Uncrowned Films has released a new video with behind-the-scenes access to the final edition of Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport over WrestleMania Weekend in Las Vegas.
The fourteen-minute feature follows Barnett throughout the day of the event at the Horseshoe in Las Vegas, leading to his main event match with Yuji Nagata. Barnett’s first professional wrestling match was against Nagata for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2003, which he reflected on:
I had no anxiety to go fight in the UFC. I had a ton of stress and anxiety to go out there and wrestle Yuji Nagata, and to be honest, it’s easy to say it changed my life. I learned a lot from him on the road. There wouldn’t be any of this if there wasn’t Yuji Nagata for me to wrestle that night, but also, Yuji Nagata helped me out in ways that can’t ever be repaid.
The video gives insight into the structure of the events, including a sign listed backstage warning performers not to brawl into the crowd. Barnett shared the ethos of Bloodsport during a pre-show pep talk with the performers.
The only difference between this and any other pro wrestling is that we work tighter and hit harder. ‘Too hard’ is an apology and ‘too soft’ ruins the match. We do not slap our legs. We hit people. Fight like you believe what pro wrestling is supposed to be. At its base, it is just combat between two people in the ring for the entertainment of the fans. That is it. They want to see your heart more than they want to see your technique.
After the main event, Barnett announced that it was the final Bloodsport, stunning the audience. Days later, Barnett spoke with Ariel Helwani and added, “It is over. It’s not like I’m doing a hiatus. It’s closed unless things can be done to get us to where we need to go”.
