UCW Wrestling's Ethan Axel Andrews vs. Victor: A "Jobber" With Bohemian Flair

      "Jobber" is in quotes in the title of this blog entry because Victor doesn't quite fit that role in video #412, the latest offering from Underground Championship Wrestling (aka UCW Wrestling).
      Why call Victor, a rookie making his debut in a title match against UCW All-Star Champion (and the half-owner of the federation), a "jobber" anyway (as Axel did -- repeatedly -- during the "Inside Scoop" that introduced Victor to UCW's fans)? Well, chances are that it's a marketing ploy. Pro wrestling jobbers have mass appeal in the gay community (heck, there's a Facebook group called "Squash Job Stories" that is "liked" by 3,539 people -- including Mr. Ethan Axel Andrews).

     Still, "jobber" is a misnomer when describing a kid like Victor, who never submits to the most painful abuse that Axel can dish out (and even has the All-Star Champ in several compromising positions during the course of the encounter).

     As a matter of fact, the entire manner in which UCW is handling Victor has me perturbed. Why not give the kid's UCW persona a last name? It's especially awkward to discuss a match pitting a wrestler with one nondescript name against a champion with three names ("Ethan Axel Andrews vs. Victor" -- now does that sound right to you?). It reminds me of the way UCW handled Jax Briggs, who would have always been known simply as "Jax" if he hadn't created a promotional Facebook page which included his last name -- and who never received a proper degree of respect during his entire tenure in the federation.

     Furthermore, there hasn't been a more awkward introductory interview in UCW history since Jax came on the scene. Watching that ill-conceived "Inside Scoop" really gives the fans no idea who Victor is, or the degree of charm that he possesses -- you have to download the match to discover Victor's sense of humor and confidence bordering on swagger. (Seeing Axel interact with this championship match's fawning, epicene referee, Victor quips, "You two need to get a room, but I just need to get this belt.")

Referee Malik, clearly attracted to Axel, seems to enjoy Victor's suffering

     Perhaps the reason that Victor seems so tensed up during his prematch interview has something to do with the character he is trying to portray. Victor is a professional gambler from Reno? Um, okay. Introducing Victor as, say, a barista from a Philadelphia-area Starbucks would have actually enhanced the young man's appeal, making his ring persona more believable, down-to-earth, and accessible.

     Taking Victor away from the horrid interview with Axel,we glimpse the real Victor, no longer clenching his teeth and seemingly overcome with anxiety. In match #412, Victor comes off as a totally hot, quick-thinking, sharp-tongued young man with Bohemian flair aplenty -- a genuine hipster with long, luscious locks that Axel can only envy -- a modern-day clone of Courtney "Double-T" from The Dandy Warhols, who was once indisputably the hippest man on earth. (Hence the video introduction to this blog entry -- and if you haven't clicked on it, please do.)
     Knowing what sells videos, Axel remarks at the 21:27 point that the straps on Victor's singlet are "getting in the way" -- allowing us to see the young man bare chested. Yes, Victor's body is smoking hot, despite Axel's condescending remarks about the former high school grappler's lack of abdominal development (and naturally, an interval of ab punishment follows).

     Yeah, this is a great video and Victor's arrival at UCW is a breath of fresh air. The match doesn't contain any of the lewd elements that Axel mentions during his Inside Scoop, and that's certainly for the best. Instead, we have the spectacle of a brash, young rookie with enormous heart dealing heroically with narcissistic Axel at his low key, methodically sadistic best (or worst, depending on your perspective). Match #412 is far more tantalizing than any drivel that the WWE spews out, so download it -- don't let UCW's latest "Inside Scoop" deter you. (Seriously, you UCW guys -- remember those highly entertaining, outside-the-box video blogs you used to create? We know that Axel is proud of his new Apple computer and video editing software but the currently bland format of your Inside Scoops has become too tedious to bear.)

Axel: "Oh, you're trying to lift me up? How cute! How cute!"

      Buy UCW video #412 right over here and tell them that Old Freddie sent you. Give that long-haired hotboy Victor my love...and tell Axel not to get that faux hawk.