Interview conducted by Don Halliwell.
Joshua Wavra is one of the top rising stars in wrestling. They are a submission expert, who can make their opponent tap at any moment. They have been seen most recently as part of Oreo Speedwagon, with Xavier Faraday, in an incredible match against The End during Effy’s Big Gay Block on GCW Fight Forever. Joshua has had great success in their tag team, but they also look to cement themselves as a singles competitor. Their first big test was for the Wrestle Lab Championship at The PolyAm Cult Party 2 where they faced Jody and MV Young. They also recently had a big match against Aeroboy. Joshua was named as a nominee for PWI Rookie of the Year and was on Outsports top 100 LGBT wrestlers of 2020. The next test for Oreo Speedwagon will be a four-way tag team match at Camp Leapfrog’s Love Frog show on Valentines Day. Joshua is also entered in the Cassandra Cup, which is presented by Butch vs Gore on March 28. Both of these shows will be on IWTV and should be incredible.
Joshua was kind enough to answer some questions about wrestling in singles and tag team competition. They also went into what it is like to be a nonbinary person in professional wrestling. I hope that you find their answers as interesting as I did and be sure to tweet them about their last response.
Don: I was at the Polyam Cult Party show and really liked your match along with your promos leading up to it. To me it seemed a little cathartic for you. Can you talk a little about that match and breaking free from some of the restrictions of the prior company that you had worked at?
Joshua: I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the culture of the prior company you're talking about. There weren't as many "restrictions" as people seem to think. We had a lot of creative freedom in figuring out our own voices, repertoire of techniques, so on and so forth. The only thing we didn't really have any control over was the long-term stories, and I think it was better that one person organized that; otherwise it could easily get a bit too messy or muddled. You know, too many cooks and whatnot.I think what made PolyAm Cult Party 2 such a cathartic event for me was that it was the first time I was booked to be in (what was originally) a pretty high-profile singles match. Prior to that, my highest profile singles match was with "Ultralove" Jet Steele in Australia, and that match happened because Ultralove and I have been friends for years rather than because of any skill or accomplishments of my own. When I was reached out to for PolyAm Cult Party, it felt like I was finally being recognized for the work I was putting out, and that was a good feeling.
Don: You are in a successful tag team and also have had some success with singles matches. Do you prefer one as opposed to the other and do you go into the matches differently?
Joshua: There are definitely some differences in how I approach the two different kinds of matches, yeah. When Xavier and I team as Oreo Speedwagon, I think there's less of an emphasis on our individual styles as a high-flyer and a technician respectively and more of an emphasis on what we can do together, and how we can use our chemistry and teamwork to do something new and exciting. I think Oreo Speedwagon matches are some of the most fun I've ever had in my life, and I feel like every time we go out there, we learn something and we inch closer to our full potential bit-by-bit.
Don: I really like your style, with your clothes and ring gear. Is there any particular place that you are influenced from in regard to your style? Also, you did some photos recently with Chanukah Lewinsku that are excellent. Are you exploring a future in modeling?
Joshua: I don't know if I'd say there's any specific influence, really. A lot of the time, I feel like my style is dissonant and all-over-the-place, but I'm glad other people like it! The black-and-silver gear that I've been sporting since The Collective - which was made by Val Quartz of Daryl Apparel - was mostly inspired by the look of CHIKARA's Silver Ant. He was one of my favorites to watch for a good stretch of time. I loved the way he sported those colors, and I wanted to try and create a look that was unique from what other independent wrestlers were wearing. I had Val add a collar, and the silver stripes on the sides, to emulate the look of a tracksuit. I want to try to borrow qualities I enjoy in streetwear and apply them to my wrestling gear. And I'm flattered, but no, I've never really considered any modeling. MV Young I am not.
Don: Camp Leapfrog looks like so much fun. Is there anything that you can tell us that happened that did not make the shows?
Joshua: Camp Leapfrog is a lot of fun to be on the set of, because t's a collection of people who I've become close with through my time training and working. Given that we've been creating it in a pandemic, though, a lot of the production is very straight-to-the-point. We go in knowing what we need to shoot and we just shoot what we need. There's not a lot that doesn't end up making the final product, really. I think the funniest thing that did make the shows was the basketball scene in the very first Camp Leapfrog. It's so clear that I've got no idea what I'm doing. Thankfully, I think it doesn't go on as long as we actually played, so I probably didn't look too stupid - definitely looked stupid, though.
Don: The first nonbinary wrestlers that I knew about were Sophie King and Still Life, now it seems like there are quite a few more, which is awesome. Was there anyone inside of wrestling that helped you when you came out as nonbinary and what has it been like for you being a nonbinary wrestler?
Joshua: I only first heard the term "non-binary" around the time that Still Life originally came out. I'd known from my youth that I wasn't exactly cis or straight, but hearing the term "non-binary" for the first time really resonated with me. I've spent a lot of time questioning my gender identity and expression, and I still think about it often. I don't know if non-binary is the final destination for me on the journey through gender, but I know it's comfortable and helps me find calm in the anxiety of being myself. Being open about my sexuality and gender in wrestling has always been a positive experience, honestly - especially since I put my pride flags on my tights. I've had so many people ask about them, and I've been able to educate them and help them learn and grow, and that's a great feeling.
Don: You have worked mostly in promotions that have intergender wrestling, but as a nonbinary wrestler do you think it is harder to work for promotions that have separate male and female divisions?
Joshua: My presentation when I wrestle (that is to say, my gear) is pretty masculine and I team with a cis man, so I feel that promotions book me like they would a man - and I realize that's a privilege of masculine presentation and having been assigned male at birth. I know I have colleagues and peers who identify as non-binary and who are present feminine or who were assigned female at birth who struggle more with this issue. I think this is in-part a non-binary issue - that is to say, I think it's easy for people to acknowledge that you're non-binary but still default to thinking of you in the same vein as the gender which you present. I also think my peer's experiences and feelings speak to the ongoing issue of how women are booked by many companies, such as being given less matches per card than men, if booked at all. That needs to change.
Don: Is there anything else that you would like us to know about you, or something about yourself that we may find surprising?
It feels like it'd be real odd to drop one fun fact here and then end the interview, so here: two truths and a lie. If you want, you can tweet me @JoshuaWavra and let me know which one you think is the lie.
1. I'm missing an internal organ.
2. I play Chess and I've been awarded the title of International Master.
3. I used to speedrun video games and found at least one trick in each game I ran.
You can find Joshua on Twitter at @JoshuaWavra
You can pick up some Oreo Speedwagon merch at Oreo Speedwagon – Brainbuster Tees