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Ace Aarons vs Carson Crawford, Sexy Showdown 11 (BG East)

Ace Aarons is my favorite heel working at BG East. His velvety voice and casual contempt for anyone and everyone who shares the ring with him distinguish him from the rest of the vicious pack of do-badders. He's built tough, but his eyes have a twinkle that brightens at the sound of an opponent's moans or the quiver of a body flinching beneath his weight. His assaults are overtly sexual, taking my imagination places other heels I admire do not. His closest competition is Guido Genatto, whose act is different - coarse and slapstick. Both are charismatic and savvy, but Ace is sly whereas Guido is blunt.

Aarons, a veteran of indy pro wrestling, knows how to work the squared circle and the camera. He hypnotizes Carson Crawford - at times with soothing assurances that he is Crawford's protector, at other times lashing out like a viper, but never losing his cool. Carson willingly becomes a toy in the master's hands. He welcomes his punishments. He has virtually submitted before entering the ring. Ace sees the fear and uncertainty in his opponent's face and uses them to expand his control. Seamlessly, Ace fluctuates between the roles of guardian and executioner.

Others have attempted this sinister balance - I think of Morgan Cruise and Bruno LaBestia - but they never won me over the way Aarons does. Aarons's magnetic charm extends past the video monitor, I feel it and it speaks to me, whereas the others strike me as caricatures. Carson looks like he welcomes the abuse, both verbal and physical. Ace roguishly heaps it upon him. Stripping Carson to nakedness seems like a metaphor for stripping the young wrestler's defenses piece by piece.

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