I knew this would happen. Back in January and February, the buzz was that Mickey Rourke would be spring-boarding from his success in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” to the real squared circle at the WWE’s WrestleMania on April 5. But some shrewd publicist told Rourke to can it and, indeed, the denials started flowing soon after. Pete Hammond got Rourke to admit he was coerced away from the gig at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in February. After all, who’s going to win an Oscar when you’re about to lace up the boots and get in the ring for real?
Well, sadly, Rourke didn’t win the Oscar after all, but now Elizabeth Snead is reporting he’ll be at the big event after all. And my guess is he was going to be a part of it all along but had to zip it up as he did the song and dance Oscar campaign stuff. From The Dish Rag:
Despite recent reports of award-winning “The Wrestler” actor Mickey Rourke focusing on his film career, he will definitely be in Houston at WrestleMania 25 on April 5.
At least that’s what I was just told by a publicist for Wrestlemania.
But will Mickey jump in the ring? Or will he be dragged in?
One never knows.
I might just order my first pro wrestling pay-per-view since Sting squared off with Hollywood Hogan at 1998’s Starcade! Here’s a clip of Chris Jericho talking smack to Rourke on Larry King Live, which really kicked things into high gear on this story. You can tell he wants to get out of that seat and rip Jericho’s face off, but little gold men were dancing in his head at the time:
(By the way, what do you guys think of the “Wrestler” DVD cover art, pictured above? Some days I like it, some days I don’t.)
Comments
17 responses to “Mickey Rourke will be at WrestleMania after all?”
I like the tribute to Chris Benoit by using the flying/diving headbutt as a finisher.
Shocked at the WrestleMania news. Just shocked. The prom outfit at the Oscars really had me convinced Rourke was trying to change.
The DVD cover is almost as good as the cover with Charlton Heston falling on his knees in front of the ruins of the Statue of Liberty, or the DVD cover with Brad Pitt finding Gwyneth Paltrow’s head in a cardboard box.
It’s about equal with the DVD cover showing Antoine Doinel on the beach in the final jolting shot from The 400 Blows.
(What? Those don’t exist?)
Because isn’t that exactly what we want from cover art? Don’t we all like to read the last page of a novel before we plow through the whole damn thing? Save time! Save money! Give away the ending right up front, so there’s no need to ever open the box!
(Interesting emphasis on the American flag in that shot. Everybody told me I was nuts when I suggested Randy the Ram’s tragic trajectory was Aronofsky’s metaphor for the stubbornly impulsive self-destructive bloodlust of America during the Bush era. That flag flaunting juxtaposition is just a coincidence, I guess.)
I’m a wrestling fan (I know, I know). According to wrestling rumor sites, Rourke will sit ringside during a match of Chris Jericho vs. a couple WWE legends. I don’t think he’s actually going to officially wrestle in the match. The idea would be for him to probably do a run in and punch Jericho in the face or something like that.
Who knows though. Things could change in regards to Rourke actual involvement, but it definitely looks like he will be there in some capacity.
I’ve always assumed he would be at ringside, probably distracting Jericho and then participating in some post-match celebration.
[…] Random Feed wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI knew this would happen. Back in January and February, the buzz was that Mickey Rourke would be spring-boarding from his success in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler†to the real squared circle at the WWE’s WrestleMania on April 5. But some shrewd publicist told Rourke to can it and, indeed, the denials started flowing soon after. Pete Hammond got Rourke to admit he was coerced away from the gig at the Santa Barbara Film Festival in February. After all, who’s going to win an Oscar when y […]
Ha. I watched the ’98 Starcade at my uncle’s house on his stolen cable. Memories….
Honestly, Mickey is probably in better shape than the three men currently set to wrestle Jericho, so maybe it’s not a bad idea.
I really hate that DVD cover. Why couldn’t they use the poster?
So can he win an Emmy or Globe for appearing on Wrestlemania?
Do pay-per-view events qualify for emmys/globes?
P.S. Has WWE won any emmys/sports emmys for their shows? They don’t have a season finale or reruns. (but like any tv show, they do have the occasional “clip show”) They got to have at least one for production or something.
“The Ram” would be a better opponent for “Y2J” than “The Dragon”, “Superfly”, and “Rowdy” (with “The Nature Boy” as manager
)
By recent standards, the DVD cover could have been a lot worse. Still, not good.
I like the cover art…9 out of 10.
The cover is not spoiling anything. It is the Ram’s signature move.
Well, I do hope it will all turn out to be just a ringside viewing as opposed to an actual match.
I love how Jericho want’s to tell Rourke that he was out of line and shit, when Rourke was just naming Jericho jokingly. He wasn’t trying to offend Jericho or anything, he was just messing around. Then Jericho says that while Rourke has the utmost respect for him, he has no respect for Rourke, all in the same breath as talking about how Rourke was “stepping out of line”. Talk about a double sttandard.
Chris Jericho is an ass.
Kevin: Come on, man. Can’t you spot a pro wrestling put on when you see one?
Remind me how participating in a multi-billion dollar sports/entertainment event in conjunction with a film that payed tribute to the sacrifices these athletes make is somehow a bad decision for Rourke? This will probably be seen by more people than bought tickets for the film. And the fucking DVD drops soon. Seriously, the objections to this smack of ignorance and bullshit elitism.
Also this and Undertaker vs. Michaels ensures that I will be throwing down for Wrestlemania for the first time in 15 years. My friends and I may even have pizza, and beer. Are people who care about the Oscars allowed to do that?
Hey Kevin: Jericho can do whatever he wants. Can you tell me who else defeated The Rock AND Stone Cold in two different matches on the same night? Y2J won the WWF and WCW titles that night and became undisputed World Champ!
He can do whatever he wants, even shove down fans that are attacking his car as he is trying to leave the parking lot. (Stupid Canadians)
Kris: Leave us marks alone. :p (where’s your Slammy Awards coverage?)
P.S. Hogan/Sting was @ Starrcade ’97, but I’ll give you a pass cause it was only 3 days before the new year.