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.

UCW Wrestling's Eli Black vs. Pvt. Jack Marino: Do It For Johnny!!!

     Up top we have one of the great moments in the history of Hollywood "Youth Literature" adaptations. That's Dallas Winston in "The Outsiders," vowing vengeance on the socs who were responsible for the death of his best friend, Johnny. Directly underneath we have a UCW WTF??? moment -- Pvt. Jack Marino ministering to a barely conscious Eli Black like Mary Magdalene during the Passion of Christ.
     You probably didn't know this (because I didn't know it until UCW founder Michael Bodyslam informed me) but Johnny Deep and Pvt. Jack Marino are close friends -- so close, in fact, that Johnny temporarily quit the fed because he was so forlorn after Jack enlisted in the army. Don't believe me? Here's a chat that I had with Bodyslam several months ago (click to enlarge):

     Now you probably did know this, if you read my blog regularly -- the last UCW match that Johnny Deep wrestled was also an oil match against Eli Black (#354). I'm sure you all remember what happened in that encounter (a bleeding head wound is hard to forget) but just in case the memory has dimmed, Eli Black is more than happy to remind us -- right at the very beginning of match #379, before the action even begins.

     Video #379 opens up with a shot of those two bosom buddies, the federation's thuggish ex-champion, Eli Black, and the current, self-appointed All-Star champion for life, UCW co-owner Michael Bodyslam. (Anyone who follows Bodyslam's posts on Facebook knows that he is quite forthright -- even boastful -- about his sadistic streak, so it's only natural that Bodyslam would share a certain affinity with a notorious "heel" like Black.)
     Bodyslam: "So are you ready to meet your opponent?"
     Eli: "Yeah. Who is it? Is Johnny Deep still back? Is he coming back? Did he wake up from his coma?"
     Bodyslam: "I don't think Johnny Deep will ever do an oil match with you again."
     That's good for a few chuckles. Not having rubbed enough salt into the wounds of my favorite former wrestlers, they continue.
     Eli: "What about Jax? Did he ever get out of that trunk I put him in?"

Oh, that's really hilarious, isn't it, Michael?

     Bodyslam: "Ah, no. He's probably still in the trunk."
     And so it goes...
     Of course, it's mere coincidence that the final UCW appearances for both Johnny and Jax were matches against Eli Black. Besides, Johnny is still listed on the active roster and he's scheduled to return after his summer vacation. (Hmm...now what was the title of that 1966 surfer movie?)
     Finally, Eli's mystery opponent shows up and it's Pvt. Jack Marino, on leave from his military duties. Now, if you assume that this is going to be another squash of Eli's former bondage slave, think again. Jack is more muscular (and hirsute) than ever before, clearly in tiptop shape thanks to the rigors of army life.

     Do you know what's wrong with this picture? We've got smiles all around. Where's the killer instinct, Jack? You are about to fight the guy who not only left your best friend stripped naked and bleeding from a scalp laceration (the aforementioned match #354) but also beat him to the point of unconsciousness, then beat him even more (match #336 -- the most affecting example of bullying, pro wrestling style, that I've ever seen, and my reason for creating this blog). I wanted to see Dallas Winston in that "Outsiders" hospital scene; instead I got something all together different.
     Jack remains disappointingly easygoing throughout this video. Jack is the antithesis of UCW newcomer Danny Sticks, who was the subject of my last blog entry. I don't know Jack's astrological sign, but I'll bet my life that he's not a Cancer. (On a side note, my fellow Cancerian Danny Sticks has seen fit to mock my interest in astrology -- not once but twice -- in recent video communiques.)

     Ah, well, it's to be expected. Two Cancerians never get along -- too much intensity. At any rate, Danny is now sporting a spiffy, new, never-before-seen UCW Wrestling t-shirt following his attendance at a federation videotaping this past weekend. (I wonder if Jax Briggs' old employer is responsible for the printing.)

     Okay. Enough about Danny -- at least for now. Let's get back to Pvt. Jack and his social interaction with Eli Black in match #379.
     Before the bell even rings, Eli calls Pvt. Jack a "pussy" (Eli's favorite word) and later uses a profane litany to describe Jack's mother. Then Eli looks directly into the camera and speaks to us about an abominable heterosexual practice called "bowling" (I won't go into detail, but it's definition #4 in the Urban Dictionary) before inflicting this humiliating and emasculating "wrestling maneuver" on Jack. 

Something we'd expect from Quinn Harper?

     Eli is actually one of the twin snakes in UCW's Garden of Eden. Both Eli and Quinn are attempting to lead UCW down paths which are detrimental to the federation. Eli's influence is for hardcore violence and Quinn's is for  hardcore sleaze. If we want hardcore violence, we'll watch videotapes of MMA matches (where Eli may also make an appearance, by the way). If we want hardcore sleaze, we'll watch one of BG East's lecherously contrived "X-Fight" matches. UCW is not an adult entertainment site. Furthermore, hot young guys who have a lot going for them (e.g., Johnny Deep and Jax Briggs) probably aren't going to keep showing up for taping sessions if Eli is beating them bloody or Quinn is sticking his hand under their tights.
     It amazes me that so many UCW wrestlers rationalize what happens to them at the hands of Eli and Quinn. For example, Jax Briggs actually considers the hellish experience at the hands of Quinn Harper during match #356 to have been "a learning experience." Similarly, Pvt. Jack absorbs horrendous abuse during this ugly clash with Eli, but the serviceman remains cheery and unflappable throughout.
     For example, at one point, Eli notices that the cap from the oil bottle has sharp edges, so he commences to grind it into Jack's flesh, proudly displaying the ring-shaped imprints to the camera.

     If that cruelty isn't reprehensible enough, Eli demonstrates that Johnny's head injury in match #354 was no accidental fluke by deliberately attempting to hurl Jack head-first into the same cinder block wall. Fortunately, Jack's cranium stops short of the wall by about an inch.
     "Missed!" Eli grouses, and the cameraman (whoever he is) offers Eli the helpful advice that there wasn't enough oil on that portion of the mat. It's all typically ruthless UCW behavior, even on the part of the fed's technicians. 

     In this match, Michael Bodyslam plays an important role. In past matches, Bodyslam has consistently favored his fair haired boy, Eli Black. Bodyslam actually served as a launching pad for an Eli Black frog splash on a hapless Hunter Day (match #345) and offered heartfelt congratulations to Black after the then-champ's fiasco of a title defense against Jax Briggs (match #358).
      This time, however, Eli is facing an opponent who the UCW boss favors, and that fact proves to be Eli's undoing. After dominating the first ten minutes of action, Eli pauses to request another anointing of oil from Bodyslam. Bodyslam acquiesces, but "innocently" begins the process by pouring the oil on Eli's head, forcing the ex-champ to wrestle the remainder of the match squinting at his opponent through narrowed, bleary eyes.

     Then, when Eli commands, "Alright, now rub it in like a good boy," Bodyslam responds, "Someone else is going to do that for me." At that moment, Jack sneaks up on Eli from behind and perfectly executes a Russian leg sweep that would have done Bret Hart proud. Eli crashes to the mat, the tide has turned, and Jack remains in control for most of the video's duration.

      I would rate this match XOXOXO -- three hugs and kisses out of a possible five. Match #336 -- the second Eli Black vs. Johnny Deep skirmish -- was perfection from the standpoint of a pure good vs. evil conflict. That video gets a full five hugs and kisses, and I don't expect anything from any federation will ever equal it. This video would have gotten four hugs and kisses -- still an amazing accomplishment -- were it not for one flaw.
     From the moment Jack stepped into camera range, it was clear that he wasn't serious about doing severe bodily harm to Eli. Whenever Eli faced Johnny Deep, you could sense the mutual animosity and acrimony as soon as the cameras started to roll. By contrast, match #379 gives us two rugged, macho straight guys roughhousing as their competitive juices flow. Although Eli's ego was definitely bruised by Jack's strong showing, his physical health remained intact.
     The very first photo at the top of this blog entry says it all. It is rare when Eli Black is placed in such a vulnerable position. The proper response, given Eli's history of merciless brutality in the fed, is to do what Johnny attempted during a few glorious moments of match #336 -- grab a metal chair (or any other weapon on hand) and pound the creature into smithereens. Just beat the monster until there's nothing left but a pile of dust on the floor. Instead, Pvt. Jack was benevolent of heart and showed unwarranted compassion.
      Of course, not everyone would agree with me about this general assessment, and Blogger Joe of Ringside at Skull Island has, unsurprisingly, a different point of view. Old Steamy Pants himself dusted the cobwebs off an old bottle of Geritol and managed to work up enough energy to compose a full, five-paragraph review of this match (which is like a five-star rating, coming from him). You can glance at all the giddy superlatives over here:

Ringside at Skull Island: Eli's Slick Hairy Private: I love the hell out of  UCW . Even its lamest fight (and there have been some lame ones) has been good for a...

     (Oh -- and look! You don't even have to read beyond the title to encounter the first lewd double entendre! What a joy!)
     As I mentioned, this is match #379, and it's currently the featured offering, available for download at the UCW website. Enjoy.

UCW Wrestling's Ethan Axel Andrews vs. Danny Sticks: The Gentle Man vs. The Lunatic

     Every astrological sign besides Cancer is ruled by a planet. Cancer is ruled by the ever-changing moon, creating dramatic mood swings for those born under this "unfortunate but fruitful sign" and introducing the term "lunatic" to the English language.
     Underground Championship Wrestling newcomer Danny Sticks is a Cancer, the first UCW wrestler in history born under that sign, to my knowledge (federation founder Michael Bodyslam told me there were four former members born in July, but they all seem to be Leos, born after July 22). If you want to shake things up, set everything off balance, and leave everyone disoriented, just bring a Cancer into any workplace environment.
     Apparently, that last statement also applies to the "no rules" world of UCW Wrestling. In this chaotic federation, Michael Bodyslam saw fit to enforce only one prohibition (besides the rhetorical hyperbole of "don't kill your opponent"): weapons were not allowed. In all of these years of gritty UCW brawling, through 373 matches in two separate states (Wisconsin and Pennsylvania), we never saw a weapon utilized. Leave it to Danny Sticks, the fed's first Cancerian, to use a weapon -- in his debut match -- against Ethan Axel Andrews, the co-owner of the company.

     Cancers are the pariahs of the zodiac, the perennial outcasts who are doomed to a fringe existence far removed from mainstream society. In Biblical terms, Cancers are the sons of Cain (see "Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary" here), destined to be vagabonds and drifters all their lives, regardless of intellect, social status, etc. (Lest anyone believe that I am being too hard on this astrological sign, please keep in mind that I myself am a triple Cancer -- so I'm qualified to speak on these matters.)
     Therefore, I suppose that I shouldn't have been surprised when rookie upstart Danny began beating underground wrestling legend Axel with a pool cue (during UCW match #374 -- the currently featured offering available here).

      Match #374 is a strange match on many levels, due to the personalities of the combatants (even stranger than the creepy encounter between Johnny Deep -- UCW's mischievous adolescent -- and Nick Diesel -- UCW's bondage master). Both of these wrestlers (Danny and Ethan) are water signs -- individuals with incredible emotional depth. You don't frequently see such males involved in combat sports (UCW is top-heavy with Taurus and Aries guys -- bulls and rams butting heads).

     Ethan Axel Andrews is an individual whose hair length is directly proportional to his sex appeal, and Ethan is smoking hot in this video (almost on a level with UCW offering #252 -- Ethan's sexiest look ever -- a "lost" match vs. Santos the Diabolic). Not only is Ethan's hair stylishly long in this vid, but he's also sporting a five o'clock shadow which is surprisingly attractive. Furthermore, Ethan is wearing matching wristbands, headband, and ankle-bands (and if there's anything that turns me on, it's accoutrements on the ankles of a sexy stud -- anklets drive me wild). I fully expected to be focused on Danny, the vulnerable young rookie, throughout this match -- but Ethan proved to be a major distraction.

     Ethan wrestles every opponent in the same way -- in a calm, cool, collected (sounds almost like an Eli Black tattoo), methodical manner. Because Ethan is a technician who wrestles within the rules, it's not always obvious that he hurts his opponents (via legal maneuvers) as badly as anyone in UCW. Ethan brings a personal trainer's mindset to the mat wars. Ethan doesn't view physical pain as a negative; he views it as a positive, character building tool. (In match #353 -- Jax Brigg's UCW debut -- Ethan hurt Jax badly enough to get the rookie to submit within the first few minutes. Ethan ignored the submission so that he could produce a video -- and Jax was Ethan's friend.)
     Ethan spends the first several minutes of match #374 torturing Danny, and you know that there will be immense repercussions in store. Danny doesn't have a personal trainer's mindset. Danny has a Cancerian's mindset. To us Cancers, everything is personal.

     Ethan once told me that if a wrestling opponent isn't fighting back, he'll hurt the wrestler even more. I was stunned. The concept was foreign to me, and it seemed out of character, coming from Ethan. To me, passivity represents intimidation. If an opponent wasn't retaliating against me, I'd be inclined to show mercy.
     Ethan doesn't share my perspective. As if to illustrate this, Ethan taunts Danny after he traps the young man in an excruciating backbreaker: "Your eyes starting to bother you? Your face? Your neck? Your spine? Tell me, what's hurting? Fight back a little harder than this." When Ethan receives no response, he begins to claw Danny's pectoral muscles.

     To be sure, Ethan often appears to be deriving visceral pleasure via his domination of the rookie. Ethan's facial expressions are sometimes troubling, and the arrogant sneer reminded me of Ethan's "heel" incarnations in other federations.

     When Danny gains the upper hand, the action turns personal. Ethan's 28-year-old physical beauty as well as his narcissism are in full bloom during this match (one could not exist without the other). Danny reacts by trying to rip Ethan's face apart, stretching the handsome grappler's lips to the splitting point...

       ....trying to rip chunks of Ethan's long, luxurious locks right out of his scalp...

     ...and attacking Ethan's manhood...

     After that, Danny travels deep into hardcore "heel" territory, utilizing tactics that will not be depicted or described here -- actions that are as loathsome as any we've seen employed by Quinn Harper, Eli Black, or their ilk. Nothing that Ethan did at the beginning of match #374 could justify or excuse Danny's reaction.

     The title of this blog entry does not contain a typo; I purposely referred to Ethan as a "Gentle Man" rather than a "Gentleman." The compound word denotes gentility, which may also describe Ethan, but it wasn't the meaning I wanted to convey. Ethan is a Pisces, the gentlest sign in the zodiac. Only extraordinary circumstances (such as merciless bullying during Ethan's youth) could have motivated such a man to prove himself in the rough-and-tumble world of UCW (plus MMA, BJJ, and several other acronyms that I know but don't fully understand).
     I met Ethan about a year ago, and the Cancer/Pisces dynamic was in full swing. When I picked up Ethan at his Boston hotel, he was clearly unnerved by my presence. I could perceive (we Cancers are extremely perceptive) that Ethan was on the verge of saying, "Hey, I don't feel comfortable with this. Stop the car and let me out." If I had tried to reassure Ethan at that point, I would have only made matters worse, so I had enough sense to just shut up. Silence prevailed for a few minutes and then Ethan initiated a conversation. I allowed Ethan to control the discourse, and everything turned out fine.
     Pisces is the most compatible sign for Cancer (along with the third water sign, Scorpio -- another rarity in UCW) and Ethan and I eventually got along swimmingly. Ethan had a calming effect on me (a rarity for someone as naturally stressed as yours truly) -- even when I was negotiating my way through heavy traffic on Boston area highways during rush hour. The day I spent with Ethan Axel Andrews is one of my fondest memories in recent history.
     Now, getting back to Danny...the Cancer personality is the least defined in the zodiac. The thin-skinned proclivities of Cancerians have manifested themselves in a broad range of public figures, from the sensitive and vulnerable Princess Diana (who bore life's slings and arrows with unfailing grace and dignity) to the violent and vengeful O.J. Simpson (who didn't).
     In keeping with my philosophy that a picture is worth a thousand words, allow me to share with you Danny Sticks' Facebook profile pic...

     Now, I'll admit that I totally freaked out when I saw this photograph. After my last UCW review was boycotted by everyone connected with the fed (only former UCW wrestlers Damien Flawless and Jax Briggs "liked" my Facebook notification -- the article was ignored by Bodyslam and not shared by the UCW-Wrestling Facebook page), I was ready, for the umpteenth time, to quit blogging about UCW. I mean, UCW lost My Beautiful Precious Johnny Deep (MBPJD) and Jax Briggs (the guy who kept me blogging after Johnny left) -- then everyone, even Michael Hannigan, was snubbing me -- so I was ready to throw in the towel. Then I saw this photo of Danny, learned that he'd be in the next UCW match, and here I am, banging away at my keyboard again.
     A competent photographer photographs only what he/she loves, and the resultant image causes us to love the subject, too. Just study Danny's face in the photo above. Notice the sensitivity apparent in Danny's facial expression and the hint of pain in Danny's eyes, which only enhances his beauty. Ignore the tats -- or, better yet, observe the tats in context and imagine them as bleeding wounds on the young man's psyche.

     I'm still trying to adjust to the attitude prevalent among UCW wrestlers that what happens on the mat is irrelevant to personal relations. In the case of match #374, I'm grateful that such an attitude exists. Even though Danny pulled an O.J. on Ethan, Ethan and Bodyslam continued to host Danny at their Woodlyn, Pennsylvania home (and even treated Danny to dinner on the eve of the video's release).

     Although Danny Stick's behavior in this match is thoroughly reprehensible, let's not give up on him yet. Like Hunter Day, Danny is just another young guy trying to make his way in the world. Befriend Danny on Facebook. Download match #374. Let UCW know that we want hot guys like Danny (and Jax and Johnny, who we miss dearly) to stay with the company long-term.