wrestling / Video Reviews
100 Percent Fordified: CHIKARA Dead Man’s Chest and Evil Ways
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Bronx, NY – 2.27.2016
Championship Rundown
Grand Champion: Princess Kimberlee
Campeones de Parejas: N_R_G (Race Jaxon & Hype Rockwell)
Young Lions Cup Champion: The Estonian Thunderfrog
Commentary is provided by Mike Quackenbush and Bryce Remsburg.
Shynron vs. Jaka
Jakob Hammermeier is in Jaka’s corner. They feel each other out on the mat with nobody getting a clear advantage. Shynron uses his agility to bait Jaka into a drop toe hold. He tries for a sleeper hold of sorts but Jaka gets his foot on the bottom rope before it’s fully applied. Jaka takes a respite on the floor. Shynron trips Jaka into a side headlock. Jaka shoots Shynron to the ropes and shoulder blocks him down. Shynron sweeps out Jaka’s legs and hits a shooting star press for two. Jaka takes to the floor but comes back in before Shynron can dive. Shynron takes him down with the Leaning Tower of Shynron. Jaka avoids a back handspring Ace Crusher and gives Shynron a release German suplex for two. Jaka gives Shynron some stomps before giving him various strikes and chops. He lands a big corner splash for two. Jaka applies a bodyscissors. Shynron escapes, so Jaka gives him a vertical suplex and legdrop for two. He reapplies the bodyscissors and Shynron gets the ropes. Shynron throws his own strikes to Jaka’s stomach and chest. Jaka cuts him off with a boot to the stomach and gives Shynron a belly-to-back suplex. Shynron escapes the Jumanji Bomb but Jaka cuts him off with a shoulder block and Muta elbow for two. Jaka grabs a nerve hold. Shynron blocks some kicks. They boot each other in the chest at the same time. Shynron gets in an uppercut, but Jaka turns him inside out with a clothesline. Shynron avoids the Superfly Splash. He back handsprings into a lariat to take Jaka off of his feet. He comes in from the apron with a slingshot neckbreaker. Jaka again takes to the floor but Shynron follows with a pescado. Hammermeier grabs Shynron’s leg as he ascends the ropes. Shynron kicks him away, but when he dives off, Jaka nails him with a headbutt in the chest, giving him the win at 11:45. I liked the story of the match a lot, as it got over Jaka’s strikes and Shynron’s resilience and agility. Their dichotomic styles gelled together seamlessly and the crowd dug it. I think it was important to make Jaka look strong now that he’s not in the Wrecking Crew’s shadow and under the tutelage of Jakob, and this match did just that. The wrestling trivia Quackenbush and Bryce discussed on commentary re: licenses, ring size, etc. was also really interesting. Two years ago they had a match in Wrestling is Fun in which I stated I would like a rematch in CHIKARA so they would have a bigger platform and a chance to do better: they did exactly that. **¾
Pinkie Sanchez vs. Syd Gilmour
Sanchez teases a double knuckle-lock, but instead catches Gilmour off guard with an enzuigiri. A spinwheel kick and vertical suplex into an elbow drop follow. Gilmour goes for a sunset flip. Sanchez fights it off and delivers a double stomp. Sanchez brings down Gilmour with a cradle into a DDT of sorts. Snake’s Revenge dazes Gilmour. Gilmour stops a corner attack by getting his boots up. Sanches crotches Gilmour, getting him in a tree of woe. Bootiez 4 Breakfast gets Sanchez the win at 2:49. Sanchez has been one of my favorites to watch in CHIKARA so far this season, and this glorified squash was another in his list of super fun contests. *
Flex Rumblecrunch says that the Devastation Corporation start fresh tonight. The other three teams in the elimination match tonight don’t stand a chance. They are going to unleash beatings onto everybody in the locker room starting now.
Dasher Hatfield & Heidi Lovelace vs. Los Ice Creams (El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream Jr.) vs. The Devastation Corporation (Blaster McMassive & Flex Rumblecrunch) vs. Hermit Crab & Rock Lobster
Max Smashmaster, with a crutch in hand, is in the Devastation Corporation’s corner. Hatfield and Crab trade control on the canvas. Crab grabs a nerve hold with his pincer. Hijo pinches Crab in the buttocks to save Hatfield. Hatfield slaps Crab on the buttocks before giving him a deep armdrag and sends him out with a double knuckle drag. Lobster pummels Hatfield to the ground with forearms to the back. Hatfield uses a neckmare to send Lobster into a penalty kick from Lovelace. Lobster chokes her on the bottom rope. The crustacean tandem take turns beating down Lovelace. The Dev Corp decide not to assist in their isolation tactic. The crustaceans pull out some impressive tandem offense during this period, but Hatfield saves her from a pin. Jr. clubs Crab on the shoulders. Lobster sends Crab outside and throws headbutts to Jr., leading him and Lobster to isolate Jr. from his partner. Jr. gets his feet up to block a diving headbutt from Lobster. Los Ice Creams double team Crab, putting him away with El Asesino in 7:43, eliminating the crustacean duumvirate. The Dev Corp jump in. Rumblecrunch kicks Jr. to the floor while McMassive roughs up Hijo. Hijo unfortunately finds himself bullied by the Dev Crop as his partner recovers. They decide to switch between beating down Los Ice Creams with some illegal assistance from Smashmaster as well. Hijo makes it so Rumblecrunch and McMassive collide into one another. He tags in Jr. who immediately is shut down by McMassive’s Bossman Slam for the pin and elimination of Los Ice Creams at 12:31. Hatfield unloads jabs to McMassive’s stomach. An underhand chop and dropkick put him down in the corner. Hatfield baseball slides in and looks for the Jackhammer. Rumblecrunch kicks out Hatfield’s leg and McMassive lands on him in a lateral press for two. The Dev Corp focus their attack on Hatfield’s knee which Rumblecrunch kicked out previously. Hatfield slides right underneath a big boot from McMassive, giving him the chance to tag in Lovelace. She gets in some shots on McMassive. She ducks Rumblecrunch’s boot and he hits McMassive. He stacks Rumblecrunch on top of McMassive in the corner with a Yoshi Tonic! Lovelace comes off the top with a crossbody onto Rumblecrunch outside the ring. McMassive attacks Hatfield on the apron. McMassive distracts the referee so that Smashmaster can crack Hatfield in the back with a crutch! Lovelace throws multiple kicks to Smashmaster from the apron. In the ring Lovelace tries a huracanrana on McMassive, then converting into a sunset flip for a very close nearfall. Lovelace finds herself up in a double powerbomb and gets pinned by Rumblecrunch at 19:25, eliminating her and Hatfield and giving the Dev Corp the win. I like that they’re giving Rumblecrunch more of the spotlight, as at times he’s felt like an afterthought in the Dev Corp. I also appreciate that Crab and Lobster had a moment to showcase themselves before taking care of the main story of the Dev Corp’s beef with the other two teams. From a story perspective this was orchestrated very well, and the Dev Corp look stronger than ever without entirely throwing away the cheater’s handbook. ***
The Estonian Thunderfrog says he and the “dirty black pig” may be destined to fight forever, but tonight, the God’s run through his blood, and he will end the Boar with his hammer.
Young Lions Cup
The Estonian Thunderfrog vs. The Proletariat Boar of Moldova
The Estonian Thunderfrog has been champion since 2.6.2016 and this is his first defense. As soon as Boar enters, Thunderfrog tackles him. Boar grabs a mount and lands some punches. Back on their feet he drives his shoulder into the Thunderfrog in the corner. Boar knees him in the stomach and rakes his eyes across the top rope. Thunderfrog gets in some forearm strikes but Boar takes him down with a big boot. Thunderfrog avoids a corner attack. He hits Boar with a flying forearm and a cannonball senton in the corner. Boar rolls out to avoid the Froggy Splash. Thunderfrog follows him with a double axe handle from the top turnbuckle. Boar comes back by sending Thunderfrog head first into a ring post. Boar then gives him a Gore! Thunderfrog makes it to the apron, but Gore from inside the ring boots him into the guardrails. In the ring Boar hits a yakuza kick. He sets up Thunderfrog on the middle rope and drives his knees into Thunderfrog’s chest, getting a two count with a crucifix pin. Thunderfrog leans against the ropes as Boar kicks him two more times in the head. Thunderfrog looks to fight but falls to his knees. Thunderfrog ducks another boot and schoolboys Boar for two. Boar gives him the Fame-Asser for two. He drops a leaping elbow after a suplex. When that gets a two count, he delivers another leaping elbow for two. He tries a third but Thunderfrog grabs a Kimura Lock. Boar drives Thunderfrog back first into the corner. He escapes, but the Boar misses a boot and Thunderfrog gives him a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Thunderfrog heads to the top. Boar brings him down with a belly-to-belly superplex. Both men trade blows on their knees as they come to. Boar digs his thumbs into Thunderfrog’s eyes. Thunderfrog is sent to the corner. He bandera’s to the apron and hits a forearm strike. He takes down Boar with a Thesz Press and delivers more forearm strikes. Thunderfrog looks for a slam. Boar reverses, setting up for a Stampede. Thunderfrog reverses back and finishes with a powerslam for two. Boar hits the Baconator for two. Boar sits Thunderfrog on the top turnbuckle. Thunderfrog fights him off and shoves him down. Thunderfrog looks for a double axe handle, but in mid-air Boar hits the Gore! Somehow the Thunderfrog finds the strength to kick out. Once again he puts Thunderfrog on the top turnbuckle. Thunderfrog drops Boar down in a modified Gourd Buster. He hits the Froggy Splash for the pin at 15:13. I figured this would be good, but this exceeded my expectations. Like the opening match, this was a good story that made both competitors look strong. the crowd really bought into the big nearfalls and they paid off Thunderfrog’s persistence with the Froggy Splash as the finishing move. It’s easily the best singles match either man has had in their relatively short careers. ***½
Kobald says the Batiri has been back on track since he returned. Oleg corrects him by saying that the Arcane Horde is back on track. Oleg knows Kobald doesn’t trust him, but he vows to not do wrong by him. Obariyon and Kodama vouch for Oleg. Kobald says they’re solid as a rock, and holds up a rock to symbolize this, but won’t allow Oleg to touch it.
Amasis, The Colony (Fire Ant & Worker Ant) & Officer Warren Barksdale vs. The Batiri (Obariyon, Kodama & Kobald) & Oleg the Usurper
UltraMantis Black is in The Batiri & Oleg’s corner. Kodama brings down Worker Ant in a side headlock. Worker Ant turns it into a headscissors which Kodama pops out of. A Lucha exchange leads to Kodama sending Worker Ant to the corner with a quesadora armdrag. He tries a tricep drag but Worker Ant Beele’s Kodama across the ring. Kodama sends Worker Ant out with a Frankensteiner from the mat and dropkicks him off the ring apron. Worker Ant gives Kodama a bicycle kick on the floor. Obariyon and Fire Ant pick up the pace. Obariyon takes Fire Ant over with his own Frankensteiner. A Lucha sequence leads to an alita from Fire Ant off the second ropes and a toreador into a fireman’s carry. He puts on an Octopus Stretch. Obariyon lands on his feet out of a headscissors and puts on his own Octopus Stretch variant. Obariyon catapults up into a sunset flip for two. Barksdale tags himself in and Oleg enters the ring. Oleg powers him to the corner. Barksdale switches around. He pats down Oleg and pulls a sword out of his back pocket! Barksdale sends him back to the apron as he reads him his rights. Kobald sneaks in a roll-up on Barksdale for two. He spears Barksdale in the corner twice before delivering some buttocks-based offense. Barksdale comes back with a spinebuster and monkey flip. Oleg tosses him out of the ring. Amasis stops a chokeslam with a forearm strike. Oleg looks for Off With His Head but Amasis quickly slips to the floor. Worker Ant and Oleg engage in a forearm strike battle. Oleg ends it with the Usurper Kick. He picks up more speed by running the ropes, which Barksdale gives him a speeding ticket for. Oleg eats the ticket in protest. As Barksdale is admonishing Oleg, Kobald attacks him from behind and hits a Michinoku Driver. A running elbow drop gets him two. He misses a spear in the corner. Barksdale strings a knee to the stomach and a leaping back elbow together. A big splash pin is broken up by Obariyon and Kodama. They clear the apron of Barksdale’s partners and double suplex him. They try a double suplex on Worker Ant, but Worker Ant reverses and suplexes them both at the same time. Obariyon knee strikes Worker Ant into a springback Ace Crusher from Kodama. Amasis fights them off, but falls to an atomic drop/knee strike combo. Fire Ant lands a high crossbody on them both. He spikes Obariyon with a tilt-a-whirl DDT. He enzuigiri’s Kodama and gives him a brainbuster. Kobald spears Fire Ant to cut off Fire Ant’s dive. Oleg hits Off With His Head on Fire Ant. Fire Ant rolls to the floor to avoid a pin. Amasis unloads quick strikes on Oleg but Oleg splashes him against the ropes. Amasis sends Oleg out with a 540 kick. Kobald takes a sole butt and Pele kick from Amasis. Amasis tope con hilo’s onto Obariyon, Kodama, and Oleg. Kobald avoids a corner attack from Barksdale, sending Barksdale crotch first into the middle rope. Kobald maneuvers up to the top rope and hits the Demon’s Toilet for the pin at 17:08. This was another in a long line of fun Atomicos matches. The action was good and people liked Barksdale’s cop shtick. It also kept the Batiri’s momentum going. As the rookie, Barksdale making an error and being pinned because of it is a nice, logical conclusion. Fun match. ***¼
Jakob Hammermeier says he has found his perfect minion in Jaka. His unkempt fingernails leave disease upon clawed flesh, his calloused feet will break skulls, and his skull is twice as hard as the streets of the Bronx. He says Eddie Kingston may be the baddest man in all the land, but he can only go toe-to-toe with Jaka. Jakob wants to know what Kingston will do when he leaves the mark of his knockout punch on his jaw. Jakob proclaims a new king will be crowned tonight.
Jakob Hammermeier comes out for his match with Eddie Kingston, accompanied by Jaka and Pinkie Sanchez. Before Kingston can get in the ring, Sanchez suicide dives onto him. Kingston fights off Sanchez with chops. Jaka sneaks in from behind. Sanchez stomps Kingston into a DDT from Jaka onto the floor. Jaka and Sanchez send him back into the ring. Referee Larry Peace checks to make sure Kingston is good to go before ringing the bell.
Eddie Kingston vs. Jakob Hammermeier
Hammermeier cracks Kingston with the Worldstar Punch and pins him in 0:09. Hammermeier and the rest of the BDK celebrate like this is a huge win. Hammermeier proclaims himself the new King on his way out.
Grand Championship
Princess Kimberlee vs. Soldier Ant
Princess Kimberlee has been champion since 12.5.2015 and this is her second defense. Kimberlee impressively muscles Soldier Ant to the corner. She tries to do it again, but Soldier Ant throws her to the canvas in a waistlock. She grabs a side headlock which Soldier Ant turns into a headscissors. Kimberlee grabs the ropes. She gives Soldier Ant a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. They fight for a wristlock with both of them utilizing armdrags during the process. Kimberlee gets a couple nearfalls, impressing the crowd and Soldier Ant. She digs her knee into Soldier Ant’s back while choking him with his own arm. Soldier Ant gets his way to the apron to break the hold. He slingshots in with a sunset flip. Kimberlee tries turning it into an Alligator Clutch but Soldier Ant crawls away to evade it. Soldier Ant ties up her legs and stretches her in a modified bow and arrow. Kimberlee escapes but he puts on the Cross Military Kneebar. Kimberlee grabs the ropes. He Judo throws her down for a one count. They go to the apron where Soldier Ant backdrops Kimberlee back into the ring for a two count. Kimberlee armdrags Soldier Ant to the floor and follows with a somersault senton off the apron. In the ring she puts on a full nelson with her legs while grabbing a double wristlock. Soldier Ant back bridges to push her shoulders to the mat. Kimberlee turns him over into a Gedo Clutch twice. Once again Soldier Ant leans back for a pin. Kimberlee grabs the ropes and releases the hold, but then reapplies it. Soldier Ant moves her legs to his waist and leans back again. Although Kimberlee kicks out, Soldier Ant right away puts on the Cross Military Kneebar. Kimberlee crawls her way to the ropes to escape. Back to the apron Soldier Ant goes, but this time Kimberlee suplexes him back into the ring for two. She outstretches Soldier Ant’s arms while digging her knee into his back. Soldier Ant gets to his feet and backs Kimberlee to the corner. He places her on the top turnbuckle, looking for a superplex. Kimberlee moves Soldier Ant around, switching positions, and pulls off her own avalanche superplex. Soldier Ant kicks out in the nick of time. Soldier Ant goes to the apron, and Kimberlee drags him in by his face. She goes for a crossbody. Soldier Ant catches her, but his back gives out, and she gets a two count with a lateral press. Wasting no time, Kimberlee again digs her knee into Soldier Ant’s back. Soldier Ant spins her out into a powerslam, then gives her a brainbuster for two. Once more he locks on the Cross Military Kneebar. Kimberlee again gets the ropes. They switch waistlock positions. Kimberlee eventually gets a German suplex for two. Kimberlee goes to the top rope. Soldier Ant follows. Kimberlee brings him down with a powerbomb and folds him up in the Alligator Clutch for the pin at 16:15. This was similar in structure to the YLC match where both competitors had focus and it paid off for one of them in the end. Another similarity were the believable nearfalls and submissions. Kimberlee working over Soldier Ant’s back made sense and I really liked the small touches Soldier Ant threw in, such as not being able to keep Kimberlee up when catching her crossbody. These two had great chemistry overall. While it was important for Kimberlee to have a clean/decisive finish in her second defense, it also was important for the match to be quality, and this match checked off both of those boxes. ***½
Encore Match
Rick Beanbag vs. Wani
Rick Beanbag is the former Scoot Tatum who is the former Chuck Taylor. Wani attacks Beanbag right at the bell with a knee strike to the back, sending Beanbag to the floor. Wani throws him face and back first into the apron. In the ring Wani forearms him in the corner and gets two with a vertical suplex. Wani gets another two count with a fallaway slam. Beanbag sends Wani to the apron and dropkicks him to the floor. He follows with a pescado. In the ring Beanbag misses a top rope maneuver. Although he lands on his feet, Wani takes him down with a running STO for two. Beanbag hits him with the Brodie Knee. Wani ducks a clothesline and German suplexes Beanbag for two. Wani goes for his running swinging neckbreaker. Beanbag evades it and trades forearms with Wani. Wani stops the exchange with a Sole Butt kick. Beanbag powerslams Wani. He misses a moonsault and lands on his feet. Wani gives him a superkick. He hits the ropes but Beanbag gives him a pop-up sit-out powerbomb for the pin at 3:11. For three minutes they packed in a lot of action and had a really fun exhibition. *½
Philadelphia, PA – 2.28.2016
Championship Rundown
Grand Champion: Princess Kimberlee
Campeones de Parejas: N_R_G (Race Jaxon & Hype Rockwell)
Young Lions Cup Champion: The Estonian Thunderfrog
Commentary is provided by Mike Quackenbush and Bryce Remsburg.
Silver Ant vs. Eddie Kingston
Kingston is still reeling from the BDK ambush yesterday. The opening lock-up goes for the floor, but both men decide to break clean. Silver Ant headbutts Kingston in the chest from a double knuckle-lock, leading to a chop battle between the two competitors. Silver Ant cranks on a standing front facelock and muscles him to the canvas. He looks for an Anaconda Vise but Kingston rolls to the ropes. Silver Ant puts on a standing Octopus Stretch before bringing him down in a seated Octopus. Kingston leans back and reaches the ropes. He locks on a Dragon Sleeper in the ropes before the count of five. He looks for a Guillotine choke but Kingston suplexes his way free. Kingston unloads with chops in the corner and delivers a neckbreaker. Silver Ant uses the ropes to get to his feet, but Kingston chops him in the neck until he falls back down. Kingston can’t hold the bridge from a Northern Lights suplex due to him being so worn down. However, he is able to throw some forearms to Silver Ant to back him to the ropes before dropping him with a DDT for two. Silver Ant comes back with a low/high kick combo from the mat. He lands a swinging DDT off the second rope. He puts on a short arm-scissor/triangle choke combo. Kingston gets to the bottom rope. Silver Ant gets two with an Angle Slam. Kingston ducks a lariat. He German suplexes Silver Ant and hits him with his own lariat for two. The Sliding D only gets a two count as well. Kingston and Silver Ant trade suplexes. Silver Ant lariats Kingston and both men are down. They trade some strikes back on their feet until Silver Ant pulls down Kingston into a triangle choke. Kingston’s arm drops 3 times and the match is awarded to Silver Ant at 10:17. It’s no surprise that these two had a hard hitting, fun match, and I like how much of a deal they made of the beatdown Kingston take from last night’s event. This gives Silver Ant a nice win while still giving Kingston an out. This was a good choice to open the show. ***
Announcer Vlad Radniov is talking to the crowd when Max Smashmaster makes his way out. Some fans chant “We don’t like you” at Max, so Max challenges any one of them to get in the ring. He asks the fans who amongst them likes Kimberlee and thinks she’s so strong. He then asks how strong she was when he had beat her down and made the little girl she gave her tiara cry. Max angrily yells that she is not immortal. He points to the Challenge of the Immortals banner hung for Crown & Court and says the banner is a death warrant for Kimberlee. Max ends by saying he is the executioner.
Ophidian tells Argus there is victory in defeat. He says the fighting spirit Argus showed against the Colony at “5 Senses” was a victory in itself. Argus is prepared to fight the United Nations. Ophidian tells him not to worry about the points, but rather to bring the fighting spirit he possesses. If he does, the points will come to them easily.
Ophidian & Argus vs. Juan Francisco de Coronado & Prakash Sabar
Coronado decks Argus with a right hand after backing Argus to the corner. Argus kicks Coronado to avoid a backdrop and hits him with a forearm and dropkick. Argus avoids an O’Connor roll and delivers a running kick to the chest. Ophidian and Sabar tag in. Sabar trips Ophidian and peppers him with slaps to the head. Ophidian responds in kind and gets two with a Gedo Clutch. Sabar and Ophidian avoid each others’ offense until Ophidian catches Sabar with a bicycle kick. Sabar catches Ophidian with a kick and drives the back of his head into the canvas. Ophidian stops Sabar’s charge with a running clothesline. He gives Sabar a Gourd Buster across the knees, then splashes his back. Ophidian lands a quebrada for two. Argus tags in. He rolls Sabar forward. Coronado blind tags in, but Argus drop toe holds Coronado face first into Sabar’s crotch. Argus and Ophidian deliver stereo punches in opposite corners. Argus hits a running knee strike on Coronado while Ophidian yakuza kicks Sabar. Argus seems to have tweaked his knee on the attack. As he recovers on the floor, Ophidian unloads multiple kicks to Sabar. Sabar begs off in the corner, giving Coronado the opening to throw Ophidian into Argus. Sabar feeds Argus to Coronado and takes out Ophidian so that they can isolate Argus and work over his leg. Argus is able to catch Coronado with an enzuigiri and Code Breaker and tags in Ophidian. Ophidian cracks him in the face with a spin kick and hits the Duat Driver. He hits a corkscrew enzuigiri before tossing Coronado to the floor. Ophidian chops up Sabar. He hits the ropes but Coronado grabs him. Sabar accidentally knocks Coronado off the apron. Ophidian swings out and headscissors Coronado on the floor. Back in the ring, Sabar gives Ophidian a pump-handle backbreaker for two. Ophidian comes back with another bicycle kick and drives his knees into Sabar’s shoulders. Coronado picks him up in a waistlock. Ophidian fights free, but Coronado and Sabar hit him with the spin cycle. Argus back suplexes Sabar and enzuigiri’s Coronado. Argus shows signs of pain from that. Coronado goes for the Coronado Clutch. Argus quickly grabs the ropes but Coronado drags him back to the middle of the ring. Argus rolls his way free but he collapses under his own weight when trying to hit the ropes. Coronado locks on the Clutch again while Sabar holds onto Ophidian. Argus taps out at 14:06. Ophidian is darn near flawless in the ring and has better body control than just about anyone. His offense is really inspired and unique. The story with Argus having a weak knee but showing fighting spirit was a nice way to convey the story they were telling. Coronado and Sabar have good chemistry as well, so when you put them in with a team like Ophidian & Argus, the results are positive. **¾
Mr. Touchdown says none of his apologies to Dasher Hatfield or the CHIKARMY have mattered. That makes him feel like crap, but he pledges to do great things even with nobody behind him. Tonight he is going to beat the current Young Lions Cup. He knows Thunderfrog will go on to do great things, but not before going through him. He ends by stating “may be the best man win.”
The Estonian Thunderfrog vs. “Mr. Touchdown” Mark Angelosetti
Thunderfrog kicks at Angelosetti’s legs while they circle one another. Angelosetti catches a kick, but Thunderfrog rolls him down to the mat. They trade waistlocks. Angelosetti hits a one-footed dropkick. In a suplex position, both men dump over the top rope and to the floor! Somehow they land on their feet and Thunderfrog pulls off a vertical suplex. In the ring Thunderfrog throws multiple kicks to Angelosetti’s mid-section. Angelosetti goes for a running spinebuster. Thunderfrog escapes and hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Off the top comes Thunderfrog. He rolls through when he notices Angelosetti moves. Angelosetti connects with a reverse swinging DDT for two. He splashes onto Thunderfrog twice. The third time Thunderfrog gets his knees up. Thunderfrog goes for the Estonian Stampede. Thunderfrog slips to the apron. He and Thunderfrog switch position until Thunderfrog pulls off the powerslam for two. Thunderfrog comes at Angelosetti against the ropes. This time Angelosetti’s running spinebuster pays off, but Thunderfrog is able to grab the ropes and avoid a pin. Angelosetti brings Thunderfrog to the top turnbuckle. Thunderfrog throws him down with a Gourd Buster and hits the Froggy Splash. He pins Angelosetti too late and Angelosetti is able to kick out. Thunderfrog looks for the Doctor Bomb. Angelosetti fights out and gives him the Over Bomb for two. He hits the Flea Flicker for two. Thunderfrog backs Angelosetti to the corner in a standing kimura. Angelosetti places himself on the top rope. Thunderfrog follows, but Angelosetti brings him down with a super spinebuster. Thunderfrog finds the wherewithal to kick out. Juan Francisco de Coronado comes out with a steel chair in hand. He wants to present it to Angelosetti, but Angelosetti tells him to get out of here. They get in a tug of war with the chair, and Thunderfrog is inadvertently hit with a chair! Referee Larry Peace disqualifies Angelosetti at 10:21. Coronado is pleased. The Angelosetti redemption story being halted by Coronado is definitely an interesting one. I hate to see what was a really good match get somewhat hampered by a ham-fisted finish, but knowing it’s going to lead to something helps. Thunderfrog has looked excellent so far this year and Angelosetti continues to excel. ***
Heidi Lovelace vs. Bugg Nevans
Bugg Nevans is the former Rick Beanbag who is the former Scoot Tatum who is the former Chuck Taylor. Lovelace and Nevans exchange submissions and holds to start. Lovelace gets a quick lateral press pin, escaping Nevans’ bow and arrow. She puts on a front facelock, converting into a sunset flip for two. She quesadora armdrags Nevans to the corner. She comes off the middle rope with a swinging Frankensteiner. She charged but Nevans cracks her with the Brodie Knee. He gives Lovelace a butterfly suplex for two. Nevans catches her with a powerslam for the same result. He sends Lovelace back first to the corner. He tries doing it again, but Lovelace drives Nevans face first into the middle rope with her knees. She clotheslines Nevans to the floor and follows with a crossbody. In the ring he tries going for a headscissors. Nevans looks for the Kentucky Crawdad, but then puts on a crossface, perhaps because the new Chuck Taylor trademarked his old submission. Lovelace grabs the bottom rope. He sets up for a Razor’s Edge. Lovelace instead gives him a Saito suplex and a Yoshi Tonic for two. Lovelace tries using the ropes for a tornado DDT. Nevans does the deal and counters into a Falcon Arrow for two. She comes back with Torbellino into a Rings of Saturn. Nevans makes his way to his feet and grabs the top rope. Lovelace spikes him with a crucifix driver for two. Nevans gives her a pop-up powerbomb for two. Nevans looks for Sole Food, but stops mid-move realizing it’s trademarked by the new Chuck Taylor. This stalling allows Lovelace to knee Nevans in the face. She spikes Nevans with a tornado DDT and hits the Heidi-Can-Rana for the pin at 10:06. This gives Heidi her fourth point. There wasn’t much more to this than what was on the surface, but considering this was a really good back-and-forth match, there’s nothing wrong with that. These two had surprisingly good chemistry and I liked all the old offense Nevans teased but couldn’t utilize. The story with him and Chuck Taylor™ should have a great pay off. ***
Flex Rumblecrunch says the Devastation Corporation is a family. They thought Oleg was family, but he never was. Blaster McMassive says Bakabella begged them to carry him around the globe. Rumblecrunch says they don’t forgive or forget. They’re going to take out Oleg and Princess Kimberlee and get their third point tonight.
Princess Kimberlee & Oleg the Usurper vs. The Devastation Corporation (Blaster McMassive & Flex Rumblecrunch)
Max Smashmaster with crutch in hand is in the Dev Corp’s corner. Kimberlee and Oleg bring out swords to keep the Dev Corp at bay, which Max mocks by offering his head as tribute. Referee Troy Nelson deals with the swords. Oleg and McMassive shove one another. Oleg sends him face first into the corner and rocks him with forearms and shoulder blocks. The referee separates them, leading to Rumblecrunch and Kimberlee to tag in. She maneuvers Rumblecrunch into a kick to the stomach. He responds with a knee to the stomach, then many knees to the stomach in the corner. He drops her stomach first on the top rope. He tries to vertical suplex her in from the apron. She escapes and kicks Rumblecrunch in the head. Oleg tags in and knocks McMassive off the apron before throwing Rumblecrunch face first multiple times into the turnbuckles. Oleg picks up speed off the ropes. McMassive cuts him off with a hard clothesline and stomps him multiple times in the chest. He shoves Kimberlee before the Dev Corp take turns beating on Oleg. During the beat down, a fan passes an onion to Oleg. A bite of the onion gives Oleg some energy. He squishes Rumblecrunch against the ropes with a splash. McMassive attacks him before he can tag out to Kimberlee. Oleg is able to escape from the continued beatdown when he cracks McMassive with a Usurper Kick. He clotheslines McMassive to the floor and Usurper kicks Rumblecrunch. Kimberlee unloads with chops and forearms on Rumblecrunch upon tagging in. She gives them to McMassive as well when he comes into the ring. She dropkicks the Dev Corp at the same time before delivering clotheslines in opposite corners. She German suplexes Rumblecrunch and gives McMassive a swift kick to the head. McMassive catches her with a Boss Man Slam. She ducks Lariat Tubman and Kimberlee German suplexes him. Rumblecrunch breaks the cover and tosses Kimberlee outside. Smashmaster holds her for McMassive to hit her. He misses and hits Smashmaster instead.Kimberlee backdrops McMassive on the floor. Rumblecrunch grabs Kimberlee by the hair, looking to pull her back into the ring. While he’s doing that, Oleg sneaks in and cracks Rumblecrunch with “Off With His Head!” That gets Oleg the pin at 11:08. This was a great continuation of the angle from January. Kimberlee and Oleg winning nullified the points the Dev Corp earned the night before, but the nature of the win can make the Dev Corp feel as if they only lost because they were caught off guard. The angle that came after this was even more excellent, but as a chapter in the feud, this was a good way to keep things going. ***
Smashmaster cracks Oleg with his crutch. Kimberlee jumps on his back, so Smashmaster throws her off and pummels her incessantly. Multiple referees come out to stop him but Smashmaster beats them up as well. Finally Mike Quackenbush comes out, fed up, and throws his cane at Smashmaster. Smashmaster takes him down and starts pummeling him! This causes a huge crew of Tecnicos to come to his aid. They literally pull Smashmaster out of the ring and toss him out of the building. Kimberlee and others then turn their attention to Quackenbush. The next day, Max Smashmaster was fired from CHIKARA.
Dasher Hatfield is happy he’s teaming with three of the men he admires most, especially those he know will play by the rules. Icarus channels the Ultimate Warrior and cuts a Survivor Series-esque promo while his other partners fire themselves up in the background. Maybe the best CHIKARA promo in years.
N_R_G (Race Jaxon & Hype Rockwell), Dasher Hatfield & Icarus vs. The BDK (Jakob Hammermeier & Jaka) & The Nightmare Warriors (Hallowicked & Frightmare)
Hatfield controls Hammermeier by his arms. Hammermeier ends his chain wrestling with a kick to the stomach. Hatfield comes back with various armdrags and a back body drop. Hallowicked throws Hatfield outside. Both members of N_R_G attack Hallowicked in the corner, finishing with an enzuigiri/dropkick combo. Rockwell Finlay Rolls Jaka into a top rope elbow smash by Jaxon. Icarus misses a running crossbody to Frightmare. Frightmare gives him a dropkick. He misses a yakuza kick but traps Icarus in the ropes and delivers multiple chops. Hammermeier yanks Icarus’ hair throwing him to the mat. The Nightmare Warriors try a double suplex but Icarus slips out and takes them both out with a double clothesline. The Tecnicos lock up their opponents in submissions. Jaka, the one Rudo not tied up, yanks Icarus off the ring apron, then attacks N_R_G and Hatfield to break it up. The Rudos decide to unleash a flurry of stomps to Hatfield in the corner and keep him away from his partners. Hatfield has multiple near escapes but the Rudos are wise enough to turn things back in their favor. Finally he’s able to fend off Frightmare and Hallowicked long enough to tag in Rockwell. He wipes out the opposing team and lands a cannonball senton on Hallowicked before powerslamming Frightmare. Rockwell is pulled outside by Hammermeier and Hallowicked. Jaxon and Icarus suicide dive onto Hammermeier and Hallowicked respectively. Jaka pescado’s onto Jaxon and Icarus. Hatfield clotheslines Hammermeier back to the floor, then tope con hilo’s onto everyone. Frightmare slingshots his way in from the apron with a swinging headscissors on Rockwell. He follows up with a yakuza kick in the corner. Rockwell is able to hold Frightmare up in a wheelbarrow position on the top ropes. Jaxon drills Frightmare with a DDT out of that position. Hallowicked throws Jaxon out and brings Rockwell down with a super snapmare. Jaka follows with a Superfly Splash. Hatfield breaks the cover. Hatfield backdrops Hallowicked to the floor. Jaka throws headbutts to Icarus. Icarus takes him down with a Shiranui. Hatfield gives Jaka a Jackhammer as Hallowicked drags Icarus outside. Hammermeier breaks Hatfield’s fall and gives him the Skullcrusher. Jaxon comes off the top with a dropkick to Hammermeier’s chest. Rockwell clotheslines Hallowicked. Jaxon superkicks Rockwell when Frightmare looks to counter Rockwell’s Hyperwheel. They even stop Jaka’s top rope attack and double flapjack Hammermeier. Hallowicked enzuigiri’s Rockwell in the back of his head and gives Jaxon a step-up enzuigiri. Icarus saves Jaxon from Never Wake Up. He goes for the Wings of Icarus. Hallowicked stops him and nails a yakuza kick for the pin at 17:25. This was the energetic, exciting match you would want to close the show. The teams gelled really well together both within themselves and against each other. I also enjoyed how both teams were really smart in pulling people out of the ring and countering moves before they happened. It made everyone look good and helped to get the crowd biting on nearfalls. This was a strong, fun main event. ***½
While Hallowicked and Frightmare are doing their post match seance, Hammermeier pulls out the Eye of Tyr! He uses it on Hallowicked. He then tells Hallowicked to kneel before his new king. It takes a moment, but Hallowicked obliges and takes to his knees.
Encore Match
Chuck Taylor™ vs. Jacob Hendricks
This is Taylor™’s debut match. He sings his “Dinner For You” song on his way to the ring. He sings a different variation of the song once he gets into the ring. Hendricks looks a lot like Syd Gilmour from yesterday’s event. Taylor™ uses knee strikes to drive Hendricks to the corner. Hendricks gives him some chops and a forearm. Taylor™ reverses a whip and brings down Hendricks with a hook clothesline. He hits the Moose Spear. He grabs Hendricks and calls for the new and improved Soul Food. He’s too short to make it work, so he kicks Hendricks to his knees before hitting it, getting the pin at 1:28. This new Chuck Taylor™ has loads of promise, and as of now, he’s and TAFKA Chuck Taylor are the two guys I most look forward to on each CHIKARA event. *
