osakarob's blog

The COVID stay-at-home order has probably given us all a lot of time to reflect.

During this time, I've identified 2 regrets:

1. I regret that I didn't record ALL of my previous matches. I have a few - some even dating back to before we all had cameras on our phones. But wish I had recorded many more of them.

2. There are guys who I've wanted to have matches with for years - but never did so because they were "too far away."

I wish I hadn't hesitated to get on a flight and travel for a weekend just for those matches.

I hope to turn these regrets into positive resolutions when this is all over!
Has the lockdown made you think of anything similar?

For a number of personal reasons I don't have as much opportunity for matches as I used to. That's mostly on me.

But when I do get the rare chance to meet up with new opponents, I try to share as much information as possible about my interests/styles/expectations....mostly to help determine whether I'm a good fit for a match with them.

So, question for you: How important are "action shots" to you in a person's profile?

By action shots I mean photos or videos of your prospective opponent engaged in a match versus simple profile shots of their body or whatever. Are you more interested in a prospective opponent if they've got some good action shots in their galleries?

Or, maybe they don't matter at all to you. Maybe the number of "past opponents" or "recommendations" are a better gauge for you?

Just curious what people think specifically about action shots.

I’m not a trash talker and nothing in my profile suggests that verbal taunting is a thing I enjoy. No judgement against anyone who incorporates it into their matches….just not something I’m into personally.

So you can imagine how surprised I was to get an unsolicited message that started out with no introductions and instead just went immediately into silly taunting. Does this seem like normal behavior? Did I over-react by blocking?

I’ve copied the entire exchange below.

Trash Talker: “Ok, lets get something straight here. This is a website for wrestling and fighting. Its NOT a Cabbage Patch Doll modeling agency website.”

Osakarob: “Huh? I’m sorry. I don’t understand why you messaged me that.”

Trash Talker: “Right! Just like im sure that if I pinned you to the ground, you would be all like “Huh?? I don’t understand why you pinned me!!!”

Osakarob: “Dude, seriously. I don’t know what you are trying to say. Cabbage patch modeling agency?! Wft.

Trash Talker: “Have you ever seen a Cabbage Patch doll? Google it!”

Osakarob: “I don’t get you, man. Are you trying to say I’m a Cabbage Patch doll?! What the fuck, dude. Seriously. Try to better articulate what you are trying to say, or else I’m blocking.”

Trash Talker: “You aren’t the most absorbent tampon in the box, are you? Yes, I was comparing you to a Cabbage patch doll. DUH!!!!”

Osakarob: “You are a very strange dude. If this is how you approach people for the first time, you might want to try a different tack. It probably explains your "0 past opponents".

Trash Talker: Yeah, usually when guys start talking about meeting up for fighting/wrestling, they begin with the whole tea and crumpets pleasantry thing. And so far ive had 3 appointments for fighting and all of them were no-shows because they were too afraid to fight me!”

Osakarob: “Allow me to offer some unsolicited advice. If you are trying to make new friends - especially ones that you hope to connect with for a match - you might not want to start out immediately with crazy trash talk. If that’s your thing; cool. Some people like that. But you might not want to LEAD with it.
I’m sure you’ll make more friends by approaching guys with a compliment about their profile. Or ask for more details about what kind of match they’d like and whether you’d be a good fit as a potential opponent. Plenty of time to bluster, trash talk, and tease after you get to know each other. Best of luck in your search.”

Trash Talker: “Ok, here goes. Your profile is really nice. So, with that out of the way, can I start talking like a true warrior male?”

Osakarob: “C’ya, dude. Hope you find what you are looking for.“

The trash talker was then blocked by me. It’s only the second time I’ve ever blocked anyone.

Recently DetectiveMask and I were chatting in the MF chatroom. We were discussing my earliest matches - that date to the late 1990s and early 2000s. I explained that those encounters were in Japan during the early years of the internet and that a small number of those battles made it onto a blog for the Japanese wrestling video company called WrestleFactory (aka PAPW).

Imagine my surprise when he sent me links to images of some of those matches - curated via of the Internet Wayback Machine.

I hadn't seen the images in over 20 years! A profound feeling of nostalgia and longing swept over me.

It made me wonder.....Do you keep videos of your matches?
What is the oldest video/photo you have of yourself wrestling?