Digital Social Hour - The Unseen Side of Ric Flair: Business & Legacy | Ric Flair DSH #849

Episode Date: November 1, 2024

Step into the ring and experience "The Unseen Side of Ric Flair: Business & Legacy" on the Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly! 🤼‍♂️💼 Tune in now to uncover the dynamic world of one of wrestling's greatest legends, Ric Flair. From anxiety-driven travels to his explosive ventures in cannabis and energy drinks, this episode is packed with valuable insights! 🌿⚡️ Join the conversation as Ric reveals his journey from wrestling glory days to becoming a business mogul. Discover how he's still grinding, making more money today than ever in wrestling. 💪 With candid reflections on his personal and professional life, Ric shares never-before-heard stories and his thoughts on legacy, family, and the business of wrestling. Don't miss out! Watch now and subscribe for more insider secrets. 📺 Hit that subscribe button and stay tuned for more eye-opening stories on the Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly! 🚀 Join us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and beyond for this exclusive episode with the Nature Boy himself! 🎙️✨ #wrestlingdynamics #wrestlingbusinessinsights #personalfinance #cannabisandentrepreneurship #wweraw #wrestlingnews #wwe #wwenews #cannabisregulation #wweraw CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 01:15 - C*nn*bis Use and Experiences 02:38 - Favorite Era of Wrestling 04:44 - Wrestling as a Business 06:02 - Earnings in Wrestling 08:13 - Financial Losses from Divorce 10:25 - Ric Flair's Iconic Robes 13:06 - Health Scare and Impact 17:30 - Craziest Party Experiences with Ric Flair 19:40 - Fear of Death and Reflections 22:19 - WWE's Support for Troops 23:17 - Discussion on Space 23:50 - Cancer Awareness and Personal Stories 26:29 - Materialism and Its Effects 28:01 - Insights on the 2020 Election 30:48 - Almost Running for Governor 32:30 - Ric's Kids 33:14 - Legacy: Leaving Money to Kids 33:49 - Charitable Contributions and Causes 35:44 - Outro APPLY TO BE ON THE PODCAST: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application BUSINESS INQUIRIES/SPONSORS: [e-mail] GUEST: Ric Flair https://www.instagram.com/ricflairnatureboy https://www.instagram.com/officialricflairshop/ https://www.instagram.com/ricflairdrip/ https://www.youtube.com/c/ricflair LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 Sean Kelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmikekelly/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I think stuff like that is driven by anxiety and you know when you travel as fast as I was traveling. Different day man. I can't even picture you with anxiety I thought you were just laser focused. No I just have a little anxiety. Really? Wow. I was planning to go to bed for three or four days then enroll. You were out here partying man. You're probably hallucinating at that point. Not hallucinating but I was tired.

You're probably hallucinating at that point. I'm not hallucinating, but I was tired. Alright guys, Ric Flair here. One of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Thanks for coming on, man. Thank you. And brought the product too. Brought it all. Man, I've had some of those edibles. Great time. Good luck the rest of the day.

Yeah, not today. I knew today I had to be sharp. I take those at night, man. What else you've been working on, man? I know this brand's taking off. And the energy, the energy drink and the cannabis has kept me busy. Mm-hmm. Yeah, you're still working man. You're still grinding Traveling with it. Yeah, you got to support it. You travel a lot. Yes sure do Do you feel like you're still working as much as you used to or have you taken some time off? No not nearly as much as I used to but I enjoy it. I mean I like the people I work with and these cannabis guys are the best some of the best friends I've had as as are the guys with the

Indie drink. Nice. When did you start using? We've all become like really close friends. That's awesome. Yeah, I know those guys are great people When did you start using cannabis? Was it when you were wrestling? Yeah, I know those guys are great people. When did you start using cannabis? Was it when you were wrestling? No, I didn't start using cannabis till maybe three years ago the edibles. Oh wow so really late I smoked my wine and all that before but I had asthma as a kid. So I didn't really Wasn't I didn't didn't like it just effective and then I finally grew out of it like in my mid-30s Mmm. Damn. I didn't know you had asthma. Yeah, but I smoked. Well, nothing bad.

I mean, it's nothing worse than I was dying. But I carried an inhaler once in a while. You know, you're getting nervous. It's all, I think stuff like that is driven by anxiety. And you know, when you travel as fast as I was traveling, different day, man. I can't even picture you with anxiety. I thought you were just laser focused.

No, I used to have a with anxiety. I thought you were just Really Wow, I didn't go to bed with three or four days in a row You were out here partying man. You're probably hallucinating at that point Were you going on benders often like partying just celebrating for days every night damn you never got sick of it. No Wow, no, no, no, yeah, I get sick of it. Now. I just can't do this often. Mm-hmm Damn your mindset is different man. Yeah, I went through that phase in college, but I got kind of sick of it I got worse after a car Just a starter kid for me. Yeah that opened your eyes. Yeah Wrestling for 52

for the Wrestling for 52. Unforeseeable future. Yeah, I mean you're a living testament of that. Wrestling for 52 years. What was your favorite era? What was your favorite years? 80s. 80s? How come? No social media, wide open. Week out here in Vegas.

So you think social media kind of ruined that wrestling? No, I think it's hurt a lot of things. I mean, you used to be very conscious of all you, not that anybody was misbehaving, but you gotta, you know, people are just loving, people love to indict you. Yeah. People are so jealous of success, it's unbelievable. There's a lot of hate.

Especially at my age. Really? Yeah, you think people like to be making all this money? Really? That's interesting, I thought people would lay off at your age, because you're older and wiser, but you're still getting hate? Well, I'd just say, by now,

nobody's ever recognized themselves. I mean, they all have a phony tag name Yeah, I get I get hate too, but then I'll click on it. They criticize you one day the next day. They love you Yeah, yeah, I get a ton of hate and I click on their profiles and it's like a fake profile. They're all fake Yeah, people can't use their real accounts because they're too nervous to talk. Yeah, that sucks. They can find them Have you ever confronted a hater in person? Only if they confronted me. I never, you know, never sought one out. Yeah.

Yeah, there's too many to even bother with that shit. That's interesting, 80s. So yeah, everything started becoming documented, and you kind of had to move in silence after that right? No, not moving silence. No, I've never really changed. I just you just have to be more aware of what you're doing, you know Yeah, there's a lot of people that are like paparazzi is following you around right? It's annoying Yeah, people always want you know your life. Yeah Good it's a board with theirs. Mm-hmm

When did you realize this could be a business, like a lucrative business in wrestling? Because at first the money wasn't there, right? Well, I never made the big money in wrestling. I missed that, damn it. Oh, really? Yeah. Wow, I thought you made millions wrestling. BetMGM, authorized gaming partner of the NBA, has your back all season long. From tip-off to the final buzzer, you're always taken care of with the sportsbook Born

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No, I never I never had a million dollar you're wrestling damn okay, so the money came after I never had a million dollar your wrestling damn. Okay, so the money came after The money came after I make more money now than I make three times as much money as ever made in wrestling in one year Whoa, you see they almost four times. Holy crap. That's interesting So when did most money ever made in one year in wrestling was a eight hundred and fifty thousand damn eight hundred fifty Yeah, I didn't know that because you see all the guys now was 850,000. Damn, 850. Yeah. I didn't know that. Because you see all the guys now. They're killing it, right?

Logan Paul and WWE. They got to be pulling millions. So you paved the way for those people. Well, I don't work it like that. I'm just, I'm happy for them. I like to see people evolve. I like to see the business evolve. I like to see people prosper. I mean to see the business evolve. I like to see people prosper.

I mean, it's what it's all about. I mean, I think I had a lot to do with, you know, helping make it happen, but I don't regret not having the money. So you were just doing it because you loved it. I loved it, yeah. Nice. And what year did, so you retired a few times right well retired in 2008

and I was going through a divorce and I got his long story so when you're paying a lawyer to $30,000 a month and paying $30,000 a month in alimony jeez you go through the money fast so I had went back to work damn couple times but um then actually the biggest thing that I've run into, I had some real estate deals that did very well. I had 10 gold gyms. Whoa. It did real well.

I used to work out at those. In the Carolinas you did? In Jersey, they had a gold gym in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Oh yeah, they had gold gyms, they were very popular at one time. So I had 10 of those and then knowing that gym business got to a prostitute, I sold them, but I made good money on them nice and

then actually I Make a lot of money. I do very well doing sign autographs for fitterman sports But along came this cannabis and the woo energy opportunities and another these are the two biggest things I've ever been involved in. Whoa so that's just working with the right people then right? Finding the right partners. People you know guiding me in the right direction. Nice. Like the Rodman over here. Yes sir he goes to the same gym as me. Shout out to lifetime. What happened to Gold's Gym? I feel like they were everywhere. They just what happened is that they An example when I opened mine in 91 I was charging $50 a month

Hmm, and I can work out for $12 a month and it's planet fitness I mean, I don't know how they keep I don't know how they stay open, you know, but They're packed. That's how they stay open. You can't even get a machine so many people But I mean now they kept clean and there's a lot of things about gym business. You have to be very careful of it the you know, you kept to keep the locker rooms for the women really clean and You know, I've been in some ideas wouldn't work out and yeah now the The one that seemed to be taking over the business our lifetime dude, they're 400 a month. Yeah. Yeah

That's how much people are paying for that gym. But it's honestly worth it. Oh, the prime, the new lifetime in the Harbor Island, it damn business is nice, the gym of my life. Yeah, yeah, the sauna, the hot tub, the cold plunge. Pickle ball, racquetball. You playing pickle ball? A little bit, yeah.

Let's go. I love pickle ball. Yeah. I kind of want to own a pickleball team, honestly. You know? You got the money. I got some money. I've lost a lot, too, like you.

Yeah. Not to the vote. Well, if you know what I lost to divorce and lawyers, you're sick. I saw what happened to my dad, so I can imagine. And penalty and interest. Oh, man. $60,000 a month, you said?

Jeez. That was for custody of the kids? You were fighting for the custody? No, no, no. I was paying the alimony to three women. Holy crap. At one time. Damn. They ganged up on me. You think they coordinated it or was it? No, it's just that I had been married, had great marriage for 10 years, which she just decided, and I decided, she's gonna live with my travel schedule, and I was gone every day. The 70 days, I worked 365 days a year,

twice on Saturday, twice on Sunday, that's no exaggeration. When I was a world champion, going from New Zealand, Tokyo, back to London, London back to St. Louis, St. Louis to Atlanta, out to Portland, Oregon. I mean, it was like I have a schedule. Mm-hmm. That's nuts. Yeah. So that marriage lasted 25 years and then That was the expensive one No, it was over every never an issue with the kids it just but they want all morning they want to get paid

25 years of that lifestyle is impressive actually because I think a lot of women would go crazy not seeing their husband And your kids must have taken it hard to write She never left the kitchen of 11,000 score point home. Yeah, when you put it like that. What are you going to do with all that? The kids are gone. Yeah, no, that's something I struggle with too. I travel a lot and it's definitely hard dating

an entrepreneur or businessman. I could see why some girls can't handle it. Yeah. Yeah. Now I was watching you on Rampage Jackson's show. Shout out to Rampage. He's coming on soon. You said you had 35 robes that cost $15 grand each.

Yeah. Do you still have those? No. You sold them off? No, my wife sold them all. Oh, your wife? Oh, my wife stole my robes. Damn.

One took five. One took six I've given numerous to charity one's in the Smithsonian and then we'll go back to me. That's cool One just sold for a hundred eight thousand dollars damn and I could probably go out and get them But because they're all like that they've been stolen. You know like I don't like rooms Yeah, hundred eight000 for one. If you could find 10 of them, that's a million bucks right there. Yeah.

You might have to hit up your ex-wife. Yeah, like they're going to give them back, right? You think she still has them, or you think she sold them? I don't know. You know, I've gotten to a point where I don't care. Yeah. If they're that petty, they're going to steal my stuff. You're at peace with all of all of it. Yeah, I didn't used to be but I am now That's good cuz that stuff will eat at you, right? Oh god, I

resentment and open your Last thing you do Everybody's gone and you open the place where you keep your secret stuff all gone. Yeah, thank you. Come on empty. What? Damn. Oh, yeah, I got a lot of stories. It'll be in my movie Rocks making a movie on my life story. Let's go. When's that dropping? Well, the pitch is going on right now, I don't know what to be a three-part series I think I Think and hopefully on Netflix but I don't know for sure what nice I don't want to spoil it don't want to

quote me on that you you have a 30 for 30 though right yes yeah I already have a 30 for 30 and then the one that really killed it was a becoming Rick Fleur on peacock peacock yeah made by WWE oh wow I didn't see that one that's better than 30 for 30 really yeah what made that one. That's better than a 30 for 30. Really? Yeah What made that one so good you think? more information more detail It was it was an Emmy nominated Wow. Yeah, it's probably cool getting to show your backstory. The people didn't know that about you, right? Yeah, we've been adopted. I've been orphanage just stolen baby. Oh like whoa. Yeah, wait you were adopted you said

Yeah, I didn't know that I was still not an orphanage stolen out of an orphanage So they didn't legally adopt you They did but they legally adopted me from people that stole me. So holy crap Damn what a story Yeah, you've been through some stuff. I also saw you take your blood work every 30 days. That's really interesting. After being sick, I'm religious about it.

Yeah? That's quite off. I was dead in 2017. I was about bad. It took me three and a half years to come back from that. Whoa, 2017. Was that the heart attack year? Huh? Was that when you had a heart attack? I didn't have a heart attack. My intestine ruptured. Oh your intestine ruptured?

I had a bar while I was drinking. Holy crap. I went septic, total kidney failure, respiratory heart failure, and pneumonia. Damn. Took you three years to recover from that? Well I had a stoma for a year. You know a stoma is where the bags attach your intestine. Okay. In other words you use your bag. So that's your intestine the bag? No it's attached to your intestine. Got it. And then they waited like almost 18 months because they wanted to make sure it healed before they tried to put it back together. And then, strange story, because the doctor came in the first day and he goes, you know, you can't eat or drink anything here,

obviously on the intravenous. But on the ninth day it wasn't working and he told my partner, he said, well if it's not working tomorrow we gotta put him back to back on. The next day it clicked. Wow. Yeah, so I'm very lucky. Holy crap. I don't take it for granted. Yeah, that's awesome. Was your mindset like, were you kind of checked out? What were you thinking during that phase? Just hoping it would work. So you were still optimistic?

Well, you learn not to be optimistic. I was functioning pretty well by that point. But traveling like that, especially going to California, I've had a bad break on me on a plane. And I plane and stay in the bathroom for three and a half hours on the plane. Whoa. Yeah, you can't walk around with an open bag. Holy crap. Yeah, because when you're that high up the pressure probably breaks the bag. It just can't, you know, can't expose the cabin, that odor and And yeah, just not a cool thing. So I'm very fortunate that I got able to get by that.

So you've been taking your health super serious since that moment? Everything except drinking. You can't cut that out, man. I can't. I love that. My dad's Irish, so I know how that goes. Drink a 30 pack a day.

Yeah. Crazy. You drink a 30 pack a day. Yeah. Crazy. You wouldn't even feel it. No, I know. Well, I don't feel a 30 pack, but I like vodka. Yeah? Wow, that's a tough one, vodka. Chaser, at least.

Little cranberry for the kidneys. Oh, man. How long? I drink a lot more water than I used to yeah water support and I saw on Rampages show actually you've been drinking since 15 mm-hmm. You started young Yeah, you might say it's fresh me in high school. I Mean I wasn't drinking every day then but I can yeah, I remember the first time I ever did that's impressive So you were drinking every day then, but I can remember the first time I ever did. That's impressive. So you were drinking every day for a certain period though?

Every day of my life? Yeah. Like how long did that last? When I started drinking, literally drinking, I was 18. And you didn't take a day off? No, I don't know. Holy crap. That's impressive. It is. For real, like...

Well, I had that when I was in rehab for 35 days. Other than that, yeah. I couldn't drink then. I drank, what's worse for you, 10 dad cokes, two packs of Marlboro's and two cans of Skoll, or some drinking. Mmm. Yeah.

I took that coin they gave me, walked across the street, put it on the bar and ordered a 12-pack to go. Man, you got blessed genetics. I don't think a lot of people could sustain that. I think it's genetics and your mindset combined. Just a workhorse. You have to be optimistic. Yeah, I love that. Were your family big drinkers too? Your friends? Yeah, I've always had a drink. Never had a problem finding people to drink. family big drinkers to your friends yeah let's never finish you you've drank

with some cool people motley crew yep party with those guys I saw their their movie on Netflix yeah what did you think of that movie I haven't seen it oh you didn't see it no I drank with those guys and we're in Jacksonville Florida good guys they seemed like the craziest party as I've ever seen Terry's a lot of fun as Kid Rock Kid Rock Yeah, what was he like? phenomenal One of the greatest people ever met I love that man and I've had a few beers with I guess you would call him a big-time celebrity

Post Malone. Ooh, postie. Yeah, postie can drink. He can hang? Yeah. Yeah, he's good at beer pong. Yeah. You good? We played beer pong all the time.

I'll see you next Tuesday. OK. In Birmingham. How good are you at beer pong? Good. Yeah? All right, we might have to play one of these days. Let's do it.

I got the reach. Do it tonight. Got that wingspan. Yeah, let's do it, man. I haven't drank in a while, but if you want to drink I can't turn that down. What why have you been drinking a while? I've just been working man to be honest. That's an excuse not to drink? Yeah, I can't I feel like I can't do both. Really? Yeah. Well you have been hanging with the right guy. Yeah, I guess not. You're the only one I know that could pull off both I don't know other people that can do that man until 4 a.m. To the gym before I caught the plane

You're nuts. I can't I heard when you're in plane you get drunk faster, right? When you're up there, you know last time I was on a plane at Holger tonight, but flying out of San Jose We drank Tim bloody Mary's a piece it for it took off the pilot The guy cut us off for took off in the air. That's nuts. I Thought the alt is you gets gets you more drunk, but not with you I've drank all the way to Tokyo without going to bed. Oh my gosh, who could keep up with you Have you ever met someone that a lot of people? Yeah Be amazed that's surprising who can out drink you oh

I don't know now. Um, most of my friends are dead Roddy Piper good. Okay Damn sure one of the few remaining man. Yeah, how does that make you feel? Makes me nervous You fear death? uh Well, we just lost two guys and then we just lost a third. So you know things happen in threes and then my

Very close friend pete roles just passed away. So damn That's uh, you never know when do we part of that three? Yeah, i'm sorry to hear that. Yeah, but you've lived I was with him. I was with him the day before he died. Holy crap. And was he fine or fine? He died of natural causes. They were 83. Whoa, what a fun guy. What a great tremendous human being Damn, well, that's probably the best way to go out at least you know, no disease or anything um Damn, that's sad. It was with my son, he. Wow.

In Nashville. That happened with one of my guests recently, dude. I was with him, filmed the great podcast, and next week he died, 64 years old. Well, if I walk out here and fall over, you'll be famous, see? I wouldn't wanna be famous for that, man. Damn.

Yeah, death is one of those things, though. You got it. You can't run from it. Can't. But you've lived such a fulfilling life, like, is there anything you haven't accomplished at this point that you want to? I feel like you've done everything. I've done everything. Like, I can't even think of what you could do. You've traveled the world. I can ride in another house, but why? I mean, I've had a red car, I've wanted it.

I've got every car I ever wanted. I've got beautiful children. That's the important thing, you know that they're safe and they're well off financially. And my grandchildren are good and they're healthy. Beautiful. Life is good. I couldn't be happier. I love that. Yeah, that's my goal. Like the next generation should be better than how I lived.

Yeah. With my kids. Yeah, they're my goal. Like the next generation should be better than than how I lived. Yeah with my kids Yeah, they're all covered financially. That's awesome. Yeah, you've traveled the world too. You've probably been to damn every country The only place I haven't been is the mid east mid east. Well, i've been i've been in afghanistan and all that to see the truth and i've been in jibouti now, but i haven't been to uh i've been to israel and i've never been to um Trying to think about going to Iraq or not. I don't think I went to Iraq with just Afghanistan. Oh god That's rough. Yeah, what was that like witnessing all that? rough

Yeah, I remember growing up as a child seeing that war on the news every day. It looked crazy. Absolutely horrible My cousin served in iraq. Yeah, those those two wars were I haven't got enough to say about Absolutely horrible my cousin served in Iraq. Yeah, those those two wars were I'm gonna have to say but Much the military should be appreciated and more Absolutely, those guys are risking their lives for us, right? Yes Yes, crazy times are in right now with all these wars. Mm-hmm scary What made you want to go to Afghanistan did someone hit you went with the WWE, we all went, the company went. Oh nice, to inspire the troops?

Yeah, they were, WWE is very supportive of the military. Nice. Now we don't go overseas anymore, they always during the holidays go to like Fort Hood or one of the big, or Kaplan Jr. or Fort Bragg, I mean they always That's cool. And put on a show and we go out and see all the troops. Shout out to the WWE, it's cool to see big companies giving back. The WWE stands out I think far and above everybody else. Really?

In terms of supporting the troops, yeah. Yeah, you rarely see big companies go out there and do stuff like that. You know? That's sad too. It is. Yeah. Well it's capitalism right I guess some people some companies will sacrifice their consumers health for money mm-hmm you're

seeing that with certain food companies and medical companies it is sad so anywhere you want to travel that you haven't been yet Oh Space huh space No, I've never wanted to go. I haven't cared much. I think I think I'm from a space People have suggested that what about the Titanic underwater would you go down there? No, I Know what 30 feet and hurt my hair drums. I feel that Yeah, I don't get the whole space obsession man man. I don't think the risk to reward is there.

Well, I don't understand how we can go to the moon and we can't cure cancer. Facts. Don't get me going on that. Well. Don't get me going on that. Yeah, yeah. We gotta be careful.

We can go to the moon. We can do all this technology-wise, which you're more than aware of being in this business. Yeah, but we can't cure cancer We can't cure paralysis. Come on. We got all these AI's now That's what that's what bothers me. I mean, I think it's great. We've gone to the moon and all that but How do you put together technology like that? We can't we can't help our own people that are dying of stuff that's been I Just I just hope that everybody's been up front and being honest

Because we have too many people dying of cancer One in two dogs have a now to hmm one in two dogs have cancer when they die. Yeah Well, it's going up in humans and dogs. Yeah, Wow. It's going up in humans and dogs. Yeah. Why in the world is it going up in humans? Yeah. It's something really bad with, I don't want to misquote, but a lot of humans when they die either have cancer or they die from cancer these days. It's really terrible. Mm-hmm. I hope they, they could find a cure in our lifetime. That'd be cool. Yeah. I wouldn't count on it. You don't think so Well, I just don't I can't believe we haven't found a cure yet. I mean

and certainly the emotion of guys like Jimmy V and You're watching shows like what this you've seen Jimmy V speech, right? Yeah, and The guy I'm my good friend from ESPN that died a couple years ago oh the the black guy had that dressed in the suits yeah yeah yeah Stu Stu anyway I know you don't know you know gave a speech and his daughter, I mean, then he died a week later. And the announcer from TNT, I mean, these those speeches are remembered forever and are played over and over again, but we just can't seem to get over the hump and finding a solution. Yeah. I'm with you on that. Steve Jobs too. That was a crazy one. Stuart Scott.

Stuart Scott, yeah. Steve Jobs was an eye-opener for me because you have all that money, you still die from cancer. That was like, holy crap, we're all vulnerable to this. Because usually you can buy your way out of a lot of problems. Have you noticed that? Oh, of course.

I love your honesty. I have not had the opportunity to do that, but I've wanted to a couple times. Oh man. Did the materialism of buying cars and houses, did that ever get old to you? No, it just got what I wanted. I wasn't even conscious of it. Does that make sense?

Yeah. I just knew I liked nice stuff. Yeah, you love buying nice stuff. You made the robes popular, man. I wasn't around before, right? You were like the first big guy to wear those. I think gorgeous George did like years ago, but I've maintained it, man, see? There we go, always Brandon.

Any regrets? Yeah, the time spent with my kids will always be a regret, but I can't, I couldn't have made the money and been as successful as I was if I didn't go to work. Because back then, if you don't go to work, you didn't get paid. Right. There was no guaranteed contracts back then for us. Yeah, I think to make it big in anything- If your name was on the marquee, you had to be there.

Wait, you said no contract? No, well, contracts didn't come into play till the 90s. Whoa, so you were just doing word of mouth, like handshake deals? Yeah. Holy crap. All of us were.

So you had a lot of trust in these guys back then. Cause these days, I feel like that wouldn't work. We didn't work back then. No, I'm not kidding. I'm just telling you how we work. We didn't work back then. I'm not kidding. I'm just telling you how we lived. I didn't say it worked. Oh man. Yeah, I would have too much doubt over that.

I need everything in paper these days when you're dealing with money and stuff. No, exactly. Especially in our economy right now. A lot of fear and recession talks. Yeah. What do you like in the election? I like Trump. Yeah. Yeah. What do you like in the election? I like Trump. Yeah, what about you?

Well, I was just with Kid Rowley and Trump Jr. Nice. Yeah. I don't have anything. I don't know, Kamala. I wish I knew it. I've met Donald Trump several times. You know, they have a different message.

But sometimes when I go to bed at night, I'm thinking to myself, you know, life is life, and what is gonna change? I mean, every time we switch a presidency, people expect the world to turn around. True. It can't happen. No matter who's in that spot,

which is a very tough spot to be in, they just can't make changes. I mean, who's gonna fix the border tomorrow? I mean, in one day. Yeah. The election is not gonna fix the border. Yeah, it's not gonna happen. We've been through three presidencies.

That is not, I mean, and then, I guess my biggest gripe is that, which I mentioned earlier, is that we need to take better care of our military. You know, the kids that come back more see that are hospitals and crippled and that should be the thick most fixable thing in the world yeah that's what gets me too we're sending all this money to other countries yeah we got homeless people we got veterans suffering yeah like why can't we take care of why are we sending all that over there? Billions. I know, why?

Well, there's some, yeah, there could be some dark reasons why, but. No, I understand why. We keep the Koreans happy, you know, but geez, you know, sometimes you gotta start taking care of the people at home. It's sad, certain cities now are not the same, man. You walk the streets and it doesn't feel right. Yeah, and I don't think anybody, I don't care whether it's Putin or anybody, he's got the nerve to push the button. The nuclear button?

Yeah. Once they push the button everybody's gone. Yeah I agree. And I mean everybody threatens it but you do that you're killing your own family as well as yourself. 100%. You can't do that without repercussions. I know. And it would be huge. That's why I think we are, they all know we're the strongest. People want to play it down. I know we've reduced our military. We've been told it's been reduced.

I have to believe we're still the most powerful country in the world. We've got to be up there. I agree, though. I think they put a lot of stress on the president. Yeah. When in reality. Yeah, and you don't really know what can happen

to change the next state. Because then the president's gotta deal with the House. Yeah. And the House has gotta deal with the Senate, and the Senate's gotta deal with the House of Representatives. I mean, there's so many ways that the president just can't go, this is this, this is this, this is this.

Doesn't work like that. Yep. Have you always been big in politics? I almost ran for governor. Really? North Carolina, we decided there were too many skeletons in my closet. In 91. Stormy Daniels stories would have been coming out.

Yeah. What made you want to run? I'm good friends with Jesse Ventura, okay and Jesse was the governor of Minnesota and they People wanted me to run for governor North Carolina was that 2001 Let me think well, let's just see governor I'm not sure I was too young for this Yeah, I was born in 97. not sure. I was too young for this. I was born in 97. Yeah, so I flew his campaign manager and... At the end of the day, it didn't seem worth it. When I went and saw Jesse and he said,

Rick, it's a lot more than it seems like, you know. You would have been stressed. Yeah, and I would have really been under social security. Oh, yeah. Well, that's the cool thing about Trump. All his skeletons are out there. Yeah. You know? I know that's been I would have really been her social. Oh, yeah Well, that's the cool thing about Trump all his skeletons are out there. Yeah, you know I know that's what I'm saying And it doesn't seem to affect his popularity not at all maybe at first a little bit But now it's like oh, I like it. Yeah, you know cuz at least you know him I was just with his son last Sunday Trump jr. With

It went with the kid, yeah. And what a nice guy he is. Great guy, I met him too. And that's a good sign about Trump because if his kids are nice, that's a sign he's a good father. Yeah, yeah. I look at that when I meet people.

I look at how their kids act. Sure. Because a lot of rich, successful people, their kids are like all over the place. Sure. I'm sure you see that all the time. Oh yeah. They call them trust fund babies yeah you know what's that like balancing that with your kids knowing you have all this money and success but

you still want them to be hard workers and everything oh just something I've taught them you know even though I mean it they've made their own money they're not living off my money really it's My kids have made their own money, yeah. You didn't give them any money? No. They've made their own money. I will leave them when I'm gone. I'm leaving them money, but they've made their own money. Nice.

They've made their own way. My daughter's probably the greatest female wrestler that ever lived. My other daughter is in the medical business. My son is in the recycling business and doing real well with that nice yeah they've all made their own money that's awesome well done yeah shacks like that too I'm glad we straightened that out because that's how things come out wrong no they made their own money yeah so I'll be leaving the

money but they don't need it that's impressive so you plan on leaving them all your money though mm-hmm yeah that's always a debate should I leave it to the kids should I give it to charity or whatnot sometimes when you give I'll give it to them and I'll make that decision you know I don't know I you know I give money to charity now and I got a friend who's got a L a LS Horrible. Yeah, that's a tough one. I'll be leaving money to the hat but How do you choose the charities you are give money to? Well, I've always been big into MD I've always been big into

Cancer of course, and cancer research like the Jimmy V. But this ALS thing, man, that my friend has is, you know, where they're totally alert here, totally. 100%, but nothing works. Wow. It's very sad. Yeah, you could go crazy like that. Damn.

I remember doing that ALS Ice Bucket Challenge years ago. You remember that? Sure. Yeah, that was a good marketing campaign. I'll see Kevin Hart today. I did that with him. Oh yeah? Nice.

Is he performing tonight, Kevin Hart? He's out. We're here with the Energy for a convenience store convention. Oh, nice. He's a partner in this, the energy stuff? He has his own brand. Okay. Yeah, shout out to Kevin.

Not as big as this. Which I'll have to remind him. Yeah. You guys in any stores yet? Where can people find the stuff? Oh, God, right in those. Yeah, we're in a lot of stores already and actually part of the reason we're here is to promote it to a new store, Oh god, right knows 7-eleven target giant eagle nice. Oh, yeah, what about these blunts? Where can you find these?

Everywhere well, we're 16 states., I am, my brand Nice, I didn't know weed was legal We're going 14 now, right? Oh, okay When's Puerto Rico? That's pretty soon, right? Got the flower too, I didn't know weed was legal in Puerto Rico, that's cool Oh, it will be, yeah Yeah, that's gonna be a big market Well dude, thanks for coming on, where can people find out what you're up to next?

They can just look at my Instagram or look at my... I've got a booking agent. But my primary thing now is to travel and help support these brands. And the best way to do that is to be out there and be busy. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, we'll link it below for people watching this. Thanks for coming on, Rick.

Thank you. Thanks for watching, guys. That was easy. See you next time.