7 Greatest Wrestling Movies

The Wrestler

Wrestlers have been performing in Hollywood ever since... well, ever. However some of their performances have been so dreadful this website even dedicated a list to them. We decided then that the reason most movies-starring-wrestlers were godawful was because they take their stars outside their natural environment - like the Scorpion King, Marine trilogy and *shudder* Suburban Commando.

This list will pay tribute to the best Hollywood movies that are actually concerned with the fine and noble sport of pro-wrestling. Remember that David Arquette movie that almost single-handedly destroyed WCW? Roddy Piper€™s €œtimeless classic€ that defined the Rock €˜n€™ Wrestling era? Or when Hulk Hogan€™s on-screen appearances didn€™t involve ramming another man€™s wife? No? Then take a trip down memory lane with the 7 greatest wrestling movies in history. Note: This list only includes films which relate to the sport of professional wrestling, and shall not include non-wrestling titles produced by WWE Studios. Films about amateur wrestling and wrestling documentaries are also not included.

7. Ready to Rumble

readytorumbleDirector: Brian Robbins. Starring: David Arquette, Diamond Dallas Page. This Dumb and Dumber-inspired comedy is perhaps best known today for being the background to David Arquette€™s infamous run as WCW Champion which coincided with the film€™s release. The plot is equally disastrous. Two stoner buddies, Gordie and Sean, attend a WCW Nitro live event and witness their favourite wrestler, Jimmy €œThe King€ King, lose in a screwjob match against Diamond Dallas Page. On the way home, the pair gets involved in a car wreck and decide this is a €œsign€ that they should make €œThe King€ champion again. Hilarity ensues. Sort of. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfTvmbizNyQ While Ready to Rumble is not as good as the other wrestling movies on this list, it certainly isn€™t as bad as critics suggest. (USA Today writer Susan Wloszczyna called it €œA pile driver to the brain€. Ouch.) In fact, the film is quite compelling when it focuses on the backstage world of professional wrestling. In the opening scenes, for example, a rogue booker convinces DDP to €œshoot€ during a WCW title match €“ a reference to the infamous Survivor Series 1997 bout between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. However, things go awry when screenwriter Steven Brill attempts to weave a prefabricated plotline around the sports entertainment setting. And there€™s only so many times we can hear the jaw-dropping line €œBut it€™s not even a pay-per-view!?€ before tiring. Overall, it was a missed opportunity. Still worth a rental though.
 
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Izzy is a copywriter and journalist from London, writing on all things entertainment.