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CHIKARA “KING OF TRIOS 2016” NIGHT 1 REPORT
SEPTEMBER 2, 2016
EASTON, PA.
REVIEW BY SEAN RADICAN, PWTORCH COLUMNIST
AVAILABLE ON MP4/VOD AT CHIKARAPRO.COM
Vlad Radinov kicked off the show. He brought out Joey Styles to a big pop. Styles mentioned he had been called 24 hours ago to do commentary on the show. He admitted he didn’t know a lot about CHIKARA, but based on what he saw, he couldn’t wait to do commentary on this show. Bryce Remsburg ended up getting Joey to say, “Oh My God!” The fans loved that.
(1) Major League Mustache (Las Parejas de Campeonatos Tyler Bate & Trent Seven & Dasher Hatfield) vs. The Batiri (Kobald & Kodama & Obariyon) in a 2016 King of Trios First Round match. It was all Major League Mustache during the early going as they dominated the action. Hatfield used Kobald’s tail to tie him up in a leg submission at one point. This lead to a spot where all three members of The Batiri ended up in a submission while Major League Mustache played with their mustaches. The Batiri finally turned the tide and the crowd booed. The action picked up nicely down the stretch before MLM picked up the win when Seven hit a piledriver on Kodama and flipped him to Bate, who nailed him with a falcon arrow.
WINNERS: Tyler Bate & Trent Seven & Dasher Hatfield to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2016 King of Trios Tournament at 13:17
Star rating: (***1/4) – A perfectly fine way to kick off the tournament. Styles in nicely on commentary as well.
(2) United Nations (Juan Francisco de Coronado & Prakash Sabar & The Proletariat Boar of Moldova) vs. Team Police Squad (Officer Warren Barksdale & Super Cop Dick Justice & Bill Car in a 2016 King of Trios First Round match. Team Police Squad searched United Nations in separate corners. Justice found a pipe on Coronado’s trunks. They went to put it in an evidence bag, but United Nations jumped their opponents from behind.
Team Police Squad froze United Nations with a triple finger pistol and United Nations bailed to the floor, but the fans pointed finger pistols at them. This is hilarious. United Nations could find nowhere to run as they were surrounded by finger pistols. They got back into the ring and tried to beg off. “This is the worst episode of cops I’ve ever seen,” said Joey Styles. Team Police Squad put their finger pistols down and kicked them out of the ring. They decided to have a straight up wrestling match. Styles called gimmick infringement on Sabar for wrestling like X-Pac.
United Nations turned the tide and got the upper hand on Barksdale. He got worked over for a long time until making the hot tag to Carr, who ran wild. The Boar cut him off and dragged him to the floor. Justice started doing lucha style maneuvers on Sabar. The action broke down as both teams went back and forth. Carr hit a sick tilt-a-whirl head scissors on The Boar, who went to the floor. Carr set up for a big flip dive to the floor and he ended up wiping out everyone! Barksdale got isolated and took a gore from The Boar. Coronado then locked in the Coronado clutch. His partners tried to make the save, but got cut off and he had to tap.
WINNERS: Juan Francisco de Coronado & Prakash Sabar & The Proletariat Boar of Moldova to advance the quarterfinals of the 2016 King of Trios Tournament at 11:32
Star rating: (**1/4) – This featured some good comedy during the early going, but the wrestling wasn’t very smooth at times and the finish felt a bit flat.
Radinov announced The Big Deal f/k/a Hornswoggle would not be appearing this evening. He said in the grand CHIKARA tradition, they would select the next trio from a hat to replace Team Big Deal. The Submission Squad ended up coming out to replace Team Big Deal. That’s hilarious.
(3) The Submission Squad (Davey Vega & Gary Jay & Pierre Abernathy) vs The Colony (Fire Ant & Soldier Ant & Silver Ant in a 2016 King of Trios First Round match. Styles explained that The Big Deal had undergone surgery.
Jay got isolated right away and The Colony went for the ant hill, but it got broken up. The Submission Squad then hit a combination of moves on Fire Ant for a 2 count. The Colony set up for ants go marching on Abernathy, but they got cut off. The Submission Squad eventually began going after Silver Ant’s injured arm. Fire Ant and Soldier Ant hit a marching double suplex on Abernathy a short time later, but Vega made the save. The Colony set up in the corner and hit ants marching on Vega, who kicked out at the last second! The Colony picked up Vega and launched him over the top to the floor to wipe out the rest of the Submission Squat.
The Colony then hit the antapult to the floor to wipe out the Submission Squad. The Colony set up for the ant hill again, but Vega fought out of it on his own. Vega then got a flying armbar out of the corner on Silver Ant. Fire Ant and Solider Ant got held back from making the save. Silver Ant then rolled forward on top of Vega for a near fall. Vega got another cross-arm breaker. Silver Ant rolled up on top of Vega for another near fall. Vega then fired right back with a pinning combination of his own for a nearfall.
Silver Ant wiped out Vega with a huge clothesline. Soldier Ant then wiped out Abernathy and Jay with a double elbow strike out of the corner. Silver Ant and Solider Ant hit ants marching on Vega and he kicked out! The Colony then hit the ant hill for the win!
WINNERS: Fire Ant & Solider Ant & Silver Ant to advance the quarterfinals of the 2016 King of Trios Tournament at 9:39
Star rating: (***) – This was a fun match. Vega almost one the match single-handedly for his team, but ultimately The Colony put him away with a series of tandem maneuvers. This was a fun match and Vega looked strong in the loss.
(4) Team Shimmer (Candice LeRae & Mary Dobson & Solo Darling) vs. Team Original Divas Revolution (Mickie James & Lisa Marie & Jazz) in a 2016 King of Trios First Round match. Lisa Marie took a drink of Darling’s energy drink and did the worm. Darling and Victoria then hugged. Styles said they had bonded over the love of sugar.
Right at that moment, Lisa Marie picked up Darling and tossed her into the corner. Jazz and Dobson went at it a short time later. Dobson got the better of Jazz and cleared the apron. Jazz blocked an assisted move off the ropes from LeRae and her arm snapped over the top rope. LeRae managed to cut off Victoria and she tagged in Darling, who ran wild. Darling missed a splash on James and Jazz began working her over before eventually applying a chin lock. Dobson eventually got the tag from Dobson. Dobson hit a big cross body off the top on Victoria, but her partners broke up the pin. Both teams went back and forth as the pace picked up. Dobson eventually hit a fisherman’s buster on James, but she got walked right into a Widow’s Peak from Lisa Maria.
WINNERS: Mickie James & Lisa Maria & Jazz to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2016 King of Trios Tournament at 14:29
Star rating: (**1/4) – The action was fine and Darling and Lisa Marie had some fun interaction during the match, but other than that, there wasn’t a lot to this one.
Hallowicked came out with UltraMantis Black, who was in a wheelchair. His first partner was Icarus. A third man came out with them in a big black hood and robe. The man in the dark outfit took off his hood and it was Jigsaw with a very different look.
(5) The Hexed Men (CHIKARA Grand Champion Hallowicked & Jigsaw & Icarus w/UltraMantis Black) vs Just A Bunch of Ants (Bullet Ant & Missile Assault Man & Worker Ant in a 2016 King of Trios First Round match. The Hexed Men jumped their opponents after Jigsaw revealed himself. Quackenbush was in on commentary and he mentioned The Hexed Men were all Gen 1 originals. The fans chanted jerk saw at Jigsaw.
The Hexed men worked over Worker Ant. He finally wiped out Icarus with a big shoulder tackle and tagged in Bullet Ant. Bullet Ant is the former Artic Rescue Ant. Bullet Ant got isolated. Jigsaw and Hallowicked tagged in and out to work over his leg. Bullet Ant hit a combination Frankensteiner/DDT on Hallowicked and Icarus out of the corner and the fans fired up huge. WOW! Worker Ant got the tag, but he quickly got cut off. Bullet Ant then got isolated once again. Missile Assault Man still hasn’t gotten into the match. The fans tried to get behind Bullet Ant, as he took another sustained beating.
Bullet Ant reached towards Missile Assault Man, who got the hot tag and ran absolutely wild as the fans fired up. He hit a double northern lights suplex on Jigsaw and Icarus and held on, but Hallowicked broke it up. The action broke down and Bullet Ant made the save for Missile Assault Man by wiping out Hallowicked with a dive off the top. The fans applauded as Bullet Ant and Missile Assault Man shook hands, but they immediately got wiped out by The Hexed Men. Bullet Ant took a combination of moves and Icarus hit a pedigree. The ref warned them to end the match or it would get thrown out. Hallowicked finally hit never wake up on Bullet Ant for the win.
The fans booed as The Hexed Men Celebrated after the match by kneeling in a huddle in the middle of the ring. They then went to Black and celebrated with him on the floor.
WINNERS: Hallowicked & Jigsaw & Icarus to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2016 King of Trios Tournament at 13:12
Star rating: (**1/4) – This was mostly a lengthy squash, as The Hexed Men dominated the action and flirted with getting DQ’d in the end when they inflicted punishment on Bullet Ant instead of going for the win, which is against the rules in CHIKARA.
(6) Team JWP (Command Bolshoi & Hanako Nakamori & Manami Katsu) vs. Ophidian & Amasis & Argus in a 2016 King of Trios First Round match. Styles pointed out the difference in size between the male and female teams, but Quackenbush countered that CHIKARA was about equal rights. Argus is a gecko and Quackenbush hammered home that he’s a gecko-Roman wrestler. Lol. Bolshoi and Ophidian had a great exchange during the early going. Bolshoi countered a charge in the corner and grabbed an arm submission around the ropes a short time later. She then held Ophidian’s arm and walked the ropes.
Bolshoi walked back and forth before hitting an arm drag. Ophidian went to the floor and Bolshoi faked a dive before flexing for the crowd! Nakamori tagged in and went at it with Amasis trading leg kicks. Styles mentioned that the action was hard to watch at times, as Nakamori and Amasis went back and forth. They had a really nice exchange before coming to a stalemate. They went at it again and Amasis hit a huge side kick. Ophidian and Amasis worked together a short time later and hit a combination of moves on Nakamori capped by a spinebuster for a 2 count. The action picked up as the JWP girls hit a series of moves on Ophidian in the corner. Bolshoi then hit an insane satellite head scissors takedown on Ophidian and applied an armbar, but Argus broke up the pin.
Nakamori got isolated in the corner and Ophidian, Argus, and Amasis took turns working her over. Nakamori finally tagged in Katsu, who ran wild. Amasis and Ophidian hit the pyramid-plex for a near fall on Katsu. Both teams went back and forth. Bolshoi got isolated and Ophidian nailed her with a springboard moonsault, but she managed to kick out at the last second! Team JWP hit three stereo German suplexes a short time later. Bolshoi then wiped out everyone with an Asai moonsault to the floor. Amasis caught Katsu with a 540 kick inside the ring. He went up top and missed a 450. Amasis took a combination of moves and Katsu stacked him up with a leverage pin for the win.
WINNERS: Command Bolshoi & Hanako Nakamori & Manami Katsu to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2016 King of Trios Tournament at 11:49
Star rating: (***1/2) – This was a really good match that featured non-stop action. It was interesting to hear Styles on commentary and how he reacted to the intergender action, which has been a staple of CHIKARA since it began.
(7) Heidi Lovelace & N_R_G (Hype Rockwell & Race Jaxson) vs. Team Sendai Girls (Cassandra Miyagi & Dash Chisako & Meiko Satomura) in a 2016 King of Trios First Round match. Rockwell got the better of Chisako during the early going despite her attempts to unload on him. She finally hit a hurricanrana on him for a 2 count. Miyagi tagged in and was doing some head banging, so Jaxon nailed her with a kick to the gut. Satomura tagged in and exchanged kicks to the leg with Heidi. Styles said it was a horrible move to try for Lovelace.
They went back and forth and Satomura eventually hit a big running forearm in the corner. Lovelace took a triple kick from Team Sendai a short time later, but Rockwell made the save. Rockwell tripped Chisako and snapped her leg down to the mat. She then hung Chisako upset down on the corner and Jaxson nailed her with a running dropkick to the knee. Lovelace got a deep leg submission, but let it go and kicked Chisako’s leg before snapping it down to the mat. Chisako made the hot tag to Satomura, who clocked Jaxon with a spinning kick. She hit a Saito suplex on Jaxon a short time later and the fans applauded.
Miyagi wiped him out with a missile dropkick a short time later. Jaxon fired back and caught her with a kick to the head and a big clothesline. He then slid out of the ring and Rockwell hit the hyper wheel, but Chisako made the save! Lovelace hit a very stiff looking senton on Miyagi for a near fall a short time later for a near fall. WOW! Miyagi fired back and hit a missile dropkick on Lovelace. Chisako got the tag and went to work on Lovelace. The pace picked up and Jaxon caught Satomura with an ace crusher. Satomura fired back and hit a DVD, which was good for the win!
WINNERS: Cassandra Miyagi & Dash Chisako & Meiko Satomura to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2016 King of Trios Tournament at 10:44
Star rating: (***) – A good dose of back and forth action. There were some impressive exchanges mixed in. The finish seemed to come out of nowhere.
(8) Warriors Three (CHIKARA Young Lion’s Cup Champion ThunderFrog & Princess KimberLee & Oleg the Usurper) vs. Team #CWC (Cedric Alexander & Johnny Gargano & Drew Gulak). Remsburg did the CWC style introduction to the match and both teams shook hands. Styles said it was the most normal thing he had seen all night.
Everyone on Team #CWC tried to lift the Hammer of Peace. Gargano and Alexander failed. Gulak tried, but couldn’t move it. ThunderFrog then showed him how it was done with a deep knee bend. Gulak took KimberLee down and slapped her across the back of the head during the early going. They went back and forth exchanging pinning combination before coming to a stalemate. Alexander and KimberLee had a crazy exchange a short time later. ThunderFrog set up for a dive a short time later, but Gargano cut him off with a slingshot spear. Gargano ended up taking a senton from Oleg a short time later for a 2 count. Gulak distracted for the ref so Gargano and Alexander could hit the Dudley Boys what’s up spot on ThunderFrog.
Gulak tried to lift the hammer again a short time later. Alexander then tried to help him out along with Gargano. ThunderFrog came over and helped them lift it. He then lifted the hammer up and they went flying. He then used the hammer to toss Alexander off the top to the mat and the ring was cleared.
KimberLee wanted a kiss from ThunderFrog, but Team #CWC hit a triple superkick on him. ThunderFrog got worked over by Team #CWC. Styles said Gargano, Gulak, and Alexander had bright futures ahead of them. He then advised them not to do any Facebook live interviews. ThunderFrog took a sustained beating. The fans finally fired up behind ThunderFrog, who eventually hit a backdrop on Gulak.
KimberLee got the hot tag and ran wild on Alexander and Gargano. She then hit a brainbuster on Gulak. Gulak charged at her and ran right into a Liger bomb. The action broke down and KimberLee hit a big dive. Gargano followed with one of his own. Oleg teased a dive to the floor and the fans fired up. Oleg tried to build up speed, but ran right into an Alexander clothesline. Alexander then wiped out everyone with a sick flip dive. Oleg went for a super chokeslam on Alexander a short time later and connected, but he kicked out! Everyone went for a suplex and eventually it was 3 on 3.
Team #CWC eventually hit a triple suplex and the fans fired up. Team #CWC then signaled for the 5 knuckle shuffle and the fans booed. Styles and Quackenbush didn’t get it, but then they hit a triple f5 knuckle shuffle and the fans booed. They went for a triple AA, but Warriors three countered it. Warriors Three went for a triple stunner, but Team #CWC countered it into a triple pedrigree! Team #CWC questioned the ref after the triple kick out spot. ThunderFrog mounted a comeback and ran Gulak into Gargano and Alexander in the corner. He then finished off Gulak with a spinning powerslam. He followed up with a cannonball in the corner on Alexander and Gargano. He set up for the froggy splash, but Gulak got his boots up. Team #CWC fired back and went to town on ThunderFrog.
Gulak finished him off with a clothesline off the top, but KimberLee broke up the pin with a German on Gulak. She then hit a series of Germans on Gargano and Alexander. Gargano tried to save Alexander as the fans chanted suplex kingdom. Gulak then came up from behind with the Gu-lock on KimberLee. KimberLee managed to slip out of it and she countered it into a standing dragon sleeper. Gulak tossed KimberLee to Gargano for a lawn dart.
Alexander then hit the lumbar check, but Oleg made the save! Alexander tried to put Oleg away, but he kept kicking out. Alexander went for a big frog splash, but missed. Oleg then nailed Alexander with off with his head for the win! WOW!
They did the CWC style post-match with the ref raising the hands of The Warriors Three. The fans applauded as both teams faced off. Both teams ended up shaking hands. The fans then fired up with a big CHIKARA chant to close the show.
WINNERS: Oleg the Usurper & Princess KimberLee & ThunderFrog to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2016 King of Trios Tournament at 22:46
Star rating: (****) –This was really good from start to finish. They started with some nice exchanges and the match built to a strong conclusion. They put together some really fun spots down the stretch, especially Team #CWC hitting signature WWE spots on Warriors Three. There were a lot of fun false finishes down the stretch before Oleg managed to put Alexander away.
Overall Thoughts: (7.0) – This was a fun show. Parts of the card dragged during the first half of the show after a fun opener, but ultimately the show managed to wind down with three fun matches. The main event was excellent and the show really needed Team #CWC vs. Warriors Three to be good for the show to get a strong recommendation.
Joey Styles was very good on commentary for someone that isn’t familiar with CHIKARA. He went out there and had fun while calling the matches and wasn’t afraid to express his opinions on some of the things that CHIKARA does that you don’t necessarily see elsewhere. It was fun to hear him react to CHIKARA’s crazy characters and challenge Quackenbush on commentary about topics such as intergender wrestling.
As I said earlier, the show dragged a bit on the undercard, but this was ultimately a nice collection of first round matches. Team JWP vs. Ophidian & Amasis & Argus was a really fun spring. The Team JWP women were a lot of fun to watch and held their own quite nicely against the men. Bolshoi is someone I always enjoy watching in CHIKARA. Team Sendai Girls vs. Heidi Lovelace & N_R_G was another fun back and forth match, although the finish seemed to come out of nowhere.
The main event between Gulak & Gargano & Alexander vs. KimberLee & ThunderFrog & Oleg the Usurper was just a blast to watch. I loved how they started and ended the match like it was part of WWE’s CWC. Alexander is working at such a high level right now and he blew my mind with some of his work in this match. They did some great spots down the stretch to really build up the crowd heat leading into the finish. The WWE spots that Gargano, Alexander, and Gulak hit on Warriors Three was a lot of fun as well.
The first night of King of Trios is usually the weakest night of the tournament. This year CHIKARA put together a really good show and I’m looking forward to watching the rest of the tournament unfold. Thumbs up.
You can purchase “King of Trios 2016: Night 1” on VOD/MP4 by clicking HERE or by visiting CHIKARAPro.com. All three nights of King of Trios 2016 will also eventually be made available to purchase on Blu-Ray at CHIKARAPro.com.
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