With the second season of GLOW having premiered this past week on Netflix, here’s a list of the best wrestler cameos from the first season, since I haven’t done a write up for it, yet.
Tag: PWG
Boy Meets World
Settle in for a triple feature with a look back at the trio of cameos from one Leon White, a.k.a Big Van Vader, a.k.a Francis (Leslie) Stecchino.
Life with Mikey (1993)
Before tuning into Netflix to watch Jerry Lawler try and beat the crap out of Jim Carrey for not breaking kayfabe in Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, feel free to revisit Lawler’s earlier Hollywood work alongside Michael J. Fox.
Lucha Underground
With the start of the second season, Lucha Underground put out a comic book to capitalize on the show’s serialized development, since that is the show’s strongest attribute after insane lucha libre action. With season two wrapping up tonight with Ultima Lucha Dos, it seemed fitting I post up this recap of the four-issue series.
Kyle’s Wrestling T-Shirts on Maron
Season four of IFC’s Maron premieres tomorrow, and since I haven’t gotten around to reviewing the episode that features “MMA fighter” CM Punk and Colt Cabana, I figured I’d just list the ten best wrestling t-shirts that Marc’s assistant, Kyle, has worn over the past three seasons. By the way, is actor Josh Brener an actual wrestling fan? Has he been spotted at PWG shows? Can he start sporting wrestling tees on Silicon Valley, as well? Anyway…
Supernatural
“Beyond the Mat”
Season 11, Episode 15
2/26/2016
The Supernatural Bros., Sam and Dean Winchester, investigate the sudden death of a wrestler. Which, in the world of professional wrestling, isn’t really that strange until you factor in that the death wasn’t due to heart failure, suicide, or drug overdose. Okay, maybe that’s not the best way to start this post. Did I mention The Miz makes a cameo? Wait… come back.
Backyard Dogs (2000)
We’re told via title card at the beginning of Backyard Dogs that by the year 2000, there were more than 18,000 backyard wrestling federations. What they don’t tell you is that there were double that amount of nu metal bands and they’re all on this soundtrack. Step into a transitional time period of baggy awkwardness that was the late 90’s and early 2000’s and witness a generation that spawned from the Attitude Era.
The Cold War Russian Wrestler
While the Cold War had been a thing since the late 1940’s, it was still a pretty intense situation in the 1980’s and, most importantly, a major part of the fabric that made up a lot of 1980’s popular culture. You had Sylvester Stallone defending America’s honor against the Soviets in the best Rocky movie since the first one, Rocky IV. Even “teenage” movie heartthrobs answered the call to arms in the war against Soviet Russia in the original Red Dawn. And wrestling was no different. Always trying to remain relevant with the times, every territory had its own Red Menace, sometimes even two.
Comedians Who Are Legit Wrestling Fans
Wrestling fans love to know about celebrities who actually enjoy watching wrestling. It makes them more like us! However, we don’t care for the ones that were somehow coerced into being at a WWE event, despite getting awesome front-row seats, for the sole purpose of reminding non-wrestling fans how mainstream and culturally relevant WWE is. Nor do we care for the ones that are guest hosting Raw for the simple reason of pimping out their latest movie/show. No, we like the ones that actually watch on their own accord and are fans of the product. Whether they’ve just gotten on the bandwagon or have been fans for years. It’s even better when those fans happen to be comedians. Especially, when you consider the several parallels between the lives of professional wrestlers and stand-up comedians. Plus, it helps to have a sense of humor and a healthy dose of self-hatred when watching wrestling. Which is why it makes sense that comedians would be legit wrestling fans. And here’s a PWI 500-ish ranking of them.
Other “WrestleManias”
With WrestleMania XXX fast approaching, it only seems right to cover other companies (both past and present) who have(had) their own annual super shows. While not on the same scale as WrestleMania, these shows still delivered dream matches, feud blow-offs, and championship bouts that were just as exciting in their own respective country, territory, time period.
