Anyone with an affinity for Independent Wrestling has
probably seen last year's King of Trios by now.
It was shortly preceded by the death of Larry Sweney, and going in with
that dark cloud hanging over it could've very well been a throwaway show and it
would be understandable. Instead, it was
a phenomenal show. The show was released
the day after the event was over, and the huge buzz from the live crowd made it
the best selling show in CHIKARA history.
It was also the birth of one of my favourite feuds, and for
my money the best feud of the last year.
At the 2010 King of Trios, through nefarious means, the BDK
(Then Claudio Castignoli, Ares and Tursas) defeated the Colony in the
finals. The Ants were out for revenge
and they met a new BDK trio of Tim Donst, Jakob Hammermeier and Delirious (with
Tursas on the outside).
The BDK try to get the jump but get tossed to the side,
Jakob is left behind to start a circle of clubberin' that everyone gets a ride
on before it's over.
After they bail to the outside, the Colony follows up with
an Ant-apault sending Fire Ant soaring after them. Donst hits an STO on the inside to put the BDK
back in the driver's seat. In a tender
moment, Donst teaches Jakob how to execute a suplex. After moderate success with wrestling, Jakob
gets back to his forte; choking FIre Ant first with his hands, then his vest
and finally his tie.
Fire Ant turns things around in the corner and rolls
out(exiting the ring is a tag in CHIKARA) bringing in Soldier Ant for a flying
headbutt into the corner, followed by a dive to the outside on Delirious. Back inside Donst gets cocky with a vertical
suplex and Green Ant counters into a small package. Green Ant then ducks a clotheline and rolls
through into his Texas Cloverleaf, but it's broken up.
They have the requisite elbow for elbow spot, with the
hilarious addition of Jakob trying to throw elbows like everybody else, but
continually being blocked by Fire Ant each time. The heels get the upper-hand and are about to
hit the BDK finisher, the Ragnarok, but Fire Ant gets saved and it's countered
into a double stunner.
With only Jakob left they hit the Ant Hill, but Donst makes
the save at the last second. Donst hits
is Death Valley Driver, the Donstitution, for 2. Fire Ant hits a top rope fireman's carry,
Soldier Ant attempts the Saluting Flying Headbutt but misses followed by a HUGE
flying splash from Delirious onto Soldier which clears the ring for Green Ant
and Jakob.
The ref is distracted by Donst grabbing a chair, leading to
Tursas coming in attempting to hit the big flying crossbody, which has been
death for anybody hit with it, on a restrained Green Ant. Ant ducks out of the way and it nails
Jakob. Then, harkening back to Yokozuna
and Lex Luger on the USS Intrepid, Green Ant picks up the enormous Tursas and
slams him! This blew the roof off of the
Arena. Then, he hoists Jakob up in the
rack for the submission win. This put
the Colony through to the semi-finals.
What's wonderful about CHIKARA is that they're not afraid to
reach to the past, with the knowledge that a lot of their fans have been fans
this entire time, and there's some strings to tug at their heart from in those
memories. Despite the goofy theatris of
a slam on a US Airplane Carrier, the nonsensical patriotism (a staple not just
of the Lex Express, but many Pro Wrestling angles), and the
fresh-tapped-from-the-National-Parks-of-America-and-from-a-red-white-and-bluewood-tree
sap that was the theme song, every kid loved it.
And CHIKARA took all of that, the slam, the patriotism (Tursas being
from Norway), the theme song and yes, even the bus and made it something
new.
It wasn't just meaningless nostalgia though, it really gave
Green Ant a chance to come into his own.
Through the Flex Express videos he cut some fun promos about traveling
anonymous towns on his way to finally put down Tursas. And the two singles matches he had with
Tursas, especially given that both have had only a few years of experience
between them, were phenomenal matches.
He is equal parts BattlARTS and Road Warrior in his style. He can do the strength spots, as evidenced in
this match but he has a slick grappling game as seen in his matches with
Quackenbush.
This match, and the subsequent Tursas matches are the best
thing in wrestling for 2011. For reference, they are at CHIKARAsaurus Rex: Night 1 and the High Noon iPPV. Check them out and start digging CHIKARA!
