Chikara (professional wrestling)

Chikara (professional wrestling)
CHIKARA
Founded 2002
Style Lucha libre
Puroresu
Professional wrestling
Comedy
Headquarters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Founder(s) Mike Quackenbush
Reckless Youth
Owner(s) Mike Quackenbush

CHIKARA (sometimes referred to as CHIKARA Pro) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their major events each year include the King of Trios tournament between February and March, Aniversario in May, Young Lions Cup tournament held between June and August, and the Torneo Cibernetico held between September and November.

The company takes both the name and logo from the Japanese kanji meaning strength.

Contents

History

The promotion grew out with the Wrestle Factory, which was founded as a wrestling school in Allentown, Pennsylvania by Mike Quackenbush and "Reckless Youth" Tom Carter on January 7, 2002. After five months, the school started Chikara. The first class included UltraMantis, Mr. ZERO, Dragonfly, Hallowicked, and Ichabod Slayne. In May of the same year, Chikara expanded into a wrestling promotion with the intent of showcasing its students. The first show on May 25, 2002, featured not only the Wrestle Factory students and head trainers, but several other independent wrestlers, including Don Montoya, CM Punk, Colt Cabana, Chris Hero, Love Bug, Marshal Law, and Blind Rage. The main event of the first show featured Quackenbush and Youth joined by Don Montoya as the Black T-Shirt Squad defeat the Gold Bond Mafia of Chris Hero, CM Punk, and Colt Cabana. In the early days, Blind Rage, Hallowicked, and Ichabod Slayne formed a stable known as the Night Shift, which became the top group of rudos (or heels) in the company. They frequently feuded with tecnicos (faces) Quackenbush, Youth, and UltraMantis. Notable events of 2002 included an appearance by former WCW star La Parka, who joined Mister ZERO against Quackenbush and Youth, and the opening of the short-lived sister promotion Kiryoku Pro, which highlighted female wrestling.

2002 was also marked by a lawsuit against Chikara for promoting shows out of the Wrestle Factory. Neighborhood activists claimed that the building was not properly zoned for assembly, and that the shows detracted from the "complexion of the community". It was eventually ruled that Chikara provided inadequate parking for their shows, and would not be allowed to promote out of the Wrestle Factory any longer. This deterred Chikara from holding any more shows until October. During the Chikara hiatus, they released tapes of their early shows, titled "The Renaissance Dawns" and "Baila, Parka, Baila", and the wrestlers worked showcase matches in other promotions, such as IWA-MS. Chikara soon reached an agreement with St. John’s Lutheran Church in Allentown to hold shows there, only eight blocks from the Wrestle Factory. Chikara also began a second Wrestle Factory class, but lost trainer Reckless Youth at the beginning of the class, as he left the business. The first show in St. John's saw the Wildcards (Eddie Kingston and BlackJack Marciano), Gran Akuma, DJ Skittlez, Melvin Snodgrass and Lester Crabtree debut, and shortly after, they were joined by Wrestle Factory graduates Jigsaw and Bryce Remsburg.

Chikara soon debuted a concept that lasts to this day in their promotion, the Chikara Young Lions Cup. Commonly abbreviated as the YLC, the tournament was designed to showcase the best of the Wrestle Factory graduates. It continues to be a showcase of young talent from the independent circuit. Hallowicked defeated Mr. ZERO to win the first tournament. Chikara took a two-week break during Christmas before returning in 2003, establishing a tradition of "seasons" that they maintain today.

In 2004, Chris Hero became a co-trainer at the Chikara Wrestle Factory, replacing Carter. In 2005, Jorge "Skayde" Rivera joined as the third trainer. In March 2005, the school moved from Allentown to the New Alhambra Arena, in Philadelphia.[1] They then took over the training for Combat Zone Wrestling, leading to the school's new name of CZW/Chikara Wrestle Factory.[1] After the schools split in 2007, the training center became once again simply known as the Chikara Wrestle Factory.[1] In 2007, Claudio Castagnoli took over Chris Hero's training duties.[1]

The company's catalog of events (on both VHS & DVD) are available through Smart Mark Video.[2]

Chikara drew their biggest crowd ever of over 550 at the New Alhambra Arena in Philadelphia to see the finals of King of Trios 2008 on March 2, 2008. That record was broken on January 31, 2010, when their first show of season nine, A Touch of Class, drew over 600 fans. Later that year, on July 25, the record was broken once again at Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show, which drew 755 fans.[3] The show was released by Smart Mark Video on DVD less than 24 hours after its conclusion.[3]

Chikara also made Internet pay-per-views by the name of "Pod-Per-Views". Chikara also have a weekly internet show by the name of Chikara Podcast-A-Go-Go which contains matches and interviews.

On April 26, 2009, Chikara announced a working agreement with Dragon Gate USA, which will see Chikara wrestlers take part in Dragon Gate USA events.[4]

On April 25, 2010, Chikara announced the release of a video game, titled Rudo Resurrection, for multiple gaming platforms later in the year.[5]

On August 1, 2011, Chikara announced that their first ever live Internet pay-per-view, titled High Noon, would take place November 13, 2011, and would feature the crowning of the first ever Chikara Grand Champion.[6]

Chikara Wrestle Factory

Chikara currently runs a wrestling school by the name of the Chikara Wrestle Factory. It was founded in 2002 by Mike Quackenbush and Reckless Youth. After the debut of their first class of students that May, and the birth of the Chikara promotion, Reckless departed the company. Quackenbush trained the second through fifth classes of students by himself, before recruiting Chris Hero to assist him in the summer of 2004. Hero relocated to Pennsylvania to accept the position as co-trainer, and teach at the Allentown-based facility. In March of 2007, Chikara Wrestle Factory separated from the CZW training facility, but the Wrestle Factory is still stationed inside The Arena. In October of 2007, Claudio Castagnoli was promoted from his role as guest trainer to head trainer taking it from Chris Hero. Alongside Quackenbush, he helped aid in the training of the ninth class of students. Castagnoli signed with WWE in August of 2011, and departed the Wrestle Factory. As ever, the responsibility for all training classes at the Wrestle Factory belongs to company founder and 18-year pro, Mike Quackenbush. The wrestle factory offers training to prospective professional wrestlers, managers, valet, and referees, and is based in The Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1] Former guest instructors include Jorge "Skayde" Rivera, El Pantera, Terry Funk, CM Punk, Marty Jannetty, and many others.[1] It offers training in all styles like Pro Wrestling, Lucha Libre, Puroresu, Lancashire, Catch, and among others. It claims to be the only such training center in the United States.

Current champions

Championship Champion(s) Defeated Date Won Location
Grand Championship Eddie Kingston Mike Quackenbush November 13, 2011 Philadelphia, PA
Campeonatos de Parejas F.I.S.T.
(Chuck Taylor and Johnny Gargano)		 Jigsaw and Mike Quackenbush September 17, 2011 Manhattan, NY
Young Lions Cup Tadasuke Green Ant August 27, 2011 Easton, PA

Roster

The Chikara roster of 2005

Técnicos

Rudos

  • Archibald Peck
  • Brodie Lee
  • Chuck Taylor
  • Grizzly Redwood
  • El Hijo del Ice Cream
  • Icarus
  • Ice Cream, Jr.
  • Johnny Gargano
  • Kobald
  • Kodama
  • Obariyon
  • Ophidian
  • Veronica
  • Vin Gerard

Bruderschaft des Kreuzes

Stables and Tag Teams

(Left to right) Claudio Castagnoli, Tursas and Ares of the Bruderschaft des Kreuzes
  • 3.0
    (Scott "Jagged" Parker and Shane Matthews)
  • The Batiri
    (Kobald, Kodama and Obariyon)
  • Bruderschaft des Kreuzes
    (Ares, Delirious, Jakob Hammermeier, Tim Donst and Tursas)
  • The Colony
    (Fire Ant, Green Ant and Soldier Ant)
  • F.I.S.T. (Friends in Similar Tights)
    (Chuck Taylor, Icarus and Johnny Gargano)
  • Los Ice Creams
    (El Hijo del Ice Cream and Ice Cream, Jr.)
  • Jigsaw and Mike Quackenbush
  • March Madness
    (Archibald Peck and Veronica)
  • The Roughnecks
    (Brodie Lee and Grizzly Redwood)
  • The Spectral Envoy
    (Crossbones, Frightmare, Hallowicked and Ultramantis Black)
  • The Throwbacks
    (Dasher Hatfield and Sugar Dunkerton)

Referees

  • Bryce Remsburg – Senior referee
  • Derek Sabato – Bruderschaft des Kreuzes' referee
  • Jonathan Barber
  • Nick Papagiorgio

Administration

  • Bob Saget – Commissioner (2006–2008)
  • Dave Coulier – Commissioner (2008–present)
  • Leonard F. Chikarason – Director of Fun (2005–2009), Commentator (2009–present)
  • Dieter VonSteigerwalt – Director of Fun (2009–2010)
  • Wink Vavasseur – Executive Auditor of the Board of Directors; Director of Fun (2010–present)
  • Cavalier Jones – Member of the CHIKARA Board of Directors (2004)
  • Ed O'Mac – Ring announcer (2006–2007)
  • Nick Papagiorgio – Ring announcer (2007–2008)
  • Gavin Loudspeaker (formerly Louden Noxious) – Ring announcer (2008–present), Host of Chikara Podcast-A-Go-Go (2009–present)
  • Crazy Frank – Czar of Security
  • Dave Robel – Ringside physician
  • Brendan O'Donnell – Concierge
  • Steve Weiner
  • Wiggly – Co-host of Chikara Podcast-A-Go-Go (2006–2011)
  • Chiz – Co-host of Chikara Podcast-A-Go-Go (2006–2009)
  • Natali – Host of Chikara Throwdown Lowdown (2010–present)
  • Jessie McKay – Host of Chikara High Noon Report (2011)

Alumni

Tournament winners

Commercial DVD releases

Big Vision Entertainment Releases

DVD Name Release Date Region Additional Information
Best of Chikara November 6, 2007 Global Contains 9 matches from 2005 & 2006.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Wrestle Factory History". Chikara. http://www.chikarapro.com/WrestleFactory/history.shtml. Retrieved 2011-04-01. 
  2. ^ Chikara DVD
  3. ^ a b "Thanks to the 755 fans who made C-Rex the biggest CHIKARA show ever! And if you missed it, don't fret - the DVD comes out TOMORROW at SMV!". Chikara. Twitter. 2010-07-25. http://twitter.com/chikarapro/status/19537635915. Retrieved 2010-07-26. 
  4. ^ "DGUSA and Chikara reach working agreement". Dragon Gate USA. 2010-04-27. http://dgusa.tv/featurearticles4.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-17. 
  5. ^ Johnson, Mike (2010-04-27). "Chikara video game set for release later this year, promo video released". Pro Wrestling Insider. http://pwinsider.com/article/47096/chikara-video-game-set-for-release-later-this-year-promo-video-released.html?p=1. Retrieved 2010-04-27. 
  6. ^ Csonka, Larry (2011-08-01). "Various News: CHIKARA’s to I-PPV, Joshimania, Australiasian Wrestling Federation to I-PPV, More". 411Mania. http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/196196/Various-News:-CHIKARAs-to-I-PPV,-Joshimania,-Australiasian-Wrestling-Federation-to-I-PPV,-More.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-01. 

Further reading

External links


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