The Inspiring Story of How The Undertaker Started Wrestling

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

This episode features an "Unknown Guest" recounting their extraordinary origin story in professional wrestling. Key discussions revolve around:

• The guest's pivot from a promising college basketball career to the demanding world of professional wrestling, driven by ambition and a realistic assessment of their future.
• The harsh and often deceptive training landscape of professional wrestling in the 1980s, exemplified by a significant scam involving a trainer named Buzz Sawyer.
• The guest's relentless pursuit of a break in the industry, which included months of persistence and a fortunate resemblance that caught the eye of a wrestling legend.
• A vivid and brutal account of the guest's very first professional wrestling match against the notoriously tough Bruiser Brody, which served as a memorable and painful initiation into the business.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

• The guest, a 6'8" college basketball player, chose wrestling over European pro basketball, realizing the greater potential for fame and a more appealing lifestyle than "sitting on the end of the bench in Lithuania."
• A pivotal early experience involved paying $2000 (a substantial sum in 1986, requiring a loan and hocking possessions) to trainer Buzz Sawyer, only for the "training" to be a scam involving intense cardio, amateur grappling, and Sawyer ultimately disappearing with the money.
• For eight months, the guest tirelessly sat in the lobby of World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) every Wednesday, being ignored by everyone except a referee, until patriarch Fritz Von Erich noticed him due to his resemblance to his late son, David Von Erich, finally giving him a chance.
• The guest's first professional match was against the legendary Bruiser Brody. After accidentally making a couple of greenhorn mistakes (palming Brody's face, prematurely calling for a clothesline), Brody brutally retaliated with a kick to the jaw, a wooden chair explosion over the guest's head, and repeated kicks while tied in the ropes—a formative "lesson" that the guest admits he "deserved."
• Despite the intense beating, Brody recognized the guest's potential, telling the promoter, "That kid's going to be something."

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• On choosing wrestling over basketball: "even if you do make a team… how long do you really have right and being 21 and sitting on the end of the bench in lithuania just really didn't wasn't that appealing"
• Buzz Sawyer's infamous reaction to trainees on the first day: "Oh [ __ ] is that today?"
• Fritz Von Erich's decision to give the guest his first break: "book him [ __ ] friday night I want to see what he can do he looks just like david"
• Bruiser Brody's in-ring advice and subsequent actions: "hey kid lighten up a little bit kid you know relax" followed by throwing the guest out of the ring with "Let's go for a walk."
• Brody's surprising endorsement after the brutal match: "[ __ ] you you ought to book this kid some more they were trying to find someplace else to send me he's that kid that kid's going to be something."

Overall Themes

• Perseverance and Unwavering Dedication: The guest's journey highlights an extraordinary level of commitment, enduring financial hardship, professional scams, and constant rejection to pursue his dream.
• The Rigorous and Often Brutal Nature of Professional Wrestling: The narrative illustrates the physical, mental, and financial challenges aspiring wrestlers faced, from fraudulent trainers to the demanding "lessons" taught by seasoned veterans.
• The Role of Serendipity and Opportunity: Despite immense effort, the ultimate break came from a chance encounter and a physical resemblance, underscoring how being in the "right place at the right time" can be crucial.
• Respect, Hierarchy, and Earning Your Stripes: The encounter with Bruiser Brody emphasizes the unwritten rules of the wrestling world, where respect for veterans and earning one's place through grit and toughness are paramount.