Ten Fucking Years.
Well, it's going on 10 years and I'm glad to say I was around for about nine and a half of them! Which to me is absolutely amazing to think about because I'm not sure I've ever committed to ANYTHING this long. Lumping in my time spent in IWF, VTV, and Rage and I think I've been at this for a good 13-14 years, all of which under feds that share the same history.
Really, it's unreal to think I've been part of making history in this fed for this long. From roleplays to matches to creative I don't even think I could begin to guess how many words I've written over the years but I can't say I regret a single one of them. OSW has been my home since I got here man. The stories are fantastic, the writers are top notch, and even if I don't hang out in chat that much I can certainly say it's one of the nicest group of people I have ever had the fortune of being around.
It's such a big part of my life that I think every last one of my friends has heard me talk about it at length. I love this place, I love being able to wake up on a Sunday and know that I'll see another show ready to read. I wake up EXCITED on Sundays because I know the show will be early, I know Dean and the rest of the creative and match writing teams busted their asses to make sure it happens consistently. We're truly lucky to have a place like this.
But, the reason I'm still here isn't just the stories, it's not the early shows, it isn't any of that. I stay here because it's where some of my best friends are. I stay because every week we get to create a wonderful piece of collaborative media to enjoy together.
I stay because OSW is home, man.
I hope to get see 10 more years, I'd be happy to see 20 more years. All I know is that for as long as OSW is open, I'll be here too.
Mostly everyone here knows by now the circumstances in which I find myself with my mom. Life has been really difficult over the last seven or eight years especially, and in the moments when I've honestly felt like I couldn't do it anymore, I turned to Old School Wrestling and Dean in particular. The truth is, and I'm ashamed to say it, but his friendship and this federation have kept me from falling over the edge numerous times over the years. In recent times, things have gotten better but I'll never forget how much having a friend like Dean and a place like this has meant to me and still does.
An e-fed isn't supposed to be life saving. It isn't supposed to bring you back from places your mind shouldn't really go but Old School Wrestling has done that for me. Just knowing that I can open the browser on my phone, come here and write, often makes the difference when I'm having a terrible day or worse. Putting pen to metaphorical paper as a character I love so much is an absolute pleasure every single time I get the opportunity to do it and the shows take me away from whatever is happening that I don't want to content with.
It was said here that Old School Wrestling is more than just an e-federation. No truer words have been spoken. For nigh on ten years of my life I have been in and out (mostly in) and what it has done for me can't be understated in any way, shape or form. I could never permanently leave it. It's a fixture of my life whether I have time to write that week or not and I would never choose for that not to be the case. I'm sure there are thousands of e-feds out there and there's probably a few that might turn a head or two, but none of them are this.
Thank you for ten years, Deano. I love you, brother. Thank you for giving me somewhere to go when I really needed it. Thanks for being a friend. Thanks to everyone else for helping make this a special home for all of us, even if we aren't social butterflies.
I want to congratulate everyone here—you’ve all built something truly special.
I know I’m still in my rookie season, learning and growing, and I can’t take credit for the full 10 years. But I got in right before the milestone, and it’s amazing to have even contributed a little to this incredible place.
When I first joined, I knew no one here (despite what that Josh Conway handler thought, haha), but it didn’t take long to see why OSW has lasted a decade. Your hard work and passion shine through in everything you do.
Why are you here?
Because this is where storytellers should be. I get the chance to write about my character, have fun, and enjoy the incredible work others put into theirs. OSW combines my love for wrestling and storytelling, and I even go back to read old results just to soak in the history.
But most of all, I feel welcomed. The conversations, the laughs, and even just creeping in during work to check Discord it’s a community that feels like home.
Why have you stayed?
Simple: It’s fun.
From the moment I signed my contract to writing this message, I’ve had an absolute blast. The results are always amazing, the stories are a great read, the live shows are next-level—everything OSW does makes me want to stay.
You all allow me to be here, and I’m grateful for that. I’ll be here until the wheels fall off if you’ll have me.
What do you love about OSW?
There’s so much to love. Creative freedom. Everyone has a role. No egos. Win, lose, or draw—we all have fun. Whether you’re the world champ or the new guy, you’re part of something special.
It helps that Dean is a cool dude—I message him at random times about whatever, and he’s never once made me feel like a bother. Leadership here is top-notch.
Being on Creative is an amazing feeling. Writing segments and seeing people enjoy them is incredibly rewarding. I’ve always had a team mentality from playing sports, and that’s exactly what OSW feels like—a team. We win together.
What does OSW mean to you?
This place is a home away from home.
Life is hectic—work, providing for my wife and daughter—but OSW is my creative escape. I’ve always loved this hobby. When I first found e-feds as a kid, I was hooked. As I got older, I wrote for MMA journalist websites, even made money off it. But that world wasn’t what I hoped. It left me burnt out, depressed, and feeling like I never truly fit in.
But OSW is different. Passion oozes from every corner of this place, and I get to be part of it. My character exists in this world alongside some of the most talented and welcoming writers I’ve ever met. I’ve only been here for months, but I already feel like one of the boys.
More than just wrestling, OSW is an outlet. It’s even motivated me to write again.
I told Dean this, and I’ll say it again: If I ever suddenly disappear from this place, I’m legit dead. (Morbid, I know, but it’s the truth.)
But if I have anything to say about it, I’ll be here for the next 10 years. I want to earn that veteran status.
Thank you all for your hard work and passion in making it to 10 years. It’s an honour and a privilege to be part of OSW, and I can’t wait to see where the next decade takes us.
Fuck 10 years man, it simultaneously feels like a long time (mainly cause we're all old fuckers n0w) and like damn yesterday at the same time. I remember back in 2011, happily retired from effeding when PJ approached me about rping again, joining one fed as a tag team and joining another that he had just started out in. The tag team one I can't remember for the life of me (I don't even think we had one match there) and of course, the other one was the IWF.
Now I'd retired because of burn out, fed heads who either let the inmates run the asylum or had their friends and fuck everyone else, but within maybe two weeks, Dean showed me he was different. He was driven, he was there for handlers but didn't take shit either (the affectionately named Dean Smash), would reward based on merit not who tried sucking his dick that day. So I stayed, and grew up a fairly impressive legacy in IWF but it's also where I met some damn good friends like Mikey, Dave, Hayden, Brian, Mel to name a few.
And then IWF slowly died for various reasons. The successors showed up like VTV and Rage but it didn't feel the same. The great handlers I was used to where there and I was having fun but it didn't feel like the IWF did. I was starting to feel that burn out again and then Dean messaged me on facebook about OSW.
So I almost didn't join. RAGE was starting to suck the fun out of the game again and I was close to re-retiring but I mulled it over. Dean was a friend, I loved working with him and I figured fuck it, give it a month or so, see how it feels.
It only took two weeks for me to be all in on OSW. Not only was it the same creative rush that I felt in IWF, not only were the shows and everything better in OSW, but the overall atmosphere was better. We joke that OSW Dean is Dean 2.0 but although we were friendly in IWF, we truly became friends and more in OSW, same with a hell of a lot of people.
And over the past decade, this tiny little experiment has grown into something fucking huge. From the thoughts of the live show that everyone and their mother copies now, to the ever growing mythos and changing to more of a television show then an actual wrestling company, to the simple idea of game night with the boys, OSW has truly become something irreplaceable and unreplicable not just because of the ideas but the ridiculous talent behind them.
OSW has the best writers in the game who have put out some of the best promos that would rival some of the greatest in history, the stories we've written and been involved in would easily stand with some of the best in written history and the big moments in live shows, tell me that the birth of Noah or the destruction of the Tap Room wouldn't win multiple awards if it was live action. But it's not just about the shows themselves, it's about the people.
From Laners, Hayden, Mel, Daws, Damo, Cal, to the guy who joined a little later like Matt or Bryno to the new faces like Jin or Taufik, to even the ones who aren't here anymore like Dave or Sammy you guys don't only make this place amazing but you make it feel like a home. Cause for the past ten years, OSW has been my home, and you people have been my family. You're my brothers for life and I do love you all.
So here's to ten, fifteen, twenty, hell like Hayden is fond of saying, doing this till we're geriatrics who can barely see the screen while our grandchildren are promoing with us, OSW 4 life and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this place.
Wow, ten years! It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? A full decade of writing, creating, and being part of something truly special. Looking back, I can say with absolute certainty that writing for OSW has been the best time of my writing life. Every story, every promo, every moment spent shaping words and ideas has been an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. It has been more than just writing.. it’s been a journey of passion, creativity, and camaraderie.
But let’s be honest; none of this would be possible without one man: Dean. From day one, his vision has been the foundation of everything we’ve built. He’s not just the driving force behind OSW; he’s the sticky glue that holds us all together. Without him, we wouldn’t be sitting here celebrating this milestone. Dean, your dedication, your leadership, and your unwavering belief in what we do have made all the difference. We owe you more than we can ever put into words, though, of course, we’ll try because, well, we’re writers!
One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing how we’ve all grown, not just as writers, but as men. Over the years, we’ve sharpened our skills, pushed each other to be better, and evolved in ways we never imagined when we first started out. The talent and passion in this group are unmatched, and I feel lucky to be surrounded by such an inspiring team. Each of you has contributed something unique, and together, we’ve built something that truly matters.
And as we mark this incredible milestone, I can’t help but look ahead with excitement. If the past ten years have been this amazing, imagine what we can do with another ten! There’s still so much to write, so many stories to tell, and so many memories to make. I have no doubt that we have plenty of fuel left in the tank, and I look forward to seeing where this journey takes us next.
So, let’s raise a glass, to ten years of OSW, to the incredible journey we’ve shared, and to the many more years ahead. Here’s to us, to our growth, and to the stories still waiting to be written! Love you all!
Why are you here?
I'm here because I have an itch for roleplaying once more but not being able to stress myself by typing a few thousand words every single week. I don't need that stress haha.
Why have you stayed?
The community. Everyone here doesn't have any main character syndrome, and I like it!
What do you love about OSW?
Everyone here is creative, and Dean does a lot to make sure everyone's character is highlighted in every way possible.
What does it mean to you?
EVERYTHING!
I know, I'm a man of a few words but believe me... I love this place more than any efed I've been (except the first one... nobody should forget their first.) And Matt, just admit it, you know that were your friends.
Why are you here?
I've been efedding off and on for half of my life span, but none more consistently than OSW. When IWF closed down, I came to OSW very briefly but I thought that when I left I was honestly done. Some years went by, and I was checking through my emails and saw an invite to come back for an IWF Invasion Angle.. which I did. I love it here. I've always loved writing. That is why I'm here.
Why have you stayed?
For me, it's definitely the community. I've been through a lot and there's been quite a few of you that I've been able to lean on when I needed someone the most.
What do you love about OSW?
Everyone here is so talented. These are some of the best writers I've come across, honestly.
What does it mean to you?
It means family. I love you guys. Here's to 10 more years, yeah?