Episode Details

This week on Beyond Wrestling, Robb Helt heads to Arkansas to talk with Elijah James Dobbs, better known in wrestling (squared) circles as Sleazy-E, the founder of Natural State Rasslin’.

What started with no-ring fights, backyard brawls, and a willingness to try something different has grown into a promotion that now runs festivals, benefit shows, library events, family friendly cards, and full blown deathmatch tournaments across Arkansas.

Elijah talks about growing up in Newport, getting hooked on wrestling as a kid, filming matches before he was old enough to train, and eventually building Natural State Rasslin’ into something that reflects both sides of his wrestling personality: the wild, violent stuff and the community driven side that raises money, brings people together, and gives local wrestlers a platform.

There’s also plenty of talk about Memphis wrestling’s influence, the realities of running an independent promotion, dealing with egos, building an audience from scratch, and why sometimes the biggest obstacle in wrestling is wrestling itself.

It’s a conversation about blood, business, community, and building something your own way.