Rookie's Nightmare

Tanner Ripley vs Alex Garcia, Rookie's Nightmare (Underground Wrestler)

This match is sluggish up to its midpoint. Then, Tanner Ripley fires up, and we get a second half that suddenly speeds forward. Alex Garcia looks dazed, as if repeatedly awakening from a nightmare, only to discover he's still in the nightmare. 

The gimmick does not entirely work for me. Or maybe I'm misreading the scenario. What does work, however, is Tanner and Alex, especially Tanner. Alex is seductively fleshy. He hasn't developed a ring persona yet, but his body is luscious, inviting Ripley's punches. Ripley is covered with sweat almost from the beginning. In the match's finale, he provides the bout with the sudden jot of energy it needs. 

A lot of the moves in this match repeat moves in a mat match I blogged on last month. (According to the dialogue in this match, that earlier match has not yet come. This match is identified as Alex's debut.) All in all, I prefer last month's match. This ring match does, however, give Alex and Tanner the opportunity to work the ropes. Rookie's Nightmare has its moments, but for me the richest parts are the body parts - Alex's sculptured pecs and smooth skin, an unprotected midsection, and Tanner's lithe body movements, covered in sweat.

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