By Patricia Rogers | Posted Tuesday, June 28, 2022

I am not sure when I declared it in the last couple of years, but I felt like we were in the middle of a Black Wrestling Renaissance. Everyone knows about WWE, but there are actually about 100 independent wrestling promotions filled with stars, who are putting on great shows on a local level.

The definition of a Renaissance is a revival of or renewed interest in something. So maybe there is not a renewed interest, but I will say that black wrestling content creators, fans, wrestlers, and promoters, are more intentional about taking up space.

Seindole coined the motto for the summer, "We are outside, or ringside baby!"

She was referring to how this summer and from now on that we were going to be in the front row at indie shows or enjoying the nightlife that New York City has to offer.

For Juneteenth weekend, we all showed up and showed out for the first-ever black wrestling convention: Black Wrestle Fest presented by Pretty Heels.

BWF was an inclusive 2-day wrestling convention to showcase the beauty of blackness in wresting, appropriately taking place during Juneteenth Weekend June 18-19, 2022.

Activities included a podcast showcase, panels on Black Wrestling Media, Sneaker Culture in Wrestling with Corey Saunders aka My Kicks are My Fix on social media, and fashion in wrestling. As well as a Battle Club Pro wrestling show called “Welcome to War 2” that was one of the best indie wrestling shows I have ever been to.

It was time to produce what we all wanted but more importantly, knew was needed. And that was space and platform for black wrestling to shine, instead of talking about it. The work was done. I already can not wait to see how this can grow in future years...

Being in that room with all of my favorite wrestling content creators like Katrina of Women's Wrestling Talk, and Doc of Docta D’s Wrestling Showcase. I was glad to meet other podcasters I have admired for years like Stephanie Hardy of the Hardy Wrestling Podcast. Also, meeting The Real Dwayne Allen from Wrestling Wrealm who is almost 7 feet tall.

TWG had a joy showcasing the brand at Podcast row. It was a test of last-minute resourcefulness that proved successful. I, Krista B., and Seindole conducted live interviews and the networking was in full force.

Some would say that the majority of the people at BWF were the people who participated, but that was not a bad thing. We love bringing US together no matter the circumstance. And any time we are all in the same room, it is all love.

The week leading up to the Black Wrestle Fest, we did a lot of promos and had a special live preview with Danielle, of Pretty Heels, and Joakin the principal owner of Battle Club Pro, and Brian H. Waters who was participating in podcast row representing The Wrestling Wrealm.

They shared what to expect but also why this was necessary. A true labor of love, in the words of Danielle, "it wasn't rocket science." She talked about how one of the elders in black wrestling frowned upon the name of the event. They felt like naming it Black Wrestle Fest would alienate fans who could attend. She stressed that it was important that we are intentional about hosting an event for US. While at the same time being inclusive.

All in all, it was a weekend to remember. Now we look forward to the next big events happening in black wrestling this summer: The all-black female card for the 2nd annual Black Girl Magik show presented by Spice Speigel (who I also had the pleasure of meeting) and Jobber Tear's bring us Jobber Slam 2! The best way to stay up to date is to follow Those Wrestling Girls on all platforms.

I HAVE LEARNED THAT…

Actions speak louder than words, period. Growing up, for the most part I was an optimist. I just always thought if your intentions were good, it will work out. But sometimes people, and situations, can let you down. And that is not a bad thing on anyone’s end, it just is what it is. People come in all facets and are different in their own way. That is why there are different roles, and skill sets, that fit each individual. Once you accept that people are human, the ones that you love especially, life will be much easier.

SOCIAL MEDIA/MARKETING TIPS

Your brand is an extension of yourself, so when it comes time to showcase it, you better bring it. In the age of social media, when it comes to the times when you have to showcase your brand IRL, you have to be on 1,000. Your audience can love your digital presence, and there is a lot of value in that in 2022. However, never underestimate the human interaction. The physical stuff, like when you meet someone. What is your elevator pitch? Is your branding on point? You have to pay attention to detail.