Review: Scrappy vs. Jake (Thunders Arena)

Full disclosure: This video was provided to me by Thunders Arena.

I didn't buy Scrappy vs. Jake and apparently you didn't either.

Scrappy opens Jake up, but none of you know it

All the bloggers got a message from Thunders Arena that basically asked us, "Why isn't this video selling?"

I don't know how anyone else responded, but I responded by asking about hot topics like the sales analytics around the wrestlers' sales histories and the impact of seasonality and frequency of releases. I basically posited some potential issues, but explained that they have information that would tell them a lot more than outsiders watching a video.

I didn't hear back. Not that I expected to, but it amused me that Thunders would ask bloggers this business and marketing question when I think what they're really asking is, "Would you please promote this video?"

I do think it's an interesting way to do it. Thunders has sent me three videos this month (reviews coming), but this is the only one with its own back story. When I just get sent videos, I watch them and then either I feel compelled to talk about them or I don't. With this particular approach, I'm being recruited onto the team. I'm being asked for help. And the video is being presented as an underdog. Poor little unloved video. Who doesn't root for an underdog? If anything, it predisposed me to go easy on this video, because it's having a hard time of it. I mean, I shouldn't kick a video when it's down, right?

So with all this said, I watched Scrappy vs. Jake to see what's going on.

It's a perfectly cromulent video, once you get over the disappointment that the "Jake" in question isn't THE Jake (as in Jenkins). This 14-minute match is more an intro to this Jake than a showcase for Scrappy. The newbie dominates the picture and sound regardless of position or circumstance. The camera zooms in on his body and expressive face while suffering then celebrates his dominance when he's on top. He flexes and taunts, groans and gasps.

This Jake enjoys being on top

And I think it works as a rookie intro. I ended up liking Jake and being more interested in him. Considering I never even noticed him in his two previous outings, it did make me curious to go see what's up. That's how I found out that he actually has two previous outings. I won't talk much about Scrappy, because it's not his video. He's as hot as ever in tiny yellow posers, but the gorgeous young stud is more of a passenger here.

Back to Jake  He gets to display a lot of personality. I will say that he starts out giggly, which was weird in a bad way, but he does settle down. Once relaxed, he turns into a confident, engaging bad boy. Jake has a very expressive face with snarls and pained gasps. And he loves to talk. He does ask, "You like that?" a ton. And I mean a ton. It's like his go-to phrase. Scrappy doesn't really answer, except with moans, so I'm guessing his response would be, "No."

Appearance-wise, the guys are smoking hot with great bodies. Butts and bulges are prominent, especially Jake's as his particular ... attributes test the capacity of his tiny blue trunks. The gear wonderfully loses the battle in back. Nothing is going to stop his mountainous behind from getting free. In front, the fabric prison holds, but it alternates between sagging and tenting from the start. The cameraman loves Jake's entire body, zooming in tight.

Oh, he enjoys being on this side, too

Jake's grapevine has Scrappy suffering

Jake gasps in Scrappy's grip

In terms of action, Jake displays surprisingly good mat skills with multiple well-executed takedowns and grapevines. He looks like he has some wrestling experience. However, a lot of it repeats and it's not very Thunders. Much of the action feels to me more like a chatty Movimus with less intense wrestling. The guys spend most of their time on the mats. You see multiple takedowns, grapevines, and hooked leg cradle-type positions. There are two reverse bearhugs, a full nelson and an over-the-knee backbreaker, but I remember the heavy and repetitive mat work.

Jake dominates the younger stud

Scrappy knocks the giggles out of Jake

Thanks for playing, Scrappy

In the end, this video was worth my time, but I didn't pay for it. Only you know if it would be worth your money. On the plus side, it's fun, the guys are hot and it's a nice intro to a new wrestler. However, I don't think it's great, either. Why? It's short and yet the action is repetitive. If you bought it for Scrappy, you might be disappointed. I will say that the pluses outweigh the minuses for me.

So why isn't it selling? I still don't know, but I don't think it's the quality of the video. Quality has little to do with initial sales.

We all got this match, so what're we all saying about it?

BODYSLAMMER: JAKE AND SCRAPPY

RINGSIDE: BRO WORLD

So that's my take. I'd love to hear yours. Why didn't you buy this? If you did, why and what'd you think?

Alex