Josh Barnett's Bloodsport, A Primer
This is easily the best pro-wrestling show that an MMA fan can grow to love.
JOSH BARNETT’S BLOODSPORT XIII
THURSDAY, APRIL 17 FROM PEARL AT THE PALMS CASINO, LAS VEGAS, NV
TIME: 8 PM PST
BROADCAST: TRILLER
If you're a certain kind of MMA fan, chances are you’ve likely, and deliberately, overlooked professional wrestling as a serious form of entertainment. That, honestly, is understandable. The theatrical story arcs, telegraphed outcomes, and larger-than-life personas may seem odd, confusing, and miles away from the gritty realism of a real fight. That is more or less why I stayed away from professional wrestling for such a long time, as well as the amount of time and commitment being updated on all the angles and storylines takes given I’m someone who feels the urge to know every piece of lore and backstory element.
This was, until, I was introduced to GCW / Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport series. Bloodsport brings a genuinely unique professional wrestling series that blends the intensity of combat sports with the storytelling of pro wrestling. For MMA fans like ourselves, it’s a really fresh and exhilarating way to approach pro wrestling, unburdened with the cartoonish elements AEW & WWE like to layer heavily onto their product. Though, I do appreciate AEW having a man called Luchasaurus be a dude with a dinosaur mask on. That’s simplicity at its best.
With the latest installment of Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport coming this Thursday, as part of the annual Wrestlemania-adjacent festivities, it feels like now is a good time to explain just what Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport is, and why it’d be worth your time to catch the event live on air.
What is Bloodsport?
Bloodsport is a professional wrestling event series organized by Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) and spearheaded by former UFC champion Josh Barnett, a longtime veteran of pro wrestling and catch wrestling master. The concept for Bloodsport is simple: merge the raw intensity of MMA with some of the dramatic elements found in pro wrestling to create something that appeals to fans of both worlds.
Matches take place in a ropeless ring, stripping away the visual cues of traditional pro wrestling and leaving behind a minimalist aesthetic that evokes underground fight clubs or martial arts showcases. This ropeless setup, combined with a focus on submissions and knockouts, creates an environment that feels more akin to a legitimate combat sports event than a typical wrestling show.
The format of Bloodsport is unlike anything else in professional wrestling. It strips away the flashy aerial maneuvers and choreographed high spots associated with modern pro wrestling and replaces them with grounded gritty realism. Each match tells its story through physicality, technical precision, and a palpable sense of danger. The outcome may still be predetermined and easy to spot, but the journey to get there feels authentic and raw, with each competitor pushing the limits of their abilities.
Standing Out
Bloodsport is a departure from the spectacle-heavy world of mainstream pro wrestling. You won’t find flashy entrances, convoluted storylines, or gimmicky match stipulations here. Instead, the focus is squarely on the competition. The ropeless ring, stark lighting, and barebones presentation create a sense of seriousness rarely seen in wrestling. It feels less like a show, and more like you’re in a room just watching two people go at it. Except its all for show, and yet your mind doesn’t focus on that at all.
Matches are contested under rules designed to mimic real combat sports. Victory can be achieved via knockout, technical knockout, or through a submission, eliminating the need for pinfall wins. Added to this, striking and grappling are emphasized, with competitors showcasing a blend of martial arts disciplines, including catch wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, and Muay Thai. As a result, Bloodsport blurs the line between professional wrestling and legitimate combat in a way is evident, but also less offputting than when other organizations more focused on theatrics attempt to do the same.
Connecting Two Worlds
One of Bloodsport’s biggest draws for MMA fans is its undeniable connection to these disciplines. Many of the competitors have extensive backgrounds in combat sports. Josh Barnett himself is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and one of the most respected catch wrestlers in the world. His influence is evident in the event’s emphasis on grappling and realistic striking. You can tell, this is a passion project of his that he takes deadly serious and it shows. The events carry a form of energy that is hard to describe, but its on par with being at a live UFC event.
Other notable participants include Minoru Suzuki, a pioneer of MMA and a legend in Japanese pro wrestling. His matches in Bloodsport are masterclasses in blending real combat techniques with pro wrestling drama. He is, also, a personal favorite of both Neal & myself and easily one of the coolest dudes around. Similarly, former UFC stars like Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Tom Lawlor, and even Davey Boy Smith Jr., who has a strong catch wrestling pedigree, bring an authentic combat sports flavor to the event. Watching these athletes compete in Bloodsport offers a fascinating glimpse into how MMA and pro wrestling can intersect and complement each other.
Moreover, the techniques showcased in Bloodsport will feel familiar to anyone who has watched MMA. You’ll see authentic looking takedowns, guard passes, joint locks, and positional control that wouldn’t look out of place in a grappling tournament. The striking, while not full-contact, is stiff and deliberate, mimicking the precision and intensity of a real fight. Bloodsport’s commitment to realism makes it a natural entry point for MMA fans wanting to dabble their toes into professional wrestling.
Why You Should Watch
If you’ve ever enjoyed the raw intensity of an MMA bout, Bloodsport is the ideal pro wrestling series for you. It eliminates the elements of traditional wrestling that might feel alien or off-putting to combat sports fans. Instead, it emphasizes the aspects you already love: skill, strategy, and competition.
Bloodsport also serves as a gateway to the broader world of professional wrestling. Unlike other wrestling shows that require a deep knowledge of ongoing storylines or character arcs, Bloodsport’s matches are self-contained. Each bout tells a clear, concise story through the physicality and technique of the competitors. This makes it incredibly accessible to newcomers while still offering a depth that rewards repeat viewing.
On display are familiar techniques and fighting styles we’ve watched for decades in MMA, but presented in a new context and setting that just…works. Watching a skilled wrestler transition from a double-leg takedown into a submission attempt, or seeing a well-placed strike set up a match-ending sequence, is both thrilling and inspiring. It’s a reminder of why we love combat sports in the first place.
Despite its emphasis on realism, Bloodsport never loses sight of what makes professional wrestling enjoyable: drama, emotion, and larger-than-life personalities. The event taps into the primal thrill of combat while retaining the theatrical flair that sets wrestling apart from other forms of entertainment. This balance between realism and spectacle is what makes Bloodsport so unique.
There’s also a sense of unpredictability to Bloodsport that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. The roster is a mix of professional wrestlers and combat sports athletes, creating intriguing matchups that you won’t see anywhere else. What happens when a seasoned jiu-jitsu practitioner faces off against a striking specialist? Or when a pro wrestler with years of experience takes on an MMA fighter making their wrestling debut? These questions add an extra layer of excitement to every match.
Parting Thoughts
Bloodsport isn’t just another wrestling event; it’s a bridge between two worlds. It offers an opportunity to explore professional wrestling through a lens that feels authentic and relatable. For pro wrestling enthusiasts, it’s a chance to experience the art form in its purest, most intense form.
Whether you’re drawn to the technical mastery, the raw intensity, or the unique atmosphere, Bloodsport has something to offer. It’s a celebration of combat sports in all their forms, blending the best elements of MMA, jiu-jitsu, and professional wrestling into a single, unforgettable experience. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to dive into the world of pro wrestling, Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport is the perfect place to start. Give it a shot—you might just find yourself hooked.