Must-Watch Documentaries About Pro Wrestling
Here we are in the overlapping center of a Venn diagram showing pro-wrestling enthusiasts and PBS fans. You’ll find chops, suplexes, lucha libre dazzle, piledrivers, dropkicks, clotheslines, and maybe some elbow drops off the top rope! This is also where you’ll find documentaries about the history of famed pro-wrestling venues and the wrestlers who lit up the ring. You'll hear from the people and places that helped make wrestling the entertainment juggernaut it is today.
Head Over Heels: Remembering Wrestling at the Chase
From Nine PBS: The story of one of St. Louis’ most popular and longest-running local programs, KPLR-TV's Wrestling at the Chase. For many St. Louisans, the Saturday night live broadcasts and Sunday morning repeats became must-see TV. It also helped make St. Louis one of the premiere cities for this unique brand of over-the-top entertainment.
When Giants Walked Here
From PBS NC: Raleigh’s Dorton Arena is famed the world over for its groundbreaking architecture. Its greatest untold legacy, however, is its place in the history of a Southern mainstay: pro wrestling. This documentary chronicles the rise and fall of pro wrestling at the iconic venue, examining its impact on generations of fans, competitors and the sport itself.
The Last Days of the Coliseum
From Connecticut Public: The Last Days of the Coliseum tells the complete story of the New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum within the context of the cultural upheavals of baby boomers whose pop culture gods of rock, hockey and pro wrestling routinely appeared there before it closed in 2002.
Are You Ready to Rumble?
From Tennessee Life: Step inside the ring with Tennessee Life as we dive headfirst into the sport of professional wrestling. One part competition and one part performance art, pro wrestling has deep roots in Tennessee and has become an ever-evolving industry.
Profiles in Pro Wrestling
Loco for Lucha: Mexican Wrestlers
From SnapShot: This episode of the Emmy-nominated series SnapShot follows host Tim Mantoani as he heads across the border to Tijuana, Mexico where he discovers a new vibe around the familiar streets on and off Avenida Revolucion. Tim also takes in a night of Mexican wrestling. Luchadores are famous for their colorful costumes and Tim has long been fascinated with photographing these athletes.
Paths to Pro Wrestling
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