GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (2012) March 17, 2024

GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is neither a good, nor bad documentary. Great documentaries like Bowling for Columbine or Super Size Me can change the world. Bad documentaries are usually easy to forget unless they’re evil religious propaganda or conspiracy theory bullshit like Loose Change. Thankfully, GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is a different kind of forgettable documentary. One that’s just about lady wrestling, for fans of lady wrestling.

GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is a general history lesson on the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling promotion that made its mark on professional wrestling in the 1980s. The first half of GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling covers their history from beginning to end. The second half is a veritable GLOW ‘Where are they Now?’ culminating in a long overdue reunion. Most notably, the recently hospitalized Mt. Fuji, who arrives in a wheelchair.

GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling isn’t a documentary that draws the casual observer into a mysterious world of intrigue. There’s no accusation that Carol Baskin killed her husband or a revelation that competitive tickling is a nefarious con orchestrated by a single wealthy pervert. Nothing so salacious or interesting happens in GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling.

Is that so bad? The comparatives I’m offering are sensational National Inquirer esq trash. If anything GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling‘s strength is its wholesome characters. These women seem genuinely kind! They’re proud of their work and deeply miss working in GLOW. Surely there’s room enough in this world for dry unassuming documentaries with heart!

I can’t fault GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling for being boring because it probably wasn’t for me. I enjoy wrestling as much as the next person (as long as the next person isn’t my wife!), but I knew almost nothing about GLOW except what I remember from the Netflix series and now, I know a little more. That’s about the best anyone but a diehard GLOW fan can expect from GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, and that’s OK.