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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

Protect The Head That Reads Defector

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Kazuchika Okada enters the ring during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Korakuen Hall on October 01, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling

Pro Wrestling

Even At Half Speed, Kazuchika Okada Is The Main Event

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Lauren Theisen

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Bryan Danielson Saved The Day

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The Biggest Wrestling Show Ever Was About Friendship (And One Little Backstage Fight)

Wembley Stadium was designed by architects HOK Sport and Foster & Partners with Engineers Mott Macdonald and was built by Multiplex.  The signature feature is the circular section lattice arch which is 133 metres tall and sits above the northern half of

AEW Is Bringing 80,000 People To Wembley Stadium At The Weirdest Possible Time

BrayWyatt

Bray Wyatt Was Wrestling’s Most Irrepressible Star

<p>Sean T. Collins has written for The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vulture, Decider, Pitchfork, and many others. He lives with his family on Long Island.</p>


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Sean T. Collins

Jon Moxley delivers a move to Anthony Bowens during the AEW Dynamite - Beach Break taping on January 26, 2022, at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, OH.

WRESTLING: JAN 26 AEW Dynamite

How Queer Pro Wrestlers Are Handling America’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Heel Turn

Kota Ibushi stares down a bloody Jon Moxley

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Blood, Guts, And A Glimpse Of God

<div class="gmail_default">Timothy Faust is a healthcare writer and author of the book <i><a href="http://www.healthjusticenow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.healthjusticenow.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1685593699820000&amp;usg=AOvVaw24V19Y2HTPgYkH_EpZ_lgj">Health Justice Now</a></i>. He and his long little dog, Ume, move around a lot.</div>
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Timothy Faust

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 16: Zander Bathory steps on the back of the European Assassin during the AWF Wrestling Dojo Wrestling night July 16, 2004 in Sydney, Australia. For this group of die-hard sports professionals who spend most Saturdays training and wrestling in a small dojo in Sydney's South West. It's a ritual that goes way beyond dedication reaching into the realm of obsession. Founded in 1999, the AWF has now grown to over fifty professional wrestlers Australia wide. Hosting regular bout nights across the country, means these guys get a chance to do things they don't normally get to do, the blood is real and injuries happen, often. After starting a school for wrestling six years ago, AWF founder Greg Bowden has trained more than fifty pro wrestlers, in a bid to help promote the sport and build a substantial fan base. Unlike America's WWE group, which is broadcast regularly around the world via cable television, the AWF, despite numerous attempts, have been unable to secure television broadcast support, which constantly hampers the sport's promotion, keeping crowd numbers down and the group confined to low cost venues and shows. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Inside The Australian Wrestling Federation

In American Indie Wrestling, Bodies Are Cheap And Healthcare Is Not

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 01: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn wrestle The Usos for the Undisputed WWE tag team championship during WrestleMania 39 at SoFi Stadium on April 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Unique Nicole/Getty Images)

WrestleMania 39

The WWE/UFC Merger Will Be Bad For Almost Everyone


<p>Defector visual editor. Runs <a href="http://defectorstore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defectorstore.com</a>. Philadelphia-based, if you couldn’t tell. dhm@defector.com</p>


Dan McQuade in front of a march madness basketball court

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Dan McQuade

LAS VEGAS - AUGUST 24: An Elvis Presley impersonator sings to World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. Chairman Vince McMahon during his 64th birthday celebration in the ring during the WWE Monday Night Raw show at the Thomas & Mack Center August 24, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

vince-elvis

How Would Betting On Pro Wrestling Even Work?