There’s something pure and joyous about Oswald Project. After crawling out of a Petri dish sometime last year, he’s been a bright spot on the American independent scene. The guy just wants to make friends.
Unfortunately for Oswald, Garcia’s a pro who only understands the language of combat. He’s not malicious–he offers a handshake at the open of the match out of respect. But when Oswald turns to affection with a hug, it simply doesn’t register with Garcia. When he kicks Oswald as he’s down on the mat, it’s not because he hates Oswald but because he’s a pro wrestler. A smart and efficient pro wrestler who wants to win.
But Oswald can hold his own when push comes to shove. His physicality is the highlight of his act in the ring–flexible to the point of spectacle in both offense and defense. There’s so much energy and hope in his comeback, supplemented by the flashiness of his movement. It’s not the perfect athleticism of an Ospreay but the otherworldly strangeness befitting an experiment gone wrong.
That same flexibility makes the finish to this match so wonderful. Garcia bends the poor boy nearly in half until Oswald finally has to tap out to put a cap on this fantastic sub-ten minute affair. Concise, with a clear and powerful voice, this match is exactly the kind of small oasis you want from pro wrestling in 2020.
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