Watchmen, 2 of 2

Old television shows and classic Superhero comics often used the “Force to Watch” trope, where the Hero — an invincible stud — bravely refuses to submit to the villain’s evil plot and sadistic threats.  But then (cue the suspenseful music) the Hero is shown his side-kick, tied up and helpless at the Baddie’s mercy.  Now the Stud is forced to choose between standing by and watching the torture of his beloved friend, or unwillingly submitting to the villain’s twisted demands.  Love that stuff!

The excitement of Tag Team wrestling is enhanced by frequent use of the “Force to Watch” trope, with the Safe Partner outside the ring full of despair as his BFF is brutalized just a few feet away.  The more anxious and distraught the Safe Partner appears, the stronger the implied bond and potential love between the two Tag Team partners. The Safe Partner is “outed” by his outrage.

A Tag Team wrestler is expected to protect his partner, to “have his back.”  So it’s also a slap in the face for the Safe Partner to see his boy in trouble yet to be unable to assist.  This implies that the ineffective Safe Partner has failed to protect the Partner in Peril — to prevent his destruction, just like a husband who fails to defend his wife’s honor feels like a chump.

There is a sense of ownership or possession between Tag Team partners, that they belong exclusively to one another just like a married couple.  Being forced to separate, for one partner to go forth and wrestle (to get intimate) with random other men always seems like a violation of their bond — a betrayal.  The anxiety expressed by the Safe Partner as he watches the other men having their way with his boy may be jealousy as much as outrage.

I used to fantasize about the villain in the ring sadistically increasing the pain he was inflicting on the helpless victim if the victim’s partner failed to obey his orders.

I’d picture the Baddie applying some painful hold on his victim and yelling across the ring: “Hey Johnny, I see you over there trying to sneak in and save your little boyfriend here!  If you don’t get back outside the ropes where you belong, I swear to God I’m gonna BREAK his NECK.”

Johnny pauses, so the villain increases the pressure and the victim begins to scream.  Johnny quickly complies with the villain’s demands to minimize his partner’s suffering, trusting the cruel villain not to punish his poor partner too badly if he, Johnny, is obedient.

“Very good, chump. You better do what I tell you and stay outside those ropes.  Next time you make a move, I’m gonna really hurt your little boyfriend here!” Johnny is paralyzed with indecision — if he tries to enter the ring, his partner will be savaged.  If he stays out, his partner will be slowly, deliberately dissected.  Johnny has been effectively shut down by the dirty cheaters in control of his partner.

The  villain has gained the psychological advantage like Luke Skywalker using his Jedi Mind Tricks, which is somehow hotter than simply gaining a physical advantage through brute force.  Johnny finds himself mentally under the villain’s command, enslaved by his affection and concern for his tortured buddy.

Am I the only one who thought about these twisted little scenes like this  — the dominant Tag Team punishing the helpless partner-in-peril in order to mentally control the Safe Partner?

It made pro wrestling even more fun to watch if you could think up little scenarios or inter-personal feuds between the wrestlers and revisit those scenes later in your wildest fantasies.