The gym is named Chavo's, after Chavo Guerrero Jr., who trained the women to wrestle for the show. Chavo's uncle, Hector Guerrero, and his brother, Armando Guerrero, both trained the original GLOW girls.
In the casting call, Ruth mentions she has taken extensive clowning workshops. Alison Brie supported herself as a clown before she was cast in "Mad Men".
The backstory 'Ruth' (Alison Brie) and 'Carmen' use during their in-ring tryout involving 'Ruth' stealing a loaf of bread and 'Carmen' pursuing her for the theft is taken from "Les Miserables."
Ursula Hayden is the owner of GLOW - Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. She was in the original GLOW in the 80s as Babe, the Farmer's Daughter, and bought the company in 2001. She is also a story consultant on GLOW Netflix.
Alison Brie (Ruth Wilder) & Rich Sommer (Mark Eagan) also worked together on Mad Men (2007) as Trudy Campbell & Harry Crane respectively.