Time now to look at CHIKARA King of Trios 2009 Night 2 (3/28/09) and since almost every match is based on the results of the previous night, be aware that there are SPOILERS aplenty ahead.
-Opening the show with the first of two four-way Rey De Voladores qualifying matches is smart. There’s nothing like some fast-paced action to set the tone for the night. Austin Aries is no longer in fan friendly mode, instead playing his wicked ways up to the max as the only heel in the bout. Matt Jackson, Player Dos, and Fire Ant all mix perfectly with Aries and each other, making for an outstanding contest.
-The first of the quarter-finals round of the Trios tournament is next, with Team F.I.S.T. taking on the F1rst Family in what may be the single best trios match of the entire weekend. If there was a recipe for how to have the perfect six-man tag bout, this would be it. From mat work to aerial offense, these teams are tremendous and they go all out to get through to the next round. What an excellent match.
-Initially when I watched these shows, many moons ago, there was one match that I absolutely hated with all the fire of seven suns or some derivative there of – the LWA offer match of The Submission Squad vs. Davey Vega and Gary The Barn Owl. Giving this bout a second viewing, I can honestly say that hate is a strong word, but I really really don’t like it (hey there Plain White T’s!)
There is a lot wrong here, from the Submission Squad not being able to pull off even a half convincing submission hold, to Gary The Barn Owl having the most amazing ring name ever and being a total disappointment once you see him. I call this the Wonder Bra phenomenon – big on first impression, big letdown once you see what’s behind it. Truthfully, the match isn’t worthy of a “classically bad” status, but it is a waste of time that is totally out of place on this show. I’d like to say it is forgettable, but Gary The Barn Owl will haunt your dreams. View at your own risk.
-The Osirian Portal vs. The Future Is Now starts out pretty good, it really does. And then Escorpion Egipcio accidentally rips Lince Dorado’s ear off of his mask, and following that moment, the bout goes completely down hill. It is as if none of the competitors knows what to do anymore, and a complete cluster continues in place of the once well oiled match. A shame, since things really did start out pretty good. As an aside let me say Lince should now be considered the kid-friendly lucha version of Cactus Jack, given the ear incident.
-I might as well stop watching the rest of 2009 right now, because I’ve seen the match of the year, hands down, no way anything is better than this. This being the four-way Rey De Voladores qualifier of El Generico vs. Nick Jackson vs. Jigsaw vs. Kota Ibushi. No matter how many times you see this bout, it will still find new ways to surprise you with each viewing. Everybody looks incredible, and so many moments are beyond jaw-dropping in their levels of awesomeness. What brilliance, plain flat-out brilliance.
-It is no easy feat to follow up the previous contest, but The UnStable and Da Soul Touchaz do as good a job as anybody could hope for. Their match is entertaining if nothing else. Really can’t ask for more. And if you wanted more, just go back and watch the four-way again, because that match has everything you will ever need.
-Twiggy vs. Player Uno is our ISW offer match, and the first singles bout of the weekend. The two work really well with each other, and Player Uno in particular looks better here than he has in any other of his singles outings I’ve seen before. Good, fun stuff.
-This tournament would have been missing something if Team Uppercut and The Masters Of A Thousand Holds didn’t cross paths at some point. Their clash is naturally chock-full of remarkable mat-based wrestling. Anybody who is a fan of scientific in-ring work should be in heaven with this one. It really is quite grand and a privilege to watch.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Night One Of The King Of The Trios Of 2009 Tournament!
CHIKARA’s annual King Of Trios weekend has grown into arguably the biggest tournament on the independent pro wrestling scene. The 2009 edition keeps that reputation alive with 16 unique teams, some homegrown and some from countries on the other side of the world, all battling for the honor of being the best three man band around!
And now to tackle these shows, starting from the beginning! And fair warning, specifically for nights two and three of this tackling – given the nature of these events, it is essentially impossible to speak about without spoiling some results. Therefore, consider yourself spoiler-warned.
Here we go, match by match for King Of Trios 2009 Night 1 (3/27/09):
-FAN FRIENDLY AUSTIN ARIES IS THE GREATEST THING EVER! With that out of my system, I can now tell you that Team EPIC WAR vs. The F1rst Family is quite great, with a fantastic amount of entertaining spots that leave all six men looking strong. What an excellent way to start the night off.
-I wanted to like The Osirian Portal vs. Team PWG a lot more than I did. It is a good match, but there are a ton of blown spots that leave an overall awkward impression. The moments that do go smoothly come off brilliantly, and El Generico especially looks like an all-star among the contenders.
-If any match had ultimate styles clash written all over it, The Roughnecks of Brodie Lee, Grizzly Redwood, and Eddie Kingston taking on Team Uppercut of Claudio Castagnoli, Dave Taylor, and Bryan Danielson was it. Somehow everything comes together impeccably and makes for a really enjoyable bout. Kingston clashing with Danielson is grander than any fan of both men could hope for, and Claudio’s biggest swing ever on the littlest lumberjack is a sight that must be seen.
-These pairings have been on fire tonight! Team CZW and Da Soul Touchaz mix like Absolute Vanilla and Ginger Ale (go ahead, go try it, this write-up will still be here when you get back, and it’ll be way funnier to read). From the opening match shenanigans to the high flying final stretch, everything is a blast!
-Easily the most unique six-man of the night, Team F.I.S.T. and the Death Match Kings have a fun brawl followed by some pretty strong in-ring competition. It works both as a shining example of what each team is known for, and proof that both sets of stars can step out of their comfort zones and still deliver the goods. Best match of the night, if only because it is so fresh and different from everything else.
-The flippy-dos and crazy spots fill for the evening is easily achieved by The Future Is Now vs. Team DDT. For better or worse, and my view falls somewhere in the middle, the match is like watching a high speed car crash. Bodies flying all over, dogs and cats living together peacefully, just complete and utter chaos. Helios and Kota Ibushi are the best on their respective teams, and anytime they are in the ring things really excel. But a sense of overkill does linger in the air. Good bout, but it may be trying a bit too hard.
-Really enjoyed the dynamics of the Incoherence vs. Masters Of A Thousand Holds contest. The rookie Frightmare is given a real chance to explode as he more than holds his own against established vets Mike Quackenbush, Jorge Rivera, and Johnny Saint. Hallowicked goes toe to toe with Quack in a really great student/teacher showdown that proves exactly how brilliant Hallowicked is in the ring. And Delirious does a great job of taking a beating and making sure everybody looks good giving it to him. Plus, at 71 years old, Johnny Saint is a wonder to watch. The stuff he pulls off is truly amazing. Really you can’t ask for more from this match.
-Wasn’t expecting that the last match of the night would be my least favorite. Something about the pairing of The UnStable against The Cold Front of Al Snow, Glacier, and D-Lo Brown just didn’t make for great wrestling. Not that any of these guys are bad per se, but none of them are particularly that great. The match leaves a lot to be desired. At 26 minutes it is far and away the longest bout of the night, and it shows. They gave me a marathon when I wanted a sprint.
And now to tackle these shows, starting from the beginning! And fair warning, specifically for nights two and three of this tackling – given the nature of these events, it is essentially impossible to speak about without spoiling some results. Therefore, consider yourself spoiler-warned.
Here we go, match by match for King Of Trios 2009 Night 1 (3/27/09):
-FAN FRIENDLY AUSTIN ARIES IS THE GREATEST THING EVER! With that out of my system, I can now tell you that Team EPIC WAR vs. The F1rst Family is quite great, with a fantastic amount of entertaining spots that leave all six men looking strong. What an excellent way to start the night off.
-I wanted to like The Osirian Portal vs. Team PWG a lot more than I did. It is a good match, but there are a ton of blown spots that leave an overall awkward impression. The moments that do go smoothly come off brilliantly, and El Generico especially looks like an all-star among the contenders.
-If any match had ultimate styles clash written all over it, The Roughnecks of Brodie Lee, Grizzly Redwood, and Eddie Kingston taking on Team Uppercut of Claudio Castagnoli, Dave Taylor, and Bryan Danielson was it. Somehow everything comes together impeccably and makes for a really enjoyable bout. Kingston clashing with Danielson is grander than any fan of both men could hope for, and Claudio’s biggest swing ever on the littlest lumberjack is a sight that must be seen.
-These pairings have been on fire tonight! Team CZW and Da Soul Touchaz mix like Absolute Vanilla and Ginger Ale (go ahead, go try it, this write-up will still be here when you get back, and it’ll be way funnier to read). From the opening match shenanigans to the high flying final stretch, everything is a blast!
-Easily the most unique six-man of the night, Team F.I.S.T. and the Death Match Kings have a fun brawl followed by some pretty strong in-ring competition. It works both as a shining example of what each team is known for, and proof that both sets of stars can step out of their comfort zones and still deliver the goods. Best match of the night, if only because it is so fresh and different from everything else.
-The flippy-dos and crazy spots fill for the evening is easily achieved by The Future Is Now vs. Team DDT. For better or worse, and my view falls somewhere in the middle, the match is like watching a high speed car crash. Bodies flying all over, dogs and cats living together peacefully, just complete and utter chaos. Helios and Kota Ibushi are the best on their respective teams, and anytime they are in the ring things really excel. But a sense of overkill does linger in the air. Good bout, but it may be trying a bit too hard.
-Really enjoyed the dynamics of the Incoherence vs. Masters Of A Thousand Holds contest. The rookie Frightmare is given a real chance to explode as he more than holds his own against established vets Mike Quackenbush, Jorge Rivera, and Johnny Saint. Hallowicked goes toe to toe with Quack in a really great student/teacher showdown that proves exactly how brilliant Hallowicked is in the ring. And Delirious does a great job of taking a beating and making sure everybody looks good giving it to him. Plus, at 71 years old, Johnny Saint is a wonder to watch. The stuff he pulls off is truly amazing. Really you can’t ask for more from this match.
-Wasn’t expecting that the last match of the night would be my least favorite. Something about the pairing of The UnStable against The Cold Front of Al Snow, Glacier, and D-Lo Brown just didn’t make for great wrestling. Not that any of these guys are bad per se, but none of them are particularly that great. The match leaves a lot to be desired. At 26 minutes it is far and away the longest bout of the night, and it shows. They gave me a marathon when I wanted a sprint.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
And now the BIG one...
At last we’ve hit the first milestone on the annual Ring Of Honor calendar year with the 7th Anniversary Show (3/21/09). While I plan to discuss every match on this massive card, there is one bout that must be discussed at the forefront. It is a contest that can easily be described in such clichés as “instant classic,” “epic encounter,” and “match of the year.”
Nigel McGuinness vs. KENTA. ROH World Title on the line. You know from the start that these two will stop at nothing to get the victory; however, the story that develops is something quite unexpected. McGuinness has spent over a year as champion and he has dominated many a challenger in that time. Now Nigel is in a much different position. He is broken and worn, signs of a long title reign finally catching up. Tonight he not only battles the Japanese star in the opposing corner, but also his own body.
For KENTA, this is the perfect opportunity to at last reach the top of this promotion. He pulls no punches, or more accurately kicks, in his quest to capture the prize. But Nigel is wounded and desperate, and willing to go for the gullet with every move he is able to struggle through and pull off.
The intensity between them is off the charts, and the action is at times ferocious. It is a truly blockbuster clash that goes beyond all expectations and becomes something completely unique. All clichés aside, this match is brilliant.
Now on to the other eight bouts on the show:
-Really fun opener pitting Roderick Strong and Erick Stevens against Rhett Titus and Kenny King. These are two of the best tag parings around right now, and their skills shine here. Good times.
-Claudio Castagnoli and Brent Albright have reached a point where their chemistry is a science (see what I did there?) The two have their best battle yet, though once again we are left with a finish that isn’t the most desirable. It would have been nice, especially on this big stage, to have a better ending, but thankfully it isn’t so much of a let down that it takes away from the overall proceedings.
-Greatest Bobby Dempsey match ever! Short, simple, and fun. That’s all I ever asked for! And now I’ve gotten it.
-Jerry Lynn vs. Mike Quackenbush didn’t come off well to me live, but on DVD a lot of the intricacies between the two really shine. Not quite the technical masterpiece of Quack/Danielson from the show prior, but a pretty darn good pure wrestling contest in its own right.
-Fun brawl between the Age Of The Fall with special guest Austin Aries and Age Of The Fall Wolfpac. Any excuse to see these guys dive at each other, a lot, is fine by me. The match really picks up once the numbers dwindle down to the final three. Overall good stuff, the one elimination by disappearance call aside.
-Considering the back of the DVD cover spoils this, I will give the slightest spoiler warning now and then go for exactly what I want to say...okay, good, for those of you who made it to the other side of the ellipsis, here we go – two of the biggest moments of the night come in the ROH returns of Jimmy Rave and Colt Cabana, as they team with Bison Smith and Bryan Danielson, respectively. The contest is a ton of fun, and the excitement in the air almost overshadows any actual wrestling going on.
-My initial fear with Jay Briscoe vs. D-Lo Brown was that this would be another “good competition” bout where there’s really no story to tell but just a friendly contest. Happy to report that sociable is tossed aside for fierce as D-Lo pulls out dirty tactics to try and win his first contest as a regular roster member. The two mix well and the narrative they play through is just right, making for some really good stuff.
-Nobody brings the battle to a tag team war quite like Kevin Steen and El Generico, and here they clash with the American Wolves in another exceptional chapter in their feud. So many fantastic spots and such great work from everybody involved. The match just needs to be seen. This is definitely one of the best feuds of the year, and this will show you why.
Nigel McGuinness vs. KENTA. ROH World Title on the line. You know from the start that these two will stop at nothing to get the victory; however, the story that develops is something quite unexpected. McGuinness has spent over a year as champion and he has dominated many a challenger in that time. Now Nigel is in a much different position. He is broken and worn, signs of a long title reign finally catching up. Tonight he not only battles the Japanese star in the opposing corner, but also his own body.
For KENTA, this is the perfect opportunity to at last reach the top of this promotion. He pulls no punches, or more accurately kicks, in his quest to capture the prize. But Nigel is wounded and desperate, and willing to go for the gullet with every move he is able to struggle through and pull off.
The intensity between them is off the charts, and the action is at times ferocious. It is a truly blockbuster clash that goes beyond all expectations and becomes something completely unique. All clichés aside, this match is brilliant.
Now on to the other eight bouts on the show:
-Really fun opener pitting Roderick Strong and Erick Stevens against Rhett Titus and Kenny King. These are two of the best tag parings around right now, and their skills shine here. Good times.
-Claudio Castagnoli and Brent Albright have reached a point where their chemistry is a science (see what I did there?) The two have their best battle yet, though once again we are left with a finish that isn’t the most desirable. It would have been nice, especially on this big stage, to have a better ending, but thankfully it isn’t so much of a let down that it takes away from the overall proceedings.
-Greatest Bobby Dempsey match ever! Short, simple, and fun. That’s all I ever asked for! And now I’ve gotten it.
-Jerry Lynn vs. Mike Quackenbush didn’t come off well to me live, but on DVD a lot of the intricacies between the two really shine. Not quite the technical masterpiece of Quack/Danielson from the show prior, but a pretty darn good pure wrestling contest in its own right.
-Fun brawl between the Age Of The Fall with special guest Austin Aries and Age Of The Fall Wolfpac. Any excuse to see these guys dive at each other, a lot, is fine by me. The match really picks up once the numbers dwindle down to the final three. Overall good stuff, the one elimination by disappearance call aside.
-Considering the back of the DVD cover spoils this, I will give the slightest spoiler warning now and then go for exactly what I want to say...okay, good, for those of you who made it to the other side of the ellipsis, here we go – two of the biggest moments of the night come in the ROH returns of Jimmy Rave and Colt Cabana, as they team with Bison Smith and Bryan Danielson, respectively. The contest is a ton of fun, and the excitement in the air almost overshadows any actual wrestling going on.
-My initial fear with Jay Briscoe vs. D-Lo Brown was that this would be another “good competition” bout where there’s really no story to tell but just a friendly contest. Happy to report that sociable is tossed aside for fierce as D-Lo pulls out dirty tactics to try and win his first contest as a regular roster member. The two mix well and the narrative they play through is just right, making for some really good stuff.
-Nobody brings the battle to a tag team war quite like Kevin Steen and El Generico, and here they clash with the American Wolves in another exceptional chapter in their feud. So many fantastic spots and such great work from everybody involved. The match just needs to be seen. This is definitely one of the best feuds of the year, and this will show you why.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Tales from the Steel City
Time for the less-big half of Ring of Honor’s first big weekend of the year with “Steel City Clash” (3/20/09).
-I can’t explain what it is about Sterling James Keenan’s look that I like. It should come across as awful and yet he makes it work. Go figure. But past look, Keenan doesn’t strike me as anything all too special. His match with Delirious is basic and unmemorable. If anything leaves a lasting impression, it is the crowd that was seemingly served warm milk before the show and is now ready for nap time. Why so quiet? This is wrestling. Not golf. Not art. Not reading. Wrestling! Make some noise!
-Fantastic storyline development prior to the Rhett Titus and Kenny King vs. Erick Stevens and Matt Cross match, but the bout itself is only okay at best. Again, the crowd is dead, which for me takes away from the ability to be engaged by what is supposed to be thrilling interaction.
-Okay, so it turns out maybe we are watching art here, since the only way to describe Bryan Danielson vs. Mike Quackenbush is as a technical masterpiece. Both men are so skilled and know very well how to infuse their personalities into the subtle strokes of mat wrestling. It is truly a treat to watch. And it was the perfect match for this audience, as the general silence only adds to the incredible mood here. Who saw that coming? Great stuff for sure.
-Props to Jerry Lynn, Claudio Castagnoli, and Brent Albright for following up the intense mat display of Danielson and Quack by going in a different direction and delivering something completely exhilarating. They have lots of thrilling spots and use of the triple threat situation well, which all together makes for a first-rate contest!
-I really have to commend the progression of this card, as it has been a shining example of how using different styles to follow each other can make for a strong, interesting show. After a technical clinic and a spot-filled frenzy, we are now treated to an all-over-the-arena brawl that is so much fun to watch. Tyler Black, Necro Butcher, Jimmy Jacobs, and Brodie Lee all work really hard to give us something we haven’t seen yet tonight, and it pays off completely. Very entertaining, far more so than I was expecting an Age of the Fall vs. Age of the Fall Wolfpac match to be.
-It is such a simple thing, but using Austin Aries avoiding Roderick Strong’s chops as the narrative of their match completely hooked me. It is such a brilliant story, especially considering how well known Strong has become for his forearm strikes, and it makes for a kind of different game being played between the two than one might have expected.
-You know, at the start of this show, I really wasn’t feeling it. Quiet audience, Sterling James Keenan, yada yada. But now that we’ve reached the end I must say wow. Especially wow to the main event, which is loaded with a ton of intensity. Having KENTA and El Generico on one side of the ring and Nigel McGuinness and Davey Richards on the other promised to be something special, but I wasn’t expecting so much electricity and so many exciting moments to happen. That there were stories born here that will follow through to the next show only adds to the overall awesomeness.
-I can’t explain what it is about Sterling James Keenan’s look that I like. It should come across as awful and yet he makes it work. Go figure. But past look, Keenan doesn’t strike me as anything all too special. His match with Delirious is basic and unmemorable. If anything leaves a lasting impression, it is the crowd that was seemingly served warm milk before the show and is now ready for nap time. Why so quiet? This is wrestling. Not golf. Not art. Not reading. Wrestling! Make some noise!
-Fantastic storyline development prior to the Rhett Titus and Kenny King vs. Erick Stevens and Matt Cross match, but the bout itself is only okay at best. Again, the crowd is dead, which for me takes away from the ability to be engaged by what is supposed to be thrilling interaction.
-Okay, so it turns out maybe we are watching art here, since the only way to describe Bryan Danielson vs. Mike Quackenbush is as a technical masterpiece. Both men are so skilled and know very well how to infuse their personalities into the subtle strokes of mat wrestling. It is truly a treat to watch. And it was the perfect match for this audience, as the general silence only adds to the incredible mood here. Who saw that coming? Great stuff for sure.
-Props to Jerry Lynn, Claudio Castagnoli, and Brent Albright for following up the intense mat display of Danielson and Quack by going in a different direction and delivering something completely exhilarating. They have lots of thrilling spots and use of the triple threat situation well, which all together makes for a first-rate contest!
-I really have to commend the progression of this card, as it has been a shining example of how using different styles to follow each other can make for a strong, interesting show. After a technical clinic and a spot-filled frenzy, we are now treated to an all-over-the-arena brawl that is so much fun to watch. Tyler Black, Necro Butcher, Jimmy Jacobs, and Brodie Lee all work really hard to give us something we haven’t seen yet tonight, and it pays off completely. Very entertaining, far more so than I was expecting an Age of the Fall vs. Age of the Fall Wolfpac match to be.
-It is such a simple thing, but using Austin Aries avoiding Roderick Strong’s chops as the narrative of their match completely hooked me. It is such a brilliant story, especially considering how well known Strong has become for his forearm strikes, and it makes for a kind of different game being played between the two than one might have expected.
-You know, at the start of this show, I really wasn’t feeling it. Quiet audience, Sterling James Keenan, yada yada. But now that we’ve reached the end I must say wow. Especially wow to the main event, which is loaded with a ton of intensity. Having KENTA and El Generico on one side of the ring and Nigel McGuinness and Davey Richards on the other promised to be something special, but I wasn’t expecting so much electricity and so many exciting moments to happen. That there were stories born here that will follow through to the next show only adds to the overall awesomeness.
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