By Chris Vetter

Chikara Pro, the Pennsylvania-based family promotion that stresses lucha action and colorful characters, returned to the former ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Penn., on Aug. 5, 2007, for "Maximum Overdraft."

I try to buy a Chikara Pro DVD at least every other month. While I don't buy it for the comedy stuff, it usually is good, light-hearted fun. However, three of Chikara Pro's bigger names -- Jigsaw, Larry Sweeney, and Hallowicked -- were absent from this big show. The crowd here is actually 200 to 300, which is really good for Chikara Pro.

Chikara Pro has revolving commentary, with Larry Chikarason, UltraMantis Black, Chris Hero and others all joining the booth during the night. I personally get a kick out of UltraMantis Black and his heel persona.

* The DVD opened with team 2.0 (Shane Matthews & Jagged) cutting a backstage promo about how much they hate ice cream, ever since one of them had an ice cream cone stain a pair of pants as a kid. Silly, and a bit stupid. Point being, they want to get revenge on the Ice Creams!

(1) Ice Cream Jr. & El Hielo Del Ice Cream defeat Jagged & Shane Matthews at 6:21. The Ice creams look like clown with full body costumes and ice creams attached to their masks. Jagged wears a singlet, while Matthews wears black pants. All four brawled immediately. Hielo hit a flying buttbump. Jagged hit a short-arm clothesline on Ice Cream Jr. (he has a yellow cone on his mask), and the heels of 2.0 were in charge. Jagged hit a nice snap suplex for a nearfall at 2:30, then a nice back suplex.

Ice Cream Jr. hit double stunners, and he made the hot tag to Hielo, and the Ice Creams did some comedy stuff, with the heels accidentally hitting each other. Ice Cream Jr. hit sentons on both heels. Team 2.0 came back with a team Russian legsweep, Matthews hit a dropkick at 5:00 on Ice Cream Jr. Hielo hit a splash to the floor on Jagged. Meanwhile, Ice Cream Jr. hit a Jackhammer in the ring on Matthews. Moments later, Ice Cream Jr. got a rollup on Jagged for the pin. "2.0 was robbed!" UltraMantis Black said. Basic.

* Eddie Kingston cut a long promo backstage about his hatred for Hallowicked. Kingston is upset that some Chikara wrestlers are getting the opportunity to wrestle for ROH and FIP, but he's getting bypassed. "I've got nothing but sorrow & heartache," Kingston said. "I built this company. This company broke my heart." Kingston said that his opponent tonight, Ricochet, is in the "wrong place at the wrong time." Kingston finished by saying, "this business has made me heartless and cold." Good promo.

(2) Ricochet defeats Eddie Kingston at 8:23 via DQ. Chikarason talked about the feud between Kingston and Hallowicked. Kingston easily shoved the smaller Ricochet to the mat. Ricochet hit a flying shoulder tackle and a headscissors takedown, then an enziguri and a tumbleweed for a nearfall at 2:30. Kingston fired back with a clothesline, and they traded chops. Kingston nailed a hard kick to the head, and he was in charge, as he jawed at the crowd. They fought to the floor, and Ricochet whipped Kingston into the guardrail at 4:30.

In the ring, Kingston applied a sleeper. Ricochet hit a nice spin heel kick for a nearfall, a nice dropkick, and a modified 619, then a springboard dropkick for a nearfall at 6:30. Ricochet hit an awesome corkscrew plancha to the floor! Ricochet went for a missile dropkick in the ring, but Kingston turned it into a powerbomb. Kingston applied a Camel Clutch, but Ricochet reached the ropes. Kingston hit some Kobashi-style chops. Ricochet hit a hurricanrana for a believable nearfall, but he missed a top-rope corkscrew press. Kingston purposely hit a low-blow kick, and the referee disqualified Ricochet. Too bad, as this match was really starting to heat up when it suddenly ended.

* Kingston shouted that he would "keep hurting kids until I get Hallowicked." Kingston left the ring, went to the merchandise table, and returned with a Hallowicked mask. He put the mask on Ricochet and continued to beat him up. I like this build-up.

* Shayne Hawke cut a backstage promo. Hawke is a goofy redhead. He talked about losing to Billy Roc at the "Young Lions Cup" tournament earlier in the summer. "I'm coming to avenge my loss," Hawke said.

(3) Shayne Hawke defeats Billy Roc at 7:49. Blah. This should have been MUCH better. Before the bell rang, Hawke claimed that Roc pulled his hair and pulled his tights. They opened with some mat reversals, and Roc worked on the left arm. Chris Hero joined commentary, and he (rightfully) criticized Roc for not showing any fire and not 'having a killer instinct.' Hero also talked about how he hates all people with red hair. Hawke and Roc traded forearms. Roc hit a headscissors takedown at 4:00, then some armdrags, and Hawke bailed.

In the ring, Hawke applied a cross-armbreaker, and he hit some blows to the back, and he was in charge. They traded more forearms, and Hawke hit some punches as they rolled on the mat. Roc hit a headscissors takedown and his wrap-around-the-ropes dropkick at 6:30. Roc hit a catapult splash into the ring, and he tied up Hawke's arms and slammed Shayne to the mat. Hawke hit a stunner for a nearfall. Roc hit a Death Valley Driver over his knee for a nearfall. Hawke hit a Flatliner for the pin. This match was just really slow, and both men's offense was really soft.

* Icarus & Gran Akuma appeared on the ramp and they congratulated Hawke on his win. Intriguing.

* In a backstage promo, Sara Del Rey said she will win twice tonight against Daizee Haze.

(4) Sara Del Rey defeats Daizee Haze at 12:07 in a "best of three falls" match. The action was good (although these two have done much better elsewhere), but I really dislike seeing three pinfalls in a 12-minute span. Haze attacked Del Rey on the floor. Del Rey hit some chops in the ring, then a headbutt, and Haze bailed. Haze hit some stomps in the ring, then a drop-toe-hold and a kneelift to the gut. Del Rey hit her running Vader Splash and a basement dropkick at 2:30, then she tied up Haze. Del Rey yanked Haze around by her hair, and Del Rey applied a Camel Clutch, but Haze bit her to escape. Del Rey got a vertical suplex for a nearfall. Suddenly, Haze got a quick rollup out of a hurricanrana for the pin at 5:27!

Haze hit a basement dropkick on the knee and some stomps. Haze tied Del Rey's left leg up around the ringpost, and she worked over the leg on the floor. Del rey whipped Haze into the guardrail. In the ring, Del Rey hit a Northern Lights suplex for a nearfall, then a Mafia Kick. Haze applied an Indian Deathlock, as she tied up the legs and cranked back on the head. However, Del Rey scored a rollup for a pin at 9:27, and the match was tied 1-1!

The crowd was hot! Haze twisted the left leg in the ropes, and she hit a Heart Punch as they fought on the top rope. Haze hit a top-rope hurricanrana for a nearfall. Del Rey hit a high back suplex, dumping Haze on her head! Del Rey applied the Royal Butterfly Lock, and she turned it into the Butterfly Suplex for the pin! Good women's match, but this should have just been one fall, to do away with these quick pins.

(5) Delirious & Cheech & Cloudy defeat Worker Ant & Soldier Ant & Fire Ant at 13:34. Fun, fun match. This is proto-typical Chikara Pro -- good lucha, plenty of comedy, and family-fun antics. Both Cheech & Cloudy wore Delirious outfits and masks (although it is clear which one is which throughout this match.) All three "Delirious" went crazy at the bell, as the announcers tried to explain that these new two Delirious members were 'replacing' Cheech & Cloudy. Delirious (the real one!) started against Soldier Ant, and they traded good mat reversals. Soldier Ant kept saluting Delirious, and this made Delirious angry. Soldier Ant hit a crossbody block, and Delirious bailed at 2:30.

Worker Ant faced Cloudy, and this was just all comedy. Cloudy hit a nice dropkick. Fire Ant faced Cheech, and Fire Ant hit a nice hurricanrana. The real Delirious tagged back in at 6:00 and beat up Worker Ant, and he hit some elbows to the back of the neck. The three "Delirious" characters posed together. Fire Ant tagged in and hit a nice crossbody block on Cloudy, then Fire Ant hit fireman's carries on all the Deliriouses, then on his own partners, then Referee Bryce Remsburg! Fun silliness. Worker Ant & Soldier Ant hit double dives to the floor at 8:30. Fire Ant then flipped one of the Delirious to the floor on everyone. Fire Ant then nailed a flip dive over the top rope onto the three Delirious characters!

In the ring, Delirious hit a double clothesline. All three Delirious hit 'never-ending clotheslines' in the corners. Delirious hit a Panic Attack/running knee. The Ants hit a triple basement dropkick spot to Delirious' face at 11:30. Soldier Ant hit an assisted frogsplash. Cheech & Cloudy hit their team 619 spot in the ropes. Cloudy hit a Tornado DDT. Delirious hit a Shadows Over Hell backsplash on Fire Ant for a nearfall. Delirious then nailed the Chemical Imbalance II/flipping powerbomb on Fire Ant for the pin. Fun comedy with some well set-up spots. The three Deliriouses posed again.

(6) La Parkita Original defeats Payaso Del Futuro at 7:28. Terrible. Honestly, this may be the worst Chikara match I've ever seen, and I've seen a LOT of Chikara matches. Del Futuro has a 'Two-face' outfit (half his outfit is orange, half is black), and he's heavy. La Parkita Original is a midget/dwarf, and he danced with a woman in the ring before the match. The match began, and Payaso hit some sloppy shoulder tackles. La Parkita hit a dropkick, a second-rope crossbody block to the floor, a headscissors takedown, and a dive through the ropes on Payaso.

In the ring, Parkita hit some weak chops, then he applied a Camel Clutch. Parkita hit a flip dive off the apron to the floor. Parkita walked over the commentary table, talked on the mic, but it was inaudible. Parkita got back in the ring, and scored a rollup for the pin. Terrible, just terrible. Payaso is really out of shape, and this match never had a chance of being good.

* Chuck Taylor came out with his Young Lions Cup, and he has an open challenge for anyone to face him. Out of the back came... Drake Younger! Drake is well known on the East Coast for his death matches in CZW, but this is his Chikara debut.

(7) Chuck Taylor defeats Drake Younger at 9:31. Good match. The crowd popped for Younger. They opened with an intense lockup, and Younger hit a Japanese armdrag and some chops on the floor. Taylor hit an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the floor at 3:00! OUCH! In the ring, Taylor hit a nice dropkick, and he was in charge, as he hit a spine kick. Younger hit a Bulldog Powerslam, and they were both down. Younger hit some clotheslines, chops, and a Spinebuster for a nearfall at 6:30. Taylor hit a springboard dropkick, but he couldn't hit the Sole Food/falling-backward-boot to the jaw.

Younger hit a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall. Taylor hit the Sole Food, then a standing powerbomb for a nearfall. Younger nailed a half-nelson suplex and a frogsplash for a nearfall, but he couldn't hit the Drake's Landing/Copkillah. Taylor nailed the "Awful Waffle"/sitdown piledriver for the pin. Good action.

* Younger spoke on the mic, saying that Taylor won't be able to hold onto the Young Lion's Cup forever.

DVD 1 ends at 1 hour, 50 minutes.

* Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli cut a backstage promo. Hero said that he "resurrected" the Kings of Wrestling after he beat Claudio and made him his slave. "I'm Chris hero, and I'm the best there is." Castagnoli needled Hero about losing recently.

(8) Lince Dorado & El Pantera defeat Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli (the Kings of Wrestling) at 11:40. The KOW attacked at the bell. Hero and Dorado started, and they tied up, but Hero pulled off so he could do his ridiculous jumps around the ring. Dorado hit a nice satellite headscissors takedown. Pantera entered and faced Claudio, with Pantera hitting a headscissors takedown. Bryce Remsburg on commentary said that Pantera "at 4 decades old, still has it." Hero hit a flying forearm on Pantera. Pantera hit a second-rope headscissors takedown. Claudio entered at 3:30, and he patted the shorter Dorado on the head.

Claudio hit a European Uppercut. Dorado hit some shoulder tackles, but they had no effect. Dorado hit a satellite headscissors takedown for a pop. Claudio caught Dorado coming off the ropes, and Claudio hit a backbreaker over his knee. Hero hit a senton for a nearfall on Lince. Claudio hit a Giant Swing for a nearfall at 6:30, then a Mafia Kick, and the KOW were in charge. Hero hit a loud belly slap, and he paused to celebrate. Claudio hit a gutwrench suplex for a nearfall. Pantera made the hot tag, and he hit a hurricanrana, then a stunner on Claudio, and a double boot shot on the heels. The faces hit simultaneous dives through the ropes on the KOW at 9:00.

Dorado hit a Lionsault Press in the ring on Hero. Dorado hit a top-rope corkscrew press. Pantera hit a top-rope moonsault press on Claudio for a nearfall. Claudio couldn't hit his spin-around-the-back faceplant. Pantera hit a top-rope hurricanrana to the mat on Claudio. Hero chopped Dorado. Lince hit a nice dive over the top rope onto Claudio on the floor, leaving just Hero vs. Pantera in the ring. Pantera applied the "Chikara Special"/pretzel hold on Hero, and the crowd went nuts! The announcers screamed that this move is "kryptonite" to Hero, as he can't figure out how to get out of it! Hero tapped out, and the crowd popped. "That's three times in three months," Chikarason said.

* Mike Quackenbush spoke backstage about beating Tiger Mask to win the NWA Junior Heavyweight Title (at a Fight Sports Midwest show earlier this year). Quackenbush said he isn't proud of the way he won the match (he acted heelish and pulled off Tiger Mask's mask!), but he is ready to defend the title honorably. "I want to have classic title matches," Quackenbush said. Quack said this belt was once held by Liger, and that means a lot to him.

(9) Mike Quackenbush defeats Black Tiger at 13:09 to retain the NWA Jr. heavyweight title. Good match. Both men posed for a picture with the title belt. (Black Tiger also wrestles as Rocky Romero). Immediately at the bell, Quack hit a basement dropkick on the knee, and he cranked on the leg! UltraMantis Black said this was the first time this title has been defended in Chikara. Quack hit a Dragonscrew legwhip. Black Tiger applied a Bow & Arrow. This action was intense! Quack hit a quick armdrag, then a flip dive over the ropes, and they were both down at 2:30. Black Tiger snapped Quack's neck over the top rope. Tiger hit some kneeshots to the back, and he applied a headscissorslock on the mat.

Black Tiger was in charge, as he hit a running dropkick to the side of the head, and he cranked on Quack's nose, then he hit a kneedrop to the face for a nearfall, then a Tornado DDT for a nearfall. Quack hit a basement dropkick on the knee, and he got a rollup for a nearfall at 6:30. Black Tiger hit a Gordbuster faceplant, then a springboard kneedrop to the base of Quack's neck. Quack hit a dropkick as Black Tiger went for a move off the ropes. Quack hit a springboard twisting kneeshot, then a reverse Crucifix Takedown, dropping Black Tiger stomach-first to the mat, for a nearfall.

Quack hit a modified brainbuster for a nearfall. Black Tiger hit a second-rope DDT. Quackenbush hit a Dragonscrew legwhip as Black Tiger was on the top rope at 10:30! Quack tied up the legs, but Black Tiger reached the ropes. Black Tiger hit a Tiger Suplex for a nearfall, and he got a backslide for a believable nearfall. Black Tiger nailed a tombstone piledriver for a believable nearfall. Quack hit a Palmstrike, and he turned it into a "Lightning Lock"/anklelock, and Black Tiger tapped out! Very good match.

* Gran Akuma & Icarus cut a backstage promo. Akuma said that they won tag gold last year, but most of this year, they've been "beating up ants, apes, and ice cream." Funny and accurate. Finally, they get some real competition in the ROH tag champions, the Briscoes! "Tonight, you're in our house," Akuma said. Icarus said they are the tag champions, and they are classy, unlike two "hicks from Delaware."

(10) Icarus & Gran Akuma (Team F.I.S.T.) defeat Jay & Mark Briscoe at 14:00 even. Gran Akuma and Mark started with an intense lockup, and Mark hit a spine kick. The Briscoes are definitely bigger and stronger than their opponents here. Mark hit some shoulder thrusts in the corner. Chikarason said neither team's tag titles are on the line here. Icarus tagged in to face Jay, and Jay hit a leg lariat and a hard Mafia kick at 2:30. Mark hit a springboard kick and a swan dive to the floor on Akuma! Jay hit a Death Valley Driver on Icarus. Mark hit a springboard twisting frogsplash on Icarus for a nearfall, and the Briscoes were in chafge. The Briscoes hit a team hiptoss, sending Icarus across the ring. Jay hit a dropkick for a nearfall, then a Mafia Kick in the corner for a nearfall.

Mark hit a gutwrench suplex and a flying kneedrop for a nearfall at 5:30. The Briscoes hit their football shoulder tackle for a nearfall on Icarus. Gran Akuma got the 'lucha tag' when Icarus was able to roll to the floor, and Akuma hit a field goal kick to Jay's face! Icarus hit an enziguri, and the heels began to work over Jay. Akuma applied a mid-ring Octopus on Jay, and the heels were in charge. Icarus and Jay traded slaps to the face. Jay hit a running Mafia Kick, and they were both down at 9:00, and the fans were hot! Mark made the hot tag, and he hit some karate thrusts on Icarus, then a kick to the back of the head. Mark hit a Superkick on Gran Akuma and a back suplex on Icarus. The Briscoes hit some quick team moves on Icarus, and fans chanted, "Man up!"

Icarus got a Victory Roll for a nearfall. Gran Akuma hit a top-rope Rana onJay. Icarus hit a frogsplash on Jay for a nearfall at 11:30. Icarus avoided a Jay Driller. Jay hit a Death Valley Driver for a nearfall. Mark hit a gutwrench powerbomb on Icarus. Icarus hit a reverse rana on Jay! Gran Akuma hit a Spider Suplex out of the corner on Mark, then Akuma hit a moonsault for a nearfall. The crowd was hot! Mark couldn't hit the Cutthroat Driver/DVD. Mark and Gran Akuma traded rollups, when Akuma suddenly got the three-count and the pin! ***

* After the match, the Briscoes hit a Doomsday Clothesline on Icarus. Jay hit a JayDriller/butterfly piledriver on Akuma, and Mark hit the Cutthroat Driver on Akuma, as the Briscoes got their heat back. Icarus and Akuma finally got to their feet and they shoved each other, showing signs of dissension.

* Steve "the turtle" Weiner gave a recap of the show. I don't know what to make of this segment, so I won't say anything more.

DVD 2 ends at 1 hour, 3 minutes.

Final thoughts: This was a good show. The action isn't "ROH-level" or on par with the good PWG shows, but this is fun, light-hearted, and different. I'll give best match to the technical mat match between Quackenbush and Black Tiger. While I won't go as far as calling it a "must-see" match, it was a really well-fought match, and good mat action.

The main event earned second-best, as F.I.S.T. held their own against the bigger, more well-known Briscoes. I am a big fan of Gran Akuma, but I think Icarus is missing some intangibles to move to 'the next level.' (And Akuma has been in ROH & FIP, while Icarus has not.)

Third-best goes to Hero & Claudio vs. Pantera & Dorado. This was some good lucha action, and Castagnoli always works well with the smaller guys. I'm a big Delirious fan, and that match was fun. Fire Ant is small, but he has some good energy, and he really stands out on the undercard.

Not everything was good. The Payaso-Parkita match was terrible. Roc-Hawke should have been better. The women's match had wayyy too short of falls. The opener was marginal. There is a big difference between the best wrestlers in Chikara, and the guys who open the show.

I want to reiterate that a lot of Chikara regulars weren't on this show! Jigsaw is among my favorites, and Larry Sweeney and Hallowicked were also missing. No Crossbones either, and he's a guilty pleasure. I'm not a fan of Shane Storm, but I can't recall the last Chikara show I saw where he was absent. Point being, this was a good Chikara show, even with some of their regulars not on. This roster is continuously changing and evolving.

This show earns a mild thumbs up. Again, it is not ROH-level action, but it's fun, and it's different. Purchase this DVD at www.smartmarkvideo.com for $20.

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