Whenever I watch the Bravado Brothers in the ring, I’m always entertained by their look and their antics. In 2011, they wrestled against Future Shock in the very first match on the very first episode of the Ring of Honor TV show which I blogged about. They also looked great in a second match against Future Shock which I briefly described in 2012.
Recently they updated their look, ditching their nerdy pink argyle briefs for flashy, eye-catching silver trunks and gorgeous satin ring robes. Harlem had previously earned the nickname “Bieber” Bravado for his moppy bowl haircut, but he’s now sporting a buzzed noggin and a sexy goatee. Their whole attitude is more Heelish — they no longer act like clown versions of 1980’s Baby Faces.
The Bravados have even earned gold, winning the Dragon Gate USA Tag Team belts from the Young Bucks, who are feeling angry and humiliated after losing to these two nerds.
At the recent Freedom Fight 2013 show, the Bucks called out the champions, the Bravados. The Bucks want to redeem their Alpha Male status and take back the belts.
Despite their cocky attitudes, the Young Bucks are the darlings of the fans. After all, they’re the Cool Kids — the secure, handsome Big Men on Campus — compared to the pudgy, awkward Bravados. The Bravados accept the Bucks’ challenge because they’re eager to feel respected and accepted:
“I can’t think of a better place for you guys to get your rematch than right here in Brooklyn New York. We’re gonna give you what you wanted, and we want one thing: RESPECT.”
This craving for approval from the Cool Kids is a theme that many former losers, freaks, goobers, and spazzes in the audience can relate to.
The Bucks first offer to shake the Bravados’ hands as a symbol of respect, but then the arrogant bad boys revoke their respect by saying they will “shake these dorks’ hands.” The crowd joins in the bullying by chanting: “Dorks! Dorks! Dorks!!”
The Young Bucks need to understand they are in the ring with the new, improved bad-ass Bravados, who angrily haul off and ball-kick both Bucks for being disrespectful, leaving the Cool Guys on their knees rubbing their crotches. Despite their superior looks and social skills, the Young Bucks have been humiliated by these Bravados. They should’ve been more respectful!
Rather than allowing his victim’s body to fall limp and broken to the mat, Harlem decides to offer him a close-up view of those bulgy silver trunks. He grips a handful of Young Buck mane and positions the cool kid’s face right at crotch level. Respect THAT, bitch. The power imbalance is obvious: the victim neutered and impotent on his knees, rubbing his destroyed package; the dominant heel proudly upright and potent, his prominent bulge now the center of his opponents’ attention.
Nice scene of male domination! This action is similar to the classic post-match beat-downs that drove me wild with excitement in my younger days (and ever since.) You can check out more photos from this scene at Get Lost Photography. You can also order the Freedom Fight 2013 DVD or pay-per-view of this and other events at the Dragon Gate USA website.
While his brother Lance smashes his title belt into one Young Buck’s face, Harlem dips the other Young Buck and holds him similar to the way Bray Wyatt hugs and holds his prey tenderly before harming them. Then the Bravados lift up the Young Buck and deliver their deadly two-on-one “Gentlemen’s Agreement” move, basically wrenching his whole body in two opposite directions at once.
When we see these misfits, the Bravados, fighting back against their tormentors, we are reminded of the tragic stories in the media these days of other downtrodden freaks who fought back, using gory, over-the-top violence in a desperate last-ditch effort to get some respect — or to at least stop the bullying once and for all. We fear the Bravados because the vengeance of a nerd, once he goes on his rampage, is horrifying.
The once-cocky Young Buck lays flat on his busted back as Harlem continues to degrade him by dangling his gold belt like a cock over the pretty boy’s face. NOW do you respect us?? The fans do not support this outrageous attack by these “dorks” even if they were being bullied earlier and continue cheering for the injured Bucks!
I guess these angry Bravados are not going to play the clownish Mid-Card jobbers any longer. They’ve now established themselves as the Big Swinging Dicks in Dragon Gate USA, the dominant team over the Bucks. Their grandma will be so proud!
They told the Young Bucks and the audience that they demand respect, and next time they’re in the ring, I bet they will get it or someone’s got a crotch kick coming. Either show them some respect, or get broken.
Harlem then picks up the microphone: “Hey Young Bucks — FUCK your re-match.” CLUNK, he drops the mic on the mat and walks angrily out of the ring. Nice finish. Mmmm, I am loving the new look and the new vengeful attitude by these Bravados. Go beat up some more teams out there who’ve disrespected you over the years, you sexy beasts!