Review: #652 Austin Tyler vs. Axel (UCW)

I jumped the gun with my last Austin Tyler post, but not this time. This time, we have confirmation from the source that #652 Austin Tyler vs. Axel match is the last Austin Tyler match for UCW. Although the language of Axel's tweet suggests there might be a "lost match" somewhere. Until one surfaces, this video has special meaning. Is this a suitable sendoff for a star?

Whether it's part of a plan or serendipity, this pairing makes perfect sense. It's Gorilla vs. Golden Boy (as Joker dubbed them). Not only is Golden Boy the top star at UCW, but they won a 2018 Cavey for one of their tag team matches. In a twist, it's Gorilla that's decked out in gold trunks, while Golden Boy has personalized red trunks with AXEL across his butt.

It'll be interesting for me, because virtually all the UCW videos I've purchased for the past year-plus have been Austin Tyler matches. There were a couple of wrestlers I did not like and some of the action got too gimmicky. However, I do still like Chase and should probably check out Wolfboy. Maybe this is the chance to get out of my comfort zone.

Gorilla in gold.

Axel's got flashy new trunks for the occasion.

The rope allows for some body stretching sexiness.

The guys are naturally comfortable with each other by this point. After all, they've wrestled together and against each other many times over the years. And not just at UCW. They met in the Wrestler4Hire ring, as well. In an effort to spice things up, this is a "Texas Four-Corner Rope" match. Yeah, I didn't know what that was, either.

Basically, the guys are tied together at the wrist by a long rope. In order to win, you need to slap all four corners in a row then pin your opponent. Complex? Yes. But the idea would be you'd have to wear down or knockout your opponent to such a degree that they couldn't stop you, because if you get stopped before the fourth turnbuckle, you need to start again.

The guys get all tied up.

That's one turnbuckle. Now you just have to do it
three more times and then pin him ...

Gotta wear him down.

Action-wise, there's always something hot about guys going until exhaustion, which is pretty much the only way to win a battle like this. The rope and rules do come into play and they do change the dynamics. It allows for a knockout, because nothing counts without the turnbuckle-tapping thing. And the rope both limits and expands move selection.

Two tuckered boys.

Austin's in on the wearing down strategy, too.

As I watched this, I thought I would've preferred a gimmick-less ring match, but then I realized that I've seen that, so maybe that's why they did it this way. Almost needless to say, but this is completely back-and-forth. The turnbuckles get a workout as counts are re-started many, many times. However, the guys just can't seal the deal until almost 28 minutes in when one guy finally gets the win.

Can Austin's mighty legs solve the problem?

The guys bring that UCW brutality to the ring.

In the end, I enjoyed this match more than I thought I would at the start. Probably a testament to the wrestlers, who know how to entertain. The ropes and rules make things clumsy at times, but they also add excitement and some sexiness in terms of the positions and moves. It's not an epic sendoff, necessarily, but it's a satisfying one.

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

Alex