Lobo. Goosebumps... goosebumps are what I had
covering my seldomly bathed, slightly sweaty body as Davis Storm spoke at 'Animosity' of
his meeting with Australian wrestling icon, Lobo. I was backstage, and couldn't see F.N.
Carnage's face when he announced his arrival, but I can only assume it was one of absolute
terror.
Kids, I sat in the third row at the Australian wrestling supershow. I was a couple of feet
away from seeing Lobo's bloodcovered body literally bounce off the concrete as he and
Spike Steele engaged in the single greatest match I have ever seen live. As a wrestler, I
never really get to experience what it's really like to sit in the crowd, to watch on as
two men risk life and limb for my entertainment. The reason that I was so looking forward
to the Supershow was that I now had the chance to sit, watch, cheer and experience it from
the other side of guardrail... and I will not soon forget the brutal ladder match.Spike Steele is a monster. He's stands about as tall as me, but I'd
say he's about Jag's body size... however, the sheer size of him isn't nearly as
intimidating as the massive tattoo that covers his heavily scared back.
If you've seen the movie Red Dragon, Spike's tattooed back resembles the one worn by the
crazy guy that sets house of fire in the film. It wouldn't surprise me if Spike Steele
burned people houses aswell.
But this about Lobo.
If I hadn't have met Lobo for the first time with a massive gash in his forehead, I
certainly wouldn't have picked him as the utter psycho he is. He's a softly spoken, almost
gentle man who, like Storm said, has a strong but comforting handshake. It's these
qualities that further enhance the depths of this man's brutality. In AFL/League you have
'white line fever'.. a saying that describes a person who's attitude and demeanor
completely changes when they engage in battle... and nothing could describe Lobo more. I
literally had a sick feeling in my stomach for the entire time Lobo and Spike Steele tore
each other apart. The ladder match had it all.. sick ladder smashes, joint-ripping
wrestling holds, bladder shaking landings on the concrete and blood by the bucketfull.
Lobo's long black hair was matted with the thick, red liquid. Spike's inked back was split
open wide, no doubt another trophy to his already torn torso. Spike Steele just
survived...Lobo let him.
Blood was on the floor, broken tables littered the ringside area and the ladder looked
even more mangled than the competitors it had just destroyed. The scariest thing of all to
me.. is that Lobo is coming to Perth. The man will stand in our ring, he walk down our
aisle and he will fight our champion. We as Perth wrestling, both fans and wrestlers, have
never seen anyone that could quite compare to Lobo. From what I understand, F.N. Carnage
didn't have a chance to watch the ladder match at the supershow. I don't think he's had a
chance to sit down and watch the DVD. But I know for sure he's heard the stories.. I know
he saw Spike being carried backstage by a referee.. and I am absolutely sure he saw the
blood covered face of Lobo.
And I hope he remembers it, because I know he will see it again at Evolution 2004. |
