Words & Photos: Olympia's Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers do battle ... and pose

By Nikki McCoy on June 5, 2014

Olympia has gone and done it again. It has outshone itself by coming out in droves to support the creativity and compassion that go hand-in-hand in the little college town.

Oly CLAW, the local chapter of the Collective of Lady Arm Wrestlers, made its debut before a packed Le Voyeur crowd Friday night, as a benefit for SafePlace. The group raised more than $1,600.

"We raised $1,628 in one night, at the fucking Voyeur in Olympia, WA. If that is not the definition of community support and love, then I am going to misappropriate that money, buy a book burning mobile, and head to the library to destroy all the dictionaries on the shelves," said John Manini, aka Mickey the Mouth, who played emcee for the event.

>>> Tammy Turnbuckle and crew party at Le Voyeur, May 30. Photo credit: Heather Michelle Burns

>>> Cold As Isis dance party before arm wrestling action at Le Voyeur. Photo credit: Heather Michelle Burns

>>> Elly Slay Clamp-It and Vegan Villain in the house. Photo credit: Lock and Key Photography

The back room of Le Voyeur was transformed into an underground fight club, with elbow-to-elbow bench seats, fans flying signs for their favorites and wresters throwing veggies and beer cans into the energetic crowd.

"The audience was the best," said Manini. "They were a perfectly mixed cocktail of supportive and surprised. They knew going in they wanted to like it even if they weren't sure what they were getting, and then we went and knocked them on their asses. It was so incredibly satisfying to hear consistent raucous applause, chanting, cheering and all sorts of engagement from start to finish."

>>> Jugalette fuels for her match. Photo credit: Lock and Key Photography

>>> Ivana KrushU psychs opponents out. Photo credit: Lock and Key Photography

Entourages escorted the costumed wrestlers to the front of the room, where the ladies flexed and failed until one competitor remained: Ivana KrushU. Ivana was crowned winner with Marie Armtoinette pulling second and the Vegan Villain taking in fan favorite.

Oly CLAW plans on having events every few months. Stay tuned for upcoming dates. To find out more about Olympia's awesome non-profit SafePlace, click here.

>>> Elly Clamp-It and Marie Armtoinette square off at the Oly CLAW match at Le Voyeur, May 30. Photo credit: Heather Michelle Burns