A friend of mine recently posited that Ash DeLeon deserves most of the credit for the current popularity of gut bashing. I can’t really say, myself. I’ve only been at the margins of the serious gut bashing scene. One particular opponent I wrestled at Wrestlefest Canada couldn’t get enough of it, but it hasn’t been something that I’m seriously dialed into. Ash, however, seems way, way, way dialed into gut bashing. He said as much in my interview with him about 7 years ago, when he was just debuting with BG East, and in a follow up interview we had about 3 years ago.

Then, 7 years later, he sees Jason Aleqsander’s insanely ripped abs strolling by on his way down to the lake for an early evening swim, and there we have Backyard Brawls 17. Ash keeps it low key, but I’m convinced that he is salivating. He tells Jason he needs a pinch hitter to fill in for some no-show. “Is it worth my time?” Fuck, Jason keeps it cool. Ash assures him, “I think it’ll be worth the time for both of us.”

Ash’s swagger grows every time I see him in a new match. He’s full on heel, dubbing Jason “Abercrombie” instead of bothering to learn his name. He bullies the rookie easily for a while, out-muscling his lighter opponent and throwing him down to the mat with contempt. But fierce little Jason tears into him like a badger, tackling Ash and raining down punches and stomps in a fit of babyface rage. Ash chides him, though, after Jason reels in his rage and climbs off, giving Ash the break that he’d never, ever have offered if the shoe were on the other foot. “That’s not needed,” Jason coldly dismisses the idea that he should kick an opponent when he’s down. “This is just a game to me.”

I really, really enjoy Jason on offense. He’s aggressive and swarms Ash at one point, locking those sexy ass legs of his around him in a triangle choke. He starts slamming down sledge hammer punches into the gut-punch king’s abs, and there’s this flash of honey sweet passion from him. “This is what you wanted, huh?!”

Ash takes his fair share of lumps, but he’s all heel in this match. More than once, he lifts Jason off his feet and wrings him out relentlessly in bearhugs. They’re lush and long, and they show off that biteable ass on the swimmer boy beautifully. It’s Ash, of course, so a good 50-60% of him on offense is ab abuse. Punches, claws, bouncing fireman’s carries… tenderizing those stunningly visible abs on the blond prettyboy is the point for Ash. But Jason keeps things hot and spicy, sucking it down like a fucking sponge, refusing to submit for ages. “You think you’re really doing something,” Jason demands, and even through clenched teeth, it’s fucking defiant and sexy. “Those abs ARE going to give to me,” Ash snarls back furiously.

There’s a super sweet, rare moment, in a brief break in the action, when both stubborn boys reluctantly give each other credit for the hard fought battle so far. Honestly, I love that glimpse of genuine respect. It doesn’t take away even a stitch from the hot rivalry and battle of wills and bodies. It doesn’t cost them anything at all to acknowledge what’s clearly evident on this side of the screen, that they’re both sexy, tough-as-shit, quick-witted, well-matched young hunks. The drama holds together nicely, the suspense building through to the end, both wearing a little less than they started, one of them just a bit more humble than when he started.

It’s a whole lot more than solely a gut-bashing match, but both sets of abs are severely tested along the way. The personalities are fun, the bodies hot, and the wrestling rough. It has a genuine feel of a spontaneous, chance encounter between two fierce competitors who enjoy putting their muscles, and skills, and self-assurance to the test against a worthy opponent.