Our New Project

http://russianflagburial.blogspot.com/

An examination of 1984 Mid South Wrestling.

New Issue

New Issue of ODESSA STEPS.

Not a hoax. Not an imaginary story.

Debuting at the Baltimore Comic-Con.

Article by Dr. Lucha Steve Sims in the issue.

Out with the Old Year, In with the New Year

Mike Quackenbush gets the upper hand on Buck Hawke from the December12 CHIKARA show in Easton PA. Photo courtesy Lyle C. Williams.

As the saying goes, "Nothing in life is certain except Death and Taxes." A third thing is that one or twice a year, we're going to a sit-down interview with CHIKARA founder "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush. This time, it's a look back at an adventurous 2008 CHIKARA season, which saw the company run shows around the world and a look ahead to the start of their upcoming eighth campaign. This interview was conducted via email in early January 2009.

Q: How would you category 2008 for CHIKARA, both as a company and as a
product? It was undoubtedly your biggest year, but was it also your "best"
year (however you would rate that)?

A: I think when the  book is closed on CHIKARA, people will look back on
Season 7 as a real high point for us. We've really shown the diversity of our
performers, the diversity of our brand, and we've brought a whole new type of
storytelling to the table that no other American wrestling company has ever
come close to touching. Creatively, it was a real success, even if our
accountant has contrary feelings on the matter.

Q: With a number of trips to New England, the Midwest tour and Tag World
Grand Prix in Germany, CHIKARA did a lot of expanding. How would you judge
running out-of-market in 2008?

A: The out-of-market experiments, by and large, were not successful. As a
result, it is fair to assume there will be less experiments along those lines in 2009.

Q: You went through a number of venue changes in 2008, losing Hellertown
(which some would say was CHIKARA's best-ever venue), gaining Easton and
now apparently losing Framingham. Have you scouted a new Boston-area
location for 2009? Might there be any new Pennsylvania venues coming up?

A: No and No.

Q: 2008 saw a number of "theme" shows for CHIKARA, including King of Trios,
Loteria Lethal and the return of Tag World Grand Prix. Will we continue to see
these types of events in 2009?

A: I think we've cultivated a fun group of sign-post events over the years,
from the Young Lions Cup (which began back in 2002) to the Global Gauntlet we
introduced just a few months ago. Some might get put away in the creative
attic for a while until we're ready to dust them off again, but for the most
part, I think you'll see the same amount from year to year.

Q: Tangentially, 2008 saw CHIKARA's first cage match and 2009 will see  its
first ladder match. Can we look forward to more "first time"  stipulations
in CHIKARA?

A: I think you can always count on us to defy expectations and deliver
pleasant surprises. Apart from that, who can say?

Q: You just announced King of Trios for 2009 and it's a smaller version than in
2008. Was this an economic decision mainly or do you think the tournament
last year might have been a little too big, with all the participants?

A: The decision was purely financial. The two biggest measurable jumps
CHIKARA has ever made in terms of notoriety are directly tied to the first
giant-sized Tag World Grand Prix (in 2005) and the first giant-sized King of Trios
(last year). So I wouldn't say "too big." That sort of thing, to many  fans, is
our calling card.

Q: One of the highlights of the CHIKARA calendar year in 2008 was the Fan Conclave
held during King of Trios weekend. Is this  likely to return in 2009, either at KOT
or some other point during the year?

A: This was just finalized. There will be one this calendar year, and it will be free
admission for members of the CHIKARMY. We're working on the details
and the regular admission price this month.

Q: Another highlight, particularly for the long-time CHIKARA fans, was the
"legends" Battle Royale in Easton. Could this become an annual  tradition
or is there a danger of mining nostalgia once too often?  As entertaining as
the match was, there were certainly people who weren't in it that many
people were hoping to see come back for the match.

A: Wow, even in a business where the prosaic is often described as
"phenomenal," that might be the most liberal application of the term "legend"
ever. That being said, we don't exactly ignore our past. We tend to celebrate it.
With due modesty. Our retired performers have all retired with good reason, and
none are in a position to entertain the idea of a comeback, no matter who
"clamors" for it.

Q: There are shows this year in January and  February, months that used to
be part of CHIKARA's off-season. What made you decide to run shows this
year and not take the time off?

A: The consensus is that we have really built a great deal of momentum
throughout Season 7, and there was some question as to whether or not we might
lose that momentum with our traditional holiday break. You can see which side
won that debate.

Q: There were some old faces that left CHIKARA during 2008 and some new ones
that debuted. A fluid roster is always going to be  part of the wrestling business.
re there any roster change in 2008 that pleased or saddened you more than another?

A: I'm very glad to have my friend Jigsaw back at my side, obviously. We have a great
chemistry together, and I think if not for a terrible concussion that derailed our
momentum in Ring of Honor a year or so back, more people would have had the chance
to see that firsthand.
Over the last 2 years, our roster has really been galvanized  into the  strongest core
crew we've ever had. There have been people on the CHIKARA roster that really
weren't team players, and now, in January of 2009,  you don't see those people on
our roster pages any more. If you want to put  forth the kind of cutting edge product that
we do, if you want to take the challenge of shattering the status quo in independent
wrestling seriously, if  you want to show real character evolution, real transformation,
and do it with a continuity and style that is typically reserved for broadcast or print
mediums,  you need a group of people that understand the value in being a team player
to do it. I travel up and down the independents, not just in the US, but everywhere,
and I'm entirely sincere when I tell you that I am part of the best crew  working today,
and that crew only comes together under the banner of CHIKARA.

Q: CHIKARA made some waves today [January 5] with the announcement of
a new ticket structure, taking effect at King of Trios. A number of people have said
they have no problem with the increase in prices (given the economy the way it is),
but felt that they bought/renewed their CHIKARMY card under the assumption
that things would continue under the old system. Should the new price structure
have been announced before the CHIKARMY renewals, so people  knew what they
were buying? Or did this decision come after the renewal period had begun?

A: To be frank, the number of complaints we've received about this is two, as
far as I know. Two out of 107 members of the fan club. And all the renewal
members have been given the option of a refund if they feel put out by the
change in ticket prices. Things change rapidly in our business. Sometimes you
have to be able to make lemonade from the lemons life serves you. If you look at
our track record, CHIKARA practically specializes in that.

Q: CHIKARA has always been known as a fan-friendly promotion that has
avoided being lumped in with notoriously "indy sleaze" companies that seem
to gouge their fans for every last dollar. Again, a small promotion like CHIKARA
needs to do what it has to in this economy, but are you worried that people might
see the company as stooping to the level of those other companies?

A: What sets us apart from these other companies, is that we always do right
by our fans. It's that simple. Independent wrestling is a strange universe,
wherein you might find companies drowning in their own stupidity, mired in
ignorance, clinging fast to outdated precepts and obsolete rhetoric, or in the
middle of an unending "con" on the dumb marks of the world. But CHIKARA is not
one of those companies. The very suggestion of it is rather irritating to me, honestly.
One thing we do not usually discuss publicly is the work we do, and have
done since 2003, with dozens of non-profit organizations. Even today,
CHIKARA makes donations on a monthly basis to 19 non-profit organizations that help
the mentally and physically handicapped, as well as disadvantaged children,
in all the communities where we regularly perform - Philadelphia, Easton, and
to a lesser extent these days, Reading. The way our company is incorporated,
we don't even see a tax benefit  from doing this. Whether the economy is good
or bad, we do it every month, and have, for more than six years.
Some groups think they should milk this type of charity every chance they get -
they splash it all over their press releases, some even make TV specials about it to
toot their own horns and pound their chests for all to witness. That's not us. We don't do
it to be thanked, we don't do it to "babyface" ourselves. The positive changes we
bring about - in our communities, and in the influence we are having on the wrestling
industry - occur quietly. Anyone who really sees CHIKARA for what it is, and what it
does, would find it laughable that we'd be "stooping to the level of those other companies,"
or deserving of the label "sleaze."

CHIKARA Pro Wrestling returns to action January 25 in Philadelphia,February 20
in Reading PA and February 21 in Easton PA. For ticket information,check out
www.chikarapro.com. For CHIKARA talk, head to www.chikarafans.com.

Talking Baseball, Insect Style

In preparation of CHIKARA's second New England tour this week, ODESSA STEPS MAGAZINE wrestling editor DOCTOR ALQUIMIA had a chance to sit down and chat with an old friend, the diabolical genius Ultra Mantis Black, leader of The Order of the Neo-Solar Temple. Many people know of his prowess in the wrestling ring, but not everyone might be aware of his fondness for the National Pastime. They chatted (via email) recently about the recent World Series win by his Philadelphia Phillies, as well as some squared circle issues.

Q: Were you optimistic of the Phillies' chances for post-season success when the playoffs started? Almost none of the "baseball experts" picked them to make it to the Series, let alone win it.

A: Surely you jest! My dear, close personal friend J-Roll had dubbed the Fightins' "the team to beat" at the start of the 2007 season. Clearly his premonitions were merely following the metaphysical clock of a leap year.

Q: Were you expecting Tampa Bay to put up a bigger fight? Did you think the Phillies' pitching would be able to cool off Upton and Longoria and the rest of the Rays' hitters?

A: Tampa Bay, you see, is located in an inferior hemisphere - Florida. The temperatures are much too high and the people much too old for The Order's tastes. Therefore it was evident that their bats could simply not perform in the harsh, rugged, and handsome environment of Philadelphia. In addition, they were clearly cursed from the get-go when management foolishly decided to drop the "Devil" portion of their moniker.

Q: What were you thinking during Game Five of the World Series as the rains came down and then when the game was postponed?

A: "Intoxicating! The sacred tribal raindance of The Order is a success!" These words were of course formed in a word bubble over my head, Charlie Brown style.

Q: Were you around for the Phillies' World Series appearance in 1980, 83 or 1993? If so, how did the celebrations compare to those (not that there was much celebrating for the latter two)?

A: I was. As well as for the 1950 series of course. To be fair, my dear, close personal friend Tug McGraw, rest his soul, had a far more memorable post-victory pitcher's mound leap than the more forgettable post-victory pitcher's mound kneeldown of Bradley Lidge.

Q: Rumor has it there was a sighting of someone in an UMB mask partying in downtown Philadelphia after Game Five and the Phillies had won the Series? Can you confirm or deny?

A: I cannot be held responsible for any damage done to any businesses or automobiles during this time.

Q: Did being an evil insect overlord prevent you from going to the parade?

A: No man or beast could have prevented me from such. In fact, after the parade I was privileged enough to share a sparkling apple cider with my dear, close personal friends Jayson Werth and Pat the Bat, who we like to call "Bait". But that my friends is a story for another day.

Q: Onto wrestling matters. It's well-known that Vin Gerard and the Unstable are not popular in the tecnico lockerroom. How are they received by the rudos? Were you pleased to be picked for the Cibernetico, since it would give you a chance for more revenge on Hydra and Tim Donst?

A: The Cibernetico??!! Are you quite sure? I have not had the chance to check my answering service lately but surely there must be some mistake! I don't trust anyone inside or outside of a CHIKARA lockerroom but I do know that The Order is not yet finished with those treasonous snakes Hydra and Donst.

Q: How would you describe two-ought-ought-eight for the Order? Your ranks swelled but were then depleted by the actions of Tim Donst, Mike Quackenbush and your former protege Hydra.

A: We had our ups, we had our downs. We shared some laughs, we made some frowns.

Q: With the Order down to "just" you and Crossbones, will you be looking to expand in 2009?

A: The Order is always looking for new proteges, prophets, and soothsayers. Crossbones and I have determined that the best of course of action to meet our needs is to conduct some sort of televised "Star Search"-esque competition. We have already recruited one celebrity judge - the close, personal friend Mr. Jamie Farr.

Q: How has your relationship changed with the Golden Palamino Larry Sweeney, now that he is a tecnico?

A: I am merely the Palomino's spiritual advisor. He comes to me in times of crisis and I offer him my council. What he chooses to do with my advice is his own prerogative. Who are you to question his decisions?!

Q: There are rumors of that "CHIKARA stars of yesteryear" could be returning next month. Might this be any of your former acquaintances?

A: If you are speaking of former senior official Paul Turner, well I simply am not at liberty to divulge that information. The world is a weird, wild place.

Thanks to Ultra Mantis Black for the time. You can find his Myspace page here. CHIKARA returns to action this weekend in Framingham MA on Saturday and Wallingford CT on Sunday. For ticket information, go here. To talk about all things CHIKARA, go to the CHIKARA FANS website.

Is it that time of year again already?

Continuing what we hope will now be a yearly tradition, here's a few minutes with Mike Quackenbush, as CHIKARA gets ready for their Aniversario shows next weekend in Massachusetts and Connecticut. This weekend, the promotion will run shows in their traditional venues in Hellertown, PA and Philadelphia. The following interview was conducted few weeks ago via e-mail.

Q: Can you tell yet how successful King of Trios 20007 was for the
company, either financially or aesthetically? Or is it still too soon
to tell?

MQ: I think of it as a success for one chief reason: On February 28th,
there were 84 wrestlers booked to appear, and over the next few days,
all 84 of them showed up and did their thing. There are some 8-man
tournaments that can't manage to get everyone together, so I think this
was a big accomplishment. Financially, it was a disaster that we'll
probably spend the rest of the year trying to make up for. The biggest
tournament of all time also comes with the biggest price tag of all time.

Q: Were you surprised by any of the wrestlers at KOT who were making
their CHIKARA debuts? The fans certainly became enamored almost
immediately  with Da Soul Touchaz and The Kartel, to name two teams.

MQ: Not really. I knew what we were getting into in almost every instance.
I  was pleasantly surprised by Sha Samuels and Terry Frazier, who were
two of the five participants that I had not personally seen or wrestled
myself. I had seen Martin Stone before (in my European travels), and his
reputation is well-earned.

Q: How did you think the Fan Conclave at King of Trios turned out? Is it
something  worth repeating at future events?

MQ: I had very little to do with the Fan Conclave, but what I saw seemed
like good clean fun in the mighty CHIKARA manner. I would hope we'll try
it again at some point. Before which, we had all better log some serious
time playing Fire Pro Returns.

Q: CHIKARA is getting ready to debut in a new market (Massachusetts) and
a fairly new one (Connecticut) soon. How did you pick these markets? Will
there be more new markets coming in 2008?

MQ: Our Wallingford test-run last year was a real success for the company,
so returning there is a natural. If Framingham goes as well as Wallingford
did last year, I think it will encourage us to branch out even farther
(we've been to Vermont in years past as well.) Any potential new market
expansions hinge solely on the success or failure of our New England
Aniversario weekend.

Q: As a follow-up, how did you decide to hold the Aniversario shows  in
these new markets instead of having them in Hellertown and Philadelphia?

MQ: We're never content to rest on our laurels, or maintain the status
quo. CHIKARA is an ever-changing beast. Maybe this year we'll drop the
Cibernetico. Maybe we'll bring back the Tag World. Every year the format,
if there even is one, evolves.

Q:This year has seen a growing relationship with KAIJU, with their stars
on CHIKARA shows and some CHIKARA talent on their shows. Do you see
them as "kindred spirits in wackiness?"

MQ: Certainly. We're like estranged cousins.

Q: Have you seen any results yet from being on Italian TV?  More
international DVD sales and/or hits to the website(s)?

MQ: There has been a slight delay in the Italian TV deal, but the first
four episodes are heading back overseas shortly. There were some format
issues that needed to be worked out. Overall though, our international
profile has grown tremendously in the first 2 quarters of 2008. Things
like our Create-A-Wrestler contest really tell the tale, when more than
50% of the responses we hear come from non-U.S. residents.

Q: A hot topic for the fans online lately has been this CHIKARA
Welterweight title that's been defended in Mexico recently and won by
a recent opponent of yours, Cassandro? What's the deal with this belt?
And could we possibly see a visit from Cassandro in a CHIKARA ring?

MQ: It is entirely possible that Cassandro will come to CHIKARA in 2008.
I am glad that the Welterweight title turned up. We also rechristened a
WCW cruiserweight belt the "CHIKARA Middleweight Internet championship"
some years  ago, and left it under a shrub in the outskirts of Mexico
City, so I expect to see that around Valiente's waist sooner or later.
I mean, that was the plan all along.

Q: On a related subject, do you have any more international  defenses
planned for the NWA Jr title? Perhaps even another trip to Japan,
where you might get to fight a human and not a kappa demon?

MQ: Now that New Japan and the NWA are together again, that is certainly
possible. There was talk about sending an NWA rep to Best of the Super
Junior. Evidently, that spot went to Jimmy Rave. Hopefully, I can hang
onto that belt until next year's tournament. I think if I had the chance
to do a J-Cup or BOSJ, then there really would be nothing left for me to
accomplish as a wrestler. I don't know what more I could ask for. That
being said, I never get tired of wrestling with my students and proteges,
and seeing them develop into fully-realized wrestlers.

Q: Where did the idea for the CHIKARA comic book come from? I know
many of the CHIKARA regulars are comics readers.

MQ: It's a bit of a vanity project, in many ways. To have our own comic
book, I mean. It's meant to serve as a live event program, and obviously
intended to appeal to the many fellow comic fans out there. I think it has
the potential to function in our Universe in a really unique way - like
that old Von Erich family  comic book - only with better quality paper and
fewer Iron Claws. By the end of  the year, I think fans will begin to see
what an important role it's going to  play, and maybe then the first issue
will sell briskly and get out of my  basement. Or maybe we better look into
variant, holographic embossed covers featuring Cable and Darkhawk.

Upcoming CHIKARA shows include May 17 in Hellertown PA, May 18 in Philadelphia, May 23 in Framingham MA and May 24 in Wallingford CT. For more information, go to chikarapro.com or visit the Chikara Fans message board.

Chico vs Sweet and Sour

Fight Sport Midwest announced today that the long-awaited rematch between Larry Sweeney and Bryan Alvarez will be taking place.... in CHIKARA.

November 18th, in Philadelphia, for the last CHIKARA show of the year.

Expect a large influx of EMPIRE members for the show.

No word on if Bryan will be seconded by Vinnie V.

Up at the BEAT

an article about CHIKARA's wacky comic book-themed DVD covers.

My trip to OVW and DCW

Thinking Outside the Box (and the Squared Circle)

All men may be created equal, but that cannot be said for wrestling fans. Just as a Lucha company is different from a Japanese company is different from WWE, so to are the fans of particular companies around the world.

I learned this first-hand this week. After seeing shows in the Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic for years, I got an up-close look at old-fashioned Southern Wrestling and their fans.

Our story begins in the Louisville suburb of New Albany, Indiana, home of XCW Midwest and wrestler Mitch Ryder. Ryder is no stranger to fans in the Northeast, having worked for companies like CZW and CHIKARA of late. And while the show did have some familiar “indy names” on the card, like Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, fans expecting ROH-style matches would be sorely disappointed.

Like many indy shows, the show was not held in an area, but in a National Guard Armory. One, unfortunately on this night, that did not have air-conditioning. And, being the first day of a 100 degree heatwave in the area, the atmosphere was stifling and most of the crowd could be seen making frequent trips to the snack bar for drinks or fanning themselves with the evening’s programs.

The show had a mixture of wrestlers on it. Some, as mentioned above, were Internet favorites, some were legends (Gypsy Joe, Bill Dundee), some were regional stars (Jamie Dundee, Bull Pain) and some were local workers I admittedly had never seen before (LA Warren, The Prophet).

The crowd, like the ones I would see later in the week in Louisville, was very old school. Families of all ages could be found in the building. Mothers were scurrying after small children oblivious to the matches in the ring. There were grizzled old-timers and young toughs. The one thing that appeared to be in short supply was “the smark fan.” There were only a handful of t-shirts for the likes of Larry Sweeney and Hero. There were more WWE and even WWF/WCW era t-shirts to be found being worn. And there were no real “smart” chants, other than the obligatory “You Fucked Up” chants. Mostly, it was “Go, person, Go” or the traditional stuff yelled at heels, usually questioning their sexuality.

The most unusual thing seen that night was probably the match scheduled to be Castagnoli vs. Necro Butcher. Word was that there was a locker room incident involving the Butcher and the card had to be shuffled. So, Claudio, all 6’5” of him ended up wrestling former WWE talent Zach Gowen. Yes, Zach Gowen. Sadly, we did not get to see Claudio execute a one-legged Giant Swing, which would have been something to behold. Instead, the match was more about Claudio not getting along with special guest referee Gypsy Joe and it ended up being a schmozz when Claudio attacked Joe and just left the ring.

When the night was over (which admittedly came early for me, thanks to the heat and a seven-hour drive that day), a few hundred fans went home happy as Ryder won the main event by DQ over Todd Morton. But this was just the beginning.

Wednesday night was my first trip to see Ohio Valley Wrestling. I had been getting OVW tapes since the “glory days” of the company under Jim Cornette, when the shows were built around Doug Basham, The Damaja and Nick Dinsmore. Interestingly enough, while the product in the ring these days might not match that era, the company is still doing quite well, filling up Davis Arena every week for TV and having successful spot shows all over the area.

I was told to get there by 6 o’clock for the doors to open at 6:30. I came a few minutes before 6:00 and there were already a couple hundred people queued up in line outside the building (in an industrial park on the outskirts of Louisville). There was camaraderie between many of the people milling about, showing that these folks have been seeing the same faces week after week for who knows how long.

After an all-too-long wait in the blistering sun, the crowd went in and the show began in a short time. Thankfully, Davis Arena has air conditioning. Like the night before, the crowd was boisterous, loudly cheering and booing, although not always for the designated babyfaces and heels. There was a strong continent opposed to former Spirit Squadder Johnny Jeter and the recently-arrived (from the Indy scene) Colt Cabana perhaps had the most cheers, but had one extremely-loud non-fan.

OVW, being a developmental territory, is not going to be full of five-star matches (if you’re one who goes for that sort of thing). The workers are learning, getting on-the-job training in front of live fans and television cameras. You could tell there were varying levels of skills on display, especially with former RAW performers like Armando Estrada and Eugene (the former Nick Dinsmore, still doing his “special” gimmick) on the show. On the other end of the spectrum, you had young guys, obviously green, not quite hitting all their marks or not quite exactly nailing a particular move.

One new wrinkle for OVW booking is the addition of the Derby City Wrestling show the next night. This allows them to shoot angles that carry over to the show. On this night, an angle between the James Boys (KC James and Cassidy Riley) and the new babyface team of Jeter and Christian York led to a main event match on OVW that resulted in a rematch the next night on DCW.

Many of the fans in the building Wednesday night were back the next night for DCW. Since the TV tapings for DCW were only about a month old, there was not the same level of attendance (plus, the weather, still hazardous to one’s health) as the night before, but it looks like almost everyone there had been there the night before.

Derby City is made up of wrestlers from OVW’s “intermediate” training school level. These are guys not under WWE contract, like most of the OVW roster, but were in fact still paying tuition to go through the school and still having jobs in the real world to make ends meet. They were just hoping to make it to the next level, which was one step closer to the major leagues. To use the sports analogy, DCW is AA, OVW is AAA and the WWE is The Show (not to be confused with the Big Show).

Obviously, the DCW workers are even less-polished as their OVW counterparts, which doesn’t diminish their willingness to learn or try in the ring. As someone who watches a lot of CHIKARA (another promotion full of young workers fresh out of wrestling school), there are always varying levels of quality you can find in the ring when you have green wrestlers still learning their way. Good fans can forgive miscues in the ring if they can tell that the effort is there. Also, the ring-work is very basic and sound. It would seem odd to a fan of Northeast wrestling that the first highspot (a straightforward plancha) didn’t occur until the fifth match on the card.

Again, there did not appear to be many “smart” fans in the crowd, which doesn’t stop DCW from running an extremely-inside angle. Ted “The Trailer” McNailer is currently having what could be called a one-sided feud with wrestling newsletter writer Bryan Alvarez. McNailer has been cutting promos on Alvarez, who has been reviewing the DCW TV show in his Figure Four Weekly publication. But, as of this writing, it is not building towards anything, as Alvarez, a part-time wrestler, says he has no desire to go all the way to Louisville to deal with McNailer. This likely is both a way for McNailer to practice his promo skills and provide an amusing in-joke for Alvarez, DCW trainer Rip Rogers and their mutual friend and wrestling school trainer, Buddy Wayne.

The one drawback with running very fundamental matches is their repetitiveness. On this night, they were in the middle of running the DCW Tag Team Title Tournament. So, the crowd saw four tag matches that were very formulaic and even saw the same spots in a couple of the matches. Had there not been four of them in a row, it would not have been so plain. They also had the misfortune of running an injury angle (with Sweet Stevie) and later having a real injury take place a few matches later (with the J-Man), but those things happen.

Again, like the night before, everyone in the crowd appeared to have a good time and went home happy. Of course, you can have small expectations for your entertainment when you’re not paying anything for it. (yes, attendance at both TV tapings is free.)

All of this goes to show that the obvious that there are many different kinds of wrestling out there and if you are just a fan of one kind, maybe you should try going outside the box for a new kind of entertainment to watch. If you’re a Northeast fan, try some Southern wrestling and vice versa. Fandom shouldn’t be limited to one particular kind of person.

xxx

Easy Come, Easy Go

Wagner and Ultimo lose the CMLL campones de parajes back to Negro Casas and Mistico after only a week.

what's the point?

three words that go great together

RUDO DR. WAGNER~!

1000 % RUDO~!~!

RIP Chris Benoit

apparently, not an angle.

Meltzer and other news sources say Benoit and his entire family found dead today.

Lucha Flyer 21 July 2000

While looking through my archives today, I came upon this flyer that I picked up in Tiajuana when I saw a Lucha Show there in July 2000. I was in SD for Comicon and this was the first time I finally got to see Lucha in person (thanks again to Eric from Hollywood Book and Poster). This is what all you comics folks missed by always going to the Eisners every year.

A plague wind fill'd with insects

A PLAGUE WIND FILL’D WITH INSECTS

a malevolent convesation with UltraMantis Black

[Editor’s note: It had been a long time since we heard from our old friend Dr. Alquimia. For those that don’t remember, we had been contracted to publish his comic book, but a number of suspicious incidents led to problems with the first issue. After we published that issue back in 2001, some more odd things happened (too numerous to mention) and we suspended publication of the book until we could talk to Dr. Alquimia himself. Well, until a few days ago, we had been unable to contact him for over five years. Shockingly, we received an email from him (or someone claiming to be him), asking if we could publish an interview he had just conducted. After we confirmed it was indeed him, we agreed and hope that this return of the Master of the Egyptian Art will not be short-lived. We still want to chronicle his adventures and hope to have news on this matter during the summer comic book convention season. Sadly, but not surprisingly, it appears that, since the last time we saw him, Dr. Alquimia has returned to his rudo roots.]

The great English visionary William Blake once said, “Active Evil is better than Passive Good.” And, to the great consternation of tecnicos everywhere, I am proud to say that I am once again both Active and Evil. I must humble apologize to my former tag team partner, El Caido, for ever abandoning my rudo ways. I hope that I will be able to earn back both his trust at some point.

But that is neither here nor there. I have not returned today to sing my own praises (hard as that may be), but to extol the virtues of another man who walks the path less chosen, the leader of the Order of the Neo-Solar Temple, UltraMantis Black.

The evil insect mastermind graciously took a few minutes out of scheming and plotting nefarious conspiracies to talk to me about his career, current plans and assorted other Machiavellian pursuits.

DA: When you began your wrestling career, you were a tecnico. What made you turn to the dark side?

UMB: I prefer to call it the light-deprived side. If I remember correctly, it had something to do with a holly-go-lightly chap known as Mister ZERO and a heated dispute over shoes and socks. I suppose it all snowballed from there although, at this point, I can't really point to any logical reason for my rudo-wing leanings.

DA: Is this when you stopped wearing boots and started working barefoot? (I apologize for only having seen a few of your tecnico matches, but noticed that you did wear footwear at the time.)

UMB: Ah, this was not the precise moment when I began this practice; however it was indeed a turning point in the journey toward my enlightenment. Most footwear is merely a tool of the multinational corporations to keep us subservient and poor -- blind to the blight of the sprawling civilization around us and the unfair wage system which keeps us in chains. No gods, no masters.

DA: Do you have any evil role models, in wrestling or in popular culture? Kevin Sullivan? Curtis Ieukea? Lex Luthor? Dr. Doom? Montgomery Burns? One imagines you must be close personal friends with Zorak from SPACE GHOST.

UMB: Hmm. When I think of evil I think of Wal-Mart, the John Birch Society, and [former] US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton. So I can not say I am influenced at all by such. However, it is interesting that you reference Kevin Sullivan. I find myself quite influenced by his work in, what they call, "the old Florida territory". Genius. Sadly I was not privy to much of King Curtis' early work. However, any man or woman who can tame both the Ugandan Headhunter as well as The Yeti is OK in my book. Plus, the forehead. I am not familiar with these other individuals of which you speak. SPACE GHOST?

DA: Do you have a favorite “giant insect” movie”? BEGINNING OF THE END with the giant grasshoppers? I’d think you would have a fondness for THE DEADLY MANTIS.

UMB: The 1954 classic THEM!, featuring a young James Whitmore and the legendary and wonderful Edmund Gwenn, star of the unforgettable MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET.

DA: In addition to your wrestling training at the Chikara Wrestle Factory, have you ever studied the Praying Mantis Kung Fu style?

UMB: I have a background in Krav Maga. I also enjoy listening to the music of Red Sovine when I take long car rides, often pretending to be navigating my big rig heading for Bear on I-10 about a mile out of Shakey Town.

DA: How and where did you discover the man-monster Hydra? Is he at all connected to the infamous Marvel Comics evil spy organization HYDRA, once led by the nefarious Baron Wolfgang von Strucker?

UMB: You are speaking of "comical books" characters, yes? Such frivolities are meaningless to The Order. But back to the question at hand, Hydra was born of fire -- a great oceanic fire, one similar to that which engulfed the engine of Oceanic Flight 815 one fateful day. Hydra is what I like to call a young, virile monster-in-training. A "twink" if you will. I foresee much greatness in Hydra's future if he remains under my guidance and continues to walk in the Shining Path of the Order.

DA: What do you think of Hydra’s chances in the upcoming Young Lions’ Cup?

UMB: I'm going to be brutally honest here -- his chances are not good. With that said, Hydra's goals are unrelated to that of gold, riches, and trophies. Hydra fights in service to The Order and while we have yet to reveal the exact nature of our own goals to the viewers, we are quite secure in our belief that our cause is a just one. However, one never knows what will happen in such tournaments. For example, if the entire roster were to be afflicted with a horrible case of food poisoning, and Hydra -- a man-monster known for his all air and water diet -- was to remain unscathed, well then I believe his chances would improve vastly.

DA: Is there an insect rivalry between you and the members of the Colony?

UMB: As my friends The West Coast Rap All-Stars so eloquently once put it – “we're all in the same gang.”

DA: Were you able to have an “evil genius” summit with Kaiju’s Dr. Cube last month when you both were in Philadelphia for CHIKARA’s Anniversario! show?

UMB: Unfortunately, no. However, Cubey has my number and he knows I anxiously await his call. Perhaps the good doctor would enjoy a delightful evening out in the Village together. I'm thinking a nice dinner of risotto and gazpacho at the Yaffa Cafe on St. Mark's, catch a show at the Winter Garden (have you seen MAMMA MIA yet??), and perhaps a nightcap of all-night canasta playing at my friend King's house.

DA: Have you patterned your commentating style on any one person? Would you say your style is more Gordon Solie or something more modern?

UMB: Solie, Lance Russell, Bob Caudle, Mid South-era Jim Ross. I always thought Ken Resnick was a good interview. David Crockett for purposes of unintentional humor only, of course.

DA: Do you have a favorite commentary partner? You seem to have quite the rapport with “Sweet and Sour” Larry Sweeney on the stick.

UMB: “The Palomino” is a true golden god amongst men. The man is a verbal Van Gogh. He paints such vivid aural pictures with his words. A genuine treat to share the commentary table with him!

DA: You know evil and you know baseball. Who is the most evil player in the show today: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Curt Shilling or someone else?

UMB: True evil is every anabolic junkie who besmirched the game with their dope shooting-enhanced on-field performances. And Billy Wagner.

I once again would like to thank the incredibly insidious insect UltraMantis Black for generously speaking to your not-so-humble servant. You can be sure the next time I see him at the International Brotherhood of Rudos, the first one is on me.

CHIKARA’s annual Young Lions Cup takes place this weekend, June 22-24, in Reading, Barnesville and Hellertown, PA, respectively. For more information, visit the CHIKARA website at Http://chikarapro.com. You can find UltraMantis Black on the web at http://www.myspace.com/ultramantis.

5/26 Chikara Pro results

5/26 Chikara Pro Wrestling, Hellertown PA 1. Fire Ant and Soldier Ant d. The Olsen Twins -- Before the match, The Olsen twins were found to have brought a magnifying glass to ringside. 2. Brodie Lee d Equinox 3. Shyane Hawke d Player Uno -- Player Uno was undone by his Pause Button. Hawke hit it right after Uno had climbed back into the ring and was an easy pinfall victim. After the match, no one wanted to Un-Pause him, so Uno laid in the ring until the start of the next match. 4. Worker Ant d. Hydra (w/Ultra Mantis Black). Hydra tried to claim a pinfall on the frozen Player Uno, but the ref would have none of it. Worker Ant won after placing Hydra inside a giant paper bag and pinning him. After the match, Hydra continued to have problems with said bag, still being unable to wrestle out of it. 5. Simply Marvelous Mitch Ryder d. Shane Storm. After the match, Larry Sweeney and Chris Hero offered Ryder a chance to join their version of the Kings of Wrestling and he accepted. This sequed into the next match, where Sweeney teamed with a contractually-obligated Claudio Catagnoli. 6. Pantera & Lince Dorado d. Sweeney and Castagnoli. The reluctant partners were at odds in the beginning of the match and later at the end, when Claudio accidentally hit Sweeney with a European Uppercut that led to the pin. Pantera was able to get the crowd to frequently chant "LOCO" at Sweeney and delighted in mussing Sweeney's hair at every opportunity. 7. Young Lion's Cup defense -- Max Boyer d. Create-a-Wrestler After the match, Icarus and Gran Akuma offered Boyer a chance to join their version of the Kings of Wrestling and he accepted. They apparently just beat Chris Hero to the ring, who was apparently going to make the same offer to Boyer. 8. Hallowicked d. Eddie Kingston by DQ. Kingston was DQ'ed for mask ripping after a five-count. He even bit the stem off the top of Hallowicked's pumpkin-style mask. 9. Icarus & Gran Akuma d. Kagrra & Dragon Yuki 10. Mike Quackenbush d. Chris Hero in an extremely stiff match, full of chops, strikes and numerous headbutts. After hitting a double knee strike, Quackenbush made Hero tap to a Lucha-style submission. -- Mark Coale Odessa Steps Magazine The Year 1905 Blog

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The Anniversary Party

The Anniversary Party

CHIKARA Pro Wrestling Celebrates their Fifth Year with a Pair of Shows

Mark Coale

Odessa Steps Magazine

Tope Suicida Blog

There are all kinds of wrestling companies out there on the independent scene. Some are based on the traditional old school territorial model and some are modeled on Japanese organizations. There are those that approach the business very sternly (like Ring of Honor) and those that do not. CHIKARA Pro Wrestling is one that decidedly does not.

If there was one word to describe CHIKARA, there is probably no better word that “wacky.” In addition to the usual collection of babyface and heel wrestlers, you can find the following workers have competed under the CHIKARA banner: a colony of ants, a mechanical mummy, a giant chipmunk, an 80-year old grappler, an evil farmer with an ear of corn for a head, ice cream clowns and wooden training dummy come to life named Ken the Box.

CHIKARA is the closest thing we have in American to Mexican pro wrestling, better known as Lucha Libre. The promotion is full of masked wrestlers who fly all over the ring doing all kind of flips, dives and crazy submission maneuvers. It seems that the motto of Lucha is “the crazier, the better” and the same can certainly be said for CHIKARA.

Leading up to CHIKARA’s two Anniversary shows this weekend, we had a chance to do an e-interview with Mike Quackenbush, who co-founded the promotion back in 2002, about a variety of topics relating to the company’s past, present and future.

Q: When we did an interview right before CHIKARA started in 2002, you said the following. Do you think you succeeded in this goal?

"CHIKARA will, by design, bend and break the imagined parameters of American independent wrestling. When we say the "wrestling renaissance is at hand," that's not just some slogan we dreamed up, without any real meaning. CHIKARA will usher in a period of tremendous creative growth, maybe not for the circuit, but certainly within the confines of the company. We will toss preconceived notions about the way an indy show should be done, the way indy characters should be presented, the way indy matches need to be wrestled. This will be true to a fresh creative vision, without compromise, and if we succeed or fail, it will be on our terms alone."

A: I absolutely do. And it's the mantra that defines what we're still doing today, in 2007.

Q: I was at CHIKARA's first show in Allentown, PA and not living in the

Northeast again until recently, haven't been to another one since then. How has CHIKARA's product evolved over the five years?

A: I think it took us a year or two to really decide on a single direction, and to pursue it relentlessly. There was definitely a time in the early days when we weren't sure if we would survive another month, if we'd get to the next show, and seeing the bigger picture under those circumstances can be nearly impossible. These days, we know exactly who our fans are, we know exactly what we're trying to accomplish, and for the most part, that's what we try to do.

Q: What has been the high point of CHIKARA's five years in business? The low point?

A: I think our February tournaments are often the high point. A year ago, I probably would have said Tag World Grand Prix 2006 (which took place Feb. 24-26, 2006) and this year, I'd probably say King of Trios (which took place Feb. 16 - 18, 2007). CHIKARA has had some dark moments, some I wouldn't even want to mention. Ultimately though, those rough patches - whether before the Zoning Board in the crosshairs of a small-town political brouhaha, or catching a thief in our midst - all ended up bringing the CHIKARA family closer together in the end.

Q: Has there been a gimmick proposed that you thought was too "wacky" even for CHIKARA?

A: Sometimes I get emails from guys that work for other companies, and they write things like "I've come up with this great CHIKARA gimmick!" And I laugh at all of them. Because it's not something you just invent. It's not something pulled out of thin air. It's a manifestation of some part of the man under the mask. Bruce Wayne can only be Batman. Bruce Wayne can't be the Red Tornado.

Q: How was it working with Tiger Mask a few weeks ago (May 11, 2007), in the match where you won the NWA Jr. Heavyweight Title? As a longtime puroresu fan, it must have pretty cool.

A: It certainly was. I made sure I got all my Tiger Mask dream spots in there, and he seemed to really enjoy the process and the match.

Q: How did the working arrangement between CHIKARA and Ring of Honor come about?

A: I think between Chris [Hero] and Claudio [Castagnoli] having worked their main shows for so long, and having sent CHIKARA talent to FIP [Full Impact Pro Wrestling] (where they seem to cultivate new talent), we won over all the right people to open the door.

Q: On a similar note, how did the deal come about to wrestle on the musical festival THE WARPED TOUR?

A: Pure luck. Our friend, Mike Rotch, hooked it up. We didn't know them, they didn't know us. Mike just made sure we were in the right spot at the right time.

Q: Has the new indy wrestling paradigm (where revenue seemingly comes from DVD sales and house shows may be loss leaders) changed the business and CHIKARA specifically?

A: That's very true. If not for DVD revenue, we would have gone under almost two years back. It's a whole new ball game. This is the information age we live in, and promoters that came up in the business pre-internet (re: industrial age) are less and less equipped to take advantage of what's out there today.

Q: What's the secret origin of the comic book cover homages that grace the CHIKARA DVD releases? Any one famous cover you haven't done yet?

A: Just a nod to our superhero roots. There's a Dark Knight cover in our immediate future that has been a long time coming.

Q: Are you ever going to do a third book, to complete the trilogy?

A: Not currently. The books I've been slaving over the last few years are totally unrelated to [Quack’s first two books] "Headquarters" and "Secret Identity."

CHIKARA Pro Wrestling returns to action this weekend Saturday, May 26, in Hellertown, PA and Sunday, May 27, in Philadelphia, PA. For more information, CHIKARA’s website is www.chikarapro.com. Thanks to Dan from the Chikarafans.com website for his help on this article.

xxx

Chikara Flashback

In preparation for our interview with "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush, here's an article Mark wrote back in 2002. It was leading up to Chikara's first show in May 2002. It originally appeared on www.onlineonslaught.com and slashwrestling.com.

Can wrestling's dark ages be over?
One new promotion surely hopes so

Okay, what do you nowadays if you're a wrestling fan? And I mean, an actual fan of wrestling, not "sports entertainment." Are you contend with the dribs and drabs that you get Monday and Thursday nights? Are you satisfied that, after sitting through a garbage match with tables, chairs and fire extinguishers, a bikini match between silicone-enhanced bleach blondes, mind-numbing skits and twenty-minute interviews, you get three-to-five minutes of actual wrestling action?

Now, take that feeling and multiple it by 1000. That's what you imagine the average wrestler must feel, watching at home, seeing their dreams of making the big time being flushed down the toilet. Not the just-off-the-street ex-football player who now wants to be in the business after watching Steve Austin and the Rock for the last two years. No, I'm talking about the Indy wrestler who has toiled for years in high school gyms and armories and county fairs. These are the people who have dedicated themselves to their craft, not just their industry.

Some of them, honestly, have given up. They saw the writing on the wall and said "This was good while it lasted, but there's no future for someone like me now." But others, when confronted with that fight or flight mechanism we all have, decided to do something about it.

All of which, in a roundabout way, brings up to the industry's newest promotion, CHIKARA (which means power in Japanese), started by two of the East Coast's best-known Indy wrestlers, Reckless Youth and Mike Quackenbush. CHIKARA will debut Saturday night, May 25, in Allentown.

Here's part of an interview done recently with Mike Quackenbush:

Q: As an Indy veteran, what made you want to start your own company?

A: For Reckless and I, the reason was boredom. The scene is boring to us right now. There are very few companies we want to work for, and it seems like everyone is doing the same crap, and doing it poorly. It seemed like the time was right to step up to the plate.

Q: Was that a difficult decision, given the downturn in the industry?

A: I think the downturn in the business right now is primarily affecting the sports entertainment facet of the industry. Look at Lucha in Tijuana right now; it's never been hotter. In a global sense, American pro wrestling is in a slump, not pro wrestling as a whole. The Indies will always struggle in a sense, and we knew that coming in, so we're prepared for the fact that the best we can do is put on fun shows that satisfy us, because there's no real money to be made on the independents, regardless of month, year, or decade.

Q: Why did you go with a non-traditional approach to the promotion?

A: To be honest, it's because the "traditional" approach stinks. Every Indy out there is trying to be the most "extreme," or, help me, "x-treme." Everyone wants to be the most hardcore, or most alternative, or most hard-hitting. All the pretenders want to be #2 behind McMahon, they want to be the second rate ECW or FMW or All Japan or Smoky Mountain, or whatever. There really isn't an original idea out there within the parameters of the "traditional" approach. CHIKARA will, by design, bend and break the imagined parameters of American independent wrestling. When we say the "wrestling renaissance is at hand," that's not just some slogan we dreamed up, without any real meaning. CHIKARA will usher in a period of tremendous creative growth, maybe not for the circuit, but certainly within the confines of the company. We will toss preconceived notions about the way an indy show should be done, the way indy characters should be presented, the way indy matches need to be wrestled. This will be true to a fresh creative vision, without compromise, and if we succeed or fail, it will be on our terms alone.

Among those scheduled to appear at CHIKARA's first show on Saturday, in addition to Reckless and Quackenbush, are fellow Black T-Shirt member Don Montoya, Chris Hero and the first graduates of the CHIKARA Wrestling Factory school.
And in June, the company's sister promotion, KIRUKYU, also makes it debut. KIRYOKU promises to showcase women's wrestling with a Puroresu and Lucha flavor, without the T&A of traditional American wrestling.

For more information, you can go to the CHIKARA homepage at www.chikarapro.com and KIRYOKU at www.kiryokupro.com.

I'll be attending the show, so you can look for a first-hand report about this new promotion sometime in the coming weeks. If their claims are correct, fans won't have to rely solely on imported tapes to get their fill of quality wrestling action. And won't that be a welcome change for what we all have been reduced to as of late.

Mark Coale
Odessa Steps Magazine