83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff - Wise Choices: Remembering Sid

Episode Date: August 29, 2024

On this special edition of Wise Choices, Eric is joined by 83Weeks host Conrad Thompson to discuss the life and legacy of Sid Eudy aka Sid Vicious, Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the WWF and WCW. VIIA - Try VIIA Hemp! https://bit.ly/viiawrestlebiz and use code WRESTLEBIZ! MANDO - Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @shop.mando and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo WRESTLEBIZ at https://shopmando.com/! #mandopod BLUECHEW - Try BlueChew FREE when you use our promo code WRESTLEBIZ at checkout--just pay $5 shipping. That’s https://bluechew.com/ , promo code WRESTLEBIZ to receive your first month FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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That's B-L-U-E-H-O-S-T-com to start now. Yeah. Hey, hey, it's Conrad Thompson. And welcome to 83 weeks.com. We have some breaking news. And this is not something we normally do, but in this particular case, I think it's warranted. Today we'll be trying to pay tribute and remember the late great Sid, whether you knew him is Sid vicious or psycho Sid. The real life Sid Judy unfortunately passed away. And I don't think a lot of people had this. I mean, he's only 63. years old when he passed away Eric that's just awfully young like this is not the outcome I would have hoped for by any stretch of the imagination just 63 years my goodness yeah it's I was really I want to say heartbroken because that you know paints a different picture I wasn't real close to Sid we weren't good friends we didn't exchange texts and phone calls and things like that. But man, I really like Sid. And I had nothing, nothing, but great interactions with him on every level, whether it was negotiating his deal, creative issues were always easy with Sid

because he was the ultimate team player. And to your point about being so unexpected in him being so young, I saw Sid, I think about two plus two years ago, maybe, maybe a little longer, at a convention, and just he looked great, he was happy, and then, you know, to realize yesterday that he was gone, it's just, it's hard to wrap my head around because, you know, you, you remember people the way you saw them last, and what I saw last was a healthy, happy, engaging, man it just loved what he was doing it's really sad it really is sad we uh we've heard from a lot of wrestling luminaries about what sid meant to them and we're going to share some of those because you know listen i'm sure we're all going to do tribute episodes and talk about his career

and what happened in the ring and our favorite sid matches and certainly our favorite said interviews and I'm going to share some of those personally today but you know at the end of the day it's that old cliche you know it's not what you say it's not what you did it's how you made people feel and boy he sure did leave an impact in a big way and there were some controversies along the way but you know and I know like when I was doing a podcast with aren't Anderson you know we got that question all the time about his circumstance with Sid but man that was so long ago those guys had, you know, let bygones be bygones and been nothing but class acts and gentlemen and respectful for decades. But in this sort of niche, if you will, as you like to say, Eric,

sometimes the negativity is what people are looking for. They want the dirt, as somebody might say. And I just think Sid was, and I've called him this on the show before, he was one of my guilty pleasure favorites as a kid, like, you know, the newsletters and those types, you just ethered him. they just did not care for his performance or persona or presentation that as a little kid man that was what a wrestler was supposed to be this huge imposing menacing looking figure nearly seven feet tall over 300 pounds you know with piercing blue eyes and pumpkins on his shoulders and what looked like a perm but you better not say a perm to that dude i mean what a look that sid had i mean when you go back and watch some of his stuff i could

see him battling robocop. I could see him as the top henchman for a villain in a movie. I mean, he had a Hollywood look. Did he not, Eric? I don't think you could have AI artificial intelligence couldn't create a character visually more compelling than Sid. You're right, man. He was like right out of central casting for a superhero. Like if you were going to create a video, game a combat video game you're going to look at sit and go all right i may not be able to get the rights to that character but i don't want somebody that looks just like him he's just he was something else man he was a he was a very special human being in that regard yeah he could have been you know an opponent in mike tyson's punch out i could have seen him being a matter of fact

maybe he was like our real life version of ivan drago that rocky four here life not the Russian angle, but just this giant, imposing, unbeatable monster, he was that. And what I loved about it, and especially in hindsight, is it does feel like his life that we didn't all know much about, like not as public life, but as private life. We've just been flooded on our timelines with more recent pictures of a much different looking human being with those grandkids. Yeah, I saw that yesterday. Great. I just love that we get to see that version of Sid, not the menacing character, but granddad.

Yeah, that brought a tear to my eye. That one hit home. And that's what I mean. I mean, that's the look on Sid's face in that picture is the same look, you know, that I saw last. And that was at a convention when he's surrounded by people and you're signing autographs. And I don't mean to make that sound like it's work necessarily. But it takes a lot out of you because you want to be engaging. You want to, like, when people come up for an autograph, they don't really care about your autograph. No, sometimes if they're card collectors or memorabilia collectors, that's a little bit different. But I would say 75%, 80% of the people that approach me at least at conventions or for an autograph, they don't really care about the autograph. What they're willing to pay for and what they're hoping to get is eye contact and a conference.

conversation. They want to feel like they had a chance to get to know you on a one-on-one personal level. And I love that, but it is draining. And you almost have to kind of remind yourself that the 75th person in line or the 100th person in line, if you're so lucky, sometimes I'm not, but Sid was, much bigger character. But those people that are last in line have the same hopes as the first person in line. So you've got to work at staying engaging because it's really easy by the third or fourth hour sitting in an arena surrounded by people at noise

and sensory overload and fake lights and blah, blah, blah, shitty food. It's really easy to get grumpy if you let yourself. And that was never said, man. He was always smiling. He was always engaged, always having. fun. And that's kind of how I judge people. Not judge them, but that's how I, I noticed that. I pay attention to people who are genuinely engaging with fans. And he

certainly was. One of my favorite follows on Twitter is Andrew Dice Clay. And he posted a picture of Sid with his grandkids and a recliner. And he wrote, Sid may have passed, but unlike many of his peers, he made it home. and saw his family grow. This was posted on his Facebook page recently, Sidney with his grandkids. He didn't pass away in a hotel room, thousands of miles from home.

He went out surrounded by his family. And I got to tell you, I never really considered that, you know, to a lot of us fans. We just sort of, at times forget. We have a tendency to forget.

Hey, these are real people. They're not, they're not just the television character and persona that you, see on the screen and we've all heard that tale of you know living in the fast lane maybe too long in the professional wrestling business in the touring business just in the entertainment business and I know that over the years you know Sid took a little bit of flag or you know well softball this or that and and I know J.R. said maybe at times he wasn't

as dependable but this is a guy I want to remind everybody who has not one but two WrestleMania main events under his belt. That's two more than Rick Flair. He made invented WrestleMania against Hulk Hogan. He re-advented WrestleMania against the Undertaker. Wow. I mean, these are major milestones, but you know what? When everybody was writing LOL softball, was it really family?

Did he really come off the road just to go play softball? Or was that his version of the old Terry Funk? my horse is sick. He wanted to get home. He wanted to be with his family. The more I've learned about, said, just in the last few days,

the more I'm convinced that softball was really family. And I've heard through a family friend that he had been suffering with brain cancer for years, but he kept it quiet. I mean, I had friends who just saw him earlier this month

and had no idea. The more I learn about Sid, the more respect, and appreciation I have for Sid not just the character but the human being and we've gathered together some tweets today from some wrestling luminaries to sort of share their thoughts

I think we all got the news from his son Gunner who wrote in memory of my father Sid Udi dear friends and family I'm deeply sadden to share that my father Sid Udi has passed away after battling cancer for several years he was a man of strength kindness

and love and his presence will be greatly missed we appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we grieve this loss. Details for a memorial service will be shared soon. Thank you for your support. Directly from his son and one of the biggest names in the history of wrestling, and certainly in Sid's era, was Rick Flair. And, well, they'd had their ups and downs. He wrote this, so sorry to hear the passing of Sid Justice.

For all of you out there that have known that we haven't gotten along in business, the last time I saw him, we hugged. he called me champ and I said thank you he has a beautiful family his family should know that he was much more than a softball player a man period rest in peace Jake Roberts took to the internet as well as I'm shocked and sadden to learn that Sid Eudy passed away today what an incredible look and presence he certainly left his mark on our business I send my prayers and best wishes to his family rest in peace said Booker T was inspired as well he wrote without Sid

vicious, I don't think my brother and I would have made it to WCW. His impact on this business was undeniable, and he paved the way for so many of us. My deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time. I want to take a time out right there, Eric, from some of these different tribute posts that we saw, but I've heard that story for multiple people that Sid was a big advocate for Harlem Heat and others, and I don't think that side of Sid gets shown enough. He was constantly pushing for his friends and encouraging them and hoping that, you know, they achieve some of their dreams and successes. I don't think that sign of Sid or that side of Sid has been made public very often. What can you tell us about Sid as an advocate

for his peers? You know, I've heard this story about what Sid did for Harlem Heat. I wasn't a part of it, and I would butcher the story if I tried to recap it here. But it's out there. And I don't know if it was in, if Booker's got a book or if I saw it in an interview, but I think I recall Booker saying, and again, I could be wrong. So if I am, my intention, at least is honorable. But if I remember correctly, Sid let Harlem Eat stay with him in his apartment for a while during that transition. This is a good human being. This is a good guy. And I, and again, you know, my interaction with Sid is really kind of comes in two chapters, really.

But at that period of time when Sid was, his manager was Colonel Rob Parker, right? Sid was a part of that. I wasn't involved in any of the creative decisions, negotiations. I wouldn't have been aware of what Sid was attempting to do for Harlem Heat because it wasn't involved. but he and we've just heard a similar story with PCO and same thing you know what on a post yesterday he was just he was a supportive guy he was a team player I want to go back to what you know you brought up softball and I had time to think about that last night knowing we were going to do this looking back this is a guy that had his

priority straight I know there's going to be people out like oh I can't believe you in softball over priorities, but you hit it right on the head, Conrad. It wasn't about softball. It's about his community and his family. And when I flew, and I know I'm not answering your question about advocating for other people, but I just didn't have a lot of experience with that because of time. But when I flew to meet Sid for the very first time to bring him in when I was in charge, at the time I had my own plane, so I flew myself to the little town he lived in, in Mississippi, and I didn't know what to expect. I'd heard all the stories, all the dirt sheet bullshit from guys like Dave Meltzer. So I went into the meeting with, I was cautious. I was

reserved. I didn't know what to expect. Man, humble home, humble guy, small town. That's what he loved in his family obviously and i kind of admire someone especially at a young age especially when people are dangling buckets and buckets and buckets of money in front of you when you're a small town guy from mississippi who's you know happy driving a 20 year old car as long as it works that was said he wasn't he didn't live above his means he the money was i guess important to him but it's clear to me now, especially in retrospect, as you just pointed out, his life, his family, his community was far more important

than perhaps another opportunity to wrestle in a WrestleMania main event or in a WCW main event. He had his priority straight. Pretty uncommon in this business, and I understand that. It's hard for people to wrap their head around the idea that someone like Sid would jeopardize hundreds of thousands of dollars because being with his family and being in this community and be a part of it was

actually more important to him. I admire that. I don't know how you couldn't. You mentioned PCO. I want to share that tweet. He posted, rest in peace, big brother Sidney Udy. No, it's impossible. We were always together and having fun always. He came to my gym, my house. He knew every member of my family. I spent months with him at his house and with his family. My sympathies to Cid's wife, Sabrina, and his sons, Frankie and Gunner. I just think it's cool. Think about that. Like, the idea that he knew every member of the family's name. Not surprising. I don't know PCL, but that I do know, I did know sit a little bit, just a little bit. Doesn't surprise me, but, hey, just check it. Curious. Summertime blues,

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After you purchase, they're going to ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them you heard it here. Again, if you're 21 and over, check out the via in our description and use Russell Biz to receive 50% off after your purchase and tell them you heard about it right here. And Russell Biz. Diamond Dallas page he chimed in as well he wrote wow I'm so sorry to hear that Sid Eudy has passed on said had such a presence when Sid vicious stepped through the curtain you knew you were looking at someone special he had it all and he looked as impressive as anyone to ever enter the squared circle I had no idea he was fighting a battle with cancer my deepest sympathies go out to his family rest in peace brother big Foley chimed in as well He said he just heard about Sid Deutie.

He talked about the good times, working in the Memphis territory back in 88, all those long drives. He says, I remember Shane Douglas telling me about Sid's tryout match in WCW and how within minutes in the ring, lead booker Rick Flair turned to members of the booking committee and said, he's got it, making Sid one of the quickest signings in the company.

I'm sending my very best wishes and prayers to the family and all those who loved him. Sting chimed in as well. a classic opponent. I think we all think about Sid and Sting. And Sting says, one of the most believable big men ever. I loved working with Sid and I'll miss him.

Ted DiBiase mentioned that he's going to pray for Sid and his family. Mark Miro chimed in as well. He was one of the first wrestlers I ever wrestled when I was trying out for WCW. What a great guy.

My heart and thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and his millions of fans. And millions of fans is right, Eric. I heard from people that aren't wrestling fans that I didn't even, I mean, I would never imagine I would hear from them. But I did. People I haven't heard from him in years saying, hey, is this real?

Hey, is this true? Like our local NBC affiliate in Huntsville posted it as breaking news. I mean, it was, he left a much bigger impact because of the timing. of when, you know, his star rose and his unique presence and his unique character and just the whole presentation, he made an impact. And, and, and I think a lot of people would have thought, you know, well, that that's reserved. That type, sort of reaction is reserved for the Hulk Hogan's or the Rick Flares or the Randy Savage's. But man, if you saw Sid, you never

forgot it. Did you, Eric? No, and it's, you know, a lot of the comments that I've seen from fans, not people that have worked with said and knew him personally, but from fans who were, who watched them in WWF as well as WCW, and all of them kind of consistently go back to, man, the first time I saw him, I fill in the blank.

Yes. So much consistency there. Because as you pointed out right in the very beginning, man, he looked like he was right out of a video game, just unbelievable. And he did leave a big impression. And you wonder what would have happened,

And if Sid wasn't so content to live in a little town of Mississippi and spend time with his family and friends, as opposed to what some of us do, including myself, which is go out there and, you know, keep making money with that brand and keep pushing and keep engaging. And Sid did some of that, but I think he was very comfortable in his retirement. Some people go into that stage of their career, and it has nothing to do with your age. You know, when you're a performer, particularly in professional wrestling, retirement can be 30. Retirement can be 35. If you're hugely successful and you've made a lot of money and just decide you want to go live a quiet life on an island somewhere, you can do that.

Or an injury will take you out of the game. Any number of things could. But soon as well, and a lot of times I've seen, unfortunately, so many people who their life in the ring and their life in the business. becomes more important than anything else, kind of going back to what I was saying about softball. And that's fine when you're in it. But when that day comes, for whatever reason, whether it's voluntary or involuntary,

and that part of your life that you've spent so much time focusing on, and the adoration, the reactions from the crowd, that's all addictive. That's why people perform. That's why the Rolling Stones still perform. That's why Stevie Nix is still out there. It's not the money. It's the addiction to the energy that you get from that crowd.

And I think Sybida is one of the fortunate few who, when that time came for him, put a smile on his face and embraced whatever was next, as opposed to hanging on being bitter, being angry, talking about what he didn't get, what he should have gotten. You hear so much of that. So when someone like Sid, when we lose somebody like Sid, who just embraced life and was grateful for the opportunities that he had, didn't carry any baggage around with him, wasn't, you know, wasn't negative in any way. It makes it even harder. Not that, you know, you want anybody to have to go through what Sid went through, obviously.

But he's a special guy. And when you lose someone special like Sid, you take notice. I think he was actually billed as being from West Memphis, Arkansas, which is directly over the river from Memphis, Tennessee. But that's right like hop, skipping a jump as we say. I think I flew. I think I landed in Mississippi. No, that's what I'm saying is Tennessee, Mississippi,

and Arkansas, where they all kind of get together, that's where Sid was from. I think you passed away in Marion, but West Memphis is, I think, the actual official hometown. But what's interesting to me, maybe not interesting. As a kid, I'll never forget it. I was so intimidated by Sid and loved his presentation.

And Gary Michael Capetta, man, it's one of my favorite things as a kid. You can, you can still hear him do this call if you find the right tapes. But he would introduce Sid and he would say something along the lines of, you know, standing six foot nine, weighing 310 pounds. And think about it in Gary Michael Capeta's voice and cadence. From anywhere he damn well pleases. I mean, wow, from anywhere he damn well pleases. So whether it's Mississippi, it's Arkansas, it's Tennessee, it's Sid.

And how unique is it too with a guy who, I mean, if you just Google Sid Vicious, you're going to find a musician. You have to type in Sid Vicious wrestler. Of course, WWF would change it to Sid Justice. But really, in wrestling circles, you don't need a second name. He was such a big star. There's only one Sid. And if there is another wrestler who comes along who's calling themselves Sid,

there's still only going to be one Sid. It's like that name belongs to Mr. Udi. Wouldn't you agree? Absolutely. Absolutely. He definitely left his mark. And you know, when you talk about, you know, Gary Capetta talking about how big he was and intimidating he was

and the presence that he brought to the ring is, was 180 degrees from who Sid Udi really was. he was the embodiment of the gentle giant he wasn't a bully he could have been easily and i know all the bullshit stories and all the dirty nonsense and i'm not even going to get into any of that but that whatever you read or whatever you've read when it comes to sid and some of the wrestling publications of the time just toss it in the garbage it's not real the guy Sid was a gentle giant he was fun i don't i mean i'm sure i noticed him backstage at points when he wasn't smiling but i don't remember those i remember him always with a smile on his face

joking around you know engaging with other talent he was just he was a he was a different cat man and he wasn't into in real life which i think is a testimony to his character on television he was the exact opposite of the character that you saw he was just a sweet gentle, humble, very humble guy. I don't think when Sid looked in the mirror, he saw 6 foot 9 or 300 pounds. I just don't think he saw that. He didn't see what others saw, and he carried himself accordingly. Can't say enough about his personality.

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I remember as a kid hearing about Lord He, mongous. Yeah. Incontinental and a few other, obviously Memphis, but I mean, there were little spot shows all over the south that dotted Alabama and Mississippi and Tennessee.

And he's coming out in a hockey mask, like a horror movie guy. And before you know it, he's in WCW. I mean, I think he debuted in WCW, like less than two years after he first started training and trying to become a wrestler.

As a matter of fact, it was 89, Eric. So 35 years ago, this year, Sid became a national fixture in television wrestling. But fast forward just a handful of years and boy, he's on the fast track,

not just in WCW challenging sting, but later Sean Michaels in the WWF. Famously, he was the bodyguard and he helped Sid to sort of, or he helped Sean move up to the main event, if you will, feuded with diesel. But when, for whatever reason,

it didn't work out with Vader and Sean Sean called an audible Sean wanted to work with Sid instead and Sean took to Twitter and made a post sad to learn of the passing of Sid Udi, an unforgettable presence and it can't be overstated how big

of a role he played in creating the heartbreak kid his work, legacy, and influence will inspire our business for generations to come and that's a powerful quote right there and the part that I really dig is where

Sean is giving credit for helping to create the heartbreak kid and sometimes we forget that yes a dance there's two people in that in that dance yes and each of their jobs are to make the other look as good as possible

and for Sean Michaels his stature what he's achieved to acknowledge that powerful appreciate that I'm sure the I'm such a fan of that feud. I mean, I have to admit, I wasn't watching wrestling when it happened in 95,

but when they came back to it in 96, on the heels of SummerSlam 96, where it was Vader and Sean, it was supposed to be a trilogy that would include Survivor Series and then culminate in San Antonio in Sean's hometown. Sean wasn't happy with Vader and the way those matches were going. He wanted Sid. And the result was something that wasn't even supposed to happen.

this is after he had main evented with Hulk Hogan and maybe it didn't go according to plan and maybe he wasn't as reliable and maybe there were challenges and maybe he went to WCW and there was a horrible incident overseas and so there's a lot of baggage here for Sid and it feels like a risk Sean wanted Sid and the result is Survivor Series 96 I challenge anybody to go watch that main event and tell me Sid wasn't an incredible performer this is at the height of Sean and his title run, his baby face persona. He is the face that runs the place in the WWF. But Sid came to the ring that night in Madison Square Garden, fist bumping fans with the pyro burning behind him, SID, and perhaps J.R. Freestyle, the fantastic line, as we see it emblazoned in the pyrotechnics, SID.

Suddenly I'm dominant. Sid won the world title that night and was very, believable and then the next month got a pinfall win over brett heart at a time where nobody predicted it it was a pay-per-view named after vader and sid's in that spot for in your house it's time and he delivered but then the biggest show that the company had ran in a long long time yeah we had to have a baby face hero the hometown hero sean michael's and san antonio at the alamo dome we got to find a way to get 50 60 maybe 70 000 people in here That's a tall ask for a tall man.

But boy, Sid delivered. And I posted it to Twitter earlier this week. Maybe we'll throw a link in the description for this show on YouTube. But the promo that Sid cut in an empty arena, an empty Alamo dome, standing in the ring, hours before doors open for fans, and you hear his voice echoing. And he would go from the 80s yelling like this, Eric, to the whisper. that he was the master. You hung on every word.

Exactly. And I know there's been so many people who've had their fun with Sid about, hey, he did that one promo in the WWF. He started it and then looked at JR and said, hey, let's just start over. I can do that better. And J.R. said, we're live, pal. And people thought that was a dunk.

Hey, I say that means he took it seriously. He wanted to do better. He knew he could do better. I'm not going to say he was a perfectionist, but he's like, no, no, hey, we can do better. I want this to be good. go back and watch that live promo from a live edition

of a morning superstars. And actually as they're going out, you can hear Kevin Dunn giving the countdown. As Sid staring at the camera, you can hear five, four, three. It's live. Sid was an incredible promo. He understood the little things

about wrestling that make it great, Eric. Like, I'll never forget as a kid understanding and responding. It became Pavlovian. When Sid would get in the ring and he would turn his head, like he wanted to see a reaction from over there and he would get one like with just a little thing a turn to the head i just thought

all the little stuff he did getting down on one knee and calling him in all of those little things made sid feel like a much bigger star i was just so impressed with his performance and i'm glad that we're all giving him his flowers i wish maybe it would have happened a little sooner i'm still surprised that it hasn't happened yet but sid's got to go in the w w w halaam next year right? Don't you agree? I certainly hope so. I mean, from a credential point of view, you've run down his high points that I think those alone would make him worthy of being in the Hall of Fame.

But the impression, the legacy, certainly all you need to do is take a look at social media and look at the responses you're getting. I've seen so many clips over the last 24 hours or 18 hours of Sid in the ring, both in WWE and in WCW, man, he deserves so much more credit than he got. And what you just described, I'm going to go back and look for that interview. To be honestly, I want to see that. But you point it out, man, he did all the little things right. As you've heard me say a million times, or 100 maybe.

Okay, a dozen. Great television, a great character, especially a great character, is the perfection of a lot of little details. It's not the big thing. It's the little things in aggregate that make a great story or make a great character. And for Sid to have the instinct to do some of the things that I'm visualizing as you're describing them, that all just comes, that's just instinct. That's just that unique ability, that charisma is part of that.

You know, charisma isn't intangible, right? You can't pick it up, can't put it on a scale and weigh it. Can't put it in a bottle. Can't put it in the box, a package. can't teach it in a class you either god gave you that or he didn't and and sid had that so what he may have lacked in some respects he tripled in in the fact that he had a great instinct the thing that you said we look his head this way and look that's kind of like whole covenant cup in a year man shouldn't matter all that much but it does and and i love that i love hearing that i'm going to go back

going to look for that i'm going to make sure that we get the links in the description i tweeted out that promo because i just absolutely love it and i would challenge you eric i know you weren't consuming it at the time you were busy running wcw but go watch that uh survivor series 1996 that main event his entrance and just the way the crowd is with him i mean it was something else and of course you know it culminated at the alamo dome but that wasn't it for him and again i i think this gets lost on people, but Hulk Hogan needed a credible opponent for what might be his retirement match

at WrestleMania 8. Let's call Sid. Well, we got to have somebody who can make our young up star, our new baby face superstar in the old trying to fill the shoes of Rick Flair. Who can make Sting look good at our big paper view Halloween Havoc? Who's a

believable, credible threat that can really help bolster sting in the eyes of the fans? Well, let's call Sid. We did that same thing with Sean Michaels, and then when disaster struck, Sean somehow lost his smile, and now we've got a whole shakeup. WrestleMania 13 is in jeopardy. We're not getting the Sean Michaels Brett Hart rematch.

What do we do? Well, let's call Sid. We got the belt on Sid. He dropped it to the Undertaker because the Undertaker needed a credible opponent. Who would be worthy of challenging or defending or crowning the Undertaker? So whether it was The Undertaker, or it was Sting, or it was Sean Michaels, or it was Hulk Hogan, the common denominator, Sid, and I think because he didn't police the narrative and he wasn't super active on social and he didn't do a thousand shoot interviews and write 14 books and he didn't do a podcast and he did occasional appearances here and there, family was priority and his work was what it was. and I hope now that he's no longer with us will pay a little more attention to the little things. Triple H is the top of the mountain these days, and he took to social media to write

about Sid as well. As a two-time WW champion, the master and the ruler of the world, few performers in the history of our business have had the look, intensity, and ability to connect with the audience quite like Sid. My thoughts are with Sid's family, friends, and fans. Sean Waltman was the measuring stick for a long time and he says Sid was my first odd couple tag partner before Kane. I love teaming with him. He was always really good to me. Kevin Nash chimed in on social as well. He wrote on Instagram. I made my first road trip with Sid and laughed the entire trip.

He ran off my first tag team partner in five days. One of the greatest physical looks the wrestling world has ever seen. The longer you knew him, the easier it was to see. He was just a sweetheart of a guy. and someone who never missed a workout. I'll miss you, big man, especially that laugh and smile. Love that.

Nick Aldous, who of course is a big time part of what WW is doing on television these days, wrote, I was such a mark for Sid when I was a kid. He was a cartoon character in real life, and he represents an era in my fandom that I always have great affection for. To this day, when I think I said, I always turn into a 10-year-old kid again and say, Sid was awesome.

I don't care what anyone says. Vince Rousseau took to social as well, and he says, always so good to me, so underrated. One of the best promo guys that nobody ever talks about. God bless you, my friend.

Brian Hebner chimed in as well and said so sad to hear about the news of Sid Udi, he was a wrestler that made me want to watch a larger-than-life man do what he did best. That was to entertain me, which he did on so many levels. levels. I met him as a kid and I was so scared.

But gosh, he was such a super nice man. Matt Cardona, the Indy God, chimed in and said, Survivor Series 96. I walked into Madison Square Garden with a zebra Sean Michael's biker hat on. I took the hat off my head and threw it to the ground. I dropped to my knee and did the psycho Sid pose when Sid won the title. Rest in peace, Sid. That's awesome.

Joe Hendry, got a little buzz right now, says, Sid reignited my passion for wrestling and as the reason I dyed my hair blind and changed my move set. I'm sad I never got to thank him in person for influencing me so much, one of the greats. Man, you want to talk about a legacy. When you've got young performers saying,

hey, I took the other guy's hat off and mimicked him and I dyed my hair and changed my moves because of him. And then you see guys like Sting and Sean Michaels saying and you help make me me what an incredible legacy that's two generations right there joe henry is you know he's right on the edge of a breaking through and one of the more dynamic and exciting and interesting new characters that come along in a while so and he was he's doing what he's doing today in in some part he would be the judge because of the influence that said had on him and i that's the legacy

when you leave that much of an impression on two generations of professionals, that's the legacy you want. Good for, good for Sid. And thanks so much for all the people that post it. Great stuff. I really hope that folks will go enjoy a little bit of Sid today. I want to recommend that you watch Halloween Havoc,

1990. It's a big WCW main event. It's a big opportunity. for him his challenging sting and what a presentation it was i've got to go but i don't mean to interrupt you but i just realized i took a power bomb from sid yeah i got to go back and see that i remember that now i have never other than paul white the giant i have never been so high in the air other than what i'm on a plane as i was in that right that was weird being up because he brought me straight up.

I just remembered that. I got to go find that. You know, that's what's great is. There's so much to uncover it with Sid. Like, you know, I know there's there's controversies and there's funny, you know, moments like we talked about, you know, where he said, hey, let's start that over. Well, in WCW, of course, he's riffing famously with Kevin Nash. And he said something like, that's why I'm twice the man that you are, but I've got half the brain that you do.

Maybe he didn't mean to say it like that, but it was still awesome. And the way, when it was silly, but he had to sell it. You know, Goldberg had crushed his car and he's going to jump up and down on a pile of flattened out metal. I curse you. I mean, it's just silly. But as a kid, man, he was so intimidating even if it was silly. I know you weren't watching back then, Eric, but he destroyed the barbershop set on the

WWF show, Superstars. And that was the interview set like Piper's Pit, but this one was for Brutus, barber beefcake after he had the parasailing accident and in the process of destroying it a bottle of shaving cream like barbassol exploded and just covered sit he's in the middle of the promo he's already destroyed the set there's no take two here the set's destroyed so he looks at the camera with barbersaw all over his face exploded and kept talking screaming crazy it was unbelievable and then of course there's other funny silly stuff. I mean, you and I just recently talked about the shockmaster.

Sid's on the set for all that. Like, Sid was a part of so many of your favorite wrestling moments and maybe some of the more gruesome ones. I think what we never hope to talk about again, boy, that leg injury at the end of WCW, when he comes off the top with a kick and tries to land on one foot and I mean, it looked like his damn ankle touched his knee. That was brutal. I remember sitting back. I very rarely would be in what is referred to as the guerrilla position. We didn't call it that really in WCW.

But that staging area backstage where everybody's watching on the monitor, Jerry Taylor was there and Kevin Sullivan and a number of other people. Danny Engle was sitting right next to me. I saw that happen. And I don't get queasy easily when it comes to my own shit. Like, you know, I break a bone. or something, you know, needs stitched up or whatever. If it's mine, if it's me, I don't really react that much.

But seeing somebody else, like, I can't watch. This is how bad I am. Like, if we're watching a TV series and it involves surgery and they always do these close-up, super realistic shots, we're going to dig it around on somebody's chest, I can't watch that shit. I turn away to this day. my wife laughs at me all the time and then she tells me what i can look again because she knows

i just hate seeing it well you can imagine how i felt sitting in front of that monitor and seeing sid break his legs in such a you know joe thysman kind of brutal televised fashion news i still don't want to see it like i'm sure we're going to replay it at some point i ain't going to watch it but you know what he didn't bitch about it you know what was there to bitch about but he, he, it's like, okay, broke my leg, got to get better. Just, again, his attitude, his positive attitude, you know, really showed after that. But man, that turned my stomach watching that live. This episode is brought to you by Blue Chute.

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and important safety information. And we thank Blue Chew for their ongoing support of everything we do. And it's one of those things where you can't help but wonder, hey, what could have been? You know, if he wouldn't have had that injury and after WCW goes under, a lot of talent went back to the WWF, Paul Kogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Sean Walt, I mean, so many of those stars. And of course, WCW grades like DDP and Booker T, but Sid's, certainly would have been figured in and made a big part.

And I think that injury probably changed the trajectory of what was possible there. But man, what could have been? You know, there's a famous story. I don't know if you've heard this. And I don't know if it's even really true. But it's certainly been repeated enough that when it looked like Sid was going to, or rather Hulk Hogan was going to start winding it down, he's going to step away from in ring action and maybe focus more on Hollywood or

television. Vince is looking for his next big star. And the formula, well, it was already established. We need a really tall, really muscular, blonde hair, blue-eyed monster, maybe with interesting hair. Sid checked all of those boxes. And allegedly, he sat, sit down and laid out the vision. I want you to be my next whole Cogan. And as the story goes, and who knows if this is really true, said, I'd rather be a baby, I'd rather be a heel. The idea that you're given, I mean, at that time, listen, whatever you think of Hulk Hogan today, table that for a minute. In the early 90s, everyone in wrestling aspired to be Hulke Hogan.

He had achieved success far beyond what anyone was even imagining was possible. Can I interrupt you right there just to help you put this in the context? We look today at the rock, the highest paid entertainer, in Hollywood and you see John Cena everywhere, feature films, commercials, WWE, he's everywhere. Jay Batista, hugely successful in the film business. We look at that now and go, okay, yeah, well, that's, you know, it's not unusual. That happens. Sometimes people make it break through into, you know, big time mainstream. That never happened before Hulk Hogan. When Hulk Hogan made the cover of Sports Illustrated, when Hulk Hogan was on Johnny Carson, when Hulk Hogan did all of the things in

WWE early on that Hulk Hogan did, those things had never been done before, kind of like Rock becoming the highest paid actor in Hollywood, right? And I only say all that to put into context your recap of that alleged conversation where Sid went, yeah, I don't think so. That is really kind of amazing, but it also is a reflection of the guy who was true to himself. He was being honest, whereas a lot of people may have been going, I don't want to do that, but okay, Vince, I'm in. And even though they're committing, they're not really committing.

And Sid, whether he thought through that or not, or it was his personality and instinct taking over. And he went, well, I know everybody else wants that, but I'm pretty cool right where I'm at. Thanks, Vince. Want to go work out? Who does that? Allegedly, Evan Polisher, who helps us align with ad-freeshows.com,

he told me that, because he wants to put a time, helps Sean Mooney with Sean's podcast. We think the world is Sean, such a talented guy, doing news out West. I don't know what he wants public or not, but just an awesome human. But allegedly, when he interviewed Sid, they discussed WrestleMania against Hogan.

And Sid may or may not have said something like, I didn't even know it was WrestleMania until I walked to the ring and saw the banners hanged. The idea being, this is just a job. I'm going to get, I'm going to do it.

I'm going to make as much money as I can and then I'm going to get home to my family. And I think that the narrative on said, because he wasn't really a public person and out here policing it and changing and shaping the narrative, if you will, man, I hope people,

when they start talking about softball again, they recognize what that really meant. I'm going to go home, and be with my family yes and i think if there's a way to honor and memorialize sid the best today yeah let's go watch halloween havoc 1990 certainly let's watch survivor series 96 why don't we call mom and dad today why don't we take those kids to lunch why don't we go get ice cream with the grandkids that's what's really important and it turns out maybe sid did have it figured out he was the master and the ruler of the world we just weren't really listening we were

hearing him but we weren't really listening family's important and i was really excited to see wwee pay tribute to sid and they did that and had a little package on monday night and bronson reeds squashed a guy on a car maybe that makes me think of sid i hope somebody shows up on a ew this week wearing a body glove elbow sleeve all in honor I mean, you think about it too, man, like for most of his career, plain black trunks, plain black boots. He didn't need any gimmicks. He was the deal.

He was the man. Any final thoughts or words you want to share with us today about Sid, Eric? You said it perfectly. He didn't need any gimmicks. He was just the real guy. He was Sid. He was Sid, he was Sid, he was Sid in the ring and happened to make a lot of money doing it and prioritized his family.

that's awesome much respect much respect what a legacy one of my favorites as a kid i showed my wife that promo from uh the alamo dome and she said people didn't think that was good that was great it was sid was great let's go watch some of those classic memories and moments and we want to see in your comments drop us a comment below what are some of your favorite sid moments whether it was a Monday Night Raw or a Nitro or a pay-per-view or a promo on superstars. Tell us about the first time you saw Sid. Share some of your favorite memories of seeing Sid. Or maybe even better yet.

Did you ever get to meet Sid? Some of my friends sent me some great photos. I've got a buddy in Arkansas who didn't live too terribly far from where Sid was. And they had a great photo from when he was in the news world. and he's choking him you know it's it's the oh he's about to choke slam me thing and if you didn't know any better you take a look at that photo and say is he a pro wrestler is that an mhm a fighter or is that just a villain from superman because he could have been any of those things what an incredible legacy leaves behind and uh i'm so proud we got to see what we got

to see of him and our thoughts and prayers certainly go to his wife and two sons he leaves behind. What a legacy. Rest in peace, Sid. Thanks for the memories. How's that? Savewithconrad.com. Mark Taggart from Rantul, Illinois. My wife started the process with one of the big major corporations, and things were going very badly. And finally, I just stopped and said, hey, listen, I've been listening to the ads for years. Let's go with Save with Conrad and see what we can have happen. We were trying to free up. a little space so we could spend down some debt and do some home improvements. We saved quite a bit, and in the long run, we're going to do a lot better with Save with Conrad than we would have

anywhere else. It was absolutely beautiful. You know, like Larry and Francis were absolutely, they were the greatest. Not only were they professional, knew what they were talking about, they were friendly, and they cared about the job they were doing, which was so important to me. I would absolutely recommend Save With Conrad to anybody. This is Mark Teigot from Randt, Illinois, And I wanted to do some home improvements and spend down a little debt, and I got hold of Save with Conrad, and we did incredibly. NMLS number 2129, Equal Housing Lender, SavewithConrad.com.