If you’re a professional wrestling fan, you also know that the whole thing is scripted. For a long time, that aspect of the business has been an open secret. But the biggest promotion in the game — that is, WWE — decided to cash in on this backstage aspect. Released onNetflixstarting on July 29,WWE: Unrealwas sold as a documentary miniseries that takes you not only behind the curtain but into the highly coveted writer’s room where they craft the stories that make superstars into spectacles.However, as a dedicated wrestling fan for over 25 years, the show is much too tame.
We all know the anxiety wrestlers experience right before a show — no need to revisit that. We can only watch gorilla position congratulate wrestlers so many times before it becomes tedious. Sure, there are some surprising (but brief) clips that will excite fans and likely go viral online well after the miniseries’ initial spotlight, but as a whole,Unrealis quite underwhelming.
If you feel the same as I do, there’s something out there that we can all fall back on. In the fall of 1999, director Barry W. Blaustein set out to answer a questionWWE: Unrealalso aimed to explore, creating the wrestling documentaryBeyond the Mat. In simple terms, this was an independent source seeking to show fans how a wrestler’s personal life was affected by their career choice. Blaustein spent a considerable amount of time with three iconic names during the making of this film: Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake Roberts.
‘Beyond the Mat’ Went Places ‘WWE: Unreal’ Wouldn’t
Each wrestler represented a different stageof a wrestling career. Foley was at the top of his game with the WWF at the time. Funk was nearing the end of his career run while wrestling for ECW, and Roberts’ story was the most horrific, years away from the spotlight and fighting all sorts of inner demons.This two-hour journey is more raw and real thanWWE: Unrealcould ever hope to be. It’s no surprise that both Vince McMahon and his wife Linda disapproved ofBeyond the Mat, which resulted in lawsuits.
At times, Blaustein’s documentary casts WWE (then WWF) in a harsh light, offering eye-opening insights for everyday fans, from a wrestler being signed simply because he can puke on command, to Mick Foley’s wife and children crying in the front row as he is hit in the head with a chair by The Rock. This scene is deeply traumatizing and undermines the exciting and fun image the company tries to portray.
Beyond the Matmay be 26 years old, so traditions might have changed (especially since McMahon is out), but there is a certain type of wrestling whiplash when compared to the new Netflix feature. Foley’s arc shows the most struggle. He has to constantly reassure his children that he is all right and that there’s nothing to worry about. Funk’s sequence is the tamest — he has mounting injuries but still puts on a very memorable retirement match (this retirement doesn’t last very long, though). Blaustein then blasts the WWF safety lock wide open with Jake Roberts.
Roberts wrestled for the company for seven years. During the time this doc was being made, he was sadlyaddicted to drugs, estranged from both his father and his daughter, and dealing with all sorts of mental and emotional poisons from his past. The director is not afraid of repercussions, as he heavily leans into who Roberts was and what he was at the time of filming. WhileBeyond the Matemphasizes WWF as a pro wrestling powerhouse (and at times a sort of carny establishment), the documentary attempts to show all facets of the business, including its highs, lows, promotions, wrestlers, and stories.
As you can probably tellfrom the five episodesof the more recent production,Unreal’s promised writing room segments are few and far between.Beyond the Matreveals perspectives that were almost secretive at the time and rarely seen by fans. WhileWWE: Unrealis available to stream onNetflix,Beyond the Matis available to rent onYouTube,Prime Video, andApple TV.
Beyond the Mat
