One was just a bad movie and the other was a bad idea that helped kill a promotion. If you would have asked me about this in 2000, when I was 12, I would have swore up and down up how stupid both are and how much I hate the idea of DA being the WCW champ. Now at 35, I feel much less visceral towards that. Yes, it was a dumb idea, but now as a collector of (mostly) WWE Elite figures, my biggest question is: Where is my David Arquette WCW Champ figure!? And why haven't we gotten it yet?
Arquette won the title 3 weeks after the movie was released, and it was already a bomb. It certainly didn't help, but the movie was failing all on its own before it gained infamy.
I will always be fascinated by DDP’s proposed, but rejected ending where it’s revealed that the entire movie was a work, and Jimmy King latched onto the two super fans to get over with the crowds again, especially since it’s presented as a moment of triumph for the heroes, as they are officially “in the business” and go out to get drinks with Page, King, and the others. It would certainly take a lot of the sting out of how they were portrayed earlier, with the two heroes given a chance by their idol and rewarded for it with jobs in the sport/entertainment they love so much. But we live in this reality where the movie tanked WCW and portrayed wrestling fans as barely functional manchildren.
To this day, the phrase "none other than the Disco Inferno" never fails to make me laugh because it carries two implications: 1) Mean Gene's being sarcastic or 2) Gene really does believe that Disco's a legit World Championship contender.
I got all the food I ever wanted and I'll never give it baaaack! I know you hate FACTOR back you don't gotta look at it like that I said you don't gotta look at it like that.
I read a while back that the original ending to the movie was That Gordy and Sean were walking backstage after the match and walk in on ddp n king hugging it out celebrating that they pulled off the angle and it was reveal to all be a work. Then they’d be shocked and question what’s happening king says “welcome to the business” and ddp would congratulate them and offer to buy em a drink.
To me, the funniest fact about this movie, is the Perry Saturn involvement. Saturn was already out of the company and was well into his WWF run doing the Radicalz gimmick by the time the movie debuted. So, not only did the movie not do well, but a wrestler from probably the most iconic scene in the film is now working for the competition.
In _Muppets From Space_ Hollywood Hogan appears and tells them "I'm a bad guy now." It was true when the scene was shot but by the time the movie came out he was a face again.
That's apparently why Rose McGowan can't stand David Arquette to this day. She apparently hated this film - she hated the script, she hated filming it, she just thought it was the absolute lowest point in her career - and then Arquette on set was super enthusiastic and having the time of his life, and she couldn't stand it.
@@medes5597She thought THAT was the low point in her career? Rose has an infinite amount of options to choose from and Ready to Rumble was it for her?
@@redbigun if you search her name + ready to rumble, you can find a couple of interviews saying how much she hated ready to rumble. She talks about it being humiliating and unfunny. I completely agree though. She is in some absolute dreck.
@@medes5597 That really sounds kinda shitty of her. 'How dare a wrestling fan enjoying being in a wrestling movie!' Also, I 100% forgot who the hell she even is.
I think a wrestling comedy in the vein of “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” would be amazing, especially if it was set in the 70s or 80s and especially if it starred John C. Reilly. Just all the crazy stuff that happened for real in the business would make good fodder for a satirical film and I can’t believe it hasn’t been done before.
Ready to Rumble jarred me because I didn’t understand the “real” complexity of putting on a show at the time, but I liked it the first time around and then liked it more upon repeat viewings. It shows a lot of aspects about the industry. Politicking , road travel, broken family like Beyond the Mat, a wrestling school, the “performance”, the filmmaking side to the biz, and best of all the fan experience especially in a pre-digital age. Growing up, Nitro and Raw was everything we talked about at school. The “storyline” of Jimmy getting his revenge is awesome, and the fourth wall style really shows you how big and daring WCW was back then. They made this bizarro alternate universe where rasslin’ was the norm but they presented it so differently than WWF. I’m getting into 1997 now on the network and watching pre-heel Hogan and NWO has been a blast. I can see how they busted WWF so badly every week. They really made a neat product. Back then, I was a fan of Scream and I liked how they tied it into the run for Arquette. He reminded me of Shane-O-Mac with how he got in the ring and wrestled. It was Russo at his worst, but for my age, I was cool with it. I love the movie a lot! Glad to see you review it! It’s great in a lot of ways. 👏🏻
I'm surprised Brian didn't spell this out, but his perspective on this film has probably mellowed out because he saw movies like the 1970s The Wrestler, the Jesse Ventura biopic, See No Evil 2, and especially Ultimate Death Match Anyway the 2000s The Wrestler and Fighting With My Family now also exist so we know good wrestling movies can exist too
What I found amazing about this movie was Roger Ebert's review. Two whole stars, he enjoyed it most when actual wrestling was happening, he even said he gained a whole new respect for wrestling when he says "you learn that just because you're planning on going through the table, it still hurts". But that Jimmy King should have been played by a real wrestler and everything else was bad to mediocre.
Ebert was very good at evaluating movies on what they were attempting to do and whether they were successful at doing that. It was one of biggest strengths as a critic.
If they cast an actual wrestler as Jimmy King who would they have used? I think that might have helped the movie a little bit if they had an actual wrestler as JK. Also I think it's unfortunate that Eric Bischoff was sent home from WCW before this movie started filming. I think he would have been great in the role Joey Pants got.
@@heisensaul5538The Jimmy King role fits Ric Flair like a glove, I think. Not sure if he would've been okay with the portrayal though Agree with you on Bischoff. Not the biggest fan of the guy, but I think he would've killed it there
@@robertoazuaje9279 you know I'm not sure what the nature boy's status with WCW was at this time. But I could see him in this role as well. But at this point I dont think Flair really wanted to put in any kind of extra effort for WCW at this time either. so I'm not sure.
Brian, I don't know if you'll ever see this, but I just recently got into this channel. Your comedic facial expressions have me dying laughing. Some of the most entertaining looks I have ever seen.
"[It] felt slightly off because the aesthetic and the production were all different from what I was used to." I feel the exact same way every time I see a game show segment appear in another TV show or movie. There's always something about the natural flow and behavior of the game that has to be contrived to fit the small moment it gets. Thus, while I should be popping for it, I usually end up cringing instead. Thank you for putting it into spoken word.
Michael Buffer's appearance in this movie is probably why that had the Nestle/Butterfinger tie-in. They needed that sweet Nestle money to pay for Michael Buffer's catchphrase.
You’re not the only Internet personality I’ve followed who mentioned they regret their snarkier earlier takes and approach to things. Age and perspective are so nuts.
In a similar vein, I loved Cinema Sins when it started out. But as it get steadily more nitpicky I found it steadily less enjoyable. Then Cinema Wins started and it was such a breath of fresh air.
It probably didn't help that 2 of the first big RUclips stars were AVGN & Nostalgia Critic. Kinda set the tone that being snarky & overcritical was the recipe for success in RUclips's early days.
I thought Nostalgia Critic's snark and criticism usually felt grounded, at least in the early years. 95% the time you could believe they were Doug's real opinions with a little comedic touch up. (Bat Credit Card among the exceptions clearly exaggerated for laughs.) AVGN's whole shtick seemed perpetually over the top. He felt a little more grounded and sincere when he talked about movies instead of video games.
@@jliller The Nerd had a disconnect that let it work, where it was clear it was a character. This is probably why so many newer Nerd episodes are more about James having fun as a filmmaker.
To me, the fact that everyone in the movie thinks wrestling is dumb besides the protagonists is endearing considering Sean and Gordy really have no one but each other and wrestling. Gordy isn't happy at home, Sean lost his dad, and they both work a shit job with no future outside of their small town. Wrestling is the one thing they both have that takes them away from the struggles of their lives, even if most people don't get it. This is what wrestling is for most people irl so I really don't understand how it isn't relatable. If anything it was the most relatable thing about the movie. I think wrestling fans have a hard time dealing with the fact that most things said about wresting are kinda true in the film. Gordy's dad saying he doesn't have a future in wrestling, and becoming a cop is the best thing for him is spot on. His dad being a cop was a golden ticket to a stable life, despite never going to college, or having any interests besides wrestling. Also there's the implication that his dad sucks. Which is kinda true being a psycho cop an all, bragging about "shooting perps". But he cares about Gordy so much that he wants to make sure he doesn't waste his life following his dream of being a pro wrestler. Which if you look at Gordy is a pretty good assessment. And even after all that he's still happy for his son at the end of the movie because he accomplished something, which is all he really wanted for Gordy in the first place. The reason why the dad hated wrestling so much is because like he says in the movie, "My son almost threw away a career on that nonsense". I could go on, but this is one of my favorite movies because it came out at a time in my life where I really related to it. As stupid as it may be. But again, put on a nitro episode from the same time period...like what are we even arguing about here? Any way that's my take.
I put it in the same category as Space Jam and Spice World. It's not "good," but it's not trying to be so your enjoyment hinges on where your expectations are. If all you want is late-90s nostalgia and good old fashioned cheese, you'll enjoy.
Brian, I also want to say that I’ve been a fan of your content for years and I just busted out laughing at your factor ad with X-PAC’s song.😂 Love your retro reviews and I always watch your current day reviews of WWE “premium live events” as I believe we are about the same age so it’s nice to live those PPVs again through your critiques. It’s also neat that you have actually seen some action in the biz. Hope to support your patreon soon. Love your sense of humor with the video footage as if Kane is watching it on tv and whatnot lol. You know your stuff. 💯
the irony of this movie using Kid Rock music when one of his songs ends up being used for Undertaker over in the WWF a couple of months after this movie's release, and Kid Rock himself appearing on WWF Raw, too.
I grew up watching Wrestling with my father and this was my first wrestling movie so it's always had a special spot in my heart and the hate it's always gotten has always made me sad. I've always loved it for what it was and what it is.
I'm glad your going back and reviewing subjects you did from season 1 and changing your opinion kinda that really shows growth as a creator, I would love a new review about Ministry Undertaker and how many people have copied him over ghe years in the indies
Wow from Wyoming to Atlanta to New York, back to Atlanta, then to Wyoming, THEN back to Atlanta, Now on to Las Vegas, plus finding the wrestlers, training for the match, within I would say less than a few weeks! I am convinced they have invented teleportation in the movie's universe.
I figured they cast Platt as the King as a dig at Jerry Lawler. By the time this came out, he didnt have much of a phyisque (not that he ever did, comparitively) but it would be in keeping for them the sling digs at WWF
Stephen Brill said on Marc Marion's podcast that it was intended as a tribute to Lawler because he got into wrestling because of the Kaufman/Lawler angle. However Brill said that Lawler took it as a dig, and was absolutely livid about it. It was allegedly not intended to be malicious though.
Honestly, why not make the movie about Kanyon in King’s place. I mean I know he wasn’t a big megastar in WCW at the moment, but if they retooled the story it could’ve been a good underdog comeback story. Especially because he was the stunt double.
The WCW movie I always wanted was a fictionalized version of the NWO. Everything through Great American Bash happens as is. But add in back stage stuff. Make this a power play for the company, a ultra rich Hogan character is brought in to fund a new wrestling organization with Hall and Nash's characters to raise them rich at the expense of all the other talent. You have to make the wrestling a shoot and win for pay and the title really mean something in-movie for this really make sense. So somehow or another the company is on the line for Great American Bash. Hogan is revealed as the third member / investor and the rest is history. Next Monday, we are welcomed to nWo Nitro. NWO aesthetic sprinkled in throughout the show during interviews and segments but keep the wrestling matches in color and all that. Bring in Jesse Ventura as the nWo commentator and Bobby Heenan defecting with Schivone and Tenay as WCW loyalists. Give WCW the shine, have the WCW owner character say just wait, bet non-main event pay starts dropping or something and for that to be a plot line as things turn for WCW. NWO dominates the title scene. Sting is in exile, unclear if he is for WCW or NWO. Luger is trying to lead the charge for WCW but his success is only temporary. DDP rising in prominence. Have either the Steiners or Harlem Heat remain loyalists (or split and combine the two remaining). Have Rey Mysterio be the WCW cruiserweight guy. Have Alex Wright or Disco or whatever midcard guy you want from this era. Have behind the scenes of some Jim Crocket type going to some Ted Turner type to get the funding to fight against the nWo again. Have the showdown be at Starrcade 97 equivalent but in-move like a year or two two later. Have WCW Heavyweight, Cruiserweight, Tag Team, US, TV belts all up for grabs. Best out of 5 wins the money and control of the company. Disco inferno loses, rey mysterio wins, DDP loses, Steiner Brothers win, Sting wins with Luger stopping some outside interference. All of WCW faithful come out of the locker room slowly. Hogan gets up, holding his head walks over and shakes Sting's hand. Hogan grabs a mic and calls for the Ted DiBiase type manager character to come out with the contract. Sting is offered a $5M a year contract as champion or some such number. Sting looks it over, tears the contract and says "I'm WCW baby! WOOOOOOO" and all the WCW faithful rush the ring and hold him on their shoulders. Fireworks go off, fade to black. After 5 seconds of black, the WCW Nitro theme hits hard like you are in the Arena. The classic set is used and Mike Tenay, Tony Schivone and Bobby Heenan (he's the weasel, he's forgiven for following the money) greet us to WCW Nitro to a roaring crowd. Feel free to add in a little character that has a hot MILF mom that gets with DDP or something. So you get to see the kid cheering and booing and giving you the younger appeal. Have Stacy Keibler be the incredibly young looking MILF. It wouldn't have made big money, probably no better than Ready to Rumble, but it would have had great DVD sales and would be a cult classic among fans.
This was a fun review. I watched Ready To Rumble for the first time in 2000 when it first became available for rent on VHS. I was 11 years old and I was absolutely obsessed with the WWF. I know it was based on WCW, but it was cool to see a movie about two diehard fans just as I was and seeing them get involved in the business by working with the top name, partying with the boys, encountering the biggest stars and hooking up with a Nitro girl, while getting involved in the main event with a cool encounter with Sting. Back in those days, I used to ride my bike to 7 Eleven to get a slurpee which I drank while reading WWF Magazine or PW Illustrated in the magazine aisle. It’s not a movie to take seriously and I admit, now that I’m 35 instead of 11, it’s goofy as hell. I can’t imagine somebody being A) a non wrestling fan and/or B) a mature adult under the age of 25 enjoying this. I’m still a wrestling fan and my greatest memories as a fan occurred in 2000 to 2002. This movie was part of that era as a fan that I adore, so that association makes me biased towards this film. I get the negative reviews and why it flopped. I watch this probably once every 5 or so years and every time, I still have fun.
Will always love DDP for telling me what happened to the Silver title belt in this movie. Kanyon had it and when he passed, his mom kept it and still has it.
It’s such a strange looking belt. It’s not ugly at all because it’s based on maybe the best looking world title ever, but the silver accents make it uncanny valley territory because your mind immediately says “that’s not the belt I remember.”
@@jeffm5056Everybody! Kidding, nobody. When they called him “The innovator of offense”, they weren’t lying. Dude would have been a main eventer in today’s wrestling. RIP Kanyon.
@@zlinedavid still heart broken about his tragedy. the guy could wrestle and sale plus his gimmick work. He only took that bump on that tripple deck cause of foley and they wanted to have their own version of it. Worse part about it. They miss out why the foley bump work, granted foley lost but during the hell in the cell match not only did he take that bump but he got up and kept on fighting.
There are a few things I do like upon seeing a review of this for the 3rd or so time… some of the actual wrestling scenes like fighting in the convenience store or Bandini’s apartment were shot well. I liked the idea of Sid and Saturn being the goons they had to fight past - maybe could have made for a good game or Home Alone-type movie. The set for Royal Bash and the babyfaces’ entrance save it a little bit. Sean definitely is less cringey than Gordie from what I can see, it’s nice he got a little shine with King while Gordie is written out.
The movie has a quirky vibe to it that appeals to many wrestling fans. It embraces all the over-the-top silliness that is Pro Wrestling and doesn't try to be more than that -- silly. This is one of my favorite "comfort" movies that I'll watch whenever I'm feeling down or upset. It's a cheap nostalgia kick, but I love it for that and will defend this movie till my death.
You are absolutely right! Agree with you 100%. I watch ready to rumble multiple times a year, when i feel down, or just nostalgic, etc. It just has a really chill, good, silly vibe to it. Loved it as a kid, and still loving this movie.
@@keksz4691 I remember having the flu when I was like a freshman or sophomore in high school and watching the movie 3 times, back to back to back one morning while I stayed home from school. It's just really comforting to me for some reason. The movie is actually free (with ads) on RUclips right now which is awesome.
Like most WCW things from the year 2000 I have heavy nest algebra doggers.. I even had the comforter blanket thing that she uses to cover herself with.
Respect to kanyon as he did the training and stunt work for the film (as well as stars brought in to wcw but never credited for it) along with a few other wrestlers , was good for it's time . still makes me smile watching this.
Weather you liked or hated Ready To Rumble was WCW’s attempt to get back in to the mainstream like it’s competition WWE/F. The production itself was definitely Time Warner’s lost of profit as a lot of movies released in the 90’s and 00’s were straight to video/dvd material. The story itself was an attempt at being the second coming of No Holds Barred but, it was the complete opposite of that as the story turned into a stupid funny/goofy funny comedy about two adults with Peter Pan syndrome trying to help their hero Jimmy King an out of shape wrestler trying to reclaim the WCW Championship after being screwed out it by DDP and Titus Synclair. The movie ultimately put WCW and its owners on blast as it proved that WCW was no longer the company it was from 1995 to 1997. Even though it’s still a good movie to sit down weather you’re still a fan of wrestling or not.
When I was in high school at 16 in 2010 one of my buddies who used to come over to my house a lot and knew I was a MASSIVE wrestling fan by all the video games I had, came up to me and was telling me about this hilarious wrestling movie he bought and how funny it was and how I’d love it and he was going to bring it over that weekend and stay the night and we were gonna watch it. That movie was ready to rumble.
This movie, in addition to having Oliver Platt and David Arquette, has a song by Bif Naked. No disrespect to this movie, but those three were in something much better together the following year
2:01 and FYI Brian Robins originally came to fame as a Teen Actor on the late 80's sitcom "Head Of The Class" starring the late Howard "Dr Johnny Fever/WKRP in Cinncinati" Hessman and Robin Givens and Dan Schnider (aka The One that shall never be spoken of again at Nickelodeon" ...long story)
It was awesome even back then and ironically reflecks the dorkiness of many wrestling fans. It's as smarky as so many fans and pretty self aware. I like how it exposes the business and the blurred lines between work and shoot.
Use code WREGRET50 to get 50% off your first Factor box at bit.ly/42pqiPu
THANK GOD I WAS WATCHING WWF AT THE TIME.
Gee, all these shit jokes make me look forward to your eventual review if Road Will '99 where Savage traps Rodman in a Port-a-potty.
When you remember it's wcw , you can't help but lower your bar for this film.
@@termin8953 that's how i've felt watching WWE for the past decade. I grade it on a curve, knowing it's going to be shit and it still lets me down.
Loved the movie and saw it in theaters. I'll never shit talk this flick. Best wrestling movie ever. Even over the wrestler
I think if David Arquette didn't win the WCW title, the movie may have been received slightly better.
Exactly this! It’s not a great movie but it’s no worse than todays dumb comedy films. Take for what it is and it’s ok.
@@ezza2x899 "Ready to Rumble" is a comedy movie?
I never watched it but if you and Matty Paul said it's not a bad movie, I might watch it.
One was just a bad movie and the other was a bad idea that helped kill a promotion. If you would have asked me about this in 2000, when I was 12, I would have swore up and down up how stupid both are and how much I hate the idea of DA being the WCW champ. Now at 35, I feel much less visceral towards that. Yes, it was a dumb idea, but now as a collector of (mostly) WWE Elite figures, my biggest question is: Where is my David Arquette WCW Champ figure!? And why haven't we gotten it yet?
@@heisensaul5538 do you have the Eric Bischoff action figure (from WWE or WCW)?
Is "Ready to Rumble" as bad as everyone says?
Arquette won the title 3 weeks after the movie was released, and it was already a bomb. It certainly didn't help, but the movie was failing all on its own before it gained infamy.
I will always be fascinated by DDP’s proposed, but rejected ending where it’s revealed that the entire movie was a work, and Jimmy King latched onto the two super fans to get over with the crowds again, especially since it’s presented as a moment of triumph for the heroes, as they are officially “in the business” and go out to get drinks with Page, King, and the others. It would certainly take a lot of the sting out of how they were portrayed earlier, with the two heroes given a chance by their idol and rewarded for it with jobs in the sport/entertainment they love so much.
But we live in this reality where the movie tanked WCW and portrayed wrestling fans as barely functional manchildren.
As a barely functional man child, I felt it was a very accurate portrayal.
@@frenchtoast2319greatest comment ever
That’s actually what Bryan proposed in the first review. The movie continuously lobbed between real and fake anyway
This movie is the last reason wcw tanked. They were dead long before this was ever made.
@@Breanna_moniqueGreat minds think alike.
To this day, the phrase "none other than the Disco Inferno" never fails to make me laugh because it carries two implications: 1) Mean Gene's being sarcastic or 2) Gene really does believe that Disco's a legit World Championship contender.
Granted, if David Arquette can win the WCW championship, Disco winning it doesn't look so implausible anymore.
@@rayelgatubeloNo, I would take David Arquette before I take Disco Inferno as champion.
@@rayelgatubelo I'd rather see Arquette as a champion than Disco.
All the faces get into the ring and get offence in, DI immediately gets hammered in the corner by Sid lmao. Poor DI
I popped hard for the "You Dealing with the Factor" drop. That was brilliant.
"Yo, you dealin' with the FACTOR!" took me out 😂
Same 💀
Hilarious
Didn't Zane used the line on the Unforgiven 2004 Review?
I got all the food I ever wanted and I'll never give it baaaack! I know you hate FACTOR back you don't gotta look at it like that I said you don't gotta look at it like that.
I’m glad I wasn’t the only one, I broke while driving to work
I read a while back that the original ending to the movie was That Gordy and Sean were walking backstage after the match and walk in on ddp n king hugging it out celebrating that they pulled off the angle and it was reveal to all be a work. Then they’d be shocked and question what’s happening king says “welcome to the business” and ddp would congratulate them and offer to buy em a drink.
To me, the funniest fact about this movie, is the Perry Saturn involvement. Saturn was already out of the company and was well into his WWF run doing the Radicalz gimmick by the time the movie debuted. So, not only did the movie not do well, but a wrestler from probably the most iconic scene in the film is now working for the competition.
Just don't ask about Saturn and the mop gimmick.
It's like the Baywatch WCW episode with Vader. How does WCW keep letting that happen?
@@redbigun Also the opposite: Bret Hart and Davey Boy featuring on both WWF War Zone (launched knee-deep into the Attitude Era) and WCW/nWo Revenge.
In _Muppets From Space_ Hollywood Hogan appears and tells them "I'm a bad guy now." It was true when the scene was shot but by the time the movie came out he was a face again.
@@NcWcN1Ahmed Johnson was also in that game, and if he wasn’t gone by the time it came out, he got released soon after.
David Arquette's infectious energy saves this movie. You can tell he's genuinely having the time of his life being in this movie.
That's apparently why Rose McGowan can't stand David Arquette to this day. She apparently hated this film - she hated the script, she hated filming it, she just thought it was the absolute lowest point in her career - and then Arquette on set was super enthusiastic and having the time of his life, and she couldn't stand it.
@@medes5597She thought THAT was the low point in her career? Rose has an infinite amount of options to choose from and Ready to Rumble was it for her?
@@redbigun if you search her name + ready to rumble, you can find a couple of interviews saying how much she hated ready to rumble. She talks about it being humiliating and unfunny.
I completely agree though. She is in some absolute dreck.
@@medes5597 That really sounds kinda shitty of her. 'How dare a wrestling fan enjoying being in a wrestling movie!' Also, I 100% forgot who the hell she even is.
@@redbigunNot having a gun come outta her asshole and vagina in a film and and drinking piss on Howard Stern to prove how "Edgy" she was ?
I think a wrestling comedy in the vein of “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story” would be amazing, especially if it was set in the 70s or 80s and especially if it starred John C. Reilly. Just all the crazy stuff that happened for real in the business would make good fodder for a satirical film and I can’t believe it hasn’t been done before.
So you're talking about a comedy-style wrestling film, and not a wrestling-style comedy film?
You win the internet for just mentioning dewey cox my friend. I see you’re a man of culture.
I have always wanted to see you go back and redo some of these old videos again. I'm happy that you're doing this one again.
So many funny spots and lines in this review but using Tony's "It's Sting" call from AEW was my favorite lol
Ready to Rumble, is it bad? No. Is it good? No. Is it stupidly entertaining? Yes
A train wreck of idiocy. Your brain knows it’s completely dumb…..but you can’t look away either.
@@zlinedavid I like it
@@zlinedavid That is what wrestling literally is!!! I think wrestling fans don't like it because it shows them a mirror.
@@mobileebikerentals2940 If a wrestling fan thinks that, they take both wrestling and themselves too seriously.
@@zlinedavidit’s a guilty pleasure
Ready to Rumble jarred me because I didn’t understand the “real” complexity of putting on a show at the time, but I liked it the first time around and then liked it more upon repeat viewings. It shows a lot of aspects about the industry. Politicking , road travel, broken family like Beyond the Mat, a wrestling school, the “performance”, the filmmaking side to the biz, and best of all the fan experience especially in a pre-digital age. Growing up, Nitro and Raw was everything we talked about at school. The “storyline” of Jimmy getting his revenge is awesome, and the fourth wall style really shows you how big and daring WCW was back then. They made this bizarro alternate universe where rasslin’ was the norm but they presented it so differently than WWF. I’m getting into 1997 now on the network and watching pre-heel Hogan and NWO has been a blast. I can see how they busted WWF so badly every week. They really made a neat product. Back then, I was a fan of Scream and I liked how they tied it into the run for Arquette. He reminded me of Shane-O-Mac with how he got in the ring and wrestled. It was Russo at his worst, but for my age, I was cool with it. I love the movie a lot! Glad to see you review it! It’s great in a lot of ways. 👏🏻
Your "T-shirts For Sex" joke from the first review still lives rent free in my head
If not originally, it can work 10 years on maybe?
I'm surprised Brian didn't spell this out, but his perspective on this film has probably mellowed out because he saw movies like the 1970s The Wrestler, the Jesse Ventura biopic, See No Evil 2, and especially Ultimate Death Match
Anyway the 2000s The Wrestler and Fighting With My Family now also exist so we know good wrestling movies can exist too
Neither hold a candle to the greatness of Ready to Rumble.
Dave actually had respect for the title and the industry. I think that deserves to be known.
11:00 are you not going to mention how that is THE SHERMANATOR from 'American Pie'? He's even playing a similar role!
What I found amazing about this movie was Roger Ebert's review. Two whole stars, he enjoyed it most when actual wrestling was happening, he even said he gained a whole new respect for wrestling when he says "you learn that just because you're planning on going through the table, it still hurts". But that Jimmy King should have been played by a real wrestler and everything else was bad to mediocre.
Ebert was very good at evaluating movies on what they were attempting to do and whether they were successful at doing that. It was one of biggest strengths as a critic.
If they cast an actual wrestler as Jimmy King who would they have used? I think that might have helped the movie a little bit if they had an actual wrestler as JK. Also I think it's unfortunate that Eric Bischoff was sent home from WCW before this movie started filming. I think he would have been great in the role Joey Pants got.
@@heisensaul5538 I don't know who they'd have used, and the ones I liked the most from that time period weren't with WCW at the time, to be honest.
@@heisensaul5538The Jimmy King role fits Ric Flair like a glove, I think. Not sure if he would've been okay with the portrayal though
Agree with you on Bischoff. Not the biggest fan of the guy, but I think he would've killed it there
@@robertoazuaje9279 you know I'm not sure what the nature boy's status with WCW was at this time. But I could see him in this role as well. But at this point I dont think Flair really wanted to put in any kind of extra effort for WCW at this time either. so I'm not sure.
Brian, I don't know if you'll ever see this, but I just recently got into this channel. Your comedic facial expressions have me dying laughing. Some of the most entertaining looks I have ever seen.
"[It] felt slightly off because the aesthetic and the production were all different from what I was used to."
I feel the exact same way every time I see a game show segment appear in another TV show or movie. There's always something about the natural flow and behavior of the game that has to be contrived to fit the small moment it gets. Thus, while I should be popping for it, I usually end up cringing instead. Thank you for putting it into spoken word.
Michael Buffer's appearance in this movie is probably why that had the Nestle/Butterfinger tie-in. They needed that sweet Nestle money to pay for Michael Buffer's catchphrase.
TBH, once you watch those Ultimate Death Match movies you can really appreciate this movie.
You’re not the only Internet personality I’ve followed who mentioned they regret their snarkier earlier takes and approach to things. Age and perspective are so nuts.
In a similar vein, I loved Cinema Sins when it started out. But as it get steadily more nitpicky I found it steadily less enjoyable. Then Cinema Wins started and it was such a breath of fresh air.
It probably didn't help that 2 of the first big RUclips stars were AVGN & Nostalgia Critic. Kinda set the tone that being snarky & overcritical was the recipe for success in RUclips's early days.
I thought Nostalgia Critic's snark and criticism usually felt grounded, at least in the early years. 95% the time you could believe they were Doug's real opinions with a little comedic touch up. (Bat Credit Card among the exceptions clearly exaggerated for laughs.)
AVGN's whole shtick seemed perpetually over the top. He felt a little more grounded and sincere when he talked about movies instead of video games.
@@ralph8677this feels very accurate, well said
@@jliller The Nerd had a disconnect that let it work, where it was clear it was a character. This is probably why so many newer Nerd episodes are more about James having fun as a filmmaker.
Sals "NY apartment" is also the bar in ITS ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA
3:46 Brilliant use of that song for the ad
To me, the fact that everyone in the movie thinks wrestling is dumb besides the protagonists is endearing considering Sean and Gordy really have no one but each other and wrestling. Gordy isn't happy at home, Sean lost his dad, and they both work a shit job with no future outside of their small town. Wrestling is the one thing they both have that takes them away from the struggles of their lives, even if most people don't get it. This is what wrestling is for most people irl so I really don't understand how it isn't relatable. If anything it was the most relatable thing about the movie. I think wrestling fans have a hard time dealing with the fact that most things said about wresting are kinda true in the film. Gordy's dad saying he doesn't have a future in wrestling, and becoming a cop is the best thing for him is spot on. His dad being a cop was a golden ticket to a stable life, despite never going to college, or having any interests besides wrestling. Also there's the implication that his dad sucks. Which is kinda true being a psycho cop an all, bragging about "shooting perps". But he cares about Gordy so much that he wants to make sure he doesn't waste his life following his dream of being a pro wrestler. Which if you look at Gordy is a pretty good assessment. And even after all that he's still happy for his son at the end of the movie because he accomplished something, which is all he really wanted for Gordy in the first place. The reason why the dad hated wrestling so much is because like he says in the movie, "My son almost threw away a career on that nonsense".
I could go on, but this is one of my favorite movies because it came out at a time in my life where I really related to it. As stupid as it may be. But again, put on a nitro episode from the same time period...like what are we even arguing about here? Any way that's my take.
Trivia: Nestle doesn't only make candy. They also make medical supplies to hospitals, but they don't exactly let that be publucally known so much.
I know they make one of the bottled waters. I forgot which one though.
Nestlé is the largest food/beverage company on earth and has dozens of subsidies. They make more products than most of us can count.
@@heisensaul5538Pure Life….the one with the big Nestle logo on it 😂
@@zlinedavid well... you know
I put it in the same category as Space Jam and Spice World. It's not "good," but it's not trying to be so your enjoyment hinges on where your expectations are. If all you want is late-90s nostalgia and good old fashioned cheese, you'll enjoy.
Brian, I also want to say that I’ve been a fan of your content for years and I just busted out laughing at your factor ad with X-PAC’s song.😂 Love your retro reviews and I always watch your current day reviews of WWE “premium live events” as I believe we are about the same age so it’s nice to live those PPVs again through your critiques. It’s also neat that you have actually seen some action in the biz. Hope to support your patreon soon. Love your sense of humor with the video footage as if Kane is watching it on tv and whatnot lol. You know your stuff. 💯
the irony of this movie using Kid Rock music when one of his songs ends up being used for Undertaker over in the WWF a couple of months after this movie's release, and Kid Rock himself appearing on WWF Raw, too.
"A king and a cop managed by a pimp" that's just the twin towers with Slick
But Akeem wasnt a King he was a Dream
This Good Burger and Varsity Blues sharing a director makes me happy 😂
... the "diamond upside down" line from the movie is how my wife and i met :)
Haha.
That is awesome.
I grew up watching Wrestling with my father and this was my first wrestling movie so it's always had a special spot in my heart and the hate it's always gotten has always made me sad. I've always loved it for what it was and what it is.
I've always loved this flick. I will ALWAYS love it.
I had never seen Ready To Rumble,then Brian's review got me curious and I LOVED IT!
Where did you find it?
@@aarongaspar I think it was on TNT?
I'm glad your going back and reviewing subjects you did from season 1 and changing your opinion kinda that really shows growth as a creator, I would love a new review about Ministry Undertaker and how many people have copied him over ghe years in the indies
Idea for a video. If you could write Ready to Rumble back in 1999 with any WCW wrestlers available as cast members, how would you book it?
Sounds more like a request to Adam Blampied, to be honest.
MORE GYPSY JOE!!!!
Alex Wright in the starring role, of course.
Make it about Slapnuts/Jeff Jarrett and Dustin Rhodes
Wow from Wyoming to Atlanta to New York, back to Atlanta, then to Wyoming, THEN back to Atlanta, Now on to Las Vegas, plus finding the wrestlers, training for the match, within I would say less than a few weeks! I am convinced they have invented teleportation in the movie's universe.
I always enjoyed Ready to rumble as a guilty pleasure.
The Clerks reference at 6:15 was *chefs kiss*
Awesome Review Brian Congrats on 10-years these videos always make my day better You're the best.
I was about to make a "no more shirts for sex" joke just as fucking Mike ran in with armfuls of shirts, lmao.
Love that promo package you did for Kayfabe Kitchen's return. Can't wait!
I figured they cast Platt as the King as a dig at Jerry Lawler. By the time this came out, he didnt have much of a phyisque (not that he ever did, comparitively) but it would be in keeping for them the sling digs at WWF
Stephen Brill said on Marc Marion's podcast that it was intended as a tribute to Lawler because he got into wrestling because of the Kaufman/Lawler angle. However Brill said that Lawler took it as a dig, and was absolutely livid about it.
It was allegedly not intended to be malicious though.
"Shirts for sex! Shirts for sex! I give you a shirt, you give me your body"
Mall rats reference has not gone unnoticed Mr Zane, well played sir
"A King, a Cop, managed by a Pimp". Thank you Brian Zane, thank you for that.
Honestly, why not make the movie about Kanyon in King’s place. I mean I know he wasn’t a big megastar in WCW at the moment, but if they retooled the story it could’ve been a good underdog comeback story. Especially because he was the stunt double.
3:42 Brian's assortment of condiments in his fridge is bizarrely similar to my own
The WCW movie I always wanted was a fictionalized version of the NWO. Everything through Great American Bash happens as is. But add in back stage stuff. Make this a power play for the company, a ultra rich Hogan character is brought in to fund a new wrestling organization with Hall and Nash's characters to raise them rich at the expense of all the other talent. You have to make the wrestling a shoot and win for pay and the title really mean something in-movie for this really make sense. So somehow or another the company is on the line for Great American Bash. Hogan is revealed as the third member / investor and the rest is history.
Next Monday, we are welcomed to nWo Nitro. NWO aesthetic sprinkled in throughout the show during interviews and segments but keep the wrestling matches in color and all that. Bring in Jesse Ventura as the nWo commentator and Bobby Heenan defecting with Schivone and Tenay as WCW loyalists. Give WCW the shine, have the WCW owner character say just wait, bet non-main event pay starts dropping or something and for that to be a plot line as things turn for WCW.
NWO dominates the title scene. Sting is in exile, unclear if he is for WCW or NWO. Luger is trying to lead the charge for WCW but his success is only temporary. DDP rising in prominence. Have either the Steiners or Harlem Heat remain loyalists (or split and combine the two remaining). Have Rey Mysterio be the WCW cruiserweight guy. Have Alex Wright or Disco or whatever midcard guy you want from this era.
Have behind the scenes of some Jim Crocket type going to some Ted Turner type to get the funding to fight against the nWo again. Have the showdown be at Starrcade 97 equivalent but in-move like a year or two two later. Have WCW Heavyweight, Cruiserweight, Tag Team, US, TV belts all up for grabs. Best out of 5 wins the money and control of the company. Disco inferno loses, rey mysterio wins, DDP loses, Steiner Brothers win, Sting wins with Luger stopping some outside interference. All of WCW faithful come out of the locker room slowly. Hogan gets up, holding his head walks over and shakes Sting's hand. Hogan grabs a mic and calls for the Ted DiBiase type manager character to come out with the contract. Sting is offered a $5M a year contract as champion or some such number. Sting looks it over, tears the contract and says "I'm WCW baby! WOOOOOOO" and all the WCW faithful rush the ring and hold him on their shoulders. Fireworks go off, fade to black.
After 5 seconds of black, the WCW Nitro theme hits hard like you are in the Arena. The classic set is used and Mike Tenay, Tony Schivone and Bobby Heenan (he's the weasel, he's forgiven for following the money) greet us to WCW Nitro to a roaring crowd.
Feel free to add in a little character that has a hot MILF mom that gets with DDP or something. So you get to see the kid cheering and booing and giving you the younger appeal. Have Stacy Keibler be the incredibly young looking MILF.
It wouldn't have made big money, probably no better than Ready to Rumble, but it would have had great DVD sales and would be a cult classic among fans.
I swear, man, no one on RUclips does sponsor ads better than Wrestling With Wregret.
Recently watched your original version of this video and I def thought it needed a revisit. What are the odds!!
As a lifelong WCW fan I still love this movie. Platt and Landau were the definite highlights.
Imagine if Tiny Lester got the belt in WWF.
Zeus !!!
Sneaky "Clerks" reference! I love it.
Zane you are the only creator who can get me to watch your commercials.
What about the Hawk?
Really enjoy when you've gone back and taken a look at your older videos.
6:13 a joke that probably goes over 97% of the audience. “Here comes Randall, he’s a Berzerker.”
Yeah its better then just saying how blatant a stolen joke it was from Mallrats
I love the clerks reference at 6:12 but I kinda dont get it, was a single person in this movie in any of the clerks movies?
Considering how over King was despite his personal issues, WWF would have snatched him right up after the screwjob.
I'm sure it's been mentioned but love the View Askewniverse reference!
Shoutout Kanyon for most of the choreography and stunts in the movie!! RIP
Who better than Kanyon?!
This was a fun review. I watched Ready To Rumble for the first time in 2000 when it first became available for rent on VHS. I was 11 years old and I was absolutely obsessed with the WWF. I know it was based on WCW, but it was cool to see a movie about two diehard fans just as I was and seeing them get involved in the business by working with the top name, partying with the boys, encountering the biggest stars and hooking up with a Nitro girl, while getting involved in the main event with a cool encounter with Sting. Back in those days, I used to ride my bike to 7 Eleven to get a slurpee which I drank while reading WWF Magazine or PW Illustrated in the magazine aisle.
It’s not a movie to take seriously and I admit, now that I’m 35 instead of 11, it’s goofy as hell. I can’t imagine somebody being A) a non wrestling fan and/or B) a mature adult under the age of 25 enjoying this. I’m still a wrestling fan and my greatest memories as a fan occurred in 2000 to 2002. This movie was part of that era as a fan that I adore, so that association makes me biased towards this film. I get the negative reviews and why it flopped. I watch this probably once every 5 or so years and every time, I still have fun.
"They were the Farting Nuns..."
I've always loved this movie. You just have to approach it for what it is.
Will always love DDP for telling me what happened to the Silver title belt in this movie. Kanyon had it and when he passed, his mom kept it and still has it.
It’s such a strange looking belt. It’s not ugly at all because it’s based on maybe the best looking world title ever, but the silver accents make it uncanny valley territory because your mind immediately says “that’s not the belt I remember.”
That's the most Kanyon thing I can see him doing. Because who betta than Kanyon?
@@jeffm5056Everybody!
Kidding, nobody. When they called him “The innovator of offense”, they weren’t lying. Dude would have been a main eventer in today’s wrestling. RIP Kanyon.
@@zlinedavid still heart broken about his tragedy. the guy could wrestle and sale plus his gimmick work. He only took that bump on that tripple deck cause of foley and they wanted to have their own version of it. Worse part about it. They miss out why the foley bump work, granted foley lost but during the hell in the cell match not only did he take that bump but he got up and kept on fighting.
@@zlinedavid
I love how everyone who knew him in the wrestling business accepted that he was gay
There are a few things I do like upon seeing a review of this for the 3rd or so time… some of the actual wrestling scenes like fighting in the convenience store or Bandini’s apartment were shot well. I liked the idea of Sid and Saturn being the goons they had to fight past - maybe could have made for a good game or Home Alone-type movie. The set for Royal Bash and the babyfaces’ entrance save it a little bit. Sean definitely is less cringey than Gordie from what I can see, it’s nice he got a little shine with King while Gordie is written out.
The movie has a quirky vibe to it that appeals to many wrestling fans. It embraces all the over-the-top silliness that is Pro Wrestling and doesn't try to be more than that -- silly. This is one of my favorite "comfort" movies that I'll watch whenever I'm feeling down or upset. It's a cheap nostalgia kick, but I love it for that and will defend this movie till my death.
You are absolutely right! Agree with you 100%. I watch ready to rumble multiple times a year, when i feel down, or just nostalgic, etc. It just has a really chill, good, silly vibe to it. Loved it as a kid, and still loving this movie.
This is what I came here to say.
@@keksz4691 I remember having the flu when I was like a freshman or sophomore in high school and watching the movie 3 times, back to back to back one morning while I stayed home from school. It's just really comforting to me for some reason. The movie is actually free (with ads) on RUclips right now which is awesome.
This movie is also a dig at the fanbase that would eventually become the IWC, so it makes sense that certain types of fans would take issue with it.
Imagine if 2023 Brian made 2013 Brian rewatch the film, like he has done for this video. 2013 Brian will be like Vince McMahon at his Angriest.
I remember when everyone who wanted to be a reviewer, they went with being AVGN.
14:05 wait, isn't it the building that's supposed to be the bar in "it's always sunny"?
One of my favorites of all time. So funny, so quotable, and better than anyone gives it credit for!
Thank you for the work you do.
Do It For Content
Great concept, you should do this with other movie/ppv reviews!
19:55 Alright. Place your bets on who threw that ladder.
Alyssa Milano or Shannon Dorothy? Lol.
Ready to rumble is a forever classic
Like most WCW things from the year 2000 I have heavy nest algebra doggers.. I even had the comforter blanket thing that she uses to cover herself with.
Watched it a few weeks ago, and it’s still great
Last year Joe Pantolliano (Tytus Sinclair in Ready to Rumble) was at a comic con in my state and I have my copy signed by him
Need to do a rewatch of “Just another romantic wrestling comedy!”
20:03 I low-key thought it was part of the movie 😂
I saw it in theaters, and I laughed my ass off. I'll never understand the hate for it.
Respect to kanyon as he did the training and stunt work for the film (as well as stars brought in to wcw but never credited for it) along with a few other wrestlers , was good for it's time . still makes me smile watching this.
That X Factor theme joke 😂
Hey Zane, ❤ the Clerks reference there!
Weather you liked or hated Ready To Rumble was WCW’s attempt to get back in to the mainstream like it’s competition WWE/F. The production itself was definitely Time Warner’s lost of profit as a lot of movies released in the 90’s and 00’s were straight to video/dvd material. The story itself was an attempt at being the second coming of No Holds Barred but, it was the complete opposite of that as the story turned into a stupid funny/goofy funny comedy about two adults with Peter Pan syndrome trying to help their hero Jimmy King an out of shape wrestler trying to reclaim the WCW Championship after being screwed out it by DDP and Titus Synclair. The movie ultimately put WCW and its owners on blast as it proved that WCW was no longer the company it was from 1995 to 1997. Even though it’s still a good movie to sit down weather you’re still a fan of wrestling or not.
I can't believe anyone would voluntarily watch this movie twice.
Mike’s interjection at the end 😂😂😂
When I was in high school at 16 in 2010 one of my buddies who used to come over to my house a lot and knew I was a MASSIVE wrestling fan by all the video games I had, came up to me and was telling me about this hilarious wrestling movie he bought and how funny it was and how I’d love it and he was going to bring it over that weekend and stay the night and we were gonna watch it.
That movie was ready to rumble.
14:05 that's the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia bar Paddy's Pub
i guess i never noticed
This movie, in addition to having Oliver Platt and David Arquette, has a song by Bif Naked.
No disrespect to this movie, but those three were in something much better together the following year
SSX Tricky!
2:01 and FYI Brian Robins originally came to fame as a Teen Actor on the late 80's sitcom "Head Of The Class" starring the late Howard "Dr Johnny Fever/WKRP in Cinncinati" Hessman and Robin Givens and Dan Schnider (aka The One that shall never be spoken of again at Nickelodeon" ...long story)
I have to give Shane Helms credit for being the stunt double for the spots.
The Hurricane
@@claymathewselevator8121 Yep that is the same dude
Sugar Shame Helms
This movie is still GREAT and the best we've ever had as far as a love letter to wrestling fans.
Who are you?
It wasn't that bad in the first place, it was a comedy about pro wrestling it was exactly what it should have been 🎬
Especially for that era. They made a comedy about getting high and losing your car. Sigh.. such a simpler, happier time
@@johansmallberries9874 and in 2009 they made a movie about getting drunk and loosing your friend
Gordy and Shawn join Winston Rothschild The 3rd from The Red Green Show as famous septic truck drivers
I love this! Keep it up!
Thank God KAYFABE KITCHEN is coming back. One of my favorite series!
It was awesome even back then and ironically reflecks the dorkiness of many wrestling fans. It's as smarky as so many fans and pretty self aware. I like how it exposes the business and the blurred lines between work and shoot.
Still surprised nobody has done that concept for a cage match