The more I look out at the online coverage of pro wrestling, the more I see the same issue that I see in tech journalism (where I work in my 9 to 5). Much like how sites are heavily focused on Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon, the graps blogs seem stuck on the likes of WWE, New Japan and All Elite Wrestling. It makes sense, because the more well-known promotions mean appealing to a wider audience. But it’s time to give the little-r promotions a bit of attention.
So, I let twitter know I wanted to do a new column: “A Spotlight On”. Once a month (maybe more, maybe less), I’m going to get in touch with one of the folks behind an interesting-looking promotion that I think could use some more shine. Maybe, I feel like, we can help build the industry by showing you more about companies you don’t know
Full disclosure, this chapter finds me talking to a friend of mine, Darnell Mitchell. I met the man who tweets as @Dnellicious at some indie show forever ago, and we’ve been tight ever since. Funny, smart, and more than willing to speak his mind, Darnell’s just the kind of person I thought should have more representation in this business.
So I was elated to find out that he works for Uncanny Attractions, a New York-based promotion that has worked with standout superstars including Effy and Sonny Kiss.
Uncanny is currently in the build to its big Halloween week show A Nightmare on Wyckoff Ave. (on Oct. 30) which I’m excited to attend myself for a lot of reasons, starting with how its collaboration Hoodslam and Battle Club Pro should create a lot of unique matchups. And then, of course, I’m betting the vibe will be really fun because The House of YES is a great venue and I’m guessing we’ll see a lot of great costumes from fans and wrestlers alike.
On 10/30 @houseofyesnyc
— Uncanny Attractions (@uncanny_attract) October 19, 2019
In collab w/ @xBattleclubpro & @HOODSLAM & LIVE @FiteTV get ready for an evening of terror, drag and Dropkicks you’ll never forget.
@laurenmoran
Hosted by: @MarkAHaggerty @eric_shorey @TheLadyBearica & @arielitalic
Tickets: https://t.co/rXg65y5YpF pic.twitter.com/DFOvL37MDs
I’ve wanted to see an Uncanny show live for a while because — as Darnell says — its roster is utterly the reverse of the industry, as he notes Uncanny’s hiring “mostly LGBQT+ talent, women and poc (persons of color) and provide them the platform they deserve.” That kind of a staff is the exact opposite of most shows, and throws the concept of token delegates from underrepresented groups to the curb.
Also? This show’s booking Allie Kat vs Pinkie Sanchez vs Killian McMurphy, a triple threat that I need to see in person.
So, my preamble aside, let’s hear from Uncanny’s Darnell Mitchell, who responded to my questions via email.
Words from management:
Henry T. Casey: What is your role at Uncanny Attractions?
Darnell Mitchell: At Uncanny Attractions, I am one of the three producers. I help book the matches, find the talent, and manage social media.
Henry: Who are the other major players?
Darnell: There’s Lynn Frailey, Michael Young and myself.
Henry: How is Uncanny Attractions different from other wrestling promotions?
Darnell: I think it starts from the top and works it way down. Lynn is an incredible person to work with as she owns her own business and is one of the original producers of Coachella. Having a queer woman who is new to wrestling brings such a new eye to how we do things. I can’t think of many companies who’s producers are a queer woman, a queer wrestler and a queer poc. It’s just unheard of to have that type of diversity. Because of that, we think it’s important for our show to showcase that. We want to see ourselves in that ring and have true representation. We hire mostly LGBQT+ talent, women and poc [Editor’s Note: persons of color] and provide them the platform they deserve. We want to make sure every person in the audience can find themselves in the ring and it’s important for us to curate a safe, fun space for people to enjoy themselves.
Henry: Uncanny Attractions has a huge Halloween week show coming up, A Nightmare on Wyckoff Ave. on Oct. 30, what makes you most excited for it?
It’s the main event that has been denied ove lr & over again.
— Uncanny Attractions (@uncanny_attract) October 26, 2019
It’s @hvrlow_ of @xBattleclubpro VS our own @EFFYlives in the main event on 10/30
Behold this first ever matchup, live @FiteTV (search Uncanny attractions)
Tickets: https://t.co/rXg65y5YpF pic.twitter.com/KVcE4cxN6q
Darnell: I’m excited about everything but I’m really excited for the slew of first time matches. Harlow VS Effy is our main event and they’ve been trying to wrestle each other forever and it keeps falling through. So I’m stoked for us to be able to give that to people. I’m also really curious to see what the wrestlers are wearing! I mean, it IS a Halloween show, I’m excited to see the wrestlers have a bit of fun!
Henry: This isn’t your first show at the House of YES venue (a Brooklyn spot that is not known for wrestling, but for theatrical stage shows), what’s it like putting on a wrestling show there?
Darnell: It’s pretty incredible. They were never really into the idea of doing wrestling but Lynn already had a great relationship with them and they were a bit open to it after we explained what we were doing. They’ve been incredibly supportive and have been super transparent and helpful when we needed them. It’s a great relationship.
One of the best things about working with them is the crowd. We get wrestling fans there of course but there’s clearly a section of the audience who has no idea what’s going on and that’s pretty cool. We want to appeal to hardcore, casual and people who are just there to have a good time.
Henry: For those unfamiliar with Hoodslam, what should we expect from them?
Darnell: Some spooky fun. We have Nurse Ratchet and Funny Bone, both who are well known on the west coast and we’re very excited to have them on our show. They bring a unique look, unique feel and it’s very rare you get a sort of west coast VS east coast feel in wrestling so it’s gonna be something super special.
*10/30 @houseofyesnyc*
— Uncanny Attractions (@uncanny_attract) October 23, 2019
Live on @FiteTV: https://t.co/G5xCmO1PFT@THEonlyMVYoung is cocked and loaded to do battle with the hell god @DEMI_GODOFDEATH in a match pitting @HOODSLAM VS @uncanny_attract.
Tickets: https://t.co/rXg65y5YpF pic.twitter.com/4Kp5rgYyzw
Henry: Your other collaborator, Battle Club Pro, has been putting on some great shows in NYC. It’s title is being defended in one of the most aesthetically-amazing matchups I’ve seen in a minute: Harlow O’Hara vs EFFY. What do you expect from this matchup? Is Battle Club Pro providing more than just a champ?
Darnell: Let’s talk about how amazing Joakim Morales [editor’s note, Morales is the owner of Battle Club Pro] is. It was a no brainer we were going to work with him. His shows are amazing examples of true representation and diversity and he’s just one of the most genuine people around. We’re blessed to have the 2 time ICON champ Harlow on our show, and she’s gonna knock it out of the park. We’re really looking for this relationship, with BCP and Hoodslam, to continue. We’d love to do a sort of Uncanny VS BCP VS Hoodslam event in the future. We want to constantly evolve and we really believe in working with other companies as much as possible. More wrestling companies should make the effort to work together. We’re all in this together.
Henry: Tell me about this awesome poster for the show! I’m super excited to buy one at the show.
Darnell: When we knew we had the next show coming, I immediately spoke to Lauren Moran, who is known for her Becky Lynch photo, about doing our poster. It was a no brainer. She’s one of the most genuinely talented people around and she loves wrestling so it made complete sense. It’s her first wrestling photo and honestly, it looks like she’s been doing it for years. It’s insane. We wanted a sort of Sin City horror feel for things and she knocked it out of the park. You’re drawn into every aspect of the poster and there’s always some new detail that you didn’t notice before. That’s true talent.
Henry: You’re an excellently outspoken member of the wrestling community online. I think you do this a lot better than I do. Toot your own horn: what can you say about how you do it right?
Darnell: Let’s start our with the fact that I fuck up ALL THE TIME. No one is perfect, I don’t expect anyone else to be and I do get a bit squeamish when people put me on that “pedestal.” I try to lead by example, even though I get that wrong all the time, but I think I’m also able to tow a line most people don’t. Some people don’t even realize I’m “in the business” and look at me just like a fan. I’m able to understand what fans want from their companies, manage those expectations and also listen to what wrestlers need and manage them.
Henry: How does Uncanny Attractions reflect your desires for a better wrestling world?
Darnell: We want Uncanny Attractions to be a mirror image of what the world looks like. So we want the crew, the wrestlers, creative to be as diverse as humanely possible. We want to make this the norm, because it should be the norm. When we get to the point where it’s just normal that queer people are on the show, normal were there are just as many women on a card as men, when we get to a point where POC are flourishing on your show, then we’ve done our job.
Less than a week from #dragsanddropkicks @houseofyesnyc on 10/30
— Uncanny Attractions (@uncanny_attract) October 22, 2019
Live on @FiteTV by searching Uncanny Attractions
We open the show with a Triple threat you don’t want to miss. There’s hellfire, SHOOTAAA’S and *checks notes* catnip?
Tickets: https://t.co/rXg65y5YpF pic.twitter.com/Hbs8XVr8of
Henry: I know wrestlers might not like to hear that they’re underrated or not as well known, but who on your card do you think will break out to a wider public presence, with their match?
Darnell: All of our talent is just plain unbelievable, and it’s really hard to pick a specific person. With that said, people are sleeping on Billy Dixon. That kid is creative as hell! From his promos, to his mind when it comes to making a match, when it comes to the detail he puts in his clothing options, it’s all pretty unbelievable especially for someone at that age. He should be on every show.
Henry: What’s the crowd like at an Uncanny show?
Darnell: Like I said earlier, it’s all over the place. I’ve seen the “regulars” who are at every single wrestling show, and I’ve seen the people who literally pop for an arm drag. It’s amazing! That’s what I want, that’s what we want. We want to blend the two audiences together because we’re here for fun! Wrestling is fun, wrestling is magic, let’s all enjoy ourselves!
Henry: For those folks who can’t make it (sad, I know) will there be a way to watch A Nightmare on Wyckoff Ave. live online or via video on demand?
Darnell: Yes! We will be on FITE tv, you can just search “Uncanny Attractions” and find our upcoming 10/30 show. You can also check out our Mania show because you didn’t know that you needed Bundertaker in your life.
The Plugs
FITE: https://www.fite.tv/vl/p/uncanny-attractions/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncanny_attract
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Uncanny-Attractions-325550064908752/