usually I wouldnt give two shits about a wrestler putting out a book. BUT THIS IS STAN MOTHER FUCKING HANSEN!
(starts about 50 seconds in)
http://www.crowbarpress.com/cbp-books/14-sh.html#rc
Family roots ... Early childhood in Knox City, Texas ... Meeting Ernie "The Cat" Ladd ... Classroom debate ... Moving to Tempe, Arizona ... Pop Warner Football ... The family moves back to Texas
2 The Invisible Line
Friona varsity football team ... The losing streak ... The boss's son ... Work ethic ... Sports and academics ... Visiting West Texas State University ... First meeting with Frank Goodish, aka Bruiser Brody ... Dinner with Coack Joe Kerbel ... Ranking by "Coach and Athlete" magazine
3 A Gallon Jug of Blood
Coach Joe Kerbel ... The whistle ... Buff dessert ... Black football players ... Playing football with Duane Thomas and Mercury Morris ... The "Fat Man" ... Coach Kerbel pulls Bobby Duncum out of his hospital bed ... The dry county ... Frank Goodish escapes through a bathroom window ... Coach Kerbel threatens Goodish ... Goodish transfers to Iowa State ... Mistaken for Terry Funk ... Attending the wrestling matches at the Amarillo Sports Arena ... Russian chain match ... Terry Funk versus Harley Race ... West Texas State football ... Joe Kerbel threatens Stan ... Knee injury ... Baltimore Colts training camp ... Return to West Texas State ... West Texas recruits Tito Santana and Ted DiBiase ... Trying out with the San Diego Chargers ... The handshake deal
4 Forearm Class
Coaching eighth-grade football ... Meeting Dory Funk, Sr. ... A life decision ... Introduction at the Amarillo Sports Arena ... Pat O'Connor tests Stan ... The Lawman ribs Jerry Kozak ... Memories of Ricki Starr, the Viking, El Gran Tapia, Hank James, the Beast, and Ciclon Negro ... Carpenters ... Learning a valuable lesson ... Trans money ... Traveling with Ernie Ladd ... Bull Ramos and Pizza Hut ... Mike London, Albuquerque promoter, introduces Kay Faben, the referee ... Doublespeak ... The Funks teach Stan how to throw a forearm ... Gordon Nelson teaches Stan ow to hold a headlock ... Dory Funk Sr. gives Stan "The Talk" ... Introduction to Moose Morowski and Ciclon Negro ... Stan's realization that wrestling is a "business" ... Borrowing Terry Funk's ring gear for his debut ... "The tag" ... Blowing up ... Body slamming Jerry Kozak ... Stan's "character" ... Potatoes and chops ... On-the-job training ... Learning a lesson from Killer Karl Kox ... Overview of the Amarillo territory ... Refereeing a match with Don and Johnny Fargo ... Road expenses ... Johnny Heidemann, "King of the Eaters" ... Big Texan Steak Ranch ... Wrestling Lord Alfred Hayes in a battle royal ... Dory Funk, Sr. ribs Lord Alfred Hayes ... A game of eight-ball pool ... The "need to know" ... Learning to do interviews ... Bobby Duncum attempts to learn the "head stomp" ... A rib on Frank "Gorilla" Marconi ... Good advice from Moose Morowski ... A celebrity returns to Knox City, Texas
5 Dressing Room Promo
Booked in Florida ... Sharing a room with Bob Bruggers ... Bed bugs and fleas ... Fast food junkie ... Johnny Valentine tells Stan to "lay it in!" ... Buddy Colt shows Stan respect ... The Florida office and small payoffs ... The wrestling business — inside and outside the ring ... The passing of Dory Funk, Sr. ... Dick Slater gets "real heat" ... Slater's confrontation with Riki Choshu ... Johnny Powers and Ox Baker get sent home from Japan ... Second-generation wrestlers ... Charlie Laye ... Tony Nero and Stan Hansen, captain and soldier ... Man Mountain Mike signs autographs ... Terry Funk's bad joke ... Watching marks get stretched in the Sportatorium ... Teaming with Steve Keirn ... Dressing room confrontation with Don Carson ... Taking a stand
6 Decision Time
Return to Amarillo ... The psychology of "working" ... Introduction to Jumbo Tsuruta ... Chipped teeth ... The boys teach "English" to Motoshi Okuma ... Cases of beer ... Praying in the back seat of Terry Funk's car ... Speeding tickets for everyone ... Bob Backlund takes on challengers from the audience ... Backlund wears the Western states title belt — in a restaurant ... A freak accident that almost ended Stan's career ... John Black breaks his neck ... The wrestlers' emergency fund ... Learning life lessons
7 The Little Blue Pill
Wrestling in Dallas, Texas ... Reunited with and forming a friendship with Frank Goodish ... Doug Somers buys a used Pontiac ... Protein pills ... Traveling with Blackjack Mulligan and Black Jack Lanza
8 Gadget man
Stan gets booked in Louisiana ... Overview of the Louisiana territory ... Bill Watts, the pilot ... Long trips and small payoffs ... Weekly road trips and life on the road ... Living in a Ford van ... The definition of "good" hotels ... A motel room with no toilet ... Leroy McGuirk offers to drive for Scandor Akbar ... Working for George Culkin ... Bobby Jaggers, Duke Miller, and Treach Phillips ... Accidents on the road ... Testing the strength of Danny Hodge ... Luke Brown scares Japanese pedestrians ... Frank Goodish's girlfriend ... The "Bruiser Brody" character ... Saving money ... Tag teaming with Frank Goodish ... "Heat" ... Frank Goodish, the cowboy ... Bill Watts books Stan and Frank in the "second tier" towns ... Gas rationing ... Grizzly Smith pulls a pistol on Mr. Chin ... U.S. tag team champions ... Riot in Alexandria, Louisiana ... "Never show fear!" ... The timekeeper's table ... Texas justice ... Stan protects Big John Studd from a crowd that "smells blood" ... Protection for heels ... Chairs, rocks and knives ... Nick Roberts and Terry Funk pull a rib on Stan ... Accepting the risk heels face ... Security details ... A warning from Giant Baba ... Chasing fans through the arena ... Death threats ... Two 300-pound wrestlers in a 240Z ... Larry Tillman sells a ticket to a baboon ... Working their way to the top ... Taking the battle into the concession stand ... Bill Watts returns as booker, and things go downhill ... Watts splits up Stan and Goodish ... Goodish develops his philosophy ... Knee surgery
9 Land of the Rising Sun
First tour of Japan ... Arrival at Haneda Airpot ... Sponsors ... The Yakuza ... Joe Higuchi, All Japan Pro Wrestling's goodwill ambassador ... Joe complains about cheap heat ... Jimmy Snuka and Victor Rivera brawl at a hotel ... Joe Higuchi's place in the company ... The "oldest guys on the bus" ... Joe Higuchi's influence on Stan ... Meeting Yoshihiro Momota, the son of Rikidozan ... Learning the Japanese style of wrestling ... The differences between audiences in the States and in Japan ... Working to get a better position on the cards ... Negotiating pay and perks with the Japanese wrestling offices ... Thoughts on the Japanese mindset and culture, heels and babyfaces, calling matches ... Freddie Blassie's definition of what it took to "be a heel" ... Being taught a lesson about heels signing autographs ... The origin of the nickname "The Bad Man from Borger, Texas" ... Ox Baker teaches Japanese women the proper way to bow ... Learning basic Japanese words ... Payoffs and Japanese taxes ... Wrestling the Intelligent, Sensational Destroyer
10 White-Meat Babyface
Flying back to Dallas, Texas ... Stopover in Hawaii and Los Angeles ... Wrestling in Houston for Paul Boesch ... Red Bastien, booker ... The Mongolian Stomper ... Working with Peter Maivia ... "Bulldog" Danny Plechas, referee ... Rick Martel beats Stan in nine seconds ... Mike Paidousis tells Bruno Sammartino about Stan ... A call from Vince McMahon, Sr. ... A starting date with the WWWF
11 Death Threats
The "New York" territory ... Comparing the north and the south ... Life in a motel ... Travel, payoffs, and expenses in the WWWF ... Freddie Blassie, Stan's first "and only" manager ... Stan's first match with Bruno Sammartino ... "The break that was heard around the world" ... Dead silence in the dressing room ... Surprising advice from Bruno ... The fine line between aggressiveness and being careless ... Windows of opportunity ... The definition of "real heat" ... Confrontation on a commuter train ... Ernie Ladd warns Stan about signing a contract for his return match with Bruno at Shea Stadium ... The $1,000 bonus ... A lesson in taking a stand ... Wrestling Ivan Putski in the Garden ... Saved by the security force ... Jerry Blackwell saves Stan's life ... Vince Sr. sends Stan home to Texas ... Rematch with Bruno Sammartino, the "Living Legend" ... Rats in the dressing room ... Once again, teaming with Frank Goodish, now known as "Bruiser Brody" ... Confrontation with Chief Jay Strongbow, the Italian Indian ... $10,000 prize money ... "First count" and box office receipts ... Calling Vince McMahon, Sr. at home ... Writing on the wall ... More sage advice from Bruno ... Code word "Bluejay" ... Walking and talking with Gorilla Monsoon ... First trip for New Japan Wrestling ... "Net" payoff vs "gross" payoff
12 Gaijin
"Gaijin" wrestlers ... Meeting Pete Roberts ... Comparision of the All Japan and New Japan wrestling companies ... Separation of talent ... Charlie Tanaka assists the gaijins ... Peter Takahashi, referee and go-between ... Tiger Jeet Singh, star gaijin of New Japan ... The match that changed the direction of Stan's career ... A lesson in loyalty ... Pay television [set] ... Attack on the New Japan gaijin bus ... Return to Louisiana ... Switch to babyface ... Bill Watts, the babyface, makes a heel move ... John Tolos and Tony Charles cause dissension between the McGuire brothers ... A call from Ole Anderson ... "Oppportunity" ... Return to New Japan ... Origin of "The Lariat" finisher ... Fighting Blackjack Mulligan on the streets of Kyoto ... Introducing the "Stan Hansen style" to Japanese fans ... Being spontaneous ... Trips on the wrestling bus ... Harley Race arrives late ... Roddy Piper wins the "unclean" championship ... Poor hygiene
13 Manipulators
First time in the Atlanta, Georgia, territory ... Comparing Ole Anderson and Bill Watts: attitude towards talent, temperament, payoffs, working ability ... The job of a booker ... Bill Watts and tape-recorded instructions ... Double-cross in the ring while wrestling Jake Roberts ... Ribbing with Ole ... Making and saving money for the future ... Comparing programs in Japan to those in the States ... Pinfalls versus disputed finishes ... Stan builds his reputation in Atlanta ... Meeting Jimmy Carter's mother ... Thunderbolt Patterson's unorthodox style ... Wahoo McDaniel, the "Man's Man" ... Wahoo shoots a bullet into Dick Slater's leg ... Memories of Tommy Rich, Ivan Koloff, and Bobby Duncum ... Greg Gagne stands up for himself ... Meeting wrestling icons — Dick the Bruiser, Crusher, and Mad Dog Vachon ... Bodyslamming Dick the Bruiser against his will ... Conflict between All Japan and Verne Gagne ... Buying and selling a house in Atlanta ... Giving Verne Gagne his notice ... Lighting Angelo Mosca's fuse ... A trip with Ray Candy ... Andre the Giant refuses to move ... Ric Flair drives Stan's rental car ... Wrestling Sterling Golden (aka Hulk Hogan) in the Omni ... Remembering the "good 'ol days"
14 Hansen's Guide to Japan
The Japanese wrestling business: how it was tied in to their culture, how it was different from wrestling in the States, format of the TV wrestling shows, the Japanese wrestling fans, the evolution of Japanese wrestling, the shoot style of wrestling, gaijins wrestlers versus Japanese wrestlers, local promoters, the differences between American and Japanese TV, Nippon TV's influence on the wrestling business, the length and makeup of tours, wrestling in small towns, a look at the major arenas, jealousy among the gaijins, influence the Japanese magazines had on the direction of the business, income and ticket prices compared to those in the States, the Japanese wrestling heirarchy ... Behind the scenes of a wrestling tour: the contract, taxes, payoffs, travel arrangements, schedules, the quality of hotel accomodations, interpreters, the nightlife, the Japanese culture and mindset, the Japanese diet and food choices, the language barrier, communication with the Japanese wrestlers both in and out of the ring, passing time on the wrestling bus, drawing money ... Joel Deaton misses his flight ... Masonobu Fuchi as a booker ... learning a lesson about gambling ... Umanosuke Ueda pulls a rib on Chavo Guerrero ... Skip Young thinks he got cheated ... Negative feedback from wrestlers about Stan's "style" ... Del Wilkes gets bad advice ... Credit to the WWE ... Exposes of the wrestling business in Japan ... Dirt sheets and their part in the downfall of the business ... Working in Mexico with Canek and Dos Caras ... Working under a mask in the Amarillo territory ... Finding gaijin talent for All Japan ... Abdullah the Butcher gives advice in the ring to David Isley ... David Isley's "southern" breakfast ... Abdullah's "birthday" ... Stan's trouble with booking talent ... Stan's interaction with Giant Baba ... Top talent versus "white meat"
15 Elevator Stampede
Stan's fourth trip to Japan ... Guaranteed money ... Establishing the Stan Hansen "character" ... Strong Kobayashi, Kuniaki Kobayashi, Kenta Kobayashi, and Kenta Kobashi ... Antonio Inoki's style of promoting and wrestling ... Trying to bodyslam Seiji Sakaguchi ... Dealing with Hisashi Shinma (Mr. Shinma) ... Teaming with Hulk Hogan in the MSG tag league tournament ... Stan gives credit to Andre the Giant for "getting him over" in Japan ... Going to the movies with Andre ... Andre's legendary drinking ability ... Andre the Giant on the Keio Plaza Hotel elevator ... Favorite eating and drinking establishments ... A classic Terry Funk incident ... A Mama-san wrestles Stan and Dick Slater ... Jim Duggan and Stan mingle with the "beautiful" crowd ... The young Japanese boys ... Japanese dojos ... The difference in attitudes between Stan and Bruiser Brody ... Accidentally injuring Kenta Kobashi ... Table charges, snack charges, and hostess charges ... Harley Race offers to pay the liquor bill ... Snack clubs ... Brody teaches Stan about the Japanese nightlife ... Teaming with Akira Taue ... Blackjack Mulligan in a test of strength with Akira Maeda ... Nobuhiko Takada gets stripped naked in a Tokyo hotel ... Working with Riki Choshu ... Stan gets put on the back burner ... The genius of Giant Baba ... A new relationship ... Inoki throws 10,000 dollar bills into the audience ... More good advice, this time from Jack Brisco ... Asking Mr. Shinma for a raise ... The "American Dream" comes to Japan ... Dusty Rhodes makes a "mistake" ... Stan turns the tables on Dusty ... Wrestling Japanese opponents ... Jim Duggan and Stan brawl in a soba shop ... Questioned at the police station ... Mr. Takamori, Stan's good friend and sponsor ... Abdullah the Butcher jumps to New Japan ... Mr. Shinma talks badly about Abdullah ... Stan questions New Japan's loyalty ... Stan finally gets a raise ... Mr. Shinma and Vince McMahon, Sr. meet to discuss a new run for Stan in the WWWF ... A five-month run in the northeast ... Hulk Hogan gets a phone call from Sylvester Stallone ... Stan stands his ground against WWWF demands ... Samurai warrior ... Rumors about All Japan's business ... Wally "The Weasel" Yamaguchi ... An unexpected phone call from Terry Funk
16 Clandestine Meeting
Mixed emotions ... Negotiations with Mr. Shinma and New Japan ... Clandestine meeting with Giant Baba ... An agreement is reached ... Closing the deal with a handshake ... Family and marriage problems of wrestlers ... Mr. Mom ... The Mafia boss ... Sharing secret news with Brody ... New Japan puts pressure on Stan to sign a long-term contract ... Blue-sky incentives ... Confiding in Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and Pete Roberts ... New Japan negotiations heat up ... A private discussion with Giant Baba ... Dick Murdoch, Jim Duggan, and Stan entertain themselves ... Stan's final night with New Japan ... Avoiding Mr. Shinma ... Using an assumed name ... Appearance at an All Japan show in Yokosuka ... Another secret meeting ... More thoughts on the differences between Brody and Stan ... Stan's surprise appearance in Ryogoku Kokugikan arena ... Unscheduled dressing room brawl ... Looking forward to new challanges and opportunities
17 When in Japan ...
Looking back to New Japan ... Friends versus acquaintances ... Mrs. Baba's place in the All Japan company ... More differences between All Japan and New Japan ... Tough times ... Hotels used by All Japan ... Baba does Stan a favor ... Boys will be boys ... Mark Lewin's influence on Bruiser Brody ... Wrestling Ashura Hara in his debut match ... Staying in character while away from the arenas ... The persistent autograph seeker ... Celebrity status ... Memories of Nikolai Volkoff, Kelly Kiniski, Gypsy Joe, and Tor Kamata ... Teaming again with Bruiser Brody ... Herding sheep ... Working stiff with Giant Baba ... Baba's knowledge of the psychology of wrestling ... Wrestling "The Boss" ... Acting and reacting ... The toughness of Baba ... The difficulty of wrestling Jumbo Tsuruta ... Brody and Stan work with Jumbo and Genichiro Tenryu in St. Petersburg, Florida ... Developing the reputation of being "outlaws" ... The position of Dory and Terry Funk with All Japan ... The differences between Inoki and Baba ... Knowing when to look strong and when to sell ... The Japanese versus gaijin formula ... Past dealings with promoters ... Feuding with Terry Funk ... The real competition in pro wrestling ... A controlled act of violence
18 The Gravy Train
All Japan's emphasis changes ... The Brody-Hansen versus Dory-Terry Funk feud ... Tearing Lou Thesz' referee shirt ... Wrestling in Kuwait ... Abdullah demonstrates his proficiency with a fork ... The Wild Samoans entertain the flight crew and passengers ... Little Sam headlocks Charlie Pride ... Giant Baba, multi-tasker ... Training and learning Japanese customs with Brody ... Developing a taste for Japanese beer ... Eluding the fans and autograph seekers ... Experiencing the Japanese lifestyle ... Lord James "Tally-Ho" Blears ... Commissioner of the PWF
19 Killer Khan and the Gorilla
Thanksgiving in Japan ... Dinner with the Baba family ... Brody makes a startling announcement ... Stan gives Brody a warning and friendly advice ... Stan and Brody in Australia ... Brody shares his feelings with Stan ... Masashi Ozawa (Killer Khan), Stan, and Jimmy Suzuki at the zoo ... Brody jumps to New Japan ... Inoki's attitude towards gaijins ... Brody decision comes to a sad conclusion
20 Showdown in the Shower
Back to work for Verne Gagne and the AWA ... A brief history of the business relationship between Hulk Hogan and Verne Gagne ... Thoughts on Nick Bockwinkel, Buck Zumhote, Rick and Scott Steiner, and Kevin Kelly ... Stan "accidentally" loses his balance ... Baron von Raschke, the heel everyone likes ... Buddy Roberts refuses to do business ... Jerry Blackwell at the Dairy Queen drive-thru ... Blackwell hunts Snake Brown ... Leon White breaks the timekeeper's table ... Vader's eyeball pops out ... A run for the AWA heavyweight title ... The night Chicago fans "believed" ... Stan wins the AWA title from Rick Martel ... Stan returns the favor in Quebec City ... A typical AWA TV booking sheet ... Greg Gagne fails to react, so Stan gives him no choice ... Verne criticizes Rick Martel ... Transitional champion ... Shower room confrontation with Verne ... Stan walks out ... A registered letter ... The truth about what happened to the title belt ... Verne keeps his word ... Stan's allegiance to Japan ... Meeting Verne again ten years later
21 Opportunity
Japanese personality and style development ... Steroid use ... Stan's training regimen ... Athletics and competition versus sports entertainment ... Memories of Genichiro Tenryu ... Tenryu's favorite American meal ... Flea infestation ... Japanese wrestlers in America ... Fighting from underneath, aka "selling" ... Tenryu's powerbomb ... Discord in the All Japan ranks ... Avoiding business politics ... Mass exodus ... Opportunity for the young Japanese wrestlers ... Mitsuharu Misawa, the right place at the right time ... Power struggle ... The development of Toshiaki Kawada's character and style ... The price wrestlers pay ... All Japan's business undergoes a rejuvenation
22 The Show Must Go On
Wrestling on cruise ships, in department stores, on the roofs of department stores, and in the lobbies of public bath hous ... Outdoor shows ... Changing clothes on the wrestling bus ... The logistics of setting up outdoor shows ... Selling merchandise ... Wrestling Joe and Dean Malenko in a thunderstorm
23 Silent Heat
House fire ... News about Bruiser Brody's death ... Wrestling in Puerto Rico ... Danger from the crowd ... "Chilling" ... Herd mentality ... Flying spark plugs ... Urine shower ... Roddy Piper finds himself at gunpoint ... Tony Atlas and silent heat ... Brody returns to All Japan ... Working "against" Brody ... Stan's last meeting with Brody ... "Bruiser Brody Memorial Night" show
24 Veteran Gunslingers
Teaming with Ted DiBiase, the young "Funk boy" ... Roughhouse Fargo, the cartoon ... Austin Idol "injures" his ribs ... Fans in the dressing room ... Eating raw chickens ... Terry Gordy, a natural wrestler ... Gordy refuses to "do business" with Hulk Hogan ... Steve Williams, the toughest guy in wrestling ... Danny Spivey takes a stand ... Teaming with Giant Baba ... Memories of Danny Spivey, Johnny Ace, Dan Kroffat, Rob Van Dam, Gary Albright, and Bobby Duncum, Jr. ... Bobby Duncum, Jr. stands nose to nose with Gary Albright
25 "Get 'em, Daddy!"
Working for WCW ... Chewing tobacco ... Stan Hansen, "a bad example for youth" ... Losing matches on TV ... Strange confrontation with Jim Herd ... Cartoon-land ... Teaming with Sid Vicious ... "Arachnaphobia" ... Run-in with Paul Heyman ... The clean finish ... What the fans chanted at Shane Douglas and Johnny Ace ... "Get 'em, daddy!"
26 Terry Gordy and the Birthday Girl
Meeting sumo wrestlers and baseball superstar Randy Bass ... Blocking Jesse Jackson and his party ... Steve Williams sneaks up on George Kennedy
27 Return to West Texas
Old man time catches up with Stan ... Living up to his promise ... Time off to recuperate ... Operations and four artificial joints ... Stan Hansen's retirement ceremony ... An emotional time ... Praise for the wrestling fans ... Easy money ... Changing of the guard ... Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki — Wrestling icons ... Praise for Giant Baba ... Reunion at West Texas A&M ... Reminiscing about football ... More memories of the Fat Man ... Steve Williams' Memorial Service ... Expression of faith ... Thoughts about retirement and the passage of time ... Final thoughts
(starts about 50 seconds in)
http://www.crowbarpress.com/cbp-books/14-sh.html#rc
CHAPTER TITLES AND CONTENT
1 Tomatoes and PastaFamily roots ... Early childhood in Knox City, Texas ... Meeting Ernie "The Cat" Ladd ... Classroom debate ... Moving to Tempe, Arizona ... Pop Warner Football ... The family moves back to Texas
2 The Invisible Line
Friona varsity football team ... The losing streak ... The boss's son ... Work ethic ... Sports and academics ... Visiting West Texas State University ... First meeting with Frank Goodish, aka Bruiser Brody ... Dinner with Coack Joe Kerbel ... Ranking by "Coach and Athlete" magazine
3 A Gallon Jug of Blood
Coach Joe Kerbel ... The whistle ... Buff dessert ... Black football players ... Playing football with Duane Thomas and Mercury Morris ... The "Fat Man" ... Coach Kerbel pulls Bobby Duncum out of his hospital bed ... The dry county ... Frank Goodish escapes through a bathroom window ... Coach Kerbel threatens Goodish ... Goodish transfers to Iowa State ... Mistaken for Terry Funk ... Attending the wrestling matches at the Amarillo Sports Arena ... Russian chain match ... Terry Funk versus Harley Race ... West Texas State football ... Joe Kerbel threatens Stan ... Knee injury ... Baltimore Colts training camp ... Return to West Texas State ... West Texas recruits Tito Santana and Ted DiBiase ... Trying out with the San Diego Chargers ... The handshake deal
4 Forearm Class
Coaching eighth-grade football ... Meeting Dory Funk, Sr. ... A life decision ... Introduction at the Amarillo Sports Arena ... Pat O'Connor tests Stan ... The Lawman ribs Jerry Kozak ... Memories of Ricki Starr, the Viking, El Gran Tapia, Hank James, the Beast, and Ciclon Negro ... Carpenters ... Learning a valuable lesson ... Trans money ... Traveling with Ernie Ladd ... Bull Ramos and Pizza Hut ... Mike London, Albuquerque promoter, introduces Kay Faben, the referee ... Doublespeak ... The Funks teach Stan how to throw a forearm ... Gordon Nelson teaches Stan ow to hold a headlock ... Dory Funk Sr. gives Stan "The Talk" ... Introduction to Moose Morowski and Ciclon Negro ... Stan's realization that wrestling is a "business" ... Borrowing Terry Funk's ring gear for his debut ... "The tag" ... Blowing up ... Body slamming Jerry Kozak ... Stan's "character" ... Potatoes and chops ... On-the-job training ... Learning a lesson from Killer Karl Kox ... Overview of the Amarillo territory ... Refereeing a match with Don and Johnny Fargo ... Road expenses ... Johnny Heidemann, "King of the Eaters" ... Big Texan Steak Ranch ... Wrestling Lord Alfred Hayes in a battle royal ... Dory Funk, Sr. ribs Lord Alfred Hayes ... A game of eight-ball pool ... The "need to know" ... Learning to do interviews ... Bobby Duncum attempts to learn the "head stomp" ... A rib on Frank "Gorilla" Marconi ... Good advice from Moose Morowski ... A celebrity returns to Knox City, Texas
5 Dressing Room Promo
Booked in Florida ... Sharing a room with Bob Bruggers ... Bed bugs and fleas ... Fast food junkie ... Johnny Valentine tells Stan to "lay it in!" ... Buddy Colt shows Stan respect ... The Florida office and small payoffs ... The wrestling business — inside and outside the ring ... The passing of Dory Funk, Sr. ... Dick Slater gets "real heat" ... Slater's confrontation with Riki Choshu ... Johnny Powers and Ox Baker get sent home from Japan ... Second-generation wrestlers ... Charlie Laye ... Tony Nero and Stan Hansen, captain and soldier ... Man Mountain Mike signs autographs ... Terry Funk's bad joke ... Watching marks get stretched in the Sportatorium ... Teaming with Steve Keirn ... Dressing room confrontation with Don Carson ... Taking a stand
6 Decision Time
Return to Amarillo ... The psychology of "working" ... Introduction to Jumbo Tsuruta ... Chipped teeth ... The boys teach "English" to Motoshi Okuma ... Cases of beer ... Praying in the back seat of Terry Funk's car ... Speeding tickets for everyone ... Bob Backlund takes on challengers from the audience ... Backlund wears the Western states title belt — in a restaurant ... A freak accident that almost ended Stan's career ... John Black breaks his neck ... The wrestlers' emergency fund ... Learning life lessons
7 The Little Blue Pill
Wrestling in Dallas, Texas ... Reunited with and forming a friendship with Frank Goodish ... Doug Somers buys a used Pontiac ... Protein pills ... Traveling with Blackjack Mulligan and Black Jack Lanza
8 Gadget man
Stan gets booked in Louisiana ... Overview of the Louisiana territory ... Bill Watts, the pilot ... Long trips and small payoffs ... Weekly road trips and life on the road ... Living in a Ford van ... The definition of "good" hotels ... A motel room with no toilet ... Leroy McGuirk offers to drive for Scandor Akbar ... Working for George Culkin ... Bobby Jaggers, Duke Miller, and Treach Phillips ... Accidents on the road ... Testing the strength of Danny Hodge ... Luke Brown scares Japanese pedestrians ... Frank Goodish's girlfriend ... The "Bruiser Brody" character ... Saving money ... Tag teaming with Frank Goodish ... "Heat" ... Frank Goodish, the cowboy ... Bill Watts books Stan and Frank in the "second tier" towns ... Gas rationing ... Grizzly Smith pulls a pistol on Mr. Chin ... U.S. tag team champions ... Riot in Alexandria, Louisiana ... "Never show fear!" ... The timekeeper's table ... Texas justice ... Stan protects Big John Studd from a crowd that "smells blood" ... Protection for heels ... Chairs, rocks and knives ... Nick Roberts and Terry Funk pull a rib on Stan ... Accepting the risk heels face ... Security details ... A warning from Giant Baba ... Chasing fans through the arena ... Death threats ... Two 300-pound wrestlers in a 240Z ... Larry Tillman sells a ticket to a baboon ... Working their way to the top ... Taking the battle into the concession stand ... Bill Watts returns as booker, and things go downhill ... Watts splits up Stan and Goodish ... Goodish develops his philosophy ... Knee surgery
9 Land of the Rising Sun
First tour of Japan ... Arrival at Haneda Airpot ... Sponsors ... The Yakuza ... Joe Higuchi, All Japan Pro Wrestling's goodwill ambassador ... Joe complains about cheap heat ... Jimmy Snuka and Victor Rivera brawl at a hotel ... Joe Higuchi's place in the company ... The "oldest guys on the bus" ... Joe Higuchi's influence on Stan ... Meeting Yoshihiro Momota, the son of Rikidozan ... Learning the Japanese style of wrestling ... The differences between audiences in the States and in Japan ... Working to get a better position on the cards ... Negotiating pay and perks with the Japanese wrestling offices ... Thoughts on the Japanese mindset and culture, heels and babyfaces, calling matches ... Freddie Blassie's definition of what it took to "be a heel" ... Being taught a lesson about heels signing autographs ... The origin of the nickname "The Bad Man from Borger, Texas" ... Ox Baker teaches Japanese women the proper way to bow ... Learning basic Japanese words ... Payoffs and Japanese taxes ... Wrestling the Intelligent, Sensational Destroyer
10 White-Meat Babyface
Flying back to Dallas, Texas ... Stopover in Hawaii and Los Angeles ... Wrestling in Houston for Paul Boesch ... Red Bastien, booker ... The Mongolian Stomper ... Working with Peter Maivia ... "Bulldog" Danny Plechas, referee ... Rick Martel beats Stan in nine seconds ... Mike Paidousis tells Bruno Sammartino about Stan ... A call from Vince McMahon, Sr. ... A starting date with the WWWF
11 Death Threats
The "New York" territory ... Comparing the north and the south ... Life in a motel ... Travel, payoffs, and expenses in the WWWF ... Freddie Blassie, Stan's first "and only" manager ... Stan's first match with Bruno Sammartino ... "The break that was heard around the world" ... Dead silence in the dressing room ... Surprising advice from Bruno ... The fine line between aggressiveness and being careless ... Windows of opportunity ... The definition of "real heat" ... Confrontation on a commuter train ... Ernie Ladd warns Stan about signing a contract for his return match with Bruno at Shea Stadium ... The $1,000 bonus ... A lesson in taking a stand ... Wrestling Ivan Putski in the Garden ... Saved by the security force ... Jerry Blackwell saves Stan's life ... Vince Sr. sends Stan home to Texas ... Rematch with Bruno Sammartino, the "Living Legend" ... Rats in the dressing room ... Once again, teaming with Frank Goodish, now known as "Bruiser Brody" ... Confrontation with Chief Jay Strongbow, the Italian Indian ... $10,000 prize money ... "First count" and box office receipts ... Calling Vince McMahon, Sr. at home ... Writing on the wall ... More sage advice from Bruno ... Code word "Bluejay" ... Walking and talking with Gorilla Monsoon ... First trip for New Japan Wrestling ... "Net" payoff vs "gross" payoff
12 Gaijin
"Gaijin" wrestlers ... Meeting Pete Roberts ... Comparision of the All Japan and New Japan wrestling companies ... Separation of talent ... Charlie Tanaka assists the gaijins ... Peter Takahashi, referee and go-between ... Tiger Jeet Singh, star gaijin of New Japan ... The match that changed the direction of Stan's career ... A lesson in loyalty ... Pay television [set] ... Attack on the New Japan gaijin bus ... Return to Louisiana ... Switch to babyface ... Bill Watts, the babyface, makes a heel move ... John Tolos and Tony Charles cause dissension between the McGuire brothers ... A call from Ole Anderson ... "Oppportunity" ... Return to New Japan ... Origin of "The Lariat" finisher ... Fighting Blackjack Mulligan on the streets of Kyoto ... Introducing the "Stan Hansen style" to Japanese fans ... Being spontaneous ... Trips on the wrestling bus ... Harley Race arrives late ... Roddy Piper wins the "unclean" championship ... Poor hygiene
13 Manipulators
First time in the Atlanta, Georgia, territory ... Comparing Ole Anderson and Bill Watts: attitude towards talent, temperament, payoffs, working ability ... The job of a booker ... Bill Watts and tape-recorded instructions ... Double-cross in the ring while wrestling Jake Roberts ... Ribbing with Ole ... Making and saving money for the future ... Comparing programs in Japan to those in the States ... Pinfalls versus disputed finishes ... Stan builds his reputation in Atlanta ... Meeting Jimmy Carter's mother ... Thunderbolt Patterson's unorthodox style ... Wahoo McDaniel, the "Man's Man" ... Wahoo shoots a bullet into Dick Slater's leg ... Memories of Tommy Rich, Ivan Koloff, and Bobby Duncum ... Greg Gagne stands up for himself ... Meeting wrestling icons — Dick the Bruiser, Crusher, and Mad Dog Vachon ... Bodyslamming Dick the Bruiser against his will ... Conflict between All Japan and Verne Gagne ... Buying and selling a house in Atlanta ... Giving Verne Gagne his notice ... Lighting Angelo Mosca's fuse ... A trip with Ray Candy ... Andre the Giant refuses to move ... Ric Flair drives Stan's rental car ... Wrestling Sterling Golden (aka Hulk Hogan) in the Omni ... Remembering the "good 'ol days"
14 Hansen's Guide to Japan
The Japanese wrestling business: how it was tied in to their culture, how it was different from wrestling in the States, format of the TV wrestling shows, the Japanese wrestling fans, the evolution of Japanese wrestling, the shoot style of wrestling, gaijins wrestlers versus Japanese wrestlers, local promoters, the differences between American and Japanese TV, Nippon TV's influence on the wrestling business, the length and makeup of tours, wrestling in small towns, a look at the major arenas, jealousy among the gaijins, influence the Japanese magazines had on the direction of the business, income and ticket prices compared to those in the States, the Japanese wrestling heirarchy ... Behind the scenes of a wrestling tour: the contract, taxes, payoffs, travel arrangements, schedules, the quality of hotel accomodations, interpreters, the nightlife, the Japanese culture and mindset, the Japanese diet and food choices, the language barrier, communication with the Japanese wrestlers both in and out of the ring, passing time on the wrestling bus, drawing money ... Joel Deaton misses his flight ... Masonobu Fuchi as a booker ... learning a lesson about gambling ... Umanosuke Ueda pulls a rib on Chavo Guerrero ... Skip Young thinks he got cheated ... Negative feedback from wrestlers about Stan's "style" ... Del Wilkes gets bad advice ... Credit to the WWE ... Exposes of the wrestling business in Japan ... Dirt sheets and their part in the downfall of the business ... Working in Mexico with Canek and Dos Caras ... Working under a mask in the Amarillo territory ... Finding gaijin talent for All Japan ... Abdullah the Butcher gives advice in the ring to David Isley ... David Isley's "southern" breakfast ... Abdullah's "birthday" ... Stan's trouble with booking talent ... Stan's interaction with Giant Baba ... Top talent versus "white meat"
15 Elevator Stampede
Stan's fourth trip to Japan ... Guaranteed money ... Establishing the Stan Hansen "character" ... Strong Kobayashi, Kuniaki Kobayashi, Kenta Kobayashi, and Kenta Kobashi ... Antonio Inoki's style of promoting and wrestling ... Trying to bodyslam Seiji Sakaguchi ... Dealing with Hisashi Shinma (Mr. Shinma) ... Teaming with Hulk Hogan in the MSG tag league tournament ... Stan gives credit to Andre the Giant for "getting him over" in Japan ... Going to the movies with Andre ... Andre's legendary drinking ability ... Andre the Giant on the Keio Plaza Hotel elevator ... Favorite eating and drinking establishments ... A classic Terry Funk incident ... A Mama-san wrestles Stan and Dick Slater ... Jim Duggan and Stan mingle with the "beautiful" crowd ... The young Japanese boys ... Japanese dojos ... The difference in attitudes between Stan and Bruiser Brody ... Accidentally injuring Kenta Kobashi ... Table charges, snack charges, and hostess charges ... Harley Race offers to pay the liquor bill ... Snack clubs ... Brody teaches Stan about the Japanese nightlife ... Teaming with Akira Taue ... Blackjack Mulligan in a test of strength with Akira Maeda ... Nobuhiko Takada gets stripped naked in a Tokyo hotel ... Working with Riki Choshu ... Stan gets put on the back burner ... The genius of Giant Baba ... A new relationship ... Inoki throws 10,000 dollar bills into the audience ... More good advice, this time from Jack Brisco ... Asking Mr. Shinma for a raise ... The "American Dream" comes to Japan ... Dusty Rhodes makes a "mistake" ... Stan turns the tables on Dusty ... Wrestling Japanese opponents ... Jim Duggan and Stan brawl in a soba shop ... Questioned at the police station ... Mr. Takamori, Stan's good friend and sponsor ... Abdullah the Butcher jumps to New Japan ... Mr. Shinma talks badly about Abdullah ... Stan questions New Japan's loyalty ... Stan finally gets a raise ... Mr. Shinma and Vince McMahon, Sr. meet to discuss a new run for Stan in the WWWF ... A five-month run in the northeast ... Hulk Hogan gets a phone call from Sylvester Stallone ... Stan stands his ground against WWWF demands ... Samurai warrior ... Rumors about All Japan's business ... Wally "The Weasel" Yamaguchi ... An unexpected phone call from Terry Funk
16 Clandestine Meeting
Mixed emotions ... Negotiations with Mr. Shinma and New Japan ... Clandestine meeting with Giant Baba ... An agreement is reached ... Closing the deal with a handshake ... Family and marriage problems of wrestlers ... Mr. Mom ... The Mafia boss ... Sharing secret news with Brody ... New Japan puts pressure on Stan to sign a long-term contract ... Blue-sky incentives ... Confiding in Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, and Pete Roberts ... New Japan negotiations heat up ... A private discussion with Giant Baba ... Dick Murdoch, Jim Duggan, and Stan entertain themselves ... Stan's final night with New Japan ... Avoiding Mr. Shinma ... Using an assumed name ... Appearance at an All Japan show in Yokosuka ... Another secret meeting ... More thoughts on the differences between Brody and Stan ... Stan's surprise appearance in Ryogoku Kokugikan arena ... Unscheduled dressing room brawl ... Looking forward to new challanges and opportunities
17 When in Japan ...
Looking back to New Japan ... Friends versus acquaintances ... Mrs. Baba's place in the All Japan company ... More differences between All Japan and New Japan ... Tough times ... Hotels used by All Japan ... Baba does Stan a favor ... Boys will be boys ... Mark Lewin's influence on Bruiser Brody ... Wrestling Ashura Hara in his debut match ... Staying in character while away from the arenas ... The persistent autograph seeker ... Celebrity status ... Memories of Nikolai Volkoff, Kelly Kiniski, Gypsy Joe, and Tor Kamata ... Teaming again with Bruiser Brody ... Herding sheep ... Working stiff with Giant Baba ... Baba's knowledge of the psychology of wrestling ... Wrestling "The Boss" ... Acting and reacting ... The toughness of Baba ... The difficulty of wrestling Jumbo Tsuruta ... Brody and Stan work with Jumbo and Genichiro Tenryu in St. Petersburg, Florida ... Developing the reputation of being "outlaws" ... The position of Dory and Terry Funk with All Japan ... The differences between Inoki and Baba ... Knowing when to look strong and when to sell ... The Japanese versus gaijin formula ... Past dealings with promoters ... Feuding with Terry Funk ... The real competition in pro wrestling ... A controlled act of violence
18 The Gravy Train
All Japan's emphasis changes ... The Brody-Hansen versus Dory-Terry Funk feud ... Tearing Lou Thesz' referee shirt ... Wrestling in Kuwait ... Abdullah demonstrates his proficiency with a fork ... The Wild Samoans entertain the flight crew and passengers ... Little Sam headlocks Charlie Pride ... Giant Baba, multi-tasker ... Training and learning Japanese customs with Brody ... Developing a taste for Japanese beer ... Eluding the fans and autograph seekers ... Experiencing the Japanese lifestyle ... Lord James "Tally-Ho" Blears ... Commissioner of the PWF
19 Killer Khan and the Gorilla
Thanksgiving in Japan ... Dinner with the Baba family ... Brody makes a startling announcement ... Stan gives Brody a warning and friendly advice ... Stan and Brody in Australia ... Brody shares his feelings with Stan ... Masashi Ozawa (Killer Khan), Stan, and Jimmy Suzuki at the zoo ... Brody jumps to New Japan ... Inoki's attitude towards gaijins ... Brody decision comes to a sad conclusion
20 Showdown in the Shower
Back to work for Verne Gagne and the AWA ... A brief history of the business relationship between Hulk Hogan and Verne Gagne ... Thoughts on Nick Bockwinkel, Buck Zumhote, Rick and Scott Steiner, and Kevin Kelly ... Stan "accidentally" loses his balance ... Baron von Raschke, the heel everyone likes ... Buddy Roberts refuses to do business ... Jerry Blackwell at the Dairy Queen drive-thru ... Blackwell hunts Snake Brown ... Leon White breaks the timekeeper's table ... Vader's eyeball pops out ... A run for the AWA heavyweight title ... The night Chicago fans "believed" ... Stan wins the AWA title from Rick Martel ... Stan returns the favor in Quebec City ... A typical AWA TV booking sheet ... Greg Gagne fails to react, so Stan gives him no choice ... Verne criticizes Rick Martel ... Transitional champion ... Shower room confrontation with Verne ... Stan walks out ... A registered letter ... The truth about what happened to the title belt ... Verne keeps his word ... Stan's allegiance to Japan ... Meeting Verne again ten years later
21 Opportunity
Japanese personality and style development ... Steroid use ... Stan's training regimen ... Athletics and competition versus sports entertainment ... Memories of Genichiro Tenryu ... Tenryu's favorite American meal ... Flea infestation ... Japanese wrestlers in America ... Fighting from underneath, aka "selling" ... Tenryu's powerbomb ... Discord in the All Japan ranks ... Avoiding business politics ... Mass exodus ... Opportunity for the young Japanese wrestlers ... Mitsuharu Misawa, the right place at the right time ... Power struggle ... The development of Toshiaki Kawada's character and style ... The price wrestlers pay ... All Japan's business undergoes a rejuvenation
22 The Show Must Go On
Wrestling on cruise ships, in department stores, on the roofs of department stores, and in the lobbies of public bath hous ... Outdoor shows ... Changing clothes on the wrestling bus ... The logistics of setting up outdoor shows ... Selling merchandise ... Wrestling Joe and Dean Malenko in a thunderstorm
23 Silent Heat
House fire ... News about Bruiser Brody's death ... Wrestling in Puerto Rico ... Danger from the crowd ... "Chilling" ... Herd mentality ... Flying spark plugs ... Urine shower ... Roddy Piper finds himself at gunpoint ... Tony Atlas and silent heat ... Brody returns to All Japan ... Working "against" Brody ... Stan's last meeting with Brody ... "Bruiser Brody Memorial Night" show
24 Veteran Gunslingers
Teaming with Ted DiBiase, the young "Funk boy" ... Roughhouse Fargo, the cartoon ... Austin Idol "injures" his ribs ... Fans in the dressing room ... Eating raw chickens ... Terry Gordy, a natural wrestler ... Gordy refuses to "do business" with Hulk Hogan ... Steve Williams, the toughest guy in wrestling ... Danny Spivey takes a stand ... Teaming with Giant Baba ... Memories of Danny Spivey, Johnny Ace, Dan Kroffat, Rob Van Dam, Gary Albright, and Bobby Duncum, Jr. ... Bobby Duncum, Jr. stands nose to nose with Gary Albright
25 "Get 'em, Daddy!"
Working for WCW ... Chewing tobacco ... Stan Hansen, "a bad example for youth" ... Losing matches on TV ... Strange confrontation with Jim Herd ... Cartoon-land ... Teaming with Sid Vicious ... "Arachnaphobia" ... Run-in with Paul Heyman ... The clean finish ... What the fans chanted at Shane Douglas and Johnny Ace ... "Get 'em, daddy!"
26 Terry Gordy and the Birthday Girl
Meeting sumo wrestlers and baseball superstar Randy Bass ... Blocking Jesse Jackson and his party ... Steve Williams sneaks up on George Kennedy
27 Return to West Texas
Old man time catches up with Stan ... Living up to his promise ... Time off to recuperate ... Operations and four artificial joints ... Stan Hansen's retirement ceremony ... An emotional time ... Praise for the wrestling fans ... Easy money ... Changing of the guard ... Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki — Wrestling icons ... Praise for Giant Baba ... Reunion at West Texas A&M ... Reminiscing about football ... More memories of the Fat Man ... Steve Williams' Memorial Service ... Expression of faith ... Thoughts about retirement and the passage of time ... Final thoughts
