Review: Aspen vs. Gabriel Cross (Muscleboy Wrestling)

Full disclosure: This video was sent to me by Muscleboy Wrestling.

MBW released its seventh catalogue this weekend. Coincidentally, there were seven videos I wanted out of the twelve offered. While I mulled what to buy first, MBW generously made one choice for me. They sent me Aspen vs. Gabriel Cross, which is actually one of the ones that I really, really wanted (behind only Nick Flex vs. Ethan Andrews).

MBW puts a new porn guy on the mats.

I'm not a big porn guy, but I've actually seen and liked both these guys at Men.com. While I like both guys, but I really wanted to see this one because of Aspen. MBW tweeted promo images of him in pink and gray gear, but his signature Aspen tattoo wasn't visible. With his head shaved and some extra beef, I could only be 99% sure it was him. So I asked and was answered. It's cool that they remembered my interest.

So what's the deal with Aspen? Well, in the things I've seen, he was a cute, charming and funny frat boy type. I will say that he's very different here than that. Like I said, he's chopped off all his hair and his body is beefier around the midsection, but I still think he's cute with a great cocky smirk. He doesn't talk much here, but his persona veers towards heel pretty fast. He's out to dominate Gabriel (like most guys who see the compact cutie).

Gabriel Cross is a guy I've seen in wrestling, way back at BGEast and more recently at MBW in the last catalogue. Talk about adorable. He's still got his boyish charm, even with some body hair over his tight muscles. The British babe is probably best known for his oversized cock and his awesome bubble butt. He's silent for most of this match, too, his flirting and wrestling skills talk for him.

Pretty in pink.

Gabriel's a hot little guy.

C'mon, Aspen, is that really necessary?
Oh, it is? Carry on then.

Yes, this is a quiet match. There's very little dialogue, outside of a few lines like, “Are you going to submit for me?” and some encouraging “Good boy” praise. However, I will say that these two know how to speak without words. There's passion, chemistry and tension from beginning to end. They're great at communicating the point, which starts as “I want you” then morphs into “I want to dominate you.”

I expected Gabriel to be good and he is. He moves really smoothly, like a cat on the prowl. The short stud is very seductive as he tries to match power with skill and sex appeal. And it works. This match is actually more back-and-forth than I expected, with some sweet moves from both guys. Gabriel’s first match was more sex than wrestling, but this one has better balance.

Boys just wanna have fun.

Gabriel's on his knees, but he's not giving up.

Gabriel: "Are you going to submit for me?"

I was happy to hear from MBW that Aspen was fun to work with and a good wrestler. Very cool. While I can't judge how he was to work with, I can weigh in on Aspen as a wrestler. And I'm happy to confirm that he does a really good job.

In the 19 minutes or so of wrestling action, Aspen executes multiple suplexes, a couple of backbreakers, splashes, dragon sleepers, a dragon sleeper into a backbreaker, a bearhug, a lot of stomps, and body work like forearm smashes. He sells really well, especially when locked in a tight spladle and later in a head scissors. It's all done well and it feels like he's wrestled before or is at least a fan.

The best part is that he seems to get the idea of match flow and strategy. I like how he targets the core over and over to wear Gabriel down. He also buy into the premise of underground wrestling in a way that even some frequently featured wrestlers don't. Aspen moves a little too fast at times, working at a pro pace, rather than an underground pace, but other than that, I think he's got the hang of this wrestling thing already.

A snap suplex.

Up. Down. Beautiful.

No slow setting down with Aspen.
Gabriel is put DOWN with authority!

In the end, I really liked how this worked. Aspen made the transition onto the mats nicely. Gabriel’s still a talented cutie who can work a match. And it was great to see the tension build as it evolves from intimate to intense. There's a lot of actual wrestling for a good length of time to balance the eventual erotic action.

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

Alex