From Parts Well-Known

Jaden Xtacy vs Trevor Read, Wrestling with Pride 2 (BG East/NewPro Wrestling)

Hot heel Trevor Read (6'2", 125#) opened the 2018 Pride in a legendary match against Kirk Donahue. If you hadn't heard, he lost spectacularly but made an indelible impression on the fans that night. Over a year later he's back for Pride 2, taking on Fort Lauderdale's own Jaden Xtacy (5'10", 175#) in the evening's second match. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I think Jaden was the guy originally scheduled to wrestle Kirk last year, but an injury sidelined him before the show.

Both men are rockstar handsome with matching scruff and stringy long hair. Jaden's adorable face naturally typecasts him as the match's babyface - and a flippy high-flyer too. The fans take to him immediately, much to the chagrin of Trevor, who approaches the ring scowling and determined to give his photogenic opponent a bruising. Right off, he tries to snap Jaden's elbow, pulls his hair, and stomps on his toes - my kind of guy.

Early in the match, Jaden tirelessly keeps Trevor in a tight wristlock. He practically skips while Read grimaces, striking back with cheap shots, which at first have no impact on Xtacy. After yanking on the local boy's hair a third time, Read finds himself suddenly on his ass with the bright and smiling youngster chicken-winging one arm behind his head. "Ow, my neck! my arm! my life!" the heel howls like a stage villain. The crowd cheers its golden boy.

When at last Read escapes, Xtacy shows off acrobatically, with a feint that causes Trevor to land himself with a flat back bump. When the desperate heel flees the ring, the daring babyface leaps over the ropes and smashes him down to the hardwood floor of the Manor Complex. After Jaden tosses Trevor back into the ring, the advantage shifts. Read strikes back with textbook heel moves like guillotining the lad on the top rope, scratching his eyelids, and kicking him in the face.

With one foul move after another, Trevor clings to his lead for the next five minutes. The final sixty seconds sees a cyclone of give and take, with no clear indication of who the victor might be till the deal is done. The gymnastics creates slack between moves - one reason I'm usually not a fan of this style - but, all in all, it's a fine fight with both fighters looking great under duress.

Photos by my pal Pete Carson.

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