Chikara Pro Wrestling
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CHIKARA also known as Chikara Pro is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They utilize an array of progressive concepts that have garnered them critical acclaim and a solid cult following, although virtually no commercial success along the way.
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[edit] History
Chikara Wrestle Factory was founded as a wrestling school in January of 2002 in Allentown, Pennsylvania by Mike Quackenbush and Tom "Reckless Youth" Carter. After five months, the school started CHIKARA, the wrestling promotion. The name CHIKARA is actually the Japanese word for "strength" or "power."
Shortly after the debut of their first class of students (Mister ZERO, UltraMantis, Hallowicked, Ichabod Slayne (now known as Icarus), Dragonfly), Carter parted ways with the company.
In 2004, Chris Hero became a co-trainer at the Wrestle Factory. In 2005, he was joined by Jorge "Skayde" Rivera as the third trainer (along with Quackenbush). In March of 2005, the school moved from Allentown to the New Alhambra Arena, better known as "The ECW Arena", in Philadelphia. They have since taken over the training for Combat Zone Wrestling, leading to the school's new name of "CZW/Chikara Wrestle Factory."
The promotion has produced a large catalog of DVD and VHS titles through Smart Mark Video, as well as countless other bits of collectible merchandise since its inception. Shirts, plaques, buttons, books, masks, hats, posters are regularly available through their website. It also has a weekly podcast entitled "CHIKARA Podcast-A-Gogo" which serves as sort of a recap show. The show is hosted by "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush and Wiggly, though sometimes special guest hosts are brought in. The show also shows clips of CHIKARA matches.
CHIKARA events are reminiscent of several other promotions, notably CMLL, Michinoku Pro, Japan's Big Battle, and Toryumon 2000 Project (Japan) and the classic British "World of Sport" program. Live events are geared toward fans of all ages, and often feature wrestlers from other countries. Their signpost events each year include the "Tag World Grand Prix" in February, "Aniversario Weekend" in May, "Young Lions Cup" in July and the "Torneo de Cibernetico" in October.
[edit] Roster
- Arik Cannon
- Allison Danger
- Cheech
- Blind Rage
- Cloudy
- Colt Cabunny
- CP Munk
- Crossbones
- Daizee Haze
- Darkness Crabtree
- Darin Corbin
- Dr. Cheung
- Dragon Dragon
- Eddie Kingston
- El Hijo Del Ice Cream
- Equinox
- Fire Ant
- Gran Akuma (Current CHIKARA Campeon de Parejas)
- Hallowicked
- Chris Hero
- Hydra
- Icarus (Current CHIKARA Campeon de Parejas)
- Ice Cream Jr
- Jigsaw
- Lance Steel (Old)
- Lance Steel (Young)
- Max Boyer (Current CHIKARA Young Lions Cup Holder)
- Mike Quackenbush
- Tom "Reckless Youth" Carter
- Retail Dragon
- Rorschach
- Ryan Cruz
- Sabian
- Shane Storm
- Skayde
- Soldier Ant
- "Sweet And Sour" Larry Sweeney (Current ICW-ICWA Tex-Arkana Television Champion)
- Sumie Sakai
- Ultramantis Black
- Worker Ant
[edit] Teams and stables
- F.I.S.T. - Gran Akuma and Icarus (Current CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas)
- Prescription Thugs - Darkness Crabtree and Dr. Cheung
- Kings of Wrestling - Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli
- ShaneSaw - Shane Storm and Jigsaw
- Up In Smoke - Cheech and Cloudy
- BLKOUT - Sabian, Joker and Eddie Kingston
- The Order of the Neo Solar Temple - Ultramantis Black, Hydra, Crossbones, and Blind Rage
- The Colony - Soldier Ant, Fire Ant and Worker Ant
- Triple Dragon - Dragon Dragon and Retail Dragon
- Los Ice Creams - El Hijo Del Ice Cream and Ice Cream Jr
- Incoherence - Hallowicked and Delirious
- The Second City Saints (kind of) - CP Munk and Colt Cabunny
- North Star Express - Darin Corbin & Ryan Cruz
[edit] Retired/Former Stars
- Claudio Castagnoli
- Milano Collection AT
- BlackJack Marciano
- DJ Skittlez
- Don Montoya
- Dragonfly
- Jolly Roger
- Mano Metalico
- John Brooks
- Mister ZERO
- Private Eye
- ShareCropper
[edit] Tournament Winners
- Young Lions Cup I - Hallowicked
- Young Lions Cup II - Larry Sweeney
- Young Lions Cup III - Shane Storm
- Young Lions Cup IV - Arik Cannon
- Tag World Grand Prix 2003 - Hallowicked & Blind Rage
- Tag World Grand Prix 2005 - Claudio Castagnoli & Arik Cannon
- Tag World Grand Prix 2006 - Claudio Castagnoli & Chris Hero
- Torneo Cibernetico 2004 - Jigsaw
- Torneo Cibernetico 2005 - Gran Akuma
- Torneo Cibernetico 2006 - Icarus
[edit] Current Champions
- Young Lions Cup Champion - Max Boyer
- Campeones de Parejas - F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma and Icarus)
[edit] Authority figureheads
- Commissioner - Bob Saget
- Director Of Fun - Leonard F. Chikarason
[edit] References
- Quackenbush, Mike (2004). CHIKARA Yearbook: 2002 - 2004.
- CHIKARA Pro (FAQ page)
