The Wrestler

Ok. This movie is something I'm REALLY excited for. It is a little off topic from any wrestling on television, however, it will be incredible exposure for the business itself. The movie poster had been released the other week, and more recently, the official trailer for the movie. The only film about wrestling that has been made is Ready to Rumble. Now, I've seen that movie, and I was pretty much embarrassed to be a wrestling fan after watching it. It had stereotypical fans and wrestlers in it. But whatever, it's Hollywood. That's what they wanted to portray to try and make money.

The Wrestler, on the other hand, is doing something completely different. Darren Aronofsky is giving the audience a real look at wrestling, and where the wrestler comes from and what he goes through. This isn't the TV world and pretty world of wrestling. It's the side that the rest of the world doesn't see. In this movie, Aronofsky tells the story of a once famous wrestler's comeback to the ring and the sacrifices he's made in his life along the way. Mickey Rourke fits the role of Randy "The Ram" Robinson SO well. I love his look and the acting I've seen so far.

Now, this might not do anything for the WWE. It might not do anything for TNA. I'm not sure if viewers of the movie will think to look at either of those companies after seeing it. What I'm really interested in seeing is if it does anything for the independent wrestling companies that were used while filming this movie. In the trailer, you see banners for the three companies that helped out - WXW, CZW and ROH. Personally, I'm really excited because I work for ROH, and I really hope this helps expose the company more. It is one that is on the brink of possibly being big one day, but they can't really do anything else to get to the next level without blowing tons of money. Exposure from this movie could potentially do worlds for the company. The big match that the entire movie builds up to occured at a ROH show. You see the name plastered everywhere during it. It will also be interesting if anything happens for any of the wrestlers that were used as extras during the movie and if they get anything out of it.

I go to independent wrestling shows at least 2 weekends out of every month. What is being shown in this movie is stuff that I see all the time - it's practically my life (minus me wrestling). I know guys like Randy "The Ram." For their sake, for the wrestlers sake, it's nice that this side is being shown. Anyways, December can't get here soon enough. I know I'll be there on opening night. Here's the trailer!




Article about the movie:
http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=34740&p=1