Smooth’s Court is a column from Walter Yeates that will feature multiple weekly entries, including commentary from Walter on current and past events in the world of professional wrestling. This entry looks at the recent discussion surrounding intergender wrestling on the United States independent scene.
Over recent weeks the topic of intergender wrestling has been a hot topic within the wrestling community on Twitter. More specifically among those wrestling on and invested in the United States independent wrestling scene.
Several talking points on either side of the argument are divisive and often distract from the actual wrestling aspect of intergender wrestling. This piece will look to deconstruct those talking points efficiently and logically.
On Intergender Wrestling Being Equated To Domestic Violence
No matter what one feels about intergender wrestling, those equating such matches to domestic violence, or going further to conflate the matches to the Speaking Out movement, are not making a sound nor valid argument.
This argument falls apart on many levels upon investigation. Domestic violence and the variety of cases mentioned in Speaking Out involve horrific instances of consent being violated.
Intergender wrestling involves consent, comparing a consensual professional wrestling match to such activities is a false claim, and undermines the understanding of consent.
Others argue intergender matches remind them of instances of domestic violence and argue that men should never be physical with women in that manner. However, that line of thought again ignores the consensual aspect of wrestling.
It also ignores that men suffer from abuse as children and adults, yet those points are rarely if ever mentioned during a discussion concerning intergender wrestling.
That is not to ignore the horror of experiencing or witnessing domestic violence, but to differentiate such violations from consensual professional wrestling in a predetermined environment.
Those calling for the banning of intergender wrestling are inadvertently (perhaps purposefully in some cases) wishing to remove choices from women who choose to work in those matches.
On Disliking Intergender Wrestling Equating To Misogyny
Automatically suggesting disliking intergender wrestling equates to a misogynistic outlook, again fails to hold under logical scrutiny. An individual could dislike intergender wrestling for misogynistic reasons, but it isn’t a necessity.
Professional wrestling involves many differing styles, many of which involve its own unique psychology (narrative/storytelling) that can differ even between matches of the same type.
A fan could not like the narratives told within the intergender matches they have been exposed to, and it could match the same critiques they have for same-gender matches.
However, it’s important to note that not every match is going to be of the same quality and the fans with this attitude should be open to seeing other matches before casting a complete negative blanket over intergender wrestling.
On Women’s Historic Role In Wrestling
The conversation within the United States surrounding intergender wrestling and women in the wrestling industry in general often ignores the role of All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling (AJW) in breaking the glass ceiling for women in the professional wrestling business.
IMPACT Wrestling (IMPACT) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) often bluster over how they were responsible for a ‘women’s revolution’ in professional, despite AJW forming in 1968 and accomplishing feets no other all women’s wrestling company has even come close to replicating.
According to famed wrestling journalist Fumi Saito, AJW sold more tickets than All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) in the 1980s. Putting AJW on par with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Jim Crocket Promotions, Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), and the at the time World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) as top drawing promotions in the world.
While the women of AJW did not gain fame for wrestling men, its popularity made it so fans around the world became slowly more accepting of women as serious professional wrestlers. Manami Toyota is considered by many as being one of the best wrestlers of all time regardless of gender.
Aja Kong, Bull Nakano, and Akira Hokuto are all commonly sighted as amazing wrestlers. However, there were far more talented wrestlers on the AJW roster throughout its lifespan that helped the company grow and highlight what women could do in the industry.
It is incorrect to say women in professional wrestling are by default worse than men, as empirical evidence suggests otherwise.
It would be dismissive of women to say they should not have the opportunity to wrestle men if they choose, or that they need to wrestle men to be taken seriously as a professional wrestler.
On The Future Of Intergender Wrestling
Intergender wrestling is likely not going anywhere, especially on the global independent professional wrestling scene across the world. Intergender wrestling could become more prominent on network TV for major promotions if a network gives the greenlight and stays away from the conflating intergender wrestling and domestic violence.
Others will continue to decry it existing, while the discussion should only concern if the matches are quality, was the narrative well told, and if fans are happy with the final product.
Intergender wrestling matches happen around the world and are not just prevalent in the United States.
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