Biography: WWE Legends

Roman Reigns is the preeminent WWE Superstar of his generation and on his way to becoming one of the greatest champions in the modern era of sports entertainment. Despite his success, Reigns’ journey has been filled with adversity around every corner. As a son of a WWE Hall of Famer and a member of the vaunted “Samoan Dynasty,” it appeared Joe Anoa’i was destined for the ring. However, his mindset was focused on the football field and a future in the NFL. When a rare form of leukemia put an end to that dream, the WWE beckoned and Joe transformed into Roman Reigns. While the company saw a main event Superstar, fans could never fully support the heroic Roman. Following the guiding words of his older brother, Roman began to embrace his darker side to find otherworldly success as the Tribal Chief of WWE.

With the opportunity to end his career where it began in Dallas, Texas, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is lured out of retirement to compete in one last match, against Kevin Owens in the main event of WrestleMania 38 from AT&T Stadium. Surrounded by uncertainty and the fear of tarnishing his Hall of Fame legacy, Steve Austin prepares for one final performance, more than 19 years after retiring from active in-ring competition.

Born into a legendary shadow, Eddie Guerrero’s destiny was seemingly already written. The youngest son of Mexico’s first family of wrestling, Eddie’s assentation to wrestling superstardom was fueled by desire yet flawed by addiction. This episode showcases one of the most charismatic superstars to ever step in a ring, on a journey to make his family and heritage proud, but only after losing it all. While fame and fortune would come with a price, the metamorphosis of WWE’s first Mexican American Champion proved to be an inspirational one, and created a legacy still felt today.

Throughout his career, Ricky Steamboat was widely regarded as the wrestler’s wrestler. He was often celebrated for his intense work ethic, charisma and incredible physique but he earned his place as an icon on the strength of four legendary bouts–his 1989 three-match series against The Nature Boy over the NWA World Championship, and a Wrestlemania III classic against “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Through a series of intimate interviews between Steamboat and his peers, including greatest rival Ric Flair, this episode peels back layers to reveal a more personal Ricky, from his humble beginnings as a military brat, unshakeable family values, trials and triumphs, all culminating in the legendary bouts that sealed his place as an icon in sports-entertainment history.

During the mid-90s, a cultural awakening was taking place in American society. Grunge music and crash TV were all the rage, and a wave of brazen attitude was sweeping the country. Spearheaded by brash industry visionary Paul Heyman, a small upstart wrestling promotion in Philadelphia harnessed this societal shift and began presenting a completely alternative product. Tables & barbed wire replaced handshakes & headlocks, authentic personalities replaced the cartoon characters come-to-life, and the live audience evolved from mere spectators to being an integral part of the show. Unfortunately, the same risky presentation that brought them popularity, would ultimately lead to their demise. This is ECW–Extreme Championship Wrestling–an underground movement that would change the face of professional wrestling forever, and create a unique legacy that is still felt to this day in WWE.

Rob Van Dam’s refusal to let others define who he is has helped him to become known as one of the most beloved and one-of-a-kind superstars in sports entertainment history. From his humble beginnings showing off in the local pool, to becoming the biggest name in ECW, Rob blazed his own path to the top of WWE. This episode follows the breathtaking highs and devastating lows along the path of the “Whole Dam Show”.

The Steiner Brothers, Rick and Scott, are regarded as one of the greatest tag teams in sports entertainment history. Rick and Scott started their career as amateurs at the University of Michigan, using their experience and physique to dominate sports entertainment throughout the ’90s, winning nearly every championship in every major promotion–WCW, WWE, New Japan and ECW. After dominating the tag team division, the brothers decided to go their separate ways. Scott enjoyed a successful singles run, which included winning the WCW World Heavyweight title, unfortunately ending with a near-death injury in 2007. Throughout it all, the brothers stayed true to themselves and their family.

The Miz has become one of the biggest, most talented stars in WWE and vital to the company’s success. However, the road to arrive there was anything but easy. Mike Mizanin grew up in suburban Cleveland, Ohio with an insatiable desire to perform in front of a camera. After landing a spot on MTV’s “Real World” reality show as a 20 year old, he set his sights on becoming a WWE superstar. It wasn’t long until he realized that achieving his WWE dream would be the most difficult test of his life. Living in Los Angeles, Mizanin was broke, sapped of all his confidence and had family members wondering if he was throwing his life away. Still, he persisted, eventually earning a spot on WWE’s main roster.

Growing up in poverty, Mark Henry just wanted to be someone special. In the small town of Silsbee, Texas, Mark would gain national headlines in high school as The World’s Strongest Teenager. Once the victim of bullying and a few stints in juvenile detention, Mark’s prowess for powerlifting helped turn his life around and made him an Olympic athlete. But after refusing to cheat in a sport riddled with performance enhancers, Mark turned to his childhood passion: Sports Entertainment. Navigating the backstage politics and in-ring challenges, Mark Henry would eventually establish himself as WWE’s “World’s Strongest Man” in the ring. Now that his Hall of Fame career has come to an end, Mark’s focus is on improving the lives of his family, friends, and fans around the world as he gives back to the communities and people that helped him.

Ted DiBiase chronicles his career in the ring portraying one of WWE’s most memorable characters while dealing with family and marital struggles behind the scenes. Growing up the son of two professional wrestlers, Ted found early success as a skilled in-ring performer. However, in the late 80’s, he became the flashy and brash character known as the Million Dollar Man leading his career to unforeseen heights. As the fictional world of WWE melded with his reality, Ted’s family life disintegrated. With a relentless devotion to his faith and his family, Ted pushed his Hall of Fame career to the side. While wrestling is all Ted had ever known, he would soon find that becoming the committed father and husband his family needed was his true calling.

The self-described GOAT, Paul Heyman has been a legendary influence in sports entertainment for over four decades. The child of a Holocaust survivor, Paul has the tenacious ability to fight for everything he has gotten–from being a ringside photographer at age 15, to an on-screen manager on national television at age 21, to promoting the third largest wrestling organization, ECW at age 28; Paul Heyman has remained in the spotlight by constantly reinventing himself and staying ahead of the industry. Whether on screen or behind the scenes, there is no better mouthpiece than Paul Heyman as Paul has been the catalyst in helping to cultivate some of the biggest names in sports entertainment, like Stone Cold Steve Austin and Brock Lesnar. This biography has captured not only the essence of Paul Heyman the professional, but also captured Paul Heyman personally as Paul discusses his relationship with his family, and what they have meant to his success.

Trish Stratus, arguably the greatest female performer in the history of the WWE, gives viewers an unprecedented look into her life detailing intimate moments never heard before. Trish turned her former career as a fitness model into a seven-time WWE Champion, becoming the first female performer to main of an episode of WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw. Trish’s drive pushed her to be one of the best in the industry, but did it come at a cost?

Becky Lynch grew up as an unathletic teenager in Dublin, Ireland, but after her father encouraged her to follow her dreams she set out to make a name for herself in the world of professional wrestling. Often overlooked, Becky’s sheer will and determination forced the WWE Universe to take notice and she would go on to become one of the biggest superstars in WWE history. This documentary covers the unlikely story of a woman who refused to settle for less on her way to fame, success, love, and motherhood.