Pro Wrestling Chronicle

I check out the Best of Chikara ‘05/06 DVD and get lost in some sweet American Lucha with Quack and Claudio, but first it’s the differing styles and pace of Sweet and Sour facing the King of Diamonds.
-I watched Eddie Kingston vs Larry Sweeney from Chikara’s “Crushing Weight of mainstream ignorance” on 7.22.06. Sadly, when I see these two I think of separate paths with a similar story. They are both young, and they are both so talented with their mouthes and gifted with their wrestling minds. Yet I do not see either making it to a place that will make them any significant money for any period of time. I hope I am wrong. I’m like to start being wrong on this one by the end of the year in fact.

For the time being both ply their trade in Chikara, and hopefully both will be featured in ROH soon enough (Sweeney is already a centerpiece). The story early is the smooth classic heel that Sweeney can be in the ring with the right opponent. I don’t think his work necessarily fits ROH so I don;t mind that he doesn’t work there, but in the ring here he’s the perfect foil to a babyface Stone Cold type that Kingston portrays. The King Of Diamonds comes out, goes right after Sweeney eagerly, and gets caught being to aggressive soon after.

It’s so impressive and at the same time necessary for young wrestler to have to keep a small crowd captured. Even better, to have to get the crowd back, or to be forced to interact with the crowd. Perhaps call a match silently. That’s what you get in Hellertown, PA, and it’s notable to see. Those little things I look for as an overly involved fan, the one’s where just a sample is listed above, that’s what these guys did in this match. Sweeney bumps into chairs but they don’t use them. He then sells the hell out of forearms. Kingston sells like hell while Sweeney does the greatest sneak choke with wrist tape I’ve ever seen.Both guys keep it vocal, dramatic, and keep a hundred people tops focused on the match.

Easy story. Sweeney doesn’t really want to get into a protracted war with Kingston. He’s trying to use his supior condition and Kingston’s lack of cardio to take him out quick. Part of that is the throat and sleeper/choke attack. The other half is the quick heelish onslaught. Extended sleeper spot works. Turnabout is fair play spots work. Hopes pots and reversals abound. Most of all, the character and match psychology is there.

The Kingston comeback on the arrogant heel is emotionally satisfying. The bad ass offense is a cool contrast and appropriate. And then they take it down. Another heel heat segment, and the timing was right. Piledriver by Sweeney is your high spot. Two count. An elbow from the top misses. Kingston comes back with three short arm lariats for a two count. back and forth reversals. Kingston sits down on a sunset flip for the pin. Just a cool as hell ten minute match. It’s also on the Chikara commercial release “Best of Chikara”.

-I flip through the DVD and catch a glimpse of the old ECW Arena. I realize it’s Claudio Castagnoli vs Mike Quackenbush. This train can not be derailed. Quack vs Claudio from Chikara’s Negative Balance 8/13/05 show.

I realize why I love Quack. Here’s a babyface that is the present day embodiment the spirit of the great, yet unsung British worker, Johnny Saint. I just saw Saint when looking through the landmark Michinoku Pro show, These Days. Saint rules. It’s also no coincidence that Chikara Pro was heavily influenced by Michinoku Pro and by Johnny Saint. Saint was what a pro wrestler should be at heart. He was a magician. At his best, so is Mike Quackenbush. Not only that, Quack and Chikara have Lehigh Valley Ties, and I’m a Lehigh Valley boy. Hometown heroes I guess.

Basic story is Quack is doing all kinds of crazy lucha with Japanese undertones, and Claudio is the heel doing a rudos big man, with Euro undertones. Fun FUN stuff ensues. With the exception of Claudio sitting in a “Orton special” chin lock while reciting every spot ever in his ear quite visually, this was amazingly smooth and flawlessly executed. At it’s best this style it’s physical poetry and when Quack is on it is.

Quack uses an open hand palm strike and with slight of hand and great selling gets it over like the piledriver in Memphis, brotha! I love it. Quack is a much cooler and well spoken version of Will Arnet in Arrested Development. Hehe.

Great reversals in and out of the Black Tornado Slam. The near falls are over. Quack as the babyface underdog is perfect. Even the flubs in this match are smooth. Maybe it’s because I AM an American, but this American Lucha is so much more credible looking. Perhaps that’s because it’s really Japanese lucha via trainer Skyde? who knows.

Cool finishing sequence to difficult to explain. Quack with a victory roll in a match you need to get your hands on if you only watch TNA or WWE product. I’ve seen better but this was an inspired match. See ya…