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Plot:
At first, this behind-the-scenes documentary about professional wrestling seems as if it will be an unabashed fan's whitewash of the increasingly bizarre and popular world of "sports entertainment," a...( read more 
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:October 5, 2008There was a time when in this order I used to worship/love:
1) WWF (now WWE)
2) Michael Jackson
3) My Family
that was a very long time, I am talking around the early 90's when Raw first aired on tv and when characters were interesting. When competition was healthy and made it all that much better to watch. It was a time I used to spend every Friday 2 hours before the show starts getting my snacks ready and the VHS ready to record.
This documentary showed me a side of wrestling that I never knew about but only read. In the recent events of the death of Benoit, the wrestling world have never been looked at the same again. This is not an entertainment business anymore but one that could also destroy a human being.
We all know that this is all set up. All the matches are set up and choreographed before it starts. They already know who will win and how and when. It is not fake however if someone gets injured because it has happened a few times and we learn about an injury that ended ones career let alone leaving him on a wheel chair possibly for life in this documentary.
It concentrates mostly on 3 wrestlers. Mick Foley, Terry Funk and Jake Roberts. Three very interesting characters in the business and outside. Each one different but at the same time very alike. Jake 'The Snake' Roberts segment was one of the hardest to watch. It was like a real life version of Nic Cage drinking himself to death. Here we have a man who has so many dark secrets that not many people know about to this day. Mick Foley is a man who seems like one of the nicest you could ever meet. He loves his family, he respects all the wrestlers even if you were unknown he would still make 2 second of his time to say hello. He struggles with keeping his family's support after they witness one of his matches where he nearly gets killed. Terry Funk is someone who finds it hard to retire but at the same time faces disability.
This is a great documentary whether you love or hate wrestling. A must see for everyone. -
MCT:July 28, 2008For over a century, the world of professional wrestling has entertained its fans, and been the target of people who say it's "fake" without making a logical reason as to why they say it's fake.
This documentary, marketed as "The film Vince McMahon DOESN'T want you to see," follows professional wrestlers from the independent circuit (local/regional promotions that put shows on in the area the company calls home) and two of the biggest professional wrestling promotions in the late 1990's, the World Wrestling Federation (renamed World Wrestling Entertainment not too long after the release of this film) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (which was bought out by the now-WWE a few years after the release of this film), and wrestlers who are no longer in the spotlight.
The film does not have budget of a major Hollywood release, and it shouldn't. It's not about the glitz and glamor the fans see, it's about the men and women who put their bodies and lives on the line every time they step inside the "squared circle" (the ring).
The film focuses on just a few wrestlers. Namely Mick Foley (wrestling under the name Mankind, the reigning WWF World Champion), Terry Funk, 1980's star Jake "The Snake" Roberts and to a lesser degree, Jerome Young, who wrestled in ECW (and still wrestles as) New Jack. It also focuses on to indy (independent) wrestlers, one of which I've heard of in magazines and online. It also features Darren Drozdov, who was literally hired in front of the film's cameras and given the gimmick (character) known as "Puke", based on the fact that he was able to make himself vomit at will (I kid you not! He is shown demonstrating this "skill". However, he would later be repackaged as Droz. At the end of the movie, it is briefly mentioned that he was paralyzed during a match three months after filming wrapped. Eight years later, he is still in a wheelchair.)
It doesn't present the wrestlers in their respective characters, it presents the persons behind the characters. It shows Foley as a loving family men who is a big kid, It shows Funk nearing one of his numerous retirements (he is notorious for returning to wrestling after retiring). And it shows Roberts as a drug addict (he is shown lighting up a crack cocaine pipe on camera).
You get to see the behind-the-scenes business of three promotions, an independent promotion, the WWF and ECW. It shows Foley discussing a pay-per-view match with Dwayne Johnson, who was known as "The Rock" (this is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson who is now an actor who starred in such recent movies as "Gridiron Gang" and "The Scorpion King"). You get to see ECW as it makes its debut on Pay-Per-View Television debut, which includes an incredible inspirational speech by then-owner Paul Heyman. And we get to see the backstage aftermath of the Mankind/The Rock match, which literally brought Foley's young daughter to tears to the point that Foley's wife has to remove her children from their front row seat and bring them backstage (Foley received multiple shots to the head with a steel chair in the match, which is shown through the film crew's camera).
Another wrestler the film focuses on is one of Foley's longtime friends, Terry Funk. Funk, a second generation wrestler whose brother Dory Jr. also wrestles. We get to see Funk as he goes to the doctor, who advises him to get knee replacement surgery. This prompts him to announce his (one of many) retirement at the reception of his daughter's wedding. We then follow him around he begins to wind down his career. We see him, and his family, at the debut ECW PPV, ask a wrestler who never made it as a major star to referee his final match, to the post-match ceremony at his retirement show where ECW owner Heyman declares Funk the ECW World Heavyweight Champion for Life.
The show also touches on other major names in the business at the time, but doesn't focus on them like Foley, Funk and Roberts. There are brief segments on Jerome Young (better known as New Jack), Joanie Laurer (better known as Chyna) and a few others. There are also interviews with other major, and not so major names, the weirdest having to be with Matt Hyson (known as Spike Dudley). Hyson was a wrestler with ECW, which was known for violent, bloody matches. We learn that Hyson's previous job was a third grade teacher, and he was an English major who loves Shakespeare. As he is bleeding from the forehead, thanks to an injury sustained in the ring prior to the interview, the movie's producer asks him to recite his favorite line from Shakespeare. Hyson then recites a line from memory -- as blood pours down over his face.
The most uncomfortable, and saddest segment features 1980's star Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Robets had hit rock bottom at the time this documentary was filmed. He has become addicted to crack cocaine, and is shown smoking the drug shortly after meeting up with his estranged daughter in an uncomfortable reunion. He has had a hard life. A result of rape of his then 13-year old mother, who has a strained relationship with his father, a well-known wrestler who never reached the height of fame Jake did. Years later, in a WWE-produced DVD retrospective on his career, Roberts blasted how he was depicted in this film, to the point of bad mouthing the producer and Terry Funk.
What this movie does not address is the "wrestling is fake" debate. That is mostly because it show's what pro wrestling is -- entertainment that takes a toll on the bodies and lives of those in the ring. After seeing Foley, and Mr. McMahon (Vince McMahon's stage name) being stitched up after a show, you may reconsider how "fake" wrestling is.
The only downside of this film is that wrestling fans are the only ones most likely to buy or rent this movie. However, I suggest that people who do not watch wrestling (especially the ones who say "wrestling is fake") view this movie if you ever come across it on television along with the documentaries "Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows" (which puts Vince McMahon in an even worse light than "Beyond the Mat") and the television documentary "The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling" (A&E still airs it from time to time) to better understand the true nature of the business. -
MCT:June 9, 2008
I found Dwayne Johnson calling "The Rock" an asshole (or whatever he calls him) entertaining. This is an decent documentary for professional wrestling, I thought.
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MCT:March 9, 2008Somewhat disappointing doc has some true moments of greatness, mostly when focusing on Mick Foley (Mankind), but much of this unfocused mess tends to sidetrack a bit too often. Still, some great moments make it worth a look if you have any interest in wrestling.
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MCT:February 19, 2008Iam not a fan of wrestling. PERIOD! But this has to be one of the most entertsing look at the buisness ive ever seen. Seriously hard to turn off. I caught this on cable years ago and saw it again recently. Just as good and powerfull as it was then.
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MCT:February 8, 2008
As a fan of wrestling, I found this doc incredible. It's a fascinating look into the folks who chose to wrestle for a living and their trials and tribulations. I've recommended this to people who hate wrestling and they've enjoyed it as well.
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MCT:January 14, 2008
I had to choose between a decent amount of sleep or watching this movie last night. I watched this movie because i just couldn't turn it off.
Really interesting. It's not a well made documentary really. But I found it so fascinating and captivating that i don't care. -
MCT:January 7, 2008
If you like wwe, ecw or wcw this documentary will give you all the inside info of what is put in to the business. Its good can be boring
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MCT:January 1, 2008
Awesome look at the toll wrestling takes on it's stars. Being on the road can really mess you up. Just ask Jake Roberts or Terry Funk and it can take a toll on your family. Just ask those two guys again and Mick Foley. Great documentary and it also offers a really good look at wrestling in the 1990s.
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MCT:December 19, 2007
Great documentary.... If you are a wrestling fan this is a must see for you, and if you are not watch it anyway....
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MCT:November 22, 2007
A very interesting and good documentary about Pro Wrestling.....not perfect, but it has its GREAT points.
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MCT:October 10, 2007
the director of this documentory couldn't wait to make jake the snake roberts look like the worlds biggest douch-bag. he bought jake beer and crack and then interviewed jake about his estranged daughter under false pretenses. solid story about terry funk though. overall though the director went out of his way to make this "his" story.
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MCT:August 27, 2007
A great look into the "boom" period of professional wrestling. Great looks at the rising WWF Attitude era and the revolution that ECW produced. Also looks into Terry Funk, Mick Foley, Jake The Snake Roberts, and others. Great for any wrestling fan.
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MCT:August 13, 2007
Very interesting look into a world I thought was very fake. I'll bite my tongue in the future now. The "Rock" is kind of a dick to.
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MCT:July 30, 2007
It's a directorial debut for acclaimed writer Barry Blaustein ("Saturday Night Live", "Coming to America", "Boomerang", "The Nutty Professor"), and it's a subject matter close to his heart - professional wrestling.
Blaustein tells it from the off that he was a huge fan of wrestling as a child and still watches to this day. He also explains that while wrestling matches are pre-determined and major parts of a match are worked out between the wrestlers and the writers, the better wrestlers are the ones who can work together and put together a good match on the fly, calling spots during the action.
if his aim is to investigate what life is like for American wrestlers - hard-working professionals who are dismissed by many as nothing more than pumped-up stunt men - he may succeed in changing that view for a lot of people.
The main drive of his vision is to study some of the legends of the sport. Terry Funk, a 53-year old Texan with shot knees; Mick Foley, 33, minus half his left ear and a few front teeth; Jake Roberts, 40-something with a cocaine addiction and a dysfunctional family. He also spends some time with the industries revolutionary, Vince McMahon, and independent promoter, Paul Heyman.
The footage is incredible at times. Foley, a good man with a beautiful wife and young kids, balances his love for the sport with his love for his family. We see his kids crying, watching Daddy getting hit with a chair continuously. His wife, clearly unhappy with her husband's career, knows that it is what he loves and reluctantly lets him get on with it, dropping hints that enough is enough from time to time.
Terry Funk has been wrestling 32 years. His knee needs to be totally replaced. He struggles to walk but still is able to perform admirably in the ring. His family all want him to retire and despite continuously doing so, he is always lured back to the sport.
Jake Roberts is by far the most intriguing of the three (and that's saying something). Lauded during the documentary as one of the all-time greats by the likes of Vince McMahon and his head of talent recruitment Jim Ross, Roberts has sunk into a degrading life of drugs and alcohol. His relationship with his family is non-existent and he tells the disturbing tale of how his mother gave birth to him at thirteen after being raped by her mother's boyfriend.
He also speaks of his loveless relationship with his father and describes his psychology-studying daughter (whom he is reunited with temporarily on camera) as a 'freak'.
If ever there was evidence that wrestling is "real", that was it. A stunning examination of a perceived "pretend" industry, "Beyond the Mat" should be seen by cynics. After seeing it, you'll understand why you owed these men that much. -
MCT:July 25, 2007
"A chilling look at the lives of pro wrestlers. on television they're just characters, off-screen they lead not so normal lives"
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MCT:June 29, 2007
The Film Vince McMahon Tired To Ban is an anthology of both the good and bad sides of professional wrestling. As a wrestling fan myself, it is ironic that I return to this film in the aftermath of Chris Benoit's murder/suicide to review a film which pornographises the sport to a warts and all status. If fans see this, would they react well to knowing that Mick Foley carefully choreographs his stunts only to still come of bruised and bloodied? Would they feel sorry for the fact that Terry Funk is still wrecking his body at retirement age? Probably not, but then Barry W. Blaustein doesn't really take sides. He just shows the world of wrestling for what it is, be it a hoax, a contact sport, a career or a self-destructive lifestyle.
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MCT:June 19, 2007
Behind the scenes of the wrestling world. Those who bash wrestling for their fakeness should watch this. Those who enjoy wrestling should watch this.
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MCT:June 14, 2007This movie is a very awful portrayl of the wrestling world, edited so badly and this guy caused the chain reaction that made Mick Foley retire.
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MCT:June 9, 2007
a real look into something that people only wish they could do its hartbreaking in many ways but its about the glory and pain
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MCT:May 29, 2007
Terry Funk becomes ECW Champion, I saw Jake Roberts lose it all and Mick Foely with the belt. The best flim ever about the true sport of kings.
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MCT:May 16, 2007
Tries its best to make wrestling seem real. The scenes where the one wrestler's family watches him get the crap knocked out of him with a chair and his family is cringing in horror is an especially nice touch.
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MCT:May 3, 2007
Pro wrestling is fake... bunch of oiled up guys rolling around in tights... yadda yadda. I love this doc for no other reason than it proves it takes onions to be a pro wrestler. Plus, the Royal Rumble scene is worth watching by anyone.
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MCT:April 28, 2007
Huge wrestling fan...This was a great movie..great behind the scenes stuff..Truly a must see for any wrestling fan!
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