As a long-time follower and occasional participant in the rollercoaster ride that is professional wrestling, I find myself constantly torn between my admiration for the athletic prowess and storytelling abilities of these performers, and the dark underbelly of the industry that often leaves them physically and emotionally scarred. “Beyond the Mat” serves as a stark reminder of this duality, offering an unflinching look at the lives of those who have given everything for our entertainment.
The forthcoming Netflix docu-series spotlights Vince McMahon, a figure who revolutionized professional wrestling yet remains enveloped in controversy. This series is expected to unveil the inner workings and questionable practices of a man who constructed an empire and captivated millions, yet at a considerable cost to those who made him prosper, including lives lost and damage inflicted. In the late ’90s, during wrestling’s resurgence known as the WWE Attitude Era, a documentary titled “Beyond the Mat” shed light on the detrimental effects within the industry and exposed many of its long-hidden secrets.
The accusations of grooming and sexual misconduct, which caused McMahon’s downfall, are connected to a larger issue concerning the unsavory aspects of an industry previously viewed as wholesome and enjoyable. Before series like “Dark Side of the Ring” revealed the shady side of professional wrestling, shows such as “Beyond the Mat” offered glimpses into the world beyond the arena spotlight and demonstrated that the fun we enjoyed often came at a cost.
The Secret World of Kayfabe
Modern audiences are well aware of the fact that professional wrestling is a pre-determined and organized form of entertainment. However, for many decades, this was a closely guarded secret known as “Kayfabe.” While matches were pre-determined and “worked” in the ring between two performers, the secrets were kept from public knowledge. By 1999, the secrets had been more or less compromised due to multiple storylines on television that had been more based in reality, and terminology used by insiders was now out of the bag and well-known. Beyond the Mat goes far beyond the exposed secrets of Kayfabe and delves into the lives of the performers who have been afflicted through years of work in the ring and have suffered the perils of substance abuse.
In the peak of his reign over professional wrestling, McMahon enjoys a lavish lifestyle from his offices in Connecticut. This starkly contrasts with the lives of veterans like Terry Funk, who’s body bears the brunt of years of in-ring battles, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts, whose past glory is overshadowed by drug addiction. The documentary “Beyond the Mat” peels back the curtain on these larger-than-life personas, making their stories more relatable and comprehensible to viewers, revealing the human side behind the characters usually seen on TV. It exposes the reality of matchmaking and choreography in wrestling, offering a raw, intimate look into this world.
The documentary “Beyond the Mat” delves deep into various hidden facets that the Kayfabe concealed for a long time. In the world of wrestling, specific words are employed to explain what transpires during a match. Words like “selling” and “working,” which describe the feigned violence and scripted conflict meant to entertain spectators, are now out in the open. With the veil lifted, viewers can truly comprehend the intricacies of the wrestling industry, the performers who stage the show, and the puppeteers behind the curtains who meticulously plan the grand performance.
Years Off of One’s Life for the Sake of Entertainment
There’s certainly no denying that professional wrestling is an organized and scripted event. However, because of the intense action that takes place during a match, injuries still occur, and the stress and aggravation of life on the road can take its toll on a wrestler’s emotional well-being.Beyond the Mat, while lifting the veil of Kayfabe and exposing the secrets to the audience, also does a wonderful job of illustrating the damage inflicted on those who put their bodies on the line for the sake of entertaining a paying audience. Terry Funk, one of the biggest stars in wrestling history, is shown needing multiple surgeries yet still refusing to contemplate slowing down in the violent style of wrestling he helped pioneer.
The narrative of Beyond the Mat is deeply intertwined with Jake “The Snake” Roberts’ story, who became a significant figure in The Wrestler years later. Born to wrestler Grizzly Smith, Jake candidly shares his past of being conceived through rape and struggles with crack cocaine addiction. Thankfully, Jake Roberts managed to overcome these issues, largely due to support from fellow wrestler Diamond Dallas Page. This struggle in Jake Roberts’ life serves as a stark reminder that the larger-than-life personas we witness on our screens are human beings, susceptible to the same hardships and perils as everyone else.
The physical confrontations within the ring and their potential repercussions aren’t confined solely to those participating in the fight. In Beyond the Mat, a match featuring Mick Foley and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is analyzed. Labeling this encounter as violent would be an oversimplification. When Foley endured numerous unprotected chair blows to the head, his children, sitting just a few rows away, were unwillingly exposed to the distress of witnessing their father experience intense physical harm. This incident underscores that even though professional wrestling is scripted, it can seem incredibly violent and evoke an uncomfortable emotional response.
The First Real Dark Side of the Ring
Since the debut of “Beyond the Mat”, numerous documentaries and shows have been created to further expose the inner workings of the entertainment industry. These productions have done an impressive job of shedding light on the costs some individuals bear in order to entertain the masses. The upcoming docu-series about Vince McMahon serves as a sobering reminder of the impact his empire has had, leaving many with lasting harm.
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2024-09-28 04:31