Retro Wrestling w/Gene Jackson Ep. 57: Kit Parsons a.k.a. Magnum CK

On Episode #57 of Retro Wrestling w/ Gene Jackson, Gene sits down with Kit Parsons, known to many wrestling fans as Magnum CK, the creator and host of the hilarious and deeply researched YouTube channel That’s What I Call Wrestling. Click here to check it out! What starts as a conversation about Kit’s channel quickly becomes a wide-ranging discussion about wrestling, comedy, Memphis weirdness, bad gimmicks, performance, improv, nostalgia, and why some of the worst wrestling can also be some of the most entertaining.Gene and Kit hit it off right away, bonding over shared obsessions with old wrestling footage, strange wrestling television, background collectibles, neon studio setups, and the kind of obscure references that only a certain type of wrestling fan is going to catch. From there, the conversation turns into a deep dive on the connection between pro wrestling and comedy, and why the two art forms have always had more in common than some people want to admit.A major theme of the episode is how wrestling and comedy overlap. Kit explains how theater and improv helped him understand wrestling in a different way, especially once he realized the ring could be treated like a stage. He talks about becoming more confident, making bolder choices, and leaning into the parts of his personality that worked best in front of a crowd.Gene and Kit also spend a lot of time talking about the responsibility of covering bad wrestling. Kit’s approach is not about pretending everything is great, but it is also not about punching down. The sweet spot is finding the comedy in people trying their hardest, even when the results are strange, clunky, hilarious, or completely insane. That is where shows like That’s What I Call Wrestling really shine.The Magnum CK discussion gives the episode a lot of heart, too. Gene talks about how much he enjoyed Magnum’s Opus, Kit’s documentary about his wrestling career, and how genuinely emotional it becomes by the end. Kit’s story is funny, creative, odd, and full of strange moments that can only happen in the absurd world independent professional wrestling, but it is also about taking pride in the work, finding your lane, and dealing with the disappointment of an injury that changed the direction of his in-ring career.This is one of those conversations that goes all over the place in the best possible way: Memphis Wrestling, comedy wrestling, Second City, bad promos, $5 Wrestling, Freight Train, Magnum CK, weird YouTube rabbit holes, and why the stuff that looks ridiculous on the surface can still mean a lot to the people who love it.If you love retro wrestling, obscure footage, smart comedy, strange gimmicks, and people who can laugh at wrestling while still clearly loving it, this is a must-listen episode! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★