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Two years ago today, WWE returned to Tampa, Florida for Wrestlemania 37, the first time fans would be able to assemble for the company’s biggest show of the year after COVID-19 caused most of the country to shelter in place and led to WWE to seeking refuge in The Thunderdome.
That night, WWE’s roster stood on the stage as Vince McMahon welcomed everyone back and bellowed a thank you to the fans in attendance and watching across the world. A big promotional package played and then, just as Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley were about to clash, as everyone’s anticipation hit the boiling point and yes, WWE was back…mother nature pulled a practical joke, as a major thunderstorm hit the area, fans ordered out of their seats and WWE forced to improv and scramble until it was safe to perform.
That night, one of the most recognizable professional wrestling fans of all time Vladimir Abouzeide aka Vladimir the Superfan was announced as the first (and to date, only) Official WWE Superfan while a documentary about his life and fandom of World Wrestling Entertainment was announced, complete with the documentary trailer above.
While its amazing Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon surprised him that night with a truly amazing plaque honoring him, its also pretty fitting that Vlad’s documentary was announced there, since when it comes to that film, the Tampa thunderstorm never stopped and now, two years later, everyone, including Vladimir, are still waiting for soneone to unpause and for the film to come out.
As I write this, I want to get in front of this and make it clear, I am writing this because he’s one of my best friends and if someone’s going to continue to be his voice for the release of this thing, I guess it's going to fall on me. So, yeah, I'm pretty biased on this one and I love the guy. But, that doesn't make me wrong.
Vladimir is an analog guy in a digital world and he’s not the type of person to call and ask WWE where it is. Right now, he has his own series of issues going on, which is partly why I continue to call for the release of the film. Since the documentary was completed, Vladimir was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, was forced to retire as his physical abilities began to recede, has fought with diminished speaking skills as well as problems with the ability to walk - and in several weeks, will be forced to undergo a spinal surgery they hope will give him some relief, although that’s not 100% assured.
So, in many ways, that film is not just a snapshot of why people fall in love with professional wrestling in its purest forms and the bromance that occurs between the die-hard fan and the heroes and villains they live to support, but it’s going to be a time capsule of someone who was proud and unabashed in their love of professional wrestling and how it inspired them, carried them through their darkest sadness and brought them light when they needed it.
I’ve seen the film and I could easily spoil every piece of it, but I don’t want to do that. What I want is for that film to be released for the masses to see so that Vladimir (who wonderful people within WWE made sure was able to see the film privately last year) can see everyone’s reaction to it and get his flowers while he’s still physically and personally able to enjoy the moment. It's a moment he shouldn't be denied.
While I have heard from some within WWE that they believe there would need to be additional editing and changes to the film due to the passage of time, having seen it, I don’t know that I personally believe anything other than a new epilogue needs to be added - that epilogue can announce Vlad’s diagnosis and that he intends to keep attending WWE as long as he can - because that’s the truth.
Several years ago, a documentary was released on Toronto Raptors Superfan Nav Bhatia, about why he loved and lived for the team, and if you’ve never seen it, it would make you fall in love with basketball and The Raptors even if you didn’t care about that sport. That’s exactly what the Vladimir film does for professional wrestling fans - it emotionally resets your counter to zero and reminds you, no matter how “smart” or “inside” or even calloused you are to professional wrestling, why you first fell in love with the over the top theatrics and fluorescent-colored battles between good and evil. Through him, you fall right back in love with WWE, because no one loves pro wrestling more than Vladimir.
Not you. Not me. Not Vince McMahon. Not Tony Khan. No one.
Two years ago, Vladimir’s sister died and he missed a major part of the services because he had to go, he just needed to be at Wrestlemania. This year, he was in so much daily pain, I can’t even begin to describe it properly. Walking just a city block might take him 30 minutes due to the Parkinsons, but he pushed back the aforementioned spinal surgery to fly six hours each way because he had to, needed to be at Wrestlemania. It wiped him out physically, but emotionally, he had to be there.
I don’t know how many big trips like that he has in him. Philadelphia next year will most likely be doable because one of his friends can drive him the 120 miles from NYC, but after that? I don’t know, but I do know this. When it becomes too unbearable for him to physically go, the mental and emotional pain he will endure will be infinitely worse, because he loves and needs professional wrestling more than anyone else.
To sit with or even witness Vladimir at professional wrestling is akin to watching Peter Pan, the eternal child, rise out of an adult. There is a smile that never leaves that man’s face and whether he’s standing, sitting or down on his knees (which I have seen many a time) watching and clapping at shows, there is no one radiating happiness and at “home” more than Vladimir. In a world where everyone is trying to be an influencer or trying to bring attention to themselves, he’s lived a life where he just loves to cheer and boo and yell and be there in the room where it happens, and because of that, he’s become someone every professional wrestler and many that other fans love - because Vladimir represents the best of being a fan in everyone who ever loved professional wrestling.
Two years ago, Vladimir got to have a moment that very few will get to have in life and as I type this, there’s a photo framed in my office of him and the rest of my circle from that weekend. He has the greatest beaming joy on his face, but he and the rest of the world have been waiting now for two years to see this documentary released.
To paraphrase Cody Rhodes’ most excellent Wrestlemania story, it’s time to finish the story.
Vladimir spent pretty much his adult life loving WWE.
I don’t think it’s unfair to say it’s time WWE returns some of that love.
In doing so, I can all but guarantee that they will inspire the next generations of fans, one of whom might even love them so purely they could end up the subject of their own documentary one day.
Most importantly, they will inject someone who loves their product with a massive dose of positive energy, adrenaline and excitement he could sorely use, personally, mentally and emotionally, as he fights his physical ailments - and if anyone deserved that, it's Vladimir.
WWE, release the Vladimir documentary, while he's able to enjoy it - and the rest of the world can enjoy it alongside him.
It doesn't matter whether it's the WWE Network, Peacock, YouTube, wherever you want to toss it out, release it.
There is not one valid argument against you releasing it.
It is a film about the fandom of your company.
So do it for your fans, Vladimir and beyond.
Please.
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