The Asylum Arena
South Philadelphia, PA
April 15, 16, and 17, 2011
For ticket information, visit
www.CHIKARAPro.com.
Friday and Saturday belltimes are 7:30 pm. Sunday belltime is 4 pm.
First Round Matches for Friday:
Team Australia (Percy T, Tama Williams, and Kabel) vs. FIST (Icarus, Johnny Gargano, and Chuck Taylor) - This team will travel all the way from Australia to face off with Chikara’s most dangerous trio in the first round of the tournament. Team Australia has to be considered the biggest underdogs of the sixteen teams since they have such little international experience and they’re not a team normally. On the other side, FIST has been together for a while now, with Chuck Taylor and Icarus being former King of Trios winners and Johnny Gargano gelling with Chuck Taylor in multiple promotions, facing major international competition.
Team Dragon Gate (Akira Tozawa, Super Shisa, and Kagetora) vs. The Spectral Envoy (Ultramantis Black, Hallowicked, and Frightmare) - The Spectral Envoy—certainly one of the more popular trios—came together last year on the heels of the Dark Ciberknetico and the creation of The Dark Army, with the old adage of the enemy of my enemy is my friend. They meet up with Team Dragon Gate in the first round, a team led by Akira Tozawa, one of the fastest rising stars in the Dragon Gate/independent wrestling world. He is joined by Super Shisa and Kagetora, both former holders of Dragon Gate’s Open the Triangle Gate titles.
The Colony (Fire Ant, Green Ant, and Soldier Ant) vs. The Dark Army (Sinn Bodhi, Obariyon, and Kodama) - Last year’s semifinalists, the Colony, must face a wildly unpredictable team of Sinn Bodhi and his proteges, the Batiri. In their short time in Chikara, Obariyon and Kodama have shown flashes of dominance, quickly earning shots at the Campeonatos de Parejas as a duo and the Young Lions cup for Obariyon. The Colony is trying to rebound from a down year. Struggling with injuries, the Colony have only wrestled together as a trio twice since last year’s tournament.
Team Minnesota (Arik Cannon, Darin Corbin, and 1-2-3 Kid) vs. Team Michinoku Pro (Jinsei Shinzaki, The Great Sasuke, and Dick Togo) - Within this match, we get a rematch fifteen years in the making: 1-2-3 Kid and the former Hakushi, Jinsei Shinzaki, will be on opposite sides of the ring. Representing the state of Minnesota is Arik Cannon and Darin Corbin from F1RST Wrestling and The 1-2-3 Kid (celebrating his Pro Wrestling America heritage). Team Michinoku Pro will surely come into the tournament a huge fan favorite and the possible sentimental pick to win it all.
Manami Toyota, Mike Quackenbush, and Jigsaw vs. The Amazing Red and The Maximos - The reigning Campeonatos de Parejas team up with the Japanese joshi legend to face TNA superstar The Amazing Red and his cousins The Maximos. The former X Division champion and The Maximos will have a pretty steep challenge in front of them Friday night. If they’re not top of their games, The Amazing Red may find himself in the Rey de Voladores and the Maximos in the tag gauntlet.
Da Soul Touchaz vs. BDK (Delirious, Tim Donst, and Jakob Hammermeier) - The feud between Da Soul Touchaz and the BDK continues in the first round of the tournament. After a really successful 2010 against the BDK, Da Soul Touchaz have been on a slide since the BDK attacked and put out the manager and valet of the team. Tim Donst, on the other side, is trying to prove his greatness by leading a team to a King of Trios win. Claiming to have been failed by his previous teammates, Donst chose Delirious, the wildman, and Hammermeier, the unproven rookie.
Team Osaka Pro (Ultimate Spider Jr, Atsushi Kotoge, Daisuke Harada) vs. The Throwbacks (Matt Classic, Dasher Hatfield, and Sugar Dunkerton) - Team Osaka Pro returns to the King of Trios with a new member in Ultimate Spider Jr. Harada and Kotoge went to the semifinals last year. The Throwbacks are on a bit of a hot streak, garnering two points in the events leading up to the tournament. They will be joined by a true throwback to a simpler time, Matt Classic, a man who hasn’t seen much action in the past year but is always ready for professional wrestling action in the squared circle.
¡3.Ole! (El Generico and 3.0) vs. The Osirian Portal - The Osirian Portal have been undefeated since Jonathan Gresham transformed into Hieracon. They may have the most momentum of any team in this field, but they’re meeting up with a team that has had a banner year in 3.0. 3.0 will be joined by international fan favorite, El Generico. But 3.0 is now embroiled in a pretty bitter feud with The Unstable. The Unstable have nothing better to do Friday so it wouldn’t surprise me if they make some form of appearance.
Rey de Voladores Tournament for Saturday and Sunday:
Two four-person elimination matches will occur Saturday night. The winners announce to a one-on-one match on Sunday to crown a new Rey de Voladores. Previous winners include Ophidian, Chuck Taylor, Kota Ibushi, and Incognito (who is currently Hunico in FCW). So far, only two names have been announced for the tournament, but come Saturday, at least 24 wrestlers (3 x 8 losing teams) will be available and may want some redemption during the weekend.
Zack Sabre Jr. - The first name announced for the Rey de Voladores tournament is the European standout, Zack Sabre Jr. Sabre will be in the middle of an American tour, performing for CZW, NWA Force One, and one of his European homebases, Westside Xtreme Wrestling. A good showing during the Rey de Voladores will only increase the value of his name internationally. He could be a perfect candidate for the Young Lions Cup tournament as well.
Pinkie Sanchez - The BDK’s resident crazy person is the second wrestler announced for the Rey de Voladores tournament. Pinkie Sanchez hasn’t had much success in the past year, and the success he has had (as a tag team with two points with Lince Dorado) was wiped away when Dorado was kicked out of the BDK in March. So now, Pink Ant will stand alone trying to become the King of the Flyers.
And just looking at the certain guys who could go in here for the trios: Great Sasuke, Ultimate Spider Jr, 1-2-3 Kid, Super Shisa, Akira Tozawa, Amazing Red, Johnny Gargano, Frightmare, Hieracon, Marshe Rockett, Obariyon, Kodama, Green Ant, Tama Williams, and El Generico. Not to mention anyone else who may have been invited as surprise.
The Band has made a challenge for Saturday...
The Band—Archibald Peck and Veronica—debuted in Williamsport, but Peck was defeated by Eddie Kingston. Peck, however, claims to have “kicked Kingston’s keister” and promises to do the same to whoever answers his challenge.
Madison Eagles announced she will be at King of Trios. She does not have a match announced, but she said in a recent blog on chikarapro.com that she would be in the building ready for any opportunity that may arise. She wants to be a full-time member of the roster and has even put her name in the mix for the upcoming Chikara championship.
Eddie Kingston is angry. After his match with Claudio Castagnoli in New York last month, he has to be seething. He’s said that he will step into the ring on Sunday of King of Trios, and he will fight whoever wants to step in with him. The question is: who will step up? Eddie Kingston has faced the best the indies has to offer over the last year in Chikara, so another big name and big test will surely answer the call.
Also, Ultramantis Black recently posted in a chikarapro.com blog that part of the bargain with Hallowicked was to undo some of the wrongs he has committed in the past. Ultramantis has promised, specifically, to undo what he did to Delirious. A couple years ago, Ultramantis broke up Incoherence by using the Eye of Tyr on Delirious and keeping him as his own footsoldier. Since then, Ares used the Eye on Delirious to turn him into his pet. So Ultramantis will work to get Delirious back to himself.
Finally, rest in peace, “Sweet ‘n Sour” Larry Sweeney. 12 Large. Easton, PA exploded when he unmasked as Vokoder last October at the Dark Ciberknetico. I wish I had been there live. Ain’t no doubt about it.
