“Beyond the Mat” Director Barry Blaustein Passes Away at 72

Film director Barry Blaustein passed away on Tuesday at the age of 72.

Blaustein’s passing was first announced by the Hollywood Reporter who stated that he had been battling pancreatic cancer and Parkinson’s disease prior to his death. Blaustein was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017 and had been told this past April that he had stage four pancreatic cancer.

In wrestling history, Blaustein is most known for being the writer, director, producer, and narrator of the iconic Beyond the Mat wrestling documentary film. This film was released in 1999 and covered WWE and ECW during the height of the Attitude Era in pro wrestling in the United States. Both WCW and later then WWE owner Vince McMahon refused to be involved with the project.

This film focused on Mick Foley, Terry Funk, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, New Jack, and several other wrestlers from WWE, ECW, and All Pro Wrestling.

This film was also memorable for featuring Foley’s “I Quit” match against The Rock for the WWE Championship at WWE’s Royal Rumble 1999 event. This match was infamous for the repeated unprotected chair shots by The Rock to Foley’s head as Foley’s wife and children watched on from in the crowd.

The Hollywood Reporter stated that Blaustein described his film as being “the favorite thing he has ever done” in his filming career.