In the early days of writing this blog, I was more prone to be critical of a wrestler or a particular match than I am these days. For example, I was a bit bitchy about Z-Man, way back when he’d only appeared on Thunder’s Arena, because I thought he was too campy, too self-conscious and oversold. He always looked like he was on the brink of busting out laughing in a way that was a buzz kill. He’s always had that gorgeous bod in perpetually magnificent condition, but it really was only when he migrated to BG East that I fully got on board the Z-Train. Wrestling for BGE managed to wipe that shit-eating grin off his face and let us seriously enjoy that that pretty boy with the body of an Adonis seriously suffering. I eventually even crowned Z-Man as one of my homoerotic wrestlers-of-the-month back in the day when I was doing that. So when I learned, moments before stepping into the ring to announce at Wrestlefest Live in NYC this past February, that Kirk Donahue’s mystery opponent was none other than Z-Man, I was as shocked and excited as everyone else.

Well, everyone except Kirk. Kirk was instantly upstaged, and he was immediately bitter about it. Speaking of me having a history of giving wrestlers a hard time, I also have a bit of a history here at Sidelineland with Kirk. He debuted for BG East late in 2014, ironically against Z-Man in Babyface Brawl 3, and with just one match under his belt, he received what I thought was a suspicious nomination for best butt that year. I mean, he has a nice ass, but it sure seemed to me like he jumped in line in front of a lot of impeccable, fan favorite, tried-and-true wrestling asses. Sharing that opinion here on the blog actually got me an email from the BGE back office not quite, but almost, ordering me to cease and desist. I’ve continue to razz Kirk over the years, mostly because it seems to me like he asks for it. He’s too fucking cute. Those freckled cheeks are just too fucking pinchable, and he knows it, and somehow that makes me ache to see him get that suspiciously nominated ass of his beat bad.

I don’t know if Kirk has ever read my reviews, so I can’t say for sure if him ripping the microphone out of my hand and monologuing like a Gotham villain was at all personal. Quietly, I sort of hope so. But BG East’s sponsored match at Wrestlefest Live this year in NYC was most definitely not about me. It was about two seasoned veterans returning for a rare rematch, both of them now in full possession of an army of fans and devotees, about to put on a rafter-rattling match that had everyone on their feet. And as it played out, it was a gorgeous example of classic pro wrestling drama, with a dazzling and popular babyface hero (who, last I heard, was recovering from a serious accident that knocked off him off the scene a few years back), and a petulant, dirty-dealing heel, and a suspiciously notorious even-more-dirty-dealing heel referee.

I don’t know if anyone else other than me was wondering if Z-Man would be recuperated and back in shape enough for a serious beatdown, but both Kirk and Z-Man put any such speculation to rest almost immediately. Kirk jumps him from behind while Z-Man is still acknowledging the roaring crowd, and within seconds he’s slammed Z down and is stomping the living fuck out of him relentlessly. “What do you think of that jobber bitch now, huh?,” Kirk taunts the crowd for lining up behind Z-Man so instantly and unapologetically. “What do you have to say for your boy now!?”

In fact, the action is fucking intense! Their mutual contempt for one another is palpable in Kirk’s savage chest chops and disrespectful slaps to Z-Man’s handsome-as-fuck face. Z-Man pounds Kirk’s suspiciously lauded ass hard in a suplex and goes for Kirk’s ridiculously freckled face with nasty elbow strikes. The momentum stays with Kirk most of the time, though, and it’s looking like Z may just not have what it takes to go toe-to-toe the cocky heel at this point in their careers. Kirk kicks him in the balls when referee Jonny Firestorm isn’t looking, and there’s a feel of inevitability as Kirk’s dirty tricks and snarling contempt crash down on Z-Man again and again, making Z-Man’s stubborn kick-outs and rallies seem increasingly futile.

But don’t you fucking dare count Z-Man out, in general, or in this match! It’s like he’s got a direct picc line from the roaring crowd, pumping gallons of adrenaline and tenacity directly into his veins. When I’m pretty sure diabolical Kirk has rung Z-Man’s bell too many times, from somewhere deep inside, on sheer nerve and reckless stubbornness, Z-Man keeps teetering on the brink of what looks like just might be the epic upset that every fan watching was screaming for.

As with all of the WF Live NYC matches, I was a bit too distracted to really appreciate the drama and athleticism and storytelling of this match in the moment, but watching it on video now, I’m absolutely in awe of what these guys pulled off. It was punchy and suspenseful every second of the way to, and then somehow even after, the climactic end. It felt a bit like history in the making when I was there, and it seems even more so watching the match again on video.

For the record, Z-Man sells like a fucking champion, taking some blows that even made me cringe with sympathy pains. And, yeah, yeah, Kirk Donahue has a well-above average ass. That freckle-faced fucker needs to respect his ring announcer better, but there’s no question, he’s one super talented and super hot wrestler.