Wrestlers Who Would Make For Good Biopics

Iron Claw a film on one of the most famous wrestling families in history, The Von Erich's debuts in theaters this week. Starring Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White as Kevin and Kerry Von Erich respectively. MJF has a role in the film as Lance Von Erich. Early reviews of the film praise it, and it may even be a contender for multiple Golden Globe and Academy Awards among other awards.

Hollywood could always use a good story and wrestling has plenty of stories to tell. So many wrestlers deserve to have their story told for one reason or another. I've compiled a list of 5 wrestlers who would be a good topic for a biopic.

Thunderbolt Patterson

                                                  

A biopic on Thunderbolt Patterson would also be a history lesson on how pro wrestling and the civil rights movement often intertwined. Thunderbolt wrestled during the 60's and 70's of the territory days in the Southeast U.S. namely Georgia and Florida. With his size and promo cutting abilities he was a big draw for promotions in those days. Everywhere he went he became a champion and people flocked to him due to his charisma. Think of The Rock wayyy before The Rock.

He also was an advocate for civil rights movement, doing his best to ensure Black wrestlers were being treated fairly. While also ensuring better working conditions for all wrestlers, and even explored the possibility of a wrestlers union. After he retired he gave back to the community working with disadvantaged youth in the Atlanta area. In the years since he has finally been giving his due for his contributions to wrestling.

 He has been labeled "difficult" but he was a man standing on morals and fought for what he believed in. More people should know about Thunderbolt Patterson and his story should be told.

Scott Hall

Scott Hall aka Razor Ramon the coolest wrestler to ever step foot in a ring. Quite possibly the coolest man to ever walk this earth only behind Samuel L. Jackson. Scott Hall was an immensely talented wrestler, with a great mind for the business. He is often credited with nudging Sting to take on The Crow persona and brainstorming most of the nWo catchphrases and hand gestures.

Despite all that, it's well documented that he fought a lot of demons in his life. Mostly drugs and alcohol abuse, which during his in-ring years he just could not shake. Some of it may have been a effect of the trauma he experienced during a nightclub brawl in 1983. Nonetheless in the early 2010's DDP gave him an helping hand and assisted him in finally overcoming those demons utilizing DDPYoga.

That move changed his life for the better and even led to him being inducted in the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2014. Hall was doing good in life, before relapsing during the pandemic and eventually suffering a fall that led to him having other medical issues he eventually succumbed to days later. He passed March 14, 2022 and left millions of  wrestling friends, family, and fans heartbroken.

The Bad Guy has a sad yet inspirational story that should be told.

Macho Man Randy Savage

Macho Man Randy Savage is one of my first recollections of an over the top, larger than life wrestler that was damn good. Sure there were some before him like Gorgeous George and Superstar Billy Graham, but the Macho Man just had that "it" factor that drew people to him. He became a legend in the wrestling ring because of it.

A second generation pro-wrestler, his father was Angelo Poffo an accomplished wrestler in the mid-west during the territory days. Macho Man's brother Lanny immediately followed in their fathers footsteps stepping in the squared circle, later becoming The Genius in the WWF. Macho Man however, initially took a different role being drafted in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system.

Once that didn't work out and he transitioned to wrestling and found his niche, OH YEAH the wrestling world was not ready for him. He had a long almost 30 year career, becoming a crossover star with his Slim Jim commercials. His marriage to Miss Elizabeth is still revered in wrestling circles today.

Since Macho Man was not your average wrestler, a biopic on him could not be straight forward. It would have to take some liberties and be bit zany to fit his persona. 

Mick Foley

Mick Foley is an average guy but not your average wrestler. From his physical appearance he has never looked like a wrestler, or at least what the average person thinks a wrestler looks like. During his in-ring career he was a man's man wrestler though. He put his body through immense physical pain all over the world. 

His story is also well known as being a fan since young who invented his own character Dude Love, which he was eventually able to portray in the WWF during the 90's. He's a devoted family man, notoriously cheap, rumor has it he always found someone to stay with in towns he wrestled in to avoid paying for a hotel. In middle school a teacher of mine told me a former teacher at the school was friends with Mick and he stayed with him when wrestling came to Baltimore. So Mick was about saving those coins. 

Retiring from active competition in 2000 when he was only 34 years old, his body just could not handle the wear and tear any longer. He found other ways to occupy his time. He also is an accomplished book writer, has done stand up comedy and is obsessed with Christmas, which could make for an interesting subplot. 

Whether it's as Cactus Jack, Dude Love, or Mankind the story of Mick Foley should be told.

Ultimate Warrior

Come on, you are not all the way there mentally if you name yourself Warrior. The Ultimate Warrior was just a different kind of guy. He absolutely  looked the part of a wrestler, in fact he looked the part of a superhero. And to many that's just what he was, he had the face paint, ran to the ring at breakneck pace and shaking the ring ropes frantically once he was inside the squared circle. His promos were loud and nonsensical and he always displayed his power in the ring.

He was another larger than life character, but it turn's out he was the same inside and outside the ring. He traveled up and down the road during his indy days with fellow wrestling legend Sting, he left the WWF in the early 90's over a pay dispute. Disappeared for a few years opened a wrestling school, went back to the WWF in the mid-90's before leaving again over essentially a is he telling the truth thing?

Swindled WCW out of a giant contract in the late 90's for three matches. Became a public speaker for the conservative crowd, where much of what he said was very over the top Trump himself may not be able to compete with him. All to return to the WWE in 2014 to be inducted in the Hall of Fame, he gave an impassioned speech on the Monday Night RAW of WrestleMania Weekend. Passing away a few days later, leaving behind a army of warriors who still mourn him.

He is another guy that is so over the top, a biopic of him would have to be off the walls zany or it just wouldn't work.