Made for Wrestling

Anton Alvarez vs Kal the Wrestler, Match 814 (UCW)

Bodies this mismatched - Kal in blue being tall and lean and Anton in red being heavy and thick - ordinarily do not deliver this level of unpredictability and flair. These guys click. I don't know what their offscreen lives are, but I wish I had a relationship that clicks the way these two do in the ring. It's a heated fight from beginning to end, but I see how well they know each other physically and psychologically. Without apparent scripting, Anton and Kal put up a fight based on how well they anticipate each other's moves.

"I hope we can still be friends after I kick your ass," Anton says at the start, a remark that seems both heartfelt and inflammatory. It also shows how sure he is of himself. Shortly after the two lock arms, Anton kicks Kal in the abs, then beats him down to the mat with his forearm. When Kal rolls onto his back, Anton stomps down on his ribs. Alvarez adds insult to injury when he says, "I haven't seen much so far." As soon as Kal is back on his feet, Anton tackles him around the waist and shoves him against the turnbuckles. "Show me what you got," Anton says and dives in again. Kal deftly leaps out of his way this time and lets him crash into the corner. At close range, Kal succeeds in delivering some sound punches to Anton's gut, but Anton quickly turns the tables again.

The action never lags. Sure, exhaustion sets in near the halfway point, but the brawlers' determination remains strong. There's nothing sloppy or phony about their moves, which are both tactical and sophisticated.  Again, I go back to how surprisingly well suited they are for each other. Anton and Kal stir up the best in each other.

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