New Doc Examines Homoeroticism of Wrestling

Where do old wrestlers go?

I’m not talking about the flamboyant basic cableTV professional “entertainers” as portrayed by Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler."   I’m talking about the real athletes who grappled on the mat in high school and college.  Whatever happens to them?

Old baseball jocks can still play in middle-aged beer-leagues, ex-varsity football players can still openly toss around the pigskin and proudly recall “the big game” years later to anyone willing to listen, but what about adult males who still love the world’s oldest sport?

This is the subject covered in Victor Rook’s new documentary "STRONGHOLD: In the Grip of Wrestling," now available online and on DVD.

Wrestling has existed in every culture since the dawn of man from Greco-Roman nude bouts to the first televised grudge matches of stars in the 1950’s like Gorgeous George.  Abe Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt were both avid practitioners of man-on-man combat. Nowadays, wrestling for adult men is a subculture. Oddly, this proud sport of ultimate domination and submission is either ignored or ridiculed by mainstream society that celebrates the cult of athleticism to a fanatical degree.

Through campy educational films, archival footage of exhibition matches and personal anecdotes of unabashed wrestling aficionados, the movie explores the homoeroticism inherent in wrestling from playground horseplay to gym classes to organized competition. It’s about time that the prestigious tradition of scantily clad big, burly guys rubbing against each other gets the respect it is due.

What about you?  Are a rabid wrestling fan?  If so, we want to hear from you.  Submit your pics to  sports@planetoutinc.com and we may feature you in an upcoming slideshow on gay wrestlers.  You can also feel free to post your comments on how you feel about wrestling in the comments section below.

For more information on the film, visit the official Web site.

Comments

[Tony]

I love this line -- "ultimate domination and submission". Second best line "It’s about time that the prestigious tradition of scantily clad big, burly guys rubbing against each other gets the respect it is due."

Excuse me, this is the 21st century. Should we really be admiring something that is about the ultimate domination of someone? Haven't we grown past this? Other sports that include physical power to subdue an opponent (i.e. football) involve other skills besides brute force.

I think the natural progression of wrestling has taken place and we see it as the farce it really is with the WWF and Hulk Hogan.

[wrestleyeah]

I've been wrestling since I was in college and still do consider it a great workout. I wish there were more people into the sport.

[Chris]

I LOVE to wrestle! Sometimes I enjoy it just for fun, to play around with my friends. Sometimes I really enjoy it as foreplay. There is nothing wrong with wrestling whatsoever. If you love it, do it. If not, then don't knock those that do. And I'm not a fan of the fake wrestling that you see on TV. I don't diss you for watching it either, but I like the real stuff. And any sport is about "dominating" someone else, not just wrestling. It's about using your skill to beat someone else at a game.