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100 Percent Fordified: CHIKARA Top Banana
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Philadelphia, PA – 12.5.2015
Championship Rundown
Grand Champion: Hallowicked
Campeones de Parejas: N_R_G (Race Jaxon & Hype Rockwell)
Young Lions Cup Champion: Heidi Lovelace
Commentary is provided by Bryce Remsburg, Dr. Rod Diamondfire, Mike Quackenbush, and Leonard F. Chikarason.
Ophidian, Shynron & Argus vs. Battleborn (Snowflake, Lucas Calhoun & Missile Assault Man)
The Snow Troll is in Battleborn’s corner. Snowflake showboats a little before Argus takes him down with a waistlock. Calhoun karate chops Argus, then Shynron. Ophidian ducks a chop and hypnotizes Calhoun. He wants a battle of Snake Style vs. Calhoun’s karate. The battle ends with a palm strike from Ophidian to the chest. He ducks Calhoun’s roundhouse kick and lands an enzuigiri. He gives him a punch from a short period away, causing Calhoun to collapse when he takes a few steps. Snowflake breaks up Ophidian’s pin and demands Calhoun get out of the ring. Snowflake pummels on Ophidian. Ophidian slides out of a slam and Shynron flies in with a single leg dropkick off the top rope. He sweeps out Snowflake’s legs with the Leaning Tower of Shynron and slingshots in with a twisting senton. He and Ophidian send Snowflake and Calhoun to the floor with headscissors from the apron. Before they can dive, Missile cuts them off with dropkicks. He pummels Argus to avoid being taken down. Argus ducks a pump kick. Ophidian blind tags in and hits a pump kick of his own. Ophidian lands a quebrada and Shynron delivers a standing shooting star press for two. Snowflake and Calhoun clear the apron of their opponents. The Troll distracts Shynron long enough so that when he attempts a slingshot, Missile pump kicks him in mid-air. Battleborn stomp down Ophidian and Argus, then pitch Ophidian to the floor so they can isolate Argus in their corner. Missile’s PTSD kicks in when Snowflake yells to him that “he’s a man.” With him trying to recoup on the floor, and Argus able to low bridge the top rope to send Calhoun out, it leaves Snowflake alone for him to enzuigiri to the floor and follow with a suicide dive. Ophidian corkscrew plancha’s onto Calhoun and Shynron dives off the top turnbuckle onto Missile and the Troll. Snowflake begs off when Argus brings him back into the ring. Snowflake pleads with Argus saying it’s Kevin and offering a hug. Argus ignores Kevin’s plea, hooks Snowflake’s leg and slams him for the pin at 12:03. Snowflake winks at the camera as he rolls outside. This was a solid opener. The Battleborn got to look strong as a team while showcasing their individual personalities. It serves as a big win for Argus as he heads into Season 16 looking for further growth. Most of all, it made me interested in what’s to come of Snowflake/Kevin Condron in the future. **½
Silver Ant says when the Nightmare Warriors drafted him for the Challenge of the Immortals, they took him away from the Colony, the only family he had. The Nightmare Warriors tried to mold them into their weapon, their killing machine, but now that weapon is turned against him. Silver Ant says he will end the Nightmare Warriors tonight when he defeats Frightmare.
Silver Ant vs. Frightmare
An aggressive forearm exchange starts off the match. Silver Ant cuts off Frightmare with a hard enzuigiri, only to be thrown to the floor. Frightmare looks to dive but Silver Ant catches him mid-dive with an uppercut. Silver Ant then lands his own suicide dive. Silver Ant gets in some shots on the floor, only for Frightmare to send him into the guardrails and follow in with a yakuza kick. In the ring, Frightmare hits a top rope dropkick and gets a two count with a jackknife pin. Frightmare counters a vertical suplex with a small package for another two count. He chokes Silver Ant across the middle rope. He drives his feet into Silver Ant’s sternum. Silver Ant fires up from a slap, leading a slap battle. Frightmare grabs a front facelock and slams Silver Ant into a double legdrop for two. Frightmare cracks him in the head with a step-up enzuigiri. He tries another sternum stomp, but Silver Ant kicks him away and nails a lariat. He whips him into opposite corners and follows in with clotheslines. Frightmare evades a clothesline. However, Silver Ant comes off the second turnbuckle with a diving DDT for two. Frightmare ducks the low kick/high kick combo and spikes Silver Ant with a crucifix driver for two. Frightmare pulls on Silver Ant’s mask strings. The referee creates some distance, allowing Silver Ant to respond with a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Frightmare ducks the tiger feint kick in the corner. He fights Silver Ant from the second rope as Silver Ant stands on the apron. Silver Ant headbutts Frightmare back to the canvas and comes off the top with a Mad Splash. Frightmare kicks out, so Silver Ant grabs an ankle lock. Frightmare enzuigiri’s his way free. The Here It Is Driver only earns a two count. Frightmare and Silver Ant get in a strike exchange. Frightmare tosses Silver Ant into Go 2 Sleepy Hollow. He misses Kneecolepsy. Silver Ant re-applies the ankle lock with a high angle. Frightmare rolls under and traps Silver Ant into a prawn hold for the pin at 9:44! With the truncated time and semi-abrupt finish, it felt like we got somewhat of an incomplete match. That said, I did like the match they put together, as it felt like a genuine battle in which both competitors had something to prove. I am surprised to see Frightmare get the win, but I think that means Silver Ant’s history with the Nightmare Warriors may not be over yet. I’m fine with a rematch, or some iteration of one. ***
The Batiri (Obariyon, Kodama & Kobald) vs. The Gentleman’s Club (Chuck Taylor, Orange Cassidy & Drew Gulak)
UltraMantis Black is in the Batiri’s corner while the Swamp Monster is in the Gentleman’s Club’s corner. The Club attack the Batiri before the bell. All of them attack Kobald in the corner, including the Swamp Monster. Cassidy lazily fights off Obariyon and Kodama. They give him double chops before an atomic drop/dropkick combo. Gulak shotgun dropkicks Kodama and slams Obariyon onto the ropes. Kobald avoids a slam and gives Gulak a chinbreaker before spearing him into the corner. He drives his posterior into Gulak’s face twice for a two count. He tries another pin after a leaping elbow drop, only for Cassidy to break it up. Cassidy walks the ropes with Kobald’s arm, coming down with Old School. Taylor gives him a uranage. Cassidy falls off the top into a splash for two. Obariyon and Kodama clear Cassidy out of the ring. Taylor avoids a corner attack from Kodama, then belly-to-belly suplexes Obariyon into him. Kobald gives Taylor a bridging belly-to-back suplex for two. Cassidy grabs the Kona Krush. This leads to a chain of submissions from all six competitors, in addition to Swamp Monster who put Taylor in a wristlock and Mantis who grabs Monster’s arm to add leverage. The chain breaks when Bryce admonishes and re-positions Mantis. Taylor gives Kodama Sole Food and pulls out a grande. Kodama stops him from using it. However, Taylor shoves it down his tights and gives him an atomic drop for an explosion that leaves everyone laying! Taylor tope con hilo’s onto the Batiri and his own partners on the floor! Taylor thinks better of striking Mantis, and opts to bring Kobald back in the ring. He misses a moonsault. Obariyon nails the Flying DDT. Taylor rolls out. Gulak is pummeled by Obariyon and Kodama. He fights them off only to succumb to the Skull Bronzing. Cassidy spits orange juice in their faces and gives them a double chokeslam. Kobald spears him for the pin at 7:59. This was so much fun. Both of these teams have fantastic chemistry and loads of charisma. This was a true joy to watch; I loved it. ***
Director of Fun Mike Quackenbush comes to the ring. He shares with us the first edition of the 2015 CHIKARA Yearbook. The lights then go out. When they turn back on Archibald Peck is standing in the ring! Both he and Mike Quackenbush stand there in disbelief. Archie grabs the yearbook, knocks Quackenbush down, then reads the book. Slowly his looks of happiness and intrigue turn to dread, and he quickly leaves the ring in a panic telling everybody not to touch him. This moment was foretold by Archie way back in 2011.
“Mr. Touchdown” Mark Angelosetti admits to cheating for the majority of his life, including the Challenge of the Immortals. He also admits that is no way to do business. Angelosetti apologizes to Hatfield for living a lie. He knows Hatfield’s a good person that people look up to, but Mark can’t be that person. He hope that nothing he has done ruins Hatfield’s image. Tonight he’s in the Cibernetico, and after putting on the grease under his eyes, he says its game time.
Torneo Cibernetico
Dasher Hatfield, Race Jaxon, Hype Rockwell, Amasis, Oleg the Usurper, Worker Ant, The Estonian Farmerfrog & Heidi Lovelace vs. Juan Francisco de Coronado, Mr. Azerbaijan, The Proletariat Boar of Moldova, Wani, Prakash Sabar, Pinkie Sanchez, Jakob Hammermeier & “Mr. Touchdown” Mark Angelosetti
Because of the nature of this match, there will be no play by play. I’ll list the eliminations (in order) and other interesting/important notes of the match.
The Rules
Lucha tags are in effect, meaning in addition to physically contacting a wrestler, leaving the ring counts as a legal tag. Each team has a batting order that must be followed. That means that the wrestler in the ring must tag out to the next man in the batting order. Only the next wrestler in the batting order is up on the apron while the remaining teammates on each team wait on the floor. If the batting order is broken, the team can be disqualified. The order in which the participants are listed above is the batting order for both teams. The match is under elimination rules by pinfall, submission, disqualification or count out. There can only be one winner, so if more than one man on a team survives when all members of another team have been eliminated those teammates must wrestle each other to determine the winner.
Eliminations
– Mr. Azerbaijan is eliminated in 0:25 when he charges at Hatfield and is caught with a small package. This came after Coronado and Hatfield didn’t touch when they squared off to start the match.
– Prakash Sabar is eliminated in 22:11 by a superkick from Jaxon and a spinning Hyperwheel from Rockwell.
– Hype Rockwell is eliminated in 22:26 by Snake’s Revenge (a guillotine DDT) from Pinkie Sanchez. Sanchez and Nøkken of the BDK currently have three points, so this could be teasing a future cash in on N_R_G.
– Amasis is eliminated in 23:35 with a top rope dropkick into a double stomp from Sanchez.
– Worker Ant is eliminated in 25:29 with a haymaker from Jakob Hammermeier. Worker Ant had his leg worked over before hand, which Soldier Ant specifically hurt back at “Colony Collapse.”
– The Estonian Farmerfrog is eliminated in 26:28 with a schoolboy from Hammermeier. Pinkie Sanchez distracted the Farmerfrog when he went to the middle rope, allowing Hammermeier to bring him down and hold his overalls for the pin.
– Jakob Hammermeier is eliminated in 27:12 with an O’Connor Roll from Heidi Lovelace. Jakob had Heidi pinned, but referee Derek Sabato caught him and refused to count. That’s interesting to note given Sabato’s past affiliation with the BDK.
– The Proletariat Boar of Moldova is eliminated in 29:36 with a Jackhammer from Hatfield.
– Race Jaxon is eliminated by Wani in 30:10 with a rolling Ace Crusher, very similar to Shynron’s Dragon Twist.
– Wani is eliminated in 31:19 with Off With His Head from Oleg the Usurper.
– Oleg the Usurper is eliminated in 33:34 with a pop-up spinebuster from Mark Angelosetti.
– Heidi Lovelace is eliminated in 34:21 with a Tiger Driver from Juan Francisco de Coronado. Hatfield was a split second too late from saving her.
– Pinkie Sanchez is eliminated in 36:16 with a Jackhammer from Dasher Hatfield. This was after Hatfield withstood a beautiful, picture perfect moonsault double stomp from Sanchez.
– Dasher Hatfield is counted out in 40:13. Angelosetti wanted to help Hatfield back in the ring, but Coronado knocked them together. Hatfield was unable to make it back into the ring by the count of 20.
– Juan Francisco de Coronado wins the 2015 Torneo Cibernetico, last eliminating Mark Angelosetti in 40:19 with a bridging German suplex.
Additional Notes
– Dasher Hatfield had referee Derek Sabato inspect his elbow pad before the match to prove it was not loaded.
– This was Wani’s debut match. Wani means “dragon” or “sea monster” in Japanese mythology. Although his attire does have some scales on it, his look and arsenal is very reminiscent of the Great Muta.
– Angelosetti was always hesitant to get in the ring with Hatfield or Lovelace. While he never did wrestle Hatfield, he acquiesced to Heidi’s angry demand to wrestle when Coronado told Angelosetti that she was a better Young Lions Cup champion than she ever was.
As a Cibernetico this was fairly average, with not much investment from the crowd aside from the Dasher’s Dugout interactions and Oleg. The action itself was good too but very little stood out as anything remarkable, with the exceptions of Farmerfrog slamming Sabar onto everybody on the floor, Sanchez’s moonsault double stomp onto Hatfield, and a great exchange between Hatfield and Coronado in the final minutes. Like the 2007 Cibernetico, it accomplished the goals it needed to but wasn’t a highlight of the year like this match usually is. It is much more interesting when these matches are culminations of rivalries instead of a placeholder match for the rest of the roster to get on the show. ***
Jakob Hammermeier rants and raves about Derek Sabato costing him the Cibernetico. However, he will have a consolation prize when Soldier Ant defeats Fire Ant. Jakob tells Soldier Ant he will put down Fire Ant once and for all.
Fire Ant vs. Soldier Ant
Jakob Hammermeier is in Soldier Ant’s corner while Silver Ant is in Fire Ant’s corner. Derek Sabato is also the referee for this match. Fire Ant salutes Soldier Ant to try and trigger memories. He does not want to lock-up with his former partner. Soldier Ant pounds on his back and stomps him in the corner, but Fire Ant simply covers up and shoves him away until going for a sunset flip. He avoids the Trench Slam and backslides Soldier Ant for two. Hammermeier grabs Fire Ant’s ankle so that Soldier Ant can blast him with a Koppu Kick. Silver Ant confronts Hammermeier. Soldier Ant suicide dives onto Silver Ant. He looks for a Trench Slam, but Fire Ant stops him with his own suicide dive. Fire and Soldier Ant exchange blows in the crowd. Hammermeier follows, barking orders at Soldier Ant. He slams Fire Ant on the floor. Fire Ant sends Soldier Ant into a cinder block barrier and follows in with a pump kick. Soldier Ant press slams Fire Ant face first into some scaffolding. In another part of the building, Fire Ant reverses Soldier Ant’s whip and sends Soldier Ant face first into a beam. Fire Ant ascends the beam and lands a tumbleweed senton onto Soldier Ant, Hammermeier, and a gaggle of event staff. The two ants fight to the ring apron. Fire Ant tosses Soldier Ant back into the ring. Fire Ant lands a high crossbody. Soldier Ant absorbs his running forearm strikes. He spikes Soldier Ant with a brainbuster. Soldier Ant absorbs two Yahtzee Kicks. He blocks the third by picking up Fire Ant presumably for the Trench Slam. He powerslams Fire Ant, then gives him a 2k1 Bomb right after. The Trench Slam connects, but Soldier Ant won’t pin him. He rips off one of Fire Ant’s antennae, just like Soldier Ant had his ripped off back in 2012. The fans chant to Soldier Ant to “please remember.” Soldier Ant grabs his head in anguish. He wants the Trench Slam, but Fire Ant turns it into a prawn hold for two. The two ants trade strikes. Fire Ant gets the Beach Break but only for a one count. Another Beach Break has the same result. He tries for a third. Soldier Ant counters with two consecutive powerbombs and a TKO. Fire Ant responds with the Burning Hammer, leaving both ants laying. Fire Ant pins Soldier Ant, but Hammermeier places Soldier Ant’s foot on the bottom rope to stop the pin. Soldier Ant cuts off Fire Ant’s oxygen with a choke sleeper. Fire Ant stumbles to the ropes. Hammermeier yells at Sabato from the apron, going as far as to grab him by his shirt! Hammermeier gets in the ring and shoves him. Sabato shoves him back. He goes to give him a haymaker, but hits Soldier Ant instead! That punch seemed to set Soldier Ant straight, as for the first time in years, he salutes Fire Ant! Sabato tosses Hammermeier to the floor when he charges at Soldier Ant! Silver Ant slides into the ring. Soldier Ant salutes him as well and the two ants embrace. Silver Ant returns the salute. Worker Ant hobbles down the aisle. Soldier Ant salutes him as well. Worker Ant puts down his arm and presents Soldier Ant with the 2011 King of Trios medallion, putting it around his neck. He then salutes Soldier Ant. Soldier Ant and Fire Ant feel the spots on each other’s masks where their antennae is missing, then embrace. Sabato raises their hands at 20:46, making this match officially a No Contest. All four ants raise one another’s arms, and for the first time since June 2012, the Colony is one happy family. At the end of the day, that’s what everybody wanted, and that’s what everybody got. Their reunion was genuinely touching, and I like the idea that now with Fire Ant and Soldier Ant’s antennae ripped off, they have to come together to be whole again. Everything from the Hammermeier punch, to Sabato (the one who cost the Colony the King of Trios in 2010) being the one to stop the reunion from being spoiled, was perfect. This is one of those moments that will be fondly remembered as one of the best in the company’s history. ***½
Princess Kimberlee remembers that when she chose her team for the Challenge of the Immortals, everybody told her and her team to stand aside and let the real teams fight it out. Even with so many naysayers, she never gave up hope and believed in Jervis and Los Ice Creams. Now look at them: they went from not being able to earn a single point to winning every single match since late August and making to the finals. She is confident her team will defeat the Wrecking Crew and become immortal.
Challenge of the Immortals Finals
Crown & Court (Princess Kimberlee, Jervis Cottonbelly & Los Ice Creams (El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream Jr.)) vs. The Wrecking Crew (The Devastation Corporation (Max Smashmaster, Blaster McMassive & Flex Rumblecrunch) & Jaka))
Kimberlee’s team represents Crown & Court while Smashmaster’s team represents the Wrecking Crew. Each member of the winning team receives a golden opportunity, which is an automatic title shot (title of their choosing), regardless of point standing, whenever they wish. Max Smashmaster is sporting an Ed Grimley hairstyle. Jaka slowly pulls off his head scarf before jabbing Jr. in the throat and stomping him down in the corner. Jr. stops Jaka’s charge with a couple back elbows. Jaka absorbs an enzuigiri and mows him down with a clothesline. Cottonbelly ducks McMassive’s strike and gives him a rock-a-bye suplex. McMassive lariats him to the floor. Rumblecrunch knees Hijo in the stomach and pummels on his back. Hijo ducks a clotheslines and pinches Rumblecrunch’s posterior. He then hits the clothesline. McMassive clears the apron of Los Ice Creams and Cottonbelly, then blows a kiss to Kimberlee before landing a tope con hilo onto all of her partners! The two captains, Max Smashmaster and Princess Kimberlee stand across from one another. He spits in her face, resulting in a flurry of forearms. She grabs a waistlock whih Smashmaster elbows his way out of. Los Ice Creams try assisting Kimberlee with a Frankensteiner, but Smashmaster powerbombs her back first into the metal part of the top turnbuckle! Smashmaster lands a top rope moonsault, but Los Ice Creams save her from being pinned. Jaka attacks Cottonbelly on the floor. McMassive spins out Hijo into a powerbomb. This leads to the Wrecking Crew bullying Hijo in their corner while the rest of Crown & Court recovers. McMassive misses a kick on the ropes, crotching himself. He smartly clears the apron, then turns around into a Cold Stone Stunner from Hijo! Jaka whips Hijo to the corner. Rumblecrunch misses a splash. Jaka splashes into Rumblecrunch. Hijo uses a flying hip attack to take down McMassive and then tags in Kimberlee! She German suplexes all four members of the Wrecking Crew. All of the Crown & Court deliver ten punches in all four corners. They then send all of the Wrecking Crew into one another. The Dev Corp is sent to the floor. Jaka fights off the Crown & Court, dropping Jr. with the Jumanji Bomb for two. McMassive tosses Kimberlee to the floor by her hair. This angers Cottonbelly who unloads with forearms onto McMassive. McMassive drops him with the Bossman Slam. Cottonbelly kicks out! Kimberlee pounds on McMassive. Smashmaster throws her out. He jabs Hijo in the throat and calls for the Master Blaster. Hijo flips over Smashmaster’s shoulders and shoves him into the ropes. McMassive tumbles to the floor onto Jaka, Rumblecrunch, Jr., and Cottonbelly! Hijo schoolboys Smashmaster for two. Hijo uses Smashmaster’s to walk the top rope and clear the floor with a somersault senton. Hijo comes back in, only for Smashmaster to catch him with a tombstone piledriver. Hijo kicks out and rolls to the floor. Kimberlee dishes out strikes to McMassive and Smashmaster. She ducks Jaka’s T’Challa kick. Rumblecrunch misses a strike and hits Jaka! Jaka falls into Smashmaster and they fall to the floor. She backdrops McMassive onto Rumblecrunch! She ascends the ropes. McMassive follows and wants a super belly-to-belly suplex on Kimberlee. Kimberlee powerbombs McMassive back to the mat and folds him up in the Alligator Clutch for the pin 15:52! This was a work of art, with all the pieces from the season falling into place. The Wrecking Crew were vicious (that powerbomb Kimberlee took was brutal and could have ended poorly), used all the same tricks that kept Crown & Court down in the past, but the tenacity and heart from Crown & Court allowed them to persevere. The crowd was hot for everything. We saw cracks in the Wrecking Crew, no doubt stemming from the lack of Bakabella’s guidance. Kimberlee’s impenetrable Alligator Clutch, which was built up all season long, is what gave the underdogs the win. You couldn’t ask for a better blow off to a 90 match tournament. ****
Oddly, Jakob Hammermeier is seen standing by the aisleway, and as the Wrecking Crew head backstage, he grabs Jaka’s arm, seemingly interested in talking business with him.
The three participants for the Grand Championship match are individually wished luck by Mike Quackenbush backstage. Icarus has the Hammer of Peace with him. He slightly picks it up and puts it aside before heading to the ring. Kingston shakes Quackenbush’s hand and has a small chuckle at his “may the best man win” comment. Hallowicked completely ignores Quackenbush altogether.
Grand Championship
Hallowicked vs. Icarus vs. Eddie Kingston
Hallowicked has been champion since 4.6.2015 and this is his sixth defense. Icarus puts his finger in Kingston’s face. Kingston bites the finger and pummels Icarus. Icarus strikes back. Kingston catches him with a belly-to-belly suplex. Hallowicked breaks up the pin. He and Kingston trade waistlocks. Icarus wheelbarrows into a waistlock from Hallowicked. Kingston German suplexes both of them simultaneously for a two count on Hallowicked. He also gets two with a fisherman’s suplex. Hallowicked blocks the Backfist to the Future and sends Kingston to the corner. Kingston blocks Icarus’ monkey flip by putting him on the top turnbuckle. Icarus gives Kingston a swinging Frankensteiner, then dropkicks Hallowicked in the corner. Kingston belly-to-belly suplexes both men and pins Hallowicked for two. Kingston grabs a front facelock on Icarus. Icarus chops his way free. Kingston does the deal with a Falcon Arrow, but Hallowicked breaks the pin attempts. He slams Kingston, then drops Icarus with the Night Falls onto Kingston. Icarus forearm strikes with Hallowicked. Hallowicked escapes the Shiranui, but he hip tosses Hallowicked onto Kingston. He then shotgun dropkicks Hallowicked falling into a senton onto Kingston for two.Icarus throws a series of kicks to Kingston’s back and chest, with the final kick hitting the face. Kingston seems dazed but is able to kick out of Icarus’ pin. Icarus throws some kicks against the ropes. Kingston uses headbutts to fight back. Icarus drop toe holds him into the middle rope and kicks the rope into his throat. Kingston throws him out of a release vertical suplex. Again Hallowicked breaks the pin. He takes Kingston off the top turnbuckle with a super snapmare for two. He and Icarus double suplex Kingston. Hallowicked throws Icarus to the floor and pins Kingston for one. Hallowicked digs his thumbs into Kingston’s eyes. Hallowicked sentons onto Kingston. He tries the step-up Frankensteiner. Kingston blocks it and hits a sitout powerbomb. Icarus stops the pin in the nick of time. After some posturing, Kingston gives Icarus a reverse DDT while giving Hallowicked a Complete Shot at the same time. A series of offense leaves all three men lying. As all three get to their feet, chops, headbutts, and forearms are thrown. Kingston side steps Hallowicked coming off the ropes and sends him outside with an enzuigiri. Kingston backdrops Icarus out with him, then lands a tope suicida onto both men. Back inside, Kingston gets two on Hallowicked with a uranage suplex. A shotgun lariat gets two as well. Hallowicked ducks the Backfist to the Future. Kingston fights off Never Wake Up, headbutting and chopping Hallowicked in the corner. He places Hallowicked on the top turnbuckle. It backfires, as Hallowicked brings down Kingston with a super Rydeen Bomb. Icarus comes in from the floor, breaking the cover. Icarus ducks a step-up enzuigiri. Hallowicked fights off a belly-to-back superplex. Kingston sends Icarus into Hallowicked, leaving Hallowicked in a tree of woe position. With Hallowicked stuck, Icarus drops Kingston with the Wings of Icarus for two. Icarus nails Kingston with a Backfist. It has no effect, as Kingston German suplexes Icarus. Hallowicked, who has now maneuvered himself to the top turnbuckle, comes off the top with a double stomp to Kingston. Icarus stops Go 2 Sleepy Hollow. He tries for a Shiranui. Kingston intercepts, dropping Icarus with an Emerald Flowsion. Hallowicked scores with Go 2 Sleepy Hollow onto Kingston. He yakuza kicks Kingston, then Icarus, pinning Icarus for two. Hallowicked looks for his super fisherman’s buster on Icarus. Icarus sends him down. He tries a top rope dropkick. Hallowicked avoids it. Icarus stops a yakuza kick and gives Hallowicked the Blu-Ray. Kingston pulls Bryce Remsburg out of the ring to stop the count. In the ring, Icarus gives Kingston the Blu-Ray for two. Icarus goes for a second. Hallowicked shoves Kingston away and drops Icarus with Never Wake Up! Kingston breaks the cover. Kingston ducks Hallowicked’s yakuza kick and hits a Saito suplex. The Sliding D only earns a two count. Hallowicked yakuza kicks Kingston. Kingston rolls with the blow into the Backfist to the Future, falling on top of Hallowicked. Still, Hallowicked kicks out. Hallowicked catches Kingston with Never Wake Up for the pin at 22:05. This was very solid, but shockingly heatless given the competitors are people the crowd is very fond of. I was expecting some ingenuity, but sadly it was more along the lines of a prototypical triple threat match. There’s no denying that all three guys worked hard and it would have been tough to meet the high expectations people had for this. Not to mention how tough following the emotional roller coaster of the Colony reunion and COTI finals must be. Even taking all that into consideration, I was a little disappointed by what this match offered. ***¼
Suddenly, Princess Kimberlee enters the ring with her three points. She hands them to Bryce and cashes in for a title shot!
Grand Championship
Hallowicked vs. Princess Kimberlee
Kimberlee chops the heck out of Hallowicked. He reverses a whip, but she ducks a clothesline and kicks Hallowicked in the side of the head for a two count. Hallowicked kicks him again. Frightmare runs out but Jervis Cottonbelly cuts him off! Hallowicked goes for Never Wake Up. Kimberlee escapes and German suplexes Hallowicked for two. Blind Rage tries to run in but Los Ice Creams stop him! Hallowicked hits Go 2 Sleepy Hollow for two. The Rydeen Bomb and the Graveyard Smash also only get two counts. Kimberlee maneuvers Hallowicked into the CHIKARA Special. Hallowicked taps out at 2:56! Princess Kimberlee is the NEW CHIKARA Grand Champion! The crowd appropriately loses their mind for such a shocking victory and huge moment both in CHIKARA and professional wrestling. They did such a good job building Kimberlee all year long and this win is well deserved. This win got a lot of buzz, so I am very interested in seeing how CHIKARA capitalizes on it. **½
Backstage, we see The Estonian Farmerfrog watching Princess Kimberlee from the back. He’s happy for her, saying today she becomes a queen. He then notices the Hammer of Peace Icarus left behind. He puts his hand on it, then suddenly, thunder appears. We see a glimpse of his arm which now adorns thunder gauntlets, but the camera fades before we can see him in all of his glory.
