#wrestling fandom

[marq-lynch]

I've only been a wrestling fan for a few months but I have to say with the nervous flutter about wrestlers lurking on Tumblr and fic sites and other traditionally closed-off fandomy spaces? I get it. On both sides.

But if I was a wrestler with the natural inclinations and curiosity to poke my nose into what people are saying in my industry outside of the dirtsheets, I would get really, really tired of the same six talking points regurgitated over and over on Twitter and Reddit threads arguing about ratings, whether X is washed up, the same fucking wank over and over floating to the top. I say this because I have tried to stick my nose into the wrestling Twitter and Reddit communities a few times as a new fan and it exhausts me already.

So yeah, I can see the appeal as a lurking wrestler on Tumblr for the exact same things we do.

Look at that! HD Gifsets of the matches! Showing off the moments that really made people pop and the moves that were incredible in more than just YouTube clips, filled with tagged commentary.

Oh fun, longer form commentary on where matches might go, pulling together histories of feuds and reigns, lighter hearted debates and shitposts all around.

A tagging system that actually allows some muting once in a while that people sometimes use?

And yes, fic, art, and objectification. Cheers, I have been working very hard on my pecs, my tits did look amazing tonight, thank you for noticing my costume details change.

Yes, we're horny, we're ravenous, we're transing your genders, foaming at the mouth, etc etc. But we've been here doing this for a while. I was doing this shit with a community on LiveJournal for Kayfabe Jon Stewart & "Stephen" Colbert back in 2009 and they knew and played it up for us too.

The weird pervert who is harmless but a good friend trope has gone way down lately, which makes sense given the current climate post #MeToo, but Kenny Omega on Being The Elite was a great example: in a sea of other dick jokes he was the ulti-perv they all still chose to hang out with. We on Tumblr are for the most part not bashing, harassing, haranguing, or spreading misinformation. We're just making art, noticing details, supporting work, and throwing out lewd jokes.

It's entirely up to the wrestling community if they want to hang out with us while we do those things, but it seems pretty clear that that is a vibe a lot of them are comfortable with, and some are happy to dig deeper into the weird shit we're making.

I just see a lot of people getting self-loathing about what they've been posting and I wanted to offer a different perspective. I've seen actors lose their minds being delighted at body pillows of themselves or mousepads of their supple tits. Adults are all different and none of this should be forced on anyone at conventions or tagged at them etc, but if they seek it out and like it? Well then, welcome to the Devil's Sacrament. Have fun, and personally I'm glad Tumblr is also your happy escape space.

[sydsaint]

Drink Prime Baby!!!!

Summary: Logan realizes that he might have a hopeless crush on his manager at the worst possible time. Five minutes before his triple-threat match on Mania weekend.

The alarm on your phone blares from it's spot leaning up against your vanity mirror. 'Mania Time' flashes across the screen in bold letters, reminding you that it's almost time to head out and meet up with Logan.

You finish curling your hair and switch off the curler before grabbing the hairspray and dousing your hair so every curl stays neatly in place. "There." You smile at yourself in the mirror. "Okay. I can clean this up later. Logan is probably waiting for me." You push all of your vanity supplies away from you and silence your alarm.

You pocket away your phone and grab your security badge off the back of the chair before heading to the door. You exit the ladies changing room and head off to find Logan backstage.

After weaving through the hectic backstage are for a while, you spot Logan's business partner and friend, JJ ahead. You quicken your pace and head over to him.

"JJ, hey! Any idea where Logan is at?" You walk up to JJ and greet him.

JJ turns around and flashes a friendly smile at you. "YN, hey. Damn, you're looking nice." He comments on your done-up appearance.

"Well it is Mania weekend." You giggle and flip your hair playfully. "You're looking all done up and nice as well. No prime costume for you this year?" You tease him playfully.

"Logan's got someone else for that this year." JJ chuckles. "And speaking of Logan. There he is now." He nods behind you.

You turn around and spot Logan as he comes into the room looking ready to go. You smile at him and wait for him to head over to you and JJ.

"Logan! There you are, champ! How are you feeling about tonight?" You ask him.

"YN!" Logan reaches your side and gazes down at you, a soft expression plastered on his face.

JJ watches his friend greet you with a larger than life smile. He's known Logan for a long time now, and he doesn't think he's ever seen that twinkle in Logan's eyes before. It's a bit odd to watch.

"Of course I'm ready!" Logan nods at you with a confident smile. "Wow, you look great, by the way." He adds in a genuine tone, his voice fluxuating a tad.

"Thanks, Logan." You grin back at him with a slight flush to your cheeks. "Now remember what we discussed, alright? Let Randy and Kevin do all the heavy lifting. They might be acting like friends right now. But that wont last long." You remind him, switching over to work mode for a moment.

Logan nods. "I got it." He assures you with a smile. "You aint worried about me? Are you YN?" He teases you jokingly. "You going to hang out back here with JJ?" He adds. "Offer still stands to come hang out with me and my new Prime guy."

"Yeah! I'll see you on the other side, YN!" Logan matches your energy before strutting over to the curtain.

"I'm alright." You shake your head. "And no. I'm not worried about you. You've got this. As always." You assure him. "Go get 'em tiger! You got this!" You pat his shoulder and offer one last confidence-boosting smile.

Your hand lingers on Logans arm for a second longer than needed. JJ takes notice of this and raises his eyebrows slightly.

JJ watches silently as Logan disappears through the curtain. He stands for a moment and watches Logan's entrance on the monitors before he turns to you.

"How long have you and Logan been working together, YN?" JJ asks you curiously.

You turn away from the monitors to answer JJ's question with a small shrug. "Umm, almost a year I think." You answer him.

"Right. You too are so close! It seems like longer." JJ chuckles. "The two of you make a good team." He adds.

"Thanks!" You beam. "I try my best. But to be honest, Logan does most of the work." You joke.

JJ laughs again and nods. The two of you go back to watching the match on the monitors for a while. You move through a whole mixed-bag of emotions during Logan's match. Something that JJ can't help but pick up on.

"You dating anyone right now, YN?" JJ asks you seemingly out of the blue.

"What? Umm, no. Not at the moment." You turn to JJ with a surprised look on your face. "Why? You trying to hit on me, JJ?" You joke with a quirked brow.

JJ rolls his eyes playfully and shakes his head. "I was just curious." He insists before turning back to the monitors.

"Okay." You nod and do the same.

You and JJ watch the rest of Logan's match. Logan ends up picking up the win and you jump for joy! JJ laughs to himself as he realizes something. His best friend has a thing for you. And you might just feel the same way.

Logan comes through the curtain a few minutes later pouring sweat with his title belt slung over his shoulder. "You won!" You rush over to him in excitement. "I knew you could do it, Logan!" You dive in for a hug but Logan puts a hand out and stops you.

"Woah there!" Logan stops you from making contact with him. "Easy now, YN. I am covered in sweat right now." He points to himself. "You come any closer and you're going to be soaked as well. And you look way to nice right now to be messing that up." He chuckles.

"Right." You laugh at yourself and drop your outstretched arms back to your sides. "We at least have to take a picture to commemorate this moment." You retrieve your phone from your pocket.

Logan nods in agreement and leans down to your level so you can snap a picture with him. You take the photo and go to post it on your socials while Logan walks over to JJ to chat for a minute.

The best friends and business partners greet one-another and shake hands.

"Congrats, man." JJ greets his friend with a proud smile. "How you feeling right about now?" He asks Logan.

"I'm great, man!" Logan chuckles. "Riding that high after that win, man!"

JJ nods and glances over at you on your phone a few feet away. He turns back to Logan and decides that he's got to give his friend a little push in the right direction.

"It sure would be the icing on the cake if you finally got around to bagging the girl too, huh?" He asks Logan, nodding toward you at the same time.

"The girl?" Logan replies in confusion. "What? Who? ....YN?" He turns around to you still typing away on your phone.

You look up from your phone at the mention of your name and look over at Logan and JJ. "Yeah?" You put your phone away and turn your attention to the pair. "What's up you two?" You ask them.

"Nothing." Logan replies sharply. "JJ's just giving me a hard time is all." He adds jokingly.

"Alright." You nod. "They want us for the media scrum after the show, by the way." You add, turning back to Logan. "Do you want to go cool off before they need us?" You ask him.

Logan nods and adjusts the title on his shoulder. "Yeah, that'd be good. You want to hold onto this for me?" He takes the title off his shoulder and offers it to you. "I'd rather you hold onto it than let JJ get his grubby hands on it." He jokes.

"Sure." You giggle and take the belt.

JJ and Logan head back to the locker rooms and you hang around backstage and wait for them to come back. While waiting you secure Logans title around your waist while game-planning some PR stuff for later.

Back in the locker room JJ confronts Logan while he's cooling off and getting changed.

"Logan, man. About earlier. I didn't mean anything about the whole YN thing." He tries to clean things up the best he can. "Its just...we've been friends for a while man. And I don't think I've ever seen you look at a girl like you look at her."

Logan bows his head, gaze casted to the floor and an awkward silence falls over the room. JJ sits silently and waits for Logan to answer him.

It takes Logan a couple of minutes, but he does eventually come up with an answer to JJ's accusation. "I don't know man..." Logan rubs the back of his neck. "YN...she's great. Pretty and super smart. And so good at what she does." He smiles to himself. "I don't think I'd even be a champion right now without her."

JJ laughs and pats Logan on the arm. "It sounds to me like you've got it bad buddy." He chuckles. "So why haven't you told her how you feel?"

"I don't know man." Logan sighs. "I guess because I don't know if she feels the same." He admits. "I don't want to lose her. I can't do this job without her at my side." His gaze drops to the floor again.

JJ can't help but laugh again. It's like something out of one of those cheesey romance movies his girlfriend is always dragging him to see. Logan looks up and frowns at him when he starts laughing and JJ has to take a minute to compose himself.

"What's so funny?" Logan huffs at JJ.

"Nothing man." JJ wipes a fake tear from his eye. "Logan, man. She's into you. Trust me on that, mate." He assures Logan.

Logan bites the inside of his cheek and shakes his head, unsure if JJ is messing with him or not. "Are you sure?" He asks JJ. "You really think that I should tell her how I feel?"

"Yes!" JJ hops to his feet. "Come on! Put a shirt on! Then wipe that pathetically nervous look off your face, head outside, and go kiss your manager!" He hypes Logan up.

"Okay okay!" Logan chuckles and does as he's told.

JJ stands back and walks his pep-talk at work. Logan throws his shirt on and strides out of the room in search of you. Logan weaves his way through the backstage area with JJ hot on his heels. He finally spots you hanging out in almost the same spot he left you in earlier. You are leaned against the wall casually and typing on your phone. Logan's title belt is secured neatly around your waist as you wait for him to come back.

"Holy shit." Logan freezes up when he gets a glimpse of you with his title, all his confidence suddenly gone from his body.

JJ comes up behind Logan and sets a hand on his shoulder. "You got this man." He assures Logan before giving him a small shove forward.

Logan stumbles forward and swallows hard. He stumbles over a few words before coming up to you with an awkward, "Hey, YN."

"Hmm?" You look up from your phone. "Oh, there you are! And you look nice and fresh now!" You grin and playfully reach up to ruffle Logan's fluffy hair.

"Yeah." Loga chuckles nervously. "You make one hell of a champion, you know that?" He adds, gesturing down to his title.

You giggle and blush a bit before moving to hand it back to Logan. But he stops you before you can reach back and undo the latch. "YN, there's something that I need to tell you." He explains.

"Okay." You nod, arms dropping back to your sides. "What's up? You look nervous." You recognize the uncharacteristic look of nervousness on Logan's face.

Logan rubs the back of his neck again as he tries to search for the right words to say. "I know that we've been working together for almost a year now. And you've been the best manager that I could has asked for." He smiles at you. "But the truth is...I don't know if I can go on acting like that's all you are to me anymore."

Your heart skips a beat as Logan reaches dow ad grabs your hand tentatively. You've been keeping a hapless crush on your favorite blond media star for so long now. And he here is, confessing that he feels the same way that you do about him.

It's like a dream come true. And you aren't sure what to do.

You lock eyes with Logan, breath caught in your throat. Neither of you are willing to move a muscle, both of you too scared to make a move.

"Will you just kiss the poor sap already, YN!" JJ shouts from across the room and a smile cracks on your face. You take JJ's advice and grab a fistful of Logan's shirt before yanking him down to your level.

You crash your lips to Logan's and feel him smile against your lips. His hands snake around your waist and slide up your back before pulling you into him as close as he can. JJ cheers playfully for the two of you, and a couple of bystanders chime in playfully.

You break away from Logan once your lungs start to burn from lack of oxygen. You let go of his shirt and wrap your arms around his neck breathlessly.

"This doesn't mean that you're done being m manager, right?" Logan asks you playfully.

"Not a chance." You giggle. "I'm your ride or die now, Logan Paul." You grin and lean up for another kiss.

Logan happily kisses you again, gentler this time. "That makes me one lucky son-of-a-bitch." He grins.

[pierrottrap]

CM STAG

[could-they-be-a-pro-wrestler]

As someone who took a hiatus from wrestling for a couple of years and has recently come back to it, I just wanted to share how much of a shock the current wrestling scene was for me. Breaking this down by individual wrestlers:

1) Cody Rhodes: male model who went crazy after he thought he was disfigured —> actual Captain America/Homelander

2) Drew McIntyre: Scottish guy who is just kinda there, a bit of a loser —> holy crap, he’s a major player now? And he’s apparently this obsessed crazy person who wants CM Punk dead?

3) CM Punk: best in the world, the company rebel —> not much has changed, except he’s now an oldhead who is vibing in the WWE space. He’s like that cool old guy who always has a story to tell about his younger days.

4) Rey Mysterio: the guy who does really cool tricks, but is sadly always getting injured —> he’s beefing with his son? And now he’s leading the Latino version of NWO?

5) Dominik Mysterio: Rey’s son, a NPC in the WWE universe —> biggest asshole ever, fuck this guy (not serious, I mean storyline-wise), 2nd coming of Eddie Guerrero

6) Triple H: Undertaker’s greatest enemy, the last of the old guard —> the best WWE storyteller in the last couple of years?

7) Michael Cole: annoying heel commentator —> really good face commentator

8) John Cena: All Might in his prime —> All Might in the present day, retiring and giving out wise advice to the younger wrestlers

9) Christian: Edge’s best friend, just kinda there in the WWE space —> AEW’s biggest menace

10) Kofi Kingston: the guy who does cool stunts at Royal Rumble, doesn’t really get to do much else —> was part of a nerd trio that took off in popularity, actually got to see his comedic chops

11) R-Truth: going through a mental breakdown after several years of being a rapper —> he somehow turned into Deadpool (of the people on this list, this is the most logical character development so far lol)

[cannibalgh0st]

Me tonight-💞🖤💀💗

[hidden-redrum]

Being a wrestling fan is wanting to be put in several submissions positions just to crack your back and maybe, just maybe, relieve your back pain

Just by seeing this gif I swear I can hear the soul of my back crack-

[breathewiththeswitchblade]

This isn’t wrestling specifically but I keep seeing nonsense on wrestling twitter

Just cause you’re a newer fan, of anything but in this case whatever flavor of wrestling. Doesn’t mean you’re less of a fan. Idk why this is discourse but here we are

[xoxorealitygalore]

Grown Woman 3

Tama Tonga x Black OC

Summary: 30-year-old Tahiry has always been seen as a baby and underestimated by those around her. When tragedy strikes and her best friend passes away, Tahiry is suddenly thrust into the role of legal guardian for her young goddaughter, Harmony. As she navigates the challenges of motherhood and responsibility, Tahiry begins to transform into a woman of depth and resilience. Yet, it’s only Tama, who truly notices the changes in her.

Tahiry and Tama's first official date felt like a moment suspended in time, a turning point in their connection that neither of them could have anticipated. The night was crisp and calm, the kind of evening that carried an almost electric air of possibility.

As they sat across from each other at a table set for two in an intimate fusion restaurant, everything about the atmosphere seemed designed to encourage vulnerability. Soft light flickered across the table, and the sound of quiet conversation and clinking silverware filled the space around them, adding an extra layer of comfort to the intimacy they shared.

Their conversation flowed effortlessly, much like the space between them had grown over time, a growing familiarity, like a dance that neither had learned consciously but had mastered intuitively. Tahiry looked across the table at Tama, her eyes softening as she took in the way he looked at her. There was something different in his gaze tonight, a warmth that made her feel seen in a way she hadn’t been in years. Not just seen, but understood.

“So,” Tahiry began, her voice almost hesitant, as if she were gathering the courage to ask a question that had been tugging at her for some time. “What was it like… being a wrestler?” Her fingers twirled the rim of her wine glass as she waited for him to answer.

Tama leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze never leaving hers. He appreciated the curiosity in her voice, the way she didn’t just ask about his career in passing, but truly wanted to know. It made him feel like a person rather than just a wrestler, something he often felt was lost in the public perception of him.

"It was a rush, a mix of adrenaline and fear," he said, his voice calm yet thoughtful. "You have to be both fearless and aware of every single thing happening in the ring. But off the ring? It's a lot quieter. People don’t always see the work that goes into it, the toll it takes on the body and mind." He smiled slightly as if he were trying to lighten the mood, "Not that I ever minded it. I liked the challenge. I still do, in a way."

Tahiry smiled, nodding as she listened. She could tell there was more to his words, something behind the bravado he often displayed in public, but he had no problem sharing it with her. That in itself made her feel like they were crossing some unspoken threshold together.

Her eyes flickered down briefly, gathering her thoughts before she asked her next question. "What about you, though? What about your childhood?" she asked, shifting the focus back onto her.

Tama looked at her intently. He saw the way she studied him as if looking for something deeper, not just his answers but his feelings. There was an underlying question in her voice, a quiet curiosity about the person he was outside of the ring, outside of everything people assumed about him.

She continued, voice more reflective now, "Was there ever anything you wanted to achieve that you didn’t?"

Tama could feel the depth of her words, the way she wasn’t just probing for details but trying to understand his heart.

"I guess we all have dreams, right? We don’t always get the chance to chase them, though," he said after a pause, his expression softening. "But if I had to pick one... maybe it was to make a difference, not just in the ring, but outside of it too. To inspire people. I wanted to be more than just a guy who can take hits and get up again. I wanted to show that there’s strength in vulnerability, in embracing who you are even when the world tries to tear you down."

Tahiry was quiet for a moment, taking in his words. She admired his honesty, and his ability to acknowledge his vulnerabilities. In his own way, Tama had been forging a path of his own through challenges that weren’t always visible to the outside world. She found herself wishing, for a brief moment, that she could be more like him, able to take those hits and still rise, but her heart always seemed burdened with the weight of unspoken things.

Before she could speak, Tama shifted in his seat slightly, looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and admiration. “What about you, Tahiry?” he asked gently, his voice holding a touch of concern. “You have this strength about you, but sometimes I see you carry a heavy weight on your shoulders. You have a lot on your plate. You’ve been raising Harmony, haven’t you?”

Her heart clenched slightly at the mention of Harmony, her three-year-old goddaughter, the light of her life. Tahiry nodded slowly, taking a deep breath.

“Yeah,” she said softly, her gaze lowering as memories of sleepless nights and moments of overwhelming responsibility flashed in her mind. “I’ve always wanted to be more than just a woman with a full-time job. But taking care of Harmony...it’s been everything to me. She’s my world. I think people don’t understand the kind of responsibility that comes with being a godmother, especially stepping into the role of mother of a child who just lost her mother. It’s making sure that you’re guiding a life. And sometimes, I wonder if I’m doing it right.”

Tama’s expression softened, and he leaned forward, locking eyes with her. "I think you're doing more than right," he said, his voice sincere. "You're doing something most people wouldn't even have the courage to do. Raising a child, taking on a responsibility that wasn’t even yours… that’s something special. I admire that about you."

The compliment hit Tahiry in a place she didn’t know she needed. No one had ever truly acknowledged the weight of her role in Harmony’s life, and Tama’s words felt like a balm to the tender parts of her heart. She swallowed hard, blinking back the sudden rush of emotion.

“I don’t know why you’re the only one who notices it,” she said quietly, almost to herself. “It’s like the people in my life don’t see the changes, the weight I carry. I guess it’s because they don’t really understand what it’s like to have to be everything to someone. But you…” she trailed off, the warmth in his gaze making it hard to speak.

Tama’s expression deepened with understanding. He reached across the table, his hand resting gently on hers. "I think your family loves you. They’re just overprotective," he said softly. "I think that’s why they might not see it, they don’t want to see you change, but you're growing, Tahiry. And that’s okay. Sometimes the people who love you most don’t know how to let you grow."

Tahiry’s heart beat faster at his touch, at the way his words seemed to wrap around her like a protective shield. She had never felt this level of safety before, especially from someone who was still learning who she was. But there was something about Tama that made her feel like she could finally put down her guard, even if just for a moment.

"I didn’t want to be the guy who was just another protector in your life," Tama continued, his voice almost hesitant. "That’s why I didn’t pursue you at first. I didn’t want you to think I was trying to control you or take over your life. You’ve already got enough people doing that."

Tahiry’s eyes widened, and she leaned in slightly. “You were afraid of being that for me?”

Tama nodded. "Yeah. But I don’t want to be that for you. I just want to be someone who’s there for you, someone who’s not afraid of the mess, of the hard parts. The real parts. And I think that’s why I’m here now, why I’m finally ready to do this with you."

A warmth spread through Tahiry's chest as she absorbed his words, as she felt a shift in herself. Slowly, her walls, the ones she had built over years of heartbreak and disappointment began to crumble, piece by piece. It wasn’t that she was suddenly free of fear, but for the first time, she felt like it was okay to let someone see her as she was flawed, uncertain, but willing to try. Tama had given her the space to be human, and it felt like she could breathe for the first time in a long while.

“I never had someone like that,” she admitted, her voice trembling just a little. “Someone who was there to protect me without trying to change me. My last relationship… it wasn’t like this.” She took a deep breath, swallowing down the bitterness that threatened to rise. “It was hell. I didn’t know if I would ever trust anyone again.”

Tama’s eyes softened, his thumb brushing gently over her hand as he spoke. “I can’t promise you perfection, Tahiry. No one can. But I promise you, I will give you a real relationship. One where we both show up and we both try, even when it’s hard. I can give you that.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief. The walls she had spent years building around her heart felt like they were being gently dismantled by Tama’s kindness and his sincerity. For the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of hope.

“So… you want to be in a relationship with me?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper as if she were still testing the ground beneath her feet.

Tama’s smile was soft, yet it carried with it a quiet confidence. “Of course. You know how long I’ve been waiting for this opportunity. For you.”

Her heart fluttered at his words, and something in her chest tightened. His voice was steady, but there was a warmth in it that made her feel like she was the only person in the room. The way he said it, the way his words came to her with such certainty, it was like he was claiming her heart without needing to prove anything.

Just then, the waiter arrived to take their orders, but the connection between Tahiry and Tama was noticeable, thick in the air as if it had transcended the noise of the world around them.

Tama chuckled as he moved his chair a little closer to hers. He gently pulled her chair towards him, a move that startled her for just a moment.

Tahiry squealed softly, laughter bubbling out of her. "This doesn’t feel like a first date," she said, her voice light with surprise and joy.

Tama’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “It doesn’t have to be,” he teased. “Can I kiss you?”

Tahiry felt her heart race as she nodded, her breath catching. The warmth that spread through her was different this time, deeper, more sure.

As their lips met, everything else fell away. It was just the two of them, standing at the threshold of something beautiful and new.

And for the first time in a long time, Tahiry felt like she had found her place.

[edgeisallelite]

Will Ospreay x Darby Allin under the cut. I got a bit carried away.

Since I've committed to the bit, I was writing out a random idea while it was slow at work. Now I’ve got this. Oops. Apologies in advance, I haven’t written anything properly in forever and I haven’t written anything wrestling related in over a decade. Feel free to shoot me any other ideas for this ship, I love seeing them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been thinking about how the winter here is so much different than it is in England, so Will would probably come to love it, even when it's bitterly cold. He's in the US pretty much all the time now and it's a treat every time he gets to experience it.

This of course then makes me think of how Darby probably doesn't give a fuck if it's freeze your tits off cold outside wherever they are (Detroit, Canada, Minnesota, etc), he's gonna wear whatever whenever. He's not exactly someone who seems to have a preservation instinct of any sort.

Will, the caring himbo he is, cannot fucking stand it. Darby is small and thin and Will is convinced the man is gonna freeze to death because he's too fucking stubborn to wear a real coat. He won't even wear something that isn't sneakers! There's ice Darby, you're gonna break your fucking neck and not from jumping off a goddamn ladder!

First, Will tries a more passive approach. Helpful hints, keeping a closer eye on Darby, pestering him that he won't be good to anyone if he turns into a human popsicle. None of this works.

Will is not a man who gives up easily. Darby is notoriously stubborn. Well, I two can play at that game.

Will starts leaving hoodies with Darby’s stuff in the locker room. Darby, at first, thinks maybe somebody just left their stuff in the wrong place. It doesn’t long for him to catch on though and he isn’t impressed. He simply sets the clothing aside and goes about his business.

Will decides to take another approach. He doesn’t want to look like some sort of creep who goes rifling through other people’s belongings without permission so he makes sure to be quick about it, taking yet another hoodie and shoving it inside Darby’s bag so it’s not visible from the top. It’s silly but goddammit he’s committed to this.

That night, as Darby gets back to his hotel room, exhausted and sore, he isn’t really paying close attention as he unpacks his bag looking for a change of clothes.

The soft fabric is what he notices first. He pulls on it and finds yet another hoodie.

Fucking Ospreay. Doesn’t this guy take a hint? He doesn’t need to be mother henning over him like he’s a little boy.

Darby has to resist the urge to chuck the damn thing across the room. But it’s then he realizes something different about this particular hoodie.

Up until this point, Darby was pretty sure Ospreay was wasting money buying a bunch of hoodies that Darby was downright ignoring at this point because apparently he doesn’t have anything better to do.

But this hoodie, black and very soft with an Assassin’s Creed logo blazoned on the front in white (Darby internally rolls his eyes, what a fucking nerd), has clearly been worn before.

Derby hesitantly raises the fabric closer to his face, inhaling slowly. It smells like him, the bastard. Some sort of cologne. Not the fancy rich asshole type, something more mainstream, comforting almost. A little sweaty but also clean, like he’s worn it right after showering. It’s as if Will is standing right next to him and has just taken it off to give to him. Like he cares about him and there’s something between them. Like they’re together or some shit.

Darby growls to himself. He badly wants to punch Will square in his pretty face.

Some time passes. Will hasn’t seen much of Darby, just glimpses here and there. He has a feeling he’s being avoided, which he doesn’t like. He decides maybe it’s time to back off.

It isn’t until it’s another cold day outside another stadium that he sees Darby for the first time in what seems like that forever. This time, it’s Will who almost falls on his ass in the snow. Though even that wouldn’t stop the grin that spreads across his features.

Darby is wearing his hoodie. He’s actually wearing it instead of just freezing for no good reason. He’s still in thin jeans and some sneakers but Will doesn’t care, he’ll take it.

The hoodie hangs off Darby’s smaller frame but he doesn’t seem to mind.

Fuck, Will didn’t realize he’d look that cute.

Darby notices the bastard grinning at him and approaches, his expression as aloof as always, the hood over his head making him that much harder to read. Still, he stands close to Ospreay, though he doesn’t quite look at him.

“You proud of yourself?”

“Proud isn’t exactly the right word, I’d say. You uh, you do look good though. Maybe you should wear some of my clothes more often.”

Darby has no right moving as fast as he does but within a moment he’s grabbed Will by the scruff of his neck, fingers digging into as much of Will’s blonde curls as he can get his hand on. He yanks Will down to his height.

Icy blue eyes lock with his from beneath the hoodie. Darby bares his teeth and Will is trying to remind his brain this is serious, but all he can think about is how hot this has suddenly become.

“You are so lucky you’re charming or I’d have beat your ass for going near my things.”

Will only hears one thing. “You think I’m charming, huh?”

With his grip on Will’s hair, it’s easy enough to close that distance. Will’s hands reach out to grip Darby’s hoodie in his fists and pull him closer and he doesn’t resist, even as his teeth nip at Will’s lips. Of course his lips are as soft as they look and the kiss sends a jolt through Darby all the way to his fingertips.

A plum of frosty air escapes the moment they pull apart. Will is panting softly, lips flushed red, looking wild eyed. Darby finds that detail rather satisfying.

As Darby takes a step back, his eyes don’t leave Will’s face. “You know next time, if you’re gonna flirt with someone, you could just ask to take them out or something. Like a regular person.”

Will’s brows furrow together. “But you’d hate that.”

Darby’s lips turn up at the corner and he almost looks amused.

“You never know. Strange things happen around here all the time.”

Darby shoves his hands into the hoodie pocket, gaze still lingering on Ospreay before he turns and heads inside. Will can’t help noticing he actually avoids the patches of ice on the ground for once, as if he’s finally heeding Will’s warnings, even if it’s only this one time.

It’s not often that Will’s brain turns off. He always moving, always thinking. But right now, the only thing he can think about is how good Darby would look wearing more of his clothes. Or perhaps none at all.

He sighs. It’s gonna be a long night.

[marq-lynch]

#Strickpage Strikeout is Here!

It's a Connect 4 Bingo Challenge!

Pick one or more of the four themed StrickPage Bingo cards, and try to create four pieces that connect in any direction. Each card has sixteen spaces, with fifteen prompts and one free space for a wild card.

The WrestleDream card offers softer, more tentative new relationship prompts for a fluffier side or AUs.

The Full Gear card is your classic StrickPage horny violence with lots of vampire undertones.

The Revolution card pulls a lot of weight and no punches, shouldering the angst burden through the All In era.

The All Out card brings us full circle to our modern standing, with a complicated combo of fiery passion and threads ended but untied.

Of course if you get that competitive itch you can always try your hand at a second card. Or even combine prompts from multiple. The truly wild might try for a full card strikeout...

This is not just a fic challenge, and this is a great reminder that AO3 does work as repository both to embed media AND to link out to other sites on third parties.

Mix it and match it up if you want: do a fic drabble one day, a sketch the next, a video edit the third, and round out the last day with a lovely set of memes.

Expanded Cards with Posting Information & Links to TV Tropes Pages Below Read More.

You can add your works, anonymously or not, to the StrickPage StrikeOut AO3 collection beginning Midnight on March 3rd, Pacific Time, remaining open through the end of the month for inevitable 'life happens' straggling.

Please tag your works #StrickPage StrikeOut on social media with a space, and avoid tagging alternative ship name spellings.

We recommend imgbox.com for third party image hosting with ease of embedding and galleries and no sign up required, and Vimeo for the same with videos edits.

There are no real rules to this challenge other than to create StrickPage or Hangman & Swerve relationship fanworks in the spirit of the challenge. Take the cards and make your own challenges.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me by DM on Tumblr, Discord, or Bsky if you have questions, but really the point of this is just to have fun and create as a fandom! Don't put too much pressure on it.

Card #1 - Wrestledream - (Softer/New Relationship)

Love is a Weakness - Love is regarded as a negative influence.

Cupid's Arrow - Falling in love personified by the love god, Cupid.

Rivalry as Courtship - A romance that stems from two characters' rivalry.

I Didn't Mean to Turn You On - Unintentionally making someone fall in love with you.

Laugh of Love - The tendency to laugh when in the presence of your love interest.

Unresolved Sexual Tension - Two characters are obviously attracted to each other, but they never act on their feelings.

Inconvenient Attraction - A character falls in love when they'd rather not.

No Challenge = No Satisfaction - I'm only happy when there's a challenge!

How Dad Met Mom - Come around, kids, this is the story of how your father and I fell in love.

Puppy Love - Romance between pre-pubescent children. [Note: This is on the list because of Swerve's famous playlist choice to include 'Awaken, My Love' for the Deathmatch, which includes the line 'So This isn't just Puppy Love'. Like all prompts on these cards, interpret as you see fit.]

Love at First Punch - Falling in love with somebody who beat you up.

Forgotten First Meeting - Forgetting that you first met your love interest long ago.

Best Her to Bed Her - A man must defeat a strong woman in combat if he wishes to romance her.

Crazy in the Head, Crazy in the Bed - A character is eccentric or outright insane, which makes them more appealing in the romantic and sexual sense.

Card #2 - Full Gear - (Violently Horny Vampire Vibes)

Stalker with a Crush - A character who follows the person they're in love with everywhere.

Stalker without a Crush - Whose obsession is unrelated to romantic or sexual feelings.

Too Much Alike - When applied to romantic relationships (or, less commonly, friendships). Two people break apart because they're too similar to each other; their shared traits clash and/or they have the same traits they don't like in themselves.

It's Personal - It sure is. You hurt someone dear to me. Now I'm gonna fucking kill you!

In Love with Your Carnage - A villainous or morally ambiguous character falls for someone because of their violent tendencies.

Breaking and Bloodsucking - Vampires break into bedrooms to attack women.

Hemo Erotic - A fetish for biting and drinking blood.

Must Be Invited - A supernatural creature cannot enter a dwelling without permission from the homeowners.

Yandere - They're so in love with somebody that they'll murder anybody who stands in their way.

Yandere Couple - Two people driven murderous with love end up together.

Combat Sadomasochist - Someone who enjoys both inflicting harm on (and also receiving harm from) other people.

I Hate You, Vampire Dad - Hating someone who turned you into a monster.

It's Not You, It's My Enemies - Being with your lover puts them in harm's way.

Consuming Passion - Cannibalism with sexy undertones.

Red String of Fate - Two characters are bound by fate to be together.

Arch-Enemy - The main villain of the story is usually (though not necessarily always) the primary nemesis of the main hero.

Interplay of Sex and Violence - Violence and sex happening around the same time as each other, or even using violence as foreplay.

Card #3 - Revolution Through All In - (Angst Vibes)

Came Back with a Vengeance - You ruined my life and sent me away to rot in exile, but I'm back with new skills, a new identity, and a meticulous plan to destroy everything you love.

The Mistress - A woman whom a married man cheats on his wife with.

I Gave My Word - May indicate Honor Before Reason.

Wanting Is Better Than Having - Once you've gotten all that you've wanted, life becomes boring and unrewarding.

Career Versus Man - A woman must give up her career if she gets married.

Awful Wedded Life - An unhappy and dreary marriage.

Reformed, but Rejected - A villain seeking redemption finds that no one trusts them.

Daddy Had a Good Reason for Abandoning You - A parent gives an excuse for why they left their child.

Descent into Addiction - A character's story arc involves them becoming dependent on a substance.

Am I Just a Toy to You? - A character confronts the other about how serious they think their relationship is.

Motive Decay - A villain gradually discards the reasons why they became evil in the first place, either losing their sympathy if they keep at it or give up their villainy after no longer caring about their Freudian Excuse

The Perils of Being the Best - Being The Ace has many prices to pay.

Success As Revenge - The best way to repay you for what you've done to me is by living a good life while you end up being miserable.

Accomplice by Inaction - You did nothing to save me from injustice even though you could. Therefore, I'm gonna end you!

Off the Wagon - A recovering alcoholic starts drinking again.

Card #4 - All Out - (Burning Romance)

Rationalizing the Overkill - My revenge ended up going too far/causing collateral damage, but it was well worth it!

Devoted to You - A character who inspires obsessive devotion in those around them.

Victory Is Boring - A character succeeds, but doesn't know what to do afterwards.

Destructive Romance - A deeply unhappy and dysfunctional romantic relationship (sometimes to the point of being abusive).

Fate Drives Us Together - If two people keep encountering each other, it means they're meant to be together.

Ignored Epiphany - A villain considers redeeming themselves, then decides not to.

Loving a Shadow - Falling in love with the ideal of someone rather than the actual person.

Vengeance Feels Empty - I've successfully gotten my revenge... now I have no idea what to do.

Fully-Embraced Fiend - Someone turned into a vampire decides to embrace their transformation rather than fight it.

Grand Romantic Gesture - A big, elaborate event done for someone to show your love for them.

Conducting the Carnage - So what if the world is ending? I'm just going to stand here and move my hands like a conductor. Whatever.

He Who Fights Monsters - Because of my goal for revenge, I've become just like the bastard who harassed me. Good.

Fanatical Fire - YOU SHALL BURN!!!!

Flames of Love - Fire represents the passion in a relationship.

Burn Baby Burn - Destroying something with fire for a dramatic disposal.

[sydsaint]

You're still champion of my heart baby <3

Summary: Tyler faces his toughest fight yet against Chris Jericho with PLE implications. Luckily for him, Tyler's girlfriend isn't above getting her hands dirty in order to help her man win.

You finish up your match against Emi Sakura, managing to earn a quick win against the Japanese legend. After celebrating in with a few fans on your way up the ramp, you head back to the locker room to see if Tyler's left yet.

"Ty? You in here?" You announce yourself as you come through the locker room door.

"Yeah." Tyler replies dryly from somewhere inside the locker room. "You beat, Emi?" He asks you as you shut the door behind you.

You snort and nod. "Course I did, look at who you're talking to." You laugh.

"Right." Tyler laughs with you.

You clean up some excess sweat from your body and throw on a shirt over your ring gear while Tyler idles on his phone like usual.

"Shouldn't you be headed out to the ring to talk with Jericho's annoying ass?" You ask Tyler after you're done changing.

"Yeah, unfortunately." Tyler nods. "I can't believe that he went and whined to my dad." He grumbles.

You snort and agree. "Look at who you're talking about, Ty." You remind him. "Jericho is a total snake. And he's ugly so,"

"You did warn me." Tyler nods. "I'm headed out. Wanna walk with me?" He asks you.

"Sure." You shrug and head over to the door.

Tyler pulls open the door for you and the two of you head down to the tunnel. You stop right at the tunnel entrance and watch Tyler head through it. You hang back since you know that he doesn't need you for this. Not with a shmuck like Chris Jericho.

You hang around backstage and watch the confrontation in the ring from the monitors set up in various places. You roll your eyes at Chris' arrogance, silently praying that Tyler just decks him.

"Oh what the fuck!?" You curse the air when Jericho decides to take a shot at Taz.

Tyler handles the situation, getting into Chris's face. But your worry for Taz gets the better of you. You head down to the ring from the back way so you don't take the spotlight away from Tyler.

"Taz!" You rush over to his side as he carefully rolls out of the ring. "Are you alright?" You help him down to the floor.

"Yeah, I'm alright, kid." Taz assures you, but you notice that his knee is obviously bothering him.

You set a cautious and gentle hand on Taz's shoulder and walk with him back over to the commentary table. Tyler takes a second to glance your way and you flash him a quick thumbs up. Ty nods at your assuring gesture and goes right back to getting in Jericho's face.

"You sure that you're okay, Taz?" You ask Taz again once he's at down.

"I'm good." Taz nods. "Come on, give me some credit, kid. I ain't quite that old yet." He chuckles. "But I appreciate the concern."

You nod and slink back around the tunnel to the backstage area to wait for Tyler to come back.

A few minutes later Tyler comes stomping through the tunnel with a foul air about him. You walk over to him and try your best to tame the beast before he thinks about doing something drastic.

"Tyler! Hey!" You rush over to Tyler's side.

"Is my dad alright?" Tyler asks you, venom in his tone.

You nod and put a hand on Tyler's arm. "Yeah, he said that he was okay." You assure him. "Come on, let's head back to the locker room and get our stuff so we can get out of here." You give his arm a small tug away from the tunnel since Chris is still out in the ring.

"Thanks for going out there and checking on him, YN." Tyler relaxes a little bit.

"Yeah, of course." You nod and begin pulling him along. "And hey, you'll get another shot at kicking Jericho's ass, okay? In the ring. Properly." You glance his way while you're walking with him.

Tyler's jaw clenches in frustration. "He's lucky that I didn't lay him out right then and there." He insists.

"I know, baby." You rub Tyler's arm, still making sure to put as much distance between him and anything Chris Jericho related as possible.

Sunday night rolls around and it's time for Dynasty. You're not scheduled for a match on the card so you opt to hang around backstage and provide Tyler with all the support that he needs tonight.

Tyler's been in a foul mood since Wednesday, and if you weren't a hater then you'd be fearing for Chris Jericho's well being right now.

"You want me out there with you?" You ask Tyler while he's getting ready for his match.

"Nah." Tyler shakes his head. "I can do this by myself." He assures you. "Can you maybe hang with my dad on commentary though?" He asks you.

You nod, surprised that Ty seems worried about his dad. "Yeah, sure." You pull your shoes back on while Tyler finishes getting ready.

The time comes for Tyler's match and the two of you head out. You let Tyler do his entrance by himself and go the back way down to the commentary table. Taz pulls up a chair for you to sit next to him in, but you decline his offer of a headset.

Chris saunters out to the ring after Tyler with his usual smug aura. You roll your eyes at the challenger as he passes the commentary desk but remain in your seat.

The bell rings and the match gets underway, and just like you suspected. It doesn't take long for the bout to get violent. You sit in silence next to Taz while Tyler and Chris go at it beating the crap out of one-another. You wince each time Chris uses a dirty tactic to try and get the upper hand and your anger grows with each second.

"Oh no." Taz slips his headset off his head once Chris retrieves his metal bat from where he was stashing it under the ring.

Tyler barely managed to kick-out of Jericho's last pinning attempt. So you know if Chris lands this than it's over for your boyfriend.

"Oh, fuck no!" You jump out of your seat and slip past Taz.

You rush around the ring and shove Jericho to the floor while's he's got his back turned away from you. Chris's bat goes flying out of his hands and you pick it up.

"Ty might be to proud to be a cheater, Chris." You stare down Jericho as he gets to his feet slowly. "But I'm not like my boyfriend."

You swing the bat at Jericho and it collides with his head. The blow instantly crumples Chris to his knees and you drop the bat. Tyler finally stirs in the ring so you haul Jericho's fat ass up and roll him into the ring before calmly walking back over to the commentary table.

You are met by Taz who looks at you with adoration like you've never seen on the man's face before.

In the ring, Tyler gets to his feet and locks in REDRUM on Chris, not that it's need after your handwork. Aubrey calls a stop to the match after checking on Chris and the bell rings. You pluck the FTW championship from it's perch at the timekeepers area and make your way into the ring.

Tyler lifts himself back to his feet again and you hand his championship back to him. "I knew you could do it." You smile at him and lift his hand in the air in victory.

"Thanks for the help, babe." Tyler whispers to you, secretly proud that you didn't let any of Chris's bullshit slide.

The crowd cheers for Tyler and you hear Taz mention you back at the commentary table proudly. Chris Jericho has been silenced and all is right in the world again.

[lonelyvampx]

I love how "am gonna eat you alive", "am gonna choke you until you turn blue", "Your ass belongs to me" are normal phrases in the wrestling world.

[wrestlinghistorywithkay]

Drew McIntyre vs John Morrison , 2009

( Okay , just hear me out on this one! I had a huge crush on both of them and I still do! I love watching them both!)

[dirtywrestling]

AEW Masterlist

Chris Jericho

Colt Cabana

Hangman Adam Page

Hook

Jon Moxley

Kenny Omega

Lio Rush

MJF