Review of Beyond the Mat (1999) by Amanda X — 25 Dec 2005

I watched the last half of this documentary a few years ago and I recently received it via Blockbuster Online. I watched this DVD and experienced it's entire length and I must say I was pleased with the amount of information I learned from this thing. No, I know wrestling is fake but I was more thrown off by the fact that Jake "The Snake" Roberts was a crack fiend.

I wasn't thrown off about Mick Foley being a polite guy because I have actually met him and he rocked. He was so nice. I've met a few wrestlers, and all of them were really nice guys. Even Kevin Nash when he was some evil nWo guy. Well, I suppose he was nice because I was totally throwing the nWo gang sign at him. I was such a dork. Wow, I totally went off topic because Kevin Nash isn't even in this.

No, this documentary focused on the WWF, ECW and a few indie circuits. There was no WCW so that was a bit disappointing, thus you have my reason for docking two points. I was moved at certain parts like when Mick Foley's wife and kids were freaking out when they watched him get bitchslapped by a chair like 15 times. I remember that match, and it was some awful shit. Chairs aren't fake, the hits aren't fake and the 3-4 inch gash on his head wasn't from blading either.

Anyhow, this was a great movie and wrestling fans old and new would probably enjoy this. Even people who don't like wrestling would find it kind of fun to watch. I loved it.