BASH BACK wrestling IS A SMASH!
BASH BACK Wrestling offers a campy catharsis for Queers in LA. Peep the playback here.
BASH BACK Wrestling offers a campy catharsis for Queers in LA.
📷 Nat Nguyen
Branching out from LA-based Lucha Vavoom to the debutante devouring Drag Queens, Dykes & Dolls of CHOKE HOLE in New Orleans, and T-Boy Wrestling making legends out of your Trans and Non-Binary neighbors right here in our hometown of LA, no doubt you’ve seen Queer and Trans wrestling on the rise.
📷: Cassandro of Lucha VaVoom, CHOKE HOLE, T-Boy Wrestling, Future Ladies of Wrestling
Maybe you’ve jumped off a turnbuckle or two, or grew up watching The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and the wild world of WWE. If you’ve found your way here, chances are you love wrestling as much as we do, or just sweaty bodies rumbling in a ring, or you may just be a little gay. We’re into it either way!
ICYMI, here is a little recap of BASH BACK wrestling match featuring Candy Pain, American Oni, and EVERYBODY Gym’s Wrestling 101 crew during Mother’s Day weekend at SIBLING Studios in LA.
After our Wrestling 101 crew proved themselves to be powerhouses on the mat at our first LIVE MONSTER BASH match in October, an insatiable spark was ignited to return to the ring. We also felt a duty to deliver something even beefier and spicier for every single fan who screamed REMATCH! And even more so for every wrestler who committed to practicing their chokes, slaps, slams, and crafting their characters as we collectively braced for the fast & furious revamp of fascism under Tr*mp 2.0.
Speaking of BEEF, there was also a buffet of unfinished business from our MONSTER BASH clash: Wrestling’s Sapphic Sweetheart Candy Pain along with the Pride Fighter American Oni saved the day, but after a poor return on her investment, our corporate villainess THE SHE-E-O was thirsty for revenge and not about to close her portfolio. In this economy? Not with these stocks death dropping!
GRUDGE MATCH, ANYONE?
Tough Titties vs. SHE-E-O, the Grudge Match of the Century! 📷 Nat Nguyen.
Beefier and Spicier.📷 Casey Dennison.
We love you Candy!
This time our crew doubled down on their commitment to spark emotion, to create radically relevant characters, to flip conservatism on its core, and serve it all up with glitter, grace, and (powdered) FACE! Whether you were booing Steve The CIS-tem or Taylor the Toxic Trad Wife, or feeling uplifted by The Gay Agenda Girlies, Uhaul Dyke Daddy or the SHE-E-O MEGA Mash finale, it seemed everyone who occupied the space at SIBLING Studios that evening felt a collective cathartic release. Bashing back against ultra conservative characters that played a little too close to our hearts and homes, especially under Tr*mp 2.0, felt like a palpable way to celebrate the RADICAL RESISTANCE that is our existence.
Uhaul Dyke Daddy saved by the Gay Agenda,📷 Caprice Conley. Trad Wife smash,📷 Nat Nguyen. Steve The CIS-tem dome crunch,📷 Casey Dennison.
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. 📷 Nat Nguyen
On the Mother of all weekends, Mommys, Daddys, Zaddies and Baddies were all welcomed with a blousy blessing by The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, followed by a 6 match smackdown to raise funds for the Campaign for Southern Equality. Bird of Paradigm sang our opening anthem and a shirtless halftime hoedown featuring BOOTLEG LINE DANCE taught the whole crowd to Texas two-step in a New York minute. We loved seeing a young one a holding up a ‘BOO Steve The CIS-tem’ sign, folks enjoying sammies from Slutty Sammys, and a sweet dish from Your Wish is My Knish.
DJ Marimacha of Personal Best Party was on deck w/ sound tech Taylor, Pump the Jam instructor MK emceed on the M-I-C, ridiculously rad Ring Babe Scarlett Letters kicked off each match, and some of your EVERYBODY crew faves were on deck. As for REF, yours truly, Oldie Hawn had to sit this one out, but I knew we were in good hands when I saw ranger.wannabe in the ring wielding the whistle. (FUN FACT: Ranger also wrestled in our first match and T-Boy Wrestling!) And if you wanted to wet your whistle, you could grab an ice cold Summer Lemon Lager from our generous sponsor Goldie’s Beer!
📷 BTS - Caprice Conley Nat Nguyen, Casey Dennison, & Queen Skittles Photography.
Emcee MK Lordz, Bootleg Line Dance.📷 Casey Dennison.
WRESTLING 101
For some of us wrestling has always been all the rage, but finding a safe and inclusive space to practice is not that easy. Professional wrestlers Candy Pain and American Oni met through the EVERYBODY community and have been co-teaching bi-monthly wrestling classes at EVERYBODY for the past year. (Also where I also learned some of my moves as REF!) Offering a more supportive space to practice really brought in folks who did not feel comfortable in traditional wrestling spaces, or who just wanted to try something new. Myself included.
This Dream Team devoutly delivers a class where all bodies, levels, and genders are welcome and no character is too crazy. (Not even Stone Cold Stacey!) They teach what they preach: Community minded, consent-informed traditional wrestling basics and cultivating characters that subvert traditional cis-het dominated wrestling culture.
Professional Wrestler American Oni.📷 Casey Dennison.
The Pride Fighter American Oni vs. Willie Board.📷 Caprice Conley.
“As someone who has been a part of wrestling for over 20 years, I’ve always felt what was missing was the radical inclusion and loving creative energy that our community and the EVERYBODY team brings. Not only is our group of wrestlers entertaining and hard working, but they also understand the importance of representation and supporting one another and our community. This creates not only a great show, but one of the best locker room experiences I’ve ever seen. I’m really proud to be part of such a great group of people. ”
WHY BASH BACK?
Continuing in the direction of our Halloween themed MONSTER BASH last October, and in response to the Trumped up anti-Trans agenda, BASH BACK felt like the right fit. The name is also inspired by the late Aught’s BASH BACK movement formed in Chicago in 2007 ‘to facilitate a convergence of radical trans and gay activists from around the country against fascism’.
Flyers by Oldie Hawn, inspired by the late Aughts BASH BACK Movement.
BASH BACK GIVES BACK.
Your ticket purchases helped EVERYBODY raise $1500 for the Campaign for Southern Equality! At this unprecedented time of anti-LGBTQ+ attacks, the Campaign for Southern Equality is Meeting the Moment in the LGBTQ South when they need it most. The CSE’s Trans Youth Emergency Project also enables families of trans youth across the country access to gender-affirming care despite bans.
If you would like to support the imperative work of The Campaign for Southern Eqaulity, pls visit here.
“We are so grateful to our community for showing up to support the campaign for Southern Equality, where many Southern residents of the LGBTQ+ community lack basic legal protections, face political attacks, and experience health and income inequities.
We are thrilled to be able to donate $1500 to their campaign to fight injustice and ensure protections and resources remain in tact for our Southern community. Los Angeles stands proudly by and with you at this difficult time, and we will be with you throughout this ongoing fight!”
A huge THANK YOU to all the wrestlers, assistants, photogs, vendors, crew and YOU for making BASH BACK a successful event and supporting the Campaign for Southern Equality. Thank you to EVERYBODY Co-Founder Sam for organizing and offering an inclusive space to MOVE, BUILD, RISE and WRESTLE. And lastly, thank you to Candy Pain and American Oni for bringing the joy and the rage to the stage and showcasing the infinite talents of the Wrestling 101 crew.
“I’m so grateful for our community. Our wrestling show was so great because of our wrestlers, performers, tech, staff AND the crowd all coming together❣️”
Busty Buffoon vs. Stone Cold Stacey.📷 Casey Dennison.
C.U.Next.Time!
- Oldie Hawn aka REF
Follow @bashbackwrestling and @everybodylosangeles for more wrestling updates.
Wrestling 101 is taught by Candy Pain and American Oni and meets bi-monthly every 2nd and 4th Saturday and Sunday from 1-2:30pm at EVERYBODY Gym.
Bootleg Line Dance meets every 2nd and 4th Friday at 7p at SIBLING Los Angeles.
aug blog: CREW & MEMBER LOVE CLUB
We know it’s still Summer, but so much has been FALLing into our laps, we wanted to share! Here is a little late summer roundup of inspiring stories from our staff and members…
We know it’s still Summer, but so much has been FALLing into our laps, we wanted to share! Here is a little late summer roundup of inspiring stories from our staff and members…
FALL IN GLOVE 🥊
Did you know our Boxing Basics Instructor Katie Singer is also a published author with a PhD in American Studies? Katie’s work engages the fields of African-American History and Culture through Oral History and Urban History, and in her new book ‘Alien Soil: Oral Histories of Great Migration Newark,’ she foregrounds stories of a city, and a historical era, that too often get told by those without lived experience.
“I draw on this academic background in my activist work, as well. I am involved in various political and social justice organizations around immigration justice, carceral reform, and the election of progressive candidates.
If oral histories were more often taught in the classroom, maybe some folks out there wouldn’t be quite so confused about our country’s story!”
Pick up your copy of Alien Soil here and Fall in Glove with Katie’s Boxing Class Tuesdays 6pm/ Thursdays 9am.
Coach Katie has been a champ filling in for Juri’s Boxing classes while he was on his Classical Guitar Summer Tour. What does boxing have to do with guitar? Juri is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California where he is researching how the application of sport's psychology can help musicians with performance anxiety and stage fright.
Curious? Get a taste of Juri’s IRL Boxing Classes on HOMEBODY VOD or IRL here!
MINDFUL
August was the birth month of our lovely Leo Sabel and Transgeder Awareness Month! You can book Personal Trainer Sabel Samone Loreca Saturdays and Sundays as she has adjusted her schedule to focus on her passion working with the Trans-focused G.L.A.M.O.R. division of Minority Aids Project.
We also featured Sabel’s projects last week on IG for #NationalNonprofitDay. We wanted to also give a shout out to the Audre Lorde Health Program, your local body positive, sex positive, patient centered, trauma-informed sliding scale Health Care Provider centering the LBTQ community.
COSMIC EMOTIONS
Did you know our Yoga Instructor mx puja singh (they/them) is also a brilliant singer, songwriter, activist, and producer? Immerse yourself in COSMIC EMOTIONS, puja’s new album which will be out on their bday, Friday September 6th! They will also be having a release show + birthday party that night at 7p @kiefy.studio in LA. ‘plz help spread the word! I CANNOT WAIT TO PERFORM FOR YOU + CELEBRATE W YOU!!!!!!’ 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Get your tix and stream Puja’s music here!
Corn stars
In other news…Our HR heroine Jamie has joined a new Queer Corn Hole league. Yes, @funbagsla, ‘LA’s first(?) queer she/they cornhole league’ is every Tuesday at the 4100 Bar in Silverlake starting this Tuesday 8/27. Butter her up by going to support and LET THE GAYMES BEGIN!
MEMBER LOVE CLUB
Thank you for mentioning us in your new blog, Jamie Hahn! We’re honored (ok, blushing) to be mentioned alongside Queersound and The Lex App as an engaging queer space to connect and meet new ppl! Here’s a little excerpt from 3 (and a half) Secrets to Making Queer Friendships in Los Angeles:
Jamie recently quit their 9-5 job to start their own marketing biz for artists, creative, and the queer community. Need more connection, direction, or just a little rebrand? Follow @jamiehahncreative and look for her note up on our EVERYBODY Community Board! Next time you’re in the gym (or see Jamie at a Queersound show or on the apps ), make sure to connect! A member to remember!
stuntin’
Wrestling 101 has been tons of fun and GOING STRONG since May. We recently welcomed Pro Wrestler American Oni to the team to add B2B Beginner Wrestling Dates while Pro Wrestler Candy Pain has gone full Nelson and is now part of a local play:
Happy Fall: A Queer Stunt Spectacular is an original theatrical experience about a queer closeted stuntman’s journey to discover himself in a world of faux masculinity, unmasking the importance and danger of being true to oneself. Happy Fall is running thru Sept. 8 at the LA LGBT Center.
DOUBLE DOWN
We are so excited that Queer Wrestling is making a comeback! Just heard on the Gaydar: Transdudes of LA are having an upcoming wrestling match Sept. 21st and our Wrestling Instructor American Oni will be participating! Follow them for more info! It looks like a super fun down n dirty, yall!
We’re also excited to announce we’ve been plotting and scheming our own special match with Candy and Oni for a while and will announce our date soon! Plan your outfits and get ready to RUMMMBBBBLLLLLE!!!! Curious? Check our schedge for the next Wrestling 101!
CREW CUTS
Some clips from last month’s Staff Social. <3
Stay tuned for next month’s Fall Member Feature on Veronica Huerta, Mexican Olympic Curling Team Medalist!
If you are a member and would like to be featured, please DM us at @everybodylosangeles or email media@everybodylosangeles.com
🥊BIGLOVE. - EVERYBODY