By Cameron Lee
June 24, 2026
When we first spoke with Darius Lockhart — “The Intergalactic Soul,” as he’s known in the ring — in the summer of 2024, ASÉ Wrestling was less than a year old but already carving out a distinct identity in wrestling. The Black-owned promotion made its grand debut at Charlotte’s historic Grady Cole Center in late 2023, a fitting launchpad for the venture. Originally known as the Charlotte Park Center, the venue dates back to 1956 and played a pivotal role in establishing Charlotte as a wrestling hotbed during the Jim Crockett Promotions era. Over the decades, wrestling icons such as Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Arn Anderson, and The Road Warriors all competed within its walls.
When we caught up with Lockhart in 2024, the promotion had taken up residence at Piedmont Open IB Middle School, a place where he once walked the hallways dreaming of a career in professional wrestling. The seeds of ASÉ were planted in 2019 after Lockhart spent roughly six years navigating the independent wrestling circuit, competing professionally since 2013 while simultaneously pursuing his education at UNC Greensboro. Lockhart graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a minor in African Diaspora Studies, experiences that would later help shape the vision and cultural foundation of ASÉ Wrestling.
“Originally, I sat there with a friend imagining what a progressive show ran by us would look like, or a progressive show that was more relevant, cool,” he said. “We were thinking of, you know, street culture, things that we love, fashion that we love, comedians… I pull from things I grew up loving and still love currently, you know, whether that be Adult Swim or In Living Color, or Random Acts of Flyness by Terrence Nance.
Aṣẹ (pronounced ah-SHAY) is a foundational concept in Yoruba culture, an ethnic group of roughly 40-50 million people primarily based in Nigeria. It refers to the spiritual life force and authority believed to enable things to happen or come into being. Aṣẹ is also used as an affirmation similar in function to “amen.”
“I wanted something that was one word that captured the spirit and embodiment of what I wanted to do… something that was made out of love, that was made for everyone, “ Lockhart said. “That also kind of spoke to life force, life energy, like speaking higher of yourself. Every time you say it, you’re kind of speaking an affirmational tone over yourself, over your life. I think there’s power in that.”
The branding of ASÉ Wrestling is sleek and afrofuturistic, built around a noir-inspired aesthetic that sets it apart from traditional independent wrestling promotions.
Since its launch, the company has welcomed Black wrestling legends such as WWE Hall of Famers Mark Henry and Ron Simmons, as well as D’Lo Brown, while also showcasing acclaimed wrestlers including Caprice Coleman, Cedric Alexander, Aja Kong, Jonathan Gresham, Sonny Kiss, Kevin Knight, and Kiera Hogan.
ASÉ has also made a point of celebrating the local creative community, featuring artists and musicians such as Lute, Reuben Vincent, Cyanca, Marcus Kiser, Shame Gang, and Braxton Bateman, along with WRAL sports anchor Chris Lea as its announcer and even a guest appearance from comedian KevOnStage. The result is an experience that blends many of Lockhart’s creative interests with the broader community, creating a surreal spectacle where wrestling, music, and culture intersect.
Growing up, Lockhart was a fan of North Carolina natives The Hardy Boyz, like many wrestling fans in the state. He also adored R-Truth and Kofi Kingston, but he soon realized their career trajectories were often different.
“There was a wall. And then I really started putting two and two together and realized that, you know, a lot of the time we’re minimized to caricatures with ceilings, and I just thought it was a little unfair,” he said.
With a growing number of Black and Hispanic fans of professional wrestling in America in recent years, according to Nielsen, that diversity and cultural representation is not always reflected in major wrestling companies such as WWE and AEW.
“My goal is to create a place where Black artists are respected, valued, and uplifted,” Lockhart said. “There are a lot of Black wrestlers in North Carolina that are growing up and moving here.”
ASÉ and schools like Fire Star Pro Wrestling in Greensboro, owned by wrestler LaBron Kozone — who also competes in ASÉ — are giving wrestlers real training and a platform to improve their form. Je’Von Evans, a Greensboro native who is currently on Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, was trained by Kozone at Fire Star Pro Wrestling. The success of the 22-year-old has inspired many young Black kids to come down to train and also advance their careers with ASÉ, Lockhart says.
Their upcoming promotion at Blume Studios on Saturday, The World Is Yours, will host their first-ever 30-man battle royal, which starts with two wrestlers and adds two more every 90 seconds until one man prevails in what is sure to be pure mayhem and entertainment. The winner will earn an opportunity at the ASÉ Wrestling men’s championship.
The evening will feature the ASÉ Men’s Championship, with reigning champion “All-Father” Darius Carter facing “The Ageless One” Caprice Coleman; the ASÉ Women’s Championship, Charity King defending her title against Jordan Blade; and the Men’s Tag Team Championship, featuring TME vs. Uglee Gang. The card will also include appearances from “The Business” Billy Dixon, “The Gifted One” Yahya, and ASÉ founder “The Intergalactic Soul” Lockhart himself. Charlotte DJ BlackAsTheCosmos will curate the musical vibes throughout the night, and food truck Don’s Jamaican Kitchen will serve up authentic island fare.
In addition to his in-ring duties, Lockhart writes, produces, and directs the promotion’s narratives in collaboration with a rotating cast of wrestlers, building the world of ASÉ Wrestling — a process he says is the most fulfilling part of the work.
“Writing is the most fun, like figuring out where we’re going to take the story. The stressful part is when I have to perform as well,” he said. “I write all the storylines and collaborate with my wrestlers. A lot of times I like to ask them what they would do in the situation, and then we kind of work from there.”
Lockhart also manages a YouTube page filled with highlights, skits, and match promos. He is preparing to launch a series of hour-long episodes following a break at the end of summer, while also looking to expand ASÉ Wrestling into more cities, including pop-up events across the region. The promotion has already staged shows in Las Vegas and Indianapolis, and looking ahead, he hopes to secure more sponsors and pitch streaming platforms to carry ASÉ’s programming.
ASÉ Wrestling continues to expand its brand while carving out a distinct lane for aspiring Black wrestlers, fusing community, culture, and wrestling pride into a space that has historically lacked meaningful minority ownership and representation. Through their events, the promotion is not only showcasing regional wrestling talent but also building a creative platform for artists to be seen and heard.
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You can follow ASÉ Wrestling on Instagram and YouTube and find more information on their official website. ASÉ Wrestling: The World Is Yours takes place on Saturday, June 27 at Blume Studios, starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30.97 for adults and $18.59 for children under 14.
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