Strange Things In Wrestling – August 2021

Welcome to the return of Strange Things In Wrestling. It has been a while since we explored some of the weird and awkward moments in wrestling. As a refresher, this column intends to highlight anything from the world of wrestling with odd, unique, quirky, or possibly bizarre qualities because that’s what makes them stand out. We’ll dive deep into a handful of different things, stories whose strange nature is something that should be featured. Keep in mind – strange much like anything open for discussion, is subjective. Remember, one person’s odd is another person’s completely acceptable.

In this month’s edition, we tackle why a 72-year old was trending on Twitter, how two proposals happened in rival promotions during the same week, the birthday of someone very fun and very evil, and a trend with a viper that was a legend killer but also had this uncanny tendency of sending them to a rival promotion. They are fun, they are refreshing, and make you think! Well, they may make you think, but they are without a shadow of a doubt anything we thought about….in July! So, without further ado, here are Strange Things in Wrestling This Month August 2021.

Ric Flair is Trending

Typically when someone trends in wrestling, it has to do with what they have said or done. However, in the case of Ric Flair, it’s a combination of him trending for what he did AND didn’t do. He recently accompanied his future son-in-law Andrade El Idolo when he faced Kenny Omega for the AAA Championship. During the match, he styled and profiled. Flair chopped Omega and Konnan and even slapped the figure four leglock on them as well. It truly was a memorable night for Flair regardless of whether or not Andrade walked out of the match as the winner.

However, it was on August 18th where Ric Flair was also trending. This time, however, it had absolutely nothing to do with wrestling. Well, one could say he was wrestling. If anything, there was what resembled a pinning predicament in the photo that was taken. A photo has been floating online (which we likely can’t post here) of a person that resembled Ric Flair performing a sexual act on a passenger. The comments surrounding it have circulated from everything from ‘at 72, Ric Flair is still the man’ to people being sheerly mortified at the prospect of him being the one in that photo. Ric commented with the tweet you see below.

This Picture Is As Real As That Other One Floating Around. The Nature Boy Doesn’t Ride Trains! WOOOOO WOOOOO! pic.twitter.com/XdM6AlQ3wM

— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) August 18, 2021

However, one has to say from a completely analytical point of view, the person in the photo appeared to be in complete control as the person underneath had no other option but to submit or tap, which they likely were doing. Unfortunately, no audio was made available, but we’re safe to presume no one came out of this as losers, we think.

Proposals -To Kayfabe or Not To Kayfabe

One of the most unique things about wrestling promotions tends to be how they can be compared to one another. Therefore, it tends to be a topic of discussion in particular as it pertains to WWE and AEW. For critics of AEW, the discussion that tends to exist is they will copy what the WWE does. For critics of the WWE, they do things to death until anything new isn’t new or fresh anymore. However, this discussion of what happens between the WWE and AEW is what happened the week of August 16th to August 20th.

The on-screen love affair went to the next level on the August 17th edition of WWE’s NXT program. With the help of Beth Phoenix, Indi Hartwell went down on one knee and proposed to Dexter Lumis. The reaction by those watching and those in attendance was tremendous! It was the culmination of the star-crossed lovers finally being given a chance to make things right. Of course, the proposal wasn’t meant to be anything more than innocent fun between characters that to assume anything more would be silly, right?

In an odd turn of events, the following night on AEW’s Dynamite, Sammy Guevara had a special announcement to make. Prior to his match with Shawn Spears, Guevara brought his girlfriend in the ring in his hometown of Houston, Texas. Then, he, in an unexpected act, proposed to his real-life girlfriend.

So while we congratulate Sammy and his girlfriend somewhere, In-Dex is upstaged and wondering whether or not pie will be served at the end of their next date.

Happy Birthday Danhausen

He’s very nice and very evil. He is also one of a kind. Danhausen, who resembles Dracula with his facepaint, runs lines and jokes akin to The Simpsons for those unfamiliar. He isn’t to be taken seriously and even has the enjoyment from Jim Cornette as a personality behind him. As a member of the Ring of Honor roster, Danhausen’s hiring was also as part of an online lobbying of fans wanting him to be signed. In wrestling, it’s important to get over, and with Danhausen, he is certainly over. His rather unique nature has made him stand out.

Danhausen is less of a wrestler, it seems, and more of a personality, and that’s fine too. He celebrated a birthday last week, and the outpouring of those drawn to him is equal to those who likely don’t know him. Danhausen has been a part of interviews with Chris Jericho. So in the often strange world of wrestling, a character may not be a champion but is championed by his look, feel, and off-beat nature.

Danhausen is among the newest personas on the independent circuit to capture fans’ attention both in-person and online. For those unaware of his off-beat shenanigans are encouraged to follow his very nice yet very evil Twitter account here.

The Randy Orton Trend

He hears voices in his head..blah blah blah fans know the rest of the tune. It’s not so much about the arguments that happen within his head but rather an ongoing trend tied to those outside of his head. In fact, they aren’t only outside of his head but in front of his face..as in within arms reach. Anyway, after we get past this rambling, the circulating argument is that Unlike Kevin Bacon and the Six Degrees tied to him, Randy Orton manages to make people go to AEW. The argument points to several interactions he’s had that have caused others to leave the promotion and appear in All Elite Wrestling.

For instance, during his feud with Drew McIntyre, he faced various legends. He crossed paths with Christian, to which he hit with a punt and laid him out of action. Another instance was his match with the Big Show to whom he also knocked out with a punt kick as well. While he didn’t knock out Mark Henry, there was also a backstage segment between them. Another instance that was not so tied to him trying to kick off someone’s head or necessarily just out of action involved The Revival. FTR, as they are now known as were also tied to Randy Orton, who are an active part of AEW’s tag team division.

Is this odd, bizarre, or even remotely a strange trend when it comes to rAndy kEnneth Orton (we tried to find a W in his name, but no luck), it is way too; coincidental, don’t you think?

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