Before The Bell
REVIEWS
LIO RUSH: THE FINAL MATCH
A particularly creative lot by nature, many professional wrestlers aren’t content to confine their artistry to the squared circle, frequently seeking daring new outlets of self-expression. Lio Rush is one such grappler, determined to show that he’s as dangerous on the mic as he is in the ring. Earlier this year, Rush released a new rap album entitled The Final Match.
Rush’s second full-length studio album kicks off with the track “Gorilla,” in which he introduces CZW ring announcer Larry Legend into the fray. While that particular cut and the subsequent tune “Entrance” (featuring Nick Brodeur) provide Rush the opportunity to hype his in-ring prowess, his bravado is tempered through the smoldering key track “Ring the Bell,” in which he references the struggles he has endured through a dogged pursuit of success (Lately I’ve been having wild thoughts/Lately I’ve been thinking bad things/More money, more problems/That’s what the cash brings).
“Hope Spot” presents some of this album’s most out-of-the box lyricism, depicting Rush’s rise on the wave to stardom as a dust-up with mythical god of the sea Poseidon. There’s also a flavor of in the musical pastiche of the short track “Rest Hold.” But it’s “Shine,” featuring Josiah Williams and Th3 SAGA, that is the
