RIPTIDE WRESTLING CREATES PRIDE STICKERS FOR LGBT SWITCHBOARD

Brighton-based Riptide Wrestling can’t stage shows at present due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but is finding several ways of keeping busy, one of which is helping to raise money for LGBT Switchboard .

The company has had to change direction and is putting more focus on its online community, video editing and its merchandise store “in ways we didn’t have before,” says Josh Bevan , who owns the company. Part of this has seen the creation of some Pride stickers, with 100% of profits made going to LGBT Switchboard.

Justine Colla , marketing manager, told how Riptide Wrestling has supported the LGBTQ+ community. “Pride has been entwined with Riptide’s history from the beginning and a recolouring of our bestselling stickers into Pride flag colours is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time.” Even better is the fact that they can help LGBT Switchboard, “a Brighton-based charity we really care about.” The artwork for the stickers is the work of Brett Jones . There are eight stickers covering: Asexual Pride, Bisexual Pride, Gay Pride, Genderqueer Pride, Lesbian Pride, Non-Binary Pride, Pansexual Pride and Trans Pride. The stickers are £2 each or you can buy a set of eight for £10 . Switchboard are delighted with the fundraiser and tweeted that ‘the wonderful people at RIPTIDE Wrestling are supporting us with these amazing Pride stickers’.

Riptide has held shows in Brighton since 2017, mainly at the Brighthelm Centre , featuring some of the top British and overseas talent. Last year they also held an outdoor show. Cassius , a gay wrestler from London, overcame the odds and won the Pride of Brighton title at the Brighton Open Air Theatre . Later in the year at Combat Panto he retained his title in a match against Brightonborn Rebel Kinney . The company has a zerotolerance policy towards homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism and ableism. That doesn’t stop their fans giving the villains a tough time though. 2018 saw them run a three-night tournament over Pride weekend. The ropes were adorned in rainbow tape as Chuck Mambo became the first Brighton champion.

Riptide Wrestling shows are filmed by Brighton-based Wild Stag Studios . To watch them, visit: https://RIPTIDEwrestling.pivotshare.com / For more info, visit: www.riptidewrestling.com or follow @RIPTIDEwres . To buy the stickers, visit: https://RIPTIDEwrestling.bigcartel.com For more info on Switchboard, visit: www.switchboard.org.uk