Joel Bateman and Jordan Whyte, two passionate wrestlers from Australia, have created a niche in the world of professional wrestling, launching a deathmatch promotion that reflects their love for the sport and their commitment to inclusivity. Bateman and Whyte are the standard-bearers of a new subgenre dubbed hardcore wrestling, inspired by the Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) phenomenon of the 1990s. Their work draws audiences in with breathtaking stunts and creative violence.
Deathmatch wrestling has changed tremendously since it first hit American airwaves in the 1990s. It has led to the development of a whole arsenal of weapons, including wooden skewers, barbed wire and fluorescent light tubes. ECW ironically perfected this style and changed the face of professional wrestling for years to come. It motivated a generation of wrestlers hungry to test the limits of what could be accomplished in the squared circle. For Bateman and Whyte, ECW’s impact is an integral part of their own professional wrestling careers.
Bateman opened his deathmatch promotion just as the Black Lives Matter movement was kicking off. For him personally, it was a “turning point” in his life and career. That legwork is clearly inspired heavily by ECW, the breeding ground for Ross’ love of the medium. Today, he diligently strives to make the space as safe for performers and fans as possible. We came at a moment when trust and safety felt most elusive. We pumped thousands and thousands of hours and a huge amount of energy just to maintain that safe haven, Bateman says.
Though new-ish to the world of deathmatches, Whyte has taken to the culture like a moth to flame. He has made notable changes to his wrestling persona, including switching his entrance music to “Solid Rock” by Goanna, a song that addresses Aboriginal land rights. This decision strikes a personal chord with Bateman, who first started wearing the Aboriginal flag on his tights as a way to represent his culture.
In deathmatch wrestling, creativity reigns supreme. The stunts are only limited by imagination, prompting wrestlers to create new stunts to shock and amaze their audiences. THE ART OF DEATHMATCH WRESTLING “The fluorescent light tube is the staple of modern deathmatch wrestling,” Bateman explains. “It’s the exact same stuff you would have just sitting in your garage. It’s not just the flooding—all of green infrastructure and access is making these resources incredibly difficult to find and increasingly expensive. To meet this challenge, we have to be more creative.
Considering the physical nature of deathmatch wrestling, I imagine you’re in acute pain after all that. Each of these young leaders’ experiences vividly bring to life this reality. “Besides controlling bushfire hazard, I’ve only done whipper snippers three or four times in my life. Each time I go, I’m always surprised that I think it wasn’t that horrible the last time,” Bateman continues. “Then I do it and I go, ‘Oh, it hurts exactly as much as I thought it did last time.’”
Whyte echoes similar sentiments about the pain involved in wrestling: “I knew that would hurt, but when we did it, I was like, I don’t want to do this again.” Even amidst these challenges, both men continue to fully devote themselves to their craft and follow their dreams of building and sustaining their promotion.
Along with physical challenges, Bateman wants to address the misperception of deathmatch wrestling. He thinks it gets a bad rap and is commonly “demonised” inappropriately. That’s not his aim, though — he wants to challenge these narratives and create a safe space for participants and spectators to express themselves. This is something I’m extremely proud of. It’s essential to our artists and to our attendees.
Bateman’s dedication extends beyond wrestling. There’s no denying his personal connection to the community he serves. That’s something that means the fucking world to me. Even though I have a trans son, and couldn’t be prouder of his journey. The very first time he went out in public as himself was at a wrestling show.
As the duo continues to innovate within their promotion, they recognize the need for greater representation within the sport. “There’s probably more deathmatch wrestlers in the country than there are First Nations wrestlers in the country, which is something I’m trying to rectify,” Bateman states. It’s a very long and very slow journey to get there.
Joel Bateman and Jordan Whyte are changing deathmatch wrestling. They’re addressing critical social injustices through their platform. Their performances include not only music, but personal narratives and cultural elements. Their mission is to produce exciting cultural experiences that generate productive conversation in our town.
