Talk to Me Director’s Viral Deathmatch Stunt Criticized by Wrestling Legend

Talk to Me director and one-half of the RackaRacka YouTube duo, Michael Philippou, is once again generating buzz for his upcoming A24 deathmatch documentary, this time by stepping back into the ring himself.

Over the weekend, a clip from a match in Mexico went viral, showing Philippou taking an unbelievable bump that has ignited a fiery debate within the professional wrestling community.

The Scaffolding Suplex Seen Around the World

The now-infamous spot took place at "Deathmatch Mexican Rush," a joint event promoted by Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) and Lucha Libre Vanguardia in Pachuca, Mexico. In a multi-person match that included deathmatch veterans Ciclope, Miedo Extremo, and Rina Yamashita, Philippou was filmed on scaffolding many feet above the ring. In a breathtaking moment, he was suplexed off the structure, crashing through a sheet of glass before landing on a barbed-wire net suspended over the canvas.

The clip quickly circulated on social media, drawing both awe from deathmatch fans and sharp criticism from others in the wrestling world. Here are some more behind the scenes photos from the match:

Gail Kim Calls It "Pure Trash"

Among the most prominent critics was TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim. Quoting the video of the suplex, she stated, "This is pure trash. Say you don’t know how to storytell without saying it."

When a fan responded by calling her "close minded to aspect of this sport and art," Kim scoffed at the description. "You call this art? Lol. Ok, so if one of them died, would people be saying this is art? To each their own, but I can guarantee you that the majority, if not all, of real professionals wouldn’t describe it as you just did."

She later softened her tone slightly, adding, "I apologize for being harsh, but that is my first reaction as a pro wrestler. You are able to captivate the audience in a way that doesn’t put your life at risk for a pop. People remember memories and feelings from stories and how they tell those stories. I will say [it was] careless."

GCW Promoter Brett Lauderdale Fires Back

GCW owner Brett Lauderdale quickly came to the defense of the match and its participants. He revealed that the entire spectacle was filmed for the previously announced A24 documentary and then took a direct shot at Kim.

"This scene is part of a documentary produced by A24 telling the stories of little known deathmatch fighters from around the world," Lauderdale posted. "It will premiere at prestigious film festivals around the world (bookmark this). Now... I dare anyone to name one memorable Gail Kim match."

He followed up by comparing Kim’s critique to those of other well-known deathmatch detractors. "I don't dislike Gail Kim, and it's clear she's well-liked by her peers. That's why it's so disappointing to see her echo the same uninformed 'tell a story, hot dog, handshake' bullshit about deathmatches as old losers like Al Snow, Jim Cornette, & Dutch Mantell. She's better than that/them."

The public exchange concluded with a respectful disagreement. Kim responded to Lauderdale, "I like you, Brett, as well. I said I would watch the doc and give it a chance. I dislike death matches and always have. Like I’ve said before, wrestling is subjective... This is what’s so great about debates and conversations. We can all have a say."

Needless to say, I am very curious about this documentary and can't wait to see it.