I don’t quite no what to make of “The Gang Wrestles for the Troops." It was decidedly amusing and viewers should have chuckled aloud a few times, but there was a flimsy quality to the entire thing that made the show seem to drag on. Of course, the final few minutes of the episode were worth any consternation leading up to the final brawl. And seeing as wrestling (!) isn’t too prominently featured in sitcoms – even after the warm reception that The Wrestler and Mickey Rourke received last year – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia could be counted as the vanguard in dumb sitcoms.

Dee is the unwitting, propulsive element in this week’s narrative. Her creepy communication, via the internets, with a soldier is to result in a blind meeting when the guy gets dropped off after returning home from over seas.

Dee’s handle on the web is apparently “Desert Rose,” which makes little or no sense, but hat only enhances the ridiculous character. Anyway, she heads on down to the bus depot dressed as a rose – kinda. The outfit is just this side of fetching, but when Dee discovers that her soldier’s been injured, she makes up some excuse and books it.

Of course, all of this talk about “helping soldiers” – and we can all guess what Dee intends by help – the gang lights on the idea of setting up some entertainment for the real American heroes. Wrestling seems to be the answer for whatever reason and as the fellows decide on a way in which to present themselves as an intimidating wrestling force, they realize that they need some assistance. So, they head down to hire a wrestler from the local scene (if that makes sense) and end up with a rough equivalent of the Rourke character from the Wrestler.

He’s a terrifying man – and lets loose some questionable language. But to compliment this crazy guy, the gang wrangles Cricket from the soup line and gets him in the ring. Unfortunately, the elder and more formidable wrestler doesn’t make it to through the narrative, so the gang – replete with chicken eagle costumes – enters the squared circle to fight it out with Cricket.

Unsurprisingly, the street dweller takes the boys to task as each consecutively enters the ring – well, Mac actually runs away – but defeating Charlie and Denis is no small task. Blowing sand or dirt into an opponent’s eyes remains a viable path to victory.

Luckily, Frank has the ‘Trash Man’ character worked out and arrives to save the day by smacking Cricket with a steel garbage can. The resulting wound is pretty gory – and kinda surprising given its placement and depth, but a win’s a win.

The Dee plot line played out a bit further, but doesn’t really impact the show too much – her getting hit in the face was pretty funny, though. Her portion of the plot was just used as a starting point and for that very reason, some of the pacing during “The Gang Wrestles for the Troops" was off. Frank’s wrestling singlet made up for any perceived short comings, though.