[This is the story that
was never supposed to be. Many years ago
(somewhere between 15-20), I wrote One Step Beyond. I ended the story by suggesting an upcoming
match. I never intended to write that
match but to leave it to the reader’s imagination. The story had other ideas. Recently, out of the blue, this story popped
into my head. You may wish to read One Step Beyond first, but it is unnecessary to understand this story. This story is more akin to “old mangler” than
“new mangler.”]
One Step
Beyond – Redux
By
The
Mangler
The crowd at Oscar's Hideaway (usually called Oscars) was
growing restless, waiting for the last match.
This was a gay bar that had been around for a very long time under the
same name, but over the years, it had metamorphosed its way from a secret
gathering spot for gay men to a gay disco bar to a gay twinky bar and finally
to a Leatherman’s bar.
Oscars was named after Oscar Wilde and was a code name
for gay men everywhere. In its present
configuration, a regulation-sized wrestling ring stood in the middle of the
floor. During the week, patrons were
allowed to “play” around in the ring, which usually meant rolling, grabbing,
and having sex. However, several gay
wrestlers used the ring during the day to practice and improve their
skills. The bar hosted professional
fights twice a month under the auspices of the WUL, Wrestling Underground
League.
The league was an independent organization that wrestled
mainly at gay bars and had a decent following.
Recently, it had started doing some streaming of its matches, which
increased its audience. Most of the
wrestlers were either gay or bi, but there were a few open-minded straight
wrestlers as well. They had to be
open-minded because sexual situations were commonplace in the matches.
