Video #6: Kurt Mendelsohn Overpowers Sean Evans (and "Ringside" Gets It Right)

      "Ringside at Skull Island" reviewed this match, and Blogger Joe got it right -- totally.
     No, "there's not much in the way of storyline or wrestling moves." Heck, there's no storyline at all. The only time LRW Wrestling concocted a storyline was when Shane Saunders arrived from UCW Wrestling (and that angle practically wrote itself). That's not to say LRW will never again feature "story lines similar to what you would see on WWE, ROH, or TNA." (We plan to deliver a full-blown, pro-wrestling style homage to David Lynch's "Blue Velvet" if and when we can corral enough wrestlers/models/actors for that out-of-the-box concept.)
     As for wrestling moves...huh? Neither Kurt nor Sean (nor most of our roster) had any prior wrestling experience when they were signed. As Joe mentioned, LRW produces matches featuring "healthy, good-looking guys tossing and tumbling in front of a fixed-position camera." Although Joe would prefer "a mix of sustained athletic holds like scissors, figure-fours, chinlocks, and the like," Joe also admits that "the wrestlers' spirit counts for a lot too, and these guys have it." (Behind-the-scenes information: During this match's spirited give-and-take, we had to stop the action mid-match and shoot some promotional stills because Sean had become nauseous and he needed a break.)
     Face it, if you're a wrestling purist, you want Movimus, not us. LRW Wrestling hires "wrestlers with photogenic appeal," and that remains our primary focus. (The LRW wrestlers are guys we would pay to see if they were jobbing at a local indie pro event, based on their looks alone.) LRW is basically for fans who want to see eye-candy roughhousing on a gaudy pink wrestling mat. (LRW blurs the line between "works" and "shoots," and match #6 is mostly a "shoot" similar in spirit to our initial offering, Triple F vs. Kyle O'Connor).
     Blogger Joe labeled Kurt Mendelsohn as "hot" and said that "his personality and energy carry the show" while referring to Sean Evans as "tight-lipped" and categorizing him as "an artsy house-music type." Although those descriptions are valid (and memorably phrased), Joe's reaction to the two wrestlers is typically quite different from mine. In this match-up, my heart was with Sean all the way. Sean initially charmed me in his introductory interview, and he never stopped.

      Kurt, on the other hand, was not what I expected, based on his modeling portfolio's photos. I had anticipated working with a preppy, college athlete and ended up with a tatted-up super villain who would have functioned quite well among "the ape-shit insanities of UCW" (Joe's words again, third paragraph here). This was Kurt's second invitation to work on an LRW video; previously, he had been a last-minute cancellation. When Kurt arrived, tardy, unshaven, and full of hubris, I told him that he reminded me of a young Donald Trump. (Kurt did not react, and I assume that he was flattered by the comparison.)
     It seems ironic that, in the blog that I used to regularly publish, I frequently railed against UCW for allowing "heels" to dominate their federation. Now that I have my own fed, I'm chagrined by the fact that nearly every match has turned out contrary to my wishes (with the notable exception of match #4, which was basically a lose small / lose big situation). What happens during LRW tapings seems to reflect what goes on in life (and society) in general: Nice Guys Finish Last.

      Blogger Joe is almost guilty of posting a "spoiler" when he notes, "Sean puts up a better offense than I expected, given his size relative to Kurt's, but Kurt steamrolls over him time and time again." That's basically how this match goes, folks. At the end of this bit of "anarchic recklessness" which Joe "associate(s) with backyard and basement wrestling of the 1990s," Kurt's hand is raised in victory. (Our Locker Room page has been updated to reflect the result of this encounter.)
     LRW Wrestling is currently searching for a handsome, heroic "face" with the physical size (and maybe even a smidgen of grappling know-how) capable of defeating Kurt Mendelsohn. Otherwise, we'll have to give Kurt a title shot, which will be another lose-lose proposition for us and for our fans. Yes, our current champion, Fratboy Francis Franklin (aka "Triple F") is a bit of a brat, but at least he has class. Kurt Mendelsohn is, by anyone's estimation, a ruffian unlike any wrestler we've hired previously. (No, Joe, our previous matches haven't been "more sedate," but our hirees have been.)
     At any rate, time to pay the bills (and our photogenic young men's salaries)...
     This extremely fast-paced video is 17 minutes and 4 seconds long. That includes the 12 minute, 13 second actual match (along with wrestler introductions), plus a brief, postmatch interview with each combatant.
     To purchase the HIGH DEFINITION, 1.56 GB, 1920 x 1080 version of this video in the PC-friendly .wmv format for a mere $13.99 -- utilize the BUY NOW button below...

NOTE: If you do not have a top tier, ultra high speed internet connection, the download time for this version may be considerable. Also, a successful download via moderate or slow internet speeds may require several attempts. Those without extremely high speed internet connections may wish to download the Standard Definition version available via the link below. (At any rate, it is always recommended that you close all other programs when downloading video files.)
     To purchase the STANDARD DEFINITION, 748 MB, 1920 x 1080 version of this video in the quickly and easily downloadable, hugely popular .mp4 format for a mere pittance of $9.95 -- utilize the BUY NOW button below...

NOTE: This is actually a rather high quality .mp4 video, similar to the version we produced for our last LRW Wrestling offering. It's a really excellent deal!!!