Beyond The Mat
 

It's coming up on 23 years old.

What were your first impressions of it?

When was the last time you've seen it?

I remember thinking it was the greatest thing ever and I used it in a high school project.

Just watched it for the first time in 20 years last night.

listened to foley's most recent podcast on it the other day and really want to do a rewatch. it's probably been 15+ years since i've seen it. i loved it at the time, especially as a huge mankind mark when it came out. it definitely made me fall in love with terry funk, too.

Watched it in the theater. Thought it was pretty good. Didn't know what to expect... and was kinda confused by the presentation. Remember enjoying it.

Saw it on TV once. Was a'ight.

Haha yeah that's what got me to rewatch it

I watched it when I was a kid. I don’t really remember it vividly. Think it kind of washed over me. But some things have definitely stuck with me.

I used to have it on VHS. Saw it loads of times back in the day, then after about 15/20 years watched it again last year. I remember back then all the indy feds seemed "big time", because I was only about 12 years-old.

The idea now, of training schools making sure you're aware of healthy diets etc, and taking thousands of dollars in a lump payment seems mad. At least here in England. Still an interesting watch if you're familiar with a lot of the people involved with it.

I loved it as a kid, rented it as soon as it came out. All of the stories are very memorable, Jake, Foley, Dennis Stamp lol. Barry's voice is so good for it.

I've rewatched it several times through the years and I always enjoy it. The Droz/McMahon classic.

It's a one of a kind piece and probably the best ever wrestling doc. It really couldn't get better.

In the 90's to have such a deep piece on the behind the scenes stories in wrestling was amazing. It's not like "lifting up the bookers room curtain" but more like stepping into the dressing room.

That indy show that Jake goes to that has like 900 ppl in that giant warehouse where he's pissing in a bucket in the corner somewhere. Really wild scene, because 1. That was a pretty damn big crowd. 2. that arena was probably not legal. 3. I think he was paid in crack that night and probably slept with a teenager and or her mom or both.

I remember seeing that scene, and (being 12 at the time), it gave me the impression that all wrestling shows were huge events. Period.

When I posted this I had completely confused Beyond the Mat with Wrestling with Shadows.....

Other posts have reminded me of what Betond the Mat actually is, so I will update my opinion:

Saw it on TV once. Was a'ight.

Remember really enjoying the Foley/WWE stuff but being far less interested in the rest. I think watching this and/or understanding the behind the scenes bits impacted my enjoyment on The Wrestler years later. Whilst most were blown away by that movie, it has lesser impact if you’re aware of how it all works.

HE'S GONNA PUUUUUUUKE

Funk tripping.

Should have the wife watch this, she likes the doc series stuff on wrestling.

My first impression was “Oh fuck, New Jack is not a gimmick.”

Also, “Why is Vince McMahon chewing his water?”

Best part of the doc

I had to order it online, it was one of my first ever online purchases because they ran ads for it during the wrestling and I knew I was getting the inside scoop on the real low down and dirty world of pro rasslin.
I pretty much wore the tape out, I remember loving the box because it was black and tapes were usually in transparent plastic cases at the time. This one was like that New Order album that cost more to produce than it did to buy.

I watched it last around a year ago, maybe longer or less. I also will watch the baby weights clip and the “I’m not booked!” argument clips when I need a good laugh.

There’s a guy in Beyond The Mat during the Jake Roberts indie show bit who sticks in my mind. He was fat and had glasses but his nose looked like a raspberry. It was a great big carbuncle on his face and it had like…a granular quality to it.

If sickens me.
That is a booze nose. That fella must drink liquor like there’s no tomorrow.

That Roland guy crying when talking about how his guys don’t get booked is a good memory. He’s talking up Mike Modest with genuine heartbreak because he can’t scoop more money off him. He loved money that guy.
Shaped like Ralphus.

Watched it again not long ago.
Remember watching it on VHS the first time, think I borrowed it off a friend of mine and XL’s. I want to say I watched it together with XL but my memory evades me.
The Puke scene was a favourite because of the stage fright.

I can’t say I recall that, but I did have it on VHS myself so chances are we watched together.

-we make movies

*shit eating grin for 5 seconds

LOL Roland Alexander hahaha

Jake bringing those hillbilly looking people in the ring to play with his snake.

so many classic scenes came out of this

Lol Roland Alexander was so fucking scummy.

Clearly anything with Dennis Stamp is gold.

Could you imagine it today though? Have a whole scene of Tiny crying to his dad for money so he could sign more ex WWE and pay New Japan for another joint PPV, until Shad finally gets annoyed and caves in? Classic!