Thursday, January 28, 2016

Five Years Ago This Month : Beefcakes (Part 1)

So who were the beefcake wrestlers who were featured here back in January 2011? Here's who. Some of these wrestlers are still around, others have moved on. Which one is your favorite?
Aaron Eagle

Alex Koslov aka Peter Orlov

Alex Riley aka Kevin Kiley

Anthony Bravado

Brett Barnes aka Brett Idol

Brandon T aka TNA Impact's Bram

Johnny Curtis aka WWE's Fandango

Hector Garza

Jackson Andrews

JD Maverick
John Walters

John Duginski (being bearhugged by Anthony Bravado) 


BONUS screencap: Hector Garza (left) vs Latin Lover
Watch them here.

36 comments:

  1. Aaron Eagle has a hot backside!

    Wonder if Bravado is still wrestling.

    John Walters looks hot. Bet he'd look hotter in trunks.

    Jackson Andrews is smoldering!

    Hector Garza does not look like a recent wrestler

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  2. No, Bravado quit a while back and went back to bodybuilding/"fitness."
    Alex Riley was always my favorite. NXT/WWE really screwed up his career.

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  3. Shame about Bravado.

    A-Ry was a fav of mine too. I keep wishing he'd just get a haircut

    JD Maverick looks like he's channeling some Shawn Michaels in that pic

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    1. Just saw Riley actually win a match on one of the most recent NXT programs. He looked great, but yes, a haircut would help. Or maybe just a comb?

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  4. Aaron Eagle was cute; unfortunately most of his YouTube videos were shot from a distance or really low quality. The one I miss most from this list, though, is Johnny Curtis--and I say that knowing full well he's still active as Fandango, ugh. Not the same! Sorry not sorry.

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  5. Funny, I was tempted to mentioned Johnny Curtis. He reminds me a bit of Davey Richards in this pic. But yeah, Fandango ruined him for me too. Have never really given him a chance I guess

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    1. It's tragic. He's just one of the WWE's many victims. I don't even want to talk about Cody Rhodes.

      I remember liking Orton and Cena in their early ring careers but within two or three years with the WWE they were changed either physically or persona-wise for the worse. Actually, I liked Orton's whole arrogant "Legend Killer" gimmick but was unhappy with the shaved head and increasingly jacked up physique (I liked his normal build--I know this is sacrilege to Orton worshippers). Cena looked far better in his "Prototype" wrestling shorts (as opposed to his rap persona attire). But apparently these changes were popular with WWE's target demographic. C'est la vie.

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    2. Yeah I'm sad about Cody too ... a small part of me is glad of the brotherly/Goldust connection ... but I didn't want that at the covering up of Cody ...

      Orton goes in and out for attractiveness for me, that's for sure

      Cena was hot only momentarily when he had his "ruthless aggression" persona and was wearing bright colored jobber trunks. I've captured my favorite moments of his first encounter with Lesnar here (probably shared this on other comment threads here too):
      http://sufferingmen.tumblr.com/post/95427785383/this-pretty-much-sums-up-cenas-first-match-with

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    3. Yes! That's exactly the look I mean (he wore similar trunks when he wrestled as Prototype in OVW before WWE got their hands on them -- here he is against Orton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND2wwUqi9Xk). With Orton, it was just so obvious he was going to be a supestar. I was a fan during his OVW days and LOVED that he switched from his shorts to the pro trunks that he still wears today. I just liked his physical build better in his OVW and early WWE years, I eventually stopped following him altogether. Which was fine, because I started taking notice of an increasingly fine Mark Jindrak around that time. He was unfortunately relegated to the flop shows like WWE Velocity but it didn't matter if it meant I got to see him wrestle regularly. Of course it was also writing on the wall that he was on his way out, no longer in the game, and he was released from his contract in 2005 (at peak hotness). He's been based in Mexico ever since and wrestles against lame competition (I absolutely hate masks and costume gimmicks, and those are what are often offered in Lucha Libre).

      I could write a dissertation on this, LOL. Anyway, I checked out your blog and read your biographical post... your interests are very similar to mine!

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    4. JM, always glad to meet people with similar tastes. Would love to chat some more if you want to email me. If you have a dissertation, I'll gladly be an advisor lol. Let's create an MW (Masters of Wrestling) degree

      Thanks for the video and reminder of how sexy Randy was before his own "attitude" days as you mentioned. I can't believe I'd forgotten, but I guess goes to show how predominant images take over.

      I'm glad Cena ditched the blonde dye by the time he became primetime. At least they got that right.

      I admit I'm not the biggest fan of masked wrestling either and it's a shame for us Jindrak went that direction, but I guess the luchas are lucky to have acquired such a stud.

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    5. Oh yeah, losing the bleached hair was a good idea.

      I don't watch wrestling for masks, costumes, and accessories (there's Drag Race for that). I remember loving Charlie Haas ditching his Team Angle singlet for wrestling trunks (looked great on him) but only a few years later began a luchador gimmick with one of those stupid masks and I was like, "Not here for this." Faces are important for me!

      And yes, Mexico is extremely lucky to have Jindrak. He still wears the same attire, it's just that almost everyone around him doesn't. I want my titans taking on other titans, not luchadors. I'd have no problem seeing him do battle with Alberto Del Rio, for example, but NOT in his Dos Caras, Jr. getup.

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    6. Never heard that Haas went luchador. I guess his reputation for me is still somewhat pristine haha.

      Yeah I think masks are unfortunately cultural. I used to think I cared more about the body, but masks proved that untrue. So glad we get to see Sami's handsome scuffy face.

      I do have to say there are some exceptions to the rule, though it's rare. This one happened to be recent. Also it wasn't love at first sight (mostly because of the mask), but seeing Volador Jr (guy in blue) got me going (and he humiliatingly loses his mask at the end so we get to see the hot mug that goes with the hot bod):
      http://sexilybeatenwrestler.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-129.html

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    7. Losing the mask is kinda hot but not enough to get me to change my mind.

      I do love when a wrestler has their kneepad or armpad removed by their opponent, though. So humiliating.

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    8. Yeah, we both don't like masks anyway, and this was a rare one for me.

      Oh man, I've never heard a wrestler being stripped of his kneepad or armpad. I would love to hear or see an example of that. (of course I've seen the Rock remove his elbowpad many times but that's voluntary)

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  6. My 2 favs are Alex Riley and Brett Barnes (Idol). Brett doesn't seem to be wrestling any more (?) but I saw Alex's comeback match on NXT and he looks better than ever. I really hope he is given some good opportunities this time.

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    1. I think Barnes/Idol is still active? At least he was as of a few years ago. He doesn't really do it for me as Brett Idol but I LOVED him during his babyfaced Brett Barnes days. Back then there was a fansite that had photos and videos of most of his matches (kinda amazing in those primitive pre-YouTube times) and it's one of my greatest regrets that I never saved any of them because the site went offline around 2006 or so.

      Someone uploaded a video of one of his matches from back then to YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbtyFizcVSE) so those videos still exist on some lucky peoples' hard drives. This one is against Chris Stevens and I know for sure that there are more videos of their multiple match-ups out there and would love to see them again since they are now an increasingly obscure memory for me.

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    2. I agree Brett Barnes was way hotter younger and had more baby fat so to speak. Been awhile since I searched for him since though since I just want him forever young. Wow, that sounds a little perverted haha

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    3. Forever Young, indeed! Like Ellen (jokingly) said to Hollywood's finest at the Oscars, the most important thing in the world is youth! At least to the shallow. And when it comes to wrestlers, I am very shallow, LOL.

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    4. That was a great Oscars. And I think we deserve to be shallow haha. After all it's sports *entertainment* and we have standards for what will catch our eyes!

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    5. I know right?

      Speaking of Forever Young, although Capri has long ceased being appointment viewing for me, I appreciate that he's still got it in middle age (there are very few wrestlers in the same company). Contrast with Ric Flair, who I refer to as the Maggie Smith of Wrestling, since he has looked old since my childhood.

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    6. I'm totally sad about Vic. My mind tells me he's forever hot, but my eyes and fingers quickly search for another wrestler when he comes to mind now. If he'd only stop getting tattoos and go back to trunks. I actually just saw him in a mask ironically. It's like he's reading our minds and putting repellant on just for us (haha, what a self-centered way of looking at it right? ;)

      I never liked Flair though my perspective is he was this old veteran entitled to flaunt his old flabby body because of his seniority in the business. I guess he made a mark with his heel personality. There's no quicker turn-off for me than Flair's old-era permed hair or his sagging boobs and beer gut (the PERFECT example of who NOT to put in trunks)

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    7. I've certainly had those self-centered, "Why are you doing this to me?!" moments when wrestlers I've admired have gradually changed their image to the degree that I lose interest completely. It's usually as a result of some stupid gimmick. But isn't it just the best when a wrestler you heretofore never really took notice of suddenly dons trunks or makes some physical adjustment and you're like, "Where have you been all my life?" Such a great feeling.

      Ugh, agree on the seniority thing. Although he's never been as repellent as Flair (and I actually like that he lost his long hair), I think HHH is now in that position where he'll probably be wrestling in the WWE well into his geriatric years.

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  7. Haha yeah, that feeling sounds familiar JM, though I think it's more often than not they are "disappointing kids" rather than "ugly duckling turned swans." I guess EC3 falls into the swan category. While I can only think of one swan now, I can think of 5+ disappointing kids now.

    I was going to hate on Flair a bit more. But then I remembered he had a hot match with Goldberg. Although there's no way in any realistic universe Flair would ever get an upper hand on him, it was hot just imagining this creepy old geezer playing dirty and getting his hands all over the muscle beast. But even when he wrestles others I like, I'm usually disgusted.

    Yeah I wish HHH did it more for me. Something about him never really got me all the way. Which is weird because he's got great muscle, and is really dominant, things I find very attractive. And I think he looks great now. But again he doesn't quite do it for me

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    1. I just remember seeing Flair appearing alongside Evolution and I was like, "Why is he there?" I remember wishing any one of the other wrestlers would let him know: http://45.media.tumblr.com/c09a0581a7d27c14c5182087fb9e91d4/tumblr_nqwaynMp6g1tkxskmo1_250.gif

      Yeah, HHH never did it for me either but same goes for Goldberg.

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    2. Lol, YES!! That gif completely sums up everytime I see Flair, but yeah, especially Evolution. If Flair was in a business suit as a manager, I'd get that, but in those big red diapers with the other 3 lions, he just looked like a grandpa trying to act 20 or 30 years younger.

      Do you remember any matches when someone got their knee or elbow pads stolen from them? That sounds super hot

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    3. Alberto Del Rio did it to Zack Ryder once or twice:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvUm0H9uA8Q

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyY9_D9NQtY

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    4. Oh thank you so much for the links! Those were awesome!!

      Truth be told, Del Rio never caught my fancy, but I know he's talented and that is a great finishing armbar takedown that's very humiliating looking.

      I love how Zack Ryder falls for the same setup in both matches. Poor stupid jock seems to never learn his lesson haha.

      Also, I wasn't fan of Ryder's bleached hair then, but that was a hot defeat.

      Would love to see Del Rio do that move to Ryder but on his leg and rip off his knee pad. Or boot haha. Now that would be hot! XD

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  8. The bleached hair wasn't great, I agree. And yeah, I kept watching that feud in the expectation that Del Rio would eventually go for the kneepad but it never happened, unfortunately.

    There have been a few matches where a wrestler has rolled down his opponent's kneepad (rarely, if ever, have I seen it taken off completely). CM Punk rolled down Val Venis's in this match: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x20jx7_val-venis-vs-cm-punk_sport

    I remember watching that on the WWE website when Sunday Night Heat was turned into a web-only show. I was familiar with CM Punk from the indie/developmental scene (though he wasn't and never became one of my favorites) but at the time he would have been unknown to WWE's mass audience and I thought he was going to job to Venis. That didn't happen and he ended up making quite an impression, giving the WWE superstar (well, Venis wasn't exactly super by then--he'd already put on a few pounds) a really hard time. I think what I liked was that Venis made an effort to convince that a lot of pain was inflicted--oftentimes wrestlers simply forget.

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  9. I was never into Punk either, but he seemed deserving of all the success he got. There's definitely an appeal to his dominance and I'm sure he could fuck you all night long and it would be hot.

    I was never that into Venis, but he always did great ring work. And yeah, what I remember most about him was that he was always good at selling pain. I definitely wouldn't kick him out of bad haha

    That match was hot. Thanks again for the link! I love that there seemed to be some unspoken rule that once he was de-kneepadded, he couldn't put it back on and as a result took more pain than usual. Would've been hotter if it was somehow ripped off, but I guess kneepads can't do that. Very emasculating though as I don't think I've seen Venis's knee

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    1. Yeah, putting it back on kinda ruins it. Milad Akbar has his temporarily rolled down by his opponent at 7:40 in this match (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9GmwFQ9R8k) but he puts it back on a bit later. It was still hot seeing him struggling to keep his competitor from taking it off, though.

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    2. Thanks again for the reference! I've never noticed this phenomenon before and it is really hot and humiliating.

      Coincidentally, around that time, his other knee pad seems to roll off a bit. It's too bad he puts it back on, but I suppose that's slightly more realistic in a match. Wish there were a better way of disarming those knee pads. They need scissors though I guess that's too dangerous. Or have those elbow pads be latchable somehow.

      I stumbled upon a hot moment at 8:21 where Milad's opponent taunts him with a big "Yeahhhh" while trapping him between his legs, exposing Milad's hot body!

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    3. Yeah, I liked how much he was taunting the stoic and self-serious Akbar. Although he still hasn't confronted a wrestler who has put him in his place.

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    4. That heel EJ Jensen hasn't been put in his place yet you mean? Cuz it looks like Milad has been put in his sexy place many times hah

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    5. I mean Akbar being decisively defeated. I thought Jensen would finally be the one to crush him but of course Akbar pulled through in the end.

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  10. I like JD Maverick, at least in this Image.

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