CFP: Special PWSJ Issue Queer Pro Wrestling

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Call for Papers Professional Wrestling Studies Journal Special Issue: Queer Studies and Professional Wrestling Anticipated Publication: Volume 5, November 2025 Guest Editors: CarrieLynn D. Reinhard, Christopher J. Olson, and Hannah Steele Purpose: Articles that explore the intersection of queer studies and professional wrestling studies to address a scholarship gap on the application of queer theory … Read more CFP: Special PWSJ Issue Queer Pro Wrestling

Before Shoot Interviews: Barry Hardy

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Barry Hardy on WWF

I met Barry Hardy at John Arezzi’s 1991 “Weekend of Champions” convention. Hardy was wrestling as “Agony” of the Lords of Darkness at the time, a tag team that had been enjoying some success in independent promotions. He had an elaborately painted face, wore a long black robe, and carried a large axe.  Although Hardy … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Barry Hardy

Review: American Wrestling: 1989

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Jenkins, Charlie. American Wrestling: 1989. Self-published.  Review by J. Rocky Colavito Professional wrestling has a varied history as a focus for fiction, with much of the interest in it as a source of setting, plot, and characters coming within the past decade. Authors such as Christa Faust, (Hoodtown), Stephen Cooper (Blood Soaked Wrestling), Lucas Mangum (Blade Job), … Read more Review: American Wrestling: 1989

Review: The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling

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Cover of The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling

Sitterson, Aubrey and Chris Moreno. The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling: A Hardcore, High-flying, No-holds-barred History of the One True Sport. Ten Speed Graphic, 2018. Review by Ben Abelson The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling (from here on referred to as CBSPW), written by Aubrey Sitterson, and illustrated by Chris Moreno, is a fun, … Read more Review: The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling

Professional Wrestling Studies Journal: Call for Papers

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Professional Wrestling Studies Journal Special Issue: Queer Studies and Professional Wrestling Anticipated Publication: Volume 5, April 2025 Guest Editors: CarrieLynn D. Reinhard, Christopher J. Olson, and Hannah Steele Purpose: Articles that explore the intersection of queer studies and professional wrestling studies to address a scholarship gap on the application of queer theory to explore professional … Read more Professional Wrestling Studies Journal: Call for Papers

WrestlePoisum V: Call for Proposals

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WrestlePosium V Poster

WrestlePosium V Conference – Call for Papers Professional Wrestling Studies Association When: April 13th 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST Where: Fully Online Through Zoom Costs: Free for all attendees The Professional Wrestling Studies Association is pleased to announce our fifth fully online conference. We invite scholars, researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts from all disciplines to … Read more WrestlePoisum V: Call for Proposals

Poor Motivation for Big Mega Stars! – A Critical Review

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WrestleMania marks the culmination of a year’s worth of storytelling. As WWE’s most pivotal event, it showcases blockbuster matches and championship victories that pave the way for upcoming storylines. These matches engage audiences, offering a glimpse into the journeys of new champions, former champions, and megastars. Among WWE’s annual shows, the Raw episode following WrestleMania … Read more Poor Motivation for Big Mega Stars! – A Critical Review

Before Shoot Interviews: Trevor Blanchard

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Trevor Blanchard with Jonathon Toews and Patrick Kane

After I interviewed Windy City Wrestling co-founder Sam DeCero in 1991 in Chicago, Sam brought over a few of his trainees to talk to me.  Trevor Blanchard was introduced to me as a “bad guy,” and he sat down for this interview with some wariness.  I guess the bad guy attitude was inevitable if you … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Trevor Blanchard

Before Shoot Interviews: Sam DeCero (part 2)

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Sam Decero holding Tag Team belts with Mike Anthony

Part 1 of this interview ended with Sam DeCero’s career-ending injury due to a mishap during his regular day job as a laborer.  Read on to learn about the next steps that DeCero took to remain a force in the Chicago pro wrestling scene…. DeCero:  So I figured, “How am I going to stay in … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Sam DeCero (part 2)

Wrestling in Universities: How Japanese Students are Breaking into the Pro Wrestling World

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We at the PWSA strive to bridge professional wrestling and academia. In Japan, university students have been doing just that for decades. Since the late 1970s, several Japanese universities have been home to student-run professional wrestling promotions. The students, whose gimmicks sometimes parody actual wrestlers, train at the campus and perform regularly at individual shows … Read more Wrestling in Universities: How Japanese Students are Breaking into the Pro Wrestling World