Gauntlet

Jayden Mayne vs Tyson the Hammer, Match 573 (UCW)

In an end-of-the-year retrospective I did not finish by the end of the year, I meant to trumpet Jayden Mayne's move to UCW as one of the noteworthy events of 2017. He fits right in with the company's vibe of quasi-raunchy blue-collar torture. In many ways UCW is also a better fit for Jayden than his other home bases, where he performs admirably, but these new digs may be what the guy needs to truly shine. This is an environment he can thrive in and meaningfully contribute to. I would go even so far as to say I'll be somewhat surprised if he isn't holding the UCW belt by this time next year.

First, like every newcomer, Jayden must survive the hazing process. The statuesque Tyson the Hammer is a formidable obstacle, of course. He and Jayden have strong points in common, not the least of which is their readiness to "go there" - i.e. explore new frontiers of viciousness. Jayden performs the fine points of sadism that are perfect for UCW's tight camera work, notably, well tuned wrist-wrenching and eye-gouging. At one point, he grips his opponent's hand, forcing Tyson to smack himself on the nards. Hammer bites. More disturbingly, he bites where all men fear to be bitten. His tautly muscled physique towers over Mayne, and he knows this space like he knows his own knuckles - and handily uses both to devastating effect. Both men hard-sell the agony, making this match UCW's roughest in almost two months and a stunning way to launch 2018.

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