Review: Lane Hartley vs. Kirk Donahue (BGEast)

BGEast's Kirk Donahue vs. Lane Hartley match is exactly what you think it is. It's entirely predictable, built off common pro wrestling tropes. That's neither good nor bad, because it all comes down to execution. There are good pro vs. joe squashes and there are bad ones. It comes down to the performances, the action and the production.

Luckily, this one is good on all three, so if this is your type of match, you'll like it.

Big pro Lane shows wannabe Kirk the ropes.

I've loved Lane Hartley since his debut. This is clean-cut Lane with a little more beef on him than his original BGEast matches, but still some definition. I like how this Lane seems like a regular guy, calmly going about his business. His business, of course, is destroying jobbers. Lane likes his job, but isn't a typical heel. I think it makes him more threatening.

Kirk Donahue has emerged as a great jobber. I'm not sure if he's even still wrestling, because a lot of these matches feel like they were filmed years ago. I think he looks better in action than stills. He has a tight, ripped body with nice pecs, abs, bulge and butt. He has a cute Howdy Doody type face, which accentuates his vulnerability.

Lane: "Why would you take on a guy who has
easily 50-lbs on you? Is it ego?"

Lane: "I understand. You wanna climb the ladder.
Roll with the big dogs."

Lane enjoys the view.

Kirk is a determined, aspiring wrestler. He's ready to face the challenge of Lane. Or at least he thinks he is. Kirk shows a lot of bravado, much to Lane's amusement. The big pro wrestler is bemused, but ultimately unimpressed. He demonstrates his superiority immediately, by stepping over the top rope to enter the ring. Always a bad ass heel move.

Lane questions why Kirk would even want to wrestle him, but he's more than willing to teach the wannabe a lesson he won't forget. The action starts pretty fast with a simple and humiliating attack. Lane goes after a foot and a hand, all the while mocking and taunting the immediately helpless hunk. Kirk tries to fight back with one of my favorite jobber moves - the weak gut punch that is completely unsold by Lane. From there, it's one-sided and ruthless.

Lane: "I love fresh meat."

Lane is relentless.

Lane: "I'm thinking I will make you tap out ...
ten times."

Lane is powerful and skilled, so the action really works. He manhandles Kirk for the entire match, dominating the lean hunk in every way possible. The jobber sells it all. Kirk has a very expressive face, plus he's bendy, durable and physically gifted at taking the holds. Of course he gets a ton of submissions before he's done, so this might take you multiple viewings to get through.

Lane" "It's fun to watch your spirit break."

Lane: "It's a lot of power and control, you know?
Crushing a person's spirit and dreams."

Lane: "They should call me
Lane Hartley, the Dream Crusher."

In the end, this is a solid pro vs. joe squash. Lane is a unique and compelling heel and I prefer this clean-cut version of him. Kirk knows how to sell his suffering, plus he doesn't just lie down at first. You won't be surprised, but if this is your kind of match, it's a good one.

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So that's my take. What's yours?

Alex