#assault Champion Wrestling

[theoutcastrogue]

A point about Silco's politics.

Silco somehow did the "nationalist noble" thing by reversing cause and effect. Traditionally, the local nobility (or the bigshots in any case, elders, landowners, rich fucks, warrior aristocracy, whatever's handy) of a subjugated region will happily champion nationalism in order to get rid of the overlords and rule in their place, while convincing the lower classes (and themselves, if they're not very smart and/or cynical) that they're on the same side.

Silco became the bigshot (heartwarming rags-to-riches story!) in order to champion nationalism. Obsessed with achieving power by any means, he used shimmer (and Vander's elimination) to establish the Chembarons [*] as the closest thing Zaun has to a local ruling class, separate from their Piltie overlords. Of course, it was more a mafia than a government – not that these two function that differently.

However, by viewing power as the necessary stepping stone to Zaun's independence, Silco completely lost the ball. Shimmer could have been a weapon, to be tactically employed in the veins of people who actually wanted to fight Piltover. Still extremely shady tbh, but clear in purpose. But that would require getting people to want to fight Piltover, and Silco seems to have… neglected that. Instead, he flooded the streets of Zaun with shimmer, the very place he was supposed to liberate, causing a hideous addiction epidemic (fastest way to kill a social movement btw), and only cared to weaponise it to wrestle more power for himself from other Zaunites. NOT from Piltover.

So something went extremely wrong there, and Silco ended up "an industrialist". The local strongman, the little big man, The Man, the Boss, the one the lower classes dread. For Ekko (whose assessments matter VERY much), he's the No 1 enemy and biggest threat to the well-being of his people, not because he's more powerful than the Council, but because he's closer, getting his hands dirty every hour at every corner. Whereas Piltover's systemic exploitation works from afar and in the background, and is often experienced as neglect rather than assault.

And THEN, Silco got to negotiate on behalf of Zaun because the Council went to him, after Jinx caused mayhem on her own. Jayce came waving a white flag, because he was also acting unilaterally. In short, through NONE of Silco's doing, Zaun's independence fell on his lap. And ironically he couldn't take it, because the price was his daughter.

Fantastic character btw (the depth, the pathos, the total lack of qualms) but damn. Some nationalist. Some liberator.

[*] It's unclear to me why there are several Chembarons when shimmer was basically commissioned by Silco, and therefore could be controlled solely by him. Did the others reverse-engineer it? Did he share? Did he need their facilities after his lab blew up? No idea.

[mydaddywiki]

Pat Patterson

Physique: Husky Build Height: 6'1" (1.85 m)

Pat Patterson (born Pierre Clermont; January 19, 1941 – December 2, 2020; aged 79) was a Canadian-American professional wrestler and producer, widely known for his long tenure in the professional wrestling promotion WWE, first as a wrestler, then as a creative consultant and producer ("booker"). He is recognized by the company as their first Intercontinental Champion and creator of the Royal Rumble match. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1996.

I first became aware of Patterson when he and Gerald Brisco became onscreen stooges of Vince McMahon in 97. He had peeked my interest a little, then after his match with the Mean Street Posse where he took off his sweat shirt and started parodying Hulk Hogan’s flexing routine. I started putting my dick in a sleeper hold to the thought of him. It wasn’t until a few years later that I found out he was gay.

A native of Quebec, Patterson came to the U.S. in 1962 to wrestle, though he didn’t speak any English. He wrestled for regional promotions before joining WWE in 1979 as a wrestler, referee, and commentator. After his wrestling career, he worked for WWE in many capacities, including as a referee and in promotions. He was described as McMahon's right-hand man and played a crucial role in the company's massive growth. Patterson was touted as the inaugural Intercontinental Champion, credited as the Royal Rumble creator, and often described as the first openly gay wrestler.

Patterson came out as gay in the 1970s and acknowledged it on a WWE reality show in 2014. Patterson's longtime partner was Louie Dondero. Patterson said on WWE Legends' House he and Dondero were together for 40 years. Dondero died of a heart attack on June 28, 1998, the same night as King of the Ring. Patterson died of liver failure caused by a blood clot at a Miami, Florida, hospital on December 2, 2020.

Damn… The stories about this guy from WWE Ringboy scandal of 1992 to accusations of sexual misconduct and sexual assault with employees. Now all that is wrong, but If I was offered the 'push' from Patterson, I'd be world known. Just saying.

[deviousdevilx]

Been stuck in my brain for a while, so here is a mini? maybe one-shot dark Shawnter fic based off Hunter's betrayal of Shawn and the parking lot assault. It will be based on their storyline + events presented on RAW, not reality!!

+18 for Mature + Dark content.

"We've reviewed the security footage, the police analyzed it, I'm sorry Shawn we couldn't get a clear image of your attacker."

Vince did sound convincingly contrite as he spoke to his former champion.

Shawn wasn't fully convinced, but what else could he do? He recently returned, first with his short lived run under the NWO with one of his beloved best friends and ex-lover, Kevin Nash. He did not have the sway in the business like had in the past, in fact he all but ruined his reputation within the business. For a while at least he had been rebuilding his trust with the bookers and promoters, even Vince and the McMahon family.

Then all theirs and his work went down the drain the moment the severity of Kevin's injury was revealed had Vince axing the NWO which he had apparently despised since it was a carry over from the WCW. Shawn had begged to him to let Shawn take over but to no avail.

Finding himself without allies, having burned too many bridges during the late 90s, and cementing a lot of heat as his drug addiction spiraled deeper, Shawn turned to someone he thought he could trust. Someone he thought he mended fences with, at least enough professionally.

Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

D-Generation X was both a highlight and lowlight for Shawn. A mix of fond memories, and one's Shawn wished to forget. He did treat Hunter abysmally. Took his frustrations, pain, and self-loathing out on the younger man, and in the end, Hunter had enough.

Shawn did not blame him one bit, and had hoped since his return to repair the damage done, and atone for his past actions.

During his separation from the WWE forced Shawn to look deep inward, and do some soul searching. At first literally, he felt giving himself over to God, and attending church would heal him; it didn't. Marriage, starting a family provided some comforts, but as much as Shawn loved his son, and even at the time his wife now ex-wife, Shawn had to find who Shawn was all on his own.

Who was Shawn? That was a damn good question he was still grappling with.

Returning to the WWE had not been a light decision made by Shawn. Given his horrific exit, Shawn was sure Vince and the company would wash their hands of him forever, and he had come to terms with that reality even if it broke his heart.

There was a life for him outside of wrestling his therapist reminded him, something he had to tell himself over and over again. There was a whole world out there for him to explore. And he had a son too now. A new role he took seriously.

When he began to reach out to those still in the industry who didn't hate his guts; Shawn began to feel some hope. Most of the drama occurred behind the scenes, backstage, and so Shawn's public reputation according to the company was still intact.

Shawn began to train, knowing it could only be a matter of time before he was officially invited back by Vince and Co. He had even set up a playpen for his son so he could keep an eye on him while he worked out.

His return had been everything he had hoped so, even so he had set expectations real low. Shawn knew there was a lot of work to be done to earn back the good graces of everyone who had been there when he was at rock bottom, but even prior to that as he was a jerk since the beginning.

Barring Kevin Nash and X-Pac, and a few others; Shawn was ready to face animosity from some, suspicion from others, cold shoulders, glares, and snide comments upon his return. And he had been right. But others seemed to accept him back, but kept him an arms length away like the Undertaker. The newer wrestlers though were a mix bag; some were excited at his return having been former fans, others were tentative, seeing him as competition.

All in all, Shawn survived, took his bumps in stride, and was determined not to let his past ruin his future in the WWE.

But then shit hit the fan.

Shawn had known being at Kevin's side had shielded him from a lot, he did not realize the extent of Kevin's protection however until it was gone. The other NWO members quickly left Shawn on his own. That was fine Shawn had initially thought, he still had Hunter.

Until Hunter's shocking betrayal in the ring.

Shawn limped out with Earl the ref's assistance, returning to a locker room that jeered, and taunted him. Triple H had left like a coward.

Suddenly Shawn realized how very alone he was, and vulnerable.

Looking back now, Shawn blamed himself for how he reacted the surprise by Eric Bischoff announcing him as Hunter's new manager, if only he behaved more level headed maybe Hunter wouldn't have betrayed him.

Although he reasoned how could he have reacted any differently? There had been no consultation, nor prior warning, nothing until Eric made his announcement live on television on RAW. It was a slap to the face for Shawn.

Shawn had felt so blindsided, here he was thinking they were going to reveal the recreation of D-X with Hunter, only to hear Eric say he was to be Triple H's manager. A ring side role. A supporting role.

His temper and pride got the better of him; the fury was so explosive he almost attacked Eric, so Shawn walked off instead of making matters way worse. How could Bischoff just announce that right then and there with no prior warning, no discussion? It felt like an insult, and that's how Shawn took it.

Hunter confronted him backstage after following Shawn's exit.

"Calm down Shawn!"

"Calm down? What the Hell was that Hunter? Eric telling me that I was going to be your manager? You know I don't like people telling me what to do especially when nobody discussed this with me! Here I was thinking we're bringing back D-X as a team, and suddenly I'm being shoved down to a ring side role? I've been in this business for 15 years I think I deserved the right to have a fucking say in a decision like this!"

"Would it be really that bad if you were my manager Shawn?"

Shawn felt his simmering temper flare back up, "That's not the point Hunter! Nobody asked me! I was made out to be a fucking asshole out there! I'm not going to be someone's lackey, I did not choose to work for Eric Bischoff!"

Hunter ignored him, "So what you're just going to walk out on me Shawn? Walk out on the fans because you didn't like to be told to do something? Grow up Shawn, I thought we got past this!"

"That's not...I'm not...this isn't what I expected or wanted."

"Goddamn it Shawn not everything is about you or what you want! Can't you put your pride aside for one fucking moment and think about what I want? I want you by my side Shawn. With you at my side I know we can be great. Look, with your back, I can't...I couldn't handle you getting hurt Shawn."

"I...I know...I just can't--"

"Just stay Shawn please. Let me think this through, I have an idea, a good one, just you need to trust me."

So Shawn listened, accepting his friend's words, his promise. Once the camera men felt they got the juiciest bit of their confrontation which was now concluded they were left alone. Hunter took Shawn aside to further their conversation privately.

During the first run of D-X nothing intimate ever occurred between them, but oh there had been a spark, a tension that could only be explained as sexual but never explored to acknowledged beyond flirtations.

The innuendos on the ring and backstage never progressed beyond that but there had been times when Shawn had wanted them to. The only thing stopping Shawn had been Chyna who was with Hunter at the time, and well that would be a disaster. He liked her too much, respected her even as arrogant and selfish that he was back then.

Well now, both were single, Shawn recently divorced...

"Please Shawn, I promise this manager role will be temporary, we can ease you back into the ring when the time is right."

They had been standing so close, Shawn felt if he moved a inch or two closer could be kissing Hunter if he wanted to. The taller man had his hand on Shawn's hip. It felt burning hot through his thin shirt. 

"Trust me," Hunter had pleaded so convincingly.

Shawn did.

They even embraced before departing, Shawn feeling that things would be okay.

Giddy like a school boy, Shawn had slipped on the D-X black shirt a week later, and joined Triple H in the ring; not expecting the horrific betrayal that was to befall him.

Hunter had humiliated him brutally, and now he had no allies or friends. All he had was a big target on his back; from those who saw taking down the Heartbreak Kid as a challenge to bolster their career, or others who were more opportunistic and had felt slighted by Shawn during his stint in the NWO or years prior.

Shawn after being brought backstage to the locker room, assessed by the medical staff then cleared, got his things and fled unable to face the heat. He couldn't confront Triple H as he had left right after Pedigreeing Shawn, knocking the wind right out of him.

It took everything from Shawn not to fall into bad habits to deal with the agony, the personal humiliation, and shame. A call from Kevin had thankfully pulled him out of a downward spiral. Over the phone Kevin had been so furious, but so helpless. During their Kevin comforted Shawn as best he could, promising he would fly out when he was able to knowing Shawn shouldn't be left alone for too long. Even Scott called to express his sympathy and concern. 

Others did reach out too, like X-Pac, Hell even Booker T expressed his disgust at Hunter's actions. Suddenly Shawn wasn't so alone after all.

And then came a voice message left on his answering machine. Shawn replayed it over and over again, feeling a complex mix of emotions; shame, anger, disgust, and a profound anguish.

It had been left by Hunter himself asking him to meet him privately before the next filming of RAW on Monday. There had been no explanation, no apology in the voice mail. He sounded cold in his request to meet Shawn.

Shawn obliged against his better judgement.

He now only recalls showing up to the venue, walking through the parking lot, then nothing.

According to how he was found, bloody and knocked out, there had been a bloodied smashed car window which to the investigators was evidence that someone had attacked Shawn from behind and smashed his head against the window, leaving him bleeding on the cold pavement of the parking lot. Since the attack came from behind, Shawn was unable to identify who attacked him. 

It was a miracle he had no brain damage. There had been bleeding, swelling though. He would be out of commission for weeks after he was released from the hospital. 

His first suspect had been Triple H, but everyone had claimed he had been out in the ring giving a speech when the attack occurred. After the security footage and time stamp on it showed he had been attacked prior to the beginning of RAW, well doubts began.

Unfortunately Hunter had an air tight alibi given to him by Ric Flair. And there were other suspects; Chris Jericho, Big Show, pretty much anyone who had heat with NWO before it disbanded was a suspect.

And for the most part, Hunter had been a primary suspect but with the footage being too grainy and poor quality; his attacker could not be identified.

Vince promised to Shawn that he would assign him real security, that whoever did this would be eventually caught and fired.

"This...it's been a disaster Vince, I have a son now who needs me more, I'm done. Coming back was a mistake."

Vince pleaded with Shawn offering him paid leave for another month but not to give up.

"We want you back Shawn, believe me, the fans too."

"But someone out there in the locker room doesn't, they wanted me crippled or dead Vince. I can't....I can't risk that."

Shawn left the office nearly in tears when he walked into a figure he hadn't seen since his attack.

Hunter.

"Shawn...can we talk?"

"Fuck off Hunter, I have nothing to say to you!"

"Please Shawn...I didn't do, I couldn't hurt you like that!"

"How can I believe you? You fucking betrayed me live on T.V because what? I wouldn't be your manager, I heard what you said, your fucking speech, if you believe all of that, there isn't anything more to be said between us okay? I'm out, the Game won."

"No please Shawn that's not what I wanted!"

Shawn attempted to walk around when Hunter grabbed his arm in a vice like grip.

"Let go!" Shawn tried pulling his arm from Hunter's grasp.

"No listen, please Shawn...I need you, I can protect you, please."

Shawn yanked his arm out of Hunter's arm.

"Fuck you Hunter."

Triple H didn't give up. He pursued Shawn relentlessly; the phone calls, the gifts, even showing up in San Antonio but Shawn never invited him in.

Even Kevin tried to have the pair talk, not wanting his two best friends to end everything, even as upset as he had been with Hunter. According to X-Pac, they had it out in an explosive fight before reconciling with what Hunter had done to Shawn.

Hearing that left Shawn feeling that nobody really was in his corner anymore. Not even Kevin...and well who could really blame him? Shawn had been a jackass when Kevin and Scott left for the WCW and broke off things with him, he'd become so self absorbed, so selfish, paranoid, he had hurt everyone around him hadn't he?

When Hunter called and said he was in town, Shawn finally let him in. He missed Hunter, he missed Kevin, he missed the Kliq, and he missed wrestling even after everything.

Hunter immediately started to apologize, again.

"Look what I said that night out there in the ring, I didn't mean half of it, I was just...frankly I wanted to humiliate you, I had a lot of resentment still in me and that wasn't okay, I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that even if I felt you did in the moment."

Shawn wanted to believe Hunter, wanted to accept it as the truth, but...

"I need you Shawn, I mean that with my whole heart, I want you with me...seeing you in a pool of your own blood made everything seem so stupid, fuck I was so scared about losing you Shawn." Hunter started to tear up, his voice cracking, which pulled at Shawn's heartstrings, but Hunter quickly composed himself, continuing.

"I understand if you can't fully trust me right now, I get that, Kevin told me I'd have to earn it back, I need to earn your trust back, just please Shawn lets try this again. Will you be my manager?"

Shawn nearly snorted at the proposal, as that's what it sounded like. For a moment he thought about making a joke, such as asking where's his ring? Like in the good ol' days before Shawn had ruined it with his drug addiction, self absorption, and selfishness.

"I don't know..."

Hunter sighed but nodded, "I understand your hesitation, but I can't wait Shawn. Please, I'll make sure nobody ever lays a hand on your again. Ever. I can protect you Shawn, and I know we'll get you back in the ring."

"I don't know.."

Shawn was then shocked by Hunter suddenly pulling him closer, their lips meeting, "I want you Shawn, I need you. God I've denied it for so long."

Shawn was swept up in the moment, his own long buried desire resurfacing in a flash had him leaning into the kiss and embrace. It had been a while since he was last intimate with anyone. Feeling Hunter's strong arms around him felt so good, safe, comforting, and well his body was reacting as well. A stirring in his groin. 

"...okay I'll do it."

Hunter had a victorious grin on his face as he pulled away, "God, you don't know how much it means to hear you say that Shawn."

Then he was back to kissing Shawn, this time much more forcefully. Shawn melted into his arms, kissing back as vigorously. Hunter's hands began to roam Shawn's back, before he began to maneuver them towards a couch.

God Hunter tasted so good, smelt so good...then a memory hit.

A flash really. A scent. Cologne. He recognized it.

The person had grabbed him from behind, slamming his head into the car window. He heard laughter, as he laid there moaning in pain as blood poured out of the gash on his head.

He couldn't see clearly as blood ran down his forehead into his eyes, he gasped in pain trying to move, when he was kicked, then someone was yanking his hair, the cologne scent wafting over him, the voice was barely audible as Shawn was fading from consciousness. 

"I won't let you get in my way Shawn."

Shawn suddenly shoved Hunter from him in a panic, his eyes wide in shock, his mind trying to comprehend the new memory. 

"Shawn?" Hunter looked concerned.

".....it was you."

The look on Hunter's face terrified Shawn who didn't scare easily. It was confirmation even if Hunter didn't say a thing. 

Hunter was smirking, "There isn't any proof."

"Your cologne."

Hunter started to laugh, a low menacing chuckle.

"So what? Come on Shawn, I said I was sorry."

Shawn needed to escape, call for help something, oh God this was a trap! No this was a nightmare he needed to wake up!

"I just needed you hurt enough for you to realize how much you need me Shawn, you're vulnerable all alone, Kevin is gone, there is only me. I had to make a point."

"You left me bleeding alone in the parking lot what if I died!"

Hunter just coldly stared at Shawn.

"Nobody will believe you Shawn, I'm the Game, the Idol now, and WWE needs me, I'm their star, not you or anyone else. Me! So this is how things are going to go now, listen carefully Shawn. You can be with me or against me."

Reeling in shock, Shawn tries to leave but Hunter grabs him. Still recovering from his head injury, Shawn isn't in much of a position to fight or defend himself.

And Hunter knew that.

After a little tussle, shoving, and clawing on Shawn's part, Shawn is pinned to the ground, gasping and groaning in pain.

"ENOUGH SHAWN! I don't want to hurt you anymore than I need to...you just God, Shawn the way you make me feel drives me insane!"

"Fuck you! I hate you!" Shawn spits and is reward with a harsh slap.

There is silence only their harsh breathing as Hunter slowly gets off Shawn.

"You need to make a choice Shawn, be with me, return to the WWE, or I can make sure everyone knows you're just a junkie little liar. Back on the pills. You'll lose your son, your career, everything. I'm the only choice you got now Shawn."

"...no."

"Just submit Shawn, it will get easier with time."

Shawn lays there on the floor, panting, tears running down his face. He feels so sick, overwhelmed, scared, angry, confused.

He flinches when Hunter kneels next to him, "Please Shawn, I'll take care of you."

God he sounds like a lunatic! Shawn winces as he feels Hunter touch his tear stained cheek.

If he fights, he will lose, Shawn realizes. But he isn't going to submit, not really. Make him think he has him, make him believe Shawn has submitted. Find a way to prove Hunter attacked him, undeniable proof, and when the time comes, he will take the Game out for good.

Shawn tearfully nods.

"Is that a yes?"

Shawn nods again.

"Say it Shawn."

"Yes."

Hunter sighs in relief.

But he knows one thing about Shawn, Shawn doesn't give up easily. He will have to be taught some more lessons, but right now, he wants to hold the smaller man.

He gathers Shawn who is stiff in his arms, kissing his temple and sweaty hair, "We'll be unstoppable together."

To be continued????

[hartbreak-motel]

Cody Rhodes, The Final Boss, and the Buffyverse Soul Canon

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't anxious coming into Wrestlemania season. We're a week away from Elimination Chamber, and with the exception of Jey Uso vs Gunther, and Tiffany Stratton vs Charlotte - feuds that feel lukewarm at this point (there's still time for things to heat up, but we're off to a rocky start), there don't appear to be any meaningful setups for feuds or programs for the majority of the company's major players. The Royal Rumble was three weeks ago, and aside from the aforementioned exceptions, there has been little to no story progression. The clock is ticking.

John Cena, who kicked off his retirement tour earlier this year, hasn't been seen since the Rumble press conference. The same goes for Roman Reigns. CM Punk, after recently coming off the one of wrestling's hottest feuds with Drew Mcintyre and a woefully short feud with Seth Rollins, is currently without a dance partner. Despite coming off of a white hot 2024, Drew Mcintyre seems directionless, with rumours of proposed feuds between Damian Priest and L.A. Knight floating around. Seth Rollins, despite the gradual tease of a heel turn during his feud with Punk, seems to be operating in a liminal space. The women's division, with the exception of the ongoing "Who took out Jade Cargill?" saga, is completely devoid of storylines. Arguably, the most intriguing storyline over the past few weeks has been the developing blood feud between longtime friends and rivals, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn with Owen's inevitable betrayal of Zayn, taking him out of the ongoing feud he'd been having with Cody Rhodes. While the pivot to Owens vs Zayn will always make for compelling television, it leaves a blank canvas for the undisputed WWE champion.

Last night's segment between Cody Rhodes and The Rock felt like the first step towards building something. What that something is,is to be determined.

The prior year, these two characters stood in stark opposition. The Rock, the omnipotent Final Boss, who used his fame, influence, and position on the TKO Board of Directors to cement his family's legacy and prominence in the company, at the expense of the company's top stars and up and coming talent. Cody Rhodes was the valiant hero, who endured two consecutive Royal Rumble victories to earn his opportunity to dethrone Roman Reigns' four-year reign of terror, and to win the title that had eluded his family for generations. Their roles were well-defined.

Then their dynamic took a strange turn, post-Wrestlemania. The Rock's schedule reducing his presence to a couple of sporadic appearances throughout the year. A tense and akward exchange the night after Wrestlemania. The Rock making known his disapproval of the alliance between Cody and his cousin Roman at Bad Blood.

Then Raw had it's debut on Netflix. Gone was the tension between The Rock and Cody. There were jokes, smiles, tequila shots shared. The two of them acting as though The Rock's brutal assault on Rhodes nine months prior, had never happened. It was....strange to say the least and left many fans scratching their heads.

Last night we got some answers.

If I'm being honest, The Rock's explanation of his and Cody's offscreen budding friendship, felt contrived. Like the writer's justification for abandoning the story between these two characters. Then he invites Cody out to the ring and the tone begins to shift.

The Rock lays it on thick. He appeals to Cody. He tells him he's a great champion. He talks about how their moms now hang out. He talks about how they spent hours drinking and connecting with one another. He paints a nice picture of their similarities. How they're both girldads. Two sons of wrestling legends from prominent wrestling families, destined for greatness. He tells Cody that he sees him as a  brother.

Then the saccharine facade begins to slip and The Final Boss rears his ugly head. As he's laying on the praise and adulation, he needs to remind Cody of the distance between the two of them. He needs to remind Cody that he is the most powerful entity in WWE and that he controls everything. How Cody's millions of followers pale in comparison to his half a billion followers.

It's in that moment that The Final Boss makes Cody an offer. He can make Cody's wildest dreams come true. He can elevate Cody's success to new heights. He can secure his legacy, guaranteeing food on his family's table for generations to come. He'll give Cody everything in exchange for one thing.

"I want your soul."

That line made my ears perk up. We know that accepting The Rock's proposition would require Cody to turn heel and become his corporate champion.

But what exactly would it mean for Cody to give up his soul?

Right now, I'm currently in the midst of my annual rewatch of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I couldn't help but return to one of the show's core themes: the concept of the Soul as a symbol of morality and personal growth. When a human in the Buffyverse gets turned into a vampire, they lose their soul, and subsequently the ability to make ethical choices. This isn't to say that vampires don't maintain vestiges of their humanity. They can experience anger, jealousy, affection, and even love. But without the ability to make ethical choices and empathize with others, vampires are stripped of their agency.  Slaves to their own selfish desires and bloodlust. As the show itself serves as an allegory for growing up, what better an antagonist than something that is both physically and emotionally incapable of growth?

This isn't to say that characters in Buffy who have souls are always willing to the right thing. Having a soul only means having the ability to make ethical choices - it doesn't guarantee that these characters will do so. There are several instances in the series when a supporting character gives in to their darker impulses. But it is often in these moments that these characters give up their agency.

Passion of the Nerd, a prominent YouTuber in the Buffy fandom manages to explain bad faith morality by paraphrasing Jean-Paul Sarte:

"When you believe that one choice takes undeniable precedent over another, you make yourself an object in the world, at the mercy of it's circumstances."

In the Episode, "Lie to Me," Buffy's tries to stop her old friend, Ford from allowing himself to be turned into a vampire to escape the harrowing fate of terminal brain cancer. While Buffy can sympathize with Ford's situation, she rejects his plight, knowing that Ford turning to vampirism would mean turning himself into souless monster.  Ford's response is to tell Buffy that he doesn't have a choice to which Buffy replies:

In contrast, Buffy continues to make choices, even if those choices are difficult. She chooses to accept the responsibility of being The Slayer, at the expense of a normal life. She chooses to give up her happy ending with her love interest, Angel so that she can focus on fighting evil. She chooses to sacrifice herself to save the world on multiple occasions. This isn't to say that she doesn't struggle with the weight of these choices. There are times in the series when Buffy comes close to shutting down and rejecting her responsibilities as The Slayer.

But the ability to choose to do the right thing, while difficult, is what makes Buffy a hero.

A face.

When taking the Buffyverse's approach to the Soul and morality and applying it to characters in WWE, you'll notice a common thread among the biggest heels in the company. The surrender of one's agency, and an abdication of responsibility.

Whether it be refusing to take accountability their actions.

Believing that the only way to show love is through manipulation and control.

Or surrendering themselves to a higher power.

To be a heel in WWE is to walk the path of least resistance. To be a slave to one's own selfish desires and bloodlust.

Going back to Cody. One year into his first world title reign as the top face in the company, he's beginning to feel the weight of the responsibility. He's lost friends, has been put through the wringer physically and emotionally. He's beginning to let his anger consume him in matches.

He's the valiant hero, a fighting champion...and he's exhausted.

Now he's been given a choice. To choose to the path of integrity and continue to carry the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. Or to accept The Rock's offer. To give up his agency. To abandon his responsibilities.

To lose his soul.

[blowflyfag]

WWF WRESTLING SPOTLIGHT: Volume No. 9

Rock Anthology

By Keith Elliot Greenberg

An Overview Of The Rockers

STYLE OVER SUB-stance!” barked WWF television announcer Jesse “The Body” Ventura shortly after the Rockers' first bout on WWF Superstars of Wrestling. The youthful, handsome duo of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty had just blurred across the ring in their fluorescent tights, dispatching their opponents in dynamic fashion. Longtime wrestling observers were almost as overwhelmed as the Rockers’ opponents. It was clear that the enthusiastic, inventive tandem was bound for big things. 

Only Jesse the Body offered the voice of dissension. “They’re pretty boys!” he yelled. “Nothing more, nothing less! They’d be OK if this was some MTV glam-metal video, but it’s not–it’s the World Wrestling Federation, and you’ve got to be tough to make it here. Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty? Don’t even write their names down. In six months you won’t remember them–and that’s tellin’ it like it is!”

Jesse Ventura, you were wrong. 

[The Rockers utilize the dynamics of flight in order to disable their opponents. Since their arrival into the World Wrestling Federation, they have put together a formidable aerial assault.]

Michaels and Jannetty proved almost immediately that their poster-boy good looks were just gravy on a creative, well-stocked wrestling arsenal. Sure, the two could fly across the ring, but that wasn’t all. They could match technical wits, as they’ve done with teams such as the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers and the Orient Express or slug it out back-alley style, as the Power of Pain found out. Most significantly, they could plan, forsaking a manager to formulate their own complicated strategies and coordinating team maneuvers the likes of which had never been seen in the ring.

“Yeah, we’ve heard the criticism, people saying we're too cute,”  Michaels states, his lip curling slightly. “Hey, it’s not our fault we look this way. But we know a lot of teams out there would like nothing better than to take our faces and mangle them. And, in the World Wrestling Federation, a lot of teams could do it, too. We’ve been in that ring a while, and we’re still rockin’ and rollin’ and looking good. I think that says something.”

The Rockers have risen to the top of the game by earning the title “The masters of motion.”

“They move so quickly, it’s amazing they they don’t smash into each other and disintegrate,” admits one former opponent. “But their timing’s so perfect that each always knows what the other’s doing. No one else does, though. They’re on the mat, in the air, on the ropes, tagging in and tagging out. I don’t consider my loss to them something to be ashamed about. I consider it an introduction to tag team wrestling.”

But the Rockers are also “the tag team specialists.” “Before we entered the World Wrestling Federation, we knew how tough it was going to be,” Jannetty explains. “So we spent just as much time in the video library as we did in the gymnasium. We watched all the great tag teams on tape–all the WWF champions. And then we pledged to add to what they had done, take it all a step further. From the day we started, we wanted the world to define tag teaming in Rocker terms.”

One of the first contests in which the duo’s fortitude would be tested was the 1988 Survivor Series. The Rockers were members of a team captained by the Powers of Pain, pitted against a squad headed by Demolition. While the bout would only aggravate tensions in the long-standing war between Demolition and their rival captains, the Survivor Series marked the start of a new struggle–the Rockers vs. the Brain Busters. The teams had already engaged in a few skirmishes and came to the match gunning for each other. 

[One of the Rockers’ first battles was against the Brain Busters, whom Marty and Shawn seriously battered. This infuriated the Busters’ manager, Bobby Heenan, who abandoned his inept team. Then the Rockers warred with the Rougeaus, who sneak-attacked them with a megaphone.]

“The Brain Busters were the first tag team to really single us out,” Michaels recalls. “I think a lot of that had to do with their manager, Bobby ‘The Weasel’ Heenan. The thought of two young guys like us making our own decisions without the aid of a manager just burned him. We knew that he’d instruct the Brain Busters to take us out at the Survivor Series, and we were more than happy to give it back to them.”

With the World watching the Pay-per-view telecast, the Rockers and Brain Busters ferociously clawed at each other, brawling on the arena floor and then all the way back to the dressing room. 

“Bobby Heenan used the Brain Busters to try to prove a point," Jannetty says. “He wanted to show the world that we weren’t so hot. Well, whether it was at the Survivor Series or our matches with the Brain Busters after that, we never let up. Heenan wanted to wear us down, and I think he got the opposite result. I mean, look at the facts: The Rockers are still going strong, and the Busters are long, long gone.”

The Rockers’ rhythmic quotations, along with their poetic wrestling styles, soon infuriated another manager, Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart. A onetime pop star with the Gentrys, Hart fancied himself as the WWF’s king of rock ‘n’ roll and took special exception to the Rockers’ unique form of “jamming.” When his tag team, the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, had their song All American Boy cut off on the public address system and replaced by the Rockers’ theme, Hart became doubly incensed. He ordered his charges to show no mercy on the popular stars, and during a ringside free-for-all, Michaels’ neck was intentionally injured by the French Canadian-born brothers.

“That was one of the low points of my career,” Michaels recounts. “I was laid up, and the doctors were saying they weren’t sure if I’d ever return to the ring. Somehow, I knew they were wrong. I felt that I had to go back. I just wasn’t ready to give up everything I had worked for. I owed it to Marty, and I owed it to all the people who came to the arena to cheer us on. And I also owed the Rougeaus something–a Top 40 whupping.”

In fact, in their first few matches with the Rougeaus, the Rockers seemed more determined to mete out revenge than to log a victory. “We might be the tag team specialists,” Jannetty says, “but against the Rougeaus we felt more like an avenging army.”

Despite warnings to be cautious, Michaels flew at the Rougeaus with the throttle down. In one bout shortly after his recovery, he stunned spectators by coming to the ring with a bandage still around his throat. “He was just inviting the Rougeaus to battle,” says a friend. “It was as if he was saying, ‘Here’s my injured neck. Try to hurt it again. I dare you.’ Whenever the Rougeau Brothers would take the bait, Shawn and Marty would go wild.” 

In this particular match, the Rockers spent much of the opening minutes chasing the Rougeaus and their manager around and around the ringside area. Eventually, Michaels caught up with Jacques Rougeau in the ring and slammed his head into the turnbuckles 10 times. After he fell backward to the mat, nearly unconscious, each Rocker took turns splashing his fallen form. When Raymond Rougeau attempted to slip into the ring on behalf his brother, he didn’t fare much better–the Rockers blasted him with a double dropkick.

[With aerial maneuvers and on-the-mat tactics, the Rockers dominated Jimmy Hart’s Rougeaus. At WrestleMania V, the Rockers took on the Twin Towers, Akeem and the Boss Man. Although outweighed. The Rockers nailed the Towers with many moves from their unique wresting arsenal.]

But the presence of Jimmy Hart would prove an important factor in the first fee confrontations between the teams. So overzealous were the Rockers at teaching their opponents a lesson that they were easily distracted by then manager and then double teamed by the Rougeaus. However, Michaels and Jannetty refused to be psyched out by Hart’s tactics. With each bout, they learned and improved, until they were able to use the Rougeaus’ techniques against them.

By the time the battle reached the Palais Omnisport in Paris, France, the Rockers had advanced to the point that they could not be beaten. As the French-speaking crowd threw its support solidly behind Michaels and Jannetty, the Rockers overcame every obstacle. Even in the closing moments of the match, when Jacques executed a piledriver and covered Jannetty for the pin, the Rockers found a way to gain an advantage. Michaels rushed into the ring to intervene. From the other side, Raymond stepped through the ropes to block him. As the referee cut off Raymond, Michaels lifted and delivered a piledriver to Jacques, placed Jannetty on top of him and returned to the corner while the referee spun around to count the pinfall. 

However, in the world of professional wrestling, there is rarely time to celebrate before someone else steps into the picture to humble you. The devious Mr. Fuji, seeking to strike while the Rockers were off-guard, snuck up to ringside after one of the duo’s triumphs and started tormenting them. Michaels and Jannetty looked at one another for a moment, then gave the manager what he came for–double dropkick and double fistdrop. According to the plan Fuji convinced beforehand, his team of Warlord and Barbarian, the Powers of Pain, charged out of the dressing room and attacked the Rockers. 

“Fuji expected the Rockers just to shrink away from the wrestling scene,” says a source close to the Powers of Pain. “Warlord and Barbarian are chiseled monsters. They’re huge compared with the Rockers and savage between the ropes. Michaels and Jannetty shocked Fuji when they demanded a match with his team. They shocked a lot of people.”

Their time in the WWF had convinced the Rockers that they could withstand this difficult challenge. Although they considered the Powers’ immense proportions, they were not unaccustomed to taking on larger opponents. During WrestleMania V, the Rockers squared off against the Twin Towers, Big Boss Man and Akeem, and stunned them with simultaneously executed maneuvers. Having recuperated from his thrashing by the Rougeaus, Micahels was aware of his capacity to overcome pain. Then there was the matter of courage. The Powers of Pain had tried to humiliate the Rockers, and now the Rockers were committed to cutting them down–valiantly. 

“Just looking across the ring at guys like Warlord and Barbarian is enough to make some wrestlers run back to the dressing room,” says Jannetty. “They’re awesome. But so are we, in a different way. When the Powers of Pain jumped us, I told Shawn, ‘Be strong, brother. We’re going to take down a volcano.’”

The task was as difficult as anything the Rockers ever faced, but they got around the rough spots by using innovative team moves. After Micahels was outmuscled by Barbarian, he ran the ropes and hurled himself at his big adversary with a flying bodypress attempt. Barbarian caught the Rocker in midair and tried to slam him onto the mat. But before this could be achieved, Jannetty sailed off the turnbuckles onto his partner’s back, forcing Barbarian down to the canvas for a near-fall.

Later in the match, Michaels compensated for the height disadvantage by backing Warlord into the turnbuckles, mounting the second rope and hammering downward with hard fists. Believing it was time to finish up the night, the Rocker tried a sunset flip. Warlord resisted, struggling to remain standing while Michaels endeavored to turn him over. In a flash, Jannetty was aiding his partner, delivering a high cross–bodyblock to the squirming Warlord.

It was only the intervention of Mr. Fuji that cheated the Rockers out of a clear-cut win against their heavily favored foes. And Fuji was so taken aback at the Rocker’s diversified repertoire that he scanned the world to find another team to eliminate them. While home in Japan, he discovered the Orient Express.

[The Rockers then went against the Powers of Pain, the massive Warlord and Barbarian, managed by Mr. Fuji. After Fuji sold the Powers’ contracts to different managers, however, he signed the Orient Express, Sato and Tanaka, and quickly launched them against Marty and Shawn.]

On paper, Sato and Tanaka were evenly matched with the Rockers. Both teams favor the airborne assault and are proficient at capitalizing on the five seconds after a tag when both members of a squad can be in the ring. However, the Orient Express has Mr. Fuji, an admitted expert at twisting the rules. At WrestleMania VI, the Rockers received another painful education in the manager’s cruel tricks–Jannetty was temporarily blinded outside the ring when salt was thrown in his eyes.

In a rematch, the Orient Express tried to keep the edge by pouncing on the Rockers, whipping them both into the ropes and bending to backflip them. But Micahels and Jannetty managed to put on the brakes before the routine could be completed, stopping in front of their opponents by slamming their heads together.

Even when the Express was at its best, the Rockers were better. At one stage, Michaels backflipped Tanaka, who wiggled around in midair, positioned himself perfectly and landed on his feet. But before Tanaka could gloat, Micahels spun around and leveled him with a clothesline. 

The match ended with Tanaka flat on his back and the Rockers in opposite corners of the ring, prepared to execute a double fistdrop from the top turnbuckles. However, Sato managed to disrupt the Rockers’ plan, and all four combatants–along with Mr. Fuji–ended up duking it out on the arena floor. Remarkably, both Rockers ceased fighting at the exact same time and slid into the ring before the referee completed his 10-count. Michaels and Jannetty had scored a count-out victory over Fuji’s team.��

“Hey, Fuji,” Jannetty tormented the manager as his hand was raised triumphantly, “keep trying!”

 The Rockers intend to keep trying, challenging the toughest opponents and bettering themselves, becoming the standard against which future tag teams will measure themselves. On the near horizon is a confrontation with Hercules and Paul Roma, Power and Glory. 

“Power and Glory’s the ideal tag team for us to wrestle at this stage in our career,” Michaels says. “Roma knows how to fly just like us–he has the highest dropkick in the sport–and Hercules is a big, muscular brawler with a ton of experience. Guys like that come to the ring to fight, and that’s OK with the Rockers, baby.”

Feeling the heat between the ropes has never inhibited the Rockers. They wrestle with flair, and the girls all want their pictures; but that’s not why Michaels and Jannetty are in wrestling. They're here because they love to wrestle–something that’s easy to do when you’re a tag team that puts substance over style.

[bloodsappho]

These crosses all over my body

Remind me of who I used to be

And Christ forgive these bones I’m hiding

From noone successfully

Wrestling with God, secrets that can’t be hidden, flesh and bone. Themes established from the very outset. Of course we wonder what are these crosses, these secrets. As we will hear, violence haunts the protagonist. She is abused, she fights back, she kills. So are the crosses decorative sigils, testaments of faith worn around the neck and fingers? Are they cuts and bruises and batterings? Are they deep, inner wounds, bleeding out silently? Are they self inflicted cuts, scored with a razor into her wrists and thighs?

Self-inflicted razor wounds go much deeper than the pop-psych logic of “self-harm”. Particularly prevalent amongst young women, they attest to a body-mind that wants to open, to bleed, to have its own limits annihilated in a rush of pleasure and pain. Mortification of the flesh is particularly common in Christian culture, self-inflicted punishment for sinful thought and deed, attributed especially to women.

Camille Paglia:

“The artist makes art not to save mankind but to save himself. Every benevolent comment by an artist is a fog to cover his tracks, the bloody trail of his assault against reality and others.”

Later

“Art advances by self-mutilation of the artist.”

Hemingway claims “to write is easy, you just sit down and bleed”. Bowie claims “to be an artist is a ridiculous thing. It makes much more sense to earn money, look after your family. I don’t know why anyone would do it.” Self experience attests to artists sitting in frozen cold apartments, unable to eat properly, following a voice that nobody else can here. Addicts and artists often go hand in hand.

“These crosses all over our bodies”, the stacked wounds and traumas of war against the everyday. The great mistake of Amero-boomerist art criticism to assume that such wounds and traumas are the fault of oppressive power structures themselves. Such power structures exist to keep violent nature in a straightjacket, a state of affairs that the artist simply cannot abide by. The only advice that can ever be given to someone who is thinking about becoming an artist is “Give up now”, because the path of crucifixion is not something that can be chosen or rationally debated.

Many cultures and esoteric paths offer Gods of ecstasy and vision who undergo violent metamorphoses and stand at the crossroads of life and death: Jesus, Dionysus, Shiva and Osiris just a few. Of course the Christ myth is an evolution of the Dionysus myth, but the Christian Universalist reading comes out of Jewish linguistic totalitarianism which wants to banish the erotics of masks, idols and personas. The multiplicity and polymorphism, not to mention the perversity, of the various robes of the dying God is anathema to the priest line that wants to establish strict loyalty and sexual submission.

Judaism today has evolved to be a champion of the erotics of the eye, with many of the great figures of Hollywood Jewish artists trained in Romanticism and Expressionism who fled central Europe when the Nazis came to power in the 1930s. It is in fundamentalist Islam where we see the nightmare of Abrahamic totalitarianism most clearly, with women wrapped in rags and virgin girls offered as the heavenly reward for total submission to God.

Michael Jackson, one of the most influential and biggest selling artists of all time. One hardly ever hears his name mentioned save in scorn, and yet his traces are everywhere — the songs and dances of every popstar of the last 20 years are unmistakenly scorred by his influence. Jackson is frightening because he is, we might say, trans-everything. Massively androgynous, morphing from black to white, physically and musically, adult and child, his career is a violent and unceasing metamorphosis. He was under the knife as much as under the camera, a vanguard of celebrity plastic surgery taken to extremes, to many an angel and to many others a satanic freakshow.

The artist, condemned to create beauty at the monstrous intersections of life.

[z2z-gaming-and-random-art-ai]

Console Fighting Games of 1993 - 1995 - Compilation

Compilation of Fighting games released on consoles between 1993 and 1995 this compilation features.

Console Fighting Games of 1993 - 00:00 3 Count Bout, Aa Harimanada, American Gladiators, Art of Fighting, Battle Master - Kyuukyoku no Senshi-tachi, Best of the Best Championship Karate, Blackhole Assault, Boxing Legends of the Ring, Chavez, Chavez II, Clay Fighter, Dragon The Bruce Lee Story, Dragon Ball Z - Super Butouden, Dragon Ball Z - Super Butouden 2, Eternal Champions, Fatal Fury, Fatal Fury 2, Greatest Heavyweights, Masters of Combat, Mortal Kombat, Ranma 1/2 Hard Battle, Riddick Bowe Boxing, Samurai Showdown, Street Fighter II Champion Edition, Street Fighter II Turbo, Strip Fighter, Super Fire Pro Wrestling III Final Bout, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Tournament Fighters, Tsuppari Ōzumō Heisei Ban, Tuff E Nuff, Ultra Seven, Ultraman, World Heroes and World Heroes 2, WWF King of the Ring, WWF Royal Rumble, WWF WrestleMania Steel Cage Challenge, Zen Nihon Pro Wrestling and Zen Nihon Pro Wrestling Dash Sekai Saikyō Tag.

Console Fighting Games of 1994 - 02:57:24 Advanced V.G., Aggressors of Dark Kombat, Art of Fighting 2, Ballz 3D Fighting at its Ballziest, Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon S Jogai Ranto!? Shuyaku Sodatsusen, Brutal Paws of Fury, Clay Fighter 2 Judgement Clay, Clay Fighter Tournament Edition,  Cosmic Carnage, Double Dragon V The Shadow Falls, Dragon Ball Z Buyu Retsuden, Dragon Ball Z Idainaru Son Goku Densetsu, Dragon Ball Z Super Butoden 3, Fighters History Dynamite, Hammerlock Wrestling, Hana no Keiji Kumo no Kanata ni, Kakuto Hao, Densetsu Algunos, Kart Fighter, Kasumi Ninja, Kido Butoden G Gundam, King of the Monsters 2, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Osu!! Karate Bu, Power Instinct, Rose of the Robots, Samurai Showdown II, Seifuku Densetsu Pretty Fighter, Shaq Fu, Street Fighter II Turbo, Super Punch Out!, Super Wrestle Angels, Taekwon-Do, Ranma 1/2 Chogi Ranbu-hen, The King of Fighters 94, Totsugeki Kikan (Karakuri) Megadasu!!,  Twin Goddesses, Ultraman Powered, Way of the Warrior, WCW SuperBrawl Wrestling, World Heroes 2 Jet, WWF Rage in the Cage, WWF Raw, Yu Yu Hakusho, Yu Yu Hakusho - Makyou Tōitsusen and Yu Yu Hakusho 2 Kakuto no Sho.

Console Fighting Games of 1995 - 05:46:19 Asuka 120% Maxima BURNING Fest, Ballz The Director's Cut, Battle Arena Toshinden, Battle Arena Toshinden 2, Battle Arena Toshinden Remix, Battle Monsters, Battle Tycoon, Brutal Unleashed Above the Claw, Chō Aniki Bakuretsu Rantōden, Criticom, Dark Legend, Double Dragon, Dragon Ball Z Shin Butōden, Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Battle 22, Eternal Champions Challenge from the Dark Side, Fatal Fury 3 Road to the Final Victory, Galaxy Fight Universal Warriors, Gokū Densetsu Magic Beast Warriors, Golden Axe The Duel, Justice League Task Force, Kabuki Ittōryōdan, Kabuki Klash, Killer Instinct, Makeruna! Makendō 2, Mighty Morphin Power Ranger The Fighting Edition, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon S, Primal Rage, Saban's VR Troopers, Samurai Showdown III Blades of Blood, Savage Reign, Seifuku Densetsu Pretty Fighter X, Street Fighter Alpha Warriors' Dreams, Street Fighter the Movie, Super Fire Pro Wrestling Queen's Special, Tekken, The King of Fighters '95, Ultra Vortek, Virtua Fighter Remix, Virtua Fighter, Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer, WeaponLord, World Heroes Perfect, Yū Yū Hakusho Final Makai Saikyō Retsuden and Zero Divide

For the Individual videos for each fighting game releases across 1993 to 1995 check out the following playlists.

Console Fighting Games of 1993 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CFcKSo9Eglrv2NFDHAqNDRi

Console Fighting Games of 1994 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CF-R5w4NujQcYo8cCcOMHYv

Console Fighting Games of 1995 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CEUiZn8FlwHoMcwoOzUqchX

For Other Compilation videos check out this playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJOZYl1h1CEjFei9KXJ8xDIChQB8WLJd

[guywrestlingaddiction]

That Wrestling Moment: Crafting Kayden or Kayden Keller v Scrapper (bgeast.com)

I love to see a gay wrestler come into their own as part of their journey.  Now part of that experience is also seeing said performer before they found their way.  Seeing them as a rookie, I can dissect and spot some of the subtle differences that would one day lead to gay wrestling legends.  Take for example: Kayden Keller v Scrapper.  

SPOILER ALERT: I highly recommend viewing this match in its entirety before reading this post.

The Backstory

It's hard to imagine but Kayden wasn't always the top dog at bgeast.  Yes I know that the studio doesn't have a recognized champion or belt, but it is hard to picture anyone else having that honor other than Kayden (maybe for a while anyway).  All that to say, everyone needs to start somewhere and watching Kayden just starting out - the man, the myth, the legend - is a rare thing indeed.  

The Action

The mat wrestling takes on a furious and vicious pace.  Scrapper does not hold back in his assault, easily crumbling whatever "formal" mat wrestling techniques Kayden had in place.  Sorry bud, but any training you received before bgeast is for naught.  

The back and forth is intense between our two fighters as Kayden is eager to show he can take the punishment while Scrapper takes on the task to break him in.  What a self-less guy he is 😉.

Kayden: Tap for me, just once.  Let me hear you say it.

The Moment 

At some point Kayden stopped fighting against the erotic abuse and finally embraced it. 

And now, at the end of the match, we finally have our moment.  Ladies and gentlemen, this is what we've been waiting for - that time when Kayden began to embrace the heel within or how He learned to stop worrying and love the domination.  

I know I made this post mostly about Kayden but Scrapper deserves credit for coaxing the erotic heel out of the guy.  Scrapper's formula for pleasure and pain is surely a factor in his rebirth.  Now spoiler alert, Kayden doesn't exactly triumph in this match; Instead we the audience are the winners because we get to witness the beginnings of a tenacious heel, the tension between agony and ecstasy, the alpha energy, all that would eventually result in Kayden being the star he is today.  

[blueonwrestling]

I have some other thoughts on cody rhodes tbh, and those delve deep into capitalism, hopefully without sounding like i'm utterly huffing farts, excuse me if i do, but i dont like cody rhodes because he comes off to me as everything thats wrong with modern day society, he is not the blue collar workings man champion, he isn't stone cold going against the authority, he is the authority, but people today absolutely love that shit, they love standing up for big corpo when they think it's on their side, he's the definition of american capitialism coming out there with the fake blonde hair, expensive suits, white teeth, all the pyro, everything, and he reflects how people just want to show off to the world that they're cool/wealthy/epic, with all the people showing their perfect life in instagram and how perfect they look instead of showing who they really are, cody rhodes is the modern day american dream in that everyone thinks that within american capitalism they can become the next famous instagram or tiktoker and have all this money, but they can't, cody rhodes is born into wrestling and was always going to get an easier life in wrestling because of it, cody rhodes has never ever had to struggle a day in his life, but people just still like the guy because they've been fooled into believing that, what does he do at the end of wrestlemania, he thanks triple h and bruce prichard, thank you corporate heads for giving me this chance, he has to make sure he thinks those two people because thank you for corporations!

meanwhile wwe is in the midst of being exposed as hiding all these sex trafficking secrets for years, vince mcmahon has been "ousted" after years of sexual assault and misconduct but not because of that, only because he used corporate money to silence those women, they dont care they he sexually assaulted countless women, it's because he used money not for him, and theres countless cases of wwe covering up shit whether it be the ring boy paedo scandal of the 80s with pat patterson or michael hayes saying that he's more of a n word with a hard r to mark henry only to now days being back at the tippity top of the producer scene working exclusively with roman reigns in all of his matches, these people just get away with it all because it's a reflection of society, if you're rich and powerful you can do whatever you want.

[pitgritted]

Thrice he knocked upon the solid birch frame of Sett's office door, and for each knock he waited a moment to listen for any signs of life inside the office. The warm candlelight cast dancing shadows that played through the dimly lit corridor as Robin swung open the heavy door to the workplace. After receiving no response the sight that met him was … unexpected, to say the least. And quick in response was Robin's selenic gaze shimmering in the blackened shadows of the room, ever curious it caught the flickering gold to refract it back into the Vastayan's weary eyes. To see Sett hunched over his desk in a sea of crumpled papers and ink-stained scrolls was rather unbecoming of The Champion of Qayanvi; perhaps that's why he'd not left his office at all. To risk such weakness in front of the greedy rabble that followed behind him could prove to be rather troubling ━ better to keep it hidden away forever. For that he could not blame Sett, he'd work hard for his title, the last thing he needed was to be jeered at or challenged when he could barely keep awake.

Unfortunately, Robin would not be able to though, especially now that he had seen how the usually crisp lines of his tailored attire were replaced by rumples and wrinkles, not to mention the dreadully dark circles under Sett's pretty eyes that hinted at just how long he'd been awake for. It was an unusual sight; typically, he would be tucked away in the comfort of his bed, wrestling with the demons of his past that he never dared to mention, or channeling his restless energy into mercilessly assaulting the bark of whatever poor tree was closest. Yet here he was, shoulders slumped, enveloped in a haze of exhaustion - although Robin could mentally admit that he looked quite cute ( at least the very blurry image of him that Robin could see ).

"My goodness," he remarked with a voice painted over with incredulity ( the authenticity of which was questionable ), "Have you been awake the entire night?"

The medic spoke rather gently despite his ponderings, tutting at the Vastayan before he pushed aside the paperwork that had momentarily occupied his attention - and perched himself in its place. Dull eyes scrutinized over Sett's tousled hair and lowered ears, bridging the space in his attempt to see better - nothing new, frankly. A click of his tongue later and the mage was sat upright, kicking his legs idly and tapping a finger to his chin with a pleasant hum.

"Mmm, you know, it is nearly dawn, just about four I believe, and you do need to rest," he insisted, but his voice held a simmering warmth despite its slight authoritarian edge. Robin was swift to interject before Sett could even hope to open his mouth to protest, a playful ━ yet still serious ━ glint now present in his gaze. "Ah ah! No no no, I am not taking anything else but "Yes Doctor" for an answer. You are to follow me to your quarters and sleep properly, lest I have to drag you there myself!" Despite his scolding, the corners of his lips twitched with a suppressed smile, it was a ludicrous idea to propose; Sett was nearly twice his size and definitely at least thrice his weight. Well. The demon bird could finally do something besides chatter in his ears all day.

Robin let out a sigh while he took off his hat.

"You don't look well, Sett. That's all. If you'd like, we can sit together for a bit ━ I could even read you a tale to help you sleep," Robin offered, "I'll even make sure to scare any of your pit partners away."

saliva  &  blood  straddles  across  butchered  lips  &  down  his  squared  whiskered  chin  .  the  pain  being  reignited  as  he  evenly  shifted  his  eared  cranium  from  the  hard  wooden  desk  he  was  bunched  over  upon  .  tawny  muscle  rolls  the  skin  of  his  chin  as  he  mutters  something  incoherent  through  white  ridges  of  teeth  ,  hissing  deep  guttural  expletives  .  his  massive  frame  echoes  in  the  crimson  leather  seat  he  sat  upon  ,  his  weight  being  shifted  from  the  desk  to  his  back  .  abnormally  golden  pigmented  eyes  are  subdued  behind  thinly  oiled  skin  ,  ringed  tendrils  pinching  &  rubbing  at  it  .

❝  don’t  start  gettin’  wise  mouthed  ,  ❞  𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓  reprimanded  ,  adam’s  apple  bobbing  within  his  jugular  as  he  swallowed  the  dab  of  spit  piling  on  his  tongue  ,  quenching  the  dryness  within  humid  chops  .  ❝  just  ‘cause  ‘y’  got  more  demand  ‘ere  in  the  pit  ,  don’t  f’rget  i  am  still  ‘yer  boss  .  ❞

his  eyes  were  embedded  with  redness  &  strain  ,  reopening  them  with  much  effort  ;  vastayan  magic  sweltered  behind  his  retinas  &  the  prolonged  staring  of  the  lit  wax  candlestick  made  it  prone  to  sensitivity  .  had  he  exhausted  himself  that  much  ?  he  begrudgingly  groaned  ,  having  slept  with  his  eyes  open  for  just  a  wee  while  .  he  smears  blood  embedded  saliva  against  his  squared  chin  ,  scarred  lips  twisting  into  discomfort  .  ❝  &  y’  don’t  gotta  breathe  down  m’  neck  ,  i’m  not  a  kid  .  ‘sides  —  ❞  he  lets  meaty  arms  topple  against  his  wooden  desk  ,  so  evidently  fussed  with  lone  fisticuffs  &  disarrayed  papers  still  needing  to  be  stamped  ;  documents  of  the  monitoring  pit  officers  &  bouts  .

❝  business  is  the  clickin’  of  coins  .  &  that’s  my  business  —  my  coin  .  ❞  he  clarifies  ,  plucking  up  a  lone  scroll  etched  with  the  signature  of  his  bookie  .  concerning  the  calculations  of  the  pit’s  income  .  ❝  don’t  want  any  half  -  assed  bastards  messing  with  any  of  it  .  ❞  𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐓  truly  was  doing  everything  in  his  power  not  to  drip  his  words  with  venom  ,  but  with  lack  of  sleep  &  thinly  sliced  patience  brewing  into  nasty  bitterness  ,  it  was  not  an  ultimatum  .

exhaustion  pricking  his  fingers  &  face  ,  he  fixed  his  gaze  onto  robin  .  dark  brows  perk  upwards  at  the  suggestion  beneath  the  heavy  sweep  of  crimson  hair  .  ❝  read  me  a  story  ?  ‘yer  joking  ,  right  ?  ❞  he  inquired  ,  fangs  numbing  the  clarity  in  his  words  albeit  .  ❝  gimme  an  hour  more  ‘n’  i’ll  get  to  my  chambers  .  how’s  that  ?  ❞

[angelamoroso]

Come see Myself The Goddess of Gore Queen of Hardcore Angel Amoroso and ECW original Jason Knight as we relaunch Assault Champion Wrestling! This Saturday August 12 in Williamstown NJ! There's even a fan fest before the show from 12-4 with toys, horror, wrestling vendors and much more! The show starts at 5pm! Don't miss out on this EPIC event!!!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Mike Hixenbaugh for The Atlantic:

America’s public schools, since their creation, have repeatedly become a locus for our nation’s most divisive fights over politics and civil rights, whether the subject be evolution, segregation, sex ed, or school prayer. After all, it is in its classrooms—in social-studies curricula and civics lessons and mandatory-reading lists—that the country wrestles with how to tell its story to new generations, how to teach kids what’s right and wrong, true and false. And the decisions that society makes about what children ought to learn, or ought not to, have the power to shape culture and the future of democracy. Thus today we see fights over how to discuss racism in schools, with progressives championing lessons that connect the stain of slavery to modern inequities, conservatives demanding instead that children be taught “not to see color,” and plenty of debate somewhere in between. We see fights over whether first-graders should be allowed to check out picture books featuring LGBTQ characters, whether teens should be made to read literature with graphic depictions of sex, whether the Ten Commandments should be posted inside classrooms. The recent wave of activism targeting schools has sometimes seemed unprecedented in its ferocity and scale. But of course, these types of debates are not new. They fit into a long tradition of reactionary movements seeking to shape what children in America learn.

Early in the 20th century, Christian fundamentalists waged a crusade to stop the teaching of human evolution in public schools, culminating most famously with 1925’s Scopes “monkey trial,” in which a high-school teacher in Tennessee was charged with violating a new state law banning evolution lessons from classrooms. With the United States on the precipice of entering World War II in the late 1930s and early ’40s, groups such as the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Legion waged a successful nationwide campaign against popular social-studies textbooks written by the progressive educator Harold Rugg; they argued that the books—which raised questions about the unequal distribution of wealth in the U.S. and advocated for civil rights for African Americans—were “subversive.” Attempts to force schools to integrate in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s were met with riots and racist protests.

While researching my book on the latest political wars over public education, I came across a 1981 New York Times article that sounded as if it might have been printed this year. It described a coalition of suburban residents who, “armed with sophisticated lobbying techniques,” were fighting to “remove books from libraries” and replace history syllabi with “texts that emphasize the positive side of America’s past.” The article documented efforts by parents’ groups across the country to “cleanse their local schools of materials and teaching methods they consider antifamily, anti-American and anti-God.” Here was a tale of conservative activists waging a national assault on school lessons more than four decades ago, though that earlier generation applied a different label to the threat it perceived than activists do now: secular humanism.

[...] Also much as in today’s fights, the battles over secular humanism, which occurred in the years immediately following the civil-rights movement, were a response to evolving social norms around gender, race, and sexuality. And just as the protests for racial justice following the police murder of George Floyd in 2020 incited school-board conflicts in communities with rapidly changing demographics, many of the battles a generation ago emanated from predominantly white but diversifying suburbs, where angry parents formed groups with such names as Young Parents Alert and Guardians of Education. Portraying teachers, textbook writers, and school bureaucrats as liberal foot soldiers in a shadowy scheme to indoctrinate their children, these citizen activists described their cause as one of good versus evil, a framing that stoked passions—and sometimes violence.

The simmering right-wing movement against secular humanism exploded into national view in the spring of 1974, when white fundamentalists launched a political attack on the public school system in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The district had introduced new multicultural textbooks as required by a recent state mandate. Months of protests were led by Alice Moore, a white school-board member and preacher’s wife who argued—while explicitly invoking the dangers of secular humanism—that new language-arts textbooks would teach students “ghetto dialect” instead of “standard American speech.” Picketers carried homemade signs, including one that read i have a “bible,” i don’t need those dirty books. Angry parents were soon joined by members of the Ku Klux Klan. An elementary school’s entrance was defaced with a swastika. Arsonists attacked schools with firebombs and Molotov cocktails, vandals cut the fuel lines of school buses to keep them from running, and the county board-of-education building was blasted with 15 sticks of dynamite. [...]

There are also parallels in the financing of these movements, with support then and now drawn from a large network of conservative think tanks and activist groups. The campaign against secular humanism was backed by national organizations including the Heritage Foundation, Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority, Pat Robertson’s National Legal Foundation, and the antigay, anti-feminist crusader Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum. Some of those same organizations remain involved today, joined by dozens of emergent activist groups, such as Moms for Liberty, No Left Turn in Education, and the 1776 Project PAC.

Some aspects of the right’s new playbook appear to have been copied from history—including its campaign to leverage school-board conflicts to push for a conservative reinterpretation of foundational rights. With help from conservative law firms, parents filed lawsuits in the 1970s and ’80s claiming that secular humanism was itself a religion, and as such should be barred from schools or balanced with Christian perspectives. Others in the movement simultaneously sought to overturn the principle of Church-state separation that was the basis for that argument. Insisting that America’s founding was grounded in biblical principles, activists demanded that educators present Christianity in a favorable light, that children be taught to respect the United States and its military, and that men and women be depicted in “traditional” gender roles in classroom reading assignments. Although many of these demands were denied by local and state education boards, Christian conservative groups scored major victories throughout the 1980s—largely through targeted lawsuits and local pressure campaigns—before the movement’s power and momentum began to wane, in the ’90s.

[...] Now, in many classrooms, dark chapters of America’s history are being softened or skipped. Some students are being taught a distorted narrative about our nation’s past and present, and books challenging that depiction are being pulled from shelves. All of this is helping shape what a new generation of Americans believes about our country—exactly the effect that anti-secularism activists fought for decades ago.

NBC News’s Mike Hixenbaugh wrote in The Atlantic about the history of right-wing “parental rights” revolts.

See Also:

Chalkbeat: How the ‘Southlake Playbook’ brought partisan battles to America’s school boards

[nwonitro]

01/24/24 McLawsuit!

According to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, Janel Grant, an ex-employee of WWE, has initiated legal proceedings against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis in a federal court in Connecticut.

The lawsuit alleges that Grant endured physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking during her time at WWE. The purpose of Grant's lawsuit is twofold: to seek redress for her personal experiences and to champion those who may be hesitant to come forward with similar claims.

More at Wrestling News Source.

[dalekofchaos]

I know they were in London and they are Saraya's family, but Tony potentially involving the Knight Family in the future after All In is not a good look, neither is having her scumbag transphobic piece of shit boyfriend perform her song. Welcoming a family who have been accused of abuse and sexual assault and creating a toxic environment by many people that they trained is insane. That's like inviting Bill DeMott to train your talent despite knowing what a reprehensible piece of shit that guy was.

And yes I have receipts.

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There's a simple explanation of why WWE didn't want to acknowledge Saraya's family until that movie came out. Because they're violent carnies. Wrestling with My Family whitewashed the Knight family. Made people believe they were quirky instead crazy deviants.

Saraya being Women's Champion is a bad idea because of how limited she can wrestle now days, but even entertaining the idea of involving the Knight family more involved than they should is a fucking disaster waiting to fucking happen.

[livemmmaufc]

Lawsuit Filed Against Jon Moxley & AEW For 'Civil Assault & Battery' & More

AEW A lawsuit has been filed against All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and its current world champion Jon Moxley (Jonathan Good). As first reported by Sports Illustrated, a suit filed in the state of Michigan lists AEW and Moxley as defendants, and the plaintiff as Christopher Francis Dispensa. Dispensa had been working for AEW as a contractor via a third party as a production worker. The suit alleges…

[blowflyfag]

BILL APTER’S WOW XTRA magazine : VOL 1 / NO. 8

NEWS

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TROUBLE

As World Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Scott Steiner boarded an airplane in Greensboro, N.C., on Jan 23, Winston-Salem, N.C., police served Steiner with a criminal assault complaint. Randall Mankins, an EMT who was in the ring with Stein on Jan. 22 at the LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, filed the grievance after Steiner allegedly attacked Mankins at that night’s Nitro. Mankins, a Kernersville, N.C., EMT, entered the ring cast as a paramedic to check on Christopher Daniels who had been attacked by Stiner and was working a broken leg angle. Steiner stated in several published reports that he, “thought Mankins was a fan entering the ring.”