World Series of Arm Wrestling to launch first fully holographic tournament

World Series of Arm Wrestling is partnering with Soapbox to launch what it calls the world’s first fully holographic athletic tournament, with viewing on Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro and mobile devices. The move aims to turn live arm wrestling into an immersive experience and could expand how fans watch niche sports.

Why it matters: - World Series of Arm Wrestling is trying to change how fans watch live sports by turning a niche competition into an immersive holographic event. - The format could give viewers a more interactive way to follow matches, especially on mixed reality headsets and mobile devices. - The launch could position arm wrestling as an early test case for holographic sports broadcasting.

What happened: - World Series of Arm Wrestling and Soapbox announced a partnership to launch a fully holographic athletic tournament. - The tournament will be available through Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro, and mobile devices. - The announcement was issued July 2, 2026, from Los Angeles.

The details: - Soapbox’s 3D capture technology will project life-size matches into a viewer’s space. - Fans will be able to move around the match and change their perspective in real time. - WSA says viewers will be able to watch every grip, surge of power and emotional moment as if they were standing tableside. - WSA has previously aired on ESPN and RAYD8 TV. - WSA is known for regional matchups, national tournaments and global finals. - Gregg Sharp, CEO of WSA, said the partnership is meant to “break barriers” and create a new way for fans to connect with athletes. - Kevin Sellors, CEO of Soapbox, said WSA will be the first league in the world to broadcast an athletic tournament exclusively in holographic format. - Official airing dates will be announced soon. - WSA also shared its Instagram page: More information

Between the lines: - The announcement blends sports, entertainment and spatial computing at a moment when headset-based viewing is still looking for mainstream use cases. - WSA is using a first-mover claim to stand out in a crowded sports media market. - The “first” claim is part of the pitch, but the long-term audience demand for holographic sports remains unproven.

What's next: - WSA will announce airing dates at a later time. - The partnership will likely be watched as a signal for whether immersive broadcasts can attract fans beyond early adopters. - If the format works, WSA and Soapbox could set a template for other live sports and event producers.