UCW Wrestling's Victor vs. LS Powerhouse: When You're Young at Heart

Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you
If you're young at heart.
For it's hard, you will find, to be narrow of mind
If you're young at heart.

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes.
You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams.
And life gets more exciting with each passing day.
And love is either in your heart, or on it's way.

Don't you know that it's worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart.
For as rich as you are, it's much better by far
To be young at heart.

And if you should survive to 105,

Look at all you'll derive out of being alive!

And here is the best part, you have a head start

If you are among the very young at heart.

                                                                                                                                                                                  

     UCW Wrestling takes a gamble with their latest video release (match #449) and it pays off big.
     This offering features the mononymous (and perhaps aptly named) Victor testing his youthful vigor against a debuting grappler/bodybuilder named LS Powerhouse, a buff gentleman of a classic vintage predating even Old Freddie. Powerhouse could be Victor's father (if not his grandfather) and the fact that LS is a totally credible "heel" -- a thoroughly intimidating physical specimen -- serves as a huge inspiration to vegetating geriatrics like yours truly.
     Actually, match #449 is a double-barrel inspiration, thanks to the presence of Victor. Victor motivated me to compose another recent blog entry in which I focused on Victor's long haired, bohemian image. Now sporting a shorter hairstyle, Victor is more difficult to categorize (perhaps the only label that fits Victor is "individualist" and that, in itself, is sexy). However, Victor's mop-top is still long enough to provide a stark contrast to LS's shiny, depilated pate so the covetous, crusty codger resorts to some ungentlemanly hair-pulling during this encounter.

      Young Victor's tresses are so frequently a source of his distress throughout match #449, this video will probably elicit orgasmic paroxysms from another salacious senior, my good friend Blogger Joe (who is once again churning out wrestling reviews for Ringside at Skull Island, by the way).

      Inter-generational jealousy is a subtext of this production as the petulant Powerhouse mauls Victor's elegant, angular visage. Victor's effervescent smile stokes the fires of LS's sadism.

     Certain individuals out there in underground wrestling land (who are as cynical about their politics as they are about their wrestling productions) have called me an "ultra-mark" because I discuss the blurred lines between theatrics and reality in sports entertainment. May I cite as evidence the following bit of interaction during match #449...

     If you think that LS isn't actually punishing Victor here, you're clearly delusional (the sort of person who believes that Bernie Sanders isn't a viable presidential candidate, for example)...

     I don't believe I've ever seen anyone's upper gums exposed to that degree...

     In the comfortable, upper middle-class world that some individuals inhabit, it's unfathomable that young men would actually suffer excruciating pain to earn money in underground wrestling videos. I'll say no more about the matter. (My Beautiful, Precious Johnny Deep -- MBPJD -- never received a head injury in his final UCW video, either.)
     Since it's all sanitized theatrics, we must marvel at Victor's remarkable job of "selling" when a certain sensitive portion of his anatomy appeared to be twisted...

     You don't believe that Powerhouse would actually apply real pressure during this bearhug, do you? I'm sure that LS was all charm and delicacy during this encounter...

     A wrestler making his debut in UCW knows that he'll never be invited back if his video doesn't sell. Of course, that knowledge would never factor into his behavior during a shoot. None of these guys would actually rough up their opponents, would they?
     Well, if such behavior ever did occur -- hypothetically speaking, of course -- the wrestler who had been abused would relish an opportunity to retaliate. For example, a wrestler who had taken quite a few stiff hits might actually enjoy blocking blood flow in his bullying opponent's carotid arteries when administering a sleeper hold...

     ...until the bully's face started turning purple and the veins in his forehead started to bulge.

     The feeling of finally being in control might drive a kid wild with ecstasy...

     ...causing the youngster to become so carried away that the bully would have to covertly signal to the cameraman...

     ...and the cameraman would gesture to the kid, imploring him to ease up on the hold.

     Of course, the kid would comply, having already scored a moral victory of sorts.

     I don't want you to get the impression that this video contains a solid 32 minutes and 10 seconds of brutality (although there is enough of it to satisfy even the staunchest prettyboy hater). In addition to the freelance torment that the grapplers inflict on each other, there's also some good-natured tussling.

     Victor frequently displays his flexibility, blithely tolerating contortions that would create major discomfort in a less youthful athlete.

     When UCW wrestlers begin their training, they are told to punch the mat room's cinder block wall. To avoid injuring their knuckles, the neophyte grapplers usually pull their punch, to one degree or another. The rookies are then informed that they should never punch an opponent with more force than they used when striking the wall.
     Therefore, video #449's "gut punishment" segment is actually one of the less intense portions of the presentation. Victor and LS don't seem to be actually trying to injure each other in this exchange; the interaction reminded me of a stern father attempting to discipline a rebellious son. The dynamic is rather endearing.

     Victor may be a classic "face," but LS Powerhouse is only a borderline "heel." At a live event, LS would definitely have his share of fans (in much the same way that the Road Warriors were cheered in arenas while the NWA was grooming them as villains). Powerhouse's opponents can expect a battering, but without being subjected to the humiliating kinkiness of Quinn Harper or the off-the-wall (literally) violence of Eli Black. I don't expect a second mass exodus of my favorite UCW "finesse" grapplers due to LS's arrival on the scene.
     As you may guess, Victor really does it for me -- but Blogger Joe, in typical fashion, seems to be somewhat lukewarm to the slender young heartthrob. You can read Joe's "Ringside at Skull Island" review of match #449 here: "Powerhouse Touches the Merchandise."
     Yes, it was Victor's presence that enticed me to purchase match #449, but LS Powerhouse turned out to be more than just an added bonus. As I and many of my friends deal with impending old age and declining vitality, LS Powerhouse stands out as an ideal -- a rugged alpha male who can not only compete in UCW with absolute credibility, but also dominate whippersnappers less than half his age.

     This video -- match #449 -- is a special treat, and it can be purchased at the UCW wrestling website right over here: Victor vs. LS Powerhouse. Enjoy.

UCW Wrestling's Eli Black vs. Skip Vance: S&M With No "Safe Word"

    I thought I might be finished writing about UCW. Several of my most recent reviews were totally ignored by the company, and I figured, "Why bother?"
     However, this atrocity that I watched last night -- this videotaped crime against humanity -- just screams for a review.
     Screams --  I can't type that word without thinking of how this release (UCW match #431) was promoted. The company's gloating over the screaming that Eli elicited from Skip...
    Skip "asked for it" -- that was the justification. Well, Skip Vance undoubtedly requested a match with Eli Black, the BG East persona, in a safe, sane environment like the one Skip knew in Boston.
    Underground wrestling matches like those in Philadelphia (especially the ones featuring sociopaths like Eli Black or Quinn Harper) simply should not exist (and it's the height of irony that Ethan Axel Andrews posted a video blog after this match was recorded, assuring us all that "Philadelphia treated Skip well"). Oh yes, and Ethan also informed us that Skip is not on Facebook anymore -- so, if we want to correspond with him, we have to do so via UCW (kind of like corresponding with a prisoner, or a captive hostage).
     For those who have been out of the loop, Skip Vance is a gay wrestler, a sexy Scorpio who has been dicked around by various people and who suffered quite a bit of emotional trauma in a very public manner via social media.
     With that background in Skip's recent past, the blond stud headed out to Philly to pick up a few bucks and was immediately matched against Eli Black, a straight MMA fighter who has exhibited unparalleled brutality in his wrestling matches (driving my beautiful, precious Johnny Deep out of the underground wrestling scene and -- along with Quinn Harper -- subjecting Shane Saunders to enough mistreatment to turn the once sweet, innocent kid into something of a prick).
     The promotion of this match has been somewhat misleading, casting Skip in the role of  "jobber" to Eli, the dominant "heel." (The word "jobber" has an immediate appeal for many sadistic wrestling fans; therefore, UCW has been utilizing the word frequently when hyping their matches.)
     The truth is that during the actual wrestling match featured in video #431, Skip more than holds his own against Eli, and Skip actually dominates the thug during several intervals. However, video #431 contains much more than the actual match; I'll explain later.

     As soon as the video begins, we notice the stark contrast between the two wrestlers. Both are clearly big names in the business. (Skip has starred in many promotions, including BG East and Rock Hard Wrestling, while Eli has been a mainstay in both BG East and UCW.)  Both wrestlers are in great shape, the physical conditioning is evident, and both are undeniably masculine and aggressively competitive -- but the openly gay Skip Vance has a beautiful body that is unmarred by jailhouse-style tattoos.
     It is also immediately clear that the two wrestlers personally dislike each other. Eli looks at Skip's eyes and remarks that either he's Chinese or he's been "puffing a little bit" -- a nice bit of rude, judgmental behavior to start off the video from Mr. Eli Black, that morally upstanding, Nazi-like, paragon of virtue. Skip notes that Eli has "a big mouth" and the match begins.

     As I mentioned, during the actual match, Skip is in control approximately 50% of the time. On a personal level, it was extremely gratifying to see Skip Vance, an out-and-proud, politically liberal, preppy young man from the Deep South (a rarity in itself), subjecting the hateful Eli Black to not only physical domination, but also several instances of UCW-style emasculation as well.

     However, as one might expect, the MMA fighter managed to hurt Skip at the 14:34 mark. Skip submits and the bell rings.

     That should have been the end of the video. Even in hardcore S&M videos, there is respect for a "safe word" that enables a participant to call an end to the action once it becomes too intense.
     However, Eli Black was in no mood to accept such niceties. Eli, outraged by some of the treatment that he'd received from Skip, continued to abuse the kid.

     At this point, someone -- the cameraman, or anyone else on the set -- should have intervened. In no way can the continuation of videotaping be justified under such circumstances. Yet the videotaping did continue, for an extended duration, while this notoriously ruthless egomaniacal thug brutalized a down-on-his-luck, masculine gay dude. Time and time again, Skip made it clear that he wanted out of the situation, but no one on the scene cared or dared to stand up to Eli Black.
     Well, if this is your cup of tea, the video is available here: http://www.ucwrestling.com/product-p/431.htm.
  

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.
    

UCW Wrestling's Ethan Axel Andrews vs. Eli Black (with Vincent Stone): The Way We Were

     I had begun to forget why I despise Eli Black. In the recent videos leading up to this one (UCW Video #400 -- available for download here), we've been treated to an out-of-character, kinder, gentler Eli. Yes, Eli's interaction with his protegee, Vincent Stone, has been touching -- and it served to humanize Eli's brutal, ruthless wrestling persona. In those videos, Eli seemed willing to sacrifice a large part of his intimidating mat presence in order to keep Vincent out of harm's way.

     Match #400 features Eli Black the way he was, before Vincent arrived on the scene. This is the Eli Black who bullied My Beautiful Precious Johnny Deep to the point where he quit the federation (although MBPJD seems destined to be enshrined on the UCW Locker Room page's "Active Roster" for all eternity, harsh reality notwithstanding). This is the Eli Black who was too much of an egomaniac to ever allow Jax Briggs to "get over" in a match (even when Jax won the UCW All-Star Championship). I could go on, but it suffices to say that my two favorite UCW wrestlers aren't around anymore, in large part due to Eli -- and I don't know how long a classy prep like Shane Saunders would stay with the fed if he had to deal with Eli on a regular basis.

     At one point during this match, Ethan tells Vincent, "I like you, Vinny. I really do. Don't get me wrong. But you've got to stop hanging around with Eli. You see, you're just going to get hurt." Indeed, Eli deliberately places Vincent in harm's way, time and time again, during match #400. Obviously, a shot at Quinn Harper's championship (and a chance to defeat Axel -- the most prolific competitor in underground wrestling -- who has beaten Eli in every previous encounter) trumps any loyalty that Eli feels toward his childhood friend.

     At the end of the day, Eli Black is, was, and always will be a boorish lout. This is clear from the very first words that escape Eli's lips at the start of video #400: "Oh hey, Miss Axel, how are you doing today?" Then, a few seconds later, Eli is doing his stretching exercises and Ethan is about to comment on Eli's longer hairstyle. However, Eli interrupts, "My a--? You're staring at my a--? Is that what you were about to comment on?"
     This type of talk was always offensive when it appeared on a UCW video; now that Ethan has come out as gay (a scant three months ago), Eli's hypermasculine attitude seems blatantly homophobic. Ethan, however, is too innately gentle (and perhaps a tad naive) to register appropriate outrage. As for Vincent, he just stares at the cameraman with a stunned reaction (probably thinking, "Hey, this is a gay wrestling video, right?").

     Concerning the actual match, this offering often seems like "custom match" material (i.e., it comes dangerously close to adult entertainment -- sort of like your typical Quinn Harper vid). There is quite a bit of vulgarity during verbal exchanges, and most of the action centers around low blows (and generalized punishment to that portion of the two combatants' anatomies). Eli's sadistic streak is in full swing, and the only reason why this video isn't as horrific as video #336 (the ultimate portrayal of pro wrestling victimization) stems from the fact that this time Eli is on the mat with a savvy, seasoned (albeit babyfaced) veteran -- not a heartbreakingly vulnerable prettyboy.

     At one point in the match, Ethan shouts out a threat to Eli in the midst of excruciating pain, prompting Eli to lamely accuse Ethan of being a bully (a criticism that had validity when Ethan consented to join forces with the odious Quinn Harper in match #381 -- a strange match in which Ethan and Eli seemed to switch face/heel roles). In this case, Eli is audaciously blaming the victim for his reaction to being victimized; it's similar to Eli scolding Shane Saunders for using profanity while getting beaten up during match #384 ("Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"). (Note: Shane, being the sweetheart that he is, actually tried to curb his swearing after Eli made that remark.)

     Vinny seems hesitant to become physically involved in this match, for good reason (Vincent vs. Axel is a no-win proposition). At first, Vincent identified himself as Eli's corner man, but Ethan seemed to invite Vincent's participation. Furthermore, Vincent can often be seen taking cues from someone off-camera right before he intervenes -- probably Bodyslam, who (according to his Facebook posts) enjoys seeing cute, young guys getting squashed in wrestling matches.

     Oh, and the UCW wardrobe department chalked up an epic fail as far as Vinny is concerned. You don't put jeans and socks on eye candy, ever.
     By the way, this video marks yet another milestone in technological advances for UCW. The federation just recently started marketing high definition vids, albeit slightly out-of-proportion (the wrestlers appeared elongated, not in a good way) and in bulky, difficult-to-download .wmv format. This video is available in HD, perfectly proportioned, easy-to-download, compact MPEG-4 format. (Now, for some reason, I could only play it on Windows Media Player; Real Player and QuickTime Player didn't work. Maybe my versions of those media players need to be updated with a codec or something. At any rate, play it on your Windows Media Player and you'll have a marvelous experience.)

     During a Facebook exchange, one of the purchasers of this video professed surprise over the match's ending. I inquired as to whether this "surprise" involved Vincent's involvement, and Bodyslam assured me that it did. Without posting any spoilers, I'll simply say that the action in match #400 unfolds in a manner that can be expected, if you are familiar with the personalities of the participants. This video marks a return to Eli Black's villainous ring persona -- he even punishes Vincent with a low blow when the kid makes a rookie mistake.

     It's Eli Black and Hunter Day all over again. For better or worse, the complex, nuanced Eli Black -- the guy who was wiping away tears after match #381 -- has left the building.
     Match #400 -- pitting two of UCW's most skilled performers against each other, and featuring a misguided rookie as the contest's "wildcard" -- is currently available at the UCW Wrestling website's "New Matches" page. Enjoy.

LRW Review & Locker Room Posted

     A review of the LRW Wrestling Super-Star Championship match between Kyle O'Connor and Fratboy Francis Franklin aka "Triple F" has been posted at http://lrwwrestling.blogspot.com/2015/04/lrw-wrestling-triple-f-vs-kyle-oconnor.html, which includes a link to the brand spanking new LRW Locker Room page. See which wrestler became the first-ever LRW Wrestling Super-Star Champion!!!

LRW Wrestling's Second Member & Video DVD

     Just wanted to give you a "heads up" that the newest member of LRW Wrestling, Fratboy Francis Franklin aka "Triple F" has his intro video posted at http://lrwwrestling.com and you can get the DVD featuring his match against Kyle O'Connor over here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161644998777.

LRW Wrestling's First Member

  
     Old Freddie has just posted a video introducing the first member of the LRW Wrestling roster. Visit the LRW Wrestling blog and check it out: http://lrwwrestling.com!!!