Beyond the Mat

1. Minute
Der Prolog verwendet unterschiedliche Aufnahmen des Jungen, der den Filmemacher darstellen soll. Während es in der Kinofassung vielleicht sogar ein echtes Foto seiner Kindheit ist, dürfte es im Director's Cut auf jeden Fall ein Schauspieler sein, da es hier zusätzlich eine Rückblende auf sein erstes Wrestling-Erlebnis gibt.

DC | KF


Man sieht den Jungen unter den Zuschauern eines Wrestlingkampfes und wie einer der Kämpfer auf dem Weg zum Ring kurz neben ihm stehen bleibt. Der Junge ist sichtlich beeindruckt. Aber noch erstaunter ist er nach dem Kampf auf der Straße als er den Kämpfer sieht wie er durch den Regen rennt, in ein Auto steigt und liebevoll seine Frau küsst, die auf dem Beifahrersitz wartet. Der Junge wundert sich, darüber das der Wrestler eine Familie hat. Welcher Familienvater kämpft als Wrestler im Ring?
ingesamt 44,5s länger


9. Minute
Nach dem Vorstellungsgespräch von Puke fehlen Interviews mit McMahon und anderen Wrestlern.

McMahon: "We're in the business of creating monsters. I'm proud of the fact that the WWF creates monsters. And I don't know that it's not a lot like the old Hollwood star system-- You know, years ago, you know. And-- But then after you've created the monster, hopefully you have wherewithal to hang on to the monster. If not, the monster's gona turn around and bite you."


Justin Incredible: "My biggest mistake that I'll regret probably for a long time was staying with the WWF. At the time, I had just gotten married-- June fourth of 1997, I believe it was-- and I asked Vince McMahon for my release from the WWF. And he said, "We can't do that for you. We've invested too much time and mone into you. So we'll send you and your newlywed bride to a smaller circuit called U.S.W.A. in Memphis, Tennessee." And he sent me out there to work for $40 a night, three nights a week."

Al Snow: "When I first got here, I had a two-hour meethin with Vince McMahon. And I basically laid out the goals that I had always wanted to achieve in the wrestling business. And he promised me that I'd have those opportunities to get those-- achieve those goals. And in my opinion, he never followed through on it."


Debbie Bonnanzio (VP of Creative Services): "He [McMahon] really treats the organization as, like, a mom-and-pop's shop where everybody's word is important. And he makes everyone feel that way. And we all work really hard, and we play really hard. But it's in this real-- He creates a very fun atmosphere for everyone. And it's a great place to work."

Afa The Wild Samoan: "And he didn't give me that day off, so I took off. I just went home. I went home and-- Go home, watch my boy born. And because of that-- uh, a few days later, actually-- I was out a job."


Coco B. Ware: "Well, I was really honest with Vince McMahon. I wanted him to know. I thought I was doing something really great, you know? I thought, "Hey man--" I thought Vince McMahon would says, "Well, Coco, I'm glad for you--" You know, any kinf of businessman will say, "I'm kinf of glad for you to do it. You know, at least I know what you're doing with your money." I tried to be honest with the man. And you see what happenend with being honest?"

Vince McMahon: "Coco made a mistake of fighting one of our executives. I fired the executive. I thought maybe I should fire Coco. We were over in England, I think it was, and, uh-- and they got into it. And it was such unprofessional conduct by both the executive-- who was working for me-- as well as the performer, that I had to do something. And that was basically the reason why I fired Coco."


Dave Meltzer (Journalist): "Vince McMahon is probably the greatest wrestling promoter that there's ever been, and, uh-- [Chuckles] I wouldn't trust him. And I think anyone that trusts him is being very foolish-- based on his track record."

Dann sieht man noch einmal Puke bei Vorstellungsgespräch wie er sich von allen verabschiedet.
176s


96. Minute
Nach dem brutalen Kampf zwischen The Rock and Mankind und Mankinds Versorgung der Wunden am Kopf sieht man die beiden Backstage aufeinandertreffen. The Rock bedankt sich für den tollen Kampf.

Mankind: "You all right?"
The Rock: "Thank you very much. I appreciate it. How you feeling?"
Mankind: "Well. I've got a couple lumps. Did you, uh-- Did you notice me turning my back, like-- I'm, like, "Oh, my God, this has gottab be the last one..."
The Rock streichelt Mankinds Tochter die vorhin während des Kampfes noch so entsetzlich geweint hat, als The Rock mit dem Klappstuhl den Kopf ihres Vaters blutig geschlagen hat.
Mankind: "... and then you walked around me and gave me another one to the head?"
The Rock: "Right."
Mankind: "I thought, "Oh you bastard."
The Rock: "Well, see, what I wanted--"
Mankind: "You wanted me to be further up."
The Rock: "What I was gonna do-- Yeah-- was go into the really open area where everybody could see."
Mankind: "Yeah."
The Rock: "I didn't know you wanted it right there. But when you turned the second time, I knew."
Mankind: "I should have staggered out there, but, man, I was hurting."
Mankinds Sohn reicht ihm eine Cola.
Mankind: "Wow. Cool. Is that for me? You wann give The Rock five? We had a good match, huh?"
The Rock: "Give me five."
...
Mankind: "They [the kids] were crying a little bit. They were all- My wife and Dewey and--"
Dann noch ein paar selbsbeständigende Wort der beiden Wrestler über den "historischen" Kampf.

Anmerkung:
So freundschaftlich wie das hier gezeigt wurde, war die Beziehung der beiden Wrestler danach für eine Weile nicht mehr, was vor allem daran lag, dass vor dem Kampf viel weniger Schläge auf Mankinds Kopf mit dem Stuhl vereinbart waren als The Rock im Ring schließlich ausführte (11 Stück). Das The Rock nicht rechtzeitig aufhörte, kann man auch dem Dialog von oben entnehmen und wurde vor allem aufgrund der zahlreichen Platzwunden an Mankinds Kopf deutlich, weswegen er doch ziemlich blutverschmiert den Ring als Verlieren verlassen musste und auch Mankinds Frau und Kinder im Publikum bitterlich weinten und schrien. Später versöhnte man sich aber wieder und bildete zusammen ein erfolgreiches Tag-Team.

82s


100. Minute
Den Abschluss bildet wieder der kleine Junge von Beginn.

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