Ricky Morton then pivoted to a story from early in his career to expand on his point.

“I wrestled Killer Karl Krupp,” he began. “What an a**hole he was, too! Just a belligerent a**hole; he didn’t like to work small guys. So he’s gotta put me over. So I go to the ring with him and he will not do nothing, because we don’t talk. You call it in the ring. I called every finish in the world. I kicked out at one. Then he gives me a turnbuckle, I move, and I schoolboy him [for the win]. And I walk to the back door, and Jerry Jarrett, he says, ‘Killer Karl Krupp didn’t wanna sell for you, did he?’ […] He says, ‘I saw Killer Karl Krupp give you every finish in the world, and [you] kicked out on one. We gotta put the world belt on you! You’re the toughest son of a b***h I’ve ever seen in my life! And smart!’ You see what I’m saying?” 

Morton’s point was, essentially, that he made those big moves mean nothing to make up for Krupp not selling for him, so constant kick outs of big moves today devalue those moves the same way. 

The WWE Hall of Famer keeps up a regular schedule of independent bookings, often alongside his son, Kerry, the current NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, who guested on “Talk is Jericho” with him.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Talk is Jericho” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.