Beyond the Mat
- Barry W. Blaustein: narrator
- Terry Funk: Himself
- Jake Roberts: Himself
- Mick Foley: Himself
Beyond the Mat is an American documentary directed by Barry W. Blaustein of 1999. Documentary shows on the basis of three wrestlers Terry Funk, Mick Foley and Jake Roberts the background and family life in wrestling.
Action
Barry W. Blaustein explains how he became a wrestling fan and how the idea grew in him to take a look behind the scenes. The first stop on his tour is the World Wrestling Federation in Stamford (Connecticut), where just the wrestler Darren Drozdov his try-out had. Vince McMahon was very impressed by his ability to vomit on command, offering him a contract to. He is said to be " Puke " was introduced as. At the conclusion leaves the wrestler Vince McMahon to vomit into a trash can. The road will lead you to the documentary in the wrestling school and league " All Pro Wrestling " by Roland Alexander. This explains the " pay-to- play" principle, the school and introduces some new talent. Michael Modest and Tony Jones now have a try-out at a house show of the WWF.
Next, Terry Funk is presented, which in Amarillo, Texas, lives and acts as the King of Hardcore wrestling and star of ECW. Some of his brutal matches are shown. Thereafter, the film shows scenes of the wedding of one of his daughters, in which Terry Funk wrestles with the tears. He will be accompanied to the doctor, who tells him bluntly that his knees are completely broken and he should stop wrestle. A few days later, he wins in a doggy hardcore match with 53 years in " Barely Legal ", the first pay- per-view ECW, the ECW championship belt.
Next, one of the best students and friends of Terry Funk is presented: Mick Foley, known in the WWF as " Cactus Jack ", " Mankind" and " Dude Love ". He is described by Blaustein as one of the most normal wrestling star who leads a happy family life and a concerned and loving father was. In stark contrast to his hardcore matches are against Terry Funk in Japan and its beginnings as a backyard wrestler. In addition to the footage, excerpts from the Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker are shown. Here, Mick Foley falls several times by a five- meter high cage. After the match, his desperate wife tried to call him to ask if everything was ok.
The next stop leads to Nebraska, where Jake " The Snake" Roberts driving for a small promotion. The man who was once one of the biggest crowd favorites, WWF is completely run down. A strong alcoholic who has broken with his family and now markets its still existing talent for little money. Blaustein accompanied Roberts to his father, Grizzly Smith, of him in his childhood grossly abused and hardly can today visit look in his eyes.
Blaustein now briefly portrays the lives of Chyna, the very feminine despite their muscular appearance outside the ring are located, Koko B. Ware, it is the same experience as Jake Roberts, and Jesse Ventura, who now works as a politician. Jerome Young, a convicted criminal who had committed a " Justifiable homicide ", makes friends with the director and receives from him an audition in Hollywood.
Back in Amarillo announced his resignation from Terry Funk Wrestling. A final match against Bret " The Hitman " Hart is yet to take place. Terry Funk persuaded his old companion, the unsuccessful Dennis Stamp in the match, participate as a referee after he refused to come to the show because he was not gebookt.
Mick Foley, however, takes his family on an "I Quit" match against "The Rock", which will turn out harmless than his previous matches. However, the storyline is changed shortly before the match. After seven chair blows to the skull Foley left his wife and two children shocked the scene. Mick Foley received a concussion and an open laceration that evening. A few days later, he looks at the footage, and is scared as he could do that to his family.
Then, accompanied Blaustein Jake Roberts to his daughter, with whom he had not spoken to four years. Also this reunion runs less than satisfactory for both. Jake Roberts closes himself in his hotel room and smokes crack there. Then he gives nonsense from him.
The film ends with a brief look-up, which occurred after the completion of shooting: Terry Funk "retirement" lasted about three months, Jerome Young is now working for ECW and Jake Roberts was arrested because he had not paid his child support. The two wrestlers who initially had a try-out, were not invited back and now work in civilian occupations. Darren Drozdov was never introduced as " Puke " and worked as Droz for the WWF until he is in a match drew upon an injury and now is in a wheelchair.
Wrestling background
Darren Drozdov is a paraplegic to this day and will probably never walk again.
The "I quit" match between Mick Foley and Dwayne Johnson led to some tension between the two. Blue stone footage showed that Johnson had left the hall without having previously inquired about the injured Foley. The two decided for an apology from Johnson, not to wrestle against each other.
Background
The production of the documentary took about three years. Initially, Vince McMahon was enthusiastic and supported the filmmakers. But when he realized that his presentation not just got into the documentation for the benefit, he waved to. After the end of filming, he refused to cooperate in the documentation and tried to buy the film, to keep it under wraps.
The WWF also tried advertising for the film to boycott and ban some wrestlers about the film in public to speak. Lionsgate sued the WWF for breach of contract. Mick Foley, Hulk Hogan, Terry Funk and Roddy Piper, however, supported Blaustein in an edition of the talk show Larry King Live. As a result of the controversy, the film received the tagline The movie Vince McMahon does not want you to see.
Reviews and Awards
In German-speaking countries a VHS version of the film was released in 1999. The magazine Cinema rated the film with 100 % and referred to him as "fascinating and very human." In addition to a genre audience he hardly spread in Europe. A DVD release is still pending. The film was rated mostly positive in the U.S. and has received several awards ..
Awards
- 2000: Cinequest San Jose Film Festival: Audience Favorite Choice Award - Honorable Mention / Best Documentary
- 2000: Directors Guild of America: DGA Award nominated for the
- 2000: SXSW film Fetsiival: Audience Award