Bam!!

Derek Bolt vs Austin Tyler , Catalog 25 - Choke Him Out! (MuscleBoy Wrestling)

In one of MuscleBoy's most spectacular ring matches, Derek Bolt drives his fist into Austin Tyler like a piston and reins in the smooth-as-silk hunk by fists full of hair. Austin strikes back with equal force, but sometimes finds himself out-muscled and, surprisingly, outmaneuvered. Yet the match repeatedly presents the two as equals, neck and neck in the fight of their lives. Only in the last three minutes of the match is victory certain for the one who ekes a surprise submission from the other and then catapults him out of the ring.  I've never admired Bolt's mettle or Tyler's grit more.

The match is an example of how bad blood between two men can be sexy - at least for me and some others. Make no mistake, these guys don't want to fuck or even cuddle. With every fiber of his being, each  wants the satisfaction of demolishing his opponent. The eroticism rests not in the two combatants but in the viewer:  me, in this case. The viewer assigns meaning and fantasy to each move. The physical contrasts underscore the opposition - black gear vs colorful gear, long grabbable hair vs beard, smooth vs rough, agility vs force.

The match is not graceful in the manner of flippy wrestling, which is acrobatic, almost balletic. Here, the moves are sometimes lumbering and sometimes mistimed. That's okay. Austin and Derek's sometimes stolid ring psychology works on the strength of their pluck and resilience. Even the sloppiest moves look like they hurt. Austin exudes enough personality for the both of them, and Derek impresses me with his juggernaut attacks, in large part because of his robotic lurches and lack of human feeling.

The bottom line: Bolt versus Tyler is unmissable for fans of either wrestler and for fans of rough and seemingly tireless combat. It's almost certain to show up on many fans' yearly top ten lists.

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