Gallery: Blood, Bondage and Hairy Hipsters: Arm Wrestling as Performance Art
01001
*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
02002
*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
03003
*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
04004
*N00bs never know what to expect from Weird Sports, but even I didn't expect bloody bondage.* Photo: Sol Neelman/Wired
05007
*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
06005
*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
07006
*Madame Murder hoists her trophy overhead, having conquered all challengers.* Photo: Sol Neelman
