Introduction to Ready to Rumble
April 7, 2000, marked a significant day in the history of professional wrestling, as it was the day the movie “Ready to Rumble” was released in cinemas. The film tells the story of Gordie and Sean, two sewage workers who idolize Jimmy “The King” King, a professional wrestler. After King is screwed out of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, Gordie and Sean embark on a mission to help him regain his title and reputation. Despite being made at the height of wrestling’s popularity, “Ready to Rumble” received negative reviews from critics and bombed at the box office. However, over the years, it has developed a cult following, particularly among wrestling fans.
David Arquette as the WCW World Heavyweight Champion
David Arquette, the lead actor in the movie, is a lifelong wrestling fan who was more than happy to step into the ring to promote “Ready to Rumble.” However, his legacy in wrestling is complicated, to say the least. Arquette won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on the April 26, 2000, episode of “WCW Thunder,” holding the title for 12 days before dropping it to Jeff Jarrett at the Slamboree pay-per-view. This decision was met with criticism from the WCW locker room, with many feeling that Arquette’s victory was undeserved. The move is often cited as one of the final nails in the coffin for WCW, which was eventually bought out by Vince McMahon less than a year later.
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Brian Pillman’s Family Benefited from the Movie
Despite the negative reception of the movie, some good came out of it. David Arquette donated a portion of his WCW earnings to the families of wrestlers who had fallen on hard times. One such family was that of Brian Pillman, who passed away in 1997 due to heart disease. Arquette’s donation helped support Pillman’s family during a difficult period. Additionally, Arquette also donated to the families of Owen Hart and Darren Drozdov, who had both suffered tragic accidents in the ring.
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Injuries on Set
Like any movie or wrestling event, accidents can happen on set. During the filming of “Ready to Rumble,” two injuries occurred. The first involved “Macho Man” Randy Savage, who was punched in the face by Oliver Platt (who played Jimmy “The King” King) during a scene. Although the incident was accidental, Savage took it in stride, and the outtake was even featured in the movie’s end credits. The second injury occurred during a tag team match scene, where Rey Mysterio Jr. injured his knee while performing a top-rope Frankensteiner. Mysterio was out of action for six months, returning to WCW after the movie’s release.
Rose McGowan Hated the Movie
Rose McGowan, who played the role of Sasha in the movie, has spoken out about her dislike for the film. In a 2017 interview, McGowan revealed that she only took the role for the money and had thrown the script away multiple times before finally accepting. She also blamed her agent for pushing her to take the role, stating that the agent was more interested in making a profit than in McGowan’s well-being. McGowan’s experience on the set of “Ready to Rumble” was not positive, and she has since spoken out about the mistreatment of women in the film industry.
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Titus Sinclair Was Almost Played by a WWE Hall of Famer
The role of Titus Sinclair, the main villain of the movie, was played by Joe Pantoliano. However, the original choice for the role was WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff. Bischoff’s on-screen persona as a member of the New World Order was the inspiration for the character of Titus Sinclair. Although Bischoff was not available to play the role due to his departure from WCW, he would later return to the company and even appear in a scene with David Arquette, who played the role of Gordie.
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Stunt Doubles
Some of the lead actors in “Ready to Rumble” had stunt doubles who were professional wrestlers. David Arquette’s stunt double was Gregory Helms, also known as “Sugar” Shane Helms, who was a WCW wrestler at the time. Oliver Platt’s stunt double was Chris Kanyon, who was also a WCW wrestler. Kanyon even appeared in a cameo role in the movie as a crowd member who beats up Titus Sinclair. Scott Caan, who played the role of Sean, did his own stunts.
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John Cena’s Acting Debut
“Ready to Rumble” marked the acting debut of John Cena, who appeared as an uncredited extra in a scene where Gordie, Sean, and Jimmy King meet Bill Goldberg at a gym. Cena has since gone on to have a successful acting career, starring in movies and TV shows such as “Trainwreck,” “Blockers,” and “Peacemaker.” Cena has spoken about his experience on the set of
