UCW Wrestling's Eli Black vs. Vincent Stone: Is That All There Is?

     Eli Black had me totally hoodwinked at the beginning of this video (UCW match #375). Standing with his arms folded and glaring like a stern storm trooper at debuting rookie Vincent Stone, Eli remained humorless as UCW founder Michael Bodyslam (wearing an "All I Care About Is Wrestling...And Like Maybe 3 People" t-shirt) rattled off a multitude of quips during the introductions.

     Eli seemed to be putting both Vincent and Bodyslam on edge with his sullen demeanor. Then, as soon as Bodyslam walked away from the mat area, what happened was downright touching.

     Yes, Eli Black not only shook hands with his opponent prior to a match, he embraced him. "I'm so happy you're f'n here, bro!" Eli exclaims. "What everybody in UCW didn't know, my boy Vinnie here and me -- I'm not going to say we grew up together because I am just a tad bit older than his young a--, but I'm like a big brother to this little dude right here." The sentiments that Eli expresses (and Vincent's reactions to them) are undeniably genuine.

     Recently, Blogger Joe has taken note of Eli's ebullient on-screen presence in UCW videos. Blogger Joe even went so far as to call Eli "radiant" in his review of match #379 and that telling choice of words caused me to speculate on a possible romance in Eli's personal life when I composed my review of match #381. After all, "Ringside at Skull Island" enjoys the same type of sycophantic relationship with UCW that Fox News has with the GOP, so naturally Blogger Joe would be privy to inside info.
     Romance or not, Eli Black is no longer the one-dimensional villain that he once was. Match #381 ended with Eli imitating the shedding of tears after his offer of a handshake was spurned by both Ethan Axel Andrews and Quinn Harper. This was a particularly poignant gesture, since Eli had been victimized in that match by some ugly violence from Harper (ugly in the sense of a scrap between two predatory beasts -- in this case, it was like watching a young jackal being torn up by a rabid coyote) but was willing to offer congratulations anyway. After the snub, Eli was left forlorn and alone to stew in the juices of his own hubris; Eli's only real friend on the scene, Vincent, had been kicked off the mat (literally) by Eli in a fit of pique just moments earlier.

     There is a concept of "generosity" that is unique to the world of theater. It involves keeping your ego in check and avoiding scene stealing. In extreme cases, it involves deliberately fading into the background and acting as a foil during dialogues, allowing your co-star to shine.
     In pro wrestling, "generosity" comes into play when you sacrifice your own persona's invincibility, allowing your opponent his moments in the spotlight. It's called helping a wrestler to "get over" -- i.e., achieve popularity and credibility among the fans via displays of ring dominance. In match #375, Eli displays generosity above and beyond the call of duty toward Vincent, his boyhood friend making his UCW debut.

     It's the type of generosity that Eli should have displayed toward Jax Briggs, when Jax won the All-Star Championship in match #361, but Eli's total lack of respect for Jax was mind-boggling. My disgust toward Eli (and UCW) reached its peak after that match. It was the type of generosity that all of the UCW wrestlers should have shown toward My Beautiful Precious Johnny Deep (MBPJD) instead of despising him for his instantaneous popularity and trying to hurt him during matches. (During his lengthy stay in UCW, Johnny was never allowed to experience a single victory -- and guys like Quinn Harper still post Facebook messages to me saying things like "Ya Freddie, why do you always back losers?")
     As was demonstrated in match #381, Vincent has a tendency to smile out of character. As a matter of fact, Vincent and I have corresponded via UCW Fan Mail and Vincent wrote, "My smile was bad and Axel and Eli were mad about that but I couldn't help myself. Some of the stuff said was funny." Well, Vincent, your smile isn't "bad" by any means -- as a matter of fact, it helps to sell videos. When UCW finally posted the link to my last review on their Facebook page, they chose to include this screen cap:

UCW knows a photogenic smile when they see one.

     Also, Ethan has no room to talk, after he incessantly and inappropriately grinned during this Inside Scoop about a UCW All-Star Championship hearing. Here, Vincent -- just click on that link, keep your eyes on Axel throughout the entire video, and you'll feel better about everything.
     At any rate, Eli managed to keep Vincent in character throughout match #375 by inflicting genuine discomfort on the rookie whenever it was Eli's turn to dominate. If you watch those segments utilizing slow motion and stop action, you'll notice the little tell-tale signs of subtle physical contact (a tap on Eli's bicep, a clutching of Eli's hand) indicating that Vincent is being pushed past his threshold of pain, but Eli blithely ignores them. (To be fair, Axel employs the same harsh method acting strategies during his matches; UCW wrestlers are expected to suffer for their art.)

     Since Vincent has been a friend/acquaintance of Eli's since childhood, he is no stranger to the "bullied kid" mentality -- just as the bully shows his toughness via ruthless aggression, the victim demonstrates his own toughness by nonchalantly shrugging off abuse. Trapped in a horrendously punishing crossface maneuver, Vince stoically endures a long, rambling Eli Black soliloquy. Eli bemoans UCW's loss of Johnny Deep, vents his jealousy toward Ethan Axel Andrews (the UCW wrestler who now owns 50% of the federation), and informs Vince that he will play the role of Eli's "puppy dog" in UCW. All the while, Eli makes a grand show of his callousness toward Vincent's suffering.

     Later in the match, Eli gives Vincent a taste of what his "puppy dog" role will entail. With a chain wrapped around Vince's neck (a chain that Vincent briefly used as a weapon after Eli advised him to wrestle like a "heel"), the rookie is led around the mat on his hands and knees, receiving various commands. When Vince asserts his dignity, Eli yells, "Bad dog!" and disciplines the kid. It's like a scene of verbal and physical abuse straight out of a gay S&M video that somehow found its way into sports entertainment.

     I learned from my correspondence with Vince that he has a February 8th birthday, which makes him an Aquarius (the same sign as Quinn Harper, unfortunately). Chameleon-like and innately nonconformist, Aquarius is a relatively thick-skinned sign, so Vincent was probably not seriously traumatized by the treatment he received from Eli (either in this video or during their childhood). Had Eli led Ethan Axel Andrews (a Pisces) or Danny Sticks (a Cancer) around the mat on a leash, there would have been quite a different reaction (both Pisces and Cancer -- along with Scorpio -- are highly sensitive water signs).
     Ah, I just imagined Danny Sticks (aka the Blog Burner) reading my comments in the last paragraph and rolling his eyes in contempt for my belief in astrology. I do believe that it's time for a musical interlude.

     ...and that's the Birth of the Blues!!! That's the Birth of the Blues, ladies and gentlemen, and that song goes out to my friend and yours, the irrepressible Danny Sticks!!! MUAH! (Just had to get that out of my system. Danny has developed an off-camera friendship with Quinn Harper, by the way. Need I say more? Now, let's move on...)
     Because Vincent had proven to be such a plucky competitor, it was somewhat heartrending to see him break (at least to a certain degree) at the end of this video. Eli had just applied his dreaded finishing maneuver, the Shutdown, on Vince and, being a master of overkill (don't forget, this is the same guy who applied a second knockout maneuver on an already unconscious Johnny Deep in video #336), told Vince that he was going to apply it again. This seems more than Vince can handle, and Vince says, "No!" in a weary voice but, of course, Eli shows no mercy.
     As Vince is being set up for his second Shutdown, the rookie struggles to get free. This annoys Eli, so he runs backward, slamming Vince into the cinder block wall.

     After executing the second Shutdown, Eli attempts one of his patently arrogant and humiliating covers, ordering Vince to remain on the mat for the three-count. Does Vince obey? Well, buy the video and find out. (Somewhere Bodyslam is smiling.)

     Without providing any spoilers, I'll simply say this. By the end of match #375, Vincent has been beaten up enough to satisfy Eli's ego, and Eli must resort to his typical, manipulative rhetoric in order to keep Vince as a potential tag team partner. (Shades of Hunter Day! I swear, Eli's initials should be B.S.) Eli fills the rookie's head with delusions of grandeur ("We're going to run this federation!") like a Jim Jones-style character in a sensationalized Hollywood blockbuster:

      Now that we've seen the human side of Eli, he's no longer a monster. Eli isn't Charles Manson or Adolph Hitler or Hannibal Lector (all of whom I've compared to Eli, at one time or another). In reality, Eli is a driven young man who alienates people with his overbearing personality. Everything else about the Eli Black persona is just smoke and mirrors.

     And that's all there is. Blogger Joe already wrote a review of this match, but that pointy-headed pseudointellectual with his legions of community college "disciples" can create his own publicity, for once. Just go to "Ringside at Skull Island" and search for it, if you're that interested.
     I will, however, link to the video offering. It's match #375 and it's available for download at the UCW Wrestling website, on this page (as of this writing).
     NOTE: Vincent told me in one of his emails, "Thank you for buying the video. Seems people like me but I am told its about sales so again thanks for buying." 
     Therefore, let's purchase this video and show support for Vincent...and maybe even Eli, too.