The WWE recently released a new documentary on Peacock about the behind the scenes making of Wrestlemania IX at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. This documentary gives an unprecedented look behind the curtain of one of the more iconic Wrestlemania’s and the people who helped bring it all together.

Wrestlemania IX took place on April 4, 1993. I was 6 years old at the time and very much into wrestling, thanks in large part to my great-grandparents. They adored, “big-time wrasslin’” and would let me watch it anytime I went to their house. Somewhere in one of our many family photo albums, there’s a picture of a very young Jared with underwear on his head pretending to be a wrestler.

Like every little kid in the world at the time, I was a Hulkamaniac. Hulk Hogan was larger than life to me and anytime he did anything, I was on the edge of my seat. As I’ve gotten older I realize who and what Hulk Hogan was….an asshole. His peers from that time are constantly talking shit about him in anything that they do. One thing that is undeniable though, Hulk Hogan moved the needle and made the WWF mountains of money.

This documentary does a great job of telling the behind the scenes stories leading up to Wrestlemania IX. At the time, Hulk Hogan was out of wrestling. The WWF was moving forward with their younger talent. Bret “The Hitman” Hart was the WWF Heavyweight Champion and was scheduled to defend his title against Yokozuna.

Speaking of Bret Hart, as a kid I was a MASSIVE fan of the Excellence of Execution. I’ve told the story many times before on the podcast, but when I was younger I was at a live event and sitting near the ramp. Bret Hart was walking out towards the ring and he took his glasses off and handed them to me. As I went to reach for them, an adult man grabbed them and pulled them away from me. It was crushing. I hope I never run into that guy who took those from me as a young boy because I will throw him in the Sharpshooter and break his back.

Anyways, in this documentary it shows the lead-up to Wrestlemania IX and how tickets weren’t really moving as well as normal. Somewhere along the lines, Vince McMahon reached out to Hulk Hogan, who decided to come back to wrestling. They knew by putting Hogan on the card that tickets would sell. Hogan was added to the card, but in a tag team match. He and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake would take on the WWF Tag Team Champions, Money Inc. which consisted of Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster, aka IRS.

Leading up to the event, Hulk Hogan got injured in what he claims was a jet ski accident, but many others seem to believe that he got into a scuffle with the late, great “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Hogan would show up to the event with a very bad black eye and stitches.

The documentary did a great job of showing and explaining how mad/worried people were behind the scenes. Hogan had to lie to the doctors to even be able to wrestle that night.

Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake would go on to lose the tag team matchup against Money Inc. due to a disqualification, but Hogan’s night would not be done. During Bret Hart’s title fight against Yokozuna, Bret was hit in the eyes with salt by Yokozuna’s manager, Mr. Fuji which enabled Yokozuna to pin Bret Hart and win the WWF Championship. Hulk Hogan ran down to the ring to defend Bret Hart. Mr. Fuji challenged Hogan to face Yokozuna and in an impromptu main event match, Hulk Hogan would beat Yokozuna in just 22 seconds to win the title.

So insanely stupid.

The documentary does a great job of getting the opinions of a lot of the wrestlers who were involved that night. Many of them were upset that Hogan could come back after being away for so long and win the title immediately, and rightfully so. It’s an insanely stupid ending that has been criticized for years since.

That wasn’t the only stupid decision for Wrestlemania IX. For some reason Vince McMahon and the WWF decision makers decided that it would be a good idea to put all of the announcers in togas.

One thing that I didn’t know was that Wrestlemania IX was Jim Ross’ first gig with the WWF…..and he had to do it while wearing a toga. Blasphemy.

The WWF wasn’t done there with the bad outfits. They sent The Giant Gonzalez out to face The Undertaker in an airbrushed body suit with patches of fur all over it.

Look how awful that looks. It’s so comically bad. As a little kid watching this though, I was terrified of both of these men.

Speaking of terrifying, The Undertaker’s entrance at Wrestlemania IX was scary as hell for a young Jared. Coming out with the crow on the perch next to him was pretty badass.

If I’m handing out flowers let me also give some to Shawn Michaels and Tatanka for their match for the Intercontinental Championship to start Wrestlemania IX.

This was a pretty good match to start the show. Tatanka would end up beating Shawn Michaels by countout, but Michaels would retain the championship because titles can only change hands as a result of a pinfall or submission.

Also, the drip from Shawn Michaels was IMMACULATE.

Overall Wrestlemania IX was a bit of a shit show from start to finish. Most wrestling writers and critics gave it overwhelmingly bad reviews at the time, but a young Jared absolutely loved it. Going back and watching it though as an adult, I can see where the critics were coming from.

I thought this documentary was pretty good and I enjoyed all of the behind the scenes access. I don’t think it is the best documentary the WWE has released and it’s surely not the worst. It was a good watch while on the exercise bike, but it’s not something I see myself going back to watch again.

Review: 3/5