Card Subject to Change

Card Subject to Change is a documentary directed by Tim Disbrow that chronicles independent promoter Johnny Falco and his wrestling promotion National Wrestling Superstars which is based in New Jersey. It's a behind the scenes look at how things works, wrestler interaction, the money they make etc. Whether you like the sport or not, this documentary is absolutely fascinating. As a one time wrestling super fan I loved every minute of it. Probably the early 2000s is when I stopped liking wrestling, though I continued to play the Japanese wrestling video games onward.

What I got out of this doc was a bleak and grim view of the lives of professional wrestlers trying to make it. A lot of these guys, most of them have other jobs to get by in the world. Independent wrestlers don't make much money, basically you can make anywhere from $50 up towards the thousands, depending on how hot you are, experience, recognition etc... If you ever saw the movie The Wrestler, with Mickey Rourke playing the titular character Randy "Ram Jam" Robinson, that'll give you an idea. That movie is as close as it comes to the independent wrestling scene. Rourke's character in the film is famous because of how big he was in the 80s. Think Hulk Hogan's recognition and fame, only in the film Rourke's character pissed away his fortune and lives in a van when he can't pay his trailer park bills. Well... a lot of famous wrestlers from the 80s and even 90s wrestle in the independent scene today. Some of them are probably just like Ram Jam in The Wrestler. Lots of them in fact though the wrestlers featured in this doc I'm not too certain are poor now rather than just not being able to let go.

I was shocked to discover Philadelphia native Trent Acid overdosed a few years back... SMH

Wrestlers I remember from the 80s are featured prominently, most notably manager Percy Pringle, Kamala and Kevin Sullivan. Kevin Sullivan for example doesn't look destitute, he seems to be one of those wrestlers who just refuses to let go of a job he loves to do. Kamala is a truck driver on the side. In this doc you see a few more familiar faces that work these indie jobs that were once huge, massive draws that you have to assume are financially dead because of whatever demons they invite to ruin their lives. But then there are the low tier, unknown wrestlers that simply cannot survive indie-wrestling without having a normal nine to five.

When it was over I felt horrible for these guys! It was pretty depressing and the stuff they show you just can't help but to feel for them. Watching the morons who take steroids, the ones like Trent Acid who were  insanely popular making a living wrestling the indie circuit all over the world only to die by drug abuse. I have to shake my head. Again, whether you like wrestling or loathe it, this doc is recommended watching. 

Fan-Gasm Score:

5-Stars despite walking away feeling depressed