#save me strickpage... strickpage save me...

[ronon-dex]

every single time hangman is in trouble I turn hopefully to the ramp like swerve is going to burst out of there like divine providence and save him. and I will not stop

[fossaheel]

on the clock kairi sane thesis

since i have time to kill i'm thinking about kairi sane (as i always do) and i'll tone down the bitchiness because nobody particularly owes me anything but if we look at what's going on in WWE right now, kairi has one of the best storylines unfolding. she is an immensely complex character: her heel persona is unique, with this mixture of immense guilt and a kind of manic mockery we see that adds a layer of like tragic and yet infuriating and yet endearing comedy in the ring. her relationship with asuka and iyo underlies the entirety of the women's tag team division's current landscape. and of course both of those relationships individually are extremely compelling and complicated by the wrestling history she has with both of them; the interactions kairi has with asuka back stage nearly every single RAW is, on a real note, a very accurate and honest depiction of an abusive relationship in a way that i really appreciate. she's a very skilled wrestler, despite always eating pins. and her gear and entrance are so unique and compelling.

and yet kairi gets significantly less attention than other wrestlers. and i think that's a layered choice, and one that is subconscious for a lot of people. i think firstly, kairi is a woman, which means that she already is going to get overlooked by a lot of wrestling fans. further, because kairi sane is a woman, her queer relationship with asuka is read differently. in wrestling we have pairings like cmjf and strickpage and sethbron that all illustrate some level of power-play, escalating up to outright abuse and sadism. and yet with kairi and asuka, people flinch away and are outright uncomfortable-- which obviously you can be uncomfortable with it, it is triggering sometimes, but i am talking about a double standard here. this comes from the fact that i think people don't really give women interiority, and tend to assume that women need to be saved. so much of people's analyses of kairi is "iyo, please save her!" which denies a significant amount of kairi's actual character, the complexity of her relationship with iyo, and the fact that abusive victims don't need to be saved by outsiders, that isn't how that works.

secondly, kairi is japanese and english is her second language. even though she speaks english a majority of the time backstage, and there are translations in promos, i think that adds a barrier. also, me and my friend mike were looking at youtube comments on a translated RAW segment between kairi and asuka, and there were so many comments that boiled down to "i feel like i am watching an anime" or "this kind of relationship is actually super normal in japanese culture!". which japanese people tap in but i get the sense that a woman choking out another woman and berating her until she dissociates isn't actually common, because japanese people are people and if that happens to a person that is abuse. there's this weird fetishization of kairi that i think also emerges because she is seen as a beautiful and traumatized object. add her ethnicity to that and people really like to fetishize it.

and i think like the last thing which i've already underscored before is that because kairi sane is currently a heel implicated in a domestic abuse plotline, people kind of glaze their eyes over her character. which like not to get too woke or personal on the mic but i find kind of odd! people tend to say "kairi needs to face turn" not out of wanting to see her character flourish (though some people do say that so she can stop taking pins, which i get), but because they want to evade the discomfort of her plotline. to me that feels disrespectful to the complicated interiority of her character: if she just turns face because AJ lee or iyo sky saves her, and then defaults to being kind of a quirky fun babyface in the ring, we lose the bulk of what makes kairi kairi. the concept of kairi being a solo heel comes across as less plausible to people than, i don't know, the strickpage feud making hangman adam page a heel.

okay i have to actually go do my job so last thoughts but to be clear you obviously don't need to be a no.1 kairi sane fan, and i don't say this to instill guilt in people. me and my friends talk a lot about how it is that kairi is getting such a push in RAW (she is on more often than a lot of other women wrestlers!) and yet the analysis of her has stagnated entirely to "iyo save her". and i wanted to put forward a few thoughts! but ultimately this interest is just an interest, you don't have to love her the way i do. i just hope this is interesting to people and maybe complicates your picture of her. and sorry if any of this is badly phrased again am at work lol.

TLDR: i think the reason people's analysis of kairi sane as a character is lacking is because she is a Japanese woman in an abuse-related plotline, leading her to be simplified and ignored in comparison to other wrestlers.

[peppsta]

It's honestly a mystery to me why Will Ospreay is still standing.

Even before he lost the Owen Heart tournament, he's been going off about how he will take the title from Mox. Back then he even said, that he would help Hangman beat Mox if he lost.

Will has been involved in every major interference of Mox' plans.

He came out with a chair after getting beaten up by Cru to help Hangman - the Death Riders could have easily beaten Hangman and a half dead Will. Yes, they both had chair, but Claudio had two??

Will stood between Mox and Swerve (together with the Opps and Hangman) during Grand Slam Mexico. He saved Swerve from getting heavily injured and even got Hangman to protect Swerve (kinda).

Will was able to rush into the ring and chase away Mox and his Death Riders when Mox was choking Hangman to death!

And maybe the most dangerous thing of all: Will has been getting so close to get Strickpage to work together. He's not there yet but he's gotten closer than anyone ever before. It's an actual possibility that they are going to work together now.

And that should scare Mox shitless because yes, Hangman and Will would have a hard time fighting off Mox and the Death Riders in All In but if Swerve gets involved his belt is definitely in danger!

Will has been the biggest threat (next to Hangman) to Mox' title, not by actually fighting him but by interfering at every single vulnerable link of Mox' plan! And yet, he's running free and wild? Mox is just letting Will do anything he wants and I don't understand why??

[theglowafterdark]

Ok folks back to the shenanigans.

Similar to last year, since I already summarized my crappy 2025, I have to thank our Wrestling Gods from parts unknown to lift up my spirit in dark times with incredible things between the ropes, specifically for (and be prepared because it's a very long list of amenities with no particular order):

Smackdown in Bologna. See MCMG live. Alex Shelley reposted my ig story.

Hangman champion, Strickpage had the good ending that we deserved at All in.

But. Wasn't the end.

Swerve saving Hangman at Full Gear and they finally become Partner in Crime. Strickpage is alive and very (un)healthy. Or sick and twisted, as they like. Now let's make them tag champion in 2026. Ok? Good.

(Bonus:Swerve mention the Strickpage every chance he gets and if you don't believe me check his X account or IG. Swerve is the captain of the ship)

The Bucks reunited with Kenny, the Elite is back.

Bte is back

Edge and Christian were back for Forbidden Door. Wow. What a throwback for me.

Jurassic Express are back.

Charlotte and Alexa (they are not friends). Rhea and Iyo. Toni and Mina. Harley and Kris. Harley and Willow. Sol and Zaria. Year of sismances.

El Desperado vs Jun Kasai in a messy sexy violent death match at Death Pain invitational. Lots of roses, lots of blood, lots of kisses.

Kosei wins bosj32

Ninja Mack backflipping over and over and following Robbie X to the entrance at bosj32.

Robbie Eagles slutty shorts.

Elp and Despe bromance.

Elp smooching Despe, Tanahashi and attempting to kiss Goto at New Japan cup day one.

Elp trying to kiss Gabe Kidd at Shinnichi Champion but instead Gabe has bitten him on the nose. Because he's a mad man.

Elp sending love to Robbie Eagles at Bosj32. Robbie Eagles being a huge tsundere speaking about Elp every chanche he gets. In 2025. After 6 years.

Elp telling us that he forgets why he hates Robbie.

Elp kissing Shota Umino on the cheek at the World Tag League day 2. And Shota sheepshily accepting the kiss

Basically Elp and his pursuit of love.

Chris Brookes challeges Elp for the NJPW TV title at Wrestle Kingdom 20 (I cannot wait)

The existance of Harley Cameron, Speedball Mike Bailey and Danshoku Dieno.

Bun Bun. La Yeska. El Demonito. Alexa's doll. Every Harley puppets. 2025 the years of wrestling puppets. Give Harley Cameron some credit.

The Golden Lovers reunion.

Every single sexual reference from Toni Storm

The last year of Hiroshi Tanahashi. Bless his heart and his knees.

Zack Sabre Jr.

Zack Sabre Jr. Champ twice.

Zack Sabre Jr. at Rev Pro Anniversary xiii.

Zack Sabre Jr. Vs Taichi (and the emotional intake)

Zack Sabre Jr. Vs. Kidd Bandit

Zack Sabre Jr. Vs Nigel McGuinness.

Zack Sabre Jr. and the homoerotic tension between him and every single opponent.

Zack Sabre jr and...you got the point.

Chris Brookes smooching everybody except Zack Sabre Jr.

Zack Sabre Jr. Vs Chris Brookes at Ultimate Party leave kissing and holding hands. Love stories needs good endings.

Chris Brookes vs Drew Parker in Japan. Be enotional tsunderes in 2025. Smooching in 2025. Fucking bastards.

Chris Brookes finally exposing his buttchicks.

Drew Parker dressing like a bride and like Wednesday Addams...Drew Parker being a good girl.

Takeshi Masada being a good babygirl, until he decided to leave Shadenfreude International. Still processing.

Be at Forbidden door 2025. The meet and greet with Swerve e Nana

Young Bucks entering with Mmmbop theme song and Kenny chilling in the back ground at Forbidden Door. And I was there.

The rising of Gabe Kidd(sooner or later will become the new leader of bc ) and his relationship with Tanahashi. He made him cry. A lot. It means that Gabe is qualified for japanese citizen.

Strange love connection. Strange Love Connection become tag champions at Ultimate Party...and Kanon be haunted sistematically by Dieno live every chance he gets and by Despe on twitter.

Ospreay becoming a martyr basically, but still the best butt around.

The desire of Alex Shelley to become wrestling dad every chance he finds new kids in the business.

Seth and Roman. The never ending story.

Seth and Punk. The never ending story.

Aj Lee the original crazy chick is back and I'm back in my Chuck Taylor's and dress like I'm in my 23 again. (Delulu me)

Every McIntire hilarious promo.

Every MJF promo.

Be in Manchester to attend Dynamite and Collision Holyday Bash to witness live Strickpage, to see Nigel Mc Guinness and to have the time of my life.

The John Cena turn heel. I waited 20 years. (Yes I'm that old) They ruined it but even if short, it happened.

David Finlay and Hiromu Takahashi. No explenation needed.

Kazuki Hirata become (finally!) champion. Was short but sweet.

TOKYOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Thank you Wrestling Gods I owe you so much, cannot wait to see what you're cooking for the 2026.

And I wish all of you, an amazing new year💗💗💗

[marq-lynch]

Goddamn It but I'm getting emotional thinking about the next phase of the StrickPage feud they've set up and how Swerve might just save Hangman Page with the Power of Love.

No, really. Hear me out...

Swerve approached Hangman initially with the intention of proving himself worthy of a title shot, but also because he saw Hangman as someone who had lost his way, squandered his opportunities, and forgotten who he was: a deathmatch dealing little maniac who channels his anxiety into truly unhinged Cowboy Shit when push comes to shove. And in pushing Hangman to remember that and see how far that rabbit hole went, Swerve found the parts of himself that mirrored and perfectly balanced Hangman: not only the obsession and violence, but later on his integrity, some aspects of his relationship to the fans, etc.

But as they spiral further and further into this obsession with each other, it becomes clear to Swerve that while he Sees Hangman, Hangman no longer sees him. Or perhaps, he never saw him. For all the grandiose talk they have of being bound together, Hangman seems to twist Swerve more and more into a cartoonish villain in his own mind while he himself sinks into horrific acts, while Swerve has always maintained a literal grin and a laugh at their games. They're playing, right. (He knows that they've been playing, right?)

So Swerve pulls away. He focuses on himself, he becomes champion, he does great, he disengages, this isn't healthy. But he can't avoid the pull. Hangman draws him back in, having let the game take over his perceived reality. The 'Go Home to Your Wife' promo before the house fire and cage match? Is so good at showing this. And by the end of that match Hangman seems to have a moment of horrific, slightly too late realization, that Swerve is Just a Man.

So what's the important difference between Swerve and Hangman then? I think it's that throughout the feud and before there is a continuous effort to show that Swerve Strickland is Unapologetically Himself. He starts the feud as a heel and face turns with a bit of introspection but no apologies as Hangman will point out, but mostly he owns every one of his actions. He is confident in himself, his gear is constantly updated and customized, he puts himself into his music, his name is literally Swerve the Realest. All those stupid posts about how being yourself is work you have to choose? Swerve does all that, and rocketed to the top of AEW at an insane pace.

And Adam Page? Adam Page is the Anxious Millennial Cowboy, who loses himself to every feud he's in, or to the AEW Men's World Championship which means that he's a Good & Successful Person, by the having of it alone. Swerve lost the Championship to Bryan and knocked it off his shoulder that next week, saying 'I will always be referred to as a World Champion', because he has the self-confidence and self-esteem so he doesn't let it define him.

Adam is the one won't admit that his wife left him months ago, who is hiding under layers of alcohol and rage and isolating himself to avoid further rejection again in a repeat of patterns he's had before, but this time even the audience has turned on him as well, clinging to the one remaining relationship that he can to define himself with Swerve.

He has a perfect, fucked up double in Swerve. But only Adam is the one with the broken mirror reflection.

We had The Redemption of Adam Page the first time he won the world championship, yes. But if he wins it again? It's going to be because he's hit a new kind of rock bottom that allows him to figure out who he is without the love of anyone to lean on as a crutch- Not the Dark Order, Not The Audience... All he has is a version of him that's already done it, successfully. And been loved for it.

Hangman just needs to let himself stop hating the warped perception of the version of himself that loves himself and kiss love him too

Thank you for coming to my ted talk

[rwworks]

t4t strickpage save me