I was vaguely aware of Xavier Woods’ social media presence, and the general existence of his YouTube channel, Up Up Down Down, but it wasn’t until a randomly recommended video did I actually take the opportunity to check it out. And I ask myself why I even took that long, since I’ve made no secret that I’m a fan of his, and all the fantastic work he’s doing as the more or less heart of The New Day.
To no secret, Woods, going under the name “Austin Creed” does a fantastic job of entertaining, engaging and being a fun guy to watch. I think the appeal for me is the fact that he’s just such a charismatic guy that he could probably easily entertain people who have no idea that he’s also a professional wrestler, because so little of at least the clip that I watched, had really anything to do with wrestling, aside from the fact that everyone in it was basically a WWE guy.
Anyway, it was an innocuous link to a video that basically summarized The Miz playing Xavier Woods in Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, with an adequate thumbnail to get the point across. And in no time, the video creates the scenario, where Miz and Creed play a best of five in SF2:CE, where I can’t remember what Creed had put on the line, but the Miz had wagered his replica of the white-strap Intercontinental title, that all wrestlers apparently get to commemorate the fact that they were a holder of it.
Long story short, Creed absolutely demolishes the Miz in two straight matches, because for whatever reason, the Miz doesn’t seem to grasp the basic idea that pulling back on the joystick is how you block in the game. All while there’s a tremendous amount of trash talk from both guys, and a little too long of a cameras rolling situation, where I guess all of the Miz’s sore salt wanted to be documented, and he does an impressive job of toeing the line between being who he is and portraying Miz characteristics.
Anyway, the whole time I’m watching this video, I can’t get over the fact that in the background are all sorts of WWE guys, just hanging out, and watching with the same interest that lots of guys that are my age, as well as around the ages of The Miz and Xavier Woods are, or to say people who grew up playing Street Fighter.
But the thing is, since Up Up Down Down isn’t sanctioned by WWE, there’s no real rules or kayfabe to keep up with, so clear as day in the background are superstars like Adrian Neville, looking like a total Republican square in his polo shirt and thick-border glasses, as well as Damien Sandow who clearly wants to draw as much attention to himself by basically looking like Ali G. But the most amusing presences for me are at first, I saw Braun Stroman along the wall, and then right in front of him was Bray Wyatt, front row, with a Texas Longhorns ballcap on. On the edge of the screen is also his little brother, Bo Dallas, sitting just as far away enough as an older brother might want his obnoxious little brother.
According to kayfabe, a video like this is taboo and very much unacceptable. Neville and Bo Dallas just had a feud a few months ago, Heath Slater only gets on television to job and be comic relief, and there’s no way members of the Wyatt Family would be caught dead around Kofi Kingston wearing a Dolph Ziggler shirt. But outside of the WWE Universe and in the Up Up Down Down universe, allegiances are set aside, for the pursuit of making interesting web videos.
Anyway, it’s not surprising to me that Austin Creed runs an entertaining YouTube channel, and I’m likely to subscribe and start watching more of his stuff, after I’m done posting this, because I’m sure there’s bound to be more interesting content beyond. But as a wrestling fan, the most fascinating parts of the videos are probably getting to see all sorts of WWE stars in more of a neutral, out-of-character manner that has me intrigued.
