Episode #19: The Wrestler (1974)

Professional wrestling promoter Frank Bass (Ed Asner) has to deal with the pressures of running a professional wrestling promotion, facing the pressures of constantly finding new wrestlers to pull in the crowds, keeping the wrestlers he has under contract under control and especially dealing with the fact that the top man, the champion of “the League” Mike Bullard (Verne Gagne) is getting old and there is pressure to replace him with a younger wrestler. One such possible replacement is the latest challenger Billy Taylor (Billy Robinson).

It’s the first half of Three Way Theater’s DOUBLE FEATURE as we review the 1974 version of The Wrestler! Starring Ed Asner, Verne Gagne, and literally every other wrestling competing under the NWA banner the gang tries to make sense of Verne Gagne’s love letter to Verne Gagne.

For Episode #20 we’ll be reviewing Darren Aronofsky’s version of The Wrestler starring Mickey Rourke, so be sure to check out Episode #19 to get all caught up!