No, not the original version of the 2008 classic Darren Aronofskys film isnt a remake. This is the Verne Gagne produced drama from 1974, a film about regional wrestling promoter Frank Bass, played by Ed Asner, whose top star is aging and stale, but wont step aside for the next big thing to take the company forward. The films got an excellent pedigree, featuring Gagne himself as the old guy fighting for his spot, the legendary and late Billy Robinson as the young lion challenging him, and appearances from Dusty Rhodes, Don Muraco, Danny Hodge, Wahoo McDaniel, Nick Bockwinkel, Superstar Billy Graham, Larry The Ax Hennig the list goes on and on and on. Apparently Ric Flair is in it too, although we couldnt spot him, and you should be able to see Vince McMahon Snr. in the film too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpDfNZFAfes The Wrestler (1974), unlike The Wrestler (2008), presents professional wrestling as a legitimate sporting competition. Thats right, its a drama keeping kayfabe close tight to its chest. Well, it was the seventies. Essentially then, its a dramatic presentation of a wrestling angle: a worked feud, translated to screenplay form and then acted out for the cameras by a combination of professional actors and professional wrestlers.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
