NBC has made a pilot commitment to a drama about the boom of pro wrestling in the 1980s that will be executive produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jerry Bruckheimer.
The ’80s, often called “the golden age of wrestling”, marked a surge in the popularity of professional wrestling in the U.S. fueled by the growth of cable television and pay-per-view and the efforts of hot-shot promoters like Vince McMahon. During that period, pro wrestling shifted from a system controlled by numerous regional companies to a system dominated by two nationwide companies: Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling and McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation. [Deadline]
Because the show is only in the earliest stages of development, there’s not a whole lot of commentary I can provide here. And even if I could provide some extra insight, I’d be the wrong person for it because I never got hooked by pro wrestling. The person we need is Brandon at With Leather. That dude eats and breathes pro wrestling. He could have have the first three seasons of this show sketched out by noon.
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Wrestling: The Gentelman’s Soap Opera
“The ’80s, often called “the golden age of wrestling”
I’d agree with that statement. Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n Wrestling cartoon is proof.
I also like to refer to the ’80′s as the golden age of porn.
I like to refer to the 80′s as the golden age of my pants.
See, because I was young and pissed myself a lot.
ALL HAIL THE ROCKHEIMER!!!!
I insist you all send me money now.
Anybody want a peanut?
/can’t help myself
Does this mean that The Rock will host SNL more often?
I have zero interest in pro wrestling, but he’s kind of great.
As long as the part of Bam Bam Bigelow is played by either Kat Von D or Michelle Bombshell this show will be a hit.
Isn’t the Rock still basically working for WWE? So no chance the show will focus on the steroids and shady dealings- you know, the interesting story that they could tell.
Is The Rock having a stroke there?
I’m just hoping they get guest star appearances from Roddy Piper, The Iron Sheik and the Ultimate Warrior. Hilarity will ensue.
@Patty Shhhhh…! keep your voice down or Brandon might hear you.
It seems to me that unlike most sports-like programming, getting into pro wrestling just now is like trying to dive into the middle of Season 3 of The Wire or Lost, or Season 17 of Days of Our Lives.
Matt, how could you miss the opportunity to post a “little somethin’ for the ladies” picture of The Rock? It’s like you TRIED to find goofy pictures of him. Don’t be a hater.
@Smello +1 for PB ref
The Rock has the potential to be the biggest action star on the planet if he just stops making shitty Disney movies and somehow gets out from under the WWE’s thumb.
Too bad it wasn’t about bro wrestling, because Danger Guerrero would be all up in that business.
I’d love to write for this show. The first episode would have about 40 minutes of wrestling and maybe two instances of people talking to each other.
It’s a shame that Hulk Hogan is what 99% of people think about when they hear “80s wrestling”, because damn, there was some pretty amazing stuff going on in wrestling in the 80s that had nothing to do with bright yellow underwear and “crazy characters”.
I liked The Rundown!
And his two-minute Reno 911 cameo.
The Rundown is wildly underrated.
The Bushwackers represented bro wrestling pretty well. They combined wrestling with weird hickish homo-eroticism.
[www.youtube.com]
And he brought the People’s Eyebrow to Star Trek!!
The Rundown is underrated. The same cannot be said for Walking Tall or Doom (although I did enjoy Doom, but I have terrible taste in movies).
Walking Tall was good too. You have to think in the context of beat em up action movies. I’ll take the first 5 minutes of The Rundown over an hour and half of anything Tom Cruise has done.
First season should be about establishing all the Territories. Second season is about all the Territories hearing about being afraid that New York is going to buy up everyone. Third season is New York buying everyone. Fourth season is WRESTLEPALOOZA. I don’t have enough knowledge of the NWA in the 80s to push their perspective.
@Matt & Patty: As a movie to laugh during, we underrate The Rundown.
/fixed
Doom is a great movie, but keep in mind that I would watch Rosamund Pike tie her shoelaces for two days at a time, so I’m a bit biased.