Sweaty, Messy, And Loud As Hell

Photographs by Aaron Sarles

Part drag show and part wrestling event, Choke Hole is a Queer multimedia experience that shook the pre-pandemic nightlife world of New Orleans, Louisiana. Producers Jassy and Visqueen talk about how Choke Hole provided escapism from the real world, the story of how drag and wrestling came together, and the importance of portraying strong, confident, and Superhero-like Queer characters.

New Orleans, USA

What is "Chokehole"?

VISQUEEN:

To the average person, Chokehole is known around New Orleans as a queer wrestling event, but it’s actually way more than that. It’s a chaotic blend of warehouse party, drag show, immersive theatre— a truly wild time.

JASSY:

A queer multimedia nightlife experience. Choke Hole’s core is wrestling, but it’s also so much more than that. The show combines lip sync performances, choreographed wrestling, huge props, pre recorded drama skits, fake commercials, etc. to create an overarching storyline that embellishes and satirizes what we as queer people see and experience in the world.

What is a typical event like?

VISQUEEN :

Sweaty, messy, rowdy, packed with screaming people— loud as hell! Looking back at pre-pandemic life, I laugh a lot at how much nasty stuff we’ve gotten away with. I can’t wait to get back to that signature sloppy fun we had when the time is right.

JASSY :

The energy really is electric. And It differs from other wrestling shows I’ve seen in a few ways. We have thumping music and, lasers, and lights during the matches. And our audience is squeezed in all the way to the edge of the ring. It adds so much hype for audience members to all be banging on the mat in unison as you flip someone over your head.

How did it start and why?

VISQUEEN :

At the time of our first wrestling show, Jassy and I operated under a drag collective called High Profile, where our objective was to throw high-concept drag shows inspired by over the top media.... we had a “The Voice” lip-syncing competition, a drag play that was a sinister fusion of Pee Wee’s Playhouse and Wonder Showzen, to name a couple. Up next on our list was creating a wrestling parody, combining elements from WWE and Glow. We threw a few mats on the tiny floor of a local bar, wrapped some LED rope lights around some pool noodles and called it a wrestling ring— it was a total mess but hilarious. That show was the most fun we had ever had at that point, and made us realize just how perfect drag and wrestling are as a flamboyant pairing. We knew it deserved to be elevated, so we brought the concept to Hugo who is known around town for throwing art-immersive warehouse parties, and the rest was history.

Why is "Chokehole" important for the queer community?

VISQUEEN :

Our Chokehole shows have this really electric, cathartic energy that I feel provides a necessary dose of escapism from the real world— both for the crowd and our wrestlers. It’s amazing what a wrestling match and a screaming crowd can do to the self esteem, I could cry just thinking about it! I’ve never felt such strength and confidence as I have being in the ring. I believe that sense of strength is incredibly valuable to the queer community, and I’m very proud of this unique outlet we’ve created to harness that strength. Chokehole puts the spotlight on strong, talented queer people— highlighting them as superheroes, essentially.

JASSY :

I feel like so much queer media is mining queer stories for trauma. Showcasing queer people in their most vulnerable state and then highlighting the strength they have to be able to overcome it. And those stories are important, but I also think queer people have so much more to show than that. Choke Hole really stays away from that, rather showing a variety of queer people all in their full power, from man hating feminist hero Candy Pain to evil land lord & real estate agent Jassy.

How has this event grown since it first started?

VISQUEEN :

Bigger space for a bigger audience, an actual wrestling ring, real training sessions, awesome props! Our network of artists, bartenders, personal trainers, and production crew offer up their talents to make this show happen on the large scale that it does, and I’m so grateful for everyone’s contributions. We’ve come a long way since that tiny show at the bar.

What have the organizers and community behind the event been doing during the pandemic?

VISQUEEN :

The pandemic has been a pretty devastating blow to our show, it’s sad to admit. Packed warehouse... contact-sport.... sweat slinging everywhere.... the perfect combination of everything NOT to do during a pandemic! Since lockdown began, we’ve all been focusing on personal art or life endeavors. Drag shows have migrated to an online format, I created a few pre-recorded numbers to occupy my time early on in lockdown, but it’s been awhile since I’ve made any more content because I gotta be honest, I really miss a crowd! It felt very lonely. Those who have been lucky enough to hold their day jobs throughout this have gotten back into the capitalist grind, certainly not as fun as throwing warehouse parties. Some of our wrestlers have moved to different cities during lockdown, it feels strange having us all spread about the country now. But there’s this understanding that when things return to some semblance of normalcy again, another local Chokehole show will be at the top of our priority lists.

What's next for "Chokehole"?

VISQUEEN :

There’s a couple exciting secrets under wraps right now, but I can say if the world gets it’s shit together later in the year, Chokehole’s preparing to body slam its way into Europe for a run of shows!

JASSY :

Taking our local show and transforming it into an international production!