July 24, 2025 • 32 mins
Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer (R-23) is helping spearhead the effort to save TABOR, initiated by Advance Colorado, with a lawsuit filed against the state of Colorado for passage of HB25-1296. She joins Ryan to discuss.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
By what is that?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is the painting you up for, sir, but that's
the size it is in the photo Colorado.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm gonna go.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
You gotta do bother you, oh boy, Trey Parker, Matt Stone,
the south Park guys starting season twenty seven off in style.
I guess you could say. Also the Coners of Casa
Benita right here in Denver making their home in Colorado
and basing a lot of South Park off of Colorado.
(00:35):
Ryan Truling live back with you, and that was from
the season premiere. Donald Trump depicted. Now, when they depict
Canadians in this program, if you're not familiar south Park,
they have kind of like these puppet heads that move
and their mouths aren't exactly mouths, as like one half
of their head, like the Terrence and Phillip show. That's
Canadian and the Mounties and any Canadian leaders that they depict,
(00:58):
like Justin Trudeau. But Donald Trump was also depicted that way.
So I'm not sure what is going on with that.
But what you just heard was the caricature of Donald
Trump getting upset with White House artists for well not
depicting him in a flattering way in a painting that
was being displayed at the White House. Now, this is
from earlier I confronted confronted Reagan Reese with this. She
(01:20):
had not heard it yet, the White House correspondent for
Daily Caller. And if you missed that, you can catch
it on the podcast Ryan Schuleing Live. Be sure to subscribe,
download and listen. And this was with the Canadian premiere
coming into the Oval Office.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But if he's here, then who's in the White House?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Okay, mister president, Sir, the Prime Minister of Canada is.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Here to see you.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Mister President, why are you placing his new tariffs on Canada?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
What are you some kind of dictator from the Middle East?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I dedcated from the Middle East. We last, Yeah, I
guess you direct.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
The people of Canada will not be devalued like this.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I come on, you don't want me to bomb you
like I did Iraq. I thought you just bombed I
rapt iran if.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
I didn't know the difference between iron and I rock.
That was Donald Trump getting peppered there by Mark Carney,
the Canadian Prime minister. You had an explanation, Zach for
the bobblehead look of the Canadians. Why Trump had that as.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Well, yes, so the Canadians still are kind of animated.
The only Trump in this episode is a photo with
that feature. The only other time they've done that is
with Saddam Hussein.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Huh. And the voice they're.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
Using for Trump, it doesn't really sound anything like Trump.
It's the same voice they've used for Saddam Hussein in
the episode, Trump is in a homosexual relationship with Satan.
Saddam Hussein in the South Park universe right down in
Hell was in a homosexual relationship with Satan, so it
seems to be, and the Canadian Prime Minister says, what
(03:04):
are you some dictator from the Middle East? They seem
to be saying that he is Saddam Hussein. At least
it did drin some parallel and they're not so subtle
joke and reference there.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Thank you Zach for clearing that up South Park going
after Donald Trump in this way more specifically and pointedly
on the Epstein Files. And we'll get to that in
just a moment. But to Zach's point here kind of
a fun historical note. So those of you that have
seen Team America World Police, which is hilarious and it's
over twenty years old now, they were going to depict.
(03:34):
As Zach just mentioned, Saddam Hussein was going to be
the primary villain in that movie. But as fate would
have it for them, Saddam Hussein was captured and hanged
not long before they were going to begin production. These
were actual animated marionette puppets with strings, and if you
watch the movie, it's really well done, intricate, etc. With
sets and the puppets. But they couldn't use Sada Mussein
(03:55):
anymore because he was dead, so they used Kim Jong un,
the dictator from North Korea instead, And actually I think
that it turned out to be pretty darn funny. It
may be funnier than it would have been with Saddam Hussein.
But let's get romantic.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
Now.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
It's Donald Trump trying to sneak into bed with Satan,
the Prince of Darkness.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Nobody makes sun of me and gets away with it.
I don't want to right now, don't. I've been working hard.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
They you haven't been working.
Speaker 7 (04:29):
You've been doing your stupid memes and just working around.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I kind of even see anything you see you.
Speaker 8 (04:45):
Welcome now.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I had to reinsert the beachs there when it used
to air on Comedy Central, they would have the censored version,
but now that it's on Paramount Plus, which is an interesting,
delicious irony, right, they just paid I think it was
over a billion dollars for the rights to all the
episodes in the catalogs act right, one point five billion,
is that right? That number I believe. I just saw that.
It's insane. Yeah, and they just picked up those rights
(05:11):
for that price. To keep in mind, Paramount CBS, that
conglomerate is the same organization that just let Stephen Colbert go.
He cost them a lot less. But they're banking on
South Park and Trey and Matt repays them with this
episode about Trump. But they're just trying. You could tell
they're trying to get a reaction out of Trump by
you know, making fun of his manhood or lack thereof.
(05:32):
And they thought that that would be maybe one way
to get through to him and maybe make Kim sue
South Park. I think that would backfire though. First of all,
those two guys are really wealthy at this point. And secondly,
there has to be room in the entertainment universe for parody,
for in the in the sheer interest of comedy, and
obviously this is ridiculous. These are ridiculous extremes. Donald Trump
(05:53):
doesn't really sleep with Satan, so I think the Donald
would be well served to have a good sense of
humor about this. And this one's particularly interesting because they
depict Caroline love It. You can tell it's her. And
Donald Trump takes the phone to talk to some supporters of.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
His Mister President, a lot of your supporters are starting
to turn against you.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Hidell let me take a rest, So can you please
talk to them?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
They're really riled up.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Goat, I give me that.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Hey, we last gay? Yeah, Hi, what do you think
you're doing?
Speaker 7 (06:24):
Our children are being told that they have to say
with Jesus at lunchtime.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Listen, dotty, you just need to relax. How podcasting makes
me look at? Just get the rest.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Well, no, we're not going to give it a rest.
Speaker 6 (06:35):
All the people here in south Park want some damn answers.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
All right again, I'm.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Gonna see your hometown. You got that five billion gallis?
What do he say? He said he's suing us for
five billion dollars making fun. They can make fun all
they wanted. Trump's suing, but he's winning. He's winning those
lawsuits against ABC and George Stephanopolis against CBS and sixty
(07:00):
Minutes and Colbert might have been a casualty of all that.
All right, here's the Epstein files. This is how they
choose to treat this.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Stupid idiots.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Don't think a mess with me. Huh ah. I'm not
in the mood right now.
Speaker 7 (07:18):
Another random bitch commented on my Instagram that you're on
the Epstein list.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
The Epstein How are you still talking about that?
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Who are you on the list or not?
Speaker 7 (07:27):
It's weird that whenever it comes up, you just tell
everyone to relax.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I'm not telling everyone to relast.
Speaker 7 (07:34):
No, I need counseling. You remind me more and more
of this other guy I used to date. I'm like
a lot like you guys.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Are exactly a lot. What time must Snad was saying,
what are you? I'm all right now? Threatened with this lawsuit,
the town of South Park decides to rally and they
come up with a solution because Trump was willing to negotiate.
I got the president down to three and a half
million dollars three and a half million. That's not so bad.
(08:03):
That's really fair. I think that's fair.
Speaker 9 (08:05):
We'll just have to cut some funding for our schools
and hospitals and roads, and that should be that.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Yeah, yeah, well that's not quite all. As part of
the settlement, we also had to agree to doing pro
Trump messaging. How are we supposed to do pro Trump messaging?
Come on, guys, we're South Park. We could do it. Yeah,
got to work together.
Speaker 6 (08:31):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
This animated spot that they created the end of the
program is brilliant. It's breathtaking and its accuracy using AI
animation Trump's head, it looks like him and he's in
the desert and he goes from wearing his customary suit
and tie, the red tie, the blue suit, et cetera,
taking off all his clothes in the hot desert. And
this was the voiceover to those visuals who walked through
(08:53):
the desert for you.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Who survived the wilderness and gave the ultimate sacrifice with
things he'd up. Who will deliver us from temptation? Danny
Jane Jack, no matter how hot it gets. He's not
afraid to fight for America with conviction, discipline, and trust
(09:24):
in God. He survived the desert.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
He's bringing up God in this episode too, and taking
fund of Jesus and Christians.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
I'm Donald to Japan.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
There's those letters Trump.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
His boss is teeny tiny, but his love for us,
he is large.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
All right, Now, I know you only heard and that's
half the picture the audio from this and South Park's
depiction of Donald Trump in their season twenty seven premiere,
which is now airing on Paramount Plus. I want your
reaction to that five seven, seven, three nine. We'll get
to those comments in just a moment. But joining us now,
Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer. We're very happy to have her along
(10:19):
fighting for Tabor and fighting for you, the taxpayers of Colorado,
and she joins us here on Ryan Schuling Live. Senator Kirkmeyer,
thank you for your time.
Speaker 9 (10:27):
Absolutely, good afternoon.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Well take us through this battle advanced. Colorado is leading
this initiative, but you are standing firm behind it. Why
it started and where it's going from here.
Speaker 9 (10:39):
So it started because the Democrats in the legislature and
then the governor signed the bill twelve ninety six. They
passed a bill that essentially says, hey, we're gonna we're
still going to require in the state that you have
to pay taxes on overtime. They made some other changes
as well, but essentially their bill twenty five, twelve ninety six.
It violates. It's a new tax. It constitutes a tax
(11:04):
policy change that is going to cause a net tax
revenue gain through the state on the backs of working families,
of working people who rely on that over time to
make ends meet in this state. And they're like, let's
just go tax them. And from our perspective, we're just saying, look,
we have TABOR. We've had the Taxpayer Bill of Rights
(11:27):
since nineteen ninety two. It's a constitutional provision, and the
Constitution matters. It's not a policy document. It's not just
there for guidance. It is the Constitution, which is the
supreme law of our land, and we think they should
actually have to follow it. I don't care if they
are legislators and they write laws, they should have to
follow the Constitution.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
She represents the twenty third district in the state Senate.
Republican Barb Kirkmeyer, Our guest, I'm just so confused by this,
bar because you and I have followed politics for quite
a long time, and I remember it distinctly time when
the Democrats were the party of the working class, of
the blue collar assembly line workers who were in unions
and worked over time and now it's like it's been
(12:09):
juxtaposed to where here we are Republicans fighting for the
rights of workers of nine to five workers, and the
Democrats are looking to squeeze every last dime, even from
those that are in the working class. Can you make
sense of this? Why are they doing this?
Speaker 9 (12:24):
Because they can? I mean when I mean seriously, I
know that sounded very kind of flipped through, you know,
just kind of flipped there. But when this came up
at the Joint Budget Committee, which I sit on, I
was told, well, I'm like, why didn't this go to
a vote? Why aren't we taking this to a vote?
And I told, well, we're legislators. We write laws and
we get.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
To do that.
Speaker 9 (12:45):
But we have tabor. We have the Taxpayer Bill of
Rights that was again passed in nineteen ninety two. So
it's not like it's a big secret to anybody. But
you know, for the last thirty years, essentially they have
been working to find, you know, any work around they
can should not actually adhere to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
They don't like the Taxpayer Bill of Rights because it's
limits the amounts of spending and the amount that government
(13:08):
can grow, which I think is a good thing, and
thank god we have it, or we'd really be in
a budget problem. But you know, they want to blame
TABOR for all their problems, blame Tabor for their overspending.
And I think, honestly, when I said because they can,
I think they just don't think anyone's paying attention, that
no one's following them. And quite frankly, they're like, well,
(13:29):
you know, you have to sue us if you want
to change it. And I think that's shameful. I mean,
you're correct, they say they're for the working families, but
it's very clear their actions speak a lot louder in
words when they are saying, you know, essentially, look, we're
just going to keep taxing you on overtime. We don't
care what they did at the federal government. And this
is not the first tax that they have added back on.
(13:52):
You know, in my research of this and talking to
Legislative Council and staff, there are like fifteen other items
that they have at it back on that you don't
pay taxes at the federal level, but you pay taxes
at the state level. One and that would be income tax.
So we're one of the least affordable states you know,
in the nation, and they think it's a good idea
(14:12):
to add on an additional tax because they can't stop
spending and they've screwed up our budget.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
And it's not just in the form of this bill,
House Bill twenty five twelve ninety six, which is going
to keep taxes in overtime after the Trump administration just
signed that executive order no tax on tips, no tax
on overtime. But Colorado wants it here. And I just
go to your kind of painting this picture dystopian as
it is barbed that if we didn't have tabor, the
exodus from Colorado, I have to believe would be so
(14:42):
stark in terms of people moving out. It's the one thing,
the one thread that we're holding on to as right
of center Republicans, conservatives, fiscal conservatives in the state that
gives taxpayer a literal bill of rights. I mean, are
we looking at mad Max beyond Thunderdome if taber didn't
exist here in.
Speaker 9 (14:59):
Colorad But probably. But you know, it's not just Republicans
who are holding onto this. It's it's hard working Colorados
just quite frankly tired of being over taxed, you know,
and they come back all the time. When I say
Colorados are overtaxed. You know what they say, Oh, they
don't pay as much taxes as people do in other states.
And then what I think, I don't care. You know what,
(15:21):
for us, it feels like we're paying too much taxes,
especially when we're one of the least affordable fates. You know,
they've raised taxes on just about everything. It feels like,
I mean, think about the price of eggs and how
much that's increased because of legislation. They've passed the price
of housing. Our property taxes w up, our insurance rates
go up. I mean, everything continues to climb. And their
(15:42):
answer is more taxes. You know, they can't stop spending
in the budget. They create a budget deficit. It's a
structural deficit. So it's not just as simple we've got
to tighten our belts. It's we've maxed out plus on
our credit cards and now we got to pay them
off kind of thing. And their answer is, well, tapers problem.
If we didn't have Tabor, government could have nice things.
(16:03):
And that's what our share of the Joint Budget Committee,
Senator Bridges likes to say. If we didn't have Tabor,
man government could have nice things, and I just stop
raising my hand. I just respond automatically, thank God for Tabor,
because it's why the people in this state get to
have nice things.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Bingo. Senator Barb Kirkmeyer joining us. Final question for you, Barber,
appreciate your time on short notice. I'm looking at this
waging of a battle on two fronts, the legal front
through the courts against the legislative based on the constitutional
contradiction in overturning Tabor in this instance, and then also
taking a ballot measure to the voters which seems like
it would pass overwhelmingly based on internal polling by Michael
(16:41):
Fields of a Vans, Colorado. Where do you see this
ending up? Are you confident that you can win this
in the courts or on the ballot.
Speaker 9 (16:50):
I'm not confident we can win in the courts because
the courts have been pretty skewed over the last few
years when it comes to Tabor and really realizing what
Taber was meant to do and the intent of Tabor.
So I'm not all that confident about going into court,
but I think we have to do it to again
hold Democrats one party control accountable. But I think there's
actually another front as well. I think the ballot measure
(17:11):
will pass overwhelmingly. But you know, as I tweeted out
to Representative Sokai, who was the prime sponsor in the
House this morning, what are you going to do? What
are your colleagues going to do when I carry a
bill to repeal twelve ninety six and to refer it
all to the ballot? What are you going to do then?
Because you can't hide anymore. They snuck this one in they,
(17:32):
you know, which is really shady in my opinion. You know,
we tried to have debate on it, but you know,
by the time it gets over to the Senate, we're
we're you know, in the end, getting to the end
of the session, it's hard to have a lot of debate.
There's so many things that are just getting shoved through
that are just not good for the state of Colorado.
But you know what, now we're going to shine a
whole bunch of light on what these Democrats have done.
(17:53):
And so I'd like to know what do they think
they're going to do? How does she think in an
election year her colleagues are going to vote. She thinks
they're going to vote to increase people's taxes on overtime.
I mean, these are hard breaking people, and I'm just like,
what are they thinking? But I think the ballot measure
is it's a slam dunk in my mind. And when
I've been talking to folks, even you know, the labor unions,
(18:17):
they're like, oh my god, how'd that get through? Kind
of thing? And I'm like, well, where were you? Yeah,
but I think they're in the same boat, like how
did that happen? And I'm like, well, they just snuck
it through kind of thing. And you know, again, we're
going to you know, I know I'm going to bring
some bills forward, or at least a bill forward. I
(18:38):
know my Republican colleagues will be bringing some bills forward
to again go back and cut taxes again. We're one
of the least affordable states in the United States, and
their idea to make it better is to increase taxes.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Nobody smarter on finances and the budget in the entire
General Assembly, in my opinion. The Senator Barb Kirkmeyer joining
us here, Barb, which X handled Twitter? Hander do you
prefer for people to follow you at.
Speaker 9 (19:04):
I post on both of them, which you know, because
I already had followards on both and so I just
keep posting on both of them. That doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Either one dual track at sen se N Kirkmeyer, that's
k I R K M E y E R or
at COO Sen kirk Meyer. Either one you can follow
her there for the very latest, Senator kirk Meyer. Always
appreciate your time, and thank you so much for fighting
for us in keeping Tabor intact.
Speaker 9 (19:28):
Absolutely and thank you. Thank you for all your doing
to keep people engaged and keep them informed. Greatly appreciate
it and greatly appreciate your comment.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Thank you, Senator Barb Kirkmeyer. Your thoughts five seven seven
three nine when we come back my tribute to the
Great Hulk Hogan he passed away today at the age
of seventy one. Lots to get to as well with
your text at five seven seven three nine Right here
on Ryan Schuley Live.
Speaker 8 (19:55):
Well Hustling Federation check in oh covin you approve of
Tomo them two thousands of fans not only here today
the Madison Square Garden, but.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Throughout the wrestling words a meeting take Cruiser to itself.
Speaker 10 (20:08):
All I asked, who's for the whole w W just
stand behind the Holster and I told him I'm trying
at home to the USA, you know, so let me tea.
It's the dream of.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
A lifetime, Danny. And you know something I can't imagine.
Speaker 10 (20:19):
This is like going to the mountaintop of a thousand
times over. I feel the energy how coming his running
world wide and it just turns beyond me jeans and
I felt everyone on those twenty five thirty plus thousand
people with me standing.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
Behind me all the way, and.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
It felt great, Well you have arrived, Holko, I ain't.
Speaker 8 (20:35):
Never seen anything.
Speaker 10 (20:36):
It's beautifulses meeting six fellos poet years so it's everybody
out there.
Speaker 8 (20:41):
Oh oh Andre the Tian congratulating Hello, heavyweight tap in
the world.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
That's nice of you. I'm really proud of you.
Speaker 8 (20:57):
I'm run with the war for who di'mond from Molay
the Garden with the new Levy Away chuck in.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
And the star was born that night. World Wrestling Federation
is was then known WWF, now the WWE World Wrestling Entertainment.
The Hulkster Hulk Hogan Terry gen Belea becoming champion of
the World in the WWF and the heavyweight division in
nineteen eighty four, defeating the Iron Chic, who not long
before that had defeated Bob Beckland. Now I know it's
(21:40):
pro wrestling, it's all k faban theater. But people watch
TV shows all the time that are fiction. This just
happens to be sports fiction. And anyone that would tell
you wrestling is fake doesn't know wrestling or the story
behind it. Watch the movie The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke.
These guys put themselves through absolute hellucking, ruptured discs, cracked spines.
(22:02):
I watched an interview with Stone called Steve Austin where
he would maybe a millimeter away from severing his spinal
cord in a match. These guys are in steel cage matches,
falling like two stories down onto a table, like Mankind
or the Undertaker. But it all began with Hull Cogan
in nineteen eighty four and Vince McMahon, who ran the
then called WWF, discovered him, and you might recall him
(22:24):
from Rocky three. He was Thunderlips. He was throwing Rocky
Balboa out of the ring early on in that film,
and he was still unrefined at that time. But what
Hulk Cogan would become is an eighties pop culture icon.
He transcended entertainment sport. He was on The Tonight Show
with Johnny Carson. There were cartoons that were made. Cindy
(22:48):
Lauper came in, made some music for these guys. There
were action figures. My brother and I had. My brother
Nate worshiped tol Cogan throughout the nineteen eighties. Now I
was more of a macho man, rady savage guy gaale
right here, and then they formed the Megapowers with one handshake.
In the late eighties, I was on cloud nine because
Macho Man was my guy and Hulk Hogan was Nate's guy,
(23:11):
and we were together finally. But Hulk Hogan inspired young
gen xers everywhere with the motto train say your prayers,
eat your vitamins. And unfortunately for Hulk Hogan and he
would admit this in the years after, there was a
definite dark side to wrestling. In fact, there's a documentary
series I think called almost exactly that in which the
(23:33):
steroid age it struck the WWF hard because these guys,
they had to get their bodies ready to perform. We're
talking several nights a week all around the calendar hardly
any time off, whether it was travel or being in
the ring. I don't know how a lot of these
guys did it, but Hulk Hogan did it the best.
He captured the imagination of not only the youth, but
(23:53):
of pop culture writ large, and Hulk Hogan dying today
just shy of his seventy second birthday, born in nineteen
fifty three in August and dying to day July twenty fourth,
twenty twenty five. You may recall, and we went over
this too, Hulk Cogan stepping into the spotlight in the
political realm at the RNC and with this iconic moment
(24:17):
endorsing Donald Trump and JD. Vance.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
But what happened last week when they took a shot
and my hero and they tried to kill the next
president of the United States?
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Oh no blaws enough, yeh sad.
Speaker 10 (24:38):
Love Cpamania run wild brother, leve cop.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Omania rule again.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
Let cop Omania y oh backa cry again.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Hunk Cogan with his full throated endorsement of Donald Trump,
ripping off that one but two T shirts to reveal
the Trump Vance shirt underneath. Kelly, you watched this happen
in real time, and you're a gen xer like me,
and you remember how big Hulk Hogan was. How would
you describe that moment where politics met pro wrestling.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Oh my gosh, it was so wonderful. But I am
so enjoying listening to you, to your pre pewveset self
when you were with Nate and I don't know.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Thirteen maybe well I was thirteen to nineteen eighty seven,
And I'm glad you mentioned that age because it was
exactly that year when the biggest wrestling event in the
history of the world took place at the Pontiac Silverdome,
WrestleMania three, okay, which Hulk Hogan was going against Andre
the Giant. I begged my mom and dad for tickets
(25:43):
for my dad to take Nate and me, and I
had to call this like one nine seven six number
to get ticket information. There was going to be ninety
thousand plus people in this Silverdome, and I found out
that the tickets that the least expensive ticket to get
in was going to be one hundred dollars a piece.
And it doesn't sound like a lot now, but in
nineteen eighty seven, well that was a lot. There was
a lot of money. My dad said, yeah, he just
(26:05):
couldn't do it. I would have never forgotten that memory though,
had I been able to go to WrestleMania three. And
one of his best friends through the years, almost his equal. Now,
Rick Flair was in the NWA as was then known
the National Wrestling Association then later WCW. He never really
had a direct affiliation with the WWF for many many years.
(26:28):
Now he ultimately would. But throughout the eighties, the big
question and all the wrestling magazines what would happen if
Rick Flair wrestled against Hulk Hogan And we never got
to see that because they were in different circuits. But
today Rick Flair found out the news and this is
just it's really heartbreaking but also heartwarming to hear how
fond Rick Flair was of his good friend Hulk Hogan.
Speaker 11 (26:49):
Some time people all wanted the venus as that it
means when we were actually buried, very close friends and
we can't put up with each other on a regular basis.
So I just talked to Jimmy Hart yesterday and he
(27:13):
was five and this happened.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Horrible. How did you get the news? I'm so sorry, Rick,
I am so sorry.
Speaker 11 (27:23):
Oh I've prom everybody won't stop.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
We had magic.
Speaker 11 (27:28):
I mean it wasn't like me and Steamboat, but we
had magic.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Rick Flair describing his relationship with Hulk Hogan, who was
the alpha and the omega really of the WWF. He
set the trend, he blazed the trail. He made pro
wrestling as popular as it was. It would then go
on in the nineties with the Attitude era and the
competing factions, the WCW which Hogan would join and form
the NWL at one point, and the WWF that would
(27:54):
roll on into the WWE, but without Hulk Hogan. I
mean he was the predecessor to them.
Speaker 6 (27:58):
All.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
I mentioned Stone calls Steve Austin or The Rock or
John Cena. Anybody that you watch in pro wrestling today
derives from hul Cogan. What was that, Kelly quickly that
it flew with him? Sina, No, no, no, the other
one the Rock all yeah, Dwayne Johnson right. And this
from Jonathan Flora, the husband of Deborah Flora. As I know,
(28:19):
he prefers to be called the husband of Deborah Flora.
He texted me the following, Ryan, I used to work
with Hulk back in the day. One of a kind
and larger than life, to say the least, was a
great guy and always gave me what I needed for marketing,
et cetera. And his Trump support was pretty fun and cool.
He will be missed. He will indeed. Hul Cogan Terry
jen Blea dies today at the age of seventy one,
(28:42):
and that is the end of an era. We'll take
a time out. We'll wrap up with your text five
seven seven three nine after this on Ryan Schuling Live.
Sprinting to the finish here on Ryan Schuling Live on
this Thursday edition, remembering hul Cogan passing away at the
age of seven. He won lots of texts about that.
I'll get to as many as I can right now
(29:03):
at five seven seven three nine, Ryan, be honest, did
you tear up a little bit today? Now it says
cheer up a little bit today? I did not cheer
up a little bit today. I was sad. It hit
me like a ton of bricks the news that Hulk
Hogan had died. I mean, this is such a large,
massive chunk of my childhood and my memories and my
enjoyment of my youth in an more innocent time for
(29:25):
me and for my brother. I mean, this is something
that he and I shared, we'd wrestle, we'd play wrestling
WWF with my cousin Josh on mattresses and so forth.
We actually do that. One time, I accidentally put my
brother in a real figure four leg luck and let
me tell you that hurts. It feels like your shin's
gonna split in two. But I did realize that they
(29:45):
were doing a fake figure for Maybe they weren't, I
don't know. In the pro wrestling arena, this one says
Rip Hulkster. I didn't think I'd tear up today, but
I did. Steven Littleton getting tired of losing my favorite celebrities.
This week's been rough. This is as a week as
I can recall in a long time. I remembering music,
we lost several people, all within a couple years of
(30:05):
one another. Prince and TMZ also broke that story, as
they did today with Hulk Hogan. That's how I found
out that Prince had died. Chris Cornell, my brother saw
him the night before he died in Detroit, and that
rattled him quite severely because my brother worshiped Chris Cornell.
Music lay there, Tom Petty and David Bowie. You remember
that Kelly the all died with the like a year
(30:26):
and a half of each other. I think four giants
of music, and that's the only thing that compares in
recent memory for me to this week losing theo from
The Cosby Show, Malcolm Jamal Warner, drowning in a tragic accident,
and a family vacation Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan. Wow, it
seems like.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
The eighties are disappearing. They'll such a sad time. Well
for all of us who grew up.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
With that, Well, you need to watch Stranger Things, the
final seasons coming out in October. It's all about the eighties. Oh,
you've told me that you need to watch it, and
as a text reminds me once again. We also lost
Chuck Mangione today. Oh yeah, I'm going to feature some
of his music on Dan's show. This texter says, I
don't know how he did it, but my grandfather found
a way to take me to both WrestleMania three and
WrestleMania four. One of the best memories of my life
(31:10):
if I remember both of those were Hulk versus Andre. Yeah,
WrestleMania four was a tournament format and I remember that
quite well. WrestleMania three. I mean, right in that sweet spot.
That was the golden Age, the pinnacle of pro wrestling
as a pop culture item. And we'll talk far more
about this with Christian Toto and Deborah Flora tomorrow on
the Right Side of Hollywood, as well as the South
(31:32):
Park send up of President Trump. This one says bad
week for US gen xers Malcolm Jamal Warner, Ozzie and
the Hulkster. Yeah, definitely. Indeed, the wrestling world said this.
Texter lost Andre the Giant when he was only forty
three years old. That was in ninety three. I remember
as a freshman at Michigan State very sad he had
had some health problems. He's a very large man, obviously,
and most people in pop culture will remember him as
(31:54):
Fezik in The Prince's Bride. What a great pairing he
was with Mandy patinkin perfect You could not have imagined
below the person. My name is Nigo Montoya. You killed
my father, prepared to die. Yeah, okay, I go to
my memory lane. Not a Peanuts I'm getting nostalgic. There's
(32:15):
no time left for peanuts. Kelly. I know the line
you're talking about, but we're going to continue this conversation
with the Dan Kapla Show, so stay tuned for that
right side of Hollywood mor Ryan Shuling Live coming up tomorrow.
Thanks for joining me here today
By what is that?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is the painting you up for, sir, but that's
the size it is in the photo Colorado.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
I'm gonna go.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
You gotta do bother you, oh boy, Trey Parker, Matt Stone,
the south Park guys starting season twenty seven off in style.
I guess you could say. Also the Coners of Casa
Benita right here in Denver making their home in Colorado
and basing a lot of South Park off of Colorado.
(00:35):
Ryan Truling live back with you, and that was from
the season premiere. Donald Trump depicted. Now, when they depict
Canadians in this program, if you're not familiar south Park,
they have kind of like these puppet heads that move
and their mouths aren't exactly mouths, as like one half
of their head, like the Terrence and Phillip show. That's
Canadian and the Mounties and any Canadian leaders that they depict,
(00:58):
like Justin Trudeau. But Donald Trump was also depicted that way.
So I'm not sure what is going on with that.
But what you just heard was the caricature of Donald
Trump getting upset with White House artists for well not
depicting him in a flattering way in a painting that
was being displayed at the White House. Now, this is
from earlier I confronted confronted Reagan Reese with this. She
(01:20):
had not heard it yet, the White House correspondent for
Daily Caller. And if you missed that, you can catch
it on the podcast Ryan Schuleing Live. Be sure to subscribe,
download and listen. And this was with the Canadian premiere
coming into the Oval Office.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But if he's here, then who's in the White House?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Okay, mister president, Sir, the Prime Minister of Canada is.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Here to see you.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
Mister President, why are you placing his new tariffs on Canada?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
What are you some kind of dictator from the Middle East?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I dedcated from the Middle East. We last, Yeah, I
guess you direct.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
The people of Canada will not be devalued like this.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
I come on, you don't want me to bomb you
like I did Iraq. I thought you just bombed I
rapt iran if.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
I didn't know the difference between iron and I rock.
That was Donald Trump getting peppered there by Mark Carney,
the Canadian Prime minister. You had an explanation, Zach for
the bobblehead look of the Canadians. Why Trump had that as.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Well, yes, so the Canadians still are kind of animated.
The only Trump in this episode is a photo with
that feature. The only other time they've done that is
with Saddam Hussein.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Huh. And the voice they're.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
Using for Trump, it doesn't really sound anything like Trump.
It's the same voice they've used for Saddam Hussein in
the episode, Trump is in a homosexual relationship with Satan.
Saddam Hussein in the South Park universe right down in
Hell was in a homosexual relationship with Satan, so it
seems to be, and the Canadian Prime Minister says, what
(03:04):
are you some dictator from the Middle East? They seem
to be saying that he is Saddam Hussein. At least
it did drin some parallel and they're not so subtle
joke and reference there.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Thank you Zach for clearing that up South Park going
after Donald Trump in this way more specifically and pointedly
on the Epstein Files. And we'll get to that in
just a moment. But to Zach's point here kind of
a fun historical note. So those of you that have
seen Team America World Police, which is hilarious and it's
over twenty years old now, they were going to depict.
(03:34):
As Zach just mentioned, Saddam Hussein was going to be
the primary villain in that movie. But as fate would
have it for them, Saddam Hussein was captured and hanged
not long before they were going to begin production. These
were actual animated marionette puppets with strings, and if you
watch the movie, it's really well done, intricate, etc. With
sets and the puppets. But they couldn't use Sada Mussein
(03:55):
anymore because he was dead, so they used Kim Jong un,
the dictator from North Korea instead, And actually I think
that it turned out to be pretty darn funny. It
may be funnier than it would have been with Saddam Hussein.
But let's get romantic.
Speaker 6 (04:08):
Now.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
It's Donald Trump trying to sneak into bed with Satan,
the Prince of Darkness.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Nobody makes sun of me and gets away with it.
I don't want to right now, don't. I've been working hard.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
They you haven't been working.
Speaker 7 (04:29):
You've been doing your stupid memes and just working around.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I kind of even see anything you see you.
Speaker 8 (04:45):
Welcome now.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I had to reinsert the beachs there when it used
to air on Comedy Central, they would have the censored version,
but now that it's on Paramount Plus, which is an interesting,
delicious irony, right, they just paid I think it was
over a billion dollars for the rights to all the
episodes in the catalogs act right, one point five billion,
is that right? That number I believe. I just saw that.
It's insane. Yeah, and they just picked up those rights
(05:11):
for that price. To keep in mind, Paramount CBS, that
conglomerate is the same organization that just let Stephen Colbert go.
He cost them a lot less. But they're banking on
South Park and Trey and Matt repays them with this
episode about Trump. But they're just trying. You could tell
they're trying to get a reaction out of Trump by
you know, making fun of his manhood or lack thereof.
(05:32):
And they thought that that would be maybe one way
to get through to him and maybe make Kim sue
South Park. I think that would backfire though. First of all,
those two guys are really wealthy at this point. And secondly,
there has to be room in the entertainment universe for parody,
for in the in the sheer interest of comedy, and
obviously this is ridiculous. These are ridiculous extremes. Donald Trump
(05:53):
doesn't really sleep with Satan, so I think the Donald
would be well served to have a good sense of
humor about this. And this one's particularly interesting because they
depict Caroline love It. You can tell it's her. And
Donald Trump takes the phone to talk to some supporters of.
Speaker 4 (06:09):
His Mister President, a lot of your supporters are starting
to turn against you.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Hidell let me take a rest, So can you please
talk to them?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
They're really riled up.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Goat, I give me that.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Hey, we last gay? Yeah, Hi, what do you think
you're doing?
Speaker 7 (06:24):
Our children are being told that they have to say
with Jesus at lunchtime.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Listen, dotty, you just need to relax. How podcasting makes
me look at? Just get the rest.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Well, no, we're not going to give it a rest.
Speaker 6 (06:35):
All the people here in south Park want some damn answers.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
All right again, I'm.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Gonna see your hometown. You got that five billion gallis?
What do he say? He said he's suing us for
five billion dollars making fun. They can make fun all
they wanted. Trump's suing, but he's winning. He's winning those
lawsuits against ABC and George Stephanopolis against CBS and sixty
(07:00):
Minutes and Colbert might have been a casualty of all that.
All right, here's the Epstein files. This is how they
choose to treat this.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Stupid idiots.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Don't think a mess with me. Huh ah. I'm not
in the mood right now.
Speaker 7 (07:18):
Another random bitch commented on my Instagram that you're on
the Epstein list.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
The Epstein How are you still talking about that?
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Who are you on the list or not?
Speaker 7 (07:27):
It's weird that whenever it comes up, you just tell
everyone to relax.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I'm not telling everyone to relast.
Speaker 7 (07:34):
No, I need counseling. You remind me more and more
of this other guy I used to date. I'm like
a lot like you guys.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Are exactly a lot. What time must Snad was saying,
what are you? I'm all right now? Threatened with this lawsuit,
the town of South Park decides to rally and they
come up with a solution because Trump was willing to negotiate.
I got the president down to three and a half
million dollars three and a half million. That's not so bad.
(08:03):
That's really fair. I think that's fair.
Speaker 9 (08:05):
We'll just have to cut some funding for our schools
and hospitals and roads, and that should be that.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Yeah, yeah, well that's not quite all. As part of
the settlement, we also had to agree to doing pro
Trump messaging. How are we supposed to do pro Trump messaging?
Come on, guys, we're South Park. We could do it. Yeah,
got to work together.
Speaker 6 (08:31):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
This animated spot that they created the end of the
program is brilliant. It's breathtaking and its accuracy using AI
animation Trump's head, it looks like him and he's in
the desert and he goes from wearing his customary suit
and tie, the red tie, the blue suit, et cetera,
taking off all his clothes in the hot desert. And
this was the voiceover to those visuals who walked through
(08:53):
the desert for you.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Who survived the wilderness and gave the ultimate sacrifice with
things he'd up. Who will deliver us from temptation? Danny
Jane Jack, no matter how hot it gets. He's not
afraid to fight for America with conviction, discipline, and trust
(09:24):
in God. He survived the desert.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
He's bringing up God in this episode too, and taking
fund of Jesus and Christians.
Speaker 4 (09:37):
I'm Donald to Japan.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
There's those letters Trump.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
His boss is teeny tiny, but his love for us,
he is large.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
All right, Now, I know you only heard and that's
half the picture the audio from this and South Park's
depiction of Donald Trump in their season twenty seven premiere,
which is now airing on Paramount Plus. I want your
reaction to that five seven, seven, three nine. We'll get
to those comments in just a moment. But joining us now,
Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer. We're very happy to have her along
(10:19):
fighting for Tabor and fighting for you, the taxpayers of Colorado,
and she joins us here on Ryan Schuling Live. Senator Kirkmeyer,
thank you for your time.
Speaker 9 (10:27):
Absolutely, good afternoon.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Well take us through this battle advanced. Colorado is leading
this initiative, but you are standing firm behind it. Why
it started and where it's going from here.
Speaker 9 (10:39):
So it started because the Democrats in the legislature and
then the governor signed the bill twelve ninety six. They
passed a bill that essentially says, hey, we're gonna we're
still going to require in the state that you have
to pay taxes on overtime. They made some other changes
as well, but essentially their bill twenty five, twelve ninety six.
It violates. It's a new tax. It constitutes a tax
(11:04):
policy change that is going to cause a net tax
revenue gain through the state on the backs of working families,
of working people who rely on that over time to
make ends meet in this state. And they're like, let's
just go tax them. And from our perspective, we're just saying, look,
we have TABOR. We've had the Taxpayer Bill of Rights
(11:27):
since nineteen ninety two. It's a constitutional provision, and the
Constitution matters. It's not a policy document. It's not just
there for guidance. It is the Constitution, which is the
supreme law of our land, and we think they should
actually have to follow it. I don't care if they
are legislators and they write laws, they should have to
follow the Constitution.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
She represents the twenty third district in the state Senate.
Republican Barb Kirkmeyer, Our guest, I'm just so confused by this,
bar because you and I have followed politics for quite
a long time, and I remember it distinctly time when
the Democrats were the party of the working class, of
the blue collar assembly line workers who were in unions
and worked over time and now it's like it's been
(12:09):
juxtaposed to where here we are Republicans fighting for the
rights of workers of nine to five workers, and the
Democrats are looking to squeeze every last dime, even from
those that are in the working class. Can you make
sense of this? Why are they doing this?
Speaker 9 (12:24):
Because they can? I mean when I mean seriously, I
know that sounded very kind of flipped through, you know,
just kind of flipped there. But when this came up
at the Joint Budget Committee, which I sit on, I
was told, well, I'm like, why didn't this go to
a vote? Why aren't we taking this to a vote?
And I told, well, we're legislators. We write laws and
we get.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
To do that.
Speaker 9 (12:45):
But we have tabor. We have the Taxpayer Bill of
Rights that was again passed in nineteen ninety two. So
it's not like it's a big secret to anybody. But
you know, for the last thirty years, essentially they have
been working to find, you know, any work around they
can should not actually adhere to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
They don't like the Taxpayer Bill of Rights because it's
limits the amounts of spending and the amount that government
(13:08):
can grow, which I think is a good thing, and
thank god we have it, or we'd really be in
a budget problem. But you know, they want to blame
TABOR for all their problems, blame Tabor for their overspending.
And I think, honestly, when I said because they can,
I think they just don't think anyone's paying attention, that
no one's following them. And quite frankly, they're like, well,
(13:29):
you know, you have to sue us if you want
to change it. And I think that's shameful. I mean,
you're correct, they say they're for the working families, but
it's very clear their actions speak a lot louder in
words when they are saying, you know, essentially, look, we're
just going to keep taxing you on overtime. We don't
care what they did at the federal government. And this
is not the first tax that they have added back on.
(13:52):
You know, in my research of this and talking to
Legislative Council and staff, there are like fifteen other items
that they have at it back on that you don't
pay taxes at the federal level, but you pay taxes
at the state level. One and that would be income tax.
So we're one of the least affordable states you know,
in the nation, and they think it's a good idea
(14:12):
to add on an additional tax because they can't stop
spending and they've screwed up our budget.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
And it's not just in the form of this bill,
House Bill twenty five twelve ninety six, which is going
to keep taxes in overtime after the Trump administration just
signed that executive order no tax on tips, no tax
on overtime. But Colorado wants it here. And I just
go to your kind of painting this picture dystopian as
it is barbed that if we didn't have tabor, the
exodus from Colorado, I have to believe would be so
(14:42):
stark in terms of people moving out. It's the one thing,
the one thread that we're holding on to as right
of center Republicans, conservatives, fiscal conservatives in the state that
gives taxpayer a literal bill of rights. I mean, are
we looking at mad Max beyond Thunderdome if taber didn't
exist here in.
Speaker 9 (14:59):
Colorad But probably. But you know, it's not just Republicans
who are holding onto this. It's it's hard working Colorados
just quite frankly tired of being over taxed, you know,
and they come back all the time. When I say
Colorados are overtaxed. You know what they say, Oh, they
don't pay as much taxes as people do in other states.
And then what I think, I don't care. You know what,
(15:21):
for us, it feels like we're paying too much taxes,
especially when we're one of the least affordable fates. You know,
they've raised taxes on just about everything. It feels like,
I mean, think about the price of eggs and how
much that's increased because of legislation. They've passed the price
of housing. Our property taxes w up, our insurance rates
go up. I mean, everything continues to climb. And their
(15:42):
answer is more taxes. You know, they can't stop spending
in the budget. They create a budget deficit. It's a
structural deficit. So it's not just as simple we've got
to tighten our belts. It's we've maxed out plus on
our credit cards and now we got to pay them
off kind of thing. And their answer is, well, tapers problem.
If we didn't have Tabor, government could have nice things.
(16:03):
And that's what our share of the Joint Budget Committee,
Senator Bridges likes to say. If we didn't have Tabor,
man government could have nice things, and I just stop
raising my hand. I just respond automatically, thank God for Tabor,
because it's why the people in this state get to
have nice things.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
Bingo. Senator Barb Kirkmeyer joining us. Final question for you, Barber,
appreciate your time on short notice. I'm looking at this
waging of a battle on two fronts, the legal front
through the courts against the legislative based on the constitutional
contradiction in overturning Tabor in this instance, and then also
taking a ballot measure to the voters which seems like
it would pass overwhelmingly based on internal polling by Michael
(16:41):
Fields of a Vans, Colorado. Where do you see this
ending up? Are you confident that you can win this
in the courts or on the ballot.
Speaker 9 (16:50):
I'm not confident we can win in the courts because
the courts have been pretty skewed over the last few
years when it comes to Tabor and really realizing what
Taber was meant to do and the intent of Tabor.
So I'm not all that confident about going into court,
but I think we have to do it to again
hold Democrats one party control accountable. But I think there's
actually another front as well. I think the ballot measure
(17:11):
will pass overwhelmingly. But you know, as I tweeted out
to Representative Sokai, who was the prime sponsor in the
House this morning, what are you going to do? What
are your colleagues going to do when I carry a
bill to repeal twelve ninety six and to refer it
all to the ballot? What are you going to do then?
Because you can't hide anymore. They snuck this one in they,
(17:32):
you know, which is really shady in my opinion. You know,
we tried to have debate on it, but you know,
by the time it gets over to the Senate, we're
we're you know, in the end, getting to the end
of the session, it's hard to have a lot of debate.
There's so many things that are just getting shoved through
that are just not good for the state of Colorado.
But you know what, now we're going to shine a
whole bunch of light on what these Democrats have done.
(17:53):
And so I'd like to know what do they think
they're going to do? How does she think in an
election year her colleagues are going to vote. She thinks
they're going to vote to increase people's taxes on overtime.
I mean, these are hard breaking people, and I'm just like,
what are they thinking? But I think the ballot measure
is it's a slam dunk in my mind. And when
I've been talking to folks, even you know, the labor unions,
(18:17):
they're like, oh my god, how'd that get through? Kind
of thing? And I'm like, well, where were you? Yeah,
but I think they're in the same boat, like how
did that happen? And I'm like, well, they just snuck
it through kind of thing. And you know, again, we're
going to you know, I know I'm going to bring
some bills forward, or at least a bill forward. I
(18:38):
know my Republican colleagues will be bringing some bills forward
to again go back and cut taxes again. We're one
of the least affordable states in the United States, and
their idea to make it better is to increase taxes.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Nobody smarter on finances and the budget in the entire
General Assembly, in my opinion. The Senator Barb Kirkmeyer joining
us here, Barb, which X handled Twitter? Hander do you
prefer for people to follow you at.
Speaker 9 (19:04):
I post on both of them, which you know, because
I already had followards on both and so I just
keep posting on both of them. That doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Either one dual track at sen se N Kirkmeyer, that's
k I R K M E y E R or
at COO Sen kirk Meyer. Either one you can follow
her there for the very latest, Senator kirk Meyer. Always
appreciate your time, and thank you so much for fighting
for us in keeping Tabor intact.
Speaker 9 (19:28):
Absolutely and thank you. Thank you for all your doing
to keep people engaged and keep them informed. Greatly appreciate
it and greatly appreciate your comment.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Thank you, Senator Barb Kirkmeyer. Your thoughts five seven seven
three nine when we come back my tribute to the
Great Hulk Hogan he passed away today at the age
of seventy one. Lots to get to as well with
your text at five seven seven three nine Right here
on Ryan Schuley Live.
Speaker 8 (19:55):
Well Hustling Federation check in oh covin you approve of
Tomo them two thousands of fans not only here today
the Madison Square Garden, but.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
Throughout the wrestling words a meeting take Cruiser to itself.
Speaker 10 (20:08):
All I asked, who's for the whole w W just
stand behind the Holster and I told him I'm trying
at home to the USA, you know, so let me tea.
It's the dream of.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
A lifetime, Danny. And you know something I can't imagine.
Speaker 10 (20:19):
This is like going to the mountaintop of a thousand
times over. I feel the energy how coming his running
world wide and it just turns beyond me jeans and
I felt everyone on those twenty five thirty plus thousand
people with me standing.
Speaker 7 (20:32):
Behind me all the way, and.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
It felt great, Well you have arrived, Holko, I ain't.
Speaker 8 (20:35):
Never seen anything.
Speaker 10 (20:36):
It's beautifulses meeting six fellos poet years so it's everybody
out there.
Speaker 8 (20:41):
Oh oh Andre the Tian congratulating Hello, heavyweight tap in
the world.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
That's nice of you. I'm really proud of you.
Speaker 8 (20:57):
I'm run with the war for who di'mond from Molay
the Garden with the new Levy Away chuck in.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
And the star was born that night. World Wrestling Federation
is was then known WWF, now the WWE World Wrestling Entertainment.
The Hulkster Hulk Hogan Terry gen Belea becoming champion of
the World in the WWF and the heavyweight division in
nineteen eighty four, defeating the Iron Chic, who not long
before that had defeated Bob Beckland. Now I know it's
(21:40):
pro wrestling, it's all k faban theater. But people watch
TV shows all the time that are fiction. This just
happens to be sports fiction. And anyone that would tell
you wrestling is fake doesn't know wrestling or the story
behind it. Watch the movie The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke.
These guys put themselves through absolute hellucking, ruptured discs, cracked spines.
(22:02):
I watched an interview with Stone called Steve Austin where
he would maybe a millimeter away from severing his spinal
cord in a match. These guys are in steel cage matches,
falling like two stories down onto a table, like Mankind
or the Undertaker. But it all began with Hull Cogan
in nineteen eighty four and Vince McMahon, who ran the
then called WWF, discovered him, and you might recall him
(22:24):
from Rocky three. He was Thunderlips. He was throwing Rocky
Balboa out of the ring early on in that film,
and he was still unrefined at that time. But what
Hulk Cogan would become is an eighties pop culture icon.
He transcended entertainment sport. He was on The Tonight Show
with Johnny Carson. There were cartoons that were made. Cindy
(22:48):
Lauper came in, made some music for these guys. There
were action figures. My brother and I had. My brother
Nate worshiped tol Cogan throughout the nineteen eighties. Now I
was more of a macho man, rady savage guy gaale
right here, and then they formed the Megapowers with one handshake.
In the late eighties, I was on cloud nine because
Macho Man was my guy and Hulk Hogan was Nate's guy,
(23:11):
and we were together finally. But Hulk Hogan inspired young
gen xers everywhere with the motto train say your prayers,
eat your vitamins. And unfortunately for Hulk Hogan and he
would admit this in the years after, there was a
definite dark side to wrestling. In fact, there's a documentary
series I think called almost exactly that in which the
(23:33):
steroid age it struck the WWF hard because these guys,
they had to get their bodies ready to perform. We're
talking several nights a week all around the calendar hardly
any time off, whether it was travel or being in
the ring. I don't know how a lot of these
guys did it, but Hulk Hogan did it the best.
He captured the imagination of not only the youth, but
(23:53):
of pop culture writ large, and Hulk Hogan dying today
just shy of his seventy second birthday, born in nineteen
fifty three in August and dying to day July twenty fourth,
twenty twenty five. You may recall, and we went over
this too, Hulk Cogan stepping into the spotlight in the
political realm at the RNC and with this iconic moment
(24:17):
endorsing Donald Trump and JD. Vance.
Speaker 6 (24:19):
But what happened last week when they took a shot
and my hero and they tried to kill the next
president of the United States?
Speaker 3 (24:34):
Oh no blaws enough, yeh sad.
Speaker 10 (24:38):
Love Cpamania run wild brother, leve cop.
Speaker 3 (24:43):
Omania rule again.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
Let cop Omania y oh backa cry again.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
Hunk Cogan with his full throated endorsement of Donald Trump,
ripping off that one but two T shirts to reveal
the Trump Vance shirt underneath. Kelly, you watched this happen
in real time, and you're a gen xer like me,
and you remember how big Hulk Hogan was. How would
you describe that moment where politics met pro wrestling.
Speaker 4 (25:08):
Oh my gosh, it was so wonderful. But I am
so enjoying listening to you, to your pre pewveset self
when you were with Nate and I don't know.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Thirteen maybe well I was thirteen to nineteen eighty seven,
And I'm glad you mentioned that age because it was
exactly that year when the biggest wrestling event in the
history of the world took place at the Pontiac Silverdome,
WrestleMania three, okay, which Hulk Hogan was going against Andre
the Giant. I begged my mom and dad for tickets
(25:43):
for my dad to take Nate and me, and I
had to call this like one nine seven six number
to get ticket information. There was going to be ninety
thousand plus people in this Silverdome, and I found out
that the tickets that the least expensive ticket to get
in was going to be one hundred dollars a piece.
And it doesn't sound like a lot now, but in
nineteen eighty seven, well that was a lot. There was
a lot of money. My dad said, yeah, he just
(26:05):
couldn't do it. I would have never forgotten that memory though,
had I been able to go to WrestleMania three. And
one of his best friends through the years, almost his equal. Now,
Rick Flair was in the NWA as was then known
the National Wrestling Association then later WCW. He never really
had a direct affiliation with the WWF for many many years.
(26:28):
Now he ultimately would. But throughout the eighties, the big
question and all the wrestling magazines what would happen if
Rick Flair wrestled against Hulk Hogan And we never got
to see that because they were in different circuits. But
today Rick Flair found out the news and this is
just it's really heartbreaking but also heartwarming to hear how
fond Rick Flair was of his good friend Hulk Hogan.
Speaker 11 (26:49):
Some time people all wanted the venus as that it
means when we were actually buried, very close friends and
we can't put up with each other on a regular basis.
So I just talked to Jimmy Hart yesterday and he
(27:13):
was five and this happened.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Horrible. How did you get the news? I'm so sorry, Rick,
I am so sorry.
Speaker 11 (27:23):
Oh I've prom everybody won't stop.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
We had magic.
Speaker 11 (27:28):
I mean it wasn't like me and Steamboat, but we
had magic.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
Rick Flair describing his relationship with Hulk Hogan, who was
the alpha and the omega really of the WWF. He
set the trend, he blazed the trail. He made pro
wrestling as popular as it was. It would then go
on in the nineties with the Attitude era and the
competing factions, the WCW which Hogan would join and form
the NWL at one point, and the WWF that would
(27:54):
roll on into the WWE, but without Hulk Hogan. I
mean he was the predecessor to them.
Speaker 6 (27:58):
All.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
I mentioned Stone calls Steve Austin or The Rock or
John Cena. Anybody that you watch in pro wrestling today
derives from hul Cogan. What was that, Kelly quickly that
it flew with him? Sina, No, no, no, the other
one the Rock all yeah, Dwayne Johnson right. And this
from Jonathan Flora, the husband of Deborah Flora. As I know,
(28:19):
he prefers to be called the husband of Deborah Flora.
He texted me the following, Ryan, I used to work
with Hulk back in the day. One of a kind
and larger than life, to say the least, was a
great guy and always gave me what I needed for marketing,
et cetera. And his Trump support was pretty fun and cool.
He will be missed. He will indeed. Hul Cogan Terry
jen Blea dies today at the age of seventy one,
(28:42):
and that is the end of an era. We'll take
a time out. We'll wrap up with your text five
seven seven three nine after this on Ryan Schuling Live.
Sprinting to the finish here on Ryan Schuling Live on
this Thursday edition, remembering hul Cogan passing away at the
age of seven. He won lots of texts about that.
I'll get to as many as I can right now
(29:03):
at five seven seven three nine, Ryan, be honest, did
you tear up a little bit today? Now it says
cheer up a little bit today? I did not cheer
up a little bit today. I was sad. It hit
me like a ton of bricks the news that Hulk
Hogan had died. I mean, this is such a large,
massive chunk of my childhood and my memories and my
enjoyment of my youth in an more innocent time for
(29:25):
me and for my brother. I mean, this is something
that he and I shared, we'd wrestle, we'd play wrestling
WWF with my cousin Josh on mattresses and so forth.
We actually do that. One time, I accidentally put my
brother in a real figure four leg luck and let
me tell you that hurts. It feels like your shin's
gonna split in two. But I did realize that they
(29:45):
were doing a fake figure for Maybe they weren't, I
don't know. In the pro wrestling arena, this one says
Rip Hulkster. I didn't think I'd tear up today, but
I did. Steven Littleton getting tired of losing my favorite celebrities.
This week's been rough. This is as a week as
I can recall in a long time. I remembering music,
we lost several people, all within a couple years of
(30:05):
one another. Prince and TMZ also broke that story, as
they did today with Hulk Hogan. That's how I found
out that Prince had died. Chris Cornell, my brother saw
him the night before he died in Detroit, and that
rattled him quite severely because my brother worshiped Chris Cornell.
Music lay there, Tom Petty and David Bowie. You remember
that Kelly the all died with the like a year
(30:26):
and a half of each other. I think four giants
of music, and that's the only thing that compares in
recent memory for me to this week losing theo from
The Cosby Show, Malcolm Jamal Warner, drowning in a tragic accident,
and a family vacation Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan. Wow, it
seems like.
Speaker 4 (30:41):
The eighties are disappearing. They'll such a sad time. Well
for all of us who grew up.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
With that, Well, you need to watch Stranger Things, the
final seasons coming out in October. It's all about the eighties. Oh,
you've told me that you need to watch it, and
as a text reminds me once again. We also lost
Chuck Mangione today. Oh yeah, I'm going to feature some
of his music on Dan's show. This texter says, I
don't know how he did it, but my grandfather found
a way to take me to both WrestleMania three and
WrestleMania four. One of the best memories of my life
(31:10):
if I remember both of those were Hulk versus Andre. Yeah,
WrestleMania four was a tournament format and I remember that
quite well. WrestleMania three. I mean, right in that sweet spot.
That was the golden Age, the pinnacle of pro wrestling
as a pop culture item. And we'll talk far more
about this with Christian Toto and Deborah Flora tomorrow on
the Right Side of Hollywood, as well as the South
(31:32):
Park send up of President Trump. This one says bad
week for US gen xers Malcolm Jamal Warner, Ozzie and
the Hulkster. Yeah, definitely. Indeed, the wrestling world said this.
Texter lost Andre the Giant when he was only forty
three years old. That was in ninety three. I remember
as a freshman at Michigan State very sad he had
had some health problems. He's a very large man, obviously,
and most people in pop culture will remember him as
(31:54):
Fezik in The Prince's Bride. What a great pairing he
was with Mandy patinkin perfect You could not have imagined
below the person. My name is Nigo Montoya. You killed
my father, prepared to die. Yeah, okay, I go to
my memory lane. Not a Peanuts I'm getting nostalgic. There's
(32:15):
no time left for peanuts. Kelly. I know the line
you're talking about, but we're going to continue this conversation
with the Dan Kapla Show, so stay tuned for that
right side of Hollywood mor Ryan Shuling Live coming up tomorrow.
Thanks for joining me here today
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