Transfer of Affection

What a totally one-sided mis-match!

The extreme strength and impressive power of studly Titus O’Neill was on full display during the August 1st episode of RAW as he wrestled his former partner, Darren Young.

When a Tag Team breaks up and the partners face off, the scene is often emotional and brutal, and this match is no exception.

As the Prime Time Playaz, these two bros were a fun (but largely unsuccessful) team to watch. I first sang their praises in 2012. Titus played the Big Dog while Young acted like a scrappy little pup.

I’m not sure when their partnership ended — I know it was years after Young came out as gay in 2013.  I know they were still together in late 2015 when the Wyatt Family brutalized them.

When you can catch him in mid-air, you know you own him.

O’Neill’s strength is emphasized through power moves — such as catching the smaller man after he foolishly dove off the ropes, man-handling him by the back of his trunks, and then cracking his spine across a bent knee.  Titus is in an ornery mood tonight for some unknown reason, so Young is doomed.

Was THAT really necessary??

The Big Dog just comes unglued on poor Darren in his bright red “Look At My Ass” trunks.  Titus begins delivering these brutal, violent moves, as if trying to kill poor little Darren!

Pro wrestling bloggers have been wondering why this match had to be so rough and one-sided?  Why was Titus acting so Heelish?

Why you gotta be so cruel?

Usually former partners fight viciously because they’re trying to prove who was the stronger Alpha.  But Titus has nothing to prove.  Just gaze at big hunky Titus.  He was clearly the dominant Daddy of their team, always having to rescue Darren.  So Titus’s ego is not the cause of this viciousness.

Did they do this in their hotel rooms back when they were partners?

I believe the key to solving O’Neill’s anger issue lies in the presence of Bob Backlund, whose job is to Make Darren Great Again.

You can see Backlund lurking in some of these images, wearing his red suspenders and bowtie (which match the color of Young’s trunks.)  He is now the male authority figure in Darren Young’s life.

Are you just mad that he found a new Bestie?

O’Neill’s rage can be understood from a queer reading of this match.  He and Young were partners, with O’Neill playing the “daddy” role.  Now Young is taking orders from his new coach, thereby transferring his affection.  O’Neill’s brutality can be interpreted as a passionate reaction to having been spurned by Young.

We only hurt the ones we love.

After Young announced his sexual preference, partner Titus stuck by his side, perhaps even increasing the amount of physical touching and public displays of affection.  So maybe Titus was into Young, like they were maybe more than partners.  His overly aggressive rage in this match lends support to this theory.

Hey — get your hands out of his pants — that is illegal!

Also, Titus is seen gripping and pulling Young’s trunks several times.  For example, he ends the match with a very obvious, nearly vulgar Trunk Pull as he rolls Young up for the pinfall.

Is this meant to imply a sex act?  Are we to understand this is perhaps not the first time Titus pulled Young’s pants down?  Is Titus feeling jealous that another man — Backlund — is the one with his hands in Darren Young’s trunks now?