Original subtitles

[MUSIC]

STINGER IS HERE!

TAKE ONE.

WATCHING SOMEONE ON THE

GROUND THAT I CARE ABOUT AND

IDOLIZE AND THEY ARE SUFFERING

AND THEY ARE SCARED.

AND THAT'S A TERRIFYING FEELING.

FROM GORILLA IT'S JUST

NON-STOP, IS HE OKAY, HOW IS HE

DOING, WHAT'S WRONG.

AND I SAID, NO, STING IS NOT

OKAY.

UNTOLD STING, TAKE ONE.

I'M THINKING, LORD GOD,

PLEASE DON'T LET IT END LIKE

THIS.

HE MIGHT BE HURT.

HE JUST COLLAPSED.

THEY LOOKED AND SAID, MAN,

YOU ARE THIS CLOSE TO HAVING A

CATASTROPHE.

NEXT DOWN NOTHING OR DEATH.

THAT WAS MY CHOICE.

[MUSIC]

WAS THERE A TRANSFORMATION WITH

THE PAINT?

YES, THERE WAS.

FOR A LOT OF YEARS IN MY

PERSONAL LIFE I WAS IN A LOT OF

DEEP DARK DESPAIR.

I'D PUT THAT PAINT ON MY FACE

AND I'D LIKE IN THE MIRROR AND

SAY IT'S SHOW TIME, FOLKS, AND

WALK THROUGH THAT CURTAIN.

[MUSIC]

BY THE TIME I EVOLVED INTO THE

CROW CHARACTER, IT REALLY DID

CHANGE.

EVERYTHING JUST SORT OF SHIFTED.

IT SHIFTED BIG TIME.

DATING BACK TO 1984, AFTER

JOINING FOUR --

HULK HOGAN!

AHHH!

HOPEFULLY, BUT I DON'T

KNOW --

OH, YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

MEAN.

I THINK THE FIRST TIME I SAW

STING WOULD HAVE BEEN ON WCW

SATURDAY NIGHT.

I CAN'T PLACE THE EXACT TIME.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN SO YOUNG,

MAYBE 4 OR 5 OR 6 YEARS OLD.

FROM VENICE BEACH, CALIFORNIA

WEIGHING 255 POUNDS THIS IS

STING!

THIS IS WCW!

AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY MORE

HARDER HITTING ACTION.

I PROBABLY SAW STING FOR THE

FIRST TIME IN HIS, YOU KNOW,

BLEACHED BLOND FLATTOP, FACE

PAINTED INCARNATION.

HE STOOD OUT AS A SORE THUMB IN

A GOOD WAY BECAUSE HE WAS SO

CHARISMATIC, SO FLASHY.

BRIGHT TIGHTS, BRIGHT HAIR,

BRIGHT FACE PAINT.

HE'S GOING TO FIGHT LIKE A

MAN.

HE'S GOING TO REPRESENT THOSE

BYSTANDERS.

AND JUST INCREDIBLE SHAPE,

RIGHT?

JUST CARVED OUT OF GRANITE.

HE HAD EVERYTHING THAT A 4 OR 5,

6-YEAR-OLD KID WOULD LOOK FOR.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

WHEN I GOT TO BE A TEENAGER AND

I GOT TO BE A LITTLE ANGSTIER,

STING HAD ADOPTED THIS KIND OF

CROW-ESQUE BLACK KIND OF ACCENTS

ON THE EYES AND THE LIPS.

AND HE WAS JUST STANDING IN THE

RAFTERS WITH A TRENCH COAT.

AS A TEENAGER WHO FELT VERY

ISOLATED, HE WAS SOMEONE SO I

COULD RELATE TO.

SO I ATTACHED TO HIM

IMMEDIATELY.

LIKE THAT LOOK, THAT CHARACTER,

THAT PERSON BECAME ICONIC FOR

ME.

I WAS A WRESTLING FAN.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE A

TEENAGER AND IT'S HALLOWEEN TIME

AND IT'S DARK AND YOU HAVE GOT

THIS COOL CREEPY CHARACTER?

I ASKED MY MOM TO PAINT MY FACE

LIKE STING, IT WAS AN EASY

COSTUME, TRENCH COAT AND BLACK

T-SHIRT.

AND IT WORKED.

SO YEAH, MY MOM PAINTED MY FACE

UP AND I WAS THE STINGER,

CARRIED AROUND A SPRAY PAINTED

BASEBALL BAT AND PROBABLY SCARED

ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS AND

MOMS.

[MUSIC]

GOSH, HONESTLY THE FIRST TIME I

MET HIM I THINK WAS AT SURVIVOR

SERIES 2014, THAT WOULD HAVE

BEEN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

TWO OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE

TEAMS IN HISTORY HAVE BEEN

ASSEMBLED.

THE FUTURE IS AT STAKE.

[FANS CHANTING]

SETH ROLLINS WENT ALL OUT ON THE

AUTHORITY.

MY DREAM TEAM, BABY.

OH, MAN!

NOW ROLLINS STOMP.

AGAIN THE CAPTAIN OF TEAM

AUTHORITY WITH THE STOMP TO

CENA.

ROLLINS ISN'T EVEN LEGAL.

THREE MEMBERS OF TEAM AUTHORITY

AND THREE MEMBERS OF TEAM CENA.

LUKE HARPER ELIMINATED ERICK

ROWAN AGAIN THANKS TO SETH

ROLLINS.

THAT CLOTHESLINE MAY KEEP THE

AUTHORITY IN POWER.

LET'S DO IT.

READY?

WE'RE GOING TO WALK DOWN REAL

QUICK, OKAY?

YEP.

ZIGZAG AGAIN FOR THE SECOND

TIME.

THERE'S NO REFEREE!

CHAD PATTON WAS THE REFEREE

IN THE MATCH.

HE GOT KNOCKED OUT.

I HAD TO COME DOWN.

I WAS MAKING THE COUNT, ONE,

TWO.

AND HERE COMES TRIPLE H.

HE DRILLS ME FROM BEHIND.

THEN HE PICKS ME UP TO THROW ME

OUT OF THE RING.

AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN,

HERE'S THIS OMINOUS MUSIC THAT

PLAYS.

[MUSIC]

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

OH, MY GOD!

WHAT?

IT'S STING!

WHAT?

STINGER IS HERE!

THE MAN HAS NEVER STEPPED FOOT

INSIDE WWE'S ARENA BEFORE!

AND THE CROWD ERUPTS LIKE

NOTHING I HAVE EVER HEARD

BEFORE.

[FANS CHANTING]

NO ONE KNEW.

IT WAS A WELL-KEPT SECRET.

NO ONE HAD ANY CLUE IN THE

ENTIRE BUILDING HE WAS GOING TO

SHOW UP EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE IN

THE RING.

MAN, I'M GETTING KIND OF

GOOSEBUMPY NOW JUST PUTTING

MYSELF BACK IN THAT SPOT.

I REMEMBER LAYING THERE JUST

FEELING THAT ENERGY WAS

OH.

AND STING, STING.

STINGER STRIKES!

AND HE PULLS ZIGGLER INTO THE

COVER OF SETH ROLLINS.

MAY HAVE BEEN A QUICK

CONVERSATION OR A GLANCE BETWEEN

MYSELF AND DOLPH.

[LAUGHTER]

BECAUSE IT WAS PRETTY COOL.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE

YOU'LL NEVER FORGET THE WAY YOU

FELT WHEN, YOU KNOW, STING FIRST

WALKED DOWN A RAMP IN WWE.

HERE'S THE COVER.

OH, NO, NO, NO!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

TEAM CENA WINS!

IT WILL BE A NIGHT FOREVER

ETCHED IN HISTORY.

A NIGHT HEROES ARE CREATED,

CAREERS ARE DEFINED AND LEGENDS

WILL BE BORN.

WELCOME TO WRESTLEMANIA!

THIS WAS WRESTLEMANIA.

AND THERE WERE LOTS OF MAIN

EVENTS.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS, OF COURSE,

STING AND TRIPLE H.

SHOULDER TACKLE, TRIPLE H IS

DOWN.

STING STRIKES FIRST.

I DON'T THINK TRIPLE H SAW ANY

OF THAT COMING.

I REMEMBER WATCHING THIS

MATCH AND IT WAS JUST KIND OF A

NOD TO SO MANY THINGS.

OH, MY GOD!

IT'S DX!

YOU HAD DEGENERATION X.

YOU HAD NWO.

YOU HAD TRIPLE H.

YOU HAD STING.

YOU HAD ALL THESE PLAYERS IN

THERE THAT CAME TOGETHER FOR ONE

NIGHT IN THIS AMAZING MATCH.

OH, NO, TRIPLE H WITH A

SLEDGEHAMMER RIGHT OFF THE SKULL

OF STING.

TRIPLE H CRAWLING FOR THE COVER.

SHOULDERS DOWN AND THE GAME

PREVAILS.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC MEMORY

AFTER THAT MATCH WALKING AROUND

IN LEVI'S STADIUM?

YEAH.

I MEAN JUST LITTLE, YOU KNOW,

POCKETS, PICTURES.

THE ROCK ON A GOLF CART DRIVING

THE OTHER WAY SAYING NICE MATCH,

STINGER, AND HE KEEPS GOING.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GREAT, GREAT MATCH.

ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH.

I HOPE YOU GOT THAT.

VINCE McMAHON AS I CAME

THROUGH THE CURTAIN, I MEAN HE

WAS JUST -- SEEMED TO BE SO

PLEASED WITH EVERYTHING.

KIND OF A WEIRD FEELING

THINKING, WOW, THAT WAS IT.

THAT WAS IT.

GOOD WAY TO END, AT LEAST THAT

WAS MY THOUGHT AT THE TIME.

OH, MAN.

[BACKGROUND CONVERSATION]

SO THIS COULD BE IT?

YEAH.

IT REALLY COULD BE IT, YEAH.

YEAH.

I MEAN I HAVE SAID THAT BEFORE

KIND OF THINKING IN THE BACK OF

MY MIND, YEAH, THERE'S PROBABLY

GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

REALLY HONESTLY TRULY --

I REALLY THINK THAT MIGHT HAVE

BEEN IT.

SETH ROLLINS MAY HAVE RANDY

IN POSITION FOR ANOTHER CURB

STOMP.

THE RKO!

OH, MY GOD!

UNBELIEVABLE!

AN RKO!

SETH WAS WRESTLING RANDY

ORTON.

RANDY SHOOTS HIM UP IN THE AIR

AND DOES THE RKO AND WINS THE

MATCH.

WE THOUGHT HIS NIGHT WAS OVER.

AND IN THAT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH

WHEN HIS MUSIC HITS AND YOU SEE

HIM ON THE TOP OF THE STAGE WITH

THAT BRIEFCASE, I'M GETTING

CHILLS RIGHT NOW JUST THINKING

ABOUT IT.

AS HE RUNS TO THE RING AND

BECOMES PART OF THAT MATCH, THAT

WAS A MAGICAL MOMENT THAT NOBODY

SAW COMING.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

WHAT THE HELL?

WHAT ON EARTH?

THIS IS BRILLIANT!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SETH

ROLLINS IS CASHING IN HIS MONEY

IN THE BANK.

A TRIPLE THREAT MATCH.

[BELL RINGING]

CHECKING ON REIGNS.

SETH IS GOING TO FINISH HIM.

TAKING NO CHANCES HERE AT ALL.

WENT FOR ANOTHER STOMP.

LESNAR, LESNAR PICKED HIM OUT OF

THE AIR.

REIGNS WITH A SPEAR!

A WICKED SPEAR.

LOOK OUT.

STOMP TO REIGNS.

COVER BY ROLLINS!

[BELL RINGING]

ROLLINS WINS THE TITLE!

ROLLINS WINS THE TITLE!

WAIT A MINUTE.

SETH ROLLINS WINS THE TITLE!

SETH ROLLINS IS THE WWE WORLD

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!

ROLLINS WITH THE HEIST OF THE

CENTURY!

I MEAN THE WWE WORLD

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP IS IT.

[APPLAUSE]

THANK YOU, GUYS.

IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO ASPIRES

TO BE A PART OF THIS INDUSTRY, I

WOULD SAY FOR THE MOST PART, 99

OUT OF 100 PEOPLE, THEIR GOAL IS

TO WIN THE WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP AT SOME POINT IN

THEIR CAREER.

THAT IS EAR THE ULTIMATE OR PIN

ULTIMATE GOAL.

IT'S JUST THAT.

IT'S THAT AND WRESTLEMANIA.

TO BE THE GUY THAT WINS THAT

TITLE, FOR ME AT WRESTLEMANIA IS

HUGE.

NOT ONLY AS AN HONOR, BUT AS A

RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE NOW YOU

ARE THE GUY.

NOW YOU'RE THE ONE WITH THE

PRESSURE.

YOU'RE THE ONE WITH THE WEIGHT

ON YOUR SHOULDERS.

AND SO YOU WANT TO EVERY SINGLE

NIGHT, WHETHER IT'S A

PAY-PER-VIEW, WHETHER IT'S TWO

MATCHES, ONE MATCH, WHETHER IT'S

A LIVE EVENT, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

YOU WANT TO REPRESENT THE

COMPANY TO THE FULLEST BECAUSE

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO

TAKE AWAY WHEN THEY LEAVE A WWE

EVENT -- WHAT DID THE WORLD

CHAMPION DO.

AND ESPECIALLY THE GUYS WHO HELD

THAT TITLE OVER THE YEARS, THEY

HAVE CREATED SUCH A SHADOW TO

WALK IN, YOU KNOW.

YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FILL

THEIR SHOES.

TO BE CAST IN THAT MOLD AND TRY

TO CARRY THAT LEGACY, THAT'S A

SPECIAL THING.

THAT'S A SPECIAL HONOR THAT VERY

FEW PEOPLE GET TO HAVE.

AND YEAH, THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

MEANS A LOT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

ALL THOSE YEARS THAT I WAS SO

CLOSE TO COMING TO WWE, BUT

NEVER DID, ONE OF THE REASONS

WHY I NEVER DID WAS BECAUSE I

ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT VINCE WANTED

TO UNDERMINE WCW MORE THAN HE

WANTED ME AS A TALENT.

AND SO TO BE NOW UNDER HIS ROOF

AND UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP, YOU

KNOW, I'M LIKE, OKAY, I'M GOING

TO FIND OUT NOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT

THIS IS GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT

AND WHAT VINCE'S MOTIVES REALLY

ARE.

I THINK HE WANTED TO SHOW

STING THERE WAS NO BAD BLOOD,

THERE WEREN'T ANY HARD FEELINGS.

HE RESPECTED HIM AND EVERYTHING

HE HAD DONE FOR THE INDUSTRY AND

HE WANTED TO DO RIGHT BY HIM AND

MAKE HIM FEEL AS COMFORTABLE AS

POSSIBLE.

SO I THINK THAT WAS HIS WAY OF

KIND OF EXTENDING AN OLIVE

BRANCH AND SAYING, HEY, LET'S DO

THIS THE BEST WE CAN FOR ME AND

FOR ALL OF US.

AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY REALLY

EVER SINCE.

VINCE HAS JUST BEEN

MIND-BOGGLINGLY GOOD TO ME.

IS THERE SUCH A WORD?

[MUSIC]

IT WAS WHEN I WAS APPROACHED BY

WWE REGARDING SETH NIGHT OF

CHAMPIONS.

I WAS SHOCKED, SHOCKED THAT THEY

ASKED ME TO DO THAT.

BUT, MAN, SETH -- I MEAN WORLD

TITLE, WWE, NEVER HAD ONE WORLD

TITLE MATCH WITH WWE.

AND SO FOR ME TO BE ABLE WRESTLE

FOR THE WWE WORLD TITLE, YES, I

HAVE HAD OTHER WORLD TITLES BUT,

YOU KNOW, THE REAL DEAL IS NOW

IN MY FACE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I ACCEPTED THE

CHALLENGE AND GLAD THAT I DID

IT.

WE HAD GOTTEN THROUGH JOHN

CENA WITH THE HELP OF JON

STEWART AT SUMMERSLAM AND I HAD

WON THE UNITED STATES

CHAMPIONSHIP SO I HAD BOTH

TITLES.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

WHAT ABOUT YOU, HUH?

[LAUGHTER]

LOOK AT YOU.

AND I GOT A CALL IN THE

MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.

IT WAS LIKE ON A WEDNESDAY OR

SOMETHING.

I'M SITTING ON MY COUCH AND I

GET A CALL.

THIS IS ODD.

THIS IS USUALLY NOT A GOOD

THING, RIGHT?

SOMETHING IS WRONG OR I HAVE TO

BE SOMEWHERE IN AN HOUR ON A

PLANE, YOU KNOW.

I GET THE CALL.

AND I'M TOLD THAT THEY HAVE AN

IDEA FOR AN ATTRACTION AT NIGHT

OF CHAMPIONS.

THEY'D LIKE ME TO WRESTLE IN TWO

MATCHES AND DEFEND BOTH TITLES

IN THE MAIN EVENT AGAINST STING.

AND I WAS FLOORED.

IN MY KITCHEN -- I REMEMBER

STANDING IN MY KITCHEN BECAUSE I

GOT UP OFF MY COUCH AND WALKED

INTO THE KITCHEN.

I REMEMBER KIND OF LIKE LEANING

ON THE COUNTER AND BEING LIKE,

WHOA, WHOA, WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT?

WHEN I HUNG UP THE PHONE, I

REMEMBER KIND OF TAKING A FEW

MINUTES TO COLLECT MY THOUGHTS.

AND I WAS SO EXCITED, BUT ALSO

IMMEDIATELY NERVOUS.

YOU DREAM, RIGHT?

YOU DREAM OF WRESTLEMANIA.

YOU DREAM OF WINNING WORLD

TITLES.

BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT

ARE SO FAR OUT OF THE REALM OF

POSSIBILITY THAT YOU DON'T EVEN

BOTHER DREAMING.

AND WRESTLING STING ONE-ON-ONE

WAS ONE OF THEM.

[CHEERING]

SLOW DOWN!

ONE THING I REMEMBER ABOUT

THAT NIGHT WAS TRYING TO FIGURE

OUT HOW THEY WERE GOING TO GET

STING INTO THE RING BECAUSE

THERE WAS A FORKLIFT THAT WAS

GOING TO LIFT UP THIS STATUE,

RIGHT, AND BRING IT TO THE RING.

NOW, IS STING GOING TO STAND ON

A PALLET?

HOW ARE THEY SAFELY GOING TO GET

HIM IN THERE SO FANS DON'T SEE

HIM ENTERING THE RING AND THERE

WAS THIS COVER.

SO THE LOGISTICS IN THAT WAS

SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED

VERY HEAVILY BACKSTAGE.

TO BE HONEST, I STILL DON'T KNOW

HOW THEY DID IT.

IT'S LIKE 110 DEGREES AND I

CANNOT STOP SWEATING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE PAINT THAT I

WAS USING FOR ALL THOSE YEARS,

ACRYLIC PAINT, IT'S NOT MADE FOR

THE FLESH.

IT'S MADE FOR THE CANVAS.

WHEN YOU SWEAT, IT PEELS OFF.

IT DOESN'T EVEN PEEL, IT KIND OF

RUNS OFF, YOU KNOW.

HE IS THE WWE WORLD

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION AND THE

UNITED STATES CHAMPION!

LET ME BRING OUT THE MAN!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SETH

ROLLINS!

I COULD SEE PUTTING MYSELF IN

THE FANS' SEAT, IN THE WWE

UNIVERSE.

YOU'RE THINKING, OH, THIS IS

JUST ANOTHER THING WHERE THEY

ARE KISSING SETH ROLLINS' ASS.

I AM NO LONGER THE FUTURE OF

WWE.

I AM THE MAN.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE

HIM THIS AWARD THAT HE DOESN'T

DESERVE.

WELL, LET'S DO THIS, BABY.

BECAUSE THE CHAMP IS HERE!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

AND LO AND BEHOLD, THE LAST

THING YOU'RE THINKING IS THAT

STING IS GOING TO BE UNDER THAT

COVER.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

THE SURPRISE ON SETH'S FACE

WAS AMAZING.

IT'S THE ICON!

THE CROWD, MAN, THEY ATE IT

UP.

ANY TIME THAT WE CAN GET THEM

AND CATCH THEM OFF-GUARD,

ESPECIALLY WITH SUCH A BELOVED

CHARACTER LIKE STING, THAT'S A

HOME RUN.

AND STING WITH A RIGHT HAND

TO ROLLINS.

HERE COMES STING.

THE VIGILANTE!

THE FRANCHISE OF WCW.

TALK ABOUT A TRUE IMMORTAL.

STING RUINING SETH ROLLINS'

NIGHT!

THE ROAR OF THE CROWD IS JUST

AN ADRENALINE PUSH.

IT REALLY IS A HIGH.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A DRUG.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

AND HERE COMES THE STINGER

SPLASH!

AND THERE GOES ROLLINS.

STING HAS STUCK IT TO THE

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!

I THINK ANY TIME STING IS IN

FRONT OF A CROWD, THEY FEEL THAT

CHARISMA, THAT ELECTRICITY.

THIS MASKED MAN THAT CAN STEP IN

AND GRAB YOUR IMAGINATION,

THERE'S SOMETHING FANTASTIC

ABOUT THAT.

NEVER!

NEVER!

LET'S TALK STRATEGIES IF YOU

ARE SETH ROLLINS.

THE FIRST HAS CENA FOR THE U.S.

TITLE.

THEN HE HAS STING FOR THE WWE

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

BACK-TO-BACK MATCHES.

ANY TIME YOU'RE IN THE RING

WITH JOHN CENA, IT'S GOING TO BE

A PHYSICAL ENCOUNTER.

ESPECIALLY IT SEEMED LIKE IN

CENA'S LATER YEARS, HE WANTED TO

PROVE THAT HE COULD GO OUT THERE

AND HE COULD HANG WITH ANYBODY.

JOHN CENA, GREAT MOVE BY

JOHN.

ONE OF THE MOVES THAT YOU

HAVE SEEN CENA INVOLVE IN HIS

REPERTOIRE IN THE LAST SIX

MONTHS TO A YEAR.

FANS WOULD LIKE TO SAY, OH,

HE'S GOT FIVE MOVES.

THE FIVE MOVES OF DOOM.

AND CENA WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT

THERE AND PROVE THAT HE HAD A

LOT MORE TO OFFER THAN JUST FIVE

MOVES.

AND THAT NIGHT HE MADE SETH

PHYSICALLY HANG WITH HIM FOR

EVERYTHING.

AND CENA WITH A GREAT MOVE!

SWINGING FOR THE FENCES.

AND HE HIT IT.

AA TO ROLLINS.

HE HIT IT.

COVER!

CENA WINS THE TITLE.

AND NOW HE HAS TO FACE STING

ON TOP OF THAT.

CENA WINS THE UNITED STATES

CHAMPIONSHIP.

OH, MY GOSH.

HAVING THE MATCHES

BACK-TO-BACK I THINK HELPED MY

NERVES A LOT.

[MUSIC]

OH, COME ON.

THIS ISN'T FAIR.

FROM THE LEGEND CENA TO THE

LEGEND STING, THERE IS NO REST

FOR ROLLINS.

TONIGHT HE CAN WIN THE ONE

CHAMPIONSHIP THAT HE HASN'T WON.

THAT'S THE WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT

CHAMPION.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY

TO GET LOST IN THE MOMENT

BECAUSE I ALREADY AM IN MY SAFE

PLACE WHICH IS IN THE RING

INSIDE THOSE ROPES.

SO THAT MADE IT EASIER TO ME TO

NOT BE OVERCOME BY THE MOMENT,

NOT BEING, OH, MAN, I'M

WRESTLING A CHILDHOOD IDOL OF

MINE STING.

AND STING WASTING NO TIME.

[BELL RINGING]

MATCH IS UNDER WAY.

GOING FOR THE SCORPION DEATH

LOCK.

IT'S GOING TO BE SHORT AND

SWEET.

AND STING IS A SPECTACLE.

AT THIS POINT ESPECIALLY IN HIS

CAREER, HE'S AN ATTRACTION SO

PEOPLE ARE EXCITED TO SEE IT.

AND NOW WE'RE INTO THIS MATCH.

ROLLINS IS BACK IN CONTROL.

REBOUND FOR THE UNITED STATES

CHAMPIONSHIP.

LOOK OUT.

WAIT A MINUTE.

ROLLINS, ROLLINS HAD THAT

MONITOR IN HAND.

AND STING DRIVES HIM INTO THE

BARRICADE.

THIS IS NOT GOOD.

OH, NO.

THIS IS NOT GOOD.

OH, NO.

OH, NO, NO, NO.

OH, MY GOD!

STING DRIVEN THROUGH THE

ANNOUNCE TABLE AND I THINK HIS

HEAD MAY HAVE BOUNCED OFF THAT

AND NOW SETH ROLLINS, SETH

ROLLINS AGAIN DRIVING STING

RIGHT ON TO THE TABLE.

I HAVE DONE THE TURNBUCKLE

POWERBOMB THOUSANDS OF TIMES IN

MY CAREER AND NEVER ONCE HAS IT

HURT ANYBODY.

OH, NO.

ONE, TWO!

COME ON!

WE'RE IN THE MATCH AND I DO

THE FIRST ONE AND HE HITS

PERFECT.

LANDS PERFECT.

GOES DOWN.

AND, YOU KNOW --

IT WAS LIKE AN 800,000 VOLTS

OF ELECTRICITY GOING THROUGH MY

FINGERS.

IT WENT DOWN BOTH ARMS.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE WATCHING A

MOVIE OR A CARTOON WHERE THE

ELECTRICITY COMES OUT OF THE

FINGERS, YOU KNOW.

I LITERALLY FELT LIKE BURNING.

I MEAN THE SHOCK WAS JUST LIKE,

WOW, AND IT WOULDN'T GO AWAY.

I COULDN'T GET IT TO GO AWAY.

SO I THOUGHT, OH, MAN, THAT WAS

NOT GOOD.

RIGHT AWAY, I KNEW SOMETHING

WASN'T RIGHT.

I GOT IN STING'S FACE AND SAID,

HEY, STING, ARE YOU OKAY?

HE SAID I CAN'T FEEL THE TIPS OF

MY FINGERS.

JUST TAKE A SECOND.

VERY QUICKLY HE SAID, YOU KNOW

WHAT, I'M OKAY.

I WAS ABLE TO STILL THINK

NORMAL AND THE REST OF MY BODY

SEEMED TO BE WORKING OKAY.

SO I KNEW I WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO

CONTINUE THE MATCH.

SO I SAID OKAY AND I RADIOED

BACK.

I HAVE A MICROPHONE.

ALL REFS HAVE A MICROPHONE.

AND I SAID YEAH, STING IS FINE,

HE'S GOOD.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE STING IS

GETTING THIS RESILIENCY FROM.

I MEAN, MAN.

ROLLINS NOW COMES OFF.

OH, OH, OH!

ROLLINS DRIVEN OFF THE

BARRICADE.

WOW.

AND THAT COULD BE THE TURNING

POINT IN THIS MATCH.

WE CARRY ON.

WE GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE

MATCH.

HE DOES EVERYTHING.

HE'S ON POINT FOR EVERYTHING.

HE COMES FLYING OFF THE TOP,

LEVELS ME ON THE FLOOR.

AND THE CROWD IS CHANTING

"THIS IS AWESOME."

[FANS CHANTING]

HE PUT EVERYTHING OUT THERE.

HE LEFT EVERYTHING IN THE RING.

HE'S HOWLING, DOING SPLASHES

IN THE CORNER.

EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE.

SO WHEN THE SECOND ONE DID

COME, HE GOT ME UP IN THAT

POSITION AND I'M HAVING BY NOW A

CASUAL CONVERSATION IN MY HEAD,

OKAY, TUCK YOUR CHIN, YOU KNOW.

I COULD JUST FEEL THE POWER JUST

GOING OUT OF MY LEGS.

AND WHEN HE CAME FORWARD, HE

JUST COLLAPSED AS I WAS COMING

TOWARDS HIM.

HE JUST COLLAPSED.

HE MIGHT BE HURT.

THIS IS A REAL SITUATION AND

IT WAS A REAL SCARY SITUATION.

I'M THINKING, LORD GOD,

PLEASE DON'T LET IT END LIKE

THIS.

WHAT A WAY TO GO OUT.

LET ME COME BACK.

LET ME COME BACK.

AND THE OFFICIAL GOING TO

CALL FOR THE RINGSIDE DOCTOR.

IT COULD BE THAT ALL THE

BATTLES AND ALL THE WARS THAT

STING HAS FOUGHT HAS FINALLY

CAUGHT UP TO HIM.

I WAS WORRIED THAT SOMETHING

REALLY, REALLY BAD HAPPENED, A

CATASTROPHE.

OUR TRAINER GOT INTO THE RING

AND SO WE ARE BOTH KIND OF

TALKING TO STING.

WE HAVE THE IFB IN OUR EARS.

AND FROM GORILLA, I'M JUST

CONSTANTLY -- THEY ARE

CONSTANTLY YELLING IS STING

OKAY, IS STING OKAY.

HOW IS HE?

IS HE OKAY?

AND IT'S JUST NON-STOP.

ONE QUESTION AFTER ANOTHER.

IS HE OKAY?

HOW IS HE DOING?

WHAT'S WRONG?

AND I REMEMBER I REACHED BACK ON

THE MICROPHONE, I CLICKED MY MIC

ON AND I SAID NO, STING IS NOT

OKAY.

THAT WAS VERY DIFFICULT, VERY

DIFFICULT TO BE IN THE MOMENT

AND BE SETH ROLLINS AT THE SAME

TIME.

I'M THINKING TO MYSELF I AM THE

MOST HATED PERSON IN WWE.

I'M WATCHING SOMEONE ON THE

GROUND THAT I CARE ABOUT AND

IDOLIZE AND THEY ARE SUFFERING

AND THEY ARE SCARED.

THAT'S A TERRIFYING FEELING.

AND FEELING THAT YOU HAD

ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT IS --

HMMM.

YOU FEEL HELPLESS, RIGHT.

AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO

FIX IT OR YOU WANT TO REWIND

TIME AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS

GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT STATE HE'S IN.

SO IT WAS VERY HARD TO GO IN AND

OUT OF BEING A CHARACTER AND

WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON IN MY

OWN HEAD.

[FANS CHANTING]

WWE FANS HERE IN HOUSTON

TRYING TO WILL STING ON.

I'M SURE HE'S NOT GOING TO

SAY HE QUITS.

AND I STARTED TALKING TO

STING.

STEVE, STEVE, ARE YOU OKAY?

STEVE, ARE YOU OKAY?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

OKAY, TRY TO PULL YOURSELF

UP.

AND I PULLED MYSELF UP INTO THE

CORNER.

AND I COULD FEEL MY LEGS

UNDERNEATH ME A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND WITH EACH SECOND IT WAS

COMING BACK A LITTLE MORE, A

LITTLE MORE, A LITTLE MORE UNTIL

FINALLY, OKAY, I'M GOING TO TRY

TO FINISH THIS THING UP.

TRAINER LEAVES THE RING.

THE OFFICIAL GOING TO RESTART

THIS MATCH.

I'M NOT SURE HOW SMART THIS

IS.

EVEN THE GREAT WARRIORS HAVE

THEIR LAST FIGHT.

THERE IS LIKE THIS THING IN

WRESTLING.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

IT IS A PRIDE THING OR THERE'S

JUST SOMETHING ABOUT FINISHING

THE JOB.

ABOUT NOT GIVING UP UNDER ANY

CIRCUMSTANCES NO MATTER WHAT

GOES WRONG IN THE RING.

AND SETH ROLLINS IS GOING TO

PUT AN END TO IT WITH A PEDIGREE

RIGHT HERE TO STING.

STING ABLE TO ENCOUNTER.

GOING FOR THE SCORPION DEATH

LOCK.

ROLLINS ROLLS OVER.

ROLLINS IS IN TROUBLE.

BEYOND THE ABSOLUTE WORST,

THERE'S SOMETHING IN OUR HEADS

AS WRESTLERS, SOMETHING THAT'S

JUST INGRAINED IN THERE.

MAYBE IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY AS A

PERFORMER TO THE AUDIENCE OR TO

OUR OPPONENT, TO OURSELVES.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S

JUST IN US THAT WE CAN'T NOT TRY

TO FINISH THE MATCH, NO MATTER

WHAT.

ROLLINS KNOWS HE'S GOT TO

STAY ON HIS ARM.

ROLLINS TO THE BOTTOM ROPE TO

FORCE THE BREAK.

ROLLINS SURVIVING AGAIN.

OH, WHAT A KICK.

AND ROLLINS NOW GOING FOR THE

PEDIGREE.

STING AGAIN STEPS THROUGH.

ANOTHER COVER.

AGAIN!

ROLLINS ROLLS HIM UP,

SHOULDERS DOWN.

[BELL RINGING]

ROLLINS RETAINS THE TITLE!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

WHAT IS THAT MINDSET?

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF

INSANITY.

[MUSIC]

THE FACT THAT HE IS IN A

SITUATION HE DOESN'T NEED TO BE

IN, HE'S ALREADY ONE OF THE

GREATEST OF ALL TIME.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THIS

MATCH.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WRESTLING

ME ON NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS

PAY-PER-VIEW.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DOING ANY

OF THIS STUFF.

BUT THE FACT THAT HE'S THERE AND

THE FACT THAT HE'S IN THIS

SITUATION WHERE HE'S TERRIFIED

FOR HIS OWN HEALTH AND SAFETY,

BUT THE ONLY THING HE CAN THINK

ABOUT IS FINISHING THE MATCH IS

ONE OF THE MOST SELFLESS THINGS

I'VE EVER SEEN IN A RING IN MY

LIFE.

[MUSIC]

THAT'S JUST THE WAY WE WERE

ALL BRED BACK THEN.

YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU MAKE YOUR TOWN.

YOU GO OUT THERE AND YOU GIVE

THE CROWD ALL YOU CAN DO.

AND YOU FINISH YOUR MATCH.

YOU DO YOUR -- JOB.

THIS IS JUST A TESTAMENT TO

HIM AS A PERFORMER.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, JUST AS A

HUMAN BEING AND WHAT KIND OF GUY

HE IS AND WHAT HE STANDS FOR IN

HIS LIFE.

AND YOU KNOW, HIS LEGACY ONLY

GROWS BECAUSE OF HOW HE

CONDUCTED HIMSELF IN THE RING

THAT NIGHT AND AFTERWARDS AS

WELL.

I JUST COULDN'T IMAGINE

ENDING MY CAREER THAT WAY.

AND THEN YOU COULD HEAR THE

CROWD KIND OF CHANTING A LITTLE

BIT, YOU KNOW.

STING, STING, STING.

BECAUSE EVEN THE CROWD REALIZED,

OKAY, I THINK HE'S REALLY HURT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE DIG

DEEP, DIG DEEP.

I DID A LOT OF PRAYING.

I WAS TALKING TO GOD THE WHOLE

TIME, YOU KNOW.

AND IF THIS IS MY LAST MATCH, AT

LEAST I FINISHED.

THEN HE WALKED AWAY FROM THE

RING ON HIS OWN TWO FEET WITHOUT

ANY HELP FROM ANYBODY.

THIS WAS A WARRIOR WALKING OUT

ON HIS OWN TERMS.

I JUST WANTED SPACE.

I JUST WANTED -- JUST LEAVE ME

ALONE.

LET ME GO BACK IN THE DRESSING

ROOM AND JUST GET A BREATHER

HERE, YOU KNOW.

AND TRIPLE H CAME IN AND SAID,

STEVE, YOU NEED TO GO.

YOU NEED TO GO.

AND SO THEY PUT ME ON THE

AMBULANCE AND THEY PUT ME ON THE

GURNEY AND THEY PUT THE NECK

DEAL ON ME.

IN KIND OF A LIGHT MOMENT IN ALL

OF THAT, SETH HAD POPPED HIS

HEAD INTO THE AMBULANCE.

THE ONLY VISUAL I HAVE OR THE

ONLY REAL MEMORY I HAVE OF IT IS

THE ACTUAL LIKE APPROACHING HIM

AND BEING FACE TO FACE WITH HIM

IN THE AMBULANCE AND HIM SITTING

THERE AND, YOU KNOW -- THAT

VISUAL, LIKE IT'S ALMOST LIKE AN

OUT-OF-BODY THING, TOO.

YOU KIND OF SEE IT FROM LIKE A

DISTANCE.

I SEE ME AND HIM -- NOT HIM FROM

MY EYES.

STING, STING, ARE YOU OKAY?

UH, UH, UH, DID I DO THIS?

I, I, STING, OH, MY.

I DRESSED UP LIKE YOU FOR

HALLOWEEN WHEN I WAS A KID.

HE SPIT IT OUT ALMOST EXACTLY

LIKE THAT.

I SAID, SETH, IT'S COOL,

ALL IS WELL.

IT WAS PROBABLY ILL-TIMED,

BUT I FOR SOME REASON FELT LIKE

I HAD TO TELL THEM BECAUSE I

DIDN'T TELL HIM ANYTHING.

WE DIDN'T TALK MUCH ABOUT LIKE

HOW MUCH OF A FAN I WAS OF HIS

AND HOW MUCH HE MEANT TO ME

GROWING UP.

YOU KNOW, YOUR BRAIN IS WEIRD.

[MUSIC]

THEN THEY DID THEIR MRIs,

THEY DID THEIR CAT SCANS.

AND THEN THE NEUROLOGIST, SOME

OF THE BEST RIGHT THERE IN THE

COUNTRY RIGHT THERE IN HOUSTON,

THEY LOOKED AND SAID, MAN, YOU

WERE THIS CLOSE TO HAVING A

CATASTROPHE.

NECK DOWN NOTHING OR DEATH, THAT

WAS MY CHOICE.

BECAUSE I HAVE A CERVICAL SPINAL

STENOSIS AND, LORD WILLING, IT'S

HEALED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT YOUR

SPINAL CORD THAT SITS IN THE

CANAL AND THERE'S IN TWO SPOTS

NO WIGGLE ROOM AT ALL FOR THAT

CORD TO FLOAT AROUND AND MOVE IN

THE FLUID.

SO IF I GET HIT FROM BEHIND OR

GET A WHIPLASH OR SOMETHING LIKE

THAT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE

DOCTORS WERE SAYING YOU WILL BE

TOAST AT THAT POINT.

SETH DIDN'T CAUSE THE SPINAL

STENOSIS?

CORRECT.

THAT WAS DIAGNOSED BECAUSE OF

THIS?

NO, I HAVE CUT THAT OFF EVERY

TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKED

I MEAN THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY

THAT SETH HAD ANY WRONGDOING.

NO NEGLIGENCE WHATSOEVER.

IT WAS ME BOTH TIMES.

SO I WANT TO JUST CUT THAT OFF.

ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE

SAYING, YOU KNOW, SETH THIS AND

SETH THAT, YOU KNOW.

HE SHOULDN'T DO THE BUCKLE BOMB.

THIS IS WRESTLING.

THIS IS WRESTLING FOR CRYING OUT

LOUD, YOU KNOW.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I

LEARNED ABOUT HIM THAT I JUST

NEVER KNEW BEFORE OR THAT LIKE

YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT, I GUESS,

BECAUSE OF HIS CHARACTER, HE IS

SO KIND AND SO SOFT-SPOKEN AND

GENEROUS AND GOES OUT OF HIS WAY

WITH HIS TIME.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE DOESN'T KNOW

THAT HE'S STING.

PAUL, HOWDY DOODY?

OH, MY GOD, CONGRATULATIONS.

I'M SWEATING LIKE A FAT GUY IN A

SUIT.

[LAUGHTER]

HE HAS NEVER BEEN ONE OF

THOSE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED HIS

OWN HYPE.

IN OUR INDUSTRY, THAT'S SO RARE

AND IT'S SO SPECIAL BECAUSE OF

THAT.

AND HE JUST NEVER HAS FORGOTTEN

LIKE WHO HE IS, WHERE HE CAME

FROM.

NEVER FORGETS TO BE NICE AND

SHAKE HANDS, YOU KNOW, BE

GRATEFUL.

LIKE HE'S JUST -- IT'S A LESSON

IF YOU EVER WANT TO GET TO THAT

LEVEL, IF YOU EVER WANT TO BE,

YOU KNOW -- WHICH MOST OF US

WILL NEVER BE AT STING'S LEVEL

FROM A LEGACY PERSPECTIVE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF HUMAN BEING I

WANT TO BE WHEN AND IF I CAN

EVER GET TO THAT POINT.

LIKE I WANT TO BE THAT GUY, YOU

KNOW.

SO HE INSPIRED ME WHEN I WAS A

KID.

I THINK HE INSPIRED ME EVEN MORE

AS AN ADULT.

IT IS MY HONOR TO INDUCT THE

LEGENDARY STING.

I'M JUST AN ORDINARY GUY AND

GOD CHOSE TO DO EXTRAORDINARY

THINGS THROUGH ME.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

I HAD NO IDEA IN THOSE HUMBLE

BEGINNINGS THAT I WOULD HAVE A

LOT OF WRESTLERS WHO WOULD SAY,

YOU KNOW WHAT, I GOT INTO THIS

BUSINESS BECAUSE OF YOU.

ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THE

MOMENT I ACTUALLY SAID THAT I

WAS GOING TO RETIRE, I WAS

WAVERING ON WHETHER OR NOT I WAS

ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THAT.

AT THIS VERY MOMENT, I'M

GOING TO FINISH MY WRESTLING

CAREER UNDER THE WWE UMBRELLA.

AND I AM SO PROUD OF THAT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

I AM OFFICIALLY, OFFICIALLY

GOING TO RETIRE TONIGHT.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[FANS CHANTING]

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS

ISN'T GOOD-BYE.

IT'S JUST SEE YA LATER.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[MUSIC]

AND I SUPPOSE I PUT THOSE

GLASSES ON AT THE LAST MINUTE

AND GRABBED THE BASEBALL BAT,

THINKING WHO KNOWS, YOU KNOW, IF

EVERYTHING LINES UP JUST

RIGHT --

AND VINCE AND TRIPLE H AND

TAKER, STING, MAYBE WE COULD DO

THIS.

MAYBE WE COULD JUST DO A

LITTLE --

LET'S JUST DO A FACE-OFF, YOU

KNOW.

LET'S JUST, YOU KNOW --

LET'S GET YOU GUYS INVOLVED IN

THAT OR THAT, YOU KNOW.

OKAY, MAYBE I COULD DO THAT.

MAYBE I COULD DO THAT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW

AGAIN IF IT'S JUST EGO OR PRIDE

OR WHATEVER.

BUT I FEEL LIKE I COULD DO IT.

SO ALL THESE YEARS LATER, OH, MY

GOSH, IT'S INSANITY.

LIKE I SAID A WHILE AGO.

IT'S INSANITY.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

I GUESS I'M A PRO WRESTLER FOR

LIFE.

[MUSIC]