The Carboni brothers -- con man Cosmo (Sylvester Stallone), disabled war veteran Lenny (Armand Assante) and dim-witted Victor (Lee Canalito) -- are determined to leave the slums of New York City. Their best escape route is the muscle-bound Victor, whom a manipulative Cosmo convinces to become a professional wrestler. The wins and prize money pile up, until neighborhood gangster Stitch wants in on the action, scheduling Victor to fight the dangerous Frankie the Thumper in a marathon match.