[Tribeca] Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana! Shows Why Some Wrestling Gimmicks Succeed and Others Fail
In the documentary Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana, directors Ryan Harvie and John Paul Horstmann follow the bizarre story of Seattle Semi-Pro (SSP), an independent wrestling promotion whose existence is put in danger by an outsider who becomes part of their roster.
SSP is different from other indie wrestling promotions. There's no ring, for one, just a stage and some mats. Gone is the illusion of athletic competition. SSP is also a comedy wrestling promotion, but it's not a witty meta-wrestling cartoon like Chikara Pro. In Chikara, wrestlers will lob invisible hand grenades at one another, or sometimes wrestlers (and the crowd and the commentary team) will spontaneously perform in slow motion. At SSP, one of the headliners is a drunken clown named Ronald McFondle, and another is a guy in a banana costume who dances to The Buckwheat Boyz's "Peanut Butter Jelly Time," recreating a 13-year-old internet meme.
Even though SSP is not my taste in terms of wrestling, it's an irreverent family and there's nothing wrong people coming together and building that sort of kinship.
A lot of drama in Bodyslam: Revenge of the Banana hinges on the clash of personalities both inside and outside the ring (or, in this case, on and off the stage at a dive bar). What the film illustrates in an oblique way is why some wrestling characters succeed and fail, and what makes a good hero (babyface) and a good villain (heel).
Austin 3:16 - The Top 10 Stone Cold Steve Austin Moments
"Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!"
From 1989 came one of the greatest wrestlers in history: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. The beer chugging, all-American badass of sports entertainment took on everyone from Santa Claus to Donald Trump. In honor of Austin 3:16, we've compiled a list of some of the best Stone Cold moments in the WWE.
10. When Stone Cold gave Santa Claus the stunner
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A Stone Cold Stunner is truly the only gift that keeps on giving.
9. When Stone Cold stunned everyone during Sunday Night Heat
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YOU GET A STUNNER AND YOU GET A STUNNER AND YOU GET A STUNNER! EVERYONE GETS A STUNNER! During Sunday Night Heat on June 6, 1999, Stone Cold opened up a can of whoop ass on everyone including D-Lo Brown, Mark Henry, Jeff Jarrett, Meat and Val Venis.
8. When Stone Cold gave Donald Trump a stunner
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Most likely one of Mr. Trump's most memorable moments in history is when Stone Cold gave him a stunner during Wrestlemania 23 after chugging some beers.
7. When Stone Cold got arrested for stunning the WWE CEO, Vince McMahon
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The stunner that started it all. During the very first Monday Night Raw on September 22, 1999, Stone Cold stunned WWE CEO, Vince McMahon. Being escorted out of the ring by police, Stone Cold and McMahon have been feuding ever since.
6. When Stone Cold drove a zamboni to the ring
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On September 28, 1998, Stone Cold ruined Mr. McMahon's WWE Championship belt speech to Kane and The Undertaker by driving a zamboni into the ring. Oh, and then is detained by seven police officers because "you don't order Steven Austin to do a damn thing!"
5. When Stone Cold stunned Booker T
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During Wrestlemania 27, Stone Cold and Booker T were having a friendly beer when Stone Cold threw a stunner out of nowhere, making Booker T spit out his beer.
4. Every time The Rock got stunned
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Without contest, The Rock snags the spot for the most convincing sell of post-stunner syndrome of all time.
3. When Stone Cold stunned the entire McMahon family
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On RAW's October 3, 2005 special, Stone Cold brought a family closer together by stunning each member of the McMahon clan.
2. When Stone Cold chaired everyone in the face during Smackdown
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Stone Cold just faced everyone with a chair during Smackdown in the early 2000s and then left, like a badass. Definitely one of the best "ARRIVE. RAISE HELL. LEAVE." moments.
1. When Stone Cold drove a truck full of booze into the stadium, attached a firehose to the back and sprayed The Rock
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There isn't a wrestler out there who has the entertainment value that Stone Cold had during the Attitude Era. The Texas Rattlesnake attached a FIREHOSE to a COORS TRUCK and gave The Corporation a beer bath.
And that's the bottom line....'cause Stone Cold said so!