The graffitied warehouse in New Orleans' Ninth Ward has just one room with air conditioning. There, half a dozen drag queens are jostling for mirror space. It’s two hours till show time, and the air is thick with setting spray, body odor and anticipation.



“Oh, yes! The hair is glued, bitch!” says Miss Toto (Rock Evans).

“I’m pumped. We’re gonna fuck it up,” says Fabigail Tchoupitoulas (Price Provenzano).

At Choke Hole XXXtreme Drag Wrestling’s matches–parties held two weekends in a row to kick off Pride Month–drag queens throw more than just shade. They hang from ceiling grids and land in the splits. They punch, then grind on, their opponents. In short, they become even fiercer.

For street artist Hugo Gyrl and drag collective High Profile, who are throwing the event, Choke Hole represents the intersection of two forms of performance art that aren’t as diametrically opposed as they might appear.

“Wrestling is about character building and drama, and drag is that to a T,” said Jassy (Justin Gordon), who is one third of High Profile, along with Visqueen (Hannah Joffray) and Garlic Junior (Bradley Linder).

They acknowledge that stilettos can be a little too dangerous to wear in the ring, but that doesn’t make their outfits any less elaborate–or their prep any less involved. Extra bobby pins and extra Urban Decay All Nighter are essential. Plus, “you still have to keep your fake lashes on,” Visqueen says. “If you’re not wearing lashes, you’re not doing drag.”

Visqueen and Jassy rehearse their fight. “When I’m performing in drag, I can do things in the moment that I would never do normally–I'll do a cartwheel, go into splits,” Jassy says. Emily Kask

Visqueen gets into character prior to the show. Emily Kask

Miss Toto perfects her makeup backstage. “Everything I wear is pretty, squishy, and durable,” she said. “I am ready.” She spearheads a similar wrestling party in Miami. Emily Kask

Show co-producer and host Garlic Junior applies false eyelashes. Emily Kask

Miss Toto laces Visqueen into her corset. Emily Kask

Miss Toto stuffs her pantyhose to give herself a butt lift. “I actually made the padding from my dog’s bed,” she says. “I came home one day and saw him chewing his bed. Instead of throwing it away, I decided to make some pads.” Emily Kask

Performers get ready for the ring in the green room. Emily Kask

“Drag is queer expression through the medium of building your character and taking drama to the next level—and wrestling is that as well,” says Jassy, left, as she and her opponent, Visqueen, pose for a portrait prior to their match. “Me and Jassy’s style of drag is bold and graphic. We love the outfits of WWE because they’re cartoon-like, vibrant and in-your-face. As a visual artist, that’s appealing to me,” Visqueen says. Emily Kask

“I’ve always been a feminine person. Drag lets me express a side of myself I can’t in normal life—I work in a corporate environment, at an architecture firm,” says ring girl Slenderella (Cory Greenwaldt), left. “I enjoy seeing queens getting down and dirty. In this show, it’s raunchy—eyelashes, makeup, nails coming off, all that.” Chayo (Xavier Juarez), serves as the referee for the match, says drag is "fun, expressive and subversive." "I’m pretty excited about tonight," she says, adding, "I hope there are no ball mishaps or tucking fails." Emily Kask

"My (drag) look is essentially always the same—I'm wearing fewer clothes than last time. That’s the only real change. I feel more comfortable with less clothing, and it’s hot out," Garlic Junior, left, says. "This kind of entertainment takes the macho edge off wrestling, and it's just fun to bring together different people from different communities and create something amazing with them," says announcer Hugo Gyrl, who declined to provide a real name. Emily Kask

Members of performance trio Daddy Issues—Jackie Trouble (Jason Derek), Lady Lucerne (who prefers not to give her real name), and Toasty Smidget (Erin Elizabeth Mutter)—inflate condoms and fill them with lotion prior to their intermission performance. “We just like to push the boundaries of typical gender roles—kind of an anti-burlesque,” Toasty Smidget says. Emily Kask

During their intermission performance, Daddy Issues popped the inflated condoms that covered their nude fishnet bodysuits one by one. Emily Kask

Gayle King Kong (Scott Dean) peeks out of the green room at the crowd assembling by the ring. Emily Kask

Brooks Johnson lip-syncs the national anthem while impersonating personal injury attorney Morris Bart. Though the real Morris Bart didn’t make an appearance, he is a beloved local personality. “Morris Bart has made it his mission to put his face all over New Orleans. He loves the celebrity of himself,” Jassy said. “We love getting these iconic New Orleans commercialism elements and integrating them throughout the show.” Emily Kask

Audience members showed their appreciation with applause, shrieks, and cash tips. Emily Kask

Fabigail Tchoupitoulas (Price Provenzano) pounces on Gayle King Kong. “It’s been a fun process—like a RuPaul’s Drag Race challenge,” Gayle King Kong says. “Glitter, Elektra Cosmetics, and setting spray are my drag essentials. Otherwise, my face would be melting off.” Emily Kask

A costumed paramedic who prefers to remain anonymous and Ellery Burton, right, escort a defeated Gayle King Kong from the ring. “We have actual medical equipment. Mostly, it’s bandages for bleeding control,” Burton says. “Health and safety matter.” Emily Kask

Jocelyn Change (Sam Springston) pins Deep Sea Double (Kate Kibby) after whipping her with dreadlocks. Emily Kask

Daddy Issues performs during intermission. “We are just really trying to fuck with whatever your idea of sexuality and gender could be and probably make you feel uncomfortable for being turned on,” Toasty Smidget says. Emily Kask

A triumphant Miss Toto takes a victory lap as the crowd goes wild. Emily Kask

Jassy prepares to tackle Visqueen with a flying leap as a riveted crowd looks on. Emily Kask

Miss Toto strips down after the show. Emily Kask

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