Further Research: Jean Hackenschmidt
In an article originally written for Patreon, I dig up more research on the mysterious Jean Hackenschmidt, first mentioned in my piece on “Counterfeit Hackenschmidts”
Bunkum & Bullsh*t - Peter Kolosimo, Ancient Aliens, QAnon and the Ur-Conspiracy
Examining my own relationship to conspiracies and fringe beliefs, and the origins of QAnon and the “Ur-Conspiracy”, all through the lens of one of the strangest Ancient Astronaut Theory books I have ever read - Peter Kolosimo’s Not Of This World.
AAA Triplemania 2023 Monterrey recap & review
My thoughts on AAA's most recent Triplemania show in Monterrey, the good and the bad sides of AAA's brand of Lucha chaos, Lucha politics, and the way AAA choose to book and present El Hijo del Vikingo as Mega Champion.
If Not Now Then When? - Thoughts on Roman Reigns & Cody Rhodes
Thoughts on WWE’s booking of Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes, and why Wrestlemania 39 will be looked upon as a major misstep.
Bunkum & Bullsh*t - Who Built The Moon?
In the first of a series on hoaxes, con artists, bullshits and conspiracy theories, I look at the outlandish claims of a 2006 book - Who Built The Moon? - and ask why combating bullshit matters.
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.
“The Original Ninja From Hell” - The Exorcism Of The Great Muta
The Great Muta was a singular, iconic character - a facepainted, mist spraying, violent demon; but where did he come from? A look at Muta, his predecessors, and wrestling’s history of Orientalism.
Who Made George Gorgeous? - The Troubling True Crime Stories of Lord Patrick Lansdowne and Gardenia Davis
Gorgeous George was a pioneer and a pop culture icon, but what of the men who inspired him? And what if I told you that they were both embroiled in wild and unbelievable true crime stories?
A Tale of Counterfeit Hackenschmidts
A look at the long post-wrestling life and career of the legendary George Hackenschmidt, and of those who tried to profit from his name.
The Fights That Made Antonio Inoki: #2 Roland Bock, and the Secret History of European Shoot Style
One of the only men to get the better of Antonio Inoki and beat him at his own game - who was Fire Pro Wrestling legend Roland Bock?
Bernarr MacFadden - The Fascist Anti-Vaxxer Who Paved The Way For Donald Trump and WWE
How’s that for a clickbait title? You don’t get this shit on WhatCulture, I can tell you.
A look at the life and times of another influential figure on the fringes of pro-wrestling history, the bizarre Bernarr MacFadden, the populist demagogue with an unlikely and little known claim to have made wrestling history.
Ric Flair’s Last Match
Professional wrestling has produced no end of unedifying spectacles over the years, but few have sat at such stark contrast to the pomp and pageantry surrounding them as the visual of an aged, bleeding Ric Flair, trembling and unable to stand, at the height of a show entirely themed around his career and the nostalgia contingent upon it.
WWE Summerslam 2022
A stream of consciousness recap of Summerslam 2022, the first WWE Premium Live Event of the post-Vince McMahon era.