CHIKARA’s Preview-A-Go-Go: A Death Worse Than Fate

Welcome back to another edition of CHIKARA’s “Preview-A-Go-Go” in where we take a look at the first out of two February shows. The first one taking place in Reading, Pennsylvania on February 25^th, 2012, entitled…

 

 

Ophidian, who has recently gone through a metamorphosis after turning on Amasis at “High Noon”, recently defeated and then unmasked his former partner known as Hieracon, and now the slithery snake is looking to keep his momentum going, going through all comers right now, complete with an arsenal of moves, including his new Cobra Clutch Death Grip, which was used to defeat Hieracon.

On the other hand, Green Ant is on the roll of his life. After defeating the big man, Tursas at High Noon, he pulled off the first big upset of 2012 in CHIKARA, against Mike Quackenbush, by using his variant of the CHIKARA Special, one that Quack didn’t know how to counter out of. Strange, really. But on the other hand, he’s used that move to get him out of tight spots, and Ophidian is the biggest one yet.

Who will come out on top, and who will tap out? I hate to say it, but the real cobra here has a few tricks up his sleeve. No doubt, he’ll use them on Green Ant, to get the victory here. It should be a great wrestling match though if needed. Could be anybody’s ball game.

Winner: Ophidian

 

The Colony already have one point in their quest for a Campeonatos de Parejas shot, while The Throwbacks have zero points, mostly due to the fact that this is the first time we’ll be seeing Mr. Touchdown in a CHIKARA ring (he’s already wrestled a match for CHIKARA’s “sister” company, Wrestling is Fun), so the limits are endless here.

What will we see out of Mr. Touchdown in a CHIKARA ring? Not having seen his debut match with the people who run things, I think we’re all set for a rough, and more than likely, ruthless aggression out of Mr. Touchdown. Of course, he’s a high school quarterback, what else more do you want from somebody like him. I think he’s going to be TOO ruthless however, not in the style of The Throwbacks, if I say so myself.

And I believe that’s going to cost them in the end. We’ll still see somewhat of a zany contest here (not as much as what the following night will offer), but in the end, The Colony will be that much closer to a Campeonatos de Parejas shot with a victory here, and perhaps some dissention already with Dasher and Mr. Touchdown.

I just hope Touchdown calls us all nerds again. AWESOME!

Winner: The Colony

 

Here was a match that was supposed to happen sometime last year, as both men were involved in the same Block in the “12 Large Summit” to crown the first Grand Champion, but injuries cost us all the match that was supposed to happen…until NOW!

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Brodie Lee in a CHIKARA ring (due to injuries, other commitments with Dragon Gate, and the Big Rig becoming a father to a Little Rig; congrats to him on being a proud papa!), and there’s nothing he would like more to do than to kick the head out of the Mystery wrapped in an Enigma, also known as Jigsaw.

‘Jig, like I’ve mentioned before, has been on a pretty decent roll, with only a loss to El Generico recently at High Noon, but he kickstarted 2012 off with a bang with a win over Kobald, not to mention, his successes elsewhere. He would like to keep the gravy train running with a victory here.

This match should be one hell of a stiff contest, as both men have been known to take a bruising on more than one occasion. I know this is Brodie’s first hurrah in a while, but it’s hard to stop ‘Jig right now on the running, especially with a huge 8-man the following night.

Winner: Jigsaw

It’s always a treat to see “Boom Boom” Colt Cabana in a CHIKARA event. Always is. He puts on a great performance everywhere he goes, and I’m sure this weekend isn’t going to disappoint either. This show though, he goes one on one with one-third of The Batiri in Kobald. Quite a difference for Colt, but then again, he’s faced his weird share of people before.

Like with many of Colt’s matches, we shouldn’t expect a mat classic, but more in the zany, comedy antics that he’s known for. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing, because there’s nobody that can do it better than Colt. But Kobald’s going to be a pretty interesting test for Cabana here. Do I think he has the ability to take Colt down? Absolutely. Will he do it? I’ll say absolutely as well.

Colt doesn’t need the win here. He’s much better off giving a fresh rookie a victory in the limelight. Surely, I expect Batiri-nanigans, but a win’s a win nonetheless. Giving the W to Kobald here.

Winner: Kobald

 

If there is a weirder 8-man tag team match, then I would like to hear it. At least the next night, the atomicos match has teams that fit in with current storylines and such, but this…thrown together much? I’m not knocking it though, because it’s going to be everything in a blender that we hope to see (and possibly more).

The only real storyline figured into this one is the whole 3.0 vs. BDK scuffle that started out last month in Easton, but that’s about it. The rest is just random people thrown in…oh, and the Grand Champion. Figuring that this is a tune-up match would probably work out well for Kingston, although with it being an 8-man, don’t be shocked if King’s opponent the following night makes an unannounced visit and takes him out of the match. Same goes with Iron and either Icarus or possibly Akuma. It’s going to be a blender set to puree, that’s for sure. And I haven’t mentioned the problems with Donst and Jakob.

As for a winner goes, I can see those two things happening above, and Donst getting his win back against one of the members of 3.0. It’s going to be crazy, that’s for sure.

Winners: Donst, Jakob, and the Batiri

 

This isn’t helping Archie’s chances to get back on Veronica’s good side ONE SINGLE BIT. Last month in Easton, after Archie suffered ANOTHER humiliating defeat against Hallowicked, Veronica left Archie hanging in a bit of rage. You think Archie had a shot in hell to make things right this time, right? RIGHT? WRONG! Because on the other side of the corner is the “Queen of Wrestling”, Sara Del Rey. Uh-oh.

I don’t expect much kindness out of this contest here. Del Rey doesn’t treat too kindly to people like Archie, and well…it’s safe to say that Archie is going to be spending another night with ice packs strapped to his body, with Veronica nowhere in sight?

Could something else happen? Possibly. It has before, but this time…sorry, it isn’t working here. Nice knowing you, Archie.

Winner: Sara Del Rey

 

Note, I said Icarus there. Before you boo me half to death like you always do, note that the original championship partner of Chuck Taylor, Johnny Gargano, suffered a pretty gnarly muscle tear in his back during the final ECW Arena show last month in Philadelphia. The time table for his return is probably closer to Wrestlemania time, but it’s for a guarantee (even though as of me writing this, CHIKARA hasn’t announced it) that Gargano will not be able to compete. Which brings me to Icarus. He isn’t on the card, F.I.S.T. has done the Freebird rule before, and so it’s safe to say that Icarus will be filling in.

The Envoy has had a hard and pretty rough road to get to their three points. Weirdly enough, it was all against the same stable, the BDK.  Ending with a grueling and brutal No DQ match at High Noon against Tim Donst and Ares, Hallowicked and UMB got their third point and are now cashing them in for a shot at the gold.

It should be an intense showdown, as all four men has a share of history with one another, but now, it’s for all of the marbles, and in the end…

…we’re going to have new champions. With the exception of the Gargano injury playing somewhat of a real factor in this, it’s just safe to say that this is only the beginning of UMB’s takeover of CHIKARA as he sees fit. Winning his first major title in CHIKARA would be a great starting point and a great capper to a fantastic career so far. Plus, the bipolar nature of this weekend would have a daunting aura around the company’s head. They’ll give us the feel-good moment on the first night, and the second…well, you’ll need to read my next preview to find out. ;)

Winners and NEW Campeonatos de Parejas: The Spectral Envoy