Movies like Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel (2014)
The best movies like Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel (2014) are Beyond the Mat (1999), Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998) and GLOW: The Story of The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012). If Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- NewestA Toxic Love Story (2026)Released 2026
Beyond the Mat (1999)
A heartfelt documentary focusing on the day-to-day lives of professional wrestlers, some on the rise, some on the wane, and others fighting for their lives.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisHitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998)
This documentary follows superstar Bret Hart during his last year in the WWF. The film documents the tensions that resulted in The Montreal Screwjob, one of the most controversial events in the history of professional wrestling, in which Vince McMahon, Shawn Micheals, and others, legitimately conspired behind the scenes to go against the script and remove Bret Hart as champion.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisGLOW: The Story of The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012)
The year is 1986. Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) is about to burst onto the scene as the first ever all-female wrestling show on television. By 1989, the GLOW girls were an international phenomenon, attracting over seven million viewers worldwide, touring the nation and making big bank for the show's producers. One year later, GLOW was gone. GLOW: THE STORY OF THE GORGEOUS LADIES OF WRESTLING chronicles the rise and fall of this hit television show through the stories of those who lived it. For some, the show was a brief foray into acting and a short-lived adventure. For others, their time in GLOW would impact and influence their lives for years to follow. For all of the women, working on GLOW was a unique and exciting experience that will bond them forever.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisYou Cannot Kill David Arquette (2020)
Following his infamous championship as part of a marketing stunt for the film Ready to Rumble, David Arquette is widely known as the most hated man in pro-wrestling worldwide. Nearly 20 years after he "won" the initial title, through ups and downs in his career, with his family, and with his struggles with addiction, David Arquette seeks redemption by returning to the ring...for real this time.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisAndre the Giant (2018)
An ambitious and wide-ranging documentary exploring Andre’s upbringing in France, his celebrated career in WWE, and his forays in the entertainment world.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014)
Hollywood veteran Bing Russell creates the only independent baseball team in the country—alarming the baseball establishment and sparking the meteoric rise of the 1970s Portland Mavericks.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisBRATS (2024)
In the 1980s, Andrew McCarthy was part of a young generation of actors who were set to take over Hollywood after a string of successful teen movies. However, when the New York magazine cover story in 1985 dubs them the Brat Pack, stars in the making suddenly find themselves losing control over the trajectory of their careers. Now, almost forty years later, McCarthy looks to reconnect with peers and co-stars so that together they can reflect on their respective legacies.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisFacing Ali (2009)
Ten of Muhammad Ali's former rivals pay tribute to the three-time world heavyweight champion.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCome See Me in the Good Light (2025)
In an intimate and joyful story of love in the face of loss, celebrated poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley find strength—and unexpected hilarity—in what might be their final year together.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisStruggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski (2018)
Artists in LA discover the work of forgotten Polish sculptor Stanislav Szukalski, a mad genius whose true story unfolds chapter by astounding chapter.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMy Mom Jayne (2025)
Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and complex woman.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Absolute CinemaMovies like thisThe Mole: Undercover in North Korea (2020)
A real-life undercover thriller about two ordinary men who embark on an outrageously dangerous ten-year mission to penetrate the world's most secretive and brutal dictatorship: North Korea.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFor the Love of Spock (2016)
The life of Mr. Spock, as well as that of Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played him for almost fifty years, written and directed by his son: Adam.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisLeague of Legends Origins (2019)
Fans, experts and creators of “League of Legends” detail the game’s rise from free demo to global esports titan.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisOrgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste (2022)
A sexual wellness company gains fame and followers, then members come forward with shocking allegations.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisMarvel's Behind the Mask (2021)
A documentary special that explores the power of identity behind the iconic superheroes we know and love today. These legendary Marvel creations and stories have not only reflected the world outside our window – they have become a reflection of our own identities and who we truly are.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisGet Me Roger Stone (2017)
From his days of testifying at the Watergate hearings to advising recent presidential candidate Donald Trump, Roger Stone has long offended people on both sides of the political fence as a force in conservative America. Outspoken author, pundit, ahead of his time election strategist, this is his story.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisCharlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin (2003)
Brilliant, long in-the-works story of the life and art of the world's greatest comedian and the cinema's first genius, Charlie Chaplin. Produced, written and directed by renowned film critic Richard Schickel.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Worth the HypeMovies like thisA Toxic Love Story (2026)
A string of threatening emails escalates into a revenge plot involving a newly married US marshal and his ex-girlfriend.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGilbert (2017)
The life and career of one of comedy's most inimitable modern voices, Mr. Gilbert Gottfried.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisChoose Death: Necro Butcher: Inside the Mind of a Wrestling Madman (2008)
Known as one of the wrestling world's most fearless figures, West Virginian native Dylan "The Necro Butcher" Summers has made his name competing in brutal hardcore matches, often involving items such as barbed wire, light tubes or worse. Featuring a compilation of bone-crushing matches, career highlights and the first interview the Butcher has ever granted, this documentary offers a rare glimpse inside the mind of a true madman.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
La Lucha: The Struggle (2005)
Behold La Lucha, a "roller derby gone awry" type of sport -- but without the skates -- that calls drag queens, transvestites, mobsters and a menagerie of other characters its fans. But what is it, exactly? This fascinating documentary answers that burning question and more as it examines how this strange duck first came to be and how it grew to become a cult hit, capturing the imagination of audiences far and wide.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
WWF: Hardy Boyz - Leap of Faith (2001)
Hard-hitting, high fliers of the WWE, The the Hardy Boyz have changed the face of sports entertainment with their superior athleticism and awesome aerial assault. Bursting onto the scene in 1999, real-life brothers Matt and Jeff have captured the imaginations of wrestling fans around the globe. Featuring six complete matches, this documentary profile showcases the "Boyz" at the top of their game, sacrificing their bodies, and pushing the sport to the extreme.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Watch the Lights (2024)
Directed by North East filmmaker Alex Ayre, this gripping behind-the-scenes journey follows NORTH Wrestling through the summer of 2023, leading up to its most ambitious event yet—Thunderstruck. Equal parts thrilling, humorous, and heartfelt, the film showcases the passion and dedication that go into staging a professional wrestling event. "Watch The Lights" has cemented itself as a standout celebration of independent wrestling and filmmaking, earning a Royal Television Society Regional Award nomination. The Film Magazine hails it as "...a must-watch documentary." For newcomers, it offers a fascinating introduction to the artistry of wrestling, while die-hard fans will gain deeper insight into the NORTH Wrestling community—both in and out of the ring.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Hulk Hogan: A Real American Story (1991)
A pay-per-view special titled "Titan's Hot Ticket: Hulk Hogan - A Real American Story" featuring classic matches & segments of Hulk Hogan. Join "Mean" Gene Okerlund as he takes you on a tour of the early days of WWF Champion Hulk Hogan. Meet his parents, Pete & Ruth and get an inside look on The Hulkster. Iron Sheik vs. Hulk Hogan Wrestlemania 3 – Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant Wrestlemania 5 – Randy Savage vs. Hulk Hogan Summerslam 1990 – Hulk Hogan vs. Earthquake Wrestlemania 7 – Sgt. Slaughter vs. Hulk Hogan
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Ultimate Christian Wrestling (2013)
Why would two New York-based filmmakers dedicate five years of their lives to following three white, Jesus-loving, spandex-clad men from the Bible Belt, particularly when the world of documentary filmmaking has generated its fair share of films concerning sensationalistic religious expression and contact sports in recent years? Because it's not about wrestling, and it's not about Jesus. Against a bizarre and entertaining backdrop, and through a motley cast of characters, we are reminded of what connects us all, lest we forget what it means to be human.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
The Backyard (2002)
Lightbulbs, fire, barbed wire, mousetraps, staple guns, thumbtacks and glass are weapons of choice in The Backyard. This undercover documentary takes you deep into the controversial arena of backyard wrestling where the limits are constantly being tested...and broken. The Backyard follows several backyard wrestlers in different countries as they pursue their dream to become professional wrestlers.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes (2023)
This intimate and revealing documentary follows professional wrestler, Cody Rhodes, from leaving the WWE to his eventual return to WrestleMania and his journey chasing the WWE championship一a feat his father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, never accomplished.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Savage (1977)
A PBS documentary shot in the "famous Portland Sports Arena" in the mid 70's. Although the film centers around a feud between the Iron Sheik and Dutch Savage, which culminates in a coal miner's glove match, there are also cameo appearances by other wrestlers such as Jimmy Snuka, Jesse Ventura, etc. Plus it interviews people in the crowd who come to the matches every week, including a few sweet old ladies.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
Credible (TBA)
CREDIBLE, an intense and gritty documentary that gives us a window into the very real life of Peter Polaco, better known to the world as famed professional wrestler JUSTIN CREDBILE.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel?
The closest matches to Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel are Beyond the Mat (1999), Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998) and GLOW: The Story of The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel?
Start with Beyond the Mat (1999), the closest match to Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel.
What is the newest movie like Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel?
A Toxic Love Story (2026) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there English movies like Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel?
Yes: Beyond the Mat (1999), Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998) and GLOW: The Story of The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012).
How are movies similar to Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Timeline The History of WWE – 1981 – As Told By Rick Martel, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.