8 Ups & 4 Downs From Beyond The Mat

3. A Sincere Rapport

In Beyond the Mat, Barry W. Blaustein selects an elite list of subjects, and he sticks with them.

This is evident at numerous points, and the base narrative is nearly identical for each person. Beyond the Mat establishes who they are in their personal life, documents them as such, and then shows them at work, usually at a critical juncture of their wrestling career.

Most importantly, however, Blaustein shows an honest interest in the aftermath of the documentation, making certain to catch up with his subjects, and often their families, a certain amount of time after the crucial coverage took place. This aspect of the job seemed genuinely important to him.

It evokes the idea that Barry W. Blaustein cared about the people he documented, and valued the unfolding rapport as such. It also made for a highly satisfying viewing experience. Seeing the talent in their natural setting, before and after their life in the ring, rendered the coverage by large as impartial as one could hope for.