It’s time to take a DVD expedition to Pottsville, PA to watch the next CHIKARA show in my collection, “A World of Comforting Illusion” (2/28/10). And hey, Renee thinks she’s been to the building they are in to see high school bands play! We may never know if it is true, but the chances of anybody in Pennsylvania having someplace better to be on a Saturday night are pretty low. ZING!
-The UnStable of Vin Gerard and STIGMA look really good in the opener against The Throwbacks. Lots of basic stuff here, but it all works and is all very entertaining. Sugar Dunkerton and Dasher Hatfield are perfect as the good guys you just want to root for. They’re as Americana as Richie Cunningham. And the evil constituents of the UnStable are the perfect foils for our heroes from Anytown, USA. Fun stuff!
-Green Ant is awesome, I’m just saying! His battle against Brodie Lee is quite enjoyable, with the young Ant more than holding his own against the Big Rig! Really liked these two together in the ring, but there’s not much else to say past that.
-Daizee Haze and Sara Del Rey of BDK once again clash with one of CHIKARA’s top teams, this time Hallowicked and Frightmare. The bout has some good things about it, but it also has some downfalls. The story is enjoyable, but a lot of the action comes off as spotty and lacks the fineness these talents are capable of. It is exciting to see Del Ray and Hallowicked clashing, and a lot of the match can be sold on that alone. If only the ring-work was smoother. Oh well.
-For some reason, I just couldn’t get into the four-way of The Osirian Portal vs. The Badd Boyz vs. The Super Smash Brothers vs. Claudio Castagnoli and Ares of BDK. On paper this sounds remarkable, and indeed my excitement was mostly raised watching the entrances, but by the time the match started it was gone. The in-ring work was okay, and the results aren’t totally predictable, but ultimately nothing about it engrossed me.
-Hate to say the same thing for Gran Akuma vs. Eddie Kingston, but unfortunately I have to admit a lack of engagement from their bout as well. I appreciate the story here, the attempts both men take at hitting each other with the hardest blow and swiftest kick possible to get the win. But the passion just wasn’t as strong as I was expecting. The finish comes when the bout is only just starting to move into second gear, which is a bit of a disappointment.
-Four on four time as BDK brethren Tim Donst, Lince Dorado, Pinkie “Pink Ant” Sanchez, and Tursas take on Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw, Equinox and Helios. It starts out a bit slow and spotty, but by the end the excitement is definitely turned all the way up. The eight-man tag is a CHIKARA staple, nay it is an art that the company has mastered, so there is really no surprise at how good this bout becomes. Not quite as enjoyable as the similar battle from “A Touch of Class,” but fun stuff never the less.
-The Colony and The Order of the Neo-Solar Temple are on fire in the main event! At least, they are for the first half. Things start out really great and the work done by all four men is fantastic. Lots of close counts and exciting moments highlight the first fall of this best two out of three match. But following this, things pretty much abruptly switch gears and the rest of the bout is sacrificed for significant story line development. It is entertaining, and important to the developing BDK vs. CHIKARA plot, so thumbs up for that; however, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to some disappointment that a match on its way to being great ended up stuck at good and sacrificed for the bigger picture.
Showing posts with label CHIKARA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CHIKARA. Show all posts
Friday, August 20, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
2010 – CHIKARA: A Touch Of Class
It’s time to start a whole new season of CHIKARA action with “A Touch of Class” (1/31/10) from Philadelphia, PA. We pick up where things left off last November, as the villainous Bruderschaft des Kreuzes made their existence know and their intention to take over the company clear. What will come of this war? Only one way to find out!
-The opener between BDK member Pinkie “Pink Ant” Sanchez and Green Ant is definitely a great start to the year! Pinkie is one of those guys who I’ve enjoyed with certain reservations in the past, but once he unmasked as Carpenter Ant, who I adored, Pinkie earned a whole new level of my admiration. Green Ant has also more than come into his own as an exciting member of the roster. These two bring an unexpected passion to this bout, making it quite the grand surprise! Good stuff.
-The main point behind The UnStable vs. Sugar Dunkerton, Player Uno, and Create-A-Wrestler is really to establish the return of CAW fan-favorite personality Dasher Hatfield. In that sense, it works, but do we really need a roughly ten minute match to pull that angle off? The action isn’t particularly that great, and overall this is forgettable.
-One of my favorite things about BDK is the formation of Daizee Haze and Sara Del Ray as a force in the tag division! Haze and Death Ray bring the intensity to their clash with the Osirian Portal, and it makes for a really good contest. Ophidian and Amasis are two of my favorites, so I wanted to see them win of course, but the sheer anger behind everything Haze and Del Ray unload on them is damn impressive. Thumbs up!
-Keeping my opposable appendage raised is Brodie Lee vs. Hallowicked! These two go together perfectly and I could watch them battle all day. Love that they both have the size and the speed, making for a really good contest.
-The story of the Order of the Neo-Solar Temple vs. Grizzly Redwood, Pelle Primeau, and Andy Ridge is that Temple leader UltraMantis Black has claimed he has more important matters to attend to than the BDK...like fighting a contention of ROH students. Fun stuff! Probably a lot more enjoyable than it should be. Everybody looks great here, even the Ring of Honor Crew, who if nothing else, learned how to take bumps like pros.
-Tim Donst vs. Player Dos for the Young Lions Cup is a very well put together match, but I’m really not sure if I liked it. I can tell that both guys were working hard, and Donst’s as a heel with BDK is absolutely great. He is worlds better as a bad guy. Who knew? But ultimately the bout didn’t leave me thinking wow that was good. There are solid components to it, but as a whole concept it feels a little disjointed. Plus, and I’m sad to admit this, there is shall we call it a “wardrobe malfunction” that Donst dons the entire time and it is kind of distracting. I want to be more mature and look past that, but it really kind of makes the match hit the skids. Sorry, had to be done. I’m ashamed, don’t worry.
-Eight-man tag time as The Future Is Now and Mike Quackenbush take on the BDK! Some really interesting plot twists here that are going to be essential viewing to the entire Bruderschaft storyline. The action starts out a bit slow, but things definitely pick up in classic CHIKARA eight-man tag style by the end! Really good stuff, easily the best match on this show.
-And then there’s the main event. F.I.S.T. vs. The Colony. This could be the most disappointed I’ve ever been in a CHIKARA match. Something is off with all four men, way off as a matter of fact. They all move slower than usual, and all seem to be missing a step. It bothers me because these teams have had fantastic matches, both against each other and apart, and yet here they are looking quite not good. If this was the first time I ever saw these guys wrestle, I would instantly have zero desire for seeing them again. As it stands, I’m glad I’ve seen them before and will chalk this up to four men having a bad night. It happens.
This isn’t one of my favorite CHIKARA shows overall. There’s some really good stuff, but there is also some really not good stuff. Call me spoiled, but I’ve come to expect more from CHIKARA.
-The opener between BDK member Pinkie “Pink Ant” Sanchez and Green Ant is definitely a great start to the year! Pinkie is one of those guys who I’ve enjoyed with certain reservations in the past, but once he unmasked as Carpenter Ant, who I adored, Pinkie earned a whole new level of my admiration. Green Ant has also more than come into his own as an exciting member of the roster. These two bring an unexpected passion to this bout, making it quite the grand surprise! Good stuff.
-The main point behind The UnStable vs. Sugar Dunkerton, Player Uno, and Create-A-Wrestler is really to establish the return of CAW fan-favorite personality Dasher Hatfield. In that sense, it works, but do we really need a roughly ten minute match to pull that angle off? The action isn’t particularly that great, and overall this is forgettable.
-One of my favorite things about BDK is the formation of Daizee Haze and Sara Del Ray as a force in the tag division! Haze and Death Ray bring the intensity to their clash with the Osirian Portal, and it makes for a really good contest. Ophidian and Amasis are two of my favorites, so I wanted to see them win of course, but the sheer anger behind everything Haze and Del Ray unload on them is damn impressive. Thumbs up!
-Keeping my opposable appendage raised is Brodie Lee vs. Hallowicked! These two go together perfectly and I could watch them battle all day. Love that they both have the size and the speed, making for a really good contest.
-The story of the Order of the Neo-Solar Temple vs. Grizzly Redwood, Pelle Primeau, and Andy Ridge is that Temple leader UltraMantis Black has claimed he has more important matters to attend to than the BDK...like fighting a contention of ROH students. Fun stuff! Probably a lot more enjoyable than it should be. Everybody looks great here, even the Ring of Honor Crew, who if nothing else, learned how to take bumps like pros.
-Tim Donst vs. Player Dos for the Young Lions Cup is a very well put together match, but I’m really not sure if I liked it. I can tell that both guys were working hard, and Donst’s as a heel with BDK is absolutely great. He is worlds better as a bad guy. Who knew? But ultimately the bout didn’t leave me thinking wow that was good. There are solid components to it, but as a whole concept it feels a little disjointed. Plus, and I’m sad to admit this, there is shall we call it a “wardrobe malfunction” that Donst dons the entire time and it is kind of distracting. I want to be more mature and look past that, but it really kind of makes the match hit the skids. Sorry, had to be done. I’m ashamed, don’t worry.
-Eight-man tag time as The Future Is Now and Mike Quackenbush take on the BDK! Some really interesting plot twists here that are going to be essential viewing to the entire Bruderschaft storyline. The action starts out a bit slow, but things definitely pick up in classic CHIKARA eight-man tag style by the end! Really good stuff, easily the best match on this show.
-And then there’s the main event. F.I.S.T. vs. The Colony. This could be the most disappointed I’ve ever been in a CHIKARA match. Something is off with all four men, way off as a matter of fact. They all move slower than usual, and all seem to be missing a step. It bothers me because these teams have had fantastic matches, both against each other and apart, and yet here they are looking quite not good. If this was the first time I ever saw these guys wrestle, I would instantly have zero desire for seeing them again. As it stands, I’m glad I’ve seen them before and will chalk this up to four men having a bad night. It happens.
This isn’t one of my favorite CHIKARA shows overall. There’s some really good stuff, but there is also some really not good stuff. Call me spoiled, but I’ve come to expect more from CHIKARA.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Finishing out the Trios!
Now to finish off the festivities, let’s go match by match through Chikara King Of Trios 2009 Night 3 (3/29/09). Again, spoilers aplenty, consider this your final warning.
-The opening match, a semi-final of the tournament, is easily the best match for The UnStable all weekend. Guess that isn’t too hard to pull off going against Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, and Dave Taylor. Good way to start the night. Especially enjoy that Danielson is now selling an injury that started the previous night and made worse by Vin Gerard and his goons. That’s dedication to a story.
-Second semi-final contest, F.I.S.T. vs. The Future Is Now, and this continues F.I.S.T.’s strong showing over the three shows. The Future Is Now looks great too, but Chuck Taylor, Icarus, and Gran Akuma have been solid gold all weekend long. And I must say officially now, commit this to what we’ve replaces paper with in the future, Chuck Taylor’s Awful Waffle is my favorite finishing move today, period.
-Arik Cannon and El Generico are great, just great. And their match here is great, really great. But what I love most about these guys is how obvious it is that they have different levels of greatness achievable at any time. They can be mid-card great, they can be main event great, it all depends on what is being asked for. Great as this match is, you just know they could have one even greater if they wanted to. And that’s awesome.
-The Tag Team Gauntlet is a mixed bag, but ultimately it is entertaining. Getting essentially eleven mini-matches never hurt anybody, and when some of those minis include The Young Bucks vs. Da Soul Touchaz, The Young Bucks vs. Cheech And Cloudy, and Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw vs. Brodie Lee and Grizzly Redwood, you really can’t complain. It runs long, and begins to feel predictable, but overall it is a good time.
-Lots of amusing action and moments in the eight-man tag with Kudo, Michael Nakazawa and The Osirian Portal taking on The Colony and the North Star Express. If you ever wondered how many baby oil spots can be worked into one match, you will have your answer here.
-Don’t want to call it an indie scene dream match, but I will admit to salivating when I read that there was an Austin Aries and Eddie Kingston clash here. The bout is everything any fan of the two would expect – well paced, well worked, and well served by the intensity of both men. Well done.
-Kota Ibushi already earned his money printing status during the four-way on the previous show, and here he pays it forward by helping to make Player Dos look better than he ever has before! Dos always had tons of potential, but on this night his star is realized. Ibushi and Dos move at a lightening-quick pace and bust out some completely unpredictable spots and moments to make for a really amazing match. If you remember only one thing from Trios weekend, remember how grand these two proved themselves to be.
-At last we’ve reached the end, and what an ending it is. F.I.S.T. is relentless, and Team Uppercut is suddenly on a whole new playing field. Claudio and company’s dominance throughout the tournament has led to this moment, battling the homegrown team that arguably wants the win more than anybody else. I love the work F.I.S.T. does on Danielson’s injury, again playing off the story that has grown throughout the weekend. The finish is perfect, and generally speaking this is one of the best trios matches of the weekend. What an excellent finish to an exceptional set of shows.
-The opening match, a semi-final of the tournament, is easily the best match for The UnStable all weekend. Guess that isn’t too hard to pull off going against Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, and Dave Taylor. Good way to start the night. Especially enjoy that Danielson is now selling an injury that started the previous night and made worse by Vin Gerard and his goons. That’s dedication to a story.
-Second semi-final contest, F.I.S.T. vs. The Future Is Now, and this continues F.I.S.T.’s strong showing over the three shows. The Future Is Now looks great too, but Chuck Taylor, Icarus, and Gran Akuma have been solid gold all weekend long. And I must say officially now, commit this to what we’ve replaces paper with in the future, Chuck Taylor’s Awful Waffle is my favorite finishing move today, period.
-Arik Cannon and El Generico are great, just great. And their match here is great, really great. But what I love most about these guys is how obvious it is that they have different levels of greatness achievable at any time. They can be mid-card great, they can be main event great, it all depends on what is being asked for. Great as this match is, you just know they could have one even greater if they wanted to. And that’s awesome.
-The Tag Team Gauntlet is a mixed bag, but ultimately it is entertaining. Getting essentially eleven mini-matches never hurt anybody, and when some of those minis include The Young Bucks vs. Da Soul Touchaz, The Young Bucks vs. Cheech And Cloudy, and Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw vs. Brodie Lee and Grizzly Redwood, you really can’t complain. It runs long, and begins to feel predictable, but overall it is a good time.
-Lots of amusing action and moments in the eight-man tag with Kudo, Michael Nakazawa and The Osirian Portal taking on The Colony and the North Star Express. If you ever wondered how many baby oil spots can be worked into one match, you will have your answer here.
-Don’t want to call it an indie scene dream match, but I will admit to salivating when I read that there was an Austin Aries and Eddie Kingston clash here. The bout is everything any fan of the two would expect – well paced, well worked, and well served by the intensity of both men. Well done.
-Kota Ibushi already earned his money printing status during the four-way on the previous show, and here he pays it forward by helping to make Player Dos look better than he ever has before! Dos always had tons of potential, but on this night his star is realized. Ibushi and Dos move at a lightening-quick pace and bust out some completely unpredictable spots and moments to make for a really amazing match. If you remember only one thing from Trios weekend, remember how grand these two proved themselves to be.
-At last we’ve reached the end, and what an ending it is. F.I.S.T. is relentless, and Team Uppercut is suddenly on a whole new playing field. Claudio and company’s dominance throughout the tournament has led to this moment, battling the homegrown team that arguably wants the win more than anybody else. I love the work F.I.S.T. does on Danielson’s injury, again playing off the story that has grown throughout the weekend. The finish is perfect, and generally speaking this is one of the best trios matches of the weekend. What an excellent finish to an exceptional set of shows.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Mark Wahlberg/George Clooney movie reference here...Night 2
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.
-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.
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.
Friday, April 9, 2010
A February twosome of CHIKARA awesomeness
Double shot of CHIKARA with “If The Airplane Is Snowed In, Put Your Bloody Skis On And Get Going!” (2/20/09) and “Motive, Means, Opportunity” (2/21/09). Not going match-by-match with both shows, but rather giving some general thoughts to the weekend and highlighting some bouts that deserve to have love songs written about them.
-The war between F.I.S.T. and The Colony goes from start to HOLY COW over these two shows, and it is a fantastic escalation to watch! Their 6-man bout on (what for simplicity sake we will refer to as) Bloody Skis is a lot of fun, but it is the post-match brutality and the Motive, Means, Opportunity tag bout that really sizzles with excitement. That second bout is incredibly intense and quite awesome for it. Excellent stuff.
-Motive, Means, Opportunity is definitely the stronger of these two shows, if only for the two matches I am about to discuss. First, Gran Akuma and Claudio Castagnoli reach a whole new degree of assault on each other to everybody’s delight. The strikes between these two are beyond painful looking, and leave you salivating for more. A great, great singles bout. What follows is an off-the-charts tag contest between Cheech and Cloudy and Jigsaw and Mike Quackenbush. It is the kind of match that causes expletives to pour from your mouth after every unimaginable move is pulled off. Beyond entertaining, it is a truly exceptional contest.
-The two-night “Order of the Neo-Solar Temple auditions a new member” story is another fun little tale to follow. Pinkie Sanchez does well on Bloody Skis even as he sticks out from his would-be brethren. It is Sami Callihan on night two who fits in perfectly with Crossbones and UltraMantis Black, leading to a really grand opening contest against Eddie Kingston, Brodie Lee, and Grizzly Redwood. Callihan also looks great in singles competition against Delirious on Bloody Skis. Frankly I just like Sami Callihan.
-The UnStable has a pretty big weekend, though their highlight comes at Bloody Skis in a really strong contest with Quackenbush, Jigsaw, and Tim Donst. Lots of great story going on in that bout, along with some really good wrestling. I’m not always high on some of the members of The UnStable, particularly Colin Delaney, but everybody looks like a star here.
-Both shows are pretty even as far as main event matches go. Bloody Skis treats us to a battle of the big men between Claudio and Escorpion Egipcio, which I for one found to be enjoyable. Motive, Means, Opportunity is headlined by Amasis taking on Equinox, and while the bout gets off to something of a slow start, things really pick up by the finish. It may not be one of the best matches on the show, but given how extraordinary the best matches on this show are, that really isn’t an insult.
Overall two really good shows, though if I had to Sophie’s Choice them, I’d go with Motive, Means, Opportunity for Akuma/Castagnoli and Cheech and Cloudy/Jigsaw and Quackenbush alone.
-The war between F.I.S.T. and The Colony goes from start to HOLY COW over these two shows, and it is a fantastic escalation to watch! Their 6-man bout on (what for simplicity sake we will refer to as) Bloody Skis is a lot of fun, but it is the post-match brutality and the Motive, Means, Opportunity tag bout that really sizzles with excitement. That second bout is incredibly intense and quite awesome for it. Excellent stuff.
-Motive, Means, Opportunity is definitely the stronger of these two shows, if only for the two matches I am about to discuss. First, Gran Akuma and Claudio Castagnoli reach a whole new degree of assault on each other to everybody’s delight. The strikes between these two are beyond painful looking, and leave you salivating for more. A great, great singles bout. What follows is an off-the-charts tag contest between Cheech and Cloudy and Jigsaw and Mike Quackenbush. It is the kind of match that causes expletives to pour from your mouth after every unimaginable move is pulled off. Beyond entertaining, it is a truly exceptional contest.
-The two-night “Order of the Neo-Solar Temple auditions a new member” story is another fun little tale to follow. Pinkie Sanchez does well on Bloody Skis even as he sticks out from his would-be brethren. It is Sami Callihan on night two who fits in perfectly with Crossbones and UltraMantis Black, leading to a really grand opening contest against Eddie Kingston, Brodie Lee, and Grizzly Redwood. Callihan also looks great in singles competition against Delirious on Bloody Skis. Frankly I just like Sami Callihan.
-The UnStable has a pretty big weekend, though their highlight comes at Bloody Skis in a really strong contest with Quackenbush, Jigsaw, and Tim Donst. Lots of great story going on in that bout, along with some really good wrestling. I’m not always high on some of the members of The UnStable, particularly Colin Delaney, but everybody looks like a star here.
-Both shows are pretty even as far as main event matches go. Bloody Skis treats us to a battle of the big men between Claudio and Escorpion Egipcio, which I for one found to be enjoyable. Motive, Means, Opportunity is headlined by Amasis taking on Equinox, and while the bout gets off to something of a slow start, things really pick up by the finish. It may not be one of the best matches on the show, but given how extraordinary the best matches on this show are, that really isn’t an insult.
Overall two really good shows, though if I had to Sophie’s Choice them, I’d go with Motive, Means, Opportunity for Akuma/Castagnoli and Cheech and Cloudy/Jigsaw and Quackenbush alone.
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