Prepared and Confident and Doomed

Brute Baynard vs Kirk Donahue, Florida Fights 10 (BG East)

Currently available on Own-to-Arena and coming soon in BG East's Catalog 157, Kirk versus Brute is a definitive squash job. Despite several attempts to toughen his image, Kirk is still the company's preeminent babyface, confirmed by the recent fan poll results for 2021. I suspect BGE booked Brute to drive home the fact that Kirk was born a jobber and will remain a jobber. The poll has not yet officially recognized Brute's indisputable merits as a heel, but his man-mountain bulk and icepick-sharp glare speak for themselves. 

Brute could probably win the contest in a more gentlemanly manner, but where's the fun in that? True heels don't win; they obliterate. When his eyes fix on Kirk, Brute doesn't see an opponent; he sees a snack. He confirms his judgment of his competitor immediately, pushing Kirk's back to the ropes and then bending him over the top turnbuckle. A center-of-the-ring claw hold on the trapezius muscle all but paralyzes poor, dashing Kirk. If it's any consolation to the guy, squirming displays Kirk's upper body beautifully.

Brute goes for Kirk's joints - knuckles, wrists, elbows, vertebrae, knees, and ankles, exploiting their vulnerability to dislocation and shooting pain. Brute weaves Kirk's limbs through the ring ropes, leaning in to tighten the pressure. Kirk whimpers like a kicked dog, but I give him credit for doing his best to preserve his dignity while being bludgeoned. It's heroic in a loser sort of way. Brute grabs a foot and pulls Kirk up off the mat and splats him down. And nobody - and I mean nobody - sells it better than Donahue.

As the match nears the end, Kirk gets a 53-second hope spot when he mounts the heel's upper back and applies a chokehold. For a few of those seconds, Brute appears to be weakening. "You wanna give up now?" Kirk asks confidently - that's just precious when you consider the unlikelihood that this last-ditch effort will pay off. Brute backs into a turnbuckle and squashes his assailant like he's an ant.

The match is solid and professional, paced to engage the audience by a couple of wrestlers who know the squared circle better than I know my couch. I've seen both these men in action live and on video, and both are top-notch performers.

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