EXCLUSIVE: David Arquette says he 'puts his life on the line' every wrestling bout but won't quit despite a brush with death when his jugular was nearly sliced as he squares off against his late friend Luke Perry's son
- WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
- David Arquette, 47, is happy to 'put his life on the line' every time he takes part in a wrestling match, he told DailyMailTV
- The actor said his wife Christine and two sons are concerned for his health, but he has no plans to give up the sport because he enjoys the 'real experience'
- He said: 'It's tough, man. I've been in the hospital more this year than ever and that means my wife has as well. So I love her and I thank her for all her support'
- Arquette said he nearly died last November after suffering an infection when his neck was slashed by a glass tube in an exhibition match against Nick Gage
- He said: 'It didn't hit the jugular, but I would have died right there and I was worried I was dying at the time. But it really is an incredibly dangerous sport'
- Arquette spoke to DailyMailTV days before facing off against his late friend Luke Perry's son Jack Perry in Los Angeles on Wednesday
Hollywood star turned wrestler David Arquette says he is happy to 'put his life on the line' every time he enters the ring.
And in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV, Arquette said he will not give up wrestling despite coming close to death after sustaining a neck cut during a fight in Los Angeles last November.
The Scream actor also revealed he has been in the hospital more in the past 12 months as a Bar Wrestling fighter than in his entire life.
And while his wife Christine McLarty and their two young sons are concerned for his health, he has no plans to give up the sport because he enjoys the 'real experience.'
The adrenaline junkie spoke to DailyMailTV days before facing off against his late friend Luke Perry's son Jack Perry in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
David Arquette, 47, is happy to 'put his life on the line' every time he takes part in a wrestling match, he told DailyMailTV. Arquette spoke to DailyMailTV days before facing off against his late friend Luke Perry's son Jack Perry (pictured together) in Los Angeles on Wednesday
During the match, one spectator called out to Arquette he was wrestling because he was broke, promoting the father-of-three to respond, 'I have Friends money, b****', in reference to his former marriage to Friends star Courteney Cox, who he shares daughter Coco
Arquette said: 'You put your life on the line every time you step into the ring.
'A lot of people say wrestling is fake and there is nothing fake about it. It's one of the most real experiences I've ever had entertaining.'
Last November Arquette was hospitalized after suffering an infection when his neck was slashed by a glass tube in an extreme exhibition match against Nick Gage.
The 47-year-old admits that the 'scary' injury came just centimeters from his main artery and could have been his last moment on earth.
Pointing at his scar, he added: 'I got my throat cut in a wrestling match. Luckily, it hit my muscle.
'It didn't hit the jugular, but I would have died right there and I was worried I was dying at the time. But it really is an incredibly dangerous sport.
'My neck is out right now, my back is out, but you kind of know that going in and it takes a certain person to be a wrestler.'
However the performer, who has won titles in the past, refuses to push back on his sport despite his family worries.
'It's tough, man. It's not easy. Like I've said, I've been in the hospital more this year than ever and that means my wife has as well. So I love her and I thank her for all her support, but yeah, it's not easy.'
Arquette admitted that anyone stepping into the ring today has a clear knowledge of the dangers of the craft.
Arquette said he nearly died last November after suffering an infection when his neck was slashed by a glass tube in an exhibition match against Nick Gage. He said: 'It didn't hit the jugular, but I would have died right there and I was worried I was dying at the time. But it really is an incredibly dangerous sport'
The Scream actor also reveals he has been in hospital more in the past 12 months as a Bar Wrestling fighter than in his entire life. And while his wife Christine McLarty and their two sons (pictured) are concerned for his health, he has no plans to give up the sport because he enjoys the 'real experience'
Arquette also weighed in on the recent spat between HBO host John Oliver and WWE boss Vince McMahon over the 'poor' treatment of wrestlers and their health insurances.
Oliver highlighted the fact that dozens of ex wrestlers have died early from drug abuse, depression and injuries.
Arquette, who has wrestled on WWE's Raw, responded to Oliver's concerns for the athletes, who do not have company health insurance, saying: 'You know you're putting your body on the line, you know you're taking huge risk.'
However he admitted he's lucky to be covered by his Hollywood career thanks to medical insurance from the Screen Actors Guild.
'It's a complicated situation,' he explained. 'To be honest with you, and I have all the respect for John Oliver, but in the wrestling world, and it's not to say if it's right or wrong, you kind of know what you're getting into.
'You know you're putting your body on the line, you know you're taking huge risk. I'd love to see them get more insurance.
'I'm lucky I'm an actor, so I have SAG coverage, but if I didn't, I don't know what I'd do, because I've been in the hospital more this year since I've been wrestling than I have in my whole life, so that would be good.
'Whenever there's one company that has a bit of a monopoly in a sense, they can kind of call their own shots and they have a lot of power, but I don't really know.
'One thing I don't like about wrestling is the politics. I try to stay out of it. I try to just entertain the fans. I try to learn and be better at wrestling.
'My whole thing was just returning and making up for some mistakes in the past.'
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Arquette spoke to DailyMailTV before the 12th Annual George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic presented by Michael G. Wilson and King Taco, which benefits the George Lopez Foundation
The Hollywood star tangled with veteran hardcore wrestler Nick Gage in a bloody exhibition last November where the Scream star was left covered in blood after shards of glass sliced his neck. Pictured: The moment Arquette's neck was accidentally cut is shown (left) and the moment he realized he was bleeding profusely
After Perry's death in March, David said: 'Luke was just such a tremendous friend and just an incredible person,” David said. “Everyone loved him. He had such incredible wit and humor. I have so many memories of him.' Pictured: Arquette with Luke Perry
Arquette spoke to DailyMailTV before the 12th Annual George Lopez Celebrity Golf Classic presented by Michael G. Wilson and King Taco, which benefits the George Lopez Foundation.
The mission of the Foundation is to create positive, permanent change for underprivileged children, adults and military families confronting challenges in education and health, as well as increasing community awareness about kidney disease and organ donation.
A raft of stars, including Joe Pesci, Eva Longoria and Caitlyn Jenner came out to support the cause at the Lakeside Country Club in Toluca Lake last week.
Lopez insisted that he is pleased to have 'made a difference' with his tournament, adding: 'Hollywood is full of people who are very good at what they do, but a lot of them are not very good people. Being a great actor does not make you a good person.
'When you give time to help those in need and give commitment to a cause, those are the true stars.'
For more information on the Foundation visit https://georgelopezfoundation.org/
