“Is this okay? Or should I pack some more?” I asked Dom.
“Bro we’re just going to my house for the weekend, not the month,” Dom replied.
“Yeah, true.”
Dom and I have been roommates in college for over a year now and this is the first time I’m
going home with him. Our friendship was rocky at first. We came from two different
backgrounds, but I guess living together with a stranger can help make a friendship happen.
“Hey, you almost done?” Dom asked.
“Yeah, I’m ready; I just finished up,” I replied.
“Well shoot man, then let’s head out. My mom’s making steak for us and that’s been on my mind
all day.” Dom expressed.
I was nervous at first meeting Dom’s family. I mean what is this group of people from southern
Indiana gonna think about a city kid from Ohio? My nerves quickly calmed as his parents and
two siblings all made me feel like I was already a part of the family. Plus, his mom makes a
mean steak haha.
“Alright KC I hope you enjoyed the meal because we got back and biceps tomorrow,” Dom said
sternly.
“Wait I thought we’d take the weekend off?” I replied confused.
“Haha, no way man. No days off. You know that.”
Dom has been bodybuilding competitively since I’ve known him. Actually, that’s part of the
reason how we became such good friends. I started working out a few months before I came to
university, but I was still a novice. That’s when Dom said he’d help me get in shape if I tracked
his workouts to see his progress over the months. He played football in high school and liked
weightlifting so much he didn’t wanna stop. I came into university at 140 lbs, but thanks to him
I’m at 155 and getting stronger every day. First few weeks were brutal though. I’d wake up so
sore I couldn’t move and I can’t even tell you how many times he’s made me throw up. He still
dwarfs me though at 200 lbs.
Apparently, Dom’s a celebrity at his home gym. Between each set, someone would come up to
him and ask how he’s doing. I’m not complaining though b/c that meant a longer break period
and I sure needed it.
“Alright KC last workout for the day is gonna be buddy curls, sound good?.” Dom explained.
I shrugged in agreement and prayed to God to give me the strength to keep up. Dom was going
more my speed as we already did a lot, but he felt like we could both keep going.
“Alright, buddy keep it up!” Dom shouted.
My arms were barely moving, but Dom’s shouts were helping me pull through.
“3 more reps let's go!!! 2 more reps you can do it!! Last rep, make it count!!!”
My arms felt like they were on fire but I finished with my pride intact. Dom still had some more
reps in him so he busted out a few more while letting me recover.
“Alright man, good work today! Let’s hit the showers before we go.” Dom said.
“Wait, what?” I responded.
“Yeah, my sister has a date tonight so she’ll be in the bathroom for the next two hours easily
and I know my mom ain’t gonna appreciate the two of us drenched in sweat. Don’t worry, just
about everyone here is gone and they keep the showers pretty nice. I know you’ll thank me.”
He had a point. Every part of me was soaked.
“But I didn’t bring any backup clothes,” I explained
“Don’t worry bro, I got you covered,” Dom reassured me.
After we finished showering, I saw Dom looking at an empty room and then he yelled at me:
“YO KC COME SEE THIS!!”
“What?? What???” I stumbled putting on some shorts Dom gave me.
He opened the room he was looking at and said, “this room here is for wrestling! My friends and
I would always go a few rounds after lifting, but I haven’t gotten to do that for a while since none
of us are ever here at the same time anymore, you mind going a couple matches with me?!”
“Uhhh.”
Dom caught me off guard. Here this guy over 40 lbs heavier and 6 inches taller was wanting me
to wrestle with him? I won’t lie, I've always wondered about it. Dom’s showed me videos of him
and his friends wrestling in high school and it looked pretty fun. Plus it’s not like we’ve got
anything better to do. So….
“Sure, why not.” I shrug.
SWEET! Thanks man I really appreciate it! I’ll go easy on ya at first, I know this’ll be new to you.
Here let’s go in our underwear, I’m tight with the owner so I know he won’t mind and we’re pretty
much the last people here today.
“Okay,” I reply kinda nervously.
Dom’s a brute and lifts my PRs for a warmup. No way do I stand a chance, but this sounds like it
could be fun, so what the heck, right?
“Alright, so those are all the basic moves. You have any questions?” Dom asked.
“No, I think I got it. It’s just like all those videos you showed me.” I replied
“Great! So, we’ll do two pins/taps out of three. You ready to get started?”
I feel a little awkward. It’s basically just us here and we’re both in our underwear. I guess it’s
better that there’s nobody watching us since he’s probably about to massacre me.
“Bring it.” I replied
We started locking up and before I knew it I was laid out flat on my back. Dom quickly took his
arm, lifted me up by my leg and got me in a takedown
“Haha come on KC you gotta make this interesting.” Dom taunted, now going for a pin.
“I’m trying man!” I responded trying to get out of this predicament.
Remembering one of the moves, I jabbed Dom in the side a couple of times, which caught him
off guard and then I slipped out of his hold. Gaining momentum, I went in for a chokehold.
This didn’t last long though as Dom rolled onto his back and used his weight to crush me. So
much for my momentum.
We then reset and this time I went in grabbing his legs and tried to go for a takedown, but no
luck, I forgot how stout Dom is.
“Hahaha, I don’t think so KC.” Dom laughed at my overzealousness.
He quickly lifted me up with ease and locked his arms against my exposed waist and began to
squeeze.
“Hahaha now we’re talking KC. Let’s see how much punishment you can take.” Dom said kinda
villainously.
The blood went to my head pretty fast. Dom trapped me in this upside-down reverse bearhug,
which although wasn’t pleasant, was surprisingly fun!
This fun was short-lived as Dom then dropped me in a piledriver and laid me out on the mat. A
loud thud went out and now I was hurting all over.
“Haha you good KC? They don’t call me Dominik the Dominator for nothing you know.” Dom
snickered.
“Unnnggghh.” All I could do was moan in pain. I was conscious, but I was also seeing stars. If I
didn’t come to quick then Dom had this in the bag.
“Sounds like you’re still awake, so I’ll wrap this round up now,” Dom said.
Next thing I know he has me pinned and counts to 3 and just like that, 0-1.
“Well KC you gonna be able to keep going?” Dom asked.
“Uhh y-yeah, I’m fine!” I reply, slapping myself, trying to snap out of my daze.
“Alright then, let’s take a minute and then go for round two,” Dom said.
“Alright.”
“You surprised me with that chokehold! I didn’t think you’d actually make me work for that pin.”
“Well, I just tried to think about the best way to get you to tap and figured that was a good
choice. Guess I started getting a little overconfident haha.”
“Nice bro and naw that just means you’re getting into the spirit of things!! Dang, I’m already
sweaty again! Might have to take another shower once this is over.
He wasn’t the only one. This room was already warm to begin with and with two guys fighting for
dominance, then it’s not that hard to start breaking a sweat again.
“Alright! Let’s start round two!” Dom exclaimed.
I had to be careful this time. Another loss meant game over and now I’m playing to win. I don’t
care about my odds.
We go in for a lock-up and this time I quickly go behind Dom for a reverse bearhug. It’s
short-lived though as Dom breaks out by getting his arms under mine and flexing.
“Nice try bud, but I don’t think so. Here let me show you how it’s done.” Dom says with
confidence.
This time he gets me in a frontal bearhug and man do I feel it. Plus my back ain’t exactly in the
best condition after all the rows and pulls he made me do earlier. He starts cranking up the
pressure and shooting out some taunts about having to feel him up later, but I ain’t focused on
that.
I start screaming a little, but I mimic what he did by getting my arms under his and although I
don’t have the strength to break out like he did me, I DO have the adaptiveness to slide out of
his hold thanks to both of our sweaty bodies.
Determined, I go for his stomach and unless a barrage of gut punches.
Startled, Dom grunts a bit, but then just puts his arms up behind his neck and encourages me to
keep it up, which I do.
Left. Right. Left. Right. I punch so much I begin to get tired, but Dom doesn’t even look phased.
Getting desperate, I take a step back and charge him and somehow take him down and knock
the breath out of him. Using this to my advantage I quickly go for the pin and count to 3 before
he can overtake me and miraculously I get it!!!!!
“OH MY GOSH I PINNED YOU!!” I shouted
“Haha, yeah you got me. Now it’s 1-1. Next one decides it.” Dom says.
“Okay, let’s wrap this up then, Dom!” I feel like I’m on a high and I wanna keep this momentum
while I still got it.
We then start the final round and lock up. Dom quickly goes for a frontal bearhug again, but this
one is way stronger than last round. So much stronger that I can’t break out of it like last time
and my back is in so much pain that I start screaming in agony.
“Hahaha come on Kenneth, don’t let it end like this. Dom says maniacally.
Kenneth??? No way. He just crossed a line. Nobody calls me that and gets away with it.
Suddenly I find a new resolve and manage to get my arms under his and slide out again, but
this time Dom saw it coming and gets me in a takedown. At this point, I’m rolling trying to keep
from getting pinned, but he’s persistent. In a state of panic, I play a little dirty and grab his chest
and claw both his pecs.
It must be working b/c he starts wincing and then I dig in a little deeper. He starts to moan a little
in pain and I stand us both up and get him in my bearhug. I’m using all the strength I have to
squeeze the life out of him and it seems to be doing its job. He’s really heavy, but I guess all the
adrenaline is helping as I start to lift him up. I’m going all out and using all the power I have to
try to get Dom to submit.
Spent, I let go and Dom falls back and I get on top of him going for the final pin.
My heart and mind are racing! I’m actually about to beat him! I begin to count:
“ONE!”
“TWO!”
“THR-“
I’m cut short though as Dom pushes me off like I’m a little kid.
“Alright, Kace. It’s been fun, but that’s as close as I’ll let you get.” Dom says calmly.
I’m completely shocked. He was faking???
My face must say it all b/c he keeps going.
“What? You didn’t think you were gonna beat me, did you? Nah man I play to win. I told you
they call me the dominator and you’re about to see why.”
I try to react but I used up all I had with that bearhug and Dom gets me in a camel clutch.
“Just so you know, I ain’t going for a pin this time. This ends when you tap out, Kenneth haha
and if you quit on me too soon, then I might keep it up a little longer.” Dom warns.
He slams me back on the floor and then gets me in a body scissors and man does it hurt. He
applies so much pressure I’m amazed my back is holding up.
“You’ve seen what my upper body can do Kace, but now you’ll see what my lower body can do
heheh.” Dom snickered.
His legs aren’t no joke either. Dom’s close to squatting 500 lbs and I’m feeling every bit of that
power firsthand as he amps up the pressure even more.
“You’ve had enough yet Kace? You’re looking pretty red?” Dom asks condescendingly.
“Doing…(gasp) great,” I replied. I’m running out of breath and I may pass out if he keeps this up,
but I REFUSE to tap right now.
“Okay, then I guess I’ll change my tactics,” Dom says cheerfully.
“I love doing this one, especially to guys like you Kace,” Dom says as he ditches the scissors
and then has us both stand up. Next thing I know he grabs one of my legs, lifts me off the
ground over his shoulders and now he’s got me in a torture rack.
He showed me this move before we started, but that one wasn’t serious like it is now. He really
cranks up the pressure, trying to bend me until I snap like a toothpick.
As I’m screaming in pain, now I’m realizing he’s specifically using all these back targeted moves
since he knows they’ll hurt the most. “Come on Kace let me hear it!!!” Dom roars.
“Unnnggghh no way!” I say struggling to make out my words.
Dom starts bouncing up and down and I’m realizing why this is called a torture rack. I’m not
gonna be able to take this for much longer.
I’m about to concede but then Dom drops me to the ground in a loud thud.
“Alright Kace, it’s been fun, but now it’s time to end this,” Dom said.
I don’t even have the strength to move and that torture rack left me in more pain than I’ve felt in
my life.
Dom gets me to my feet, looks at me in the eyes, smiles menacingly and asks, “you ready?”
Before I even respond he lifts me up ONCE AGAIN in a bearhug and it’s the worst one yet.
This time he trapped my arms and he’s got such a tight grip that I know he’s finishing this.
With each second he locks in even tighter and I feel like I’m gonna snap in two.
“Come on bud, I don’t wanna have to break your back haha just say the word and this’ll stop,”
Dom said.
Not only does he have me trapped, he starts to flex his pecs to dig in even more.
I have no way out of this and if I wasn’t in so much pain then I would’ve passed out a few
minutes ago.
“AWWGGHH ALRIGHT I GIVE!!” I yell.
“WHAT WAS THAT KACE? I COULDN’T HEAR YOU!! Dom yells, still squeezing me tighter.
“I GIVE!! I GIVE!! I GIVEEEEE!!!!”
“Nice.” Dom drops me again. “I thought that’s what you said haha.”
I’m sprawled out on the floor heaving, trying not to pass out and then Dom comes back and
hands me some water.
“Great work today, KC you’ve really come a long way since the day we met,” Dom says kindly.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. No way would I have been able to do all that stuff 2 years ago.” I
responded.
I start to catch my breath and then ask, “hey Dom how serious were you going and be honest?”
“Haha well first round I was just sizing you up, but then I noticed how serious you were taking it,
so I played along making you think you could beat me. I drew out the matches so you’d exhaust
yourself for the final round and then I could take complete control haha. That’s just how I like to
do things.” Dom said.
“Got it.” I nod my head. He set me up just so he could knock me down even harder. What a
punk.
“Did you have fun at least?” Dom asks slightly concerned.
“Yeah, I did actually!” I responded. “If it’s cool with you, I’d like to go again some other time?”
“Yeah man, for sure!! I’m stoked you said that!! Now let’s get home, mom’s making lasagna
tonight and I’m starving!”
For more stories from KC (id 13877), please click here