History Film / NoHoldsBarred

* InkSuitActor: Seriously, the only differences between Rip and Hulk Hogan are their names and color of their gear (Rip is blue and white, Hogan is red and yellow)

In 1988, Wrestling/VinceMcMahon and Wrestling/HulkHogan were eager to take a step into Hollywood. Hogan was at the height of his popularity in the Wrestling/{{WWE}} (then WWF), and in fact, he did have some acting experience, most notably in ''RockyIII'' as Thunderlips. Having Hogan star in his own major motion picture seemed like a natural progression, so Hogan took some time off from wrestling while Wrestling/RandySavage was champion. [=McMahon=] and Hogan collaborated as executive producers, and unleashed '''''No Holds Barred''''' upon the public in 1989.

* WouldHitAGirl: Brell ''and'' Zeus both manhandle women at some point.

In 1988, VinceMcMahon and HulkHogan were eager to take a step into Hollywood. Hogan was at the height of his popularity in the Wrestling/{{WWE}} (then WWF), and in fact, he did have some acting experience, most notably in ''RockyIII'' as Thunderlips. Having Hogan star in his own major motion picture seemed like a natural progression, so Hogan took some time off from wrestling while RandySavage was champion. [=McMahon=] and Hogan collaborated as executive producers, and unleashed '''''No Holds Barred''''' upon the public in 1989.

* FinishingMove: Interestingly, Rip's finishing move is a double axe-handle, which is HulkHogan's real-life finisher when wrestling in Japan.

* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: As is HulkHogan's trademark in the ring.

* ItsPersonal

* KickTheDog: This movie has gone out of its way to make the antagonists as despicable as humanly possible. Zeus had beaten up Rip's brother Randy to a point where he can't walk and to add insult to injury, he punched him of his wheelchair and kicked him while he was on the ground. Brell has gone from a Smug {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}} to abusive, by having his old employee Samantha raped by his {{mooks}} for actually caring about Rip, hiring goons to attack Rip just because he had the audacity to say no to Brell, letting Zeus cripple Rip's Brother and blackmailing Rip to throw a match.

* NoSell: Zeus no-sells hits against him up until the final battle. Rip also does so when he enters states of ersatz Hulkomania.

* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: As is HulkHogan's trademark in the ring.

* TheAce: '''"RRRRRRRRRRIP!!!"'''
* AngerMontage: Rip goes to Zeus' gym for one of these after Zeus sends Rip's little brother to the hospital.

** That's Peter Dinklage's first on-screen role.

* TheCameo: Since the movie has a fictionalized version of the [=WWF=], it's no surprise to see Howard Finkel, Gene Okerlund and Jesse "The Body" Ventura show up.
** More surprising is a cameo by Stan Hansen, who wasn't in the WWE at the time.

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: ''Holy crap'', '''Brell'''. If [[TheSimpsons C. Montgomery Burns]] didn't exist, Brell would would be the TropeImage.
* DisgustingPublicToilet: One in the BadGuyBar. Complete with some psycho hiding in a stall trolling for teeny weenies.
* [[spoiler: DisneyVillainDeath]]

* KickTheDog: This movie has gone out of its way to make the antagonists as despicable as humanly possible. Zeus had beaten up Rip's brother Randy to a point where he can't walk and to add insult to injury, he punched him of his wheelchair and kicked him while he was on the ground. Brell has gone from a Smug; {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}} to abusive, by having his old employee Samantha raped by his {{mooks}} for actually caring about Rip, hiring goons to attack Rip just because he had the audacity to say no to Brell, letting Zeus cripple Rip's Brother and blackmailing Rip to throw a match.
* LargeHam: To say Tiny Lister handles the role with NoIndoorVoice would be an understatement. Even his whispering is hammy.
** Of course, Brell is amazingly over the top himself.

* MundaneMadeAwesome: The prize for winning the ''Battle of the Tough Guys'' was one hundred thousand dollars... '''TAX-FREE.'''
* NoSell

* ProWrestlingIsReal

* [[ScaryBlackMan Scary Black Man Who Screams All The Time]]

** Averted with the 2014 Blu-Ray. While the features are still miniscule, there at least ''are'' features: the two WWF matches made to promote the film, and a photo gallery.
* VillainousBreakdown: Brell as Zeus continues to get beaten around by Rip at the end.

* WrestlingMonster

Hogan stars as Rip, an extremely popular professional wrestler (no, really!) [[MeanCharacterNiceActor who appears to be a monster in the ring but is actually a kind, honorable man outside of it.]] Brell (Kurt Fuller), the [[CorruptCorporateExecutive evil head of the World Television Network]], is tired of being last in the ratings, so he makes an attempt to lure Rip over to his network, blank check and all. Rip isn't interested, and even fends off a series of {{Mook}}s hired by Brell to take him out (leading to the infamous scene where a limo driver craps his pants in fear). Undaunted, Brell [[StartMyOwn creates his own wrestling organization]] entitled Battle Of The Tough Guys, filled with bikers and rednecks who engage in glorified bar fights. And thus, Brell discovers [[ScaryBlackMan Zeus]] (Tom "Tiny" Lister), a [[TheGiant beast of a man]] who seems impervious to pain. (And also screams. A lot.) It's not long before Zeus and Brell are challenging Rip to a match. Meanwhile, Brell sends one of his staff, Samantha, to follow Rip around and seduce him, but she winds up falling for him instead.

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Holy ''crap'', Brell.

* {{Defictionalization}}: The character of Zeus, who became an extremely short lived WWE Superstar. To elaborate: VinceMcMahon was eager to promote the film on TV, and he decided to bring in Tiny Lister, portraying his Zeus character, to face HulkHogan in a series of matches over the course of 1989. Unfortunately, Lister's lack of wrestling skills wound up hampering the storyline, and they only faced as participants in tag team matches. Rumor has it Vince wanted a ''{{Wrestlemania}} VI'' match between the two before he decided on Hogan vs The UltimateWarrior.

* IntercontinuityCrossOver: See {{Defictionalization}}.

Hogan stars as Rip, an extremely popular professional wrestler (no, really!) who appears to be a monster in the ring but is actually a kind, honorable man outside of it. Brell (Kurt Fuller), the [[CorruptCorporateExecutive evil head of the World Television Network]], is tired of being last in the ratings, so he makes an attempt to lure Rip over to his network, blank check and all. Rip isn't interested, and even fends off a series of {{Mook}}s hired by Brell to take him out (leading to the infamous scene where a limo driver craps his pants in fear). Undaunted, Brell [[StartMyOwn creates his own wrestling organization]] entitled Battle Of The Tough Guys, filled with bikers and rednecks who engage in glorified bar fights. And thus, Brell discovers [[ScaryBlackMan Zeus]] (Tom "Tiny" Lister), a [[TheGiant beast of a man]] who seems impervious to pain. (And also screams. A lot.) It's not long before Zeus and Brell are challenging Rip to a match. Meanwhile, Brell sends one of his staff, Samantha, to follow Rip around and seduce him, but she winds up falling for him instead.

* KickTheDog: This movie has gone out of its way to make the antagonists as despicable as humanly possible. Zeus had beaten up Rip's brother Randy to a point where he can't walk and to add insult to injury, he punched him of his wheelchair and kicked him while he was on the ground. Brell has gone from a Smug; {{Corrupt Corporate Executive}} to an abusive, {{Complete Monster}} by having his old employee Samantha raped by his {{mooks}} for actually caring about Rip, hiring goons to attack Rip just because he had the audacity to say no to Brell, letting Zeus cripple Rip's Brother and blackmailing Rip to throw a match.

In 1988, VinceMcMahon and HulkHogan were eager to take a step into Hollywood. Hogan was at the height of his popularity in the {{WWE}} (then WWF), and in fact, he did have some acting experience, most notably in ''RockyIII'' as Thunderlips. Having Hogan star in his own major motion picture seemed like a natural progression, so Hogan took some time off from wrestling while RandySavage was champion. [=McMahon=] and Hogan collaborated as executive producers, and unleashed '''''No Holds Barred''''' upon the public in 1989.

* WrestlingMonster

In 1988, VinceMcMahon and HulkHogan were eager to take a step into Hollywood. Hogan was at the height of his popularity in the {{WWE}} (then WWF), and in fact, he did have some acting experience, most notably in [[{{Rocky}} Rocky III]] as Thunderlips. Having Hogan star in his own major motion picture seemed like a natural progression, so Hogan took some time off from wrestling while RandySavage was champion. [=McMahon=] and Hogan collaborated as executive producers, and unleashed ''No Holds Barred'' upon the public in 1989.

* {{Defictionalization}}: The character of Zeus, who became an extremely short lived WWE Superstar.

* IntercontinuityCrossOver: Could be considered a sort of {{Defictionalization}}. After this movie hit theaters, VinceMcMahon, eager to promote the film on TV, decided to bring in Tiny Lister, portraying his Zeus character, to face HulkHogan in a series of matches. Unfortunately, Lister's lack of wrestling skills wound up hampering the storyline, and they only faced as participants in tag team matches. Rumor has it Vince wanted a ''{{Wrestlemania}} VI'' match between the two before he decided on Hogan vs The UltimateWarrior.

* LargeHam: To say Tom Lister handles the role with NoIndoorVoice would be an understatement. Even his whispering is hammy.