One of the biggest issues I believe Wrestling is franchises face is consistency. Because so many of them are being cancelled or there is some questionable continuity among these companies and Chikara, it’s sometimes tough to really sink your teeth into what they have to offer. A really solid example of what is plaguing these Wrestling is promotions is the Wrestling Fun show from March 23, 2013. Not only were there a number of rehashed matches from recent Chikaraverse events, but there were also a number of questionable finishes, which did nothing but attempt to forward non-existent storylines and ultimately hurt the quality of the matches.
From an in-ring perspective, nothing stood out. The only two matches I thought actively engaged the audience and delivered in the ring were Jaka versus Hallowicked and assailANT versus Mr. Touchdown, Mark Angelosetti. assailANT took the Banana championship since he is be unable to compete for the Young Lion’s Cup being that’s 28 years old. Although more of a sprint, the action was solid, and they built off what they did in the Tampa Chikara show pretty well. Jaka continues to be an impressive character, but I question the booking given the situation both of these men have been put in recently. Wicked was obviously on a roll in Chikara and was scheduled for a Grand Championship match. Why is he losing clean by submission to someone like Jaka, who hasn’t been booked strong lately and has in fact lost a number of matches to people like Saturyne. If Jaka is in line for a big push or coming to Chikara, I’m more than okay with him getting such a huge win. Otherwise, this didn’t make any sense despite the high quality of the match.
We might as well talk about Sidney Bakabella since he was all over this show from the beginning until the semi-main event. To start the show, Bakabella proclaimed his recent achievement of becoming the Thumb Wars champion of the world. He took on a staff member and photographer. After defeating them, he challenged a young child only to succumb his championship of best thumb war wrestler in the world. This was a cute segment live and at least lived up to the billing of wrestling being fun. Bakabella was also around for part of the Jaka match as there was some obvious scouting going on. I presume Bakabella will be managing him in the near future. Immediately following that match, he led Oleg against Dasher Hatfield. Hatfield had the victory until Bakabella pulled him out of the ring. Oleg hit a ridiculously hard forearm to the side of the head. Of all the various characters in this universe, Oleg is connecting with me the least. He’s just a guy who constantly thinks he’s won the match. He brings minimal intensity and is more of a comedy threat. I spoke about the continuity before, but I find it goofy Oleg gets put over against someone like Hatfield but then loses the next day. More on that in my Wrestling is Respect review. Finally, Bakabella led Devastation Corporation to victory as became involved once again. Poor Jervis Cottonbelly substituted for Fire Ant and took the Death Blow in a solid match. Green Ant has fairly good chemistry with this team and isn’t afraid to dole out punishment. None of the matches were particularly special, but they weren’t bad either. Not a fan of any of the finishes however.
Speaking of bad finishes, Kimber Lee and Saturyne had one for the record books. Satuyne won their first match in February, but Lee stole one after introducing a hammer into the proceedings. She pretended Saturyne hit her with the hammer, and the referee disqualified Saturyne. There is a place for a finish like this to be executed well, and with someone like Eddie Guerrero, this could have come across humorously. Here though, there’s no heat. Saturyne won the first match. Why does it matter that Lee stole a match? This is a terrible way to build up a storyline or issue since Saturyne won the first contest clean. If Lee had won the first match, I can see this finish being somewhat defensible. I do like Lee’s princess character as she plays a brat quite well. My issue isn’t with the talent at all but the poor position they were put in courtesy of the booking. However, they didn’t get enough time to develop their match into anything, and the finish killed whatever remaining interest I had in the match.
In keeping with the theme of rematches, the Batiri of Kodama and Kobald defeated Baltic Siege of Estonian Thunderfrog and Latvian Proud Oak thanks to a roll-up. This was an acceptable match with lots of fun shenanigans involving dancing. Of course Bryce Remsburg was involved, and there was even A CONGO LINE! Stigma lost once again in Wrestling is Fun to Lance Steel. This was the opener of the show and was completely missable. Stigma is roughly the same as he ever was in Chikara. Jolly Roger teased Stigma becoming Shane Storm post-match, but I don’t see that making much of a difference. Juan Francisco de Coronado was supposed to keep the rematch theme going against Mike Quackenbush, but he wrestled Jolly Roger instead. Thanks to Herbert shoving Roger into the post, de Coronado won another match in Wrestling is Fun. The heat was taken away immediately as Amasis won a quick four minute encounter. Just a big pile of meh. De Coronado has shown flashes of being something potentially good, but this evening, particularly being in two nothing matches and needing his servant to get the victory in one of them, did him absolutely no favors.
Even for five dollars, I can’t say this particular Wrestling is Fun was worth my viewing time. I’m not expecting big things, but good wrestling and finishes that make sense are practically mandatory. This show lacked in both.
Grade: D+
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Taped from Allentown, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Gavin Loudspeaker, Mike Quackenbush, Ultramantis Black, Bryce Remsburg, Brendan O’Donnell, and Leonard F. Chikarason
Quick results, times, and ratings:
– Lance Steel defeats Stigma by submission with the Boston crab/5:38/*1/2
-Kimber Lee defeats Saturyne by disqualification/7:28/*
-Juan Francisco de Coronado (w/Herbert) defeats Jolly Roger by count-out/3:15/*
-Amasis defeats Juan Francisco de Coronado with a rolling forearm/3:50/*1/2
-The Batiri (Kodama and Kobald w/Ophidian) defeat Baltic Siege (Latvian Proud Oak and Estonian Thunderfrog) after Kobald rolls Thunderfrog up /13:42/**1/4
-Jaka defeats Hallowicked by submission/11:34/***1/4
-Oleg the Usurper (w/Sydney Bakabella) defeats Dasher Hatfield by pinfall after a forearm blow to the side of the head/13:01/**3/4
-Devastation Corporation (Blaster McMassive and Max Smashmaster) Green Ant and Jervis Cottonbelly via pinfall after the Death Blow on Cottonbelly/11:10/**
-Banana Championship: assailANT defeats Mark Angelosetti via submission with the Code Blue to become the new champion/9:58/**3/4
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