'Gentleman' Chris Adams had the charm, prowess and instinct to become a wrestling sensation, but a violent relationship with alcohol led to a tragic end at the hands of a friend.
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00:00What about wrestling here?
00:07I find the wrestling here is a lot rougher.
00:10You know, kicking, punching, a lot more, I guess you'd call it dirtiness, you know.
00:15A judo champion who came to America with the dream of becoming a star of the squared circle,
00:24Chris Adams captured lightning in a bottle.
00:27The stardom that Chris Adams got at World Class Championship Wrestling,
00:29because you've got to realize, on that level that Chris Adams was here, you were a big star everywhere.
00:34The gentleman from England, Chris Adams.
00:39Chris was the perfect gentleman over there.
00:42With his athleticism, determination, and charm, Chris had all the tools to become a megastar.
00:48My dad in Dallas was an A-list celebrity. It was impossible to go anywhere.
00:54He had this thing with Steve Austin where he trained Steve. Steve was going to make it in wrestling.
00:59But behind the curtain, Chris's most challenging opponent was himself.
01:04Life got in his way a lot of times. Sometimes Chris probably got in his own way.
01:08When he'd get a drink, man, Chris just turned into a different person, man.
01:12He didn't give a damn about nobody or nothing.
01:14Basically looking for you to say something that upsets him.
01:18He was definitely a Jekyll and Hyde.
01:20From Jekyll to Hyde.
01:22I'm telling you, it was Jekyll and Hyde.
01:24But alcohol brought out something that destroyed him.
01:30One man with two personalities on a downward spiral.
01:36Chris got drunk, got belligerent.
01:38He just started beating the hell out of him.
01:41There was a gun.
01:41We were friends.
01:44I was the best man at his wedding.
01:46It was a bad situation.
01:49It was a nightmare.
02:01Weighing into 233 pounds from England, welcome Chris Adams.
02:05Okay, so these were in a storage unit that my dad had.
02:13And this is just an example.
02:15It's so amazing that you kept this stuff.
02:16I know.
02:17I keep everything.
02:18It was hard.
02:19It was still hard.
02:20I still miss him.
02:21You know, I still think about my dad every day.
02:24I'm Jade Adams, daughter of gentlemen, Chris Adams.
02:28When he was traveling, he would always write me notes, letters, always send me a birthday card,
02:33and pour his heart out in it.
02:36Dear Jade, wow, how time flies.
02:38I miss you so much, Munchkin.
02:40Yep, you're still my Munchkin, even though you're nearly 14 and a beautiful young woman already.
02:44It seems that I have always been struggling trying to make it,
02:46and that before you know it, half of my life is over and I've missed out on so much.
02:50I really want to see you more often.
02:51Family is so important.
02:53I feel so guilty now.
02:55I think of all the things I have done in the past that have hurt people and often grieve about them every day.
03:00Anyway, I thought it was time that I told you my true feelings,
03:03and I hope that you will be able to forgive me.
03:05Love, Daddy.
03:08He didn't want these demons as much as none of us wanted them for him.
03:11I just think they ended up kind of catching up to him,
03:14but he was a great person and a loving person.
03:18And, you know, he's not here to defend himself, so I want to do that for him.
03:22Long before anyone could imagine that his story would end in tragedy,
03:29Chris Adams was a spectacular performer who seemed destined for greatness.
03:34The American heavyweight champion, the gentleman from England, Chris Adams.
03:40I know Chris Adams very well.
03:44He wanted to be the best he could be.
03:46I had to admire that about him.
03:49I'm Kevin Von Erich.
03:50I've been in the wrestling business for longer than I can count.
03:53Chris was one of the toughest guys I've ever known.
03:56He was really a master.
03:58He knew what he was doing in the room.
04:00Chris had a special finishing move, but it's a super kick,
04:03and he kicked like a horse.
04:05A super kick, said Kevin Von Erich.
04:07He's on the floor.
04:08He invented his finishing move because when we discussed the match
04:12and how to get him over when he got here,
04:14he said, well, my finish is a super kick.
04:15You'll know it when you see it.
04:18When he threw the super kick for the finish, we were like, whoa!
04:22Hi, my name's David Manning, and I was a promoter, a booker,
04:26and a referee for World Class Championship Wrestling.
04:29The last thing I do, I want to take $500!
04:32$500!
04:32You don't get my face on the left!
04:34Get out!
04:35When Chris did the super kick, as he would kick,
04:38he had also had a way where you really couldn't see it,
04:40but he would slap his leg,
04:42and it literally sounded like he just tore the opponent's head off.
04:45And it came back with his own.
04:46Oh, there's a super kick!
04:48A tremendous super kick by Chris Adams!
04:51That was it.
04:52From there on, he was just climbing the mountain here, world-class.
04:56When Chris Adams come in from England,
04:58you know I had them colors from over there in England and shit, man.
05:01Oh, they loved him.
05:03Oh, yeah, for sure.
05:05I'll tell you what the situation is, brother.
05:08Chris Adams then went goofy.
05:10I'm Iceman, and I used to wrestle with Chris Adams.
05:16This didn't kill a damn.
05:18He was just tough, man.
05:20That dude brought that super kick, man, was unbelievable.
05:22There's a super kick.
05:26And he could do anything in that ring.
05:28He was a performer.
05:30Do you know anything about his judo background?
05:32I knew his brother had won judo in the Olympics.
05:36My brother and I, we were both introduced into judo very early age,
05:41and it was very much our life.
05:44I'm Neil Adams, Chris's younger brother,
05:47two-times Olympic silver medalist in judo.
05:50Judo has been the backbone of our family for a very long time,
05:55and this is where my career as a professional wrestler really first began too,
05:59because I had 14 years of hardcore judo.
06:03Chris was a great fighter.
06:04Whatever he did, he wanted to be the best, you know,
06:06and I think he got to a stage where he knew he couldn't go all the way
06:10to Olympics and the World Championships,
06:12and so he kind of changed direction.
06:14World of Sport Wrestling, which was the British wrestling group,
06:18they approached him, and that's how it started.
06:22Well, of course, it was Big Daddy,
06:24Giant Haystacks,
06:26Mick McManus,
06:28and then Black Belt Chris Adams came into the fold.
06:31I ask you to welcome that very popular young star,
06:34Black Belt Chris Adams.
06:39It's good luck's helped,
06:40but also he was a showman and he could charm anybody.
06:46He could, he could really turn it on.
06:49I was 19 and my friend and I was at the bar
06:53and he just walked straight up to me and said,
06:58my name is Chris Adams.
07:00My name is Jeannie Clark.
07:02I was the girlfriend of Chris Adams.
07:07I thought a very good-looking guy,
07:09had really cute dimples.
07:11I said to my friend,
07:12he looks a little bit like Paul McCartney
07:14and gave me his phone number.
07:20I think I'd moved in with him within a month.
07:24Eager to glamorize and elevate his TV image,
07:27Chris recruits Jeannie to join his act.
07:29He came up with an idea that I would be his second.
07:34I was the girl that would come in between the rounds
07:38and as in boxing,
07:39don't think that it had been done in wrestling before.
07:43I did think he may make a good star,
07:47but only up to a certain degree.
07:54Knowing his fame in England has a ceiling,
07:57Chris and Jeannie packed their bags
07:59for the City of Angels.
08:01After arriving in Los Angeles,
08:04about two or three months later,
08:07I became pregnant.
08:09I loved it and I remember sunbathing a lot.
08:12Chris and I just sitting on the beach,
08:15just enjoying the sunshine.
08:17And then I remember Chris head turning a little bit.
08:21Beautiful girls on the beach.
08:23They were tanned in bikinis.
08:24You didn't see that in the UK.
08:26I knew he was looking at other women.
08:30Probably my first red flags
08:32that something was going wrong,
08:35but because I was pregnant,
08:37I felt not good enough.
08:41Settling into their new life,
08:42Jeannie learns that she is pregnant.
08:44And with Chris traveling for work,
08:46she's often left alone in Redondo Beach.
08:48I didn't see a lot of Chris.
08:51It was very difficult.
08:53I was very pregnant,
08:56and we didn't actually have a lot of money at that time.
09:00So Chris, he went to Mexico quite some time.
09:04I went back alone to the UK to give birth to Jade.
09:10And then finally, Chris came back to the UK.
09:13He was happy,
09:15but he said we were going to go back.
09:18And that was the way it was.
09:21With the family back together,
09:23Chris is eager to return to the US.
09:25But for Jeannie, the thrill is gone.
09:28He started to stop coming home.
09:35I think he was saying a lot of different women.
09:39But I do recall the last straw
09:41was over a New Year's
09:44because he said,
09:47you can't come with me,
09:49but if you cook and get champagne,
09:52we'll have a meal together when I get back.
09:56And I did do that,
09:59and...
10:03Give me a sec.
10:08He came home three days.
10:10I did not want to share my boyfriend.
10:18And the relationship was over.
10:22But we remained amicable
10:24after the fact as friends.
10:27But I did not want a romantic relationship.
10:31Yeah, he just said he wanted me to come to Dallas.
10:35And we both looked after Jade.
10:37My mom and my dad were separated when I was a baby.
10:41So when I lived in Dallas,
10:42I saw him every weekend.
10:43Welcome to World Class Championship Wrestling.
10:47You're going to meet
10:48the newcomer from England,
10:50the former British Empire Champion Chris Adams.
10:53Very glad to meet you, Chris.
10:54Welcome to Texas.
10:57Well, at last I've made it to Texas.
11:00Based out of Dallas, Texas,
11:01World Class Championship Wrestling
11:03is one of the hottest
11:04and most popular wrestling companies in the world.
11:07When Chris came to the market here in Dallas,
11:09we had Iceman King Parsons here.
11:11He had three Bonheurts.
11:12We had the fabulous Freebirds.
11:14So you had to be exceptional
11:16to be able to draw the crowd
11:17and everything else
11:18to take one of those slots.
11:21It was on par with the Dallas Cowboys.
11:24People loved it.
11:24It was incredible in this area especially.
11:27Hi, I'm James Beard.
11:28I've been in the wrestling business
11:30about 40 years.
11:31It's not an easy job, as you can tell.
11:33It gets kind of rough in there sometimes.
11:36Up and over.
11:37Chris was incredibly athletic
11:42and then can move like a cat.
11:44With the kip-ups and the dives
11:46and the super kick.
11:47There's a super kick.
11:49He was on par with the Von Erichs, really.
11:51If you're on par with the Von Erichs,
11:53you're pretty much godlike.
11:54A tremendous roar for Chris Adams,
11:58the gentleman from England.
11:59He had the charisma.
12:00He had the looks.
12:01And he was a good worker.
12:03But there was a way with Chris Adams
12:04that he could be from Jekyll to Hyde.
12:08Now when you people see this,
12:10I just want you to see the fire
12:12and the wildness in my eyes.
12:14I'm going to tell you,
12:15professional wrestlers are usually ex-bullies
12:18from high school.
12:19Chris was like that, too.
12:20In Dallas, when he first got in the territory,
12:25a guy would drive with him to the towns.
12:27And the guy got lost once.
12:28And we have a rule in world class.
12:30You're at the show an hour before the show.
12:32If you're not there, then there's problems.
12:34Well, Chris was late.
12:36He blamed it on the guy that was driving him.
12:39When you piss Chris off,
12:40his eyes would shine red.
12:45Like a light was on in there.
12:46And he choked them almost to death.
12:50Chris, he almost killed him.
12:51He goes,
12:52Well, Kev, some people are hardliners.
12:56Kev, I don't want him to do it again.
12:59That's Chris without him being drunk.
13:02It scared a lot of people.
13:04Chris had gave off an aura
13:05like this guy's out of control.
13:08You know, he may hurt other people, too.
13:09He is Chris Adams!
13:18Now established and world class,
13:20Chris's ambition is to be the star of the show.
13:23But in a company crowded with fan favorites,
13:25the path to stardom
13:26is to become a standout villain.
13:29Any territory you go in
13:30to where you got the promoter's sons,
13:32they're always going to be the top.
13:34Usually every week,
13:35the main event was always
13:36one of the Von Erics
13:37taking on whoever the heel was.
13:39We tied Chris up with Gino Hernandez.
13:42Gino and Chris actually
13:43had discussed it themselves.
13:44This was a way to shift
13:45to be the main event.
13:47Chris Adams and Kevin Von Erics
13:48ready to go against
13:49Jake the Snake Roberts
13:50and Gino Hernandez.
13:52It was a tag team match
13:53and then Chris turned on Kevin
13:55during the match.
13:56Oh, a super kick
13:58by Kevin Von Erics!
14:01A strange, strange turn of event.
14:03The next thing I know,
14:04he was going
14:05and then Chris hit him
14:05with a super kick.
14:06I don't know him.
14:07He turned Chris back,
14:08got with Gino,
14:09you know,
14:10it was a hell of a little
14:11team together, man.
14:12We're the dynamic duo.
14:141985 is going to be our year.
14:16They were good looking guys,
14:17great chemistry.
14:18They both were great on the mic.
14:20Yeah, well,
14:21we're real bad, right?
14:22We're bad to the bone.
14:24They'd come to the ring
14:26with the strut.
14:26They had a way
14:27to antagonize the fans.
14:28They were bad to the bone.
14:30Chris and Gino,
14:31what a team that was.
14:33We decided
14:33we want to make
14:34the best wrestling show we can.
14:35It was a feeling
14:36of let's beat
14:38what we did last time.
14:39Let's go wild out there.
14:41Got it.
14:41That's got it.
14:43Chris Adams.
14:44One, two, three.
14:46Terry Butler
14:47and 10.
14:48Chris Adams.
14:50The business was booming.
14:52Crowd, sellout.
14:53Are you listening to me, man?
14:55Everywhere.
14:56They turned over 3,000 people
14:58away, man.
14:58He was happier
15:02because he was making more money.
15:05He had a red Corvette,
15:07nice condo.
15:08Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez.
15:10See you, guys.
15:12Well, my dad lived
15:13on Lover's Lane
15:14and Gino Hernandez
15:16lived in the same
15:16apartment complex.
15:18Everywhere they went,
15:19there was always
15:20people following them,
15:21you know,
15:22wanting to have a fun time.
15:24Teaming with Gino Hernandez
15:26has elevated Chris
15:27to the main event scene
15:28and world class.
15:29But along with the money
15:31and the fame,
15:32stardom introduces Chris
15:33to a new world
15:34of dangers and temptations.
15:37San Antonio.
15:39After the matches,
15:40I went to the Best Western
15:41up on the third floor, man.
15:43They had three rooms.
15:44They had two tables
15:45in each room.
15:46I'm talking about
15:46bricks of cocaine,
15:50weed.
15:51Then the next room,
15:52they had pills and everything.
15:54They had a pyramid built.
15:56Jack Daniels for the free birth.
15:58Then they had my champagne
15:59over there,
16:00you know what I'm saying?
16:01That's it.
16:02And then they had
16:03a cop on his door.
16:04I said,
16:05hi, the fucker.
16:06They doing all this dope
16:07and then these police out there,
16:09they getting a police officer
16:10a thousand bucks apiece, man.
16:12Police just turned
16:13their fucking head, man.
16:16And women,
16:17unbelievable.
16:18Unbelievable.
16:20You get more push
16:21on accident
16:22than you did on purpose.
16:23You get me?
16:24I ain't talking.
16:25I'm just keeping it real, man.
16:28Chris and Geno
16:29outside of the ring
16:30was always a dangerous situation.
16:32It'd be like you lit a fuse.
16:34The question is,
16:34when's it going to explode?
16:35I mean,
16:35we're into sports cars.
16:37We're into fast cars,
16:38faster women,
16:38and fast life.
16:40I'm glad that
16:40they were good friends,
16:41but obviously,
16:43you know,
16:43it's sad, isn't it?
16:44You know,
16:44what happened?
16:45Hernandez,
16:47whose real name
16:47is Charles Wolf,
16:48was only 29 years old.
16:50The popular wrestling star's
16:51badly decomposed body
16:52was discovered
16:53late last night
16:54at his home
16:54in Highland Park.
16:55He had apparently
16:56been dead for several days.
16:58On February 2nd, 1986,
17:00Geno Hernandez dies
17:02of what was ruled
17:03as a cocaine overdose.
17:05It blew me away, man.
17:07That blew me the fucking way.
17:09What has happened
17:10is a tragedy.
17:11He was a great competitor,
17:12one time American
17:13heavyweight champion,
17:14several times
17:14Texas heavyweight champion.
17:15When you talk about
17:16someone like Geno Hernandez,
17:18man who lived the life
17:19in the fast lane
17:20and loved the life
17:21in the fast lane.
17:22In the wake of Geno's death,
17:25Chris's use of drugs
17:26and alcohol
17:27begins to worry
17:28those closest to him.
17:29Sometimes he'd phone me
17:31and I'd know
17:31if he'd had too much
17:32to drink.
17:33I really worried about that.
17:34I said,
17:35you need to calm down
17:36if you can, brother.
17:38Chris was Chris
17:40until alcohol got involved.
17:43And then it was
17:44Chris the demon,
17:45and he would get mean
17:46and he could get vicious.
17:49In Israel,
17:50it happened
17:50and I'll never forget,
17:51I get a call
17:52from the local promoter there
17:54and he's like,
17:54you gotta get over here,
17:55you gotta get over here.
17:56Chris got in an argument
17:57with the bartender
17:58and he super kicked him
17:59in the side of the head
18:00and it knocked his eye out.
18:01I mean,
18:02his eye literally came out.
18:04Despite the escalation
18:05of Chris's drinking
18:06and bar fighting,
18:07he strikes up
18:08a new relationship
18:09with a woman
18:10named Tony Collins.
18:11There was always
18:12a bar we would stop
18:13at in Fort Worth
18:14that gave us free alcohol
18:15for the publicity
18:17if we'd all come by there
18:18after the matches
18:19and that's actually
18:20where he met Tony.
18:22One thing led to the other
18:23and they ended up
18:23getting married.
18:24It was fast.
18:25He loved her.
18:26I know that for a fact.
18:28Tony was my brother
18:30Chris's mom.
18:31I loved her.
18:32She was like a mother to me.
18:33She was absolutely amazing.
18:34I think my dad
18:46met his match
18:47with her for sure.
18:49My name is
18:50Chris Adams Jr.
18:51I am Gentleman Chris Adams' son.
18:53My dad always said
18:54that she was a
18:556'4", 400-pound man
18:57trapped in the body
18:58of a 5'2",
18:59100-pound woman.
19:01She was very strong-willed.
19:02She was very fierce
19:03but also very kind
19:05and very loving.
19:06Within a year of meeting,
19:07Chris and Tony
19:08get married in Hawaii
19:09but any hope that marriage
19:11might soften Chris's temper
19:12is quickly lost.
19:13We had had a show
19:14in the Caribbean
19:15and we were headed back
19:16into some kind of
19:17equipment malfunction
19:18on the plane
19:19and there was a delay
19:20for hours and hours.
19:21But there ain't no air condition
19:23or nothing.
19:24It's just hot.
19:25People sweating and shit
19:26so they serving drinks.
19:28Chris drank until
19:29they took off.
19:30Now they're headed back.
19:32They're in the air
19:32and after about
19:34two more drinks
19:34they cut him off
19:35and they told him
19:36he couldn't have
19:36any more alcohol.
19:38I'm in my seat asleep
19:39and the stewardess
19:41comes back
19:41and shakes me awake
19:43and says,
19:43please get your friend.
19:45He's pissed off.
19:47Chris had him already
19:48lit now.
19:49He said,
19:49get out of the way, bitch.
19:50And when he said,
19:52bitch,
19:52she said,
19:53wow,
19:53he slapped you.
19:56And he slapped her back.
20:01An airplane pilot
20:02reached in there
20:03and grabbed me
20:03and shook him
20:04and said,
20:04what's your problem?
20:06Chris's eyes
20:07were that red light
20:08that goes on his eye.
20:09Chris Adams
20:10had that co-pilot
20:11by the lapels
20:12of his coat
20:13and his feet
20:14weren't even touching
20:14the ground
20:15and Chris said,
20:17feel the power
20:18and was pumping
20:20his head
20:20into his face
20:21and blood everywhere.
20:24If he wouldn't have
20:25had the alcohol
20:26it would have never happened.
20:27It's just that
20:28Chris was just not
20:29Chris Adams anymore
20:30once he got intoxicated.
20:33Sometimes something like
20:34that's a wake-up call
20:35but Chris just continued
20:36to have problems.
20:44Arrested for head-butting
20:46a pilot
20:46on a flight back
20:47from Puerto Rico
20:48Chris Adams
20:49has put the future
20:50of his career
20:51in jeopardy.
20:52It's one of those
20:53kind of situations
20:53that when you start
20:54to sober up
20:55you realize
20:56the magnitude
20:57of your mistake
20:59and what you've done wrong.
21:01And that was bad publicity
21:02for world class.
21:04It didn't go away.
21:05Chris ended up
21:05getting some prison time.
21:07I think that hurt
21:08his reputation a lot.
21:10Much fans started
21:11finding out
21:11a little bit about that.
21:12This made national news
21:15of wrestler head-butts pilot.
21:18We had a meeting
21:19at the office
21:19and he told Chris
21:20you know
21:20I don't know
21:21what's going on with you
21:22but you gotta straighten up.
21:24He brought shame on us
21:25no doubt.
21:26That's terrible.
21:28And I know
21:28that everybody
21:28enjoys a drink.
21:29Everybody likes
21:30that last drink.
21:32But you see
21:32that's where
21:32the problem begins.
21:35I think he realized
21:36that you've got to change.
21:37You know
21:38that I've got to
21:39I've got to get a hold
21:40of this
21:40and I've got to change it.
21:41With his dangerous
21:43reputation
21:44now hindering his career
21:45Chris begins looking
21:46for new ways
21:47to capitalize
21:48on his fame.
21:50Chris was always
21:50kind of industrious
21:52and looking for a way
21:54to make something
21:55outside the business.
21:56He used
21:57I guess
21:57that celebrity
21:58to kind of
21:59draw people into it.
22:01Hello everybody
22:01this is gentleman
22:02Chris Adams
22:03here again
22:03to give you
22:03another update
22:04on my own
22:05personalized coaching class.
22:06We'll put you
22:07on your own course
22:08that lasts anything
22:09from nine months
22:10to two years.
22:12I talked him
22:12into starting
22:13the wrestling school
22:14which is for a charm
22:14in the day.
22:16Hello I'm Tom Lance
22:17and I was very good friends
22:18with Chris Adams.
22:20Our first students
22:20was you know
22:21Steve Williams
22:21who became
22:22Stone Cold Steve Austin.
22:24Stone Cold
22:25Stone Cold
22:26The name is not
22:27Steve Williams
22:28It's Austin
22:31Steve Austin
22:33and don't forget it.
22:34What Chris did
22:35with Steve
22:36was to teach him
22:38some of the basics
22:38some of the fundamental
22:39principles of combat.
22:42You know the story
22:44on these two.
22:46Steve Austin
22:46an individual
22:47off the street
22:48who came into
22:49the USWA Wrestling Academy
22:51Chris immediately
22:52recognized the promise
22:53in this young blonde
22:54helping develop
22:55his body a little further.
22:56I give Chris credit
22:57he did train Steve.
23:00While training
23:01Steve Austin
23:01Chris introduces
23:02his new friend
23:03to an old flame.
23:05I want to bring down
23:06the sexiest girl
23:08in America
23:09the gorgeous
23:10and lovely
23:11Jeannie.
23:13What relationship
23:13does he have with you?
23:15That's none of your
23:16business Mark.
23:17What ended up happening
23:18was my dad put
23:19my mom and Steve together
23:20to do like an angle
23:21and then they started dating.
23:24With his ex-girlfriend
23:25now dating his top student
23:27Chris concocts an angle
23:29designed to put him
23:30back in the main event.
23:32Jeannie comes in
23:32and she's the ex
23:33and she's teaming
23:35with Steve Austin
23:36and that turned
23:37into a pretty hot angle.
23:38You're jealous of Steve
23:40because he is a real man.
23:44My mom
23:44my dad
23:46my stepmom
23:47and my stepdad
23:48all did an angle together
23:50wrestling
23:51and it was
23:51yeah it was wild
23:52it was not
23:54your traditional
23:54job for your parents.
23:57You know
23:57in working with Chris
23:58of course
23:59I went through a school
23:59and I was his protege
24:01dude I'd only been
24:02in the business
24:02for a few months
24:03and I always remember
24:04he was in control
24:06of our angle
24:06nobody was influencing
24:08what we did
24:08Chris had the bottom line
24:10on that so
24:10he was a very
24:11very smart guy.
24:12But I'll tell you what Austin
24:14there's not room enough
24:16in Texas
24:17for you and I.
24:18To be honest
24:18Chris directed
24:19every single
24:21part of that
24:22for me.
24:23He'd give me
24:23every line.
24:25I was to watch
24:25Joan Collins
24:26on Dynasty.
24:29Mourning the baby
24:30that she couldn't have
24:31that is it
24:32isn't it?
24:33You miserable
24:34bitch!
24:35And that was
24:36the idea
24:37of the character.
24:38Just remember
24:39he is thinking
24:41about me.
24:42Only in wrestling
24:43could you do
24:44something like that
24:45and when the women
24:45wrestled
24:46it was sometimes
24:47an all out cat fight.
24:49Jeannie goes
24:50after Tony.
24:51Pulling your hair
24:52scratching eyes
24:53slapping each other
24:54across the face
24:55getting the kendo sticks
24:56slapping each other
24:56anything that they
24:57could do
24:58to hurt each other
24:59it was nasty sometimes.
25:01Well neither one of us
25:02knew how to wrestle.
25:04The interviews
25:05were my favorite part.
25:07I am far superior
25:08to you
25:08I have royal blood
25:10in my veins
25:10she was born
25:11on a shrimp boat
25:12she's jealous of me.
25:13She said
25:14I can't believe
25:14you said that
25:15about me
25:15and I said
25:16Chris tell me
25:17to say it.
25:18I'm sick and tired
25:20of you girl.
25:20If you both
25:21don't back off
25:22you're gonna end
25:23up getting hurt.
25:25Even when you
25:25get along
25:26you know
25:26there's gonna be
25:27some kind of
25:27issues there
25:28that just
25:29don't jibe together.
25:30You are my
25:31number one student
25:32you even wear
25:33my boots
25:34to the ring.
25:35There were some
25:36issues with
25:37Steedman Chris
25:37I think there was
25:38a little bit of
25:39Chris seeing
25:40this guy
25:40that's coming along
25:41he's really gonna
25:42be a star
25:42and I think
25:43Steve felt like
25:44he was probably
25:45being held back
25:45a little bit.
25:46There was some
25:47real life drama
25:48going on there too.
25:50He is accompanied
25:51by Lady Blossom
25:53I think he was jealous
26:06that we went to
26:07WCW.
26:09I suppose
26:10he was jealous
26:12of the money.
26:14As Steve and
26:15Jeannie make the
26:16jump to the big
26:16time with WCW
26:18Chris frustrated
26:19turns back to the
26:20bottle to
26:21nurse's bruised
26:22ego.
26:24When he was
26:25sober
26:26he was
26:27you know
26:27great
26:28he was dad
26:29he was awesome
26:30he was there
26:31when he started
26:31drinking
26:32it just kind
26:32of changed.
26:34I know my mom
26:35kind of told me
26:35that's what it was
26:36like for her.
26:38When I was older
26:38my mom would tell
26:39me they had
26:40an up and down
26:41rollercoaster
26:41relationship
26:42I think towards
26:43the beginning
26:43it was very good
26:44and I think
26:44about halfway
26:45through
26:45it got pretty
26:46rocky.
26:46Man just
26:47just screaming
26:48and yelling
26:49it was intense
26:50especially if
26:51they both
26:51had been drinking
26:52or something
26:52like that.
26:53Chris had told
26:54me one time
26:54they're headed
26:55home from a show
26:55they're in his
26:56Corvette
26:56Tony's driving
26:57Chris in the
26:58passenger seat
26:58and the little
26:59boy Chris
26:59Jr. was in
27:00the back
27:00and he said
27:01that some
27:02reason they were
27:02arguing and
27:03she had stopped
27:04on the interstate
27:04and a semi
27:05was coming
27:06and luckily
27:07it went around
27:08them and didn't
27:09hit them
27:09if it would
27:09have hit them
27:10none of them
27:10probably would
27:11have lived
27:11and it angered
27:14him so much
27:15that that's
27:16when he
27:16got physical
27:17with her
27:18and it beat
27:21her up
27:21you know
27:22it messed
27:22her up
27:22she had to
27:23have some
27:23facial surgery
27:24I ain't cool
27:25with that shit
27:26but I remember
27:28it wasn't until
27:30I was much
27:30older
27:31and she had
27:32shown me
27:33some of the
27:34pictures of her
27:34where that
27:35abuse had
27:36happened
27:36and she was
27:36in the hospital
27:37for a while
27:37I couldn't
27:38believe it
27:39and I say
27:41all these good
27:41things
27:41about Chris
27:42but that's
27:44heinous
27:44that's terrible
27:45it's disgusting
27:46I'm just now
27:48realizing how much
27:49stuff there was
27:50I didn't
27:51put it all
27:52together I guess
27:53that's terrible
27:54the horrific
28:04attack on Tony
28:05is a shocking
28:06new low
28:07for Chris Adams
28:08but as he
28:09continues to
28:09struggle
28:10his descent
28:11to the bottom
28:11will only
28:12get worse
28:13she knew that
28:14it wasn't right
28:15for her
28:15that kind of
28:16lifestyle
28:16I think she knew
28:17she needed to
28:18get out
28:18she said
28:19I had everything
28:21that I had
28:21with your dad
28:22I had the big
28:23house
28:23I had a Corvette
28:24everything that
28:25anybody could ever
28:26want
28:26but I just felt
28:27so empty inside
28:28Chris's reputation
28:30follows him
28:31to his next company
28:32the struggling
28:33Global Wrestling
28:34Federation
28:35after World Class
28:37and then Global
28:37came in
28:38and that was
28:38a pretty good run
28:39Rod Price
28:44he and Chris
28:45were battling
28:45for the GWF title
28:47Rod had long
28:49blonde hair
28:49and it was
28:50starting to thin
28:50out so he
28:51ended up getting
28:51a weave
28:52put in
28:53somehow they
28:54kind of
28:54sewed it in
28:55up there
28:55I don't know
28:55how it was all
28:56done
28:56but anyway
28:57Chris knew
28:58about it
28:58we all knew
28:59about it
28:59and it was
29:00kind of off
29:00limits
29:01you know
29:01don't pull
29:02the hair
29:02well
29:05during this match
29:06Chris
29:07because I think
29:08he probably
29:08thought it would
29:09just come right
29:09off
29:10and he jerked
29:11on it
29:12and instead
29:13of coming off
29:13it ripped off
29:14and blood
29:17went everywhere
29:18I've never seen
29:19so much blood
29:19in a ring
29:20in my life
29:21he just covered
29:22I mean
29:23he didn't even
29:24finish the match
29:25he just left
29:25the ring
29:26we had to take
29:26him to the
29:27emergency room
29:27I'm almost sure
29:29it was like
29:29200 stitches
29:30to get that
29:31all straightened
29:32out
29:33Chris did it
29:33on purpose
29:34yeah he did
29:35it on purpose
29:35yeah
29:36in 1997
29:38Chris finally
29:39gets the call
29:40from WCW
29:41at the time
29:42the most popular
29:43wrestling company
29:44in America
29:45I think when he
29:46got that opportunity
29:47to go to WCW
29:48he was thinking
29:49yeah this is going
29:50to be the thing
29:51that restarts
29:52my career
29:52and
29:53it didn't happen
29:56WCW was a second
29:58chance for Chris
29:59but the matches
30:00I saw
30:00it almost looked
30:01like they were
30:01using him
30:02to get their
30:02next star
30:03open
30:03watch out
30:04uh oh
30:05jump
30:05slam
30:07city
30:07the gentleman
30:08Chris Adams
30:09was interrupting
30:11a cigarette break
30:12and he paid for it
30:13he was unhappy
30:15that it
30:16gone to WCW
30:18and was being
30:18used as a job
30:20one
30:21two
30:21three
30:22I remember him
30:24saying that he
30:25was working harder
30:26you know
30:26he worked hard
30:27and he was getting
30:27tired
30:28I think he was
30:29getting discouraged
30:30about the whole
30:30thing
30:31getting beat
30:32every night
30:32I don't see
30:33how it couldn't
30:34affect someone
30:35being at the top
30:36like that
30:36and then very
30:37quickly
30:37if you don't
30:38stay on top
30:39of it
30:39you don't
30:39change your
30:39angles
30:40things are changing
30:41it's going to
30:41happen
30:42your career
30:42is going to
30:43dwindle
30:43I can remember
30:44him talking
30:45about
30:45I know I'm
30:46better than
30:46this guy
30:47and that guy
30:48and he wasn't
30:49lying
30:49he probably
30:50was
30:51but
30:52you know
30:54wrestling's
30:55not always fair
30:55other things
30:56were going on
30:57that were
30:57working against
30:58him
30:58why'd he get
31:02fired
31:02a few too many
31:03drinks and got
31:03a DWI
31:04and they let
31:04him go
31:05he was always
31:06struggling with
31:07finances
31:07his status
31:08had diminished
31:09to a point
31:09to where he
31:10wasn't
31:11he wasn't
31:12the guy
31:12you wanted
31:12to go to
31:13it was getting
31:14a little older
31:14harder to stay
31:16in shape
31:16and people
31:17just weren't
31:18coming to him
31:18like they used
31:19to
31:19he got into
31:21some other
31:21stuff besides
31:22alcohol
31:22got into GHB
31:24real bad
31:24basically when
31:25you do GHB
31:26if you do
31:27too much of it
31:27you're just
31:28comatose
31:28I don't know
31:29why anybody
31:29would want
31:29to do it
31:30GHB was
31:31pretty popular
31:32in the day
31:33everybody kind
31:33of done it
31:34it started off
31:34with bodybuilders
31:35if you're sore
31:35and stuff
31:36to help you
31:36work out
31:36but I know
31:37it'll help
31:37you relax
31:38and some
31:38also would
31:39call it
31:39the love
31:39drug too
31:40there's a
31:41fine line
31:42of how much
31:43you can take
31:44and it's a
31:45very dangerous
31:46drug
31:46broke
31:51unable to find
31:52work
31:53and desperate
31:53for somewhere
31:54to live
31:54Chris moves in
31:56with a friend
31:56of Tom Lance
31:57a local
31:58wrestling fan
31:59known as
32:00Boo Ray
32:00Chris was
32:02going through
32:03some tough
32:03times
32:04Boo Ray
32:05had his
32:05place
32:05Chris was
32:06needing
32:06kind of
32:06somewhere
32:07to stay
32:07and all
32:08that
32:08so I
32:08introduced
32:09him
32:09wasn't for
32:10Boo Ray
32:11I don't know
32:11what Chris
32:11would have
32:12done
32:12super good
32:13guy
32:13cared about
32:15people
32:15went above
32:16and beyond
32:16that's why
32:17he was helping
32:18Chris
32:18Chris was
32:18lost
32:19but I loved
32:20Chris
32:21you know
32:21he was my
32:21friend
32:22Chris was
32:23really a nice
32:24guy
32:24he was witty
32:25he was fun
32:26you know
32:27to be around
32:28I'm Boo Ray
32:31and Chris
32:32and I
32:32were good
32:33friends
32:33he was
32:34good enough
32:34friend
32:35that I
32:36trusted him
32:37in my
32:37house
32:38he was
32:38really a
32:39delightful
32:39guy
32:40we'd invite
32:41people over
32:42and cook
32:42out by
32:43the swimming
32:43pool
32:44and we're
32:45having a
32:45good time
32:46well I mean
32:46they seem
32:47to be getting
32:47along great
32:48him and
32:48Boo Ray
32:48Boo Ray
32:49paid the
32:50bills
32:50he had
32:51no money
32:51he might
32:52work one
32:53little show
32:53here and
32:54there
32:54and it
32:55was hard
32:55for me
32:56to take
32:56money
32:57from
32:57somebody
32:58hadn't
32:58made
32:59money
32:59in
33:00three
33:01months
33:01I
33:02was
33:02happy
33:03to
33:03help
33:03him
33:03but
33:04also
33:04inside
33:05I was
33:05feeling
33:06I was
33:06being
33:06used
33:07while
33:08living
33:09with
33:09Boo Ray
33:09Chris
33:10meets
33:10a young
33:11woman
33:11named
33:12Linda
33:12he was
33:13in love
33:13with Linda
33:14I know
33:14he was
33:15in love
33:15with her
33:15they didn't
33:16know each
33:17other all
33:17that long
33:18either
33:18but they
33:19were
33:19oh god
33:20they got
33:21along so
33:21good
33:22she was
33:22an angel
33:23you know
33:24so witty
33:25and funny
33:26she was
33:26just
33:27perfect
33:27she seemed
33:28like very
33:29mature
33:30very stable
33:31I can see
33:32how Chris
33:32would find
33:34some solace
33:35in that
33:35because I
33:36think that's
33:36what he was
33:37seeking
33:37on the night
33:39of April
33:3922nd
33:402000
33:41after dating
33:42for just a few
33:43weeks
33:43Chris brings
33:44Linda back
33:45to Boo Ray's
33:46house to keep
33:47the party going
33:48into the early
33:48morning
33:49they'd been
33:49out all night
33:50they were having
33:51a good time
33:52dancing
33:52you know
33:53and I said
33:54you know what
33:55three's a crowd
33:56I'm going to bed
33:57Chris told me
33:59this the next day
34:01that they went
34:02on and got
34:02that little bit
34:03of GHB
34:04and got two
34:06small glasses
34:08and just split
34:10it
34:10I had warned
34:12Chris way
34:13before this
34:14that I did
34:15not want
34:16that GHB
34:17in the house
34:18you know
34:19I didn't care
34:19what else
34:20he had
34:20that was
34:21his business
34:22the silence
34:24I guess
34:24woke me up
34:25at about
34:25four in the morning
34:26I came in
34:29and they were
34:29both passed out
34:30Chris was slumped
34:32over a chair
34:32and Linda
34:34was on her back
34:35on the floor
34:36I was trying
34:38to wake him up
34:39and I couldn't
34:39wake him up
34:40Linda's lungs
34:42started kind
34:43of wheezing
34:45and that's
34:47when I called
34:48Tom
34:48he was scared
34:49to call 911
34:50because he knew
34:52Chris would get pissed
34:53and I was like
34:54I don't give a
34:55call 911
34:56they're not breathing
34:58Boo Ray wakes up
35:07in the middle
35:07of the night
35:08to find Chris Adams
35:09and Chris's girlfriend
35:10Linda
35:11unresponsive
35:12the paramedics
35:16got there
35:16and I stayed
35:17on the phone
35:17with him
35:17me and my wife
35:18they're trying
35:19to wake Chris
35:19and then
35:20they're working
35:20on Linda
35:21and I hear
35:21them say
35:22flatline
35:22and I was like
35:24Boo Ray
35:25did I just hear
35:26flatline
35:26because we know
35:27what that meant
35:27it's not the easiest
35:34thing in the world
35:35to talk about this
35:37but she uh
35:40from seeing
35:43somebody
35:44that was
35:46just one of
35:47the sweetest
35:48people in the world
35:49die right in front
35:52of your arms
35:52is it Chris's fault
35:59that this happened
36:00in my opinion
36:01yes
36:02he was careless
36:03I never saw him
36:06use drugs
36:07he just told me
36:09the truth
36:10that he
36:11gave Linda
36:12you know
36:13too much
36:14of this GHB
36:14and she died
36:15and he was
36:15absolutely devastated
36:17several months later
36:20they charged him
36:20with manslaughter
36:21I think he definitely
36:22felt responsible
36:23for it
36:24he was torn up
36:25about it
36:26I mean he was
36:26legitimately
36:27torn down
36:28about what happened
36:28after Linda died
36:30he was going
36:31through a lot
36:31of ups and downs
36:32you know
36:32he threatened suicide
36:34and this and that
36:34drinking a lot
36:35his drinking
36:36had spiraled
36:37really bad
36:38that would have
36:39been self-medicating
36:40I think he was
36:43just totally
36:44freaking out
36:45wondering
36:45if he was
36:46going to get out
36:47of the manslaughter
36:47charge
36:48and going
36:49from making money
36:50to no money
36:51you know
36:52he was
36:54miserable
36:54inside
36:55I kind of
36:57got away
36:57from him
36:58really didn't
36:58want to be
36:59involved
36:59that much
37:01and there's
37:02times when
37:03you wonder
37:03if maybe
37:04if I
37:04reached out
37:07maybe
37:09could have
37:09talked to him
37:10I don't know
37:11I doubt it
37:12really
37:12to be honest
37:13with you
37:13I don't know
37:14how you can
37:15talk somebody
37:15out of that hole
37:16I really
37:17don't
37:17it's you know
37:19very obvious
37:20my dad had
37:20an issue
37:21with you know
37:22drugs and alcohol
37:22and I just
37:23wish that
37:24someone had
37:25stepped in
37:26and said
37:27hey Chris
37:27you're doing
37:28too much
37:28I think
37:30if it had
37:30happened today
37:30I think
37:31he might
37:31still be
37:31alive
37:32October the
37:387th
37:38it was at
37:39my mother's
37:40house
37:40Chris had
37:41called me
37:42earlier
37:42that morning
37:43and told me
37:44he was all
37:45bummed out
37:46I just said
37:46why don't you
37:47come on over
37:48finally about
37:497 he showed
37:50up and I
37:51had brandy
37:51and of course
37:52we had beer
37:53and I'm still
37:54not sure
37:55what set
37:56him off
37:57I must have
37:59said you know
37:59Chris could you
38:00hold it down
38:01a little bit
38:02my mother's
38:02trying to sleep
38:03but anyway
38:04boy that's when
38:05he went berserk
38:06I mean just like
38:07boom light switch
38:08and he come at me
38:10with that post
38:10I had a four post
38:13bed and he broke
38:14the post off
38:15and come at me
38:16with it
38:17I grabbed the post
38:18which cracked
38:19my index finger
38:20and then he put me
38:21in a sleeper hold
38:22and then here we go
38:24across the room
38:25he pushed me
38:26on a bed
38:27and he just started
38:28gouging my eyes out
38:30and he started
38:33biting me
38:34he bit me
38:35on the face
38:36several times
38:37and then
38:38on the neck
38:39he had me pinned
38:40down
38:41and was choking
38:42me
38:43he just kept
38:44getting stronger
38:44his eyes
38:47seemed to glow
38:48I thought
38:49I was gonna die
38:50I kept a gun
38:51on my end table
38:53I put the gun
38:54as quick as I could
38:55to his shoulder
38:56the only thing
38:57I could do
38:58was pull the trigger
39:00he went crazy
39:11it was like
39:12he turned into
39:13an animal
39:14and when I pulled
39:18the trigger
39:19he jumped a little bit
39:20enough to
39:21hit his heart
39:22I just wanted
39:26to maybe
39:27wound him
39:28to where he'd
39:30you know
39:30get some sense
39:32it's hard to make
39:34decisions like that
39:35when you don't have
39:36much time to make
39:37them
39:37he would have killed
39:39me
39:39I called 911
39:41asked him
39:42please get here
39:43quick
39:43it was bad
39:44I remember
39:49that day
39:50very vividly
39:50I was in school
39:52my mom came
39:53to pick me up
39:54we get home
39:55and I remember
39:55her getting
39:56down on her knees
39:57in front of me
39:58honey I'm so sorry
40:00to say
40:00but your dad's dead
40:02and
40:04I didn't feel
40:08anything at the
40:09moment
40:09because I thought
40:10no
40:11no
40:11no
40:12no way
40:13I get a call
40:15from my wife
40:16and
40:17she could hardly
40:18draw breath
40:19and then
40:19said he's gone
40:20Chris had been
40:21shot
40:22and
40:23I was
40:25just to say
40:26I was stunned
40:27as an understatement
40:29I just
40:30sat down on the
40:31floor
40:31and I was
40:32in total shock
40:33I was 19
40:35when my dad died
40:36it was
40:37like very
40:38surreal
40:38I mean
40:39and that was the
40:39first experience
40:40I'd ever really had
40:41with like a
40:41profound grief
40:42because it was
40:43my dad
40:43so it was
40:45really tough
40:45like it took me
40:46a really long
40:47time to cope
40:47with it
40:48the funeral
40:52it was packed
40:52you had
40:53ex-wrestlers
40:54that were there
40:55you had family
40:56that came all the way
40:56from the UK
40:57and yeah
40:58there was like
40:58people standing
40:59out the back
41:00because there were
41:00so many wrestling
41:01fans there
41:02it was a nice
41:02tribute
41:03he had affected
41:04so many people's
41:05lives
41:05and
41:06a lot of it
41:07was for the better
41:08and I just remember
41:09being very solemn
41:11when I was there
41:11but hearing a lot
41:12of the words
41:13that people said
41:14were really cool
41:15a lot of people
41:16loved him
41:17I pulled the trigger
41:20I'm sad
41:22but
41:22I wouldn't be
41:24sitting here right now
41:25had I not
41:26I had to go in front
41:28of the grand jury
41:29they said
41:30it's over
41:31what you did
41:32was an act
41:33of self-defense
41:35it was almost
41:36like
41:37him or me
41:38I feel like
41:38Burei had no choice
41:39I don't think
41:40he wanted to
41:40roll the dice
41:41something happened
41:43in there
41:44do I believe him
41:46that it was
41:46self-defense
41:47no I don't
41:49a very sad
41:51and tragic
41:51accident
41:52between two
41:53very good friends
41:54alcohol
41:55being the
41:57common denominator
41:58and
41:59Burei
42:00being a victim
42:01as well
42:01because he has
42:02to live with it
42:03so forgive
42:04this has to be
42:06the best way forward
42:07when you're close
42:10to somebody like that
42:11and then something
42:12crazy like that
42:13happens
42:14whether he's trying
42:15to kill you or not
42:16you know
42:16it's still
42:18taking another
42:20person's life
42:21away from them
42:22that's not a good feeling
42:24it's awful
42:25it's awful
42:26that thing about Chris
42:30that I'll never forget
42:32is just how
42:33incredibly talented
42:34he was
42:35and it's a shame
42:36that that talent
42:37didn't lead to
42:38a longer
42:39and more fulfilled
42:40life
42:40to me it's just
42:42just a sad story
42:43I'll remember
42:46Chris Adams
42:46as a great wrestler
42:47in the ring
42:47a great performer
42:48a great athlete
42:49but when it comes
42:50outside of the ring
42:51when the alcohol
42:52would kick in
42:53it was almost like
42:53he was looking
42:54for that edge
42:55of why he could
42:55get mad at you
42:56and he was a person
42:57that once he realized
42:59he had an alcohol problem
43:00he didn't choose
43:01to solve it
43:02what a dichotomy
43:04he had a great side
43:05and he had a terrible
43:06ugly side
43:07that really outweighed
43:08the good
43:09but I remembered
43:10the good
43:10I want my dad
43:14to be remembered
43:15as an amazing athlete
43:17who worked really hard
43:19and as a loving father
43:21to his kids
43:22because I think
43:23his kids were
43:24everything to him
43:24just wish
43:26he could be here
43:27to see
43:27how we all ended up
43:28I think he'd be proud
43:29of us
43:30I think he'd be proud
43:31of my brother
43:31particularly
43:32one, two, three
43:35there was so much
43:37more to my dad
43:39than just the wild
43:40crazy party side
43:41there was a reason
43:42why people
43:42called him the gentleman
43:44there was a reason
43:45why my friends
43:46over in England
43:47would always say
43:47he could sing the birds
43:48out of the trees
43:49you know
43:49he was very charming
43:51he was very loving
43:52he was a kind father
43:53I want people
43:54to remember him
43:55as that person
43:57as not just
43:58gentleman Chris Adams
43:58but as Chris Adams