George Hackenschmidt & Me - A Historical Moment
In 1908, George Hackenschmidt wrestled Joe Rogers in London. In 2024, 116 years later, footage of that fight emerged. I write about what it means to me, after spending years researching the life and times of George Hackenschmidt, to see the man himself in action, and how this footage should exonerate him in the eyes of history.
Le Domino Rouge, Orion & Kendo Nagasaki - the Magic & Mystery of the Mask
How a glamorous masked dancer in the 1900s changed the course of professional wrestling and American burlesque, with an exploration of the role of the mask in wrestling and pop culture myth-making - taking in Kendo Nagasaki, the Masked Marvel, and maybe Elvis Presley? [citation needed]
My Friend Twiggy, & The Wrestlers Who Made Soho
An exercise in autobiography and psychogeography, in this long read I reflect on a formative and life-altering friendship while looking at the wrestlers who shaped London’s Soho in the second half of the 20th century.
Panther Pleasants - Wrestling in Hitler’s Shadow
The story of Eric “Panther” Pleasants, the Norfolk wrestler who fought for Hitler.
Ghoulish Grapplers & Monstrous Matmen - Wrestling in the Spooky Season
It’s the Spooky Season, so here’s a look at the classic movie monsters that have graced the wrestling ring - vampires, Frankenstein’s monster and, most of all, Mummies.
The Glam Rock Kitsch of Adrian Street
The late Adrian Street was a glitter-coated glam rock icon - let’s take a look at his legacy, his place in pop culture, and at his musical career.
Further Research: The Great Antonio and Mr. Wonder, the amputee wrestler of the 1960s
Originally published to Patreon, a further look at my research into The Great Antonio, and the inspirational life and career of Mr. Wonder, the double amputee wrestler of the 1960s.
El Santo and the Anti-Fascism of Lucha Libre
El Santo in Cuba, and the inherent antifascism of Lucha Libre
The Masked Marvel Unmasked! - The Story of Johannes Van Der Walt, Maybe The Worst Person In Wrestling History
"Mask Marvel Unmasked" - that was the headline in the Daily Herald on 5th February 1942. It's easy to see why that would be exciting - what is a mask if not a mystery waiting to be solved? The reveal of a masked man's secret identity is the stuff of comic book fantasy and speculation, after all.
But beneath this mask was not a marvel, but a monster.