When I look back at WWE around the 2016 era, there’s a lot that the Connecticut-based entertainment giant got right. Dean Ambrose finally capturing the WWE Championship and the launch of the revamped SmackDown Live with Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon running the series remain among my fondest memories of that period.

But if you were to ask what memorable, lightning-in-a-bottle thing WWE did during that stretch, it wouldn’t be in their main programming. It would be Southpaw Regional Wrestling. This digital comedy web series was easily the wildest, craziest, and genuinely the most fun product WWE had created in years.

​Now, I’m sure a lot of you might be wondering: what even is Southpaw Regional Wrestling?  Allow me to explain.

What is Southpaw Regional Wrestling? The 1980s Territory Parody Explained

Technically, it’s a fictional, low-budget 1980s southern territory parody that WWE quietly released on YouTube in 2017. But the way they went out about it was very unlike WWE as well. Compared to the company’s usual standard marketing efforts, they released it without much promotion, as far as I can remember.

And then, when you start, it begins with the message, “IN 2017, A VIDEO CASSETTE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE WWE ARCHIVES”, which contained the tape of a renegade promotion called Southpaw Regional Wrestling. Typically, they gave you a proper introduction to what you’re going to witness.

So, from the outset, you knew that the series was setting out to be an incredibly unique experience. But, as you go on, you’ll realize that it is absolutely amazing and hilarious. John Cena (Lance Catamaran) and Chett Chetterfield (Fandango) play the two main anchors of the series. Their contrasting personalities and exchanges remain one of the best things about the product.

Why this Retro WWE Web Series Stands Out

Back in the 90s, WWE was criticized for its bizarre and over-the-top cartoon characters like Doink the Clown and Duke “The Dumpster” Droese. Even though Southpaw Regional Wrestling clearly parodies the 1980s Southern Territory System, it is still refreshing to see WWE laughing with the people at the history of their industry instead of resenting the criticism. That self-awareness is exactly what made WWE cool in the eyes of many, including mine.

Another aspect that has worked in this series’ favor is that everyone completely embraces the absurdity of the series. For example, when the fake mustache of the evil banker, Mr Mackelroy (Tyler Breeze), gets half-peeled off by the wind, the scene doesn’t get cut. Instead, he continues to laugh evilly while holding the mustache in place with his hand.

Similarly, when the southern farmer, Big Bartholomew (Rusev), tries to cut an intense promo against the banker stealing his land, with a wheat straw in his mouth, he is visibly trying his best not to burst out laughing. It’s these unscripted, breaking-character moments that contribute to the series’ immense charm.

I previously mentioned how the contrasting personalities between the characters of John Cena and Fandango made the product so much fun. But John Cena’s WWE personality also added to the charm. See, John Cena spent most of his time in the company as the guy who doesn’t quit and doesn’t compromise on his morals to win.

​Around the 2016-17 era, Cena was putting bangers against the likes of AJ Styles in WWE. For one of WWE’s biggest stars at the time to embrace this madness wholeheartedly and so dedicatedly was so refreshing and enjoyable to watch.  

Interestingly, the writers did an amazing job of putting themselves in the shoes of a struggling promotion and revealing the operational issues those promoters often faced. For example, in one scene, the series airs a vignette for an upcoming tag-team called “Top Guns” (Viktor-real name, Eric Thompson, and Konnor-real name, Ryan Parmeter), featuring both men in pilot suits parodying the Tom Cruise classic.

As the camera cuts back to the broadcast table, we overhear Lance talking to someone, “We can’t use Top Guns? We can’t?”. And, without missing a beat, he goes, “The Danger Zone are here in Southpaw Regional Wrestling!” Interestingly, they reveal in the final Season 2 episode that their debut was halted due to a cease-and-desist order from Paramount Pictures.

​We later learn that they were repackaged as “The Surf Dudes with Attitudes” as season 2 essentially serves as the prequel for the series. However, even before mentioning their new name, Lance mentions they are not “The Beach Boys”, a smart nod to the popular rock band.

​This scene showed how bookers often used to mimic trending pop culture icons & properties to piggyback off their fame, only to consistently run into legal troubles. Personally, despite all the chaos, I still find the spirit of those old-school bookers – their sheer determination to just make thighs work – to be incredibly admirable and inspiring. 

Best Southpaw Regional Wrestling Moments and Standout Scenes

While Southpaw Regional Wrestling is primarily a high-concept parody. It brilliantly captures the chaotic reality of the territory era. Here are some hilarious scenes that stand out to me:

The Lethal Leap Year Disaster

In Season 1, we see the promotion’s different personalities build their upcoming event, Lethal Leap Year, scheduled for February 29, 1987. There is one massive issue with this strategy, though: that date literally didn’t exist. When a crew member pulls studio host, Lance Catamaran, aside and tells him that there is no leap year, the usually highly composed professional announcer completely loses his mind.

He goes, “There is no fucking leap year? We have been running television all year for Lethal Leap Year.” He continues, “And nobody, nobody in the office, nobody pushed a pencil, looked at the calendar to figure out that there is no leap year? My God, man! We’re going to be ruined!”

This is the best scene of the entire series, in my opinion. It is an absolute must-watch, but to truly appreciate this, you need to watch the episodes to feel the sheer magnitude of catastrophic failure.

Big Bartholomew vs. The Sea Creature

While Big Bartholomew’s fight against the villainy of the evil banker and his iconic line, “We eat chickens!” will always rank among the most memorable moments, I believe the contract signing aftermath also deserves a spot on the list.

​When Big Bartholomew signed the contract to fight the banker to win his family farm back, he completely forgot to read the fine print, as revealed by Mr Mackelroy in a later episode. As a result, he has signed on to fight a monster of his choosing. So, he presents Sea Creature, a tall, muscular wrestler in a cheap green bodysuit resembling a sea animal.

​When we eventually get to see Big Bartholomew’s reaction to this development, interviewer, Clint Bobski (Chris Jericho-real name, Christopher Keith Irvine) shrieks, “It’s a devil creature, Devil!” Big Bartholomew instantly backs him up, clutching his head in horror, shouting “It’s a devil! Oh Lord” while a dramatic old school tune plays in the background.      

This scene works so well because it greatly mirrors the extravagant melodramatic promos that defined regional wrestling of that era. Looking back at that period might seem purely comedic to a modern audience, but there was a good reason for those choices. 

Back then, smaller promotions didn’t have access to the massive stadiums, state-of-the-art production, or a roster full of national stars. Instead, they had to rely on over-the-top facial expressions, tight camera zooms, and animated hand gestures to sell their storyline to a small television audience.  

Chett Chetterfield’s On-Air Meltdown

Throughout Season 1, we see an unenthusiastic and uninterested Chett Chetterfield while Lance Catamaran does his absolute best to promote the series. In Season 2, we found out that the reason for his broken state is a devastating divorce from his ex-wife, Susan (Renee Young), who happens to work as a backstage interviewer for the promotion. To put things into context, Susan left him for their gardener.

Responding to an exchange involving Susan, Tex Ferguson (Luke Gallows-real name, Andrew William Hankinson) and Chad 2 Badd (Karl Anderson-real name, Chad Allegra), Lance remarks, “I smell foul play”. Jumping into the conversation, Chett says, “I smell a lot of lies… love and lies all over this wedding suit I was gonna keep wearing”, and immediately starts ripping his clothes off. 

He exits the frame in anger, only to return completely naked. Lance, utterly disgusted and fearing for his promotion’s reputation, screams, “For God’s sake, cut the commercial!” It is a hilarious scene that was elevated by Cena’s brilliant, displeased expressions and a desperate attempt to protect the image of his workplace.    

The Infamous Paid Ric Flair KFC Impersonator

While this scene isn’t as unhinged as Chett’s breakdown, it deserves a mention here. Throughout Season 1, we see KFC ads with a paid Ric Flair impersonator. In one such ad, he goes, “If the Nature Boy worked for Southpaw Regional Wrestling – but he doesn’t, because they can’t afford him – he’d tell you to go to KFC WOOO!”

In classic Ric Flair fashion, he also sprinkles in catchphrases as per the occasion, saying “WOO, crispy, WOO, tangy, WOO, honey mustard barbecue flavor of Georgia Gold Chicken. WOO, no, seriously, this is not Ric Flair.”

​Once again, this was a shot at how the old-school promoters used to trick people into buying tickets by using cheap strategies. For instance, they would take a local wrestler, bleach his hair, throw a robe on him, and advertise “The Nature Boy” (Ric Flair’s moniker) in massive bold text on the posters. 

The actual name of the wrestler would instead be hidden at the absolute bottom with tiny fonts.This scene beautifully captures the desperation of the small-time wrestling promoters and the things they did to sell tickets. Cheap, manipulative, and driven all at the same time.

Southpaw Regional Wrestling Cast: The Standout Performances

John Cena (real name, John Felix Anthony Cena Jr.) as Lance Catamaran is amazing on this series. As previously mentioned, the contrast with his mainstream persona helps, but none of it would have worked without his sharp skills. The standout element of his performance is how well he transforms into an 80s wrestling studio host.

He speaks with a characteristically professional, serious and objective manner for the most part. So, when he finally cracks, the impact is twice as powerful. His exaggerated expressions of shock, disgust, and anger are absolute highlights.

In contrast, Fandango’s Chet Chetterfield is either completely depressed, hopelessly in love, or purely unhinged. He rarely wanders into the middle ground. Fandango (real name, Curtis Jonathan Hussey) displays incredible range here, seamlessly shifting from a lovestruck romantic to a completely broken soul. And, like I previously said, the contrast between him and Cena gives the series much of its charm. Neither performance would have worked as well without the other. Whoever cast these two together deserves a raise.  

Tyler Breeze (real name, Mattias Clement) as Mr Mackelroy, the evil banker, perfectly captures the essence of those old school territory villains, with his dramatic laughs. His hilariously cheap fake mustache does him much no favors, which only makes his scenes funnier.

​Speaking of funny, Rusev (Miroslav Petrov Barnyashev) as Big Borthlomew makes the absolute most of his limited screentime. Just like Cena, the subversion of his dominant persona is great, but Rusev is a show-stealer on sheer merit. His southern accent, combined with his over-the-top facial expressions and wild hand gestures, translates into a highly entertaining, unforgettable experience.

Last, but certainly not least, Reene Young (real name, Renee Jane Paquette) as Susan is awesome. When you look at her real-world broadcasting work in WWE or now, AEW, she is a professional focused on getting reactions from wrestlers to advance a storyline. But here, she plays a character who dedicates a fair bit to ensuring she looks good on screen. That subtle character difference makes a lot of positive difference, coupled with the fun energy her character brings to the product.

Conclusion: Is Southpaw Regional Wrestling Worth Watching?

As funny and entertaining as this parody seres is, it isn’t without its flaws. There are moments when the low-budget comedy misses the mark, or when the execution is way too cheesy to land a laugh. However, those issues are few, and the product still feels charming in its own right.  

Longtime wrestling fans would absolutely love the inside jokes – a sentiment heavily backed by the online consensus. But even if you aren’t a fan of the squared circle, you should still have a great time, provided you know a little wrestling history, which I am sure this piece has already prepared you for.

All in all, Southpaw Regional Wrestling earns a definitive recommendation. It’s a brilliant, bizarre yet charming piece of sports entertainment which is well worth your time.