Wrestlers from the viral internet sensation Subway Mania turned a routine Friday evening commute into a live wrestling spectacle aboard a Queens train.
The grassroots wrestling promotion has amassed tens of millions of views across social media with its choreographed matches on moving New York City subway trains. On Aug. 28, fans and unsuspecting straphangers alike were treated to another performance aboard a Manhattan-bound R train after the group boarded at the Forest Hills-71st Avenue station shortly after 7 p.m.
Commuters climbed onto seats and gripped subway poles as reigning Subway Mania champion Robby Revolutionary made his entrance.
“I am here to reign and defend over my kingdom,” Revolutionary proclaimed while staying in character. “I’ve been the champion for well over 100 days, and I am not relinquishing my crown anytime soon because I am the subway slayer. I am the natural messiah. I am the prophet of the platform. I am the underground architect. I run it down here, baby.”
As the train rumbled through Queens, riders pulled out their phones to record the action and cheered as Revolutionary battled a lineup of opponents, including Jalen Vasquez, who wrestled while wearing the iconic Rey Mysterio mask.
Leaping onto his opponents’ shoulders, Vasquez delivered punches before executing a hurricanrana, sending his opponent flying across the train car to the delight of onlookers.
“It’s just fun,” Vasquez said. “I used to see videos when it first started, and there weren’t that many people. Seeing how many people it’s gathered nowadays, it’s pretty surreal and incredible.”
“It’s like a standard wrestling show. You get cheers for the babyfaces, you get the boos for the heels. Everyone’s just having a good time. That’s always what we aim for. As long as everyone’s having fun, including us, that’s all that matters.”
The popularity of Subway Mania has continued to grow over the years, attracting notable guests from the wrestling world. Previous appearances have included Matt and Jeff Hardy, as well as Mike Santana.
On Aug. 28, independent wrestling star Richard Holliday joined the action, repeatedly using his signature low blow to dispatch opponents inside the moving subway car.
Holliday, who has captured multiple championships on the independent circuit, including a tag team title alongside current AEW star Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF), said the experience was unlike any other.
“It was pretty intense. Nothing I can’t handle, but certainly something that I will never forget. The energy on Subway Mania is palpable,” Holliday said. “When you’re the most talked-about independent wrestler in the world — it’s a fact, you can Google it — these are the things that you do. It’s just another notch in my belt of being awesome and being the best at this. And who else can say they hit their signature move 10 times on a moving train? Nobody else. Trust me.”
