The Exhibition
The Icebox Project Space
1400 N American St.
Philadelphia
April 25, 2026
In a large gallery in North Philadelphia, spectators gathered this weekend for a one-of-a-kind experience: local independent pro wrestling company Labor of Love's "The Exhibition," which blended the creative expression of professional wrestling with a variety of other art forms on display.
The in-ring action of Labor of Love always delivers a variety of styles and stories told, with the matches at The Exhibition continuing that legacy.
Observers were able to witness bouts rooted in the reality of mixed martial arts with matches like Lee Moriarty vs Cheeseburger and Matt Mako vs Timothy Thatcher, which showcased the beauty of submissions, strikes, and struggle. How can they get their opponent in the right place, at the right time, to execute a winning maneuver? What strategy can they implement to get their opponent to exhaust any advantages they may have? These are the kinds of questions the audience members are constantly asking themselves as the wrestlers find new ways to answer them. Yet it's not always a game of mental chess — Labor of Love also provides a bit of the fantastical and absurd. The Anything Goes Match between Big Callux and Daisuke Sasaki started with welcoming gifts of a Gritty plushie and a bouquet of roses although the props soon evolved into steel chains, hockey sticks, and even a chair that was on display from artist GrimGrimGrim. Throughout the night there was an amalgamation of performances that ranged from silly to serious and kept the crowd captivated.
The diversity in styles wasn't just limited to the ring with works from more than a dozen artists on display throughout The Icebox Project Space. Original pieces showcased featured illustrators Tanya Dorph-Mankey and Pat Aulisio, photographers Zia Hiltey and Michael Watson, wrestling fashion seamstress Yolanda The Designer, and many more talented artists from the area and around the world.
I attended Labor of Love's first show at the now-defunct Everybody Hits batting cages which is just a short walk from the Icebox Project Space. It's incredible to see what they have been able to create since then — it makes me hopeful not only for their future but for the future of pro wrestling in Philly. In a year's time they could be at an even larger venue with an even larger audience, and maybe you'll see me there with a camera capturing the magic and art of professional wrestling.
Attendees were able to witness works on display and live entertainment from artists and wrestlers from as near as South Philly to a as far as Japan.
Local photographer Pedro Vasquez posed among his photos before pulling double duty as the videographer for Labor of Love.
However, he wasn't the only talent working both sides of The Exhibition. Visual artist and Ring of Honor Pure Champion, Lee Moriarty (bottom) had a piece on display as well as a title defense on the card against regional favorite, Cheeseburger (top).
Another local treasure, the tag team of The Outfielders (Shea McCoy & Weber Hatfield) matching the unorthodox strategy of Japan-based tag team, Bestbros (Mei Suruga & Baliyan Akki) by forming a human tower of their own.
Masked wrestler, Big Callux, also found himself in an unusual predicament when the bouquet of roses he gifted his opponent Daisuke Sasaski at the start of their Anything Goes match was used against him.
Harley Hudson delivers a leg drop to pro wrestling legend and Queen enthusiast Emi Sakura, who rallied the audience at the Icebox Project Space to break into a brief "We Will Rock You" sing-along during the match.
Labor of Love Citywide Champion Matt Mako successfully defended his title for a fourth time in the main event against Timothy Thatcher in a back and forth struggle that ended swiftly once Mako was finally able to lock in his signature cross armlock submission.
Although not the main event, my absolute favorite moment of The Exhibition came earlier in the night in a match between frequent Labor of Love villain, Dr. Ethan Wilde and the much less established wrestler, Brady Seyden. On a six-match losing streak and looking to change his luck, Dr. Wilde thought this would be an easy victory for him until Brady tilted the odds in his favor by entering a mysterious box and emerging with a clone of himself! Together, the clone and Brady-Prime were able to hand Dr. Ethan Wilde yet another defeat as the crowd erupted in chants of "This is awesome!" and "Two Bradys!" A perfect mix of comedy, athleticism, and storytelling, this match encapsulated so much what I love about attending live pro wrestling: letting yourself buy-in and be entertained by something that you can't find anywhere else. The unexpected is what always brings me back to Labor of Love shows. I've been a lifelong fan of professional wrestling and Labor of Love still finds new ways to surprise me and keep me invested in their characters and stories.
Watch the replay of "The Exhibition" here.
