By Chris Vetter, Torch Contributor

Chikara Pro returned to New Alhambra/former ECW Arena on June 25, 2006, for night 3 of its summer tournament, “The Young Lions Cup 4.” The three-day tournament is specifically open to wrestlers under the age of 25.

Chikara Pro is the lucha-based promotion, with lots of colorful masks, goofy characters, and family-friendly entertainment. I’ve said this before – it’s not for everyone, but this promotion has a nice cult following. The crowd here is perhaps 100 fans, certainly small by ECW arena standards, even today.

This event was filmed with multiple cameras. Smart Mark Video recorded the show, and there is good lighting and editing. Ultramantis Black & Larry Sweeney (two heel wrestlers) provided commentary early on. Commentary rotates throughout the show, with ref Bryce Remsburg and Chris Hero also joining the booth.

* The tape opened with a cool highlight video package of Chikara action. After that, the heel team in the opening match cut a promo in the men’s bathroom.

(1) Equinox & Angel de Fuego & Fire Ant & Soldier Ant defeat Crossbones & Rorschach & Los Ice Creams in an 8-man tag at 12:07. This is comedy stuff, and all eight of these guys wear masks and colorful outfits. Soldier Ant hit an Ace Crusher and a hurricanrana early, on Crossbones. Fire Ant and Rorschach traded quick reversals. Angel entered, and he hit a hurricanrana and a plancha on one of the ice cream guys. Equinox entered and hit a hurricanrana at 3:00 on an ice cream guy. The Ice cream guy (the announcers had trouble keeping them separate) then hit a gutwrench suplex and a guillotine legdrop for a nearfall.

Crossbones entered and hit a spine kick on Fire Ant, and the heels began to work Fire Ant Over. The ice cream guys slammed onto Fire Ant, hitting a move that is appropriately called, “An Ice Cream Sandwich” at 6:30. One of the ice cream guys then hit a ‘scoop’ slam for a nearfall on Angel. Angel fired back with a springboard twisting body press on both ice cream guys. The heels worked over Soldier Ant, hitting repeated clotheslines in a corner. Fire Ant made the hot tag at 10:00. There is a fun eight-way spot, and the crowd seems to enjoy the silliness.

Fire Ant hit a summersault press off the post onto five guys on the floor. One of the ice cream guys pulled out a pouch! No, it’s not filled with thumbtacks; it’s filled with … ice cream sprinkles! He poured sprinkles on the mat. However, Equinox gave the Ice Cream guy a hurricanrana onto the sprinkles. “I didn’t realize this was a hardcore rules match,” Ultramantis Black joked on commentary. Equinox hit a standing Shooting Star Press on Ice Cream Jr. for the pin. Fun lucha with lots of comedy.

(2) Daizee Haze defeats Mickie Knuckles at 11:20. Solid women’s match. Ref Bryce Remsburg is now on commentary with Ultramantis. Mickie appears to have redder hair than usual here. Bryce on commentary talked about Daizee working in ROH and Shimmer. The women jawed at each other, and they traded some armholds. They were in a knucklelock, and Mickie got a monkeyflip. Daizee stalled on the floor. Daizee hit a cheap shot at 5:30, but she pretended that she was the one hit! Mickie gave her a hard slap to the face! Haze hit a Hipkick and a running dropkick to the chest, then the back, for a nearfall.

Haze took over, applying a Camel Clutch, then hitting a senton. They traded stiff forearms. Mickie nailed a sitdown powerbomb for a nearfall. Haze hit a dropkick to the chest, then a Daizee Cutter/stunner for a nearfall. Haze hit the Heart Punch for a nearfall at 9:00. Mickie came back with a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall, and the crowd was hot! Haze hit a running dropkick to the head. Mickie hit an airplane spin, into a sidewalk slam for a believable nearfall. Haze won it with a rollup and a handful of tights for the pin. Mickie was upset after the match, and she ‘piefaced’ the referee.

(3) Max Boyer defeats Dan Paysan at 6:13. Good short match. I’ve never seen either of these guys before. Boyer has on red pants and a black shirt, and the announcers say some are saying he’s a young Chris Benoit. Paysan is doing the heel Italian gimmick, and he looks a lot like Little Guido. He has curly black hair and a singlet. Max ran into the ring and immediately attacked Paysan to start the match. Paysan hit some Japanese Armdrags, and he jawed at the ref. Remsburg on commentary said both guys (who are from IWS in Canada) have previously competed in CZW.

Paysan hit a second-rope dive to the floor, into an armdrag. Boyer hit a dropkick as Payson came off the top rope at 3:00 for a nearfall. Paysan hit a nice springboard move into a hurricanrana for a nearfall, and that got a nice crowd pop. Paysan hit a neckbreaker over his knee for a nearfall. Boyer hit five consecutive German Suplexes for a nearfall at 5:00, and this series of moves got a nice pop. “I’m very impressed with Boyer,” Remsburg said. Boyer hit a pumphandle sitdown powerbomb, dropping Paysan on his neck, for the pin. Very good short match, and I definitely want to see more of Boyer!

(4) Cloudy & Chuck Taylor defeat Player Uno & Ricochet at 10:14. Uno wore a mask and a black T-shirt, and he’s a champion in IWS in Canada. Taylor and Ricochet are catching fire in the Midwest; I’ve seen them both at a lot of IWA-Mid South shows this year. Uno and Cloudy started. In a nice spot, Cloudy went for a wheelbarrow, but Uno blocked it and hit a faceplant. Ricochet hit a nice headscissors takedown on Taylor. On commentary, Remsburg compared Taylor and Ricochet’s ascent in indy circles to Punk & Cabana, or Jacobs & Shelley. Taylor hit a belly-to-belly suplex on Ricochet. Cloudy hit a Rey 619 on Ricochet.

Taylor hit a nice dropkick on Ricochet’s upper chest, then a moonsault. Ricochet fired back with a spin heel kick on Cloudy. Uno entered and hit a flipping senton on Cloudy at 4:30, then a Michinoku Driver on Cloudy. Cloudy came back with a blockbuster on Uno. Taylor hit a headscissors takedown on Uno. In a nice sequence, Ricochet hit a Lungblower on Taylor, and Uno immediately followed the move with a German Suplex on Taylor. Cool. Cloudy hit a springboard backflip to the floor. Taylor hit a dive onto Uno to the floor at 7:30, drawing a nice pop.

Ricochet then NAILED a springboard double moonsault to the floor on the three other people in this match. Dangerous but spectacular move! In the ring, Uno hit a neckbreaker over his knee on Cloudy. Taylor hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on Uno, then a series of chops on Ricochet. Ricochet hit a top-rope 630 Splash for a believable nearfall on Taylor at 10:00. Moments later, Cloudy hit a Code Red/sudden swinging sunset flip on Ricochet for the pin. The crowd gave them a standing ovation, as this was a fun, innovative bumpfest.

* In a backstage promo, Larry Sweeney talked about his weekend, competing in Toronto, then Boston, and now in Philadelphia. He said that the ‘best of friends make the worst of enemies. Sweeney said that Eddie Kingston was a mentor, but Sweeney is now out to prove that he’s tough.

(5) Eddie Kingston defeats Larry Sweeney via DQ at 5:08. Disappointingly short, but it set in motion this feud. This is a first-time-ever singles match. Chris Hero was on commentary. Kingston showed great intensity. They traded slaps, then punches and chops. Kingston hit a belly-to-belly overhead suplex and some punches. Sweeney choked Kingston in the ropes, then he applied a sleeper, but Kingston powered out. Sweeney nailed Kingston with a low blow kick, and the ref disqualified Sweeney.

However, the action didn’t stop there, as Sweeney bit Kingston’s nose and choked him violently! Sweeney attacked ref Remsburg, and he hit Kingston with a belt. “We are seeing a new Larry Sweeney,” Hero said on commentary. “He is not to be messed with. He is focused.” Kingston sold pain in his stomach & groin from the attack as he was helped from the ring. Solid action; as noted, this does more to further future storylines.


* Chris Hero cut a backstage promo, saying he was wrestling in a singles match tonight, because he and Claudio Castognoli have dominated the tagteams in Chikara, and there aren’t any teams left to beat. Hero noted that his opponent, Brandon Thomaselli has never beaten him. (NOTE: I saw this matchup in Iowa last year.)

(6) Chris Hero defeats Brandon Thomaselli at 8:35. Above-average, but not as good as their prior matchup, and this was unusually short for a Hero match. Larry Sweeney joined the commentary team for this match. Hero attacked Thomaselli immediately. Thomaselli hit a nice dropkick and chops, then some Japanese armdrags. (I really like Thomaselli more as a face, as he has a nice arsenal of moves that he gets to hit.) Hero hit some chops and punches. Brandon came back with a headscissors takedown and a spin heel kick. Hero stalled on the floor, and he even pushed a fan to his seat. “Chris Hero always seems to have a chip on his shoulder,” Sweeney said on commentary.


Hero hit a senton into the ring, then a nice powerslam for a nearfall at 4:00, and he was in charge. Hero went for his version of the Rolling Thunder, but Brandon got his knees up to block it. Brandon hit a nice belly-to-belly overhead suplex and a Stinger Splash, then a Facewash at 7:00 and a nice headscissors takedown. Brandon hit a twisting fisherman’s suplex for a nearfall. Hero hit a cravate neckbreaker, then a standing moonsault for the pin out of nowhere. I didn’t see the finish coming at all.

* In a backstage segment, Hallowicked & Delirious cut a promo in their gibberish, as Delirious made it clear they are going after the tag titles.

(7) Vito & Sal Thomaselli (The Iron Saints) defeat Delirious & Hallowicked at 11:15. Delirious went crazy as the match started, and he cleared the ring. Vito and Hallowicked started, and Hallowicked worked the left leg. Delirious tagged in to face Sal, and Delirious cut one of his gibberish promos. Vito accidentally dropkicked Sal. The faces hit double dropkicks on the Saints at 4:00, and Hallowicked dove onto both heels. In the ring, Delirious and Vito traded chops, and the heels began to work over Delirious. Vito hit a nice gutwrench suplex. Delirious fired back with a Panic Attack/running knee on Sal at 7:00, and the crowd was hot! Hallowicked made the hot tag, and he hit some clotheslines and a Spinebuster.

Vito and Hallowicked traded rollups. Suddenly, Ultramantis Black was at ringside, and he was arguing with Hallowicked! Delirious nailed the Shadows Over Hell/backsplash on Sal Thomaselli for a nearfall. Ultramantis Black attacked Hallowicked! Hydra ran to ringside, and he too, attacked Hallowicked; meanwhile the Saints were beating up Delirious in the ring. The Saints hit a double flapjack on Delirious, then the Pendulum Doublestomp to pin Delirious. Ultramantis Black choked Hallowicked with his staff. Good match with a nice storyline set in motion here, too.

* Icarus cut a promo, saying he ended the careers of Jolly Roger and Mr. Zero, and now he’s going to end Mike Quackenbush’s career, too.

(8) Jigsaw & Mike Quackenbush & Shane Storm defeat Icarus & Gran Akuma & Claudio Castognoli at 23:44 via DQ. Excellent lucha-style action, and easily my pick for match of the night. The match began, and it’s obvious right away that Icarus and Jigsaw want to tear each other apart! Storm started with Akuma, and Akuma hit his quick kicks. Storm hit a headscissors takedown. Jigsaw and Claudio tagged in, and Jigsaw hit a nice armdrag, then a takedown on Icarus & Akuma, and this is lots of quick lucha action. Storm hit a spin heel kick on Icarus. Quackenbush entered at 5:00, and he hit a nice headscissors takedown on Claudio, then a springboard summersault dive to the floor on Claudio.

Akuma and Jigsaw traded kicks to the thigh, and Jigsaw hit a cool headscissors takedown. Icarus, then Akuma, hit sentons on Jigsaw. At 8:30, Icarus began trying to remove Jigsaw’s mask! The heels began to work over Jigsaw. Claudio hit some European Uppercuts. Akuma hit some kicks to the chest, and he applied a modified Cattle Mutilation/double armbar. Icarus hit a DDT for a nearfall. Storm made the hot tag at 12:00, but Icarus hit him with a snap suplex for a nearfall. Akuma hit some kicks to the leg and he applied a modified Figure Four Leglock, but Storm reached the ropes. Claudio & Akuma slammed Icarus onto Storm. Quack entered at 14:30, but Claudio pounced on him, and he slammed Quack’s head repeatedly into the mat.

Icarus bent Quackenbush over his knee. Akuma applied a single-leg crab. Claudio nailed a diving European Uppercut on Quackenbush. Akuma applied a Camel Clutch. Storm made the hot tag, and he hit a flip dive to the floor at 18:30. Jigsaw nailed a top-rope clothesline on Icarus. Icarus came back with an inverted DDT on Jigsaw for a nearfall. Quack hit a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall on Icarus. Claudio nailed a modified Angle Slam on Quack for a nearfall. Storm hit an Air Raid Crash on Claudio for a nearfall! Akuma hit a 450 Splash on Storm for a nearfall. Jigsaw nailed a jump-up hurricanrana on Akuma for a nearfall. Claudio hit an uppercut, and Icarus immediately hit a Lungblower on Quack for a believable nearfall at 21:30.

Storm nailed a German Suplex on Icarus. Akuma hit a Ghana Rea/spinning back slam on Storm. Claudio tossed Jigsaw into the air and hit a European Uppercut as Jigsaw came down. Quack hit a satellite headscissors takedown on Claudio for a believable nearfall, and the crowd was going nuts! Several wrestlers fought on the floor, leaving Jigsaw vs. Icarus in the ring. Icarus yanked off Jigsaw’s mask, which meant an automatic disqualification for the heels! Jigsaw hid his face in his hands until he got his mask back. Icarus then challenged Jigsaw to put his mask on the line; Jigsaw agreed, but only if Icarus put his hair on the line! Excellent match, even with the non-finish.

* Several wrestlers from the back had to come out to separate Icarus and Jigsaw. We suddenly had a communication on the overhead screen from Chikara commissioner BOB SAGAT. No, I’m not kidding. Bob Sagat taped a promo for this show. Sagat made it official that it would be Icarus vs. Jigsaw in a hair vs. mask match. The crowd went nuts at the unannounced appearance (on tape) of Sagat. Funny.

* Cheech cut a backstage promo, saying that he is finally in the main event, and all eyes are on him!

(9) Arik Cannon defeats Cheech (w/Cloudy) at 23:46 to win the 2006 Young Lions Cup. Very good match; probably the best singles match Cheech has ever had. Cannon wore his white outfit. Both wrestlers posed together with the Cup before the match began. They shook hands, and the crowd was hot for this match. They opened with some standing switches and trading holds, then chops and forearms. Cheech hit a basement dropkick to the back and a senton for a nearfall at 3:30. Cannon nailed a roaring forearm, then a stiff forearm to the back, then a nice delayed vertical suplex. Cheech hit a snap suplex for a nearfall, then an Orton cross-the-back neckbreaker for a nearfall at 6:30.

Cheech applied a Sharpshooter, but Cannon reached the ropes. Cheech hit a missile dropkick to the back and a nice flip dive to the floor on Cannon, and they were both down. The crowd was hot! Cannon nailed an Exploder Suplex on the floor at 9:00, and that popped the crowd! Cannon rolled Cheech in the ring and got a nearfall. Cannon hit a series of sickening headbutts, then a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. Cannon hit some of his hard chops. Cheech fired back with an Ace Crusher. Cannon placed Cheech’s feet on the top rope, and he hit a Pedigree at 13:00. Cannon tied Cheech in a pretzel in the middle of the ring, then he unloaded some more hard chops. Cheech fired back with a Tornado DDT at 16:00, then a fisherman’s suplex.

Cheech missed a top-rope Shooting Star Press. Cannon went for the Glimmering Warlock/step-up enziguri, but he missed. Cannon hit a brainbuster for a nearfall. Cheech hit a Crucifix Takedown for a nearfall, then a running knee, and both were down. They traded stiff forearms, and Cannon placed Cheech’s feet on the top rope, and this time, he hit a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall at 20:00. Cheech fired back with a pumphandle back suplex for a nearfall. Cannon hit a Saito Suplex, then he nailed the Glimmering Warlock for a believable nearfall; Cannon was shocked that the move didn’t get him the pin!

Cannon again hit a Saito Suplex, but this time, he missed the Glimmering Warlock! Cheech flipped Cannon off his shoulder and hit a knee strike for a nearfall, but Cannon reached the ropes. Cheech did the knee strike move a second time for a believable nearfall. Cannon then hit a Glimmering Warlock, followed with a Burning Hammer/inverted Death Valley Driver, for the pin. WOW, that was fun; the last five minutes were intense.

* Cannon celebrated alone in the ring (he is hated by the heels and faces alike in Chikara), and he kissed the cup. He hugged Cheech.

* In a final backstage promo, Cannon took a big gulp of Kool Aid from the Cup! “I did it on my own,” Cannon declared. He noted that he won the tournament without help from Hero, Claudio, Icarus or Akuma. He also got no help from Quackenbush, he said with distain. “By now, I thought I’d proven myself trustworthy,” Cannon said, bitter at the faces for not accepting him yet.

Final thoughts: Tape runs 2 hours, 57 minutes. This is a very good Chikara show; if you see this show and don’t like it, you probably won’t like anything from Chikara. The main event was a blast. Cannon’s had big matches before, and this is one of his best from 2006. Cheech stepped up to the plate and had a great singles match to close out this show.

I really like the angle they’ve done here with Cannon. So often in pro wrestling, a wrestler becomes a heel, and he’s immediately accepted by the other heels. Likewise, the faces tend to automatically accept a former heel who’s reformed. Not here. Cannon is ostracized by both heels and faces alike, as he yearns for acceptance. It’s good stuff.

The six-man tag was great lucha action. Claudio Castognoli is so much bigger than the other five in this match, but he wrestles fluidly with all these guys. The match did a great job of setting up the hatred between Icarus and Jigsaw at the onset, and Icarus tried at different points in the match to remove the mask, before finally doing it to end the match. Well done.

Iron Saints vs. Delirious & Hallowicked earned third-best here, just ahead of Hero-Thomaselli. I really wish Hero-Thomaselli had been given five to 10 more minutes here, as that ended just as it felt like it was heating up.

As with all Chikara shows, there were plenty of comedy spots, and some of that is hit or miss. The women’s match was solid. I’m interested in seeing more of Boyer, as he was impressive in his short match.

This show gets a thumbs up from me, and it can be purchased at www.smartmarkvideo.com for $15.

We suggest these recent related articles...

RADICAN'S Beyond Wrestling "Greatest Rivals Round Robin" review 9/26 - incredible show of the year contender, Busick-Edwards top-flight MOTYC, more!

RADICAN'S "The Pull List" (Vol. 5) "Young Bucks Too Sweet Journey" doc review, The Flash season 1 Blu-Ray, Top Ten MOTYC for 2015

RADICAN'S "THE PULL LIST" (Vol. 4) - step by step guide to social media and conduct, "Madden NFL 16" review, "Furious 7" Blu-ray w/The Rock & Ronda Rousey, more!