Photo: Pavel Volkov

In the United States, "professional wrestling sports entertainment" is a multimillion-dollar industry with television broadcasts, sold-out stadiums, and adoring fans from coast to coast. In Russia, it's a different business, where even the pros brawl in basements, small clubs, or anywhere else promoters can manage to convince a wary landlord to spare some space for a group of large, grown men to bleed on each other.



“In Russia, wrestling is considered cruel—and Western,” says Pavel Volkov, a photographer. “Convincing landlords is not an easy sell.” His latest work, “Wrestling in Moscow,” is a deep dive into the underground Russian scene, photographed between September and December 2014, capturing performers and fans who fight and clamor for a sport that lives in shadows.

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

A bout between the "American" and "Russian" teams.

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Two Russian wrestlers who play roles of the "Americans" wait to enter the ring.

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Spitting blood after a bout.

Photo: Pavel Volkov

“I won’t say fans don’t like the Americans,” Mr. Volkov said. “But I will say they do have their own strong opinions about them.”

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

"In Russia, wrestling is considered cruel—and Western," Mr. Volkov said. "Convincing landlords is not an easy sell."

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Shows can attract audiences of more than 300 fans.

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Bloody trails on a wrestler's chest after a bout.

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Photo: Pavel Volkov

Fans holding posters to support their favorite wrestler.