“Actor Nicolas Cage entered negotiations in October 2007 to star in the film’s lead role as Randy ‘Ram’ Robinson, a former wrestler.^[7] The following month, Cage left the project after attending a Ring of Honor show in New York City, and Mickey Rourke replaced the actor in the lead role. According to Aronofsky, Cage pulled out of the movie because Aronofsky wanted Rourke as the lead character.”

-on “The Wrestler” [wiki]

Boy am I glad they went with Mickey.