WALEMANIA 2022: A KICK-OFF TO WRESTLEMANIA FOR THE CULTURE
Mimi Jean-Louis: #TheWrestlingChic
Wale’s Walemania returned for its highly anticipated sixth annual event and delivered in star-studded fashion. The event was hosted by the SayLess Podcast crew, Kazeem Famuyide, Rosy, and Lowkey; it took place at the House of Blues in Dallas, TX, a venue intended to celebrate diversity and brotherhood of world cultures through the lens of music. The night included pro-wrestling culture. It’s fitting that Walemania, a music-themed pro-wrestling event, would bring together the best of worlds.
The Teremana Small Batch Tequila x Spotify-sponsored event kicked off with a live episode of The Ringer’s Masked Man Show Podcast, hosted by David Shoemaker, Famuyide, and Emilio Sparks, featuring WWE Superstars The Street Profits.
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| Photo Credit: @TheRingerWrestling |
Ahead of WWE NXT’s Stand & Deliver, the stage was graced with NXT Superstars like the “A Champion” Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, Cameron Grimes, Grayson Waller, Toxic Attraction, and Indie Hartwell.
Main roster WWE Superstar Omos grabbed the mic and dropped a rap-a-long rendition of Jay-Z's "PSA" for the crowd. Meanwhile, AEW’s Ricky Starks came through, "The Realest" Swerve Strickland performed two singles from his latest album, Tears, and TBS Champion Jade Cargill was serenaded by the 2016 hit rap ballad, "Lotus Flower Bomb."
Walemania x Foot Locker’s annual collab dropped exclusive merch to include long-sleeve tees and hoodies in this year's collection capturing Wale’s infinity for pro-wrestling and the hip hop culture.
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| Photo Credit: @Kazeem |
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| Photo Credit: @Kazeem |
Unity in diversity is the moniker of the House of Blues. The wrestling fan landscape has changed, baring a lens of a more diverse space with one commonality, the love for professional wrestling. The Black wrestling community has grown tremendously during the past two years. In the night's main event, special guest MVP offered some encouraging words about the importance of black culture in wrestling to end the night.
Walemania’s impact on the community was apparent, with the ultimate highlight being the countless incredible and impressionable black content creators in attendance for the celebration. Among the various podcasts in the building to help commemorate the comeback were: Turnbuckle Spaces, Wrassle Rap, We Luv Wrestling, Cheap Heat, Those Wrestling Girls, BGWP, The A Show RNC, Mackmania, Jobber Tears Podcast, Fightful Wrestling, South Kongress Podcast, Women’s Wrestling Talk, Random Axe Podcast, Banks vs. Davis, Where’s Buffy, Wrestling Wrealm, and many more. (Apologies to those we’ve missed) …
We see you; we ACKNOWLEDGE you all!
Mimi, our newest member of the BRP crew is a super-kickin’ copy-gal, a TwitterSpaces co-host via @turnbucklespace, you can find her here on special episodes and weekly Tuesdays at 7p & Fridays at 10p ET.
