Stallone: Rocky Secrets, Rambo Stories & Schwarzenegger Rivalry | Stick to Football EP 154

The Overlap

Stallone on Rocky and Rambo stories, his rivalry with Schwarzenegger and surviving Hollywood

The Overlap sits down with Sylvester Stallone for a wide-ranging talk about Rocky, Rambo, art collecting, AI, fame and the changing film industry. The through-line is that Rocky endures because he embodies ordinary vulnerability and failure, while Stallone stresses adaptation, knowing your weaknesses and passing on experience.

Sylvester Stallone joins Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott for a blockbuster Stick to Football, brought to you by Disney+. The Hollywood icon tells the story behind Rocky, his rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the rejection he overcame to reach the top. From breaking his neck three times to rebuilding his career at 60, Sly reflects on the physical and personal cost of life on screen. Plus, Dolly Parton stories, his greatest actor ever and a meeting Roy won’t forget! 00:00 - Intro 05:25 - Stallone Arrives 17:59 - Mythbusters 23:59 - Schwarzenegger Rivalry 26:22 - Rocky Training and Fight Choreography 31:49 - Winning The Rocky Role 38:08 - Childhood 56:26 - Movie Industry Then Vs Now 01:04:24 - Rocky Balboa Comeback 01:12:44 - Greatest Actors Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger, a Hulu Original film, new and exclusive on Disney+. © 2026 Disney and its related entities. 18+. Subscription required. This episode is sponsored by Super 6. Visit super6.skysports.com for your chance to win. Terms and conditions apply: https://super6.skysports.com/terms SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL HERE https://www.youtube.com/c/theoverlap STICK TO UNITED WITH WAYNE ROONEY ON THE UNITED STAND https://www.youtube.com/@UnitedStand/videos JOIN THE OVERLAP WHATSAPP CHANNEL HERE https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC3WQvAYlUCoCqZgA45 SUBSCRIBE TO THE OVERLAP BREAKDOWN CHANNEL HERE https://www.youtube.com/@TheOverlapBreakdown SUBSCRIBE TO THE OVERLAP NEWSLETTER https://substack.com/@theoverlapnewsletter SUBSCRIBE TO IT WAS WHAT IT WAS PATREON Join here ➡️ www.patreon.com/itwas SUBSCRIBE TO STICK TO RUGBY HERE https://www.youtube.com/@TheOverlapRugby SUBSCRIBE TO THE STICK TO CRICKET CHANNEL HERE https://www.youtube.com/@TheOverlapCricket?subconfirmation=1 FOLLOW STICK TO CRICKET ON SOCIAL 👇🏏 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sticktocricket/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577370443364 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@sticktocricket X -…

Transcript

Oh, you've got your t-shirt on. >> I do love that movie. >> John Rambo. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I love that movie. >> Are you going to be like a fing school boy tonight? >> Oh, Gary split professional. >> He might sign it for me. >> Is he the most famous guest that we've ever had on? >> Yeah, I would say so. Got to be. >> What you think is more famous, Rambo or Rocky? You got to be Rocky on it. >> Rocky. >> Yeah, probably. But I give me Rambo every video of the week. >> I do like him and Rambo. Joe, I was just thinking, by the way, this is the only person that's ever got us to a different location in four years. >> Yeah. Hey, I'm a happy coming to London. >> No, but no, but Rome was different. The Rome was just like something different. This this is the only guest that we've traveled for in four years. >> Hey, what's happening guys? >> You look good. >> Guess right here. >> Well, >> we're on his horn patch out. Where am I sitting here? >> You look like one of his trainers. Was it No, Mickey's brother. Adrian's brother. Yeah. >> A'S BROTHER WITH A >> I LOOK LIKE COME ON. I don't like Sylvester. >> Did you read it? >> Adrien's brother. >> Jeez. Okay, I'm I'm going to sit on the corner. >> What's the best Rocky? >> Uh, easily the four. >> No, no, no. >> Oh, the first four obviously. Um, what's his name? Ivan Drago. It's Russian. >> Everyone remembers like and three with Club. >> I think four is amazing. Four is amazing. >> Four. Which >> four? Clubang's amazing. That's two in it. No, it's two. Clubang's Club's three. >> Three is it? >> Club's three. >> Um, Drago is four. >> Four. >> And then five. He comes out of retirement, doesn't he? >> Yeah. >> Come on. It's basic rocky knowledge that >> we're all in London last night. Why didn't you all try? We could have gone to a show together. I mean, everyone talked a good game. >> Absolutely love it. >> But this is what I said last night. >> It was at a show. >> How was it? >> It was the show. >> Yeah. >> It was good. >> Was it good? >> Yeah. Do you know what? >> I think I might go put a t-shirt on, you know. What do you reckon? You'd be sweet. >> Yeah. Yeah. I'd rather you be comfortable than complain. >> Why don't you just do it with your top off? You know, like rocky bumble. >> Get some oil. Some oil and some >> Come down and just like have that kind of little chill vibe. >> I'm going to do the show with my top. I'm going to do the show with my top off. Is that all right? Just like you know what I mean. >> Right. That's better, isn't it? >> Oh, girl, that's much better. I would That's what I would have done if I was girl. >> Wow. Makes you look pale then. >> Wow. It does. Yeah. Really look washed out. They suggested in the back that I come in just basically top off with like rocky music on. >> Yeah, I think you should have done that. >> That's a brilliant >> John Rambo. >> John J >> with a >> John J. >> Just sit like that. >> It'll go big. Sylvester Sloan sat there with Roy with a John Rambo t-shirt on. He's like he wants to talk about rocket on and it's just a rocky should a rocky somebody must have had a rocky t-shirt. Rambo portrayed the difficulties that obviously veterans had coming back from >> Yeah. But you know >> Rocky about that rejection and all that. He never given up. >> Rocky the way Rocky is a love story. You know the the fighting's amongst it. Rocky don't go you don't go deep. You don't go deep enough when you're watching. >> Where is a love story? >> It's a love story. >> Where is Adrien now? Adrien, did she ever appear again in the film? >> She was in the Godfather. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT. >> I DON'T WATCH I DON'T WATCH FILMS. >> I mean, >> I don't watch films. >> A little on the godf. >> I know that. I know that. >> I know that. >> And the godfather. >> Oh, good. >> Which is also a love story, >> which is a good love story. >> Story. Yeah. >> Yeah. Usual suspects. Love story. >> Quiz question. Can you name the players in Escape to Victory? >> Bobby Mo. Oswalk. >> Osman. >> Russian. >> Osman. Yeah. >> Can P. >> Was that a gates? >> Pelle. People forget about Pelle was in >> Ed. Bobby Bobby Moore. Yeah, >> John Walk. >> Yeah. >> Can I just say him? >> Did you say John Walk? >> What about >> there's there's a Yugoslav like there's a Yugoslav like a >> I mean I look I was looking at earlier. >> No, I actually don't know. >> You meant you mentioned Pella, didn't you? >> Yeah. >> There's a players from >> Who's the goalkeeper that uh who's the goalkeeper that >> broke his arm? >> The arm snapped. >> Oh, cool. So that's the rest of Sona go in goal. Yeah. So, let's stick to a go in goal. >> His technique wasn't great. Was it as a goalkeeper? Remember? >> No. You could see that he wasn't really a goalkeeper. Yeah. >> This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Disney Plus. >> I was completely anonymous. No. Now, everyone coming out, you're him. You're him. You're him. You're him. >> That makes you want to go right into the popcorn. This is the kind of woman that you would marry. She'd write you a song, go out and build you a log cabin, you know, hey, milk the cow, everything, and then get glammed up. Bang, down, stunned. >> Thank you. The fight was 11 seconds, including the count. You're either a convincing person as an actor, like it just comes out. No, you're not. And and you're not going to make it. I never forget. I was coming off a talk show. There's one woman. We like Rocky. We don't like you. >> Wow. >> No. Hi guys. How are you? >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Hello. Lovely to meet you. >> Pleased to meet you. >> Sure. >> Nice to meet you. >> Thank you, Ian. >> Nice to meet you. Pleasure. Pleasure. >> Wow. I can't believe it. >> Feel like we have royalty. >> It is royalty. >> You've been staying here at the clarities. >> Yeah, we're upstairs somewhere. >> Enjoying it or >> Yeah. Well, we got in late last night. So, so far so good. And we'll be here probably until Sunday. Then I get back and start Tulsa came on Monday. Tulsa King on Monday. Yeah. >> Busy busy. >> Are you having a lot of interviews about the book and everything? >> No, I mean not really. We we've Yeah, they're profound interviews like long 2hour one New York Times that we do. >> Oh, >> so it isn't a bunch of those. We used to do like 70 a day. >> Yes. >> 70. >> And it' be like 3 minutes each. Three minutes. You know what that kind of thing? They don't do that anymore. The chunkets. >> Yeah. >> God. >> I hope you prefer the longer ones. >> I do because the other ones they're going to ask you the same questions. >> Yes. >> And they have like five they have to ask. What motivates you to keep going? >> You know, it's not like I'm trying to prove anything. It's just the nature of the beast. I've actually tried like what is the management of leisure time? Like how do you do that? Some people go fly fishing, hunt, hike. >> You still right? You still right? >> Yeah. Yeah. I love to write. No, actually I hate to write, but I love the results. >> Right. And and writing to me is um it's almost mathematics with words as opposed to just typing, >> right? >> You know, people what talk into a record, right? Because it really is a skill set, >> you know, in writing is it's constant reduction until you get the real nectar. >> Yeah. I think that's actually been physically proven that cursive it just flows different as opposed to >> Yeah. >> or maybe that's just me >> trying to defend ignorance on how to use a keyboard >> which I never learned at you know would have been a lot easier. >> That's what that's your wife used to do your she you used to write it up and she used to like type >> one of those old you know those typewriters you know click click click. Yeah. one of those. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, I think there's something to it. >> How do you switch off? >> Switch off. >> Yeah. >> I just I don't think it works that way. >> I think you find a distraction >> and that's called off. >> You're like watching a sport, watching a movie, and then okay, I won't get in my head a little bit for two hours and then you're back. It's like, you know, you study all these Eastern philosophies and meditation and Jay Krishna and Mie and all this stuff. It never shuts off. >> Yeah. >> No. and which is the curse. It's kind of I call it roof brain chatter. It doesn't stop. >> Yeah. >> So you're always on. >> I think everyone is, >> you know. I think this is the human dilemma like stop. >> Yeah. So you're constantly that and that's what I think drives people really crazy when they're dwelling on a problem and that's what and it builds and it manifests itself and it festered like stop cuz you thinking about it is only going to cause you grief. Yeah, >> just wait to the results and it's like but the constant manifestation of what what if what if what if what if >> how long did it take you to develop that coping mechanism to deal with problems in that way and switch away from were you affected in your early >> no probably about 75 years >> I'm joking this is something that's come recently >> right >> yeah because I u I would confront problems rather than avoid them I would actually attack them Or if you felt something with a slight or an insult or whatever you become reactive and now it's like take a day take or two and every a day or two you realize it's the pleasure combating that person or is not worth the pleasure is not worth the pain of constantly dwelling on it. So like, yeah, but that's a constant modern routine system where you've been raised with insults. >> I'm in the insult business. The arts are the insult business cuz they're constantly insulting your ability, your this, your integrity, your writing, your painting. So it's constantly. >> It's a lot of failure. >> There's a few of us. Yes. Yes. It's a lot of failure. >> Tons of failure. And that that you really have to make friends with >> and like is it them? Is it me? Is it them? Is it me? And I would say the best artist, >> the most sensitive ones you'll never see because they can't handle it. >> So you get these kind of journey and tough guys out here. Like Picasso was an animal. Seriously, think about it. This guy here, he would he did what? 250,000 pieces of art and he's known for 2,000. >> So that's like 0.003 batting average where you're successful. So he understood this one's not as good as that one. Ah, that one was better. Oh, you were better in your 30s. So it's a constant thing. And then finally, he didn't give a It's like, >> yeah, >> I'm going to gain weight, take my shirt off, and smoke cigarettes. And that's it. >> Do you give a >> Uh, yeah, for sure. You know, >> still now? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's um we got it's if you're a sensitive person, you want to feel as though you're administering something that is worthy and people are like you and then when you actually do something and people that's terrible. That's horrible. Like that movie stinks. But it's not as though we sat down and said, "How can we spend millions of dollars to make a horrible product >> that tastes terrible?" I mean it's just these things happen and quite often the performer has to take it on the chin and boy that's not easy. So after all the success that you've had in your career, even right now, you still have that feeling of having to prove yourself and >> well it's not prove it's just that you have to constantly challenge yourself and but it's not like okay I'm going to prove something to you that would be that would be debilitating because I don't want to put any false gods in front of me. The one thing that I I don't know if it was ego or narcissism, but I never had like a real role model or someone go, "That guy's great." And I I just felt as though we'll see, you know, we'll see if you can do that as opposed to I'll never be able to get out of that guy's shadow. See what I mean? >> I guess it's like shall not put false gods before. Is that kind of a thing? And I just thought, but I also thought that was the height of arrogance, too. It's like, oh, I don't need God. I don't need religion. You're on your own. That's I know. But it's that when you're totally alone, I thought this is going to be on you. Don't expect any divine intervention. Don't expect this. Don't expect a knock on the door. You're It's a script. You're done. You're nobody cares about you. they'll step over you. And having that knowledge of being completely disposable was invigorating. I didn't, you know, I didn't charm myself or delude myself into thinking you mean anything. >> You don't. >> Yeah. >> You should cut 8 billion of us here. You don't. Everyone's got their own issue. Do >> you see yourself as a risk taker? >> Yeah. Big time. Yeah. >> Yeah. I that that I like I'm not a gambler like the actual clinical sense >> but yeah risk taker for example we get in trouble for this >> AI is here to stay >> and I wanted to do have human have AI and put it together and of course everyone's going nuts I go that's happening guys you know people are now selling their images this and eventually there are uh the 20 of uses avatars there that is happening So, I would take that risk >> even though you get blasted bombastically from the creative >> community. And they're right. They're right. But we can't stop. It's avalanche. It's just out of our control. >> If you don't go with it, you will >> trampled by it. >> Yeah. >> I think >> Do you think that's why you've managed to stay relevant? Because you've always moved with the times. You're talking about AI at the stage you're at in your life. You wouldn't have thought someone would continually keep >> it's like I don't know if you've noticed but I think the on Instagram Tik Tok you know have these little vignettes a minute whatever and for some reason >> they put so many on of me >> uh but age appropriate so when I'm running it's like that they're not making you up to be a gazelle and I'm thinking why are they doing this I mean this is time inensive not one maybe five different sites and I think what they're doing is actually wetting the pallet of the public. There was a a situation uh quibby a few years ago. There were some people like Jeffrey Casper and other people lost billions of dollars in a excer which was many things on the on your phone 10 minutes five minute movies. He was just a little too soon I believe. So that I'm very fascinated with because the time expansion of the brain is becoming >> uh diminishing. >> So it is today you know to get them for two hours locking impossible. >> This episode of Stick to Football is brought to you by Disney Plus. >> Have you watched this new Oasis documentary or what? >> Uh on Disney Plus? No, not yet. The boys aren't happy at the moment, are they? >> No. >> They're a bit angry about football, aren't they? And all the rest of it. >> But they must be happy with the with the documentary though because they got a new tour coming up. >> They have got a new tour coming up >> about their last tour, the documentary, in it. >> I must admit, I did go to Wembley last year. It was It was pretty special. You We >> went with Jack to Wembley. We had a great time. >> It was good. It was good. It was a bit like a bit nostalgic. Is there any relationship with football that you think reminds you a bit of Liam and No, >> me and Cara. >> You didn't spend as many years apart though, did you? >> We didn't. We didn't. >> Um, is there a song by Oasis that like when you hear it takes you back to a particular time? >> Do you know something? Master Plan because I I actually was learning to play guitar from the age I think 27 to 31 and I used to love the master plan. It's actually a song that I would consider having at my funeral. Not that I'll be there. Well, I will be there actually. >> Do you have a favorite gig of all time? >> The best gig. Absolutely. I've remembered the best gig I ever went to watch. Uh it was with David Beckham and Fabian Bartz. It was 10 years of Noise and Confusion uh tour and it was at the Apollo and Null did a little acoustic set in the middle and it was one of the best uh concerts I've ever watched in my life. It was incredible in the Apollo. Watching your 3000 just really tight. It was incredible that night. It honestly they were brilliant. Don't miss this one. Oasis Don't Look Back in Anger. A Hulu original film new and exclusive on Disney Plus. >> There's too many Manununians on this show. >> Football, football, >> football. It's all we talk about every day. So, come and join us >> on Overlap Daily. I like that. >> This is easy. This >> every week, Monday to Friday, >> from 400 p.m. >> Watch on YouTube >> and listen wherever you get your podcasts. >> Just laughing. >> It's football. >> Football. >> Football in that order. >> Overlap daily. >> We'll see you soon. We do this thing called mythbusters where where I read out a statement and you'll obviously know the answer. We don't know the answer, but we've got a debate whether it's true or not. >> Your favorite your favorite food is raw eggs. Do we think that's true or false? >> Still eats raw eggs. >> No, but it was Rocky's the first time. We me and my brothers tried it afterwards. Ah, it was horrible. Yeah, it's terrible. >> It's terrible, isn't it? >> I'm saying no. >> It's false. It's false. >> I'm saying >> it's false. >> No, you're definitely right. It's a no. >> The eggs were actually a manifestation of having no money. >> Yes, >> you refrigerator. So, you buy them, set them on the window. So, in the morning, and that if the pigeons, they can get to them sooner. But no. And I thought, God, if I do this in Rocky, I this is what I used to do every day, but it's not healthy at all. And they go, how can you do that? And I said, well, it goes down one string. It's just like, e, >> were you doing that to help build your physique? >> No, I don't think it helped. I think if anything, you probably borderline seinal disease. >> It wasn't really prominent at the time. It was like, wow. Everybody said, well, I'm going to do six eggs. Do you remember it? Okay, next one. You own artwork by Picasso and Warhol. >> I would say that's Picasso. >> They're worth a few quid. Yeah, we're going to say yes. True. >> Yeah. That's my weakness. Yeah. Art. Yeah. >> Yeah. And I do a lot of more contemporary artists who are becoming the new, >> you know, I mean, you have uh George Condo and there's Rashi Johnson and all these different I mean it's they're this generation's Picassos. >> How much is a Picasso in a warhole if you don't mind me asking? >> How much is it worth? >> Am I allowed to ask that question? >> 40 million. >> Wow. >> No way. >> Both of them together or one of them? >> Yeah, just one. >> Wow. Listen, I had a collection one time and I you won't believe this. I I think if you were ever going to make your great fortune, Sans technology in the middle 80s, I could buy a Monae. This is great. I pay 130 W, right? >> Yeah. >> You buy Picasso, you could buy Renoir, the hay stacks, these are very famous paintings. >> 110 Francis Bacon 75 grand. The point is, and then I would sell it for three million. Not bad, right? >> Right. Yeah. >> 10 years later, 12 years later, guys come back and try to sell it to me for 75 mil. >> Wow. >> I'm not joking. So, the point is, if you got art, don't sell it unless you have to pay the mortgage >> because it's appreciating. It doesn't cost, you don't have to feed it. But yeah, I had a collection that you can't replace because of the the shift in finance. It's unbelievable how I forget this one Monaet. It's 110 grand. It's called the hay stacks, right? >> I paid up like 110. Guy wanted to sell it back to me for 130 million. >> Wow. I'm just It's like I'm pretty sure you want to go right into the popcorn. >> And then your watches. How much do you love your watches? We have to ask. We're obsessed with watches around the table. >> These guys tell me you can make a loft from watches. Is a true. >> Oh yeah. >> Okay. >> Some of these go up 10 times. >> Wow. >