Back during my review of WrestleMania 1 I said some shows are just more important than others. But those not so important shows can't be forgotten. After all those minor shows in-between the major ones set up for that big card. Now for indy wrestling companies this can be a challenge. Overload a smaller show and you can diminish the major one not do enough and the fans skip that show and you lose money. So various companies will try different gimmick. A double shot with another indy. A special appearance to make the show seem like a bigger deal and sometimes the show just has a gimmick or theme. That is what we are talking about today. CHIKARA had a huge triple shot weekend set for November for 07 the final planned shows of the year. But they had one more show to get though. The result is New Star Navigation a show built on the younger wrestlers of the roster facing the veterans. So is NSN a nice fill in show or is it as pointless?
We open with Director of Fun Leonard F Chikarson coming to the ring. LFC welcomes the fans and bring out the "upper clansmen" of CHIKARA. Icarus, Brodie Lee, Chuck Taylor, Crossbones, Dragon Yuki, Mitch Ryder and Incoherence of Delirious and Hallowicked come out. Delirious takes a second to mock Icarus about there recent Campeones De Parejas title change. The Wrestlers pick numbers out of a hat to determine in what order they will get the pick the "under clansman" they want. Crossbones gets number 1. This was pretty pointless they could have explained the concepts and just had the "Draw" take place off screen. I could understand it if something had actually happened like Icarus attacking Incoherence and stealing one of the tag belts but this was just guys going to ring the drawing numbers. I know the rule in visual is "Show don't tell." But I think this was an exception.
Shane Storm and Ultramantis Black vs Hydra and Jigsaw- Once a year CHIKARA would book a match like this with mixed teams taking on the normal tag partners. There is storyline here as Jigsaw had broken up his team with Shane Storm the month before. Also long term it laid the seeds for the Unstable and the Eye of Tear stuff. All four makes there entrances separately. Mantis whispers something in Hydra's ear before Jigsaw comes out. The bell rings, Mantis rolls up Storm and Hydra school boys Jigsaw. Double small packages only get one. Jig and Storm back up into each spin around hands up but don't attack. The referee points out the the temple the actual teams. Jigsaw yells "Were on the same team!" At Hydra. Hydra and Storm start for there teams. Hydra wants a test of strength but uses it for a head lock. Hydra tries a shoulder tackle and gets nothing. Second attempt fail as does a third. Shane Storm with a solder tackle and than an arm drag. Leg sweep gets one. Hydra tries the leg sweep but can't get the Stormer down. Mantis yells "Get him Big H!" Hydra keep trying even though Storm has now walked around him. Another Storm leg sweep gets two. Wrist lock by Storm and Mantis tags in Mantis can't hurt his buddy and does the easiest wrist lock ever. Mantis tells Hydra they could never hurt one another. Each man acts like they are about tot punch and stop Than they about to kick but stop. Than the double ax. Mantis says he's taught Hydra well. Mantis tries to poke the eyes but Hydra uses the Mo Howard block. Hydra tires the eye poke but Mantis with the Mo Howard block. Hug it out time. Mantis sweeps the leg. Arm drag by Hydra. Mantis is pissed and yells at Hydra. Mantis tell Hydra to remember the pack. Finger poke of doom. Jigsaw makes the save. Jigsaw picks Hydra up and puts him on the apron forcing a lucha tag. Over hand chop by Mantis. Arm drags by Jigsaw. Rolls up by Jigsaw gets two. Nice looking drop kick by Jigsaw sends Mantis to the floor. Jigsaw sets up for a suicide dive but Storm in and challenges Jigsaw to fight him. Hydra in with a sleeper clothesline. Mantis pulls Jigsaw to the floor. Jigsaw and Mantis fight on the floor. Storm and Hydra do some spot that is meant to be a reference to something that happened on a reality show escpcially based on Larry Sweeney commentary but I have no idea what. Hydra was choking Storm but Storm picked him up and drove him back so he landed face first. Hydra and Storm to the floor as Mantis and Jigsaw return. Falcon arrow by Mantis gets two. Mantis calls for Hydra to get int he ring. Mantis makes Hydra hold Jigsaw.Jig lands a kick and sends Hydra into the Mantis. Both Neo Solar Temple members to the floor. Storm back in and Jigsaw nails a super kick and than acts like he didn't mean to do it to his friend. Jigsaw covers and gets the win. Jigsaw walks off. Mantis is mad at Hydra. Hydra acts really sad but when he is sure Mantis isn't looking he celebrates real quick. Mantis helps Storm to the back. Fun comedy match with some real funny spots. And long term it actually had story implication. I can't stress enough how CHIKARA would take small moments or matches like this you could forget about and than have it matter down the line
Crossbones vs Soldier Ant- Backstage Crossbones explains he picked Soldier because on wimps who want to look tough wear camouflage. Crossbones gets out of the ring refusing to wrestle and baits Soldier into Suicide Diving on him. He does but bounces rich toff the massive Crossbones. Ant sent into the post. Chops on the floor by Crossbones than snap mare into a dragon kick to the back. Back into the ring Crossbones covers and gets two. Big clothesline by Crossbones gets two. Back drop back breaker by Crossbones but again the Ant kicks out. Choke by Crossbones. Back breaker from Crossbones than into the Camel clutch. Belly to belly suplex by Crossbones. Backdrop Suplex by Crossbones. Bones blocks a rana and hits a power bomb before locking in the full nelson on the floor. Soldier gets the ropes. Jawbreaker by Solider than a forearm. Running drop kick by Solider sends Crossbones to the floor. Dive over the top rope to the floor by Solider back in the ring it gets two. Big roundhouse kick by Crossbones. Solder fight out of a freaking sweat driving. Ace crusher by the Ant. Saluting head butt for the win by Solider Ant. Not a fun match to watch. Crossbones beats down Solider for a long time but still loses? I wish it had it either been more even or let Cross Bones get the win. Given how much the Colony's gimmick was about team work it's not like Solider would have taken a big hit in a loss. They tired to play it off on commentary like Crossbones was to cocky but still it just doesn't make it a fun match to watch
Icarus vs Tim Donst- Icarus comes out and explains he had a rough night at the show the night before. He says tonight he doesn't want to take any strikes or deal with high flying so he picks Tim Donst who had a worse night than he did. Double leg by Donst to start. Icarus goes to the apron. Icarus gets back in and gets in armature position on the bottom. Donst gets a rolls up of two. Go behind takedown by Donst. Mike Quackenbush mention Icarus does have a amateur background but Donst is actually still active competing in that style. Roll up by Donst gets two. Icarus wants to start on top in amateur position. Donst escapes and get the go behind.Icarus escapes and get his own go behind. Donst spins around and gets a cover again. Icarus slaps Donst in the face and than chops to the neck. Icarus uses the ropes to choke Donst. Forearms by the veteran. Knife-edge chop by Icarus and back to choking on the ropes. Icarus pulled down the singles on Donst before hitting another chop. Fishermen's suplex by Icarus gets two. Donst tied in the ropes allowing for a kick to the ribs. Donst ducks the clothesline line and gets a rear naked chokes the spill to the floor over the top rope. Hold is broken. Icarus chops to the back. Exchange of chops. Icarus breaks the count and goes back to the attack. Donst whipped into the wall and it breaks. I should mention that this show isn't in an arena but looks more like a dinning hall or something. Icarus than whips Donst through the front door. Donst picks up a bail of hay (It was a direction for halloween I assume) And hits Icarus with it. Only CHIKARA could do that. Another shot with the bail of shot. Icarus with a kick as Donst climbs back into the ring. Wheel barrow suplex by Donst. Chop exchange. Icarus pulls the head gear Donst wear to blind him than a big head butt. Icarus uses the head gear to choke Donst and even whips him it. Donst gets it and whips Icarus. Gator Rolls but Donst into a bridge pin gets two.Donst sent int the turn buckle. Lung blower by Icarus gets two. Shiranui by Icarus. Icarus gets the head gear and uses it on a splash but only gets two. Icarus pedigree bloodied. Firemen' carry by Donst into the CHIKARA Special submission for the win. Decent match. I didn't how much weapon stuff went on right in front of the referee i get they played it up as a judgment call by the referee. Again I think Icarus should have won but CHIKARA Special was presented as the heel killer. It was the move Mike Quackenbush had perfected and taught all the technicos to use.
Brodie Lee vs Worker Ant- The Colony had beat the Lee and the Olsen Twins the night before and I assume Brodie was looking for revenge. Brodie tries to jump Worker as the referee is checking him and than right as the bell ring but Worker avoids the Yakuza kick. Worker bails to the floor but caught caught right as he comes back in. Stiff chops by Brodie Lee than a hard snap suplex. Worker tries some chops but take a neck hanging suplex. Brodie covers and gets two. Brodie goes for a pump handle but can't get Worker up he covers by making it a gut buster like move resets and than hits the pump handle slam. Worker ducks the running Big Boot and Brodie is hung in the ropes. Step up Enzigurie by Worker using the ropes sends Brodie to the floor. Spring board summer salut splash to the floor by Worker. Back in the ring Worker give Brodie a running big boot. Moonsault press by Worker it appears like Lee is a step to close as lands really high. Cover gets two. Worker climbs the ropes Lee i sup and running Big Boot hits again. Nigeria Driver by Lee for the. Good short squash match with Lee looking like the monster he was. Worker did get some spots in to look.
Osirian Portal Amasis and Ophidian vs Incoherence Delirious and Hallowicked- Non title match since The Portal have there points. Wet a Incoherence promo and well I'm not sure what was said but that's ok given the gimmick. Aamsis and Delirious start us off. The bell freaks out Delirious sending a shocked Amasis to the floor. Hallowicked as Amasis returns. Power slam by Amasis but the split leg drop misses. Amasis than gets freaked out by Delirious agin. Wrist lock by Amasis reversed by Hallowicked. Big kick o the back of the leg by Hallowicked. Amasis nails a forearm but misses a Stringer Splash. Amasis does a dance and nails slap to the face. Oh lit a arm drag and a running knee by Hallowicked. Super snap mare by Wicked. Tag to Ophidian and tag to Delirious both men crawl on the mat circling like snakes. Wrist locked by Ophidian. Reversal and through the legs but Delirious than into his own wrist lock. Big shoulder tackle by Delirious. Trip into a rolling pin by Ophidian. Crucifix by Delirious and than an arm drag for an arm bar. Tag to Hallowicked chops by the vet and a trust than some punches by Delirious. Tag back to Delirious. Double team dump on the ropes and a quarter back kick by Hallowicked. Cover by Delirious gets two. Elbows to the head by Delirious who than hits the ropes but Amasis puts his knee into the back and snaps Delirious jaw on the ropes. Snake dance hypnosis by the Portal. Front face trop by Amasis who is in lucha tag gets two. Power slam by Amasis. Tag back to Ophidian who hits a head butt. Inverted indian death lock by Ophidian. Tab by Amasis and they work Delirious over in the corner. Head butts and chops by Delirious but he runs into the boot.Diving cross body by Amasis but Delirious with a head butt to the gut. Tag in both corners. Rhidine bomb by Hallowicked on Ophidian gets two. Splash series by the champs. Amasis breaks up the double team. Top rope rana by Amasis send Delirious crashing onto Hallowicked. Portal to the ropes. Superfly splash by Amasis onto Hallowicked top rope leg drop by Ophidian on Delirious. Whips reversed and the Portal crashes into each other. Double Go Sleepy Hollow. Double shoulder tackle by Amasis and Delirious goes to the floor. Running knee by Ophidian gets two on Hallowicked. Delirious back in leaping lariat on Ophidian. Over the top rope splash by Amasis takes out Hallowicked. Rana into the ropes by Opidhian . Everyone back int the run. Yakuza kick by Hallowicked whips out Ophidian. Shadows or hell by Delirious on Amasis gets two. Graver yard smash by Hallowicked for the win. Very good match. It was clear CHIKARA had big plans for the Osirian Portal and even in defeated they look great having gone move for move with the champions.
Young Lions Cup Championship Chuck Taylor © vs Helios- The Young Lions Cup was a single championship for younger wrestlers anyone under 25. Every year CHIKARA would hold a tournament the winner would become champion and defend the title if he lost the new champion would than defend it. The title would be vacated just before the tournament was held again. At this time once you had won the title once you could get challenge for it again. Chuck Taylor makes his entrance a gets a microphone. Chuck recaps his rough weekend blaming Leonard F Chikarson for bad travel, Claudio for cheating in there match and than he was fired to wrestle in the tag match and now he stuck in Barnsville and forced to wrestle in front of mentally challenged people. Chuck says he heard Helios was a new guys making his debut so he was picking him. This clearly meant to hint Chuck was going for the easy match but he was wrong. Helios is really Ricochet under a mask. And it's clear its Ricochet. He and Chuck had been career long rivals Chuck had beat him in the tournament finals and in rematch where if Helios lost he would never be allowed to show his face in CHIKARA again. Yeah it's a face cheating but I think the idea was "The Kings of Wrestling pulls crap like the time so why not do it to them." Flying form and spin kick by Helios than a pelle. Chuck to the floor. Summersault dive by Helios. Chuck with a drop kick when Helios tries to climb back in the ring. Taylor starts screaming its Ricochet but the referee says it's Helios. Mike Quackenbush points out we haven't' seen the face of Helios. Power slam by Taylor and stomp at Helios screaming who it is. Belly to back suplex by Taylor gets two. Leonard F Chikarson points out Taylor chose his opponent for tonight he could have picked anyone but he went for the "easy" match.Chops in the corner by Helios . Taylor with a kick and head scissors. Helios rolls back for a pin and gets two. Taylor "Gee Ricochet does that same counter. I WONDER WHY!" Helios gets the ropes to break the hold. Should food blocked. Backslide Driver by Helios. Flying head scissors by Helios connects. Over head belly to belly suplex by Taylor. Rana by Taylor and a flying kick get two. Super Rana by Taylor. Helios counters the omega drier into the crucifix bomb. Running shooting star press for the win. Match is good and Taylor reactions to everything make it comedy gold. I know I ll be the minority on this but I prefer the name and eventual look for Helios over Ricochet I just think it's works better. Post match the new champion is awarded the trophy. Taylor runs over and screams at Leonard F Chikarson.
Dragon Yuki vs Fire Ant- Yuki cuts a backstage promo but ti's all in Japanese and there are no subtitles. Leaving me to wonder why all it does is piss off or confuse people that dons't speak Japanese. Fire charges right into the shoulder tackles. Arm Drag by Fire Ant sends Yuki to the floor. Topa Con Hilo by Fire Ant to the floor. Running clothesline by Yuki back in the ring. Power slam by Yuki. Helicopter head scissors by Fire Ant take Yuki down. Big slap by Yuki and he ties Ant up in a ball and hits a basement dropkick to the ribs. Vertical suplex by Yuki gets two. Dragon sleeper by Yuki but Fire Ant gets the ropes. Yuki to the top rope but Fire Ant cuts him off and hits a super firemen's carry. Frog splash by Fire Ant gets two. Rock Bottom by Dragon Yuki than the michinoku drive. Yuki's second rope moonsault misses. Victory rolls for the win by Fire Ant Ok match Yuki never really new me away when he appeared in CHIKARA.
Larry Sweeney vs Claudio Castagnoli- Backstage Claudio tells the Kings of Wrestling they are yesterday's news. He says Sweeney is just another bump in the road to beating Chris Hero. I will note it was Sweeney's interference earlier in the year that allowed Hero to beat Claudio in a match and force him to rejoin the Kings of Wrestling for a time. Sweeney bails to the floor on Claudio entrances and stalls getting in the ring and demands the referee recheck Claudio for weapons. More stalling by Sweeney but he finally gets in the ring. Bell rings and Sweeney bails out. Claudio gives chase. Finally Claudio pulls Sweeney in by his hair. Lockup and a big chop by Claudio. Sweeney back to the floor. Back to the ring and another lock up. Forearm by Sweeney but take a second to celebrate. Claudio powers him into the corner and hits some shoulder blocks. Sweeney whipped chest first in tot the opposite side and tan again. Sweeney hung not he turnbuckle and eats some shoots. Sweeney begs for mercy and Claudio puts him in a Roman Knuckle lock and works overs the arms and chest. Running uppercut in the corner by Claudio. Sweeney blocks a head scissors and Claudio eats the mat. Garvin Stomp by Sweeney than a choke. Chin lock by Sweeney. Elbows to the back of the head by Sweeney. Garvin or Sweeney stomp by Sweeney. Claudio block on and tosses Sweeney down. Knee lift by Sweeney gets two. Chin lock again by Sweeney. Claudio ducks the clothesline and hits a bicycle kick. Giant Swing by Claudio. Spinning face buster by Claudio gets two. Backslide by Sweeney gets two even with the ropes. Spine buster by Sweeney. Neck breaker than a DDT by Sweeney or the 68 Comeback Special as Sweeney called it. Fishermen' is blocked . Uppercut by Claudio than the Ricola bomb for the win. Good match another strong one for Claudio as he takes out the King os Wrestling before his match with Hero. Claudio tells Hero he is next.
Olsen Twins Jimmy and Colin vs Cheech and Cloudy- These two teams had met back at Cibernetico and Robin with Cheech and Cloudy picking up the win. Cheech and Cloudy had also won another match since than giving them two points meaning a win here would give them a title shot. The Olesens jump at the bell and separate Cloudy. Cheech knocked to the floor. Double flapjack by the Olsens. Cheech recovers and break up the double teaming. Jimmy by mistake hip attacks his own brother. Northern light suplex on Jimmy by Cheech. Double team by C and C. Cheech with a mexican arm drag as the same time Cloudy does a Japanese arm drag. Suplex by Cloudy and Cheech in with a summersault senton. Jimmy dragged into the ring when Colin rolls to the floor. Flipping ace crusher by Cloudy. Down to Cheech vs Jimmy. Chop by Cheech. Colin with kick to the back of Cheech allowing Jimmy to hit a neck breaker. Tag to Colin. Falling lariat by Colin. Tag to Jimmy who hits some punches. Tag back to Colin and he clips Cheech in the neck. They are playing up that Cheech had a neck injury dating back to the Cibernetico match. Colin rubs Cheech's face in the mat. Tag to Jimmy who slaps Cheech than hits a neck breaker. Tag back to Colin. STO Enzigurie combo by the Olsen Twins. Colin uses the ropes to keep working over the neck. Tag to Jimmy. Assisted back senton by the Olsens. Carmel clutch using the ropes by Jimmy. Flying knee by Cheech and both men are down. Tag to Colin who cuts off the tag to Cloudy. Cheech ducks a lariat and dives to the floor for the lucha tag. Missile drop kick by Cloudy. Jimmy in and tries an elbow drop but misses. Head scissors by Cloudy on Colin. Same move to Jimmy sending him onto Colin. Running drop kick sends Jimmy to floor and Cloudy lands a sent on Colin gets two. Tag back to Cheech. Trip and running Yakuza combo by Cheech and Cloudy. Jimmy in and sends Cheech to the floor. Pair of Tornado DDT's by the Olesens twins get two. Jimmy hits a move that I will call an inverted Canada Destroyer because that's what i looks like but it only gets two. Double team on Cloudy.. Snap Rana by Colin on Cheech gets two. Dragon supplely by Jimmy on Cheech gets two. Cloudy crotches Colin not he topes and gets a sunset tip on Jimmy for the win. Very good match. Strange to see the much smaller Cloudy be the face making the save.
Mitch Ryder vs Lince Dorado- Backstage Ryder recaps his feud with Dorado and says tonight he finishes it and he will but an end to "Dorito." Ok promo nothing great. The night before Ryder had whipped Lince with a belt upping there feud even more. Lince charges in using the door on the other side and jumps Ryder. Clotheslines by Dorado. Ryder begs for mercy. Thez press by Dorado. Lionsault by Ryder gets the legs up. Small package by Lince gets two. School boy gets two. Ryder to the floor. Lince chases. Back in the ring Ryder hits a clothesline. Flapjack by Ryder than a elbow drop and gets two. Elbow to the head by Ryder. Lince goes for a summersault into the corner but misses. Ryder goes to the eyes and than drags the eyes across ropes. Abdominal stretch by Ryder. Lince out and gets a hip toss. Diving clothesline by Dorado both men are down. Spin kick by Dorado but dips his head to soon on a back body drop and gets caught. Step up kick by Dorado than a leg drop. Lince to the top but the crock screw senton misses. Pile driver blocked and Ryder takes a back body drop. O'conner roll by Lince for the win. Blah match and a disappointing main event. Not helping was the fact Lince won most of the match vs Ryder in there feud. I actually would have them fight to some kind of Double DQ or give Ryder a cheap win.
Post match Ryder grabs a microphone and says that win was a fluke. Ryder says he wants to humiliate and expose Dorado and says he will take Dorado's mask. Lince agrees but only if Ryder puts his hair on the line. Leonard F Chikarson gets the microphone and asks them if they know what means. Both men agree and LFC books it for the season finale show. It's an ok segment but again the feud never felt hot enough to justify a hair vs mask match.
This is a decent concept for a show but a lot of the stuff one it fall flat. As usual it's a fun CHIKARA show and the wrestling is very good. But even with the title change and the big challenge for the hair vs mask match I can't say you need to see this in order to enjoy the the final three shows of 2007. So avoid spend your money else where.
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