wrestling / Video Reviews
Ford’s CHIKARA Hide and Johnny Kidd Invitational 2017 Reviews
Loading...Philadelphia, PA – 6.10.2017
Championship Rundown
Grand Champion: Juan Francisco de Coronado
Campeones de Parejas: Sonny Defarge & Cornelius Crummels
Young Lions Cup Champion: Sylverhawk
Commentary is provided by Mike Quackenbush.
Michinoku Pro’s Kenbai cuts a promo in Japanese. Tonight is his CHIKARA debut.
Kenbai vs. Kobald
Kobald is wearing an Oleg the Usurper shirt and eating a red onion. A series of hold switches leads to an armdrag and dropkick from Kenbai. Kobald does damage to Kenbai’s nose before giving him a pair of spears in the corner. Two modified hip attacks get Kobald a nearfall. Kobald also gets a nearfall with a bridging belly-to-back suplex, and another with a facebuster. Kobald converts from a Camel Clutch into a Gedo Clutch. Kenbai kicks out. Kenbai resists being Irish whipped across the ring. He ducks Kobald’s strikes with lightning speed before sending Kobald into the front row with a headscissors. Kenbai follows with a tope con hilo. Back in the ring, Kenbai blasts Kobald with a missile dropkick for two. Kobald ducks a discuss forearm and pokes Kenbai in the eyes. With a claw he drives Kenbai back of the head first into the canvas. Kobald lands a second rope splash for two. Kenbai evades the Demon’s Toilet and hooks Kobald into a Magistral cradle for two. Kenbai nails the discuss forearm for another two. A top rope double stomp gets Kenbai the pin at 7:35. Kobald looked really good in this match, smartly going for a number of pins in a variety of ways and moving effortlessly from one offensive maneuver to the next. I feel like we only saw a portion of what Kenbai is capable of, but what we did see was impressive and a lot of fun. Hopefully we’ll see him back sooner than later. **½
Cajun Crawdad says the Throwbacks have accomplished so much in CHIKARA. However, Hermit Crab defeated Dasher Hatfield at “The Empty Child”, and both he and Crawdad defeated him again in the Infinite Gauntlet. Tonight will be the night people will remember as the night where they defeated The Throwbacks.
The Throwbacks (Dasher Hatfield & Mark Angelosetti) vs. Hermit Crab & Cajun Crawdad
Hatfield underhand chops Crab twice before knocking him down with four successive running forearms. Crab ducks the fifth but is taken down with a back body drop. Hatfield catches Crawdad coming in and puts him in the Romero Special. Angelosetti bulldogs Crawdad out of that position from the second rope for two. Angelosetti is too strong for Crawdad to back drop out of his headlock. Crawdad digs his pincer into Angelosetti’s shoulder, but Angelosetti still shoulder blocks him down. Crawdad blocks a splash with double knees. Crab pulls Angelosetti into a short-arm clothesline out of a nerve pinch. Angelosetti chops Crab a few times before tagging in Hatfield. The Throwbacks double hip toss Crab into stereo falling headbutts. Hatfield crucifix pins Crab for two. He catches Crab with a punch to the stomach before attempting the Cyclone neckbreaker. Crab sneaks out and gives Hatfield a brainbuster onto the knee. Crawdad Gator rolls Hatfield as Crab knocks Angelosetti off the ring apron. Crab sets up for the Naniwa elbow but Hatfield rolls to the floor before he can attempt it. Crab hooks Angelosetti as he enters the ring. The crustaceans try a double suplex, but Angelosetti swings out and tackles both of them into the corner. Crawdad sends him to the apron. Crab grabs his clavicle. Hatfield clothesline Crab outside and Angelosetti lands a twisting moonsault off the second turnbuckle to the floor! Hatfield tries a running Liger Bomb on Crawdad. Crawdad slips out and sunset flips Hatfield for the flash pin at 5:19. The story here is that Hatfield has been bested by the crustaceans three times, and this makes the second occasion where Angelosetti couldn’t save him. The Throwbacks relationship could be in trouble, but they still are a force to be reckoned with. They’re a great team to help the Crab and Crawdad grow, and I enjoyed what I saw from the crustaceans in this contest. **½
All three members of Xyberhawx 2000 are standing by. Sylverhawk says being the Young Lions Cup champion means he is the flyest rookie in CHIKARA. He knows Cornelius Crummels is a skilled competitor and always has something up his sleeve, but he will use all the flyness he has in his body to make sure he retains the Cup.
Young Lions Cup
Sylverhawk vs. Cornelius Crummels
Sylverhawk has been champion since 6.4.2017 and this is his first defense. He blasts Crummels with a bicycle kick as soon as the bell rings. Some Lucha rolls lead to Sylverhawk taking down Crummels with a toreador and dropkick. He overhand chops Crummels before snapmaring him into an elbow drop. Sylverhawk puts on a surfboard stretch, releasing on his own volition. Crummels shoves Sylverhawk to the floor. Sylverhawk re-enters the ring as Crummels exits. Crummels cuts off Sylverhawk’s dive with a forearm strike, then gives him a neckbreaker onto the frame of the ring. Crummels rubs his hands into Sylverhawk’s face before doing damage to his back inside in the ring. Sylverhawk resists an Anaconda Vise attempt. Crummels sneezes in Sylverhawk’s face after placing him onto top turnbuckle. When he gets his balance, Crummels brings down Sylverhawk with a Frankensteiner for two. He also gets two with a suplex. Crummels avoids a suplex. He sneezes in Sylverhawk’s face again before delivering a DDT. Sylverhawk again resists the Anaconda Vise. He strings together a triumvirate of kicks, sending Crummels to the corner. Sylverhawk hits a pair of Stinger splashes. On the third attempt, Crummels sends Sylverhawk face first into the second turnbuckle with a Complete Shot. He locks on the Anaconda Vise but Sylverhawk is close enough to the ropes to break it. Sylverhawk blasts Crummels with a superkick to send him outside. Sylverhawk follows with a pair of suicide dives. He misses a top rope dropkick, allowing Crummels to get the Anaconda Vise re-applied. Sylverhawk counters into a crossface chickenwing. Crummels rolls from mid-ring to the ropes to break. Despite getting sneezed onto, Sylverhawk is able to deliver a 2k1 Bomb. Crummels halts Sylverhawk on the top turnbuckle with a single leg dropkick. Sylverhawk counters the Frankensteiner this time with a super powerbomb. Sylverhawk hits the top rope splash for the pin at 9:29. This followed a similar story to the Wani title bout, where Crummels had a game plan until a misstep allowed Sylverhawk to take over and score the win. Crummels hasn’t had a much of chance to be showcased in singles competition, but he excelled in his role. On top of that, this nicely sets the table for a future Xyberhawx Campeones de Parejas match (which Sylverhawk foreshadowed by pointing at Crummels’ title belt as he left the ring.) Nice work all around. ***
Silver Ant vs. Frightmare
Silver Ant starts working on Frightmare’s arm. He gets on a Venus Fly Trap submission for just a moment as Frightmare overhand chops him to escape. He headbutts Frightmare’s hand while it’s upturned in a wristlock. He does it again after Frightmare’s throws a few forearm strikes. So much damage is done to the arm, Frightmare grabs the ropes so Silver Ant has to release his grip. Despite this, Silver Ant takes Frightmare down with a flying double chop. He weaves Frightmare into a belly-to-back suplex for two. Frightmare yakuza kicks Silver Ant to the outside and follows with a tope con hilo. He slams Silver Ant back first into the apron. As Silver Ant crawls into the ring, Frightmare immediately pounces on him with clubbing forearms to the back. Silver Ant is able to maneuver his way to the second turnbuckle, but Frightmare yanks him down so that his back crashes onto the top turnbuckle. After a shotgun dropkick, Frightmare jackknife pins Silver Ant for two. He also gets two with a standing moonsault. Silver Ant avoids a step-up enzuigiri. He forearms Frightmare away before coming in from the apron with a double jump dropkick. Silver Ant goes for the clover leaf, but Frightmare yanks on his mask to stop him. Frightmare accelerates his feet into Silver Ant’s shoulder blades. He gives Silver Ant a vertical suplex for two. Silver Ant connects with a spike DDT off the second turnbuckle on his second attempt. Frightmare counters a belly-to-back suplex attempt by going back to the mask. He nails two yakuza kicks. Silver Ant counters the third. Frightmare avoids the tiger feint kick, but is kicked from the apron. Frightmare meets Silver Ant on the second rope and rips off one of his antennae! Silver Ant immediately falls to the mat in pain. Frightmare smacks Silver Ant before hitting the Friggin’ Sweet Driver. Somehow, Silver Ant kicks out! Frightmare goes for the other antennae. Silver Ant gets in some chops but is still disoriented. He strings a low and high kick together. He takes too long to go for the cover, allowing Frightmare to kick out at two. Frightmare talks trash about Soldier Ant. Silver Ant salutes Frightmare before nailing him with a rolling forearm for two. He tells Frightmare he’s dismissed before hitting Soldier Ant’s TKO. He doesn’t get a count because Frightmare’s right solider is up. Frightmare spikes Silver Ant with a crucifix driver for two. Silver Ant moves to avoid Kneecolepsy. He hits the Yahtzee Kick and the Beach Break as an homage to Fire Ant, only getting two. He locks Frightmare in the Clover Leaf. Frightmare grabs the ropes. Silver Ant wants to bring down Frightmare from the top. Frightmare fights him off. Frightmare comes off the top with a back cracker, the same move that put Kodama and Bullet Ant out of action indefinitely, but Silver Ant kicks out! Frightmare rips off Silver Ant’s second antennae! Frightmare hits Kneecolepsy for the pin at 17:50, and Fire Ant immediately runs out to check on his partner. I didn’t expect Silver Ant to be taken out for good on this night, but he and Frightmare made the quite the show of it. Silver Ant paying homage to Soldier and Fire Ant was a great touch that added so much emotion and importance to the bout. The action became appropriately impactful as the match went on and the competitors showed that they learned from their previous contests. I’m sad to see Silver Ant go, but he can take pride in going out with a bang. ***½
As Silver Ant is being carried off by staff, Mike Quackenbush makes the following remark on commentary: “This is the picture of failure. Not just for the Furies either, but for me as well quite frankly. I’m sorry, Dieter. I made you a promise and I failed.” You may recall that in “The Ashes of CHIKARA”, it was revealed that Dieter VonSteigerwalt aided Derek Sabato in exposing the Titor Conglomerate at “Aniversario: Never Compromise.” It was also revealed their that Quackenbush promised to keep Dieter’s brother safe in exchange for his deed. This means that Silver Ant/Green Ant and Dieter VonSteigerwalt are brothers.
Ophidian, Solo Darling & Travis Huckabee vs. Chuck Taylor™, DUSTIN, & Los Ice Creams (El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream Jr.)
Fire Ant was supposed to be in the match, but is emotionally occupied with what happened to his partner just before this contest. Taylor™ sings “Are You For Real?” before the bell, getting Los Ice Creams to dance. He creates the Beyonce formation in the ring, which ends up being an elaborate way to attack Travis Huckabee from behind! Taylor™ can’t seem to figure out how to slam him. Huckabee throws some shots, but Taylor™ knocks him down with a spinning back elbow for two. Huckabee scoops him into a belly-to-back suplex and hits a short DDT. Taylor™ exits, allowing Hijo to come in and poke Huckabee in the eyes. He sends Huckabee face first into Jr.’s upturned boots, and does the same to Darling when she enters the ring. Hijo almost does it to DUSTIN but DUSTIN stops him. Hijo apologizes, but DUSTIN threatens them anyways. Hijo is so sad that he goes to embrace Ophidian. Ophidian remembers Hijo’s sabotage at “Aniversario” two weeks prior, and instead sends him back to his partner’s corner. Mid-way, Darling rolls him up for two. Hijo strikes her in the throat. Darling uses her boot to halt Hijo’s corner attacks, then brings him out of the corner with a tornado suplex. Jr. breaks her pin. Darling also takes Jr. out with a swinging DDT for two. Hijo strikes her from the floor, allowing Los Ice Creams to continue punishing her in their corner. Darling gets booted outside, allowing Ophidian to enter. He’s cut off by a pair of back kicks from Los Is Creams. DUSTIN nails him with a dropkick. Ophidian counters a superplex by grabbing DUSTIN’s pressure points and headbutting him down to the canvas. Ophidian hits him with Chocolate Rain. He takes down Taylor™ with a corkscrew enzuigiri, then nails two sets of double knees in the corner. Taylor™ evades double knees off the top. DUSTIN tries to take Ophidian down, but Ophidian drills him with the Duat Driver. Ophidian comes through the middle rope with double boots to Taylor™. DUSTIN punches Ophidian to halt Ophidian’s Asai moonsault attempt to Taylor™, causing Ophidian to land on the floor knees first. The Rumblebees check on him, but all of their opponents attack them and bring Huckabee inside for a Two Scoop Slam. He withstands Los Ice Creams double Earthquake splash and an Attitude Adjustment from Taylor™. Darling unloads with chops on Los Ice Creams and Taylor™. Los Ice Creams shut her down with the Ice Cream Sandwich. Taylor™ misses an attack, sending himself shoulder first into the ring post. With no partners to tag, Darling eats a superkick from DUSTIN. She blocks Hijo’s Stone Cold Stunner and uses him for a headscissors on Hijo. Just as DUSTIN misses a corner attack, Fire Ant appears ready to join the match! He comes in with a flying headscissors to DUSTIN. He wipes out Jr. with a tope con hilo. Back inside he spikes DUSTIN with a high speed tornado DDT. He catches Hijo on the top rope with a super fireman’s carry, following up with the Yahtzee Kick.Jr. wants the Jack N’ Jill Hammer, but Fire Ant counters with a brainbuster. He huracanrana’s Hijo for two, thanks to DUSTIN breaking up the pin. DUSTIN pops him up for a Liger Bomb. He stuffs Fire Ant with a short piledriver but Ophidian jumps in just in time to break up the pin. Taylor™ pulls at Ophidian’s mask, so Ophidian sweeps out his legs. The Rumblebees use stereo hip attacks to knock Taylor™ and DUSTIN outside. Fire Ant and Ophidian follow up with suicide dives. Darling punches Hijo into Huckabee’s arms. She spears Jr., leaving a clear path to hit the butterfly suplex on Jr. for the pin at 15:46. Timing is everything, and having this match bookended by a heavy emotional match and a main event title contest was perfect. In a way, the crowd and the Furies were dealing with the loss of Silver Ant, and Fire Ant returning to the match was a moment of catharsis; if he was ready to move on and fight, the crowd had permission to feel the same. The levity in this match was welcomed and all the comedy landed. In a way, this was the Los Ice Creams show, but everyone played their role very well and it all came together in a nice, fun package. ***¼
After the match, we see The Whisper, The Snow Troll and Mortimer ringside. A video message from The Whisper is projected onto Mortimer’s open jacket. The Whisper says there are secrets in everyone’s past, and Ophidian is no exception. As Ophidian turns around, he sees 17’s mask lying in the ring. The sight of it seems to startle him. He picks it up, shoves it in his tights, and flees to the back.
Grand Championship
Juan Francisco de Coronado vs. Obariyon
Juan Francisco de Coronado has been champion since 4.1.2017 and this is his second defense. Unfazed by Coronado’s slap, Obariyon gives him one right back. He backs Coronado to the corner where he unleashes multiple chops. After picking up the pace, Obariyon sends Coronado to the corner with a Frankensteiner. He follows up with a step-up knee strike and goes for Cristo. Coronado stumbles to the ropes to force Obariyon to release, then goes to the floor to create some distance. Despite looking to slow down the pace, Coronado is tripped by Obariyon into a side headlock. Coronado drives Obariyon to the corner to escape, driving his shoulder into Obariyon’s mid-section a few times before delivering an overhand chop. Obariyon goes up and over Coronado in the opposite corner and rocks him with a clothesline He tries for Go To Hell but Coronado escapes. Obariyon sends Coronado crashing into the corner and knees him in the face. Coronado drops Obariyon throat first across the top rope. Coronado tries to throw Obariyon out, but Obariyon reverses. Obariyon follows out with a moonsault block off the top and to the floor! Obariyon goes for a suicide dive when Coronado gets to his feet, but Coronado cuts him off with a dropkick! A body slam starts Coronado’s onslaught of offense to Obariyon’s back and shoulders. Despite this, Obariyon kicks out of both a kidney shot and a bridging suplex. Coronado drives him back first into two corners before delivering a belly-to-back suplex and wrenching on Obariyon’s neck. Obariyon forearms his way free and pops up Coronado into a knee strike to the face! The two men trade blows on their feet. Coronado tries the Tiger Driver. Obariyon slips off his shoulders and knees him in the face once more. Out of the corner Obariyon back elbows Coronado. After a pair of clotheslines he knocks down Coronado with a flying forearm. He hits the Go To Hell for a close nearfall. Obariyon heads up top looking for the Rapture. Coronado cuts him off and hooks the arms for a super Tiger Driver. Obariyon fights free and headbutts Obariyon to the mat. Obariyon comes down off the top. Coronado moves, but Obariyon lands on his legs. Obariyon misses his running knee strike against the ropes. Coronado kicks out his legs, causing Obariyon’s right leg to get stuck in the ropes! Coronado feverishly kicks at the leg while it’s trapped. Coronado gives Obariyon a few shin breakers before finally connecting with the Tiger Driver. Obariyon kicks out, so Coronado puts him in a figure four leglock. Obariyon reverses the pressure and Coronado grabs the bottom rope. Coronado brings his Ecuadorian flag into the ring. Obariyon ducks the flag strike and once again goes for Cristo. Obariyon can’t lock his hands, and Coronado reverses into the Coronado Clutch! Obariyon prawn holds through and applies a Dragon Sleeper! Coronado elbows Obariyon’s knee until he releases. Coronado rolls backwards into the Coronado Clutch. Obariyon passes out in the hold, and Bryce Remsburg calls for the bell at 18:18. Obariyon made the most of his championship opportunity, looking great on offense while incorporating some new tricks into his arsenal, and emoting when it counted. He and Coronado took us on a roller coaster ride with an actual, sensible conclusion. This was proof positive that Obariyon will be fine on his own and that Coronado was able to get a conclusive, good title defense under his belt. ***½
Encore Match
Office Warren Barksdale & Dez Peloton (Jasper Tippins & Donald Kluger) vs. The Whisper, Sonny Defarge & Rick Roland
Dez Peloton attack Defarge at the bell. Tippins assists Barksdale in hitting the Broken Arrow. Whisper tries a headscissors but takes a double over-the-shoulder gutbuster from Dez Peloton. DP accelerate Whisper into Barksdale’s upturned boots. They then send Barksdale feet first into Roland for several close up kicks. All three men backdrop Roland as he charges.Defarge trips Kluger on the middle rope. This distracts Tippins, leaving Barksdale open for a big boot from Roland. Roland catches Barksdale’s running crossbody and gives him a Finlay roll. Roland hits a slingshot senton for two. Whisper blind tags himself in. He unwinds Barksdale into a slam then stacks him up in a seatbelt pin for two. Defarge tags himself in and swings Barksdale into a full nelson slam. He then tags in Roland, who holds up Barksdale in a vertical position. Barksdale comes down with a DDT, then tags in both members of Dez Peloton. They give Roland a double Code Breaker. Whisper and Defarge turn their backs on Roland as both members of Dez Peloton lift him up for a high crossbody from Barksdale. This gives them the win at 4:44. Dez Peloton and The Force would make a terrific Atomicos quartet one day. That’s really all I got from this. *
Fire Ant is sitting backstage. Ophidian sits down next to him and tells Fire Ant that he’s sorry what happened. They started the Furies so they wouldn’t need a contingency plan to avoid things like this happening. Fire Ant yells that it’s not working. There’s no other option. They’re the only option, so let’s fix “it.”
Philadelphia, PA – 6.18.2017
Championship Rundown
Grand Champion: Juan Francisco de Coronado
Campeones de Parejas: Sonny Defarge & Cornelius Crummels
Young Lions Cup Champion: Sylverhawk
Commentary is provided by Mike Quackenbush on all matches but the first.
Johnny Kidd Invitational 2017 Quarterfinal Round Match
Zack Sabre, Jr. vs. Mike Quackenbush
This is a rematch from “Bad Wolf.” Sabre brings down Quackenbush in a wristlock. Quackenbush kips up and Sabre rolls away. Quackenbush holds onto both of Sabre’s arms behind Sabre’s back. Sabre fails to escape upon flipping to the canvas, allowing Quackenbush to dig his feet into Sabre’s shoulders while keeping hold of his arms. Sabre rolls back so he can use his feet to kick Quackenbush’s arms away. Sabre puts on a cravate which Quackenbush turns into a wristlock. Despite some fancy maneuvering and multiple snapmares, Quackenbush keeps ahold of the wristlock. Sabre does eventually free himself, but Quackenbush rolls up and puts Sabre in an Octopus stretch. He converts into a backslide for two. Sabre brings down Quackenbush in a wristlock, digging his knee into Quackenbush’s neck. Quackenbush kicks Sabre down by his right leg and grabs the left ankle. Quackenbush cartwheels through Sabre’s rolling escape. When Quackenbush grabs the ankle again, Sabre maneuvers him into a headlock takeover and does some ankle damage to Quackenbush himself. Quackenbush tries pulling Sabre into a side headlock. Sabre quickly turns it into a bow arrow, which Quackenbush flips out of and gets two with a lateral press. Quackenbush pulls Sabre up and drops him on his hips and lower back. Sabre throws an uppercut, the first strike of the match. Quackenbush remains composed until Sabre throws several more and a headbutt to the stomach. Quackenbush clobbers Sabre with a clothesline as he comes off the ropes. Quackenbush uses his legs to muscle Sabre down. Sabre ducks a palm strike and half-nelson suplexes Quackenbush into a bridge for the pin at 10:23. This was a great follow up to their initial encounter. Sabre couldn’t best Quackenbush on the mat, so he threw Quackenbush off his game by changing things up and it paid off, as making Quackenbush angry ultimately cost him the match. I could watch these two wrestle every month. ***½
Rory Gulak talks about how much of an influence Johnny Kidd has been worldwide and in CHIKARA. Entering into the tournament named after him is an honor. Travis Huckabee may be a golden grappler, but Rory is amazing.
Johnny Kidd Invitational 2017 Quarterfinal Round Match
Travis Huckabee vs. Rory Gulak
Gulak grounds Huckabee with a double leg takedown. He trips Huckabee while holding a half-nelson. Huckabee grabs a waistlock. Gulak has difficulty escaping, but eventually reverses on the ground. Huckabee uses the same single leg takedown Gulak did out of the full-nelson. Gulak fireman’s carries Huckabee into a bottom rope splash. He throws Huckabee overhead while holding onto the arm, then fireman’s carries him into a lateral press. Huckabee bridges up, so Gulak butterfly suplexes him. Gulak pulls Huckabee’s leg around his own leg, pulling the bottom of Huckabee’s foot near his head. Huckabee escapes. Gulak slams him, but Huckabee uses his feet to stop another splash. Huckabee tries pinning Gulak in cradles but Gulak won’t let him get both his shoulders down. Gulak has issues finding a lateral press himself. Huckabee tries a front facelock. Gulak switches out and catches Huckabee in an inside cradle for the pin at 5:54. With a lifetime of amateur wrestling, coaching, and training behind him, it made sense that Gulak would outshine the rookie Huckabee and have ways to prevent himself from being pinned. Having Gulak defeat Huckabee in a short time also sets him up as a force to be reckoned with right off the bat. *½
Johnny Kidd Invitational 2017 Quarterfinal Round Match
Hallowicked vs. Matthew Riddle
Riddle goes for waistlocks while Hallowicked counters into front facelocks. When Hallowicked tries a hammerlock, Riddle puts on his own front facelock. Hallowicked slides out and both men stand off. Riddle grabs an armbar, but Hallowicked goes to the ropes right away. He also blocks Riddle’s cross armbreaker quickly with the ropes. Riddle knee strikes him to the corner. Hallowicked turns around and overhand chops Riddle. Riddle answers with one of his own. Riddle forearms him several times in the corner. He ducks a clothesline and winds Hallowicked into a kick to the head. A jumping forearm in the corner and an exploder suplex leave Riddle standing tall. He gets two with a running senton splash. Riddle gives Hallowicked a gutwrench suplex. Hallowicked gets his knees up to block a second senton splash. Hallowicked kicks away at Riddle’s ribs before whipping him across the ring for a step-up Frankensteiner, getting him a nearfall. He snapmares Riddle and dropkicks him in the back of the head for two. Riddle catches Hallowicked with a belly-to-belly throw. Riddle and Hallowicked fail to hit Bro To Sleep and Go 2 Sleepy Hollow, so Riddle German suplexes Hallowicked for two. Back on their feet, Hallowicked successfully lands Go 2 Sleepy Hollow for two. Riddle avoids a back suplex. He knee strikes Hallowicked in the face before hitting a fisherman’s buster for two. Riddle senton splashes Hallowicked across the back. He kicks away at Riddle’s stomach and drops him with the Rydeen Bomb for two. The two men trade blows as they get to their feet. Riddle dizzies Hallowicked with another knee. He hits Bro To Sleep and a German suplex. Miraculously, Hallowicked kicks out! The BroStone piledriver gets Riddle barely a one count! Wasting no time, Riddle locks on the BroMission. Hallowicked taps out at 11:20. Riddle likes to end his matches fairly quickly, and to counteract, Hallowicked tried taking the air out of him and stuck close to the ropes. It took everything Riddle had to take down the two time former Grand Champion, making both competitors look very strong. I think the tone of this match being more throw and strike based after two very technical battles was really smart and added diversity to the opening round. This was fantastic. ***¾
James Mason says it’s a pleasure to be invited to the JKI. Johnny Kidd is one of his best friends and he’s looking forward to perform in Philadelphia.
Johnny Kidd Invitational 2017 Quarterfinal Round Match
James Mason vs. Juan Francisco de Coronado
Coronado bails outside as soon as Mason takes him down with a shoulder tackle. Coronado teases locking knuckles, but goes back outside instead. When Coronado does commit to the knuckle lock, Mason makes him pay for it by twisting on the wrist and lifting him overhead. Coronado reverses, but Mason reverses back and brings Coronado to the mat where he cracks Coronado’s fingers. He wrenches onto Coronado’s wrist as he whips him to the mat and bars the arm. Coronado goes to pin Mason’s shoulders to the mat in a double knuckle lock. Mason gets his shoulders up on the counts. Mason monkey flips Coronado and both men get to their feet when Bryce begins counting both their shoulders down. Surprisingly, Coronado actually shakes Mason’s hand, but does kick him in the stomach right after and takes down Mason in a side headlock. Mason tries rolling Coronado to his shoulders but fails to get a pinfall. Mason wiggles his way free of the headlock. Mason uses his hips to escape a waistlock. From a sunset flip, Mason and Coronado seesaw for the pin advantage, ending up back on their feet. Mason locks up Coronado’s legs. Coronado goes behind and tries for the Coronado Clutch. Mason rolls forward to avoid it, but Coronado immediately hits him with a dropkick. He takes two shots to Mason’s lower back before delivering a clothesline. Mason puts on the breaks in the corner. Once again the men seesaw after a sunset flip. At the end, Coronado tries the Clutch once more, but he’s too close to the ropes. Mason gets in a few European uppercuts before landing a high speed somersault senton. He uses his legs to apply pressure to Coronado’s neck and shoulders. Mason full nelsons Coronado into a full nelson for two. Coronado converts into a Rings of Saturn. Mason escapes and comes off the middle turnbuckle with a crossbody for two. Mason monkey flips Coronado into mid-ring. He tries a second monkey flip, but Coronado pushes him down. Coronado pins Mason in a folding press while putting his feet on the ropes for the pin at 12:54. Mason put in an exemplary performance, showcasing a lot of innovation and excitement in his offense. Coronado was a very good antagonist for him to showcase what he had, and to Coronado’s credit, he was able to “hang” with one of the practitioners of the style this tournament celebrates and prove himself to be on Mason’s level. I really do hope to see Mason back in a CHIKARA ring. ***
Young Lions Cup
Sylverhawk vs. Hermit Crab
Sylverhawk has been champion since 6.4.2017 and this is his second defense. Crab throws Sylverhawk down to the mat by the back of his head to end a wristlock exchange. Sylverhawk picks up the pace, sending Crab outside with an armdrag. Sylverhawk tries following with a suicide dive, but Crab catches him and chokeslams Sylverhawk on the apron! Back inside, Crab hits the Naniwa elbow onto Sylverhawk’s shoulder blades. He gives Sylverhawk a vertical suplex onto his knee for two. Sylverhawk sends Crab to the corner. He misses an attack, crotching himself on the middle turnbuckle. Crab strikes him in the back and puts Sylverhawk in a Boston Crab in the ropes! In the ring he suplexes Sylverhawk for two. Crab digs his pincers into Sylverhawk’s clavicle. Sylverhawk fights free and sends Crab to the corner with a bicycle kick. Sylverhawk favors the back as he hits two Stinger Splashes. Crab drives Sylverhawk down with a spinebuster. Sylverhawk escapes a Boston Crab attempt. Crab strikes him in the back a few times. Sylverhawk drills Crab with a DDT to counter another spinebuster. Sylverhawk misses a top rope splash. Crab pulls him into the Boston Crab. Sylverhawk taps out at 5:41, and Crab wins the Young Lions Cup! These two told a succinct and effective story with Crab’s offense solely focused on wearing down Sylverhawk’s back and it paying off. They kept a good, nonstop pace and the win came off as both surprising yet hard earned. Nothing bad to say about this one. **¾
Zack Sabre, Jr. says Johnny Kidd is one of his heroes. Watching Kidd as a youngster blew Sabre’s mind, and Sabre feels Kidd is the embodiment of everything good in pro wrestling. Sabre emulated Kidd for years, and while he thought Kidd might take offense, he was very warm and friendly when they finally crossed paths. Sabre would’ve been heartbroken if he wasn’t in this tournament, and he’s happy if for nothing else to spend some time with Kidd on this day.
Johnny Kidd Invitational 2017 Semifinal Round Match
Zack Sabre, Jr. vs. Rory Gulak
Gulak and Sabre have a bit of fun with the crowd before locking up. Gulak goes for the legs. He doesn’t keep control for long, as Sabre tries a cross armbreaker, but Gulak is quick to the ropes. Sabre bridges back when he gets Gulak in an Indian Deathlock. Gulak rolls free and Sabre gets the ropes before Gulak can grab a limb. Sabre rotates Gulak into an ankle lock, then locks Gulak’s leg while putting on a modified surfboard. Gulak falls into the ropes to escape. Gulak grabs a waistlock, which Sabre turns into a crucifix pin. Gulak pulls Sabre’s arm behind his head in an overhead wristlock. Sabre retaliates with a surfboard, putting Gulak down onto his shoulders for another nearfall. Sabre handlebars Gulak’s arm and digs his head into Gulak’s shoulders. Gulak turns it around, using his foot to apply pressure to Sabre’s shoulders. Sabre escapes the handlebars and uppercuts Gulak. After trading strikes, Gulak catches a kick from Sabre and puts on an ankle lock. Sabre rolls Gulak into a cross armbreaker. Gulak reverses back into the ankle lock. Sabre gets to his feet and puts Gulak in a Guillotine. Gulak maneuvers Sabre up into a bodyslam. Gulak chops Sabre while Sabre responds with uppercuts. Sabre trips Gulak into a reverse rolling prawn hold with a back bridge. The back bridge opens Sabre up for Gulak’s Dragon Clutch! Sabre taps out at 9:47. While it wasn’t a story told on commentary, Sabre defeated Rory’s brother Drew in the Cruiserweight Classic, and here Rory was able to get revenge for his brother (even telling the camera “that was for you, Drew.”)Given this is Gulak’s first night in CHIKARA aside from the Infinite Gauntlet, him defeating Sabre, Jr. instantly showcases him as being a cut above by besting Sabre at his own game. More urgency and story to the action would’ve made this match a bit better, but it was still quite enjoyable. **¾
Johnny Kidd Invitational 2017 Semifinal Round Match
Matthew Riddle vs. Juan Francisco de Coronado
Coronado doesn’t shake hands with Riddle, but Bryce is happy to oblige the King of Bros. Riddle throws down Coronado in a waistlock twice, the second time lifting Coronado off the mat, then dropping him right away because Coronado had his hands on the ropes. Coronado digs into Riddle’s eyes to escape Riddle’s grasp. He German suplexes Riddle and drives his shoulder into his stomach in the corner. He snapmares Riddle into several knee strikes and a forearm strike to the small of the back. Coronado nails Riddle in the side of the head with elbows in the corner before whipping him into the opposite corner. Riddle uses open handed shots and forearms to escape a chinlock, but Coronado cuts him off with a dropkick. Riddle counters Coronado’s Tiger Driver attempt with a waterwheel slam. Coronado overhand chops Riddle repeatedly after Riddle misses a diving forearm. Riddle absorbs them, gives back his own chops, and rocks Coronado with repeated forearm strikes. The leaping forearm connects the second time around, and Riddle capitalizes with an exploder suplex and three gutwrench suplexes. However, he only gets two with a senton splash. He goes for Bro To Sleep. Coronado blocks with a German suplex which only gives him a one count! Coronado cuts off Riddle with an enzuigiri. The Tiger Driver lands but Riddle kicks out at two. Riddle hits the Bro To Sleep and a German suplex for two. He goes for the BroStone. Coronado turns it around and puts on the Coronado Clutch. Riddle tumbles forward to escape and scoops up Coronado into the BroStone. Coronado rolls to the outside to avoid a pin. He grabs his title belt and tosses it into the ring. While referee Bryce Remsburg is busy with that, Coronado nails Riddle from behind with the Ecuadorian flag. He puts Riddle in the Coronado Clutch. He adds kicks to the back of Riddle’s skull. Riddle passes out and his arm drops thrice, giving Coronado the win at 9:58. You just knew this wasn’t going to end cleanly, but at least the wrestling before that was compelling and hard hitting. Coronado cheating his way to the finals makes him the antithesis of what Johnny Kidd stood for, which is a nice contrast to what Gulak has done in his two matches, setting the table for an interesting final round. ***
Jessica Troy says her and Mick Moretti traveled to America to put Australian pro wrestling on the map. Tonight is their first singles match together. She’s excited to prove herself to one of the people who trained her and to the CHIKARMY as well. Troy is aware of what Moretti can do and how unpredictable he can be, but she’s also fully aware of how to defeat him. Together, they will prove Australian pro wrestling belongs here.
Jessica Troy vs. Mick Moretti
Troy outmaneuvers Moretti. She doesn’t have the leverage for a schoolboy. Moretti sends her face first into the canvas. Troy backs her to the floor and puts him in a side headlock when he comes back in. Some counters on the mat lead to Troy booting Moretti in the face. They reverse pin attempts. Moretti punches the mat by accident. Troy snapmares him but misses a double knee drop. Troy snaps off a Frankensteiner and brings down Moretti with a double wrist clutch armdrag. Her double knees connect the second time around. Moretti side steps a bicycle kick. He drives Troy throat first into the top rope when countering a waistlock. Troy fights off Moretti’s shoulders, but Moretti muscles her back up into a fisherman’s buster for two. He brings Troy up to the top turnbuckle. She slides out and brings Moretti crashing down face first into the top turnbuckle. After some strikes, Troy springboards in with a neck-tie headscissors. She hits the Deja vu headscissors, sending Moretti to the corner. Another bicycle kick gets a two count. Moretti headstands into a mule kick. He knocks out Troy with a snapmare driver for the win at 5:25. Troy showed a lot of great skill and ability, but Moretti’s cunning could not be overcome. This was a great showcase for both competitors. I have to imagine we’ll see both of them back in CHIKARA sooner than later. **¼
Xyberhawx 2000 (Razerhawk & Nytehawk) vs. The Tempura Boyz (Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu)
This is the Tempura Boyz’s CHIKARA debut and the first match for Nytehawk in Season 18. Komatsu and Nytehawk feel each other out to start. Komatsu arm whips Nytehawk overhead, but is taken over with a shoulder throw. Nytehawk follows up with a cartwheel elbow in the corner and a lariat. Razerhawk and Tanaka tag in. Tanaka resists Razerhawk’s shoulder blocks. Razerhawk opts for a headscissors but Tanaka puts on the breaks. Razerhawk however sends him out with a knee strike. Komatsu trips Razerhawk as he hits the ropes. He brings him outside and delivers a superkick. Tanaka hits a flying dropkick to Razerhawk’s back. Nytehawk comes in but is quickly tossed outside. Komatsu holds him so Tanaka can hit a penalty kick from the apron. The Tempura Boyz wear down Nytehawk back in the ring while Razerhawk recovers. Nytehawk halts a backslide from Tanaka, maneuvering him into chops from Komatsu. Nytehawk dropkicks both Tanaka and Komatsu away. Razerhawk tags in and takes out both of them with double armdrags and back handspring elbows. Razerhawk tope con hilo’s out onto Komatsu. Nytehawk unloads with kicks on Tanaka. Nytehawk nails a Superfly splash. Razerhawk follows with a Swanton bomb. Komatsu breaks the pin. He brings Nytehawk down with diving double knees. Razerhawk wipes out Komatsu with a tornado DDT. Tanaka clotheslines Razerhawk. Xyberhawx take him down with double dropkicks. Razerhawk huracanrana’s Komatsu. Tanaka breaks the pin and German suplexes Nytehawk. Razerhawk fights off both Tempura Boyz with chops. Tanaka and Komatsu hit a flapjack/Complete Shot combo for two. Komatsu wipes out Nytehawk with a dropkick. The Tempura Boyz land a Diamond Dust/Gory Bomb combo for the pin at 8:15. The Tempura Boyz made a great first impression, matching X2K’s speed and bringing the power in their offense. With Razerhawk and Sylverhawk being the “main” team of the triumvirate, them taking a loss here doesn’t hurt their points standing and allows the new team to look strong in their debut. Very good stuff. ***
Johnny Kidd Invitational 2017 Final Round Match
Rory Gulak vs. Juan Francisco de Coronado
Johnny Kidd comes out to show off the ring the winner of this match will receive. Gulak shakes his hand, Coronado does not. The two stare each other down after the bell rings. Gulak immediately throws Coronado to the mat. He rolls Coronado in a front chancery. Coronado escapes but Gulak puts on the Dragon Clutch. Coronado taps out in 0:52 and wins the inaugural Johnny Kidd Invitational! In one night, Gulak established himself by defeating one of CHIKARA’s top prospects, an international superstar, and the Grand Champion, perfectly setting him up for a championship opportunity in the future. There’s only one rating for this match: AMAZING!
In a post-credits scene, the Whisper and Juan Francisco de Coronado meet-up backstage. Coronado mentions the “trick” the Whisper did to Jeremy Leary at “Bad Wolf.” The Whisper says it was “a simple post hypnotic suggestion; a tiny little trick.” The Whisper suggests it may of use to the illustrious Grand Champion. With a smile, Coronado nods in agreement.
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