Randy the Ram is more like Ultimate Warrior
being holk hogan is too recognizable. same with macho man.
https://youtu.be/93sGUFpVxFI
I have him pegged as a former NWA Heavyweight Champion. Not a Ric Flair, who was on top for almost 15 years, but someone who held the title for year or two and enjoyed his moment at the top and the fans loved him.
If I had to choose a wrestler, I would say Ricky Steamboat.
Ultimate Warrior is likely a much closer fit than Hogan, though obviously Randy is probably an amalgam of sorts.
His situation sort of echoes that of Jake "The Snake" Roberts from Beyond the Mat (1999) (undoubtedly an inspiration for the movie), but I'd say Randy was supposed to have been more popular at his peak than Roberts. His shtick seems more akin to something like Macho Man, but his also seems to have been a "Burn bright then burn out" kind of fame, like Warrior. So again, an amalgam.
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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/
Yes, his life echos that of Jake Roberts and Hercules and numerous other wrestlers that ended up broke and had a major drug problem.
However, the OP is discussing which real life wrestlers career was the closest match to Randy "The Ram" Robinson.
He was clearly a face and wrestled in the NWA. He was also champions. That is why I would say he was most like Ricky Steamboat. Yes Steamboat wrestled in the WWF/E, but he was the NWA Heavyweight Champion and enormously popular at one point. Steamboat never had a run as a heel.
While most people would recognize Hogan, Austin, The Rock, etc. only hardcore wrestling fans would probably notice Steamboat if he was working at a grocery store.
So what you're saying is that Robinson was a big star, but in a "lesser" or second-tier organization? Therefore his real life equivalent wouldn't come from the ranks of the WWF/E, but the organization (NWA in this case) below.
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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/
Not exactly, the NWA/WCW was on par with the WWF/E in the 80s.
I am saying he was likely an NWA Heavyweight Champion who was on top for a couple years versus a Hogan or Flair who were on top for decades.
I am saying he was likely in the NWA versus the WWF/E since at the bar when he is showing his injuries he is mentioning the arenas where they happened. Those were places where the NWA frequently has shows.
Ultimate Warrior saved his money and was good at negotiating. Fairly sure he was still a millionaire when he died. He had a wife, kids, a nice house, licensing on his merchandise and also a wrestling school. He was doing great in life.
shareYes, Ultimate Warrior seemed to be living a comfortable life up until his death.
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Not many would have the 20,000 seat crowd and a million plus on PPV and be living in a Trailer Home but overall, many lower tier Wrestlers DO end up like him. Alot of the bigger guys have spoken out in support of the overall message in the film but said it was definitely portrayed a bit drastically. It's a sad life for someone who brings joy to so many. Unfortunate isn't even the word
shareIt is very sad to hear the stories wrestlers being broke and how so many have died from years of steroid and drug abuse.
When The Ram wrestled wrestlers did not make what they do today. I believe I read somewhere that Bruiser Brody was the top paid wrestler in the 80s because he traveled from territory to territory main eventing. He was earning $500k/year. Ricky Morton of the popular tag team the Rock and Roll Express said he only made $100k/year during their peak.
If Ram's career in the NWA was 10 years and he made $5mm, which is $2.5mm after taxes. He is divorced so right away that number gets cut in half to $1.25mm. Car, travel, rent, food, partying, etc. that $1.25mm can disappear real fast.
Not many would have the 20,000 seat crowd and a million plus on PPV and be living in a Trailer Home but overall, many lower tier Wrestlers DO end up like him.
It's more than you think.
There's a reason why so many older guys still have to wrestle in their 60's, nearing 70. Like the Rock n' Roll Express, Greg Valentine, Honky Tonk Man, Brutus Beefcake (who also had to work at a subway despite being a rather big name in the WWF and having a not exactly small contract with WCW thanks to Hogan) and countless other. They don't it because they don't wanna quit wrestling, they do it because otherwise they would end up homeless and the likes of the Honky Tonk Man or Valentine worked multiple sell-out crowds, much more than just 20.000 attendance show.
Another great example is Tom Billington, the Dynamite Kid, who actually also reminds me of what we see in the movie a bit. The guy is completely broken down, completely broke, lives in a very small apartment in the UK and receives wellfare because he has absolutely no money left. He was a very big star in Japan and a big name in Canada and the US during the wrestling boom. share