BEYOND THE MAT (1999)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
There are two things I dislike more than anything: rap and wrestling. Well, at least my feelings of rap were true ten years ago. Since then, I have enjoyed some of Eminem's music but I do not pretend to be a rap fan. Wrestling, however, is a sport that never interested me. I do not see the fun in watching barechested guys throwing each other around a ring (and boxing is not any better). But watching guys not only throw and pummel each other but also fling chairs and use barbed wire and fire as tortuous devices doesn't make it any more exciting to watch. I have seen some underground live wrestling shows recently but nothing can compare to what I have witnessed in this documentary. "Beyond the Mat" is a compelling document of what goes on behind the scenes at wrestling shows such as the WWF and the ECW, and how it affects those who participate in entertaining the audience.
Director Barry Blaustein, an active Hollywood producer, shows us the roots of his interest in wrestling. We see a California wrestling school where wrestlers may make 25 dollars in one day, and that is if their promoter likes what he sees. The main purpose of this school is to establish experience in the ring, and the promoter need not be nice in their criticisms. Some of these wrestlers may get a lucky break if they show up on the WWF.
The main wrestling event exposed is WWF. We see the WWF owner Vince McMahon, a smooth-talking man who has his enemies in wrestling as well as his supporters. He has fired executives and particularly wrestlers who can't make it to one of their shows. The job of being a wrestler, as explained by Jake "The Snake" Roberts, is grueling and occupies most of your time. The average wrestler works 26 days out of the month, twice on weekends. It is no wonder that Jake admits crack use is what keeps him going. Never mind that he has slept with many women, admonishes his father (an ex-wrestler), and has limited communication with his daughter whom he sees once every four years. This man can only take so much abuse but when wrestling, he feels anew and knows enough about "ring psychology" to keep fans watching.
Jake's story is the dark side of wrestling with his own demons to battle outside the ring. Then there is Mick "Mankind" Foley, a man who can absorb more pain than anybody. He has a beauitful wife and two wonderful children. When he is around them, he is playful and polite. On the ring, he is an animal who takes quite a bit of abuse, especially in his match with "The Rock." A tough scene to watch is when he invites his wife and children to ringside seats at the event. The kids have been told that the match is scripted and rehearsed. Nevertheless, there is Mick getting hit on the head severely with a metal chair while the kids cry profusely. When Mick sees the footage, he decides to stick to his "sock" routine than getting heavily beaten by objects. No kid should have endure watching their dad get beaten.
"Beyond the Mat" is at its best dealing with Jake and Mick, the polar opposites in terms of how wrestling infects and affects their lives. I also found some interest in the 50-year-old Terry Funk, a legend in the business who decides to quit (though we later learn he continued to wrestle afterwards). His reasons for quitting are mostly because of bad knees and his family's pleas. Yet Terry is unstoppable and proves to be as adept as any fresh young wrestler. There is some brief enjoyment watching Chyna, a female wrestler, trying to convince her parents she is not a lesbian. Sadly, little is said of her status as a wrestler and we barely get to see her strut her stuff on the ring.
"Beyond the Mat" raises the question of why wrestling is so popular. It is a show with millions of fans who pay to see their favorites get bloodily beaten and abused on the ring, the modern-day equivalent of gladiators. It is all spectacle and all entertainment but it is decidedly not a show for kids. There are injuries and sometimes near-death struggles, but is it really worth it? I can't say I know for sure but the wrestlers, shown as average human beings with families to support, must get something out of it besides the paycheck.
