A wrestling version of "Playmakers"

[Lionheart]

OK, this is an idea I've had bouncing around in my head for some time.

Many of you probably remember the series "Playmakers" which ran on ESPN...hmm, must be 4-5 years ago now. If you don't: briefly, it was a drama which followed a fictional pro football team, interspersing game action scenes with looks at the players' (often sordid) lives off the field. A lineman is taking antidepressants to cope with his remorse over accidentally delivering a paralyzing injury to an opposing player...the flashy new running back is trying to decide whether to remain loyal to his old buddies from the 'hood where he grew up after one shoots a man in a club fight.

The series was entertaining, well written, and critically acclaimed, but the NFL didn't like the image it projected so ESPN basically quietly killed it after only one season.

My question is: could a show like "Playmakers" ever work with wrestling instead of football?

Kayfabe is dead anyway. Personally, I think a series that acknowledges wrestling is scripted right from the start and shows us "real" backstage drama and the wrestlers personal lives in "Playmakers" style would be great.

What would really be the bomb-diggity is if the franchise could have two shows each week: one hour that's a "normal" wrestling show and another hour on a different night with the personal lives/behind-the-scenes stuff, with the two playing off and building on each other.

So there it is, folks. Does anybody else at all think this idea has any merit whatsoever, or am I nuts? Of course, I know it will never, ever happen, but I can dream...

[The Lodger]

I personally would love to see a mature, HBO-esque show regarding a professional wrestling organization.

The problem with that an idea like that would've sold a decade ago, when wrestling popularity was its peak. It's a shame the only fictional pro wrestling movie that came out at that time is "Ready 2 Rumble," which may have been the final nail in the coffin for movies about the pro wrestling.

Maybe Aronofsky can save it.

Good idea though

[Joekishi]

I think if they booked a "reallity" wrestling show with that type of camera work, it'd be seen as more of a show.

I'd be all for that.

[mysterydriver]

I liked Playmakers. Omar Gooding was awesome in that show.

Yeah, I'd be up for a Playmakers-type show that revolves around wrestling. I'm sure WWE or even TNA probably wouldn't like it (how the NFL didn't like Playmakers) but it would have the potential to be a darn good drama.

[Vic Mackey]

It could work. Great thing is no one would really take WWE or TNA seriously. My only requirement would be that all the actors be put through serious wrestling school before they even shoot the pilot.