The professional wrestling industry has had its ups and downs in the past few decades, but it seems like only recently that Hollywood has taken further notice of the sports entertainment world. That is especially true since the height of Hulk Hogan and 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin.
Wrestlers have been known to turn their talents to acting in the past, but there were only a few TV shows and movies that were actually based upon the industry itself. With Netflix starting to create their own biographical dramas of wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and superstars like The Rock commissioning their own series, there are plenty of compelling stories about professional wrestling to check out on screen.
10 Heels (2021)
It's difficult to say too much about the latest Starz project as it hasn't actually been released yet. However, Heels is a highly anticipated show that both mainstream audiences and hardcore fans of wrestling will likely want to check out. The series is led by Stephen Amell, who has found his first ongoing role since hanging up the hood.
Plenty of big names from the industry are set to make an appearance in the show, including long-time friend to Amell, the American Nightmare Cody Rhodes, and the iconic CM Punk. The series will see two brothers fight over their late father's own wrestling promotion, with Amell portraying the 'heel' of the company. Considering Amell's past in wrestling and his love of the sport, it feels like the show is in good hands.
9 Young Rock (2021-)
The Rock has been the most successful wrestler to have turned to acting in the industry, with the movie star having a long list of hits to his name already. The latest addition to his filmography though is something far more personal; a series about his own life.
NBC's Young Rock was an opportunity for Dwayne Johnson to put some of his own experiences to screen. The series explores his childhood growing up in the famous Anoa'i wrestling family and as the son of Rocky Johnson and his rise in the industry he has become so synonymous with.
8 Nacho Libre (2006)
Moving from the fictional and the biographical to something far more comedic, Nacho Libre is one of Jack Black's most celebrated movies. From its unbelievably wacky quotes to a star performance from Black himself, the movie is well regarded for its contributions to the genre.
While it may be a great comedy film, it might not be a good representation of the wrestling industry itself. The portrayal of wrestling throughout the film is somewhat flawed and heightened beyond reality. With the sympathetic story of the monk Nacho trying to find a place in the world of Lucha Libre, the film thrives when the audience doesn't take it too seriously.
7 GLOW (2017-2019)
Netflix's GLOW was a highly regarded series from both the wrestling industry itself and the audience who have come to love these characters. Its cancellation was met with shock from both fans and the cast alike, but what will endure is the legacy that has been built from just 3 seasons.
From the representation of the wrestling lifestyle itself to the portrayal of its era and the political and sexual issues that were relevant at the time, GLOW was a series about athletes struggling to work together and overcome their own personal struggles to create a compelling show. Its characters, storylines, and production all brought with it genuine authenticity.
6 The Wrestler (2008)
When talking about movies based around professional wrestling, it's difficult to ignore the award-winning performance of Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. Of course, Rourke himself was supported by an unbelievable cast including estranged daughter Evan Rachel Wood, and Marisa Tomei in particular becoming underrated in her own role as friend and love interest Cassidy.
The story is all about redemption, as a washed up wrestler struggles to pay the bills, deal with his own health and rise back to the top of the industry he loves too much. It's a moving tale and the pinnacle of storytelling in wrestling.
5 ¡Mucha Lucha! (2002-2004)
¡Mucha Lucha! was a fun, American-Mexican comedy animated series that was aired on Kids' WB, Canal 5, and Teletoon. The show was an over the top portrayal of Lucha Libre wrestling, with each of the characters featuring their own gimmicks and respective superpowers.
The show ran for four seasons and was a real hit, even boasting a movie in 2004. While plenty of famous wrestlers have taken their talents into the voice acting world, there were no major cameos in the show. The series instead focused on leaning heavily towards the kids market, becoming a success in terms of capturing the imagination of young animation fans.
4 Wrestling Isn't Wrestling (2015)
Wrestling Isn't Wrestling is a short comedy and documentary that aired on YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. The creator pulled in a number of larger stars to make small cameos alongside the actors credited with representing iconic wrestling moments from real life.
While Adam Savage and Macaulay Culkin amongst others may have been a great draw for the project, its real brilliance was its representation of Triple H's career and how wrestling is about just about everything except ironically wrestling itself.
3 Fighting With My Family (2019)
Another award-winning movie to add to the pro-wrestling filmography, Fighting With My Family is a fictional representation of the true story of the wrestler known as Paige. Growing up in Norwich England, Saraya-Jade Bevis was born into a wrestling family.
She learned from a young age before fulfilling her dream and making her way to NXT and the WWE in America, eventually winning the top title for women. The Stephen Merchant project enlisted the help of The Rock in the role of producer (and to make a small cameo) and rising star Florence Pugh puts in an emotional and comedic performance as the superstar Paige.
2 The Main Event (2020)
Netflix's The Main Event won't be for everyone, but for any younger viewer who has a love for the WWE, this film may be exactly what they're looking for. Made in conjunction with World Wrestling Entertainment, the movie tells the story of a young boy who finds a magic mask.
He uses it to make his way to the WWE with the film building up to a huge title fight. Wrestling cameos and exciting action aside, there's something quite pure about this project which pays tribute to its genre, becoming a perfect story for the whole family to enjoy.
1 Dark Side Of The Ring (2019-)
Dark Side Of The Ring is a series of documentaries created by VICE, which falls under their criminal investigation titles. The aim of these factual films is to shine a light on some of the most notorious and controversial moments in wrestling history, as well as uncovering the truth behind shocking criminal actions.
The docu-series deals with a number of heavy issues in the most honest way possible, including the tragedy of the Benoit family, the death of Owen Hart and the murder of Bruiser Brody. These deep investigations see the most important parties involved with the events interviewed and tries its best to put as many facts on the table as possible.
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