Ready To Rumble 25 Years Later

 

Today mark's 25 years since the Warner Bros. and WCW produced film Ready To Rumble debuted. While 1989's No Holds Barred probably is the first movie that comes to mind when people think of wrestling-themed movies. I think Ready To Rumble has the film beat from a story and pop culture history perspective. For one the film does not take itself too serious much like the Hogan led film did, and it is also very meta which was and is still a popular form of storytelling. 

The film stars David Arquette as Gordie and Scott Caan as Sean, two devoted ultra fanatic WCW wrestling fan's who help over the hill wrestling legend Jimmy King (Oliver Platt), find his purpose again in wrestling. Since it was co-produced by WCW it features roster members, Goldberg, Sting, Booker T, Saturn, Sid Vicious, Rey Mysterio, Kidman, Juventud Guerrera, Bam Bam Bigelow, Mean Gene Okerlund, Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay, the Nitro Girls and probably a couple other's I'm blanking on. DDP is the main villain in the movie, alongside Joe Pantoliano the evil wrestling promoter Titus Sinclair. Chris Kanyon was the lead stunt coordinator and wrestling stand-in for Jimmy King. They even used that for his Champagne Chris Kanyon gimmick in WCW for a while.

                                           

It has very low-brow humor but that was the early 2000's movie comedy for you. I think the film suffered though from the waning popularity of WCW at the time, had WCW still been on fire when the film released people may have given it more of a chance. Vince Russo's brilliant idea to have David Arquette win the WCW Championship did not help matters either. 

Looking back one thing about this movie that is for certain, at it's core it is a love letter to pro wrestling and the fan's that support that crazy world. I may dare say it's a bit ahead of it's time in that regard Gordie and Sean are stand-in's for the fans who love the sport no matter how many people try to disparage it as "fake". They essentially build their lives around WCW events and when in doubt ask themselves "What Would King do?". If you've ever been to a pro wrestling event be it a live card or convention you know us fan's love us some pro wrestling and the wrestlers. From merchandise, especially the replica championship belts to the meet and greet pics you see of grown men, beaming from ear to ear. Fans love the world of professional wrestling and what it entails. Sure some are overzealous, but for the most part we appreciate what pro wrestlers go through to entertain us. When we get five seconds to let them know that, we tell them.

So in the movie Gordie and Sean accomplish something most fans would only dream of, being able to help your hero rebuild themselves. Sure you have to suspend disbelief for the circumstances that allow the two to help Jimmy King, but just the point it's possible in the film makes fans gleam. While it will never be in the discussion for greatest movies ever, or even best wrestling focused movie. Ready To Rumble is a serviceable film, that knows it's lane it's a showcase for the love of pro wrestling.