Review: Scrappy vs. Jesse Zane (Muscleboy Wrestling)

I haven't reviewed a Scrappy match for three months. Remarkable. There's no wrestler I've blogged about more in my 5+ years of blogging. There's no wrestler who's won more Caveys, including being my Favorite Wrestler twice in the last three years. The gap wasn't deliberate, just a confluence of events that led me to not seeing the young stud in action. Shame on me.

Scrappy!

It might be a cliche to say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but in this case, it's true. This match made me appreciate Scrappy all over again. In little baby blue trunks, the superstar stud is gorgeous, as always. I can't even imagine how much hard work and dedication goes into maintaining and improving that body, but that alone has to earn respect. Perfectly proportioned, eager to flex, and willing to be dominated, beautiful young Scrappy is on full display from beginning to end.

But Scrappy isn't just muscle. In fact, what makes him such a unique and transcendent figure is his personality and expressiveness. He's arguably the most versatile wrestler in the business at ANY level. I love how he conveys the emotion and experience of wrestling without ever getting corny or over-the-top. Seriously, he's just the best thing going and has been for almost four years.

Scrappy in 3D? Maybe one day.

Helpless but defiant. That's Scrappy.

How did I let three months go by
without some of this?

I bought Scrappy vs. Jesse Zane when catalogue 18 came out, but I didn't get around to watching it until this week (when ironically a free download for it showed up in my mailbox). The match plays out as Scrappy's welcome to Muscleboy Wrestling. Whether it was literally his first MBW match or not, I can't be sure, but it's entirely possible. If you were the main man of a promotion and Scrappy was coming in, wouldn't you want to be first in line? It's at least his metaphorical welcome. And what a welcome as he's put through the wringer.

The story is pretty simple. It's skill vs. muscle. You can guess which guy falls on which side of that equation. We get a long introduction of Scrappy stretching and monologuing before the guys face off. Of course they do the whole "who are you?" deal and show nothing but contempt for each other. Tension! I enjoy that a few things that Scrappy mused about in his opener come back around, although perhaps not in the way he thought.

Welcome to MBW, Scrappy.
Hope you survive the experience.

Scrappy. Built to be bashed.

At the start, Scrappy wondered whose face would be
under his balls and now look at him. Criss cross!

Action-wise, this is a lot squashier than I expected. Scrappy is manhandled and his moments of domination are short interludes before his muscular and remarkably flexible body is bent, pounded and abused some more. It's been a little while since I've seen Scrappy so completely dominated and when it does happen, it's usually by a bigger dude.

Lots of guys get squashed and dominated. Lots of muscle guys, too. But, as is the theme of this review, Scrappy is such a great victim for more than his looks. His selling is on another level, as usual. The superstar brings out his ultimate Scrappy - young, muscular, arrogant and delusional (a lot like Xaq in my stories). He keeps teasing his comeback and diminishing his losses, sure that he'll win in the end. So perfect.

Scrappy knows this is just luck.

Oh Scrappy, you do get yourself
in the craziest predicaments.

Just keep Scrappy like that all day, please.

In the end, if you love seeing Scrappy being dominated, you will love this match. The best wrestler around is put in all kinds of humiliating positions, even as he remains totally Scrappy. This match reminded me of why I love the guy and how great he is. I'll never let three months pass between videos again! Interestingly, there's a tease that there's going to be a rematch in the ring and it's promised to be even worse for him. Hopefully that happens.

What are other bloggers saying?

RINGSIDE: SEE HOW SCRAPPY REALLY WORKS

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

Alex