Lovable Losers

So I was watching the 8/3/16 episode of NXT on the WWE Network, and they drop this bombshell on me.  Later in the program, we would see the Revival (the very best Heels on NXT) in Tag Team action against TM61 — the handsome lads from Australia formerly known as The Mighty Don’t Kneel.

Oh man, I love both these teams.  And I couldn’t WAIT to see cute Shane Thorne getting brutalized by these hyper-masculine Old Timey Heels.

Miller and Thorne are just beautiful.  They try to look all tough with their scowling faces but they’re still pretty.   They do nothing to dispel my theory that all guys from Australia are hot.  I’m not sure what made these two studs decide to become pro wrestlers, and to join forces as a Tag Team, but I am sure glad they did.

OK that’s enough of me getting all horned up gawking at them — let’s get to the rasslin.

Thorne and Miller start off as a well-oiled machine, tagging in and out and working together to dominate Dawson — who plays the gullible chump adorably.  Just be patient and enjoy the Baby-Face Shine — Shane will start suffering soon enough…

Teamwork makes the dream work.

They use this ménage à trois move often in their matches, Thorne performing a flip and splashing the victim while Miller drops a Big Fist to his forehead.

It looks flashy with them striking at the same moment and it demonstrates the effectiveness of their partnership (but if you look close, they barely touch Dawson.)  Yeah, I’d let TM-61 use that move on me, even if it hurts a little bit.  Come and get me, fellas.

Shane applies some wrist-locks for a while and makes Dawson look pathetic, but soon the Revival make him pay by attacking his arm in return.

Watching him watch his partner.

As promised, the Revival isolate Shane Thorne and proceed to kick his ass.  They focus on his left arm, Arn-&-Tully style, as Thorne cries out in pain.

Meanwhile the ringside camera captures some great views of Nick Miller stewing outside the ropes.  He just can’t stand still, all eager like a dog at dinner time, itching to get in the ring and get in the mix.  He is one of the very best at waiting outside the ropes that I have ever seen.  Hold on while I just stare at this clip of him 5 more times…

What a cool, cruel move!

Dawson locks Thorne’s left arm behind his back and Suplexes him on it.  OUCH!   This reminds me of Arn Anderson’s trademark move, where he Hammerlocked the arm and Body-Slammed the dude on it.

In fact, Revival remind me a lot of the Andersons of yore.  I suppose they’re called the “Revival” because they are reviving the Old School brand of sadistic, arm-busting Heels like the Andersons.  Did you all know that already — that this is why they’re called “Revival?”

Dash puts poor Shane in a punishing Arm Bar and the other Heel — Dawson — shouts “Break it!” from their corner.  God how I love sadistic Heels who encourage their partners to break bones — especially bald ones who look mean and have a sexy beard.

Break it!

Then THIS happened — this match just keeps getting better and better!  With Shane still trapped in the agonizing Armbar, the camera swings behind Nick Miller, watching from his corner.  We get a brief shot from between Miller’s legs, featuring his shiny white boots and those striped socks pulled up over his calf muscles.  I always love that view with a wrestling boot in the foreground!

I’ve speculated before that the NXT crew must read this blog because they’re always showing things that I’ve mentioned I love to see.  Now they’re just messing with me I think, zooming in on Miller’s boots to tease me, knowing I couldn’t resist writing about it.

What a dickish little move (that I love seeing!)

Here is what one of the commentators said about Revival:

“Let’s just enjoy the beautiful work of art that is Dash and Dawson!  There is just nobody better!”

I couldn’t agree more.

This is a “revival” all right — a revival of everything I loved about classic Tag Team Rasslin.  The prolonged suffering, the arrogance of the Heels, the focus on one body part (the left arm), the frustrated Safe Partner, the creative and relentless offense.  I’m not sure if this Old Timey style would be accepted in the mainstream Big Program on Monday night, so I’m glad they are willing to show it on NXT for the enjoyment of geezers like me.

The dominant Alpha Males defeat the Australian pretty-boys of course, with Dawson putting Nick Miller’s bulge on blast.

I love TM-61, but I am actually fine with them losing all their Big Matches and serving as Jobbers to the Stars.  I love to see them beaten and humiliated.  But that being said — I never want them fired.

I want them kept on the NXT roster as the Lovable Losers who get to win against scrubs but who get their asses handed to them by the dominant teams like Revival forever.