WrestleMania week is here. The year’s largest and most jam-packed week of pro wrestling gets underway Wednesday, with dozens of wrestling shows, parties and special events taking downtown Los Angeles by storm over a five-day period.
This year’s lineup stands as the queerest to date, with a vast number of LGBTQ talent scheduled across nearly every event taking place this weekend, from WrestleMania itself to independent events. But 2023 also earns that designation due to the number of events specifically focused on and/or run by members of the LGBTQ community.
2023 is the first WrestleMania week to feature an LGBTQ-focused or LGBTQ-led event on each day of festivities, and Outsports has collected them all here for those ready to celebrate the community during pro wrestling’s biggest week.
Pandemonium Pro Wrestling “Best Damn Thing”
March 29, 5 p.m. Pacific — Don Quixote
MATCH UPDATE!@stephdelander is now in this tag team bout!
— Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling (@ProPandemonium) March 23, 2023
The Australian powerhouse has been dominating the American wrestling circuit on her own but now she's teaming up with The Killer Bae @Heatherisme against the team of @maki_itoh and @kiddbanditpro pic.twitter.com/XRi9qPUNN7
Pandemonium Pro Wrestling helps kick things off Wednesday night as part of a tripleheader, alongside Dark Arts Entertainment and Relentless Wrestling, with its “Best Damn Thing” event. The show features PPW co-owner Kidd Bandit teaming with TJPW sensation Maki Itoh against Heather Monroe and out star Steph De Lander, Masha Slamovich challenging Johnny Hollywood for the TV title and the Rumble Riot match. Out stars scheduled to appear include EFFY, Allie Katch, Dark Sheik, Funny Bone and Darwin Finch among others.
Special T & The Queer Punk Outlaws Present “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”
March 30, 2 p.m. PT — Knucklehead
🚨 #c6live news🚨
— Circle 6 (@Circle6_co) March 27, 2023
Queer Punk Outlaws Match Card
Don’t miss this one!
Thur 3/30 at 2pm // knucklehead
$6 @ the door pic.twitter.com/tn05lRCkFv
The queer punk outlaws of Brooklyn’s Industrial World Wrestling bring their unique brand of pro wrestling across the country as part of Circle 6’s lineup of events. The show will feature burlesque performances alongside multiple matches, headlined by Dark Sheik battling Robert Martyr and a West Coast edition of IWW’s signature multiperson match, the All Night Rager.
Game Changer Wrestling “For The Culture”
March 30, 11:59 p.m. PT — Ukrainian Cultural Center
*FOR THE CULTURE UPDATE*
— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) March 23, 2023
Just Signed:
Kevin Knight
vs
Myron Reed
vs
Man Like Dereiss
Plus:
Scorpio vs Bryan Keith
Willie Mack vs Billy Dixon
West Coast vs The World
Scramble
+more!
Get Tix:https://t.co/572oVD8ruJ
Watch LIVE on @FiteTV! pic.twitter.com/F2ZCTDhGEV
GCW’s annual showcase of Black pro wrestlers returns for the third straight year with LGBTQ pro wrestling icon Billy Dixon now at the helm. The event features an impressive list of talent, highlighted by Trish Adora defending the Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora World title against MLW star Calvin Tankman, Dixon battling Willie Mack and a West Coast vs. The World team elimination match.
The Nobodies & Grudge Match Brand Present “The Gay Young Classic 2”
March 31, 8 p.m. PT — Redline DTLA
WrestleMania week’s drag vs. pro wrestling lip sync battle tournament returns after a four- year absence for a night of lip sync wildness. The event pits drag performers against pro wrestlers in lip sync battles to crown the second GYC champion. Currently scheduled for the competition are wrestling stars Billy Dixon, Faye Jackson and Kidd Bandit and drag artists Pinwheel Pinwheel, Shanita Bump and Skirt Cocaine.
Game Changer Wrestling “EFFY’s Big Gay Brunch 6”
April 1, 11 a.m. PT — Ukrainian Cultural Center
WILL BUSSY BE FINE? IS SHEIK TRULY THRUSSY? WHY BILLY WHY? PARROW HAS NEW PUPS? CHARLES IS BRINGING NEEDLES SAID HE GOT INSPIRED THIS WEEKEND? FUCKIN PARROW AGAIN??????
— EFFY (@EFFYlives) March 27, 2023
effy’s big gay brunch
saturday april 1 2023
11ampst//2pmest
🎟️ https://t.co/PH7ZDWM4uH
live on @FiteTV pic.twitter.com/QLbolgn5co
The LGBTQ highlight of recent years returns once again to Game Changer Wrestling’s The Collective with the largest number of out talent of any WrestleMania week show. The event features a three-on-three anything goes bout between Thrussy (EFFY, Allie Katch and Dark Sheik) against Charles Mason, Parrow and Billy Dixon. Other notable matches on the card are Karam vs. Fred Rosser, Vipress vs. Max The Impaler and a four-way match featuring IMPACT Wrestling star Jai Vidal.
“Out In The Ring” Screening and Q&A
April 2,- 1 p.m. PT — Highland Theater
Ry Levey’s evocative, award-winning documentary chronicling the history of LGBTQ identities within the history of pro wrestling makes its Los Angeles debut on the final day of WrestleMania weekend. The event includes a Q&A panel featuring Levey and figures from the film, including EFFY, Pollo Del Mar, Dani Jordyn and former NWA Women’s Tag Team champion Susan Tex Green.