★ 3 / 10
Wrestling equality
TheMovieSearch
Out in the Ring is a documentary that aims to shine a light on LGBTQ+ representation in professional wrestling, a world that hasn't always been kind or…
Out in the Ring is a documentary that aims to shine a light on LGBTQ+ representation in professional wrestling, a world that hasn't always been kind or inclusive. While the film tackles a meaningful subject and introduces viewers to some important voices and personalities, the final product feels a bit scattered and uneven in its execution.From the start, it's clear that wrestling - especially WWE in its earlier years - had a long way to go in terms of accepting LGBTQ+ performers. That message comes through loud and clear, and it's important to hear. The documentary does a solid job highlighting the obstacles and discrimination faced by queer wrestlers, and it introduces a number of performers I had never heard of before but now want to follow. It's especially rewarding to see a familiar face like Lola Star pop back up, which adds a sense of connection and nostalgia.However, the storytelling sometimes feels unfocused. Instead of offering a deeper look into the lives and journeys of these wrestlers, the documentary often leans into a reactionary tone - emphasizing blame and frustration - rather than letting the stories speak for themselves. I would have preferred more personal, inspiring accounts of growth, perseverance, and success in the industry, which could have made the film more emotionally engaging.There are also moments of confusion, particularly around gender identity and pronouns. For viewers who aren't familiar with the broader LGBTQ+ spectrum, references to "he/him" and "she/her" for the same person without context can feel unclear. While part of that reflects the learning curve around gender fluidity or nonbinary identity, the documentary could have done more to provide clarity and educational context for its audience.Overall, Out in the Ring tells an important story and shines a spotlight on voices that deserve recognition in wrestling. It's worth watching for anyone interested in LGBTQ+ representation in sports and pop culture. That said, its lack of cohesion and inconsistent storytelling keep it from reaching its full potential, making it a film I appreciated seeing but probably won't revisit.
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★ 6 / 10
Out in the ring
BandSAboutMovies
With segments on everyone from Chyna, Effy, Lisa Marie Varon and Nyla Rose to Chris Colt, Chris Kanyon, Pat Patterson, Valerie Wyndham, Dani Jordyn, Cassandro…
With segments on everyone from Chyna, Effy, Lisa Marie Varon and Nyla Rose to Chris Colt, Chris Kanyon, Pat Patterson, Valerie Wyndham, Dani Jordyn, Cassandro, Charlie Morgan, Sandy Parker, Sonny Kiss, Pollo Del Mar, Sue Green, Wade Keller and so many more, Out In the Ring explores the lives of LGBTQ professional wrestlers past and present, as well as the history of LGBTQ representation in professional wrestling.
By using the traditional modern talking head doc style of archival footage and interviews, this does a great job not only showing where pro wrestling was but where it's going. I was really excited to see luchador and wrestling historian Vandal Drummond show up in this, as well as to see info on wrestlers of the past like "Exotic" Adrian Street and Austin Idol, as well as how the hypermasculine ideal of pro wrestling -- hello, Road Warriors being Tom of Finland dreamboats -- containing more than just CIS sexuality.
This is the first feature from director Ryan Bruce Levey, who has a huge subject to tackle in a short time. Wrestling in all ways has come so far -- just look at the Raw segments with Lawler saying all sorts of anti-gay rhetoric and guys still lead these chants on shows I've been on -- but still has so far to come, much like the rest of the world.
As someone who has wrestled independently since 1995, it's been interesting to be a part of the way wrestling shifts and changes. Even in my own way, I've had to change, as while we used to do a podcast that made fun of homoerotic moments in wrestling's past, I wonder now if people knew that we were doing that to make fun of the way that so much of wrestling pretends that it could never be queer? Regardless, I'm happy that people are finding a home within an entertainment genre that I love so much.
The only thing that makes me sad about this is that it places Sonny Kiss and Nyla Rose's AEW success as a major step forward and now...neither gets hardly any TV time. Let's change that too.
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AUDIENCE
6.5/10
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Yes, Hello. Danhausen here. Please seed this film movie or be cursed!