You Cannot Kill David Arquette (2020) - full transcript

[suspenseful music]

[grunting]

He won the WCW
championship when?

2000, 2000, it is 20 fucking 19.

[grunts]

David Arquette, David Arquette.

I'm sick and tired of
people like David Arquette.

He's never been trained.

He's a fucking joke.

I'm sick and tired of
people taking a piss,

out of my business.



The new WCW, World
Heavyweight Champion,

my man, Mr. David Arquette.

But you should better

than to trust someone
from Hollywood.

[upbeat music]

[bell rings]
COMMENTATOR: What the?

What is it?

Did David Arquette just.

What's going on here?

David Arquette won
the world title.

[upbeat music]

What up?

David Arquette winning
the WCW championship--

Well I'm gonna make
this pretty short.



It was crap.

An untrained, 150 pound
Hollywood actor won

the professional wrestling
most prestigious championships.

There's a whole locker
room full of guys in WCW,

they'd all be incredible
world champions.

Out of all that, you
pick David Arquette.

[I'm not buying it.

He doesn't have the size.

I don't know what the
hell they're thinking.

They basically made
their title meaningless,

when they strapped
it around his waist,

it meant nothing.

I don't give a shit
about David Arquette.

Like you can't walk in here,

and think you're gonna
do what we do every day.

David Arquette as
a wrestler sucks.

[upbeat music]
[crowd cheering]

REVIEWER: Man, it's not
like David Arquette,

is our favorite Hulk Hogan,
or Ric Flair, or Dusty Rods,

he was a joke.

He was in frickin
"Ready to Rumble".

NARRATOR: I'm here
to tell you a story

about a man created by God.

No, a man created by Hollywood.

Not MacGyver, not Vin Diesel,

not Stallone, not Shwarzenegger,

I'm talking about
David Arquette,

the man is invincible.

He was in "Scream 1",
"Scream 2", "Scream 3",

and then they did "Scream 4",

he's coming back as
a goddamn Cyborg.

He was in "Ready to Rumble",

he was a WCW champion
for two weeks.

He was on "Eight Legged Freak",

who rebelled giant spiders,

giant spiders for God's sakes.

He was out doing "See Spot Run",

but only because he
needed the money.

And that's why, you cannot
kill David Arquette.

[upbeat music]

You cannot kill David Arquette.

Alright, well first of
all, I like David Arquette.

Number two, he came into
the dressing room area,

which was like sacred
ground to all of us.

That he had been
in the business,

and he was a gentleman.

INTERVIEWER: Did you
give him your blessing?

Did I give David my blessing?

As a person, yeah of course.

INTERVIEWER: As a wrestler?

No, let's not get carried away.

He's my hero, if I'm looking
at his wife [laughs].

I've never seen "Scream",
which is insane.

In fact I covered "Scream
4" for the Insider,

and I still didn't
see the whole movie,

'cause I hate scary movies
so much, I freaked out.

David and I met on
an 80s boat party.

But before that, I went to
NYU, I was a journalist,

I interned for Hillary Clinton.

I worked in local news,

on air for more than a
decade, and won an Emmy,

and ended up on
"Entertainment Tonight".

And yeah, when I had my kids,

I left being a news reporter.

And now I'm kind of
getting back into it,

and I'm going to Arkansas soon

to produce my
first feature film.

Okay, so just call me
back and let me know

if we need to
troubleshoot it some more.

We have the three kids.

We have Coco, my
stepdaughter, who's 14.

Charlie is four, Gus
who is 15 months,

so it's a circus.

And we have three Basset Hounds,

it's really insane here.

I always joke actually, it's
not three kids, it's four.

There's Coco, Charlie,
Gus and David.

It's a lot of kids in the
house, running around.

[dog barks]
Lady, no.

As interesting as wrestling is,

he feels like kind
of crossing over

into that world caused
a lot of directors

to not necessarily
take him seriously.

She is really good, isn't she?

Culminate to people who
wanna do things differently.

We could get off the street.

CHRISTINA: At the start
of David's career,

there was so much promise.

I mean, he was playing
sophisticated roles,

and he was on this
really good trajectory.

And then in the late 90s,

he was on the cover
of The Hollywood
Edition of Vanity Fair,

with that elite
group of movie stars,

like Leonardo DiCaprio,
and Matthew McConaughey,

and Will Smith.

And those guys have all gone on

to be the biggest movie
stars in the world.

And I think David
has a lot of sadness

around the fact that he
could have been that.

But instead, he went on
to do the "Scream" movies,

and he kind of became
typecast as a goofball.

And that's what everyone
remembers him as,

the cop from "Scream".

I've got to knock off a
couple more to get that title.

CHRISTINA: It was also
around this time in his life

that things started
getting weird.

And I think his
involvement in wrestling

was kind of that last straw.

People did not get it.

They thought he was crazy,

and it really hurt his career.

[upbeat music]

Present time my career
has been pretty crappy.

I mean, I've been
auditioning for like 10 years

without actually getting a role.

So that's like 10
years of rejection,

like who who does that?

Who would go through 10
years of job interviews,

and not get any,
and still go out

and get another,

I have another job
interview today?

It's crazy.

We met on "Scream 1",

we hated each other "Scream 2".

We got married "Scream 3",

and we got divorced "Scream 4".

That's some of the roughest
wrestling I've seen.

I used to go to wrestling
matches with him,

and he'd get so excited.

[crowd cheering]

Yeah, I would say it
was a lot to handle,

to see David at this point
where I was on "Friends",

and everything was feeling
pretty good with our careers,

and all of a sudden he
wants to start wrestling.

I don't know, just he looked
like he should have been

in "Earth, Wind and Fire",

but instead he was going
to wrestling matches,

and he was loud, and
it was kind of insane.

I remember feeling embarrassed,

'cause he was just,
there's nothing small

about the way he
embraced wrestling.

World Heavyweight Champ, baby.

[laughs] Yeah, right.

What's so funny.

David, David, David,
you're not a wrestler.

Can you show a penis or no?

What network is
this, or whatever,

penis friendly environment?

These are some
Alexis' paintings.

Toothless, look at David.

Good looks.
Good looking.

Too many dead
people in this book.

Our mom was a
writer, and a poet,

and a teacher and
loved mythology.

And our dad loved puppetry.

He loved to play the ukulele,

and we all had clown noses.

It was a very
colorful childhood.

I mean, there was a lot
of playing with David,

and wrestling with David.

Okay and the handball punch,

and you crumble to the ground.

That was the reenactment.
[Patricia laughs]

Dave was like, in my
periphery, wrestling,

like that's a joke,

but it was like something
little kids were watching,

and I was kind of
surprised by it, honestly.

It was kind of the
first major left turn.

David wants love, and they
never gave him the proper love

for him showing
up in that world.

I was the Heavyweight
Champion of the world.

Thanks to my buddy,
Eric Bischoff.

[incidental music]

There were certain rules,

one of which was don't
let celebrities come in

and take advantage of wrestling.

Don't expose the business,

by making it look like anybody,
celebrity or non celebrity.

Anybody could come
in off the street,

and actually beat a wrestler.

COMMENTATOR: And look at this,

look at Trump, Donald Trump.

The fact that you won the belt

is what broke the
unwritten rule.

You never do that.

You didn't know the culture,
but that wasn't your fault,

that was my fault, for
letting it happen [laughs].

You can blame me.
[David and Eric laugh]

The idea was tossed around to
get David Arquette involved,

and get him in the ring,

and he would get us headlines,

and I'm not really
sure whose idea it was,

I think Was Vince
Russo's idea originally.

Did it accomplish
what you wanted?

It accomplished
exactly what I wanted.

You're on the cover USA today--

Thank you.
All the newspapers--

Yeah.
You transcend wrestling,

which is that very--

Well not transcended it,

right then and there, I think
I killed the business forever.

I loved wrestling as a kid,

like it was
something I followed,

and I was obsessive about it.

So when I was part of the
whole wrestling thing,

I was kind of like, just
a kid in a candy store.

I mean, like seeing
it behind the curtain.

Then it all became
like really intense,

and like you know what I mean?

You find people spitting at you,

and throwing shit at you,

and just like saying the worst
things you could ever hear.

The plan would be just to sort
of clear my name in a sense.

And through the process,
honor wrestling.

You know what I mean?

I don't wanna be
smear on its history.

So we're going to Detroit,

and I'm gonna talk
to Brian Knobbs,

one of the two members
of the Nasty Boys,

to see if I can
make an appearance

at his Legends of
Wrestling event.

♪ We are the Nasty Boys ♪

♪ We got a bad reputation ♪

♪ When you see that Nasty-- ♪

Like their theme song says,

the Nasty Boys have a reputation

for being the bad
boys of wrestling.

So it's gonna take
some convincing

for Brian to let me fight.

♪ We're the boys-- ♪

They're wrestling tomorrow,

me come in somehow,

if I can get approved
by the commission,

the crowd would be hot about
it, you know what I mean?

It'd be a start of a thing.

You've been gone for
a while now, so--

I know man.

Two days before, and--

I got you, I got you.

I'm not being a
dick about anything,

I'm just doing business.

DAVID: This fucking asshole.

What you talking about?

BRIAN: That's my partner.

[mumbling]

Do any of you wanna talk?

I'm sorry bro.

There's a lot of history
attached to this whole thing.

That's kind of the story,

that's why they got so heated.

Histories, years and
years of families,

generational history coming up,

people destroying their bodies

for this love that they
have for wrestling.

So then the chosen few
that become real champions,

and like not me,

but real guys that have
given their lives for,

they're 40 years old

and seeing their knees are gone.

You know what I mean?

I understand it.

I got it.

[audience cheering]

I think a lot of wrestling
has to do with pride,

and heritage, and legacy.

That's why people got
really upset about,

that I was an outsider.

I don't really care
about being a champ,

or anything like that,
I care about respect.

I never got to wrestle.

I mean, I got to
take some bumps,

and move the story along,

but they never like,
I never got a chance

to do anything that
the fans would enjoy.

I would love to just sort
of figure out this world,

that's really what I wanna know.

What is wrestling about?

Why do fans love it so much?

Why did they get so mad at me?

I'd love to be able to wrestle,
trained, properly trained.

I wanna train with
the real trainer,

and just prove
myself in some way.

And that's sort of the thing,

I'm an actor, I wanna
become a wrestler.

They didn't really
let us do anything.

I just had to buy a ticket
and go in by myself.

CHRISTINA: You're
a sensitive person.

So why are you putting
yourself through this?

Yeah, I mean, it's like
I'm not part of the family,

which I get it.

But you're kind of not, I mean,
don't you understand that?

Sorry [laughs].
I'm a carnie at heart,

I'm a carnie.

[plane engine roaring]

You had two stents placed
in your coronary arteries,

of the heart, to
prevent blood clots

from forming inside the stent.

You are taking two blood
thinning medications,

and somebody punches you
in the face, or head,

or belly, or anywhere.

You could bruise and,
or bleed quite easily.

Internally?
Right.

Now what about like if, like
a 300 pound guy jumped on me?

Is there like a chance of like--

Well that can do
a lot of damage.

I don't know if you can
wear a helmet during--

[laughs] That would
be a funny gimmick.

[laughing]

Are you a fan of wrestling?

Not really.
No?

[laughing]

[soft music]

CHRISTINA: His
anxiety is crippling,

and what his
psychiatrists found is,

a lot of people
when you're anxious,

you're able to like
actually calm yourself down,

but David's always in a
state of such anxiety,

that he never can really
calm himself down.

Throw it at me, dad.
No, no, no.

I mean, there is an element

that nobody really
wants to grow up.

You wanna like,

I love the way
kids see the world.

I hate growing up [laughs].

KID: What's your name?

David Arquette.
Hi, David Arquette.

I'll be damned mama.

[soft music]

INTERVIEWER: How is
the drinking going?

Are you able to control it?

Or are you just
completely out of control?

DAVID: No, I control it.

I mean, I have my wild
nights once in a while, but--

INTERVIEWER: Right, and
are you an alcoholic?

DAVID: Yeah, I am, I guess I--

INTERVIEWER: You're a
functioning alcoholic.

DAVID: I guess so, yeah.

INTERVIEWER: If
you have children,

if you have family
loved ones and so on,

is there a degree of selfishness

to coming back, if
you're an addict,

into that world again?

DAVID: I try to keep, the
addict inside me in check,

and also the self
critical voice in check.

I started drinking more,

just sort of like I was unhappy.

I wasn't being true to myself.

OPRAH: Yeah.

Just to recap David, real
quickly how this sort of works.

So ketamine sort of gives us
a rapid antidepressant effect,

and it'll give us sort of
a window of opportunity,

where your mood is a
little bit more manageable,

and you feel a little bit
lighter, a little bit better.

Maybe a little bit less prone

to like kind of
fall down that hole

that you're kind of starting in.

Keep up keep up with
positive thinking

because we're gonna give the
infusion of ketamine now.

Yeah, yeah.
So--

Yes, yes, thank you guys,

this thing is so dope.

I'm awesome.

I love you so much.

This is the fucking game.

And it's so fucking dope.

Wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait,

guys, guys, guys,
guys, ketamine.

We are so, love is love.

Life is life.

I'm happy you're happy.

No, stop it mother fucker.

No.
Okay David.

Stop, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no.

CHRISTINA: Lay down my love.

David we need to lay
you down, come on buddy.

Rest, good job, just rest.
Just relax.

Sit back and relax.

I've got to put the monitors on.

Yeah, just relax okay.

Ketamine is what we call
a dissociative anesthetic.

Psychiatrists, and
medicine is using it now,

for its rapid and acute
antidepressant facts.

There's a lot going
on with David.

There's a lot going on

both sort of psychologically/
kind of personality wise.

Also kind of childhood
wise, also brain wise.

So this is David's brain,

sort of at rest, when he was
just sitting in the scanner,

and not engaged in
any particular task.

What's notable about this scan

is that the anterior component
of his frontal cortex,

is smaller than
would be expected.

And sometimes that can happen
with psychiatric conditions.

Also, it can sort
of be the result

if there's been any
damage to the brain,

in terms of like a car accident,

traumatic brain injury.

CHRISTINA: Which he had, yeah.

MICHAEL: Frankly, his results
are like very complex.

CHRISTINA: Yeah, it was
like layers and layers.

Yeah, yes, I guess the
take home message for David

is that his brain isn't
connected in a typical way.

Our grandfather, Cliff Arquette,

was this comedian Charlie Weaver

who was on "Jack Paar's Show",
and "Hollywood Squares".

And then our father,
Lewis Arquette,

was a character actor.

He had parts on "The Waltons",

and he would do commercials.

My family moved to Virginia,
to move to a commune.

They started it with a
bunch of their friends,

and they wanted to kind of build

this little utopian society.

And David was born
there, on the commune,

no electricity, no bathroom,

I don't think there
was running water even.

I mean, my dad had
a lot of issues.

My mom had a lot of issues.

She was abusive to us
when we were little.

I mean, she choked
me to the point once,

where I started blacking out.

I think David was impacted

by feeling like he needed
to be the perfect son,

and cannot fix it, being
the best kid in the world.

You just can't.

DAVID: My dad was just like
my favorite funny person.

He died when I was 29.

I loved watching
wrestling with my dad,

and he actually did the voice
to Jimmy Superfly Snuka,

and he was one of my
favorite wrestlers.

You take one more
step toward her,

and you'll see why
they call me Superfly.

[phone ringing tone]

So I have this
promoter who called

about me doing a signing
in Richmond, Virginia.

So I'm gonna call him back.

CHRIS: Hey man, how are you?

I'm good, I'm so excited.

Thanks for thinking
of me for this thing.

CHRIS: Absolutely man,

we've got the signing
going on for you.

Then we've got RXW,
we've got you there

it's one of the hottest
promotions on the East Coast.

Thanks man, well I'm excited.

I'm not sure I'm
allowed to fight yet,

but I can maybe get in the
ring, and crash talk someone.

CHRIS: Yeah man, we
can't wait to see you.

Okay, you too.

Alright brother.
Bye.

Okay, I guess that's good.

I'm not ready to
wrestle right now.

I'm in no shape,

one thing I don't
wanna do is go back

into the ring unprepared,

not with the right
music, and gimmick,

and costume, and
persona, and who is it?

Who am I?

So we'll see how this goes.

It sounds a little shady.

Can you help me with, I
have to find some costumes.

So this is like a
fire retardant suit,

but this is not exactly the
kind of thing I'm looking for.

And these are my
Blockbuster Awards.

The Drama Teachers Association

of Southern California,
High School Film Festival,

Individual Humorous Award,
second place [laughs].

Oh look, Kanye.

Yeah, Yeezy, Yeah, Yeezy.

I think this is the one
with the, yeah, oh yeah.

So this is crazy wizards cave,

and I think if I
take this collar off,

I can do like a
Ric Flair kind of.

Oh, yeah.
Yeah, that's a good one.

[imitating Ric Flair]

[upbeat music]

Hello, hi.
We've got a client.

Hi there.
I'm David.

Hi David, I'm Craig.

Hey Craig.
Mario, nice to meet you.

What's up Mario?

What are we gonna do for you?

I'm going to a wrestling,

like a signing convention,
and I need to sign pictures.

Amazing, really?
Yeah, yeah.

Alright.

Can you help me?
Yeah.

Good, you are godlike.

You are the man.

♪ I know nothing
stays the same. ♪

Yeah.

♪ But if you're willing
to play the game ♪

Alright David, move
this way one step,

perfect, perfect, right there.

Awesome, now look at
my light and position.

And on three, hold on
one, two and three.

Oh my goodness!

We got some flame action.

This elbow here.
Okay.

And this goes underneath here.

Chin down, chin down, perfect!

The other hand
off like [grunts].

[Craig laughs]

Perfect, you are the best
photographer I ever worked with.

Thank you so much.

♪ Then you break a window ♪

Dad, well this is like the
dumbest idea I've ever heard.

One you're dressed
up like a wizard.

I know, it's too wizardy,
I will take this off.

Oh my God!

It's gonna be huge, right?

♪ I know nothing
stays the same. ♪

♪ But if you're willing
to play the game ♪

I'm just kind of sick

of being a joke to
be honest with you.

If you're part of the joke,

it's not as painful as
if you are the joke.

Hollywood doesn't
take me seriously.

The sort of media thinks
I'm a bit of a joke.

I mean, a lot of these
people haven't seen

what I could do in a ring.

[upbeat music]

Okay, come on Scooter, let's go.

[upbeat music]

[soft music]

He killed the business,

and a black belt that
a guy like Ric Flair,

or Herley Race, Steam,
Ricky Steamboat,

hell honestly pisses me off.

'Cause the guys
that rode the roads,

and do what we do right now,

busted their ass
for their families.

You know how many times
I've missed Christmas,

with my family, how many times
I've missed anniversaries?

And a guy from Hollywood,

gets to hold the greatest
title in the world.

How much are they?

Ten I think.

Thank you.

Yeah, that's so
cool, thank you man.

You got it?

So tonight we're going to
a backyard wrestling thing,

but it's a real match.

You know what I mean?

So I have all
these magic tricks,

like I have this

like big stick I can make
appear out of nowhere.

But it's pretty big, and
then I could hit him with it.

'Cause it's the first person
that's invited me really.

David has got a passion
for this business,

and I like to see him
succeed in making a return

to this sport, and having fun
doing what he loves to do.

And if I can do
anything to help him,

to get him where he needs
to be, I'm gonna do it.

[engine revs]
[car hoots]

I mean Smudger Man mainly
went with the elbow,

of the top--

Yeah, right, off the
top rope brother.

And man I miss him, I miss the--

DAVID: I do too, he
was so great man.

Yeah, right, snap
that slim jim, right?

Yeah.
You know these guys granted,

they don't know
what they're doing.

You're gonna be back
in business again.

Thank you.
Brother, you're gonna

be in the ring,
redeeming yourself.

[upbeat metallic music]

David Arqutte's gonna
learn a little thing

about respecting the business.

Alright, when he steps
in this yard with us,

we're serious about what we do,

he's gonna learn.

Paying dues in order
to get where we are.

So this is it?

Look, you got me, okay.
Okay.

It's backyard wrestling company,

but the main thing is here.

We're here to have fun.

Alright, you cool with that?

Yeah, I love that fun,

I mean, I'm in the fun business.

Awesome, so what I just need

for you to do is get changed,

whenever you're
ready, come on out.

I didn't think
there was gonna be

like thousands of people anyway,

but I don't think
there's anybody here.

They're just a bunch
of kids having fun,

and I like to have fun.

So we'll be silly,
we'll have fun.

I'm trying this new gimmick out,

so it's time to
unleash the Magic Man.

Introducing first, making
his way to the rings

from Prince George
Virginia, Elijah Wade.

[crowd cheering]

Let me hear you one more time.

[cheering]
[upbeat music]

Come on Eli.

ELI: No, no, no.

CROWD: Come on Eli.

CROWD: Let's go, let's go.

CROWD: Holy shit!

Fuck you.
That's right, you tell him.

So the ring collapsed
at the bottom,

so what we're gonna do,
is we're gonna jack it up,

get some two by
fours, and some tires,

and we're gonna get this
thing back on the road again.

You crazy bastards have
been jumping and flipping

all over on this damn thing,

and there was
never a bolt there?

I was in jail when
this was built.

[crowd laughs]

It's comforting,
it's comforting.

He's the NPYWA International
Heavyweight Champion.

This is the extreme
massacre, Corey Jegere.

[upbeat metallic music]

He is a former WCW champion,

he is David Arquette.

CROWD: Shut up, dude.

No, I am the Magic Man.

[crowd booing]

CROWD: Are you
serious right now?

I though you guys--
I am the Magic Man,

Hollywood magic.

CROWD: Oh my God--

I'm a star baby.

CROWD: This is sad David.

You're not a real champion.
You're not a real,

this is sad.

Fucking pussy, get in here.

Respect me, get in my
ring and respect me.

CROWD: Don't kill yourself.

Oh my God!
Can you do this,

can you get in the ring?

Magic Man made his
acting career disappear.

[upbeat music]

[crowd cheering]

The magic got me big money.

My magic is epic.

[crowd cheering]

He's choking.

Let's go Hollywood,

I thought you wanted this!

This is what you want right?

To come back into
wrestling, right?

CROWD: He ain't ready.

CROWD: He's not ready.

[upbeat metallic music]

CROWD: Throw that piece
of trash out of here.

He's back holy shit.

Let's go, come on.

Let's go, come on.

Get in here.

CROWD: I think he's done.

Bro, bro I think
he's done, seriously.

Holy shit, oh damn.

CROWD: Let's go.

Oh, crap.
Come on.

Holy shit.
Oh my god.

CROWD: Oh my god.

[groaning]

CROWD: Oh damn, no he's not.

Bro.
Oh my God!

Holy.
No.

No, no.
No, no, no.

CROWD: That's right Hollywood.

CROWD: Are you
serious right now.

Are you alright brother?

[soft music]

I feel like we gave him
a microcosm of wrestling,

like if he wants
to really get in,

he dealt with a shitty promoter,

who gassed his head up.
[laughing]

Gave all the promises
in the world,

and he came in here,
and got his ass whooped,

and didn't even get paid.

If that's not wrestling,
I don't know what is.

I hope he can learn about
what wrestling really is,

and get that heart for it,

and come out here
every day like we do.

I really hope he does.

Are you serious about
getting back in this sport?

Yeah.
Do you, I mean, seriously?

Do you want to do what I do?

Do you wanna do
what Ric Flair does?

Do you wanna do what
Jimmy valiant does?

Do you wanna do what's
in your heart to do?

I do.
Okay.

Now let's get you some friend.

[upbeat music]

Don't make me get an
edge show you what to do.

'Cause you ain't gon like it

if I got to get in
there and do it.

Drop down, leap forward.

I know I need training,

And last night was like
a big example of that.

I mean, I learned the hard way

that you have to train.

You have to wrestle
with professionals,

I mean, if you
wanna do it right.

Alright boys, y'all ready?

Let's do it.

And you'll get to feel force.

You'll be doing
this, doing this,

all over sudden, you
know what's next,

just nice and easy.

So that's number one.
Okay.

[Trainer] Y'all
need to lock it up,

make it look good.

Arquette comes down here
and he thinks everything gon

be all peachy and cream.

Arquette, when he got here,

he's all laughing and joking.

Well, you don't see him
laughing and joking now,

he's sweating out there.

He's waiting for a water break.

He may not get a water
break today, alright?

This ain't the movies.

We don't have stunt dummies,

you do it yourself here.

So when he's out there,
he's learning, okay?

He's learning.

I don't know what he
wants to get out of this.

But he's learning, and he's
learning the right way to do.

So now he's got a good idea
of what it's really like

to be in there
with the big boys.

[David grunts]

[soft music]

It felt really good to train.

Though I learned some of
that stuff 18 years ago,

I didn't have a training
session quite like that,

where it's really teaching
you the fundamentals.

What I love about
wrestling is the majesty,

like it's a larger than life.

It's this mythological world,

where there's the good
guys and the bad guys.

They're like gods.

It's funny, I've been watching
a lot of like old matches.

And it's all like
coming back to me,

like why I fell in love with it.

It occurred to me like when
I was watching Macho Man,

that I was in love
with Miss Elizabeth.

Like she literally, she
looks like my wife too.

She looks like Christina.

God bless you girl

CROWD: Are you
kidding me right now?

What are your feelings about
possibly me doing it again?

I don't like this.

You don't like this idea.

Why?

What are your thoughts Charlie?

Should I wrestle again?

Yeah.
That's my boy.

How does Christina
feel about this?

She's on the fence for sure.

He's afraid of growing old.

I've loved wrestling
my whole life.

I was looking online,

and I'm pretty sure I
found myself ringside

under The Giant match.

David, on top of the fact

that it's like
really bad timing.

You haven't asked me?

You have to like ask me, right?

I know, I'm sort of asking
you right now, aren't I?

But that's a little unfair.

We can talk about it.

It sounds like a dream,

it sounds like a dream,

like you're dreaming,
it's not a reality.

I don't know why
I have to do it,

and I got to do it.

It's just something I gotta do.

You don't know how
these guys treat me.

[soft music]

How are you doing buddy.

Not bad.

I just started wrestling again,

and people are still
giving me crap.

It's alright buddy,

don't take it personally.

Easy for you to say.

Why do you think
they hate me so much?

Because you never deserved
to be the champion.

COMMENTATOR: Did
David Arquette just,

David Arquette won
the world title.

Yeah, why don't you mind
your own business pal?

Yeah, well then let's
settle this in the ring.

[bell rings]
We're ready,

tournament fighting background--

Get back.

Must fight.

Elbow, it's going up top.

One, two, three.

[crowd cheering]

COMMENTATOR: Did
David Arquette just,

What's going on here?

David Arquette won
the world title.

NARRATOR: Diamond Dallas
Page tried to tell him

it was a bad idea.

But beyond that, like,
what could we do about it?

The last thing on the planet,

David Arquette wanted to do,

was become a Heavyweight
World Champion,

'cause he actually
respected this sport.

And when they told me to
finish that day, I laughed.

I go and tell David, he's like,

"No, no, dude, we
can't do that."

It's the biggest disgrace in
professional wrestling history.

But I couldn't do it
because I have a booker

that tells me what
needs to be done.

So let me ask you, if
you were in his spot,

and they said, we're gonna
put the world title on you,

we all know you
wouldn't do it, right?

[dialing tone]

JERRY: Hello.
Hello, Jerry.

My BFF.
My BFF.

David has lost his
mind yet again.

He's going down to Mexico

to train with the wrestler
Diamond Dallas page.

[Jerry laughs]

I would feel better knowing
that you were there.

David and Jerry met five
years ago with the Super Bowl.

Jerry was wearing first
responders Sandy Hook t-shirt.

And David went up
to him and said,

"Do you have a ticket?"

And Jerry said, "No."

And he said, "Do you
wanna go with me?"

And that's how they met.

And they became best friends.

Can you leave
tomorrow for Mexico?

JERRY: 99% chance yes,

I just gotta get the
permission from my boss

at the cop shop.

Okay.
I don't see

it being a problem.

Adios amigos.

[upbeat music]

Have you walked around?

No, I just got here man.

Alright.
Look at that, look at that.

Come on.
There's something in there.

It's pretty solid, right?

Do you know how to lock up?

Don't do that.

He's an actual cop.

Get over here.

That hurt.

[drum beats]

I need you to train
me how to wrestle.

Why?

Why do you want to
get back in the ring?

Because it hurts,

because it's been 18 years

of people thinking I
disrespected the belt,

and disrespected wrestling,
and I'd never meant to.

I mean, I'm 46 years old.

I love wrestling.

I just really wanna
try it one more time.

I just need some
guidance from you.

If you're willing
to walk the talk.

I'll guide you dude.
Thanks man.

And get ready for the pitfalls,

'cause people are
gonna shit all over it.

I know.
[Diamond laughs]

[upbeat music]

When you get out there,
you'll remember all this.

You can do it, little by little.

That's what you're gonna learn.

And when you don't know,

when you're working
out, ask, ask questions.

You got this bro?

Thanks bro .

[upbeat music]

DDP center.

Are you ready to train?

Yeah man.
Okay, let's go.

Lucha.

Right there.

I got you.

You puke here,

if you got to puke.

Thanks.
Alright, throw up

right up in here.

Wait shit,

this leg up?

Yeah.
This leg here.

Yes.
Okay.

Fuck, one more time,
one time, sorry!

I got you, I'll
just jump up there.

Just do it.

I'll take care of you.
Okay.

[speaking in foreign language]

Even when you're throwing,

you just throw close
one, and I'm ducking you.

Come on, come on.

[audience cheers]

JERRY: There you go.

[car hooting]
[breaks screeching]

[upbeat music]
[siren blaring]

This is street wrestling.

[upbeat music]

I'm not gonna do
something out here, am I?

Are you ready?

Do I get wear a mask?

[speaking in foreign language]

Shit.

[groaning]

[ speaking in foreign language]

Got me something?

Thank you.

No, no?

I didn't get anything.

Sorry, I didn't get any money.

Sorry, I didn't get any money.

[truck hoots]

Are you ready?

Yeah, I guess so.

Okay, you gotta be ready.

I'm ready, I'm ready.

[upbeat music]
[cars hooting]

Get that fucking chicken David,

get that fucking chicken.

[chicken clucking]

I got it.

[upbeat music]

[upbeat trumpet music]

[speaking in foreign language]

[audience cheering]

Hey Dave, this is for life.

You have earned this.

Really man?
Yeah, you've earned it.

Oh man, this is [mumbles]

[David screaming]

[upbeat music]

[foreign language]

[upbeat music]
[spectators cheering]

[spectators chanting]

[speaking in foreign language]

You guys can shoot me
without my mask on now, so.

[David laughing]

Look at you, handsome guys.

He needs a manager.

Mr. Maldito gave
me his mask bro.

Really.
Signed it, and gave me one.

No.
So fucking dope.

That's unbelievable bro,
that's an honor, right?

[upbeat music]

Fucking rattlesnakes, scorpions,

fucking wrestling.

[soft music]

Thank you so much.

[speaking in foreign language]

[shouting]

ALL: Lucha.

[airplane engine roaring]

[audience cheering]

Hi, how are you?

Yeah, welcome back.

Good to see you
Wendy, thank you.

You look good.

Thank you.
Yeah.

Thank you.
[audience cheering]

I have a really big
announcement to make,

and I'd like to make it here
on the "Wendy Williams Show".

[audience cheering]

WENDY: Alright, go ahead.

I'd like to announce my return
to professional wrestling.

[grunting]
[audience cheering]

What is he doing?

It's giving me major anxiety.

And so, it's again his sternum
area, and it's really sore.

He says it feels
like the same thing,

that we called about in the past

with the ribs and everything.

I have to go to my doctor,

just to make sure that I don't
have any internal bleeding.

DOCTOR: 'Cause we're really
looking at his lungs,

to see if he actually,
we can do a rib x-ray

to look at the ribs, or--

But I have to wrestle, so.

I'll get just to
know if I'm bleeding.

NURSE: Did you have
a car accident?

A what?
Car accident, or.

No I'm a wrestler, and I
had a wrestling injury.

Mr. Arquette.
Yeah, hi.

Good, how are you?

Obviously, we know you
had several fractures

in your ribs from the
CAT scan report itself.

Right.
That were actually

very small, but significant.

If the ribs actually break,

they can actually
puncture your lung

which is what gets
even more concerning.

If you actually puncture a lung,

or actually bleed
into your lungs.

So--
But I'm cleared to fight?

[David laughs]
[upbeat music]

It gives, it's not
like hitting concrete,

because it does give.

We own this?

Yeah, you own this.

[upbeat music]

[grunting]

This is the right way.

[upbeat music]

[grunting]

But he's always loved wrestling.

He did this a long time ago.

What is it, is it circus?

What is it?

Showing your strength?

What is it?

The wrestling thing,

I still don't
understand it, really.

He's passionate about it,

so you just send good vibes,

and know that he's
gonna be okay.

[upbeat music]

If you're just joining us,

I'm calling out David Arquette.

I don't know what your deal is.

You think you're better than me.

You think you're
a better wrestler?

You played Dr. Tucker,
in "Muppets from Space".

I think you overacted,

and you brought down the film.

Why are you calling me out bro?

I didn't do anything.

I elevated the muppet movie.

We got David Arquette,

he was at the "350
Days" premiere.

And all of a sudden he's
just like posing pictures,

and RJ City comes up,
starts like pushing him,

and then they get
into a little scuffle

on the red carpet.

PRESENTER: I'm confused.

[groaning]

It's nice and warm.

[shrieking]

Here we go.

Talula is duct for
wrestlers in the cupboard?

TALULA: Yeah, the second shelf.

Is there any body kind

of like sheen you could put on?

Oh, don't worry about that.

Okay, I think my
favorite scene is,

probably everyone's
favorite scene.

But when you're
with Rose McGowan,

just that whole scene,

how you say you took
Spanish a bunch of time.

Or like when she
takes her shirt off,

for an object.
For an object.

I feel like I'm melting.

I am melting.

[laughs]

How are you guys?

Who is that person?

No it's so scary.

Come here baby.

It's a ridiculous
world I'm in right now.

What are you going to do
when you go to your movie,

and you show up like that?

Oh shit, I forgot about that.

[upbeat music]

The wrestling
world remembers him

for being the WCW World
Heavyweight Championship,

that he won 18 years ago.

And making his entering
return, here at Championship--

It's sport, no matter
what anyone says.

But it's just a
theatrical sport.

It's like a play on steroids.

When wrestlers win titles,

it's like if you are in a
play, and you were the king,

and you were so proud,

and you thought it was so real

that you took the
crown home and wore it,

what are you doing?

This is a show.

Let's all calm down United
States, let's relax.

DIRECTOR: So yeah, I think
so you drop your robe,

streamers on the steps,

drop the robe.
Throw them out

to the sides of the--

DIRECTOR: Yeah, half
will go to the people,

half will go towards
the entrance.

That will look cool.
Is it good

at the people, or not?

Yeah, absolutely.
Okay, good.

And then from there,

you take them off,

and you get on the
pedestal, right?

And I put my hand down here,

and when my head,

when I strike the
Michelangelo's pose,

I come down on through.
One, two, three.

I fucking cross check him off,

he goes rolling right out.

[commentator mumbling]
[audience cheering]

I don't know what just
happened, I'm lost.

You whipped me with a belt.

What is he doing?

This is fucking horrible.

He goes to get up those steps,

I whip him again.

I say ring the
bell, ring the bell.

And I go, I charge
and sweep you,

and I started pounding on you.

You push me off,

we do a slip slam.

[crowd cheering]

I pick it up, I celebrate,

turn around and you
poke me in the eye.

I can't see,

you scrape my back.

I turn around, you started
beating the shit out of me.

And I stumbled toward
the middle of the ring,

and you double x headed me.

And you get me, and
whip me in the corner,

when you're done, you slap me.

[audience boos]

That kind of wakes me up.

Whoa, wait a sec.

What the fuck is going on?

COMMENTATOR: He's fired up,

he spins me around,
slaps me back.

That slap is a big like--

Yeah, you mother.

I turn him around,
dirty back chop.

And then he goes,

gives me back elbow.

Hits me in the gut.

Hits me with another chop,
and the big fore arm,

"It's cool I'm doing it."

And then you cut me
off with the knee.

You put me up in a Piledriver.

Rip his head off.

I wiggle out, and I--

Just kick my head off,

right under my chin.

I've got my hand,

I'm saying, I got my hand up.

Just aim, and like--

Yeah, I get an idea, the corner.

AUDIENCE: David,
David, David, David.

I go for my crown,
and I jump down.

That's gonna be
really, really good.

Boom, one, two, three.
[bell rings]

[upbeat music]

Here is your winner, RJ City.

COMMENTATOR: RJ City,
upsetting the big return.

[audience boos]

Okay, we're gonna get you
some ice for that, dude.

Nice.
That was dope.

Thank you.

Thanks bro, and thank
you for all your help.

Wrestling is not fake guys,

wrestling is not fake.

That was fucking,

look at me, come here.

That was amazing.

Hi guys, I know.

His back is just like.

I know that's bad.

Oh my God, should
we get you the--

Did you like the show though?

Did you like the whole thing?

The show was amazing,

but we were just
worried about you.

Can I get five
pictures with you,

that's all I want
if that's okay?

Got a house full of
people chanting your name.

I know.
It begs the question,

are we gonna see you back

in Championship
Wrestling from Hollywood?

I'll be back,

I just don't know if
I'll be in the ring.

Thank you bro.
Put some pressure on it.

I know.
You gotta squeeze

it out of there.

As the match progressed,

he got more comfortable,

and more confident
in what he was doing.

But the more
repetitions he gets,

the easier that's gonna be,

where he could just be
confident the whole time,

and come out with
that stage presence,

and just own the moment.

[dog barking]

Last night mom was
the most insane thing

in the whole world.

But like, it's
very entertaining.

I'm like, a lot less
embarrassed than I was before.

It was kind of fun.

Oh, he's a wizard.

No, he's not a wizard.

What's wrong with you?

I don't like any of this.

Look at dad,

look at him killing it.

Oh God, I think it's just bad

for any one of your
bones in your body.

No, I like it.

What happens if you break
your neck or something?

I don't know, yeah.

One of my favorites moments
was Coco flipping them off.

She was so upset.

It's very real,

it's very painful.

It's realer than I ever knew.

It's so hard.

I can't believe these
guys do this all the time.

And like travel all the time.

When I went out there,

I'm not David the
Hollywood fuck up

that some people think I am.

[upbeat music]

David, your brother,
Arquette is now wrestling.

He had a heart attack,

and now he's wrestling.

When did he have a heart attack?

I didn't know that.

Yeah, he did.

How long ago?

A year ago, year and a half ago.

I did not know that.

Yeah.
Wow, does it make

you nervous to watch him?

Yeah, it really scares me.

So I actually don't
watch the matches.

Because it would
terrify me too much.

[soft music]

Really, I'm just like
blown away by everything.

He's lost 50 pounds,

he's quit smoking, drinking.

He looks like a superhero.

So there's like an element of it

that I'm like, this is great,

he's getting healthy, and
taking good care of himself.

But then you put in the layer

of like you're getting beat up

and thrown around in
the wrestling ring

by a bunch of wrestlers,
which is not safe.

I didn't expect him to work
this hard to be honest.

I thought this was
just gonna be like,

"Oh yeah, I'll go to the gym,

"and then bounce off
around in the ring."

And he's like really a wrestler.

David has a lot of buzz
around him right now.

So it's kind of cool,

like the wrestling world's
opening up their arms to David,

and wanting him to come
to a lot of events.

Indy fans are the diehard fans,

they're the lifeblood of
the wrestling business.

And so to redeem,

to get the respect
of the Indie fans,

I mean, that's a true
redemption right there.

My whole life kind of revolves
around wrestling sometimes.

I'm here in Chicago,

coming to watch the
greatest wrestler,

David Arquette, team
up with RJ city.

I can't believe I'm here.

[upbeat music]

AUDIENCE: Let's go David, yeah.

[crowd cheering]

Thank you man.

[upbeat music]

COMMENTATOR: He spit up
right at David Arquette.

Putting on great athletic
competition, David Arquette.

Yeah, do you want me
to pick the right size?

♪ Happy Birthday to-- ♪

Where is that nice
hat I gave you?

That hat is in the dumpster,

with all your DVDs.

COMMENTATOR: Right through
the heart of Arquette.

[upbeat music]

I'll shoot you.

[audience cheering]

COMMENTATOR: Turning
him over, Arquette.

It's not so bad.

He is 46 years old,

he is so impressive.

COMMENTATOR: Arquette--

That's impressive.

That was amazing.

[upbeat music]

You never know
what's gonna happen

at these kind of
shows, with the crowd.

They can be very unpredictable.

I mean, they could have booed
David out of the building.

This is for real,

and he's really doing it,

and I think that's
the buzz I'm hearing.

Put it in.
Squeeze it in.

Does it look all right?
[laughs] Let me put--

'Cause I'm a wrestler,

but I'm also bad crafty.

[David laughs]

I don't know if these
glasses are a good idea

NARRATOR: What's gonna
happen to Arquette out there?

Death man, and destruction.

[crowd chanting]

Yeah, the kid's fucked up,

it's pretty bad dude.

Everybody looks clean as fuck.

[upbeat music]

He's gonna fucking die,

Nick fucking Gage all day.

Nick fucking Gage.

How about that?

AUDIENCE: Come on Nick.

Let's get ready to rumble.

[glass shutters]

What was that?

That was a glass bottle.

Oh geez.

[glass shuttering]
[audience cheering]

Holy shit.
[audience chants]

One, two, three.
[bell rings]

[car horn]

REPORTER: David
Arquette hospitalized

after a wrestling
match, deathmatch.

Shocking.
What you're about

to see what David Arquette.

REPORTER: The graphic video--

I think David Arquette
started to freak out.

I don't think that
David Arquette need

to go back to the film industry.

REPORTER: Well I'm
sitting here watching

these two dumb,
stupid motherfuckers,

obviously these people
are fully trained

from using fucking gimmicks
that won't work with them.

Well to put your body in
the line, to that extent.

It's a steep price to pay.

One of the scariest
things I've ever seen

in all my years as
a wrestling fan.

We almost saw a man die

in the middle of the ring.

REPORTER: Did you hear the
shit Joe Rogan was talking.

David Arquette is wrestling?

Yeah.
Did you know this?

Oh, Jesus Christ,
that guy stabbed him

in the fucking head.

He just got sober
a few years ago,

and he's doing this to
keep life exciting for him.

You know what I mean?

And I just--
Is that why he's doing it,

or he just doesn't have
any movie roles coming in?

[television mumbling]

[David murmurs]

[thunder roars]

[dogs barking]

[upbeat music]

The idea of sort of
getting back into wrestling

to a physician, or
mental health clinician

that's a red flag, right?

Because pain it's a
trigger for a relapse.

He hasn't been training.

There was such a high hopes

that something like
wrestling would

be used in a way to
really get healthy.

And it's like what
the fuck is going on?

Like, what is the
point of all of this?

It's so strange that right
after that deathmatch,

David's life, just
kind of became unglued.

One of his dear friends, Luke
Perry, passed away suddenly.

And the irony is that,
at that deathmatch,

Luke was the one taking
him to the hospital,

and in the car with him.

He is a fucking mess.

Two years ago, it's
a heart attack.

A year later, it's a deathmatch.

So what does that
mean for next year?

Is he gonna be here next year?

I'm just like, worried
he's gonna die.

It's really the big issue here,

is that he's gonna die,

and our marriage
does not survive.

I'm a mess, bro.

I'm a fucking mess.

I've been a mess my whole life,

and I'll probably be a
mess the rest of my life,

even if I was stone cold sober.

I'm just a piece of work.

Christina is away
producing her first film,

and I'm here just
watching Miss Elizabeth.

So it's kind of tough.

So the crazy thing is,

I have this one match
with Mr. Anderson.

And it's at the
Legends of Wrestling,

the same event that I was
kicked out of last year.

So I'm excited to be invited.

Mr. Anderson just thinks
I'm a bit of a joke,

and isn't taking me seriously.

So it's one last time I
have to really prove myself,

and show someone that

I got what it takes,
I'm not scared of him.

I'm not scared of anyone.

[crow cawing]

I do understand why
people got upset.

But I've always wanted
to jump into the ring.

Being part of a world

that I've always
loved and respected.

COMMENTATOR: David
Arquette is in the ring.

These people are heroes of mine.

The match where I wrestled
Jeff Jarrett and DDP.

That was one of the
greatest days of my life.

I like to think that good
people will always come

out on top in the end.

[upbeat music]

♪ I did it all for
the nookie, come on ♪

♪ The nookie, come on ♪

♪ So you can take that cookie ♪

♪ And stick it up your, yeah. ♪

♪ Stick it up your, yeah ♪

♪ Stick it up your, yeah ♪

[airplane engine roaring]

Wrestling greats will be in town

for the Legends of
Wrestling event.

You know who else will be there.

Well wrestler, and
actor David Arquette,

how are you?

Looking good, how are you?

It's good seeing you again.

This is the most fit
you've ever been.

That's right.

Lost the weight.

Yeah.
[grunting]

Let me tell you what.

After tomorrow, he's gonna
fucking reevaluate everything.

[screaming]
I'm sick and tired.

I'm coming for you David.

I'm coming.

COMMENTATOR: Right
fans, here we are,

one of the biggest
events of the year,

Legends of Wrestling,

at the Fraser Hockeyland Arena,

10,000 fans in attendance,

to see this main event,

as Ken Anderson takes
on David Arquette.

It's great to be back here.

I remember last year,

met David right out here,

right on the parking lot.

But he just seemed out of it.

I don't know if he was drunk,

but he was just, I don't know.

And I know he's gotten
into good shape,

not like this.

But David Arquette
is the real thing.

And he's my buddy.

[crowd cheering]

You suck.
You shut up.

David Arquette as
a wrestler, sucks.

David Arquette should never
hold a title again, ever.

[David and Christina laughs]

One, two, three.

[crowd cheering]

[upbeat music]

[crowd cheering]

COMMENTATOR: And here
comes David Arquette,

entering into the arena, full
of thousands screaming fans,

for this main event
against Mr. Ken Anderson.

David Arquette
accompanied to the ring

by the lovely Ms. Christina.

[bell rings]

Using his size and
experience, Arquette,

wait a minute, wait a minute

Arquette has Anderson
into a hammer lock,

and each touch
Anderson, sweating,

and oh my God.

Okay, now we're
coming up, come on.

[upbeat music]

David Arquette
with a drop launch.

[audience cheers]
One, two, three.

COMMENTATOR: The fans
are on their feet,

showing respect for David
Arquette, and so is Booker T,

the Hall of Famer, Booker T,

raising the hand
of David Arquette.

[upbeat music]

The respect of the
fans here tonight.

David.
[crowd chanting]

[upbeat music]

This forever to me will
be a special night.

My dad had grew up
loving wrestling,

and he was super into it.

He was always very supportive.

He'd come to all the shows,

so it was awesome
for me to be able

to share this with David.

And I almost cried
there at the end,

and I think I did a little bit.

But I wasn't really
expecting that,

but he's family.

Your an incredible partner,

and you're going
to great places.

I love the fact that
you, and [mumbles].

[crowd cheering]

Thank you [mumbles],

but I've got something
for you baby.

[upbeat music]

[siren wailing]

David Arquette, fuck
it, I can't lift it.

[laughing]

Anyone could be a champion.

Shut up.

[upbeat music]

Yes.

Look who's back y'all.

Good [mumbles], happy birthday.

[laughs]

I wanted to something for
you for your birthday.

Yeah brother, Hulk Hogan
here Mr. David Arquette,

you brag about being a WC.

In all seriousness
David, happy birthday.

[upbeat music]

You walk out and fans
are like touching you,

touch your hand,

and that's the coolest,

it's that connection.

Where like, when you
get hit or something,

you turn to the fan like
this guy's gonna kill me.

You make like a direct
connection with a
fan in the moment.

Fuck you David Arquette.
Fuck you Sandy.

[upbeat music]

It's not like it's real.

The real reason I
know David Arquette,

is because his WCW title reign,

and all the money that
he made from that,

literally all of it, he
donated it to my family,

because of my father's passing,

he also donated Owen's family.

So in my book, David
Arquette is family,

more than friend, he's a
he's a member of my family,

and I love him.

Come here Lola and Lady.

Ready.
[dogs barking]

I don't know how
to come up a rope.

[laughing]

Yeah, mama's got it.

You gotta stretch mama.

[howling]
[dog barks]

♪ To print some cash ♪

♪ Fuck, I think we'll pass ♪

One, two, three, go.

♪ Getting in for free ♪

♪ Even though I've
got my money ♪

I love wrestling.

I love entertaining the fans.

I love getting in there.

I love doing it.

I'm just never gonna
be a great wrestler,

I mean, I've got
a couple of moves,

but I'm just never gonna
be a great wrestler.

[bell rings]

[dogs howling]
[horn tottering]