Original subtitles

BUT I WANNA KNOW AFTER 16

YEARS, HOW DO YOU DO IT?

WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT, GENE.

I LOVE IT.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT, JUST

LIKE--

WHERE DOES THE ENERGY COME

FROM?

OH, THE ENERGY COMES FROM ALL

OVER, JUST BEING ABLE TO PLAY

OFF THESE GREAT SUPERSTARS.

[MUSIC]

"MEAN" GENE OKERLUND

REINVENTED THE BACKSTAGE

INTERVIEW.

YOU, "MEAN" GENE OKERLUND,

YOU KNOW THAT I'M THE CREAM OF

THE CROP.

OH.

AND REMAINS THE BEST TO HAVE

EVER DONE IT.

NO MATTER WHAT THAT ROLE WAS,

WHETHER IT WAS THE STRAIGHT UP

ANNOUNCE GUY, OR THE COMEDY GUY,

HE MADE EVERYONE LOOK BETTER.

ANDRE THE--

I'D LOVE TO BE "MEAN" GENE.

I COULD TELL--

I'M WITH YOU, PAL.

LIBERACE, DANNY DEVITO, CYNDI

LAUPER, WENDI RICHTER, A BIG ONE

FOR YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT, "MEAN" GENE.

HE WAS A GUY THAT YOU WANNA

LOVE.

NICE.

IT'S GENEAMANIA.

HE WASN'T JUST AN ANNOUNCER.

HE WAS ONE OF THE BOYS.

THIS IS THE REAL LIVING

LEGEND.

THAT'S "MEAN" GENE.

THAT'S "MEAN" GENE.

NUMBER ONE.

WORKING IN THE LAND OF

GIANTS, THIS DIMINUTIVE MAN

ARMED WITH A STICK MIKE, A

BOOMING VOICE--

NINETY-THREE THOUSAND.

--AND A PERSONALITY TO MATCH,

STOOD OUT AS ONE OF THE GREATEST

SPORTS ENTERTAINERS OF ALL TIME.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,

"MEAN" GENE.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,

"MEAN" GENE.

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU

SOMETHING, "MEAN" GENE.

[MUSIC]

I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE BORN IN

BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA.

I'LL EVEN GIVE YOU A DATE,

DECEMBER 19TH, 1942.

FORGET WIKIPEDIA.

IT'S INCORRECT INFORMATION.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, AND

WELCOME ONCE AGAIN TO ALL STAR

WRESTLING, WHERE WE SAY EACH AND

EVERY WEEK, THIS IS WHERE YOU

SEE THE WORLD'S GREATEST

WRESTLERS.

I BECAME A BIG FAN OF

PRO-WRESTLING IN MY MID-TEENS.

WE'D TAKE THE SIX-PACK AND SNEAK

OFF TO THE SMOKY NATIONAL GUARD

ARMORY, THE CRUSHER, "MAD DOG"

VACHON, VERNE GAGNE.

WHAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE AND MY

INTEREST WAS THE INTERVIEWS WERE

SUCH A BIG PART OF EARLY

BROADCAST WRESTLING.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

EXCITEMENT AS KING RIGHT HERE

TONIGHT--

YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT, I'D

LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THIS JUDAS,

THIS BENEDICT ARNOLD, IS DOING.

HE WANTS TO BE A HERO, DOES HE

KNOW THE PRICE IT'S GONNA COST

HIM?

[MUSIC]

A GOOD GUY, TALKED ROUGH,

BABY FACE, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH.

WELL, I CAN TELL YOU ONE

THING, BOCKWINKEL, YOU'RE GONNA

GET BEATEN.

BUT IT WAS A GOOD BACKGROUND

BECAUSE YOU COULD DEFINITELY

IDENTIFY GOOD AND BAD.

BECAUSE STEVENS AND

BOCKWINKEL AND HEENAN ARE MAD.

AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY KIND

OF CAPTURED MY IMAGINATION, MY

HEART.

GENE'S PASSION FOR

BROADCASTING YIELDED AN EARLY

CAREER BEHIND THE MICROPHONE AS

A RADIO DISC JOCKEY.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN

RADIO, THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR

ANOINTED ME, IF YOU WILL, WITH A

SPECIAL NAME, GENE LEADER,

DOODLED BACK TO BACK AND BELLY

TO BELLY, BUMPER TO BUMPER, THE

HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING.

I WAS IN OMAHA FOR A COUPLE OF

YEARS, AND AFTER THAT, I GOT A

JOB IN MINNEAPOLIS AS A PROGRAM

DIRECTOR.

THE TELEVISION SHOW, ALL-STAR

WRESTLING, WAS HELD AT THE

STATION THAT I WAS WORKING AT.

ALL-STAR WRESTLING IS SANCTIONED

BY THE AWA, PRODUCED BY AL

DERUSHA.

I ACTUALLY TOLD VERNE, I

SAID, "I KNOW A GUY THAT COULD

DO THE MATCHES," BECAUSE I KNEW

GENE, I WORKED WITH HIM, AND I

KNEW HIS BACKGROUND AND I JUST

KNEW HE'D BE A NATURAL.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME

TO SEEING THE GREATEST

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS IN ACTION

RIGHT HERE ON ALL-STAR

WRESTLING.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT

BECAME A PERMANENT GIG.

GO AHEAD.

INTERVIEW ME NOW, THAT'S YOUR

JOB OUT HERE.

BOBBY HEENAN--

PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A

LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.

YES.

I'M NOT--

YOU'RE THE KIND OF A GUY THAT

JUST KEEPS TALKING, DON'T WANT

ANYBODY ELSE TO GET A WORD IN.

NOW INTERVIEW ME WHILE I CAN GET

MY INTERVIEW DONE HERE.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW--

AND DON'T WASTE ANY TIME--

OH.

--TALKING ABOUT OTHER LITTLE

THINGS THAT ARE TRIVIAL.

TALK TO ME RIGHT NOW.

HOLY COW, MAN, OH MAN ALIVE.

UNBELIEVABLE.

I'M SORRY.

OH, ALL RIGHT, SURE.

I DON'T EVEN WANNA ARGUE ON

THIS SUBJECT.

I WOULD--I DON'T WANNA ARGUE

WITH YOU EITHER.

THE VOICE HE HAD MADE HIM A

PROFESSIONAL.

GENTLEMEN, BIG OPPORTUNITY

FOR YOU, PAT.

WELL, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

IT FIRST AND--

ALL OF MY BACKGROUND PAID OFF

BECAUSE I KNEW HOW TO ADLIB.

THIS PLACE IS--

WHAT IS THIS, MAD DOG?

I KNEW HOW TO THINK ON MY FEET.

WAHOO.

IT HAS GOT TO BE THE GREAT

WAHOO--

WHAT'S HIS LAST NAMES?

MCDANIEL.

"MEAN" GENE WAS THAT GUY

THAT, OH, MY GOD I WOULD LOVE TO

DO WHAT HE DOES.

JUST EXACTLY HOW TALL ARE

YOU, ANDRE, HOW MUCH DO YOU

WEIGH?

SEVEN-FEET-FOUR AND A HALF

AND I WEIGH 497 POUNDS.

INTERVIEWING THESE LARGER

THAN LIFE FIGURES AND HAVING A

CHARACTER TO ROLE THE PLAY, I

MEAN, HOW COOL WAS THAT?

IT LOOKS LIKE A TOPCOAT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

THIS IS UNREAL.

"MEAN" GENE HAD THAT

MOCK-SERIOUS THING.

AND NO MATTER HOW OUTRAGEOUS--

LOOK AT--

--THE CLAIMS OR TAUNTS OR

GRIEVANCES WERE--

TWENTY THOUSAND DEUTSCHE

MARK.

--HE WOULD NOD SOLEMNLY, NOD

SOLEMNLY--

HE NEVER EVER LET ANYBODY,

YOU KNOW, GIVE IT TO HIM, HE'D

ALWAYS GIVE IT BACK TO PEOPLE,

HE WOULD STAND UP TO EVERYBODY.

WELL, I'M GONNA HAVE TO TAKE

EXCEPTION OF WHAT YOU SAY,

MISTER HANSON.

WOO.

LOOKING AS ONLY I CAN LOOK.

WELL [INDISTINCT]

AWA, BE READY BROTHER.

DON'T EVER RUSH ME, DON'T MAKE

THAT MISTAKE.

WOO.

WE DO HAVE TIME LIMITATIONS,

SOMETHING ELSE, INCREDIBLE.

THE FIRST PROMOS I EVER DID

WERE OF COURSE WITH "MEAN" GENE

AND I WOULD NOT SHOW THE CAMERA

ON MY FACE.

ALL RIGHT.

IF I MAY INTERRUPT FOR JUST A

MOMENT, HULK HOGAN, OUR CAMERAS

ARE OVER HERE, PERHAPS YOU'D

LIKE TO FACE THEM AND GIVE OUR

TELEVISION AUDIENCE AN

OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING YOU

FIRSTHAND.

HIS SKILLS, AT THAT POINT,

WERE STILL VERY RAW.

THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD

THAT I WILL EVER BE DEFEATED IN

THIS TERRITORY.

HE KIND OF NEEDED ME TO LEAD

HIM THROUGH THAT.

I'D JUST FOLLOW HIM.

HE WOULD TAKE ME THERE.

NOW, HULK HOGAN, YOU ARE NOT

SAYING THAT YOU ALONE WANNA GO--

I WANT BOTH OF THEM, "MEAN"

GENE.

TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING WE

WERE DOING TOGETHER ON CAMERA,

HAVE A COLD BEER AFTERWARDS, AND

CHAT ABOUT THE OTHER THINGS IN

LIFE.

HULK--

[INDISTINCT]

"MEAN" GENE.

--WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR

YOU.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR THE DEVIL TO

PAY HIS DUES.

HOW DID I GET THE NICKNAME

"MEAN" GENE?

SIXTY-FOUR DOLLAR QUESTION, NO

HIGHER.

GENE OKERLUND HERE ON THE ROAD

COVERING ALL-STAR WRESTLING.

I ALWAYS REFER TO MYSELF AS GENE

OKERLUND.

HELLO, EVERYBODY, GENE OKERLUND

HERE, GENE OKERLUND HERE, GENE

OKERLUND HERE.

NOT "MEAN" GENE.

I WAS DOING AN INTERVIEW WITH

JESSE VENTURA.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT

OFTEN "MEAN" GENE THAT CHAMPIONS

GO LOOKING FOR CHALLENGERS.

GENERALLY, IT'S THE OTHER WAY

AROUND.

HULK HOGAN WAS THE ONE THAT

REALLY DROVE IT INTO THE GROUND.

"MEAN" GENE.

LET ME TELL YOU, "MEAN" GENE.

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU

SOMETHING, "MEAN" GENE.

AND ANYTHING AFTER THAT, I

WAS ALREADY THERE.

YOU KNOW SOMETHING, "MEAN"

GENE?

1993, YOU CAN SAY THAT THE

HULKSTER'S BEEN ON A ROLL.

"THE INCREDIBLE" HULK HOGAN.

HE IS THE TALK OF PROFESSIONAL

WRESTLING ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU POINT BLANK,

DOES THIS MEAN THAT YOU ARE

COMING BACK TO THE AWA OR ARE

YOU GONE?

THERE'S NO WAY, "MEAN" GENE.

I GAVE MY WORD AND I WILL NOT BE

BACK.

[MUSIC]

I GOT A CALL FROM HIM, HE

SAID, PAT PATTERSON AND VINCE

MCMAHON ARE GONNA BE CALLING

YOU.

I WANT YOU TO GO TO NEW YORK

WITH ME.

I SAID, "I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE

GOING TO NEW YORK.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"

AND HE SAYS, "YES, I AM.

I'M GONNA GO TO NEW YORK.

IT'S GONNA BE A WHOLE NEW DEAL

BECAUSE VINCE JUNIOR HAS TAKEN

OVER THE OPERATION FOR HIS

FATHER AND I'M GONNA BE ON

BOARD.

I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU ON BOARD."

WHEN I LEFT MINNESOTA, I TOOK

GENE WITH ME, SO RIGHT AWAY

THERE WAS A PRETTY GOOD SHIFT.

HISTORY MADE IN MADISON

SQUARE GARDEN.

WELL, YOU HAVE ARRIVED, HULK

HOGAN.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING

AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS, "MEAN"

GENE?

THIS BELT IS PARTLY YOURS, TOO.

IT'S EVERYBODY OUT THERE'S, MAN.

OH.

OH.

OH.

YOU COULD KIND OF FEEL THIS

BOOM COMING.

IT EXPLODED AFTER THAT.

HELLO, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO

THE SUPERSTARS OF WRESTLING.

AT RINGSIDE, IT'S VINCE MCMAHON

ALONG WITH THE VOICE OF

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING, THE

SMILING "MEAN" GENE OKERLUND.

[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN

LANGUAGE]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.

I THINK I'M GONNA END THIS

REPORT.

I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT ANYBODY

THAT'S COMBING THEIR HAIR.

IT'S GOT TO BE A REAL LUXURY FOR

SOME PEOPLE.

DUKE DUGGAN, DUKE DUGGAN.

NO, NO, NO, NO.

"HACKSAW" JIM DUGGAN.

OH, I'M SORRY.

I THINK THAT'S HOW

COMFORTABLE SUPERSTARS WERE

AROUND "MEAN" GENE, THAT HE

BECAME A PART OF THE ACT.

NICE.

HE MADE EVERYONE LOOK BETTER.

NO MATTER WHAT THAT ROLE WAS.

HE IS RICKY STEAMBOAT "THE

DRAGON," OF COURSE A TREMENDOUS

EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF

MARTIAL ARTS.

"MEAN" GENE IS A HUGE PART OF

WHAT MADE THE SUM OF ALL THE

PARTS WORK.

GLORY DAYS.

GLORY DAYS, "MEAN" GENE.

GLORY DAYS.

AND WE'LL BE--GLORY, GLORY,

GLORY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, WRESTLING

BECAME MAINSTREAM.

IT'S THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN

MY WHOLE LIFE.

WE HAD ANDY WARHOL, WE HAD

JOE PISCOPO, DANNY DEVITO.

IT WAS--IT WAS INCREDIBLE, I

MEAN, "CAPTAIN" LOU IS JUST

AMAZING.

HE'S YOUR GUY AS WELL.

HE'S MY MAN, HE'S GREAT.

MISTER T, THEY WANTED TO COME

HERE, MTV.

BOBBY, SHE WAS GONNA GIVE HER

LIFE, MAN, FOR THE ROCK 'N'

WRESTLING CONNECTION.

I LOVE THE ROCK 'N'

WRESTLING.

WE ARE HIGH ABOVE THE STREETS OF

NEW YORK WITH LIBERACE.

LI, IT IS--

HI.

--GONNA BE SOMETHING ELSE

THIS SUNDAY.

OH, IT'S GONNA BE SO

EXCITING.

I CAN HARDLY WAIT.

ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DID

LEADING UP TO WRESTLEMANIA, THAT

WAS THE COUP D'ETAT, AS THEY

SAY.

OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE

DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT.

WELL, HELL, I THINK I COULD'VE

HAD A CAREER WITH THE

METROPOLITAN OPERA.

NO, JUST KIDDING.

SOMEBODY OBVIOUSLY DID NOT SHOW

UP AND I GOT CALLED INTO DUTY AT

THE LAST SECOND.

--AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.

[MUSIC]

CYNDI LAUPER, WENDI RICHTER,

A BIG ONE FOR YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT, "MEAN" GENE.

HE WAS SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART

OF THE WWE IN THE BIGGEST

MOMENTS IN TIME.

HULKAMANIA AND WRESTLEMANIA.

A BRAND NEW INDOOR ATTENDANCE

RECORD OF 93,173.

GIVE YOURSELF A BIG HAND.

YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH THOSE

ERAS WHERE GENE IS NOT RIGHT

NEXT TO ALL OF IT.

IT WORKS.

IT WORKS.

TRUST ME.

YES.

AND WITH THE--WITH THE--WITH THE

KNEE ADDED, IT REALLY WORKS.

I MEAN, HE WAS THE PERFECT

FOIL.

ONE THING YOU COULD BUY,

GENE, IS A NEW TIE.

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.

I CAN'T TAKE THAT.

BECAUSE THAT IS DISGUSTING.

PLEASE, GIVE ME A BREAK, WILL

YOU?

"ROWDY" RODDY PIPER .

THE BALD HEAD AND THE SMALL

STATURE, AND EVEN THE WAY HE

HELD THE MICROPHONE.

WELL, DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING

"MEAN" GENE?

I HEARD EVERYTHING THAT SARGENT

SLAUGHTER HAD TO SAY OUT HERE.

HE WAS JUST THIS SERIOUS

WRESTLING GUY OVER HERE AND NOW

HE'S FAR ON THE OTHER SIDE AS

YOU CAN GET HIM IN.

OH, YEAH.

THEY'RE HAVING A GREAT TIME

IN FRESNO WITH THE ONE--

JUST THE SHEER COMMITMENT TO

THE ABSURDITY OF IT, YOU KNOW,

WAS GREAT.

LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS, LADIES AND

GENTLEMEN, HILLBILLY JIM, UNCLE

ELMER, AND COUSIN JUNIOR

ENCOURAGING CAPTAIN LOU ALBANO.

YEAH, BUT WHAT'S THE ANSWER?

NOT WHAT, WHO.

WHO?

THE RING ANNOUNCER, THAT'S WHO.

SORRY, GENE.

YOU DIDN'T PHRASE IT PROPERLY IN

THE FORM OF A QUESTION.

SO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PENALIZE

YOU.

GENE, I WANT YOU TO LOOK ME

RIGHT SQUARE IN THE EYE.

WHICH ONE?

AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU JUST

THE WAY IT IS NOW.

HE HAD A LIKE A PERSONALITY.

HE WASN'T JUST A GUY WITH A

MICROPHONE, YOU KNOW.

HE, LIKE, HE ALWAYS HAD SOME

SORT OF SNARKY COME BACK.

ANDRE TOLD ME IF I KEEP

PUMPING, I'LL FILL THIS BABY UP

IN TWO MONTHS.

GOT IT FROM THE ESTATE SALE

FROM SPIKE JONES.

HIS ABILITY TO PLAY OFF THE

TALENT.

YEAH.

HEY.

GIVE ME BACK MY HANKY.

OH.

"MEAN" GENE'S UNCANNY ABILITY

TO CONNECT WITH VIRTUALLY ANYONE

TRANSCENDED SPORTS

ENTERTAINMENT.

THE NOTORIETY WAS AMPED UP.

NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN CARTOONS.

"MEAN" GENE AGAIN SIGNING

OFF.

AND THERE WERE NO

PERSONALITIES TOO BIG FOR "MEAN"

GENE, INCLUDING ONE OF HIS

PERSONAL ALL-TIME FAVORITES,

"THE MACHO MAN" RANDY SAVAGE.

TWO, ONE.

ALL RIGHT, MACHO MAN, IT'S

TIME FOR WRESTLEMANIA V, YOU TO

DEFEND THE--

YEAH

--WWE CROWN AGAINST

CHALLENGER HULK HOGAN.

I WORKED BEAUTIFULLY WITH

RANDY SAVAGE.

HE LIKED WHAT I DID AND I LIKED

WHAT HE DID.

YOU GOT TO RUN IT FOR ME, I

THINK I--

IF YOU WANNA BE STRONG--HULK

HOGAN SAYS HE'S GONNA BE IN MY

CORNER, ELIZABETH IS GONNA BE IN

MY CORNER FOR WRESTLEMANIA V.

AND WE MESHED THE TWO

TOGETHER AND OUT CAME A FINAL

PRODUCT.

HULK HOGAN, YOU SAY THAT

ELIZABETH IS GONNA BE IN YOUR

CORNER FOR WRESTLEMANIA V.

WE'LL SEE THAT ELIZABETH IS

GONNA BE IN THE CORNER OF THE

MACHO MAN.

RIGHT ON.

THAT'S THE ONE.

FOR "THE MACHO MAN" RANDY

SAVAGE, ONE OF THE GREAT--

OOH [INDISTINCT]

ABOUT BANG, BANG.

DON'T BET AGAINST ME.

I DON'T BET ANYWAY.

DON'T LOSE--

I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S HERE IN

THE ROOM.

WHO'S NOT HERE?

IT WAS A DIFFERENT ENERGY

WHEN MACHO MAN WOULD BE

INTERVIEWED BY HIM.

WAIT A MINUTE, GENTLEMEN,

PLEASE.

NO.

I DIG THE MACHO MAN CREAM

RISES TO THE TOP PROMO.

YOU, "MEAN" GENE OKERLUND,

YOU KNOW THAT I'M THE CREAM OF

THE CROP.

WHO?

OOH, YEAH.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT FOR

THIS BUSINESS.

DID YOU GET THAT?

YEAH.

ELIZABETH, I'M VERY CURIOUS.

YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL BY THE WAY.

PLUS I LIKED ELIZABETH.

OH, WHOA, ELIZABETH, MY DEAR,

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M FINE.

YOU LOOK GORGEOUS AS USUAL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, YOU'RE MORE THAN

WELCOME.

HOW ARE THINGS GOING FOR YOU?

OH, GREAT.

EVERYTHING'S SUPER.

OH, WHEN YOU GET INTO NEW

YORK, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY

TO DO A LITTLE SHOPPING,

BROWSING.

OH, YES.

I REALLY ENJOY THAT.

UNBELIEVABLE.

EXCUSE ME.

JUST LET ME INTERRUPT THIS FOR A

SECOND.

I'M JUST STANDING HERE HOLDING A

GOLD BELT, THE INTERCONTINENTAL

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BELT.

I'M ONLY THE CHAMPION.

YOU GUYS GOT A CONVERSATION

GOING.

YOU'RE TALKING BACK AND FORTH.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A FEW

THINGS.

IT'S LIKE--IT'S LIKE THE MOST

IMPORTANT MAN IN THE WORLD

STANDING HERE AND YOU GOT A

CONVERSATION GOING WITH EACH

OTHER.

NO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT YOU.

PUT THAT THING DOWN.

THROUGHOUT THE 1980S AND

EARLY '90S, "MEAN" GENE DID IT

ALL LITERALLY.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA BE

ABLE TO DETERMINE A WINNER.

YOU HAVE EMBARRASSED ME

AGAIN, JIM.

IT'S NOT JIM, IT'S GENE.

I'LL BE GENTLE.

I'LL BE GENTLE.

OH, MAN.

OH, I LOVE YOU.

OH.

WE'LL GET YOU BACK UP INTO THE

RING IN JUST A MOMENT AND CUE

FOR MORE EXCITING --

ACTION.

I'M NOT INTERESTED AT ANY--AT

ANY [INDISTINCT]

GENTLEMEN, AS YOU KNOW, THE

ULTIMATE WARRIOR --

IT PUBLICLY STATED --

-- IT, WHO PUT THAT UP?

IS THAT $200 AN HOUR?

PUT THAT CIGARETTE OUT.

OOPS.

OH.

THE GOBBLEDY GOO.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE TOUGHEST

ASSIGNMENT I'VE EVER HAD.

OH, NO, NO, NO.

I WOULDN'T DO THAT.

NOT IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE LIKE

THIS.

FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE, I WAS

LOST TRYING TO MAKE

CHICKEN--WHAT DID I SAY?

DANCING WITH THE GOBBLEDY

GOOKER, SEEING THAT INTERACTION

BETWEEN HIM AND VINCE.

THIS IS MY NEW LOOK.

THIS IS YOUR NEW LOOK?

NEW LOOK.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH FUN I

HAD JUST GETTING DRESSED.

ANYTHING THAT HE DID WITH

HEENAN.

THAT OBVIOUSLY WAS A DECISION

THAT YOU COULD NOT LIVE WITH.

EXCUSE ME.

THAT OBVIOUSLY--

YOU KNOW--

--WAS A DECISION YOU COULD

NOT LIVE WITH.

I HEARD YOU.

I'M GETTING MY THOUGHTS

TOGETHER.

YOU SHOULD.

AND YOU BOUGHT RIGHT INTO IT

BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IT.

THIS IS JUNGLE GENE OKERLUND.

IN THE GARDEN OF TRANQUILITY.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS IT.

DID WE LOSE SOMETHING HERE?

JUST EVERYTHING WE DID WAS

FUN.

AND THEY'RE GONNA BE STANDING

LOUD--AND THEY'RE GONNA BE

STANDING PROUD AND TALL.

AND THEY'RE GONNA HEAR--THEY'RE

GONNA HEAR--

CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING AS A

FRIEND?

YES.

COME ON IN IF YOU WOULD,

PLEASE.

YOU'RE THE --

YOU REALLY ARE?

YOU'RE THE WORST I HEARD.

GUYS IN THE BACK ROOM LIKE TO

PLAY GAMES.

I'M GETTING DIZZY.

THAT'S REAL GOOD.

YOU GUYS CAN GO --

YOURSELF BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF

TIME HERE, PAL.

MY ENTIRE CAREER AT WWE I

FELT GOOD AND I FELT THAT I GREW

EVERY YEAR.

WELL, THIS IS IT, GUYS.

THIS IS THE MAKING OF

WRESTLEMANIA.

AND THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF MY

TENURE HERE FIRST TIME AROUND, I

WAS GETTING RESTLESS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS QUITE AS

CHALLENGED AS I WAS REALLY ON.

AND SO I SAID, "VINCE, WE HAD A

HELL OF A RUN TOGETHER.

PROBABLY TIME FOR ME TO MOVE

ON."

I WALKED OVER.

I HUGGED HIM.

AND I SAID, "THANK YOU VERY

MUCH.

YOU'RE LIKE A BROTHER."

AND THAT WAS IT.

THE LAST DAY THAT I RODE OUT TO

THE AIRPORT AND THE GUYS WERE

OUT THERE AND GAVE ME A STANDING

OVATION AS I WALKED DOWN THE

HALL BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE.

I MEAN I WAS ALL BROKE UP.

I'D WORKED SO HARD.

THIS MEANT SO MUCH TO ME.

BUT DON'T LOOK BACK.

NOW YOU GET ON THIS CHALLENGE.

AND I MADE A MOVE DOWN TO WCW.

I GOT TO TELL YOU, WHAT A

PLEASURE IT IS FOR ME TO BE PART

OF TELEVISION WRESTLING'S NUMBER

ONE BROADCASTING.

TONY, IT'S SO GREAT TO WORK WITH

YOU.

AND JESSE, AFTER A LONG ABSENCE,

YOU AND I FINALLY REUNITE.

WELL, I--

EXCUSE ME.

--FEEL GREAT, "MEAN" GENE.

HIS TRANSITION OVER THERE WAS

LIKE THIS MONUMENTAL SHIFT OF

LIKE ONE OF THE KEY PLAYERS HAD

MOVED.

HI AGAIN, EVERYBODY.

I'M "MEAN" GENE OKERLUND HERE ON

TBS.

NOT JUST IN FRONT OF THE

CAMERA, BEHIND THE SCENES AS

WELL.

AND HE WAS INGRAINED IN ALMOST

EVERY TOP THING THAT WAS

HAPPENING.

THOUSANDS OF FANS ARE HERE TO

SEE ONE MAN, WELCOME, HULK

HOGAN.

WHAT'S HAPPENING, BROTHER?

PEOPLE CAN SAY LIKE WHILE

HOGAN GOING OVER THERE OR

SAVAGE--

YOU ARE--

YOUR MUSTACHE IS CROOKED.

YOUR BEARD IS A LITTLE

SIDEWAYS, TOO.

BUT I DON'T WANNA GET INTO THAT.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I'M NOT GONNA TAKE PERSONAL

POTSHOTS AT YOU.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

BUT THE SHIFT WAS ALREADY

HAPPENING.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, A VIPER

RT/10.

I'D HATE TO SEE MY MOTHER-IN-LAW

IN THIS GOING OVER A CLIFF.

I'D HATE TO LOSE THE CAR.

WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING A PUZZLE

TOGETHER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL

THE PIECES.

WHAT A CARD TONIGHT, TONY.

I DON'T MIND TELLING YOU THIS

IS, BUT THE MOST SPECTACULAR

THING I'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED

WITH.

HE MADE IT LOOK LIKE WE WERE

THE PLACE TO BE.

THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE FUTURE

OF WRESTLING.

YOU CAN CALL THIS THE NEW WORLD

ORDER OF WRESTLING, BROTHER.

WHEN THE NWO CAME ALONG, I

REMEMBER GETTING HIT IN THE NOSE

WITH A BEER CAN THAT SOMEBODY

HADN'T DRINK.

IF YOU'RE GONNA THROW A BEER

CAN, DRINK A LITTLE BIT OF IT,

PLEASE.

WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO?

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

HEY.

DON'T TOUCH ME.

I'LL GET A [INDISTINCT]

LAWYERS.

TONY, BOBBY, DUSTY.

-- IT.

LET'S GET BACK TO YOU.

THE MOVE FOR ME WAS THE BEST

THING I COULD HAVE EVER DONE.

BACK LIVE ON TNT, A

JAM-PACKED GEORGIA DOME.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING

WOULD DETHRONE WWE AT THE TOP OF

THE INDUSTRY.

THANKS IN PART TO THE LEGENDARY

ANNOUNCER'S MAINSTREAM

CREDENTIALS AND ENTERTAINING

INTERVIEWS.

MEAN, WOO, MY GOD, GENE.

I'VE KNOWN "MEAN" GENE MY

WHOLE LIFE.

JUST WATCHING HIM AND MY DAD

INTERACT.

HEY.

HE JUST RIFLED A GUCCI SHOE.

SOME OF THE GREATEST STUFF.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

BISCHOFF, I AIN'T LEAVING.

OH.

WAIT A MINUTE.

JUST A SECOND.

THE WCW BECAME A VIABLE

COMPETITOR.

IT JUST TOOK OFF, SKYROCKETED.

GOT AN EIGHT-YEAR RUN WITH

TURNER, OF COURSE, I'VE ALWAYS

FELT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND THAT

I'D COME BACK HOME TO WWE.

[MUSIC]

WITH OVER 60,000 FANS AND A

WORLDWIDE TELEVISION AUDIENCE,

WE WELCOME YOU TO WRESTLEMANIA

17.

BY EARLY 2001, WCW HAD BEEN

PURCHASED BY VINCE MCMAHON,

LEADING TO A REUNION BETWEEN

GENE OKERLUND AND THE WWE

UNIVERSE ON THE MOST APPROPRIATE

STAGE, WRESTLEMANIA.

"MEAN" GENE OKERLUND.

IS THIS SOMETHING, "MEAN" GENE?

THIS IS INCREDIBLE.

I LOVE IT.

AND A CHANCE FOR ME TO WORK

WITH BOBBY HEENAN AGAIN.

GOD, THAT WAS EXCITING.

THE EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR, IT'S

SO THICK, YOU CAN CUT IT WITH A

KNIFE.

KEEP YOUR KNIFE TO YOURSELF.

CAN I SAY THAT?

SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.

THAT WAS A GREAT NIGHT FOR

US.

WHOA.

OH.

THEY'RE LICKING "MEAN" GENE

OKERLUND.

THAT'S RIGHT, HE TOOK MY

HAIR.

EVERY OLD HORSE THAT HAD EVER

BEEN IN THE STABLE WAS IN THIS

GIMMICK BATTLE ROYAL.

I CAN GO RIGHT ON DOWN THE LIST.

DIDN'T YOU USE TO DATE HER?

THIS BRINGS BACK SOME VERY

FUN MEMORIES FOR ME.

YOU DID DATE HER.

THE ONLY REASON THE IRON

SHEIK WON IT IS BECAUSE HE WAS

TOO FEEBLE TO GET OUT OF THE

RING, SO WE HAD TO LEAVE HIM IN

THERE TO CROWN HIM THE WINNER.

THE IRON SHEIK WINS THE BATTLE

IN FRONT OF THIS RECORD CROWD AT

THE ASTRODOME FOR WRESTLEMANIA.

BOBBY, IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN

THE WORLD WRESTLING

ENTERTAINMENT.

THANK YOU, MY FRIEND.

HEY, GET YOUR HAND OUT OF MY

POCKET.

FORGET ABOUT IT.

STOP IT.

"MEAN" GENE COMING BACK TO

WWE JUST FELT RIGHT.

GENE'S IMPACT ON THE ENTIRE

INDUSTRY IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE

TO MEASURE, BUT THERE WAS ONE

HONOR THAT FITTINGLY PLACED HIM

IN A CLASS OF HIS OWN.

I GOT A CALL FROM VINCE

MCMAHON, HE SAID, "I GOT SOME

GREAT NEWS FOR YOU.

YOU'RE GONNA BE THE FIRST

ANNOUNCER INDUCTED INTO THE WWE

HALL OF FAME".

IT'S USUALLY YOU WHO'S

HOLDING THIS MICROPHONE, AM I

DOING THIS RIGHT?

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, TODD,

THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A

PROP.

THEY'VE GOT A BIG BOOM MIKE THAT

COVERS US.

IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN THROW THIS

ONE ON THE TOILET.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO

BE GOING TO THE HALL OF FAME,

THE FIRST ANNOUNCER EVER GOING

IN?

WELL, I TELL YOU, WELL, WE'RE

BREAKING SOME GROUND.

I'M JUST ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO

DEATH.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BIG IT WAS

UNTIL I ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED IT.

TONIGHT, I'M HERE TO INDUCT

"MEAN" GENE IN THE HALL OF FAME

AND WE GO WAY BACK.

AND "MEAN" GENE WAS LIKE THE

FOUNDATION OF THIS COMPANY.

AND "MEAN" GENE BECAME THE VOICE

OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING.

THIS HONOR HERE TONIGHT

ABSOLUTELY THRILLS ME.

AND I WILL SAY THIS, I'VE BEEN

PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE WWE

AND PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING FOR

35 YEARS AND I'M GONNA DO IT FOR

ANOTHER 35 IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.

OH, EVERYBODY LOVED SEEING

GENE BACK.

HIS PASSION WAS THIS, YOU

KNOW, YOU COULD SEE HIM WHEN HE

WAS AROUND, HE JUST LIT UP.

YOU'D NEVER HEAR ANYBODY TELL A

STORY ABOUT GENE BEING MISERABLE

ON SET OR GENE HAVING A BAD DAY.

IF HE WAS AROUND THIS, HE WAS

LOVING IT.

WHOA, MOOLAH AND MAE YONG,

WHAT A SMALL WORLD.

HEY.

GENE "MEAN"?

AND WHO WERE YOU EXPECTING?

HE LOOKS LIKE A TOOL.

I KNOW YOU ARE.

BUT WHAT AM I?

GENE OKERLUND REGULARLY

APPEARED ON WWE TELEVISION IN A

VARIETY OF ROLES.

AND WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE WWE

NETWORK IN 2014, GENE BECAME AN

ANCHOR FOR A NEW ERA OF

PROGRAMMING, STARRING IN THE HIT

REALITY SHOW, LEGENDS' HOUSE.

EIGHT OF THE GREATEST IN A

HOUSE FOR THAT LONG A PERIOD OF

TIME?

GIVE ME A BREAK.

OH, THAT'S MINE.

I THOUGHT I HAD THAT --

[MUSIC]

WELL, THAT WAS A VERY

INTERESTING MONTH OUT OF MY

LIFE--BECAUSE THE PROPERTY IS

TOTALLY LOCKED UP.

THIS IS LIKE A PRISON.

THANK GOD FOR PATTERSON, I'D

NEVER MADE IT.

PAT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I'M LOOKING FOR FLIES.

SHAME ON YOU.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I WAS SO

HAPPY THAT HE WAS THERE.

I MEAN, I HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH

HIM, REALLY.

YOU WANNA SMELL IT, GENE?

GET THE --

OUT OF HERE.

KEEP JIMMY HART AWAY FROM IT.

WHAT HAPPENED?

HI, JIMMY, HEY, GOOD TO SEE

YOU PAL.

HI, GENE.

HOW YOU DOING?

HOW YOU BEEN?

OH.

THE GREATEST THING ABOUT A

45-YEAR LEGACY IS HE DIDN'T LOSE

A STEP.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW I'D DONE A

LOT OF COMEDY.

THEY HAD ME REPLACE DON RICKLES

ONE TIME, CAB DRIVER IN THE

MORNING, NOT THE DON RICKLES YOU

KNOW.

HE CREATED THIS WONDERFUL

PERSONA THAT HE COULD SHOWCASE

FOR 45 YEARS.

THANK GOODNESS I'M NOT

WEARING MY RUG TODAY.

HOLY BALLS.

AS WE SAY IN THE FURNITURE

BUSINESS, "CHAIRS."

"MEAN" GENE'S WORK ETHIC IN

PASSION NEVER WANED.

AS LONG AS HE COULD, HE WANTED

TO DO WHAT HE LOVED MOST,

ENTERTAIN.

WELCOME TO ANOTHER RED HOT

EDITION OF WWE VINTAGE.

HOLY BALLS.

I'D LIKE TO THINK I'M

BLESSED.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN

MUSICIANS THAT WILL NEVER STOP

BECAUSE IT'S JUST WHAT THEY DO.

THAT WAS GENE, EVEN TO THE VERY,

VERY END.

WELCOME TO A PLACE WHERE

MEMORIES COME TO LIFE, THIS IS

WWE STORY TIME.

NAILED IT.

GENE, YOU WANT YOUR WATER?

THAT'S A PERSONAL QUESTION.

WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE,

AND HE'S DONE HIS LAST

INTERVIEW, HE WILL GO DOWN AS

THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME.

[MUSIC]

A MELANCHOLY HAPPY TRAILS TO

GENE OKERLUND, THE ICONIC

WRESTLING ANNOUNCER AND

INTERVIEWER, WHO PASSED AWAY AT

76.

I WANT ALL OF YOU GUYS TO

KNOW, "MEAN" GENE LOVED

ENTERTAINING EVERYBODY HERE IN

THE WWE UNIVERSE.

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,

"MEAN" GENE, WE LOVE YOU, MY

BROTHER.

[MUSIC]

COME ON, ALL THE WAY TO THE

TOP, COME ON, GENE-O.

GOD, IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT

GENE AS ONE-DIMENSIONAL.

HE WAS AN OVERALL PACKAGE FOR

THIS BUSINESS, HE MADE OUR

BUSINESS BETTER.

MACHO MADNESS AND HULKAMANIA,

TWO MEGA POWERS, BEING HERE.

[MUSIC]

GENE HAD AN AWESOME LUST FOR

LIFE.

HE LITERALLY LIT UP EVERY ROOM

HE WAS IN.

YAY.

OH.

WHOA.

HE WAS SO MUCH FUN TO BE

WITH.

WELL, I'M NOT LIKE YOU, AN

ALCOHOLIC.

WE WERE NOT TRYING TO HAVE

FUN, WE JUST DID.

I'M NOT ABOUT TO LAY DOWN ON

MY BACK AND LET SOMEONE COVER

ME.

I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BLEW EVERYTHING UP, MAN, IT

WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU HAD TO SEE THIS GUY WHEN HE

WAS FULLY BLOWN.

THIS COURT IS --

ADJOURNED.

YOU CAN LOOK AT SO MANY

PEOPLE THAT HE WORKED WITH OVER

THE YEARS AND HIS ABILITY TO

PLAY A STRAIGHT MAN.

YOU'RE A SICK MAN, ROBERT.

OH, THAT'S TRUE, I AM, AT

LEAST YOU KNOW THAT.

OR TO BE A FULL-ON COMEDY

GUY.

THIS IS THE VAULT FOR THE

FAMILY JEWELS.

AND JUST EXCELLING AT BOTH.

HE COULD DO ANYTHING, HE WAS

AMAZING.

THAT'S "MEAN" GENE FOR YOU.

THE INTERVIEWER

EXTRAORDINAIRE, MY HERO, "MEAN"

GENE HIMSELF.

I WOULD NOT BE IN WWE TODAY

IF IT WASN'T FOR "MEAN" GENE.

[MUSIC]

RAW 25, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY

TO GET INTERVIEWED BY "MEAN"

GENE OKERLUND.

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,

"MEAN" GENE.

I WAS SO GLAD THAT I GOT TO DO

IT.

I USED TO WATCH YOU AS A KID.

THIS IS GREAT.

I'VE ALWAYS LOOKED AT "MEAN"

GENE AS FAMILY.

NATURE BOY HERE WITH YOUR

FAMILY.

"MEAN," WHOA, MY GOD, GENE.

SEEING HIM AT RAW 25 WAS

AWESOME.

"MEAN" WHOO GENE.

BOY, IF RIC FLAIR CAUGHT ME

DOING THIS--

KIND OF THINKING LIKE, "WOW,

I GREW UP WATCHING YOU AND MY

DAD AND NOW YOU'RE INTERVIEWING

ME."

WHOO.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,

"MEAN" GENE.

AS YOU WERE.

STRAIGHTEN UP YOUR -- BOY,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO DOWN AND

DO SOME PUSHUPS.

THIRTY YEARS, YOU CAN LOOK IN

DIFFERENT COMPANIES, YOU CAN PUT

DIFFERENT MEN AND WOMEN BACK

THERE, BUT NO ONE'S EVER DONE IT

LIKE "MEAN" GENE.

OH.

WHOA.

OH.

[MUSIC]

EVEN WHEN "MEAN" GENE PUT HIS

GUARD DOWN, HE WAS STILL COOL.

HE WANTED ME TO BE ABLE TO

GET ONE OF THE PYTHONS UP, MAN.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I--NO, I'M NOT KIDDING AT

ALL, NOT THAT PYTHON.

THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER

ONE.

IF ONE DAY I'M CALLED UP TO

THE BIG HOUSE, I WANT YOU TO

BURY ME FACE DOWN, AND THEN ALL

OF MY CRITICS CAN KISS MY -- .

WRESTLING HAS--GOD, HAS BEEN

EVERYTHING TO ME AND IT TURNED

OUT TO BE A GREAT TIME.

IT'S A GOOD LIFE.

[CROWD CHEERING]