The unexpected scene was spelled during Fanatics Fest 2024, leaving fans and celebrities bewildered. One of the most sought-after mainstreamers, IShowSpeed, better known as Darren Jason Watkins Jr., was wrestling another very famous streamer known as Adin Ross, in a wrestling match. Starting to quickly turn into captured moments of the surreal: this main event octagon match was helmed by UFC President Dana White himself, an extremely short but embattling display of how entrancing Speed’s grappling skills could be.
iShowSpeed makes Adin Ross tap out in a wrestling match in front of Dana White 👀
pic.twitter.com/wPOCOeH04c— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) August 16, 2024
The fight started with IShowSpeed throwing a low kick, immediately setting the pace for the rest of the fight. Speed also took Ross down quickly to the ground and immediately dominated him in the fight. Less than 60 seconds into the fight, IShowSpeed forced Ross to tap by rear naked choke in one of the biggest upsets of the evening. The crowd went wild as Dana White lifted Speed’s hand in triumph, the end of possibly the shortest fight anyone could recall.
Fans went crazy over his grappling skills, some even comparing him to prominent fighters such as Charles Oliveira. Many fans were out of their minds, suggesting that Dana White should give the guy a shot at the real MMA gym. The match substantiated the claim about Speed’s athleticism and, more importantly, his fast-growing popularity in gaming and entertainment.
Though IShowSpeed doesn’t have a formal background in wrestling, he takes an interest in the sport. His recent appearances at wrestling events proved it, including a memorable moment during WrestleMania 40. During WrestleMania, he took an RKO from Randy Orton and proved ready to step into the ring, even without professional training. He has kept his viral touch through entertainment and connection with fans, hence participation in such activities.
Another element that made the event special was having Dana White as the referee. A very critical eye—one might even say crusty—in the world of MMA, White seemed impressed by Speed’s proposal. While it is clear that it won’t lead to a UFC contract, even the suggestion from some that he turn professional speaks volumes about the impression he left.
Sure, winning at Fanatics Fest wasn’t all about flexing muscle, but it was massive for the IShowSpeed brand and further done with his fan base. Everybody knows Speed is a content creator who thrives off high energy and pushes the envelope. On the other hand, the wresting venture seems driven by the idea that he wants to keep entertaining and engaging the audience in new and unexpected ways. Only that passion and his ability to make memorable moments have solidified his place as one of the most dynamic figures currently in online entertainment.
This match also had some underlying tension built into it because of the history between IShowSpeed and Adin Ross. The point of the fuss is that earlier in 2023, a clip surfaced where Ross said that somebody told Speed to distance himself from Ross, consequently acquainting the two with the speculations about their friendship. Though, at this time, both streamers are embroiled in their respective controversies, and the wrestling match seemed like another avenue to channel all that pent-up tension into something positive, engaging, and, most of all, entertaining for all involved.
Fanatics Fest will be remembered not only for this electrifying match but also for providing a single platform where two of the most highly debated personalities in streaming came together. Whether this is motivating a new chapter in IShowSpeed’s wrestling life or delivering a landmark moment in his multifaceted career, what has been carved out from here won’t go unseen: it will be his next move that fans will rant about with a hawk’s eye.
