![Assistant Athletic Director of Academic Retention & Services Jill Gerloff delivers the opening speech at her final NGWSD dinner before her retirement. “I love all of my athletes and my women's teams always show up for me, and I want to make sure that I can do something to show up for them,” Gerloff said. [File photo]](https://therambler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/OpeningSpeaker_Gerloff-1200x800.jpg)
It’s easy to miss if you don’t know where to look, but on April 7th in the McFadden Science Center lecture hall, you’ll find JJ Garcia, president of a new club called “RAMSLAM!”, as he leans in towards a screen, forming the early days of a wrestling watch club.
“RAMSLAM!” is a professional wrestling watch club where fans can come and watch matches that they love while also learning about different wrestling organizations around the world.
Garcia, marketing and general business major, talked about what got him into professional wrestling and the community that surrounds the sport.
“Just a sense of community with people who enjoy wrestling,” Garcia said. “The high action, high jam-packed matches and just the storylines that it told gives people something to relate to and not only connect with one another but make new meaningful friendships,” Garcia said.
Club members wince as CM Punk moves out of the way before Drew McIntyre hits a flying kick to the face before he lands on the steel steps. Sophomore computer information systems major, Ashton Davidson spoke about the club and how he wants everyone to enjoy the matches.
“I really wanted it to become a space where everybody could just come together and watch wrestling cause growing up if you told somebody that you watch wrestling, [you hear] ‘Oh it’s fake. That’s not real,'” Davidson said. “I just want it to be a place where everybody’s welcome to enjoy and have a wrestling buddy.”
In the next match, wrestler Bianca Belair takes a German suplex and gets her hand stuck underneath her opponent, suffering a knuckle joint break in her left ring finger. Garcia emphasized that while the matches are scripted, the wrestlers experience real risk through their stunts.
“Even though you might think there’s a predetermined ending, there’s still a story that these wrestlers are putting their bodies and lives through just to provide entertainment,” Garcia said.
Diego Garcia, sophomore marketing major, says wrestling is more relatable than it first seems.
“The relatability—just the storylines of how many times we fail or how far you got to go. You’re always going to reach the top as long as you keep persevering,” Garcia said.
Currently RAMSLAM! Is teaming up with a local wrestling promotion called Dragonslayer Wrestling to promote their wrestling show called “TEMPEST” that will take place on April 16 at 7:30 pm at the Ridglea Theater. Students and alumni will get half off tickets using the code TWU50 at checkout.
