BodySlam: A Fresh Coat of Paint

“Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.”

— Ernest Hemingway, “The Old Man and the Sea (1952)

In December 1922, a train robbery at the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris, France, changed the life of future literary giant Ernest Hemingway. Hadley Richardson, his first wife, was en route to meet him in Switzerland when a suitcase full of his short stories and carbon copies was lost in the chaos. 

Instead of giving up, Hemingway resolved to recreate what he could of his missing work. He had time, but needed to make up for what was stolen from him, so he pivoted. His writing style changed; the sentences became shorter, the paragraphs less messy, and the prose became easier to digest. A personal disaster became a revelation, begetting much-needed upgrades.

BodySlam, for the uninitiated, was funded by Cassidy Haynes. Our platform has seen many put fingers to keyboard from photographers, writers, interviewers, podcasters, and scoopsters. Our work is sourced by many, and its contributors have collaborated, even worked for other outlets. It was BodySlam that broke the news that Bryan Danielson would join AEW in 2021. If you’ve come across witty pieces about people with bad takes like Disco Inferno, odds are you have visited our site. Articles recapping incredible matches, profiling wrestlers, or giving biting commentary on the wrestling scene, we’ve been there. 

Recently, BodySlam has undergone something similar. In the first week of April 2026, the server for the website’s previous iteration had been deleted. Some of the work had been saved, but not all of it. Years upon years upon years of work, gone. Yes, even mine.

That sucks. Plain and simple, it’s heartbreaking that the work of BodySlam contributors has vanished. Yet, there’s hope. Our writers are hungry and ready to start again. We know it’s a long road back to where we were. Online web traffic will be a fight. Ranking high in search results. All of that jargon. 

While some were sadly unable to save backups, others did. Bittersweet silver lining as it is, it won’t replace the time it took to deliver news, education, or hard-hitting narratives. Time we won’t get back. But inevitably, it is what it is.

Speaking for myself, I’ve taken those precautions before I even joined wrestling media. Word Docs. Google Docs. Flash drives. Hard drives. Sony PlayStation’s Test Drive 6. 

I won’t state what began this. Instead, I’ll nudge you to Cassidy Haynes and Cory Hays’s layout of what happened. (Shameless plug below.)

I’d like to take this moment to promote an incentive to keep your eye on BodySlam’s new content: I’ll be revisiting my previous works that were lost in the shutdown.

What does that mean? For readers of my work specifically, especially what I’ve contributed to BodySlam, they can expect the classic Corey Michaels style, but with all the improvements I’ve made during my growth as a writer. I won’t go into much more detail here, so stay tuned.

More importantly, what does this mean for BodySlam readers?

Previously, the old way had some hiccups. Ads that would interrupt the reading flow. Short-form articles filled with keywords and buzzwords without much material to provide needed context. Compromised integrity and the struggles in communications. There was a lack of focus, chaotic and wildly so. We made do with what we had. Then, a play forced BodySlam’s hand, and ultimately, it will be for the better.

How so?

Well, as you’ve likely noticed, the website is sleeker and wayyyy more reader-friendly. The design is responsive and easy on the eyes, providing helpful scannability. Our new server is more secure, and we’ve tailored the search engine so readers can eventually find our stuff more easily. Additionally, this means longer-form content, so you get more substance to chew on. Our post-shows may receive an uplift in graphics as well.

Fewer obtrusive ads will be present going forward, leading to a less broken site experience. Furthermore, we’re relocating premium access from our Patreon to the BodySlam+ tier on the site, to avoid ads and include exclusive content not found in the free version.

We’re serious about earning trust and building stronger brand recognition, so expect that integration across our media channels. We aim to improve our public relations with outlets and creators both inside and outside of BodySlam. 

Most importantly, we aim to be a place where wrestling fans can be themselves and represent the wide array of fans who enjoy this compelling medium. That goes for anyone in any walk of life; wrestling media’s seen an influx of diverse voices, not just of straight white cisgender men, but anyone willing to share their insight into the industry through their voice. Pro wrestling transcends race, nationality, gender, and sexuality. We haven’t forgotten that.

Contributors, both past and present, made BodySlam what it was through undying passion and fiery dedication. That will never change. The heart of BodySlam will pump that same blood, and you can feel its pulse with the other publications in wrestling media. 

It’ll be a long road back. We’ll face challenges and make mistakes, but rest assured, BodySlam will be the best it has ever been and will get better. Not just today, but all the days to come.

We have a vision. The old way doesn’t work anymore. Therefore, folks, our current motto is this:

BS is back, this time with no more BS.