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{{short description|1999 film by Barry W. Blaustein}}
{{for|the TV episode|Beyond the Mat (Supernatural)}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Beyond the Mat
| image = Beyondthemat.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Barry W. Blaustein]]
| writer = Barry W. Blaustein
| producer = Barry W. Blaustein<br/>[[Barry Bloom]]<br/>[[Brian Grazer]]<br/>[[Ron Howard]]<ref name="contro" /><br/>[[Michael Rosenberg (film producer)|Michael Rosenberg]]
| starring =
| narrator = Barry W. Blaustein
| cinematography = Michael Grady
| editing = Jeff Werner
| music = [[Nathan Barr]]
| studio = [[Imagine Entertainment]]
| distributor = [[Lionsgate Films|Lions Gate Films]]<ref name="contro" />
| released = {{Film date|1999|10|22}}
| runtime = 102 minutes<ref name="cnn" />
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $500,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Beyond-the-Mat#tab=summary|title=Beyond the Mat (1999)|website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=July 21, 2018}}</ref>
| gross = $2 million<ref>{{Mojo title|beyondthemat}}</ref>
}}
'''''Beyond the Mat''''' is a 1999 American [[documentary film]] directed, written, produced and narrated by [[Barry W. Blaustein]]. The film focuses on the lives of [[professional wrestling|professional wrestlers]] outside of the ring, primarily [[Mick Foley]], [[Terry Funk]], and [[Jake Roberts]], as well as some aspiring wrestlers. It focuses on the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF), [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW) during its rise in popularity, and many other independent wrestlers and organizations. The film was originally released in U.S. theaters in March 2000, and later on VHS and DVD.
==Synopsis==
{{Long plot|date=March 2021}}
Director Barry Blaustein discusses his love for professional wrestling and clips of him viewing employees of the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] and [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]]. He then decides to travel the [[United States]] over a three-year period, endeavoring to understand the mindset of someone who would voluntarily choose to become a professional wrestler. Blaustein interviews a wide variety of wrestling personalities and ascertains their motivations.
Blaustein focuses on three famous wrestlers, one
Funk's sometime in-ring rival, Foley, is profiled next. He has been taking increasingly risky falls (or "[[bump (professional wrestling)|bumps]]") and blows to the head, and at one point is heard talking incoherently as the result of a fall (from his [[Mankind vs. The Undertaker|Hell in a Cell match]] against [[The Undertaker]] at [[King of the Ring (1998)|King of the Ring]] 1998) which briefly rendered him unconscious. Clips of Foley with his wife and children are spliced with the clips of him risking his body for the sport. Later, in the film's climax, his wife and young children (particularly his daughter Noelle) watch in horror from the front of the audience during Foley's [["I Quit" match]] at the [[Royal Rumble (1999)|1999 Royal Rumble]], wherein he takes multiple unprotected shots to the head by [[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]] with a steel folding chair.<ref name=cnn/> Four weeks after the match, Blaustein was haunted by seeing Foley's family reaction to the Royal Rumble match. Blaustein decided to show Foley and his wife the footage he captured at the event. After watching the footage, Foley admitted he felt guilty for putting his family through the ordeal, and said he never wanted to put them in that position again.
Lastly, Roberts is a wrestler whose height of popularity was in the 1980s. Now he is a [[crack cocaine]] [[Substance dependence|addict]], and estranged from his daughter.<ref name=cnn/> Although he was once one of the more famous wrestlers in America, performing in front of tens of thousands of fans, he is now wrestling in small-town venues. In the course of the film, Roberts is shown attempting to reconcile with his daughter and being interviewed after reportedly smoking [[crack cocaine]] in a hotel room (the act is not shown on camera), as well as musing aloud about his increasingly illicit sexual dalliances while traveling.<ref name=bites/>
The careers of the three successful wrestlers are contrasted with those of wrestlers who have not yet achieved comparable success, such as two men getting started in the sport of wrestling, [[Tony Jones (wrestler)|Tony Jones]] and [[Michael Modest]], who are granted a tryout match for the WWF.<ref name=100best/> In addition, [[Darren Drozdov]] is a former [[National Football League|NFL]] [[American football|football]] player who is shown in an interview with [[Vince McMahon]].<ref name=ew/> Drozdov, who can [[vomiting|vomit]] at will, is called on by McMahon to vomit in a bucket as a demonstration of his ability—an ability which earned him the ring name "Puke"—which McMahon plans to use as part of Drozdov's new in-ring persona.<ref name=ew/> Drozdov becomes a [[WWE|WWF]] [[professional wrestling|wrestler]], but at the end of the film, it is revealed that Droz was paralyzed in an in-ring accident from a botched maneuver several months later.
==Production and release==
[[File:The ROCK.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Dwayne Johnson]] made his first film appearance in ''Beyond the Mat'']]
Barry W. Blaustein decided to make a documentary about professional wrestling after being outed as a professional wrestling fan.<ref name=100best>{{cite book|title=The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen|author=Crouse, Richard|publisher=ECW Press|year=2003|isbn=1-55022-590-1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/100bestmoviesyou0000crou/page/18 18–22]|url=https://archive.org/details/100bestmoviesyou0000crou/page/18}}</ref> His original budget was $500,000, funded by the company [[Imagine Entertainment]].<ref name=100best/> He shot footage for the film over a span of three to five years.<ref name=100best/><ref name=int/>
[[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) refused to participate in the film.<ref name=int>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingChats/jun6_blau.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720170838/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingChats/jun6_blau.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 20, 2012|title=Barry Blaustein chat|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2009-10-14|date=June 6, 2000}}</ref> Blaustein approached the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) about involving the company in the film in 1997.<ref name=contro/> WWF chairman [[Vince McMahon]] originally allowed Blaustein full access to behind-the-scenes aspects of his company, but later tried to pull out of the deal.<ref name=contro>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2000/mar15_beyond.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801134941/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2000/mar15_beyond.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 1, 2012|title=Beyond the Mat embroiled in controversy|author=Molinaro, John|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2009-10-14|date=March 15, 2000}}</ref><ref name=100best/>
Jake Roberts has stated that he was informed the film would be used to help children, but that never transpired.<ref name=bites>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosR/roberts_00sep1.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130110102159/http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosR/roberts_00sep1.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 10, 2013|title=The Snake bites back at Beyond The Mat|author=Laroche, Stephen|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2009-10-13|date=September 1, 2000}}</ref> Blaustein has stated the opposite.<ref name=bites/> In response to why he thought Roberts made the allegations, Blaustein responded, "I don't know why. Jake's looking for publicity for himself, maybe. I don't know. He has problems with reality. I wish Jake all the best."<ref name=bites/>
''Beyond the Mat'' was released in theaters in the United States in March 2000.<ref name=hogan>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2000/mar19_hog.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130110105416/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2000/mar19_hog.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 10, 2013|title=Hogan, Piper, Foley open up, A big weekend in the mainstream for pro wrestling|author=Oliver, Greg|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2009-10-14|date=March 19, 2000}}</ref> The film was later released on DVD, including extra footage and cast interviews.<ref name=int/> An unrated director's cut edition dubbed ''Special Ringside Edition'' was released on DVD in March 2004. This version featured a new introduction and additional footage, as well as an interview with Foley and [[Jesse Ventura]].<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000189DZE Beyond the Mat: Unrated Director's Cut – Ringside Special Edition]</ref>
==Response==
===Critics===
''Beyond the Mat'' has an 82% "Fresh" rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]], based on 67 reviews. Its consensus reads: "Even if you aren't a fan, ''Beyond the Mat'' provides a riveting, perceptive look into the world of professional wrestling by taking a closer look at the people beneath the personas."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beyond_the_mat/ |title=''Beyond the Mat'' |publisher=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]/[[Flixster]] |access-date=May 31, 2024}}</ref>
Lisa Schwarzbaum of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' rated the film a B−, stating that "''Beyond the Mat'' is entirely dependent on, and shaped by, the ''good stuff'' the director happens to get, rather than driven by hard questions a journalist might want answered."<ref name=ew>{{cite web|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,275795,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202193818/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,275795,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 2, 2008|title=Movie Review: Beyond the Mat|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|author=Schwarzbaum, Lisa|date=March 24, 2000|access-date=2009-10-13}}</ref> Paul Tatara of [[CNN]] wrote, "Blaustein seems to think that he's humanizing these guys by showing how "normal" they are out of the ring, but he unintentionally makes their penchant for self-mutilation all the more inexplicable. There are a couple of laughs in the movie, but the overall effect is much more depressing than it is humorous."<ref name=cnn>{{cite web|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/23/review.beyondthemat/|title=Review: Wrestling with demons in 'Beyond the Mat'|author=Tatara, Paul|publisher=CNN|date=March 23, 2000|access-date=2009-10-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424013856/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Movies/03/23/review.beyondthemat/|archive-date=April 24, 2009}}</ref>
The film was named Best Documentary at the [[Cinequest Film Festival]], and was also nominated by the [[Directors Guild of America|Director's Guild Association]] for best documentary and [[Directors Guild of America Awards 1999|best director]].<ref name=contro/> The book ''The 100 Best Movies You've Never Seen'' includes ''Beyond the Mat'' in its list, declaring that it "works on an almost [[Shakespearean]] level."<ref name=100best/>
===Wrestling industry===
After viewing the film, McMahon removed all advertising for it from WWF broadcasts.<ref name=contro/> As a result, [[Lions Gate Films]], the film's distributor, considered filing a [[lawsuit]] for restraint of trade.<ref name=contro/> Spokespeople for the WWF, however, stated that advertising was pulled because of a policy against advertising for other wrestling companies or ventures.<ref name=contro/> Blaustein also stated that McMahon ordered his wrestlers, including Mick Foley, not to speak about the film publicly.<ref name=contro/> Foley, however, did appear on ''[[Larry King Live]]'' with Blaustein to help promote the film.<ref name=contro/> As a result, the tagline of the movie became ''"The Movie Vince McMahon Didn't Want You to See!"''.<ref name=100best/>
[[Roddy Piper]] also appeared with Blaustein on ''Larry King Live'' to discuss the professional wrestling business.<ref name=hogan/> He called the movie, "the best documentary ever made on professional wrestling."<ref name=hogan/> Likewise, [[Hulk Hogan]] expressed an interest in appearing in the next wrestling documentary should Blaustein make one.<ref name=hogan/>
In June 2011, Blaustein undertook an extensive one-hour interview on ''Review a Wai'' with John Pollock, in which he discussed the problems of putting the documentary together with Vince McMahon's blessing. Blaustein also revealed that after the first viewing, it was Linda McMahon who was more upset than Vince, due to the documentary's portrayal of the company, and a lack of emphasis on the "fun" in professional wrestling.
===Fate of the wrestlers profiled===
In the years after the film was released, the three wrestlers primarily profiled continued their lives largely on the same path. Foley retired from full-time competition in 2000, at age 34, due to health concerns related to his [[Hardcore wrestling|hardcore style]] of wrestling, as well as him and his wife Colette (who was featured in the film with their two older children) having two more children after the film was released. He had, however, wrestled on occasion afterward. Foley was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] on April 6, 2013,<ref name="HallOfFame">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/wwe-hall-of-fame/mick-foley-to-be-inducted-into-wwe-hall-of-fame-26083400|title=Mick Foley to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame|publisher=WWE|date=2013-01-11|access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref> and maintains a relatively successful circuit of stand-up comedy and speaking tours. He is also a New York Times best-selling novelist.
As the epilogue of the film mentioned, Funk's retirement lasted three months. Funk went on to participate in several more retirement matches, the most recent on September 22, 2017, at age 73.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gerweck.net/2013/01/12/terry-funk-finally-retired|title=Terry Funk Officially Retires|access-date=2013-01-12|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115065820/http://www.gerweck.net/2013/01/12/terry-funk-finally-retired/|archive-date=2013-01-15}}</ref> Along with his brother [[Dory Funk, Jr.]], Funk was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
Funk died on August 23, 2023.
Roberts' drug and alcohol use increased after the film was released. In 2004, Roberts faced a charge of "causing unnecessary suffering" after his snake, "Damien", was allowed to starve to death in the garage of his [[London Colney]] home.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/beds/bucks/herts/3972907.stm|work=BBC News|title=Wrestler 'left snake to starve'|date=2004-11-01}}</ref> In 2007, WWE initiated a policy to pay all expenses for any former WWWF/WWF/WWE performer who needed to enter into any form of [[drug rehabilitation]]. According to various wrestling news reports, as well as his own [[MySpace]] page, Roberts was placed in a 14-week voluntary rehab program by WWE as of December 10, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Update On Jake "The Snake" Roberts Rehab Status|work=PW Headlines|url=http://www.pwheadlines.com/wwe_news/update_on_jake_the_snake_roberts_rehab_status.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116091820/http://www.pwheadlines.com/wwe_news/update_on_jake_the_snake_roberts_rehab_status.shtml|archive-date=2008-01-16|access-date=2008-01-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2008/03/11/snake-rattled-but-rolls-out-of-rehab/|title=Snake Rattled, But Rolls Out of Rehab|date=2008-03-11|access-date=2008-03-11|publisher=TMZ.com}}</ref> In May 2008, [[Jim Ross]] reported that, ''"Jake Roberts has been doing well the past few weeks, after completing a treatment program."''<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article1001440.shtml | title=Jim Ross comments on visiting WWE developmental headquarters, Jeff Hardy, and Jake Roberts }}</ref> In 2012, Roberts moved in with fellow wrestler [[Diamond Dallas Page]] to receive help with getting his life back on track. In 2013, [[Scott Hall (wrestler)|Scott Hall]] joined Roberts' rehabilitative efforts by also moving into Page's home, which has been nicknamed the "accountability crib".<ref>[http://whatculture.com/wwe/wwe-10-wrestlers-like-get-high.php/9 WWE: 10 Wrestlers Who Like To Get High.]</ref><ref>[http://www.newsday.com/sports/pro-wrestling/hbo-s-real-sports-visiting-diamond-dallas-page-s-accountability-crib-1.5918821 HBO's 'Real Sports' visiting Diamond Dallas Page's 'Accountability Crib']</ref> This is documented in the film ''The Resurrection of Jake the Snake''.
At WrestleCon 2013, Roberts announced his desire to return to WWE as a participant in Royal Rumble 2014, which did not happen.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/nzk22RC86f8 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130418174338/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzk22RC86f8&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzk22RC86f8| title = WrestleCon: Jake Roberts Wants To Enter 2014 Royal Rumble | website=[[YouTube]]| date = 13 April 2013 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> However, on January 6, 2014, Roberts returned on WWE television for the first time in almost nine years, as a part of ''Old School Raw'' at the end of the [[CM Punk]] vs [[Roman Reigns]] match, bringing out a new snake with him (an Albino Burmese Python) and aiding [[The New Age Outlaws]] and Punk in fending off The Shield.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/pbszVMpAh94 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140107083702/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbszVMpAh94&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbszVMpAh94| title = Jake "The Snake" Roberts returns to WWE | website=[[YouTube]]| date = 6 January 2014 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Jake is doing well and enjoying his newfound sobriety, although he was diagnosed with skin cancer, for which he has undergone successful treatment.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://msn.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/report-jake-the-snake-roberts-faces-cancer-surgery-022414 | title=FOX Sports News, Scores, Schedules, Odds, Shows, Streams & Videos }}</ref> He was announced as the second entrant of WWE's 2014 Hall of Fame Class.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1938854-jake-the-snake-to-be-inducted-into-2014-wwe-hall-of-fame-class#articles/1938854-jake-the-snake-to-be-inducted-into-2014-wwe-hall-of-fame-class | title=Jake the Snake to be Inducted into 2014 WWE Hall of Fame Class | website=[[Bleacher Report]] }}</ref> He is currently signed with [[All Elite Wrestling]].
In 2007, Jim Bell, the former Vice President of Merchandising for the WWF who featured in the film, was sentenced for trying to defraud the company almost $1 million from 1998 to 2002 through illegitimate kickbacks. He received an eight month prison sentence and three years of probation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=24201&p=1|title=FORMER WWE VICE PRESIDENT AND LICENSING AGENT HEADING TO PRISON AFTER DEFRAUDING COMPANY {{!}} PWInsider.com|website=www.pwinsider.com|access-date=2019-07-21}}</ref>
In 2014, Dennis Stamp published a book about his wrestling days titled ''The Stamp Collection: A Collection of Short Stories from the World's Most Famous Unknown Wrestler''. That year he also refereed a main event for Scottish Wrestling Entertainment.<ref name="pwmania">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwmania.com/dennis-stamp-booked-for-upcoming-wrestling-event-in-scotland|title=Dennis Stamp Booked for Upcoming Wrestling Event in Scotland|date=September 2, 2014|work=PWMania|access-date=September 6, 2016}}</ref>
In 2016, Stamp announced that his cancer had returned.<ref name="pwi02">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=104433|title=Dennis Stamp's Cancer Returns|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=September 1, 2016|work=PWInsider|access-date=September 7, 2016}}</ref> He died of lymphoma on March 13, 2017 after which wrestlers including [[Ted DiBiase]] and [[Tommy Dreamer]] paid tribute to him on social media.<ref name="IBT17">{{cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/dennis-stamp-meme-wrestler-star-beyond-mat-dies-cancer-aged-70-1611480|title=Dennis Stamp, meme wrestler and 'star' of Beyond the Mat, dies of cancer aged 70|last=Passantino|first=Dom|date=March 14, 2017|work=International Business Times|access-date=15 March 2017}}</ref>
In November 2017, Stamp was posthumously inducted into the Amarillo Pioneer Hall of Fame by the local Amarillo Pioneer newspaper.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.amarillopioneer.com/blog/2017/11/1/pioneer-names-2017-hall-of-fame-inductees|title=Pioneer Names 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees|work=The Amarillo Pioneer|access-date=2017-12-03|language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also==
* ''[[Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows]]'', another very well-received professional wrestling documentary from around the same period.
* ''[[Bloodstained Memoirs]]'', a 2009 professional wrestling documentary.
* ''[[The Wrestler (2008 film)|The Wrestler]]''
* [[1999 in film]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.beyondthematdvd.com/}}
*{{IMDb title|0218043}}
*{{rottentomatoes|beyond_the_mat}}
{{Barry W. Blaustein}}
{{Ron Howard}}
{{Brian Grazer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beyond The Mat}}
[[Category:1999 films]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Professional wrestling documentary films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language documentary films]]
[[Category:Films shot in California]]
[[Category:Films shot in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Films shot in Florida]]
[[Category:Films shot in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Films shot in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Films shot in New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Films shot in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Films shot in New York City]]
[[Category:Films shot in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Films shot in Texas]]
[[Category:Films produced by Brian Grazer]]
[[Category:Imagine Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Lionsgate films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Barry W. Blaustein]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Barry W. Blaustein]]
[[Category:Films scored by Nathan Barr]]
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