Wrestling Dreams

A documentary about Metro Pro Wrestling, an independent promotion based in Kansas City, Kansas, that follows the wrestlers, crew, and fans over the course of four months in the summer of 2013.

Every year for the past 26 years, a courageous team of semi-professional wrestlers goes on what has been called the toughest wrestling tour on Earth. Rookies with stars in their eyes join tough-as-nails veterans like Chi-Chi Cruz, Leatherface, Eric the Lumberjack, and Crash Crimson to pack into a van and head for the far northern reaches of Manitoba. Only accessible in winter by frozen lake roads, these remote First Nations communities get a rare show of live wrestling entertainment, complete with stunners and body slams. Wrestling with the North captures all the pain, glory and determination of these die-hard wrestlers and through the wrestlers' eyes we glimpse northern aboriginal communities holding fast to their traditions while embracing a pop-culture circus with zeal.

Hoodslam is a the story of an upstart pro wrestling promotion from Oakland California. See as they grow from their meager beginnings out of a dilapidated warehouse to become one of the most controversial theatrical spectacles in the country.

A PBS documentary shot in the "famous Portland Sports Arena" in the mid 70's. Although the film centers around a feud between the Iron Sheik and Dutch Savage, which culminates in a coal miner's glove match, there are also cameo appearances by other wrestlers such as Jimmy Snuka, Jesse Ventura, etc. Plus it interviews people in the crowd who come to the matches every week, including a few sweet old ladies.

Lightbulbs, fire, barbed wire, mousetraps, staple guns, thumbtacks and glass are weapons of choice in The Backyard. This undercover documentary takes you deep into the controversial arena of backyard wrestling where the limits are constantly being tested...and broken. The Backyard follows several backyard wrestlers in different countries as they pursue their dream to become professional wrestlers.

4 amazing women take us behind the scenes of the mostly male dominated world of professional wrestling.

In the year 2050 a young wrestling fan is less than thrilled to be spending the night at his Grandfather’s house. That is until he learns that his Grandfather once travelled the world interviewing some of the biggest wrestling stars of all time. Featuring exclusive interviews with Bill Goldberg, Bret Hart, Mike Tyson, Chris Jericho, Dynamite Kid, Amy Dumas, Rob Van Dam, Ted Dibiase and Randy Couture, Nine Legends profiles one of the greatest ensembles of wrestling talent ever put together. Through their own words, relive the defining moments of the heroes you grew up with.

It was before Hogan, before Ventura, and before charisma counted as much, perhaps moreso, as mat skills. It was 1977 in New York and Bruno’s run would soon come to an end. Enter The Superstar… Superstar Billy Graham burst onto the scene in the WWWF, unseated Bruno Sammartino, and rewrote the rulebook for pro wrestling heels. And now he wants you to join him on a journey to that pivotal year, where he’ll tell you everything that was happening within the walls of the largest wrestling federation in the world! We pick up the action in April of 1977, just before Graham gets the strap, and we follow the action into 1978, when Backlund takes it. The Sammartino title change…the McMahons…the ‘Wiz’…Japan…Backlund…the backroom dealings…missed opportunities…Albano’s antics…working the blade…the TV tapings… …all that and EVERYTHING that was happening in 1977/78 in WWE!!!

1980 in the WWF. Business isn’t so hot. Backlund isn’t drawing the houses they thought he would and business is moribund at best. That is, until a young Larry Zbyszko proposes an idea to his mentor that would change the course of the federation, and make the career of Zbyszko himself. This journey into 1980 is an incredible illustration of how Bruno Sammartino gave Larry Zbyszko the education of a lifetime in both the construction of the “Shea Stadium” program, as well as how to play the game of politics with the heavy hitters, like McMahon. No one saw the impact this angle would have on the gate at Shea, the direction of the company, the shadow it would cast on World Champion Backlund, and the heat and hatred Zbyszko would have to get used to living with. Relive the angle that re-ignited the biggest federation in the world…from the INSIDE…from the angle’s conception, to holding McMahon up for more money.

Atop the tag team division in the WWE in 1981 stood a fiery youngster and his brother figure, both of whom had the looks and the brawn to bring fans to their feet all over the Northeast. They slammed Moondogs, battled Samoans, and were high-flying champions full of excitement. Head back to 1981 with Rick Martel and enter the locker rooms walked by Vincent J. McMahon, Gorilla Monsoon, Capt Lou Albano and the legends of yesteryear. This may have been a simpler time in the business, but the lessons learned were hard, and so was the road. Come into the venues of yesteryear and see who was getting over and who wasn’t. This is the real deal…a time with no cable TV, no pay-per-view, and one hour of syndicated TV per week…and the arenas were packed.

The WWE had yet to go national. The talent raids had not begun. Hogan was still Verne’s guy. And the biggest draws in the company would revolve around the Intercontinental title, held by The Magnificent One, Don Muraco. And the inside story is here! The series that blows open the real, unauthorized story of the WWE is back, and we head into the 80s again! Backlund…Morales drops title…Allentown…Rocky feud…Snuka and Nancy…Gilbert’s crash…McMahon power shift…Invading California…Wizard’s passing…Iron Mike Sharpe and OCD…Madison Square Garden…Victory Magazine…

The closing month of 1983 in WWE saw the arrival of an individual that would go on to set the entire pro wrestling landscape on its head. Roddy Piper’s effect on the largest federation in the world would set up Hogan for his massive championship run, introduce the concept of Wrestlemania, and push TV ratings to the stratosphere. Simply put…Piper helped make it all happen for WWE in the 80s. Join Roddy for a three and a half hour journey back in time and see how each piece of the puzzle was laid. Roddy, Vince, Hogan, Dave Wolf and others had a vision of what was to come. Now head back to the birth of the boom and hear about it all in the first-person, from one of the all-time greats. Here comes the ‘Pit, MTV, the coconut, and the HOT SCOT himself! All in this edition of the open-ended historical telling of the WWE’s history.

The fuse has been ignited on the explosive popularity of the WWE in 1985. The world was about to get its first Wrestlemania. The roster was loaded with the country’s hottest talent and the ‘Fed was all over cable TV, and the networks as well. Royalty checks begin pouring in for WWE stars as their images hit lunchboxes and dolls all over the world. The business has moved beyond wrestling as music and pop culture embrace it in this magical time. Saturday Night’s Main Event…Wrestlemania…CBS Cartoon…Mr. T…The IC strap…The Dream Team…Andy Worhol…Rick McGraw’s death…Rita Marie…Snakes and Bulldogs…Tito…The 20/20 expose’…The Wrestling Album…Blading…Cyndi Lauper…Albano’s face turn…

The first Wrestlemania is history and business is booming! Wrestlers are making top dollar, traveling all over the world, seeing dolls in their image, and some can even quit teaching and wrestle full time! Especially if they were in one of the WWE’s hottest angles with Macho Man Randy Savage and Elizabeth. And such is the case with George The Animal Steele. The man behind that scary and lovable character takes you back to 1986 and examines all the major happenings in wrestling’s biggest federation. Saturday Night’s Main Event skits…a jealous Savage…JYD…Adonis…turning babyface…Albano…the McMahons…Steele’s students…Wrestlemania 2…the Funks…”King” Harley Race…The Wrestling Album…the dangers of TV…more…more…MORE!!!

In early 1963, Toots Mondt and Vincent J. McMahon seceded from the governance of the NWA to form the WWWF. Shortly thereafter they would crown their champion and hang the fortune of their venture on him. That man will be your guide for a journey back to 1963 and the formative years of the WWWF up through 1969. Bruno Sammartino was selling out houses all across the northeast and was privy to all the inner workings of the company.

A candid-camera view of professional wrestling as seen in the Montréal Forum, where some of the biggest bouts are staged, and in back-street wrestling parlours where the warriors practice their art.

This is Mike Parrow's Journey so far in life. He is a independent professional wrestler who struggled with his sexuality most of his adult life. After meeting the love of his life, Morgan, he revealed to his friends and family that he was gay. In this short documentary Mike talks about becoming a wrestler, finding a home in Orlando, the tragedy of Pulse Nightclub, and being a role model for other athletes struggling with their sexuality. The goal with this project is to highlight other athletes in the LGBTQ community.

A look into the life and career of the legendary wrestler Antonio Inoki

Toyohiko "Yuki" Ishikawa is a world renowned wrestling master. This is his legendary tale. "Ring of Dreams" documents Ishikawa's history of learning from Karl Gotch and Yoshiaki Fujiwara, establishing the original BATTLARTS in Japan, and eventually teaching his craft in Canada at Battle Arts Academy.

Kimberly Benson is Viper, one of Scotland's top female wrestlers. As part of BBC1's Our Lives, we are with Kim in Glasgow and in Japan as she fights in some of the most important matches of her career. As women's wrestling steps into the mainstream, it's a pivotal moment in Kim's career. We follow Kim into this intriguing and sometimes dangerous world at home and abroad as she takes us behind the scenes of a rarely seen and often misunderstood yet utterly fascinating world.