Likely the greatest fictional piece of pro-wrestling related media ever made, GLOW on Netflix is a hilarious, thought-provoking and dramatic look at a group of flawed individuals coming together and growing through the magic of pro wrestling. While the show is largely interested in developing its characters and plots and not so much with dropping tons of pro wrestling references, the show still does throw out one every once in a while. Gotta give something to the wrestling fans tuning in you know.
Whether it’s Macho Men, Gorgeous people or even a building, let’s take a look at 10 real-life wrestling references made on Netflix’s GLOW.
Randy Savage (S3 E6)
Ouuu yeah! One of the most popular wrestlers in the Golden Age of pro wrestling, Randy “Macho Man” Savage was a powerhouse known for his ridiculous interviews and larger than life personality. Many ladies would swoon for this muscle-bound bruiser including apparently Carmen from GLOW.
In the episode “Outward Bound” from season 3, Rhonda and Carmen are in a car playing a game of MASH (Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House). When it’s Carmen’s turn, she name drops Keith (Cherry’s husband), Don Johnson of Miami Vice fame, and Randy Savage. No offense to the other two, but the Macho Man only takes the mansion dig it!?
The Undertaker (S3 E10)
While this one stretches more into homage over a direct reference, it’s clear that GLOW is tipping their hat in the finale of season 3 to The Phenom of the WWE, The Undertaker.
During “A Very GLOW Christmas” Zoya The Destroyah has to deal with her own version of A Christmas Carol. This show ends with the main event of Zoya facing off against Death as played by Carmen. Not only does she have the all-black ensemble of the Deadman, but she also does the signature sit up recovery associated with Undertaker. We salute you for that one GLOW.
Bobby Heenan (S3 E6)
In season 3 Tammé Dawson has to deal with the fact that her health is starting to fail her. The ravages of wrestling is causing her tremendous back pain and when her friends find out, they try to get her to step out of the ring for good. When Carmen brings up the topic of managers, the greatest manager in pro wrestling history is mentioned.
That would be the one and only Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. Manager of such legends like Andre The Giant, Rick Rude, Big John Studd and so much more. If Tammé is able to channel even 10% of Heenan’s charisma and wit, her managerial career should be amazing.
Cyndi Lauper (S3 E6)
In that very same conversation, another name is brought up that may be more familiar to music fans than wrestling fans. While gushing about managers, Carmen mentions that Cyndi Lauper managed female wrestler and WWE Hall Of Famer Wendi Richter back at the very first WrestleMania.
But that’s not the only contribution Lauper had to the wrestling industry. As a hugely popular singer in her day, Lauper’s connections to Captain Lou Albano and by extension the WWE led to the boom of the Rock N’ Wrestling connection which catapulted pro wrestling into the mainstream like never before. Speaking of Captain Lou Albano…
Captain Lou Albano (S3 E6)
Capping off the trifecta of managers that Carmen spoke to Tammé about, we have a wrestling manager that might be the most well known outside of wrestling; Captain Lou Albano. Not only was Albano a longtime manager of villains such as Ivan Koloff, but he also was instrumental in getting Cyndi Lauper involved with the WWE via their friendship.
As a result of it, Albano starred in the music video for “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” as Lauper’s grumpy father. Finally as shown above, Albano played Mario on the short-lived but nostalgic for many Super Mario Bros. Super Show.
Chavo’s Gym
True wrestling fans know all about the Guerrero family. Its most famous member of the family Eddie Guerrero was a WWE champion and Hall of Famer although his brother Mando Guerrero was no slouch in his own right as he trained the original cast of GLOW back in the 1980s. His nephew Chavo Guerrero Jr. would have a big role in the Netflix version of GLOW as he not only played a wrestler on the series but also trained the actresses for the show.
As a tribute to Chavo Guerrero, the gym which the ladies on the Netflix show train in is called Chavo’s Gym. This makes it more of an Easter Egg than a direct reference, but it’s still a cool inclusion.
Hulk Hogan (S1 E1)
If you were to create a Mount Rushmore of professional wrestling, Hulk Hogan’s tanned face would have to be on top of that rock surface. Despite his controversies, his contributions to pro wrestling cannot be ignored and GLOW knows this.
In the pilot of the series when Ruth finds out she will be auditioning for this weird wrestling show, she studies up on the hottest pro wrestlers at the time. Which considering the show takes place in the mid-80s, is without a doubt Hulk Hogan. He shows up in archived footage on her TV screen in his iconic red and yellow attire.
Gorgeous George (S1 E4)
In many ways the prototype for all wrestling heels (villains) that would follow, Gorgeous George was a vain, arrogant and sophisticated jerk that would rile audiences up back in the early days of professional wrestling. These iconic traits are still copied by wrestlers to this day and GLOW makes mention of the legend back in episode 4 of the first season.
In an attempt to motivate the cast to create a gimmick, Bash showcases old tape of the Gorgeous One entering the ring with his ostrich feathers. This plants the seeds of Britannica and the rest of the zany lady gimmicks on the show. We salute you George.
Ric Flair (S1 E1)
Cut very much from the same cloth as a Gorgeous George, Ric Flair also portrayed a character who was vain, arrogant and flashed his exuberant lifestyle at every turn. However since he became popular in the 80s, this lifestyle revolved around sleeping with beautiful women, showing off expensive suits and jewelry and flying in private planes. He was the number one villain of the decade.
Like Hulk Hogan, Flair is mentioned in the pilot of the series as somebody who Ruth studies to perfect his wrestling gimmick. Looks like she made a couple of good choices in Flair and Hogan. WOO!
Bruno Sammartino/Stan Hansen (S2 E7)
Going back a decade to the 1970s, you’d be hard-pressed to find two more popular wrestlers from the era than Stan Hansen and “The Italian Strongman” Bruno Sammartino. One was a violent, surly cowboy who would fight anyone anywhere and the other was the premier babyface (hero) of New York for Vince McMahon Sr.’s WWWF territory.
These two are mentioned by Bash when he recalls attending a match of theirs when he was a child between the two where Hansen messed up a body slam and broke the neck of Sammartino. This incident was infamous for almost ending Sammartino’s career and when Ruth suffered a much less serious injury, the energetic Bash went into meltdown mode thinking his number one heel was finished. Thankfully both Sammartino and Ruth would live to wrestle another day.
