SPECTACLE OF EXCESS: Wrestling as American Performance Art

Presents the

Republic Bank Foundation Speaker Series

With support from the

Speed Art Museum

Step into the world of suplexes, over-the-top personas, and body slamming storytelling as Kentucky to the World brings you a one-of-a-kind live experience featuring WWE legend and OVW operator Al Snow, in conversation with Sam Ford, board chair of Kentucky to the World and the only person to have taught a course on U.S. professional wrestling at MIT.

This program isn't just about wrestling—it’s about wrestling as athletic performance art. From its gritty carnival roots to its place at the center of pop culture, professional wrestling blends theater, athleticism, and spectacle in ways no other entertainment medium does. As French theorist Roland Barthes once described it, wrestling is “a spectacle of excess”—and this event brings that spectacle to life.

What to Expect:

• A live conversation held inside an actual wrestling ring at the Speed Art Museum
• Insightful stories and cultural commentary from two of wrestling’s most thoughtful voices
• A spotlight on Kentucky’s pivotal role in shaping the global wrestling industry
• A celebration of iconic wrestling figures who got their start in this region—from "Macho Man" Randy Savageand Hillbilly Jim to The Rock, Dave Bautista, and John Cena

As part of the evening, the wrestling ring itself will be on display as a bold pop-art centerpiece inside the Speed Art Museum, highlighting wrestling’s status not just as sport or entertainment—but as a dynamic, living art form.

Whether you’ve followed wrestling for decades or you’re simply curious about its cultural impact, this event promises to be enlightening, entertaining, and totally unique. Expect laughs, insight, nostalgia, and maybe even a surprise or two.

From carnival roots to pop culture dominance, discover how Kentucky helped shape the wild, theatrical world of professional wrestling!

Space is limited, so grab your tickets now and be part of a truly immersive experience that blurs the line between sport, spectacle, and storytelling.

WHERE AND WHEN

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

TIME: Cash Bar opens at 5:30 pm; Program begins at 6:30 pm

LOCATION: Speed Art Museum (3025 South 3rd Street, Louisville, KY 40208)

Find out more about Al Snow and program on

Also check out other Sports events in Louisville, Arts events in Louisville.