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Dimitri vs Ash DeLeon, Wrestling with Pride 2 (BG East/NewPro Wrestling)

A no-show leaves Dimitri without an opponent. He issues an open challenge in French, full of insults to his American hosts, which emcee Enoch Scott translates for the crowd. BGE trainee Ash DeLeon steps forward from the crowd to face the Frenchman, fully confident he can kick the Euro pro's ass even though he lacks the pro's ring experience. A fight over national honor is always boner-inducing, especially when the foreigner is as hot and cocky as Dimitri and the challenger is as bold and determined as Ash, prompting chants of  "U-S-A! U-S-A!" from the fans at ringside.

Dimitri is forceful in the opening lockup, contemptuously shoving DeLeon to the canvas. Back on his feet, Ash challenges Dimitri to a test of strength, and Dimitri forces him down to his knees and elbows almost effortlessly. The Frenchman attacks the American while he's down and toys with him like a cat batting around a wounded mouse, prompting patriotic boos from the crowd. Dimitri hurls Ash to one turnbuckle and then to the other, striking muscle poses for the increasingly hostile audience. "He's weak," Dimitri snarls, "weak like your country!" He grabs Ash by his hair and jerks him to his feet, slamming him to the mat.

It's a massacre, or seems to be. Dimitri tosses his youthful challenger around in a deliberate attempt to humiliate Ash and the Republic for which he stands. The ref does what he can to keep the heel within the boundaries of a fair and legal fight. Then, eight minutes into the match at the challenger's absolute low point, the mouse turns on his tormentor, drop-kicking him in the midsection, landing the overweening heel on his ass. No sooner is Dimitri back on his feet, and Ash dropkicks him again and buckles him into a Boston crab hold. 

Can this be the turning point? Can DeLeon make America great again? Or is this just a hope spot, teasing the passions of the enthusiastic patriots in attendance? Thrusting free of the crab hold, Dimitri viciously attacks Ash with closed-fist punches to the face. The fans are outraged, and the ref tries to restore order and sportsmanlike behavior. The match hurdles towards its climax, which is as sexy and unequivocal as I could hope for.

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