Combining pro wrestling and comedy into one show at the biggest arts festival in the world
We are now edging closer and closer to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, arguably the biggest gathering of artists, poets, writers, comedians, dancers, musicians, and actors in the world.
With hundreds of shows on offer, comedy shows stand out as a draw to anyone going up to Edinburgh.
At the same time, Scotland is one of the strongest areas for professional wrestling in the UK, and just because its Fringe, that doesn’t mean anyone’s slowing down the seemingly endless showcase of wrestling events.
But is there anything that combines the passions of comedy and wrestling in just one event? Spoiler alert: yes, there is.
Thom Bee and Andrew Marsh are the creators of (No) Money In The Bank, a comedy show about the quirks and curiosities of professional wrestling, designed for both hardcore fans and curious newbies.
Having previously performed at the Brighton Fringe, and about to undertake the Great Yorkshire Fringe before going more northwards to Edinburgh, the show sets itself the simple challenge of explaining professional wrestling to the outside world.
I was lucky enough to interview them and talk about their show, previous Edinburgh and comedy experiences, as well as how they became wrestling fans and what it is like to combine comedy and wrestling in one show.
Thank you very much guys for taking the time to answer some questions. First off, how did you guys get into wrestling?
Thom Bee: I was a very casual fan as a kid. WrestleMania sleepovers and that was it. I got into it fully when I was about 25. My housemate absolutely loved it, so it was just always on and I got hooked. After that we started going to indie shows, NXT when it was in the UK, and the rest is kind of history. We have such an awesome scene in Britain that it’s very easy to just get hooked, and that’s exactly what happened.
Andrew Marsh: I started watching Raw when I stayed at my Grandparents on Friday nights during the Attitude Era. Then I read Mick Foley’s book and was inspired to learn to ‘bump’ by throwing myself off quite high desks, which obviously weren’t as high as the Hell in a Cell structure but still got a decent reaction from class mates.
What was it that you found most entertaining about watching it?
TB: To be honest, everything. I’m from a circus background so I always found myself drawn to the big flips and insane spots, but they’d be nothing without the gimmicks or the greased up soap opera. There’s no other form of entertainment that combines pure, technical skill one moment, with some stupid gimmick match the next. What I find most entertaining is how the entire thing comes together.
AM: At 13 I had no concept or writers or how a show was put together at all so the whole thing just looked like a completely chaotic soap opera where no one knew what would happen next. At that point the storyline element was so much more prominent than the in-ring action and that’s what hooked me. Imagine Peggy Mitchell was some kind of evil overlord whilst her bald sons carried out her bidding then Ian Beale storms in to the Vic and saves the day by knocking everyone out with the Queen Vic statue…who wouldn’t want to watch that!?
Most people have a phase where they stop watching wrestling only to go back in. Did you experience this or did you keep on watching it once hooked?
TB: My off-period lasted about 12 years. It was just something I used to like as a kid but assumed I’d grown out of it. It was the UK shows that brought me back in such a huge way.
AM: I lost interest around 2001 and didn’t get back in to it until around 2011. I would watch a few minutes of Raw each week, think ‘this is dumb’ then skip channels. The longer I watched each week the less dumb it seemed and before long I was watching the full episode every week.
What are people’s reactions when you say that you are wrestling fan? Or do you keep it a secret?
TB: It’s very public for me, I guess when you’re doing a show about wrestling you have to be open about it. Reactions are mixed, my grandma loves it, we keep getting into massive conversations about UK wrestling in the 50s and 60s. Some other people find it weird, and you get all that “but it’s fake” nonsense, but we’ve all grown used to that as fans and just mark out with all the other wrestling nerds instead.
AM: I don’t go out of my way to tell people I’m a wrestling fan. The cool thing about wrestling is that it’s this nice little subculture and wrestling fans tend to find each other. I almost exclusively wear wrestling t-shirts on nights out and inevitably get chatting to other fans that way. Wrestling fans are so friendly!
How long have you both been respectively performing comedy for?
TB: 3 years, I started out in Germany in 2015 and never looked back.
AM: I came out swinging from a central Leeds comedy basement caked in stale beer and sweat towards the end of 2014.
Do you feel like comedy and wrestling are linked together?
TB: They’re both performers putting their bodies and health on the line in the name of entertainment. Just with comedians it’s out mental health and livers we sacrifice.
AM: You need to create an identity and world for yourself – often in both wrestling and comedy that will be an extension/exaggeration of your own personality.
How did you guys come up with the concept for the show?
TB: It was originally going to be a split. I do 30 minutes on wrestling, Andrew does 30 minutes, the theme links it, pretty common for a first Edinburgh show. As soon as the Balthazar Dark character came into play we realised that we were actually performing as a double act, and that’s where the tag-team idea came from. In the space of a year we’ve gone from writing individual sets to this ridiculous show starring me marking out and a bitter old wrestler yelling at the crowd, and me. It’s been a hell of a process.
AM: I think there’s a nice balance to it now, it incorporates elements of straight stand-up, character, sketch and improv comedy and I’m looking forward to seeing how it evolves.
Is this your first Edinburgh Fringe?
TB: This is my fifth, but it’s my first with my own show.
AM: First full-run for me, I’ve been up to do short sets and watch shows the last couple of years.
What are you most looking forward to whilst performing at the Edinburgh Fringe? What makes it a great festival to perform at?
TB: Meeting people who want to see the show. We’ve already sold a fair few tickets, and we’ve got an agreement going with Discovery Wrestling where their fans can get a discount, so it’s really exciting to network with other fans and wrestling promotions. We had a similar situation in Brighton where the room was just full of Riptide Wrestling fans. I’m also excited to just perform this for 24 days straight, it’s that sort of thing that makes you a better performer and hones the show to perfection. Edinburgh is amazing because there’s just so much of everything. You can see loads of shows every day, all your friends are the same place at the same time, and we’re all doing what we love to do. It’s like a month long Christmas for comics.
AM: Having the opportunity to perform and watch comedy every day for a month…and San Miguel, although I often look forward to that whether I’m in Edinburgh or not so not sure that counts.
Your show will cater and be entertaining to those who don’t know a lot about wrestling, how would you explain this show to someone who has never seen wrestling before?
TB: Two grown men want you to share their interest, so drink and shout and hopefully win you over.
AM: It’s a very unique show at times, please come if you like something a bit different…if you’re confused at all during the show it probably won’t be because you’re not a wrestling fan!
Any advice to anyone who wants to bring a show up to Edinburgh?
TB: Just do it. It’s bloody expensive but it’s the best learning experience you’ll ever get. Also learn how to become an admin wizard, it’s surprisingly important.
AM: Do it with someone who is an admin wizard.
Quickfire wrestling question time… Favourite wrestler?
TB: They’re a tag team, but right now it’s CCK for me.
AM: Ever? Mick Foley. Currently; Dean Ambrose or Nakamura.
Favourite entrance theme song?
TB: Mark Andrews – A House That’s Not Quite Home
AM: Mark Andrews – Fall to Pieces (WWE theme)
TB: We both really like Mark Andrews’ pop-punk band Junior.
Any UK based wrestlers or promotions you are a fan of right now?
TB: Progress is an obvious shout. Riptide Wrestling are doing incredible work. Futureshock in Manchester is a lot of fun and always get’s hometown pride for me. Wrestlers wise, so many. Mark Andrews, Jack Sexsmith, Travis Banks, Jinny, Drew Parker, and loads more…it’s a long list.
AM: Flash Morgan Webster, Jimmy Havoc, Toni Storm
What would be your finisher if you were to become a wrestler?
TB: The anxiety attack.
AM: The Grim Fandango, I’m going to teach Balthazar Dark how to do it every day in Edinburgh…providing I’ve worked out what it is by then.
You can catch both Andrew and Thom in Edinburgh between 2nd and 26th August, and you get your tickets here. They will also be performing in the Great Yorkshire Fringe on Tuesday 24th July and in Stockton on Thursday 26th July.