Bad-Ass Baby

The top wrestlers in Ring of Honor have been competing in a single-elimination tournament to crown a new champion.  At the September 20th Death Before Dishonor XI show, two of the top contenders — Tommaso Ciampa (pronounced champ-ah) and Adam Cole (pronounced coal) — squared off to determine who will continue in the quest for gold.

Before we even get into the rasslin, if you are into fit male bodies and oh-so-fuckin-tight little trunks, then check out the gear on these studs — especially Mr. Ciampa in his shiny silver number.  Both men accessorize with black knee pads and boots, a very butch look.  By the way, this match was shown on the most recent episode of ROH’s television program. The ROH website offers several options for seeing this match and the entire event.

One complaint I hear from fans of classic wrestling (you old geezers!) is that modern pro wrestling does not sort each wrestler into one of two camps — either Heel or BabyFace, Good or Evil, Hero or Bastard. These lines were more clearly drawn 30+ years ago, and that stark contrast in moral codes helped to tell the story in the ring.

The cruelty of the known Heel and his endless attacks on the ever-loving Face made the action feel sado-masochistic (and therefore arousing).  The known Baby Faces were forever being cheated and placed in compromising positions with the vicious animals and cruel killers — and yet nobody lended a hand to stop it.

Few modern wrestlers are as shiny and perfect as the classic pre-1990 Baby Faces.  Instead, they often shift from Friendly to Fierce and back again within a week — indeed within a single match.  Modern wrestlers are portrayed as aggressive, determined, and competitive rather than evil.  These traints, however, can result in brutality that, in the past, was only shown by the Heels.

Cole, for example, started his career as the Eager Young Colt — a little nervous and clumsy, but so damn cute as he tried to win fair and square.  Now, he often reveals a Dark Side (As symbolized by his black trunks and devilish facial hair.)

Modern Baby-Faces may not be as consistent and easily classified as the saintly (and boring) Good Guys of yesteryear, but the Heels are still wonderfully brutal.  This Tommaso Ciampa is utterly merciless on Cole, stomping and slamming him at will.  He even pulls back the mats at ringside to render his Suplex much more devastating!  (I’ve always loved brutality like that — the Bastard taking the time to peel up the mats, or removing the corner pads, or sneaking a chain in the ring.)

One of Ciampa’s patented moves is when he props his dazed opponent in the corner, peels down his kneepad, and runs full force at the victim’s face.  CRACK!  That exposed kneebone meets the victim’s exposed cheekbone!   Ciampa does this at least 7 times to my poor, helpless Cole — he’s gotta be concussed!!

Adam Cole represents a modern form of Baby-Face that I like to call the Bad-Ass Baby.  He is a nice guy outside the ring, handsome and likeable, but when the chips are down, he might just break your gawddam leg for you.

Seeing that Ciampa is wearing a knee brace, Cole targets the injured leg by kicking it and later applying several Figure 4 Leglocks.  OUCH!

That is a classic Heel move, to target the clearly injured body part!  Isn’t the younger, cuter guy supposed to act more sportsmanlike (more naive) than this?   This shows that Adam Cole ain’t your grand-daddy’s Baby Face.

Now Adam Cole begins to really shine in the dominant role — reminding me once again why he is my favorite wrestler. Looking sadistic with that sweat soaked body, he goes to work on the victim’s injury — what a Bad Boy!

Many modern wrestlers resort to 90% high flying moves with periodic punch, chop, or kick sessions.  To his credit, my Adam still wrestles, even using one of my favorite torture moves — the old Figure Four with the opponent’s legs around the steel ringpost.  Oh Adam — is it creepy if I say I love you?

This Ringpost Figure 4  is technically illegal because the victim and attacker are both outside the ropes.  But modern wrestling permits the Bad -Ass Baby to flip the script when needed, to use vicious tactics if it makes sense and looks sexy.

Finally, after Ciampa struggles out of his first two Figure 4 Leglocks, Cole applies it a third time and really pours on the pressure.  After Ciampa bitch-slaps him across the face, Cole begins ram-rodding his boot into Ciampa’s face and chest.  Ciampa can’t even escape with his legs tied in knots– I am almost starting to feel sorry for him instead of just loving Adam Cole!   About a half-dozen of those skull-cracking kicks leave Ciampa out cold and easily pinned — totally owned and ragdolled by Adam’s tall black boot.