Hallowicked vs. Mike Quackenbush - 12 Large Summit - Anniversario and His Amazing Friends - 5/21/11

This may be my pick for most fun match of the year so far, and it's actually my favorite match I've seen this year. The entire first 6-8 minutes are devoted to matwork. And not just switching headlocks and hammerlocks, they actually are intuitive and reactive with it. When Mike puts Hallowicked in the Indian Deathlock, he first tries to go for Mike's leg, before squeezing out the back and into a headlock of his own. Of course, the hallmark of a CHIKARA match isn't just great wrestling, it's also a sense of humour, as displayed when Quack tries to escape a headscissors by using a kip up, only to kick out right into the ropes. "What are these doing here?"




They trade a couple of dives on the outside, including Hallowicked nearly taking out a kid, followed by a Quack Asai Moonsault which he was pretty proud of.
When they return to the ring Quack uses a unique armbreaker using his feet. This starts the bulk of the match, which is Quack taking one of his first students to task with every arm wrench variation he knows.



Wrestling has always had a different set of physics from the rest of the world. I think this match is one of the best examples of wrestling physics. In reality, a move like a full nelson would only be moderately effective and it would vary depending on your own strength. But in wrestling, it's raw fury and break neckitude is off the charts.



All holds have counters, and that is where we dabble into the British Catch as Catch Can style, wherein they have the tricky escapes like, bringing your knee up to your arms, grabbing it and kicking down to break out of the nelson. It's stylish enough that it's pro wrestling, but it's just real enough that it's viable. Even if it's not recommended should you be attacked in a bar with a Full Nelson. I don't think the Warlord goes to bars anymore anyway.



Attack and escape are of the utmost importance in this match, and they make it all viable enough that you're really intrigued with how they'll counter one another. And when they break into the highspots to close out the match, it's just as fluid. And when they finally hit the 3 count, it's a counter that does Quack in. Really awesome match, and you should go out of your way to check it out.