The Backyard

Once again the controversial subject of backyard wrestling makes it into the hallowed halls of The Two Sheds Review. This past Sunday, March 12th, Paul Hough's documentary, The Backyard, received it's British television premiere on digital station ITV4.

Hough's documentary certainly makes for interesting viewing, as he travels across America meeting a cast of characters that are both disturbing and compelling to watch at the same time. For instance, there's the Gates brothers, who stage fights in their mother's backyard, and who come up with highly elaborate story lines, involving their mother, to explain their rivalry on videotape. There's also the 17 year old owner of Modesto Championship Wrestling, billed as the Vince McMahon of the backyard scene, who bosses his wrestlers around as if he owned their lives. There's an interesting scene where he chews out a young backyarder for arriving late, then presents him with his opponent for the show, a fat kid about three times his size.

While there are those that don't support their children, especially the mother who drags her son away from a match in a park, the surprising thing is there are those who actively support what they do, such as the parents of a youngster named Scar who underwent countless major surgeries as a child, and an entire community in up-state New York that supports the local backyard federation. The only man who doesn't openly support them is the local high school wrestling coach.

There's also a venture to my part of the world, as Hough visits East Norfolk Backyard Wrestling, located near Great Yarmouth, a group of youngster I had considerable contact with a few years ago (they wanted me to commentate on their videos, an offer I naturally declined). Adam Yarco and his pals consider themselves superior to their American cousins, and seem to delight in blading themselves to get the juice flowing.

But perhaps the most compelling character of all is a 26 year old backyarder called The Lizard. With dreams of becoming a superstar, we follow the Lizard around the circuit, and to Las Vegas as he makes the final 250 for WWE's Tough Enough 2.

It's the Lizard's encounter with the professional XRW promotion. It was interesting to watch as the Lizard was offered a professional debut, but it's against a professionally trained shooter, and he's asked to change his gimmick, something that he's reluctant to do.

In a fast food restaurant after the meeting he voices his fears to the camera, of how the shoot fighter could cause him some serious harm, and how he's considering pulling out of the match with a fake injury (which he later does), and while I could understand his concerns, I couldn't help but think that he should have been voicing these concerns to his promoter rather than a film director. Later, we see the Lizard attending a training school, and making his professional debut.

There's also a fleeting appearance from Rob Van dam, who says what while he supports the backyard scene, he thinks it should be more regulated, which is something that everyone knows just isn't going to happen.

In conclusion - while The Backyard makes for compelling viewing, it's uneasy viewing at that. Seeing youngsters being put through burning tables and proud of the fact that they take bumps on broken glass still doesn't change my view of backyard wrestling. It's nothing more than disorganised chaos.

Now this would be the first time that I have reviewed a documentary. I doubt there will be many up because they have to interest me or strike a nerve. Since Draven and myself are backyard wrestlers, this docu hit home very hard. The technical value of the film is about what you would expect a documentary about backyard wrestling would be. The subjects are interesting and the violence is very gruesome and intense. There are a lot of powerful moments in this film. It sheds some light onto a subculture that few know anything about. Like most other subjects, there are those clichés and caricatures but this makes them completely human or inhuman in some cases. Even as a backyard wrestler myself, I viewed many of these guys as plain stupid. I think if done with responsibility, it makes me for a lot of entertainment and viewing. I might be biased when it comes to this considering I'm shooting a movie on the same subject and lived it for several years. My opinion of the film might be skewed but as a documentary, it does what it sets out to do and that is bring you, the viewer an informed view of a subject or world you perchance you have never seen before. If you ever feel a bit interested to find out what the world of backyard wrestling is like, check out the Backyard.

It's about teen and pre-teen boys who emulate their wrestling heroes by staging dirty wrestling bouts in their own backyards in makeshift rings.

The focus is on half a dozen individuals who dream of getting into the big leagues.

The contestants use light bulbs, barbed wire, non-breakaway chairs and household chemicals to annihilate each other.

The fights become repetitive after a while.

One sequence, where the mother of one of the fighters attempts to stop her son from being seriously injured, made me think of some of the opportunities this doco missed.

Still, it holds up a foggy magnifying glass to a fascinating subculture. Technically its crass, but it has some degree of affection for its subjects.

Certainly not a backyard BEYOND THE MAT, but definitely deserving of attention.

Sometimes films speak to you softly. This one triumphantly and violently screams at you. But it is much more than a pure blood orgy. This is a profound examination of teenage life in America and the effect tv has on kids. Not only was I surprised about what I saw but I was surprised that the film doesn't blame professional wrestling for the violence. I wouldn't be surprised also if this film gets nominated for an Oscar - although I think possibly the fact that the film is about wrestling may prevent that.

I was lucky enough to see this movie last summer/fall, when Paul Hough himself sent me a copy to review, and I can tell you that I was not disappointed. I have seen many tapes on backyard wrestling, the kind that they sell on late night infomercials, and this is not the same old crap that they are selling you. This is a film. This film tells the stories of young hopeful "wannabe's" and what they will do to try and become the next wrestling superstars of tomorrow. With little money and lots of imagination, these kids put on their shows, sometimes in front of 1 or 2 people and act as if they are working the main event at WrestleMania in front of 50,000 screaming fans. The things they do may not be healthy, and make you squirm, but they want to prove that they have what it takes to make it in the big leagues.

I dont want to give too much away, but do keep your eye on the man named "The Lizard". His story is one of my favorites. I would like to know what he is up to these days and if he is still going after his dream. Paul Hough is a class act and has always been kind to me and deserves all the best after making such a great film. If you liked "Beyond the Mat" I think you will find this more than satisfactory. If you didn't see "BTM" give this a shot, I think you will like it. ~Brad Lee