Notes From Korakuen Hall, Row N
JOSEPH MONTECILLO | NOV. 28, 2025
"Everything around the building is much brighter and alluring. It's all very humble and serviceable here in Korakuen Hall, the home of Japanese pro wrestling. "
Independence Day
ALEX ZAYNE | NOV. 21, 2025
“A few months after quitting my job, I'm making a 12+ hour drive, five-wrestlers-deep in the back of a Toyota Corolla, heading to a Fourth of July party on the East Coast that's also a wrestling show. I’m unaware of how much my life is about to change.”
Running With Scissors
JIMMY LLOYD | NOV. 7, 2025
"I knew what I was getting myself into as a deathmatch wrestler by that point, but at just 21 years old, it was the closest I had come to legit dying in the ring."
OCTOBER 2025
Such Great Heights
MATT WHITTLE | OCT. 31, 2025
"Amid the early-2000s arms race of wrestlers bumping from higher and higher places, Vic Grimes planted his flag with one of the riskiest spots of all time. Against all odds, it went catastrophically right."
Surviving Jon Moxley
TOM LAWLOR | OCT. 24, 2025
"Outside the ring, dealing with Moxley is like talking to a domesticated animal. Inside the ring, it's like dealing with a wild animal."
Who Made The
CZW Theme Song?
MATT WHITTLE | OCT. 17, 2025
"The origins of the Combat Zone Wrestling theme song have eluded us for decades, with various fan theories elevating the iconic track to mythical status."
I'm good; I can go.
DREW PARKER | OCT. 10, 2025
"Everything was going off without a hitch, and I had delivered Arez to the safe match I promised him beforehand —
until the finish."
I'm A Pro Wrestling Referee. I Almost Witnessed A Deathmatch Wrestler Bleed Out In The Ring.
CLARK FELDMAN | OCT. 3, 2025
“In a match like this, referees are almost like lifeguards,
standing around and looking official until
something inevitably goes wrong.”
SEPTEMBER 2025
Safety Police:
Who's Looking After Professional Wrestlers?
MATT WHITTLE | SEPT. 26, 2025
"As fans, we tacitly endorse what we're witnessing in the ring by attending events, buying PPVs, and cheering for our favorite performers. Should we feel responsible for their increased risk-taking?"
Tag Team B-Sides:
Hidden Gems in the Mid-1980s
ROB NAYLOR | SEPT. 19, 2025
"Like with music, these teams of singles stars often appear as less important than the real deal. Ultimately, they can find their spot within a greater catalog — often becoming fan favorites."
We Alone Can Find
The Good (and Bad)
in Professional Wrestling
MATT WHITTLE | SEPT. 11, 2025
"TV ratings, ticket sales, and media rights deals
can offer context but are not an indicator of quality."
Booking DEAN~!!!,
A Tribute Many Years in the Making
PHIL SCHNEIDER | SEPT. 5, 2025
“When it came to online wrestling writing, Dean was the best to ever do it. His ability to cover all types of wrestling, from Mid Atlantic to Lucha to Battlarts, and make it funny, insightful, and accessible was unmatched.”