It’s January 2020. Houston, Texas, is hosting the Royal Rumble and its ardent prelude, Worlds Collide , where NXT and NXT UK talents face each other in a showcase of WWE’s future. I was given two media passes to both events, and made the three-hour drive from Austin with my best friend Peanut to stay the weekend.
During one match, we hear a guy yelling at the top of his lungs. To my surprise, it was my buddy Shellz, who I met through Twitter and did a Nation of Domination cosplay with during WrestleMania 34 weekend. We take some pictures, go to my hotel room to record a podcast, and agree to hit a few bars afterward.
Walking through downtown Houston, we see some familiar faces: WWE superstars Bayley and Sasha Banks. Playing it cool, I look over as we pass them and say, “Hey, big fan.” They say thanks, and everyone keeps walking—everyone except Shellz.
He stops them and rolls up his pants leg to show the duo his split tattoo featuring both of their logos. I’m experiencing secondhand embarrassment, but soon realize I’m the only one, as everyone has a great laugh, exchanges daps, and goes about their evening. It would soon be the last wrestling weekend for a while for most, but Shellz and Peanut, who both passed away the following year, were able to close out their pro wrestling fandoms with huge exclamation points.
And in a world where many choose to play it safe, Shellz’s last wrestling weekend was one in which he risked pride and comfort to show his appreciati.
