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Digital Dish Diva Says:

Welcome to MSN Live! Tonight we welcome Director, Barry Blaustein, whose new DVD is "Beyond the Mat." We also welcome wrestlers, Terry Funk and Newjack.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Barry, welcome to MSN Live. It's great to have you back.

Barry Blaustein says:

Welcome everybody!! Welcome wrestling and movie fans!

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Let's talk wrestling.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

From Cheyenne who says: Hi Barry. Which wrestlers are in the "Beyond the Mat"?

Barry Blaustein says:

Mick Foley, Mankind, The Rock, Chyna, Newjack, Terry Funk, Vince McMahon. All of ECW, you name ‘em! Steve Austin and Stone Cold also.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Lothar_kingoftheseas Asks: What kind of problems did you run into making the film?

Barry Blaustein says:

In the beginning, it was hard to get guys to trust me. I spent about a year on the road trying to convince wrestlers I was going to tell their true story. So that was the hardest part, getting them to trust me.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

paulette_WCWFan says: How did you gain their trust? Did any wrestlers not comply?

Barry Blaustein says:

I gained their trust by convincing them I was going to tell their true story and not be condescending or make fun of them. There were a few that were uncomfortable, and I told them if they were uncomfortable, they didn't have to be on camera. Some after seeing me around, cooperated with me. Some were uncomfortable and I respect them for that.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Graysoxie Asks: Barry - what is your feeling about the WCW work-shoot angles?

Barry Blaustein says:

I don't find them that interesting. I think after a while, I'm interested in watching a good show, and they are so into saying "We're not manipulating you" and you see the manipulation behind it. People know, like in a movie it's not like actors throw down their script and say, "I'm not doing this."

Digital Dish Diva Says:

noventa says: Is wrestling as easy as people think?

Barry Blaustein says:

Digital Dish Diva Says:

grace says: Hi Barry! Did you happen to know all these wrestlers personally?

Barry Blaustein says:

Yes, now I know them all personally. I didn't know them all at first. Mick Foley and I talk often, and Terry Funk as well.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Digital Dish Diva Says:

bullgog Asks: Do you think that Japan wrestling is better than American wrestling?

Barry Blaustein says:

It's just different. There are things I like about it better, and there's things I like more about American wrestling. It seems I like the way American wrestling is such a mixture of all the different styles.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Graysoxie Asks: Barry, as a fan and friend, how do you feel about the current role Foley is playing in the WWF?

Barry Blaustein says:

I'm very happy! I think it's a great use of Mick. As a friend, I'm glad he can still be in the lime light and not put his body in harms way.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

CrowOmega says: Did anyone give you a hard time making this film, such as Vince McMahon or other wrestlers?

Barry Blaustein says:

Vince gave me a harder time after the movie was finished. Some wrestlers gave me a hard time, but they were few and far between. Most of the wrestlers were very cooperative. Actually one threw a garbage can at me and three threatened to break my neck (laughs) but besides that, they were ok!

Digital Dish Diva Says:

BJ Asks: How much of the wrestling you do is REAL sport and NOT acting?

Barry Blaustein says:

It's hard to say. It's all pre-planned. It's a great combination of athleticism and acting. That line is always changing. Guys do get hurt. It's real athleticism, I wouldn't call it sport. Because in sport it doesn't have a pre-determined outcome, and in wrestling there is. People do get hurt. When you get hit over the head with a chair, you get hurt, you can't get hit with that chair and not feel some after effect.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Graham says: My officemate told me you were also involved in "Nutty 2: The Klumps." Is that true? Do you know Eddie Murphy well? What is he like?

Barry Blaustein says:

Oh yeah! I wrote that with my partner David Sheffield. Yes I know him, David and I have been writing with him for a long time. We started back at "Saturday Night Live", "Coming to America." What's he like? He's funny, he's what he seems to be. He's a little bit Sherman and a little bit Buddy. (laugh)

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Congratulations on the success of Nutty I and II. Brilliant!

Barry Blaustein says:

Thank you!

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Last question, Barry is from ECW_V_WCW who says: Hi Barry, I loved you from "SNL." What is your defining moment in this film? Favorite scene?

Barry Blaustein says:

I think my favorite scene is when Mick hugs his daughter before he goes out to get beat up. He closes his eyes and you can see the love of his family and also the fear because he knew what was going to happen to him.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Barry, thank you for being our guest this evening on MSN Live to talk about your film, "Beyond the Mat."

Barry Blaustein says:

I hope people enjoy it. Wrestling fans I know will enjoy it and I also think people that couldn't care less about wrestling will be surprised by how they touched by the lives of these wrestlers.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Thanks, Barry. Please help me welcome Newjack to MSN Live!

Newjack says:

Hi!

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Newjack, great to see you. You're looking good!

Newjack says:

What's up everybody!!

Digital Dish Diva Says:

geneva says: Let's talk about that surgery. How are you feeling?

Newjack says:

I'm better. I'm getting better. I'm going through rehab right now (not alcohol rehab) but physical therapy. I'll be all right in a few weeks, I hope.

Newjack says:

They took out my heel and gave me an artificial heel and reconstructed my ankle. I was also advised not to jump of anything anymore. My doctor told me not to rebreak my heel, but that's just one of the things I do, so I just told the doctor "Sure, whatever." I'm just walking around on crutches right now.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Is this your worst injury?

Newjack says:

No! My worst one was when we were in Dansbury, CT and me and Vick Grimmes jumped 30 feet and the guy that landed on top of me was like 350 pounds and I broke my sternum and I lost the vision in my right eye and they expected me to die, but I didn't. I made it though all right, I found out how many friends I had while I was sitting at home. Some of them were glad I was out.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Comical_Cheetah Asks: When will you resume your career?

Newjack says:

Well right now, I'm going through physical therapy so they are saying maybe November/December, but I don't know. I'm just waiting to be released from the doctor. If it was up to me, I would go back tomorrow. But I have to wait until the doctor says I can go back in the ring. So all I do is sit home and watch TV, take my pills, and drink. (laughs)

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Armed_Brush Asks: How did you get your start in wrestling?

Newjack says:

I had a friend that asked me to do it and he was training for WCW and he couldn't afford to pay for it anymore so he wanted me to do it with him. I didn't really have any interest, but after a while I liked it and he quit. So I just stayed. I don't want to go anywhere else. WWW can kiss my butt. They put people on that try and imitate me. They have a guy jumping off a building, but you can tell he doesn't enjoy it. I do it because I enjoy it!

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Rykker says: What do you think was the most violent match you ever participated in?

Newjack says:

Honestly, you would probably have to ask another wrestler what the most violent match was with me. People complain about being in a match with me because I beat the sh** out of them. When I was in a match with Chad Austin I really beat him good. And I did it on purpose because I didn't like his attitude. The boy I cut across the head in Boston tried to send me to prison.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Yikes. Well, Newjack, you're the man. Thanks for joining us in the ring tonight.

Newjack says:

I'll be back! I'll be back sooner than you think! I appreciate everyone's support! I've really enjoyed the fan mail I've received. And when I come back I'll show my black a**. (laughs)

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Thanks to Barry Blaustein and Newjack for joining us tonight to talk about "Beyond the Mat." Terry Funk is up next.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Terry, welcome to MSN Live.

Terry Funk says:

Hello.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

It's great to see you tonight!

Digital Dish Diva Says:

whitetopaz Asks: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment in the wrestling business?

Terry Funk says:

Gosh, that's a real difficult question for me. My greatest accomplishment was being a success for a long period of time. Being considered a great performer would probably be the greatest attribute that anyone could say toward me. And say that I did a good job.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

oliverbale says: You appeared in "Beyond the Mat." Did you worry about exposing the underbelly of wrestling?

Terry Funk says:

Not really. I really didn't because I realized wrestling was reaching a different plateau at that time and that plateau is that we are total entertainment. We were always hiding something before when we claimed we were 100% sports and it alienated a lot of writers from us. But when we came forth and said what we were we were all surprised with the acceptance of the media. And we proclaimed ourselves as entertainers. Now are we going to have longevity with this? That's the big question. I hope it continues on with the enthusiasm.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

beetlejuice says: What can we expect in the Director's cut of the DVD of "Beyond the Mat." Barry Blaustein said earlier that you did some commentary.

Terry Funk says:

Yes, I did. Again, it's honesty and trying to be as straight forward with the public as I possibly can. And be honest about my life and the life of a professional wrestler and the other wrestlers that are in the movie itself.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Rykker says: Who is the most hardcore athlete you've ever competed with?

Terry Funk says:

Sabu. That quick and that honest. Also I would like to give credit to Mick Foley, I think he's a true hard core. Sabu is probably is the most hard core there is out there and I think Mick would agree with me. He is pure hard core and I think that he gets a feeling, a good feeling when he has a wonderful performance and monetary gains are not that important to him, but what is important to him is his performance in the ring. And he's one of only a few that have that feeling in this day and age and I think he would rather be known as a hard core wrestler than a rich man and I think that's hard to find in this day and age. And you have to understand what my definition is of hard core, it's a person that goes into the ring and gives 100% for the fans in the arena that particular night. Whether it's 20 or 20,000 and I think that's his feeling too. And Mick Foley, I think he's that way too. If you ask me who true hard core wrestlers are, I could hold up a hand and I would have a hard time counting that many in the profession today.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

Sentonbomb2 Asks: Best match you have seen so far this year?

Terry Funk says:

I would like to say Terry Funk in this match... and Terry Funk in that match... and many others (laughs). But I have to be honest with you, I haven't seen that many good matches this year. Matches where the two performers reach a plateau that usually isn't reached in the profession. There's been a lot of matches this year, but you have to understand it's not all the wrestlers fault but also the producers. Wrestling has become very short, time wise and match wise, you don't see the 30 or 40 minutes grueling performances. Mainly because the audience has a short attention span in the year 2000.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

joebit says: What are your thoughts on retiring?

Terry Funk says:

Very honest, as honest as I can be, it's very difficult to retire. Basically because I started out so many years ago and believe me, my profession has not been a bed of roses as far as financial gain, but I love the profession!! I could go back to times when a $25 pay off was a lot to me.

I've gone through the years and chosen a geographic location in the pan-handle of Texas that isn't great for a wrestler. It's not NY, CA, it's not where the media or business is at it's strongest. I'm in the Amarillo area and I like to be there as much as possible and what people don't understand, still, money has a baring on my life. I would like me to be through right now, but if someone makes me an offer that I can't refuse, I just can't. I want my family to be able to do things and I want to do things that I enjoy.

As far as wanting to be retired, I want to be retired right now, I might possibly be retired right now. If someone makes me an incredible offer I might go, if they don't I won't. I'm picking up some limited performances right now that people will be able to see me in during this coming year.

I hope I've reached a plateau that will let me do what I want to do and that's spend time with my family, wife, and grandchild. It's very important to me to not be the fellow that occasionally appears, but be there for them when they need me.

Digital Dish Diva Says:

What a great statement to end this event with. Terry, thank you for joining us tonight on MSN Live.

Terry Funk says:

Thank you! I'd like to also say to you, stay out of jail. Take care!!

Digital Dish Diva Says: