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The comedian Phil Wang was about to claim of grabbing the championship belt during the comedic wrestling showdown. At the moment he reached for it, fellow comic Ed Gamble stormed in, sent everyone flying, and walked away with the coveted belt. Co-founder Max Olesker, a comedian, notes that it was in fact the pro wrestler Bullit, acting as an enforcer, who took them down with a powerful clothesline. He maintains he could have handled Gamble in a fair fight.

The Changing Fortunes of Professional Wrestling

Public interest in sports entertainment has seen ups and downs since its peak in the eighties. Earlier this year, the wrestling giant secured a massive agreement with the streaming service, worth billions, elevating the muscle-bound sport further into the mainstream. In the UK, wrestling has a rich working-class history, producing world-class competitors like international stars. Today, wrestling is expanding into theatrical arenas, with a range of shows across the country drawing in new audiences through comedy, queer cabaret, and even living sculpture.

Comedy Meets Combat

Olesker, who once was known as the UK's youngest pro wrestler, brought his collaborator Gonzalez to the world of wrestling during their university days. The atmosphere was electric, he remembers, describing it as a over-the-top pantomime of heroes and villains. Together, they developed a production that merged stand-up and grappling, persuading athletes they weren't making fun of the discipline and encouraging comedians to jump off the ropes. First called The Wrestling, it won a prestigious comedy award and has expanded in popularity ever since.

Now known as Clash of the Comics, the event recently showcased comedians defeating Greg Davies at a major venue. Coming soon, it will take over a famous London theater, making its first standalone run. The lineup includes grapplers like popular fighters and funny people such as Aisling Bea, with one comic throwing down an open challenge to anyone. Joining the excitement, hosts like a familiar face will root for the bad guys, while Sara Pascoe backs the heroes. Humor is central, but the main attraction is the action in the squared circle.

Behind the Scenes

Organizing such an event is a logistical nightmare. Comedians are sent to wrestling school to learn the basics. Gonzalez explains, it's like how TV programs teach celebrities for specific routines. Another notes that, much like those shows, there's lots of drama among the cast, which makes the event run smoothly.

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

The Fine Line in Wrestling

Wrestling constantly walks a tightrope between authenticity and pretence. Heather Bandenberg, who organizes Fist Club, explains it as preparing to be an competitor and a gymnast, with elements of dangerous moves. There's pain involved, especially when mastering basic moves like the impact fall. The danger is present, even if planned sequences minimize injuries. The liveness adds to this, as shows blend prepared and improvised elements. As one creator says, the crowd's reaction shapes what unfolds, unlike traditional theater.

Bandenberg discovered wrestling by accident and fell in love with the space it offered. Mainstream wrestling wasn't welcoming for female performers, so she founded Fist Club with performers like these artists. For them, wrestling and cabaret 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 wrestlers and sells out rapidly across the UK. Some fans have even been motivated to try the sport themselves. With mostly performers, the show restricts male wrestlers to a small percentage, reflecting the experience of underrepresented groups in traditional events. The organizer stresses the aim of attracting newcomers.

A successful match relies on the performance – making the audience believe in the drama. Safety are paramount, but injuries occur. One creator suffered a fracture in an initial performance, and Bandenberg injured both toes during practice, though she says it could have been worse.

The Artistic Side

Up in Scotland, wrestling is being reimagined through performance art. Artists George and Kok created an installation using shibari, suspending participants to form art pieces. They've worked with sportspeople in various cities, adapting the piece to each place. In Glasgow, they're featuring pro wrestlers to showcase endurance and physical limits.

Bondage and wrestling both involve trust and communication, handling power dynamics and care. George explains that wrestlers communicate during fights to create a narrative, showing cooperation even in combat.

Dedication and Joy

Although interest in the sport may ebb and flow, committed participants remain devoted. Long periods are dedicated training for events, and artistic projects like the installation emphasize the patience involved. By different approaches, artists aim to honor wrestling, attract supporters, and prove that it transcends identity, body type, or style.

Bandenberg sums it up: There's so much going on in real time, done by people who love it. They're not getting rich; they see it as a artistic art form that brings joy.