History HoYay / WWE

* Wrestling/MrPerfect and The Genius. When Genius began managing and occasionally tagging with Perfect, WWE aired a vignette of Perfect practicing his dives at a pool, while Genius stood by practically drooling over his... athleticism, including a shot where Genius appears to be staring right at Perfect's crotch. Add in The Genius' fairly fey mannerisms and it really came across as less "Look at this badass fighter on my side" and more "Check out how hot my boyfriend is". The pair also did an in-character interview with Regis Philbin and Kathy Griffin, where Philbin essentialy asked them (as explicitly as [[TheEighties eighties]] broadcasting standards would allow) "Are you guys together", to which Perfect replied "Mind your own business". Genius spent most of the interview gazing lovingly at Perfect, which Regis also pointed out.

* An overly long promo by Wrestling/JohnCena, Wrestling/ShawnMichaels, and [[Wrestling/JohnBradshawLayfield JBL]] came off more as Cena and Michaels wanting to make out and big, bad JBL not allowing it than Cena pleading for Michaels' dignity to remain instead of him working as JBL's flunky. Even this troper's non-wrestling fan, non-Ho Yay spotting brother got that vibe throughout the entire promo.

---->'''Wrestling/TripleH''': Shawn, you're obsessed. There are ''plenty'' of other guys for you to main-event Wrestling/WrestleMania with!
---->'''Wrestling/ShawnMichaels''': Not for me.

* The Broserweights (Wrestling/MattRiddle and the previously mentioned Pete Dunne) in NXT, but mainly from Matt's side. He's called Pete 'beautiful man' (after apparently not realizing that Pete calling him a 'smartarse' was sarcasm), said "God, I love looking at you" during a backstage interview, and, via Twitter, told him he wanted to be "more than bros". Pete's reaction to all of this was largely bafflement, although not outright anger.

* In 2008, Wrestling/MichelleMcCool and Cherry. Michelle was very protective of her, and they briefly danced together at one point.

* The Broserweights (Matt Riddle and the previously mentioned Pete Dunne) in NXT, but mainly from Matt's side. He's called Pete 'beautiful man' (after apparently not realising that Pete calling him a 'smartarse' was sarcasm), said "God, I love looking at you" during a backstage interview, and, via Twitter, told him he wanted to be "more than bros". Pete's reaction to all of this was largely bafflement, although not outright anger.

* Speaking of NXT UK, how about Toni Storm and Kay Lee Ray? Granted, it's more FoeYay than anything else, but the WeUsedToBeFriends angle comes off less as Kay Lee being an old friend and more like her being a bitter, jealous ex who's still angry about Toni leaving her.

* Wrestling/BillieKay and Peyton Royce, natch. They do everything from hold hands on their way to the ring to at one point wearing "I Love Billie/Peyton" shirts.

* Wrestling/MrPerfect and The Genius. When Genius began managing and occasionally tagging with Perfect, WWE aired a vignette of Perfect practicing his dives at a pool, while Genius stood by practically drooling over his... athleticism, including a shot where Genius appears to be staring right at Perfect's crotch. Add in The Genius' fairly fey mannerisms and it really came across as less "Look at this badass athlete on my side" and more "Check out how hot my boyfriend is". The pair also did an in-character interview with Regis Philbin and Kathy Griffin, where Philbin essentialy asked them (as explicitly as [[TheEighties eighties]] broadcasting standards would allow) "Are you guys together", to which Perfect replied "Mind your own business". Genius spent most of the interview gazing lovingly at Perfect, which Regis also pointed out.

* Wrestling/MrPerfect and The Genius. When Genius began managing and occasionally tagging with Perfect, WWE aired a vignette of PErfect practicing his dives at a pool, while Genius stood by practically drooling over his... athleticism, including a shot where Genius appears to be staring right at Perfect's crotch. Add in The Genius' fairly fey mannerisms and it really came across as less "Look at this badass athlete on my side" and more "Check out how hot my boyfriend is". The pair also did an in-character interview with Regis Philbin and Kathy Griffin, where Philbin essentialy asked them (as explicitly as [[TheEighties eighties]] broadcasting standards would allow) "Are you guys together", to which Perfect replied "Mind your own business". Genius spent most of the interview gazing lovingly at Perfect, which Regis also pointed out.

* [[Wrestling/BritishStrongStyle Moustache Mountain]] - Trent Seven and Tyler Bate - are pretty cuddly with each other to begin with. There's gifs of them [[https://external-preview.redd.it/aaRwI9fAVtSPXIQSzXZfIKY11K2vGL23LN8gIkooOns.gif?format=mp4&s=49a8e6f163376c4609addbd1d9136d2efe018195 kissing]] and [[https://66.media.tumblr.com/2badf7daf3e93f5462666130d9af1af0/tumblr_probx6BMmU1w01jvuo1_400.gif fixing each others' facial hair]]. But this was all topped by what happened after Tyler was brutally beaten up by WALTER on NXT UK - Trent [[https://www.wwe.com/videos/witness-the-aftermath-of-imperium-s-assault-on-moustache-mountain-wwe-exclusive-july-3-2019 carried him backstage]], bridal-style, all while fussing over him and anxiously telling people to give him some space.
** Not to mention the jokes about Trent and Tyler living in a log cabin together.

* HoYay has been a long tradition for most buddy tag teams, just look up a mid 80's promo for the Can-Am connection and tell me that Wrestling/RickMartel and Wrestling/TomZenk did not seem like they were in love with each other.

* Wrestling/BethPhoenix. Outside of Glamarella, Beth has a laundry list of LesYay moments, from having her own StalkerWithACrush like angle with Wrestling/RosaMendes, who later became her "protege" (there was a very cute "Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman" bit after one match on Superstars where Beth carried Rosa back to the locker room in her arms), to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_zJynPNWK8 this promo with]] Wrestling/CandiceMichelle before their 2/3 Falls Match, to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtSbgmQbxp0 this promo with Maria Menounos the night she was traded to Smackdown (yes, explain in detail what you can do to her, Beth!)]]. And is now in some vaguely gay friendship with {{Wrestling/Natalya|Neidhart}} as they both feuded against the equally suspicious Wrestling/LayCool and continued their partnership after {{Face Heel Turn}}s...
* HoYay has been a long tradition for most buddy tag teams, if you don’t believe me just look up a mid 80's promo for the Can-Am connection and tell me that Wrestling/RickMartel and Tom Zenk did not seem like they were in love with each other.
* Wrestling/TheBigShow and Wrestling/ChrisJericho have taken this to a hilarious new level. Jericho referring to Big Show as his "partner" on an episode of ''Smackdown'' being one.

* Since turning on Wrestling/{{Fandango}}, Wrestling/SummerRae and Wrestling/{{Layla}}'s interactions have just been loaded with LesYay. Hell, one of the first things they did after turning on him was dancing together.

* Certain characters in the Wrestling/{{WWE}}, especially Wrestling/DGenerationX (most notably from a comment by Wrestling/TripleH: ''"I'm bi- a lot of things, but lingual ain't one of them."'') WWE has once parodied this trope in the form of [[Wrestling/BillyGunn Billy]] and Chuck, wrestling's answer to the AmbiguouslyGay Duo.
** Wrestling/DGenerationX is always handy for this. Their 2009 reunion kicked off with Wrestling/TripleH tracking down Wrestling/ShawnMichaels at an office cafeteria, where Michaels had apparently found employment as a cook (don't ask). After some mistaken flirting with a male waiter, Trips found Michaels, who tried to explain that he liked his new job by putting his arm around a young man in a suit. It looked for all the world like Michaels was introducing his new boyfriend to his less-than-supportive ex.
*** This is further supported by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUDtLq6PzdE this video]], wherein Wrestling/ShawnMichaels initiates kissing Wrestling/TripleH, twice! The second kiss, Triple H actually flutters a hand as if fanning himself but that was cut out.
*** Okay, at this point, even the promo monkeys are shipping Wrestling/ShawnMichaels with other men. On the 2/22/10 Raw, the recap video of Shawn's [[SanitySlippage downward spiral]] leading to his [[IDidWhatIHadToDo screwjob of The Undertaker]] in the previous night's Elimination Chamber PPV looks like nothing so much as a failed LoveTriangle relationship between Shawn, Wrestling/TripleH, and Wrestling/TheUndertaker. It's even set to Placebo's "Running Up That Hill", and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC7V-ayjorg it's a gold mine of HoYay]]. Just, watch the video.

** Shawn and Hunter, again, this time at Shawn's farewell to the Wrestling/{{WWE}}. First, Hunter comes out early in the show and promos for a bit on how much he'll miss Shawn. He then says ''"Mainly, I just wanted to come out and say it, something I've always wanted to say to Shawn. I've never said it. But I want to say it now in front of the whole world-"'' . . . and then Wrestling/{{Sheamus}} comes out and dashes the dreams of the fangirl brigade by whacking Hunter upside the head with a lead pipe. Later, as Shawn is [[TearJerker saying his goodbyes]], at the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HZ_9NkUMQ4 very end of the show]] (about 5:30 in the clip) Hunter comes out and gives him one of the sweetest damn goodbyes ever, complete with a HeadbuttOfLove.

*** Not even retirement can separate them. Shawn feels the need to [[http://i55.tinypic.com/2v3imuf.jpg dive across tables to hug Hunter]], [[http://www.thfire.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Triple-H-and-Shawn-Michaels-Interview.jpg they sit extra-close on couches for Wrestlemania interviews]], and [[http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/25300000/Shawn-Michaels-and-Triple-H-shawn-michaels-25390635-480-640.jpg snuggle for Twitter pics]].
* Wrestling/ShawnMichaels is often accused of Ho Yay. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6EQ6s6PZOE I wonder why.]]

* Of course, depending on who you ask, ''all'' of ProfessionalWrestling is HoYay. Many of its detractors love to make this claim (and to be fair, two musclebound men in their underwear rolling on top of each other sounds suspicious out of context -- the way matches between two women usually go down doesn't help matters, as they're often blatant {{Fanservice}}.)

** [[Wrestling/SherriMartel Sensational Sherri]] declared her [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjoQc4neZ8 love for Shawn Michaels in 1992]], saying that now that Shawn and former tag-team partner Marty Jannetty were no longer a team -- "or an item" -- that Shawn now had ample time for ''her''. Make of that what you will.

* [[Wrestling/BritishStrongStyle Moustache Mountain]] - Trent Seven and Tyler Bate - are pretty cuddly with each other to begin with. There's gifs of them [[https://external-preview.redd.it/aaRwI9fAVtSPXIQSzXZfIKY11K2vGL23LN8gIkooOns.gif?format=mp4&s=49a8e6f163376c4609addbd1d9136d2efe018195 kissing]] and [[https://66.media.tumblr.com/2badf7daf3e93f5462666130d9af1af0/tumblr_probx6BMmU1w01jvuo1_400.gif fixing each others' facial hair]]. But this was all topped by what happened after Tyler was brutally beaten up by WALTER on NXT UK - Trent [[https://www.wwe.com/videos/witness-the-aftermath-of-imperium-s-assault-on-moustache-mountain-wwe-exclusive-july-3-2019 carried him backstage]], bridal-style, all while fussing over him and anxiously telling people to give him some space.

* Wrestling/BillieKay and Peyton Royce, natch. They do everything from hold hands on their way to the ring to at one point wearing "I Love Billie/Peyton" shirts.

* NXT is loaded with Lesbian subtext. Wrestling/{{Paige}} and Wrestling/{{Emma}}, Wrestling/SashaBanks and Wrestling/{{Charlotte|Flair}}, Wrestling/{{Bayley}} and... everyone really. Even after leaving NXT, Sasha and Bayley still fall under this category. [[http://tdewrestling.com/post/152882632559/after-everything-2016-has-thrown-at-us-let-this Sasha in particular likes instigating it.]]

* Any time a WWE wrestler retires, there are a lot of behind-the-scenes friendships revealed. {{Man Hug}}s abound, and ManlyTears are shed. Wrestling/RicFlair, Wrestling/ShawnMichaels, and Wrestling/{{Edge}}'s retirement speeches and send-offs on Raw/Smackdown have ridiculous amounts of some of the most [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming heartwarming]] HoYay around.

** Wrestling/DGenerationX is always handy for this. Their most recent reunion kicked off with Wrestling/TripleH tracking down Wrestling/ShawnMichaels at an office cafeteria, where Michaels had apparently found employment as a cook (don't ask). After some mistaken flirting with a male waiter, Trips found Michaels, who tried to explain that he liked his new job by putting his arm around a young man in a suit. It looked for all the world like Michaels was introducing his new boyfriend to his less-than-supportive ex.

*** Okay, at this point, even the promo monkeys are shipping Wrestling/ShawnMichaels with other men. On the 2/22/10 Raw, the recap video of Shawn's [[SanitySlippage downward spiral]] leading to his [[IDidWhatIHadToDo screwjob of The Undertaker]] in the previous night's Elimination Chamber PPV looks like nothing so much as a failed LoveTriangle relationship between Shawn, Wrestling/TripleH, and Wrestling/TheUndertaker. It's even set to Placebo's "Running Up That Hill", and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCRvEA93OJo it's a gold mine of HoYay]]. Just, watch the video.

* Legacy - the alliance of Wrestling/CodyRhodes, Wrestling/RandyOrton, and Wrestling/TedDiBiaseJr. - has been described as the Ambiguously Gay Trio for a large number of reasons. The big one is that they are ''constantly'' without pants, even when just hanging out backstage with each other.
* Wrestling/{{Chyna}} and Stacy "The Kat" Carter were in a dropped-almost-as-quickly-as-it-started [[AmbiguouslyGay Ambiguously Lesbian]] angle. Chyna wore a cropped T-shirt that said "MASTER" and The Kat wore one that said "Slave". Chyna only did the routine for one single episode of Raw, but The Kat kept the look several times and briefly accompanied Wrestling/EddieGuerrero in an outfit that one of the commentators called "Chynette".
* How does this not have a mention of Wrestling/BethPhoenix yet? Outside of Glamarella, Beth has a laundry list of LesYay moments, from having her own StalkerWithACrush like angle with Wrestling/RosaMendes, who later became her "protege" (there was a very cute "Film/AnOfficerAndAGentleman" bit after one match on Superstars where Beth carried Rosa back to the locker room in her arms), to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6aCg_dpHR4 this promo with Candice Michelle before their 2/3 Falls Match]], to [[http://www.hulu.com/watch/102181/wwe-monday-night-raw-beth-phoenix-addresses-the-raw-guest-hosts#s-p1-st-i0 this promo with Maria Menounos the night she was traded to Smackdown (yes, explain in detail what you can do to her, Beth!)]]. And is now in some vaguely gay friendship with {{Wrestling/Natalya|Neidhart}} as they both feuded against the equally suspicious Wrestling/LayCool and continued their partnership after {{Face Heel Turn}}s...

* Wrestling/TheBigShow and Wrestling/ChrisJericho have taken this to a hilarious new level. Jericho referring to Big Show as his "partner" on an episode of Smackdown being one, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq3d8F_Q4xg this]] being another.

* Wrestling/CMPunk and Luke Gallows. Just check towards the end of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3kXA6wBW7g this]].
** And for that matter, Gallows' recent attack on Punk's NXT Rookie Darren Young can be interpreted as jealousy, considering how much attention Punk has been paying Young lately.

** Not to mention after Randy's recent beatdown by Wrestling/TheNexus that Cena was forced to watch, he looked so miserable, especially weird since Orton has tried to kill Cena in the past.

** Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon and Wrestling/RobVanDam, too. During Shane's feud with Wrestling/{{Kane}} and the testicle-elecrocution incident (look, ItMakesSenseInContext), the one that rode to his rescue and made it look like something out of a hurt/comfort fanfic? Rob. They hung all over each other tearfully.

* At about :30 seconds into [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiFn-0-YmPs this Randy Orton vs. Evan Bourne match]], Orton grasps Bourne by the hair, and maybe it's just the camera angle, but for a moment it looks like the start of a gay porno.
* On NXT, "power couple" Maxine and Derrick Bateman were involved in a love triangle with [[Wrestling/{{Fandango}} Johnny Curtis]] -- except that it came across like the two guys were more interested in each other than they were in Maxine! [[http://youtu.be/8iKjLfWIdFE The tension and the eye-fucking, wowza!]]

** 10/11/1999, Kane rescues X-Pac ''yet again'', only for X-Pac to get mad at his DistressedDamsel status.

* NXT is loaded with Lesbian subtext. Wrestling/{{Paige}} and Wrestling/{{Emma}}, Sasha and Charlotte, Bayley and... everyone really.

** Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks especially on twitter. They even said they should go to couples counseling together.
* [[Wrestling/AmericanAlpha Chad Gable and Jason Jordan]] started as a team when Chad was stalking Jason as he worked out, then gave him an embroidered towel with Chad's name on it. Then Jason finally broke down and agreed to be his partner, but still acted embarrassed to be around Chad, who's creepily enthusiastic about the whole thing and kept trying to get Jason to "say [his] name". Jason is now much cooler with the whole deal after they started winning a bunch of matches, and has Chad call him Jay-Jay. They are the most emotional tag-team in NXT, and they wrestled against Rhyno "that was exciting, let's do it again some time" and Corbin, and they're in the proximity of Wesley "I wear pigtails and leapfrog my partner" Blake and Buddy "we carry around an attractive woman I IRL date and I still feel uncomfortable flirting with her" Murphy. NXT, with it's emphasis on personal feuds that (due to the traditionally limited promo ability of their top talent) have heavy emphasis on the talent breathing and staring at each other, limited male/female romantic interaction and heavy reliance on relationships between the same-gendered characters (as opposed to the main-roster's flagrant disregard of continuity) leads to such moments as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn acting like a bitter breakup. Plus...Wrestler/FinnBalor could make anybody gay.

** Even after Seth Rollins' betrayal, Dean Ambrose is still going after him. While it's out of anger at Seth, some can't help but see the FoeYay in this. Their interactions prior to the breakup and Dean acting like a [[WomanScorned Man Scorned]], even outright admitting he loved Seth (albeit as a brother), certainly does not help.

* A more recent example is Seth Rollins and Triple H, what with Seth literally ''begging'' Triple H to trust him and whatnot.

* Paige and AJ Lee. Since cementing her heel turn, Paige has been acting like AJ's psychotic ex-girlfriend, saying that she still loves AJ and making comments like, "We're meant to be together! ...In that ring!" Even before then, when Paige was pretending to be her friend, AJ once finished a match only to approach Paige at the commentary table and compliment how she looked (and Paige complimented her back). Their mutual mistrust veiled behind nice smiles could easily be read as UST.

* Speaking of Cesaro, while his initial team-up with Wrestling/Sheamus saw the two constantly at each other's throats, beginning in 2017 the two have warmed up to each other, and are now so inseparable that they have their own [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnJAzojQzIM joint titantron and synchronized entrance.]] The two are extremely touchy-feely with each other, and in one [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbhwQxQSMiw goofy 2018 promo,]] Cesaro accidentally admitted that they [[Main/ThatCameOutWrong sleep together.]] The two even named their RAW tag-team championship belts "Peaches" and "Larry". Basically, they seem more like an old married couple than just tag partners nowadays.

* Breezango[=/=]Fashion Police are basically a tag-team of stripper cops, who do elaborate dress up situations where one of their members, Tyler Breeze, wears a dress and plays the female role.
* Billie Kay And Peyton Royce, natch. They do everything from hold hands on their way to the ring to at one point wearing "I Love Billie/Peyton" shirts.
* Even after leaving NXT, Sasha Banks and Bayley still fall under this category. [[http://tdewrestling.com/post/152882632559/after-everything-2016-has-thrown-at-us-let-this Sasha in particular likes instigating it.]]

* Speaking of Cesaro, while his initial team-up with Wrestling/Sheamus saw the two constantly at each other's throats, beginning in 2017 the two have warmed up to each other, and are now so inseparable that they have their own [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnJAzojQzIM joint titantron and synchronized entrance.]] The two are extremely touchy-feely with each other, and in one [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbhwQxQSMiw goofy 2018 promo,]] Cesaro accidentally admitted that they [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThatCameOutWrong sleep together.]] The two even named their RAW tag-team championship belts "Peaches" and "Larry". Basically, they seem more like an old married couple than just tag partners nowadays.

* How does this not have a mention of Wrestling/BethPhoenix yet? Outside of Glamarella, Beth has a laundry list of LesYay moments, from having her own StalkerWithACrush like angle with Wrestling/RosaMendes, who later became her "protege" (there was a very cute "AnOfficerAndAGentleman" bit after one match on Superstars where Beth carried Rosa back to the locker room in her arms), to [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6aCg_dpHR4 this promo with Candice Michelle before their 2/3 Falls Match]], to [[http://www.hulu.com/watch/102181/wwe-monday-night-raw-beth-phoenix-addresses-the-raw-guest-hosts#s-p1-st-i0 this promo with Maria Menounos the night she was traded to Smackdown (yes, explain in detail what you can do to her, Beth!)]]. And is now in some vaguely gay friendship with {{Wrestling/Natalya|Neidhart}} as they both feuded against the equally suspicious Wrestling/LayCool and continued their partnership after {{Face Heel Turn}}s...

* Even after leaving NXT, Sasha Banks and Bayley still fall under this category. [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tumblr_ogazjyawxf1u1ljrzo1_500.gif Sasha in particular likes instigating it.]]

* Even after leaving NXT, Sasha Banks and Bayley still fall under this category. [[https://78.media.tumblr.com/a6c68f82196942edd2d32ee35e59089d/tumblr_ogazjyAwXf1u1ljrzo1_500.gif
Sasha in particular likes instigating it.]]

* Billie Kay And Peyton Royce, natch. They do everything from hold hands on their way to the ring to at one point wearing "I Love Billie/Peyton" shirts.

* Breezango[=/=]Fashion Police are basically a tag-team of stripper cops, who do elaborate dress up situations where one of their members, Tyler Breeze, wears a dress and plays the female role.

** Upon the victory of team Total Divas[[note]]Paige, Natalya, Eva Marie, Brie Bella and Alicia Fox[[/note]] at Wrestlemania 32, Alicia [[https://49.media.tumblr.com/20f476dd24742601ff5aa99231758c8b/tumblr_o543bd0UVA1tcrei5o1_400.gif goes immediately to hug Brie]], but sees her already hugging Paige and [[https://45.media.tumblr.com/b27184fccd9782a8f24a90d4dd12dff5/tumblr_o543bd0UVA1tcrei5o2_400.gif looks quite disappointed.]]

*** This is further supported by [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUDtLq6PzdE this video]], wherein Wrestling/ShawnMichaels initiates kissing Wrestling/TripleH, twice! The second kiss, TripleH actually flutters a hand as if fanning himself but that was cut out.