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The comedian Phil Wang was about to claim of securing the championship belt during the comedic wrestling showdown. Just as he made his move, fellow comic Ed Gamble stormed in, sent everyone flying, and made off with the shiny belt. Co-founder Max Olesker, a comedian, clarifies that it was actually the pro wrestler Bullit, Gamble's henchman, who took them down with a powerful clothesline. He maintains he might have beaten Gamble one-on-one.

The Changing Fortunes of Professional Wrestling

Public interest in sports entertainment has seen ups and downs since its peak in the 1980s. Earlier this year, WWE secured a massive deal with the streaming service, valued at billions, elevating the muscle-bound spectacle further into the mainstream. In the United Kingdom, wrestling has a deep-rooted working-class history, producing top-tier talent like international stars. Now, wrestling is expanding into theatrical arenas, with a range of productions across the country drawing in new audiences through humor, queer cabaret, and even art installations.

Comedy Meets Combat

Olesker, who once held the title as the Britain's youngest pro wrestler, brought his comedy partner Ivan Gonzalez to the sport during their college days. The energy was electric, Gonzalez recalls, describing it as a larger-than-life pantomime of good versus evil. As a duo, they created a production that merged comedy and wrestling, convincing athletes they weren't mocking the discipline and encouraging performers to jump off the ropes. Originally titled their hit show, it won a prestigious prize and has grown in popularity ever since.

Renamed Clash of the Comics, the show previously showcased Rosie Jones beating fellow comics at a large arena. Coming soon, it will headline Hammersmith Apollo, marking its first independent run. The lineup includes pro wrestlers like Simon Miller and funny people such as Aisling Bea, with one comic issuing an open challenge to all contenders. Adding to the excitement, hosts like Nish Kumar will root for the bad guys, while Sara Pascoe supports the heroes. Humor is key, but the main attraction is the spectacle in the squared circle.

The Logistical Challenge

Putting together such an production is a huge challenge. Comedians are sent to training facilities to pick up the basics. Gonzalez explains, it's similar to how reality shows teach celebrities for specific performances. Another notes that, akin to those shows, there's lots of backstage excitement among the participants, which makes the show run smoothly.

Wrestling is performance art – you have an character, and you work to get the audience on your team

The Fine Line in Wrestling

Wrestling always walks a tightrope between reality and pretence. Heather Bandenberg, who runs an LGBTQ+ cabaret night, describes it as preparing to be an competitor and a acrobat, with parts of dangerous moves. It hurts, particularly when learning fundamentals like the bump. Risk is present, even if choreography minimize harm. The liveness adds to this, as shows mix prepared and improvised moments. Olesker notes, the audience response directly influences what happens, unlike stage plays.

She found wrestling unexpectedly and fell in love with the space it offered. Mainstream wrestling hadn't been welcoming for female performers, so she founded her own event with performers Rich Tea. For them, the sport and variety performance are a perfect match, as both involve creating an character and engaging the audience.

New Audiences and Art Forms

Fist Club caters to LGBTQ+ and women fighters and fills up quickly across the country. Audience members have even been inspired to start wrestling. Featuring mostly drag kings, the night restricts straight male participants to a minority, reflecting the reality of minorities in mainstream wrestling. Bandenberg stresses the goal of attracting newcomers.

Great wrestling depends on the performance – making the viewers believe in the action. Precautions are paramount, but injuries occur. Olesker suffered a fracture in an initial performance, and Bandenberg injured both big toes during practice, though she considers herself lucky.

The Artistic Side

Up in Scotland, the sport is being reimagined through performance art. Artists Luke George and Daniel Kok created an installation using rope bondage, suspending participants to form art pieces. They've featured athletes in different locations, adapting the work to each place. In Glasgow, they're featuring pro wrestlers to explore stamina and what the body can do.

Bondage and wrestling both require trust and dialogue, handling power dynamics and safety. One artist says that fighters communicate during matches to achieve a storyline, demonstrating cooperation even in conflict.

Dedication and Joy

Although wrestling's popularity may ebb and flow, dedicated participants stay steadfast. Long periods are spent preparing for events, and creations like Still Lives highlight the perseverance involved. Through these varied styles, artists aim to honor wrestling, attract supporters, and prove that it transcends identity, body type, or form.

Bandenberg concludes: There's so much happening live, done by people who are passionate. No one's in it for money; it's viewed as a artistic art form that brings joy.