First Impressions













Jake Mason vs Zack Johnathan, First Impressions (88Wrestling)

Zack Johnathan is tanner and handsomer than ever in (at long last) his 88 debut. His opponent is a pasty-looking youngster more used to collegiate wrestling than to the squared circle. Unlike Zack, he is new to the underground wrestling scene. If Jake Mason feels intimidated by the unfamiliar surroundings and legendary opponent, he doesn't let it show. He lacks Johnathan's winsome charm and ring experience, as do most of us, but, as it turns out, Jack is a natural ice-cold punisher, whose instinct is to go for the jugular.

Zack goes through the usual drill, challenging his opponent to a test of strength - arm wrestling - and following up with the standard punishment holds - side headlocks and hammerlocks. Just three minutes in, though, Jake counters by heaving Zack up on one shoulder and slamming him to the mat. Taken by surprise, Johnathan is slow to retaliate and finds himself on the receiving end of a barrage of assaults, as humiliating as they are painful. The give and take that leads to the first fall mostly favors Z, as it turns out, yet hard as he tries, he can't wear the new kid down.

Two-thirds of the way into the match, the score is 1:1. Obviously, the new kid is not interested in the role of jobber-boy. Most of young Jake's appeal is his toughness and resilience. He takes everything Zack throws at him and keeps coming back for more. A large part of that is undoubtedly the suppleness of youth, but I sense fighting spirit in him, also, and that counts for a lot - in this game, it often counts for everything. Zack has the textbook moves, but Jake runs on instincts. Whether the kid can ultimately triumph on raw aggression alone or whether Zack's technique and wiles win the day, 88's latest works because it kept me guessing the whole way.


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Comments

  1. As a long-time fan and admirer of Zack, it was great to see (what I call) his return to 88W. Zack is an icon, and it is tough to beat his physique, beauty, charisma, talent, and BICEPS!
    I bought the match, and though I haven't watched it yet, I did "spoil it" for myself and skip to the end.... Won't spoil it here.
    Jake seems promising. Hopefully, as you implied, he gets a tan this summer :)
    Looking forward to many more Zack matches at 88W!

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