Stud Buster

Anthony Nese definitely delivers in the physique department with his hard abs and big bulging biceps.  He holds a power advantage over most of the men he wrestles.

Yet when the bell rings, he often plays the ragdoll, on his knees or back absorbing plenty of physical abuse (as a Super-her0 should).  And his opponents tend to unleash their ugliest, most punishing moves on him, I guess because he is built so sturdy, they figure he can take it.

One of my loyal readers asked me to write about the infamous 2011 beat-down from TNA Impact where Nese’s opponent was the cocky young Zema Ion.

The final minutes of this fight are available on YouTube, which is plenty long enough to see what happens to Nese.  As one would expect after looking at the size and shape of these opponents, the more muscular Nese dominates Ion early in the match.

The tide turns when Nese attempts a risky Headscissor to Backflip move in the corner.  Ion just shrugs him off, holding the ropes and refusing to flip as Nese falls clumsily onto his hands and knees.  Did Nese know that Ion was going to No-Sell him here??

Ion follows up with a soaring, fully loaded Missile Drop-Kick to Nese’s thick chest.  Holy moley, what an impact!

Some wrestlers will soften their Drop-Kicks by using limp legs to avoid hurting the other dude.  Not Ion, not in this match.  He blasts an unsuspecting Nese square onto the back of his head.

Ion follows up with an unusual (and somewhat ugly) Mule Kick delivered from a prone position.  He thrusts both feet up into Nese’s chiseled jaw and totally stuns the big hunk.

One wonders if this match is truly just for entertainment — if Ion is aware that a pro wrestler is not really supposed to hurt his opponents.  (Recall that Ion injured Jesse Sorenson with a sloppy flip off the ring apron months later…)

Then the incredible happens.  Ion covers the utterly dazed muscle-man, and picks him up on the Two Count!  As if this big swole hunk is nothing but a Soft Bellied Jobber!

Of these two men, Nese is the one that should be arrogant and cocky.  Nese is the one that should be dominating the match. Nese is the star between these two, yet he is being manhandled by the lesser man.

And being pulled up on the Count of Two is the ultimate slap in the face — the dominant man playing games just to degrade the loser and prove a point, continuing the punishment for his sick pleasure.

Next, Ion unleashes another dangerous, unexpected slamming move, leaving Nese sprawled out and spread-eagled like road-kill. They both land on their knees, but the contrast in power and control is obvious as Ion strikes an arrogant victory pose.

Nese’ landing position means that he has no choice but to look the smirking nerd in the face as he falls to the mat.

So Ion lays on Neese again, groping him at will, and I’ll be damned if he doesn’t pull his ragdoll up AGAIN on the Two Count, holding Nese’s face near his ballsack for a few breaths.  The outraged commentator utters: “A second time?!?” in total disbelief.

Apparently the Federation wants to put Ion “over” as a highly skilled and aggressive Shooter.  I wonder what they had to pay or promise Nese to convince him to emasculate himself for Ion’s benefit?  FYI, Nese asked to be released from his contract with TNA soon after this bout…

Not only does Nese have the more handsome, chiseled looks and thicker physique, but he also wears less clothing than Ion, clearly proud of his muscles and eager to display them.  This is another visual cue that Nese ought to be in command over the more modest male, but instead, we see the hunk flat on his back, his arms limp as the smaller weirdo dances around over him.

After dragging the dazed victim into the corner, Ion delivers his trademark 450 Splash off the top ropes, slamming his full body-weight into Nese’s mid-section.

It is note-worthy that one of Nese’s most spectacular body parts is his ripped eight-pack abdomen, and that Ion (who lacks abdominal definition) attacks that mid-section using the Splash.  Ion experiences no negative effects from their belly-to-belly impact, but Nese’s hard abdomen is completely demolished.

Finally, Ion hooks a leg and shows us his victim’s sack for the emasculating victory pin.  He really didn’t need to spread Nese’s legs so wide open (just as he didn’t need to pick Nese up repeatedly for more punishment), but Ion does it anyway to utterly sissify and degrade this spectacular power-house.

Why in the world did TNA Impact destroy and humiliate Nese like this — one of the hottest slices of beefcake to ever grace their ring?  Were the boys in the locker room jealous of this super-star?  Or maybe this match was solely Ion’s idea.  Maybe Ion is a loose cannon who decided to demolish the big hunk in order to advance his own career.

I like how the ref gently rests a hand on the fallen hero’s cheek.

Like, good night sweet prince.