[WJW]

There is a more likely alternative than paying "nearly any price", which is that the funds in question go bankrupt and default on any obligations remaining. At that point, anyone who hasn't sold yet will be left holding (call options on) stock worth maybe a tenth of its current price.

[pbronez]

If the structurally possible outcomes are:

1) Shorts all come due and hedge funds pay all the retail investors big gains

2) hedge fund dies and defaults so retail get screwed

I’m pretty sure WSB would collectively declare victory. It’s a suicide mission for them.