Where are they now? Beyond The Mat Edition

[masterragu]

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? BEYOND THE MAT EDITION

When Barry Blaustein's Beyond the Mat was released in theatres nationally, it was received with praise by those who felt it painted the wrestling industry with a new, deeper brush that allowed for viewers to truly get a feel for the danger and the passion of those within the buisness. It was also met with criticism from those who walked away feeling it showed those in the business as dark souls, desperate for fame and unable to walk away from it. The WWF's battle to keep the film's advertising off of their television hours is well known, as are the stories of those who were featured. So, four years later, where are the principles now? Let's find out.

Roland Alexander - Alexander continues to own and operate California's All Pro Wrestling. He has lost the prize students he accompanied to WWF tryouts in Beyond the Mat, as they have moved on. He's also currently battling a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Brian Ong, a student who passed away after suffering a concussion in the ring while training with a worker much larger than Ong.

Barry Blaustein - Blaustein was nearly nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary for "Beyond the Mat." He won several awards for the film. He recently directed his first fictional film "The Ringer" a comedy about two guys who try to rig the Special Olympics in order to win money to pay off a debt. Blaustein remains an in-demand screenwriter as well, working on the 2004 edition of The Honeymooners (set to star Cedric the Entertainer) and on films such as The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.

Chyna - Joanie Laurer underwent plastic surgery to make her look more effeminate than she did in Beyond the Mat, and ended up a Playboy covergirl on several occasions. Joanie Laurer left WWF after failing to come to terms for a new contract. She's worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling and was slated to debut for NWA: TNA, which fell apart before it ever happened. She's had a very public on-again, off-again relationship with Shawn Waltman and is currently fronting a band named The Chynna Dolls, which recently played to a sparse crowd in Los Angeles.

Justin Credible - Credible, who spoke out about his treatment by WWF in the film, returned to the company after ECW closed its doors. He was released in 2002 and works a number of different independent promotions, including Ring of Honor.

Darren Drosdov - After sadly becoming paralyzed in an in-ring accident while wrestling D-Lo Brown in New York's Nassau Coliseum, Drosdov has become a regular fixture of the WWE website staff. He continues to go through intense physical therapy, with the hopes that he will one day (hopefully) be able to overcome his injuries.

Spike Dudley - Matt Hyson, who is perhaps best known in the film reciting Shakespeare as blood splurts from his gouged forehead, was hired by WWF shortly after the demise of Extreme Championship Wrestling. With a toned-down version of his ECW character, Hyson has continued to portray an underdog and is a go-to worker when WWE needs a good undercard bout.

ECW and Paul Heyman - Paul Heyman and his band of merry men signed a deal with The Nashville Network and began airing in August 1999. By January 2001, the promotion shut down under the weight of money owed to creditors and filmed for bankruptcy. Heyman soon debuted for WWF, working in the creative process of the company as well as on air roles. ECW remains a unique enigma to wrestling fans, many of whom still chant the company letters at former stars. The late inclusion of ECW in the WWF's failed Invasion storyline brought instant credibility and a high buyrate for the Invasion PPV. There remain rumors of the promotion being brought back one day by WWE, although how a "rebel promotion" could prosper while owned by a corporation remains a question to be answered.

Mick Foley - During the filming of Beyond the Mat, Foley spoke about not knowing what else he could do outside of wrestling. As it turned out, the creativity of his interviews and matches soon turned into creativity for the written word. His autobiography "Have A Nice Day- A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks" soon rocketed to number one on the New York Times Bestsellers list. The follow-up "Foley is Good" matched the success on the charts. Foley has branched out into writing his first novel "Tietam Brown" as well as several children's titles. He's currently working on the first edition of "Wrescals" a children's book featuring WWE characters as toddlers living on the same street. He retired in 2000 but returned for semi-regular appearances building to this year's Wrestlemania XX. Foley is also heavily involved in a number of charitable organizations.

Terry Funk - Terry Funk retired. OK, no he didn't. The Funker, who's portrayal as the grizzled veteran who wanted to keep going in the face of insurmountable beatings and injuries in the film, continues to take independent dates to this day, working into his late 50s. He recently made a pair of forgettable appearances in NWA: TNA and headlined for Major League Wrestling during that promotion's run. Funk recently became a grandfather as well.

Tony Jones - Jones, the Visa employee turned WWF hopeful who noted that APW promoter Roland Alexander only paid "when he felt you had a good match" and noted he was taking "the abuse to better myself and get out" left APW when Mike Modest formed Pro Wrestling Iron. He's made appearances in Japan for Battlarts but still has yet to make it to the WWF.

Vince McMahon - The Tony Soprano of the WWE soon took his company to a public IPO and while the promotion remains incredibly successful, it has never been able to return to the creative and financial levels of 2000 and early 2001, peaking with Houston, Texas' Wrestlemania X7. McMahon recently became a grandfather and is often listed as Executive Producer of the films The Rock stars in. No matter who is headlining for the company, WWE lives and dies by the hand of the McMahon family.

Mike Modest - Modest split with Roland Alexander and All Pro Wrestling, forming Pro Wrestling Iron with partner Donovan Morgan. While Modest never made it to WWF, he was correct in his comments during "Beyond the Mat" that his best place to make a living would be Japan. He's been a full-time competitor in Pro Wrestling NOAH, holding the Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight championship.

[masterragu]

New Jack - New Jack continues to work on the independent scene, most notably CZW and NWA Wildside, and has made announcements stating he would retire at the end of 2004. With New Jack though, things are never what they may seem.

The Rock - Easily the most recognizable face of anyone in the film, The Rock has transcended into feature film starring roles in The Scorpion King, The Rundown and Walking Tall. While his full-time career is all but over, he continues to return for Wrestlemania appearances, explaining that he still has a passion to perform and never wants to completely close the book on his wrestling career. He recently made headlines by hinting he'd like to run for President one day.

Brandi Roberts - According to Barry Blaustein, Brandi hasn't spoken to her father Jake Roberts in some time, but has gotten married and is currently practicing psychology.

Jake Roberts - Easily the most troubled of those portrayed, Roberts moved to Great Britain after the release of the film. Roberts has been working on a regular basis in Britain for independent promotions, opened up a training academy, and ran several shows of his own using the likes of The Honkytonk Man. Roberts was recently arrested on animal cruelty charges in relation to the starvation of a snake in his care, which he has plead not guilty to.

Dennis Stamp - Stamp is still waiting that call for his next match and runs an exterminating business in Amarillo, Texas.

Jesse Ventura - Ventura made amends with WWF during his term as Governor of Minnesota. He decided against running for a second term and became a Harvard Professor. He was recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and has made noises about "putting a wrestler in the White House" in 2008.

Koko B. Ware - Koko still wrestles independently, mostly in the Memphis area. His famous bird Frankie, died during a house fire when neighbors were unable to reach him as Ware was away from the home.

Beyond the Mat was released on DVD with a special ringside edition this past Tuesday.

[Serge dot T]

koko is god

[PhilNYCE]

chyna lost her muscles...