10 Greatest Wrestling Documentaries

6. Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends "Wrestling" (1999)

Not a film here, but an episode of a series. Louis Theroux's exploration into the crazy world of wrestling remains one of the most entertaining looks behind-the-scenes of the business nearly 20 years after it first debuted on BBC 2.

The film opens with Raven sitting next to Alex Wright (in his brief Berlyn gimmick) flipping off the camera. Theroux didn’t even know who Raven was, so the wrestler openly chastised him for not doing his research. While that may look negatively on the interviewer, it's part of the appeal. Most people don't "get" wrestling, so seeing a true outsider enter that world without having any idea of what it all entails makes for a fun romp.

Theroux traveled to WCW near the end of the prime Nitro years and tried his best to meet with top talent. The results are mixed. Randy Savage completely blew him off. Goldberg chatted for a few moments. Roddy Piper awkwardly says he would have “made love to” Theroux when he was 29. But it's Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker who becomes the most compelling figure in the documentary.

He sees the journalist as an outsider who he must pound some respect into. Theroux travels to the Power Plant (and some hardcore indy shows) to take part in some training and is made to exercise until he puked, all because he dared to ask how matches were put together. Somehow through it all, the host remains in good spirits and truly seems to appreciate the artform.

Luckily, this type of training seems to have gone by the wayside but this bridge between the past and modern era remains a funny and fascinating watch years later.