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Lobo Gris vs Freddy Campbell, Backyard Brawls 15: Ball Bash (BG East)

Freddy Campbell squared off against Wolfboy in Backyard Brawls 14 early last year. Wolfboy beat Freddy up. Then, Kayden Keller showed up and pulled a Godzilla move, obliterating Wolfboy and Campbell both. Campbell returns to the Backyard Brawls series, facing Lobo Gris, in his fifth BGE contest, Lobo is hugely popular in underground wrestling right now, only partially for his affability and good looks, mostly for his tenacity as an opponent. 

We get a sense of Lobo's dark side in this brawl. Labeled as "training," the match follows a pattern in underground wrestling: "Training" always means "squash job." Of course, Lobo always comes off as amiable, eyes twinkling, killer smile. It's that "killer" smile you have to watch out for. Don't forget that "Lobo" is Spanish for "Wolf." Poor Freddy may be in for a repeat (or worse) of the bruising he got at Wolfboy's hands.

It could be argued that Freddy has learned a lot from his brush with Wolfboy (AND Keller) in Backyard Brawls 14. I don't intend to make that argument. Just look at how Lobo disarms him with grins, putting Freddy in a side headlock and then proposing that they reverse positions. Not knowing any better, Freddy crunches down on Lobo's head, forcing him to bow, a gesture of submission. Lobo counters, breaking free of Freddy's hold and reversing, twisting Freddy's arm behind him and pulling the wrist to the shoulder blades.

Lobo keeps up the nice-guy routine a little longer, long enough for Freddy to dig his own grave. Then, suddenly, Freddy hardly knows what hit him. Lobo, still all-innocence, increases the pressure of his holds. He berates Freddy for not making a bigger effort. But - and here's a surprise - Freddy strikes back with force, and the brawl escalates from there, turning into a no-holds-barred battle in the beautiful outdoors. Freddy proves he's far from a pushover - but then, neither is Lobo Gris in what turns into a war of low blows and hair-ripping.

I love watching sturdy dudes like these two go at each other like mad dogs. More than one erection has bloomed at the sight of two feral roughnecks taking each other on, no holds barred. In this battle, the advantage swings back and forth, each new level of aggression stiffer than the one before.

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