The Wrestler

As a long time wrestling fan, I've always heard about The Wrestler, but I'd never seen it before today. I saw it in a discount store for $5 and figured what the hell, take a chance. It's not a bad film considering the era it was made in and who the stars are, but to anyone who follows wrestling or knows the behind the scenes info, it's quite amusing.

The character of Verne Gagne as almost-over-the-hill champ Mike Ballard is an ironic figure when you consider that while he was still in good shape as the movie showed, the real Verne Gagne was indeed in the same boat as Mike Ballard. The irony comes in when one considers that Verne was not only the World Champ of the AWA, he was also the promoter. His unwillingness to put over (lose to) an up and coming challenger left his AWA title somewhat of a joke as no one really got a chance until Verne retired in 1981. By then it was too late to salvage the damage done by having a balding, aging, old timer as champ in a era dominated by youth as the AWA was basically dead in the water in 1988 before offically closing shop in 1990.

As far as the movie goes, it's actually not as bad as you would think a film with nearly an entire cast of wrestlers would be. Luckily for the viewer Verne chose guys like Billy Robinson, Dusty Rhodes, and Lord James Blears to have the main roles since they have enough personality to distract the audience from the fact that its a movie full of mainly non actors.

All in all its a great movie for wrestling fans, and even if you aren't a fan it's still not a terrible flick.

Just try to not laugh too hard when you watch the movie and you consider that Verne Gagne is the guy who let Hulk Hogan sign with the WWF since he didn't think he had a future in the wrestling biz.

I have been a fan of pro wrestling for well over 15 years and have seen other wrestling movies like "Body Slam" and "Grunt-The Wrestling Movie". I had always heard of "The Wrestler" starring Ed Asner and of course I could never find a copy to rent. Imagine my surprise when I found several copies of it in a $3 bin at a local Wal-Mart! Well, needless to say I bought it, even though I had never seen the flick. It is a great movie for all wrestling fans!

This is a really strange movie. As an old-school pro wrestling fan who grew up in AWA territory, I'd heard of this movie, but never seen it. Now there's a poor copy at http://www.matineeclassics.com/movies/1974/the_wrestler/.

Imagine you're Verne Gagne:

It's 1974. It's the height of the pro wrestling territories. It's all kayfabe: everyone pretends that the match outcomes aren't worked.

You're part owner of the AWA, one of the largest, most successful territories. You're the heavyweight champion basically any time you want to be.

There's some back story here, too: Gagne's split from the NWA and formation of the AWA was because the NWA didn't want Gagne as their champion. The NWA champion went all over the US, defending the title against the most popular local wrestler in a given territory. The NWA thought Gagne wasn't appropriate as that kind of champion. Gagne disagreed and formed the AWA, with himself as champion.

Now it's 1974 and you make a movie in which you co-star as a pro wrestler. It's the story of how one might imagine a promoter operating in 1974 -- if pro wrestling was really a sport.

You get Ed Asner to star. He was doing Mary Tyler Moore at the time, and was a good pick for the role. He's entirely believable as sort of a Wally Karbo-style promoter. But it's very strange seeing a guy with Asner's credentials in a movie like this.

So it's weird on that level. Then there are all the cameos from famous pro wrestlers: the Crusher, the Bruiser, Dusty Rhodes, Dick Murdock, even Ric Flair, albeit briefly. I was a bit surprised that Verne's son Greg wasn't in the film.

Beyond that weirdness, there's the soundtrack. It's really ... 1970s. I can't figure out what was going through the composer's mind during the big bar fight. It's almost like watching a fight while listening to the Benny Hill theme.

Unfortunately, it's also an unsatisfying movie. Rather astonishingly, they build up to a match between Gagne and Billy Robinson -- and then end the film mid-kick, before the match even ends. There's no payoff whatsoever: did Billy or Verne win? Which of them gets to go to the super bowl of wrestling? Did Verne win, forcing the other promoters to allow him? Did Billy, and Verne learns that it's time to ride off into the sunset?

I have no idea what they were trying to do, but the result is very surreal.

The unfortunate thing is that with a little better script, it could have been a decent movie. Gagne is entirely believable as an aging champion, and there would've been a neat story if the writers had simply chosen a direction. Either Gagne learns that it's time to hang up his hat or that Robinson beats the "unbeatable" champion. The gangsters looking for a win by betting on the matches seems out of place -- particularly now that we know that the matches were worked.

It should have been a character piece. It tried to be, but just never got there.

Definitely worth a watch, but don't expect Rocky.

It is impossible to give an exact picture of an endeavor such as Pro Wrestling. One has to experience it for oneself. THE WRESTLER does a pretty good job of telling the story.

Basically it is a semi-autobiographical story of starring wrestler, Verne Gagne.A Minnesota native,Gagne himself is and has been a great athlete for most of his life. He excelled in the Simon Pure amateur ranks of the mat sport and was an end on the Golden Gofer Football Team while attending University of Minnesota. That was followed by a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

Following a brief fling in the World of Professional Football*, it was in about 1949 that he came to the Pro Grappling ranks.His ability,youth and good looks (remember, this was the beginning of the television age)catapulted him to the top, where he remained for years.

Okay, we know that there is a big show business component in the Pro Wrestling game. In most areas it is advertised as an exhibition.But don't make the mistake that the participants aren't a tough lot of performers. In varying degrees, there are some tremendous exponents of out and out hand to hand combat.There are some truly big men, with big egos to match.

And just how does this writer know this? Well, I was a Pro Wrestler. For about seven years, I spent some of my leisure time as a part time mat man. Basically referred to as a "Job Man" on the big circuits, the best matches for a guy like me were at small town events.

Anyway, back to THE WRESTLER.

It was shown quite a bit on the Drive-In circuit and at minor "neighborhood" movie houses. Oddly enough, it also had a run at the Monroe Theatre, right in the heart of downtown Chicago. That's where we saw it.

It is Verne Gagne's picture. He and the American Wrestling Association undoubtedly financed it. And it looks very good, what with the filming done mostly, if not all on location.While it is familiar to fans of the Pro Game, it gives enough background to serve those who are uninitiated in the viewing audience.

Simply put, the story is one of mortality in a business that (much like Hollywood) expects its participants to remain as young as they were in their first bout.The leading character, the Promoter,Frank Bass (Asner), knows that it is his job to keep the action at the top fresh and exciting. This must be done, even if it means putting his long time friendship for the Champ,Mike Bullard (Gagne) on the line.

Finally, the big match is made between Champion and the talented, but still inexperienced challenger,Billy Taylor (Billy Robinson). In the end, we all realize that what Mr. Shakespeare said so long ago is as still true today, especially in The Pro Mat Game. It is the play that is the most important thing, not any individual.

Viewing this film would be a good idea for anyone, wrestling fan or not. THE WRESTLER gives a rare glimpse into the phenomenon of Professional Wrestling. It is more than just a "sport". It is a genuine piece of Americana.

* Gagne was also chosen as a member of the 1949 College All Star Team as an end and played against the NFL Champs that year.

UPDATE!!! Feb. 06, 2006, Chicago, Illinois We just viewed the new DVD edition of THE WRESTLER, yesterday after THE SUPERBOWL. It really looks so much better than the previous VHS version. The VHS release looked kind of worn,as if it were made from a used 35mm print of the movie, which it probably was.

The look and feel of this is much better than previously recalled by this reporter. It is coherent, logical and treats its subject matter with respect, all without neglecting some humor and high spots (action.)

This may be an all time neglected sort of "minor masterpiece".

What does my summary say -- the best wrestling movie ever period. I tried for thirteen years to finally see the ending (you can't find it anywhere), and it was extrodinary. I must admit, this seems like what they got Ready To Rumble from, but I have to give this a beautiful

10/10