Brentwood, New York, located in Suffolk County on Long Island, holds a unique place in professional wrestling history, both for its early ties to the golden era of wrestling and its surprising crossover with hip-hop culture. One of the most significant events in Brentwood’s wrestling timeline occurred on June 4, 1983, when a live event was held in the gymnasium of Brentwood High School. Despite the modest venue, the card was stacked with legendary talent, including Chief Jay Strongbow, Don Muraco, Mr. Fuji, Johnny Rodz, Ivan Koloff, and Rocky Johnson (father of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson).
Decades later, as pictured above, the Suffolk Credit Union Arena of Brentwood, held a live event in November 2025 featuring the likes of Nic Nemeth (WWE's Dolph Ziggler), Shayna Baszler, Maki Itoh, Scarlett Bordeaux, Shotzi Blackheart, and Dezmond Xavier, and Mercedes Mone (WWE's Sasha Banks). The event was broadcast live worldwide via TrillerTV+ and also featured Malaysia's Nor "Phoenix" Diana, the first known hijab-wearing female professional wrestler in her U.S. debut. More information on that event can be found here and here.
Beyond the ring, Brentwood has had a notable influence on the cultural edge of pro wrestling through its connection to the iconic hip-hop duo EPMD. Known for their Long Island roots and influence on East Coast rap, EPMD referenced WWE directly in their track “Blow,” aligning their punchy lyricism with wrestling's high-impact energy. The track serves as a testament to how deeply embedded wrestling had become in broader pop culture, especially in the worlds of music and entertainment that thrived in neighborhoods like Brentwood.
The wrestling–hip-hop connection doesn’t end with lyrics. A notable crossover moment can be seen in a photo of WWE Superstar R-Truth (Ron Killings) with EPMD’s Erick Sermon, suggesting real-life bonds between the squared circle and the recording booth. R-Truth, known for blending comedy with athleticism and for his own forays into music, himself has often been a bridge between wrestling and hip-hop culture. More on EPMD can be found within the Tribeca-screened documentary The Sixth Borough, which featured contributions from the Freeport Memorial Library's Regina Feeney.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on June 14, 2025. Updated on November 7, 2025.