The real Wrestler

Despite my immediate unabashed love for it, The Wrestler left me feeling a bit disoriented. Besides a character study, it's angled to be a cultural one, as well, via scenes of wrestlers outlining choreography before matches, barely attended would-be conventions in V.F.W. halls, a post-match party replete with groupies, etc. Its investment in reality made me wonder who exactly the Randy "The Ram" Robinson referenced. His real-American, eternally victorious persona in the ring reminded me of Hulk Hogan, but then, Hogan was able to parlay his popularity into ongoing exposure (I hasten to use the word "relevance") and millions. At no point would you catch the Hulkster begging the manager of his trailer park to open his bolted double wide so he could grab his ice packs (now, that is a reality show I'd want to see). After some research online (since my knowledge of professional wrestling barely extends beyond Hulk), people have compared the down-on-his-luck Ram to Ric Flair, Lex Luger and Bret Hart.

But the most salient parallel must be with Jake "The Snake" Roberts, whose downward spiral is chronicled vividly in the 1999 wrestling documentary Beyond the Mat. I watched that movie recently and holy shit is it entirely amazing: instantly one of my favorite docs of all time. You want extreme human behavior? This one has it not just in spades; it's also in tights. While I suggest taking in the whole thing, especially if you are a fan of bitch tits and people who naturally exude a Revenge of the Nerds Boogerishness (i.e. Mick "Mankind" Foley), I discovered that someone uploaded all the Jake the Snake footage to YouTube, so you can watch just that stuff below.

From his family history (he says he was conceived by rape, his sister was kidnapped and murdered, and his stepfather was electrocuted) to his open pissing backstage at a mat to his easy distraction (a lot of people regard this as the film's highlight), there's a lot to gawk at here. Enjoy!

Next to, "...The hell is this shit?" my favorite quote comes when he describes the experience of the young girl he invites into the ring with him. The hubris is so tragic, I'd swear he's Greek. "She was just such a kind, little thing, y'know? And right there'll probably be...y'know, she's gonna live for the rest of her life, probably and have seven kids and seven husbands and whatever and wind up being a lady truck driver that cross-dresses or something, but she'll always remember tonight, man. That's why I enjoy the small town, man, because they really dig it. They really appreciate it. You come to a place like this, my god, I could be mayor here, if I wanted to be. They could keep the one they got and just put me in power. I'd be like a dictator-mayor, y'know? And they'd love it. That's what really scares ya."

Not gonna name names, but in my travels, I've heard quite a few stories smacking of this barely veiled false modesty from those who fancy themselves to be in the public eye. It's never not amazing.

Comments

[Cheryl]

I haven't watched wrestling since The Rock used to be in it (he could really work a mic). I doubt a bad luck story is based on Brett Hart tho...he keeps himself in the public eye enough and his family has money so I don't think he's ever been down and out (just bitter)

I don't think this movie is even coming to where I live....sucks..I like seeing the Oscar contenders before awards night

[Tisha___]

I, um, used to be in love with Jake the Snake. Like, when I was in grade school. I had a Pound Puppy (remember those... the stuffed little dogs back in the 80's) that was named Jake the Snake. I'm serious. I obviously had some mental issues as a child. But, he was my favorite wrestler.

P.S. Jake the Snake (the pound puppy) was white with black spots and had a bright red collar on.

[degamarie]

I saw "Beyond the Ring" when it first came out and I was in shock over how Jake The Snake was living. My older cousin told me I was being naive; but like Tisha I loved him. I wanted a snake name Damien too!

Then I heard about Miss Elizabeth; Mr. Perfect and Lex Luther. It's all so sad.

[Vanessa]

I would never, ever have guessed you were a wrestling fan Rich but here is a story of my own exceptionally modest brush with fame:

In 1988 or 89 when I was 20ish, I was a college student working nights at a hotel in Lexington, KY. The WWF came to town and stayed there which struck me funny as it was kind of a dump (but it was close to the airport and they said that's what mattered. I dunno.) Anyways, I met one of the wrestlers and I can't remember his name but he's the black guy with the blonde hair and the macaw in the first clip where Jake is wrestling in Nebraska. He even persistently offered to have marital relations with me in the motel office after I locked up. I declined. But, damn-maybe I shouldn't have because this story would have been so much better in that event. I hadn't thought of him in...well, 20 years. I even saw this documentary when it came out but must have missed that scene. It just seems fitting somehow you are responsible for jogging that memory loose.

Just the smallest part of me is sorry that my current job (anonymous code monkey in a cubicle farm) will never yield such a fabulous tale.

[Chesty La Rue]

Rick, I think he actually says, "...they could execute the one they've got," when referring to the small town mayor. Makes it even more not amazing.

[spazmo]

I love the fact that The Wrestler was penned by a former writer for The Onion.

Rich, when are you gonna start developing projects? The market is hot now for writers like you.

[Keith]

Jake Roberts is a really good parallel to "The Ram", with the only difference being that Jake's downward spiral hasn't had a single break in more than a decade. The only time Jake Roberts has been on a wrestling Pay-Per-View in the last 12 years is drunkenly slurring on a "Legends" event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9clRpVbYZw8

There are all too many wrestlers who have lived a lot like Jake Roberts once their careers were over, though Jake has the advantage of an infinitely screwed up family life. There's also a lot of people who think Jerry Lynn was an influence in regards to the character's appearance.

I didn't almost have sex with Koko B. Ware (AWESOME story), but the least I could do is provide some wrestling insight.

[DLCS]

@spazmo--
We should all throw in money for a FourFour Productions studio.

Mick Foley's family sitting in the stands watching that Rock-administered chair assault? Scared the crap out of me.

You don't really see much about the wrestlers who have retired and started their own schools or gone into broadcasting and such, and are still healthy mentally and physically. Just the ones who are either about to break (Roberts) or who did break (Benoit) and well...

[mighty undies]

that Fever Ray video is stunning!
the pool scene with the bodies is beyond disturbing.
really looking forward to the album.

[Julia]

This was so sad.
Julia

[abbi]

sad

[La Toya's Left Breast]

Thanks for posting these clips Rich.

You've wetted my appetite for seeing The Wrestler even more.

Love ya! ;)

[Bud]

Awesome, I never knew about Beyond the Mat before. I will check that out soon. If you haven't, you should really watch "The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior." It was made by WWE so, of course, they're approaching it with their own agenda, but it was an incredible watch.

[r kally]

spazmo and DLCS are onto something. fourfour movio studio. i got five on it.

[lampshadenark]

I wish the scenes with Evan Rachel Wood in The Wrestler were more like the one with Jake the Snake and his daughter shown here. Really heartbreaking and real and mundane, not histrionic and strange. One false point in an otherwise great film.

[Plpduwhm]

TwoLa3