In TWB's patented format
Highlights:
General Observations:
Match of the Night: UltraMantis Black vs. Colt Cabana - In most promotions, the comic relief is hit or miss. In Chikara, it's as likely to be the best match on the card as the main event. That's why I hold them in such high esteem. Cabana may not be officially on the roster, but he might as well be a Chikara regular at this point. He fits in so well with the oeuvre of the company.
Mantis in the last few years has been more involved in heated feud matches and has been at the middle of a lot of the general narrative of the company. At least lately, matches such as these have been oases for him. He seemed a bit tentative on some of Colt's gags, but the payoffs were still really good. The other player in this match, referee Bryce Remsburg, was huge at least in the middle of it, and any match where Remsburg plays a big role usually is great. Not only is he the best referee and one of the best announcers, but when he's called upon to play an active role in the match, he never disappoints. That's what separates him from other NPC types and what separates Chikara from other companies.
This match included dancing in the beginning. It wasn't the Macarena or a solo dance, but Mantis and Cabana waltzing and tangoing with each other. It included an extended sequence based around "the oldest trick in the book," where Cabana would point up and use the distraction to slap his opponent. The two rolled around in the inside cradle on the mat with so many revolutions that even Remsburg collapsed in dizziness. And of course, the actual wrestling fit the bill too. Any match that features someone leaping through the air to apply an accordion-style backslide is alright by me.
Overall Thoughts: This was probably the weakest 2012 effort from the company that I've seen to date, but that's really not saying a whole lot. Chikara, even with their most pedestrian cards, end up delivering an enjoyable experience that a lot of companies can't do with their best. The beginning-of-the-season doldrums are well-known for the company, as they really don't have the "dream match" guest stars or have the pomp of the opening weekend here.
That being said, the show was heavy on a lot of important story and provided the groundwork for a lot of natives to show the promise they'd cash in upon later on. Saturyne, Gran Akuma, the Throwbacks, Marchie Archie and Ophidian all got a chance to advance their stories, and the Gekido burst out of the gate like water from a cracking dam. Obviously, that story hasn't gone the way fans would have liked it to, but I'm not sure right now that it's completely dormant.
Overall, it was an important if relatively underwhelming show. If you're a Chikara completist or a Cabana or Mantis fan, then by all means get this one (seriously, I loved that match). If you're strapped for cash though, you might be better off being a bit choosier and going for a show like Chikarasaurus Rex or the Chicago Synergy show.
Highlights:
- Kobold flushed Francis Kipland Stevens, NYWC's hip-hop nerd, down the Demon's Toilet en route to a victory.
- 3.0 beat the Throwbacks and earned their third point towards Campeonatos de Parejas contention via a forced-leapfrog spear and pin on Mark "Mr. Touchdown" Angelosetti.
- After the match, Angelosetti first caught the eye of Veronica Ticklefeather, out accompanying Archibald Peck for his match.
- Peck spent too much time lecturing the crowd and got caught by an Ophidian inside cradle.
- Delirious cut a surprisingly coherent promo promising to take two years from UltraMantis Black the way Mantis took two years from him with the Eye of Tyr.
- Gran Akuma reversed an Omega Driver attempt into an inside cradle to get his first win in his challenge series to regain his contract. Icarus speared him after the match.
- Sara del Rey survived a spry challenge from Saturyne, putting her down with her Royal Butterfly suplex.
- In a match filled with hijinks and frivolity, Mantis defeated Colt Cabana with an O'Connor Roll.
- An atomico between Mike Quackenbush, Jigsaw, Fire Ant and Soldier Ant and Tim Donst, Jakob Hammermeier, Obariyon and Kodama ended in disqualification when the Gekido appeared and beat the tar out of the tecnicos. Mantis, Dasher Hatfield, Angelosetti and Steve Weiner made the save.
- In the main event, Eddie Kingston needed two Backfists to the Future to retain his Grand Championship against Vin Gerard. Gerard was forced to retire per stipulation.
General Observations:
- Francis Kipland Stevens wrestled in flood pants, suspenders, a bowtie and glasses. He came out to Notorious BIG's "Hypnotize." He should be a Chikara regular FOREVER.
- Stevens invited Kobold to dance before the match, but the demon refused, probably because he has dedication to being a rudo. I can't blame him.
- Kobold stole his glasses, to which Colt Cabana remarked on commentary "He can't see without his glasses!" +2 for the My Girl reference, Colt.
- 3.0 recreated Angelosetti's entrance tearing through the half piece of paper left from it before elbow dropping and stomping the sign.
- "HE TOLD ME HE WAS GOING TO TACKLE ME!" -- Luv u, Shane Matthews.
- Matthews and Hatfield took turns trading verbal barbs at one point. The piece de resistance from Hatfield, that Monster was better than Red Bull, set Big Magic over the edge.
- Veronica's displeasure with Marchie Archie let Ophidian toss his cache of masks at Peck as a weapon.
- I really dug Ophidian's headbutts with the affectation of being cobra strikes.
- I'd also like to think that Peck responding to an Ophidian flurry by biting his torso was intentional. PSYCHOLOGY, Chikara style!
- Funny how Mr. Touchdown could get pinned and get ol' Ms. Ticklefeather all hot 'n bothered, but Peck loses and she storms out.
- Delirious can speak ENGLISH? PREPOSTEROUS!
- Icarus' turn as the ring announcer in this match showed why he's the best heel in wrestling by a country mile.
- I was really enamored with Akuma's offense in this match. Stuff like the cartwheel DVD/Samoan drop thing and the straitjacket neckbreaker felt really innovative.
- del Rey was exceedingly rough on Saturyne. The match took on almost a hazing feel.
- Cabana claimed he originally challenged Sugar Dunkerton, but because he was inactive at the time, he said "I have challenged the next best black wrestler..."
- Cabana to Bryce Remsburg as he was checking him before the match: "Hey Brice, I've got a foreign object for you." THAT'S NOT PG, COLT.
- Seriously, Cabana and Mantis (and Bryce too) were great at combining the comedic elements of Chikara with the "actual" wrestling in this match.
- Chikara atomicos are like their safest match type. They're almost always good and they have a much higher floor of quality than even their marquee singles matches.
- I kinda wish that Donst and Hammermeier would kiss and make up now, because their teamwork offense here was my personal highlight of this match.
- The official time of the main event was 10+ minutes, but the brawl before the match was just as long it seemed.
Match of the Night: UltraMantis Black vs. Colt Cabana - In most promotions, the comic relief is hit or miss. In Chikara, it's as likely to be the best match on the card as the main event. That's why I hold them in such high esteem. Cabana may not be officially on the roster, but he might as well be a Chikara regular at this point. He fits in so well with the oeuvre of the company.
Mantis in the last few years has been more involved in heated feud matches and has been at the middle of a lot of the general narrative of the company. At least lately, matches such as these have been oases for him. He seemed a bit tentative on some of Colt's gags, but the payoffs were still really good. The other player in this match, referee Bryce Remsburg, was huge at least in the middle of it, and any match where Remsburg plays a big role usually is great. Not only is he the best referee and one of the best announcers, but when he's called upon to play an active role in the match, he never disappoints. That's what separates him from other NPC types and what separates Chikara from other companies.
This match included dancing in the beginning. It wasn't the Macarena or a solo dance, but Mantis and Cabana waltzing and tangoing with each other. It included an extended sequence based around "the oldest trick in the book," where Cabana would point up and use the distraction to slap his opponent. The two rolled around in the inside cradle on the mat with so many revolutions that even Remsburg collapsed in dizziness. And of course, the actual wrestling fit the bill too. Any match that features someone leaping through the air to apply an accordion-style backslide is alright by me.
Overall Thoughts: This was probably the weakest 2012 effort from the company that I've seen to date, but that's really not saying a whole lot. Chikara, even with their most pedestrian cards, end up delivering an enjoyable experience that a lot of companies can't do with their best. The beginning-of-the-season doldrums are well-known for the company, as they really don't have the "dream match" guest stars or have the pomp of the opening weekend here.
That being said, the show was heavy on a lot of important story and provided the groundwork for a lot of natives to show the promise they'd cash in upon later on. Saturyne, Gran Akuma, the Throwbacks, Marchie Archie and Ophidian all got a chance to advance their stories, and the Gekido burst out of the gate like water from a cracking dam. Obviously, that story hasn't gone the way fans would have liked it to, but I'm not sure right now that it's completely dormant.
Overall, it was an important if relatively underwhelming show. If you're a Chikara completist or a Cabana or Mantis fan, then by all means get this one (seriously, I loved that match). If you're strapped for cash though, you might be better off being a bit choosier and going for a show like Chikarasaurus Rex or the Chicago Synergy show.
