Review: Austin Cooper vs. Kirby Stone (BGEast)

Kirby Stone: "You talked a big game. Seemed like you had something in you. Instead, you're all stars and stripes and a stupid haircut."

Let me begin by saying that this match is not available outside the BGEast Arena yet. It's coming on catalogue 151 as part of a compilation curiously called "Big Boy Battles 2". I get that "Big Boy" is a subjective term, so I'll focus on the guys, not their size. There's a young Braden Charron vs. Mike Pitt, both of whom I like. The match with the biggest boys is Joe Robbins vs. Jeremy Tyler. And then there's Austin Cooper vs. Kirby Stone, which I decided to watch first. 

Kirby Stone finally gets to go all out. 

Review: Cameron Matthews/Big Sexy vs. Austin Cooper/LaneHartley (W4H)

Major spoilers below ...

If Cirque du Soleil did a show about tag teams, this would be it. Their stuff is always about the journey of life. Well, this Wrestler4Hire video is the journey of a tag team. It runs the gamut of a tag team's life from conception to dissolution. Cameron needs a new partner, recruits Big Sexy, they train, face Cameron's archenemies and have the inevitable messy breakup. And all in 36 minutes!

Beautiful.

It's the total story of a tag team.

Review: Austin Cooper vs. Jaxton Wheeler (Socks) (W4H)

Wrestler4Hire catalogue description: "Is there anything hotter than sweaty knee-high socks stretched up over muscular thighs?"

Yeah, there are a lot of things hotter than tall socks, including most of this video. Actually, that's unfair. I know there are some major sock fetishists out there. I've even wrestled a couple of them in my time, borrowing tall socks to fit their particular interest. Yes- gasp - I actually don't own any tall socks. Not the point, though. If you are into socks, I see you and appreciate you.

Anyway, I was a little worried this match would be all about the socks, but other than Austin's compulsion to pull them up, I didn't really notice. Whether you're into socks or not, Austin Cooper vs. Jaxton Wheeler is a well-done match.

Two beefy bros battle it out.

Randomness 3: Twitter/Tumblr

Following up on the post from 2 weeks ago, here is more social media fun.

Pro Wrestlers ...

Adam Page ... his All-Elite debut didn't go exactly as planned, but he did turn the Full Gear Challenge around. I was disappointed in a body-shaming angle, especially for a guy who's so fucking hot already, but it ended up with a message that any shape can be Full Gear shape. With that out of the way, I'm looking forward to him winning the AEW belt. He'll look great with gold around his waist. #allelite

Review: Big Sexy vs. Dominic vs. Frey (Thunders Arena)

As I was looking for things to talk about, I stumbled across this unheralded video. I say unheralded since I couldn't find any blogger who talked about it. Maybe they did and I missed it. I know Thunders Arena and Joe (by request) purged a bunch of Big Sexy stuff years ago when someone actually believed that you could erase things from the internet. How foolish folks were back then. Of course Big Sexy's profile and all his matches are back at Thunders, because let's face it, it was never really gone and nobody really cares.

Big Sexy vs Dominic vs. Frey is like an all-star video with three of the GOAT's at Thunders. It's a custom (wow, nice job, commissioner) also 42 minutes long and only $22 currently. Nice. But what's it all about?

Frey figure-fours Dom.

Review: Austin Cooper vs. Vasily Volkov (BGEast)

I was really excited to see Austin Cooper vs. Vasily Volkov on the latest BGEast catalogue. I was more than a little worried that big Vasily Volkov would be the subject of a future one-hit wonder post. The gorgeous hunk of Russian beef has been absent for over three years and a whopping 22 catalogues. Now, lucky number 23 saves the day as he comes back in a Ringwars match. Yay! Was it worth the wait?

Big musclemen battle it out.

Review: Frey vs. Professor Muscles (Thunders Arena)

I watched Frey vs. Professor Muscles last year? It seems like ages ago. I was going to review it at the time, but after viewing, I just couldn't get interested enough to do it. However, after an off-hand remark in another review, an anonymous commenter (or maybe two) requested that I explain why I felt how I felt. And so, as a bit of fan service, I decided to write about it. It still took me a while to think of an angle, but I finally hit on something.

I bought this because I was really interested in the new muscleman because of his name and look, plus Frey is usually great with rookies. Unfortunately, things didn't work for me.

I bought it for the promise of Professor Muscles.

Quick Hits: Cooper v King + Ace v Quivers (W4H)

I'm reviewing these two videos from Wrestler4Hire together for a reason. It was hard to review these 'matches' because there's not a lot to say, but I did want to cover them. They're very focused scenarios starring three popular studs and one familiar archetype.

It's two focused fights for your pleasure.

Review: Cap vs. Frey (Thunders Arena)

Not to jinx things, but I'm on a pretty good run with videos being right on point. My latest reviews have showcased Wrestler4Hire's intimate and extended pro vs. pro action and Muscleboy Wrestling's erotically charged stud-fests. And now, we have a perfect example of Thunders Arena's fun-filled frathouse shenanigans with Cap vs. Frey.

Cap's back and looking big against
Thunders' resident rookie wrecker.

Review: Austin Cooper vs. Scrappy (Wrestler4Hire)

Scrappy: What’s this I hear about my girlfriend?

Austin: I trained you. I figured I’d train her, too. I mean, it was a good time. She was a little bit easier to train than you were.

Once again, the two most frequently discussed wrestlers on this blog face off. This time, it's at Wrestler4Hire. Because I stream, it was an easy decision to check out Austin Cooper vs. Scrappy, just a couple of months after I watched them roam around the Thunders Arena house in a gut bashing melee. Luckily, this squash job in the ring is a lot different, so there's no feeling of familiarity.

Austin's proud of his training technique.

Review: Frey vs. Scrappy (Thunders Arena)

I moved this post, because there was some drama at Thunders Arena with Mr. Mike landing in the hospital. They were closed for business and it read like there were some operational challenges. With the site back up, I'm assuming he's on the mend and things are back on track. Phew. I've been traveling, so I only know what I read in this PSA on Ringside, but it sounds like it was scary.

If anyone needs to cheer themselves up, Scrappy vs. Frey might be a good place to start.

Frey tests whether a face really can freeze that way.

Review: Frey vs. Vinny (Thunders Arena)

When Thunders Arena won my 2017 Cavey Award winner for Favorite Promotion, I praised them for delivering consistent quality. Scrappy and Blayne led the way, but almost everything just clicked. So far, it's been a different story in 2018. At best, I can call this year inconsistent. The charming and physically perfect Cason is the only major rookie highlight, but even he's not been infallible.

After a couple of recent bad decisions (e.g., Frey vs. Professor Muscles and Brute/Joey King vs. Felix/Sage) and the announcement of a shift to a browser-based video format (.webm instead of .mp4), I've decided it's time to be a little more thoughtful about what I buy. I almost jumped on all five new Vegas videos, but I managed to calm myself. Patience.

Anyway, Frey vs. Vinny has the kind of qualities I'll be looking for. Two fairly reliable studs that I like, on the classic mats, with a simple premise, bought during a recent sale. I was surprised by this video, but in a good way as the action is different than what I expected, but it was hot and engaging.

Vinny and Frey are back for another
roll around the mats.

Review: Blayne vs. Frey/Viking (Thunders Arena)

Blayne: "You're gonna be lucky if I don't make you kiss by the end of the match. I'll show you real competition."

Don't get too excited. Blayne does not make Frey and Viking kiss. However, this quote sets the tone for this Thunders Arena fan fantasy beatdown that is more what I expected it to be. It has a clear direction and executes it brilliantly. If you think that you're interested in this video, I think you'll love it. Matches like this can be cheesy, but literally everything works perfectly in Blayne vs. Frey/Viking.

I was asked by a couple of folks to review this, but I'm not writing this out of obligation or for the purpose of fan service. No, it's my pleasure to talk about Blayne vs. Frey/Viking.

Everything's coming up Blayne as the best seller
brings the musclemen to their knees.

Review: Ty Alexander vs. Austin Cooper (BGEast)

Ty: "Austin Cooper? I'm not impressed. I thought you'd be taller." 

Austin: "Yeah? I thought you'd be smarter."

Ty Alexander got his first Spotlight on this latest BGEast catalogue. I figured I'd eventually check out all three matches, so I OTA'ed it. This compilation runs through three different Ty's - early, middle and recent. He's got one superstar opponent and two far less famous dudes with only five total matches between them.

I decided to start with the second match, which is obviously the oldest of the three. It features the superstar - THE Austin Cooper. I didn't choose this because it's Austin, though. I chose it because I figured chronological order was the best way for me to experience this Spotlight, even if BGEast put it in a different order.

Even in this early match, Ty has his cocky attitude.

Review: Steel vs. Frey Custom Series (Thunders Arena)

Sometimes people hurt the ones they love, right? I'm pretty sure whoever commissioned this custom Steel vs. Frey match loves the stunning young muscle god, but what a way to show it. Not that I'm judging. I love Steel and bought this from Thunders Arena pretty much right away when I saw it was Frey relentlessly wrecking him. So I get it.

And it was the right decision.

It's all downhill for Steel as Frey dismantles him.

Review: Coop/Jake vs. Ethan/Jason Kane (RHW 1.0)

Now that Rock Hard Wrestling is officially defunct and replaced (my post here), we can't be sure how long its website will be up and running. So I figure I better have what I want before the cost outweighs the income. Luckily, I probably have everything I want, including every Jake, Bruce, Dash and Alex solo match.

During the recent Jake Jenkins sale, I completed my Jake collection adding the four tag team matches that I had previously skipped. Out of all those tag matches, I decided to review Coop/Jake vs. Ethan/Jason for some variety and nostalgia. Coincidentally, it's also the "Encore Presentation" right now.

Three huge stars in one match!
Jake plays the concerned partner perfectly.

Review: Frey vs. Iceman18 (Thunders Arena)

Full disclosure: This video was provided to me by Thunders Arena.

I think the most impressive thing about Thunders Arena is how they never stop finding new young studs. I wish a lot of them would hang around longer, but I've learned to appreciate them for the time they're there. A big part of the 'flash-in-the-pan' feeling is driven by their distribution model. While BGEast might produce the same number of matches with a guy, they will take years to release them. With Thunders, five matches might be uploaded in two weeks then you never see him again.

And so, when I saw they sent me a couple of matches with a new find named Iceman18, I was excited to check them out. I started with Iceman18 vs. Frey, because let's face it, that's how so many rookies begin their careers - facing off against the master.

Welcome to Thunders, Iceman18.
You couldn't be in better hands.

Quick Hit: Austin Cooper + Joey Angel vs. Guido Genatto (W4H)

Following up on yesterday's post is another Wrestler4Hire video where one idea stuck in my head ... Joey Angel + Austin Cooper vs. Guido Genatto.

These Boots Are Made For Jobbing ...

Yes, this is a one-on-two squash job featuring three sexy wrestlers, two of whom are the most popular in the business. It's a good video with a lot of brutish Guido domination. And you might notice no trigger warning as the hairy hunk actually manages to not use any gay slurs. That might have been the most shocking part of this video, if not for Joey's gear choice.

What really stood out to me is the same thing that stood out to Guido - Joey's bright, white, odd-fitting footwear. I'm pretty sure that they're the same pro boots as yesterday, but on Joey they look quite big and very bright, looking more like 60's go-go boots than wrestling boots.

The hairy heel fixates on them right away and so do I. Austin Cooper is part of the match from an action standpoint, but not as much from a storyline perspective. That's the problem with being perfect, there's nothing for Guido to make fun of. Doesn't save him from a vicious beating, but it does save him from ridicule.

Guido thinks Joey's a wonder, wonder woman
in those boots.

BOTWS 2: BGE v RHW v Thunders Part 5 of 6

And here we are for the first half of the final day of season 2. These six Day 3 matches will decide who wins bragging rights. Defending champ Rock Hard Wrestling has a big hill to climb, but nothing is impossible. Thunders is definitely in the driver's seat. And of course, you can never count BGEast out.

Battle of the Wrestling Stars 2: Part 1

Battle of the Wrestling Stars 2: Part 2

Battle of the Wrestling Stars 2: Part 3

Battle of the Wrestling Stars 2: Part 4

BOTWS 2: BGE v RHW v Thunders Part 3 of 6

Battle of the Wrestling Stars 2: Part 1
Battle of the Wrestling Stars 2: Part 2

And we're back. Day 1 resolved nothing as things ended in a three-way tie. Big stars came through for Rock Hard Wrestling, while BGEast and Thunders both got a nice win from one of their frequent jobbers. And we learned that there are Cooper brothers, explaining their incredible frequency. But wait ... are they twins? Or ...