So, I saw that headline floating around – you know, the one about Bobby Lashley’s WWE contract possibly being up soon. It got me thinking, not really about Lashley himself, but just about how things work in those kinds of gigs.
It takes me back. Way back, actually, to one of my first jobs out of school. Wasn’t wrestling, obviously, but it was one of those project-based things. You were hired for the project, and when the project ended… well, nobody really said what happened next. There was always talk, rumors floating around the office.
That Feeling of Not Knowing
I remember distinctly just trying to get through the weeks leading up to the supposed end date. You’d try and act normal, do your work, chat by the water cooler. But in the back of your head, you’re constantly wondering, “Alright, what’s the plan here?”
We’d look for signs, you know? Little things.
- Did the boss seem extra cheerful? Maybe good news coming.
- Were they suddenly having lots of closed-door meetings? Could be bad.
- Did someone mention a ‘next phase’ vaguely in an email? Hope!
It was exhausting, really. Trying to read tea leaves instead of just getting a straight answer. I spent way too much time analyzing casual comments, trying to piece together some kind of future.
My routine became pretty set:
- Wake up: Check email immediately for any news.
- Commute: Replay conversations from yesterday in my head.
- Work: Try to focus but keep an ear out for gossip.
- Lunch: Casually probe coworkers, see what they’d heard.
- Afternoon: More work, more worrying.
- Go home: Check email again. Repeat.
The Waiting Game
I remember we finished the main part of our project. Big milestone. We had a little celebration, cheap pizza and soda in the conference room. Even then, the managers were being cagey. Lots of “great work everyone” but nothing concrete about what was next.
A few days later, some people got called into meetings individually. Others didn’t. That was the worst part, watching people walk out, trying to read their faces. Were they staying? Were they going? Most people kept a poker face.
Turns out, they extended some of us for a smaller follow-up thing. I was one of the lucky ones, I guess. But that feeling of uncertainty, that whole period of just waiting and not knowing… man, it sticks with you.
So yeah, when I see headlines about contracts like Lashley’s, my mind doesn’t go straight to the wrestling storylines. It goes right back to that office, that feeling of waiting for the phone to ring, or the email to pop up. It’s a tough spot for anyone to be in, no matter what job you do.
