1
00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:07,317
You ain't true to no crew!
This is my crew.
2
00:00:07,341 --> 00:00:08,359
I'm true to the crew.
3
00:00:08,383 --> 00:00:09,652
You're gonna go down, you punk!
4
00:00:09,676 --> 00:00:12,947
Just like Macho Man,
you punk scab, rah!
5
00:00:12,971 --> 00:00:15,867
Wrestler Johnny K-9
was a complex man.
6
00:00:15,891 --> 00:00:18,536
In the ring, he played
a vicious heel.
7
00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,788
To his fellow wrestlers
in the locker room,
8
00:00:20,812 --> 00:00:23,333
he was a big-hearted teddy bear.
9
00:00:23,357 --> 00:00:26,461
But away from the ring,
he led a life of violence and
10
00:00:26,485 --> 00:00:29,088
mayhem that was shockingly real.
11
00:00:29,112 --> 00:00:32,050
I tried to give him advice
about not being in crime,
12
00:00:32,074 --> 00:00:36,262
to take full advantage
of the wrestling.
13
00:00:36,286 --> 00:00:37,972
He wouldn't listen.
14
00:00:37,996 --> 00:00:40,975
He could be laughing so hard
that you think he's gonna
15
00:00:40,999 --> 00:00:42,894
pass out, and the
next thing you know,
16
00:00:42,918 --> 00:00:44,312
he might have somebody
by the throat and
17
00:00:44,336 --> 00:00:46,064
you're thinking, okay,
I'm about to witness like
18
00:00:46,088 --> 00:00:48,316
a pretty heinous crime here.
19
00:00:48,340 --> 00:00:51,736
He fed an insatiable appetite
for power and infamy
20
00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:55,907
as a high-ranking member of the
Satan's Choice biker gang.
21
00:00:55,931 --> 00:00:58,451
Johnny was very power hungry.
22
00:00:58,475 --> 00:01:02,121
He wanted to rise to the
top as quickly as he can.
23
00:01:02,145 --> 00:01:05,458
Johnny K-9 is out on bail in
connection with charges
24
00:01:05,482 --> 00:01:07,502
he's facing thanks to
the bombing of the
25
00:01:07,526 --> 00:01:10,171
Sudbury Police Station.
26
00:01:10,195 --> 00:01:11,756
You're reading the newspaper
article and it's like,
27
00:01:11,780 --> 00:01:15,343
"Ah, yeah, that's Bruiser.
That's my guy."
28
00:01:15,367 --> 00:01:16,761
And they're like,
"Yeah, well, apparently
29
00:01:16,785 --> 00:01:19,097
he blew up a police station
in Sudbury, Ontario."
30
00:01:19,121 --> 00:01:21,099
It's just like... what?
31
00:01:21,123 --> 00:01:23,559
Double assassinations and
blowing up police stations,
32
00:01:23,583 --> 00:01:25,770
like, really?
33
00:01:25,794 --> 00:01:28,564
I just couldn't bring myself
to think that he's a
34
00:01:28,588 --> 00:01:31,484
bad person that deserves to
be punished for anything.
35
00:01:31,508 --> 00:01:34,654
That's what blows
everybody's mind.
36
00:01:34,678 --> 00:01:38,741
Both sides of his dual life
would ultimately implode,
37
00:01:38,765 --> 00:01:43,288
leaving a defeated and
broken man in the wake.
38
00:01:43,312 --> 00:01:45,248
He ...ed up.
39
00:01:45,272 --> 00:01:47,458
He ...ed up big time.
40
00:01:47,482 --> 00:01:53,256
♪
41
00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,968
(crowd chatter)
42
00:01:56,992 --> 00:01:59,095
On the offensive.
Oh, turned around,
43
00:01:59,119 --> 00:02:00,930
ducked underneath
that one, look out.
44
00:02:00,954 --> 00:02:02,473
- Ah!
- Oh!
45
00:02:02,497 --> 00:02:04,892
If you were a star in the
WWF in the mid to late 80s,
46
00:02:04,916 --> 00:02:07,061
chances are you probably
beat Johnny K-9
47
00:02:07,085 --> 00:02:08,438
somewhere along the way.
48
00:02:08,462 --> 00:02:10,940
K-9 down!
This one is over.
49
00:02:10,964 --> 00:02:15,236
I remember seeing him as
kind of a job guy on...
50
00:02:15,260 --> 00:02:19,365
WWF TV, probably,
in '85, '86, '87.
51
00:02:19,389 --> 00:02:20,908
So long, Johnny.
52
00:02:20,932 --> 00:02:23,036
Johnny K-9 was one
of those, you know,
53
00:02:23,060 --> 00:02:24,662
look, the term
offends some people.
54
00:02:24,686 --> 00:02:26,164
It doesn't offend me
'cause I used to do it,
55
00:02:26,188 --> 00:02:27,373
is jobbers, right.
56
00:02:27,397 --> 00:02:30,001
They're the guys that lose
on television to the stars.
57
00:02:30,025 --> 00:02:31,169
(match bell)
58
00:02:31,193 --> 00:02:34,213
Hacksaw made quick
work of Johnny K-9.
59
00:02:34,237 --> 00:02:37,258
Television was the opportunity
to get the stars over.
60
00:02:37,282 --> 00:02:39,719
So, the big-name stars -
the Hulk Hogan's,
61
00:02:39,743 --> 00:02:42,555
the Randy Savage's -
have to beat somebody.
62
00:02:42,579 --> 00:02:45,641
WWF would hire local people
at all the TV tapings and
63
00:02:45,665 --> 00:02:47,018
they would come in and you
would be the guy
64
00:02:47,042 --> 00:02:48,936
that gets beat, the job.
65
00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:50,271
You're not under contract so,
66
00:02:50,295 --> 00:02:52,065
you got labeled as a jobber.
67
00:02:52,089 --> 00:02:55,276
Young John K-9,
something lacking.
68
00:02:55,300 --> 00:02:57,820
He's like caught in The
Twilight Zone or something.
69
00:02:57,844 --> 00:02:59,697
If you were a wrestling fan
watching WWF,
70
00:02:59,721 --> 00:03:01,366
you knew who Johnny K-9 was.
71
00:03:01,390 --> 00:03:03,701
You knew he was gonna drop
to his knees and do that X.
72
00:03:03,725 --> 00:03:05,661
What is that thing he
does before each match?
73
00:03:05,685 --> 00:03:06,954
- Crosses his arms?
- You got me.
74
00:03:06,978 --> 00:03:09,832
- Significant of something.
- You got me.
75
00:03:09,856 --> 00:03:12,293
He loved wrestling,
and was known for that.
76
00:03:12,317 --> 00:03:15,505
But locally, he was also
known as this tough kid
77
00:03:15,529 --> 00:03:18,800
who'd grown up on the
wrong side of the law.
78
00:03:18,824 --> 00:03:21,511
He made money, legally.
79
00:03:21,535 --> 00:03:23,805
And then he dipped
his foot in crime so,
80
00:03:23,829 --> 00:03:26,391
there was this balance of...
81
00:03:26,415 --> 00:03:29,727
you know, legal and
illegal activities.
82
00:03:29,751 --> 00:03:31,062
This is Johnny K-9.
83
00:03:31,086 --> 00:03:33,523
Is there a reason for that name?
84
00:03:33,547 --> 00:03:36,484
It's a long story.
I used to work at a bar.
85
00:03:36,508 --> 00:03:39,862
One time I got arrested.
I had a assault police charge.
86
00:03:39,886 --> 00:03:42,865
And, they threw me in
the back of a paddy wagon,
87
00:03:42,889 --> 00:03:44,742
and I was looking, I saw
a dog car come up,
88
00:03:44,766 --> 00:03:46,119
and I seen K-9. I go,
that's the name
89
00:03:46,143 --> 00:03:48,538
I'm gonna use when I go in the
ring 'cause I'm a dog.
90
00:03:48,562 --> 00:03:51,749
I know he had been
to jail and prison.
91
00:03:51,773 --> 00:03:54,168
'Cause, when I met him,
he had just been released.
92
00:03:54,192 --> 00:04:00,258
♪
93
00:04:00,282 --> 00:04:04,137
My name is Tracy Edwards and
I was married to Johnny K-9.
94
00:04:04,161 --> 00:04:09,142
I met him in 1993 in
Hamilton, Ontario.
95
00:04:09,166 --> 00:04:15,189
I was an exotic dancer,
doing a rollerblading show.
96
00:04:15,213 --> 00:04:16,858
And, the thing with Johnny was,
97
00:04:16,882 --> 00:04:20,194
when he walked into a bar,
the whole establishment
98
00:04:20,218 --> 00:04:21,904
stopped what they were doing.
99
00:04:21,928 --> 00:04:24,115
And that blew me away.
I was onstage and
100
00:04:24,139 --> 00:04:26,492
I could just see the way
the whole bar changed.
101
00:04:26,516 --> 00:04:29,829
And I looked over and,
he just looked at me.
102
00:04:29,853 --> 00:04:32,999
And I was like, whoa.
103
00:04:33,023 --> 00:04:36,252
And, that was it.
104
00:04:36,276 --> 00:04:39,172
From the moment I
looked at him...
105
00:04:39,196 --> 00:04:41,257
I knew we would be together.
106
00:04:41,281 --> 00:04:45,470
♪
107
00:04:45,494 --> 00:04:48,222
Weighing 242 pounds...
108
00:04:48,246 --> 00:04:53,102
After gigs dry up for Johnny
at regional WWF TV tapings,
109
00:04:53,126 --> 00:04:54,520
he pursues stardom on
110
00:04:54,544 --> 00:04:56,189
the independent
wrestling circuit.
111
00:04:56,213 --> 00:04:58,065
K-9 follows it with an elbow.
112
00:04:58,089 --> 00:05:01,569
I first met Johnny K-9,
it was in Chatham, Ontario.
113
00:05:01,593 --> 00:05:03,863
It was a show for
an older wrestler
114
00:05:03,887 --> 00:05:06,449
by the name of Ricky Bolton.
115
00:05:06,473 --> 00:05:08,284
I'm Scott D'Amore,
Executive Vice President
116
00:05:08,308 --> 00:05:10,495
for Impact Wrestling,
and I was a long time
117
00:05:10,519 --> 00:05:13,331
professional wrestler and
friend of Johnny K-9's.
118
00:05:13,355 --> 00:05:15,708
I saw it on the card that
was posted outside in the
119
00:05:15,732 --> 00:05:18,503
hallway that I was wrestling...
At that point he was,
120
00:05:18,527 --> 00:05:20,588
he was K-9 Dog of War.
121
00:05:20,612 --> 00:05:22,465
But I knew he was Johnny K-9.
122
00:05:22,489 --> 00:05:24,258
And I hadn't seen him since his,
123
00:05:24,282 --> 00:05:25,927
his WWF days.
124
00:05:25,951 --> 00:05:28,179
And then I walked into
the locker room and,
125
00:05:28,203 --> 00:05:31,432
I see, I'll call it the new,
improved Johnny K-9, right.
126
00:05:31,456 --> 00:05:34,727
This isn't the 220 pound
Johnny K-9.
127
00:05:34,751 --> 00:05:36,938
This guy is muscle
on top of muscle.
128
00:05:36,962 --> 00:05:39,440
He's not that lean
bodybuilder muscle,
129
00:05:39,464 --> 00:05:41,484
he's that big, thick,
like I'm gonna
130
00:05:41,508 --> 00:05:43,819
cave somebody's skull in muscle.
131
00:05:43,843 --> 00:05:47,073
And he had the Fu Manchu.
He had the tassel of hair.
132
00:05:47,097 --> 00:05:48,783
And he's got, like,
the gym shorts and
133
00:05:48,807 --> 00:05:50,535
he's got the flip flops.
134
00:05:50,559 --> 00:05:52,161
And he was just
sitting back and he's like,
135
00:05:52,185 --> 00:05:54,330
"Hey, kid, yeah,
it's me and you tonight.
136
00:05:54,354 --> 00:05:56,415
Yeah, me and you.
But it'll be good."
137
00:05:56,439 --> 00:06:00,253
And I mean, I just about
shit my pants right there.
138
00:06:00,277 --> 00:06:02,255
♪
139
00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:04,340
And, we had a good match,
and that's what led to me
140
00:06:04,364 --> 00:06:06,509
getting booked all the
time in the US with him.
141
00:06:06,533 --> 00:06:08,427
[Tracy]
Johnny in the ring, to me,
142
00:06:08,451 --> 00:06:11,264
was just unbelievable to watch.
143
00:06:11,288 --> 00:06:13,015
He'd get in the ring
and start swinging
144
00:06:13,039 --> 00:06:15,351
his head around,
doing this thing.
145
00:06:15,375 --> 00:06:18,020
And the eyes would
be bulged out and,
146
00:06:18,044 --> 00:06:20,398
he'd be screaming at everybody.
147
00:06:20,422 --> 00:06:21,566
You're all scabs!
148
00:06:21,590 --> 00:06:25,361
Really coming across like scary.
149
00:06:25,385 --> 00:06:28,322
Johnny K-9 was one of the
toughest guys out there.
150
00:06:28,346 --> 00:06:30,157
(crowd chatter)
151
00:06:30,181 --> 00:06:32,785
He told the guys
all the time, "Hit me.
152
00:06:32,809 --> 00:06:34,662
I don't care.
I want blood."
153
00:06:34,686 --> 00:06:36,789
(crowd shouts)
Oh!
154
00:06:36,813 --> 00:06:38,499
"If there's no ing blood,
155
00:06:38,523 --> 00:06:41,085
then we're doing it again.
You gotta get blood."
156
00:06:41,109 --> 00:06:43,921
Come and fight a real man!
157
00:06:43,945 --> 00:06:46,215
He always wanted to be
tougher than everyone
158
00:06:46,239 --> 00:06:48,217
around him, because of
his childhood.
159
00:06:48,241 --> 00:06:51,846
He grew up in a
very abusive home.
160
00:06:51,870 --> 00:06:55,933
At Christmas time, his dad
would get so drunk and
161
00:06:55,957 --> 00:06:58,561
beat his mother and the kids.
162
00:06:58,585 --> 00:07:01,731
He would chase them
around with a broom.
163
00:07:01,755 --> 00:07:03,774
He...
164
00:07:03,798 --> 00:07:06,819
was 5 years old and
he was so scared.
165
00:07:06,843 --> 00:07:10,197
And he would climb his
little body under the steel
166
00:07:10,221 --> 00:07:13,826
bed frame and hold on with
his little fingers and his feet,
167
00:07:13,850 --> 00:07:17,413
so when his dad went with
the broom under the bed,
168
00:07:17,437 --> 00:07:21,959
he couldn't get his little body.
169
00:07:21,983 --> 00:07:24,670
Johnny's traumatic
upbringing would eventually
170
00:07:24,694 --> 00:07:29,133
fuel his tough guy persona
in and out of the ring.
171
00:07:29,157 --> 00:07:32,261
You never quite knew when
that switch was gonna go off.
172
00:07:32,285 --> 00:07:35,097
One time, me and him
were at a show in Ohio.
173
00:07:35,121 --> 00:07:37,767
We wrestled each other and,
when you're young,
174
00:07:37,791 --> 00:07:39,518
you're always scared to
check your envelope 'cause
175
00:07:39,542 --> 00:07:41,520
back then, you always
got paid in cash.
176
00:07:41,544 --> 00:07:44,023
I didn't want to disrespect
the promoter by
177
00:07:44,047 --> 00:07:45,566
checking the money
in front of him.
178
00:07:45,590 --> 00:07:46,734
So, you just go, "Oh, thank you.
179
00:07:46,758 --> 00:07:48,569
Thank you so much."
Well, I get in the truck,
180
00:07:48,593 --> 00:07:50,988
I look at my envelope
and I'm like, ah...
181
00:07:51,012 --> 00:07:52,948
And K-9's, "What's wrong?"
I'm like, "Nah, nothing."
182
00:07:52,972 --> 00:07:56,118
He's like, "Did he short you?"
And I go, "Yeah."
183
00:07:56,142 --> 00:07:59,747
I no longer get the words
out of my mouth and he's gone.
184
00:07:59,771 --> 00:08:01,999
And for a 300-pound man,
he's moving.
185
00:08:02,023 --> 00:08:03,751
And I'm chasing after him
'cause I don't know
186
00:08:03,775 --> 00:08:05,920
what he's gonna do.
187
00:08:05,944 --> 00:08:08,589
By the time I catch up to him
getting in the locker room,
188
00:08:08,613 --> 00:08:10,883
he has the promoter
by the throat,
189
00:08:10,907 --> 00:08:13,177
and he's holding him
against the wall.
190
00:08:13,201 --> 00:08:16,472
The guy has gotta be
18 inches off the ground.
191
00:08:16,496 --> 00:08:20,184
And it's gritted teeth,
"You're gonna short this kid
192
00:08:20,208 --> 00:08:23,145
after he got in the ring
and wrestled me!
193
00:08:23,169 --> 00:08:24,772
You want to get in the
ing ring and
194
00:08:24,796 --> 00:08:27,191
you wanna take ...ing
shots from me, hah, punk?
195
00:08:27,215 --> 00:08:29,318
You give that
ing kid his money."
196
00:08:29,342 --> 00:08:31,112
And I'm sitting there
going, oh, my god,
197
00:08:31,136 --> 00:08:32,196
like, we're gonna get arrested.
198
00:08:32,220 --> 00:08:33,948
We're in another country.
199
00:08:33,972 --> 00:08:35,449
He scared the hell
out of that promoter.
200
00:08:35,473 --> 00:08:36,951
When he let him go,
he dropped to his knees,
201
00:08:36,975 --> 00:08:38,744
gasping for air.
202
00:08:38,768 --> 00:08:42,289
And this guy's just
throwing money at me.
203
00:08:42,313 --> 00:08:44,792
We get in the truck and
K-9's got that big smile
204
00:08:44,816 --> 00:08:46,752
on his face and he's
feeling good about himself,
205
00:08:46,776 --> 00:08:48,713
and he goes, "Kid, I don't
think that guy's gonna
206
00:08:48,737 --> 00:08:50,756
short you on money again."
207
00:08:50,780 --> 00:08:53,175
And I'm like,
"No, no, but Johnny,
208
00:08:53,199 --> 00:08:56,470
I'm also pretty sure that guy's
never gonna book us again."
209
00:08:56,494 --> 00:08:58,931
And sure enough, he never did.
210
00:08:58,955 --> 00:09:01,225
This is a really big,
tough-looking guy,
211
00:09:01,249 --> 00:09:03,144
and a lot of people feared him.
212
00:09:03,168 --> 00:09:07,189
But to me, he was a
gentle soul, you know.
213
00:09:07,213 --> 00:09:10,651
He was like this
standup comedian type guy.
214
00:09:10,675 --> 00:09:13,904
Like, he just always
made me laugh.
215
00:09:13,928 --> 00:09:17,783
He would order a pizza,
and answer the door naked.
216
00:09:17,807 --> 00:09:18,951
I'm like, what?
217
00:09:18,975 --> 00:09:20,911
Put on some
underwear or something.
218
00:09:20,935 --> 00:09:23,873
"No, no, no, watch this."
219
00:09:23,897 --> 00:09:26,834
The door would
open and 300-pounds,
220
00:09:26,858 --> 00:09:31,630
rock solid muscle,
completely naked.
221
00:09:31,654 --> 00:09:33,466
And the pizza guy would be like,
222
00:09:33,490 --> 00:09:36,385
"Um, yeah, that'll be $20,
please, sir."
223
00:09:36,409 --> 00:09:39,054
And I would laugh so hard.
224
00:09:39,078 --> 00:09:42,224
(chuckles)
He was so funny.
225
00:09:42,248 --> 00:09:44,310
I think Johnny K-9 needed to
be the center of attention
226
00:09:44,334 --> 00:09:47,354
in some ways, and he
loved all eyes on him.
227
00:09:47,378 --> 00:09:51,108
Whatever he had to do
to make the boys laugh.
228
00:09:51,132 --> 00:09:52,985
There's this place
in Taylor, Michigan
229
00:09:53,009 --> 00:09:55,696
where we used to
wrestle for MTW.
230
00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:57,072
Midwest Territorial Wrestling,
231
00:09:57,096 --> 00:09:59,116
and we have one hell
of a card here tonight.
232
00:09:59,140 --> 00:10:02,036
There was a band that was
gonna play before the show.
233
00:10:02,060 --> 00:10:03,537
K-9 walks up and,
of course, he's like,
234
00:10:03,561 --> 00:10:05,539
"Hey, buddy, you mind
if I play the drums?"
235
00:10:05,563 --> 00:10:06,707
So, he gets on there.
236
00:10:06,731 --> 00:10:09,001
We do not believe he can
play the drums at all.
237
00:10:09,025 --> 00:10:11,128
He starts actually
playing the drums and he's,
238
00:10:11,152 --> 00:10:12,671
he's not half bad.
239
00:10:12,695 --> 00:10:14,840
And he's just loving it 'cause
everybody's eating it up.
240
00:10:14,864 --> 00:10:17,676
♪ (drumming) ♪
241
00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:20,304
Then he gets on the
microphone and
242
00:10:20,328 --> 00:10:23,098
starts singing,
and of all his skills,
243
00:10:23,122 --> 00:10:25,142
singing is not one of them.
244
00:10:25,166 --> 00:10:27,394
♪ I SPENT THE
LAST YEAR ♪
245
00:10:27,418 --> 00:10:30,648
♪ ON ROCKY
MOUNTAIN WAY ♪
246
00:10:30,672 --> 00:10:34,026
Wrestlers are falling off
of chairs laughing so hard.
247
00:10:34,050 --> 00:10:35,820
And the more we
laugh and put it over,
248
00:10:35,844 --> 00:10:37,321
the more he's gonna do it.
249
00:10:37,345 --> 00:10:40,866
(microphone feedback)
250
00:10:40,890 --> 00:10:41,951
I can sing some shit.
251
00:10:41,975 --> 00:10:44,620
And, that's actually the,
the territory or the company
252
00:10:44,644 --> 00:10:46,247
where we were wrestling
the night that
253
00:10:46,271 --> 00:10:49,166
Jim Cornette discovered K-9.
254
00:10:49,190 --> 00:10:51,627
I'm Jim Cornette. I've been
a promoter, matchmaker,
255
00:10:51,651 --> 00:10:53,879
announcer, manager in
professional wrestling for
256
00:10:53,903 --> 00:10:57,174
40 years, and I was the
promoter and matchmaker
257
00:10:57,198 --> 00:10:59,009
for Smoky Mountain Wrestling.
258
00:10:59,033 --> 00:11:00,845
Smoky Mountain Wrestling
was one of the last of the
259
00:11:00,869 --> 00:11:03,347
pro wrestling territories
in the United States.
260
00:11:03,371 --> 00:11:08,310
It was started specifically
to be an old-time territory
261
00:11:08,334 --> 00:11:10,145
with southern wrestling feel.
262
00:11:10,169 --> 00:11:14,149
And to do that, we not only
needed established wrestlers
263
00:11:14,173 --> 00:11:16,694
that the people knew,
that were stars to them,
264
00:11:16,718 --> 00:11:20,030
but we also needed to
constantly find new names,
265
00:11:20,054 --> 00:11:23,367
new wrestlers, new ways
to make matches.
266
00:11:23,391 --> 00:11:24,702
(cheering)
267
00:11:24,726 --> 00:11:25,744
The team that I was managing,
268
00:11:25,768 --> 00:11:26,954
the Heavenly Bodies and I,
269
00:11:26,978 --> 00:11:29,123
were booked on an
event in Michigan.
270
00:11:29,147 --> 00:11:31,834
When we got there and saw
the guys in the locker room,
271
00:11:31,858 --> 00:11:35,588
I saw this big,
bald-headed, jacked up guy.
272
00:11:35,612 --> 00:11:38,757
He looked like a turn of the
century carnival strongman.
273
00:11:38,781 --> 00:11:41,218
He had a big,
round head. Bald.
274
00:11:41,242 --> 00:11:45,097
These big bulging eyes that,
he could make that face.
275
00:11:45,121 --> 00:11:48,058
He had this giant tattoo
across his stomach,
276
00:11:48,082 --> 00:11:50,436
"True To The Crew".
277
00:11:50,460 --> 00:11:53,939
I said, "There's gotta be
some way that we can bring
278
00:11:53,963 --> 00:11:57,484
this guy to Tennessee where
they've never seen him before
279
00:11:57,508 --> 00:11:59,904
and make a believable
animal out of him.
280
00:11:59,928 --> 00:12:02,656
We need a heel.
We need a badass."
281
00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:04,450
I sat down and talked to him
in the locker room that night.
282
00:12:04,474 --> 00:12:07,286
I said, "Would you be
interested in coming to
283
00:12:07,310 --> 00:12:08,621
Tennessee and working for me,
284
00:12:08,645 --> 00:12:11,498
3, 4 days a week if we can
come to some agreement?"
285
00:12:11,522 --> 00:12:14,793
He said, "Yeah, Jimmy!
I'm all over it!"
286
00:12:14,817 --> 00:12:17,046
We asked him one time
in the locker room,
287
00:12:17,070 --> 00:12:19,006
the tattoo, True To The Crew.
288
00:12:19,030 --> 00:12:22,176
He said, "Oh, guys,
I was in jail one time,
289
00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,219
and all of the guys in jail,
we decided we were gonna
290
00:12:24,243 --> 00:12:27,348
get that tattoo
when we got out."
291
00:12:27,372 --> 00:12:29,725
And I said, "Well,
once you got out of jail,
292
00:12:29,749 --> 00:12:32,937
you know, is anybody
gonna check?"
293
00:12:32,961 --> 00:12:34,730
"No, Jimmy,
you don't understand.
294
00:12:34,754 --> 00:12:36,815
These guys, you say
you're gonna do something,
295
00:12:36,839 --> 00:12:38,233
you do it."
296
00:12:38,257 --> 00:12:41,362
That was the first time
that I got an inkling that
297
00:12:41,386 --> 00:12:44,198
Bruiser had a checkered past.
298
00:12:44,222 --> 00:12:47,826
I don't know if Bruiser
chose a life of crime or
299
00:12:47,850 --> 00:12:50,079
if the life of crime
just chose him.
300
00:12:50,103 --> 00:12:52,021
♪
301
00:12:56,317 --> 00:13:00,089
After a fortuitous encounter
backstage with Johnny K-9,
302
00:13:00,113 --> 00:13:02,591
promoter Jim Cornette
prepares for Johnny's
303
00:13:02,615 --> 00:13:04,927
arrival at Smoky
Mountain Wrestling,
304
00:13:04,951 --> 00:13:06,387
in Tennessee.
305
00:13:06,411 --> 00:13:07,763
I didn't think that
Johnny K-9 was
306
00:13:07,787 --> 00:13:09,223
a great wrestling name.
307
00:13:09,247 --> 00:13:11,350
I thought, what can
you call this guy?
308
00:13:11,374 --> 00:13:13,811
Well, Dick the Bruiser was
one of the most famous
309
00:13:13,835 --> 00:13:16,271
major box office
attractions in wrestling.
310
00:13:16,295 --> 00:13:18,732
When his promotion
was in its dying days,
311
00:13:18,756 --> 00:13:22,069
had a television show
called Bruiser Bedlam.
312
00:13:22,093 --> 00:13:25,239
Jim rebranded a lot of guys.
313
00:13:25,263 --> 00:13:26,448
It's like The Thrill Seekers,
314
00:13:26,472 --> 00:13:28,450
Jericho and I had
wrestled as Sudden Impact.
315
00:13:28,474 --> 00:13:30,661
But, to him I think
The Thrill Seekers would
316
00:13:30,685 --> 00:13:32,037
resonate better
with his audience.
317
00:13:32,061 --> 00:13:34,039
We're gonna rock America.
318
00:13:34,063 --> 00:13:35,666
I'm Lance Storm.
319
00:13:35,690 --> 00:13:38,627
Spent time in Smoky
Mountain Wrestling in '94.
320
00:13:38,651 --> 00:13:40,129
Lance Storm and Chris Jericho,
321
00:13:40,153 --> 00:13:41,880
The Thrill Seekers!
322
00:13:41,904 --> 00:13:42,965
And the moves you're seeing now,
323
00:13:42,989 --> 00:13:45,718
you don't see many American
wrestlers making these moves.
324
00:13:45,742 --> 00:13:47,219
These are international moves.
325
00:13:47,243 --> 00:13:48,929
Cornette's like, "Oh, I'm
bringing this new guy in,"
326
00:13:48,953 --> 00:13:51,015
and it was Bruiser Bedlam.
327
00:13:51,039 --> 00:13:52,433
And, everybody's going,
"Who's that?"
328
00:13:52,457 --> 00:13:53,851
"Oh, he used to
be Johnny K-9."
329
00:13:53,875 --> 00:13:55,060
I'm like, "Okay..."
330
00:13:55,084 --> 00:13:58,355
I remember, he was on his
way down to the States.
331
00:13:58,379 --> 00:14:00,107
It was a really cold day and
332
00:14:00,131 --> 00:14:01,942
he was driving a
jeep at the time.
333
00:14:01,966 --> 00:14:04,194
He had his tank top on
with no coat.
334
00:14:04,218 --> 00:14:07,031
I go, "What are you doing?"
He says, "Don't worry.
335
00:14:07,055 --> 00:14:09,533
It's gonna be so
hot so ...in' fast,
336
00:14:09,557 --> 00:14:10,993
I don't give a shit."
337
00:14:11,017 --> 00:14:13,245
And he would pull up that
hill in that open-air jeep,
338
00:14:13,269 --> 00:14:15,330
no matter how cold it was.
339
00:14:15,354 --> 00:14:17,499
Wearing the most
minimal of shirts.
340
00:14:17,523 --> 00:14:20,961
Maybe like a
string gym tank top.
341
00:14:20,985 --> 00:14:23,756
And he's this gigantic
dude in the tank top,
342
00:14:23,780 --> 00:14:25,257
shorts, and flip flops.
343
00:14:25,281 --> 00:14:27,676
You're just like, oh,
my god, who is this guy?
344
00:14:27,700 --> 00:14:30,137
You know, is he gonna be
a crazed maniac or what?
345
00:14:30,161 --> 00:14:31,805
But, 10 seconds of meeting him,
346
00:14:31,829 --> 00:14:32,890
he's just like, "Hey,
buddy, how you doing?"
347
00:14:32,914 --> 00:14:34,183
And it's like, "Hey!"
348
00:14:34,207 --> 00:14:35,684
And, you know,
his demeanour was,
349
00:14:35,708 --> 00:14:38,062
you know, just big teddy bear.
350
00:14:38,086 --> 00:14:41,774
To cement Bruiser Bedlam
as his new monster heel,
351
00:14:41,798 --> 00:14:44,276
Cornette books him in a
main event match against the
352
00:14:44,300 --> 00:14:48,363
promotion's top babyface,
Bullet Bob Armstrong.
353
00:14:48,387 --> 00:14:51,200
His first night in, we had
a handicap match against
354
00:14:51,224 --> 00:14:54,703
Bullet Bob Armstrong,
who was the all-time legend
355
00:14:54,727 --> 00:14:56,288
in wrestling of that area.
356
00:14:56,312 --> 00:14:57,790
(cheering)
357
00:14:57,814 --> 00:14:58,999
And Bruiser beat him.
358
00:14:59,023 --> 00:15:01,335
The cover, 1, 2, 3!
359
00:15:01,359 --> 00:15:03,796
And people were like,
"He beat Bob Armstrong?"
360
00:15:03,820 --> 00:15:06,256
Nobody beat Bob Armstrong.
361
00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,551
That instantly gave him a little
credibility in their eyes.
362
00:15:09,575 --> 00:15:12,096
We did videos with him
where he could drive a
363
00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,140
10-penny nail through a board
with his bare hand.
364
00:15:15,164 --> 00:15:16,517
One time, he said,
365
00:15:16,541 --> 00:15:18,811
"Jimmy, I can break a beer
bottle over my head."
366
00:15:18,835 --> 00:15:21,438
"Okay." So, we got
the camera rolling,
367
00:15:21,462 --> 00:15:23,107
he's got the bottle
in his hand, and he's...
368
00:15:23,131 --> 00:15:24,483
Bam!
369
00:15:24,507 --> 00:15:26,110
It didn't break.
370
00:15:26,134 --> 00:15:28,320
I'm like, "Bruiser, you
know we can gimmick that."
371
00:15:28,344 --> 00:15:32,116
"No, I, I can do it."
Second take, bam!
372
00:15:32,140 --> 00:15:35,494
Now the knot's coming up
on his head. "I got it."
373
00:15:35,518 --> 00:15:37,579
Bam!
Now he's bleeding.
374
00:15:37,603 --> 00:15:39,289
I took the bottle and baked it,
375
00:15:39,313 --> 00:15:41,792
put it in some cold water,
let it crack a little bit.
376
00:15:41,816 --> 00:15:43,627
And handed it to him,
said, "Now break it."
377
00:15:43,651 --> 00:15:45,170
Yah, yah!
378
00:15:45,194 --> 00:15:46,547
This is what I'm about!
379
00:15:46,571 --> 00:15:48,298
You got a guy
bleeding on television,
380
00:15:48,322 --> 00:15:50,217
screaming,
"I'm gonna kill you."
381
00:15:50,241 --> 00:15:51,325
I believed him.
382
00:15:56,998 --> 00:15:59,309
I don't know. (laughs)
383
00:15:59,333 --> 00:16:01,895
Johnny K-9 grew up in a
rough neighbourhood
384
00:16:01,919 --> 00:16:05,649
where criminality was
another option.
385
00:16:05,673 --> 00:16:07,359
♪
386
00:16:07,383 --> 00:16:08,694
My name is Bill Dunphy.
387
00:16:08,718 --> 00:16:13,240
I am a now retired crime
and justice journalist.
388
00:16:13,264 --> 00:16:16,243
Hamilton was an
industrial powerhouse.
389
00:16:16,267 --> 00:16:19,663
And in the 70s and 80s,
that has really declined,
390
00:16:19,687 --> 00:16:23,167
so the opportunities for
someone of Johnny's age
391
00:16:23,191 --> 00:16:25,335
were very different than
they were 10 years,
392
00:16:25,359 --> 00:16:27,045
15 years earlier.
393
00:16:27,069 --> 00:16:29,506
Johnny grew up borderline poor,
394
00:16:29,530 --> 00:16:30,674
barely making it.
395
00:16:30,698 --> 00:16:33,385
So, the wrestling, you know,
he made a bit of money,
396
00:16:33,409 --> 00:16:35,512
but not near as
much as he wanted.
397
00:16:35,536 --> 00:16:39,016
So, that's why he
worked for a family,
398
00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:40,601
I'm not gonna say the name.
399
00:16:40,625 --> 00:16:42,728
The Gravelle family,
400
00:16:42,752 --> 00:16:45,606
which was a big
family in Hamilton.
401
00:16:45,630 --> 00:16:48,692
My name's Len Isnor.
I was a Detective
402
00:16:48,716 --> 00:16:51,612
Staff Sergeant with the
Ontario Provincial Police.
403
00:16:51,636 --> 00:16:54,907
He had acquaintances
among all the
404
00:16:54,931 --> 00:16:57,492
traditional organized
crime families.
405
00:16:57,516 --> 00:17:01,079
People who had debts would
give a percentage of the debt
406
00:17:01,103 --> 00:17:04,416
to somebody like Johnny
K-9 and he would take
407
00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,377
a profit off and he
would collect the money.
408
00:17:07,401 --> 00:17:09,671
And it was a lot easier
for Johnny to do it because
409
00:17:09,695 --> 00:17:12,299
basically of his appearance.
410
00:17:12,323 --> 00:17:15,260
A few times he'd come home
with blood on his shoes,
411
00:17:15,284 --> 00:17:17,095
wash his hands.
412
00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:20,098
And that was one of the
ways he made his cash.
413
00:17:20,122 --> 00:17:23,644
Despite his success as
a low-level enforcer,
414
00:17:23,668 --> 00:17:27,314
Johnny has even bigger
dreams for his life of crime.
415
00:17:27,338 --> 00:17:32,319
He told me his oldest brother
was with the Red Devils.
416
00:17:32,343 --> 00:17:35,405
And he would always remember
stories of when he was a kid
417
00:17:35,429 --> 00:17:38,325
and his brother and all his
bros would pull up on
418
00:17:38,349 --> 00:17:40,744
their Harley's and pull
into the driveway.
419
00:17:40,768 --> 00:17:43,830
And, he always wanted
to be with a bike gang.
420
00:17:43,854 --> 00:17:45,540
And that's what happened.
421
00:17:45,564 --> 00:17:48,418
He started hanging out
with Satan's Choice.
422
00:17:48,442 --> 00:17:51,630
Johnny rapidly integrates
himself into the world of
423
00:17:51,654 --> 00:17:53,840
outlaw biker gangs when he joins
424
00:17:53,864 --> 00:17:56,426
one of Canada's most
notorious groups,
425
00:17:56,450 --> 00:17:59,346
the Satan's Choice
Motorcycle Club.
426
00:17:59,370 --> 00:18:02,307
I guess they proposed the
offer of him opening up a
427
00:18:02,331 --> 00:18:05,644
chapter in Hamilton and
he jumped right on it.
428
00:18:05,668 --> 00:18:09,564
Johnny was right away
elected as the president and
429
00:18:09,588 --> 00:18:11,233
he ran the show there.
430
00:18:11,257 --> 00:18:13,026
♪
431
00:18:13,050 --> 00:18:15,195
Mark Carlos is my name.
432
00:18:15,219 --> 00:18:19,157
I knew Johnny from Satan's
Choice Motorcycle Club.
433
00:18:19,181 --> 00:18:24,663
Nobody that I know of
ever came up that fast.
434
00:18:24,687 --> 00:18:28,166
Even though I didn't like it,
personally, I understood.
435
00:18:28,190 --> 00:18:33,046
Because if, if you wanted
to look at the big picture,
436
00:18:33,070 --> 00:18:35,257
the big picture's money.
437
00:18:35,281 --> 00:18:39,303
When people hear,
in that drug crime world,
438
00:18:39,327 --> 00:18:43,223
you got Johnny K-9
backing you...
439
00:18:43,247 --> 00:18:44,349
You make more money.
440
00:18:44,373 --> 00:18:46,518
People are in' scared, right.
441
00:18:46,542 --> 00:18:49,855
So, it was easy
for him to make 20,
442
00:18:49,879 --> 00:18:54,359
30 grand in a matter of
20 ...in' minutes, no joke.
443
00:18:54,383 --> 00:18:56,486
Well, Johnny had heat
written all over him.
444
00:18:56,510 --> 00:18:59,281
You know, extorting bars
and restaurants
445
00:18:59,305 --> 00:19:03,118
in your home town.
The cops are called.
446
00:19:03,142 --> 00:19:06,163
It was decided that some
attention has to go
447
00:19:06,187 --> 00:19:07,956
on this new chapter.
448
00:19:07,980 --> 00:19:11,043
So, I was assigned to Hamilton.
449
00:19:11,067 --> 00:19:16,882
And, the Johnny
K-9 investigation.
450
00:19:16,906 --> 00:19:20,510
He was making a lot of money
illegally at that point,
451
00:19:20,534 --> 00:19:22,137
but he loved wrestling.
452
00:19:22,161 --> 00:19:25,098
He'd go and
wrestle for 200 bucks.
453
00:19:25,122 --> 00:19:28,393
Johnny's two-sided lifestyle
was never more evident than
454
00:19:28,417 --> 00:19:31,063
we when he left behind his
biker gang duties to
455
00:19:31,087 --> 00:19:34,107
wrestle down south for
Smoky Mountain.
456
00:19:34,131 --> 00:19:36,818
It was there that he would
find himself crashing
457
00:19:36,842 --> 00:19:38,779
at a famous flophouse.
458
00:19:38,803 --> 00:19:41,615
Yeah, the famed or
I guess infamous, more,
459
00:19:41,639 --> 00:19:43,283
the Smoky Mountain flophouse.
460
00:19:43,307 --> 00:19:45,786
There'd be 4 or 5 of 'em
living there at any one time.
461
00:19:45,810 --> 00:19:47,871
Chris Jericho was
flopping there for a while.
462
00:19:47,895 --> 00:19:49,039
Some of the other guys
that were just
463
00:19:49,063 --> 00:19:50,874
starting out in wrestling.
464
00:19:50,898 --> 00:19:53,502
And then, suddenly, whenever
Bruiser was in town,
465
00:19:53,526 --> 00:19:56,129
he just decided to live at...
466
00:19:56,153 --> 00:19:57,547
my house.
467
00:19:57,571 --> 00:19:59,007
He goes, "Hey, buddy,
if I'm gonna live here,
468
00:19:59,031 --> 00:20:00,384
I'm gonna do my share,
hey, buddy."
469
00:20:00,408 --> 00:20:05,055
So, in his mind, his share
was washing the dishes.
470
00:20:05,079 --> 00:20:07,599
I went into the cupboard
to grab a plate and
471
00:20:07,623 --> 00:20:09,017
I pulled a plate out,
there's all these,
472
00:20:09,041 --> 00:20:12,687
like, pieces of food
kind of crusted on and...
473
00:20:12,711 --> 00:20:15,357
I watch the next time
Bruiser does the dishes,
474
00:20:15,381 --> 00:20:18,777
and Bruiser's idea of doing
the dishes was just
475
00:20:18,801 --> 00:20:21,738
holding the dish
underneath the water,
476
00:20:21,762 --> 00:20:25,450
and then, going like
this and putting it back.
477
00:20:25,474 --> 00:20:28,453
The dish is clean.
So, the next time he went,
478
00:20:28,477 --> 00:20:29,955
"Hey, buddy, I'll do..."
"Dude, it's fine.
479
00:20:29,979 --> 00:20:32,165
It's fine, you know, you're
the guest in the house.
480
00:20:32,189 --> 00:20:34,501
You want to do your part,
take the garage out,"
481
00:20:34,525 --> 00:20:37,170
or whatever, you know.
He was a good roommate
482
00:20:37,194 --> 00:20:39,214
as far as someone
to hang out with.
483
00:20:39,238 --> 00:20:41,967
As far as contributing anything
to the living situation,
484
00:20:41,991 --> 00:20:43,969
absolutely not.
But, as a person,
485
00:20:43,993 --> 00:20:46,430
he was always a lot of fun.
486
00:20:46,454 --> 00:20:48,974
The first month or so in
Smoky Mountain Wrestling,
487
00:20:48,998 --> 00:20:52,227
we basically put Bruiser in
with all of the guys that
488
00:20:52,251 --> 00:20:56,606
understood what to do
to get a monster over.
489
00:20:56,630 --> 00:20:58,191
We were having a big event at
490
00:20:58,215 --> 00:20:59,693
the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
491
00:20:59,717 --> 00:21:02,571
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
was in one main event.
492
00:21:02,595 --> 00:21:05,490
The other one was gonna be
Bruiser Bedlam versus
493
00:21:05,514 --> 00:21:07,242
Randy "Macho Man" Savage.
494
00:21:07,266 --> 00:21:09,911
Bruiser Bedlam, you gotta
understand that these are
495
00:21:09,935 --> 00:21:12,747
glory days for Smoky
Mountain Wrestling.
496
00:21:12,771 --> 00:21:13,999
Randy sat down with me, said,
497
00:21:14,023 --> 00:21:15,584
"This is your guy, right?
498
00:21:15,608 --> 00:21:18,044
He's gonna be here,
I'm just coming in one time.
499
00:21:18,068 --> 00:21:21,214
Let me put him over."
500
00:21:21,238 --> 00:21:22,757
Randy "Macho Man" Savage,
501
00:21:22,781 --> 00:21:24,885
one of the biggest stars
in wrestling...
502
00:21:24,909 --> 00:21:28,972
Doing me a favour to come
down and appear on my show,
503
00:21:28,996 --> 00:21:33,059
and now, he wants to
lose to my new top heel.
504
00:21:33,083 --> 00:21:34,978
(cheering)
505
00:21:35,002 --> 00:21:36,646
I tried to interfere...
506
00:21:36,670 --> 00:21:38,064
Down goes Cornette!
507
00:21:38,088 --> 00:21:39,524
Other people got involved.
508
00:21:39,548 --> 00:21:41,193
(indistinct commentary)
509
00:21:41,217 --> 00:21:44,070
But Bruiser Bedlam
pinned Randy Savage.
510
00:21:44,094 --> 00:21:46,323
1, 2, 3.
511
00:21:46,347 --> 00:21:47,991
Bruiser Bedlam nails Macho Man!
512
00:21:48,015 --> 00:21:49,951
That was, in a lot
of ways to Johnny,
513
00:21:49,975 --> 00:21:50,994
like here I am.
514
00:21:51,018 --> 00:21:53,163
I'm not, I'm not
that job guy anymore.
515
00:21:53,187 --> 00:21:54,414
You're gonna go down, you punk.
516
00:21:54,438 --> 00:21:57,292
Just like Macho Man!
You punk scab, pah!
517
00:21:57,316 --> 00:22:01,338
That was his biggest match
of his entire career and,
518
00:22:01,362 --> 00:22:04,341
I think he did a very good
job with what he was given
519
00:22:04,365 --> 00:22:08,887
\{\an1}to work with for that period of
time he was in Smoky Mountain.
520
00:22:08,911 --> 00:22:10,722
By Thanksgiving, Christmas time,
521
00:22:10,746 --> 00:22:12,807
we had to change
talent over again.
522
00:22:12,831 --> 00:22:14,476
I couldn't find a spot for him.
523
00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:16,144
He took it well, he said,
"Hey, Jimmy, no worries.
524
00:22:16,168 --> 00:22:18,146
Hey, I've had a great time."
525
00:22:18,170 --> 00:22:21,858
And he went back to Hamilton.
526
00:22:21,882 --> 00:22:25,487
There was not one single
issue that I can recall,
527
00:22:25,511 --> 00:22:28,698
in 9 months, of having
Bruiser Bedlam in my
528
00:22:28,722 --> 00:22:31,910
locker rooms or at the
Smoky Mountain flophouse.
529
00:22:31,934 --> 00:22:33,620
Send you mother...
530
00:22:33,644 --> 00:22:37,082
(laughing)
531
00:22:37,106 --> 00:22:40,669
I would almost have to see
videotape of him actually
532
00:22:40,693 --> 00:22:43,588
blowing something up
before I could believe it.
533
00:22:43,612 --> 00:22:47,074
♪
534
00:22:50,828 --> 00:22:52,806
After Smoky Mountain Wrestling,
535
00:22:52,830 --> 00:22:55,141
he was doing smaller shows.
536
00:22:55,165 --> 00:22:56,810
I'm the man down in this area!
537
00:22:56,834 --> 00:22:58,979
I beat them all!
(indistinct speaking)
538
00:22:59,003 --> 00:23:00,230
I'm gonna beat ya!
539
00:23:00,254 --> 00:23:02,857
He just wasn't happy,
the shows were smaller.
540
00:23:02,881 --> 00:23:04,276
Tell the fans to
take their seats...
541
00:23:04,300 --> 00:23:05,569
All...
(indistinct speaking)
542
00:23:05,593 --> 00:23:08,989
please try to
remain in your seats.
543
00:23:09,013 --> 00:23:11,199
His heart was truly broken.
544
00:23:11,223 --> 00:23:14,160
All he wanted to do
was make it, you know.
545
00:23:14,184 --> 00:23:17,664
(indistinct shouts and screams)
546
00:23:17,688 --> 00:23:19,666
Maybe he was
hoping that, you know,
547
00:23:19,690 --> 00:23:21,585
a bigger break in wrestling
would completely
548
00:23:21,609 --> 00:23:23,587
remove him from that other life.
549
00:23:23,611 --> 00:23:26,047
Or again, that could be
me trying to
550
00:23:26,071 --> 00:23:28,341
make him the person
I want him to be.
551
00:23:28,365 --> 00:23:31,595
He probably would have
made a great wrestling guy,
552
00:23:31,619 --> 00:23:35,056
like that Hulk Hogan fella and
stuff like that, right.
553
00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:38,101
He was a showman.
554
00:23:38,125 --> 00:23:41,229
He loved the attention.
555
00:23:41,253 --> 00:23:44,524
But, he went
down the wrong path.
556
00:23:44,548 --> 00:23:49,738
This life isn't for somebody
looking to make it big.
557
00:23:49,762 --> 00:23:52,490
As, as a biker, it's not good.
558
00:23:52,514 --> 00:23:53,992
So, we'll sit in
front of the clubhouse,
559
00:23:54,016 --> 00:23:56,161
you know, monitoring
who's coming, who's going,
560
00:23:56,185 --> 00:23:58,997
who's associating
with who, so on, so forth.
561
00:23:59,021 --> 00:24:01,625
And, Johnny will
come out sometimes and,
562
00:24:01,649 --> 00:24:04,461
and he'll say, "What
are you guys up to?
563
00:24:04,485 --> 00:24:07,464
Wasting the tax
payers' dollars."
564
00:24:07,488 --> 00:24:10,050
You don't talk to the cops.
565
00:24:10,074 --> 00:24:13,136
What is the reason,
you know, other than...
566
00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:14,971
thinking you're
more intelligent,
567
00:24:14,995 --> 00:24:18,767
thinking that
you're untouchable.
568
00:24:18,791 --> 00:24:21,936
I don't know. But, it's...
569
00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,481
it's not good.
570
00:24:24,505 --> 00:24:27,776
We'd get information from him
without him really knowing.
571
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:29,277
Like, his bike's in the shop,
572
00:24:29,301 --> 00:24:30,820
he has to go get his bike later.
573
00:24:30,844 --> 00:24:33,198
So, you know, little pieces
of intelligence
574
00:24:33,222 --> 00:24:36,159
that always was handy.
575
00:24:36,183 --> 00:24:38,995
Along with constant
visual surveillance,
576
00:24:39,019 --> 00:24:42,207
Detective Staff Sergeant
Len Isnor and his team
577
00:24:42,231 --> 00:24:45,251
utilize wire taps to
monitor the activities
578
00:24:45,275 --> 00:24:47,253
of Johnny and his gang.
579
00:24:47,277 --> 00:24:49,714
We noticed early in our
investigation that there was
580
00:24:49,738 --> 00:24:53,134
a relationship between the
Hamilton Satan's Choice
581
00:24:53,158 --> 00:24:54,135
and the Sudbury.
582
00:24:54,159 --> 00:24:55,970
They seemed to hang out more.
583
00:24:55,994 --> 00:24:59,057
Johnny K-9 formed a
relationship with a member
584
00:24:59,081 --> 00:25:03,937
of the Sudbury chapter by
the name of Michael Dube.
585
00:25:03,961 --> 00:25:06,439
Michael Dube was probably
586
00:25:06,463 --> 00:25:09,109
the most dangerous biker
that I've ever met.
587
00:25:09,133 --> 00:25:10,819
♪
588
00:25:10,843 --> 00:25:13,196
On one particular night,
they decided,
589
00:25:13,220 --> 00:25:15,615
let's go to The Solid Gold.
590
00:25:15,639 --> 00:25:17,325
And, The Solid Gold was a...
591
00:25:17,349 --> 00:25:21,287
adult entertainment... place.
592
00:25:21,311 --> 00:25:24,082
All the Sudbury members
fold up their colours and
593
00:25:24,106 --> 00:25:27,085
they put them in
their saddlebags.
594
00:25:27,109 --> 00:25:30,588
And, Johnny K-9 says,
"What are you guys doing?"
595
00:25:30,612 --> 00:25:32,674
He says, "Well, you can't wear
colours in The Solid Gold.
596
00:25:32,698 --> 00:25:34,259
It says no colours."
597
00:25:34,283 --> 00:25:36,553
Johnny said, "Hell with that.
598
00:25:36,577 --> 00:25:39,889
We're gonna wear
our colours in here."
599
00:25:39,913 --> 00:25:43,727
He went from,
"I'm just a wrestler,"
600
00:25:43,751 --> 00:25:46,563
to he's Al Capone.
601
00:25:46,587 --> 00:25:49,441
And, when you get the
Al Capone syndrome,
602
00:25:49,465 --> 00:25:51,693
that means you can
do whatever you want.
603
00:25:51,717 --> 00:25:55,029
Well, in The Solid Gold,
the staff said,
604
00:25:55,053 --> 00:25:56,197
"We can't serve you.
605
00:25:56,221 --> 00:25:57,699
There's a no
colours policy here.
606
00:25:57,723 --> 00:26:00,493
And we'd like you to leave."
607
00:26:00,517 --> 00:26:02,912
The Satan's Choice members
dug their heels in and say,
608
00:26:02,936 --> 00:26:04,748
"No, we're not leaving."
609
00:26:04,772 --> 00:26:08,126
Sudbury police are called
and there's a face off,
610
00:26:08,150 --> 00:26:10,837
basically, between the
Sudbury police and
611
00:26:10,861 --> 00:26:12,046
the Satan's Choice.
612
00:26:12,070 --> 00:26:14,215
The Satan's Choice backed down.
613
00:26:14,239 --> 00:26:18,845
Johnny K-9 and Mike Dube
talk about how upset
614
00:26:18,869 --> 00:26:23,057
they were with what
happened at The Solid Gold.
615
00:26:23,081 --> 00:26:27,228
So, they decided that they
would bomb the strip club.
616
00:26:27,252 --> 00:26:30,398
K-9 and another member of
the Hamilton group
617
00:26:30,422 --> 00:26:34,027
offered to arrange the
explosives and the bombs.
618
00:26:34,051 --> 00:26:38,698
Johnny doesn't know there's
been a change in the plans and,
619
00:26:38,722 --> 00:26:41,659
Michael Dube decides
that this bomb is not
620
00:26:41,683 --> 00:26:44,120
gonna go to The Solid Gold.
621
00:26:44,144 --> 00:26:46,956
He decides that this
bomb is gonna go
622
00:26:46,980 --> 00:26:49,042
to the Sudbury police station.
623
00:26:49,066 --> 00:26:52,337
So, they went and they put
the bomb in an alley
624
00:26:52,361 --> 00:26:54,380
beside police headquarters.
625
00:26:54,404 --> 00:26:57,008
And, it blew a
hole in a brick wall.
626
00:26:57,032 --> 00:26:59,344
♪
627
00:26:59,368 --> 00:27:01,554
(bang)
628
00:27:01,578 --> 00:27:04,015
♪
629
00:27:04,039 --> 00:27:06,851
(bang)
630
00:27:06,875 --> 00:27:09,562
A phone call is
basically made to Johnny,
631
00:27:09,586 --> 00:27:11,147
another member
calls him and says,
632
00:27:11,171 --> 00:27:14,359
"Yeah, the police station
got bombed in Sudbury."
633
00:27:14,383 --> 00:27:15,860
You could tell in
this conversation
634
00:27:15,884 --> 00:27:18,571
that Johnny's confused.
635
00:27:18,595 --> 00:27:20,281
He didn't know he was
manipulated
636
00:27:20,305 --> 00:27:22,867
I think until the downfall.
637
00:27:22,891 --> 00:27:24,786
♪
638
00:27:24,810 --> 00:27:27,747
Several months after the
police station bombing,
639
00:27:27,771 --> 00:27:30,708
law enforcement prepares
for an elaborate takedown
640
00:27:30,732 --> 00:27:32,252
of Satan's Choice.
641
00:27:32,276 --> 00:27:34,587
This is getting into 1997 so,
642
00:27:34,611 --> 00:27:36,840
we have a lot of the members in,
643
00:27:36,864 --> 00:27:38,883
in Hamilton on
narcotics charges,
644
00:27:38,907 --> 00:27:41,678
on extortion charges,
collecting money.
645
00:27:41,702 --> 00:27:43,972
Plus, we also have the bombing.
646
00:27:43,996 --> 00:27:47,141
Now, when we go into
the Hamilton clubhouse,
647
00:27:47,165 --> 00:27:50,728
they did everything they could
to prevent us from coming in.
648
00:27:50,752 --> 00:27:52,522
And that was all Johnny's doing.
649
00:27:52,546 --> 00:27:55,358
He put barriers in front of
doors so we can't ram doors
650
00:27:55,382 --> 00:27:56,776
and things like that.
651
00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,779
So, we had to blow a hole in
the wall to enter the building.
652
00:27:59,803 --> 00:28:02,365
(bang)
653
00:28:02,389 --> 00:28:05,451
So, they're coming
in with flash bangs.
654
00:28:05,475 --> 00:28:07,245
(bang)
655
00:28:07,269 --> 00:28:09,706
♪
656
00:28:09,730 --> 00:28:11,541
Laser sight.
657
00:28:11,565 --> 00:28:14,836
♪
658
00:28:14,860 --> 00:28:17,922
So, next thing you know,
we're in bed and...
659
00:28:17,946 --> 00:28:20,925
I thought there was a hit.
I thought gangsters were
660
00:28:20,949 --> 00:28:22,802
coming into the
house to kill us.
661
00:28:22,826 --> 00:28:24,679
(sirens)
662
00:28:24,703 --> 00:28:26,264
Then I realized.
663
00:28:26,288 --> 00:28:28,766
I looked, I could
see all the boots.
664
00:28:28,790 --> 00:28:31,895
♪
665
00:28:31,919 --> 00:28:36,107
50 SWAT team members came
bursting into our home.
666
00:28:36,131 --> 00:28:44,131
♪
667
00:28:44,306 --> 00:28:47,785
Yeah, it was over
at that moment.
668
00:28:47,809 --> 00:28:50,163
Yeah... yeah.
669
00:28:50,187 --> 00:28:54,066
♪
670
00:28:59,655 --> 00:29:01,799
The Hamilton Wentworth
Regional Police Emergency
671
00:29:01,823 --> 00:29:04,636
Response Unit moved in on
the Satan's Choice clubhouse
672
00:29:04,660 --> 00:29:05,803
on Lottridge Street.
673
00:29:05,827 --> 00:29:09,390
Club president, Johnny K-9,
is out on bail in connection
674
00:29:09,414 --> 00:29:11,851
with charges he's facing
thanks to the bombing of the
675
00:29:11,875 --> 00:29:16,147
Sudbury police station
in December of 1996.
676
00:29:16,171 --> 00:29:20,068
It was just so perplexing
having all of the personal
677
00:29:20,092 --> 00:29:21,903
stories of, "Hey,
buddy, how you doing?"
678
00:29:21,927 --> 00:29:24,739
It's like, "Hey, Bruiser,
how you doing?" Big hug.
679
00:29:24,763 --> 00:29:26,991
And then you get
your stepdad going,
680
00:29:27,015 --> 00:29:29,994
"Is this your friend?"
And I'm like, "Um... yeah."
681
00:29:30,018 --> 00:29:32,205
(laughs) My friend,
the man that tried to blow up
682
00:29:32,229 --> 00:29:34,832
a police station in Ontario.
683
00:29:34,856 --> 00:29:37,168
There was a great moment,
and police arranged
684
00:29:37,192 --> 00:29:41,714
this moment, where they took
the crane and they lifted
685
00:29:41,738 --> 00:29:47,095
the Satan's Choice logo off
the side of the building.
686
00:29:47,119 --> 00:29:49,889
I think it took a
lot out of him.
687
00:29:49,913 --> 00:29:52,767
It was something he built.
That was his house.
688
00:29:52,791 --> 00:29:55,687
It was his...
689
00:29:55,711 --> 00:29:58,064
it was his life.
690
00:29:58,088 --> 00:29:59,190
♪
691
00:29:59,214 --> 00:30:02,360
Johnny made a spontaneous
utterance when he was
692
00:30:02,384 --> 00:30:04,404
arrested where he, basically,
693
00:30:04,428 --> 00:30:06,531
turned to me and
he said, "Lenny,
694
00:30:06,555 --> 00:30:08,658
that wasn't for
the police station.
695
00:30:08,682 --> 00:30:12,203
That was for the,
The Solid Gold."
696
00:30:12,227 --> 00:30:14,747
In this case, Johnny K-9
was interrogated by a
697
00:30:14,771 --> 00:30:17,750
biker squad officer who
just knows how to
698
00:30:17,774 --> 00:30:21,671
lean on him enough
to get him to...
699
00:30:21,695 --> 00:30:24,132
point at someone.
700
00:30:24,156 --> 00:30:27,176
With wiretap evidence and
Johnny K-9's statement
701
00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:30,304
to authorities, Michael Dube
is implicated as the
702
00:30:30,328 --> 00:30:33,224
mastermind behind the
police station bombing,
703
00:30:33,248 --> 00:30:35,893
and Johnny is released on bail.
704
00:30:35,917 --> 00:30:38,229
One of their unwritten rules is,
705
00:30:38,253 --> 00:30:40,690
you don't make any
statement to the police.
706
00:30:40,714 --> 00:30:43,443
You don't assist them
in their investigation.
707
00:30:43,467 --> 00:30:47,280
So, when he comes out of jail...
708
00:30:47,304 --> 00:30:49,365
they remove him from the club.
709
00:30:49,389 --> 00:30:51,451
♪
710
00:30:51,475 --> 00:30:53,036
He was...
711
00:30:53,060 --> 00:30:55,580
being accused of being a rat.
712
00:30:55,604 --> 00:30:57,040
I would see a
friend of ours and,
713
00:30:57,064 --> 00:30:58,416
"Hey, how's it going?"
714
00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:00,793
And, this one guy
turned on me and said,
715
00:31:00,817 --> 00:31:02,628
"Your man's a ...ing rat."
716
00:31:02,652 --> 00:31:06,799
And I just up and
ing cracked the guy.
717
00:31:06,823 --> 00:31:09,552
I mean, I stuck up for
Johnny no matter what.
718
00:31:09,576 --> 00:31:11,345
I was so in love with him.
719
00:31:11,369 --> 00:31:13,806
I was blinded by his love.
720
00:31:13,830 --> 00:31:17,769
But I went from being proud
and happy to be with him...
721
00:31:17,793 --> 00:31:21,773
to being really nervous
and scared for my life.
722
00:31:21,797 --> 00:31:24,650
The police would
pull me over randomly.
723
00:31:24,674 --> 00:31:27,070
An undercover officer
would just get out and
724
00:31:27,094 --> 00:31:29,030
come to my window,
and I'd get really mad.
725
00:31:29,054 --> 00:31:30,239
"What did you pull me over for?
726
00:31:30,263 --> 00:31:31,991
I'm not doing
anything wrong."
727
00:31:32,015 --> 00:31:34,368
"Listen, I just
want to tell you,
728
00:31:34,392 --> 00:31:35,953
your life's in danger."
729
00:31:35,977 --> 00:31:39,040
Telling me there's a
hit on me and John.
730
00:31:39,064 --> 00:31:41,209
Yeah, it was really scary.
731
00:31:41,233 --> 00:31:44,087
It was really scary, yeah.
732
00:31:44,111 --> 00:31:47,215
♪
733
00:31:47,239 --> 00:31:50,843
In January of 2000,
he went off to prison
734
00:31:50,867 --> 00:31:53,137
for bombing the police station.
735
00:31:53,161 --> 00:31:56,891
Our baby was about
2 years old, I believe.
736
00:31:56,915 --> 00:32:00,061
And, yeah, I had to get far
away from all the troubles
737
00:32:00,085 --> 00:32:02,522
that Johnny brought.
738
00:32:02,546 --> 00:32:06,025
Then I was like,
this is my escape route.
739
00:32:06,049 --> 00:32:08,069
So, I left with
clothes on our backs,
740
00:32:08,093 --> 00:32:12,406
basically, and off
to Vancouver I went.
741
00:32:12,430 --> 00:32:15,618
While Johnny serves a prison
sentence of 33 months for
742
00:32:15,642 --> 00:32:18,412
the bombing, Tracy flees
with her children to the
743
00:32:18,436 --> 00:32:21,374
west coast of Canada in
a desperate attempt
744
00:32:21,398 --> 00:32:23,084
to start a new life.
745
00:32:23,108 --> 00:32:27,296
I divorced him.
I had moved on with my life.
746
00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,258
'Til he followed me
out there, 2002.
747
00:32:30,282 --> 00:32:32,260
He got released.
748
00:32:32,284 --> 00:32:35,054
He told me that he
missed me and everything,
749
00:32:35,078 --> 00:32:37,974
but honestly, I think that
he was being run out of
750
00:32:37,998 --> 00:32:41,144
his own hometown and he
thought British Columbia
751
00:32:41,168 --> 00:32:43,771
was the best thing for him.
752
00:32:43,795 --> 00:32:48,109
He flew across, landed
at the Vancouver airport.
753
00:32:48,133 --> 00:32:50,820
And as soon as I saw
him at the airport...
754
00:32:50,844 --> 00:32:56,075
(sighs) I just, I was
so in love with him.
755
00:32:56,099 --> 00:32:58,995
I wanted to believe
what he was telling me.
756
00:32:59,019 --> 00:33:00,329
I told him, I said, "You know,
757
00:33:00,353 --> 00:33:04,709
let's turn something bad
into something really good."
758
00:33:04,733 --> 00:33:08,296
He was at one time wanting
to open a wrestling school.
759
00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:10,256
Instead he went to prison again.
760
00:33:10,280 --> 00:33:14,743
♪
761
00:33:18,538 --> 00:33:21,350
After only a few months in
British Columbia,
762
00:33:21,374 --> 00:33:23,644
Johnny's criminal past
as an enforcer
763
00:33:23,668 --> 00:33:25,438
comes back to haunt him.
764
00:33:25,462 --> 00:33:28,900
He's arrested for a double
murder committed in Ontario
765
00:33:28,924 --> 00:33:31,777
back in 1998.
766
00:33:31,801 --> 00:33:36,866
The Gilbanks were
murdered in 1998.
767
00:33:36,890 --> 00:33:39,911
A lawyer and her husband.
768
00:33:39,935 --> 00:33:41,829
Lynn and Fred Gilbank.
769
00:33:41,853 --> 00:33:45,791
It looked like a stolen car
was used to drive the killer
770
00:33:45,815 --> 00:33:49,086
to their house at
5 in the morning.
771
00:33:49,110 --> 00:33:52,673
The killer went up the
stairs with a shotgun.
772
00:33:52,697 --> 00:33:54,634
Fred Gilbank came out,
773
00:33:54,658 --> 00:33:58,554
was shot twice and
died in the hallway.
774
00:33:58,578 --> 00:34:01,515
The killer continued on
to the bedroom
775
00:34:01,539 --> 00:34:05,019
where Lynn Gilbank
was still in bed.
776
00:34:05,043 --> 00:34:08,648
And, she was shot four times.
777
00:34:08,672 --> 00:34:10,358
In searching for
motives for this,
778
00:34:10,382 --> 00:34:12,443
they went through
all of Lynn's cases.
779
00:34:12,467 --> 00:34:16,989
And, a Gravelle drug case was
one that had troubled her
780
00:34:17,013 --> 00:34:19,242
and she had mentioned
it to someone else,
781
00:34:19,266 --> 00:34:22,578
that she was concerned about
the safety of her client.
782
00:34:22,602 --> 00:34:25,623
So, the police theory was
that it was an attempt to
783
00:34:25,647 --> 00:34:28,793
intimidate the legal
community and other
784
00:34:28,817 --> 00:34:33,589
criminals from ratting
on the Gravelle family.
785
00:34:33,613 --> 00:34:37,843
Johnny K-9 and Andre Gravelle
786
00:34:37,867 --> 00:34:43,057
were charged with murder
about 9 years later.
787
00:34:43,081 --> 00:34:46,769
I had a voicemail
message from Scott D'Amore.
788
00:34:46,793 --> 00:34:49,021
And it was just like,
"Did you hear about K-9?"
789
00:34:49,045 --> 00:34:51,732
And I'm like, oh, no.
I thought he died,
790
00:34:51,756 --> 00:34:53,401
and I called Scott D'Amore
back and he's like,
791
00:34:53,425 --> 00:34:55,194
"Yeah, he's been charged
with a double murder."
792
00:34:55,218 --> 00:34:57,571
I'm just like, "What?!"
793
00:34:57,595 --> 00:35:02,576
It's hard for me to picture
the guy who was willing to
794
00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:04,829
stand beside me
through thick and thin,
795
00:35:04,853 --> 00:35:09,250
no matter what, to
see how he, you know,
796
00:35:09,274 --> 00:35:14,005
could do something
at that level. And...
797
00:35:14,029 --> 00:35:16,132
Maybe I'm naive.
798
00:35:16,156 --> 00:35:19,176
But, that's just
not the John I knew.
799
00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:22,513
So, he spent 20 months in jail.
800
00:35:22,537 --> 00:35:24,598
And got released.
801
00:35:24,622 --> 00:35:26,517
The police didn't
have a strong case.
802
00:35:26,541 --> 00:35:30,813
It was withdrawn and, Andre
Gravelle and Johnny K-9
803
00:35:30,837 --> 00:35:33,691
are innocent of that crime.
804
00:35:33,715 --> 00:35:38,070
In 2006, murder charges were
withdrawn against Johnny and
805
00:35:38,094 --> 00:35:41,115
Andre Gravelle when
prosecutors determined there
806
00:35:41,139 --> 00:35:43,617
was no real
prospect of conviction.
807
00:35:43,641 --> 00:35:46,954
Gravelle subsequently
sues authorities in Ontario,
808
00:35:46,978 --> 00:35:49,206
alleging malicious prosecution,
809
00:35:49,230 --> 00:35:52,084
and obtains an undisclosed
amount in the settlement.
810
00:35:52,108 --> 00:35:53,961
Johnny never
killed the Gilbanks,
811
00:35:53,985 --> 00:35:56,547
that was a load of crap, okay.
812
00:35:56,571 --> 00:36:00,760
So, he came back to BC in 2007.
813
00:36:00,784 --> 00:36:02,762
That's when I remarried him.
814
00:36:02,786 --> 00:36:05,681
And...
815
00:36:05,705 --> 00:36:08,184
Yeah.
816
00:36:08,208 --> 00:36:09,352
Johnny was saying,
817
00:36:09,376 --> 00:36:11,520
"What am I gonna
ing do for money?"
818
00:36:11,544 --> 00:36:13,731
I said, "Movie industry."
819
00:36:13,755 --> 00:36:16,776
Sammy!
(shouts)
820
00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:18,385
Little help, little help!
821
00:36:20,178 --> 00:36:23,991
Not a great actor.
He tried his best and
822
00:36:24,015 --> 00:36:26,077
he had a lot of fun
doing it, you know.
823
00:36:26,101 --> 00:36:28,245
But, then he, he was in a gym in
824
00:36:28,269 --> 00:36:31,123
North Vancouver and
saw a Hell's Angel.
825
00:36:31,147 --> 00:36:34,293
Then he, he started talking
to the United Nations and
826
00:36:34,317 --> 00:36:37,088
he comes home bragging,
and I'm like, "What?
827
00:36:37,112 --> 00:36:39,632
Wait a minute.
We're going backwards here.
828
00:36:39,656 --> 00:36:41,384
You're supposed to be
changing your life.
829
00:36:41,408 --> 00:36:44,553
What the...
are you doing?"
830
00:36:44,577 --> 00:36:48,557
Out on the west coast he got
involved with the UN gang.
831
00:36:48,581 --> 00:36:52,061
A multi-ethnic
organized crime gang.
832
00:36:52,085 --> 00:36:55,940
He tried to hide it from me,
but it didn't last long.
833
00:36:55,964 --> 00:36:58,984
I mean, we'd have 100 pounds
of weed in my kitchen
834
00:36:59,008 --> 00:37:00,569
while my kids were at daycare.
835
00:37:00,593 --> 00:37:02,154
And he'd go, "Wait a minute.
836
00:37:02,178 --> 00:37:05,783
I'm gonna spray it with
whiskey and Coca-Cola.
837
00:37:05,807 --> 00:37:07,535
It'll weigh more and
we'll make more money."
838
00:37:07,559 --> 00:37:09,620
I'm like,
"You're ...ing crazy."
839
00:37:09,644 --> 00:37:12,415
So, we'd be there spraying
the weed all over
840
00:37:12,439 --> 00:37:15,835
my kitchen floor, and I'd be
bagging and weighing.
841
00:37:15,859 --> 00:37:18,337
He was coming home
with 20, 30 grand,
842
00:37:18,361 --> 00:37:21,674
just stacking bank.
And I'm like,
843
00:37:21,698 --> 00:37:24,135
"John, you're
doing the same thing
844
00:37:24,159 --> 00:37:26,220
you were doing in Hamilton."
845
00:37:26,244 --> 00:37:29,348
Police say these are
the faces of the UN gang,
846
00:37:29,372 --> 00:37:32,268
and investigators
want them all in jail.
847
00:37:32,292 --> 00:37:35,646
In 2008, a botched hit
on behalf of the
848
00:37:35,670 --> 00:37:38,566
United Nations gang would
result in the death of
849
00:37:38,590 --> 00:37:40,568
an innocent young man.
850
00:37:40,592 --> 00:37:42,862
In the vendettas that were
going on between these
851
00:37:42,886 --> 00:37:46,824
two BC gangs, John was
picked up by the police
852
00:37:46,848 --> 00:37:49,660
in connection with
murders there.
853
00:37:49,684 --> 00:37:53,706
Then he was charged in 2009
for first degree murder.
854
00:37:53,730 --> 00:37:57,084
I was 9 months pregnant
when he was arrested.
855
00:37:57,108 --> 00:38:00,421
And, that day that
he went into custody,
856
00:38:00,445 --> 00:38:03,007
I didn't know at the time,
but that was the last day
857
00:38:03,031 --> 00:38:04,675
he would ever be free.
858
00:38:04,699 --> 00:38:07,535
♪
859
00:38:10,788 --> 00:38:14,935
Johnny K-9 pleads guilty to
conspiracy to commit murder.
860
00:38:14,959 --> 00:38:18,063
However, the first-degree
murder charge is stayed.
861
00:38:18,087 --> 00:38:20,941
After serving 4 years
of his prison sentence,
862
00:38:20,965 --> 00:38:24,820
Johnny is released to a
halfway house in Toronto.
863
00:38:24,844 --> 00:38:27,490
And he was supposed to
come back to Vancouver
864
00:38:27,514 --> 00:38:30,159
in 6 weeks.
865
00:38:30,183 --> 00:38:34,205
But instead,
the police came to my door.
866
00:38:34,229 --> 00:38:37,500
And, they said,
"Do you know Ion Croitoru?"
867
00:38:37,524 --> 00:38:39,376
And I said, "Yeah."
868
00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:42,546
Now, in my mind,
I'm thinking, oh, shit.
869
00:38:42,570 --> 00:38:46,884
I said, "What's
going on?" And...
870
00:38:46,908 --> 00:38:53,641
He said to me, "Ion
passed away this morning."
871
00:38:53,665 --> 00:38:57,353
I went completely numb.
872
00:38:57,377 --> 00:39:00,564
And, I was shocked.
873
00:39:00,588 --> 00:39:04,652
It was so hard, so hard.
874
00:39:04,676 --> 00:39:08,072
On February 21, 2017,
875
00:39:08,096 --> 00:39:09,949
Ion William Croitoru,
876
00:39:09,973 --> 00:39:14,912
aka Johnny K-9,
dies at the age of 53.
877
00:39:14,936 --> 00:39:18,749
The cause of his death is
the subject of speculation.
878
00:39:18,773 --> 00:39:20,876
He died of a heart attack and
879
00:39:20,900 --> 00:39:22,753
probably because
of his lifestyle.
880
00:39:22,777 --> 00:39:25,339
I know he was in...
881
00:39:25,363 --> 00:39:28,592
in trouble on the west coast.
882
00:39:28,616 --> 00:39:31,428
So, either it was a hot shot
883
00:39:31,452 --> 00:39:33,472
'cause they wanted him gone.
884
00:39:33,496 --> 00:39:35,224
You know, and...
885
00:39:35,248 --> 00:39:39,228
somebody gave him some,
some good stuff.
886
00:39:39,252 --> 00:39:42,982
And, he went for the big ride.
887
00:39:43,006 --> 00:39:47,194
Or, he just couldn't
do it anymore.
888
00:39:47,218 --> 00:39:49,822
The reason he died is
because he got maced
889
00:39:49,846 --> 00:39:51,699
by the guards in prison.
890
00:39:51,723 --> 00:39:54,868
They had to
scrape his lungs, so...
891
00:39:54,892 --> 00:39:57,246
you know, there's a
lot more to that, but...
892
00:39:57,270 --> 00:40:00,332
Somebody sent me the headline,
893
00:40:00,356 --> 00:40:03,502
"Natural causes succeed
where mobsters and
894
00:40:03,526 --> 00:40:06,880
gangsters failed -
Johnny K-9 is dead."
895
00:40:06,904 --> 00:40:08,882
And it looked like the
headline of a Chicago
896
00:40:08,906 --> 00:40:11,760
newspaper for something
like Capone in The Outfit.
897
00:40:11,784 --> 00:40:14,722
And I started laughing
and I just thought...
898
00:40:14,746 --> 00:40:18,601
If Johnny K-9 could write
his own headline
899
00:40:18,625 --> 00:40:20,477
for his death...
900
00:40:20,501 --> 00:40:22,646
That's what he'd write.
901
00:40:22,670 --> 00:40:25,649
Well, he, he had that
charisma that forms...
902
00:40:25,673 --> 00:40:26,692
folk heroes.
903
00:40:26,716 --> 00:40:29,069
Al Capone was a
very dangerous person,
904
00:40:29,093 --> 00:40:32,114
and the fact that he
killed people and,
905
00:40:32,138 --> 00:40:34,325
and was involved in
crime his whole life,
906
00:40:34,349 --> 00:40:36,118
he made a living in crime and,
907
00:40:36,142 --> 00:40:38,954
and the fact that they,
they made him a folk hero.
908
00:40:38,978 --> 00:40:42,082
And these types of descriptions
909
00:40:42,106 --> 00:40:43,250
sort of fit Johnny K-9.
910
00:40:43,274 --> 00:40:46,503
I mean, we're still
talking about him.
911
00:40:46,527 --> 00:40:49,548
I mean... yeah.
912
00:40:49,572 --> 00:40:51,967
Johnny's death certainly
doesn't bring closure.
913
00:40:51,991 --> 00:40:56,180
A horrible double murder
is still wide open.
914
00:40:56,204 --> 00:40:58,766
We have lost one of our
opportunities to find out
915
00:40:58,790 --> 00:41:03,354
what really happened when two
good people were murdered.
916
00:41:03,378 --> 00:41:06,357
This was a guy that hurt a
lot of people in his life.
917
00:41:06,381 --> 00:41:08,651
If you owed him money,
yeah, he'd smack you.
918
00:41:08,675 --> 00:41:10,819
But he never killed anybody.
919
00:41:10,843 --> 00:41:12,988
He was hanging out
with the wrong people,
920
00:41:13,012 --> 00:41:16,241
trying to make money,
not realizing how deep
921
00:41:16,265 --> 00:41:20,204
he was in with guys that
were killing people.
922
00:41:20,228 --> 00:41:21,997
Um, no.
923
00:41:22,021 --> 00:41:25,876
I, I totally disagree
with what Tracy would say.
924
00:41:25,900 --> 00:41:29,296
Johnny K-9 is a
very dangerous person.
925
00:41:29,320 --> 00:41:31,090
And, I...
926
00:41:31,114 --> 00:41:35,844
believe that...
927
00:41:35,868 --> 00:41:37,745
how can I put this?
(clears throat)
928
00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:45,813
I don't doubt for a minute
that he's involved in homicide.
929
00:41:45,837 --> 00:41:48,732
If you asked the wrestlers he
shared a locker room with,
930
00:41:48,756 --> 00:41:50,734
couldn't be a nicer guy.
931
00:41:50,758 --> 00:41:53,529
If you asked the families
of the people that
932
00:41:53,553 --> 00:41:57,491
he's alleged to have been
responsible for killing,
933
00:41:57,515 --> 00:41:59,535
you'd probably get
a different answer.
934
00:41:59,559 --> 00:42:01,453
Smash a beer bottle
over his head.
935
00:42:01,477 --> 00:42:04,206
(indistinct chatter and laughs)
936
00:42:04,230 --> 00:42:06,750
We will try it today, Jimmy!
937
00:42:06,774 --> 00:42:10,003
I can't canonize him as a
saint and just mourn his loss.
938
00:42:10,027 --> 00:42:13,799
There's this other side and,
having those emotions
939
00:42:13,823 --> 00:42:16,427
inside of who he really was,
940
00:42:16,451 --> 00:42:18,554
who I wanted him to be, who...
941
00:42:18,578 --> 00:42:20,139
in my experience, he was.
942
00:42:20,163 --> 00:42:24,143
And then, hoping that he
could get at least closer to
943
00:42:24,167 --> 00:42:26,520
the side of the guy
that I knew and wanted to,
944
00:42:26,544 --> 00:42:29,898
to live out his days with
his wife would have been,
945
00:42:29,922 --> 00:42:34,194
you know, that happy
ending that you want.
946
00:42:34,218 --> 00:42:37,614
For guys that you know, and...
947
00:42:37,638 --> 00:42:40,284
when it doesn't happen,
it hits you pretty hard.
948
00:42:40,308 --> 00:42:42,119
♪
949
00:42:42,143 --> 00:42:44,163
If I could go back and
sit in the room with Johnny
950
00:42:44,187 --> 00:42:47,916
again for his first night,
I would tell him,
951
00:42:47,940 --> 00:42:51,420
"Go back and be a dad.
Go back and be a husband.
952
00:42:51,444 --> 00:42:53,672
Go back to wrestling."
953
00:42:53,696 --> 00:42:55,966
You know, "You follow this life,
954
00:42:55,990 --> 00:42:58,302
in three years...
955
00:42:58,326 --> 00:43:00,304
you're gonna be
somewhere else."
956
00:43:00,328 --> 00:43:04,892
His life is probably also a
life of thwarted ambition.
957
00:43:04,916 --> 00:43:10,189
He tried to move from
enforcer to leader,
958
00:43:10,213 --> 00:43:12,274
and failed miserably.
959
00:43:12,298 --> 00:43:15,861
As a wrestler, he tried
to make it into the bigs.
960
00:43:15,885 --> 00:43:20,824
And he got the edge of that,
but didn't stay.
961
00:43:20,848 --> 00:43:24,244
He didn't have what it
takes to last there either.
962
00:43:24,268 --> 00:43:26,997
There'll probably be a
million fans that have
963
00:43:27,021 --> 00:43:28,457
no idea who he is.
964
00:43:28,481 --> 00:43:30,834
Johnny K-9!
965
00:43:30,858 --> 00:43:34,213
And, there's probably
someone that was in the
966
00:43:34,237 --> 00:43:36,840
Knoxville Coliseum that saw
him beat Randy Savage that
967
00:43:36,864 --> 00:43:41,094
thought he was the scariest
person they ever saw and,
968
00:43:41,118 --> 00:43:44,056
you know, to this day
has nightmares about him.
969
00:43:44,080 --> 00:43:47,559
(screams) What's going on?
970
00:43:47,583 --> 00:43:52,105
Wrestling is, is subjective.
It is to you what it is.
971
00:43:52,129 --> 00:43:56,693
In my opinion, he was the
baddest mother... er
972
00:43:56,717 --> 00:44:00,113
in the ring, and he had a good
time doing what he loved.
973
00:44:00,137 --> 00:44:02,640
♪