This is the Truth Network. Nakita, destroy, crash, demolish all competitions. Here it is! Yeah, and Mr. Koloff once again made his feelings very, very apparent.
It's been a long time, but the wave is over. That's a bad man. No, that's a bad man. It's time to man up with Satan's nightmare, Nakia Kola. You know, the next man I'm going to introduce, you might think he's French, but actually he's German.
When. And we're going to hear it why and hear it in just a moment. But I want to welcome to the show Pierre Klee. Wee wee, Pierre Klee. Welcome to the Manuf Show.
Thank you, Nikia. Thank you for having me. I've been looking forward to this for a long time.
Well, it's great to have you here. I know we're kind of joking. My producer, when he asked what your name was, I said, it's Pierre Klee. And he looked at me and goes, oh, we, Pierre Klee. Anyway.
But there is a story. We're going to dive into this here in just a moment because Pierre. Because obviously, it does, and I think I asked you when we first met a number of years ago.
Now, let me ask you about that first. We met in South Carolina at a man-up intensive man-up workshop, right? Yes, but that was actually the third time we met. Third time. Oh, well, it refreshed my memory of the first two times.
Yeah, so. The background of me and my name and nationality and all that is that I was born in a small town outside of Frankfurt, Germany.
So I'm actually full-blooded German. And I got a French name because my parents thought that the French language was so romantic.
So it was it was either gonna be Pierre or Bruce. I think I like Pierre better just for the record.
Well, I would get teased either way, so that's okay. But my parents divorced when I was very, very young. And the guy that became my stepfather was a soldier there in the Army. And so we ended up moving to Georgia because that's where he was from.
So at around the age of, I don't know, four or five is when I've uh moved to the Savannah, Georgia area. And I ended up becoming kind of adopted by an American family that was just down the road from me. It was a blended family. Their kids were the same age as me and we were, as they say, as thick as thieves. But the mother, the lady that I used to call my American mother, was a huge wrestling fan.
So the first time you and I met, I had gone to a wrestling show, and this was still when NWA Jim Crockett Promotions was around. Um I ended up Long story short, I ended up meeting you staying in Lex Luger backstage with two of my friends. with the last remaining picture in the camera that we had. Got my picture taken with you and Sting, and that was the first time we met. And that was in the summer of nineteen eighty eight.
Wow.
Okay. Yes. And then the second time we fast forward to twenty ten I flew down to Charlotte with my wife Kelly and my brother Doug to go to Gregg's NWA reunion, and that was the second time I Met you and Of course, it was so long ago I don't, you know, in between that I didn't expect you to remember who I was. But then the third time was in Barnwell, South Carolina, when you went to Pastor Arnie's church and My American parents told me ahead of time that you were going to come down and speak, and so I flew down and we got re-reacquainted. And we've been keeping in touch ever since.
And when I was down there, Pastor Arnie's church, that was the first time I heard about Man Camp. After the thorough explanation that you did, and encouraging me to go, I realized that that was something that I didn't just want to go, but I needed to go. And it was a wonderful, wonderful experience. When I've talked to other people about it, the two words that I use And I mean this with my all of my heart, it was It was absolutely life changing.
Well, and and uh You know, yeah, and I know you do. I know you're sincere with that. And I tell people all the time, it sounds kind of like a cliché, right? When you use those words. But to your point, probably the five words I hear the most, Pierre, and you may even have been one of them that said it to me, but they'll look me squarely in the eyes.
The man will look me at the conclusion of camp, and he'll say these five words this week. was life changing.
Now, I can't say that. Every single man has that experience because obviously, you know, you get out of it the effort you put into it, right? And you know, there are, there have been guys. I've been doing these camps now for 20 years, okay? And I don't even know how many I've done.
But that said, I know there are men who just skate through it or just kind of slide through it and, you know, are somewhat engaged, or, you know, it's obvious they're hardly engaged at all. And I have to, honestly, I have to question sometimes: like, dude, like, why are you even here? Did your wife force you to come? Or, like, ultimatum, like, either you go or we're done, or which actually has been the case. I mean, we a we actually have had men there whose whose marriage was on the brink.
Of divorce, and we have testimonies like one of the guys, Chris, who heads up our kitchen, you know, that that was his story. It was on the bra and but because of what he encountered, At camp, because of how God impacted his heart, when he went home, Pierre, he didn't have to say a word. Man, his wife saw, visibly saw changes in him. She tore up the divorce papers. Fast forward three, four years later.
He now comes back and serves and cooks many of our meals for the guys. And it's been just one of so many amazing journeys, or I mean, excuse me, testimonies and stories that we've had. And so, you know, to hear you say that. Let me back up just a moment there, though.
So.
So you're you're born in Frankfurt, Germany. You make your way to Savannah, Georgia. I think you actually, because I think that was the Savannah Civic Center that you took that picture with Sting and Luger and I, right? Yes, that's correct. And that's been torn down, but at that time, that's where it was.
I didn't realize that buildings don't... I hate that. I hate many of the buildings I wrestled in are no longer there, which so much history there. And correct me if I'm wrong, but you showed me that picture with Sting and I. And I think, wasn't Luger kind of cut out of the picture a little bit or something?
Yeah, he didn't want to be in the picture. He acted like he had this buffalo bag with him, and he acted like. He was putting it up behind the bleachers on a shelf or something. And when he was doing that, he acted like he pulled his back muscle. Yeah.
And I knew right away, I mean, even being, you know. 17. I was like, oh man, what is this Joker doing, man? Why is he, you know, come get over here, man? I'm a fan.
I'm paying you. Right. I'm paying your salary. Get up. I bought a ticket to get in here.
Come on, dude. Right? But yeah, you know, we had. I don't remember if you remember Klondike Bill, but he was the one that asked me if I wanted to help take down the ring. That's how.
Oh, yeah. I remember Klondike Bill, legendary. Yeah. Yeah. Let me tell you an interesting fact about Klondike Bill, and I did not know this until later, later, later.
I was actually, he had a daughter that lived in my county and was. in one of my math classes in high school.
Okay. And sh she si she sat next to me. Her name was Melody. Melody Holp, Wow. I did not know this, but she was related to Klondike.
And of course, I didn't know that at the time. I found this all out later. It's like, oh man, stuff just kind of comes full circle sometimes. But yeah, that's what happened was he didn't want to be in the picture with you and Sting and kind of just got out of the way. And so I was like, okay, well, for the record, and I know you already know this, but for our fans listening out there, for those who maybe didn't know Lex, like back in those days, I like to say it this way.
When you saw his character in WWF, or what's now WWE, the narcissist, right? I'm like, yeah, that's not just a character. That's pretty much real life for Mr. Luger there.
Now, on that note, however, and I think you'll testify to this. Um, when Lex comes into into man camp and does his teaching on health and wellness and nutrition and eating and exercising and all of that, he is not the same guy. Would you attest to that? Oh, I am and amen. I mean, that's how good God is.
It's just like the guy you were talking about with his marriage being on the rocks. You know, if you're willing. God will work in you and through you. And God is big and He does big things. And that's a testament.
that I can say personally about how I Went through man camp and when I came out of it, and how different I was.
So I can certainly say that. The Lex that I met in'88 was not the Lex that I met at Mancamp a few years ago. Totally different person. I know Lex would be thrilled to hear that and as he listens to some of these shows. And on that note, for those wondering, what was the catalyst?
What was the change? And, you know, Lex jokes sometimes, Pierre, and he says, You tell my story better than I do. Just go ahead and tell it, Nikita. And I'm like, well, Lex, that's because I've told your story so many times. That's why I could tell it so good.
But for those who maybe, just a quick backdrop, backstory for Lex.
So the last time I had seen Lex was December of 1995 at the matches in Charlotte. In fact, I had already retired from the business a couple, three years, and I had not seen any of the guys, and it was a big show. I mean, Hulk Hogan was there, and Randy Savage, and Luger, and Sting, and I mean, so many Kevin Nash, and just all the guys, right? They were, you know, the NWO was just kind of kicking, getting ready to kick into full steam.
So, anyway, so I went down and said hi to all the guys, and then the next time I saw Lex, that was December of 95. The next time I saw Lux was June of 2006. And I had had concerns, Pierre, along the way because, you know, I'm seeing things, I'm hearing things, seeing things. You know, I'm like, oh man, like Lex got into drugs and drinking and alcohol and running around. And then ultimately, Miss Elizabeth dies in his arms of a drug overdose.
And, you know, my heart is breaking for the guy. And he's in and out of jail. And then the last time in jail in Cobb County, in there in Georgia, Steve Baskins, the chaplain, the jail chaplain, befriends him. To make a long story short, befriends him. And when Lex gets out of jail, he tracks him down.
Lex has told him he'd help him work out. And they become the best of friends. And Steve would end up in the same hotel room. where six months prior Lex almost died of a drug overdose, Steve Baskins and Lex Luger get on their knees and Steve leads him to the foot of the cross. And he has a genuine encounter with Jesus in in April.
He and I are reunited out in Phoenix, Arizona, and just the connection was so real, right? You know, my love for the Lord, and it was, I could see he had a newfound love for Jesus. And from that, We began to travel together, do ministry together, do autograph signings together. Eventually, we lived together. I brought him up to the Carolinas in 2015, where he lived with me for almost a year.
And out of that, Pierre was birthed the conference you came to, the Manup Intensive conference you came to, a breakfast and a dinner, and then ultimately the man. camp. That you personally experienced all came from that time he and I were living together in 2015. And yeah, it really is. And so that real life change or that transformation for Lax that you experienced from 1988 when he refused to take a picture with you to all those years later.
Hey, did you ever think? Because let me ask you this question. You take a picture with Sting and I in 1988. Luger refuses to get in the picture. But all that said, did you ever think, Pierre, that Pierre Klee and and Nikita Koloff would become friends.
I never would have imagined that. If someone told me that, if they saw the future, I would have laughed at them. Certainly would not have believed them. But you know what? that makes it all the better now at this point in time.
Because you guys were, you really were idols of mine. I mean, really, I would, I was glued to the television. I would go to the matches as often as I could. You know, it's just like any other sport you've got. Baseball fans and football and whatever else.
You know, mine was, I loved football. I played football and Wanted to be a wrestler. That's how much I loved it. And that's how much I admired you guys. And you know, and and just wanted to be on that stage and entertain the world and And just be around other athletes that had the same kind of love.
And, but no, I it never. Never crossed my mind, but it's it makes it that much better now in my perspective that we are. Not just friends, but we're brothers in Christ. Yes. And that's extra, extra special.
Well, and you are a big supporter of what we do. And in fact, for those who don't know, Pierre is living up in the state I grew up in.
So for those who don't know, I didn't grow up in Siberia or Russia or any of those guys. I grew up in Minnesota. And so Pierre lives up there with his lovely bride, Kelly. And in fact, you guys have had, I've been. Broke bread with you.
You you made some steaks on the grill for me there w when I was up there. I did and you know that was something that I Oh, I anticipated and looked forward to that once you committed. I had original certified. real Japanese wagu steak overnighted. Wow, for for you.
And uh Yeah, it was over. I had it ordered from Japan and flown in overnighted, and Kelly made her. side dishes and you know it was just such a precious time and it was real and it was comfortable and it was encouraging because you know you you've got such an incredibly incredibly busy schedule and and you're all over the place and you've got so many people pulling at you and you've got deadlines and meetings and You gotta fly here and fly there. And I was and still am and will always be.
so incredibly impressed. and humbled and honored. that you took the time Like you have to hang out with me. I mean, that just blows me away. I mean, this is.
Talk about 1988. and seeing somebody on television and reaching out And you know, and having that strong desire, you had a connection, but it wasn't like what it is today. And you certainly didn't know it would be like this today back then. Right. Well, it was important, and it was important to me to, because I knew how important it was to you.
So it was important to me to set the time aside to do that. When I come up there, typically I stay at my sister's house. You know, you've met my family, you've met my sister and brother-in-law. And you've been gracious enough to a couple times to pick me up at the airport when my sister couldn't and take me over to her house. And Pierre, you have such a servant's heart, you and Kelly both.
And for the record, that was the first wagoo thing I'd ever had was at your place.
Well, I'm honored. It's the first time I had it. I never had it either, but it was. I said, you know what? It was my first time.
I thought it might be your first time. And I said, you know, even if it wasn't, I was still going to do that for you. Because you deserve that.
Well, it was an amazing experience. And I didn't know you took me, you kind of gave me a little nickel tour of the house there down in the basement. And I didn't know you were such an avid, what would you call it? You had a whole entire city you built down there. Take a minute and talk about the city you built in your basement.
Yeah. Kind of your hobby, your hobby there. Yes, it is certainly a passion of mine. It's model railroading. And I have actually two scales.
I've got the larger scale which you can run outside that's weatherproof.
So, I've got a very simple track outside.
So, when I lay on my hammock under the deck, I can run my train and And hear the clickety clacks of the tracks. But indoors, I've got what's the scale is in scale, and that actually comes from the German word Neum, which means nine. And what that means is that the rails are nine millimeters apart, so it's kind of a small scale.
So to give you perspective, the the people on my layout are a centimeter tall.
So they're really tiny. And the smallest scale in the world is the next one below that, which is Z scale, and that's a 1,220 scale. But mine is 1,160, which means for every 12 inches or one foot, it's 160 scale feet.
So a passenger car, for example, would be five inches long.
So, it's a scale that you can put more into a given area if it's small, like that.
So, I've got. My my trains are all German. I've got a a Germanic theme.
So I've got three mountains. Um Tunnels, I've got a waterfall, you know, the train station. I've got a carnival area, I've got all everything that looks like Germany. I've got that.
So, bridges and, you know, different kinds of little scenes and scenarios of my layout.
So, it's still a work in progress. I'm still working on it because it takes a lot of time and it takes a lot of dedication. But yeah, I have a room set aside where I've got my in-scale German train layout.
Well, I know I was impressed when I saw it. I was like, oh my gosh. I had no clue, no idea. And it is, I have to say, it is impressive. And you've built it all by hand.
What inspired like as a kid? Is that something you wanted as a kid? Or what inspired that? Yeah, it was it was my childhood when I was Still living in Germany. I was living with my grandmother.
and until I was four or five. And she happened to live across the street from our small town's train station. And so every day I would see the trains, not hear the trains. And there was also a little a small depot building next to the train station where uh trucks would back up on one side and the little switch engine would take the boxcars on the other side of the building and the freight would get transferred and the little switch engine would move boxcars back and forth.
So I always saw that little bit of action As a child, and I just always clung to that. But as I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate more the fact that a steam engine, no matter where in the world it is, it's a marvel of engineering. Yeah, for real. And, you know, and we don't have a lot of steam trains left. And if you can ever take a ride on a steam train, it's an experience that you will never forget.
And it's kind of like going back in time. And so my trains are kind of like me going back in time. And hanging on to my childhood when I lived with my grandmother and the experiences and the memories I had. Yeah. And not just as a childhood, as a child, but also traveling on the trains when I'd go visit her.
Sure.
Well, it's a combination of all of that.
Okay. Well, and for the record, I actually, not that long ago, did have the experience to ride on a steam train, which is pretty, pretty cool. Yeah, the quick backstory on that was: I went up with Lex was living in Buffalo, New York, where he was born and raised at the time.
So I went up to visit him for a few days. I was going to be doing ministry in the state of Maine for the very first time. And there was only a couple states, Vermont. There was just a couple states up there I had yet to cover.
So I drove up to Buffalo, New York, stayed a few days with Lex, and then made my way across in the best time of year you could, the fall, and took in the Vermont fall colors and New Hampshire and the state of Maine. And just a little research, and I found one of the little towns there that offered a steam ride, like an hour steam ride, like down and then turn around and come back. And so I did that, dude. It was, yeah, it was pretty cool.
Well, I have to say, would you let that little train roll around that train? It's It's pretty impressive to say the least. And Pierre, you know what? Just the last couple of minutes we've got here. You talked about your desire to want to wrestle.
I have the perfect tag team partner for you.
Okay. You you ready? I'm ready. And some will have to research the name. The younger ones that listen to the show will have to research and Google.
But for the avid wrestling fan, your partner, your partner would have been Pierre Cli and Renee, Renee Goulet. Rene Goulay. Do you know the name? Do you know the? Yeah, oh, yeah, yeah.
What would you call us? The French connection? The French connection. Hello. That's a no-braider right there.
The French can have Pierre Cli and René Goulet. Je mapelle Pierre. Oui we, monsieur. Oui we, monsieur. That's about the extent of my French.
Oui Wui, monsieur. Pas de vous. Oh, I got one more. I got one more. Pas de vous français?
Par de vous francais? I did when I was in high school, yeah. I tell people I speak four languages. I say, well, realistically, I can count to 10 in four languages. That's the extent of speaking four languages.
But I got to know Rene prior to his passing. You know, he lived here in Charlotte, North Carolina. Oh, no, I didn't know he lived there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And he was good friends with old-timers, Tim Woods, who was Mr.
Wrestling, and Abe Jacobs, who was legendary, you know, from New Zealand with a Kiwi role back in the 60s and 70s.
Well, all of them lived in Charlotte.
So I got to know Tim real good, got to know Abe, and we all played in a golf tournament in my buddy Bill Murdoch's golf tournament up in Asheville, North Carolina every year. Beautiful. And in fact, I just remembered this. In fact, a little random story, a little random note. The the the club, the driver in my golf bag.
Was a gift from Rene Goulet. Oh, wow. Yeah, he saw the one I was using. He said, You need a real driver. Take this one.
And I'm like, wait, what? Like, yeah.
So he blessed me with a real driver. Yeah. So pretty cool. Awesome.
Well, man, I look forward to the next time I come up there, which I basically. The plan is to come up there at least one time a year now and still see some of my family. And we have my college football reunion every August. And then, you know, you've been kind enough to come over to the church that I do a men's breakfast and I preach up there, Pastor Jackie Hill's church up there in Roseville, Roseville Baptist Church. And so I'll be looking forward to seeing you again in August.
And, man, I just appreciate you, and I appreciate your story and your testimony from your camp experience and just some of what you shared today, Pierre. I value and treasure our friendship. Thank you.
Well, I want to thank you even more so. You have been such an incredible blessing in my life in more than one way. And again, the man camp, and whoever's listening to this that has not gone, let me just personally tell you: please go. Even if you're Waffling about, or just go. You're not going to regret it.
You may even make some connections that you'll. Maintain with other guys over the years, like I do with Brady and Grady. When I was there, we still keep in touch and maintain a connection, and we pray for each other. And it is really, really, like I said, a life-changing experience. I'm so glad that you and I got connected and that I was a part of that.
And I'm so thankful that you are still. Having me be a part of your life directly or indirectly, whatever it is. I always look forward to just talking to you or texting you. And I even look more so forward to hanging with you, you know, be it at church or if it's at your sister's house. And I'm so thankful for them and how they've treated me and welcomed me.
And I love them so much too. And I just, you know, I'm praying for you every single day. And it is just amazing. I appreciate it. It's just amazing.
One last time. Go to mancamp.info if you want to learn more. Mancamp.info. Ladies, just encourage your man to go. Guys, if you're out there, if you need financial help, we have scholarships available.
So I want to challenge you. Thank you, Pierre. Pierre Cli, wee, wee, Pierre Cli, for being on the show today. And for all of you out there listening, man, my challenge for you today is going to have a God-filled, God-blessed. Until next time.
This is Nikita Kolov, The Russian Nightmare. Let me ask you something. Have you ever felt like your body is telling you you're just not the same anymore? You're tired, even after a good night's sleep. Your weight is harder to manage.
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