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ESPN aired a two-part 30 for 30 documentary on American Gladiators this week, which was absolutely excellent and as it turns out, had several pro wrestling connections:
*Original American Gladiator Deron McBee aka Malibu actually performed as a professional wrestling several times after the end of his run on the series, under the Malibu name. They show footage from one of his bouts, which aired somewhere based on the production values, but do not identify what the promotion was.
*Later in the documentary, McBee discusses that he was in talks to return to professional wrestling because "WWF" had interest in him and his wife, Drzan McBee. Drzan was training as a wrestler in California and was featured in the 2002 documentary Bodyslam! The Making of a Professional Wrestler. In the doc, McBee noted that his wife sadly passed in 2003 as a result of a complication after undergoing a liposuction surgery to remove 15 lbs. while he was away, a surgery he noted she didn't really need.
*A major part of the doc is devoted to tracking down the series' credited co-creator Dann Carr and his issues with credited American Gladiators creator (and rights holder) Johnny Ferraro. Carr is finally tracked down and interviewed and notes that the series won't be the legacy remembered when he is gone. They show a series of photos from across Carr's life, including photos with Bully Ray/Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley. Dann was the head trainer, strength and conditioning coach at the Team 3D Academy of Professional Wrestling in Florida for over a decade.
Bully Ray took to Twitter after the doc aired, commenting:
This is my great friend “Apache” Dann Carr … A mans, MAN…a WARRIOR and the ORIGINAL creator of #AmericanGladiators.
— Bully Ray (@bullyray5150) June 1, 2023
AMAZING story telling by the @30for30 team @espn
THANK YOU for giving Dann a chance to speak the truth…it means the world to him and his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/Jn5YVJZGtR
*The end of the doc notes that WWE is involved with working on and relauching a new version of the series, which has been previously announced. The doc doesn't give an update on the status of that project.
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