zkonedog A few years ago, I was very excited to watch Mickey Rourke's film "The Wrestler". However, upon viewing the film, I was left feeling disappointed with the project but couldn't quite put my finger on why. After watching "Beyond The Mat", I now fully realize what that feature film was missing: it the case of professional wrestling, the truth is undoubtedly stranger (and more compelling) than fiction.For a basic summary of this documentary, it focuses on four primary areas:1. The "independent" or "minor league" pro wrestling circuit conducted in gyms and town VFW's across the nation.2. Jake "The Snake" Roberts, former WWE superstar, who now battles fierce demons (smoking, the bottle, crack, family troubles) just to stay alive.3. Mick "Mankind" Foley, a man with an unnerving pain threshold that, while making it big, worries about the effects his punishment may have on his children.4. Terry Funk, a wrestling lifer who reflects upon his career in an insane business...the ECW.As a fan of professional wrestling (WWE in particular), this documentary really pulled at the heartstrings. Whereas the glitz, glamour, and pageantry all look great on screen, the horrors and tribulations that often result from such antics gives one serious pause. Each one of those four stories showcases a different type of battle that professional wrestlers face, and they are all very interesting.The Jake Roberts story is especially intriguing, as it portrays a man so deeply conflicted about his past, present, and future, that one wonders how a person could get so screwed up.Overall, this is an incredible documentary that is well worth a watch if you have an interest in professional wrestling whatsoever. If you watched Rourke's "The Wrestler" and came away wanting something more, this little film will likely satisfy you.

johnhernandez-67188 This movie still holds up. I've been on a kick of wrestling films and wanted to see what I thought of this one again. love the insight and the stories of Foley, The rock and of course Vince. I don't think they've ever made a film quite like this before. There is quite a lot of ugly in it - and I can see why most people think the world is a dark place. Regardless of this, it's a piece of wrestling history and it's important it was captured. Nice to see where everyone is now after almost 20 years later!! WWE is still going strong and there is just something in this sport that keeps on giving. I also get quite emotionally during some of the scenes with Foly and Jake -- not easy to watch and borders on exploitative, but again I think it's the time period it was made. Wonder what they would get now..

ironhorse_iv A Sport Documentary with Attitude, Director Barry Blaustein focuses on the lives of pro-wrestlers both inside and outside of the ring, primarily Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake the Roberts. These three will make up the bulk of the documentary time focus on them. Mick Foley aka Mankind, Catcus Jack, and Dude Love is a man on the top of his career, famous for taking increasingly risky bumps (Stunts) whom family is worry about his safety. In one famous scene, Mick Foley's family watching ring side is nearly put into tears after seeing their father and husband be beaten up by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson at a WWE PPV 'Royal Rumble'. Mick can't see that the abuse he takes on his body is hurting his family. Another wrestler focus on is Terry Funk whom can't find himself retiring even with him being 53 years old at the time of shooting and past his prime. Terry Funk represent the man who would die in the ring, rather than quit the business. A Randy 'The Ram' Robinson like personality whom just looking for the next big comeback. Lastly, the film focus on a wrestler who is at his rock bottom. Jake 'The Snake' Roberts whom popularity height reach in the 1980's is now in the late 1990's a crack cocaine addict that estranged from everybody he call family. His daughter wants no part of him, and his father doesn't want to speak to him. Yes, there will be short knit bits of other wrestlers in the film, such as short lived career puking Darren Drozdov, the movie star dreaming New Jack, and two wrestlers Tony Jones and Michael Modest trying to get a try out. The director spent three years endeavoring to understand the mindset of someone who would voluntarily choose to become a professional wrestler. Blaustein interviews a wide variety of wrestling personalities and ascertains their motivations. What the movie lacks is interviews with the big time wrestlers of the time, Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, and The Rock. It would be nice to see what their take on the business is. Another problem with the film is while they were able to film both in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federeration, I felt that when World Championship Wrestling refused to participate in the film, it really made the film missing opinions of those wrestlers. The interview questions could have been more driven to talking about more serious key issues dealing with pro-wrestling such as steroids, wrestling union, and the sense of faking- violence. There are a couple of laughs in the movie, but the overall effect is much more depressing than it is humorous. The self-mutilations in the movie might be hard to watch for non-wrestling fans. For the wrestling fans, this is a must watch, so check it out.

lastliberal I lived outside Amarillo, Texas for nine years and never saw Terry Funk wrestle. I saw him make a lot of car commercials, but was never one for the wrestling game. I used to watch a little on Sunday mornings when I attended church at the Ace Lounge in Tampa about 30 years ago. That was pre-WWF - the time of Gorgeous George. From time to time I have tuned in to see what was going on - honestly, to see Miss Elizabeth - but I tuned out quickly as they spent all their time talking instead of wrestling.So, see what goes on behind the scenes was very interesting. Especially, seeing how the least move is choreographed for maximum crown excitement.It was also interesting to see people like Funk and Jake the Snake after they could no longer make it in the big time and had to resort to the bloody circuit, or ECW, and doing shows outside the big-time because of their drug or psychological problems.I do have to say that taking a four year old to a wresting match to see her daddy beat to a pulp and sustain head injuries that required stitches is just plain child abuse.