Oct 11, 2012 12:30 PM

Gallery: Blood, Bondage and Hairy Hipsters: Arm Wrestling as Performance Art

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*Madame Murder (aka Jessica Emmanuel, in the purple wig) makes quick work of The Acid Queen (aka Dana Schwartz) during an arm wrestling tournament that is equal parts sports and performance art.* Photo: Sol Neelman
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*Ramona Young, an actress with Opera Del Espacio, applies makeup in the green room of the Bootleg Theater. Although the arm wrestling is real, the entrances are meant to be highly, almost absurdly, theatrical.* Photo: Sol Neelman/Wired

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*LA LAW is all about the spectacle, a point made abundantly clear as emcees Bruce Thinment (aka Michael Dunn) and Lottë Bootay (aka Laura Oppelt) introduce the competitors and their entourages.* Photo: Sol Neelman/Wired
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*N00bs never know what to expect from Weird Sports, but even I didn't expect bloody bondage.* Photo: Sol Neelman/Wired

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*The Velvet Hammer celebrates her victory over the Barberess of Seville. Yes, this sport is just as weird as the athletes' names suggest.* Photo: Sol Neelman/Wired
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*For all the spectacle, the arm wrestling is real, and Madame Murder was determined to put The Velvet Hammer in her place.* Photo: Sol Neelman

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*Madame Murder hoists her trophy overhead, having conquered all challengers.* Photo: Sol Neelman

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