The Wild Texas Newsletter

Welcome to the second-ever Wild Texas newsletter! I’m Olivia, the editor-in-chief at The Barbed Wire. Thanks again from our entire team for lending us your eyeballs. You are one of 470 people who are receiving our newsletter this morning! Never forget that without you, The Barbed Wire crew would simply be screaming into the abyss. We’ll never forget it. We hope you’re enjoying our weird and wonderful corner of the internet.

Once again, we’ve cooked up a compelling blend of serious journalism, heart-wrenching essays, and thoughtful analysis for you. Below, you’ll find our best and most-read stories — on everything from professional wrestlers and songwriters to gendered violence and public education funding. Let’s get into it.

Senior editor Brian Gaar reported and wrote this awesome, strange, and very Texan profile of a man born as Dimitri Alexandrov who has since been anointed “Death Match Jesus.” Very few writers even get to type these words: “I have personally witnessed Alexandrov win a match by slamming another man onto a cactus while the crowd roared in approval.” And we’ve got photos to prove (most of) it.

The Next Big Pro Wrestling Sensation Is a Russian From Austin

Dimitri Alexandrov — also known as ‘Death Match Jesus’ — has taken Texas by storm through his bloody performances. Could he be headed for the big time?

By Brian Gaar

Dimitri Alexandrov prefers being a good guy. 

In the world of professional wrestling, with its history of villainous foreign heels like The Iron Sheik, fans in the U.S. are naturally inclined to boo a Russian. 

So, as 33-year-old Alexandrov sees it, it’s more of a challenge to win American audiences over. Especially in small towns. 

A wrestling hero’s job is to build sympathy, usually by getting beaten up throughout a match — then making a big comeback at the end. When it works, the fans eat it up. Even if the good guy has an accent. “It’s kind of like getting this weird little high five, defeating xenophobia a little bit,” Alexandrov told The Barbed Wire. “I really get a kick out of it.” 

Also this week, contributor Jonny Auping interviewed musician Bobby Sessions, who wrote the chorus to Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé’s platinum hit, “Savage Remix,” and then introduced himself to the world under a tree with a noose around his neck. It’s serious. It’s also fun. And some of the details are delicious.

In case you missed it last week, senior editor Leslie Rangel got us our first post-launch exclusive, about gaming store owners throughout the state who believe they're the victims of a crime ring targeting Pokémon cards. (Police say there's no evidence of organized crime. The owners disagree.)

If you’re more interested in quick bites, here are some of our top headlines from this week that will enrage you, entertain you, or delight you. Pick your poison, babe.

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