Where does GLOW rank in wrestling history?

[FALLOUT Goldashausen #BLM]

As a Vinegar Syndrome investor member, I picked up the Wrestling With Shadows and GLOW documentaries this past month.

Watching the latter, it reminded me of just how unfamiliar I was with their product. The in-ring quality wasn't all that special, and it was clearly a made-for-TV promotion (which eventually toured in its later years). What stood out to me most was GLOW's presentation, which seemed pretty unique even for the 80's.

They went all-in with camp and pretty much removed all suspension of disbelief. The characters and feuds were the stereotypes of the WWF amplified to a ridiculous degree. Some of the commentary in earlier seasons seemed to remind me of a 1930's newsreel. And the odd "Super Bowl Shuffle" references were pretty much everywhere.

Their presentation still holds up as an interesting alternative to the average wrestling promotion. I feel as if it's more like Lucha Underground than the WWF. And it certainly seems a bit more inspired than WOW, WEW or Wrestlicious (or any post-GLOW David McLaine project).

No, it wasn't all that good when judged by modern standards. A lot of it doesn't hold up. But, again, its feel is unlike a lot of promotions in that it didn't take itself very seriously and reveled in its campiness.

Where does GLOW rank in the pantheon of American wrestling promotions? Can you even call it a promotion? (I DON'T KNOOOW!)

[Cyno]

The Netflix show based on it was pretty popular. But I wonder how many people who weren't wrestling fans even knew it was based on a real thing?

[Red Mage Riot]

I think when all is said and done, and isn't it already all said and done, it'll be remembered mostly fondly as incredible 80's cheese. It certainly can't be called great wrestling, but I think it was entertaining and like you said, had a unique presentation style that makes it stand out, for good or bad.

[Ultimo Gallos]

It aired at the right time. 80s coked out glory in wrestling form.

Glad I got to see them live on one of the tours.

But even back then ranking them against whatelse was on the air... Below Mid South/UWF,Crockett,WWF,Florida,Memphis,Continental and whatever was left of Texas/World Class.

It was slightly better than GCCW's short lived tv show.

[Ultimo Gallos]

Feb 20, 2023 23:02:59 GMT -5 Cyno said:

The Netflix show based on it was pretty popular. But I wonder how many people who weren't wrestling fans even knew it was based on a real thing?

I know people who were wrestling fans ,saw the Netflix GLOW and had no clue the old GLOW existed.

[Mozenrath]

I think its biggest legacy is that Ivory got her first real shot on there. I am unsure if anyone else from GLOW went on to do anything else of note.

[David-Arquette was in WCW 2000]

I'm really not sure. It's remembered fondly, and it's still very watchable and enjoyable, but it's apples and oranges compared to most things that have come before or after.

When compared to other 'made for TV' promotions it's more entertaining and stands out more than, say any of the ITV stuff, like the World of Sport relaunch, or Transatlantic Wrestling Challenge.

[tafkaga]

I remember watching this every Saturday Night when I was about 8 years old. It came on after Roller Games and before American Gladiators, if I remember correctly. I loved the colorful characters and wasn't phased by the quality of the in-ring product. I don't remember ever thinking of any wrestling show as 'real' or 'fake'. I just enjoyed it for what it was.

[Fundertaker]

Feb 21, 2023 6:45:07 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I think its biggest legacy is that Ivory got her first real shot on there. I am unsure if anyone else from GLOW went on to do anything else of note.

Jeanne Basone (aka Hollywood) wound up being in the greatest video game of all time... I mean, the game of the greatest video of the Angry Video Game Nerd of all time: Plumbers Don't Wear Ties. If that isn't of note, I don't know what is!

[Bo Rida]

Never saw it but if it was anything like the Netflix episode that was supposed to be like an actual episode then I would have loved it.

Hopefully that makes sense, really difficult to word.

Shame the show ended on a cliffhanger after covid prevented them finishing it.

[Ultimo Gallos]

Feb 21, 2023 6:45:07 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I think its biggest legacy is that Ivory got her first real shot on there. I am unsure if anyone else from GLOW went on to do anything else of note.

In Wrestling not really.

One of the Farmer's Daughters was Beckie Mullen. She was in a pile of late 90s B movies. She passed a few years ago.

Tiffany Mellon went on to do adult movies and last I heard is a bounty hunter.

Hollywood has a small career in low level film making. She was in the infamous Plumpers dont wear ties 3do game. Now is a producer on WOW.

As a kid GLOW waas a funnier better Hee Haw. Sure I didn't get to see Buck Owens perform on GLOW. But they had wrestling to make up for the lack of good singing.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Feb 21, 2023 16:55:00 GMT -5 Ultimo Gallos said:

Feb 21, 2023 6:45:07 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I think its biggest legacy is that Ivory got her first real shot on there. I am unsure if anyone else from GLOW went on to do anything else of note.

In Wrestling not really.

One of the Farmer's Daughters was Beckie Mullen. She was in a pile of late 90s B movies. She passed a few years ago.

Tiffany Mellon went on to do adult movies and last I heard is a bounty hunter.

Hollywood has a small career in low level film making. She was in the infamous Plumpers dont wear ties 3do game. Now is a producer on WOW.

As a kid GLOW waas a funnier better Hee Haw. Sure I didn't get to see Buck Owens perform on GLOW. But they had wrestling to make up for the lack of good singing.

Have any of the Beckie Mullen movies made it to Blu-ray? Edward Holzman directed some of them, and an Edward Holzman double feature or box set seems like just the kind of thing that would be up Vinegar Syndrome’s alley.

It looks like she pops up in The Bikini Car Wash Company II and I know that one is at least on DVD. Although I think it’s one of those, “Well it’s legal until someone says something” releases.

[Ronny Rayguns Is All Elite]

I remember watching this as a kid and it was highly influential on me personally, but the show was pretty damned cheesy/goofy even by 80s pro wrestling standards

[Ultimo Gallos]

Feb 21, 2023 17:16:05 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Feb 21, 2023 16:55:00 GMT -5 Ultimo Gallos said:

In Wrestling not really.

One of the Farmer's Daughters was Beckie Mullen. She was in a pile of late 90s B movies. She passed a few years ago.

Tiffany Mellon went on to do adult movies and last I heard is a bounty hunter.

Hollywood has a small career in low level film making. She was in the infamous Plumpers dont wear ties 3do game. Now is a producer on WOW.

As a kid GLOW waas a funnier better Hee Haw. Sure I didn't get to see Buck Owens perform on GLOW. But they had wrestling to make up for the lack of good singing.

Have any of the Beckie Mullen movies made it to Blu-ray? Edward Holzman directed some of them, and an Edward Holzman double feature or box set seems like just the kind of thing that would be up Vinegar Syndrome’s alley.

It looks like she pops up in The Bikini Car Wash Company II and I know that one is at least on DVD. Although I think it’s one of those, “Well it’s legal until someone says something” releases.

I dont think any Mullen stuff has hit blu ray. Bikini Car Wash Comapny II and part 1 also well most of the copies you find for sale now are bootlegs.

Both got legit dvd releases,of the R rated cuts,in the early 2000s. Those sold out a long ass time ago and someone has been selling DVD-rs with printed out covers of those DVDs on Amazon and Ebay for years.

Beckie has a tiny part in one of the later Andy Sidaris movies. She plays random blonde in hot tub at the radio station.

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

Feb 21, 2023 17:24:32 GMT -5 Ultimo Gallos said:

Feb 21, 2023 17:16:05 GMT -5 KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! said:

Have any of the Beckie Mullen movies made it to Blu-ray? Edward Holzman directed some of them, and an Edward Holzman double feature or box set seems like just the kind of thing that would be up Vinegar Syndrome’s alley.

It looks like she pops up in The Bikini Car Wash Company II and I know that one is at least on DVD. Although I think it’s one of those, “Well it’s legal until someone says something” releases.

I dont think any Mullen stuff has hit blu ray. Bikini Car Wash Comapny II and part 1 also well most of the copies you find for sale now are bootlegs.

Both got legit dvd releases,of the R rated cuts,in the early 2000s. Those sold out a long ass time ago and someone has been selling DVD-rs with printed out covers of those DVDs on Amazon and Ebay for years.

Beckie has a tiny part in one of the later Andy Sidaris movies. She plays random blonde in hot tub at the radio station.

It looks like it was Hard Hunted (1993), so she just missed out on the chance of working with Pat Morita who was in Do or Die (1991).

[carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army)]

As a kid, the WWF and GLOW were the only wrestling shows I knew of that were on. My older brother had vague memories of World Class, but by my time, everything else was on cable, which we didn't get. I think GLOW's influence actually worked to hone people's perception of wrestling, which is still in many ways still stubbornly cemented in the Rock n Wrestling era. GLOW was so 80s, it was just a laser focus on how the culture would see the whole thing.

Speaking personally, Mt. Fiji is the main reason I ever became a wrestling fan.

[Aceorton]

I remember being put off by it at the time. Too hokey. Obviously fake. But at the same time I also found no problem with the acting skills of Brutus Beefcake, so maybe my opinion doesn't hold up.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Hollywood was probably my first crush and in the last few years, I’ve actually met her a couple times and she’s a really nice lady who seems to love wrestling with all her heart.

Sometimes it’s ok to meet your heroes/childhood crushes, FAN!

[El Pollo Guerrera]

GLOW is to wrestling what 'foxy boxing' is to boxing. It may have had the same mechanics but it was an excuse to watch women in tight clothing bounce around on screen.

I'm sure there were wrestling fans, but it was catering to the fans of T&A.