Tuesday
27Jan2009
It's On! Wrestler Throws Down Gauntlet to Mickey Rourke
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 11:02AM
Well, I guess Mickey Rourke's really going to go through with
it. On Sunday night, he told anyone who would listen at the SAG Awards that he would follow up his Oscar-
nominated performance in The Wrestler by stepping into the ring at
Wrestlemania 25. Maybe you thought Rourke was just joking around, but now that the WWE has taken up
the storyline, there's very little chance this won't happen.
Incidentally, Wrestlemania is in April, so by that point, Rourke will either have won or lost his Academy
Award. But the DVD is scheduled for an April release, so you can bet that if Rourk does go through with
joining the Wrestlemania line-up, it will be to push sales of the film to all those WWE fans who never got a
chance to see The Wrestler in theaters because of its limited release.
Something tells me, though, that Sean Penn wouldn't do this.
Reader Comments (3)
I wonder if Marissa Tomei going to do a pictorial for "Playboy" in April as well to coincide with the film's DVD release as well?
Seriously though, which party would benefit from this arrangement? Aside from sidetracking the Academy from Rourke's nomination, "The Wrestler" was hardly meant to swoon its viewers into watching pro wrestling (nevermind the fact that WrestleMania is the furthest thing from the independent shows in the film) and wrestling fans (although overwhelmingly fond of the movie) won't be excited to watch a Hollywood star enter the ring. It would be like the Arizona Cardinals putting an actor in its starting line-up for the Super Bowl.
It might be a profitable endeavor, but the long-term ramifications could outweigh the short-term benefits. Then again, who knows how Rourke's getting paid for this movie. If he was signed to get a percentage of DVD sales, then it would make more sense from his perspective (but it hardly explains WWE's interest).
Honestly, it would have been wiser if they waited six months for the film to run its course on its own merits, and then plan this match for August.
Entertainment - be it Professional Wrestling or Pretending on the silver screen, thrives on interest. Nevermind reality- Mickey's nice but aged and Chris is in his prime...ooo, not good lookin' for Rourke. Hello Scripted outcome- where how to make this a safe contest for someone who physically is unlikely up for the challenge- good news for rourke...maybe. What's in it for Mickey? Rourke is a scripted shot at glory....that no matter the outcome will be painful- wrestling might be scripted but it is seriously athletic-if you wish to live. What's in it for the WWE? that's obvious, something new and that new is hopefully a boost in attendance and interest- a hard thing to curry. is it good business for both? Only if Jericho gives him the right beating. uh oh, the heads controlling the outcome might want to make more of this than a one shot....Rourke might just have a chance afterall. its supposed to be interesting too...and it just might be. pay-per-view and find out!
Rourke's gotta work on his trash talking skills before he can become a real pro wrestler...