Folks & Things We Enjoyed 2k23- Other Things Wrestling Adjacent and Non-Wrestling Adjacent Cuz Christ Get a Life Outside of Wrestling. Go Listen to Tears For Fears Or Something.
It’s 2024 and yeah everyone already did their best of’s, polls, and the what-haves-you to celebrate all that was more than magnificient in 2023. Well, I have stuff to do and this is late. Last year we had our IAPW Fold & Things We Enjoyed 2k22, and the year before that we had our Holiday Buyer’s Guide podcast episode. So to keep up with tradition, because tradition is all we have left on this godforsaken hellscape, we are once again looking back and the people and inanimate institutions that made 2023 a good place to be, wrestling wise. Oh, and you should definitely keep an eye on them for 2024. I’m what my smart wife calls an “early adopter” when it comes to trends or something like that.
Here you’ll find some of the wrestling, and non-wrestling adjacent things I believe you should pay attention based on their 2k23 and what also what their future entails. I also did the same thing, but with wrestlers from 2k23. Read those here and here, and read about the promotions that we like here.
Also, I know this is way, way later than it should be, but fuck it.
Other Things Wrestling Adjacent
One thing I should make clear is that this is a biased list based purely on what my eyes see, and what my brain configures as good. I am by no means an expert when it comes to wrestling, and I have not watched even 10% of the wrestling available within the last year. However, I’ve seen my fair share of what is out there, I know what I like, and usually I’m right about these things. If there is someone you think should be on here, awesome good for you. If you think there is someone on this list that shouldn’t be, fuck off and go write your blog thing.
Podcasts:
Pro-Wrestling History Nerds
Did you know that Degeneration-X ran a tank into an arena where Monday Night Nitro was shooting live at?! Do you remember the “pipebomb” CM Punk laid out before that one Money In The Bank PPV? Did you know that Ric Flair is 16 time World Champion? Well that’s nice. Unfortunately if you think that pro wrestling history started in 1981 then you’re an idiot.
You see professional wrestling, or what many consider to professional wrestling, is working on coming up on its bicentennial anniversary, and there are two people who want to talk about it. Yes we are talking late 19th and early 20th Century wrestling! You know the real stuff, or really how the carnies are always gonna carn.
What truly is impressive with this show is that this truly a passion project by its primary host, Nick Gossert. Through the amount of effort that goes into the research behind each topic, and the legitimate enjoyment that spews from him during a show. Seriously, they had an 11 part series on female wrestler phenom, Cora Livingston and each episode was just as poignant and interesting as the last (despite the mediocre ramblings of Heidi Howitzer).
Pro-Wrestling History Nerds, is a refreshing and actual unique wrestling podcast, that is truly informational. You need to check it out.
The Stink Sheet
Essentially they are a better version of what our podcast is. I also think Kurt and I share the same universal brain. I haven’t told him this yet, so please do not make references to it. It will embarrass me.
Photographers:
Hidden Vision Photography
Denver based Hidden Vision Photography is the premier photographer of catching in ring action in the region. Lucha Libre and Laughs (LLL) uses primary photographer, Geoff Decker, as the person to put you into and outside of the ring with Colorado’s best wrestling promotion.
Every picture taken during an LLL event gives its audience the authenticity that the wrestlers and comedians are able to achieve. His use of lighting the venue’s lighting, audience, and subject places you right there. While I am usually traveling between dimensions during a LLL show, I use Decker’s ability to tell the story of what I may have forgot, and every shot puts me back into The O at that particular time.
I would highly recommend checking out LLL’s Facebook Photos to get the true experience of Decker’s talent, and the action of an LLL itself.
Hidden Vision Photography
SHORE SHOTS
I am a sucker promo-shots of wrestlers. A good photographer is able to get the right lighting, establish a strong line of sight on their subject. A great photographer does the prior, but actually tells the subject’s story. Ryan Shore of SHORE SHOTS does just that.
Shore is another photographer based in Denver, however moves throughout the Southwest to wherever an event with strong wrestling personalties presents itself. Through his use of shadow and backdrops SHORE SHOTS has the ability give an incredibly professional yet personal promotional shot.
While I have certainly seen his work featuring male wrestlers, I believe his specialty truly is working with female talent. There are so many photographers that just shoot the typical “female indie” poses which usually his a bright smile, arms on hips, chest out, but to me Shore demands more from his subject. He is able to get the personality of the talent to shine through. It doesn’t matter if the subject is a violent assassin, a bruiser, a goof, or provocative, he helps them tell their story without relying on cliched to death photos of women’s wrestling.
SHORE SHOTS
Brainbuster
Michael Watson is probably my all time favorite photographer in wrestling. I have been a fan of his since I first saw Andy Williams (Butcher in AEW, and formerly of Every Time I Die) began posting portraits of himself done by Watson. When I first these pictures I thought they were the coolest thing I had ever seen in wrestling. They encapsulated every aesthetic that makes Butcher cool, scary, and unique.
As I started to delve deeper into his work I became more and more enamored by it. In my opinion Watson’s work help create and foster an attainable punk/metalcore aesthetic that has been wanting to show its face in wrestling, but never had the right conduit to do it. Fuck CM Punk, he wasn’t and will never truly be it, so don’t even try to argue with me.
Watson continues to give some of the most intimate photos. Much of the intimacy comes from making the observer feel almost too uncomfortably close to the subject. This with his choice of backgrounds, completely immerse you into the photo, and allows the wrestler to tell their story.
Oh and because I’m a mark, I met him briefly in Colorado Springs last year for AEW, he was cool. Also his merch is pretty cool, and I’ve had great customer service from him when purchasing stuff.
Brainbuster
DD Martin Images
Is this Doug’s side-gig? Yes. Am I only featuring him because he is part of this thing? Yes. Well also he’s nice.
Honestly, Doug has an eye for photography and even though he is relatively new in the field he does have natural talent. His eagerness to work with and help promote local Colorado talent, and promotions goes to no bounds.
Also he’s incredibly nice, and can be paid in sugary sweets.
DD Martin Images
Non Wrestling-Adjacent
Oh and there’s shit on here that isn’t’ wrestling adjacent because only focusing on one aspect of entertainment will make you mentally encumbered. I will not say go touch grass, because I too am afraid of the outside, but I at least pretend to be intellectual. That really has nothing to do with anything, just in a ramble mode. Should I work on the damn blog instead of procrastinate? Sure, but here we are.
Music:
Black and White Motion Picture
So this is a band that plays in Colorado. Their music is pretty solid, and somewhat tough to pigeonhole into a specific genre, so I will go with the nice blanket term “Alternative”. BWMP have been around for 5-10ish years, I don’t know I’ve lost all relevance of time since the pandemic, and in that time have shown how versatile they can be.
The band is not afraid to dip their toes into different approaches in songwriting, or styles, all the while keeping true to guitar forward sound. With its use of moving rhythm, and at times near frantic energy, BWMP’s self-titled 2020 album is an evolved tribute to the early 00’s alternative radio scene. Later singles continue what they built, but continues move forward.
Their further works continue into what the band had started, all the while maturing. “Mild Life” is an incredibly reflective song about using millennial song sensibilities all the while acknowledging the realization of generational aging. BWMP’s second 2022 single, “I Can Be Cruel Too” furthers Life’s transition into true adulthood and relationships. “Strange”, a neo-gothic western, that shows an erotic and dark side to band. With their last single release, “Silhoutte” the band has come full circle. Back are the driving pop sensibilites of their debut, but the maturity of an experienced band. Essentially it’s poppy, non-sex pervert Deftones. That’s a good thing.
They also play shows in and around Denver, you should see them they like making money for their work.
Black & White Motion Picture
Andre 3000
Andre 3000 makes flute music now. It’s sick. I wanted to make a whole episode of the podcast just about his new album, New Blue Sun. Even though I did not accomplish this feat, I did make a decent amount of the podcast about it.
The album is sick.
When Darkness Falls
I came across When Darkness Falls when Doug and I went a Reaper Independent Pro show last year. They were the house band, and with respect to all the other talent that were there that night, they were the showstoppers.
Loud, abrasive, and loud, they absolutely were on a level that I hadn’t witnessed in the local metal scene in awhile. Somehow, some way they sounded amazing, clear, and violent while playing maybe the worst room acoustically a band could play. Their energy was perfect for the blaring music, and the crowd. You could tell that they actually liked playing together, which is something I consider to a rarity in this scene. Oh and they like wrestling so there’s a tie-in.
I truly wish Reaper didn’t fall apart for the many reasons it did, and one of the main reason was missing a monthly When Darkness Falls show.
Because this thing is already too long here are some straight lists of other things you should do to get your head out of professional wrestling:
Podcasts:
Books:
- Blood Meridian or the Evening of Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy
- Abberation in the Heartland of the Real: The Secret Lives of Timothy McVeigh by Wendy S. Painting P.h.D
Since it has been forever, refresh your brain on the wrestlers I think you should pay attention to, Part 1 and Part 2. Also check out the wrestling promotions that we highly recommend here.
