‘Nevermore: The Raven Effect’ Documentary Review By: Courtney Wood

“WHAT ABOUT ME?! WHAT ABOUT RAVEN?! These words summed up one of wrestling’s most calculated and interesting characters; one who spoke to fans who felt slighted and were filled with angst. The character of Raven was a product of its time, a man who dressed and spoke like many young fans who felt unappreciated and overlooked. What set him apart from other wrestlers who also reflected that time is the authenticity Scott Levy brought to everything he did. Levy was able to tap into his own unresolved childhood trauma, mental health struggles and drug addiction to create a persona who was raw, honest and sometimes hypnotic. Raven was a very important part of the counter culture movement that occurred in ECW; a cultural shift that changed the course of wrestling forever. Combining his ability to speak and his athleticism with violence, Raven was a part of some of the most barbaric and controversial moments in the entire history of the business that are still talked about (and debated) today. Nevermore: The Raven Effect, tells this innovator’s life story and chronicles his legendary career.  

Recap:

Scott Levy became a wrestling fan as a young child; idolizing ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes. Early on Levy was drawn to the ‘good vs evil’ dynamic; a focus that struck with him throughout his entire career. Things were difficult for Scott growing up as his parents usually ignored their children and often repeated how they did not want to be parents…even calling him an accident. His father, who worked a lot and was rarely around, never showed affection for his children and regularly bullied his son. The neglective abuse he endured molded who Scott grew up to be, leaving him with a sense of worthlessness that fueled his narcissistic need to be the center of attention, admired and constantly reassured. In one heartbreaking interview, Levy talks about how his father never told him he loved him; a pain that stayed with him for decades until his father’s death.

Levy trained to become a wrestler at the Monster Factory, where he proved to be a natural, picking up the physical aspect of wrestling very quickly. After completing training, he adopted the persona of ‘Scotty The Body’ and became a local celebrity in the Portland area. His charisma and good looks garnered attention from fans and got the young rookie starring roles in local commercials. Wanting to achieve more in the wrestling business, he moved to the home of WCW: Atlanta. During this time, he wrestled locally and worked as a stripper to support his ever increasing drug habit. Despite his sketchy personal life, Scott’s abilities would eventually get him hired by WCW where he wrestled as ‘Johnny Flamingo’. The fast growing company went through a change in management and his new bosses were not impressed by his “smaller size”, and eventually decided to let him go. It would not be too long before Scott would get hired at WWE where he would become a manager named ‘Johnny Polo’. Before long, Levy began working backstage as a producer and helped write the show. Even though he was making a lot of money in the biggest company in the world, Levy decided to leave as his dream was to be a wrestler not a backstage producer. Scott called in a favor and got hired at ECW, where he reinvented himself as the character he would be best known for: Raven. 

ECW afforded him the opportunity to work with a lot of wrestling’s best minds and have his ideas heard. Levy wanted to add depth to his character, cross lines and break a lot of barriers with the stories he was telling. The like minded group of hardcore wrestlers told stories that were unlike any other that had been told before. His very lengthy and emotionally charged feud with Tommy Dreamer over Beulah McGillcuttay lasted throughout his entire ECW tenure and gained all involved a lot of recognition. However, the story he is most remembered for is the one he told with the Sandman that revolved around Sandman’s real life son and included a live crucifixion. These stories proved the company’s level of creativity, commitment and were the catalyst for one of wrestling’s most popular eras: the attitude era. Raven portrayed a “Charles Manson” like cult leader who collected lost souls and used them for his personal gain. Leading the ‘Raven’s Flock’ faction, Levy got to showcase his verbal skills, delivering promos that were captivating and unlike anyone else’s at that time. This character reflected who he was in real life and steamed from the insecurity his father caused. His words struck a chord with many fans who saw themselves in Raven, making him one of the company’s most influential stars.  

In addition to the innovative storytelling, ECW was also known for its hardcore wrestling style where the wrestlers would destroy their bodies with weapons and dangerous stunts. The toll that this style of wrestling took on these athlete’s bodies, as well as the introduction of new kinds of opioid pain killers, caused a severe rise in drug abuse. The lifestyle of being on the road, destroying your body and taking unbelievable amounts of drugs would take the lives of countless wrestlers, a fate that almost befelled Scott as his abuse got out of control. Fortunately, after his father’s death he was able to let go of some of the childhood trauma he was carrying which gave him enough relief to get sober. 

After ECW went out of business, Scott had a very unsatisfying run in WWE before joining TNA where he could end his in-ring career on his own terms. Since that time, he has had a knee replacement and requires other various surgeries to fix all the damage done to his body. Furthermore, Scott struggles everyday with the effects of countless concussions and years of drug abuse. Sometimes he is unable to think of words and struggles with a sleep disorder that leaves him more tired than before he went to sleep. Even though he claims it was all worth it, his everyday life is full of struggles and challenges. On a brighter note, Levy had a brief reassurance at MLW as a manager and still travels around the local indy companies where he imparts his wisdom to the younger wrestlers. When he is not traveling for shows or conventions, he works on his podcast and enjoys a simpler life at home where he lives a peaceful more slowed down existence.  

Throughout this documentary, many of Levy’s peers who were interviewed: including wrestling legends Tommy Dreamer, Chris Jericho, Loki, Rob Van Damn, Diamond Dallas Page, The Blue Meanie and Billy Corgan, repeatedly referred to him as very under-appreciated, highly intelligent and one of the most creative minds in the history of wrestling. Even though they all had varying experiences with him personally, they all agreed he should be recognized for his contributions to wrestling and the sacrifices he made; with many hoping to see him inducted into the hall of fame. 

My Impression:

This documentary was very real and honest, Raven (and everyone interviewed) does not hold back or try to minimize his flaws while addressing the struggles he himself and his fellow wrestlers struggle with. The ‘warts and all’ approach to telling his story provides the audience the opportunity to fully understand his life, career, character and impact on the wrestling industry as a whole. The way everyone who was interviewed spoke of the drug problem that many wrestlers faced really put this terrible, almost epidemic level, problem into perspective. As fans, we know the names of many who passed away due to their addictions, but the candid way the ones who lived through that time and knew them helps paint the picture of what it was really like. This documentary does a great job of exploring how Scott Levy became the character of Raven. It tells how the man pulled from his very troubled past to shape his own screen persona and tell that character’s stories. The filmmakers do a great job of illustrating Raven’s influence on the wrestling business; illustrating how he discovered several well known wrestlers, helped mold wrestlers on screen personas, helped write storylines and has been very instrumental in helping other wrestlers put their matches together. I was not aware of just how much he influenced others, and after watching this I know that several of his ideas were used by the much larger companies; who did not give him credit for his ideas. In conclusion, if you are a fan of his or the attitude era, a fan who is interested in how wrestling shows come together or how the business works behind the scenes, this documentary is a good watch. Overall, I learned a lot, was entertained and really enjoyed it.   

‘Nevermore: The Raven Effect’ is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime.