Ready to Rumble

Infobox_Film
name=Ready to Rumble


imdb_id=0217756
writer=Steven Brill
based on WCW
starring=David Arquette,
Scott Caan,
Oliver Platt,
Bill Goldberg,
Rose McGowan,
Diamond Dallas Page,
Joe Pantoliano,
Martin Landau,
Steve "Sting" Borden
director=Brian Robbins
producer=Bobby Newmyer,
Jeffrey Silver
distributor=Warner Bros.
released=April 7, 2000
runtime=107 min.
language = English
budget=$24,000,000 (estimated)
music=George S. Clinton
awards=|

"Ready to Rumble" is a 2000 comedy film directed by Brian Robbins and written by Steven Brill, which is based on the now defunct professional wrestling promotion, World Championship Wrestling. The movie draws its title from Michael Buffer's trademarked catchphrase, "Let's get ready to rumble!"

Plot

Sewage workers Gordie Boggs (David Arquette) and Sean Dawkins (Scott Caan) watch their favorite wrestler, WCW World Champion Jimmy King (Oliver Platt) get cheated out of the title by Diamond Dallas Page (playing himself) and an evil WCW promoter Titus Sinclair (Joe Pantoliano). The dimwitted duo embark on a quest to help their fallen hero regain his title and his honor. The last scene is where Jimmy King has to battle Dallas Page, he is again outnumbered but receives help by Goldberg, Booker T, Billy Kidman, the Disco Inferno, Sting, and of course Gordie. Later Goldberg asks King to be his partner but King says his new partner will be Gordie and their manager will be Sean.

Cast

Actors

* David Arquette - Gordie Boggs
* Scott Caan - Sean Dawkins
* Oliver Platt - Jimmy King
* Joe Pantoliano - Titus Sinclair
* Rose McGowan - Sasha
* Martin Landau - Sal Bandini
* Ahmet Zappa - Cashier
* Jill Ritchie - Brittany
* Richard Lineback - Mr. Boggs, Gordie's father
* Chris Owen - Isaac
* Melanie Deanne Moore - Wendy
* Caroline Rhea - Eugenia King
* Tait Smith - Frankie King
* Ellen Albertini Dow - Mrs. MacKenzie
* Kathleen Freeman - Jane King
* Lewis Arquette - Fred King

Wrestlers

*Bill Goldberg
*Diamond Dallas Page
*Sting
*Bam Bam Bigelow
*Randy Savage
*Booker T
*Sid Vicious
*Juventud Guerrera
*Curt Hennig
*Disco Inferno
*Billy Kidman
*Konnan
*Chris Kanyon
*Rey Mysterio, Jr.
*Perry Saturn
*Prince Iaukea
*Van Hammer
*Gorgeous George
*Announcers: Michael Buffer, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, Tony Schiavone, Mike Tenay
*Referees: Charles Robinson, Billy Silverman
*Nitro Girls: Chae An, Fyre, Melissa Bellin,Sharmell

Aftermath

Following the release of the movie, WCW bookers decided to promote the movie by running a storyline in which David Arquette, a legitimate wrestling fan, became WCW World Champion. The storyline was reviled by wrestling fans, and Arquette himself reportedly believed it was a bad idea, as he felt that it would damage the value of the belt he held in such high regard. While in WCW, he aligned himself with Diamond Dallas Page (despite Page being the movie's villain) and agreed in storyline to drop the title to him. He eventually lost the title in a match involving the three-tiered cage seen in Ready to Rumble, pitting himself against Page and Jeff Jarrett, which ended when he turned on Page and allowed Jarrett to win. Arquette later donated all the money WCW paid him to the families of deceased pro wrestlers Brian Pillman and Owen Hart and deceased referee Brian Hildebrand.

The Triple Cage was used by the WCW only twice: First, at Slamboree 2000, Jeff Jarrett beat Diamond Dallas Page and David Arquette (defending the WCW World Heavyweight Championship) to win the title. In this match, Chris Kanyon was thrown from the roof of one of the cages, "paralyzing" him. The other, taking place on the September 4, 2000 episode of "WCW Monday Nitro", was the 2000 edition of the WarGames match.

Critical reception

The movie itself was a critical and box office failure, grossing $12,394,327 domestically [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=readytorumble.htm] , yet was considered a cult classic in the U.K. despite a limited cinema release. Fact|date=March 2007

A main criticism of the film Fact|date=March 2007 is that many wrestling fans felt the movie was trying hard to portray wrestling storylines as real (kayfabe), even though the internet wrestling community was ending kayfabe's influence in wrestling at the time of the film's release.

Production

The character of Sal Bandini is based on wrestlers Lou Thesz and Stu Hart. Oliver Platt accidentally struck Randy Savage in the face during the filming of a fantasy scene. The footage of the incident, which was shot over Savage's shoulder, can be seen in the blooper reel shown during the closing credits. Chris Kanyon was Oliver Platt's stunt double, and Shane Helms was David Arquette's stunt double.

External links

* [http://www.readytorumble.net/ Official Website]
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