Netflix Orders Comedy Series Based on 1980s Womens Wrestling Promotion, G.L.O.W.

Deep in the depths of 1980s television was a show called G.LO.W. (Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling), and it was exactly what it sounds like. Liz Flahive (Homeland, Nurse Jackie) and Carly Mensch (Nurse Jackie, Weeds) have created a show based on the real history of G.L.O.W., which was just purchased by Netflix.

Flahive and Mensh’s story is a fictionalized account of an unemployed actress who jumps into the ring (pun extremely intended) with G.L.O.W. as a last-ditch effort to grasp her dream. The first season will consist of 10 episodes. Jenji Kohan, creator of Orange Is the New Black, is producing with Tara Herrmann, also of OITNB.

G.L.O.W. originally came about in 1986 and aired once a week out of Las Vegas (where else?) for four seasons. Along with huge hair, high-cut leotards and neon make up, it presented ridiculous comedy sketches which mounted tension that lead to pro wrestling matches, where all conflict was and should be settled. The cast consisted of actresses, models and dancers hoping to get a foot in the door of show business. Each poor, fame-hungry girl had her own wrestling persona (including but not limited to: Babe the Farmer’s Daughter, The Heavy Metal Sisters and Gremlina) and her own gimmicky rap, the lyrics of which sound like Tinder profile bios. Sylvester Stallone’s actual mother, Jackie, was also involved, portraying the manager of the “good girls” while “Aunt” Kitty Burke managed the “bad girls,” aka wrestling traditional face/heel dynamic. The legacy of G.L.O.W. lives on today in various women’s pro wrestling federations such as Shimmer.

A documentary, GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, was released in 2012 and is available for streaming on Netflix now. There are no details on when the comedy series will premiere on the platform. But for now, please watch this video where you can experience the highly creative intro-raps from the original show performed by women who come across like dead-eyed hostages. Prepare to cringe.