Paul Cranton, a high school P.E. teacher and wrestling coach, takes on a professional wrestler Tricky Rick in the ring to save his school from impending budget cuts that threaten jobs and the team he coaches.

SYNOPSIS:

Paul Cranton is failing at life and as a wrestling coach. His wife divorces him and runs off with the football coach. His team hates him because they can’t win. And his school is facing dire budget cuts and will have to let him go.

In an effort to save his school, Paul reaches out to a former wrestling rival from his own high school days, Rick Balthazar who is now known as “Tricky Rick” in the pro wrestling world. At a Wal-Mart action figure signing, Paul asks Rick if he can spare some of his millions to save the school and the wrestling program. Rick shoots Paul down and humiliates him in front of everyone in the store.

Rick is still bitter that back in high school he lost to Paul in the state championships; it was Rick’s only loss in his whole wrestling career. However, Rick has built his pro wrestling reputation on the myth that he’s never lost to anyone... ever. But when one of Paul’s wrestler’s finds out that he beat Tricky Rick, he makes it known to the media and pro wrestling world.

In fear that his fans will start to turn on him, Rick challenges Paul to a rematch to prove the he is the best once and for all. And if Paul can beat him he will award the school with a check for $500,000, which would save many jobs and save the wrestling team from getting cut.

Paul seeks out his old wrestling coach ABE LOUKS to help him train, only to find out that he has passed away. His widow, BERNICE LOUKS, offers her services to coach Paul. Paul doesn’t understand why until Bernice informs him that she is the one who taught Abe everything he knew about wrestling. Paul is shocked, but gladly accepts Bernice’s help. Her training methods come from an old Soviet Union regimen. They are unconventional but produce exceptional results.

Hungry sports reporter, GINA VERONE, smells a story brewing, and inserts herself into Paul’s life, much to his disdain. But over time, they bond together and Paul feels an attraction he hasn’t felt in a while. Gina feels it too.

Tricky Rick spies on Paul and sees him making significant progress and could be a real threat. Tricky Rick tries to get Paul to back out of the bout by posting embarrassing training footage of him on social media. Finally, Tricky Rick offers Paul a bribe to throw the match. And for a short time, Paul agrees to it. Paul is enticed by the idea of how he could take the money, start a new life somewhere else, and not be a loser.

But during the match, Paul sees how much his wrestlers look up to him, and goes back on the bribe. Paul battles back against Tricky Rick, exchanging blow for blow, and defeats him by pin. Paul saves the school and gets to keep coaching his team, now with a newfound vigor for life and love.