The Wrestler from a wrestling fan's point of view
As promised, here is the piece by my nephew Scott:
Being a wrestling fan nearly all my life, I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in on the authenticity of the film's more graphic moments. I've seen almost every type of match, either on television, tape, live or on the internet, and I feel that the 3 matches in the film more than pay respect to how wrestlers perform in the ring. The first match, where Randy "The Ram" Roberts wrestles a up and comer named Tommy Rotten is as basic as you get. Throw some punches, hit a handful of spots, some cheap heat to get the crowd prepared for "The Ram's" comeback, and the payoff with the finishing maneuver from the top for the 1, 2, 3. Even the blading, the act of cutting a body part to draw blood to add more realism to the match, was well done, albeit more obvious than it would be during a match. Most times, the wrestler will do their best to hide the blading from the audience, while here, for the sake of the movie, it was very obvious. But that is more a minor issue that does not take away from the film or match within. It was interesting to see before the match how Tommy was, before anything else, a fan. It was also interesting to see them talk about the spots, or stunts, they would perform in the ring, as well as the use of cheap heat to get a crowd reaction. Cheap heat is where the heel, or villain, would use a low blow and cheap shot to get the crowd booing the heel and preparing for the babyface's, the hero, so to speak, comeback.
The second match of the movie is the exact opposite of the first match where it was anything but basic. For the most part, it wasn't even about wrestling. It was about the blood. The gore. And the rabid fans eat it up. The level of violence, as unrealistic as it may seem, in the match is not an everyday part of wrestling, but is not uncommon. Randy "The Ram" wrestled The Necro Butcher, a man who is well known for putting his life on the line for the sake of the fans. He made his career working for promotions such as CZW and IWA-MS working deathmatches like these. The use of weapons in these matches are common, the amount of blood shed during them are sickening, and the fans of these promotions always want more. Other fans refer to it as garbage wrestling, due to the fact that most times it's not wrestling at all. The gore here was what you usually get in those matches, maybe even a little subdued. Before the match you saw "The Ram" and his steroid connection go to a dollar store and pick out items to be used in the match. I know this happens because I've been to shows where wrestlers walk into the ring with a bag of goodies you would only find in a dollar store. Pizza cutters, frying pans, cookie sheets, cheap trash cans, plastic bowls, plastic baseball bats, plungers, and giant plastic crayons, all to be used as weapons in a match. I've actually seen a dvd player used in a match recently. I never did get to find out if it still worked or not.
The last match of the movie might have been the best representation in the film, although somewhat unrealistic for the independent wrestling scene. Usually when you see two old wrestlers go at it in the ring, even those that were once as iconic as "The Ram" and the Ayatollah were to have been, it would not garner that much fanfare, nor would it really be showcased in ROH. But that is another reason why this movie worked so well in the ring, they were able to create that big match feel even at a show that usually only gathers 800 people in the crowd. The spectacle was well covered, but what really made this match was the acting within Randy's response to his heart about to give out on him, the Ayatollah trying to end the match early to save his life, the speech before the match, and the ending, where you are left to make your own judgment on what happened. It truly felt like an historic moment in wrestling history that played out so well in the ring.
Darren Aronofsky did the right thing for this film, hiring wrestlers and having them act, something they do on a show by show basis, instead of having actors try to wrestle. The quality of wrestling in the movie would hold up on any independent show I've been to in the last 10 years. It wasn't the most technically sound wrestling, but then again the movie was not about that but rather the wrestler himself. I will give all the credit in the world to Mickey Rourke, though. He learned moves at his age some young wrestlers could not even pull off. It felt like he has been wrestling for years, and did not just learn it for the movie.
Being broken down, heavy hearted, and doing anything he can to stay in that spotlight. Most wrestlers with his history would not work a match like that of the Deathmatch scene with the surprisingly humble Necro Butcher, but Randy "The Ram" needs to continue living the life. I've seen this in person on more than one occasion, wrestlers who should have long ago hung up their boots lumbering around the ring for the next big pop. But they just can't leave the ring. The need the fans more than they need to walk when they get home. Also, back in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, not many people prepared for life outside the ring. So all they can do is stay in the ring, even when they no longer have the ability to do so. I think that was one of the best and well represented aspects of "The Ram's" character. Especially in the end, where he risks love and his life just to have that one last moment, that one last time where the crowd chants his name, and he's the star of the show again.
The language used in the film was also rather authentic. The terms face, heel, pop, spot, heat, bump, all used in the business today, as well as the "smart mark" fans out there. Going over spots before the matches, talking in the ring about the next spot, even having to cover for an injured opponent, was very well done. The only thing I really couldn't comment on is the sale of steroids right in the locker room, but according to some wrestlers they say this is unrealistic while others confirmed it. Also, as a fan, I had a fun time picking out wrestlers I knew in the background, like Monsta Mack backstage at the JAPW show or Bobby Dempsey backstage at the ROH show. I'm trying my hardest not to chant Bobby Dempsey right now.
I am such a mark, and as one, this film was very well made, in and out of the ring. Rourke really felt like a broken down wrestler, someone who should have retired years ago and moved on. Ernest "The Cat" Miller's Ayatollah was a good villain to Rourke's Randy "The Ram" Roberts. And I'm happy a movie like this was finally made. It might finally break the stigma that wrestling is for white trash only. For me, this film is an absolute must see and a must buy the day of release.
- Scott (nexusdx.deviantart.com)
Just a note, one of the wrestlers that were in the first locker room scene, Paul E. Normus, died just days ago. Still don't know how or why at the time of writing this.
Being a wrestling fan nearly all my life, I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in on the authenticity of the film's more graphic moments. I've seen almost every type of match, either on television, tape, live or on the internet, and I feel that the 3 matches in the film more than pay respect to how wrestlers perform in the ring. The first match, where Randy "The Ram" Roberts wrestles a up and comer named Tommy Rotten is as basic as you get. Throw some punches, hit a handful of spots, some cheap heat to get the crowd prepared for "The Ram's" comeback, and the payoff with the finishing maneuver from the top for the 1, 2, 3. Even the blading, the act of cutting a body part to draw blood to add more realism to the match, was well done, albeit more obvious than it would be during a match. Most times, the wrestler will do their best to hide the blading from the audience, while here, for the sake of the movie, it was very obvious. But that is more a minor issue that does not take away from the film or match within. It was interesting to see before the match how Tommy was, before anything else, a fan. It was also interesting to see them talk about the spots, or stunts, they would perform in the ring, as well as the use of cheap heat to get a crowd reaction. Cheap heat is where the heel, or villain, would use a low blow and cheap shot to get the crowd booing the heel and preparing for the babyface's, the hero, so to speak, comeback.
The second match of the movie is the exact opposite of the first match where it was anything but basic. For the most part, it wasn't even about wrestling. It was about the blood. The gore. And the rabid fans eat it up. The level of violence, as unrealistic as it may seem, in the match is not an everyday part of wrestling, but is not uncommon. Randy "The Ram" wrestled The Necro Butcher, a man who is well known for putting his life on the line for the sake of the fans. He made his career working for promotions such as CZW and IWA-MS working deathmatches like these. The use of weapons in these matches are common, the amount of blood shed during them are sickening, and the fans of these promotions always want more. Other fans refer to it as garbage wrestling, due to the fact that most times it's not wrestling at all. The gore here was what you usually get in those matches, maybe even a little subdued. Before the match you saw "The Ram" and his steroid connection go to a dollar store and pick out items to be used in the match. I know this happens because I've been to shows where wrestlers walk into the ring with a bag of goodies you would only find in a dollar store. Pizza cutters, frying pans, cookie sheets, cheap trash cans, plastic bowls, plastic baseball bats, plungers, and giant plastic crayons, all to be used as weapons in a match. I've actually seen a dvd player used in a match recently. I never did get to find out if it still worked or not.
The last match of the movie might have been the best representation in the film, although somewhat unrealistic for the independent wrestling scene. Usually when you see two old wrestlers go at it in the ring, even those that were once as iconic as "The Ram" and the Ayatollah were to have been, it would not garner that much fanfare, nor would it really be showcased in ROH. But that is another reason why this movie worked so well in the ring, they were able to create that big match feel even at a show that usually only gathers 800 people in the crowd. The spectacle was well covered, but what really made this match was the acting within Randy's response to his heart about to give out on him, the Ayatollah trying to end the match early to save his life, the speech before the match, and the ending, where you are left to make your own judgment on what happened. It truly felt like an historic moment in wrestling history that played out so well in the ring.
Darren Aronofsky did the right thing for this film, hiring wrestlers and having them act, something they do on a show by show basis, instead of having actors try to wrestle. The quality of wrestling in the movie would hold up on any independent show I've been to in the last 10 years. It wasn't the most technically sound wrestling, but then again the movie was not about that but rather the wrestler himself. I will give all the credit in the world to Mickey Rourke, though. He learned moves at his age some young wrestlers could not even pull off. It felt like he has been wrestling for years, and did not just learn it for the movie.
Being broken down, heavy hearted, and doing anything he can to stay in that spotlight. Most wrestlers with his history would not work a match like that of the Deathmatch scene with the surprisingly humble Necro Butcher, but Randy "The Ram" needs to continue living the life. I've seen this in person on more than one occasion, wrestlers who should have long ago hung up their boots lumbering around the ring for the next big pop. But they just can't leave the ring. The need the fans more than they need to walk when they get home. Also, back in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, not many people prepared for life outside the ring. So all they can do is stay in the ring, even when they no longer have the ability to do so. I think that was one of the best and well represented aspects of "The Ram's" character. Especially in the end, where he risks love and his life just to have that one last moment, that one last time where the crowd chants his name, and he's the star of the show again.
The language used in the film was also rather authentic. The terms face, heel, pop, spot, heat, bump, all used in the business today, as well as the "smart mark" fans out there. Going over spots before the matches, talking in the ring about the next spot, even having to cover for an injured opponent, was very well done. The only thing I really couldn't comment on is the sale of steroids right in the locker room, but according to some wrestlers they say this is unrealistic while others confirmed it. Also, as a fan, I had a fun time picking out wrestlers I knew in the background, like Monsta Mack backstage at the JAPW show or Bobby Dempsey backstage at the ROH show. I'm trying my hardest not to chant Bobby Dempsey right now.
I am such a mark, and as one, this film was very well made, in and out of the ring. Rourke really felt like a broken down wrestler, someone who should have retired years ago and moved on. Ernest "The Cat" Miller's Ayatollah was a good villain to Rourke's Randy "The Ram" Roberts. And I'm happy a movie like this was finally made. It might finally break the stigma that wrestling is for white trash only. For me, this film is an absolute must see and a must buy the day of release.
- Scott (nexusdx.deviantart.com)
Just a note, one of the wrestlers that were in the first locker room scene, Paul E. Normus, died just days ago. Still don't know how or why at the time of writing this.
posted by Film Fanatic | 10:14 AM
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