[crowd chanting] Booker T!
Booker T! Booker T!
Booker T!
- A man that has defied the odds.
[inspirational piano music]
A man that got over every hurdle.
♪ ♪
- And how did I wake up here?
♪ ♪
That was a sobering thought
because never in a million years
did I ever would have thought I would be in prison,
but I walked that fine line.
For some reason, I wasn't afraid.
- A man that is...
to you guys, Mr. Five Time.
[cheers]
- Give you a lot of time to think
and wonder, you know, what do you wanna do
when this is over with?
- A man that is my brother.
[cheers]
Let's give it up for Booker T.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- My brother had-- had introduced me
to a man by the name of Bruce Gasarch.
- Booker!
- What's going on, man? - How are you?
[both laughing]
- I gained trust.
I got this man's respect.
- Booker, my wife, Yvonne. - Hi.
- You know, my brother, when he got out of prison,
he had to have something to do.
Make him feel like he had some purpose.
- One of the properties we bought
was a mini-storage.
It was actually one of the larger ones
in southwestern United States at the time.
Lash had already been hired
and was at the property.
And he had asked me the question
whether or not I would mind hiring his brother,
and that he would vouch for him.
And I told him, "Sure!"
You--you mentioned me briefly here and there.
- Ah, man. You the reason I'm here.
One of the real reasons, you know,
'cause you believed in me. - Yeah, yeah.
- I showed him how much I was willing to work.
I worked there from 7:00 in the morning
to 7:00 at night.
Six days a week.
[both laughing]
We did things together.
And when they had the opportunities,
they took them.
- My brother came to me and told me that
Ivan Putski was gonna be opening a wrestling school,
and he was thinking about going to it.
And he came to me and asked me if I wanted to try it out.
- I was like, "Let's do it, man."
And we'll figure out a way to put the money up--
because we didn't know how expensive it was gonna be.
- Actually, Bruce Gasarch,
he sponsored me to go to the wrestling school.
So wherever you are, Bruce, I--I thank you.
[cheers and applause]
♪ ♪
- It's giving chances.
Not second chance or third.
Everyone, if they really need it or want it,
should have a chance.
- That's great. - Are we ready?
- Very cool, yeah. - Ready.
- Gonna be a big night. - Can't wait to see it.
- It's gonna be a big night.
And I wouldn't be here talking
if it wasn't for Bruce Gasarch.
- So serious. It just doesn't work for you.
I've been a wrestling fan since I was a young boy.
- I got the best seat in the house.
- Yes, he does. Except, you know,
the best seat's when you're sitting in the ring.
- No. That's not the best seat.
[laughter]
- Yeah! [screams]
- Whoa!
My wife, Yvonne's first wrestling match.
Being able to help someone see it through the first time
through their eyes is a blast.
Exciting. [laughs]
- No. Scary.
- Scary. I'm sorry.
- Bruce, he was in my corner.
He was a guy who was willing
to put a hand out and say,
"Hey, man. I'm willing to help you.
"And I'm willing to believe in you
if you're willing to believe in yourself."
- Vince, I gotta introduce you to my old boss.
- Nice to meet you. - What's your name?
- Bruce Gasarch. - Bruce, nice to meet you.
- We wanted to meet you.
Vince, good to see you.
- Sometimes some things happen to lead to something else.
- ♪ There ain't no weapon that is stronger than your heart ♪
- Who knows?
Maybe if he never got in trouble,
we'd never have been professional wrestlers.
[laughs]
♪ ♪
- It's a great story.
He's lived what most people
would call the American dream,
and then some.
- ♪ You're safe and you're sound ♪
♪ I'm on your side ♪
♪ I won't let you down ♪
♪ ♪