A&E Network and WWE Studios are teaming up to produce five original two-hour documentaries about wrestlers under the “Biography” banner. The docs will dive into the lives and careers of former WWE Superstars “Macho Man” Randy Savage, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Booker T, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels.
Through new and archival interviews and never-before-seen footage, each feature-length film will give fans an in-depth look at the early lives, rises to fame, and careers of some of the most influential stars in professional wrestling history.
Macho Man’s, Piper’s and Booker T’s docs are currently in production. Directors and descriptions for each of those Spring 2020 docs are below.
We’ll get more info on the “Stone Cold” and Michaels’ “Biography” episodes at a later date. Fans will have to wait for 2021 for those two.
“We are thrilled for the tremendous opportunity to partner with WWE Studios to produce these special films that honor some of the most impactful personalities who have left a lasting imprint on pop culture,” Elaine Frontain Bryant, executive vice president and head of programming, A&E Network, said in a statement.
“We are thrilled to partner with A&E, and be in business with award-winning directors Billy Corben, Joe Lavine and George Roy, as we bring these documentaries to life,” said Susan Levison, senior vice president & head of WWE Studios. “This project further solidifies WWE Studios’ commitment to deliver new programming across genres and platforms.”
The WWE “Biography” documentaries are produced by WWE Studios for A&E Network. Executive producers for WWE Studios are Kevin Dunn, Chris Kaiser and Richard Lowell. Executive producers for A&E Network are Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson.
As promised, some more info on the first crop, straight for A&E and WWE:
Biography: “Macho Man” Randy Savage – Directed by Billy Corben (“Cocaine Cowboys,” “Screwball,” “The U”), this film will tell the larger-than-life story of one of the most colorful and charismatic Superstars to ever step foot inside the ring. With two WWE Championships, four WCW World Championships and a 14-month reign as Intercontinental Champion, Savage became known for his famous catch phrases, larger-than-life personality and the enormous, flashy robes he wore into the ring. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015.
Biography: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper – Directed by Emmy and Peabody Award winner Joe Lavine (ESPN 30 for 30 “Playing for the Mob,” HBO “Namath”) this film focuses on “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, who is universally considered one of WWE’s greatest villains. During his Hall of Fame career, he played the role of the antagonist against a who’s who of WWE greats, while amassing more than 30 championships.
Biography: Booker T – Directed by Emmy and Peabody Award winner George Roy (“The Curse of the Bambino”, “Mayweather”), this film showcases one of the greatest Superstars in sports entertainment history. Booker T is an 11-time WCW Tag Team Champion, a six-time World Champion, winner of the 2006 King of the Ring Tournament, and a two-time (2013 and 2019) inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. In addition to his Hall of Fame career in the ring, Booker T also went on to become a color commentator for WWE’s weekly programming.