After talking about that fun little movie that just came out, I’m traveling back to 2008 for a much-lauded film that really spoke to me. It was such a joy seeing a name talent the caliber of Darren Aronofsky direct a movie about professional wrestling, especially with name talent the caliber of Marisa Tomei (I told you I’d write about her again soon!) and Evan Rachel Wood in huge roles. Furthermore, the inspired casting of Mickey Rourke in the lead role was brilliant. Known as a rugged heartthrob in the 1980s, by the 21^st century he’d long been considered a washed-up actor and washed-up boxer. His foray into the latter actually destroyed the good looks that once helped him achieve stardom.

Thus there was no better choice on the planet to play Randy “The Ram” Robinson. It was such a Cinderella story seeing Rourke as the talk of the town again. It’s too bad his comeback didn’t last past Iron Man 2 and The Expendables. I’m also saddened that this comeback wasn’t honored with a Best Actor win; he lost to Sean Penn’s Oscar-bait role in Milk.

All that said, Randy “The Ram” Robinson was a better role than most actors can ever dream of and Rourke will always have that reason to celebrate. In fact, this film should always give everyone involved reason to feel immense pride.

Both times I’ve referred to the main character I’ve included his nickname, because a major point of the film is that his wrestling character is how he defines himself. Part of that is pride, part of that is necessity.

Other people are free to disagree with me (in fact if you want to post a comment I always encourage reader participation) but professional wrestler is the most taxing job in the world. Imagine just for a moment being on the road 350 days a year, traveling from city to city, country to country, typically not staying in the same city for more than a night at a time. That’s just the time away from your home and family; I haven’t even mentioned the physical toll. Doing all those moves on the mats with layers of metal and wood underneath them ravages your body. Tears, dislocations, fractures, breaks, and concussions are the norm, to say nothing of minor injuries. Yet you try to keep competing through the injuries because often if you don’t work you don’t get paid. Then after you’ve spent many years in the limelight entertaining fans you have little to show for it because wrestlers have never gotten to unionize and receive no retirement benefits. Plus whatever money they make often goes to the drugs bought to help cope with the pain and stress-or to the divorce after their wives leave them for using other women to cope with the pain and stress. There are exceptions to this such as Edge who saved his money extremely carefully; considering he’s one of my favorites I’m very glad. However, it is much more common for wrestlers to end up working odd jobs to try and stay afloat, especially wrestlers of yesteryear. The WWE (the only major wrestling company in America for the better part of two decades) has taken much better care of current wrestlers and alumni ever since the Eddie Gurerro and Chris Benoit tragedies.

Randy “The Ram” Robinson is a star of yesteryear though; he was a top draw in the 1980s. While many of his contemporaries only lived to about 40, he, in spite of a debilitating heart condition he’s developed, continues to cling to life. Yet what kind of a life is it really? He lives in a trailer park, provides menial labor, spends whatever little money he makes to feed his substance addictions, and has no loved ones in his life-certainly not his daughter whom he neglected while leading that horrific life of a wrestling star. He follows the path many lonely men take, by actually trying to build a relationship with a sex worker! While she has her baggage too-and frankly we all do to some extent-that is not healthy to say the least.

However, Randy has something the most people-whatever levels of baggage they may struggle with-do not have: legions of adoring fans. His continuing to wrestle small local shows on weekends pays him only a little money which he probably needs to spend on painkillers afterwards. It’s not about that though. The fans-the people who have loved watching him for so many years-still love him and will cheer him on.

While many people watched wrestling during Hulk Hogan’s peak or during Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock’s peak, there might be more who have never seen it. What is certain is that we lifelong wrestling fans are the smallest group but we are a loyal bunch. We will wait in long lines, pay large sums of money, and even travel out of town to meet stars we love; it doesn’t matter how far they’ve fallen or how much the rest of the world looks down upon them. My friend Paul and I proudly keep lists of wrestlers we’ve met; I’m at 113 and he’s got around twice as many as I do!

It’s people like Paul and me who keep people like Randy “The Ram” Robinson going. He gave everything for the business and while he has no money, family, or health left our adoration for him will never die.

As you can tell I love this movie! I should mention that when I kept gushing about it and got the expectations of another lifelong wrestling fan sky-high Tim watched it and asked me “I feel like I’ve seen this before. Did you watch Beyond the Mat? Isn’t this basically Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts’s story?”

It is true that Randy’s story is very common but that’s why it needs to be told. I actually got to attend a preview of this film at which Darren Aronofsky appeared in person. I asked him whether Randy was based on a real person but Aronofsky told me not a specific person; he’s just the embodiment of all sorts of wrestlers from that generation. Aronofsky even added that at the official premiere there were many old-time wrestling stars, most of whom were in bad shape and one of whom was actually in a wheelchair. I asked him who and found out he meant Lex Luger, a childhood hero of mind. Learning that utterly broke my heart.

On a bright note though, Paul and I did get to meet Jake “The Snake” Roberts years later. Thank God Jake’s done better in recent years as far as his sobriety but even when he was at his lowest point us lifelong fans would have loved to meet him. When he did a public meet and greet near us we were happy to pay a pretty penny for his autograph. We also got pictures with him, which we paid for like we were supposed to…right Paul?

Anyway, however you feel about wrestling the dark lives of the people involved are so fascinating and this film about such a person is a must-see!

Final Verdict: Incredible.