OFTEN IMITATED - NEVER DUPLICATED - BYWLINK - NINETEEN NINETY SEVEN TO INFINITY
the written word
A collection of news articles, published books and academic articles relating to the controversial subject of Backyard Wrestling
Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home
ABC News - August 29, 2001
The Backyard Wrestling Link was mentioned in this article
"Extreme" wrestling ring on the ropes -
This clothesline is not what neighbors had in mind
Anthony Rifilato - September 12, 2002
Blood Sport - Local backyard wrestling teeters between athletics and maniacal violence.
Leah Sottile - July 6, 2010
Backyard Empire (Paperback)
Jason would do anything to turn his misfit group of backyard wrestlers into a profitable Independent federation. The local police try to stop his extreme storylines but the real danger was the stunts that took place in the ring. Shattered elbows, facial burns and even a car accident present the group with expensive injuries but it's not enough to stop them. Will the Extreme Backyard Alliance make itself nationally known or will someone have to die in the ring before this madness has ended?
Click here for a 43 page preview on Google Books
From smart fan to backyard wrestler: Performance, context, and aesthetic violence
S. Elizabeth Bird
Fandom: Identities and communities in a mediated world, ed. C. Sandvoss, L. Harrington, & J. Gray, (pp.165-176), New York University Press, January 2007
Pro Wrestling Kids' Style: The Most Amazing Untold Story in Professional Wrestling History (Ebook/Hardcover)
Shawn "Crusher" Crossen - 2005
Back in 1984 at the age of 14, Shawn created his very own 'Kids Pro Wrestling' league. And for the next five years, he would continue to grow this league into a huge national success making it bigger then any of them could have possibly imagined. At a very early age, Shawn showed true leadership skills with a remarkable business savvy that has since never been duplicated. Now, for the first time, he has come forth with a true story about his youthful dreams and accomplishments so incredible, you may find it hard to believe that it really actually happened.
Click here for 35 page preview on Google Books
Kids These Days: Facts and Fictions About Today's Youth
Karen Sternheimer - Rowman & Littlefield, 2006 (167 pages)
Click here for the backyard wrestling segment of the book (free)
Halftime Heat 1999 made me a backyard wrestler
Brent Brookhouse - February 1, 2019
Backyard Bloodbath
Bob Norman - April 5 and April 12, 2001
Broward Palm Beach New Times
Backyard brawlers bringing their wrestling act to downtown San Jose
Eric Kurhi - October 4, 2015
The savage saga of Backyard Wrestling
Sam Slaughter - February 2004
The Phoenix Providence
Backyard Anthropology
Ralph Rugoff - August 2, 2006
View the film here (Backyard wrestling starts at 50 minute mark)
The Glorious Reign Of Female Applesauce Wrestling Has Ended
Rick Chandler - September 9, 2008
Backyard Wrestling and Air Guitar
Jonathan McNamara - June 30, 2008
Click here for picture slideshow
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'Backyard Wrestling' - Award of Excellence
Bryan Patrick - The Sacramento Bee
A Video Artist Mines the Sweet Drone of Suffering
Michael Joseph Gross - December 4, 2004
Watch the film here (Backyard wrestling at 50 minute mark)
The Backyard Wrestler: The Life and Times of Aston Crude (E-Book)
The story of Australian Backyard and Professional wrestler, Aston Crude. At 12 years old in 1999, wrestling at parks and in backyard across Western Australia, Crude eventually fulfilled his dream (which ultimately became a nightmare) of being a professional wrestler.
The Backyard Wrestling Resource's guide to Backyard Wrestling (E-Book)
An in-depth guide on creating, performing and perfecting your own underground backyard wrestling federation.
This was assembled in 2006 by Kelcey Coe and released for free to anyone seeking training in professional wrestling moves and techniques, building your own ring or arena from scratch or create movie-standard makeup and special effects.
Over 1300 pages long, some parts are cringey or downright dangerous. Read at your own risk!
Available for free on the Internet Archive or here
Professional Wrestling (E-Book)
Louise I. Gerdes - Greenhaven Press, 2002
Backyard Wrestling Is Growing In Popularity
Chapter 8, Pages 54-57
Daniel B. Wood
Available for free "rental" on the Internet Archive
The Big Book of Pop Culture (E-Book)
Hal Niedzviecki - Annick Press, 2007
Backyard wrestling is featured in this D.I.Y pop culture publication.
Chapter 7, Shocking the System, Pages 162- 165
Available for free "rental" on the Internet Archive
Hello I'm Special (E-Book)
Hal Niedzviecki - City Light Books, 2006
Douchey attempt to shit on backyard wrestling from someone that sounds like they didn't have much fun in their life.
Chapter 1, Pages 3-7
Available for free "rental" on the Internet Archive
Backyard Bloodbath
Seamus McGraw - May 2002, Pages 102 - 106
Spin Magazine on the Internet Archive
Gender, Race, And Class In Media (E-Book)
Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez - Sage Publications, 2011
From Smart Fan to Backyard Wrestler
Lawrence B. McBride and Elizabeth S. Bird
Chapter 63, Pages 582 - 589
Available for free "rental" on the Internet Archive
Yard Wars: A Careful Review
Michael Garritty - St. Josephs College Observer, April 17, 2008
The Observer on the Internet Archive
How Backyard Wrestling Inspired the Creation of Wise Eats
Wes Wise - October 2, 2018
Underground Wrestling Alliance Grows in Popularity
Jennifer Wadsworth - January 7, 2014
Wrestling with Violence: Desensitization to violence through viewing professional wrestling
Kevin D. Williams, 2002
San Jose’s Underground Wrestling Alliance Kicks Open the Doors at the Ritz
Jay Edgar - August 6, 2021
'The Backyard': Masochism Begins at Home
Michael O'Sullivan - October 31, 2003
Backyard Wrestling - Will You Flip Or Fall For It?
Alex Marvez - June 8, 2001
"B-boy" Benjamin Garza danced to improve children's lives
Ingrid Wilgen - April 17, 2016
Backyard wrestling finds a home and a following in Warwick
Matthew Frank - March 8, 2001
Taking Bumps: Secrets of an Ypsilanti-based training school for professional wrestlers
James Dickson - March 21 2010
