The Wrestler

I watched the movie 'The Wrestler' on DVD (yes pirated wtf) the other day, partly because I am a wrestling fan and proud of it. (I know what your are thinking-why watched a fake sport to begin with rite?). I had no expectation of the movie as I thought it was only a fun-watch.

However, lemme tell you..I was blown away by Mickey Rourke's performance as he did the professional wrestling industry some form of justice. The story line was not what I expected. It tells a story of a down and out wrestler, who is trying to find his way in life.

The story shys away from the glamour of sports entertainment and instead focused on how wrestler Randy 'The Ram' Robinson (Rourke's character) gets by every single day by earning minimum wages and doing something he loves-wrestling. It shows how hard a wrestler had to go through in the first scene itself where Randy just came home after a house show (wrestling event) and to find his trailer locked by the tenant because of overdue rent.



He had to juggle working at a supermarket during weekdays and wrestling during weekends with just barely to get by. The story hit a turning point when Randy suffered a heart attack and had to retire from wrestling.

After a heart bypass, Randy realizes that he is all alone with no family nor friends except for a stripper named Cassidy played by Marisa Tomei. He tried to make amends with his 20 something daughter, whom he left behind when she was younger. However, tried as he did, he kept making the same mistakes and failed to connect with her.


Randy with his daughter Stephanie trying to mend the ties between them.



Randy sharing his problems with Cassidy

All the heartbreaks of everyday life took its toll on Randy until he snapped and quit his job at the supermarket and decided to return to the ring for one last match.



Cassidy tried to stop him because of his heart condition but before leaving for the match, he told her 'Out there, everyone hurts me, here is where I belong' .

Randy wrestled his arch-nemesis called the Ayotollah for his last ever match. Sadly, he died after completing his signature move.



I was really moved by this movie as it showed the challenges that a wrestler had to go through. People think its fake, yeah at least as far as a story line is concerned but the injuries are very real.

It showed how professional the wrestlers are as they are friends with each other even if on TV they are supposedly enemies, who beat each other out. They even look out for each other.

I really feel for Randy as he tried to make amends for his past mistakes but to no avail. It showed how professional wrestling ought to be portrayed. The movie's success is largely due to Rourke's performance and I think he deserved an Oscar.

As a wrestling fan, I am glad that such a movie was made. I am really thankful that these guys are given a fair and balance portrayal for a change.

By the way, I don't watch WWE anymore because of work and other commitments but once in a while it is fun to see the show dubbed the male soap-opera.