#she should have never been involved with it she was the womens champion

[bunnys-kisses]

(ㅅ´ ˘ `)♡ mad(ly in love) max｡ ⊹˚.⋆

partially inspired by this by @angldelight before it got away from me! <3

max knew you looked better in blue than red. and if you did look good in red, it was the red of the his team rather than the garish red of ferrari. he believed the statement that everyone is a ferrari fan even if they don't know it, because if they saw a photo of you, they'd have brand loyalty to the stallion for the rest of their days.

there was a reason why your face and name were everywhere in your home country. you were a pride and joy to the nation you called home. but, max was more than happy to stake a claim on you.

max liked you because you challenged him. far too many women would bend over backwards for the three time champion, but you simply glared him down with your hands on your hips. you stood toe to toe with him even if there was a height difference. but you kept your gaze steady on him.

"don't fuck me over again." you said, "or you'll regret it."

"i would never do it on purpose, princess. maybe you should watch where you are going from now on." he bite back in response. he noticed a twitch in your hand, like you wanted to grab him by the front of his driver's suit and pull him close. either for a punch or a kiss.

it would eventually lead in kisses. max liked when you were mad because then that meant he could flip the script and get ferrari's little princess on her knees with a mouthful of verstappen cock. it was honestly cute, while he wanted to dive into your sweet cunt and make your insides sticky with his cum. he'd have to make you acquainted with his size.

max verstappen was fuckin' crazy though, being involved with him was like being a deer and getting your leg caught in a trap. the type of obsession that clamped around you, dug its teeth into your fragile skin. you were so cute though, something some delicate and soft. formula one was for the toughest, the mental and physical strain of it all (that could be why he was so... off). and while max believed in you, he worried.

where you were going, who you were with. you hadn't only been in monaco for a few years and while you had the likes of charles to help you around. when he heard about men you had met, max felt something curl inside of him.

it started inauspicious. he slipped an air tag into the back pocket of your jeans while you were in your driver's room getting ready for dinner with some guy that max couldn't even remember the name of. he was all smiles as he wished you a great time.

too bad there was an issue with your car. how could you have a flat tire already, you just got the car? and when you asked your date to come pick you up, he totally ghosted you. little did you know that while you were struggling with you car, max went to meet your date and give him a few firm words. that was when the real mad max came out.

"listen mate. you're never going to give her what she needs. hell, not even what she wants. there are plenty of fish in the sea." he got a little closer to the other man, "but you can't have her."

"why?" your date swallowed.

max nodded and flashed that winning smile, "because she's mine. and i know she may have talked so nice to you. she's like that. charming. but sadly she's taken. so i think it's in everyone's best interest that you delete her number and go back to finding your perfect match." he patted the man on the shoulder like they were buddies.

"and if i don't."

max's smile only grew, "i don't like people fucking what's mine. she's taken, mate. move on." he couldn't verbalize exactly how he'd rough up the other man. he didn't want to make headlines. but there was something in his gaze that made your date high tail it out of there. your number blocked and deleted.

max then used the air tag to find you at a bar close to your flat where you were drinking away your sorrows. but, don't worry about that! max was now here to make sure that you had the best night ever. while that meant ending up drunk and curled up in his bed, but he didn't mind. he was even a gentleman and created a barrier of pillows between the two of you. no funny business. even if he wanted to. when he eventually fucked you, he wanted you conscious.

that air tag would come in handy, turns out that you wore the same pair of black levi's jeans. max was wondering if he had to get more air tags to place along other items. but, he lucked out with that one. you thought it was a strange coincidence that he seemed to be where you were.

and he'd laugh and tell you, "small city, right?"

it took months of hard work but, eventually he got to sink his pretty cock into your prettier hole. the happiest day of his life. he had invited you on his boat for the afternoon, and while he didn't expect much. he wasn't expecting your pretty tits on such display. a pretty red checkered print bikini and sandals as you stayed close to max.

and then alone, out in the waters. you ended up straddling max's waist while he sat on one of the seats up on the deck. it was couch-like and allowed you two some room as you rubbed your sweet pussy up against the front of his shorts. his hands dug into the plushness of your ass as he moved against you. you were painfully pretty, and it drove max insane. you'd try to run him off the track, but he'd always get an apology by having your pretty tits in his face and your pussy around his cock.

"you feel so good." he said, "you're so soft."

you whimpered, "i'm not that soft. you keep feeding me all this good food since i came to visit! my team is going to be pissed." you squirmed a little.

he kissed at your breasts in front of your face and laughed, "well, then. i guess i'll have to keep feeding you better food." his teeth then nipped your left breast and it made you whine. his hands continued to grope you ass and you squirmed a little more.

you didn't realize that you're movements only made him harder and he had to force himself to let go of you to take his cock out of his shorts. this was a dream come true, after months of being your little shadow.

"you know how to do this?" he asked.

you held onto his shoulders and chuckled, "yes, i've had sex before." which made something cold run through max's body, but it was quickly heated up once more when you sank down on him.

other men might had had you, but he was going to make sure you were his forever. no need to get stuffed with another man's cock, when you have max who, as he might add, can get into you quite easily. it was like you were made for him as you started to ride him. he pulled you into a kiss with one hand while he groped your behind with the other. he felt your core shiver around him as you continued to move up and down on his cock.

this only lit his need for you more. if you were so good on top, how good were you on the bottom, or at your side, or stuffed full of fingers and toys as max pulled orgasm after orgasm out of you. he wanted you, he was mad for you. while he'd sometimes pull dirty tricks on the track, he had a whole other set of skills for you. because he could never hurt you on the track, too much of a risk for your safety. but he'd bruise your little pussy and cover your pretty soft breasts in large bites. he'd hope that cameras would get a good look at the pretty marks.

a lot easier to scare off men than to see a woman decorated with hickies. if he had it his way, you'd be wearing a little chain with his initials on it. or better yet, chubby little verstappen baby at your hip. the thought made something hot run through him. oh, that unlocked something in his brain as he was balls deep inside of you. he continued to leave a mess of bites on your chest as you continued to rut against him. your back arched a little when he bit one of your nipples.

"i need you to burn that bikini when we get to shore." he said between heavy pants as he grabbed your ass roughly and pushed himself up as much as he could go. his voice was a little strained from the intensity of it all.

"why?" you asked as you looked down at you.

"because, someone might get the wrong idea. and i don't want you getting hurt." he replied. it showed off far too much, too much of what belonged to him.

he rubbed up against you further. his cock poking some of your deepest parts, he wondered if he was the biggest you ever had. or if there was some other guy in another part of the world who took you apart better than him. unlikely. the way he watched you wiped drool from the corner of your mouth as you rode him made him excited.

during his time racing alongside you, he had seen you at euphoric highs of victory and deep anger when losing. but, this was a whole other look, you were far from focused. only really thinking about the cock, his cock, stuffing you full. guess there was no need to get you into his clothes and keep an air tag in your bad anymore, not when you had such a sweet look across your face.

he ran his blunt nails down the side of your thighs and felt you clench harder around his cock. which made sparks appear in the back of max's mind.

"pretty thing." he said. there was a softness to you that he wanted to sink his teeth into. especially the slight chub at your hips, next time he wanted to bite down on the skin and leave pretty bruises across it. you were just so beautiful. he thought formula one was for ugly men because they wore a helmet all the time, not pretty women who made max go insane.

you whined a little bit and started to feel yourself really get hot all over. his cock fit in you perfectly. while lust clouded your head, you honestly did think about throwing out the bikini you were wearing on board the boat. he kissed at your pulse point and you moaned, your pussy fluttered around him.

"i need that bikini gone before we get back to shore." he said.

"why, what will i wear?" you asked a little shy. you couldn't get back onto land with nothing on!

he grabbed at your ass once more and pushed you down on his cock, then held you for a moment. his lips were squared with yours as he said, "i got some extra clothes in the bedroom below deck." he knew that it was either red bull or verstappen merchandise. something that he had a lot of and could get wet.

while it wouldn't show off your pretty figure. the idea of you getting a bit chilled while heading 'home' and having your nipples poke through a shirt with his logo on it made him hotter. maybe he'll turn the ac up in the car on the drive home.

"i don't want anyone to see the bikini ever again. i'll buy you something nicer." he said as he thrusted up into you, "i don't want hungry eyes on you and neither do you. you're not a piece of meat." even though max wished to devour you, you were not meat. he'd say you were more like fruit. something refreshing and bright. something to crave on a warm day like today.

"i should have something in my bag." you said as you continued to ride him.

he held your soft hips and looked up at you, "no, no." he said then licked his top lip, "wear my clothes, they'll be more comfortable." and it'll hide your figure better.

you were the first to climax, and he managed to get you across the seat of the couch and fuck you from behind doggy style. perfect angle to make sure every last drop. you clawed at the faux leather and arched your back, your sweet noises against the sounds of the sea. your pussy clenched around him as he bullied the tip up against your cervix.

it was important for the two to get acquainted.

he finally finished inside of you and let out a sweet groan. he clenched onto your hips tightly and watched you go fully limp against the couch as you tried to catch your breath. he pulled out and gooey cum dripped out of your poor pussy. ah, it's okay. he simply pushed it all back inside of you.

with the amount he finished inside of you, you were at least 3% dutch now!

when max was finished with you, he knew that he was going to keep the little princess of ferrari. maybe eventually you'll wear the red bull logo across your pretty tits when you entered the paddock. or maybe better yet, the verstappen last name. but for now he'd simply have to stake his claim by shoving all his cum into your sweet cunt. after all it was a safer place to keep it compared to his own fist.

-

even with the start of the new season. his fixation of your cunt didn't end. so what you're on a different team, that didn't mean he couldn't easily go to the ferrari area and just get you to himself. when you win the first race of the season and sing along to your national anthem, max smiles in second. not because he is happy that you are winning.

but because he knew that his cum was dampening the front of your sweet cotton panties. you may have the trophy over your head, but he knew after this, he'd get another chance to sink another load in you. <3

a/n: is this anything? does anyone want more of this????

[sonnykissed]

So with a Saraya win looming at All-In, is it okay to say the Outcasts vs Originals storyline is one of the biggest ball drops in AEW history?

[madhatterbri]

Damian Priest Fics

All Fell Down - Y/N was in a relationship with Finn Balor. She starts getting closer with Damian Priest. He gets injured, and Finn finds out about their relationship.

Business - You and Damian cut a promo after he allows JD to take a beating.

All Fell Down Part 2 - The fallout costs Damian and Y/N their relationship. Part 3

Telephone - You and your love end up having phone sex because they’re a part on Valentine’s Day.

Brotherly Love - Reader is Drew's sister, and she is dating Damian Priest. He promised her that he wouldn't cash in on her brother and well.

Lucky - Summary: Can you please write a Damian Priest X Fem Reader Fluff Story?! Anything Comforting is okay

Rise and Fall - Fem!reader is Rhea’s protégé & after Rhea gives up her title due to injury, the reader decides to get that title back to Judgment Day w/o telling the group. The group is shocked when the reader comes out with her new look & wins the title. Damian/Reader becomes close while Rhea sees her as a threat that needs to be taken out.

My Girl - Can you please write something smutty/flirty with Damian Priest and Fem Reader where both are part of the Judgment Day and they constantly flirt with each other, after an successful Monday Night RAW they are out to celebrate and again Reader and Damian are constantly flirting and teasing each other which causes the rest of the Judgment Day Crew to leave them alone, Damian and Reader stand up to go back to his room where they have passionate sex and spending the night together in the morning after they lay in bed cuddling and Damian asks her to be his girl because the last night shouldn't be and one night stand.

Bet - Summary: A She’s All That AU where Damian accepts a bet that he can make fem!reader, who is a jobber or someone stuck at catering into a women’s champion. Thanx :)

Te Perdiste Mi Amor - Summary: Unspoken feelings hurt Damian and Y/N.

You - Reader is jealous of the attention Damian is getting since he became champion and talks to him about it. Smut. 18+.

Betrayed Me -

Summary: Can I prompt Fem!Reader is the one working with Liv. The last straw was when The Judgment Day got involved in her match against Becky & she lost her chance of holding gold. Liv promised something Rhea never did, and that was going after the Women’s tag titles. Reader also points out that TJD was already falling apart before Rhea got hurt & it was easy to make it look like everyone but her was working with Liv. The only thing that hurt the reader was that she had to betray her crush, Damian, but she had to put herself first for once.

Deal - May i prompt - TJD have a Liv Morgan problem but for obvious reasons can't go after her, however, Damain knows someone that can take care of her. Fem!reader is a member of Uncle Howdy's faction & has shown interest in El Campeon & is willing to help but Uncle Howdy isn't going to let Priest use her without a price & that price is an opportunity for the title. Please? Part 2 | Part 3

Challenges - Summary: If I may request - Liv holds a celebration for herself in the ring & calls out Dom to join her but instead it’s Fem!Reader (ex member of TJD who still has a soft spot for Dom & feelings for Damian). She calls out the lack of open challenges since Liv’s been champion & Liv should focus on finding a challenger rather than a “daddy”. Liv thinks the reader is jealous & hits a nerve when she brings up Damian..then all hell breaks loose. Thank you.

Business Deals -

Summary: Damian Priest x reader request, please?? 😀. Instead of Rhea being out with an injury, it was Damian, but his relationship with the reader isn't toxic like Rhea and Dom's. Reader is in a relationship with Damian and a member of the judgment day. However, when Damian gets injured, Y/N gets sick of Rhea's controlling ways and decides to do business with Braun Strowman behind their backs. On the night that reader finally turns on TJD and attacks Rhea, Damian returns and confronts her. You can pick a happy or sad ending, and btw, the reader didn't cheat on Damian.

Consequences -

Summary: Can I request: Something snaps in Fem!reader. After proving she has earned a title shot, reader loses against Liv Morgan because of Dom’s “help” & unlike Becky & Zelina; reader grabs a nearby bat & goes after him. TJD guides Dom away while Priest talks the reader down. Priest assures that Dom will face consequences & leaves. Reader isn’t waiting & finds that the clubhouse is unprotected & uses her bat to destroy everything, including the gifts that Liv bought for Daddy.

Part 2

Switching Sides -

Ulterior Motives -

I Had Some Help -

Unconditionally -

Hay Rides

Hero

"Friends"

Mistake

Opportunity

Flirt Part 2

Safe

Confession

Cuddles

Acquainted

Halloween

Jealousy Trend

Daddy

Christmas Shopping

Tag Team

Protector

[insufferableprotagonistpoll]

Round 3

Propaganda why Marinette Dupain-Cheng is insufferable:

She easily gets away with bad, stalkerish behavior, it always feels like she can ‘do no wrong’ unless the show wants us to pity her, and the show writers want us to think she is a quirky and socially awkward girl when throughout the series we see her be friends with basically everyone in Paris with many connections to high up places.

I get she has social anxiety but the way she goes about stalking Adrien is kind of the worst like she even has creep shots of him hanging in her room? That’s weird. I think Adrien’s going through enough without having to deal with the main character being his stalker lol. I know they’re (spoilers) at this point but in the beginning it was so sus

In the newest season, Marinette hides the fact that Hawkmoth was Adrien’s dad. This leads to the bastard getting a statue and honored as a hero after his death. Adrien now never gets to know the fact that his abusive and neglectful father was the one trying to kill him and is instead proud of him.

Her crush on Adrien is like a black hole for her character. Things she’s done because of it:

1) stolen property

2) ruined dates

3) humiliated other characters

4) has a chart of Adrien’s daily schedule for the next year in her room (this is stalking)

5) broke into his room and sniffed his pillow (also a crime)

6) sniffed, took the hair from, and tried to kiss what she thought was a wax statue of Adrien

7) convinced her parents to let her go to China. Why? Not because she wants to connect with her mother’s heritage, not even because she’s a budding fashion designer and Shanghai is considered a fashion hotspot. It’s because Adrien was there.

I started the show, watched one episode, and never tried again. I simply do not vibe with her.

shes annoyinng anf shes a stalker

I love fanon miraculous but by god she has got to stop obsessively stalking her crush and generally making a ton of other terrible decisions. I’d submit Adrien too but he’s more of a deuteragonist

More propaganda

Anti propaganda

Propaganda why Aelin Ashryver Galathynius is insufferable:

Your basic Mary Sue. Styled as the incredibly cool best-assassin in the land at only 18, she nevertheless is constantly snuck up upon, distracted by pretty boys, and possesses not an ounce of wit. In a competition between murderers and thieves to win a place as the King's Champion, she sees a bag of chocolates on her bed that she didn't put there and immediately starts eating it and gushing about how much she adores chocolate - nevermind that they just had a trial involving poison, which several of her competitors are adept at. She's always right, and other characters exist just to tell her how awesome and beautiful and wonderful she is. And then she turns out to be a super special magical fey princess!

I generally don't believe that a Mary Sue is a bad thing, but the only thing I remember about this book was how she had been in prison for years but was super young but was also still the most super-specialest assassin. And she kept reading when she should have been training or sleeping. Like, girl, this is not final exams where you can stay up all night and then roll into class in your pajamas and still squeak out a C. It's supposed to be life and death. Her character traits didn't make her relatable, they made her a moron

Heir to a kingdom plus turquoise eyes plus best assassin in the world plus protagonist centered morality

Anti propaganda

Propaganda why Dean Winchester is insufferable:

Really mean to Cas (called him a child, zero respect for him, calls him family and casts him out when the angels are looking for him), and an absolute dick to Jack (threatening to kill him CONSTANTLY)

>Was a misogynist (loved to call women skanks, bitches, hoes)

>Used gay as an insult multiple time during the show's run (idc if he's gay an homophobic, that's still insulting)

>Beat up his brother for being possessed

>Beat up his brother for losing his soul (not his brother's fault)

>Used dubious consent to get his brother possessed in a different unrelated possession incident after possession was being used (badly...this is supernatural after all) as a metaphor for SA

>Threatened to murder his brother when he was hallucinating (yay we aren't ableist)

>Locked a child up in a box

>Threatened to kill the child he locked up in a box

>Made a creepy, sexual comment about a barely-legal high school girl

>Got the woman and kid he was living with memory-wiped

misogynistic scumbag. theres also a few different times that dean finds teenagers sexy with the most recent and prominent example that i can recall being the scooby doo crossover episode in season 13 where hes super into daphne who in the version they chose for the episode is 15-16 and is interacting with her as if shes a real person cause they got magicked into the episode. he treats everyone around him like shit and the only time the narrative agrees that thats a bad thing is when he has the mark of cain put on him and hes acting no differently than he does usually its just now acknowledged that hes treating others like shit. ive been rewatching the show for shits and giggles with a friend and wow he really does not treat anyone well but i wanna focus on how he treats sam for a second cause dude's hobby seems to be ignoring what his brother wants and lying to sam about doing stuff that directly concerns him the demon blood and souless things are reasonable cause those were both Bad for sam but theyre still part of a wider pattern and the most prominent example of this being when dean tricks sam into letting gadreel possess him and actually gaslights sam about it with the whole ordeal ending when its revealed gadreel lied about who he was and while possessing sam murders a friend of theirs. his voice is just also stupid as fuck im sorry this is just petty but he just sounds like hes trying so hard to be gruff n intimidating but he just sounds like a kid pretending to be batman

Dean’s list of sins is crazy long because of how long the show ran, but the key thing for me is that post-locking Sam in the bunker (season 4 I think?), I just can’t enjoy their relationship anymore. I normally love their sibling dynamic, but Dean’s ultimate worst past-the-point-of-no-return moment for me was demonizing (pun intended) his little brother for being “addicted” to demon blood, which only happened because of a series of events that were either Dean’s or someone else’s fault, not Sam’s. I also really dislike how the fandom treats Dean like this angel (pun intended) who has done no wrong and even tries to justify the MULTIPLE times he’s beaten up and otherwise abused his little brother. Canon Dean is like the polar opposite of fanon Dean: he’s homophobic and racist (jokes about a Black man being sexually assaulted in prison), misogynistic (take a shot every time he calls a woman a slur and you’ll die of alcohol poisoning), and abusive.

[gawrkin]

do people really say Lancelot ruined a healthy marriage? What did he do, force Guinevere to have an affair with him?

Do you think this is a recent trend of affording Guinevere no agency, or has that always been a tendency in Arthuriana?

I believe there's always been controversy surrounding the character of Lancelot, past or present (and to a dufferent degree, Guinevere). Its simply the result of changing tastes and cultural values.

For one thing, most people today are knowledgeable about King Arthur only with a pop culture/theme park understanding of the legends. Not everyone makes it their hobby to read medieval stories of Knights and Chivalry.

And when they do, they often just simply read a cliff notes, dumb down summary of the legends, especially since the major works are either untranslated from their native languages and/or are extremely intimidating to approach.

Ex. Le Morte D'Arthur, the go-to must-read version of legends, is really long (even though its already an abridged version of older legends!) and uses archaic english, making it hard to understand at times.

And even if they do read the major works through, they wouldn't be inclined to understand the historical contexts for why certain things happen.

When it comes to Lancelot, his most famous element of his character is his affair with Queen Guinevere, Arthur's wife.

To a modern person, Lancelot would come off as a horribly rancid person.

"Why is this guy muscling in on another man's wife? How on earth could he be a Hero?"

Lancelot embodies an old Medieval cultural trend, known as "Courtly Love" - the idea that Love and Pursuit of Love are noble qualities to embody with caveat that it can only be found outside of social norms.

(From Epistolary)

So, in short, Lancelot was written to be a hero championed the ideals of Courtly Love as part of what it means to be Knight and Christian Warrior.

Like many things, Society moved on. Cultures change and suddenly, Marriage became union of love, instead of politics and property inheritance.

Lancelot, as a character, simply became outdated - he aged poorly.

Meanwhile, for one reason or another, Arthur and Guinevere's marriage is imagined to be successful a love match.

As a result, a modern person, doing a light reading of the tales of Sir Lancelot with no knowledge of Medieval culture, walks away with a bitter taste in his/her mouth.

On the topic of Guinevere's agency, this should be noted: Guinevere has been, since the earliest legends, villified as a traitoress, with or without Lancelot. (Usually with Mordred, but that a different topic)

But when it comes to Lancelot, no, Guinevere was never forced into an affair. She always had a choice.

Indeed, Vulgate cycle depicts their romance as a gradual arc, wherein young Lancelot devotes his knightly deed in the service of Guinevere's honor, culminating with Guinevere - through the advice of Galehaut and the Lady of the Lake - rewarding Lancelot's loyalty with reciprocation.

Courtly Love was promoted by women, like Marie de Champagne above, and thus valued women's choice.

Indeed, there is a kind of feudal terminology involve in Courtly Love where the Knight -Lover in question is subordinate to the Lady-Beloved, often referred to as "Middons" or Master by the Knight-Lover.

This is demonstrated in Knight of the Cart, Lancelot's seminal appearance in the Legends, where Guinevere has strict command of Lancelot and his actions, asking him to lose a fight on purpose, etc.

So, no, Lancelot did not force Guinevere into an affair.

That would have been against the Rules of Love.

[theanticool]

Ranking UFC 301 fights by my level of interest. It's not a great PPV card but there are match ups that do interest me.

Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs Steve Erceg - the UFC constantly does bs to undermine the flyweight division. Remember when they had John Moraga fighting on the facebook prelims before being thrust into a title fight against DJ? Well, Erceg is only getting slightly better treatment. But at least Erceg has shown himself to be a unique and diversified threat. He's got some really clean boxing and a solid wrestling game that pair well together. Will that be able to lift him up despite his limited experience against elite flyweight competition? We will see. Pantoja is nothing if not consistent. He will find his way to his dangerous grappling game, even if it involves starting firefights to do it. Should make for an exciting fight.

Joanderson Brito vs Jack Shore - We got two interesting 29 year old featherweights on the rise. I really like both fighter's games. Brito is a dangerous man who has finished his last four opponents. He's not the most technically sound but he's an athletic, aggressive and a fantastic opportunist when given the chance to finish. Jack Shore is a workman. He's crafty and skilled everywhere. Not as much of a danger as Brito but has a more cohesive approach to fighting. Should be a banger fight.

Jose Aldo vs Jonathan Martinez - The dire state of this PPV called for the UFC to ask for Aldo to come back. And they're giving him a fantastic leg kicker, which should be interesting. Martinez is on a big run. He's won 6 straight, where he's won two fights by leg kick KOs. He's got a Nurmagomedov on the resume (Said), Yanez, and Swanson. If there was a time to get a big win and establish himself as a true bantamweight contender, this is the fight to do it. Especially against an Aldo that has been retired for 2 years and only doing boxing in the interim. But Aldo has never had issues with kickers.

Elves Brener vs Myktybek Orolbai - Brener has built himself a ton of momentum. The Brazilian 155er knocked off a couple of former highly regarded prospects in Zubaira Tukhugov and Guram Kutateladze to kick off his UFC career and then knocked off fellow Brazilian Kaynan Kruschewsky. Orolbai came into the UFC and neck cranked the hell out of Uros Medic. This should be a good one!

Iasmin Lucindo vs Karolina Kowalkiewicz - After losing 5 straight fights, Kowalkiewicz has managed to rebuild her career. Brick by brick. She has rattled off four straight wins. And while I wouldn't call any of the women she has beaten elite, the fact she's still adapting as she is pushing 40 is impressive. Lucindo has also been impressive. The 22 year old has been putting on impressive performances in the UFC from the jump and has started looking like a legit prospect to watch out for at strawweight.

Michel Pereira vs Ihor Potieria - Michel Pereira was always too much of a meme fighter to not be a middleweight. And while the crazy flips and capoeira kicks are gone, he has just turned to knocking people out instantly since moving up. Ihor Potieria is coming from the opposite direction, moving down from 205lbs. And he looked good in his debut in the weight class. Not a world beater but he's looking more and more like a complete fighter. This should be good. Plenty of potential for a mess.

Alessandro Costa vs Kevin Borjas - Costa is a guy that is athletic enough to be UFC flyweight champion. He's got dynamite in his hands and is extremely fast. He turned Erceg into a wrestler with his physical advantages. With some direction and more cage time, guy could be a legit challenger. I just hope to see him active. I don't have much to say about Borjas, so down the ladder this goes.

[alexbkrieger13]

Like this is so so bad

National team profile got an eating disorder when she involuntarily became a member of the players' 'fat club'

When Mie Leth Jans in Manchester City was incorporated into a 'fat club', she developed an eating disorder, she says.

In 2017, Mie Leth Jans helped win EC silver for Denmark, and a few days later she made the leap to the English league and Manchester City.

She was chasing to win the Champions League and it was "a dream to have to play in the conditions" that the club offers the players, she told the club's website.

But even though the conditions were good, Mie Leth Jans developed an eating disorder during her time in Manchester, she says to DR .

As a youngster on the national team, it was taboo to talk about several players losing significant weight and that several leading figures on the team showed signs of being ill, says Mie Leth Jans.

But it wasn't until she took the leap to England that she experienced firsthand what that meant.

If you didn't live up to the standard in Manchester City, didn't hit the scales, you were incorporated into what the players called a 'fat club'. A club for the so-called fat players, where the only way out was a lower fat percentage, she says.

- We had exercise bikes in a gym, where you sat like a monkey in a cage. We had to sit there every day before breakfast, half an hour to 45 minutes, to burn extra calories before breakfast.

- The more I pushed myself to lose weight, the more I could see that no matter what I did, I would never get out of that club, says Mie Leth Jans.

Mie Leth Jans' focus on diet and weight became so fanatical during her time at Manchester City that it was only when a nutritionist told her that she was starving herself and that it should stop for the moment that she took it seriously.

She left Manchester City in 2019 with the certainty that she was far from the only one at the club who became ill from the great focus on weight, she says.

DR has been in contact with Manchester City, who will not go into the specific story, but in a written statement says the following:

- The mental well-being of our players is just as important as their physical well-being, and it is a subject that we take extremely seriously when managing the players' well-being at the club.

- If an issue was raised by a player, it would be resolved immediately with the highest level of care offered.

In addition to an eating disorder, Mie Leth Jans has also developed panic disorder during her football career. 

In June, a report from England showed that mental disorders such as anxiety, eating disorders and depression are highly prominent in the top two female football ranks.

As many as 36 percent of 115 players thus showed symptoms of an eating disorder, and several former English national team players have recently been open about the mental disorders that the great focus on body and weight is instrumental in creating.

Among others, Fara Williams, who has played 177 games for England, has experienced the culture from within the top English division, the Women's Super League, in the same way as Mie Leth Jans.

- I always thought there was a problem in women's football, Fara Williams told the BBC in June .

- You are tested every time you go to training camp, and if you are not below a certain body fat percentage, you get into a 'fat club'.

- In my opinion, as a professional, it is crazy to label something as a 'fat club'.

- But it was a term that was openly used in the big clubs in the Women's Super League.

Fara Williams is supported by Matt Lawson, who for over 20 years has worked as a dietitian associated with the English players' association PFA.

- Everyone involved in football has certainly seen an increase in football-related eating disorders over the past 20 years, She told the BBC in March .

Although Mie Leth Jans is currently enjoying life with Gjensidige Ligaen's top team, HB Køge, the time from Manchester City is no further away than that she still has to work on herself to keep both anxiety and eating disorders in check.

Every day she lies on her foam roller, moves back and forth on the floor, no phone, just herself, an inner dialogue and calm breathing.

She can handle the years of focusing on weight , but not forget.

- I think that if I switched to another club where there was a focus on it, it would come back right away.

- I step on the scales every day because it was a part of me at the time, and then I look in the mirror a lot. I'm just critical of not being thin enough.

What do you think about the fact that you have struggled with anxiety and an eating disorder because of football?

- It has helped make me who I am today, and it has made me aware of my values. But it is extremely sad to have to go through those things, and I don't wish it on anyone else, says Mie Leth Jans.

[a-lucha-brother]

Let’s Talk About Jade

I love THAT bitch to the ends of the earth. She’s a bonafied money printing superstar and a megastar in the making.

BUT what the hell are we doing with her, and half the women’s roster for that matter?

Her streak is at what, 54(?) now, just stop it. It should have ended at 50, it’ll never be caught again for probably the rest of AEW’s history.

It’s done more harm now for EVERYONE involved. It’s hurt, the TBS championship, Jade herself, Nyla Rose, Skye Blue, Red Velvet, Ruby Soho (even though she’s finally clawing something back), Athena, Diamante, Kiera Hogan and Anna Jay.

The TBS title has become redundant. Jade barely features on television, and when she does she doesn’t say or do much - next to no screentime for literally the most dominant champion in all of wrestling outside of Roman Reigns!? What the fuck is going on here!?

Next to no storylines, apart from someone is unhappy with Jade so they challenge her and she batters them, wooptiedoo!!

Granted they kinda tried something with Nyla stealing her title that one time but guess what, they had one match and Nyla got battered, wooptiedoo!!

So......what do we do?

Let me take you back to when Awesome Kong was the Knockouts Champion. Undefeated, couldn’t be touched, literally no other woman on her physical level. But she lost her title after some shenanigans involving Velvet Sky tying her hair to the ropes stopping her from retaining her title. Now I’m not for a single second AEW go down as silly a route as TNA did, but literally Jade needs to lose the TBS title to some shenanigans and move onto Dynamite full-time with a full-time storyline that has her in the Women’s Title picture, if not challenging for it, if not winning it, but at least being involved in a long-term story, which I have for you now.

And it involves:

These two lassies here and:

A little lady by the name of Ruby Soho.

This is written before Revolution, but they have been teasing for the longest time this idea of “ex-WWE vs AEW born and bred” and I think it could work amazingly, it’s been done to death before with many men in many promotions (NWO, Aces & 8′s, Bullet Club) but never to that extent with women.

Regardless of who wins the Women’s Title at Revolution, I think it would be VERY smart to have Ruby turn on Jamie and team with Toni and Saraya. Works both ways actually, Jamie retains after Ruby gets so close and she snaps, Ruby wins after accepting some help from the side by Saraya with the story being it was all for her all along. Either way regardless, I think they 3 should become a team, hijack Rampage (again works whether Ruby does or doesn’t have the Women’s Title, probably better if she doesn’t) and shenanigan their way to beating Jade taking her TBS Title away (works both ways in that either Ruby gets the TBS or she gets the Women’s and Toni gets the TBS). This then forces Jade to try and take back her title by hunting the 3 ladies down across Dynamite but getting beat by the numbers game everytime. And further down the line, Jade teams up with Jamie and Britt to beat the ex-WWE birds, and then either uses that to challenge one of the ex-WWE birds for the title OR better yet, Jamie for her still retained title. If we go down the line of Ruby having the Women’s Title, you can make the case for a 3-way between Ruby, Jade and Jamie. If Jamie still has her title and Ruby has the TBS, you could still have a 3-way with the stipulation being if either champion gets pinned they lose their title and if Jade is pinned both champions retain. So there’s also a 3-way incentive all round:

Become a double champ? Save your own reign by double-teaming Jade? Which championship does Jade go for?

I always always always say this about wrestling, storylines write themselves, it’s not hard to book these things that involve many people and keep them all looking good and strong. You could make this storyline last 6 months if you wanted to. That length of storytelling you’d get your hand bitten off to have that in your wrestling promotion.

And it’s what I think needs to be done with Jade and the TBS Title cause they’re both drowning it mediocrity right now.

[kuro-ttsuki]

Three | One Good Mistake

What in the absolute fuck?

I didn't even realize I said that out loud until I felt another shift of movement next to me causing me to shut up quick.

Did I just get called out, on fucking twitter? Who even does that? This is a famous sports entertainment company and one of their wrestlers just insulted me on a fucking social media platform. What is he? Twelve? I don't even understand why that got to me the way it did, I deal with trolls every fucking day of the week, why is this any different?

I could just ignore him and be a grown adult about it, but why should I? He came at me unprovoked and insulted me as a fighter, as a champion and as a woman. This is war.

-------------

"What are you going to do?" Eva asked again for the hundredth time as we unload the car. She's been bugging me about the damn tweet after I showed her once we met up at the hotel. Literally after I wrote my number on the mystery boy's chest.

What? I was being romantic in a way. Plus he was attractive. Extremely attractive.

"Yovanna, You can't ignore me forever." I decieded to challange her claim by still remaining silent. Yeah, I was surprised to be called out because Vince never said anything about it. Especially about them dropping the news about me and wwe, especially since I haven't even made it final with Vince himself.

This was all poor planning and it was honestly aggravating at the least, but I'm a big girl. I can handle some shit talking.

With two bags in her hand, Eva stopped in her tracks once she realized where we are, telling from her face; she was either confused or pissed. I don't know, it's hard to tell. "Why are we here? You don't even have a match or anyone to face.."

I just simply looked at my bestfriend with a smirk on my face. "First of all baby girl, I'm a champion. I do what I want, and second we are here to talk about Mr. Ortan. Everyone who follows me seen that tweet by now so it's best to confront him and clear the air in the most major event that has nothing to do with me." I satated in a "matter of fact" tone, glancing at Eva only to see her mouth wide open for a few minutes before it closed.

"But it's Ronda-" I stopped her midsentance, yes this technically was Ronda's public press conference with another fighter but who cares? The girl stopped being relavent when she lost her winning streak and decided to throw a temper tantrum. "Eva. Do you really think I give a fuck about Ronda and her press conference right now?"

"Well, no but-"

"Exactly now let's go." I interrupted her again, wanting to end the bickering so I can confront the man baby is woman's underwear.

As we head in the building, we were greeted by the staff in the back. Like Eva, they also threw questions at me on why I was here and tried to nag me out of my decision but they couldn't stopped me. I had to loose them by dashing down the halls like a crazed fan. Luckily they weren't very fit so I lost them within the first few minutes of running, suckers.

Once finding the stage, I stood in the far back with a mic in my hand, watching Ronda and her opponent throw verbal shots at each other, the small audience was eating it up. Just as they were about to go toe to toe, I walked onto the stage.

I can feel Ronda's eyes burning in the back of my neck as I stood in front of her but just like a water on a ducks back; I brushed it off, facing the crowd who seemed happy to see me. God I love my fans.

"Sorry to interrupt ladies...well, not really. I just have something to say that involves not just me but us as women in the company we work in. Last night, a wwe champion decieded to gain some balls and throw shots at me and basically every woman in sports entertainment. Apparently I'm nothing but a dick sucking, wannabe diva in his eyes. " I smiled as the crowd reacted with boos, I glanced back at Ronda who seemed to be listening as well as her opponent.

"I just wanted to clear the air a bit. Yes WWE offered me a job there, yea if I join I'll most likely get my ass handed to me because WWE and UFC are two different things but I'll be damn to let a old man in a thong insult me. Look at who you are talking to Randy, I am a two timing champion who's been kicking both men and women's asses since I was eight-teen."

The crowd began to go wild with cheers and claps as I turn my attention to the camera that was now facing me. My smug smile disappeared within a second as my face just harden.

"I'm not the one to mess with little boy, I been doing hardcore shit since I was a kid. I made and broken more records than you did in your whole 20 years of kissing triple H's ass. No matter what company I go to or what ring I'm in; rather it be a squared ring or even a circle, I will dominate and I will come out as a winner. You wanna talk shit, you better be about shit because you just made an enemy out of me Randy Ortan."

Dropping my mic, I held up my championships above my head proudly, before leaving the stage, the sound of cheers began to fade as I continue making my way out with a devilish smirk plastered on my face. Was this a bad choice or was this the best decision I ever made. It could be both but who cares? I embarrassed that asshole and probably upset WWE but he came at me first. He deserved it.

Right?

My smile soon dropped once again as I came face to face with a not so happy Eva. Her face held and a unamused look like a disappointed mother. And just like a daughter, I couldn't help but held my head down in shame. Only for a second though.

"You didn't like it?" My question definitely made her more pissed, her unamused expression quickly changed to a 'Are you fucking kidding me?' Look.

"Really Yovanna? I'm not sure if that was the dumbest decision you could ever make or the best one!" She said, placing her hands on her hips. I could tell she was about to go mom mode on me so its best I shut up and listen.

"First of all this could ruin your opportunity to go to WWE. Second of all you just picked a fight you can't win because you can't wrestle! He's going to make you look like a fool and third...Yovanna, you have a 5 year winning streak what if wwe breaks it by forcing you to loose to Randy which probably why he's talking shit now. They could be setting you up for failure like they did Chyna."

Eva had some incredible good points, points that I couldn't argue against but I have a good feeling about WWE. They wouldn't do that to me especially with the contract that I'm going to sign. Maybe its arrogance or confidence but nothing can beat this good feeling I feel about my decisions. I'm confident that I'll beat Randy and then dominate WWE.

Just as Eva was about to nag me some more, my phone ranged.

Thank god.

I answered but couldn't even get a hello in before getting interrupted by a familiar voice. "Ms. Silva, I just seen your promo and its trending everywhere. You not only made Ortan pissed off but drove the WWE fans crazy with excitement. I was wondering if we could keep building up this tension between you and Ortan till your debut."

I'm surprised Vince hasn't torn me a new one but really? I just embarrassed the face of his company and he liked it? Jeez, Vince is more messy than a teenage girl.

"Uh sir..I haven't even signed the contract nor even quit my job which is something I wanted to talk to you about, I kinda want to keep doing ufc on the side. I'll drop MMA but UFC is my home since I was 18. I can't just give it up."

There was silence on the other end, I was scared that I just broke a nerve and ruined my chance but you had to understand how that this was not just a job that I'll leave behind but a whole family and friends that I grew up with.

"If it means you come to WWE and put it on the map...then, deal." I could feel my heart skipped a beat after hearing that. Did he just agreed? Oh my god I don't have to leave my family after all!

"Thank you Sir, this means so mu-"

"No need to thank me Ms. Silva. Just sign the contract that holds your request and start training asap so we can plan your debut." And with that, he hung up.

Wait..the hell he means by training?

[badgertheking]

A long moment of vindication roller over me as I looked down at The Sapphire Blade, I thought about taking this moment to permanently remove this thorn from my side.

Then I remembered that my "villainy" was removing wealth and resources from a wildly corrupt system and that while SB had physically harmed me, had humiliated me, had destroyed many systems I set up, and even vilified the help groups I had established to get "the scum" they help they deserved... And that to respond with the same violence he had shown me would be to play his game.

I knew that he was better than the system he upheld, we grew up in the same trailer park on the edge of town. Hell! We had b in n friends all of the way through middle school.

He has stood up to bullies on my behalf, he had shared his lunch with me when mine was stolen. I had slept in his doghouse when my parents were fighting, and never once told his mother that I was out there. She didn't like me, she thought I was a bad influence.

I don't know what she saw in me that made her believe this. I did everything I could to keep Ryan (The Sapphire Blade's name is Ryan, I won't tell you more. I'm not here to out him) out of trouble. When he would have to fight someone to get them to leave me alone, I would try to stop him. When he would steal my lunch back, I would simply return it to the kid that had taken it, when he tried to talk to my parents on my behalf and it almost came to blows I got in-between and stopped it. I guess I was there every time the cops were called.

When we got into highschool he started noticing girls, and specifically how they noticed me (sadly similar to his mother) which was fine by me, but his wants were stronger than our friendship. Which would have been fine.

I remember sophomore year, he was trying out for the varsity football team, and I was in the stands just showing my support. When some upperclassmen decided they didn't like me in the stands. I was grabbed by my underwear, a hand-me-down pair from a donation place, and thrown onto the grass. They called me so many homophobic slurs and told me that if I loved Ryan as much as I acted like I did I should kiss him.

With my arms twisted behind my back, my underwear lodged firmly in my ass and my feet in the air they waggled me in front of Ryan. I could only look pleadingly at him, our friendship has already come to an end (though that hadn't stopped me wanting to see him succeed) he also called me the "F" slur, punched me in the stomach, roughly pulled me from his friends' hands, threw me to the ground, and kicked me a few times... That was the last time I talked to him, until senior year.

He was now the hotshot starting quarterback, he had women on both arms and was getting involved with some shady people. One night a deal went bad and he was almost killed by a drug dealer that, turned out, to have been hired by a rival school to "deal" with him.

When I snuck into the hospital just to pass him a card, I knew he wouldn't know it was me, he was way too deep in a coma that doctors didn't believe he would recover from, I was just going to drop off a little stuffed knight he had given to me the first time he found me sleeping in his yard. (That's where the name Sapphire Blade comes from. Because of the Knight's bright blue sword that's what we called it, used to write stories about it together and everything)

As I managed to keep the rest of the school from seeing me, they had all come to see him, I got to his room just as the last classmates were leaving, but I saw his mother was still in his room. I obviously didn't want her to see me either, she sobbed loudly and violently until she was sure the students were out of earshot then I got to hear her true thoughts.

"I've always known you were nothing. You're just like your father, I thought he was hot shit for a long time and then he was killed trying to feed the homeless in town. Look at you," her tone took on a mocking sound, "football star, champion, hero. Ha! I just hope you die before the insurance runs out."

And then she left. I talked with the nurses and had them make sure to warn me before anybody saw me, but then I stayed by his head night and day, retelling him stories that we'd written together and reminding him of all of our adventures. I just kept talking, making sure that if he could hear he would know he wasn't alone. The rest of the class only came about one or two more times each and I would just go hide in the toilet for a while before returning, then I was able to be there. After a time the nurses told me they didn't think he would pull out and were going to be calling his mother in to sign the documents and decide whether or not to pull the plug.

"You were my first, and only, friend. If you hadn't been there for me I don't think I would be here today. I'm so sorry to have to leave you like this. I'll see you on the other side, brother." Where what I expected my last words to be, to him.

Little did I know that when they pulled the plug "the miracle of the century" would happen and he would immediately snap back to continuousness. He had super strength, supper speed, and super dexterity. He took up a sword, just as blue as his doll, and became The Sapphire Blade.

When I got arrested for feeding the needy, without the appropriate paperwork, he bailed me out and told me he wouldn't help me again... It was big news.

When I attempted to take out a loan to help a homeless person get back on their feet, I got very heated when the loan officer tried to throw me, bodily, from his office, and SB was called to deal with a bank robber.

With that in my record, and my little reputation destroyed I turned to the back allies and found a guy that could help set me up with a jetpack and flaming gauntlets. I had to give him literal pieces of my body for them... Yes, that's why I look like this.

And I started to remove unearned, undeserved, and exorbitant amounts of wealth from the people that kept this system rolling.

I became a "criminal mastermind" with a network of "spies" literally the people I helped, that kept me informed better than any hero or the police could ever dream of... But my good was invisible to everyone who "earned" their wealth.

All of that leads us to now.

I pick him up and get him to the shower, I clean him the same way I saw the nurses do it. I tend to his wounds, I set his broken bones. I dress him in some of the donation clothes I had (he would never fit into my wardrobe, I'm only about half the weight of a full grown human) but they were clean. I put him in my bed and bring him a hot bowl of soup.

"You know I still can't help you, right?" He said between bites.

"That's the difference between us. I don't help for any reason other than to end inequality. You help, only for the reward. Brother "

You, a supervillain, answer a knock at your door, only to find your superhero nemesis shivering, bleeding, scared, and slightly dazed (as if drugged). They appear to have been assaulted. The hero mumbles “…didn’t know where else to go…” before collapsing into your arms.

[dreadwhoop]

Reviewing the All Elite Wrestling personnel 2024 Edition (Part 1) -

PUSH -

We'll start with a new talent in AEW who has a lot of upsides and little requirement to believe as a top female in the division. The match between her and Jamie Hayter should be protected as a huge clash of power vs power with a time-limit draw followed by another one to emphasise the league these two ladies are in - it's not a difficult formula to focus when you have fans willing to buy into it. Kamille should be heavily protected and whilst it is easy to compare her to Wardlow the truth is at one point Wardlow was the most important guy in this company. Anyone can be the guy of AEW but it'll be better if Kamille can distance herself from the most expensive waste of money AEW has burned this year - especially if they paint it as Kamille's only protecting her because she can be comfortable as 2nd best whilst Kamille goes for No.1. If Kamille can even wrestle the guys then I could see her becoming the first ever female TNT champion - I mean weaker people than Kamille have held it. Make her demolish every former female AEW champion and you'll have new fans.

Congratulations to the only veteran who gets it - Christian Cage is a rare talent these days. He can stay relevant without having to schedule like he's in his 20s or 30s. He's 50 now. He did the time, the work, the many many matches. He's been to the top. He deserves all the credit for being healthy and smart about his choices in wrestling. His 4th decade in the business and he doesn't look or sound washed up. He's turned Chicken-s*** into Chicken-salad with Killswitch and Nick Wayne. He's a literal miracle worker for AEW. When he eventually decides to hang it up I hope to all the powers one can believe in he gets to be Head Booker for AEW.

Far be it for me to support a lot of Tony Khan's originality given much of it is born from his desire to play out an e-fed in real life, but if there's one cardinal rule about a promotion is you pick an original talent, you strap a rocket to them, and you see if it works. Goldberg was WCW's decision and it ultimately became the defining part of its success and failure. The trouble with Hologram is he has absolutely no promo skills and his look doesn't distinguish himself from many other smaller high flyers including the recent Ricochet. All he can rely upon is being protected in an undefeated winstreak but long as he keeps it, stays healthy, and wrestles enough, people will remain interested. Never forget there was a time a guy like Eddie Kingston was red hot despite the fact he lost all the time, looks like a living tin of beans, and didn't wrestle to impress - personality can go a long way. If Hologram could be built up from the backs of others praising him it'll circumvent his problem.

It seems every year I'm almost ready to finally give Kris Statlander her fair dues and yet something happens to deny it - simple fact is Willow is a better Kris Statlander. Throughout the year she has been a cornerstone of the women's division and if it doesn't have her rewarded by the end of next year with a world title run then Tony Khan doesn't understand wrestling. As mentioned above, Kamille and Jamie Hayter are the big money but so is Willow's involvement in the title hunt. The women's division is far more impressive than it is being allowed to showcase and stacked with excellent talent given how many established talent have not been mentioned. Willow could be plugged into participating in any match with any top talent and thrive.

All but confirms the Don Callis Family is Team Taz 2.0 - a litany of great talent all around and with 'The Protostar' Kyle Fletcher the growth is immense. If he stops trying to be a high-flyer and focus on being a power wrestler, mixing it up with a more complete moveset, bulk his body up, you could envision him as a modern-day He-Man! I mean Triple H! I am not kidding - his biggest challenge is to be his own big-time player rather than let others mould him. He has an improved look, his promos are getting more serious and intense, he's got the size and aptitude to get better, and there's no downside other than the general hang-ups of AEW wanting certain types of wrestlers. Build around him in a way AEW doesn't build around guys - if anything make him the counter-wrestler to AEW's cliche style and you'll have a genuine future star.

Bless her for perseverance. It would of been easy to have given up on her during her time in the Dark Order, the Jericho Appreciation Society, being associated with Jack Perry, or her shoulder injury burdening her growth. So much stood in her way and yet she's still standing despite it all. It hasn't run her off or made her look less capable and to survive this long deserves some reward since she's now tenured enough to be taken seriously - she has a superstar look, no doubt, and her wrestling has certainly gone up a notch. She just needs to somehow figure out the promo skills and she'll easily be the woman to replace Mercedes as TBS Champion (or maybe if they ever do a Tag division with the ladies finally have Tay Melo join in). I think everyone is naturally rooting for her success since she's been an underdog for so long.

AEW is running out of known homegrown talent to make better over burrowing established talent to ruin. Thankfully they have an incredible prospect who has been tearing it up against the likes of Ethan Page, Shawn Spears, likely to be managed by the great MVP, and looks to be destined to be the next big star of the promo-wait what do you mean he's not in AEW? Hold on…checking notes…oh sorry I had this dream where Trick left and AEW treated talent by the merits of their ability and thought Ethan Page had stayed and anyways AEW is making so many belts I must of forgot NXT isn't a better RoH in every way…ironic given how NXT was just RoH for a time. My bad.

Not my favourite at all and personally felt he would flounder but color me corrected he has something weirdly unique. In many ways I could echo what I said about Willow, inserting him into any match with a male talent, and he'll do well. Juice is due for a push and was part of last year's match of the year. This year he's returned and has not been given enough screentime to elevate him to a level of serious contendership beyond supporting titles. A singles run may be in the future for him if he remains focused. Underrated promo, look, and overall wrestler.

The irony is there are moments I had him in the GET RID OF catagory for some of the most ridiculous bridge burnings I've ever seen to other companies but if there's one person I can compare him to in terms of franchise player in AEW it is Darby Allin. I think Ospreay is going to work extra hard to prove AEW is not just a one-trick pony in terms of appeal but if he wants to keep up with his own ambition he'll need to work smarter too. He'll need to ultimately be the catalyst of showcasing other talent too and not be relied upon to be the only top talent in 2025 as the roster ages. If he can lead a new generation by scheduling and pacing his routine, adding less predictability to it, maybe he'll end up being an egoless Shawn Michaels. Time will tell.

Not as a wrestler though he didn't embaress himself after a 13-year layoff. No the value is in his voice and verbal wit. Commentary is yet another place aging badly and needs better talent but the one not to replace is McGuinness. There's not much else to say since he speaks for himself - unless you're put off by the accent there's no downside to his continued success in the commentary box. A wealth of knowledge too and a true student of the game. You know - the complete opposite of Excalibur.

There are many unsung heroes of AEW and referees are often overlooked until their careers are over or at the very least winding down. For me I notice - credit where credit is due - this is the one referee who has not been pigeonholed into certain matchtypes nor becomes insufferable due to personal antics - a steady success over many matches. He also is quick to step in and protect talent fars I recall. AEW desperately needs professionalism in all areas not just the talent everyone focuses upon.

[d2kvirus]

23/8/24 Fact or Fiction

Statement #1: Swerve Strickland is the TOP attraction in AEW. FICTION - While he's the company's top champ (at least at the time of typing) it is hard to deny that they've been presenting Will Ospreay as the company's top star since his arrival. The key thing, however, is he is not being treated as an afterthought in the way Hangman's title reign felt especially when it was clear his reign was being sacrificed to Punk (and didn't that work out well for all involved?), though there is the problem that his title defences have taken on the assumption of him dropping the belt, first to Ospreay and now to Danielson

Statement #2: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre, Hell in a Cell – bad idea.  FACT - Bracelet on a Pole is the only way for this feud to end, obviously

Statement #3: In 5 years, you will have forgotten that Nia Jax was the WWE Smackdown Women’s Champion in 2025. FICTION - I sincerely doubt that Nia Jax will have left the company five years from now, unless she gets into another shoot fight with Charlotte on TV or something, so that little factoid will be brought up every now and then

Statement #4: Taking the US Title off of Logan Paul for LA Knight means even less US Title matches on WWE PLEs. FICTION - Considering how most PLE cards can be summed up as "And you get a title match, and you get a title match..." that increases the chances of more US title matches featuring, especially now the belt is on a fulltime performer and not a part-timer who is more interested in amateur snuff photography, running pyramid schemes, exploiting the legal system to silence criticism and generally being a transphobic heap of decomposing rhino shit

Statement #5: You’re embarrassed to tell new people you meet in real life that you’re obsessed with pro-wrestling. FICTION - I look like the bassist of an early 2000s post-grunge band, so embarrassment in public usually starts there

Statement #6: The Wyatt Sicks is a dumb name FACT - Let's be honest, the name does have the whiff of the 2002-3 indie scene to it. Not enough to tank the gimmick outright, but it does feel like a little more workshopping was needed

Statement #7: If pro-wrestling became an Olympic event, AEW and WWE would work together to try to win gold for USA. FICTION - Aside from it not being an Olympic event, because Olympic events don't have predetermined outcomes (not even the Australian Breakdancing qualifiers, contrary to internet theories...) but to be honest you couldn't see WWE and AEW working together to bring home gold for the USofA for the obvious reason that they have plenty of non-'Murican talent, for example Rhea Ripley or Toni Storm winning gold for Australia would reflect just as well on the company as Charlotte or Britt Baker would

Statement #8: You’ve cried because of wrestling. FACT - Eddie Guerrero's passing certainly brought a tear to the eye. Which was kind of awkward, given it was my first day in a new job and I had to explain why I was crying to my new colleagues

Statement #9: Timeless Toni Storm continues to be entertaining. FACT - Though I do wonder if turning her face, as seems to be the plan going forward, might see the character jump the shark - which it has been at risk of doing once or twice already

Statement #10: It’s still impressive when someone gets driven through WWE’s ringside barrier. FICTION - It looked impressive when the spot was very rarely used, for example when Goldberg speared Rosey through the barrier it was a spot that hadn't really been seen up until that point, but these days the spot is so common its lost all (pun not intended) impact

Statement #11: Rhea Ripley should be happy to be rid of Dominick Mysterio – dude’s a loser, in reality AND kayfabe! FACT - It frees Dom up to mercilessly troll that transphobic heap of decomposing rhino shit on their podcast, after all

Statement #12: We will never have another over and dominant “big man” wrestler again, like an Andre the Giant or Yokozuna. FACT - The monster heel is a relic of the territory era, where they could come in and dominate for a period before being sent packing by the territory's top babyface to repeat the cycle somewhere else. That simply cannot happen in WWE or AEW, because once they're vanquished the first time they would either require a significant retool to appear the dominant force they once were like Kane did, or are a forever nerfed part of the roster like Big Show, Khali et al were for longer than they were ever the dominant force

Statement #13: Randy Orton deserves a World Championship title shot even though he lost clean to Gunther in the King of the Ring finals. FICTION - If they are going to run Cody vs Orton, surely they need one of those "storylines" I keep hearing about as people continue to pretend that the two biggest matches of WrestleMania 25 prove that to be absolute hogwash. There's obviously a story there, and not "Your father died" or "You left the company you founded" which is the story of the vast majority of Cody feuds for the past eighteen months, but a Master vs Apprentice storyline going back to their time in Legacy - but that would need time to build up, and to be honest feels like a stopgap in the period between Survivor Series and the Rumble

Statement #14:  You know how we can end the curse of the of multi-person ladder matches. FACT - It's quite easy: have Jimmy Fallon say that he loves multi-man ladder matches on his show, as that's the usual way to run something into the ground faster than Concorde and end anybody's interest in it

Statement #15: Let’s be honest here, people really don’t care about tag team wrestling. FICTION - I'm a person and I care about tag wrestling, so therefore...

Statement #16: It’s weird that TNA’s arguable most-over contracted star is now a regular mid-carder on WWE’s C-brand. FICTION - I'd say it was on-brand

Statement #17: You know exactly when WWE TV is going to commercial every time, and that sucks. FICTION - Mainly because I use WatchWrestling, so I'm distracted by their ads cutting in far more than when the actual ad breaks would be

Statement #18: It’s only fair that all male wrestlers should have to wear shirts or singlets that cover their nipples when they wrestle. FICTION - Mainly because it would be rendered moot when 23% of all wrestlers do the same pulling down their straps spot in their matches, at which point matches would start to feel like a weird burlesque show

Statement #19: Bryan Danielson will never really retire. FACT - Dory Funk Jr is set to wrestle a match aged 83 next month, so you know AmDrag will take that as a challenge

Statement #20: You understand why Roman Reigns, super evil heel, would help his arch enemy, and all-around enemy of the Bloodline, Cody Rhodes defeat Solo Sikoa and cost him the WWE Title, despite claiming that championship is what fed their entire extended family and he went on record multiple times saying Solo was going to be the next Tribal Chief. FACT - Because a necklace is far more important than a title belt. Duh!

[giftedpink]

Thoughts on wrestlemania night 1. If you ever care (under the cut)

Rhea versus Becky: I enjoyed the match a lot but I'm biased because I almost always enjoy watching Becky wrestle. It felt maybe a little short but if Becky is genuinely sick with strep which I believe she is, I totally get making it a little shorter. The fact she had strep honestly had me worried through the match so that distracted from the actual action for me. Both looked good and the right result in the end, but not a lot of heat since even though Rhea was wrestling as a heel the crowd never receives her as one

Six pack tag team ladder match: a lot of really fun spots, but definitely what the kids call a "spot fest". I don't mind that, who doesn't love seeing cool shit, but I haven't been invested in the story with awesome truth/judgement day so the build for this was eh and that dampened the match. Also confused about how they only announced as the match started that the titles would be split, that feels like it should have been part of the build. And A-town down under would not be my pick to carry the titles on smackdown. Austin Theory is just not entertaining. Good for R Truth though, and I was happy to see DIY on the wrestlemanja card.

Rey mysterio and Andrade versus Santos Escobar and Dominik mysterio: this was fine. Cool lucha shit, but I've been done with the lwo versus legado feud for awhile now and this match felt like it could have easily taken place on smackdown and not at wrestlemania. Having the whole factions on the outside of the ring was also weird, they must have been fucking freezing standing there in ring gear covered in baby oil and not wrestling. Andrade was the real star here for me and seeing the double crossbody to the outside blew my mind. Good to see him showing that he's not back in wwe to just mess around.

Jey uso versus Jimmy uso: easily the worst match of the night. Not sure it's worth picking apart since everyone already has. There was no real heat or emotion and they have no in ring chemistry as opponents. They basically just spammed the same moves at each other and then it ended.

The big three versus damage ctrl: another match that could have been a TV match, but I'm glad it wasn't. Seeing 3 badass black women tram together and kick ass was great and I hope a lot of little girls out there had stars in their eyes watching it. The match itself was pretty average, mostly just there to showcase Jade who didn't do anything incredible but had the aura and star power anyway. I hope she can properly go and that when she has a 1 on 1 with someone it doesn't expose her.

Sami Zayn versus gunther: easily match of the night. Pure pro wrestling magic watching one of the best underdog babyfaces I the world go up against maybe THE best big bad champion. The story was told perfectly, the in ring work was phenomenal, loved having Samis wife involved, LOVED the insane brain buster onto the turn buckle. I'm a huge Gunther fan and I've loved his title reign but he'll be moving into the main title picture from here I imagine, so him losing to my favorite male wrestler is a perfect ending to me. I'll be interested in seeing how he reacts to this loss though.

Cody rhodes and Seth rollings versus Roman reigns and the rock: a very fun main event but probably a little longer than it needed to be. Between the overly long entrances and the match itself it had to be close to 1.5 hours which is insane. They had me biting on quite a few false finishes which is impressive since I knew the bloodline would win. This was my first time seeing the rock and he was really great, I get why he's the GOAT. He just gets it. And for someone who hasn't wrestled in 12 years he was in great ring shape, big kudos to him for being able to have such a successful comeback. I hope this isn't the last we see of the final boss. Roman was good and didn't seem like as much of a sidekick as it was feared he would beforehand, I thought he played his part well. Cody was his usual self, not to my tastes but a good firey babyface. Seth was the weakest part for me since he seems to decide at random when to sell body parts and when to stop. But he had his moments too.

Overall a decent first night. I expected a little better, but the highs were definitely high. I'm hoping night 2 builds on it and delivers a little more of the grandiose nature you want from the showcase of the immortals (give us more cool entrances dammit).

[brw]

Krakoa was not any more particularly queer than any other moment in comic or even X-Men history, it just happened to coincide with the push of the pride anthologies and the like. But Krakoa was not this grand queer narrative in the text the way it has been depicted by fans and by writers. I'm not saying that people didn't read it that way, or that there hasn't been any value gained or community built around this moment in X-Men history–but also, why is this ethnostate built by and on the principals of eugenics considered a queer haven by readers? Why is the model of a nation held up in such high regard by fans? Why the concept of having a government, being able to make your own laws that textually, did exactly as much damage and caused exactly as much trauma in their enforcement as any other real world government considered the golden standard?

Anyway, that aside, Krakoa wasn't especially queer, Krakoa was queerbaiting you half the time!

Because they didn't make Logan and Scott and Jean polyamorous. They didn't canonise ScottLogan. They made a few jokes, but ultimately the real relationships were ScottJean and JeanLogan. Logan and Scott were never canonised as bisexual or as being in an actual romantic relationship, they were people who were in effect, sharing a girlfriend. And it is wrong to give credit to Hickman and the other writers involved, when no, they used the fan reactions to get more sales. It's the same with Kitty Pryde. If you think her kissing that one random woman, and never mentioning it ever again, and never appearing on any Marvel Pride stuff after that issue means she's canonically bisexual... I think you might just be dense. They baited you! They had a heavily queercoded character kiss a woman, but they in no way actually articulated or canonised any attraction to women, and it is wrong to give Gerry Duggan credit for that, when no, he wanted the fan reaction and screenshots on Twitter. Kitty has never been featured in any official Marvel Pride stuff, and it is ridiculous to act like Marvel would not heavily promote one of their biggest X-Men characters in the form of variant covers for pride if they were writing her as textually bisexual. She just isn't.

Krakoa's queerness is not because of any particularly queer text. I'm not going to deny there weren't more queer writers involved, or that there was a massive online presence of queer and fans of colour, and that is all incredibly important and I don't want to take away from the people who found solace in this arc, but equally, it is wrong to champion or to give false valour to Hickman and Duggan, because they did not do half the shit you give them credit for! They simply objectively didn't! And I don't think it is right or useful to act like these were moments in queer comic culture, and not instead to identify them for what they actually were: queerbait. It was queerbait. And I don't think queerbait is an unforgivable crime, I just think we should be willing to recognise it for what it is.

Can I be mean for a moment.

[attllhak]

@technicallya1manband so, I just remembered that while I was camping I wrote another thing for the Gerudo Twilight AU. Specifically, I have a lot of fun with ‘The Unreliable Narrator That Is History’ (putting this like that, because I basically use it as a trope at this point), and I got bored one afternoon while hiding from the sun because it is HOT out, especially where I was. And then I thought I should probably have Twilight appear, so it kinda ended up ‘Expectation vs Reality’ by the end. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this, I’m off to bed now

-------------

“You look upset,”

Zelda startled, twisting to see Urbosa standing in the doorway behind her. The Champions had only just been dubbed as such, and Zelda had wanted to get away from the celebrations.

“I’m not,” she lied, turning back to face the sky.

Urbosa sighed, and after a moment she settled down next to Zelda.

“Little bird, you do not have to lie to me,”

“I know,” she sighed, not bothering to defend herself. “I just, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. My power won’t awaken, no matter what I do, and I just, I can’t live up to the expectations everyone has set for me. My mother unlocked her power so easily, and my grandmother did too. Why is it just me that can’t do this?”

“Zelda,” Urbosa wound an arm around her shoulders and pulled the younger girl to her side. “You need to stop comparing yourself to them. You aren’t them, and your power will awaken for you when you are ready,”

“But I’ve been ready!” Zelda threw out her hands. “And it’s not that easy to just, not compare! I know you wouldn’t understand that, but I just,” she put her head in her hands. “I don’t know what to do,”

“Wouldn’t understand, eh?”

Zelda peeked up through her fingers as Urbosa leaned back on her hands. 

“Would you let me tell you a story, little bird?”

“A, story?”

“It has a moral,” Urbosa promised. “And I think you’ll like it,”

“Okay,” Zelda folded her hands in her lap. “Tell me a story,”

“This is an old story, very, very old. Almost, but not quite, as old as the gerudo ourselves. Back when Ganon took the form of a gerudo voe,”

“Seriously?” Zelda twisted to face Urbosa, eyes wide. “That is old,”

“Indeed,” Urbosa smiled. “The man that would become the monster Ganon had been king for only a few years when the Hero of that era defeated him. I won’t go into the details, as they get confusing, and this story is not about them. After he was defeated, Ganon was sentenced to death. He was not successfully killed, but that is also a tale for another time. What I wish to speak of is the aftermath,”

“Why start with Ganon when you’re talking about something after him?” Zelda huffed.

“Because, little bird, Ganon’s defeat left the gerudo without a king. I know it may not seem this way now, with how long it’s been since the gerudo had a king last, but this was the first time we were without so much as a prince. Not to mention the hatred we faced for our King’s actions,” Urbosa frowned, looking off into the distance. “The hylian crown was not kind to my people in the aftermath of Ganon’s defeat. We were chased even further out into the desert, and we struggled there for a long, long time. For almost a hundred years, we were without a king, and so we elected the first chief, to rule until a new king was born,”

“I’m so sorry,” Zelda frowned, suddenly feeling guilty.

“Do not apologize, little bird. It happened so long ago, and things have changed so much,” Urbosa pulled her in again. “Besides, the hylians also gave us our next king,”

“What?”

Both women turned to see the other Champions hovering in the doorway, though thankfully it seemed Zelda’s new knight was not among them.

“Sorry about that, highnesses,” Daruk mumbled, giving Revali a sharp look. “The King asked us to come find you, but we were kinda invested in the story,”

“I don’t mind telling you as well,” Urbosa turned to Zelda. “How about it? Can they join us?”

“Hm? Oh, yes, of course!” Zelda floundered, waving them out. “Please, take a seat,”

They filed in and sat around the two, and everyone turned back to Urbosa.

“Right, where was I?”

“A hylian king,” Revali said, looked a bit affronted on the gerudo’s behalf.

“He wasn’t hylian,” she corrected. “Well, I suppose that isn’t totally true. He definitely looked hylian, but he was gerudo. One of the girls who was alive when Ganon ruled had seen the writing on the wall and hid her daughter with the girl’s hylian father. This girl later married a hylian man herself and her daughter, it is said, moved very far away. Out into the middle of nowhere. She had a daughter herself, and this daughter had a son,”

“The King,” Zelda guessed.

“Yes, the King,” Urbosa smiled. “He didn’t know that though. His mother died when he was very young, and he did not return to the desert until he was already mostly grown. But, he did eventually return to us. I’m not sure how we knew he was our king, but there was no doubt at all by the time he was crowned. Of course, he was not in an easy spot. We were still suffering from the aftermath of Ganon’s rule, and he had very little time to prepare for his new role,” she paused to smile. “Which makes his achievements all that much more impressive,”

“You put an incompetent king on a throne vacated by the monster we’re getting ready to fight, and you expect us to believe he did well?” Revali huffed.

“No,” Urbosa said. “I expect you to believe we have never had a better ruler, either king or chief, after him,”

“What did he do?” Zelda asked while the others convinced Revali to stop squawking.

“Firstly, he repaired relations with the rest of Hyrule. Hylian - gerudo relations have only ever been better when your own mother was queen. Apparently he already knew the Queen at the time, and the two spent several days coming to an agreement that ended with all of the desert, and the highlands, being gerudo territory, so long as we remained a vassal state under Hyrule. After that, he is noted as having brought our people back to prosperity,”

“One king did all that?” Mipha asked.

“Yes,” Urbosa smiled. “At the time of Ganon’s rule, the gerudo were thieves. It was his gentle pushing that caused the change into a people of merchants. It is said that the first gerudo jeweller began her trade at the encouragement of the King. She was not the only one to have been encouraged by the King, of course. You know, the reason all gerudo chiefs have our own sand seals is because of him,”

“Really?” Zelda asked, thinking of Urbosa's own sand seal back in Gerudo Town.

“Oh yes, he loved animals,” she laughed. “It is said his pride and joy was a horse he’d raised from a foal that he never travelled outside of the desert without, and he even brought a goat with him into the desert,”

“A goat?” Zelda blanched.

“A goat,” Urbosa nodded. “One of the vai had an idea, to use the sand seals native to the desert as transportation. She decided to prove the worth of this idea, as it was still relatively unheard of for gerudo to be anything but warriors, by catching and taming one first. Once she had, she brought the animal to the King and offered it as a gift,” Urbosa smiled, shaking her head. “The King adored this idea, and loved his newest pet. He was very personally involved in the beginnings of the project, and encouraged the vai who had the idea when she suggested renting them out for people to use to cross the desert. The stories say that if the King was in gerudo town and couldn’t be found in the palace, then he’d be found with the seals,”

Zelda couldn’t help but giggle at that.

“My sword and shield are based on his, you know,”

“What?”

“Gerudo kings, before him, all fought with a pair of twin swords. However, when he arrived he already had a decent grasp of swordplay. Only he fought with a single sword and a shield. He was gifted a set at his coronation, and ever since then the leader of the gerudo fought with a sword and shield. I had mine made to look like the pictures we have of his,”

“That’s actually kind of sweet, in a way,” Zelda mused.

“What do you call him?”

“Hm?” Urbosa turned at Revali’s question.

“Don’t you gerudo give your kings fancy titles?” Revali elaborated. “What do you call this king?”

“Probably the Seal King,” Daruk suggested.

“Please!” Revali rolled his eyes.

“What do you think he’s called then?” Zelda asked.

“Well, I would have called him the Hero King,”

“What about the Merchant King?” Mipha suggested.

“Little bird?” Urbosa prompted. “Do you have a guess?”

“Um,” Zelda thought on that. “Perhaps, the Healing King? Since, he’s the one who got you back to a good point,”

“All very good guesses,” Urbosa smiled. “All wrong. We call him the Wolf King,”

“Wolf King?” More than a few of them echoed back.

“Yes,” Urbosa nodded. “Fierce and feral like a beast to enemies, but to allies, there is none more loyal or dedicated,” she sighed, looking wistfully at the now setting sun. “If given the chance to meet any individual from Hyrule’s history, I would want to meet him. To ask for his advice on matters, to let him see what he’s done for our people. I just hope that I will be able to be even half the leader he was,”

“You already are,” Zelda said softly.

Urbosa turned to her, and smiled. “Little bird, that means more to me than you know,”

(---)

“Princess?”

Zelda turned to see Chief Riju approach her where she stood on the balcony overlooking Gerudo Town.

“Oh, Chief Riju, my apologies,” Zelda dipped her head, an embarrassed pink making its way up her neck and onto her cheeks. “I didn’t, if I’m in the way,”

“You aren’t,” Chief Riju shook her head. “And please, just Riju,”

Zelda nodded, still a bit embarrassed, and the two looked out over the town together in silence for a moment.

“Rupee for your thoughts?” Riju asked.

“Just, thinking about Urbosa’s legacy,” Zelda admitted.

“Oh?”

“She told me a story once, about an old gerudo king. The Wolf King. She said she had wanted to be even half as good as he was,”

“She succeeded,” Riju told her. “At least, in my opinion,”

“No, you’re right,” Zelda shook her head, smiling. “I just hope she knows that, is all. Knows that she was able to leave a big enough positive impact that she succeeded in her goal,”

Riju set a hand on Zelda’s arm. “I do too,”

Neither girl said another word.

(---)

Zelda felt a bit like screaming, if she was completely honest.

Link, Wild, whatever he was calling himself, had gotten sucked away on some magic time travelling quest with other Heroes, and now he was introducing her to his mentor, the Hero of Twilight.

A Hero, who it turns out was also the Wolf King.

He was shorter than Zelda had pictured him, and you would never know he was the gerudo king by his appearance. He definitely looked the part of a wolf, though.

But here he was, holding out the original sword and shield that Urbosa’s were based on. There were differences, obviously, but the smith who made the Scimitar of the Seven and Daybreaker had done a very good job replicating them.

“Are we done now, Cub?” The King, Twilight, sighed.

He didn’t seem to be very invested in his role as king, which contrasted Urbosa’s description of him as ‘dedicated’. In fact, it seemed like he wanted to stop talking about it as quickly as possible.

“Almost,” Link nodded. He turned to Zelda and waved his hands at Twilight. “See? I told you I got to meet him!”

“What?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, uh, pardon us, Your Highness,” Zelda gave him a half bow, and noted the way his face scrunched up. “It’s just, my good friend Urbosa had told me about you a long time ago. She looked up to you and your legacy, and so I’ve also, sort of, admired you. I, I never thought I’d actually get to meet you,”

Oh, Urbosa should be here, Zelda thought. She had wanted to meet him,

“Right,” he said slowly, tucking the sword and shield back in his bag. “Uh, thanks?”

“You, don’t seem very invested in your kingship,” Zelda noted.

“May I be completely honest with you, Your Highness?”

“Of course,” she firmly tamped down the excitement in her chest.

“I have no idea what I’m doing,”

“What?”

That definitely didn’t sound like the king Urbosa told her about.

“I grew up on a ranch,” he explained. “I herd goats. I barely knew what I was doing when I became the Hero. And now I find out I’m supposed to be a king? My village had a mayor, and he taught me how to wrestle gorons. Because he used to wrestle gorons. I don’t know how many kings can wrestle gorons,”

“At least one,” Link offered.

“Not helping,” Twilight shot him a halfhearted glare. He turned back to her and sighed. “Look, I’m sure there’s some reason you and Urbosa admired me, but I have no idea what that could possibly be. I’m impressed I haven’t screwed anything up too badly yet. So, it’s not that I’m not invested, I’m stuck in the position so I may as well actually try and do well, it’s just, I’m sort of riding blind here. I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’d really rather not talk about it,”

“Oh,” Zelda blinked. “I, suppose that makes sense. My apologies, I’ll try to refrain from bringing it up. I hadn’t intended to make you uncomfortable,”

“You didn’t,” he sighed, and Zelda felt a bit relieved. “And, thanks. It’s just, a whole headache for me,”

“I believe I understand the feeling, Your Majesty,”

“No, stop,”

“Stop?”

“No ‘Your Majesty’. No ‘King Link’, no royal titles at all. I am Link Ordon, the goat herd,” he frowned deeply. “I will accept ‘Hero’ if you must, but I,” he sighed in what seemed like defeat. “Please, just call me Twilight,”

“Of course, Twilight,”

“Thank you,”

Zelda wasn’t sure if the fact that Urbosa’s idol had no clue what he was doing would have made her friend feel any better, but it did boost Zelda’s confidence about the monumental task in front of her.

It was just a pity she wouldn’t be able to get any tips from him.

Although, apparently Hyrule’s first king was also among Links’s travelling companions. Maybe she could ask him for advice...

[blind-rats]

The Rise & Fall of Joss Whedon; the Myth of the Hollywood Feminist Hero

By Kelly Faircloth

“I hate ‘feminist.’ Is this a good time to bring that up?” Joss Whedon asked. He paused knowingly, waiting for the laughs he knew would come at the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer making such a statement.

It was 2013, and Whedon was onstage at a fundraiser for Equality Now, a human rights organization dedicated to legal equality for women. Though Buffy had been off the air for more than a decade, its legacy still loomed large; Whedon was widely respected as a man with a predilection for making science fiction with strong women for protagonists. Whedon went on to outline why, precisely, he hated the term: “You can’t be born an ‘ist,’” he argued, therefore, “‘feminist’ includes the idea that believing men and women to be equal, believing all people to be people, is not a natural state, that we don’t emerge assuming that everybody in the human race is a human, that the idea of equality is just an idea that’s imposed on us.”

The speech was widely praised and helped cement his pop-cultural reputation as a feminist, in an era that was very keen on celebrity feminists. But it was also, in retrospect, perhaps the high water mark for Whedon’s ability to claim the title, and now, almost a decade later, that reputation is finally in tatters, prompting a reevaluation of not just Whedon’s work, but the narrative he sold about himself. 

In July 2020, actor Ray Fisher accused Whedon of being “gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable” on the Justice League set when Whedon took over for Zach Synder as director to finish the project. Charisma Carpenter then described her own experiences with Whedon in a long post to Twitter, hashtagged #IStandWithRayFisher.

On Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Carpenter played Cordelia, a popular character who morphed from snob to hero—one of those strong female characters that made Whedon’s feminist reputation—before being unceremoniously written off the show in a plot that saw her thrust into a coma after getting pregnant with a demon. For years, fans have suspected that her disappearance was related to her real-life pregnancy. In her statement, Carpenter appeared to confirm the rumors. “Joss Whedon abused his power on numerous occasions while working on the sets of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Angel,’” she wrote, describing Fisher’s firing as the last straw that inspired her to go public.

Buffy was a landmark of late 1990s popular culture, beloved by many a burgeoning feminist, grad student, gender studies professor, and television critic for the heroine at the heart of the show, the beautiful blonde girl who balanced monster-killing with high school homework alongside ancillary characters like the shy, geeky Willow. Buffy was very nearly one of a kind, an icon of her era who spawned a generation of leather-pants-wearing urban fantasy badasses and women action heroes.

Buffy was so beloved, in fact, that she earned Whedon a similarly privileged place in fans’ hearts and a broader reputation as a man who championed empowered women characters. In the desert of late ’90s and early 2000s popular culture, Whedon was heralded as that rarest of birds—the feminist Hollywood man. For many, he was an example of what more equitable storytelling might look like, a model for how to create compelling women protagonists who were also very, very fun to watch. But Carpenter’s accusations appear to have finally imploded that particular bit of branding, revealing a different reality behind the scenes and prompting a reevaluation of the entire arc of Whedon’s career: who he was and what he was selling all along.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered March 1997, midseason, on The WB, a two-year-old network targeting teens with shows like 7th Heaven. Its beginnings were not necessarily auspicious; it was a reboot of a not-particularly-blockbuster 1992 movie written by third-generation screenwriter Joss Whedon. (His grandfather wrote for The Donna Reed Show; his father wrote for Golden Girls.) The show followed the trials of a stereotypical teenage California girl who moved to a new town and a new school after her parents’ divorce—only, in a deliberate inversion of horror tropes, the entire town sat on top of the entrance to Hell and hence was overrun with demons. Buffy was a slayer, a young woman with the power and immense responsibility to fight them. After the movie turned out very differently than Whedon had originally envisioned, the show was a chance for a do-over, more of a Valley girl comedy than serious horror.

It was layered, it was campy, it was ironic and self-aware. It looked like it belonged on the WB rather than one of the bigger broadcast networks, unlike the slickly produced prestige TV that would follow a few years later. Buffy didn’t fixate on the gory glory of killing vampires—really, the monsters were metaphors for the entire experience of adolescence, in all its complicated misery. Almost immediately, a broad cross-section of viewers responded enthusiastically. Critics loved it, and it would be hugely influential on Whedon’s colleagues in television; many argue that it broke ground in terms of what you could do with a television show in terms of serialized storytelling, setting the stage for the modern TV era. Academics took it up, with the show attracting a tremendous amount of attention and discussion.

In 2002, the New York Times covered the first academic conference dedicated to the show. The organizer called Buffy “a tremendously rich text,” hence the flood of papers with titles like “Pain as Bright as Steel: The Monomyth and Light in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’” which only gathered speed as the years passed. And while it was never the highest-rated show on television, it attracted an ardent core of fans.

But what stood out the most was the show’s protagonist: a young woman who stereotypically would have been a monster movie victim, with the script flipped: instead of screaming and swooning, she staked the vampires. This was deliberate, the core conceit of the concept, as Whedon said in many, many interviews. The helpless horror movie girl killed in the dark alley instead walks out victorious. He told Time in 1997 that the concept was born from the thought, “I would love to see a movie in which a blond wanders into a dark alley, takes care of herself and deploys her powers.” In Whedon’s framing, it was particularly important that it was a woman who walked out of that alley. He told another publication in 2002 that “the very first mission statement of the show” was “the joy of female power: having it, using it, sharing it.”

In 2021, when seemingly every new streaming property with a woman as its central character makes some half-baked claim to feminism, it’s easy to forget just how much Buffy stood out among its against its contemporaries. Action movies—with exceptions like Alien’s Ripley and Terminator 2's Sarah Conner—were ruled by hulking tough guys with macho swagger. When women appeared on screen opposite vampires, their primary job was to expose long, lovely, vulnerable necks. Stories and characters that bucked these larger currents inspired intense devotion, from Angela Chase of My So-Called Life to Dana Scully of The X-Files.

The broader landscape, too, was dismal. It was the conflicted era of girl power, a concept that sprang up in the wake of the successes of the second-wave feminist movement and the backlash that followed. Young women were constantly exposed to you-can-do-it messaging that juxtaposed uneasily with the reality of the world around them. This was the era of shitty, sexist jokes about every woman who came into Bill Clinton’s orbit and the leering response to the arrival of Britney Spears; Rush Limbaugh was a fairly mainstream figure.

At one point, Buffy competed against Ally McBeal, a show that dedicated an entire episode to a dancing computer-generated baby following around its lawyer main character, her biological clock made zanily literal. Consider this line from a New York Times review of the Buffy’s 1997 premiere: “Given to hot pants and boots that should guarantee the close attention of Humbert Humberts all over America, Buffy is just your average teen-ager, poutily obsessed with clothes and boys.”

Against that background, Buffy was a landmark. Besides the simple fact of its woman protagonist, there were unique plots, like the coming-out story for her friend Willow. An ambivalent 1999 piece in Bitch magazine, even as it explored the show’s tank-top heavy marketing, ultimately concluded, “In the end, it’s precisely this contextual conflict that sets Buffy apart from the rest and makes her an appealing icon. Frustrating as her contradictions may be, annoying as her babe quotient may be, Buffy still offers up a prime-time heroine like no other.”

A 2016 Atlantic piece, adapted from a book excerpt, makes the case that Buffy is perhaps best understood as an icon of third-wave feminism: “In its examination of individual and collective empowerment, its ambiguous politics of racial representation and its willing embrace of contradiction, Buffy is a quintessentially third-wave cultural production.” The show was vested with all the era’s longing for something better than what was available, something different, a champion for a conflicted “post-feminist” era—even if she was an imperfect or somewhat incongruous vessel. It wasn’t just Sunnydale that needed a chosen Slayer, it was an entire generation of women. That fact became intricately intertwined with Whedon himself.

Seemingly every interview involved a discussion of his fondness for stories about strong women. “I’ve always found strong women interesting, because they are not overly represented in the cinema,” he told New York for a 1997 piece that notes he studied both film and “gender and feminist issues” at Wesleyan; “I seem to be the guy for strong action women,’’ he told the New York Times in 1997 with an aw-shucks sort of shrug. ‘’A lot of writers are just terrible when it comes to writing female characters. They forget that they are people.’’ He often cited the influence of his strong, “hardcore feminist” mother, and even suggested that his protagonists served feminist ends in and of themselves: “If I can make teenage boys comfortable with a girl who takes charge of a situation without their knowing that’s what’s happening, it’s better than sitting down and selling them on feminism,” he told Time in 1997.

When he was honored by the organization Equality Now in 2006 for his “outstanding contribution to equality in film and television,” Whedon made his speech an extended riff on the fact that people just kept asking him about it, concluding with the ultimate answer: “Because you’re still asking me that question.” He presented strong women as a simple no-brainer, and he was seemingly always happy to say so, at a time when the entertainment business still seemed ruled by unapologetic misogynists. The internet of the mid-2010s only intensified Whedon’s anointment as a prototypical Hollywood ally, with reporters asking him things like how men could best support the feminist movement. 

Whedon’s response: “A guy who goes around saying ‘I’m a feminist’ usually has an agenda that is not feminist. A guy who behaves like one, who actually becomes involved in the movement, generally speaking, you can trust that. And it doesn’t just apply to the action that is activist. It applies to the way they treat the women they work with and they live with and they see on the street.” This remark takes on a great deal of irony in light of Carpenter’s statement.

In recent years, Whedon’s reputation as an ally began to wane. Partly, it was because of the work itself, which revealed more and more cracks as Buffy receded in the rearview mirror. Maybe it all started to sour with Dollhouse, a TV show that imagined Eliza Dushku as a young woman rented out to the rich and powerful, her mind wiped after every assignment, a concept that sat poorly with fans. (Though Whedon, while he was publicly unhappy with how the show had turned out after much push-and-pull with the corporate bosses at Fox, still argued the conceit was “the most pure feminist and empowering statement I’d ever made—somebody building themselves from nothing,” in a 2012 interview with Wired.)

After years of loud disappointment with the TV bosses at Fox on Firefly and Dollhouse, Whedon moved into big-budget Hollywood blockbusters. He helped birth the Marvel-dominated era of movies with his work as director of The Avengers. But his second Avengers movie, Age of Ultron, was heavily criticized for a moment in which Black Widow laid out her personal reproductive history for the Hulk, suggesting her sterilization somehow made her a “monster.” In June 2017, his un-filmed script for a Wonder Woman adaptation leaked, to widespread mockery. The script’s introduction of Diana was almost leering: “To say she is beautiful is almost to miss the point. She is elemental, as natural and wild as the luminous flora surrounding. Her dark hair waterfalls to her shoulders in soft arcs and curls. Her body is curvaceous, but taut as a drawn bow.”

But Whedon’s real fall from grace began in 2017, right before MeToo spurred a cultural reckoning. His ex-wife, Kai Cole, published a piece in The Wrap accusing him of cheating off and on throughout their relationship and calling him a hypocrite:

“Despite understanding, on some level, that what he was doing was wrong, he never conceded the hypocrisy of being out in the world preaching feminist ideals, while at the same time, taking away my right to make choices for my life and my body based on the truth. He deceived me for 15 years, so he could have everything he wanted. I believed, everyone believed, that he was one of the good guys, committed to fighting for women’s rights, committed to our marriage, and to the women he worked with. But I now see how he used his relationship with me as a shield, both during and after our marriage, so no one would question his relationships with other women or scrutinize his writing as anything other than feminist.”

But his reputation was just too strong; the accusation that he didn’t practice what he preached didn’t quite stick. A spokesperson for Whedon told the Wrap: “While this account includes inaccuracies and misrepresentations which can be harmful to their family, Joss is not commenting, out of concern for his children and out of respect for his ex-wife. Many minimized the essay on the basis that adultery doesn’t necessarily make you a bad feminist or erase a legacy. Whedon similarly seemed to shrug off Ray Fisher’s accusations of creating a toxic workplace; instead, Warner Media fired Fisher.

But Carpenter’s statement—which struck right at the heart of his Buffy-based legacy for progressivism—may finally change things. Even at the time, the plotline in which Charisma Carpenter was written off Angel—carrying a demon child that turned her into “Evil Cordelia,” ending the season in a coma, and quite simply never reappearing—was unpopular. Asked about what had happened in a 2009 panel at DragonCon, she said that “my relationship with Joss became strained,” continuing: “We all go through our stuff in general [behind the scenes], and I was going through my stuff, and then I became pregnant. And I guess in his mind, he had a different way of seeing the season go… in the fourth season.”

“I think Joss was, honestly, mad. I think he was mad at me and I say that in a loving way, which is—it’s a very complicated dynamic working for somebody for so many years, and expectations, and also being on a show for eight years, you gotta live your life. And sometimes living your life gets in the way of maybe the creator’s vision for the future. And that becomes conflict, and that was my experience.”

In her statement on Twitter, Carpenter alleged that after Whedon was informed of her pregnancy, he called her into a closed-door meeting and “asked me if I was ‘going to keep it,’ and manipulatively weaponized my womanhood and faith against me.” She added that “he proceeded to attack my character, mock my religious beliefs, accuse me of sabotaging the show, and then unceremoniously fired me following the season once I gave birth.” Carpenter said that he called her fat while she was four months pregnant and scheduled her to work at 1 a.m. while six months pregnant after her doctor had recommended shortening her hours, a move she describes as retaliatory. What Carpenter describes, in other words, is an absolutely textbook case of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, the type of bullshit the feminist movement exists to fight—at the hands of the man who was for years lauded as a Hollywood feminist for his work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

Many of Carpenter’s colleagues from Buffy and Angel spoke out in support, including Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar. “While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon,” she said in a statement. Just shy of a decade after that 2013 speech, many of the cast members on the show that put him on that stage are cutting ties.

Whedon garnered a reputation as pop culture’s ultimate feminist man because Buffy did stand out so much, an oasis in a wasteland. But in 2021, the idea of a lone man being responsible for creating women’s stories—one who told the New York Times, “I seem to be the guy for strong action women”—seems like a relic. It’s depressing to consider how many years Hollywood’s first instinct for “strong action women” wasn’t a woman, and to think about what other people could have done with those resources. When Wonder Woman finally reached the screen, to great acclaim, it was with a woman as director.

Besides, Whedon didn’t make Buffy all by himself—many, many women contributed, from the actresses to the writers to the stunt workers, and his reputation grew so large it eclipsed their part in the show’s creation. Even as he preached feminism, Whedon benefitted from one of the oldest, most sexist stereotypes: the man who’s a benevolent, creative genius. And Buffy, too, overshadowed all the other contributors who redefined who could be a hero on television and in speculative fiction, from individual actors like Gillian Anderson to the determined, creative women who wrote science fiction and fantasy over the last several decades to—perhaps most of all—the fans who craved different, better stories. Buffy helped change what you could put on TV, but it didn’t create the desire to see a character like her. It was that desire, as much as Whedon himself, that gave Buffy the Vampire Slayer her power.