Five years ago, Grammy-nominated Hip Hop artist Wale and former WWE writer Court Bauer decided to try something a little different for WrestleMania 31 weekend in San Jose, Calif.
Rather than put together another pro wrestling function that would exist amongst the glut of independent wrestling show that surround “The Showcase of the Immortals,” the duo offered an event that would blend the worlds of entertainment and pro wrestling to deliver an experience unlike any other.
Join DAZN and watch more than 100 fight nights a year
As part of the initiative to launch Bauer’s Major League Wrestling Radio Network — which houses popular podcasts from former pro wrestlers Kevin Sullivan, Jim Duggan and MVP, as well as the popular “Something to Wrestle” with Bruce Prichard and “What Happened When” with Tony Shiavone — the event would include a live panel with the likes of Dave Meltzer, Rey Mysterio, Konnan and others and closed with a party and a special performance by Wale.
The unique blend of pro wrestling and music was an instant success with those who attended. WaleMania offered an event that was both authentic in its appreciation of pro wrestling but was also inclusive for fans and talent to the point where it felt less like work and more like a party. Where else could you see your favorite wrestler partying and having a good time without being saddled with their television storyline?
The DMV rapper's function ended up being the talk of WrestleMania weekend and led to WaleMania becoming an annual event.
WRESTLEMANIA 35
Match card | Schedule | Buy PPV & tickets
The Origins of WaleMania
“It was Court Bauer’s idea to do something around WrestleMania,” Wale told Sporting News ahead of the fifth installment of WaleMania on April 4 at the Sony Hall in New York. “For a long time I wanted to have my own promotion but there are a lot of obstacles that come with that. But I still wanted to be a part of the culture and create something for the talent that didn’t feel like work. I wanted to do something different where everybody could just have a good time.”
But why would a successful hip hop artist look to do something in the pro wrestling world for little to no monetary gain?
“This is a passion project, bro,” he affirms. “I don’t get much monetary gain from it. I do this because I appreciate what these wrestlers do for us. My payoff is people having a good time and creating even better memories.”
MORE: 10 great moments that define WrestleMania like no other
Simply put, Wale is a huge pro wrestling fan. And not the kind of casual fan who occasionally will show up to a live event just to make sure the camera captures him or can riff off about The Attitude Era. Wale is someone who lives and breathes professional wrestling, from the current WWE product and the history of the WWF to the independent entities that surround the house that Vincent Kennedy McMahon built.
“I been a fan since I was a kid,” he said. “I stuck with it for as long as I have because it’s the storyline that never really ends.”
As evidence of his fandom, you can catch Wale tweeting about the WWE or interacting with independent pro wrestlers at any given moment of the week. If not that, he’s appearing ringside at events or photographed carrying a replica WWE championship belt. Pro wrestling references are plentiful for the 34-year-old, who has even had the likes of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon appear on his projects. He's even been involved with WWE storylines. Back in July of 2017, Wale officiated a rap battle between The New Day and The Usos on Smackdown LIVE.
“We became big wrestle nerds together,” Kazeem Famuyide said of his early days of meeting Wale when he was part of the editorial staff for The Source magazine.
After being assigned to do a feature on the rapper, the two bonded over pro wrestling and it has become a friendship that has blossomed over the years through sports entertainment. Famuyide recently finished a stint as a writer for WWE creative and has been instrumental in organizing this year’s edition of WaleMania when the event touches down in New York.
“He wanted to get into pro wrestling in some shape or form but didn’t know exactly how,” he continued. “It wasn’t that he wanted to be a wrestler or anything like that. He just has an appreciation for what they do on an athletic level. The same way he shouts out NFL or NBA players, he does the same for pro wrestling.”
SN Q&A: Rob Van Dam talks return to Impact Wrestling, Vince McMahon, more
Wale’s passion for pro wrestling nearly had him on the outs with the WWE several years back when an incident with a fan at a live event that had him in hot water with the company. Things have been smoothed over since then as Wale has worked closely with the WWE on several projects, which is why the WWE has no issue allowing their talent to attend this event.
“It’s not like I’m wrestling in front of a crowd,” WWE Superstar Lio Rush said when asked if he needed to clear his appearance at this year's WaleMania with the promotion. He attributed the freedom to attend to Wale’s working relationship with the company. “I’m going out there to party and hang with my friends, network with some cool people and support the love of pro wrestling and hip hop culture. I had the time off so why not go out before I’m back on the road again for a couple of weeks.”
Bridging the gap between pro wrestling and hip hop
With a distinctive blend of hip hop and pro wrestling, WaleMania successfully bridged the gap between the two communities like no other event had done in the past.
“This bridge between wrestling and hip hop is something that we never really explored,” said WWE superstar Big E, who has attended several WaleManias. “There are so many rappers who drop wrestling references in their lyrics, from 80s WWF to the current product. We (WWE) are not always on the ball with what’s relevant from a cultural standpoint. I don’t think there’s another hip hop act who could pull this off. Wale’s passion for this is on another level. He lives and breathes this. It means so much to him. I can’t imagine anybody else that has the passion to pull this off.”
Pro wrestling has always had a sort of secret society of fans from all walks of life. However, there appeared to be a gap between the pro wrestling industry and the hip hop community where few artists openly profess their love of the current product.
Join DAZN and watch more than 100 fight nights a year
“I often felt like I was on an island by myself as a pro wrestling fan,” New York hip hop artist Smoke DZA explained. He’s one of the guests who will be in attendance at WaleMania. “A lot of my cool friends would tease me about being a fan. They didn’t understand what I was doing when I was ringside at a WWE event or had a talent like New Jack in my video. But I was always tapped into both cultures.”
The advent of social media helped those who felt isolated find each other and form relationships.
“I felt fortunate that social media helped bring that audience together,” said Famuyide, who has built friendships over social media with pro wrestling. “That helped how we got into it. We all would tweet and share our thoughts on booking, talent, indie talent the WWE should sign and so on.”
The growing community of wrestling fans set a foundation for WaleMania as it became increasingly evident that all of these people needed some sort of meet and greet when they descended upon a big city for WrestleMania weekend.
“I thought it was just going to be a little thing,” Famuyide said of the first WaleMania. “I had no idea that it would grow to what it is today. That first one set the tone because it was in San Jose and that’s not really a party city. I never understood the energy behind WrestleMania weekend until that first one and being able to compare it to the Super Bowl or NBA All Star weekend. Once I felt that similar energy, I recognized how special it would be for the hip hop community to get involved.”
WaleMania is for everyone
Although WaleMania is a fan-friendly event, it has become just as important to the talent who attend. In some ways, they look forward to WaleMania more than the fans buying tickets do.
As somebody who spends a lot of time on the road, Wale can understand the need for pro wrestlers to have an event where they can unwind and not feel like they have to be in character.
“Events for wrestlers always feel like work,” Wale said citing autograph signings and appearances as events where wrestlers aren’t able to be themselves. “I just feel like wrestling needs something like this for the fans and the talent. It’s just as much for them as it is for us. It’s a good release.”
After spending a year on the road with the WWE as a writer, Famuyide understands exactly what a lot of these wrestlers put themselves through to entertain the fans. And if he could assist with putting together an event where they could let their hair down and have fun, this would be it.
“Pro wrestlers live incredibly demanding lives when it comes to traveling,” Famuyide said. “Usually they are in and out of a city and don’t really have time to unwind unless they are at home. That’s what WaleMania is for.
“It’s rare you get that many people in the same industry in one city at the same time. A lot of times this is the place where they first meet or the last time they see each other for a while. That was the vision I had for it. This is just as important to the talent as it is the fans who buy tickets.”
Rush told Sporting News that he had heard about the event over the years but was unable to attend due to his rigorous schedule as an indie wrestler during WrestleMania week. But now that he’s a part of the WWE, he’s made sure to carve out time to attend his first WaleMania. For him, it's about catching up with those he shared the ring with in the past and running into people that he wouldn't be able to due to his demanding travel schedule.
“With people being so busy on the indie scene with their schedule and being in the WWE with your life on the road, this is the one event where entertainers from all different brands can be in one building, have fun and not worry about wrestling storylines or anything like that,” Rush said. “There’s going to be so many familiar faces and so many people that I never thought I would meet and we’re going to be in one place having fun, appreciating pro wrestling and hip hop culture.”
One thing that Big E wants to make clear is that WaleMania is an authentic experience where there is no hierarchy, regardless of whether they are a WWE Hall of Famer or a top recording artist. This is all about the appreciation for professional wrestling and the men and women who put their bodies on the line to entertain the fans.
"A lot of times fans see entertainers and actors trying to get into this business just to collect a check," he said. "But Wale is a fan who knows the product and is a huge wrestling fan. It’s big to get somebody not only of his stature and name value but also someone who truly loves this. Our fans see through those people who just want to collect a check."
And even though Wale has brought the worlds of hip hop and pro wrestling together, he made it clear that nobody is excluded from having a good time at WaleMania.
“There’s definitely black and urban undertones but it’s really inclusive,” he said. “We had Bruce Prichard and Dave Meltzer sitting on the same panel or Jim Ross hanging out with Smoke DZA. That’s the essence of it. I want to mesh these worlds together.”
The Big Apple
The fifth installment of WaleMania is certain to be the biggest one to date. With a massive lineup that includes Booker T, Samoa Joe, Lio Rush, New Japan’s Bullet Club, Ring of Honor’s Kenny King, recording artists Smoke DZA, Westside Gunn and the G4 Boyz and many others, the night is expected to be one that those in attendance won't soon forget.
Famuyide and Emilio Sparks will host a live edition of the WrassleRap Podcast where many of the aforementioned talent will discuss all things pro wrestling before the event dissolves into a full-blown party and concert with Wale performing his hits and new music as his next album is currently in the process of being completed.
“If you are a fan of any sport, this is the NBA Finals, the Super Bowl and the world cup of pro wrestling,” Smoke DZA said. To have everybody in my city and I’m a host is a different feeling. It’s going to be great to see people in our culture and share the moment with them on that weekend. You can expect a whole lot of fun.”
Although Wale said that putting together this edition of WaleMania has come with its fair share of stressors, he's confident that all who attend will leave the Sony Hall happy.
"It’s stressful because I’m trying to appease my friends in WWE as well as my rap friends," he said. "I’m genuinely concerned that everyone has a good time. I’m worried about people not enjoying themselves . But I'm sure that they will leave with a smile on their face after they see what we have in store for them this year."
As WaleMania continues to grow and cement its place as the proper kickoff to WrestleMania weekend, the crew behind the event have plans to push the event to new heights.
"I just feel like wrestling needs something like this for the fans and the talent," Wale said. "Hopefully one day this can turn into a festival. And it’s organic and it’s not something controlled by major corporations."
Famuyide echoes those sentiments.
“There are certainly plans for it to grow,” he said. “I want to be able to say that we put together the first pro wrestling music festival for hip hop. I want to make WrestleMania week feel like NBA All Star Weekend."
The potential is certainly there. And as long as WaleMania continues to be an all-inclusive event where everyone from all walks of life can have a good time, it will etch itself into the WrestleMania weekend fabric for years to come. But for those who still don't understand what they are getting into, Famuyide summarizes the experience.
“WaleMania is a place where you can come to a Wale concert and share a beer with your favorite indie wrestler. You might see Samoa Joe dancing on stage or New Day pop up. If you want to see some of the people that entertain you and a performance from your favorite rapper, come through. It’s a good mix of all that and you get to meet people that are just like yourself.”
WaleMania takes place April 4 at the Sony Hall in New York City. Tickets are available on TicketMaster and Sony Hall.
