Sigh. With just those two words - Brett and Barnes - some of you may join me in a moment of quiet, joyful reflection. I fondly remember the adorable and fresh-faced blond fireplug from Texas who was just slightly ahead of his time, but certainly made a huge impact on me and many others.
Go on, ref, grab it. You know you want to. Brett Barnes v Johnny Handsome (CF 112) |
Young pro Brett made an impression. |
Now, I won't pretend that his rise as an object of affection was based entirely on his talent. Brett also trained as a powerlifter, which gave him disproportionately thick legs and a spectacular ass. Add that to his handsome, cherubic face and flawless smooth skin. Physically, my appreciation for a guy like Biff Farrell is probably based off the wonder that was Brett Barnes.
Those trunks don't lie. |
We had a huge shortage of this butt Brett Barnes v Alex Pinchek (CF 92) |
This is where Cyberfights came in and saved the day. In the age where BGEast and Can-Am were the Coke and Pepsi of gay-oriented underground wrestling, indie wrestlers didn't cross over to these wrestling sites. At least not many. Of course, they weren't just gay-oriented sites, they were also porn sites. To me, gay-oriented and porn are not synonymous and just like an actor might go nude in a Hollywood movie, he's not racing to work for a porn producer or anything, even if his role doesn't involve nudity. No matter the reason, we couldn't see the guys via online video and we couldn't see them in a relevant video company. What a dilemma.
Anyway, Can-Am created Cyberfights as their answer. It was such a simple proposition. Cyberfights would bring the hottest young pro wrestlers together for dream matches. It was kept at an arm's length from the porn content, giving sufficient cover to future superstars, including a certain former WWE world heavyweight champion. Can-Am was the name brand, while Cyberfights was the generic product not-so secretly made by the big company.
My first Cyberfights video - I loved Chad Collyer Kidd USA v Chad Collyer (CF 12) |
Buff blonds battle it out Brett Barnes v Scotty Mac (CF 86) |
Brett towers over a future WWE Heavyweight Champ Brett Barnes v Tyler Black (CF 120) |
Brett starred in over 50 Cyberfights matches and I have about half of them. Singles, three-ways, tag matches and even battle royales. The fact that he did more than anyone else proves three things to me: his popularity with gay fans, the ceiling as a pro, and that if he'd been born a decade later that he would've been even bigger.
Fade knocks Brett out with a bearhug Brett Barnes v Fade (CF 95) |
In a modern setting where size doesn't matter as much and there are more ways to make a living, Brett might've thrived a little more.
Definitely a champ in my book. Brett Barnes v Johnny Handsome (CF 112) |
Modern Day Brett
I don't want make it sound like Brett's gone. There is some newer Brett on YouTube from Texas Championship Wrestling. It seems like it was around 2014 when Brett made a return. And the guy still looks amazing. Now in his 30's, he has a more rugged look with short brown hair and sexy scruff, but he's still got "it".
The last upload I saw on YouTube was from early 2016, so I've got no idea if he's still wrestling. What I can say is that if someone like Wrestler4Hire coaxed him into a match, my credit card couldn't be out fast enough. I say W4H, because Brett and Cameron have wrestled several matches. However, there could be multiple reasons why he wouldn't be interested, so I won't hold my breath.
Brett came back, maybe looking even better |
Brett returns to do the job for the monster Cerebus Brett Barnes vs. Cerebus (TCW) |
Brett gets saved by then bonds with a new bro-buddy Brett Barnes vs. Jason Kincaid (TCW) |
What do you think? Were you a fan?
Alex
I was a huge fan of Brett Barnes/Brett Idol as well. In fact, he was featured in the very first wrestling DVD I ever bought, and I bought it because of him. However, I was incredibly disappointed that the promotional pictures from his Cyberfights matches with Matt Sydel showed him bearhugging the ripped young wrestler, but the hold was not included in the video. I believe he did three matches with Matt, and I've seen two of those matches, but no bearhug. I didn't waste my money on the third match.
ReplyDeleteOuch. I feel your pain. They always put that disclaimer about the images might not appear in the video, but it sucks when it's the one thing you want to see. I was never a fan of Matt Sydal, but I'll see what I have with him vs Brett. I know I have them in a tag match together.
DeleteAnyway, good to hear from another Brett Barnes fan!
He does bearhug Sydal in one of their singles matches. Don't remember which one. It looked like he might get a submission win with the bearhug since he applied it a few times but it didn't end like that.
DeleteThanks! Good to know it happened. Probably just teased with the wrong video. Maybe it was one of those 30-minute matches that got split up.
DeleteWow, Alex … What a topic!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah man, I remember Brett Barnes very well. Who could forget him? He checked off all the boxes in what anybody would want in a pro wrestler… and you mentioned them all…
That hair! Those bulgy muscles! That flawless skin and handsome face … holy crap! It’s so wrong that one guy could be blessed with so many gifts like that, right?
I guess I never realized he was so short … thats too bad because he would be a big indy star these days. I gotta say I am so jealous you have a number of his Cyberfights and your analysis of the Cyberfights company is interesting for sure. I’ve seen a few indy pros “cross over” to Thunders and bg nowadays and they should rustle up Brett. (I still find Cameron’s site much to annoying to patronize … every time I try to shop it, I can’t even get the roster to come up… thats a rant for another day)
I know I have the occasional Cyberfights dvd here and there (though in this age of “streaming”, I’m gotten lazy about even shoving a disk in and rejiggering the TV to the dvr) but I think you have a much more extensive collection. Still on videotape, perhaps?
Great post, Alex!
(PS ... I loved Chad Collyer as well! --- insert wink emoji here... LoL)
Thanks! So glad guys are liking seeing Brett again.
DeleteI really liked Cyberfights, so I did buy quite a few. I remember them as being a great deal, like $10 for the 30-minute matches?
Many started on VHS, but were long ago converted to DVD then ripped to digital files. I have them all on an external hard drive, plus a backup external drive.
And I had a great compilation of Chad Collyer pro matches, but I'm not sure I converted it.
This is how you know that you are the best wrestling writer out there. You just know your stuff! Never heard of him until now. That first image was great.
ReplyDeleteThanks, but I'm pretty sure all the current bloggers know Brett. Beefcakes of Wrestling has posted about him a lot, for sure.
DeleteYou read my mind with these posts about Brett Barnes/Idol. Everything you said about him is true. His body and especially that bubble butt are amazing. In addition he always wears trunks that fit perfectly and enhance the butt. As Bard would say 'He really knows how to fill out a pair of trunks. Check him out in tiny shiny silver briefs in this match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNnVhCf7a7I
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the comment and the link! I'm always open for more Brett, especially something tiny and shiny.
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