For the Belt
This is Dash Decker's second crack at the King of the Ring title. He lost the original KOTR to Tito Santos, who later vacated the title. Dash thought the title should have then reverted to him. Instead, Rex Bedford beat Ethan Andrews to become the second King of the Ring. In KOTR 3, Bedford found himself up against not only the challenger Jett Bentley but the challenger's buddy, rookie Cody Everett. In May, Decker got a non-title match against Bedford, a match he hoped would propel him to a title shot. He won and got a second crack at the belt. Rex was more than happy to face the guy again in the squared circle.
Dash is perhaps the sentimental favorite, but my money's on Rex for a second win. Rex just wants to hurt Decker some more. That's about the winningest motive there is in a fight. There's a lot I like about Bedford - his correct posture even while beating up somebody, his you're-gonna-get-it fight face (pretty much nonstop), and, in this match, his clingy dark red trunks. As in their earlier match, Dash's advantage is muscle and bulk, while Rex's advantage is martial arts skills and no conscience to speak of. Decker's slower than the current King, even cumbersome at times, but he has many moments of Grade-A whoop-ass.
The give and take is relentless to the end. Five minutes before the end of this 30-minute fight, it's hard to tell who has the juice to take (or keep) the belt. The finish is a sweaty choke-out followed by a three-count with the victor covering the loser.
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Dash is perhaps the sentimental favorite, but my money's on Rex for a second win. Rex just wants to hurt Decker some more. That's about the winningest motive there is in a fight. There's a lot I like about Bedford - his correct posture even while beating up somebody, his you're-gonna-get-it fight face (pretty much nonstop), and, in this match, his clingy dark red trunks. As in their earlier match, Dash's advantage is muscle and bulk, while Rex's advantage is martial arts skills and no conscience to speak of. Decker's slower than the current King, even cumbersome at times, but he has many moments of Grade-A whoop-ass.
The give and take is relentless to the end. Five minutes before the end of this 30-minute fight, it's hard to tell who has the juice to take (or keep) the belt. The finish is a sweaty choke-out followed by a three-count with the victor covering the loser.
Visit 88Wrestling here.
Decker won the non-title match thereby setting up this title match.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction. I have revised the text above.
DeleteAnd I meant to thank you so much for your blog! It's how I begin my online day. That you can write these insightful pieces every day is amazing and so disciplined.
DeleteWhat anonymous said. About this match: I was excited even by the trailer when I saw that 88 is getting rid of those silly square cuts.
ReplyDeleteThis video looks pretty hot! Totally agree that 88 should have more matches with the guys in briefs style speedos. I hardly follow their releases because it seems like their gear is almost exclusively square cuts, which don't do much for me. Hopefully this match is a sign of things to come...
DeleteBought the match, but haven't watched it yet...
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
In gif #3, Dash's "face-driver" of Rex sure looks real and painful!!