Featured image by @IsaiahFMAS
Easily the match of the night on a show that featured a dream match between Minoru Suzuki and Dominic Garrini. Kevin Ku might be one of the best and underutilized pro wrestlers in the world today. If there’s ever been a silver lining to Garrini’s extended absence from the ring, it’s been an increase in promoters giving Kevin Ku a shot as a singles performer, and boy is Ku making the most of that spotlight.
Here, Ku’s put up against Bryan Keith, a worker who’s impressed in recent matches against AJ Gray. It’s nice to see Keith get more chances outside of his local indie as well, and there’s few better opportunities than a singles match against Kevin Ku.
To both guys’ credit, this is pretty much a mauling from Ku for the most part. Keith certainly has his moments of hope and he’s able to throw hands with Ku well when it comes to that. But just structurally, this was much more about putting over how Ku is an absolute killer in the ring and it excels at that. When it comes to working simple beatdown control segments, Ku might just be one of the absolute best on the indies today. His kicks and strike are stiff, but more than that it’s the confidence and poise to know that he’s fully in control that sells it.
As for Keith, being the man working from beneath for most of this taps into the aspect of his performance that’s impressed me the most previously: selling. He makes all of Ku’s stuff look great in this match. Of note is him selling his leg really well during an exchange of leg kicks. Keith crumbling slightly from all the damage done to his leg is the good stuff that you love to see.
Very much worth the watch, if only to see an up and comer receiving another opportunity against a wrestling coming into their own as one of the best on the scene.
