Prepare for an unforgettable journey into the heart of WWE history as we delve into the intense and emotional showdown between Shawn Stasiak and The Rock on the September 11 tribute episode of SmackDown! Join Shawn Stasiak in this riveting video as he dissects the lead-up, the emotions, and the electrifying clash that unfolded on that special night.
Don't forget to hit that subscribe button, ring the notification bell, and share your thoughts in the comments below! Whether you're a wrestling aficionado or just love a good underdog story, this video is a tribute to the resilience, honor, and spirit that defines the world of professional wrestling.
You can also visit our site: https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe
#TheRock #ShawnStasiak #WWE #Wrestling #Sportskeeda
Don't forget to hit that subscribe button, ring the notification bell, and share your thoughts in the comments below! Whether you're a wrestling aficionado or just love a good underdog story, this video is a tribute to the resilience, honor, and spirit that defines the world of professional wrestling.
You can also visit our site: https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe
#TheRock #ShawnStasiak #WWE #Wrestling #Sportskeeda
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SportsTranscript
00:00 A lot of anxiety and this had never happened before, right?
00:03 On US soil, at least in my lifetime or all of our lifetimes that, you know,
00:07 with the people that I was with, was with, but backstage was just really,
00:12 uh, people were, you know, it was, it was, it was a tough time.
00:16 Hey guys, welcome back to another video here with Dr.
00:27 Sean Stasiak, former WWE and WCW superstar.
00:31 And you know what?
00:33 I got to talk about this because this is really cool, man. I mean,
00:36 just as past WBE Monday night raw,
00:38 we had a segment with Jinder Mahal who did a
00:44 fantastic job playing an Indian heel,
00:47 crapping on America, insulting, disrespecting America.
00:52 And then all of a sudden out of nowhere, if you smell what the,
00:56 and the place, the roof blew off the, the, the arena,
00:59 here it comes to Wayne Johnson, the rock. And I'll be honest, it was electrifying.
01:04 I had goosebumps. I thought it was awesome.
01:06 And it took me right back to the night that I worked
01:10 with the rock during the nine 11 Smackdown tribute show,
01:15 uh, 22 plus years ago,
01:17 because on Monday that we just saw with Jinder Mahal and the rock,
01:22 it was very patriotic.
01:23 And because of the climate of this particular country, you know,
01:27 there's a lot of tension, a lot of divisiveness, uh,
01:30 just politically and just the things that Jinder was commenting on.
01:34 I think a lot of people might even agree with that to an extent.
01:37 It was a little harsh. He was playing his character role, being a heel.
01:41 He did a great job, but I just thought that, uh,
01:45 because of that fact, because that is the current climate, um,
01:49 and WWE is known over the years to play up with a current political,
01:54 you know, events and climates around the world.
01:56 So he did that with the iron chic. He did that with Nikolai Volkov.
02:01 He's done that with, you know, just, uh, Sergeant slaughter, you know,
02:05 so it's a smart move when it comes to playing with emotion and intertwining or
02:10 paralleling reality, you know,
02:13 events and points in the world into a scripted format.
02:17 And I just think it makes it that much more real and you really invest your
02:20 emotion into it. And I love the segment.
02:23 And I love the segment that I did with the rock 22 plus years ago,
02:28 because a, I got to work with the rock. And, um,
02:32 also I got to play a character role that was yes,
02:36 the comical relief of the show. Uh,
02:38 maybe I wasn't crazy about it to be part of that special night,
02:42 to be able to put smiles on faces, to be able to make people laugh for a couple,
02:47 you know, uh, for, for a moment during my segment, then I did my job.
02:51 I did my part, you know, I, I played my role. Uh,
02:54 that just was the parallel that was,
02:56 that was the connection that I made on this past Monday night. And, um,
03:01 yeah,
03:01 there's a part of me that actually missed being in that ring and missed,
03:05 I missed being part of moments like that because that's what life's about,
03:09 right. It's about creating moments and experiences.
03:11 And that's even what wrestling really is all about creating stories and
03:16 creating those special moments.
03:17 And Monday night was a very special moment for the patriotic connection,
03:21 but for me, even more special because it,
03:24 it took me right back like it was yesterday that I played the role,
03:28 uh, versus the rock in, in a very patriotic night,
03:32 being the very first live assembly live audience of its kind since the 9/11
03:37 attacks.
03:38 So it was something that I just felt that was worth mentioning.
03:41 And I figured that this would be a fun video, a reflective video,
03:45 and, um, hopefully ultimately walk away from this, uh,
03:49 feeling inspired, uh, entertained all in one.
03:53 So I learned about the 9/11 attacks when I woke up on Tuesday morning,
03:58 September 11th, 2001. Um, of course I had been on the road.
04:03 This was a Texas loop. It all started on, on Saturday in Dallas.
04:07 I worked with, uh, the rock of course,
04:10 and Stone Cold Steve Austin that night for a house show, uh,
04:14 working on that skit that everyone later would see on the tribute show on
04:18 Sunday, we were in Austin, Texas for another house show.
04:21 And then on Monday night, uh, or for Monday night raw in San Antonio,
04:27 uh, we had the raw show. Now I wasn't featured on actual show,
04:31 but I did do a dark match or my skit with Dwayne after the show.
04:36 And I had done my, we had done our little skit again in San Antonio.
04:40 So I'm traveling back to, to the next town, to Houston,
04:44 which was, uh, SmackDown was scheduled to be,
04:49 to go live SmackDown live. I traveled with Chuck Palumbo.
04:53 I believe Lillian Garcia was following us or we were,
04:56 I don't think she was with us, but she was traveling solo.
04:59 So we just wanted to make sure she was safe. And so we, you know,
05:02 we basically traveled together to Houston.
05:06 So when we all checked in, uh, to the hotel on Monday evening,
05:11 or we ours, the morning, Tuesday morning, um, you know, I, I went to bed,
05:15 woke up the next morning, gonna do my usual,
05:19 get my coffee going and get down to the fitness center and get a light workout
05:23 in. I flipped the TV on and I see,
05:27 I believe it was the first plane that went into the North tower.
05:30 That was the first, you know, plane going into the building. And, uh,
05:35 I thought it was just, you know, maybe an accident, a freak accident.
05:39 It was all over all the major news networks, of course. And, uh, you know,
05:44 but it was still quite, uh, daunting and, you know, it's somber, man.
05:48 It's like, there's, this is crazy that there's a plane, you know,
05:51 the building's on fire. And so I think everybody was just kind of, you know,
05:54 what went down to the fitness center and did my thing. Um, but still watching,
05:59 you know, the monitors on everywhere through the hotel. And, uh, we're just,
06:02 everyone's just kind of talking about it and exchanging information.
06:06 And then all of a sudden though, when the second plane hit the South tower,
06:09 I believe it was the South tower, the second building gets hit, you know,
06:12 from the second plane. That's when we all knew we were under attack.
06:16 We knew that this was a terrorist attack. And, uh,
06:18 I remember specifically going back down, you know, everybody was like,
06:23 at this point, everyone's like, and I wouldn't say chaos, but confusion,
06:27 people were wrestling talent personnel, the, you know,
06:30 this is like the company TV hotel that everyone was staying at.
06:33 So everyone's comparing notes and what's going on. And, you know, just,
06:38 I guess it was, I mean, it was chaotic, right. But, um,
06:41 I remember going into the fitness room and seeing Vince McMahon in there.
06:44 And I remember him just sitting on the floor with his back up against the wall,
06:47 just staring at the TV monitor, uh, during the CNN network, you know,
06:52 feed or it was, I don't know what news it was,
06:54 but it was a major news network. And he was just sitting there,
06:57 just nodding his head and discussing those.
06:59 Those.
07:02 And, um, you know, I think that's how we all felt, but, um,
07:06 we didn't really didn't know what we were going to do.
07:08 We were supposed to have a show that day.
07:10 And so we were just hearing word that it's going to be canceled.
07:13 Are we staying here? Do we, all the airports are shut down.
07:16 Where are we going to go? Everything like businesses shut down.
07:19 So we were just told to stick around for at least a day.
07:23 And there would be a decision made whether or not they were going to run,
07:25 you know, the show the next day, uh, for that day,
07:28 it was canceled for that Tuesday that we're originally going to run.
07:31 And, um, Wednesday rolled around.
07:33 And I think it was later in the afternoon or in the evening that we're still
07:36 wondering, you know,
07:37 still waiting for the word and we finally got the word that the show must go on
07:42 and it was going to run the next day or next night on, on Thursday.
07:47 So it was September 13th, 2001, two days after the attacks,
07:52 we were the very first public assembly of its kind, the first live event,
07:57 live audience of any event period, whether it was a sporting event, a concert,
08:02 any event, we were the very first since the 9/11 attack.
08:05 So when we were in that building, man, it was a mixture of emotions. I mean,
08:09 backstage, uh, of course, you know, there's a lot, very somber,
08:12 it was very depressing. It was very confusing and there's a lot of anxiety.
08:16 And this had never happened before, right. On us soil, at least in my lifetime,
08:20 or all of our life times that, you know, with the people that I was with,
08:23 but backstage was just really, people were, you know, it was, it was, uh,
08:28 it was a tough time, but at the same time, ironically,
08:32 it really brought all of us closer together, really like one big family,
08:36 to be honest, you know,
08:38 the people that you were already close with or that you traveled with,
08:41 you became even closer, the ones that maybe you didn't care for. I mean,
08:45 in this business,
08:45 you don't have to always like the person you're doing business with that happens
08:48 all the time in this business, but it just made you realize it's unfortunate.
08:52 Sometimes there has to be a traumatic event or something of that nature to take
08:55 place for you to just bring things out into what matters and what's important.
09:00 And I think that just brought us all together closer regardless.
09:04 So there was also a feeling of patriotism too,
09:07 and just being proud to be an American and to live in this country and the
09:10 decision or the, you know, the,
09:12 the thought process behind Vince's idea to go forward with the show was
09:17 just like when he gave that a tremendous speech before the actual,
09:22 you know, at the beginning of the SmackDown tribute show.
09:24 We will not live our lives in fear.
09:28 Everything he said he felt.
09:30 By God, the citizens of the United States are not afraid.
09:34 Is that, Hey, we're going to move on. We're going to carry on.
09:37 We're not going to let these people affect our freedoms.
09:39 We're not going to let them affect us putting on a show and entertaining the
09:44 fans. And if anything, we're going to, you know,
09:47 make our point that our lives are going to move on.
09:50 We're going to be that much stronger. That was the idea behind that.
09:53 And then of course, you know, Lillian Garcia sang that, uh,
09:56 beautiful national anthem of just being on that stage with all the talent up
10:02 that ramp, right in front of the Titan Tron, uh,
10:07 and then Lillian singing that national anthem and having that American flag in
10:10 my hand.
10:11 However many people the compact center hosted, I think, I don't know,
10:15 15 to 20,000 people, but it was loud. Channing USA.
10:20 I felt so it, you know, mixture of emotions. I was still had, we all had fear.
10:25 We didn't know what to expect next. It's like, is it safe to be here?
10:28 Is this building going to be, is it booby trap? Like it's, you know, what's,
10:32 what, what could happen? Are we safe? Is it secure enough? Who knows?
10:36 But I know that I felt deep down, like, you know, I'm here only so long.
10:40 We're all only here so long. And it's like, if I'm going to go out, man,
10:44 you know what,
10:44 I'm going to go out with the American flag in my hand and I'm going to be
10:47 patriotic and I'm going to express my specs and my, my love, you know,
10:52 for this country, for what we're doing here tonight,
10:55 to bring us all close together in love and unity, you know,
11:00 and to inspire and support one another.
11:02 And that's what that night was really about was to really send that message.
11:06 And I think we did a great job doing that. Uh, but yeah,
11:09 to hear the chance of USA and to be part of that,
11:12 I felt so proud to be there at the same time. I was frightened at anxiety.
11:16 We all did. It was a mixture of emotions, but like I said, backstage, uh,
11:20 I think everyone felt a sense of closeness and we felt more really like a
11:24 family. We're all, we're already kind of traveling family anyway,
11:27 but it was even a broader one really close together, uh,
11:30 even more so because of that. And, uh, of course,
11:33 working with the rock that night was fun. You know, um,
11:36 we had been working on that skip for a while and, you know,
11:38 it seemed to get a good reaction on all the house shows.
11:41 And it certainly did that night too.
11:42 It was pretty popular and people still talk about it to this day. Um,
11:46 so I'm just, even though it wasn't my favorite character, you know,
11:50 it was the laughing stock of the WWE, but Hey, again,
11:53 if I could put smiles on faces and take their minds off of, you know,
11:57 like I said, the grief and despair and the anxiety and the fear we were all
12:00 feeling, it was like, man, I did my job. I did my part.
12:02 And I'm just very proud to be part of that night. That night is very,
12:06 very special and I'm just grateful and feel blessed that I was part of that
12:10 regardless of what character role I play.
12:12 If I got to work with Dwayne Johnson, I think that's pretty cool. And I,
12:15 I'm very proud that, you know, I was able to be part of that as far as, uh,
12:20 going over my skit with Dwayne backstage. You know,
12:24 I mentioned this in my last video,
12:26 I met Dwayne when I was 10 and he was eight 1980 in Portland, Oregon,
12:30 when we met at the crow's nest at the Portland sports arena during, uh,
12:35 you know, Don Owen's, uh,
12:37 famous wrestling territory when Rocky Johnson,
12:39 his dad came through the territory and, uh, work with my dad.
12:43 You can look that up on YouTube. There's some, you know,
12:45 matches and some content there,
12:46 but that's when I met a young Dwayne Johnson and then years later,
12:49 fast forward, we'd be working together, not, uh,
12:52 my idea or what I would have thought how we'd work together,
12:56 but we ended up working together.
12:57 And so being part of nine 11 SmackDown's tribute show,
13:01 first public assembly of its kind first live event,
13:05 since those terrorist attacks, I got to work with him. It was awesome.
13:09 So backstage, you know, it was, it was easy. We already had the skit down.
13:13 It was pretty simple. You know, I got,
13:15 I got to know him a little bit more because we were, you know,
13:18 worked out a couple of times, went to the gym together. Um,
13:21 I think it was the night before a couple of nights before that tribute show,
13:24 we went out and it was with the Dudley boys. It was rock myself,
13:28 some couple other people went out and had a nice dinner.
13:31 I think it was an Austin, actually Austin, Texas. And, um, yeah, man,
13:35 I just, uh, was getting more familiar with him and it was just, uh, you know,
13:39 it's best to get to know the people that you're working with.
13:42 I think when you create a rapport or a good relationship, uh, with that person,
13:46 uh, it, it makes working with them funner.
13:49 And I think it makes the quality of work even better.
13:51 So I would have liked to have gotten to know him more and was able to work into
13:55 some more of a serious storyline or something that could have made some money
13:59 together with, but he's done pretty well for himself, I'd say. And, you know,
14:03 I'm proud of him, honestly. Um,
14:04 so when I saw the segment on Monday,
14:10 just this past Monday in San Diego, when he, uh, you know,
14:14 made that surprise appearance and faced off with Jinder Mahal,
14:18 because that was a patriotic moment. It's like, wow, you know,
14:22 brought me back to that night. Like it was just like yesterday, you know?
14:26 And I was like, wow, again,
14:28 made me very proud to be part of that patriotic night and to represent not just
14:32 the WWE, but to represent United States. Kurt Angle winning the main event.
14:37 I mean, you couldn't have put it on a better character, you know,
14:41 Mr. Red, white, and blue, Mr. USA gold medalist for America, Olympic hero,
14:45 right? I mean, it's for, I was a no brainer.
14:49 So I thought it was really cool to put a stamp on it and to send a message that,
14:54 Hey, we might've been knocked down,
14:57 but we're going to get back up and we're going to be a stronger country. And,
15:00 and that's, you know, we're going to come back even stronger.
15:02 So I thought doing that with Kurt was perfect. And then of course, you know,
15:06 we have the rock and stone cold working together, um,
15:10 as a dark match treat for all the fans that were there. That's just a,
15:13 that's just a extra credit, man. That's just a bonus. That's icing on the cake,
15:18 you know? And those guys loved each other. You know,
15:20 the great relationship personally backstage, professionally,
15:25 they had great chemistry and, um,
15:27 they probably really enjoyed working together even though under unfortunate
15:31 circumstances. But yeah,
15:33 I think you couldn't have had a better tribute show and a better message sent
15:38 to, uh, give all the fans just some hope and encouragement and just love and
15:43 support and, and how it felt really, honestly, it was just like,
15:48 it really felt like one big family, you know, the, the,
15:51 when you're standing there on that stage and you hear the chance of USA and
15:55 uh, it just brought everyone so much closer together, even strangers,
16:02 people you don't even know, but you just, it gave you a sense of, wow,
16:05 it's unfortunate that a lot of times in life,
16:07 there's gotta be some traumatic event or some tragedy that has to take place in
16:11 order to reveal that for you to let that veil down,
16:16 right. To peel the onion back, to let the walls down, to let your heart,
16:21 your compassion, um, your love, you know, to come together.
16:25 And that's what happened that night. So it was more than wrestling.
16:29 Wrestling was almost really like side window dressing. It was, you know,
16:33 it was really the main reason of having that show and was to entertain.
16:38 Sure. But it was the, to really bring everyone closer together,
16:42 not just everyone. Um, all the talent, all the,
16:45 everybody part of the company, uh, the fans,
16:48 but it was just to bring America together. That was the message we sent.
16:52 And, uh, I'm just so grateful and blessed that I was able to be part of that.
16:56 So Monday night, uh, this past Monday night on raw,
16:59 seeing the rock come back out there, patriotic as heck. And, uh,
17:04 working that skit with Ginger Mahal just brought back those memories.
17:07 And I just thought, um, it was worth sharing with all of you.
17:11 I hope you'd enjoyed this video and stay tuned for more to come here on sport.
17:16 Keter wrestling.
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