Beyond the Mat is a 1999 documentary directed by Barry W. Blaustein. The movie focuses on the lives of professional wrestlers outside of the ring, primarily Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake Roberts, as well as some aspiring wrestlers. It focuses on the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and follows Extreme Championship Wrestling during its rise in popularity and many other independent wrestlers and organizations. The film was originally released in American theaters in March 2000 and later released on DVD.

The film begins with director Barry Blaustein discussing his love for professional wrestling and clips of him viewing employees of the World Wrestling Federation and Extreme Championship Wrestling. He then decides to travel the United States over a three year period, endeavoring to understand the mindset of someone who would voluntarily choose to become a professional wrestler. Blaustein interviews a wide variety of wrestling personalities and ascertains their motivations.

Blaustein focuses on three famous wrestlers, one at the height of his career (Mick Foley, aka "Mankind"), one contemplating retirement (Terry Funk) and one at a career low (Jake "The Snake" Roberts). He begins by following Funk, a 53-year-old man in need of knee surgery who appears unable to retire, despite the mounting toll wrestling is taking on his body. Blaustein follows him as he competes at hardcore wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling's first pay-per-view event Barely Legal.

Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968 in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania) is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler and actor. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a former five-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion. He is also known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (WWF/E), and for being the only Olympic gold medalist in the history of professional wrestling.

Angle was involved in amateur wrestling during both high school and college. In college at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, he won numerous accolades, including being a two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I champion. After graduating, he won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1995 World Wrestling Championships. Angle then competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he won a gold medal in heavyweight freestyle wrestling. Kurt Angle is also one of only four people to complete a Grand Slam in amateur wrestling which is the junior nationals, the NCAAs, the World Championships and the Olympics. He was named the greatest shoot wrestler and one of the top 15 college wrestlers of all time by USA Wrestling.

Mark Hapka (born May 29, 1982) is an American film and television actor who first gained attention for portraying the lead role of the spirit 'Zach' on the Ghost Whisperer spin-off Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side. Hapka is most notable for his previous role as Nathan Horton on the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives.

Hapka was born in Buffalo, New York to Robert and Debbie Hapka. (His parents have since divorced and both are remarried.) When Hapka was about 11 years old, his family moved to Rome, New York. He is a 2000 graduate of Rome Free Academy, and then went on to study music education and voice at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York. In 2005, Hapka left Syracuse and moved to Los Angeles, California. He enrolled in acting classes at Playhouse West and worked in student films, before appearing in a 2006 showcase that won him representation.

Hapka had his first credited role in James Franco's 2007 feature film Good Time Max, but is best known for his starring role as the spirit 'Zach' in 2007 and 2008 in the television series Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side and Ghost Whisperer. He won the role when producers Kim Moses and Ian Sander chose him as a 'fresh face' with an 'It Guy' quality. Following this, he appeared in the television series Greek and had a minor role on Days of Our Lives as an older Johnny DiMera. In 2009, he appeared in the films Second Sight and Midgets Vs. Mascots. Also in 2009, he had a recurring role in the television series Hannah Montana and also appeared on Cold Case. In June 2009, Hapka returned to Days of Our Lives when he was cast in the contract role of Nathan Horton. Soap Opera Digest reported on January 7, 2011 that he was let go from the show. Hapka has starring roles in the upcoming films The Danny McKay Project, where he portrays the title character Danny McKay, and Beyond the Mat.