Original subtitles

BUSTED OPEN.

AUSTIN 316 SAYS I JUST

WHIPPED YOUR --

LIVE NOW.

BUSTED OPEN ON A TUESDAY!

DAVE LaGRECA AND WWE HALL OF

FAMER, THE WORLD'S STRONGEST

MAN, MARK HENRY.

MARK, HOW THE HELL ARE YOU?

NEW YORK CITY TOP OF THE

WORLD, MA!

I'M BACK, BABY, WITH A

VENGEANCE.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN MARK HENRY,

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME

AND YOUR TYPICAL WRESTLER.

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN

MARK HENRY!

I WAS THE STRONGEST MAN IN

THE WORLD AND I GOT TO PORTRAY

THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD.

I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO COME AWAY

KNOWING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT

ME AND I WANT PEOPLE TO

UNDERSTAND WHY I DID SOME OF THE

THINGS I DID.

THAT'S WHAT I DO!

MARK HENRY HAS BEEN A FIXTURE

IN SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT FOR OVER

TWO DECADES.

HIS JOURNEY WAS A SHOWCASE OF

HEART, PERSEVERANCE, AND

DOMINANCE.

OH, MY LORD!

[LAUGHTER]

NOW WE LIVE HIS HALL OF FAME

CAREER FROM RECORD-BREAKING

AMATEUR POWER LIFTER TO WWE

WORLD CHAMPION AND HALL OF FAMER

TO GLOBAL AMBASSADOR.

THIS IS THE STORY OF MARK HENRY,

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN.

THANK YOU, MARK, COME ON.

COME ON, LET'S GO NOW.

COME ON, MARK.

TOUGHNESS IS NOT JUST A

PHYSICAL TOUGHNESS.

IT'S A MENTAL TOUGHNESS.

I WANTED TO OUTDO WHAT I DID

YESTERDAY.

AND I ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO DO

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ALMOST

IMPOSSIBLE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

MARK HENRY JUST GOT THE WORLD

RECORD AT 800 POUNDS DEFEATING

THE PREVIOUS RECORD BY 7 POUNDS.

I FEEL LIKE I'M THE STRONGEST

HUMAN THAT EVER LIVED.

[MUSIC]

WELL, I THINK I WAS TAILOR-MADE

FOR LIFTING.

I THINK GOD JUST PUT ME ON THIS

EARTH TO BE THAT GUY.

I GREW UP IN SILSBEE, A CITY

WHERE THERE'S MORE ANIMALS THAN

PEOPLE.

I STARTED MY SPORTING CAREER

LIFTING WEIGHTS TO GET STRONG

FOR FOOTBALL.

AND WE CREATED A POWER LIFTING

TEAM AT MY HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE

OF ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT I COULD MAKE

A CAREER OUT OF IT.

I WASN'T DOING IT FOR A CAREER.

I WASN'T DOING IT TO MAKE MONEY.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

I WAS DOING IT BECAUSE IT MADE

ME FEEL SPECIAL.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANKS.

I FELT LIKE EVERY TIME I DID

IT --

IT WAS LIKE BREATHING.

WOW, MAN, I'M SOMEBODY.

MARK HENRY WAS MORE THAN

SOMEBODY.

HE WAS A CHAMPION.

BY AGE 21, MARK HENRY HAD BROKEN

MULTIPLE POWER LIFTING RECORDS

AND WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE 1992

OLYMPIC GAMES.

IT TAKES A WHOLE COMMUNITY TO

RAISE A CHILD.

I DON'T CARE IF IT'S WHITE,

BLACK, BLUE, OR GREEN.

A CHILD NEEDS TO KNOW THAT IT'S

LOVED.

MARK KNOWS HE'S LOVED BY THE

PEOPLE IN SILSBEE.

MY CITY IS VERY PRIDEFUL.

I WAS TRAINING REALLY, REALLY

HARD SO I DIDN'T HAVE A JOB.

PEOPLE THINK THAT OLYMPIC

ATHLETES ARE WEALTHY AND WE

WEREN'T.

I WAS STRUGGLING JUST TO BE ABLE

TO GO AND EAT WHEREVER I WANTED

TO GO EAT.

AS YOU KNOW, WE COME FROM A

SMALL COMMUNITY.

AND OUR COMMUNITY IS A LOVING

COMMUNITY.

IT'S COMBINED WHEN ANYTHING NEED

TO BE DONE, WE GET IT DONE.

AND MY CITY --

[MUSIC]

THEY RAISED MONEY SO I COULD

TRAIN, LITTLE CANS,

EVERY RESTAURANT, CLUB, STORE.

WHAT KIND AN INDIVIDUAL IS SO

BELOVED BY EVERYONE IN THE TOWN,

THIM TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS?OR

WHEN YOU SPEND TIME WITH MARK,

YOU JUST REALIZE -- HE IS A

REALLY GOOD PERSON.

TO BE AN OLYMPIAN MEANS THAT

YOU WERE ONE OF THE 600 GREATEST

ATHLETES IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S STILL HARD TO FATHOM THAT

IT HAPPENED.

PARTICIPATING IN THE OLYMPICS

WAS A HARD-EARNED ACHIEVEMENT

FOR MARK HENRY.

BUT IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED

WITHOUT THE TIRELESS EFFORT AND

SUPPORT OF HIS HOMETOWN THAT

STILL DRIVES HIM TO THIS DAY.

THAT'S ANOTHER REASON THAT I

HAD THE SUCCESSES THAT I HAD --

IS BECAUSE I WAS NEVER GOING TO

LET PEOPLE DOWN THAT WENT TO

BATTLE FOR ME.

THE INFAMOUS TERRY TODD, BABY.

YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT?

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

GO INSIDE YOURSELF AND STAY IN

THERE.

COME ON.

I DON'T THINK THAT THERE

WOULD BE A MARK HENRY IF THERE

WASN'T A TERRY TODD.

HEY!

HOLD IT, HOLD IT.

WHOA WHOA.

AHHH!

TERRY WAS THE FATHER TO ME

THAT I DIDN'T GROW UP WITH.

TERRY IS SQUEEZING MY HEAD

THROUGH THE CAMERA.

LET'S ZOOM IN ON TERRY.

TERRY WAS ALWAYS JOKING AND

TRYING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER

YOUR EYES TO ENTERTAIN HIMSELF.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAD

UNBELIEVABLE INFLUENCE ON MY

CAREER.

IF YOU HIT THIS RIGHT ON THE

OUTSIDE, I WOULD SAY CALL IT A

DAY.

AND YOU NEVER HAVE TO THANK

YOUR MOM AND DAD.

THEY KNOW.

BUT MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN I WON

COMPETITIONS, I HAD BREAKTHROUGH

MOMENTS IN MY LIFE, I HAD

SOMEBODY TO SHARE IT WITH.

[MUSIC]

WE GONNA HAVE A LAUGH AT THE

END.

THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT.

WITH THE HELP OF HIS FRIEND

AND MENTOR, MARK HENRY ONCE

AGAIN QUALIFIED FOR THE 1996

OLYMPIC GAMES IN ATLANTA.

I'D LIKE TO STOP AND TALK,

BUT I'VE GOT AN APPOINTMENT WITH

HISTORY.

ONE DAY I WAS IN COLORADO

SPRINGS AT THE OLYMPIC TRAINING

CENTER AND I WALKED DOWN THE

HALL.

AND SOMEBODY SAID, HEY, MAN,

MARK, TELEPHONE.

HEY, THIS IS VINCENT MCMAHON, IS

THIS MARK HENRY?

I WAS LIKE YEAH, WES, ALL RIGHT,

CLICK.

AND HE CALLED BACK AND HE

LAUGHED HIS -- OFF.

HE WAS LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT,

THAT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE

BEEN HUNG UP ON.

AND WE TALKED FOR PROBABLY 20

MINUTES.

AND I'M SO EMBARRASSED NOW.

I'M LIKE, AM I GOING TO GET TO

MEET YOKOZUNA?

AM I GOING TO GET TO MEET THE

UNDERTAKER?

YOU KNOW, JUST A REAL FAN

TALKING TO VINCE MCMAHON.

I'M SURE HE THOUGHT WHAT A MARK,

LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.

PUT ME ON A PLANE THE NEXT DAY.

I WENT TO STANFORD AND VINCE

TOOK ME TO HIS OFFICE.

AND WOW.

AND THERE'S ANDRE'S BOOTS.

AND I WAS LIKE CAN I TOUCH IT?

HE WAS LIKE YEAH, LIKE GO AHEAD.

DON'T BREAK IT OR ANYTHING.

AND I GOT TO TOUCH ALL HIS

STUFF, MAN.

I WAS DONE.

I WOULD HAVE SIGNED FOR $2,

SORRY, VINCE.

I GOT ONE OF THE RICHEST

GUARANTEED CONTRACTS IN PRO

WRESTLING HISTORY TO THAT POINT.

THAT'S MARK HENRY, THE

STRONGEST MAN IN THE WORLD,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ON HIS WAY

TO THE OLYMPICS.

I WAS NERVOUS.

I DIDN'T WANT TO FAIL ON TOP OF

THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO

LET EVERYBODY DOWN.

THAT'S SUPPOSEDLY THE WORLD'S

STRONGEST MAN MARK HENRY.

[LAUGHTER]

ESPECIALLY VINCE BECAUSE I

DIDN'T WANT HIM TO LOOK LIKE A

FOOL FOR SIGNING THIS YOUNG KID

THAT HAD NEVER WRESTLED.

WAIT A MINUTE!

NO!

NO!

AHHH, AHHH!

PUT ME DOWN, PUT ME DOWN!

MARK HENRY CAME IN AGAINST

JERRY LAWLER AND HE CAME IN ON A

REALLY GOOD DEAL.

I THINK IT WAS A 10-YEAR DEAL IF

I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

HE IS THE NEWEST MEMBER TO

OUR FAMILY HERE IN THE WORLD

WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT.

I'D LIKE YOU TO PLEASE WELCOME

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN MARK

HENRY!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

MARK, I DON'T THINK

UNDERSTOOD THE BUSINESS WELL

ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS

GIVEN TO HIM AT THAT TIME.

IT'S THE ARM BREAKER!

[BELL RINGING]

THE KING WASTED NO TIME IN

SUBMISSION.

I GOT A LOT OF HEAT.

THERE WERE GUYS THAT I'M FRIENDS

WITH NOW THAT SAID THINGS TO ME

ABOUT, WELL, YOU AIN'T WORTH

THAT.

WE DIDN'T CARE WHERE YOU

WERE.

WE DIDN'T CARE WHAT YOU HAD

DONE.

WE RESPECTED WHAT YOU HAD DONE,

BUT YOU HAD TO PROVE YOURSELF

WITH US.

THIS ISN'T THE OLYMPICS.

THIS ISN'T WEIGHT LIFTING.

THAT WAS THE PROBLEMS THAT

CAME ABOUT -- WAS BECAUSE OF

THAT.

I THINK VINCE DOING THAT, HE

HAD PUT HISSELF ON THE LINE FOR

ME.

AND IT BROUGHT A LOT OF

ANIMOSITY BETWEEN ME AND OTHER

WRESTLERS.

MARK HENRY IS GIVING IT ALL

HE HAS HERE.

HE'S GAINING GROUND.

HE'S GRAINING GROUND.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THE STRENGTH

OF THIS HUMAN BEING?

I THINK MARK AT THE TIME WAS

IN A WEIRD CRUX IN HIS LIFE

WHERE HE KIND OF STILL WANTED TO

LIFT AND WRESTLE.

BUT BECAUSE OF INJURIES WAS NOT

REALLY ABLE TO.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

DUE TO AN UNTIMELY INJURY,

MARK HENRY FAILED TO MEDAL

DURING THE 1996 OLYMPICS.

SHOULD HAVE WON THE OLYMPICS

HANDS DOWN.

THAT BOTHERS HIM A LOT.

I'M THE WORST LOSER ON EARTH

WHEN IT COMES TO COMPETITION.

AND IT WAS PRETTY DAMN HARD FOR

ME.

MARK'S LUCK WOULD NOT IMPROVE

IN THE MONTHS THAT FOLLOWED.

AS HE TRANSITIONED INTO LIFE IN

WWE.

WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT

YOU'RE DOING, YOU GET HURT.

I WAS JUST SNAKE BIT MY FIRST

YEAR.

BREAK MY ANKLE.

HAD TO HAVE SURGERY ON MY KNEE.

THEN I HAD TO HAVE SURGERY ON MY

OTHER KNEE.

JUST LIKE WHAT AM I DOING WRONG.

NOT BAD BUT I DON'T WANT YOU

TO PUT YOUR FEET OVER THERE.

IT'S NOT HERE.

YOU HAVE FEET HAVE TO HIT THE

FLOOR.

MOST GUYS WHEN THEY COME IN

ARE AWFUL AND THEY MAKE TERRIBLE

MISTAKES, THEY DO STUPID THINGS.

MARK WAS SO GOOD IN WHAT HE HAD

DONE, HE JUST AUTOMATICALLY CAME

OVER.

AND I THINK HE FORGOT YOU HAVE

TO START OVER AT SQUARE ONE.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW OVERWHELMED

MARK WAS.

BUT HE REALIZED IT AND REALIZED

THAT HE HAD TO DO A LOT OF

THINGS TO GET TO THAT LEVEL.

AND FORTUNATELY, MARK DID.

ONCE PEOPLE STARTED TO HELP

ME OUT, I STARTED TO FLOURISH.

THE PURE POWER OF THE MAN,

WOOO!

I'M A LEGEND IN MY OWN TIME,

BABY.

ALL THE FANS WANT TO KNOW,

MARK, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO BE

BACK IN THE RING HERE IN THE

WWE.

WELL, IT SHOULD BE A WEEK OR

SO, YOU KNOW.

I'M TRYING TO GET BACK AS SOON

AS POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW.

I SEE ALL THIS STUFF GOING ON

WITHOUT ME AND IT MAKES ME HURT

INSIDE.

I REALLY NEED TO GET GOING.

MARK HENRY RETURNED TO THE

RING IN DECEMBER OF 1997, EAGER

TO PROVE HE BELONGED ON THE BIG

STAGE.

MARK HENRY HAS REHABBED THE

ANKLE, HAS COME BACK AND GOT

HIMSELF IN GREAT SHAPE.

HE IS STILL VERY INEXPERIENCED.

HE'S GOING TO MAKE SOME ROOKIE

MISTAKES, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT

THAT.

DON'T LOOK FOR ANY GREAT FINESSE

FROM MARK HENRY.

THAT IS NOT HIS FORTE.

YOU COULD SEE POTENTIAL THERE

BUT IT WAS STILL HARD FOR HIM TO

TRANSLATE AND CROSS OVER.

THAT KIND OF STARTED CHANGING

AFTER HE JOINED THE NATION.

WE ARE THE NATION OF

DOMINATION.

I'M FAAROOQ AND THIS IS THE

NATION OF DOMINATION.

NATION OF DOMINATION.

WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT

ME COMING INTO THE NATION, I WAS

SO EXCITED BECAUSE I LOVED WHAT

THEY WERE DOING ALREADY.

NATION OF DOMINATION HAS

TAKEN OVER.

THEY ARE A PACK OF DOGS.

IT WAS A GROUP OF GUYS THAT

HAD THIS DEMEANOR OF I'M GOING

TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.

I WANTED TO COME IN AND BE A

VALUABLE PIECE.

WHAT IS THIS?

MARK HENRY!

WHAT THE HELL IS HE DOING?

WE ARE THE NATION OF

DOMINATION!

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS.

MARK HENRY WITH A NATION OF

DOMINATION T-SHIRT.

THE NATION DID GIVE ME A LOT

OF CONFIDENCE.

NOT ONLY TO FEEL LIKE ONE OF THE

BOYS, BUT, MAN, I WAS IN THE

LEARNING TREE IN THE NATION.

AND LIKE IT WAS THE BEST THING

THAT COULD HAVE EVER HAPPENED TO

ME.

GO AHEAD AND TELL THEM, MARK.

NOW THAT I'M A MEMBER OF THE

NATION --

YOU JUST HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER UNTIL I SAY

YOU'RE A MEMBER, AND THEN YOU

CAN TALK.

YOU'VE GOT VETERANS LIKE RON

SIMMONS AND GRANDFATHER, THEY

CRITIQUE YOU EVERYTHING YOU DID.

SO ON A NIGHTLY BASIS THEY ARE

TELLING YOU WHO GET HOW TO GET

BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER.

SO MARK ABSORBED IT LIKE A

SPONGE.

OUTSIDE OF VINCE, THE HARDEST

WORKING PERSON THAT I EVER MET

IN MY LIFE WAS THE ROCK.

I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE BEEN

A HALL OF FAME WRESTLER WITHOUT

DWAYNE.

HE STARTED HELPING ME.

HE WOULD BE LIKE, MAN, LET'S DO

IT AGAIN.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

DWAYNE IS ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT

HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE INFLUENCE ON

MY CAREER.

IT'S LIKE, MARK, STICK TO

YOURSELF.

DO YOUR OWN STUFF.

LIKE JUST BE YOU.

MARK HAS GOT A PERSONALITY

THE SIZE OF TEXAS.

LOOK AT THE LOOK ON MARK

HENRY'S FACE, A BIG SMILE.

I WONDER WHAT THAT'S ALL

ABOUT.

ONCE HE BECAME COMFORTABLE IN

HIS OWN SKIN ALLOWING IT TO

SHOW, IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF

TIME BEFORE IT JUMPED OUT AND

GRABBED THE WORLD, WHICH IT DID.

ALL I WANT IS FOR ME AND YOU

TO GO OUT ON A NICE DINNER.

HUH?

NO SEX INVOLVED.

WHAT?

I JUST WANT YOU.

OKAY, MARK.

I'LL DO IT.

WHOA!

CHYNA SAID SHE'LL DO IT.

SHE'LL GO OUT ON A DATE WITH

MARK HENRY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT EITHER.

LOOK AT MARK!

ANY TIME THAT YOU WALK OUT ON

A LEDGE, THAT GIVES AN ADDED

EXCITEMENT TO VINCE.

AND ONCE YOU GET OUT TO THE

CAR, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE DRIVER,

DRIVER.

OPEN THE DOOR FOR CHYNA, YOU

KNOW.

WE STARTED DOING VIN YES, SIR

AND ME TRYING TO DATE HER.

LET'S JUST GET THIS OVER

WITH, MARK.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD TIME.

YOU'LL BE THANKING ME BY THE

EMBER MOON OF THE NIGHT.

THAT WAS REALLY LIKE THE

FIRST TIME PEOPLE GOT TO SEE

MARK'S PERSONALITY OUTSIDE OF

THE RING.

ALL RIGHT.

HERE YOU GO.

WHAT THE HELL -- WHAT THE

HELL IS THIS?

IT'S A HAT.

AND TO BE THERE AND TO WATCH

THAT AND BE PART OF IT --

D'LO.

NO, THAT'S NOT D'LO.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN

NEVER FORGET.

WE WANT SOME PERRIER.

MARK, IT'S PERRIER.

WELL, SOME OF THAT, TOO.

YES, SIR.

VINCE SAID, LOOK, I WANT YOU

TO GO OUT THERE AND I WANT YOU

TO TRY TO MAKE HER LAUGH.

OH, AL GREEN, YEAH.

[LAUGHTER]

HERE WE GO.

GOT THE MOOD NOW?

HERE WE GO.

AND HE PUT A LOT OF TIME

BEHIND IT.

OKAY.

WHEN YOU GET DOWN HERE, AGAIN

IT'S LIKE YOU'VE GOT TO FEEL IT.

SO I HAD TO COME OUT OF MY

SHELL AND IT WORKED.

[LAUGHTER]

SEXUAL CHOCOLATE.

NOT ONLY IS HE THE WORLD'S

STRONGEST MAN --

THAT'S RIGHT.

HE IS 400 POUNDS OF SEXUAL

CHOCOLATE.

WHOO-HOO-HOO!

TAKE A LOOK AT HIM!

YEAH.

BEING IN THE CAR WITH D'LO

BROWN, I SAID, MAN, I SAW THIS

MOVIE LAST NIGHT.

"COMING TO AMERICA."

I'M GOING TO BE SEXUAL

CHOCOLATE.

SEXUAL CHOCOLATE.

I WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

AND I THANK EVERYBODY ELSE WILL

HAVE A GOOD TIME.

THE SEXUAL CHOCOLATE

CHARACTER GAVE MARK A CHANCE TO

SHOW HIS PERSONALITY.

I'M THE KIND OF CHOCOLATE

THAT MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH, NOT IN

YOUR HAND.

WOOO!

IT'S SO CHEESY, IT'S FUNNY.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW IS

MAKE A NICE HOT FUDGE SUNDAY.

THE SEXUAL CHOCOLATE

CHARACTER TO ME WAS MARK HENRY.

YOU LIKE THAT?

OH, MAN.

THAT WAS MARK HENRY BEING

MARK HENRY.

THAT'S WHY IT WORKED.

VINCE ALLOWED ME TO BE ABLE

TO BE AN EXTENSION OF MYSELF AND

TO HAVE FUN.

WHOO-HOO!

YES!

MARK JUST WANTED TO GO OUT

AND DO THE VERY BEST THAT HE

COULD DO AT WHATEVER HE WAS

ASKED TO DO.

SO MARK DIDN'T MIND.

WHATEVER THEY ASKED MARK TO DO,

MARK WAS READY TO GO.

WHEN A LOT OF GUYS WOULD HAVE

BEEN JUST LIKE NO, NO, NO, I'M

NOT DOING THAT.

MARK WAS LIKE GIVE ME MORE.

BABY, ARE YOU READY YET?

OH, SWEETHEART, HERE I AM.

YOUR VALENTINE.

OH, LORD.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET DENTURE

BURNS.

OH, BABY.

HOW COULD YOU NOT LAUGH?

HERE'S THIS BIG 400-POUND BLACK

GUY SOAKED IN SWEAT, YOU KNOW,

AND THERE'S MAE YOUNG SMOKING ON

A CIGAR LIKE SHE DONE WORE HIM

OUT.

IS ALL YOUR SEXUAL TENSION

RELIEVED NOW?

I'M SO SPENT.

IT MAY BE JUVENILE HUMOR, BUT

I THOUGHT IT WAS FANTASTIC.

VINCE WOULD COME UP WITH

STUFF --

EDIBLE UNDY.

[LAUGHTER]

ONE WEEK AFTER THE NEXT WEEK

AFTER THE NEXT WEEK.

I AM PREGNANT!

WHAT?

WHAT?

WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?

IT WAS TRYING TO TOP EACH

OTHER AND IT ENDED INTO BUILDING

SOMETHING THAT MADE IT HISTORIC.

PUSH, MAE, PUSH!

OH, MY GOD!

A HAND?

I ASKED VINCE, WHAT DOES IT

MEAN?

HE SAID IT'S A HAND.

AND I WENT, YEAH, I KNOW.

BUT DOES IT SIGNIFY SOMETHING?

IS THERE SOME KIND OF MEANING?

HE SAID IT'S A HAND.

AND HE JUST LAUGHED LIKE

HYSTERICALLY.

AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, HE'S LOST

IT.

IT WAS THE WEIRDEST CRAZIEST

MOST RIDICULOUS THING THAT EVER

HAPPENED IN MY LIFE.

COME ON, LET'S GIVE MAE A

HAND!

[APPLAUSE]

THE COMPETITION AT THAT POINT

HAD PROBABLY NEVER BEEN HIGHER.

YOU HAD THE ATTITUDE ERA THAT

PEOPLE LOOKED BACK AT AS THE

GREATEST ERA IN PROFESSIONAL

WRESTLING HISTORY.

THAT WAS A LOADED ROSTER AND

GETTING NOTICED WAS TOUGH.

JUST TO GET FIVE MINUTES, YOU

HAD TO BE DOING YOUR THING.

AND SEXUAL CHOCOLATE WOULD

ALWAYS CARVE OUT FIVE OR 10

MINUTES A SHOW.

IT WAS GREAT, MAN.

SUCCESS, THE NEW MILLENNIUM

WOULD BRING NEW ADVERSITIES FOR

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN.

I WAS BECOMING A LITTLE FULL

OF MYSELF.

PSYCHOLOGY WISE I WOULD DO

THINGS THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

[BELL RINGING]

ALL HELL HAS BROKEN LOOSE AT

THE DAVIS ARENA.

THESE GUYS ARE TOE TO TOE.

OH, MY GOD, LADIES AND

GENTLEMEN!

MY GOD, IT'S MARK HENRY!

SEXUAL CHOCOLATE MARK HENRY!

I WENT TO OHIO VALLEY.

AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS A

DISCIPLINE ISSUE, LIKE YOU NEED

TO GO AND GET YOUR HEAD TOGETHER

AND LEARN HOW TO PLAY WITH THE

OTHER CHILDREN.

AND I REALIZED HOW MUCH I DIDN'T

KNOW.

I WILL PROVE TO THESE PEOPLE

THAT JIM CORNETTE AND D'LO BROWN

WILL GET THE WHOOPING HE'LL

NEVER FORGET.

BUT PROVING TO ANYBODY, PROVING

TO D'LO BROWN HIMSELF THAT HE

WILL GET THE WHOOPIN', THE

BEATIN', AND THE LOSIN' OF HIS

LIFE.

WELL, SHORT AND SWEET FROM

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN MARK

HENRY WHO WANTS D'LO BROWN.

I WAS AT A CROSSROAD, YOU

KNOW, IN BETWEEN SEXUAL

CHOCOLATE AND WHAT WAS I GOING

TO DO NEXT.

SEXUAL CHOCOLATE WAS A GREAT

CHARACTER.

YOU KNOW, BUT IT WASN'T A

PRESENCE.

I AM THE BEST LIFTER IN THE

WORLD.

I AM THE BEST WRESTLER IN THE

WORLD.

AND IF THERE EVER IS A

CHALLENGE, I WILL TAKE IT.

HE HAD HAD SOME SUCCESS AND I

THINK MARK WAS LOOKING FOR A WAY

TO REPACKAGE HIMSELF AND KIND OF

REDEFINING HIS ROLE AS A

CHARACTER AND STRONG MAN AND WHO

HE WANTED TO BE.

AS MARK WAS STRUGGLING TO

RESHAPE HIS ON-SCREEN PERSONA,

HE EXPERIENCED FAR GREATER

CHALLENGES OUTSIDE OF THE RING.

MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND IT

WAS HARD FOR ME TO FOCUS ON

WRESTLING.

VINCE HAD TOLD ME TAKE AS LONG

AS YOU NEEDED TO BECAUSE I KNOW

HOW CLOSE Y'ALL WERE.

AND ALL I DID WAS TRAIN AND EAT.

TRAIN AND EAT.

AND THAT'S HOW MY MOTHER KNEW

ME, TOO.

SHE KNEW ME AS A WRESTLER, BUT

SHE WAS THE ONE THAT BOUGHT THE

WEIGHTS FOR ME.

AND I TOOK SOLACE IN THAT.

AND IT DIDN'T HELP NONE THAT

PEOPLE WERE CALLING ME OUT, YOU

KNOW.

IT JUST ATE AT ME.

I AM IN A TIME OF MOURNING AND I

GOT THE CURRENT STRONG MAN

TALKING ABOUT WHY IS HE CALLING

HIMSELF THE WORLD'S STRONGEST

MAN, THAT I SHOULDN'T CALL

MYSELF THAT BECAUSE I DON'T

COMPETE AGAINST THEM.

THEM -- KNEW THAT I WAS THE

MICHAEL JORDAN OF LIFTING.

I QUIT LIFTING IN MY PRIME

BECAUSE I WANTED TO, BECAUSE I

HAD NO COMPETITION.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I

THINK THAT I REALLY HAD SOME

HATE.

AND I CALLED VINCE AND I TOLD

HIM, I WAS LIKE, LISTEN, I'M A

LITTLE BIT PISSED.

AND HE SAID, MARK, YOU DON'T

HAVE TO PROVE NOTHING.

YOU HAVE PROVED EVERYTHING.

AND I'M LIKE I'M NOT HAPPY WITH

THAT.

I WANT TO GO AND COMPETE AGAINST

THEM AND THEN I CAN PROVE AGAIN

THAT I'M THE STRONGEST MAN IN

THE WORLD.

AND VINCE SAID, WELL, I'M GOING

TO LET YOU KNOW NOW IF YOU WANT

TO DO IT, I'LL LET YOU DO IT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW

THAT THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THE

SECOND STRONGEST MAN.

AND I WAS LIKE --

LIKE REALLY?

I WAS ALL EXCITED TO GO AND KICK

SOMEBODY'S BUTT AND NOW IT'S

REAL.

IF I LOSE, I'M GOING TO LOSE MY

JOB.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE A VIABLE

COMMODITY ANY MORE.

AND THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF

THE END FOR EVERYBODY THAT WAS

IN STRONG MAN.

MARK HENRY IS LEAVING OHIO

VALLEY WRESTLING TO BEGIN

TRAINING IN TEXAS RIGHT AWAY TO

COMPETE IN THE WORLD'S STRONGEST

MAN COMPETITION.

WENT TO THE TEXAS POWER

LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS AND WON.

WON THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

AND THEN QUALIFIED FOR THE

ARNOLD CLASSIC, WORLD'S

STRONGEST MAN.

THIS GENTLEMAN WORKS AS A

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER FOR THE

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT,

MANY TIMES NATIONAL CHAMPION AND

WEIGHT LIFTING AND AMERICAN

RECORD HOLDER, WORLD POWER

LIFTING CHAMPION IN 1995 IN THE

SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT CLASS, HOLDER

OF THE WORLD RECORD DEAD LIFT OF

903 POUNDS, MARK HENRY!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

I HAVE LOST ONE POWER LIFTING

COMPETITION IN MY WHOLE CAREER,

BUT I HAVE NEVER COMPETED IN A

STRONG MAN SHOW.

SO I'VE ALWAYS VIEWED MYSELF AS

BEING THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN

AND NOW I GET A CHANCE TO PROVE

IT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

2002'S INAUGURAL ARNOLD

CLASSIC STRONG MAN COMPETITION

BEGAN WITH A DAUNTING TASK.

THE APOLLON WHEELS.

A LOT OF THOSE LIFTS ARE VERY

DANGEROUS.

I WOULD ASSUME YOU'D HAVE TO

TRAIN SOMEWHAT FOR IT.

APPARENTLY YOU DON'T HAVE TO IF

YOU ARE MARK HENRY.

WHAT DID HE SPEND?

THREE MONTHS?

I DON'T THINK HE SPENT A FULL

FOUR MONTHS.

SINCE ITS CREATION OVER 100

YEARS EARLIER, ONLY THREE MEN IN

HISTORY HAD EVER BEEN ABLE TO

SUCCESSFULLY LIFT THE NEARLY

366-POUND APPARATUS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

WOOO!

NOW THE FIRST MAN IN HISTORY

TO TAKE THIS THING OVERHEAD,

MR. MARK HENRY.

TRY IT AGAIN.

FUELED BY THE FEAR OF

FAILURE, MARK WOULD SET THE TONE

FOR THE WEEKEND.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

DOWN.

TWO TIMES BY MARK HENRY BREAKING

HISTORY.

AND SET A WORLD RECORD IN THE

PROCESS.

THREE TIMES MARK HENRY WITH THE

APOLLON WHEELS 365 POUNDS.

YOU CAN'T TELL MARK HE'S NOT

SOMETHING OR HE CAN'T DO

SOMETHING.

SUCH AN INCREDIBLE FEAT OF

STRENGTH THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN

BEFORE.

YOU CAN SEE THE FUEL AND THE

FIRE IN MARK'S EYES.

I'LL SHOW EVERYBODY I AM WHAT I

SAY I AM.

[WHISTLE]

GO, GO!

[CHEERING]

KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING, KEEP

GOING.

PUSH IT!

WHAT'S THE TIME?

I'M SURE YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE

OF THE PACK.

YOU GOT BOGGED DOWN AT THE

FRONT.

RIGHT NOW, I'M CURRENTLY 2

POINTS IN THE LEAD IN FIRST

PLACE.

WITHOUT GETTING EMOTIONALLY

WRAPPED UP RIGHT NOW, MY MOTHER

PASSED AWAY SIX MONTHS AGO.

[MUSIC]

AND ON MY WRIST I WEAR MY MOM.

HE HAS DEDICATED THIS

PERFORMANCE TO HIS MOTHER.

HE FEELS THAT SHE'S WATCHING

HIM, SHE'S WITH HIM.

MARK WAS SAYING, MOM, I'M

GOING TO SHOW YOU.

NOW YOU'VE GOT THE BEST SEAT IN

THE HOUSE AND YOU CAN WATCH ALL

THE STUFF I CAN DO.

I'M GOING TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF

YOU AND WITH YOU.

TO STAY IN FIRST --

YOU NEED TO DO IT IN UNDER

20 SECONDS.

I GOT TO DO IT IN UNDER

20 SECONDS?

YEAH.

HE CAME BACK FOR ONE THING.

TO SHOW THE WORLD WHO THE

WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN REALLY IS.

GO TO WORK.

THIS IS OUR FINAL COMPETITOR.

ALL YOU'VE GOT.

[WHISTLE]

HERE WE GO!

LET'S GO, HUSTLE, LET'S GO!

MARK, MARK!

GO!

GET DOWN, GET DOWN!

AHHH!

YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE

STRONGEST MAN, MARK HENRY FROM

TEXAS!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

WINNING IS JUST OVERWHELMING.

I MEAN I'M AS HAPPY AS I HAVE

EVER BEEN.

COMPETING WITH THOSE GUYS, MAN,

IT REALLY MEANS SOMETHING

BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN WORLD'S

STRONGEST MEN FOR THE LAST SEVEN

YEARS.

BUT I PROVED MYSELF TODAY.

I TOLD YOU WHEN I WAS 18

YEARS OLD AM I STRONG ENOUGH TO

BE IN ONE OF YOUR MOVIES AND YOU

SAID HOW MUCH DID YOU LIFT.

AND I SAID 740.

HE SAID NOT YET.

WELL, I'M THE STRONGEST MAN IN

THE WORLD NOW.

I KNOW, I KNOW.

I WATCHED YOU LAST YEAR BENCH

PRESS WHICH WAS EXTRAORDINARY,

AND ALSO THIS YEAR.

I MEAN IT IS REALLY UNBELIEVABLE

WHAT YOU CAN DO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT JUST SHOWS YOU WHERE

THERE'S A WILL AND THERE'S A

WAY.

THERE IS A WILL.

I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU.

I WAS ON CPR, MAN, DURING

THAT TIME.

AND ME WINNING AND BECOMING THE

WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN AGAIN GAVE

ME NEW LIFE.

I DON'T BACK DOWN FROM

CHALLENGES.

PEOPLE TOLD ME I SUCKED AS A

WRESTLER.

WHAT I WAS BEFORE IS NOT

RELEVANT.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING

ABOUT.

AND EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GET

A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT MARK HENRY

IS NOW.

STILL THE MAN!

MAKING HIS RETURN TO THE

WORLD WRESTLING ENTERTAINMENT,

THE NEWLY CROWNED WORLD'S

STRONGEST MAN MARK HENRY!

HE NEVER WAS NOT THE WORLD'S

STRONGEST MAN BUT NOW HE HAD

THAT QUOTE-UNQUOTE TITLE TO

PROVE IT.

BUT IN HIS MIND, HE KNEW WHAT HE

WAS FROM DAY ONE.

IT WAS MORE THAN HELPFUL FOR

ME TO BECOME THE WORLD'S

STRONGEST MAN AGAIN, AND FOR ME

TO USE THE TERMS GET YOUR

SWAGGER BACK.

IT'S NOT JUST A NICKNAME.

IT'S NOT A MONIKER.

HE TRULY IS THE WORLD'S

STRONGEST MAN.

THERE ARE 6 BILLION PEOPLE ON

THIS PLANET AND MARK HENRY IS

THE STRONGEST.

IT'S CERTIFIED.

HE WON IT.

IT WASN'T GIVEN TO ME.

LOOK AT THIS.

IT WAS A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE

THAT I HAD NEVER HAD IN MY

CAREER.

I'M GOING TO BEAT YOUR --

I THINK MARK FIGURED OUT JUST

HOW TOUGH AND JUST HOW STRONG HE

WAS.

MARK HENRY HAS JUST BEEN ON

THIS PATH OF DESTRUCTION AS OF

LATE.

I THINK PEOPLE WERE A LITTLE

BIT SCARED.

PEOPLE LOOKED AT THIS GUY IS

LEGITIMATELY THE WORLD'S

STRONGEST MAN.

HE COULD BREAK SOMEONE'S BONES

IN THERE AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S

TRYING TO DO IT.

MARK HENRY, A HUMAN

DEMOLITION MACHINE.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

OH, MY GOD!

* YEAH, I'M INSANE *

* IN THE BRAIN *

* OUT OF CONTROL *

* ANIMALISTIC BEHAVIOR *

* CARNIVORE *

* SEE YOU HATE LIKE A PREDATOR *

* READY TO STRIKE *

* GOT YOU IN MY SIGHT *

* HIT THE FLOOR *

* I'M 'BOUT TO CRUSH YOU *

WHEN YOU STAND ACROSS FROM

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN, BONES

GET BROKEN.

THAT IS WHAT I DO.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT MARK

HENRY THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH

NOW.

MARK HENRY MAKES HISTORY!

MARK HENRY THE WORLD'S STRONGEST

MAN IS NOW THE NEW ECW CHAMPION.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

MARK, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THAT

LIGHT SWITCH WENT ON.

AND YOU COULD SEE IT COMING FOR

A COUPLE OF YEARS.

LIKE HE WENT FROM HAPPY GUY

WHO, YOU KNOW, WOULD WIN A FEW,

LOSE A FEW TO A GUY WHO WAS JUST

DECIMATING EVERYBODY.

HO HO HO.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE THE

ENTERTAINING CHARACTER AND IT'S

FUN TO PLAY.

BUT EVENTUALLY YOU WANT TO BE

THE MAIN EVENT GUY AND THE GUY

THAT CLOSES THE SHOW.

AND MARK HENRY, I THINK THERE

WAS A REAL VOID IN MARK'S CAREER

UNTIL THAT RUN.

MARK HENRY IS ON A ROLL LIKE

I'VE NEVER SEEN IN SPORTS

ENTERTAINMENT OR SPORTS, PERIOD.

WATCHING MARK LEADING UP TO

THAT RUN WAS SOME OF THE BEST

WORK THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN HIM

DO IN THE RING.

HE PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE ON

HIMSELF.

A LOT OF PRESSURE.

BECAUSE MARK HAS A REALLY STRONG

DESIRE TO DO WELL AND TO PERFORM

WELL, TO EXCEED PEOPLE'S

EXPECTATIONS.

I HAVE BEEN DOUBTED MY WHOLE

LIFE.

AND IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO GO 15

YEARS OF BEING A GOOD TALENT,

BUT NOT BEING A GREAT TALENT.

AND DURING THAT TIME, I WAS ON A

RUN WHERE IT WAS HATRED.

I AIN'T DONE YET!

[CHEERS AND BOOS]

I'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO!

I WAS ANGRY.

AND IT WAS REAL.

I DON'T GET NO RESPECT!

AIN'T NOBODY GONNA GET NO PEACE

AROUND HERE AS LONG AS I'M DOING

THIS!

I JUST FELT UNDERAPPRECIATED

AND I WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW IT.

AND THIS WAS MY TIME TO TELL

THEM.

A LOT OF THEM THINK THAT

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WITH THIS

COMPANY FOR 15 YEARS THAT MY

BEST YEARS ARE BEHIND ME.

MY WHOLE CAREER HAS LED ME TO

THIS POINT.

THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS FOR

THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP.

RANDY ORTON, THE WORLD

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION VERSUS THE

WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN.

WILL MARK HENRY'S 15-YEAR DREAM

BE FULFILLED TONIGHT?

WE SHALL SEE.

IT WAS SEPTEMBER 22nd,

1996.

15 YEARS ALMOST TO THE DAY THAT

MARK HENRY DEBUTED IN THE WWE.

YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO BE

GREAT IN THIS BUSINESS.

MARK HENRY IS GOING TO HAVE TO

TAKE IT TONIGHT.

AND HERE WE GO.

AND THERE'S THE POWER OF THE

WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN.

MARK HENRY CONTINUING TO INFLICT

PAIN ON THE CHAMPION.

ALL DAY LONG!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[BELL RINGING]

MARK HENRY!

MARK HENRY IS THE WORLD

CHAMPION!

THE 15-YEAR ODYSSEY IS OVER!

IT'S JUST LIKE AN

OVERWHELMING FEELING OF

ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND I REMEMBER STANDING HOLDING

THE TITLE UP.

AND I ALMOST FORGOT THAT I WAS

IN THE RING.

IT WAS LIKE I WAS A LITTLE KID

IN MY ROOM HOLDING A TOY TITLE

UP AND I WAS LOOKING IN THE

MIRROR AT MYSELF.

AND IT WAS JUST ME AS A LITTLE

KID DOING IT.

AND THAT WAS LIKE MY FULFILLING

MOMENT IN WRESTLING.

I WAS VERY HAPPY FOR HIM.

IT'S LIKE WATCHING YOUR BEST

FRIEND OUT THERE BECOMING

EVERYTHING HE WANTED TO BE,

EVERYTHING WE SAT DOWN IN THE

HOTEL ROOM OR ON THE HIGHWAY

TALKING ABOUT HE WANTED TO DO, I

WAS WATCHING HIM DO IT.

AND IT WAS SO GRATIFYING.

THAT WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP AT THAT TIME WAS

VERY IMPORTANT TO MARK THROUGH

THE STRUGGLES THAT HE HAD, THE

INJURIES THAT HE HAD TO COME

BACK FROM.

YOU'RE LIKE A TIMEX WATCH.

YOU JUST KEEP TICKING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES WE

PUT YOU BACK TOGETHER.

I THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME.

AND I WAS VERY HAPPY FOR MARK

BECAUSE I KNEW HE HAD WORKED A

LONG TIME TO GET IT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

AT THAT TIME, I HAD BEEN OUT

OF THE COMPETITIVE SPORTS ENOUGH

THAT I WAS INDUCTED INTO THE

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS HALL OF

FAME.

[APPLAUSE]

MAN, MARK HENRY, YOU DID

SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIFE.

AND AT THAT POINT, I WANTED

EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT THIS IS

NOT THE HALL OF FAME THAT YOU

ARE GETTING INDUCTED INTO.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET INDUCTED

INTO THE HALL OF PAIN.

THE HALL OF PAIN IS GETTING

REALLY, REALLY CROWDED.

COMING UP WITH THE HALL OF

PAIN WAS ONE OF MY TRADEMARK

MOMENTS.

CATCHING KANE.

LOOK AT THE STRIKE, THE SLAM!

I TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE IN

BECOMING THE CHAMPION.

THE WORLD CHAMPION IS NOT

DONE YET.

THAT'S WHAT I DO!

ALONG THIS PATH OF

DESTRUCTION, MARK HAD SOLIDIFIED

HIMSELF AS A MONSTROUS MAIN

EVENT SUPERSTAR IN WWE.

LOOK OUT!

OH, MY!

OH, MY LORD!

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

BUT HIS MEAN STREAK WAS A FAR

CRY FROM HIS TRUE CALLING

OUTSIDE THE RING.

[FANS CHANTING]

HELPING OTHERS AS ONE OF THE

COMPANY'S GLOBAL AMBASSADORS.

MARK HENRY HAS DEFINITELY

BEEN A CREDIT TO THIS BUSINESS,

FAR BEYOND ANYTHING YOU HAVE

SEEN ON TV.

WHETHER IT IS YOUR BE A STAR

STUFF, YOUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

ON BEHALF OF THE WWE, GOOD

LUCK TO THE ATHLETES.

AND LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE MARK

HENRY WHO IS LARGER THAN LIFE

PERSONALITY, WHO IS EXTREMELY

PERSONABLE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON YOU

WANT TO FLAGSHIP IN YOUR COMPANY

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HELP BUT LOVE

THE GUY.

YOU CAN'T HELP BUT LOVE HIM.

I LOVE YOU, MARK HENRY.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HIGH-FIVE.

JUST TO BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR

A COMPANY THAT'S DONE A LOT FOR

ME, I FEEL LIKE I'M ACTUALLY

GIVING BACK TO THE COMPANY.

AND I ENJOY IT.

I KINDA LIKE THIS.

I COULD GET USED TO THIS.

[LAUGHTER]

YOU GONNA PLAY IN THE MAJOR

LEAGUES, YOU KNOW.

HE'S ONE OF THE MOST CARING

GUYS YOU'LL EVER MEET.

WHEN HE WALKS IN THE BUILDING,

HE'S ALWAYS GOT A SMILE ON HIS

FACE.

HE'S ALWAYS THE FIRST TO GREET

EVERYBODY AND TALK TO EVERYBODY.

I'M NOT SURE HOW YOU COULD

PICK A BETTER AMBASSADOR FOR OUR

COMPANY THAN MARK HENRY.

HE WAS WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN

TWICE.

HE WAS WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT

CHAMPION.

HE'S A GOOD ROLE MODEL.

[CHEERING]

Y'ALL MIND IF I COME DOWN

THERE WITH Y'ALL?

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

BEING A STAR IS SHOWING

TOLERANCE AND RESPECT.

RESPECT SHOULD BE FIRST, IN MY

OPINION.

AND I HOPE THAT EVERY LAST ONE

OF YOU RESPECT EACH OTHER.

I WANT THEM TO SEE ME AND GO,

HEY, I WANT TO BE LIKE HIM WHEN

I GROW UP.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

IT'S MORE THAN AN INFLUENCE

THING.

THIS HAS KIND OF BEEN MY PLIGHT

IN SPORTS FROM THE BEGINNING.

I ALWAYS TRIED TO BE THE BIG

BROTHER TYPE.

I NEEDED TO BE ONE OF THOSE

PEOPLE THAT WAS THERE HOLDING

THEIR HAND AND LETTING THEM KNOW

THAT WE UNDERSTAND.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE I CARE.

WHEN YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO

COME BACK TO WRESTLING?

I DON'T KNOW, MAN.

I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO.

MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO.

WE'LL SEE.

HOPE FOR THE BEST.

THIS BUSINESS ISN'T EASY.

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT EASY ON

BIGGER GUYS.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE WORK IN THE

RING, IT'S FOLDING UP IN A CAR,

300, 400 NIGHTS A NIGHT.

CRAPPY HFLIGHTS.S, CRAPPY

AND A LOT OF THAT STUFF TAKES

ITS TOLL.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

I HAD TOLD MY FAMILY THAT I

WAS HURT, I WAS BEAT UP.

I WANTED TO TAKE SOME TIME TO

HEAL.

AND I DIDN'T THINK THAT I WAS

EVER GOING TO GET THAT

OPPORTUNITY TO.

I MEAN RUMORS HAVE BEEN

RUNNING RAMPANT OVER THE PAST 24

HOURS THAT MARK HENRY IS HERE

TONIGHT TO RETIRE.

I DON'T THINK THAT WAS A

RUMOR.

THOSE ARE HIS BOOTS HE'S PUTTING

DOWN.

FOR MONTHS, I TOLD PEOPLE

IT'S OVER.

I'M DONE.

CAN'T DO THIS NO MORE.

IT'S REAL.

[FANS CHANTING]

JOHN, I WANT YOU TO STAY.

THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO TELL

YOU, I WANT TO TELL THE BOYS AND

THE GIRLS IN THE BACK AND ALL OF

Y'ALL.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[FANS CHANTING]

MARK HAD TEXTED ME EARLIER

THAT DAY, GO, MAN, MAKE SURE YOU

RAW TOANNOUNCEMENT.OT AN

I'M LIKE MARK NEVER TEXTS ME, SO

I TUNE IN.

I RESPECT EVERYBODY THAT

LOVES THIS BUSINESS.

I RESPECT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT

WORK FOR THIS COMPANY BECAUSE I

KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS.

I'M AT HOME WATCHING TV

CRYING LIKE A BABY.

YOU KNOW, I LEAVE HIM THIS

LONG -- TEXT MESSAGE WHILE HE'S

RIGHT IN THE RING.

YOU -- I'M SITTING HERE CRYING,

THOUGHT DOWN THE ROAD TOGETHER.

BUT IF YOU NEED TO RETIRE, I

RESPECT THAT.

WHICH LEADS ME TO THE REASON

THAT I'M OUT HERE TO FORMALLY

RETIRE.

[CROWD RESPONSE]

FROM THE ACTIVE ROSTER.

[FANS CHANTING]

A SMALL TOWN SILSBEE, TEXAS BOY

DONE PROUD.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

IN MY HEART OF HEARTS I KNEW

THAT THIS WAS REALLY MY

RETIREMENT SPEECH.

I JUST WASN'T GOING TO RETIRE.

WAIT, WAIT.

OH, MY GOD!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

HE GOT ME.

HE GOT ME.

THEN THE NEXT TEXT WAS A BIG

CAPITAL F-U BECAUSE HE GOT ME.

I REACTED JUST LIKE EVERYBODY

ELSE.

YOU --

I'VE GOT A LOT LEFT IN THE

TANK!

I HAD PREPARED MYSELF TO

ACTUALLY RETIRE FOR REAL.

I WENT IN VINCE'S OFFICE AND I

SAID, MAN, I THINK IT'S OVER.

MY BODY IS BEAT UP.

MY KIDS CRY WHEN I LEAVE.

THAT'S WHAT I DO!

IF YOU EVER MEET VINCE AND

YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A

CONVERSATION WITH HIM MORE THAN

FIVE MINUTES, HE'S GOING TO GET

YOU TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS YOU

TO DO.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

AND I LEFT HIS OFFICE WITH A

FIVE-YEAR DEAL.

[LAUGHTER]

I WAS LIKE I'M GOING TO WRESTLE.

I'M GOING TO DIE IN THE RING.

IN THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED,

MARK CONTINUED TO COMPETE AS A

POWERFUL AND IMPOSING FORCE IN

WWE.

AND NOW THE WORLD'S STRONGEST

SLAM.

THAT'S WHAT I DO.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

THIS SMALL-TOWN KID FROM

SILSBEE, TEXAS WHO STRUGGLED SO

MIGHTILY EARLY IN HIS CAREER

WOULD EVENTUALLY END UP EARNING

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT'S HIGHEST

HONOR.

[MUSIC]

MAN, I WRESTLED IN THIS

BUILDING PROBABLY 50 TIMES.

AT LEAST 40.

BECOMING A HALL OF FAMER WAS

ME BEING ACCEPTED BY MY PEERS

AND YOU'RE IN A SPECIAL

BROTHERHOOD.

IT WAS JUST A STRONG SENSE OF

BELONGING.

IT'S HOME, MAN.

THAT'S GREAT.

I'M GOING TO BE CRYING LIKE A

LITTLE BABY UP THERE.

I KNOW, YOU WILL.

I'M EMOTIONAL NOW.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHEN I GET UP

THERE AND I ADDRESS EVERYBODY.

AND I MEAN THE TEARS JUST GOING

TO START ROLLING.

I MEAN IT'S JUST A BADGE OF

HONOR.

IT JUST SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT

YOU, NOT JUST YOUR WRESTLING

ABILITY, BUT YOUR CHARACTER AND,

YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD OF THAT.

WAIT, I HEARD THEY WERE

CALLING ME.

YEAH, THEY WERE.

DID I MISS MY SPOT?

I CRIED WHEN MARK CALLED ME

AND TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO THE

HALL OF FAME AND WANTED ME TO

INDUCT HIM.

I WAS SO HONORED THAT HE PICKED

ME OUCOULD HAVE ASKED.LE HE

ARE YOU EXCITED?

YEAH.

GOOD, YOU SHOULD BE.

YOU'VE EARNED IT.

JUST THINK, NOW YOU'RE GONNA GET

A RING.

AND JEWELRY, YOU KNOW.

LIKE MY WIFE IS LIKE, WELL, IF

YOU ARE GOING TO WEAR THAT --

THAT DON'T FALL FOR THAT

TRAP.

YOU GOTTA WEAR A WEDDING

RING, TOO.

LOSE A BUNCH OF WEIGHT SO

YOUR WEDDING RING DON'T FIT.

THAT'S WHAT I DID.

THAT NIGHT WAS ONE OF THE

BIGGEST NIGHTS IN HIS LIFE.

THAT MEANT A LOT TO HIM.

THE HIGHEST HONOR HE COULD

ACHIEVE WAS TO BE RECOGNIZED

WORTHY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE HALL

OF FAME.

DOES THAT ECHO?

MUAH!

STOP IT!

OH OH!

I LOVE YOU, MAN.

GET OVER IT.

THANK YOU, PAUL.

YOU'VE BEEN LIKE A BROTHER TO ME

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT RIDE.

AND IF YOU EVER KISS ME AGAIN,

I'M GOING TO BREAK MY FOOT OFF

IN YOUR --

[LAUGHTER]

I'M GOING TO PUT MY TUX ON

RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF

EVERYBODY.

AHHH.

YES.

DOES IT RECLINE?

OH, NO.

PULL YOUR SEAT OUT, MAN.

COME ON OVER HERE AND RELAX WITH

ME.

IT'S GOT A RECLINER ON THE SIDE.

THERE YOU GO.

YEAH.

YOU'RE A CELEBRITY.

YEAH, I'M A CELEBRITY HANGING

WITH THE BIG CELEBRITIES LIKE

YOU.

I'M GONNA BE LIKE YOU WHEN I

GROW UP.

OH, WE'VE GOTTA GO LIVE.

WE'VE GOTTA GO LIVE SINCE YOU'RE

A LIVE GOOD.

YOU GOT MY PHONE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

HERE I AM LIVE.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

JARRIUS ROBERTSON.

HE'S GETTING THE WARRIOR

AWARD BECAUSE HE PERSEVERED.

HE DID IT BIG AS I SAY ON MY

CHANNEL.

YEAH.

YOU DID IT BIG?

I THINK I BLEW UP THE WORLD.

MY MAN, YOU SEE WHAT I'M

SAYING?

JUST CHARISMATIC, CONFIDENT.

ALL RIGHT, BROTHER.

I'M GONNA SWHILE. IN A LITTLE

SEE YA LATER, MARK.

WE GONNA FIND THE FOOD.

MEET ME.

IT'S OVER HERE, I FOUND IT.

MEET ME IN THE CATERING.

ALL RIGHT!

THANK YOU, GUYS.

THANK YOU.

TO ME, IT WOULD BE AN

INJUSTICE IF MARK DIDN'T GO IN

THE HALL OF FAME.

CONGRATS, MAN.

WHAT HE'S DONE IN THIS

BUSINESS AND HOW HE'S HANDLED

HIMSELF OUTSIDE THE RING, THIS

IS THE KIND OF GUY YOU WANT.

HANDSOME.

YOU'VE GOT TO SMILE.

YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO SMILE.

MARK HENRY LOVED THIS

BUSINESS, LOVES CONTRIBUTING TO

THIS BUSINESS.

CONGRATULATIONS, MARK.

TRY THIS ONE ON AND SEE IF WE

GOT ONE BIG ENOUGH FOR YOU.

LOST WEIGHT, LOOK AT THAT.

HE COULDN'T LOOK AT THAT RING

WITHOUT GETTING EMOTIONAL OVER

IT.

HE EARNED IT.

I CAN'T EXPRESS TO YOU ALL

HOW TRULY HUMBLED AND HONORED I

AM TO INTRODUCE --

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

MY FRIEND, MY BROTHER FROM

ANOTHER MOTHER MARK HENRY!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

TODAY I AM HUMBLED.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[FANS CHANTING]

THANK YOU.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT, GREAT RIDE.

[APPLAUSE]

SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH THE

COMPANY, I'M VERY PROUD OF WHAT

THE WWE HAS DONE TO FOSTER

DIVERSITY, WHETHER IT BE GENDER,

RACE, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL

ORIENTATION, AIDS, PHYSICAL

ABILITY, POLITICAL BELIEFS, OR

RELIGIOUS IDEOLOGIES.

THIS PLANET IS A MELTING POT AND

THE FUTURE WILL BE BRIGHTER AND

IS BRIGHTER AND DEPENDING ON

EVERY ONE OF US LIVING AS ONE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

WHEN YOU GET OUT THERE IN

FRONT OF PEOPLE, IT WAS WAY

DIFFERENT THAN JUST DOING IT OUT

HERE.

? IT'S SEXUAL, BABY ?

BUT EVERY PLACE I WANTED TO

PUT A PUNCTUATION ON, IT WORKED.

HEY, HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING

TONIGHT?

[LAUGHTER]

LOOKY HERE, STEPHANIE McMAHON.

STEPHANIE, YOU REMEMBER THAT

TIME WE DANCED?

SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU?

ARE YOU MARRIED OR ANYTHING?

THAT DON'T MATTER TO SEXUAL

CHOCOLATE.

[LAUGHTER]

YEAH.

TO BE CELEBRATED WAS AWESOME.

BUT I TRIED TO DO A GOOD BALANCE

OF BEING RESPECTFUL AND THANKING

PEOPLE.

I THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE

THAT INSPIRED ME AND SUPPORTED

ME AND BELIEVED IN ME.

MY MOTHER BARBARA JEAN YOUNG,

DR. JAN AND TERRY TODD.

AND TO MY LITTLE GIRL JOANNA, MY

BEAUTIFUL WIFE JANA, MY SON

JACOB WHO IS OVER THERE DRESSED

UP LIKE ME.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

I KNOW I WASN'T HOME AS OFTEN AS

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO, BUT I WAS

DOING THAT SO YOU COULD HAVE

MORE THAN I HAD.

[APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

BEFORE I GO, THERE'S JUST ONE

MORE THING I NEED TO DO.

SOME OF Y'ALL MIGHT THINK THAT I

HAVE A LOT LEFT IN THE TANK.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

NO, I'M JUST PLAYING, Y'ALL.

I'M JUST PLAYING.

BUT REGARDLESS, GUYS, I'M

FOREVER THANKFUL AND PROUDLY

ACCEPT MY PLACE IN THE WWE HALL

OF FAME.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

LOVE YOU, BROTHER.

HOW DOES THAT FEEL?

IN HERE ARE YOU OKAY?

I'M GOOD, I'M GOOD.

CLOSURE IS WHAT YOU NEED.

ARE YOU DONE?

I'M DONE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE

ME A HUG.

DON'T HUG ME.

DON'T HUG ME.

[LAUGHTER]

DON'T KISS ME.

IT IS VERY HONORABLE TO BE IN

THAT GROUP.

IT'S NOT A BIG ROOM.

GOOD, PERFECT.

AND TO BE ONE OF THOSE IS

SPECIAL.

LOOK, I NEVER USED MY

KLEENEX.

I TOOK KLEENEX AND I NEVER USED

IT.

WHY?

MARK AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS

FOR A LONG TIME.

I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE HALL OF

FAME IS FOR MARK.

I KNOW HOW HARD HE'S WORKED IN

THIS BUSINESS AND HOW HE'S

FOUGHT FOR RESPECT.

IT MEANS EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU, MAN.

THANKS.

IT VALIDATES ME.

IT'S LIKE SAYING, HEY, THIS IS

ONE OF OUR ELITE.

THIS IS BEYOND OUR ELITE.

THIS IS OUR HALL OF FAME GUY.

IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

I USED TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE HALL

OF PAIN.

NOW I'M IN THE HALL OF FAME.

[MUSIC]

YOU SEE PICTURES OF ME IN

HERE?

AND THERE'S ONE OVER HERE.

YEAH.

THIS IS THE LARGEST PHYSICAL

CULTURE LIBRARY IN THE WORLD.

EVERYTHING FROM GOLF, MARBLES,

TO TIDDLYWINKS.

IF YOU WERE THE BEST IN THE

WORLD AT IT, YOU'RE IN THIS

LIBRARY.

YOU SEE THAT THERE'S STRONG MEN

THAT WERE WRESTLERS.

MY CHILDREN WILL BE MY LEGACY.

I CAN ALREADY SEE THE

SIMILARITIES, THE STRENGTH,

AMBITIOUS, THE INTELLIGENCE, THE

COMPASSION FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

AND THE FACT THAT I ALWAYS

WANTED TO MAKE THE PEOPLE AROUND

ME PROUD.

AND MY KIDS ARE DOING THE SAME

THING.

IT'S MY WAY OF LIVING ON.

IT'S MY WAY OF LIVING WHEN I'M

GONE.

MAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE

NAKED POWER IN AMAZING GRACE.

OH, MY GOODNESS, NO, NO.

I CAN'T.

I CAN'T.

I CAN'T.

NO.

NO, LOOK LOOK.

LOOK.

I'M TELLING MYSELF IF I EVER

GET FAMOUS, I'M NOT DOING THAT.

YEAH, EVERYBODY TAKE NUDE

PHOTOS.

NOT ME.

THERE'S NO REASON FOR ME TO

BE SITTING WHERE I'M SITTING

RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S NO REASON.

OH!

A KID FROM SILSBEE WHO NOBODY

EVER EXPECTED TO DO THE THINGS

THAT I HAVE DONE.

COME ON, LET'S GO NOW.

COME ON, MARK.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

IT WAS DIVINE.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.

AND I'M GLAD THAT I HAD THE

DRIVE TO DO IT.

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN AND

UNITED STATES OLYMPIAN MARK

HENRY!

MARK HAD TO LEARN ON

WORLDWIDE TELEVISION.

THAT'S A HARD THING TO DO.

HE IS STILL VERY

INEXPERIENCED.

HE'S GOING TO MAKE SOME ROOKIE

MISTAKES.

HARD WORK.

DEDICATION.

MARK HENRY!

WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR

IN A PERSON?

MARK HAD TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF

AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATHLETE

IN THIS BUSINESS THAT REALLY

ISN'T KNOWN FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN

STARS.

THIS IS A DEFINING MOMENT FOR

MARK HENRY.

HE'S SHOWN THAT WE CAN

BELONG.

WE CAN BE WORLD CHAMPIONS.

I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF

YOU TO THE HALL OF PAIN!

[MUSIC]

OH, THERE IT IS!

MARK HENRY CREATED

INSPIRATION FOR OTHER ATHLETES.

COME ON, NOW PUSH YOURSELF!

WHEN YOU MESS UP AND YOU'RE

GOING TO MESS UP, HOW DO YOU FIX

IT?

WHEN YOUR HEAD GOES, THIS NEEDS

TO TOUCH RIGHT THERE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MARK

SHOULD INSPIRE THE YOUNGER

TALENT TO SEE, IT'S OKAY TO BE A

BIG STAR, BUT DON'T FORGET WHERE

YOU CAME FROM.

OUR BIG BOY FROM SILSBEE,

TEXAS --

IT'S A HARD LIFE.

BUT IT'S WORTH IT.

[LAUGHTER]

FOR OVER 20 YEARS MARK HENRY

LEFT AN EVERLASTING IMPACT IN

SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT.

OH, I'M SO SPENT.

WHAT?

LOOK AT THAT!

HE DID IT!

MARK HENRY DID IT!

THE STRONGEST MAN IN THE

WORLD.

OH, MY LORD!

AND HE WILL FOREVER BE KNOWN

AS THE WORLD'S STRONGEST MAN.

[MUSIC]