Bash Wednesday

I hope this post does not come across as sacreligious.  I certainly don't mean it that way at all.  It's Ash Wednesday, and earlier today I was at a church service where the priest said a few things about suffering and enduring.  Later, when I thought back on what was said, I couldn't help but think of Zach Reno and my last post about all the suffering he endured in his match at Wrestler4Hire against MarkO.  It seems that match isn't the only one where Zach gets tossed around and tortured by a bigger guy.

These screenshots come from a match at Undergound Championship Wrestling between Zach (or "Zack" as he's called at UCW) and Gabe Steel, and Zach suffers and endures a lot here, too.  Gabe Steel is beefier than I generally like in a wrestler, but in this match he's the stronger and bigger dude, and he takes advantage of it.  Now, don't be fooled by the pictures I've chosen to post.  This match in no way is a squash job.  But there are lots of lifts and carries and slams, so for my tastes, Gabe delivers.  And as he suffers and endures, Zach responds by giving us many more of those "faces of pain" that we love to see. 

 

Maybe Zach should give up wrestling for Lent.

For more commentary and pics from this match, be sure to check out Alex at the Cave, Joe at Ringside, and Wrestling Arsenal.

Faces of Pain

A good squash job doesn't just rely on a dominant heel.  You also need a jobber boy who can play the role.  I recently checked out a match at Wrestler4Hire between MarkO and Zach Reno.  The write up about the match on the webpage leaves little doubt this is a classic heel versus jobber match.  And let me tell you, Zach Reno really sells the jobber role. 

MarkO is cocky, confident, aggressive, and has the body to back it all up in the wrestling ring as the heel.  Zach is no pushover himself, but in this match he doesn't stand a chance against his muscular opponent.  This match is equally about MarkO as the alpha wrestler as it is about Zach Reno the suffering jobber.  We know pro-style wrestling is really about the entertainment and drama of the conflict, but Zach sells his suffering so well at times, I get the impression Zach's faces of pain are genuine.

Now, as much as I like seeing a good jobber punished, I'm more entertained at the sight of a muscular heel dominating.  That's the main reason I purchased this match.  The lift and carry aspect of this match does not disappoint.  Seeing the ripped, muscular MarkO repeatedly hoist Zach Reno into the air and toss him about checks all my boxes.  We get bodyslams, suplexes, a killer torture rack, gorilla presses (yes, that's plural), plus a devastating series of over-the-knee backbreakers that it's a wonder Zach can still walk.  MarkO is a muscle freak, and his performance is so dominant we have little doubt that Zach's suffering is real.  At the end of the match, I find it hard to decide which wrestler I envy more.  But as much as I hate to admit it, it's probably Zach because he gets to be MarkO's little bitch.

The suffering jobberboy needs a little break!

I'm On Team Scrappy

My last post was all about choosing sides in a match where Ethan Andrews makes an appearance.  Here we go again with another Ethan match, this time from Wrestler4Hire where he wrestles Scrappy.  Can there be any doubt about my choice in this one?  Hell, yeah, I'm on Team Scrappy! 

Heck, let's be honest.  I'm usually on Team Scrappy regardless of who he's wrestling.  But in this match, it sure is fun seeing our little muscleboy go all alpha on the pale, pasty Ethan.  Scrappy is my favorite type of wrestler.  He's got muscles, and he loves to use them.  My guess is Ethan spends about half the match up in the air as Scrappy picks him up and tosses him around over and over.  Sure, Ethan gets in some good moves here and there himself.  But there's no point in highlighting any of that in this post.  After all, I'm on Team Scrappy!

Team Scrappy brings out the big guns!

I'm On Team Jett

Not long ago while promoting its newest match between Jett Bentley and Ethan Andrews, 88Wrestling asked us whether we are on Team Jett or Team Ethan.  Well, I've mentioned before my thoughts about Ethan Andrews, so there's no need to re-hash them again here.  Let's just say it comes as no surprise that I am totally on Team Jett!

Jett Bentley arrived at 88Wrestling a couple years ago as a ripped, rookie wrestler, described as a gym freak with a shredded physique.  After a few matches, Jett disappeared for a while before returning as a ripped wrestler, a gym freak with a shredded physique, but now with twenty additional pounds of muscle.  Holy crap!  He's even bigger and better!  The new and improved Jett has wrestled in several more matches now, but surprisingly this is the first time I have featured him in my blog.  He's muscular, masculine, confident, and boasts good looks.  These are all the qualities I love in a wrestler.  When it comes to choosing sides, there's no doubt I'm on Team Jett.

 Team Jett rocks Ethan!

For more pictures and commentary about this match, check out Joe's blog at Ringside and W.R.'s Screencaps.