Review: AAA Triplemania XXXI - Mexico City
A look back at a typically frustrating AAA event, Triplemania XXXI from Mexico City, featuring El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Speedball Mike Bailey vs. Daga vs. Jack Cartwheel, and Rush vs. Psycho Clown vs. Sam Adonis vs. L.A. Park.
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.
Bunkum & Bullsh*t - The Magic Maskelynes
A dynasty of magicians, from one who made exposing fraud his life's work, to his grandson, who propagated a wartime fraud of his own. Spanning generations, it's a story that takes in World War 2, the debunking of phony mediums, and history’s first hacker, with walk-on parts for drag acts, pro-wrestlers and a spot of Channel Island local history.
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.
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.