Plot

Mike Selearis must face Bart Wood with a broken hand. Travis Bagent reflects on how arm wrestling brought him out of poverty.

After a loss two weeks ago, NYC Arms Control co-captain Mike Selearis got so frustrated he punched a wall. The result: a broken right hand. Its not his dominant arm, but he needs it to secure leverage during matches and his team has a big one coming up against the Erie Wrecking Crew. Mike risks a career-ending injury if he pulls before its healed, his doctor tells him. But Selearis, who values mind over matter, plans to compete against Bart Wood in just one week.

At a poker game, Arms Control tries to get past their 0-5 sweep by Kansas City and sizes up their Erie competition. Dan Fortuna will pull John Heynoski, a former MMA fighter. Selearis is confident he can win against Wood, whos beaten all-time great Allen Fisher. Mike Ayello, a NYC firefighter, will battle fellow super-heavyweight Travis Bagent, owner of the sports loudest mouth (and arguably its strongest left arm). Selearis is concerned that Ayellos self-doubt jeopardizes his ability to reach his physical potential.

Over in Erie, its been a cold winter. Wood now plows snow after being laid off early from his concrete-laying job. Wood explains, he graduated college and landed a dream job as a high school physical education teacher, but had to resign after being indicted on a drug conspiracy charge. He calls it the most humbling experience of my life. After spending 18 months in a federal prison, Wood can only get manual labor jobs.

Wood and Bagent get a workout in at teammate Dave Chaffees place of work which happens to be a prison. Chaffee is a guard there, and Wood, though hesitant, believes the visit is a good reminder of how far hes come. Later, Bagent takes 155 lb teammate Heynoski to a bar for a workout against some bigger guys. Heynoski is beaten by a 260 lb truck driver, but manages a win against a 245 lb mechanic. Bagent advises Heynoski to make it personal in his upcoming match.

Back in Queens, Selearis tries to motivate Ayello, who believes Bagent doesnt have any weak points. Master the mind, Selearis tells Ayello, and youre gonna master the match.