Danbury, CT – 7.23.2011
Burger King of the Ring Quarter-Final Match
Player Uno vs. Pinkie Sanchez
Uno and Sanchez started out trading the upper hand. Some SICK chops and strikes were thrown, which got a visceral reaction out of the majority of the fans. Uno maintained the upper hand for most of the first half, but Sanchez resorted to spitting water in his face and using a chair to take control. He came down with a double stomp on Uno’s leg and it was easy for Sanchez from that point forward. Sanchez continued to target Uno’s leg, and even though Uno had his moments, it was easy for Sanchez to take control just by taking out the leg. Uno even hurt himself by getting his knees up to avoid a moonsault. Sanchez slapped on a figure four leglock to score an upset victory at 13:40. I loved seeing two guys who sometimes don’t get the respect they deserve opening up the show and putting on a really physical, entertaining match. It was worked very wisely and told a great story. Sanchez winning was a true upset and a nice treat. We’re off to a good start. ***1/4
Burger King of the Ring Quarter-Final Match
El Hijo del Bamboo vs. Bastian Snow
This was drastically different from the last match. Bamboo wanted to have fun, but Snow looked to get down to business. Nevermind the fact that just a minute or two in, both guys and the referee did the Too Cool and Rikishi dance (with hat, glasses and music) mid-match. Bamboo ended up winning with a super whoopee cushion at 4:06. I have no idea how to rate this, but just know that this was quite a fun time. I can’t get over how adorable Bamboo is. I don’t think I ever will.
Burger King of the Ring Quarter-Final Match
Lloyd Cthulowitz vs. Izzie Deadyet
Much more wrestling in this one than I was expecting. Both guys are pretty character driven, so I expected something like we got in Bamboo vs. Snow. Instead we got a solid back-and-forth match. Nothing spectacular, but really solid wrestling from bell to bell. I appreciated the little things, such as Deadyet walking the ropes like fellow zombie The Undertaker. In fact, Deadyet borrowed another Undertaker move, a chokeslam (a super variation at that) to get the win at 6:08. Short, but sweet. **1/4
Burger King of the Ring Quarter-Final Match
Dan Berry vs. Frankie Arion
If you haven’t seen these guys in action yet, get on it. They’re easily two of the most underrated guys out there. I was really impressed by what I saw out of Barry between this show and the Beyond Wrestling “About Time” event, and I’d love to see more of him elsewhere. In Beyond he was a little more showy in his offense, while here he worked a really great technical game Arion’s just a really entertaining dude who also gets it done in the ring. The backstory to this match was pretty funny, and if you’re unaware of it, I suggest checking this video out. This match however was another solid wrestling match that stepped it up from the previous encounter. I would have preferred a little more time, but both guys made what they got count. Arion used his patented deodorant double pit chesty splash for the pin at 9:29. **3/4
No Disqualification
Twiggy vs. Eddie Kingston
Kingston’s goal here is to wear down Twiggy, who is the #1 contender to the ISW Championship which Kingston’s stablemate Giant Tiger currently holds. The fight starts on the floor. Kingston alerts us that Tiger, as champion, used his power to make this match a No DQ match. Kingston goes to shove a cupcake in Twiggy’s face, but Twiggy shoves it in his face instead. He throws a chair at Kingston, but Kingston throws Twiggy into the ring post. Twiggy comes back with a crossbody off the apron. Kingston delivers a Manhattan drop and yakuza kick back in the ring. Kingston drops him with a delayed vertical suplex. Kingston gives him an Attitude Adjustment to screw with the crowd. Kingston moons the crowd and chokes Twiggy with his belt. Twiggy blocks Kingston’s punches in the corner with a sunset bomb. Twiggy lays in a few punches, only to be knocked down with the Backfist to the Future. Kingston purposefully picks up Twiggy to keep the match going. Twiggy superkicks Kingston thrice and heads up top. Twiggy splashes Kingston for two. Kingston lariats Twiggy for two. Kingston goes for a Saito suplex. Twiggy forcefully escapes the hold. He ducks another lariat and backslides Kingston for the pin at 10:04. Kingston was more abrasive then he gets to be at times in CHIKARA, and it’s clear that he is a great foil for smaller guys, especially when it comes to making them look like a true threat. Kingston did just that with Twiggy, building his momentum towards his title shot at Slamtasia 4. **1/2
Burger King of the Ring Semi-Final Match
El Hijo del Bamboo vs. Izzie Deadyet
Bamboo! So cute. So Bamboo tried his cutesy business, but Deadyet had none of it. Bamboo got very little offense in as Deadyet was able to side step the majority of his offense and come back with something of his own. In fact, it wasn’t till the end where we saw Bamboo get in much of anything. He was able to headbutt Deadyet from the top rope (similar to his top rope chokeslam) and hit the super whoopee cushion again for the pin at 5:11. You have never seen a guy in a panda outfit so over. I love it. **
Burger King of the Ring Semi-Final Match
Pinkie Sanchez vs. Frankie Arion
I am such a mark for when tournaments carry a story. When Sanchez went for Arion’s leg in exactly the same manner he did to Uno’s earlier, I wept with joy. That’s the kind of storytelling I gush over. Arion saw it immediately and became more aggressive in his attack. Sanchez took him down with a dragonscrew leg whip, but Arion made certain to not allow Sanchez to slap on the figure four. Arion ended up hitting his double pit chesty splash only for Sanchez to kick out. Things got more intense, and Arion ended up getting his nose busted open. I think it was
k your ex”>How to win back your exwhen Sanchez hit a whoopee cushion to Arion in a tree of woe, but I’m not certain. Right after that though, Arion fired up, dropped Sanchez with a Death Valley Driver and hit a second double pit chesty splash to pick up the victory at 10:28. The storytelling alone gives this good marks, and the strong in ring work made it even more rewarding. ***1/4
Sweet N’ Sour Special – A Tribute to Larry Sweeney
Hallowicked & 2.0. (Jagged & Shane Matthews) vs. Jolly Roger & F.I.S.T. (Icarus & Gran Akuma)
Icarus comes out in long blonde wig, Akuma is wearing his mask, and both F.I.S.T. members are wearing their original gear in an homage to their look when they first became a team years ago. Hallowicked is wearing his first mask design as well. Everyone wore pink boas to the ring as well. Eddie Kingston and Jigsaw are on commentary for this match as well.
Roger punches Jagged instead of participating in a test of strength. Roger takes him down with a pair of armdrags and a dropkick. Roger suicide dives onto him. Akuma and Hallowicked tag in. As you would expect, we get a classic Lucha exchange between them ending with the classic M-Pro comedy spot. More Lucha ends with Akuma taking Hallowicked down with a headscissors. Icarus and Matthews tag in. Icarus does a strut but gets attacked by Matthews from behind. Icarus takes him down with a headscissors and dropkick. It is so weird hearing Icarus being cheered these days. Hallowicked accidentally chops his own partners. Roger flies in with a crossbody. Hallowicked again chops his partners again. 2.0. yell at Hallowicked, and they get taken down with a crossbody from Akuma. 2.0. hit a 3D on Akuma. They continue their Dudley homage with a “Wassup” headbutt to Akuma’s crotch. Jagged and Akuma’s buttocks become exposed, much like Sweeney’s would back in the day. Icarus tags in and takes out everyone on the opposing team. He huracanrana’s Hallowicked for two. Hallowicked gives him the Michinoku Driver for two. Icarus goes for a Shiranui. Hallowicked blocks with a headlock. A string of headlocks is formed ending with Jagged giving everyone a DDT. Akuma gives Jagged a tornado DDT for two. F.I.S.T. and Roger triple suplex their opponents. Matthews gives Roger a swinging neckbreaker for two. Roger blocks a clothesline and drops Matthews with the Walk the Plank for two. Akuma and Icarus double hip toss Hallowicked off of a Connecticut Belt set-up. Akuma dives onto Jagged and Hallowicked. Roger gives Matthews the ’68 Comeback Special. Icarus follows up with the 12 Large elbow for the pin at 11:15. In so many ways this was a great tribute match to Sweeney. I loved seeing a 2004 type CHIKARA six man again, and all it did was make me ache for Akuma and Roger to come back. Really fun stuff. ***1/4
Burger King of the Ring Finals
El Hijo del Bamboo vs. Frankie Arion
Arion knew he had a challenge ahead of him, so he relentlessly attacked Bamboo at the start. With Bamboo being much larger than Arion, the attacks did little but stun the panda. Arion finally mustered up the strength to bodyslam Bamboo…and then do the unthinkable. Arion snapped Bamboo’s neck, turning his head all the way around. Arion hit his patented double pit chesty splash and Bamboo kicked out! The fans all went bananas as Bamboo angrily twisted his head back into place and pointed at Arion ala Hulk Hogan. Bamboo’s attack began. He delivered a cannonball senton both in the corner and on the floor. Bamboo smashed him with his top rope whoopee cushion, and Arion became the first person of the night to kick out of the move. Lightning would not strike twice however, as Bamboo would hit the move for a second to win the match and the tournament at 5:40. I am thrilled beyond belief that El Hijo del Bamboo won the tournament. He epitomizes ISW for me and had an impressive showing through the entire tournament. His versatility is fantastic, especially when you consider he’s a flippin’ panda bear. Major kudos go to Arion as well, for his determination made the tournament seem extremely important. ***
Fans Bring The Lego Deathmatch
Addy Starr vs. Shitty
First off, I give the fans props for making some sweet creations. A Lego Macho Man face and a Winnie the Pooh head were amongst some of the items in the ring. I was sad when they both got broke because they were so well done. Starr even has legos taped to her kickpads and taped up hands. This was crazy. Almost every move was into Lego and every move looked like it sucked. They smashed Lego edifices on each other’s faces and heads. Shitty placed Shity in a tub of Lego, dropkicked her into it, then slammed the tub onto her. Both got suplexed onto piles of Lego. Starr used a carboard chest protector covered in Lego to crossbody onto Shitty. Shitty curbstomped Starr into Lego. Shitty filled Starr’s hat with Lego and piledrove her into the mat. I know this may sound stupid, but I feel like this type of match is easier to empathize with, hence making it more effective. I’ve played with Lego before, so I know how much it sucks to step on a piece or accidentally elbow the edge of one. That’s why when I saw some of the moves they took, I cringed even more than a typical pane of glass spot. Shitty ended up scoring the victory with a senton bomb onto Starr into Lego at 16:30. That was cringe worthy from start to finish in the best way possible. Every fan felt for the wrestlers with every slam or sick move they took. Both wrestlers have a lot of balls doing some of the stuff they did, and I think ISW found a really awesome gimmick match that’s unique to them. ***1/2
Overall: I remember being really excited when the hype for BKOTR began. The tournament looked really entertaining and all three non-tournament matches had something to offer as well. I can say that the show on paper translated very well to an actual show. Like most ISW shows, it was a great hybrid of humor, technical wrestling and brawling, giving pretty much every type of wrestling fan something to enjoy. If nothing else, this is a really fun, enjoyable show that's easy to watch. You can pick it up from ISW's store, or from Smart Mark Video.
Comments are closed.