Romantic Touching

Ring of Honor is currently holding a “Top Prospect” tournament to identify some fresh meat to bring onto their roster.  Andrew Everett, the young high-flyer, threw his hat (or maybe his stretchy little speedo trunks) into the ring.  His sideburns are a little much, but overall, this long-haired Baby-Face is easy on the eyes and great at suffering.

The Heel for this match is a creepy (but very buff) masked man known as “The Romantic Touch.”  He carries a rose to the ring and has another sewn on the ass of his trunks.  He is graceful and flirtatious, gallantly kissing the hand of his (male) opponent.  We are left wondering if this masked man wants to wrestle young Everett or to romantically touch him.

In case you missed this episode, Ring of Honor posts their most recent tv show on their web page for one week. After a week, you can go back and view old episodes by joining their Ringside Membership service.

Meanwhile, the Romantic Touch (who is supposedly Rhett Titus in a mask) gains the advantage over the young hopeful.

I once wrote about “breaking Gayfabe” in pro wrestling, which occurs when a wrestler reveals all too directly the homoerotic subtext of this sport.  I believe The Romantic Touch character is a case of breaking Gayfabe.

His very name informs us that his touches are “romantic”.  And whom does he actually put his hands on and romance?  Not the females at ringside (of which there are very few), but the male in the ring with him.

He further demonstrates his homo-sexual preference by kissing the other man’s hand and grinding his crotch — BJ style — in his face.

And what has become of the red rose he carried to the ring, which is traditionally awarded to the prettiest young lady at ringside?  He kept that rose for himself (or perhaps for Andrew Everett) and laid it on the ring apron, which reveals he has no interest in the ladies at ringside.

On one level, the intent of The Romantic Touch is to stir up the usual feelings of Gay Panic in the audience as they gawk at two fit young men, nearly naked, with the creepy Man in the Kinky Mask getting perverted and grabby.  His queer antics will be punished later to avert the Gay Panic — stay tuned.  But on another level, the sexuality being displayed rips the closet door wide open and unapologetically reminds us that, yes it’s gay, it’s all gay and always has been, and yes, you enjoy watching it.

Andrew Everett with his long hair and long sideburns was featured a few months ago on this blog when he suffered beautifully in his little tri-colored trunks.

It is ironic that Andrew, who wrestled for years in a mask as the Chiva Kid, is now exposed (thank God) and Rhett Titus, who never wore a mask, is now The Romantic Touch.  It is as if the two long-haired studs have traded roles.

Instead of immediately Suplexing little Andrew in his shiny-ass silver trunks, Romantic Touch takes a moment to blow kisses to the (primarily all-male) audience.  This brief opening is all Andrew needs to roll up the creepy masked man and secure the victory!

I commend Ring of Honor for showing us some hot new talent in their Top Prospects tournament.  I enjoyed this match: the gear, the Face’s suffering, and the Heel’s hyper-sexual harassment.  I hope Everett wins the tournament so I can watch him every week on Ring of Honor, and please bring back Rhett Titus and all his sexual energy, with our without his mask.