The Wrestler (1974)
If you ever thought, as you watch this, why is Micky Rourke really bald in thia film, it's because it's Verne Gagne damnit!!!
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JDogindy
commented
The Wrestler (1974)
(please note that this idea is already on the discussion, but this is a more astute argument in favor of reviewing the film)
In 1974, a film was released that chronicled the triumphs and tragedies of an industry entering a new and strange world, the likes of which it had never seen before.
It was called The Godfather Part II.
But, there was another film released that didn't do nearly as good as it that starred Ed Asner and Not Mary Tyler Moore, along with a bunch of pro wrestlers from the American Wrestling Association, that Mike, Kevin, and Bill might be familiar with, having grown up in Minnesota and the upper Midwest. Even though this film shares the exact same title with the 2008 film, it doesn't feature the emotional sting of coming to terms with age and your mortality, but it does feature the same concept of a guy kicking off in the middle of the ring.
1. The nonsensical plot. Ed Asner plays the owner of a wrestling federation who challenges the promotion's champion, played by Verne Gagne, to go against Billy Robinson (though that's not the names they use). The idea of Mary Tyler Moore's boss going toe-to-toe with the AWA's top draw at the time may sound weird, but it's even weirder when Verne himself was executive producer. This is made even wackier when we are introduced to subplots involving mobsters (hearkening to Viva Knievel!) who bet that Gagne loses to Robinson, but surprise, surprise, Gagne goes against the script! And the film... ends.
2. It's a who's-who of professional wrestlers, which means it's an embarrassment of riches. It also features a rather strange scene in which Dusty Rhodes and "Dirty" **** Murdoch run afoul of Oddjob of the 007 franchise in a bar... and humor a wino. The scene in context:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGxNVVrn8d8
3. The film was independently made by the AWA, which while the film library was purchased by the WWE around the year 2005, the company never had the interest in releasing the film. Besides, many of the B-movies that Rifftrax has riffed that you can buy can also be watched on Amazon Prime, such as Trucker's Woman and Ice Cream Man. Therefore, licensing should not be an issue.
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Dan Sargent commented
Here's a few scenes: