Thunderlips vs Rocky: What was the point?

[wildojinx]

Even though the Thunderlips vs Rocky scene from Rocky 3 was awesome and all, i wonder what the point of the scene was exactly. I mean, it had nothing really to do with the main story, it just seemed shoehorned in there.

[agent817]

It was supposed to be a charity boxing vs. wrestling match. I think it was supposed to be one last thing Rocky did before he decided to retire, until Clubber Lang called him out in public.

["I'm Batman..."]

Yeah, it was an exhibition.

[andrew8798]

You got to have the video



In 82 I would have thought this was cool as hell

[SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts]

I think it was a reference to Muhammed Ali's wrestling matches. And as far as the story, Rocky this time hasn't had many serious fights and opening with a comedy match would be to show he wasn't as hungry anymore.

[Sephiroth]

Dec 22, 2012 23:51:16 GMT -5 SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts said:

I think it was a reference to Muhammed Ali's wrestling matches. And as far as the story, Rocky this time hasn't had many serious fights and opening with a comedy match would be to show he wasn't as hungry anymore.

This. The movies were very heavily inspired by Muhammad Ali's various exploits. Apollo Creed was obviously based on Ali. Clubber Lang was based on George Foreman. The match with Thunderlips was based on numerous exhibition shows Ali did with wrestlers, and his infamous bodyslamming by Gorilla Monsoon.

[Red Impact]

As others have said, the early part of the movie was basically about him being soft. His training was a joke, he hadn't been up against any real challengers, so it basically was there to help illustrate that this guy who worked so hard to get where he was had gotten complacent, spending his time doing charity stunts rather than really training.

[Lupin the Third]

Wasn't this the part also that showed Mickey was starting to have heart issues.

[andrew8798]

Dec 23, 2012 0:00:35 GMT -5 Lupin the Third said:

Wasn't this the part also that showed Mickey was starting to have heart issues.

Yep

[wildojinx]

Dec 22, 2012 23:59:30 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

Dec 22, 2012 23:51:16 GMT -5 SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts said:

I think it was a reference to Muhammed Ali's wrestling matches. And as far as the story, Rocky this time hasn't had many serious fights and opening with a comedy match would be to show he wasn't as hungry anymore.

This. The movies were very heavily inspired by Muhammad Ali's various exploits. Apollo Creed was obviously based on Ali. Clubber Lang was based on George Foreman. The match with Thunderlips was based on numerous exhibition shows Ali did with wrestlers, and his infamous bodyslamming by Gorilla Monsoon.

I thought the films were based off Chuck Wepner's career (at least the first 3).

[SHAKEMASTER TV9 is Don Knotts]

Stallone denied it was but it probably was influenced by Wepner. And he wrestled Andre so it may be the general Boxers vs Wrestlers match. But the reason I think Ali because at that time Rocky had become a huge cultural sensation in that universe and was more focused on the show aspect. Not an expert on it but I bet Wepner vs Andre was more a cash-in for Wepner than something big like an Ali vs anyone event.

*To add, this type of Boxer vs Wrestler match as a cash-in for Rocky would work in Rocky II when he decided to leave boxing and try to use whatever pop culture cache he had left for money like the TV commercial.

[Danimal]

Dec 23, 2012 0:05:34 GMT -5 wildojinx said:

Dec 22, 2012 23:59:30 GMT -5 Sephiroth said:

This. The movies were very heavily inspired by Muhammad Ali's various exploits. Apollo Creed was obviously based on Ali. Clubber Lang was based on George Foreman. The match with Thunderlips was based on numerous exhibition shows Ali did with wrestlers, and his infamous bodyslamming by Gorilla Monsoon.

I thought the films were based off Chuck Wepner's career (at least the first 3).

This

When Ali was put in his wrestler match they alsoactually put Wepner in against Andre the Giant for good measure. So they did continue to use Wepner's story. Plus, as was said earlier, it did show how Rocky had changed and Mick's ticker was bad.

[Cela]

Show he'd gone soft.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Yeah Rocky's story is based around Wepner. At first I never believed it, myself, but then I watch the ESPN 30 for 30 about Wepner and there is no denying, Rocky and the things he did were inspired by Wepner. Creed is definitely Ali, but that's cause Wepner fought Ali in a similar situation as Rocky fought Creed.

If you haven't seen that 30 for 30, you should. It's called The Real Rocky, it's on Netflix, hell, Vince McMahon is freaking in it if you need any more incentive.

[Dean-o]

LIGHTS OUT MEATBALL!

[fw91]

its based on wepner, but another connection to ali, is that in the second lang fight, Rocky does his a rendition of the "Rope A Dope" strategy.

[Deleted]

Dec 23, 2012 0:03:24 GMT -5 andrew8798 said:

Dec 23, 2012 0:00:35 GMT -5 Lupin the Third said:

Wasn't this the part also that showed Mickey was starting to have heart issues.

Yep

This was partially to show that Mick was fine with the "set-up" fights, but in a match or fight where there was no control - Mick got very nervous.

[TheDieselTrain]

Dec 23, 2012 2:52:37 GMT -5 Dean-o said:

LIGHTS OUT MEATBALL!

I marked when I heard Hogan yell this during his match w/ The Rock at WM18.

On topic when I was little I always wondered if when Hulk was shooting and being rough on Rocky it was because Clubber paid him to injure Rocky because he obviously was angry when Rocky slammed him over the top rope.

[Deleted]

It showed the Rocky wasn't taking his title reign/defenses seriously. Just another of Mickey's setups.

[Hit Girl]

They had fought previously and Rocky won. So Thunderlips wanted to get his win back, but that no good referee screwed the Lipster, brothas!