Make Him Sweat for It

Dash Decker vs Jett Bentley, Flex City (88Wrestling)

Whatever gain either of these wrestlers hopes to make in this fight, he's going to have to sweat for it. Dash's tsunami-grade muscle is up against Jett's traction and downforce. Dash is at his best when he has room to roll and deliver wide-arcing strikes, while Jett is at his best in tight clenches waged close to the mat or ropes. This contest gives both the space they need to shine. Jett and Dash have not fought previously - though almost certainly they are familiar with each other's previous matches - and their long-deferred face-off delivers.

As you may know, I like grunting, sweaty wrestling. How sweat affects grip draws me to it, but there are the aesthetic pleasures, too:  the sensation of watching two bronze gods grappling. I like oil matches and underwater wrestling almost as much as a sweaty fight, but thee's something virile and elemental about sweat that makes it better. In 88's most recent matches, sweat has been king.

Opinions vary on the two wrestlers. My opinions vary from fight to fight. This match features the best work of either of them, more particularly Jett who is shedding his "newness" and more confidently taking the kinds of risks good wrestling requires. Lately I find myself warming up to the guy, because of not only his trim muscularity, but also his deadpan serious attitude towards conquering an opponent. By contrast, Dash doesn't seem to take any of it seriously. His sunny approach to demolition works psychologically to his advantage.

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