From the Khorassan Ballroom, Larry Matysik takes us back to the glory days of professional wrestling. This unique 1999 documentary covers the story of KPLR's hit TV show, "Wrestling at the Chase" and the men and women who lived it.
Larry Matysik
as Self (Host)
Lightbulbs, fire, barbed wire, mousetraps, staple guns, thumbtacks and glass are weapons of choice in The Backyard. This undercover documentary takes you deep into the controversial arena of backyard wrestling where the limits are constantly being tested...and broken. The Backyard follows several backyard wrestlers in different countries as they pursue their dream to become professional wrestlers.
Music has been integral in WWE history, especially anthems for all the greatest WWE Superstars. Since Sgt. Slaughter first made his entrance to the Marine Corp hymn in the early 80's music themes have become synonymous with the Superstars themselves. Just hearing the first few notes brings the crowd to their feet. They are the songs that let the WWE Universe know that business is about to pick up. Now, get behind the music and learn the inside story behind the timeless anthems of WWE and the superstars.
Hard-hitting, high fliers of the WWE, The the Hardy Boyz have changed the face of sports entertainment with their superior athleticism and awesome aerial assault. Bursting onto the scene in 1999, real-life brothers Matt and Jeff have captured the imaginations of wrestling fans around the globe. Featuring six complete matches, this documentary profile showcases the "Boyz" at the top of their game, sacrificing their bodies, and pushing the sport to the extreme.
"Wrestling's Last Rebel" is the definitive look at the life and career of Bruiser Brody told by the people who knew him best. Bruiser Brody was the most unpredictable and charismatic wrestler of all time. Independent, blood, guts, and box office, no one matched Bruiser Brody. Many have tried but there will never be another like him. From becoming a star in the United States to an international mega-star in Japan, Bruiser Brody marched to the beat of his own drum and did things his way. With a rebellious spirit running through his veins, Brody carved out a niche as an independent wrestler before the indies ever existed.
Standout tells the powerful story of Ben Kjar, born with Crouzon Syndrome, a rare craniofacial disorder. From birth, doctors warn that his life will be overshadowed by limitations. Ben yearns for an ordinary life free from the harsh scrutiny he faces daily. However, each experience of adversity, including relentless bullying and a series of painful surgeries, ignites a fire within him. Wrestling becomes his proving ground, a place where he learns to transform his facial difference into a source of power. Determined to succeed, he pushes himself relentlessly, breaking through physical, social, and even romantic barriers that once seemed insurmountable. But as unexpected challenges arise and ridicule resurfaces, Ben finds himself at a defining crossroads: fade into the background of a “normal” life, or fully embrace his unique path and boldly stand out.
Wrestlers Shane Douglas and Chris Candino make their debuts in this television premiere of the XPW Wrestling League -- a concentrated explosion of hardcore wrestling action culminating in the XPW World Championship. Prepare for excitement in the ring from such intrepid fighters as Big Dick Dudley, Homeless Jimmy, "White Trash" Johnny Webb, Kristi Myst, Lizzy Borden, Supreme and the Messiah.
Every year, Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine puts out a list of the top 500 wrestlers in the world. This is the story of number 500, the worst of the best. The pain of professional wresting meeting the reality of life.
A pay-per-view special titled "Titan's Hot Ticket: Hulk Hogan - A Real American Story" featuring classic matches & segments of Hulk Hogan. Join "Mean" Gene Okerlund as he takes you on a tour of the early days of WWF Champion Hulk Hogan. Meet his parents, Pete & Ruth and get an inside look on The Hulkster. Iron Sheik vs. Hulk Hogan Wrestlemania 3 – Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant Wrestlemania 5 – Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan Summerslam 1990 – Hulk Hogan vs. Earthquake Wrestlemania 7 – Sgt. Slaughter vs. Hulk Hogan
Documentary film about Tony Halme, masculinity and populism. The film follows how Tony Halme created a mythical, highly masculine freestyle wrestling character, The Viking, who gained fame both in the ring and in the public eye and eventually became captivated by it. With his brash speeches, Halme fired the starting shot for the rise of the Finns Party. The voice of a forgotten section of the population, a protest against the ruling elite, were the building blocks of Halme's popularity. Halme's great popularity has served as a good example of a populist figure, admired within the deep ranks of the nation, who comes from outside the political elite and changes the direction of politics. Also, despite - or perhaps because of - his openly racist statements, he was part of changing the political climate in Finland to a more acrimonious one.
Former WWE Wrestler Nora Greenwald, AKA Mighty Molly Holly, talks about getting into the business.
Wilbur: The King in the Ring is a comedic documentary, which wrestles with the worldwide obesity plight. Wilbur McDougall, a former pro-wrestler, agrees to let his best friend J. Ollie Lucks make a documentary about his gastric sleeve surgery and subsequent transformation. But in order to stay literally half the man he was, Wilbur will be forced to maintain a healthier lifestyle while Ollie’s altruistic intentions verge on exploitative.
No-holds barred matches that take place in secret underground teenage clubs, Backyard Wrestling is a new phenomenon that has across swept the US. Some of the highlights of these bouts are collected here - which include 25-foot dives onto tables covered in thumbtacks and human torch fights.
A Russian wrestler enchanted by the United States plays the ultimate villain as the stars and stripes-clad character "American Hope” in Moscow's underground wrestling ring. It’s a Kremlin-run world far from the pageantry of USA pay-per-view popularity where the star-spangled red, white, and blue means the evil enemy and wrestlers slam into decrepit mats located in dingy basements. But Tim Maltser still dreams of becoming an American wrestling star like the larger-than-life WWF heroes of his childhood – and now he finally has his chance to gain notoriety by performing in a critical match for the coveted Moscow Championship Belt.
The story of the one of the most distinctive and storied championships in the world of sports entertainment and the men who held it.
Lion vs The Little People is a documentary comedy about the greatest internet hoax of all time. In 2005, a hoax news post masquerading as a bonafide BBC news website article, announced a fight had taken place between a lion and an army of 42 fighting dwarfs. The hoax spread like wild fire across the internet before eventually being accepted to be fake. While the article’s veracity has been diminished, the myth lives on in this outrageous deadpan comedy.
Big F'N Joe returns to The Kumite to defend his title against the number one contender, The Deathmatch Slasher Tommbie
The Best Deathmatch Wrestlers in the United Kingdom face off in a Tornado Tag Deathmatch
This documentary follows superstar Bret Hart during his last year in the WWF. The film documents the tensions that resulted in The Montreal Screwjob, one of the most controversial events in the history of professional wrestling, in which Vince McMahon, Shawn Micheals, and others, legitimately conspired behind the scenes to go against the script and remove Bret Hart as champion.
