GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling

By turns campy and poignant, Brett Whitcomb's documentary looks back at the TV series GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, which ran from 1986-1990. Matilda the Hun, one of the few participants with previous ring experience, remembers that it "went beyond what the World Wrestling Federation had ever done" in terms of wild get-ups and over-the-top skits (the wrestler Mountain Fiji was also an Olympic trials shot putter), while Little Egypt describes it as "a character-driven show." In clips, the grapplers resemble a cross between KISS, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and one of John Waters' early efforts. The original girls came to the casting call because they wanted to break into the entertainment business, not because they were interested in sports. Before the 1980s, remembers writer and referee Steve Blance, "Women's wrestling was a rarity, an oddity." The producers expected the women to look good, wrestle convincingly, and hawk products, which kept the series cost-effective. After the cast was set, the entire ensemble relocated from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, where the "good girls" lived in one house, while the "bad" ones lived in another. The producers proceeded to enforce curfews, discouraged fraternizing with competitors, and imposed fines for infractions (show creator David McLane and director Matt Cimber declined the opportunity to contribute to this oral history-style narrative, although Cimber, who inspired great devotion, shows up for the reunion at the end). Some women unfortunately suffered injuries that have plagued them ever since, so it wasn't all fun and games, but no one regrets their involvement in this one-of-a-kind phenomenon. DVD extras include outtakes and commentary from a few of the ladies plus super-fan Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, deleted scenes, extended interviews, and more. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)