CHIKARA "Tag World Grand Prix Night 1"
February 18, 2005
Reading, Pennsylvania
With Commentary by Dave Prazak, Eddie Kingston, "Sweet 'N Sour" Larry Sweeney, and "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush

F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma and Icarus) vs. Team W.X.W. (Mana and John Cabbie)

The match starts out with a few crowd-popping spots and double-team moves. Mana quickly dominates both members of F.I.S.T., and Gran Akuma is quickly served up two running knees into a corner by Mana, followed by the ever-popular strong-style ass-to-the face. Mana is eventually and accidentally taken out by his partner, and Icarus nails John Cabbie with a Fireman's Carry into a Flapjack to pick up the win.

Analysis: A solid contest, and a great way to kick off the show, but this match unfortunately had a theme that would prove prevalent throughout the night: both teams have probably never wrestled each other before, and though this adds to the appeal of the T.W.G.P., this also means that the teams are inexperienced with one another, leading to moments where they either don't know what to do next or fumble over each other. The first few minutes of this particular match were very exciting, and everything else was good, save for the parts where both teams looked like they were unsure what to do next. It was a bit archetypal as an opener, but some good spots and selling helped to make it a good match. ***

The Ring Crew Express (Dunn and Marcos) vs. Shawn Hagadorn and Davey Andrews

After a bit of a cluster-**** and a dodge-ball comedy segment, Marcos is cut off and quickly pummeled, but tags in Dunn after hitting a big standing tornado DDT. Dunn almost wins the match with a Gory Bomb on Davey Andrews, but Shawn Hagadorn breaks. The Ring Crew Express wins the match following their signature Electric Chair Drop into Senton double-team finisher.

Analysis: The match benefited from a good beginning and end, but everything else felt too average for high praise. There was too much filler and stalling for my taste, and at times, the R.O.H. students (Hagadorn and Andrews) looked completely lost. It wasn't a bad match, though, as I felt it was decent in all aspects. But "decent" still means "average", so that's the score it gets. **½

Knight Eye for the Pirate Guy (Jolly Roger and Lance Steel) vs. Mano Metalico and Crossbones

There's a lot of comedic wrestling in the match, interspersed with good segments like Lance Steel hitting the Joust and Mano Metalico nailing a killer wheelbarrow suplex into a half-nelson backbreaker. There's a spot where everyone, even his partner and the referee, kicks Mano Metalico's back, and Jolly Roger is able to pick up the win for his team following an inside cradle.

Analysis: As a wrestling match, it was only passable, but as a comedy match, it was pretty funny. The match was centered on comedy, and produced some laughs. The wrestling in the match wasn't bad; it just wasn't the focal point. Even though the match was only used to get a couple laughs from the crowd, it earns some praise for being good at what it was. ***

Team Osaka Pro (Ebessan and Billy Ken Kid) vs. Big Daddy (Shirley Doe and Darkness Crabtree)

Ebessan and Darkness Crabtree provide some good comedy moments, while Billy Ken Kid and Shirley Doe handle most of the wrestling. After taking his "medication" to give him a boost, Darkness Crabtree ends up having a heart attack! Ebessan brings him back to life with an elbow drop, and then finishes him off with the Shining Wizard for the win.

Analysis: Another great comedy match. The selling, spots, and interaction between the two teams were all hysterically excellent. The actual wrestling was miniscule, but quite average. The comedy of the match really delivered, though, so it's another match that's good for what it was and worth a viewing. ***

"The Anarchist" Arik Cannon and "Double C" Claudio Castagnoli vs. Team "You Can Call Me Al" (Allison Danger and Alere Little Feather)

Both teams play to the whole "guys against girls" shtick in the same way it's been played infinite times before: the guys doubt the girls, the girls prove they're tough, the guys get serious, etc. To that degree, Allison and Little Feather are soon stiffing Arik and Claudio, which leads to Arik and Claudio nailing Alere with a nasty Giant Swing/Dropkick combo. After a short cluster-****, Allison Danger gets obliterated by a Glimmering Warlock => Pyramid Bomb combination, which allows Arik and Claudio to score the win.

Analysis: The match is bordering on good, but I simply couldn't get into it. Both teams plodded along, doing the same basic story you'd expect from this match, and very little else. It also felt a bit disorganized at times. Still, what's good was good; it's just that what was bad was more easily visible. While it would've benefited from a bit more organization, and though the selling was off at times, it was still a nice contest. **¾

Jigsaw and Sabian vs. Rorschach and Ravage

Both teams are quickly stiffing each other and pulling out double-team moves, and Sabian is soon isolated and has his arm worked over. After a "hot tag" to Jigsaw, Ravage takes a nasty double-team move and a brawl breaks out, complete with near-falls. Ravage and Rorschach end up in separate submissions at the same time, and both tap out.

Analysis: The match suffered from feeling a bit "cold" at times, meaning that there were periods of slight boredom, but the last few minutes were exciting, with the near-falls being particularly good. Everything else had its moment; too, though the match felt a bit too standard at times, with both teams stiffing each other and pulling off double-team moves and not much else. Still, this was another solid match with a low period that was erased by the heated last minutes. ***

Team I.W.A. Mid-South ("The Barbaric Berserker" Jimmy Jacobs and Danny Daniels) vs. Team I.W.A. Reading (Din Mak and Mat Bomboy)

Jimmy falls over the top-rope trying to springboard inside the ring, but plays it off well. Mat Bomboy is quickly pounded with some double-team offense, and Team I.W.A. Reading is soon arguing amongst themselves. After Din Mak gets crunched with a cradle backdrop and a brawl breaks out, Bomboy superkicks his own partner and leaves the ring, allowing Jimmy Jacobs to hit a senton and pick up the win.

Analysis: To be honest, it felt really convoluted. The theme that many of the tag teams don't know each other was crystal-clear in this match, and while it adds to the allure of the Tag World Grand Prix on paper, in-ring it produces lackluster matches. It didn't help that Bomboy had way too much of a "look at me!" vibe going for him. The match simply felt like a series of uncoordinated spots with no rhyme or reason between them followed by the hackneyed "partner turns on partner" finish. Still, it'll do, even though it was just an average match. **½

Team P.W.G. ("The New Age Punisher" B-Boy and Super Dragon) vs. Wonderman and Ken the Box

For those wondering, Wonderman and Ken the Box were a "mystery team", and were picked by pulling names out of a hat. I'm not sure who "Wonderman" actually is, but I've heard that it's Glenn Spectre. Ken the Box can't get in the ring since he has no legs…so the bulk of the match consists of Team P.W.G. beating on Wonderman and Wonderman mounting a small comeback only to get his ass handed to him. The fight eventually leads outside, where Ken is able to get in some punches on both members of Team P.W.G., with both over-selling the punches comically. Super Dragon soon stops fooling around and nails a cringe-inducing Curb Stomp on Wonderman. In the end, Team P.W.G. takes the win with a Quadruple Stomp (both Double Stomp at the same time) onto Wonderman's back.

Analysis: Nothing more than an average squash interspersed with random bits of comedy. There's not much else to it but that. It was good for the type of match it was, but this type of match doesn't produce quality. Still, there was enough of a laugh-factor and P.W.G. dominance to make an entertaining-but-average match. **½

The Anarchist" Arik Cannon and "Double C" Claudio Castagnoli vs. F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma and Icarus)

The bulk of the match contains a lot of high flying by F.I.S.T., lots of stiffness by Arik Cannon, a bunch of European Uppercuts by Claudio Castagnoli, various submissions, and a few double-team moves by both. In one particularly brutal segment, Gran Akuma tries the Yoshi Tonic on Arik Cannon, and when Akuma pops up, he gets drilled with a top-rope European Uppercut by Claudio. Gran Akuma is, of course, incapacitated after nearly being decapitated, which allows Arik and Claudio to hit the Glimmering Warlock => Pyramid Bomb combo on Icarus for the win.

Analysis: A good match that still had that "inexperienced against each other" vibe, a bit too much so for a Round 2 match. The selling by both teams was good, but the psychology was either one-dimensional or simply non-existent. Still, the numerous spots and quickness helped the match's progression, and the last few minutes elevated it from "almost good" to good. Though I was bored occasionally, I was entertained to a respectable level by the conclusion of the match. ***

The Ring Crew Express (Dunn and Marcos) vs. Jigsaw and Sabian

After a lot of show-offy chain wrestling, quick pins, random bits of comedy, and the ever-popular stiffness, Dunn is isolated and picked apart with some double-team moves. After a bit of a cluster-****, Dunn and Marcos hit their Electric Chair Drop into Senton double-team finisher on Jigsaw, but Sabian is able to get in and break up the pin. Jigsaw busts out the Jigatonic for the win, and both teams shake hands post-match.

Analysis: Full of high-paced stiff-tacular spotty goodness in the best way, the match was eye-catching, but done well enough that the progression seemed logical, at least for your typical spotfest. It was still good for what it was, and better than most. The execution was sharp and the psychology was basic spotfest psychology, making an entertaining match that was grounded in good wrestling. ***¼

Team I.W.A. Mid-South ("The Barbaric Berserker" Jimmy Jacobs and Danny Daniels) vs. Knight Eye for the Pirate Guy (Jolly Roger and Lance Steel)

After a small comedy segment and Jacobs countering the Joust, Lance Steel is able to hit the Joust to both members of Team I.W.A. Mid-South. After being isolated and stiffed, Jolly Roger hits a nice spin kick and there's a triple submission spot: Lance Steel gets Jimmy Jacobs in a Boston Crab, Danny Daniels gets Lance Steel in a headlock, and Jolly Roger gets Daniels in a headlock as well. Lance Steel is eventually freed, but keeps the Boston Crab on, and Jimmy Jacobs ends up tapping out with a bloody mouth. Both teams shake hands following the match, though Jimmy is angered at first.

Analysis: A good mix of comedy and stiffness produced another entertaining, involving match. It felt a bit too much like some of the other matches of the night, but it was unique enough to stand on its own. Both teams sold better for each other than they had in their previous matches against separate teams, and the "we don't know what to do" vibe was long gone in this match. ***

Team P.W.G. ("The New Age Punisher" B-Boy and Super Dragon) vs. Team Osaka Pro (Ebessan and Billy Ken Kid)

After attempting to leave when they're continuously one-upped by Billy Ken Kid, Team P.W.G. isolates Ebessan and quickly dismantles him with numerous stiff shots, submissions, and double-teams. Ken Kid eventually gets the tag, and takes out both members of Team P.W.G. with some high-risk hoopla. A Fireman's Carry into a Michinoku Driver by Ebessan gets 2¾, as does a huge Tiger Driver by Super Dragon. Ebessan manages to hit the Shining Wizard, both men tag out, and B-Boy lands a sick twisting brainbuster for 2½. A Death Valley Driver gets 2¾, an Air Raid Crash by Billy Ken Kidd gets 2¾, and Team Osaka Pro picks up the win when Billy Ken Kidd gets in a surprise backslide.

Analysis: Another good contest with a well-told story, the focal point of which was "don't underestimate Osaka Pro". Team P.W.G.'s reaction to Billy Ken Kid one-upping them was classic and garnered some real heat, and Ebessan proves that he's the toughest clown working today by taking some extremely stiff offense and still coming back. The match was really back-and-forth, and quickly got very serious after some initial comedy, which was a good and central point to the psychology of the match. The match was a nice blend of stiffness, submissions, and the like, and even though it suffered a bit from "Jack of All Trades, Master of None" syndrome, it was still a great way to end Night 1, and is probably the Match of the Night. ***¼

Post-match, Ebessan cuts a promo where he basically sends the crowd home happy, complete with "I ruvs" and "Tank You Berry Much" and such. He basically asks the crowd if they enjoyed the show (to get a pop), says that he's glad the fans support CHIKARA, he loves American wrestling and their fans, he loves Japanese wrestling and their fans, and will see everyone soon. In a comical moment, Ebessan reminds the crowd that if they enjoyed the event, they should put down some cash and buy an autograph or a picture.

Final Thoughts: I'm beginning to understand why CHIKARA gets such rave reviews. The atmosphere in CHIKARA is unlike any I've seen in a long, long while: it's family-friendly but cutting-edge, and shows how versatile many of the wrestlers are. The best example I can think of is when Super Dragon drew an absurd amount of heat when he began arguing with a fan and then stole the fan's pirate hat that Jolly Roger had handed out a couple matches ago. It's as if CHIKARA blended some of the best aspects of other independent promotions and mixed it with their own unique style while also being family-friendly. That's what appealed to me throughout Night 1 of the Tag World Grand Prix '05, besides the fact that all of the matches never dipped below average and entertained me in a variety of ways.

Even so, Night 1 wasn't perfect. The biggest setback was that, for the longest time, it felt as if everyone involved was at a complete loss with what to do with each other. Some of the matches simply felt disorganized. Though this problem would eventually whittle down and altogether disappear by the end of the night, it remains one of the event's biggest drawbacks.

But to end on a high note, this show made me a fan of CHIKARA and made me respect how a promotion could blend everything good about wrestling and put it under one promotion while still making it safe for kids to watch. Sometimes I cringed, sometimes I laughed out loud, and I was always entertained. While it isn't exactly required viewing, it's a good show. While it's not the best showing of what CHIKARA can do, it's a great start. And, finally, while it isn't the greatest purchase I've ever made, I'm glad to add it to my collection, and I suggest anyone reading this to do the same.

Overall Rating of CHIKARA's "Tag World Grand Prix Night 1": ***¼