Hello, Lovelies! With Winter Olympic prep and coverage taking over my work week, this week is a great time to drop a free look at Required Reading, our Patreon-exclusive series all about conversations in media, particularly pro wrestling and cinema. Every episode, I pick a wrestling match and my close friend and collaborator Hollis picks a film for discussion with one another, with both fitting our personal definition of the show's title.

This one is an all Brian selection special as they present a media relationship that has been bouncing around their head for years: historic pro wrestler Sandy Parker and Cheryl Dunye's groundbreaking feature film debut, The Watermelon Woman. We discuss Sandy Parker & Paulla Kaye vs. Chiyo Obata & Terumi Sakura from 1974 and Parker's trailblazing career as a Black lesbian in pro wrestling alongside Dunye's 1996 film focused on discovering Black lesbian history in film, preservation of culture and how the power structures that have been historically in charge of said preservation forget about marginalized people and their stories.

As always, spoliers aplenty in our discussion.

Follow Brian Bell on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @WonderboyOTM

Follow LGBT In The Ring on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @LGBTRingPod

Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/lgbtringpod

Grab LGBT In The Ring merch on Brainbuster Tees

Big thank you to Edith Surreal (@edithsurreal) for the LGBT In The Ring logo

Huge thanks to Sarah & The Safe Word for the show’s theme, Formula 666 from the album Red, Hot and Holy. Find them on Twitter, @STSWBand, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Check out IndependentWrestling.tv for the best in current and classic independent pro wrestling, including live events from top independent promotions worldwide. Use promo code “LGBTRingPod” or visit tinyurl.com/IWTVLGBT

Thank you to Irving West for our "Required Reading" logo and Reverend Rabies for the show's theme song.

Hello, Lovelies! This week we welcome singer-songwriter Semler to the show! They & Brian Bell discuss their song and video essay about Chyna, why her story resonates with them on a personal level, coming to wrestling fandom in adulthood, the push for Chyna's WWE Hall of Fame induction, wrestling as counter-culture & more!

Follow Semler on Instagram & TikTok: @gracebaldridge

Check out Semler on tour: semlermusic.com

Check out "Chyna" and Semler's video essay here

Follow Brian Bell on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @WonderboyOTM

Follow LGBT In The Ring on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @LGBTRingPod

Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/lgbtringpod

Grab LGBT In The Ring merch on Brainbuster Tees

Big thank you to Edith Surreal (@edithsurreal) for the LGBT In The Ring logo

Huge thanks to Sarah & The Safe Word for the show’s theme, Formula 666 from the album Red, Hot and Holy. Find them on Twitter, @STSWBand, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Check out IndependentWrestling.tv for the best in current and classic independent pro wrestling, including live events from top independent promotions worldwide. Use promo code “LGBTRingPod” or visit tinyurl.com/IWTVLGBT

Hello, Lovelies! This week we welcome "The Midwest Muscle Mommy" & "The Babebarian" Juniper Gates! She and Brian Bell discuss the Michigan pro wrestling scene, her constant evolution in character and how it impacted her as a person, pushing the envelope, getting outside of her comfort zone, professional thumb wrestling and more

Follow Juniper Gates on Instagram: @musclemommyjuniper

Follow Brian Bell on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @WonderboyOTM

Follow LGBT In The Ring on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @LGBTRingPod

Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/lgbtringpod

Grab LGBT In The Ring merch on Brainbuster Tees

Big thank you to Edith Surreal (@edithsurreal) for the LGBT In The Ring logo

Huge thanks to Sarah & The Safe Word for the show’s theme, Formula 666 from the album Red, Hot and Holy. Find them on Twitter, @STSWBand, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Check out IndependentWrestling.tv for the best in current and classic independent pro wrestling, including live events from top independent promotions worldwide. Use promo code “LGBTRingPod” or visit tinyurl.com/IWTVLGBT

Hello, Lovelies, and Happy New Year! We return from the holidays and kick off 2026 with a full unpacking of New Japan Pro Wrestling's annual tradition, Wrestle Kingdom, with Rachel Giuliani! She & Brian Bell unpack their feelings around Hiroshi Tanahashi's retirement, the promotion's first steps in a post-Tanahashi era, NJPW's future, sublime looks from Hiromu Takahashi and Sanada, the crowning of Yota Tsuji, and what 2026 bodes for NJPW and so much more!

Follow Rachel Giuliani on Bluesky: @effingboring.bsky.social

Follow Brian Bell on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @WonderboyOTM

Follow LGBT In The Ring on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @LGBTRingPod

Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/lgbtringpod

Grab LGBT In The Ring merch on Brainbuster Tees

Big thank you to Edith Surreal (@edithsurreal) for the LGBT In The Ring logo

Huge thanks to Sarah & The Safe Word for the show’s theme, Formula 666 from the album Red, Hot and Holy. Find them on Twitter, @STSWBand, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Check out IndependentWrestling.tv for the best in current and classic independent pro wrestling, including live events from top independent promotions worldwide. Use promo code “LGBTRingPod” or visit tinyurl.com/IWTVLGBT

Hello, Lovelies! We close out QWI season for another year this week as we reveal the winners of the 2025 QWI Awards, as voted by the fans and listeners of LGBT In The Ring, with Grit & Glitter's Em Fear and Don Halliwell! They and Brian Bell announce and discuss the winners in 16 categories, including LGBTQ Wrestler of the Year, International LGBTQ Wrestler of the Year, Tag Team of the Year, Match of the Year, Personality of the Year, the coveted Best Look award, the prestigious Flowers Award and several more!

Follow Grit & Glitter on Bluesky, Instagram & Patreon: @gritglitterpod

Follow Brian Bell on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @WonderboyOTM

Follow LGBT In The Ring on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @LGBTRingPod

Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/lgbtringpod

Grab LGBT In The Ring merch on Brainbuster Tees

Big thank you to Edith Surreal (@edithsurreal) for the LGBT In The Ring logo

Huge thanks to Sarah & The Safe Word for the show’s theme, Formula 666 from the album Red, Hot and Holy. Find them on Twitter, @STSWBand, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Check out IndependentWrestling.tv for the best in current and classic independent pro wrestling, including live events from top independent promotions worldwide. Use promo code “LGBTRingPod” or visit tinyurl.com/IWTVLGBT

Hello, Lovelies! This week we're unpacking the 2025 QWI 200 list with the "Manager of Champions" Pollo Del Mar and Grit & Glitter's own Harley Pageot! They and Brian Bell discuss the list highlighting the top 200 queer pro wrestlers for 2025, dive deep on the top 20, the international reach of the community in pro wrestling, the addition of the QWI First 50 and reflect on five years of the QWI 200 in its current form!

Follow Pollo Del Mar on TikTok, Twitter & Instagram: @pollodelmarfans

Follow Grit & Glitter on Bluesky, Instagram & Patreon: @gritglitterpod

Follow Brian Bell on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @WonderboyOTM

Follow LGBT In The Ring on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @LGBTRingPod

Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/lgbtringpod

Grab LGBT In The Ring merch on Brainbuster Tees

Big thank you to Edith Surreal (@edithsurreal) for the LGBT In The Ring logo

Huge thanks to Sarah & The Safe Word for the show’s theme, Formula 666 from the album Red, Hot and Holy. Find them on Twitter, @STSWBand, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Check out IndependentWrestling.tv for the best in current and classic independent pro wrestling, including live events from top independent promotions worldwide. Use promo code “LGBTRingPod” or visit tinyurl.com/IWTVLGBT

Hello, Lovelies! This week we travel to Upstate New York to chat with Taylor One Shot! She and Brian Bell discuss the evolution of her own representation of transness in the ring, bringing pro wrestling to Schenectady Pride, being the person she didn't see growing up, pro wrestling as a distinctly queer art form and keeping the history of trans pro wrestlers in the conversation!

Follow Taylor One Shot on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook: @TaylorOneShot

Follow Brian Bell on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @WonderboyOTM

Follow LGBT In The Ring on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @LGBTRingPod

Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/lgbtringpod

Grab LGBT In The Ring merch on Brainbuster Tees

Big thank you to Edith Surreal (@edithsurreal) for the LGBT In The Ring logo

Huge thanks to Sarah & The Safe Word for the show’s theme, Formula 666 from the album Red, Hot and Holy. Find them on Twitter, @STSWBand, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Check out IndependentWrestling.tv for the best in current and classic independent pro wrestling, including live events from top independent promotions worldwide. Use promo code “LGBTRingPod” or visit tinyurl.com/IWTVLGBT

Hello, Lovelies! This week we welcome "Exquisite" Eddie Jade to the show! He and Brian Bell discuss working with new LGBTQ-focused promotion Wrestling With Pride, coming up in PCW, finding confidence in the ring, the theater kid to pro wrestling pipeline and becoming the inaugural Pride Evolution champion!

Follow Eddie Jade on Twitter and Instagram: @eddiejadepw

Follow Brian Bell on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @WonderboyOTM

Follow LGBT In The Ring on Twitter, Instagram & Bluesky: @LGBTRingPod

Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/lgbtringpod

Grab LGBT In The Ring merch on Brainbuster Tees

Big thank you to Edith Surreal (@edithsurreal) for the LGBT In The Ring logo

Huge thanks to Sarah & The Safe Word for the show’s theme, Formula 666 from the album Red, Hot and Holy. Find them on Twitter, @STSWBand, and check out their music on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Check out IndependentWrestling.tv for the best in current and classic independent pro wrestling, including live events from top independent promotions worldwide. Use promo code “LGBTRingPod” or visit tinyurl.com/IWTVLGBT