The recent COVID-19 outbreak introduced us all to the term "social distancing" and people across the globe are abstaining from getting too close to others -- including professional wrestlers.
Over the weekend, a Reddit user posted a clip of two independent wrestlers duking it out in the squared circle titled "Social Distancing Chokeslam." The GIF shows two combatants maintaining the suggested 6-foot cushion as one reaches his hand out and "grabs" his opponent by the throat. He then "swings" his foe's arm over his back and "finishes" the classic chokeslam, all while maintaining a suitable distance recommended for good health. While the clip itself actually predates the coronavirus -- and many other epidemics for that matter -- it was the precursor to an event that took place over the weekend and featured a match very relevant to the current times.
The original clip shown here is from 2014 and shows "Magic Wrestler" Jarek 1:20 facing off against Johnny Cockstrong at a Beyond Wrestling event. The move shown is actually more along the lines of a Force Chokeslam, as inspired by Star Wars, as Cockstrong turns the tables on Jarek's variety of magician-themed wrestling moves by using one of his own. Cockstrong then seals the deal against his multi-talented foe, getting the win in the end. You can watch the entirety of the match on Beyond Wrestling's YouTube channel.
Renowned New Jersey-based wrestler Joey Janela, also seen on All Elite Wrestling's Dynamite and Dark programs, took this idea a step further while adding a contemporary twist to the match. At GameChanger Wrestling's Acid Cup 2 show, Janela and fellow indie wrestler Jimmy Lloyd fought in a "Social Distancing Match," where the two wrestled while keeping the CDC's distance guidelines in mind. This resulted in some funny spots that generated a bunch of social media reaction. You can see a small sampling of Janela and Lloyd's match here and re-watch the entire event in the GCW section on IndependentWrestling.tv's website. It might be some of the last "new" pro wrestling we get outside of WWE and AEW for a while - so support a great indie wrestling promotion if you can.
These types of creative matches and ideas are something Janela is known for, which sometimes draws the ire of wrestling purists. That didn't stop Janela from bringing a bit of levity to a serious situation and giving wrestling fans something to smile about during these tough times. If anything, Janela is a good role model in this instance and should be applauded for showing the youth of America how to properly maintain a safe distance from friends and co-workers. Who says pro wrestling isn't educational?