Participants and helpers left to right: Randy Roberts, Bob Wood, Scott Williams, Kid Leopard, Mason Brooks, Kayden Keller, Ethan Andrews, Brian Powers, Kid Vicious, Shane McCall, Ricky Roma, Gabe Steel! Kid Leopard answers questions in the Q&A Moderator and blogger Wrestlebard Kid Vicious, out of character? 'The Legend' Shane McCall Bill Erland, NY Wrestling Club co-founder with Kid Leopard during the Panel
Pride in the Wrestling Community: Behind the Scenes History!
Here is a rare behind-the-scenes look at the community - and business - of gay wrestling from BG East's movers and slammers! At the 2024 Wrestlefest-NYC, which BG East co-sponsored, special guest fan and wrestling blogger 'Wrestlebard' co-hosted and moderated a star-filled panel discussion with 'Voice of BGE' Bob Wood, followed by a Q&A with more BGEast wrestlers. This series of interviews, at turns hilarious, revealing, and emotional, is currently available as an OTA exclusively for members of our ARENA website. Bard later summed up this event from his perspective in his blog:
"A 'cool idea' morphed into this spectacular and historic opportunity to gather together an unprecedented collection of wrestlers, in-front-of and behind the camera talent at BG East, and around 100 fans, to reflect on how far we've come as a community. As it took shape, it had a special focus on the homoerotic wrestling video production industry as it relates to meet-up wrestling, wrestling clubs, BJJ training facilities, and other fascinating branches of the diversity of who we have been and who we are as the gay wrestling community today....
And there was this fascinating interplay between meet-up wrestling culture and the evolution of gay wrestling video production, with even pre-BGE roots, and then us largely focusing on the role of BG East, and the dozen or more other wrestling companies that have come and gone, modeled on BG East's eye for the art, athleticism, and dramatic production behind their wrestling videos.
It was about history, and it was fucking historic. Things were said there that needed to be said. Appreciation long overdue. Praise that's never quite been articulated in that way before. [Surprise awards were given to Kid Leopard, as well as ally Jonny Firestorm and 'Voice of BG' Bob Wood!]
Seeing a diversity of wrestlers celebrating homoerotic wrestling, making themselves vulnerable on camera, and lending their voices and bodies and creativity... I feel like I've got a place in the world that seems like it was just handed to me, but in reality, was hard-earned from thousands of acts of courage and innovation. My sincere thanks to all of the panelists and the wrestlers who showed up and treated your fans with such authentic and spontaneous respect and love."
(Wrestlefest co-organizer Scooter helped set up this event for us at New York's LGBTQ+ Community Center. Additional thanks to Seon Cruz, Randy Roberts and gratitude for photo permissions from Ricky Roma and Tarz Lando)
Kid Leopard presents co-host Bob Wood with a surprise award 'Voice of BGE' Bob Wood co-hosting the History of Gay Wrestling Panel Scott Williams, famous tough guy jobber Erudite southern charmer Mason Brooks Ricky Roma answers a question on the history of comic books and wrestling Drake Marcos shares his perspectives from every aspect of the business
VIEW any match RIGHT NOW! Rent our VODs here or Save BIG on the Arena (see below) Almost all BG East matches are available for streaming, right here, right now (some of the newest releases are coming soon). If the 'Watch VOD' next to the match title on the Series page is YELLOW, it means you can rent the VOD stream right now for 24 hours on your computer or device (48 hours for same price on The Arena!). No membership needed!… [read more]Or, join The Arena & rent matches at a big DISCOUNT and longer-rent-time options like 48 hours or 7 full days (simply renting 3 VODs a month, or enjoying our weekly 'Free VOD for the Week' pays for your membership - in addition to thousands of free photo galleries and hundreds of free match videos on The Arena). For all past and present products and now some matches, you can OWN the stream forever using Own to Arena (OTA) whenever your Arena membership is active (see "Jump to..." drop-down menu above). Only matches that say 'Watch VOD' in RED are exclusive to the Arena. BG East Match Description pages allow you to rent and stream matches as well, with or without Arena membership. Full VOD List on bgeast.com[read less]
Celebrating The Arena and ArenaPLUS! - SEE ALL THE PHOTOS AND CLIPS - In its 22nd year, membership in The Arena is your chance to STREAM our products by Owning to Arena (OTA), see ALL THE Hi-REZ (and NUDE) photos not on this site, and watch any match Video on Demand (VOD) at a discount and for longer (48 hours for the same price as 24 hours on bgeast, plus a 7 day rental option!) OR buy our "forever-stream" OTA-Matches! Regular membership subscription is only $13.95 a month with a 'Free VOD for the Week' match that pays for your membership, and hundreds of free video clips; OR join our ArenaPlus membership level for only $79.95 a month and get up to 40 free select VODs as 7 change every week. See 'Arena Plus' in the Arena page menu to see what's streaming now!
