Jersey Versus Singlet

Cody Everett vs Dash Decker, Top Jock (88Wrestling)

Dash saunters towards the gym, football in hand. It's a bright sunshiny afternoon. Cody stands at the entrance in a singlet. "Real men throw people not balls," Cody says in a toneless voice. "Really? You could never beat me," replies Dash with even less inflection, his eyes on the ball he twirls in his hands. "Wanna check that out?" Cody slyly suggests. "Captain of the wrestling team you're talking to." "I'm a quarterback," Dash boasts, his hand touching his chest. "A natural born leader."

There's a longstanding rivalry between team sports and individual sports. They are opposites in their very definition of sport. Cody says, with barely contained pride, "I'm known by my name, not by the number." If you can't see where this conversation's heading, you must not have seen an underground wrestling video. So ...

Cut to interior, wrestling ring. The match is divided into three rounds; in this case, we could call them "Not Topless," "One Topless," and "Both Topless." What this tells the experienced 88 fan is that we get to see each man win at least one fall. The two are unexpectedly well matched. Dash relies on his strength. I would have thought Cody would rely on his knowledge and training in holds and throws, as well as his dexterity, but he too relies on strength. Both employ a lot of power moves, mixed with some mild, but tasty sadism.

The throws were my only disappointment in this match. The setups take too long for them to be convincing as fight strategy. However, one of the best parts of the match is the punching. Although the punches are pulled, they are rich in bad intention and rage. They add drama. So does weaponizing the ropes and turnbuckles, which are put to good use by Dash and Cody. The kicks and stomps are exciting, too.  

Though still green, Cody Everett is developing quickly as a wrestling star. His good looks and streamlined muscularity won me over in his first match against the seriously savage Rex Bedford. He next intruded into Bedford's match against Jett Bentley, clearly announcing his intent to be a bad guy and the King of the Ring's arch enemy. For this match he has advanced quickly in know-how and muscularity. And as my pal Dr. L said, "Cody Everett seems to have become even more beautiful than he was in his debut match. As if such a thing were possible."

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