People like to mock Ventura but he is usually right about most things.

The bigger joke is that wrestlers are considered "independent" contractors even though they're essentially contracted servants to one corporation. It's not like wrestlers can go work for each promotion and simply take multiple bookings.

Hogan didn’t want to unionize because he was making so much money on the 80s WWF horrible road schedules.

Sending prayers and strength to Kevin and the entire Nash family. As a father, I cannot even fathom. Such a tragedy. I hope you find peace. RIP Tristan.

Hogan stooged Ventura out to make himself look like the hero in Vince's eyes. If wrestlers had any balls what so ever they would have got together and all refused to work with Hogan. Hogan screwed every wrestler by going to Vince yet these stupid idiots couldn't wait to work with Hogan. I understand wrestlers got more money working with Hogan but all that was very, very short term. It blows my mind they had that union in their hands and turned around and threw it in the garbage. Just plain stupidity.

Nash smirking as soon as Jesse says 'So you tell me' is gold. LOL

I remember in another interview Jesse stated that he understood why Hulk didn't want a union because at Wrestlemania 3 it's rumored that he made more money ($1 million) than the rest of the boys combined, including Andre who is rumored though to have made half a million. A big part of why Jesse wasn't fired was because Dick Ebersol loved his commentary for SNME. After Jesse returned from filming Predator and The Running Man, he promised Vince he would never mention a union again since he was now a member a SAG.

It’s so funny when Jesse gets rocking as he talks.

Hogan after finding out he may have to take a 1% pay cut to help the midcard guys get health insurance “That doesn’t work for me, brother.”

I would love to watch a 20 minute sit down of jesse and kev, just shootin' the breeze. Would make for very interesting awesome entertainment.

My first episode of this podcast, so happy to see Sean as cohost!!

Apologies if this is inappropriate, but can I just say from what I have seen on social media, my condolences to Kevin and his family. Very sorry for your loss. I send my best wishes to you and your wife.

6:05 Kevin Nash knows greatness..

I remember the first time I saw Sean Waltman was in GWF as the Lightning Kid. I would watch the GWF when I got home from school. I thought it so cool when I first saw him in the WWF.

1:55 loved that interview with Governor Jesse The Body Ventura. Think he went on and said he once got one of Hulk's checks and it was 3x what they boys were making

Honestly I'm surprised Jericho never tried to form one. He's always supporting his fellow workers with gofundmes

I think if actors can be part of a union, writers can be part of a union, wrestlers, crew members etc. can be part of a union. They should have joined SAG.

Condolences to the Nash Family during this time Losing a child has to be the worst event of a parent’s life

Very sorry for the loss of your son my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family God bless

The moment nash is thinking about all the dvd money he would of got if he had supported a union

I don't know how on earth a union could possibly work in wrestling especialy back then. When it's Hogan drawing the money what is he to get equal pay to the bottom of the card?

Saddened by the news on the loss of your son and can't imagine how you are feeling right now. My heart is with you at this difficult time.

While I think modern unions often cause as much bad as good, the way wrestlers were treated until the mid 90s was atrocious.

My deepest sadness to Nash and his family for his loss.

Thanks to Kevin Nash & Scott Hall, all wrestlers get guaranteed contracts. I just never understood from a legal standpoint how any company can claim that wrestlers are "independent contractors" and yet have non compete clauses in their contracts.

Whatever stuntmen have for a union is what wrestling should have.

If wwf would of unionized it would of gone out of business in 1994 when Bret n Shawn were the leaders. The revenue drop with the fixed costs would of destroyed wwf

I wish that somebody in the wrestling business would thoroughly explain why a union in wrestling would be a bad thing. I want somebody to really break it down.

Jesse Ventura was smart enough to realize that wrestling should have unionized, but "That doesn't work for me, brother," and "That doesn't work for me, pal."

Sleazy business people hate unions

I Remember When Someone (I Forget the Exact Person) Ran for President of SAG-AFTRA, & Their Main Platform Was that the Union Wasn't Just for the Star Members, But to Also to Take Care of the Bit Players/Smaller-Lever Performers

Prayers and condolences to you Big Kev and your family. It’s rough first Scott and now your son. You’re in my prayers big man! 🤘🏿

honestly everyone should Unionize. And what's not a "Sport" About wrestling. What makes something a sport? Feats of Strength an Athletecism? The Feel of Competition? People say "The Sport", the sport of what? Betting on stuff? LoL. Honestly I think some of the "ITs not real" hype came from angry bookies who couldn't work their clients anymore. Its still as much a physical contest as anything else, its just not ONLY a Physical Contest. Its workrate, charisma, showmanship, a bit of theatre, and you don't bet on shows, you bet on people. bet on pushes, bet on Belts, over a period of time.

Jesse smartest man in the business.. plus doing one movie got himself unionize with screen actors guild so he straight for life

Jesse, Unionization Hogan, That's not gonna work for me Brother! 💪 💪

For context, I was pure mark until about 1989. I was a youngster with my dad at the Igloo to see Bruno's win over Toro Tanaka. I popped loud and often. The following is an excerpt from a Facebook convo I had today with a much younger wrestling fan. This is how I see Jesse. I've heard the hype on both sides. Here's how I see JTBV, then and now. Depending on how you were taught (by Stu or Fritz or Jerry, etc) Wrestling has a format: 1) The incident 2) the grudge 3) the Promo 4) the in ring storytelling, ably assisted by the announcer and color commentator. Sometimes there's a 5) The Belt cannot change hands on a technicality . . . which brings the ouroboros back around to #1. Jesse was 1st rate at numbers 1,2,3 and great at 4- from the color commentator point of view. In ring, he was not a sparkling storyteller, but adequate. We youngsters back then saw him as a credible counter to the main talents. One of the principle qualities a great heel needs is the ability to generate heat with the target audience. What Jesse's got these days is historical street cred as one of the greatest heels of all time . . . main evented Bruno, main evented Hogan, made eternal enemies out of VKM, half of Minnesota, and went on to make a high profile friendship with Russia Today . . . which pissed off 100% of USA and roughly half of the rest of the world. These days, he's a broken down old man (so am I) . . . and still the best heat magnet ever. I vote him number 1 heel of all time.

As rappers go, Kevin is spot on here!! 2pac, is the GOAT! Thanks for all of the great memories you gave me over the years Big Sexy!!

I remember Nash literally quoting a 2pac lyric in a promo once (“Hogan, your enemy’s my enemy, you ain’t never had a friend like me”)

I'm for sag , but I'm sure flair still would have tax issues

For me, one of the most pivotal stories about the business ever.

A wrestler union/association would have meant medical benefits & retirement pension. There might also not be nearly as many dead wrestlers. Half of Wrestlemania 6's card is dead, almost all of the Super Bowl & World series team players from that same year (1990) are still alive. 🤔

For those curious on the employee v independent contractor distinction which gives employees the rights to unionize here are the rules and how it is determined in Canada. The US pretty much uses the same logic and jurisprudence. To be a legit independent contractor here in Canada there are five elements as per the Canada Revenue Agency (our IRS). 1. Control ...(do you determine how the work is completed scheduled etc .. Vince tells them where to work how to work etc so that's a no.) .2.. Expectation of profit and economic risk (do you benefit from a good show, house etc), can you expereince a loss on the project . 3. Ownership of tools (do you own your own tools ) ( Vince Owns the ring, production equipment etc). 4. Use of subcontractors (can you hire your own workers.. no the boys can't hire or subcontract their work). 5. Integration ...how closely are you linked to the company ( can you work for anyone else, is it a onetime project or is the project ongoing) (we all know WWE position historically on this one) Clearly the only one in WWEs favour on this five is expectation of profit and even then now with performers getting an annual salary im not sure you could argue WWE wins that one . So if the IRS or CRA ever assessed WWE performers (they will only do so if asked) the WWE would definitely lose on this one. That is why Vince settled out of court with Raven who actually began one of these assessments.

Jesse's attempt to unionize was a result of a chance encounter with Gene Upshaw, who put the idea into Jesse's head. And this was during the build up to WM 2. Not long after that he ended up quitting to go do "Predator", but then came back when NBC renewed Saturday Nights Main Event for a second season. Since he now was a member of SAG, he had his union membership. And of course, now look at the transition from wrestling to movies, it's almost expected nowadays

I'm part of a worker's union. Long story short it's only a benefit if your job is in trouble. Other than that, they suck. Not worth it. We needed our union to step up during COVID 19 and they didn't help us one bit.

Pensions for wrestlers of that era don't make sense since most don't reach 60. Piper said as much.

Hogan out here “allegedly” stooging on the Minnesota Governor! Cant say I’m surprised, brother

I gotta get on Tubi and watch some of Kevin’s newer horror movies. It’s spooky season!

Hulk Hogan is a company man he helped Vincent along with Andre the gai t build what WWE is today !!

Ventura is awesome. Brilliant.

Jesse Ventura dont fuck wit snitches.. salute

Prayers for Kevin

So no. The top guys in all sports unions still make top money. And to this day, more money, by a lot, then the top wrestlers, because other sports athletes get a higher % of profits.

Sean should have asked Nash to tell some Jessie stories at the end. I want to hear about what Nash thinks about Jesse and Chris Kyle having their beef.

Its a shame wrestling still doesnt have a union. As long as the most powerful ones are getting paid then I guess they could care less.

I love how the concept of someone lying under oath doesn't cross Jesse's mind. Seriously, he believed Vince?

Evan though Hogan is most likely lying , but i could see Vince lying in court under oath because Vince doesnt care and he also lies so much almost everything coming out of his mouth could be a lie , and Vince said i think Hogan told me , so really couldve been his road agents from Pat to George , Lanza so Vince could be passing the blame.

My deepest condolences to you and your family Kev. Stay strong brother im so sorry.

Kevin is a legend best big man wrestler ever and razor aka hall is the best IC champ all Time

Its a great idea for the low card and nobodies and a bad idea for the big names.

Union protects all members wake up

Pretty sure the 1st 4 minutes of this was cut from the full version of this podcast. It was listed in the table of contents, but the Jesse video was not there.

Ventura is great. He was a Navy Seal.

WWF/E catagorises all wrestlers as independent contractors to avoid paying healthcare, insurance, retirement, and even travel/accomodation forcing them to drive themselves as Kevin has talked about many times - yet simultaneously demands these "independent contractors" sign exclusivity clauses

Thumbs up just for the impersonations.

Kevin Nash and Stone cold Steve Austin my favorite wrestlers!!!

It had to be Hogan. His character was the WWE back in the 80s. Vince made Hogan the absolute face of his billion dollar company. Then you had the guys doing a program w Hogan at the time. And the very popular guys, and Intercontinental Champ, Tag Team.

Just want to send a shout out to Mr Nash and send him love and prayers. Stay strong big sexy.

Love the shirt Sean!

@Kliq THIS I don't know if I had said this on here but Jesse also said that the MAIN reason why Hogan snitched on him was because Hogan gotten paid more at WM 3 while the rest of the guys gotten paid as a whole

Ventura was right in this case.

There's plenty of people who swear to tell the truth under oath, and none of them are lying either 😉 Brother!

This union conversation is a whole lot more complex than people think. Wrestling is a unique business. It’s not a sport. There’s pros and cons in a union. It sounds good and all but can be a big headache.

When Oliver said 'SAG' (Screen Actors Guild), it would have been funny for Nash to relate how he swung a baseball bat over Jerry Sags' head.

Ventura is a bitter old harpy, he's still banging on about this some 30 years later. Hogan did what's best for business.

my take is that both Hogan and Vince were @#$@$@ good liars. the business of pro wrestling you have to be if you're the promoter or involved with locker room politics

If jesse ventura Owns a wrestling company i dont think he well say that he wants to uniobize his company .

Union in pro wrestling? Lol terrible idea, product would be shit.

What are the rings for behind Sean?

Keep in mind WWF Wrestlers were all making more money than they had EVER seen back then in the '80's. Listen to Greg the Hammer talk about this interviews. Hulk and the guys likely didn't want to shake the boat that was already going steady with pay. Besides, WWF hit serious hard times during the 1990's and was skirting on a thin line after the steroid trial and for various other reasons. There's no way that a Wrestlers Union would've held up past '93 when they were all dining on cold-cuts for supper.

You tell me ! I was there

If Vince said it then it was in his interest to let you know.

Think of it, the WWE travels to Saudi Arabia twice a year and is paid $50 million for each show. Let’s just say that each of the 50 performers are paid $100,000 for their performance. ($5,000,000) Each of the 100 crew members and administrative personnel each make $50,000 for their sacrifice. ($5,000,000) The 4 McMahons pay themselves ($200,000) for the show. ($800,000) Airfare for 154 persons at $2,000 each. ($308,000) Transportation for equipment ($200,000) lodging for 7 days at $500 a day, ($539,000) That’s a total of $12,047,000.00. That leaves $37,953,000.00. Now give a $500,000 revenue sharing retirement plan to 50 retired wrestlers for a total of ($25,000,000) that leaves $12,953,000 for the stockholders. Now we will take care of 50 more retired wrestlers on the second trip.

Wrestlers get the shaft just like veterans of war get the shaft. No insurance, sorry pay ect.

The thing that should be taken away from this, can be summed up in one word; Greed, and Selfishness.

109 countries can’t be wrong Kevin

Let's ask this: How hard did Jesse try to unionize? Was this akin to his conspiracy shit? Jesse HAS been know to spitball and run his mouth. Was this some backstage "we should have a union" clammoring? Vince said "I think Ventura spouted his mouth off one time". That's Not exactly the birth of the teamsters. It's not even Sally Field holding a carboard sign up......

Anyone know what episode this is from?

Hogan made the most money. So he did not want unionization.

Ventura lies like a rug

Love Kevin even more knowing he's a 2pac fan he said it perfectly there's 2pac then everyone else

You tell me, Oliver!

61 smh how many wrestlers actually lived to see 61-65 years old

Now...If it never happened in the first place...then Hogan would say he did it.

WWE should make their roster smaller and pay for medical insurance out of pocket. Cuz like Nash said, that would have been the greatest benefit of forming a union but they can do it without actually forming a union.

No it isn't sports, but it is an athletic exhibition.

Rest In Peace 🙏🤍🕊

Don’t blame Hogan one bit tbf.

I hate how its immediately turned around on Jesse, like what an idiot he is, not realising Hogan is a self-serving, morally questionable human being. Instead of actually putting to Nash that his buddy Hogan is a self-serving morally questionable human being. Which would have actually been a stiff one of the week

If nobody told management who brought the union in then there would be nobody to blame or punish. the top guys should have been smart enough to get the union plus they should have been generous enough or thoughtful to want to take care of the little guys.

Both Sports & 'scripted workers' have unions. Professional Wrestlers are dumb AF for not forming nor joining a union.