-Taped from Philadelphia, PA
-Your hosts are of course members of the Chikara roster and staff
-Ultramantis Black vs. Ophidian
Match in Five Words or Less: Battle Of The Devious
Match Highlights: Ophidian has a brand new look as he’s apparently completed his transformation. Immediate strike exchange. Ophidian comes out on top and delivers a series of chops. He steps away. Mantis comes back with straight slaps. Mantis side steps and stomps on the wrist. DDT. Ophidian gets a back rake. Full nelson slam gets two for Mantis. Pair of stomps and running senton. Butterfly suplex. Ophidian sent into the guard rail. They continue their tour of the new building. Shot to the throat by Ophidian. Through the ropes and throat first goes Mantis. Leg drop across the throat. Series of right hands and choking. Is that noise emanating from a Philadelphia crowd? I’ll be damned. They can make noise. Choking from Ophidian. Step-up enziguri. Running standing senton into the corner. He rolls out and hits a shoulder block. Mantis drops him head first into the turnbuckle. Trip up and a series of forearms. Elbow to the back of the neck. Ophidian bridges over. To the top rope. Mantis crotches him. Butterfly suplex off the top rope as both men are down. Mantis with a series of chops. Enziguri attempt misses. Ocean Cyclone suplex! 1-2-NO! Mantis with a shot to the knee. Cosmic Doom! 1-2-NO! Guillotine by Ophidian. Double knees hit. 1-2-NO! He goes up again for double knees and hits. 1-2-NO! Blind charge misses. Double knees send Mantis into the corner. Running kick, the same one that took Amasis out. Death clutch and he bridges over. Mantis escapes. Ophidian goes for Mantis’s staff. Job Barber removes the staff from the ring. Ophidian spits the mist in Mantis’s face. Quick two count and Mantis recovers quickly.Preying Mantis Bomb gets Mantis a huge singles win on iPPV.
Match Analysis: They positioned this as a battle of the most devious men in Chikara. No way they could possibly have Mantis lose at that point right? What a difference a huge and active crowd makes as they really made this opener feel a bit more special. This was a million times better than their Rahway match. Ophidian was able to expand his offense a bit, and this was easily his best match in Chikara so far this year. Perfect way to open this show if you ask me.
Winner (s)/Time/Match Rating/Entertainment Rating: Ultramantis Black/11:03/***1/4/***1/2
-The Throwbacks (Dasher Hatfield and Mr. Touchdown) vs. Colt Cabana and Mixed Martial Archie
Match in Five Words or Less: Farewell Archie
Match Highlights: There is something about the phrasing here, “leaving town.” I smell a loophole regardless of who takes the fall. I love how Colt Cabana is now being announced as being from the studio… apartment. This started a couple weeks ago during Anniversario weekend Archie wants to start with Angelosetti. Clothesline misses. Angelosetti takes a powder. Hatfield comes in and strikes a crane pose. Leg kick by Archie. A second is blocked. Hatfield slaps Archie in the bum. Armdrag. Elbow to the midsection and a big punch to the face. Archie hooks in a triangle choke. Hatfield grabs the middle rope. Cabana gets a roll-up for two. Another roll-up for two. Cabana hooks the arm and makes a tag. Archie comes off the top rope… and takes him down for ground and pound. He nails Angelosetti off the apron and continues beating him. Knee while both men are on the entrance. Kicks from Archie. He runs into a vicious spinebuster on the ramp. Cabana slaps him across the chest. Back in the ring. Under a clothesline and he hits a springboard moonsault. Cabana makes sure he’s alright. Jabs for both men followed by double elbows. Flying apple misses. Hatfield hits a clothesline as Angelosetti clips his knee. Extended heat segment on Cabana. Cabana eventually hits a clothesline out of the corner, but there is no one in the corner to tag. Double chops. Angelosetti takes a shot to then throat. Double team neckbreaker by the Throwbacks. Hatfield covers for two. Cabana brings Hatfield up to the top rope. Angelosetti tosses both his opponent and partner to the floor. Angelosetti is alone in the ring. Then the familiar marching band music plays, and Archibald Peck is out! Angelosetti selling the impact of Peck coming out is amazing. Cabana tags him. Peck goes to work on Angelosetti. Drop toehold into the corner. Running elbow drop. Bodyslam gets two. He calls for his finisher. To the top rope. Veronica slowly makes her way to the ring. Angelosetti nails Peck coming off the top with a neckbreaker. Three point stance. Cabana hits a flying apple and rolls into the Billy Goat’s Curse. Hatfield hits a big right hand. Sliding dropkick sends Cabana over the guard rail into the crowd. With Peck and Angelosetti down, Veronica leaves the baton in the middle of the ring. The two men fight over the object. Dasher takes it from both men and puts in the corner. Angelosetti hits Peck with the helmet. Hatfield rolls Peck up and gets the victory. The Throwbacks now have three points toward title contention.
Match Analysis: The middle part of this match was a bit on the slow side as Archie had to change costumes. Clearly, the heat was between Touchdown and Archie. Cabana almost felt like an afterthought even though he worked most of the match. Very good finish and well-executed post-match shenanigans. I know people were disappointed when Archie lost… but I have a feeling this won’t be the last time we see him. Don’t be surprised if a new luchador makes his Chikara debut soon enough.
Winner (s)/Time/Match Rating/Entertainment Rating: The Throwbacks/16:15/***/***1/2
-Ladder Match: Gran Akuma vs. Icarus (Special Referee: Gregory Iron)
Match in Five Words or Less: Welcome Back Gran Akuma
Match Highlights: There is a contract hanging from the rafters. If Akuma grabs it, he’s back on the roster. If Icarus wins, he gets to rip it up. Icarus teases taking the jacket off. Akuma rams him in the corner and fires away. Snapmare and a kick to the back. Best start over. He chokes Icarus with the jacket and brings him over again. Running forearm. Rolling snapmare and a kick to the face. Akuma brings the ladder in the ring. Chop to the back as Icarus is on the middle turnbuckle. Akuma sets the ladder up. Icarus lifts it and torpedoes Akuma in the face. Snap suplex and he rolls over. Dropkick. Kick to the back. Choking on the middle rope. He charges at Akuma and continues arguing with the fans. Ladder shot to the ribs and he drops the ladder on Akuma. Springboard senton onto the ladder. Icarus gently places Akuma on the ladder. Leg drop. He drops the ladder once again. Akuma placed in the corner. He places the ladder in front. Dropkick. Ladder falls on Icarus. Crowd chants “Thank you ladder.”Akuma comes back with chops. Blu-ray into a ladder blocked. Counter into the double knees. Powerbomb into the ladder. Wow. Akuma slowly tries climbing. Icarus German suplexes him. Now Icarus climbs. Akuma grabs him. Rana by Icarus. Spear off the ropes. Icarus places the ladder in the corner. Inverted atomic drop. Akuma slingshots him into the ladder. Release German suplex. Akuma goes to the back for a second ladder. This one is much bigger than the other one. Icarus leg drops the ladder off of Akuma’s face. Blu-ray into the corner with a ladder in it. Again, the ladder falls on top of Icarus. Man, this guy really just does fail at life. Icarus climbs up. Akuma pulls it right out from under him. That could have ended badly. Akuma puts the ladder around his neck. He swings around but misses. Akuma DVDs him over. Icarus’s back hits the edge of the ladder. Yeesh. Ladder set up again. Akuma climbs up the ladder and hits a frog splash. Here comes the campeones de parejas. Chuck Taylor and Johnny Gargano take Iron out and bring a ladder into the ring. Icarus sets the ladder up. Icarus climbs up the ladder as the champions set Akuma up on the table. Iron clears the ring with a chain. Akuma encourages the crowd to shush as he comes from behind on Icarus. Powerbomb THROUGH THE TABLE! Akuma climbs up the ladder and grabs the contract. He is now back on the roster officially.
Match Analysis: The ladder match has been done to death in recent years, so it’s hard for any new risks to be done. Despite this fact, these two brought a lot to the table with spots rarely seen in Chikara. Great heat as always with Icarus. Here in the blow-off, it finally felt like this feud reached its full potential. Very enjoyable match from two long-time members of the roster. It’s going to be tough to top this the rest of the night.
Winner (s)/Time/Match Rating/Entertainment Rating: Gran Akuma/16:07/****/****
-Sara Del Rey and Saturyne vs. The Batiri (Obaryion, Kodama, and Kobald)
Match in Five Words or Less: Building An Army?
Match Highlights: Del Rey and Saturyne interestingly have matching tights. Possible regular team from now on? Didn’t I read somewhere Daizee Haze was supposed to be involved in this match? Del Rey hits a running boot on Kobald. Saturyne cross bodies Obaryion and Kodama. Into the corner goes Kobald. Running leg lariat followed by the combo kick. Now they focus on Obaryion and Kodama. Double sunset flips get two. Elbows on Kobald. Saturyne pulled out of the ring. Double axehandles by Kobald. Triple team on Del Rey. Into the spear by Kobald. Choking by Kobald. Control segment on Del Rey continues. Kobald misses a charge to the corner. All the Batiri members are on the floor. Del hits a cannoball senton. Saturyne is legal. Big cross body dive to the floor. Del Rey brings Kodama in the ring. Delirious enters the ring. Kicks from Del Rey. Drop toehold into the knee strike by the Batiri. Delirious goes on the apron. He runs away from the Batiri. Saturyne awkwardly balances on the apron. Bulldog on Kobald. 1-2-NO! Obaryion breaks the count. Obaryion tosses Saturyne over and sends Kodama flying with a kick. Springboard dropkick. Cannoball into the corner. That was quite the sequence. 1-2-NO! German suplex by Del Rey from behind. Obaryion on the top rope. Del Rey joins him. He licks her face. Leaping DDT attempt but Del Rey kicks him in the chest. Quartet of axe kicks. 1-2-NO! Saturyne guillotines Kobald. Del Rey locks the Royal Butterfly. Delirious choke bombs Saturyne. Drop toehold of Del Rey and he hits a running knee into the corner. The match ends in a disqualification.
Delirious kisses each member of the Batiri and leaves.
Match Analysis: The match was going along quite well until the odd finish. One would assume Delirious is going to use the Batiri to try and take out Mantis, but haven’t we seen that before when Kizarny was around? I really want Del Rey moved on from this feud one way or the other. Not sure how I feel about being a part of a tag team again, but if Saturyne continues improving, it could work. The match quality was there, but I’d still consider this the one disappointment of the night so far.
Winner (s)/Time/Match Rating/Entertainment Rating: Sara Del Rey and Saturyne/8:59/**3/4/***
-Very productive intermission as get a series of video packages and promos, including promotion of the Young Lions Cup and King of Trios. Why is Chikara the only company doing this?
Lucha de Apuesta- Mask vs. Hair: Hallowicked vs. Tim Donst
Match in Five Words or Less: Donst Is Going To Snap
Match Highlights: Tim Donst has pretty much carried this feud by himself with promos about who the greatest Young Lion’s Cup champion of all time is. Hallowicked has merely needed to show up once in a while, maybe perform a tope suicida with a cup in his hand. Donst and Wicked slam their cups together in a great move. Wicked starts quickly with forearms. Donst misses a sliding bulldog. Step-up enziguri. Running boot to the back of the head. Tope plancha to the floor. Donst goes for his cup. Sent back in the ring. Shoulder blocks in the corner. Donst placed on the top rope. Snapmare blocked. STDonst. Crossface elbows in the corner. Whip to the corner and a flying clothesline. Donst rams Wicked’s mask into the mat a number of times. Strikes from Wicked. Snapmare by Donst into a choke. Wicked elbows his way out. Donst axehandles Wicked to the floor. Tope suicida. Elbow to the back of the neck. Elbows from Donst. He grabs Wicked’s nipples. He sends Wicked tripping off the ropes. Bulldog and gator roll neckbreaker. Rydien bomb by Wicked. Forearm exchange. Wicked comes out on top. Running forearm in the corner. Step-up boot. Iconoclasm. Go 2 Sleepy Hollow hits. 1-2-NO! Donst counters into From Dusk ‘til Donst. Wicked grabs the bottom rope almost immediately. To the apron they go. Donst goes for a German suplex. Front row scurries away. Wicked goes for a tope suicida, but Donst rams him into the guard rail. He goes for both cups and holds them both up. Axehandle to the back by Donst. They battle on the ramp. Wicked flapjacks Donst into the steps. Wicked teases taking a count-out but tosses Donst back in the ring. Step-up countered into a powerbomb. Donst puts his feet on the ropes. Bryce Remsburg notices it right away. Forearms by Wicked. Donst hits a belly-to-belly suplex into the corner. 1-2-NO! Donst places Wicked on the top rope. Headbutts nearly send Donst off the top. Rydien bomb off the top rope. 1-2-NO! Donst whipped into the corner. Step-up boot and he hits Remsburg. Chikara Special. Donst visually tops. No ref. Wicked checks on him as Donst goes under the ring. Donst brings a chair in the ring. Wicked holds the cup up and threatens to destroy it. He tosses it in his face. Running boot. Remsburg crawls over. 1-2-NO! Wicked checks on Remsburg again. Donst goes low. He holds the shoelace up and chokes him out. Remsburg lifts Wicked’s arm thrice… and Donst wins! The crowd is stunned.
Remsburg hears it from the crowd, but he sets the chair up for Wicked. Donst celebrates. Wicked begins undoing his mask. The shoelace drops. Remsburg sees it. Bell rings. We’re back on. Wicked immediately boots him in the face and applies Donst’s own submission hold. Donst taps. Wicked wins!
Wicked shaves Donst’s head. He leaves hair on the sides and in the back but makes sure to shave the top. Donst is basically left crying in the ring.
Match Analysis: Man, I’m usually not a fan of overbooking, but it absolutely worked in this case. Everyone knew Wicked was going to win this match, but Chikara did a great job making you believe he wouldn’t lose. I loved the match, loved the tease, and then loved the finish. Wicked immediately hitting a boot and making Donst submit to his own move was awesome. This was an outstanding ending to their feud, and the finishes to this PPV overall have almost atoned for some of my overall frustrations with the 11th season. I can only imagine where Donst’s career will take him next. He actually throws his own cup to the floor and spits on it. Uh oh.
Winner (s)/Time/Match Rating/Entertainment Rating: Hallowicked/14:12/****/****
-Jigsaw, Soldier Ant, Green Ant, Eddie Kingston (Chikara Grand Champion), and Mike Quackenbush vs. Gekido (deviANT, assailANT, combatANT, Shard, and 17)
Match in Five Words or Less: Calling An Audible
Match Highlights: Everything you need to know about this feud is shown by the fact that this isn’t even the main event. The tecnicos come at first, but there’s only four of them. Brawl goes all over the ring of course. That’s how these matches go. Clothesline by Soldier Ant on Shard. No one is in the ring as it’s chaos. Jigsaw chops away on 17. Into the turnbuckle. Right hands in the corner. Running kick by 17. And heeeeeeere’s Quack. Dropkick in the back. Quackenbush replaces Fire Ant, who was “injured” before the Ustream pre-show. Derek Sabato proves to be the Joel Gertner of Chikara iPPVs as Quack immediately palm strikes him out of Philadelphia. Tope con helo on everyone. Brawl continues. Soldier sends combatANT into the ring. Forearm into the corner. Soldier hits a forearm and clothesline. Forearm. Knee to the gut by combatANT. Trip by Shard and springboard splash. Into the turnbuckle go Soldier Ant. Shoulder blocks by deviANT. Vertical suplex. Stomp by combatANT. Back suplex. deviANT goes for the mask. Jigsaw makes the save. Stomp by assailANT. Bodyslam. Big leg drop. Soldier Ant gets tripped up. Boot to the face. Abdominal stretch by deviANT. Soldier tears at the mask. And everyone is in the ring. 17 stomps away at Soldier Ant. He goes to the mask. Jigsaw kicks 17. combatANT with a right hand and European uppercut. Soldier tripped again by Shard. Tope con helo. Kingston comes in and absolutely takes everyone out by himself. Back drop driver on Shard. assailANT gets a back elbow. Green Ant clotheslines him. combatANT hits a TKO. 1-2-NO! running knee by deviANT. Palm strike by Quack. Double team by Quack ‘n’ saw. Jigsaw gets a blue thunder powerbomb for two. Shard hits a gory special. Kingston sends Shard over. Saluting elbow by combatANT. assailANT hits a DVD. 1-2-NO! Jigsaw sent in the corner. Elbow and a double stomp. Superkick on combatANT. Jigsaw points to the balcony. Green Ant HITS A DIVE FROM THE BALCONY ONTO THE GEKIDO! JESUS H. CHRIST! 17 rolls Jigsaw up for two. Crossface. Hold is broken. Bunch if guys in the ring again. Jigsaw and Kingston each get suplexes. Soldier has his mask nearly pulled off. Green and Quack make the save. Back drop driver by Kingston on assailANT. MEGA ANTAPAULT sends Soldier crashing into 17. Chikara Special. Other tecnicos block the Gekido. 12 taps!
Oddly enough, there is no post-match angle except for Quack trying to break 17’s fingers.
Match Analysis: It’s very interesting that there was no post-match angle, and that Mike Quackenbush just randomly came back as a surprise on this show. I have to wonder if some sort of audible was called because let’s face it. This angle was not working in its current form. Fire Ant’s injury obviously throws a wrench in here as well, but I’m happy we got a great, entertaining, and sometimes crazy contest out of it. All of these giant multi-man matches from Chikara tend to be really good, and this was no exception. Everyone played their role well, and it’ll be interesting to see where the take the feud next.
Winner (s)/Time/Match Rating/Entertainment Rating: Soldier Ant, Green Ant, Eddie Kingston, and Mike Quackenbush /9:24/***3/4/****
Campeonatos de Parejas: F.I.S.T (Johnny Gargano and Chuck Taylor) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson)
Match in Five Words or Less: Another Hostage Situation
Match Highlights: Even though this is a championship match, I’m legitimately stunned this is the main event. Matt shoves Gargano. Slap in response. Shoulder tackle by Matt. Roll over. Gargano slides out of the ring. Dropkick by Matt. Nick sends Taylor in the corner. Moonsault misses. Overhead toss. Stomps by Taylor. Right hand. Nick up and over. Roll over and dropkick. A second dropkick as Matt locks in a headscissors. Gargano knocked off the apron. Stomps from Nick. Bucks work over Taylor’s arm. More double teams. Taylor takes Matt into the corner. Punches from Gargano. Assisted sunset flip. Nick hits a backbreaker out of the butterfly position. Matt comes in for a neckbreaker onto his brother’s knee. Ring my bell by Nick. Double axehandles from Matt. He blows a kiss directed at Taylor. Suplex by Matt. Springboard senton by Nick. Gordbuster blocked. Roll over and a kick to the head by Gargano. Taylor with a boot and a clubbering blow. Dropkick. Gargano hits another double axehandle. Back elbows and some dancing from F.I.S.T. Taylor chokes Matt with the Bucks own shirt. Into the boots of Gargano. Stomps by Gargano. Snapamare and dropkick to the back of the head. Axehandle by Taylor. Forearms by Matt. Boot by Taylor and he knocks Nick down. Big kick into a backcracker by Gargano. Double clotheslines miss. Matt rolls Taylor up, holds onto the tights, and gets three at 7:17.
F.I.S.T continues double teaming until Matt leaves the ring. Nick gets double cross bodies. Bulldog on Gargano as he dropkicks Taylor. Series of stomps. Snapmare and he rakes the eyes. Knee to the back. Choking by Nick. Nick chokes Gargano on the middle rope. Matt chokes away behind Remsburg’s back. Chinbreaker by Nick. Choking along the bottom turnbuckle. Hip toss by Gargano. Trip by Nick. Huge kick. Matt covers for two. Gargano sent into the corner. Nick sent up and over. Accidental kick to his own brother. Enziguri misses. DDT/flatliner combination. Taylor comes in. Shoulder tackle on Matt. Dropkick on Nick. Tope con helo. Taylor kisses a child. Matt sent in the ring. Nick waistlocks him. O’Connor roll. Handful of tights as he looks right at Nick. This is good enough to get fall number two at 12:41.
Fall three begins with Matt choking Taylor in the corner. Series of stomps. Nick helps his brother out. Double back elbows on each members of F.I.S.T. Spear back in the ring by Gargano. Dive as Taylor hits a springboard moonsault. Boots in the corner. Running knee in the corner by Nick. Acecrusher countered. Gargano enziguris. Nick. Taylor tosses Matt into a waiting Gargano for a neckbreaker. Wow. Matt whipped into the corner. Elbow by Gargano. Matt powerbombs Taylor into his partner as Nick enziguris Gargano. Worst Case Scenario. Nick moonsault Taylor as Matt hits a release German suplex. 1-2-NO! Gargano and Matt stare each other down. Forearm exchange. Kick by Matt. Superkick on Gargano. Discus forearm misses. Nick superkick. Taylor superkick. Gargano discus forearm. All four men are down. Nick stomps Taylor on the apron. Battle with Gargano on the apron. Superkick blocked. Soul food. MATT DDTS GARGANO ON THE APRON! SWEET JEBUS! Forearm exchange between Taylor and Matt. Eye rake by Matt. Clothesline misses. Taylor rolls him around and applies a half crab. Nick hits a spin kick. More B ang… no. Pair of superkicks by each F.I.S.T member. Gargano lawn darts Nick into Matt. Implant DDT into Hurts Doughnut. Gargano covers. 1-2-NO! Gargano goes for the Hurts Doughnut onto the ramp. Knee to the midsection by Nick. Spear by Gargano misses. The thud on the ramp was ugly. Matt nails Taylor with the belt. 1-2-NO! Tandem piledriver on Taylor. 1-2-NO! Gargano makes the save out of nowhere. Left hands from Gargano. Double superkick. More Bang for your Buck. NEW CHAMPIONS!
Match Analysis: Anyone who specifically bought this iPPV to see this match cannot have ended up disappointed. This was a spectacular, borderline match of the year candidate. Amazing back and forth action between these two teams. Despite the fact that it was heel versus heel, the crowd was into this the whole way. Credit to all four men for capping one of the best Chikara shows in history in such a way. It’ll be fascinating to see where the Bucks go from here as them being invaders is infinitely more interesting than whatever Gekido is doing. Oh, and unlike Taduske, I’m pretty sure the Bucks will defend their titles in the United States. I wonder how many fans even remember Taduske is the Young Lion’s Cup champion.
Winner (s)/Time/Match Rating/Entertainment Rating: NEW campeones de parejas-The Young Bucks/22:51/****1/4/****1/4
-Archibald Peck walks by the Rocky Balboa statue. He is literally walking out of town. Awesome.
-King of Trios commercial with the first team advertised. Apparently, King of Trios is going extreme with Tommy Dreamer, Jerry Lynn, and 2 Cold Scorpio. Well, that’s something.
The Verdict: Regardless of how the first five months have turned, Chikarasaurus Rex has resurrected season 11 with three four star matches and another one that came close. Incredible to think this was only their second iPPV. Chikara used video packages throughout and promoted upcoming events like it was their job. Amazing how the two companies who now produce their own shows on websites they have control over can’t do the same. Great work all around for Chikara. Be it GFL or SMV, you should go out of your way to the best Chikara show of 2012. BIG thumbs up.
For more information in CHIKARA Pro, including tickets and event information, please check their website. While you can purchase DVDs there as well, you can also purchase their DVDs on Smart Mark Video. Something relatively new to Smart Mark Video is video downloads. This is a great way to save on shipping and not have a DVD clogging your shelf (if that’s what you’re concerned about). It’s super easy to purchase and then download on your computer. I could not recommend this service strongly enough whether you’re buying CHIKARA or many other promotions.
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Hell of a show. Don’t get Ophidian jobbing, but a minor quibble.