Black Rasslin' Podcast
Showing posts with label Walemania. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Walemania. Show all posts

April 6, 2024

WALEMANIA XL: A NIGHT OF WRESTLING & HIP-HOP GLAMOUR AT WALEMANIA

9:00 AM  

Words: Mimi aka #TheWrestlingChic

SPOTTED: Thursday Night, Philadelphia's Franklin Music Hall transformed into a spectacle of lights, Hip-hop music, and wrestling as Walemania. For the past nine years, WaleMania has been the ultimate wrestling party to kick off WrestleMania week. Sponsored by Cricket Wireless, Hennessey, and ZOA Energy, the event was nothing short of epic, with high spirits and unforgettable moments filling the air throughout the night.

At the helm of WaleMania is the powerhouse faction—Grammy-nominated rapper/actor/poet Wale, alongside the dynamic duo curators, The Ringer's Kazeem Famuyide and Emilio Sparks—ensuring a night to remember for wrestling aficionados and music lovers alike.


Among the hosts for the evening were The Masked Man Show hosts David Shoemaker and Kazeem Famuyide, along with The Ringer's Van Lathan and Emilio Sparks. And who better to lead the charge, than the formidable female wrestler Big Swole, who commanded the stage as the night's master of ceremonies.

Surprises were abound as Ronnie Singh, the face of 2K gaming company and Cornell Gunter made a special appearance, delighting the audience with giveaways of WWE 2K24. Additional stars of the night were Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford of The Street Profits, who received a thunderous welcome and chants from the crowd, foreshadowing their anticipated WrestleMania XL match alongside Bobby Lashley against The Final Testament.

In a groundbreaking announcement, WWE announcer Samantha Irvin was revealed to be the sole announcer for both nights of Wrestlemania XL—an unprecedented honor in WrestleMania history. Irvin's talents weren't limited to the announcer's booth, as she surprised the audience with a captivating performance, serenading them with her soulful vocals and mesmerizing flute skills.

But the night's true highlight was the recognition of this year's Guest of Honor, the esteemed Shelton Benjamin. Celebrated for his two-decade-long career in WWE and Ring of Honor, Benjamin was honored by wrestling icons MVP, Cedric Alexander and Bobby Lashley, who toasted to his legacy with the finest Hennessey. He and the crowd were treated to a touching video tribute, featuring heartfelt messages from industry peers such as The Good Brothers, Big E, Mia Yim and Kurt Angle.

Notable Sightings
Big E delivered his trademark promo and introduced Wale to the crowd setting the stage for his entrance.

Zilla Fatu was caught enjoying the festivities of WaleMania, soaking in the atmosphere and contributing to the overall excitement of the event.

R-Truth, wrestling’s national treasure, surprised fans by stepping away from his usual wrestling persona and delivering a memorable performance, entertaining the audience in a different way.


Tension rose between Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes at the event as they had a chance to exchange words on stage, adding an element of drama to the night's pleasant chaos in preparation for their main event match at NXT Stand & Deliver on Saturday.


Keeping the wheels of steel throughout the night were a lineup of talented DJs including Cory Townes, DJ Gigi Rosa, DJ Tommy Carlucci, DJ Aye Boogie and DJ Money, ensuring that the energy never waned. The evening culminated in an explosive performance featuring the legendary Philadelphia emcee Beanie Sigel (who was joined by Freeway) for a much-anticipated performance, cementing WaleMania XL as one of the most unforgettable events in the event's history. Wale, 3OhBlack, Connie Diamond, Armani White, and Young Chris also blessed the night with performances.

As the final notes faded and the lights dimmed, fans of WaleMania departed with hearts full and anticipation for the forthcoming WrestleMania XL weekend. Bound by their shared passion for hip-hop and wrestling, fans and fans alike left the event united.  With WaleMania setting the bar high, where the worlds of music and wrestling would collide in an unforgettable fashion.

Be sure to check out BRP's content on our website and our Black Rasslin' Podcast Patreon for exclusive pro wrestling content.

Mimi, aka #TheWrestlingChic is a co-host of #TheBuckle aka #TurnbuckleTalk every Tuesday at 6:35PM ET and every Thursday at 8:35PM ET on The Black Rasslin' Podcast.

 


Continue Reading

June 19, 2023

The Rise Of The Black Indies

10:20 AM  
Image via Jedi Jack Yeti

Words: Andreas Hale

Image: Jedi Jack Yeti

Although social media can be criticized for many things—with Wrestling Twitter having its own special place of toxicity and tribalism—it has been an excellent tool for discovering and finding your tribe of people who share your interests. Perhaps no place is this truer in pro wrestling than the boon of African Americans in the industry. At one time, Black wrestlers and their fans were little more than a novelty that was often met with a raised eyebrow when discussed out in the wild. But the past decade has seen exponential growth in both fans and talent across multiple promotions. And with that growth has come an era today where Black champions are almost normalized.

Thanks to acts like The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E), Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Mercedes Moné (FKA Sasha Banks), Keith Lee, Bobby Lashley, Carmelo Hayes, Jay Lethal and others, the idea of a Black champion in professional wrestling is no longer a foreign concept. 

The mold of what a Black wrestler is supposed to be no longer exists and the archetype that toggled somewhere between mindless brute and smiling Sambo for the better part of 40 years has been shattered. The idea of no longer being hamstrung by stereotypes has opened the door for African Americans to be true to themselves both in and out of the ring.

Why did it take so long?

For starters, the biggest wrestling promotion in the world was run through the eyes of a conservative white man who built the entirety of his company on stereotypes. Foreigners and minorities were often typecast into roles that the All-American white man had to conquer. Mexicans rode lawnmowers, Asians never spoke English, gay wrestlers were treated as jokes, and Black wrestlers were thugs or overly happy and way too eager to entertain the masses. None were ever viewed as champions unless they had white friends or stripped themselves of their culture on their way to the top. 

Somehow, pro wrestling is one of the last forms of entertainment to reflect society. Think about this: there was a Black president before there was an African-born WWE champion.
    
With Black talent holding prominent positions in major wrestling promotions, it’s only right that we’ve seen a significant rise of African Americans in the indie ranks over the past decade. And as we’ve seen for the past decade, the independent scene is ripe with talent that will eventually feed into the major promotions as they seek new stars. 



There was a time that you couldn’t find 50 Black pro wrestlers to fill up a list. But there is an abundance of talent to deliberate over that stretches across the globe. From the brilliant stylings of British talent Michael Oku to the physically imposing—but stunningly agile—Calvin Tankman to the technically superior Jonathan Gresham and the inexplicably talented Bianca Belair, there’s something for everyone and no two Black wrestlers are the same. 

What makes this era truly special is the community that supports Black talent and, in turn, is responsible for them being pushed to the top of the card. The idea that the straight white male/female is the prototype for a wrestling promotion’s idea of a superstar is antiquated and, as a result, pro wrestling fans of all genders and races simply want their wrestling to reflect a society that is wrestling with diversity every single day. It may not be perfect, but it’s something that we can truly feel that we are a part of.

There are promotions that dedicate themselves to Black talent like Atlanta’s BattleSlam, shows that spotlight the Black indie scene like GCW’s For The Culture and events that bring the community together simply to celebrate one another, like WaleMania. We are no longer spectators yearning for scraps. We are a big chunk of the community that promoters are now forced to pay attention to. Our desires as wrestling fans won’t be ignored. And if they are, we’ll be sure to make a lot of noise.

Ask Black Wrestling Twitter. 

While the casual wrestling fan is surely cognizant of the Bianca Belairs, Willow Nightingales, Ricochets, Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks of the industry because they grace our television screens on a weekly basis, there is a burgeoning community of Black independent talent that is truly tearing up the scene and absolutely necessary to be placed on your radar. The art of discovery is still significant and nobody wants to be late to the party when identifying something special within our community. 



Not all of them will make it to the major leagues, and that’s okay. Not all of our favorite rappers end up being signed to a major label, either. And, oftentimes, it’s better that way because it doesn’t water them down. Some are sadistically hyper-violent (Billy Dixon), others are far too in touch with the dark side (Holidead) and then there are the absurdly athletic innovators of offense (Kevin Knight). They are globetrotters who make a living traversing across state lines and getting their passports stamped to showcase their ability. Eventually, some will make their way to the major promotions and (hopefully) continue to display just how uniquely diverse Black wrestlers are.

Remember, before he showed up in NXT, nobody had ever seen a big man move quite like Keith Lee did in the indies. Or, a woman who Vince McMahon would have ridiculed for her overly joyful persona and body type that isn’t rail thin but can absolutely go in the ring like Willow Nightingale. Or, a wrestler who defied gravity to the point that his ariel offense was considered a unique artform like Ricochet.

Black wrestlers continue to innovate and eventually become game-changers.   

With that, it’s only right that we spotlight a few so you can make sure you catch them when they pay your city a visit.

***

Andreas Hale is the Senior Combat Sports Writer at The Sporting News. He’s also the co-host of “The Corner Podcast” with ESPN Ringside’s Kel Dansby, an on-air talent on Sirius XM’s Fight Nation and co host of “Fighting Words.” Before covering boxing, MMA and pro wrestling, Andreas held senior positions at HipHopDX, BET and Jay-Z’s Life+Times. He’s also the co-creator of the upcoming animated series “Our Heroes Rock” with Ettore “Big E” Ewen and Jonathan Davenport.

 Continue Reading

April 7, 2023

The Black Rasslin' Podcast: Some Stuff You Gotta Be There For

9:28 AM  

The Black Rasslin' Podcast returns with healthy dose of insight and entertainment ahead of a busy weekend. This week, illfam79, Matth, Drip, Mimi, and khal survived a trip to Los Angeles for Wrestlemania 39 Weekend, which included #WaleManiaVII, Andreas Hale's #SuperKickBack, and much more! At some point they share some thoughts on 'Mania and the subsequent fallout, the impending WWE sale to Endeavor, Jay White being All Elite, and a bunch of other more stuff.

You know the routine: you can stream and download this week's episode via SoundCloud, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify! We stream live every Thursday at 8:35PM ET on YouTube. We also encourage you to become a member of the BRPatreon, where you can get even MORE exclusive content (and merch discounts)! We'll catch you next week; tell a friend to tell their homies to LIKE, rate, comment, subscribe, and share! 

 Continue Reading

March 10, 2023

The Black Rasslin' Podcast: Triangle Offense (f/ Emilio Sparks)

10:59 AM  

The Black Rasslin' Podcast returns with healthy dose of insight and entertainment ahead of a busy weekend. This week, illfam79, Matth, and khal are on hand to discuss Powerhouse Hobbs' big win, fallout from AEW Revolution, Bad Bunny bringing Backlash to Puerto Rico, the latest on WrestleMania 39, and more! At some point, Emilio Sparks taps in to talk WaleMania VII and more!

You know the routine: you can stream and download this week's episode via SoundCloud, and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify! We stream live every Thursday at 8:35PM ET on YouTube. We also encourage you to become a member of the BRPatreon, where you can get even MORE exclusive content (and merch discounts)! We'll catch you next week; tell a friend to tell their homies to LIKE, rate, comment, subscribe, and share!


 Continue Reading

April 2, 2022

WALEMANIA 2022: A KICK-OFF TO WRESTLEMANIA FOR THE CULTURE

6:13 PM  

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. 

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.

Photo Credit: @Kazeem

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.

 Continue Reading
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Designed By Blogger Templates | Templatelib & Distributed By Blogspot Templates