. My mom Oh, they fell down. Well, so I'm going to. get my car to come home. And Abalene is. west, but Denton is north. Well, for. some reason, I went west to and I went. almost to Abalene and Eastland to just I.

was so out of it just driving. By the. time I got home, I was sleep uh so. sleepy. The sun had already come up. Had. been waiting for me. And so, uh I was. going to take my bulldog down to the. lake and wash him. I had castile soap, you know, okay, for the environment and. all. And so, I'm washing my dog. And oh, sorry. I'm sorry. I I maybe it's. concussions. But before that, I said, "God, thank you for giving me my brother. back. Let me fight the devil. Let I. said, "Satan, I want to I'll fight you.

I'll fight you." And and said, "Let me. fight him, God." It was stupid. A stupid. boy. And so I go to the lake. I'm. washing my dog. And Theo, I swear this. happened. So my dog, everything's real. still. And And I I'm feeling weird a. little bit. And I look and I see there's. a a bush here and some more bushes here. and a hill here. And I see these little. black things taking position against me.

and advancing on me. I felt like I could. smell blood. I could. smell death. And I said, "Get in the. car, Pam." And I put my back to the car. and I was like this. And uh and I would. see them going from trees. They're. getting these positions and I was I was. ready. And next thing I know, I'm out. I'm having a seizure in my car. And and. God and so Pam's screaming and crying. and these fishermen have run up to help. And I must have hit one or kicked one or. something. But a girl ran up and said,

"I know his parents. Uh, I'll get them.". And an ambulance came and all that, but. I know it's because I'm a man and I. challenged the devil and we have Jesus. in us that fights the devil. We don't. have anything to do with the devil. And. so that was that was my lesson that I. learned. But I know that happened and. it's just in me like written on my heart. and and with a nail, you know. Look, that's a testimony, man. I thank you for. sharing that. Yeah. I think sometimes we.

don't think that the devil is real and. that's a that is the devil's way to. trick us. I believe that. You know, if. you don't think that evil's real, then. it's how quick you don't know how close. it is to you either. You know, you don't. know how intertwined it could be in your. own veins if you don't even believe it's. real. That's a pretty masterful trick. Yeah. And we think with a man's mind and. they have the devil is an angel's mind, you know. I mean, he's way smarter than. we are. Devil's The devil is a thug, you. know. That is the truth, man. Thank you. for sharing that. I've had friends share.

some really uh some strong testimonials, some moments where they just felt that, you know. I mean, there was been moments. in my life where Yeah. I just felt you. just get that feeling. Sometimes you. ever get overcome with that feeling. You're just so thankful that God has. been with you. Yeah. Oh, man. Cuz you. thought you did it yourself and you. realize you didn't. That God was there. with you, man. When that when I've had. that feeling come over me, God, I mean, it just it'll you just you almost feel. like you thaw out some, you know, like. you thaw out and then we get to a.

position where we where something bad. comes along, oh no, God, don't let this. happen, you know? And and he saves us. again and like, oh, I forgot the other. times, too. You know, and and you know, oh, I'll forget. I'll forget. Southern. boy. I know what kind of You caught. copperheads and water moxins and stuff. like that, I'm sure. Oh, I definitely I. got electrocuted a bunch. I was. definitely beaten a lot. Yeah. Yeah. We. got bit by things attack. I got attacked. by a bunch of stray animals. I grew up. in the stray animal belt. Really? So, they had just What kind of stray.

animals? Oh, anything, brother. The. snakes, raccoons, birds, dogs, man. B uh. I don't even know. Just They had dogs. wearing jewelry. All kind of [ __ ] was. out there. looking for us. Man, that's a. You got a good memory. It was dangerous. out there. Well, um, you know, I used to. get ch I got chased by a goose when I. was a little kid. By a ghost? A goose. Oh, a goose. Yeah. I'd rather a damn. ghost. Goosees are dangerous, dude. Well, they can bite, you know, but for a.

little kid. Scary. They don't care. And. they're violent. And dude, a goose will. come at you. It'll just be one of them. Some animals they'll have five or six of. them. Raccoons are like that, you know. Um, ants are like that, you know, they. won't come at you just one, but a goose, that thing will roll up on you solo. That's pretty savage when you think of. it. Yeah. That is that you? That's a. goose is stinking ramble with him, dude. That's crazy. Um Oh, what were the your.

parents' lives like? What was like um. are your parents either your parents. still alive? No. Okay. Are they buried. in the same place? Yeah, they are. Yeah, we uh we had my. mother uh you know we when we moved out. I couldn't move to Kawaii without taking. my mom with me. Oh, she took your mom. with you? Yeah. Oh, dude. And she lived. in the house with us, too. Did she love. it there? Uh you know, my dad used to. wrestle in Japan a lot. And so we would. meet him in Hawaii and I didn't realize. it, but Hawaii reminded her of her sons.

And she didn't want to go anywhere. She. wanted to stay in a room and she wanted. to grow her flowers and that was it. She. just she did love it. She loves her. flowers, you know, but it was like um it. reminded her too much of that. But she. and she passed away up in our our guest. room upstairs. And uh but all my. granddaughters and my my son's. wives standing around her singing hymns. while she passed away and feel before.

she died, she was a super good woman. She was so sweet and thoughtful to. everyone. when she'd come to school, I'll be so proud of her, you know, cuz. all the kids will like her. But when she. was laying in that bed and she breathed. her last breath, even as she like that, her hand went up like that. And I could. just picture touching Jesus's hand and. going to heaven. You know, she was. probably ready to go see her sons, huh? Oh, I know she was. You know, my dad, I.

tell you all this personal stuff, buddy, but uh well, I could match you if you. need, but we've heard my stories a lot. No, I just can't imagine. I bet she was. ready to go see her sons. You know, he. was I bet she'd been gone away from them. long enough. And you know, my dad, too, because really, when you think about it, my dad lost more than my mom. My dad. lost his sons, but he didn't he didn't. never show it. I mean, but he hurt. He. was hurting, but he was like. uh it was just that. he at his ladder in the final days he.

was so torn up inside. I think when he. saw me it would remind him of all the. sons he's lost and he pulled that 44 out. one day and uh and he he pointed his. head like I'm just going to shoot. myself. No, don't do it. Don't do it, Dad. And he pointed the gun at me and I. said, he said, "You're afraid to die, aren't you?" He said, "You'd have the. guts. You do it, too, if you had the. guts." And I said, "Dad, it doesn't take.

guts to live. I mean, it take guts to. kill yourself, Dad. It take guts to stay. alive on this earth." And uh he was. hurting so much. He he would just go, "Oh, God." He'd rub his face to go, "Oh, God." And when he I'd hear that, they. were I I actually wanted him to die. I. wanted him to pass away. He was he was. just miserable. And I know that when he. died, he was right there with Dave Kerry. Mike and his it was beautiful. But my.

dad had gotten to he said, "Look, son. Uh if you kick an old dog enough times, he's going to bite you." And that's how. I am with God right now. He's kicked me. too many times. And so I I said, "Dad, it's going to be you're going to be so. surprised, but I couldn't convince him. of it, you know." Yeah. But when Yeah. I. can't imag I I can't imagine what it's. like to be kind of the soul the. surviving son. Did you feel.

chosen or did you feel deserted? Does. that question make any sense to you? Sure. It's funny you say that. Yeah. because I. felt chosen in the way that my dad gave. me a tape recorder back when I was in. fifth grade. It was a bell and how you. know and you could talk into it and I. couldn't believe I could hear my voice. Yeah. You know, and so uh and so I I. thought I love my dad so much. I filled. the tape. It was okay. One day dad's. going to die and I'm going to talk and.

here I am alive while he's still alive. and so I'm going to say something to. make me feel better. Man, I'm sorry Kev. Sorry, buddy. I just fill the table up. with that. Oh, as if you were. impersonating your dad. Yeah. Yeah. Like. I can comfort myself later when I work. No, dude. That's really interesting. though. That's so interesting. But I. remember saying. uh Dave and Carrie, we loved each other. so much. I I thought I can't bear to. lose them. I could not bear it. And I. thought, but they love me that way. And.

so I I said this even in a prayer. I. said, "God, if one of us has to stand. back, if one of us has to be the only. one, let it be me." Wow. Because I'm. hard and I'm strong. inside. Lord, God made me that way, but. I didn't know it would ever happen, but. I did say it. You. know, you know, I used to have I mean, this is like silly, but like so when I. was growing up, I didn't have any like. whenever my dad died, I didn't have any. thing of his, right? I didn't have like. a shirt or like a button or just.

anything to remember him by, you know? And so I used to write postcards to my. kids, right? Whenever I was on the road. just traveling over the years doing. comedy, I would write postcards to my. kids. I don't have any kids yet, but I. would send them postcards just so in the. future they would be able to see that I. was thinking of them. Right. Yeah. Like. I just wanted that I wanted to prove I. was That's so smart, bro. But Right. But. I just think it's the same type of. thing. It's like you're just trying to. like I don't know. But you're always. thinking of like um how do I make sure.

that every that somebody knew I cared or. that somebody knew somebody else? I'm. going to die someday. I'm going to die. someday. It just stuff like that is. interesting. I think a lot of people do. little things like that. Um but that's. interesting because you could have felt. like you were deserted. Yeah. But to end. up feeling that you were chosen, that's. pretty powerful. Well, I I don't think. I'd say the word chosen more like I'd. say that I I would not want to put them. through that. Ah, yeah. Like you were.

the one that could handle it. Then I. think I I would not want them to go. through it. Yeah. I would rather me go. through it than they did. And I think. that's sweet of me. God might have gave. me some credit for that, you know, because it's all. about this. We're in a struggle, you. know. It's like we're not on this earth. to laugh it up and have fun. We have. tests, real test and life is hard. And. that kind of stuff that kicks you in the. nuts is what makes you stronger. Yeah. Makes you more strong. And without that, you can't give advice to people about.

things you haven't been around, you. know, but once you've had it and been. and suffered yourself, now you can say, "Listen up." Well, with that said, like. um and I agree, you know, I was just. thinking about that the other day. It's. like I've always had this outlook and. they kind of don't teach you that when. you're a kid as much that and they. really shouldn't when you're a young. child, but I think they should teach you. at some point that life is a test that. it is full of a lot of tests and it's. not all just going to be like this. perfect thing or everything might not. work out the way you think it, you know, you never really kind of get that.

education maybe or maybe some parents do. give it to their kids. Um, but with what. you said a second ago, if you had to. share something with somebody who had. lost a sibling or who had dealt with, you know, some grief from loss, something that you've learned because I. mean, you're like almost the the Neil. Armstrong of loss. I mean, you've you've. had you've endured a lot in your life, you know, and watched and watched other. loved ones endure a lot, you know. Um,

what what what have you kind of learned. that you feel like you could share, if. anything? Well, thank you for giving that. opportunity because that's what I want. to do is to try to make it positive for. somebody, buddy. But, um, you know, it's tough cuz. I want to tell people like when somebody. dies, it's going to get better, but it. doesn't get better, man. You don't even. get used to it. It just keep tolerating. it and you just somehow it gets a little. better someday. But there's no good word.

to say to them. But when somebody's. really busted up, you know, and I when. you overcome that and are able to um um. maintain through that, well, then it's. it's now you now you've uh you've. achieved through a struggle. You've. achieved over an an ob obstruction. you've gone over a a hurdle, you know, and it's. like now you can say you won. Now you.

can say you won something because. without a fight there can't be a winner. There can't be a champion. There can't. be a success unless there's that. adversity, you know. And so God wouldn't. put you through that unless you're going. to. benefit. And you got a great mind. You're an intelligent guy. I can tell. Thanks, man. Life is He's knocking on. your door, too, my friend. You, too. I. feel like you and me are probably pretty. similar in some ways. You feel that? I.

sure do. I do, too. Um, do you. uh was how how how therapeutic was. having your own family for you? Everything, man. That was what did it is. what saved me because. uh man when you can have anything you. want you know and your brothers can have. anything they want and and they come. over and let's go do this let's go do. that it's like what a life I mean it's. uh it's a whole lot.

but I I don't mean to bum me out man I. don't want to start bum I don't feel. like you're buming me out at all really. no I was just thinking like well I was. going to ask you what's something that. you admire about each one of your. children And then I was going to ask you. what's something that you um maybe like. something funny or something silly that. you kind of admire or or maybe miss. something goofy or something about each. one of your brothers. Maybe just like a. nice like a like a band they like to. listen to. Just something like that. Oh. yeah. Well, we love good music. I can.

tell. you, I've never told anybody this story, but uh we had our we had a like a. treehouse, but it was built on stilts, a. little room on stilts my dad made us. And so uh we had a c my mother was a. third oldest, but there were she had an. older sister and so her older sister. came over and she had two sons and they. were they could pick on us, you know, and so we were hiding up there and they. were trying to get her. We'd pull the.

rope up, wouldn't let them go. We had. rocks. We're throwing rocks at them and. and so there it got really bloody, you. know, we're chunking rocks and hitting. each other and and you know and and so. uh uh I think I let one go and hit one. of the guys right in the head, you know, and uh my cousin, it would have kicked. my ass if he could have caught me, you. know, but but so he runs in the house to. tell on me so we'll get in trouble, you. know. And so uh me, Dave, and Carrier. come down from the treehouse, you know. We're watching out. they're not going to.

uh ambush us and beat us up all the way. to the house, you know. But they run to. the house to tell on us, you know. So we. we run up there and uh so the guy's. bleeding. My cousin's bleeding. My. cousin Steve bleeding all over the. place. And uh dad said, "What the hell. happened?" And and uh I was about to. fess something. Dad Curry said, "Dad, he. got a little razor blade, cut his head.". and and my dad started cracking up. laughing, you know, and and so Dave and I go with the story,

you know, and I think he started. laughing and just let it go. But I think. back on that, Carrie was such a cute. little kid, you know. He was lying about. it. Huh. He did. He was that way. He was. quick. Huh. Another time we were riding. in the car and uh uh my friend had a BB. gun. So, we're riding all the BB gun and. uh shooting signs and warning lights and. stuff, you know. So, we drive by a. pickup and he shoots the windshield and. of your own vehicle. No, no, it was a.

friend of ours. A friend of ours vehic. an old man that had a ranch just south. of us and so shot blew it out. Yeah. Shot the window out and uh the cops were. going to get us, you know, and we're. running from him and all and uh got in. such trouble and so we're answering for. it all. we got away. And so they weren't. sure that we were the ones, you know, and so the cops were all talking to us. and my dad was there and I hear my dad. say, "My sons won't lie to me." So I my. I'll ask him, "My sons will not lie to.

me." And so uh he calls Carrie over. there. And uh Carrie had already lied to. him, you know, and uh and so I heard Ted. say that. He said, "Come here, Kev." And. uh I went Carrie's over there. We're. going with the lie, you know, but I'm. busted. And so I'm going to sit I want. to I can't get the word to Carrie. I get. it to Dave and Dave can't get it to. Carrie. And I said, "Yes, sir, Dad. We. did it. We all did it." And I said, "Krie, come here, son." Carrie looked me.

in the eye. I want you to tell me the. truth. Did you do it? He said, "No, sir, Dad. I. swear." Oh, man. You never forgave me for that. Gary. could lie. That's all right. Somebody's. got a lie, man. Man. And what about Chris? What was something. that was fun or just neat about him? What was something he liked to do? Well, he loved Indian stuff, you know, and he. had a So, he he had he stacked the rocks. and all and Indian stuff. He knew all.

about Chief BS and uh the uh uh Wonka. Tonka, I don't know. I can't Wampom. something like that. Native He knew a. lot of Native American lore. Yeah. He. loved all that stuff. and and so where. they lived they had all arrowheads and. spearheads. He found that stuff all the. time. So that's what he was really. doing. But he was a great artist. He. could draw anything, you know. And so I. thought that but he was uh he had. asthma. And so because he had to take. medicine, it made his bones brittle and.

he uh he just wasn't going to get big. and strong, you know. It just didn't. when he worked out, it didn't really do. anything. Well, y'all took all the. bigness, too. If he was the last one, y'all didn't leave any bigness for. That's what I thought. I thought maybe. we took all the big because Oh, yeah. You took all Man, he wanted to be No, I. I could have cared less, but he wanted. to be big so bad. Um, and what about. Mike? What was something that Mike liked. to do? What kind of music did he listen. to? Oh, he liked uh Metallica and.

uh uh AC/DC and uh Did y'all ever go to. any concerts together? Oh, always a lot. of concerts together. Yeah. What was one. y'all went to? Uh Zezy Top. I loved them. and uh the thousand pounds. Yeah. And. then AC/DC. We had went to Fallat concert and I. think the band that warmed up for him. was the. uh I am just a. cowboy trail with the Starry Nights. campfire lights. What was that song? The.

cowboy song. Then Lizzy. Then Lizzy. Then what is it? Lizzy. Then Lizzy's. Yeah, that was a great concert. Cowboy. song by Than Lizzy. I haven't heard. that. I got to listen to that one. Oh, that was Oh, that's a great song. And. that was going to be Dave's song. See, I. picked the music, but with Carrie picked. his song, but I walk out music. I always. did the music, but and I picked that. song for Dave, but he said, "No, Kev, I'm a cowboy." And he picked when I die, I may not go to Texas. It just It was. nothing. We You want music? Tanya.

Tucker. Yeah. But I mean, God, but it. was terrible for Go to the Ring, too, cuz you want I'm sure it was, dude. You. want to sound like a an interesting. sound and then a crescendo and you're. kicking the door open and the lights and. all. So you don't want something and. he's blasting some damn Shaniah Twain or. whatever. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's. different level, man. Um Okay. And so. and Jack had passed away before you. Um. what about Carrie? What's something you. remember about him that you like like? Shoot. Carrie was just uh Were y'all the.

closest probably? Well, me, Dave, and Carrie were real. close. And then Mike was our baby, you. know, so we were we were really close. And then but you know, Chris was a. little bit I told you about the divorce. thing. Mhm. When I was a kid, one thing. my mother insisted on my dad was that my. dad not uh discipline Mike and Chris. like he did meet Dave and Carrie cuz he. used a leather strap on us, you know, but I mean we're boys, you know, and we. got it was kind of common back then. It.

was. Yeah. Yeah. And uh my principal. beat me in office one time. a couple. times. I think it's back when your. principal could spank you. Yeah, I've. been beaten there, too. I mean, you. know, we had it coming. Hey, that's all. right, brother. We had it coming. Hey, did we? I don't know. Well, you know, if. we got away with it and we just done it. again, you know, look, he got me I got. away I got over on him more times than. he got over on me. I I'll tell you that, Mr. Brady. Yeah. I think same with mine. I had a. principal like that. He'd come down from.

in the office and he'd he'd open the the. your classroom door and said, "Who. parked on my grass?" You know, if your. if if any car was touching grass, it was. his grass and you had to move it. You. know, he was really obnoxious guy. Did. you guys finish high school, you and. your brothers? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we did. We uh of course I. hated school and I hated it. I don't. know if you did or not, but Oh, if I. could wrestle good, I wouldn't like damn. spelling. I wasn't wrestling then. You. know, I was a little kid. I had to do my.

homework and all that stuff, but I had. to listen to all that junk in class and. about Susie has two dresses and, you. know, all that crap. I I couldn't stand. it. I was bored to death. And I I just. And I I And I I'm not a very good. parent. I told you. I just when I see. little boys, I say I hated school. I. wouldn't I don't blame you for not. wanting to go. You know, there's a lot. better stuff to do. You got a dog, you. got a BB gun, then that's all you need, you know. Um, when you think back, um, what about.

your own parenting? So, you have four. children. Yeah. Okay. And what are they. like? You have two boys and two girls. Yeah, two boys and two girls. Well, my. oldest two are daughters, Kristen and. Jill. And, uh, Kristen is uh, has always. been my soft spot. I love her so much. And she's brilliant. She does everything. for us, you know. She's so she's so inc. and she's such a good foster mom or know.

uh she in Hawaii she'd take the kids for. the the police would what do you call. the uh ID. the when the parent when oh CPS CPS she. would get those kids and then for foster. parents she they loved her there and. said so many people that loved her in. Hawaii so many kids and then there's my. daughter. Jill she was way more like me. She's. like she can. swim endlessly. I I've swam out to reefs.

before that were way too far for anybody. without a boat. She'll swim out there. without flippers and go down and dive. with lobsters with me and and grab them. with her hands, too. I mean, I'm using. gloves, but she's perfect. She's. something else. She can she can run like. a deer. She um and she's she loves her. and her sons are all athletic and I. could go overboard talking about her. She's such an athlete and and then. there's Ross and Marsh and Ross and. Marshall got into wrestling. Yeah. Did.

were you scared when they got into. wrestling or did you have any thoughts. about it or that's just what they wanted. to do? Well, uh not with Ross. I knew. Ross is he's been a ass kicker his whole. life and he's fights easily, you know, and that's not usually there's not much. for a man like that to do in today's. world except wrestling and so Russ is. going to be good. But Marshall, I did. worry about him because Marshall is a. super athlete. He went out to Hawaii and. he was the quarterback and he was.

throwing the bombs. The newspapers were. just people would just want a picture of. how far he could throw the football. He. was he was just a a great athlete. But I. worried about him getting that sun that. heat stroke out there, you know, cuz he. had a heat issue one. time. So that's the only time I've ever. been worried of him worried of them cuz. they're both like bulls, you know. They're strong and healthy and I. wouldn't worry about it. Either way, they with their wrestling now too, they. they know what they need to know. there.

It's I believe that the wrestling. business is about to really explode. because it was just like this when my. brothers and I got started and when this. co got and they had to wrestle in empty. buildings. I don't think I could have. ever done that. Yeah. But um it made it. where the f the people really have not. seen them uh explode yet. They've they. worked for a little uh uh they went to. Japan and wrestled and they worked for a. little operation at MLW and now they're. with uh AEW. Oh, really? Aw's been.

popping off, dude. Oh, yeah. I keep. hearing about it all the time now. Yeah, they're they're going to they're really. going to be something special, I. believe. And will they tag team? Uh. they've done both. They they work tag. teams right now, though. I mean, it's a. lot of, you know, there's tag teams is. such an interesting exciting match, you. know, cuz the guys don't have time to. get a hold, but uh they can do either. one. They can wrestle single, they can. work a tag, but. probably they'll work a tag team. As a.

matter of fact, I don't want to talk out. of school, but we have a neighbor in. Bernie, and it's Bill Goldberg, the guy. that wrestled at WWE. Oh, yeah. Yeah. He. he he's a Texas boy, I think, isn't he? Or Oklahoma. Bill Goldberg. Yeah, I. think he's from OK. Where is he from? Norman? No. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Um, did you ever fight Rocky Johnson? Uh, he I was too young, but the my first. black and white pictures uh that was.

trying to flex, you know, and I've never. I didn't know, you know, I didn't expect. to have muscles, but that's Rocky. And. so Rocky's was really good at flexing. And so Rocky taught me everything about. flexing. You know, he was standing right. behind the cameraman doing this and. doing all these things. And I whatever. Aunt Rocky did, I did for the picture, you know. So you learned a little from him then. And Rocky's son is The Rock, you know. Oh yeah. Dwayne Johnson. And so we would. like That's actually the picture I was.

That's hilarious, dude. But Little Rock. was there. Oh, was he? Yeah. Yeah. He's. a He's a little boy. I mean, he was the. cutest little kid. People say that Rocky. was the nice is a is a very nice guy. He's still alive. He is. I I don't know. I don't know about that, but. but Rock was a great guy, too. I mean, he he was a we he was a little younger. than us, you know, so we'd wrestle him. and uh like like his uh we frustrate him. and boy, he to see if he'd have the. courage to to pep up with us and he.

would too. Who? Dwayne J, the Rock. He. would fight. He would want to. fight. Yeah, he that pup was snite you. He was a beautiful little kid. Yeah. Oh, y'all might have put the y'all might. have excited y'all might have put that. fire in him, man. Um, what about Bruiser. Brody? Remember him? Yeah, he was. something else. Smart guy. Uh, on his. wake up workout routine, he would just. put on leather gloves and lay into that. heavy bag and it thickened his chest. And I mean, he did bench presses, too,

but he had an awesome bench press, but. also his body was built so powerfully. because he had a I think he worked out. different. He did a lot of strikes, you. know, and that thickens joints and all. It made him makes you have kind of that. raw strength, you know, and he'd had. that. But, uh, if you want to talk about. Puerto Rico, well, I could tell you too. that what happened. Well, he was killed. in Puerto Rico, you know. Oh, he was. killed in Puerto Rico. Yeah, I didn't. know that. Well, gosh, I never told this.

story, but I could tell you this one, too. The uh he was Brody got was real. temperamental and he would get pissed. off real easy. Well, the Puerto Rico. wrestling office owed him about 80. grand. And so, my my dad was president. of the Alliance back then. And so, we. worked out a payout schedule where. they'd pay him a little each show. But. Brody got to that show and he wouldn't. work for him because they owed him that. money and so dad worked out where he.

would come back and boy when they came. back they sold out uh um San Juan and it. was a great crowd. Well, Brody wanted. his money that night cuz he saw that. they had it but you know there are other. things that that they've you know and uh. that's all that started. That's all that. started. So he uh wanted his money and. um. uh wasn't to be and so he kicked the. guy's ass, you know, and the guy's a. little that invader, you know, uh forgot.

his name, but uh man, this is an ugly. story, too. But uh the guy who And so. they got in a fight and the guy Brody. beat him up and he knifed Brody in the. shower. But uh damn him in the shower. This is the kind of guy though. I mean, the guy that did it just about a week. before that, his little daughter drowned. in his swimming pool. Oh. So, he's on. edge, you know, and. uh so I can't really I know them both,

you know, and they're both men that want. to earn their a living, you know, and uh. it's sad. Oh, that's him. Jose Gonzalez. Yeah. Yeah. Life is, you know, like I said, we. suffer, but we find the beautiful. moments in between those ugly ones, you. know, and it's it's good. It's got good. and bad. Yeah. I um I'm trying to think if. there's something else that you you. talked about using medicinal marijuana.

How did you get into that? And then how. did it help you? Do you feel like. Well, if you want to talk about it, if. you don't want to, that's fine. Yeah, I. did. Well, um, well, I had the a lot of. knee near certain knee surgeries, too. And, uh, and you can take a pain pill, but, if you do, then it's going to take. a an edge off of it, and so you'll want. to take more, and if you do, you're. going to get in a problem. And so, I. didn't want pain pills. So, I wanted a. natural.

uh, pain relief. And so, I tried. cannabis, and I liked it. And, uh, it. was it's it was just good all around for. me. It was good. And so I actually grow. it out in Kawaii. And. uh and so that's how I, you know, have. have it. You know, I'm so grateful for. it, too. I mean, I hope they don't make. it illegal again because it was it's. like a wonder drug to me. It really was. Did you ever get involved in any other. type of plant medicine or anything like.

that out there? Um I know there's like. Iawaska ceremonies and stuff like that. We've done I've done that before and a. lot of our listeners have. Um I think. I've considered it or tried it. Yeah, there's a stuff called um uh Oh, it's. a what's the name of that? Ka K. No, what? Cava. Cava. Yeah, cava roots. Good. for you. I say good for you. It's I read. about the contra indications on that and. it's kind of it can make your skin like.

uh. um have um what do you call those. things? shingles, scales or whatever. Scales like Yeah. Make a damn dragon out. of it. I guess that's if you do too much. of it or something. I tried it. It's not. bad for you. But have you ever done like. Iawaska or like a plant medicine. ceremony where you wonder? Yeah. Aiawa. Oh. It's like a um medicine that you. take and you kind of sit in a group of. the shaman and it's usually it's like a. two-day ceremony and um you kind of go.

through these bouts of like um it's kind. of like an emotional journey that you go. on. It's really fascinating. Like a. sweat lodge kind of thing maybe. Mhm. Wow. Really really fascinating if you. ever get curious about it. I got a. friend in Israel that writes comedy. shows that writes um soap operas and he. does that. He goes to Africa and South. America and finds indigenous people and. does stuff like that with them. And he. does I mean he's a wealthy guy so he. Aaron Rogers we know who it is.

Um what's your physical routine like. today for yourself? Uh Kevin physical. routine? Yeah. Do you have like a daily. routine or Yeah. Uh well uh Solomon comes in my bedroom. about 8:45 or 9:00. And uh that's your. grandson. Uh-huh. and and we go either. catch lizards or snakes or frogs. We've. caught uh we've caught four rattlesnakes. on our ranch. Hell yeah. Last year and. we caught uh king snakes and uh uh.

turtles, uh sea turtles, soft shell. turtles, uh you name it as that little. boy and I have so much fun together and. uh and he's the I love him to death. And. uh does he remind you any one of your. brothers in particular at all or no? He reminds me of Marshall and Ross. It's. like I'm able to be dad again, you know? It's like. I Well, I I enjoy. being their father so much. I really.

love my sons and my daughters, but. having Solomon again is just like having. Marshall again, you know. And he's got. Ross in him, too, though, you know. It's. beautiful. For anybody that's wondering, I Kevin von Eric, I consider myself the. luckiest guy in the world. I mean, I. know for that movie coming out, you may. not believe it, but I am happy all day, every day, and I mean, I look forward to. tomorrow. And uh I couldn't ask for a. better way things turned out. And to to.

[ __ ] about my brothers dying too young. The truth is, we had a great time. We. had a great time a long time. Hell yeah. We're still talking about how good the. time was. Yeah. You know what I'm. saying? So, I'm not I can't call it a. bad day. Is there any message you think that your. father or brothers like felt like that. you think that they would want to have. given but they didn't get a chance to? Is there ever anything like that that. Yeah. I want to tell you something now. We watched my dad wrestled when we were. little boys and we had an idea to make a. wrestling show that would be different.

It would be two different cot cameras. the whole time so nothing's going to. look bad on television. We use just the. best camera shot. It would have done. some uh some uh extra time to editing, but you know, we wanted wrestling to be. instead of the 20 and 30 minute matches, 1 hour time limits, we thought 20. minutes was plenty of time for a match. to just and pick up the pace, you know, and uh and just make it more intense.

And I think our shows were like that. I'm proud of them. I'm proud of all of. our shows. My brothers and I, especially. Dave and. I and dad, had a a great idea one time. and it was going to be uh to put our new. style of wrestling on the show on the. and it was great. We had a great TV. rating and Vince offered us big part of. his uh half of his company up there to. to come in with him and I sat there with. my dad and I said, "Nope. What's in it.

for us?" Uh, and you never disagree with. a family in a business meeting, but I. was thinking, he's got everything we. need, Dad. Everything we need, but uh, Dad wouldn't go wouldn't go with him to. partner with WWE. You mean? Yeah. Wow. And they're going to let dad keep uh, San Antonio and Dallas, too. But who knows, huh? Yeah. Who knows what. would have happened? Yeah. cuz there's.

many a slip tricks the cup and the lip, you know. But I mean, we would have been. ready. We' have jumped all over that. because we're little boys that had seen. it for a whole life and we just knew how. to make it better. We'd watched the NFL, you know, and the slow motion, the. collisions and all and uh and concerts. with the lasers and all the music, the. way it fills you out of your chair, you. know, we had it we had how we wanted to. do it. So, uh, you know, that didn't come.

about, but we had a great time aiming at. it. Yeah. And who knows, maybe things. would have been different, you know. Yeah. I mean, you guys Yeah. I mean, I. just Yeah. I mean, on behalf of like. Yeah. Any kid that was like me, I mean, the second you guys, they put the name. on the screen or it's just, man, it was. awesome, dude. You felt like everything. was possible. You could [ __ ] rip the. drywall out of the living room. You. could [ __ ] do whatever you wanted, dude. You knew mom was coming home in an. hour and a half, but you had a 90.

minutes till she got there where you. were free as a bird. Boy, I'd break. every damn chair we had and then spend. the next two hours gluing them [ __ ]. back together for dinner. Dude, you. would have loved to step in the. business. I know you liked it. You would. have loved it. Um well, Kevin, man, thanks so much, dude. Got a show. tonight. Yeah, we got a show tonight. I'd love to take you to dinner, but. you're busy. Yeah, tonight I'll be busy, but you know what? I think I'm going to. be down to um Austin in. uh in September. Oh, you are? Shoot.

Call me up, man. I'll show you Texas. When I am, I'll come out and see the. ranch, man. Do it. That would be, man. What plants do you. guys have out there? What plants? Yeah. Do you plant any avocados or anything. like that here in Texas or No. Oh, no. No. That's It won't It won't grow in the. in uh the subtropics. But I say that I. went to Israel. You know, it's on what. the 33rd degree ladder from the equator. I mean, that's way far north. They have. mangoes there, papayas. I couldn't.

believe it. Yeah, they got Can't grow. that in Texas. Yeah, you can't grow that. in Texas, huh? Um, but you can grow you can grow a. batch of von Erics, dude, that are. pretty damn impressive. I'll I'll say. that. They sure can. Um, Kevin, thanks. so much for your time, man. just thanks. for you and your family just uh just all. the enjoyment and excitement and. invigoration and possibility over the. years is I think it's inspired a lot of. people and was so much fun as a kid just. [ __ ] when that when you guys came on. the screen just getting to be Ivon Eric. for a few minutes it was fun man it was.

a lot of fun I think about it and you. know when you get some stress built up. you know you can just get in the ring. and kick ass. that's a motto for life guys are gone. But they're pretty close in our minds, you know. Yeah. Right there. You can. still feel them right on the edge of. your skin sometimes. Dang right, dude. I'll [ __ ] I'll beat the [ __ ] out of. somebody in the lobby here if we need. to. Well, let's find a quiet spot and. I'll take you down somewhere and we can. make a little news.

Kevin Merrick, thanks so much, man. My. pleasure, buddy. Now, I'm just floating. on the breeze and I feel I'm falling. like these leaves. I must be corner. stone. Oh, but when I reach that ground, I'll share this piece of mind I found. I. can feel it in my. bones. But it's going to take.