Ethan Axel Andrews vs. Nick Flex was, hands down, my most most anticipated video of the new Muscleboy Wrestling catalogue. I mentioned that in my Aspen vs Gabriel Cross review, but didn't explain why. Maybe it's obvious. It's the guys. This is a superstar match, as big as Nick Flex vs. Justin Powers. Maybe even bigger, since that was intra-organization, while this is inter-organization.
It's a rough and sweaty battle between two of the toughest guys around. |
I obviously love the idea of seeing different underground organizations battle it out. I wrote two Battle of the Wrestling Stars series because I love the idea so much. So when Nick calls Ethan ‘Axel’ and says he finally crawled out of the “Underground” into a “real ring”, it elevates this video immediately. I didn't know he'd say that, but I'm really, really glad he did. Awesome.
UCW actually appeared in my first Battle of the Wrestling Stars, facing Rock Hard Wrestling. That was fantasy. With Nick’s opening lines, this video makes it a bit of reality. While Ethan mocks Nick’s ‘real ring’ comment, because he's only viewing it literally (they're not in a ring), it makes sense figuratively. First, Nick obviously knows what a ring is, but anywhere he fights is the ‘real ring’. Second, it's a scathing commentary on UCW, its chaotic style and its scruffy roster, essentially calling it inferior.
The handsome hunk is wrong to look down at UCW, but not wrong that he makes any space a real ring. Nick Flex is the King of MBW. He's the most dominant wrestler they have. If I was doing a BOTWS 3, Nick would be the main man, facing Kid Karisma in the final match. So if Ethan can defeat him, he's defeating the best of MBW. And Nick has made it such that Ethan winning means that UCW is defeating MBW. Risky move, but I like the confidence.
It's a real-life Battle of the Wrestling Stars. |
Ethan's bulging and popping. |
Nick's swinging and swaying. |
And the wrestling is great, as you'd expect. It's MBW-style, with rough body work, smooth mat holds and big power moves. The guys are skilled, maximizing the space and convincingly selling when they're on the receiving end. Nick is especially amazing as he struggles to deal with an impossibly resilient Ethan. They're sweaty and exhausted, impressing me at every turn.
Unless this is part of a broader MBW-UCW crossover, I felt like Nick should and would win. I said that RHW made a mistake putting the belt on cross-promotional guys over building up their exclusive talent. Protect your roster. I still believe that, so my expectation was a hard-fought Nick win. I wasn't right, but I wasn't wrong, either. How is that possible? Well, there's a reason I titled this review as Part 1.
Nick might learn to respect UCW. |
Always love this position. |
It'll take determination to break down those muscles. |
They're inter-connected and you can cut the pacing issue in half and solve the ending issue entirely by stopping at 26:04. The only good thing you miss is the challenge to continue this in a real ring. And you don't need that, because I just told you it's coming. I would've been looking at an early front runner at the 2018 Caveys, but maybe that'll have to be the sequel.
The lean stud gets bent. |
OOF! OOF! CRACK! |
Ethan go BOOM! |
What are other bloggers saying? I'll let you know that Joe and at least two commenters on his post clearly didn't share my nitpicking point-of-view at all. They all loved it without any reservations. Maybe you will, too.
So that's my take. What's yours? Should I have withheld judgment? Did you watch it? What was your reaction? Am I being unfairly fussy? The comment box is just waiting for your opinion!
Alex
The tension leading to the first fall was exhilarating (I was as surprised as Nick was at long it took) but I would've preferred giving that last submission more space, especially if next part is only one fall. Excited for part 2 though!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. Yes, the fist fall was perfect. The second and fourth are what I meant by pacing issues. Both of the follow up falls came too quickly for me. I think too much importance was put on them being tied.
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