Chikara (professional wrestling)
Founded | 2002 |
---|---|
Defunct | 2020 |
Style | |
Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Founder(s) | |
Owner(s) |
|
Sister | Kiryoku Pro (2002–2003) Wrestling is Fun! (2011–2020) |
Successor | Camp Leapfrog |
Website | Official website |
Chikara (stylized in all capital letters and sometimes referred to as Chikara Pro) was an American
The promotion held multiple
Influenced by the lucha libre tradition, Chikara performers were grouped into técnicos and rudos (the lucha libre terms for faces and heels respectively). Just as in lucha libre, many performers in the promotion performed under masks and with unique gimmicks.
The promotion closed in June 2020, after several allegations of abuse and sexual misconduct were made against individuals within it during the Speaking Out movement.
Despite the promotion's closure, the Wrestle Factory school continues to operate in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
History
In the summer of 2000, after
2002 was also marked by a lawsuit against Chikara for promoting shows at the Wrestle Factory. Neighborhood activists claimed that the building was not properly zoned for assembly, and that the shows detracted from the "complexion of the community". It was eventually ruled that Chikara provided inadequate parking for their shows, and would not be allowed to promote out of the Wrestle Factory any longer. This deterred Chikara from holding any more shows until October. During the Chikara hiatus, they released tapes of their early shows, titled "The Renaissance Dawns" and "Baila, Parka, Baila", and the wrestlers worked showcase matches in other promotions, such as
In 2004, Chris Hero became a co-trainer at the Chikara Wrestle Factory, replacing Carter. In 2005,
On March 2, 2008, Chikara drew their biggest crowd ever of over 550 people during the King of Trios finals. That record was broken on January 31, 2010, when their first show of season nine, A Touch of Class, drew over 600 fans. Later that year, on July 25, the record was broken once again at Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show, which drew 755 fans.[3] The show was released by Smart Mark Video on DVD less than 24 hours after its conclusion.[3]
On April 26, 2009, Chikara announced a working agreement with
On April 25, 2010, Chikara announced the release of a video game, titled Rudo Resurrection, for multiple gaming platforms later in the year.[11] After not being heard of again for four years, it was announced on May 2, 2014, that a new developer, Rotary Games, had picked up the rights to the game.[12]
On August 1, 2011, Chikara announced that their first ever live Internet pay-per-view (iPPV), titled High Noon, would take place November 13, 2011, and would feature the crowning of the first ever Chikara Grand Champion.[13] The event would again break Chikara's attendance record, drawing 864 fans.[14] During 2012, High Noon was followed by the Chikarasaurus Rex: How to Hatch a Dinosaur and Under the Hood Internet pay-per-views.[15][16]
In February 2012, Chikara launched their first ever web comic, written by Joey Esposito and drawn by Alex Cormack, telling the secret origin of Frightmare. On April 6, 2013, Chikara took part in WrestleCon, held during the WrestleMania 29 weekend in Secaucus, New Jersey, holding an event, which again broke the promotion's attendance record.[17]
On June 2, 2013, Chikara ran an angle at the conclusion of their fourth iPPV, Aniversario: Never Compromise, where the event was shut down by Director of Fun Wink Vavasseur.[18] Following the event, Chikara went inactive, "canceling" all upcoming events, though in reality these events were never scheduled to take place.[19] Chikara held no official events for the rest of 2013,[20] though wrestlers from the promotion did hold a small event on November 2 in Philadelphia's FDR Skatepark with the storyline that they were trying to revive the promotion.[21][22][23] In October 2013, Viz Media acquired rights to 26 Chikara events, which would start airing on their Neon Alley digital service on Sundays as part of the new fall lineup.[24] On February 1, 2014, it was announced that Chikara would be returning on May 25.[25] On February 10, 2014, it was announced that The Wrestle Factory would start a new training class at the 2300 Arena on March 1.[26]
In April 2015, Chikara made its debut in the
On August 7, 2019, Chikara announced a working relationship with Michinoku Pro Wrestling.[32]
On June 24, 2020, Quackenbush announced Chikara was shutting down amid
Chikara Wrestle Factory
On January 7, 2002, "Reckless Youth" Tom Carter and Mike Quackenbush founded the Chikara Wrestle Factory, a wrestling school based in
At the time of June 2020, head trainer Mike Quackenbush was assisted by trainers
, among others.At the end of 2022, The Wrestle Factory moved to a new location in Allentown.[35]
Championships
Championship | Final champion(s) | Previous champion(s) | Date won | Days held | Location |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chikara Grand Championship | Dasher Hatfield | "Mr. Touchdown" Mark Angelosetti | April 5, 2019 | 446 | Jersey City, New Jersey |
Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas | The Bird and The Bee (Solo Darling and Willow Nightingale) |
F.I.S.T. (Tony Deppen and Travis Huckabee) |
November 9, 2019 | 228 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Chikara Young Lions Cup | Ricky South | Still Life with Apricots and Pears | January 18, 2020 | 158 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Other accomplishments
Accomplishment | Last winner(s) | Date won |
---|---|---|
King of Trios | The Crucible (Ophidian, Princess KimberLee, and Lance Steel) |
October 6, 2019 |
Rey de Voladores | The Whisper | October 6, 2019 |
Tag World Grand Prix | The Throwbacks (Dasher Hatfield and "Mr. Touchdown" Mark Angelosetti) |
April 14, 2018 |
Torneo Cibernetico
|
The Whisper | June 20, 2020 |
Infinite Gauntlet | Ophidian | May 11, 2019 |
The Johnny Kidd Invitational | Ophidian | September 7, 2019 |
Notable alumni
- 1-2-3 Kid / Sean Waltman / X-Pac
- 2 Cold Scorpio
- A. C. H.
- Acid Jaz
- Aero Star
- El Alebrije
- Cedric Alexander
- Bryan Alvarez
- Amasis
- Amazing Kong
- Amazing Red
- Josh Abercrombie / Josh Raymond
- Mark Andrews
- Mark Angelosetti
- Ares
- Austin Aries
- Atlantis
- Ax
- B-Boy
- The Barbarian
- Tyler Bate
- Mike Bennett
- Big Stevie Cool
- Sinn Bodhi
- Chris Bosh
- Max Boyer / Maxime Boyer
- Brad Bradley
- Brain Damage
- Harlem Bravado
- Lancelot Bravado
- Jay Briscoe
- Mark Briscoe
- D'Lo Brown
- Bull Pain
- BxB Hulk
- C. Red
- Colt Cabana / Matt Classic
- Call-Me-Kevin
- Sami Callihan
- Arik Cannon
- Carpenter Ant
- Cesaro
- Chimaera
- Dash Chisako
- Chiva IV / Chiva Kid
- Tommaso Ciampa
- Cima
- Adam Cole
- Danny Boy Collins
- Command Bolshoi
- Jervis Cottonbelly
- Matt Cross
- Da Blue Guy
- Allison Danger
- Christopher Daniels / Curry Man
- Danny Daniels
- Bryan Danielson
- KC Day / Cloudy
- Sara Del Rey
- Colin Delaney / Colin Olsen
- Delirious
- Chris Dickinson
- J. J. Dillon
- DJ Hyde / Mano Metalico
- Naruki Doi
- Tim Donst
- Lince Dorado
- Drago
- Ryan Drago / Simon Grimm
- Tommy Dreamer
- Pete Dunne
- Dustin / Chuck Taylor
- Sonjay Dutt
- Dymond
- Madison Eagles
- Robbie Eagles
- Ebessan (I) / Kikutaro
- Eddie Edwards
- Egotistico Fantastico
- Robbie Ellis
- Tommy End
- Escorpion Egipcio
- Excalibur
- Fénix
- Orange Cassidy / Fire Ant
- Jody Fleisch
- A. R. Fox
- Terry Frazier
- Frightmare
- Tsukasa Fujimoto
- Gangrel
- Johnny Gargano
- El Generico
- Vin Gerard / Equinox
- Glacier
- Gran Akuma
- The Great Sanada
- The Great Sasuke
- Green Ant (I) / Silver Ant
- Green Ant (II)
- Jonathan Gresham / Hieracon
- Chavo Guerrero Jr.
- Drew Gulak / Soldier Ant
- Billy Gunn
- Dasher Hatfield
- Hailey Hatred
- Hallowicked
- Ayako Hamada
- Daisuke Harada
- Daizee Haze
- Helios / Ricochet
- Cheech Hernandez / Cheech
- Hernandez
- Chris Hero
- Hollywood Nova / Simon Dean
- Homicide
- Hydra
- Princess Kimber Lee
- Kid Lykos
- Kota Ibushi
- Icarus
- Incognito
- Greg Iron
- Ryuji Ito
- Matt Jackson
- Nick Jackson
- Jimmy Jacobs
- Jagged / Scott Parker
- Mickie James
- Marty Jannetty
- Jazz
- Jigsaw
- Johnny
- Joker / Colt Cabunny
- Kagetora
- Kana
- Maria Kanellis
- Manami Katsu
- Kenny
- Johnny Kidd
- Eddie Kingston
- Mickie Knuckles
- Kodama
- Aja Kong
- Atsushi Kotoge
- Kudo
- Tsubasa Kuragaki
- Yujiro Kushida
- La Parka
- La Parkita
- Brodie Lee
- Trevor Lee
- Candice LeRae
- Jay Lethal
- Jushin Thunder Liger
- Scott Lost
- Heidi Lovelace
- Jerry Lynn
- Mad Man Pondo
- Magno
- Makoto
- Mercedes Martinez
- Mascarita Dorada
- Shane Matthews
- Joel Maximo
- Jose Maximo
- Wil Maximo
- m.c. KZ
- Jessie McKay
- Meng
- Mikey
- Milanito Collection a.t.
- Milano Collection A.T.
- Miyawaki
- Masaaki Mochizuki
- Aldo Montoya
- Jon Moxley
- Necro Butcher / CP Munk
- Osamu Nishimura
- Shinjitsu Nohashi
- Amber O'Neal
- Kyle O'Reilly
- Yuji Okabayashi
- Kazuchika Okada
- Jimmy Olsen / Equinox (II)
- One Man Gang
- Ophidian
- El Oriental
- Chase Owens
- Mayumi Ozaki
- Pac
- El Pantera
- Archibald Peck / Mixed Martial Archie / The Mysterious and Handsome Stranger / The Latvian Proud Oak
- Portia Perez
- Pierrothito
- Player Dos / Stupefied
- Player Uno
- Psycho
- CM Punk
- Mike Quackenbush
- Rain
- Reckless Youth
- Joel Redman
- Ashley Remington
- Rey Bucanero
- Willie Richardson
- Matt Riddle
- Jorge Rivera
- Marshe Rockett
- Rockstar Spud
- Romeo Roselli
- Ian Rotten
- Ruckus
- Joey Ryan
- Sabian
- Chris Sabin
- Zack Sabre Jr.
- Sendai Sachiko
- Raisha Saeed
- Johnny Saint
- Sumie Sakai
- Sha Samuels
- Tito Santana
- Sassy Stephie
- Meiko Satomura
- Daisuke Sekimoto
- Trent Seven
- SeXXXy Eddy
- Shark Girl
- Alex Shelley
- Mototsugu Shimizu
- Mima Shimoda
- Shingo
- Jinsei Shinzaki
- Mio Shirai
- Emil Sitoci
- Smash
- Al Snow
- Kevin Steen
- Martin Stone
- Jonny Storm
- Shane Storm / Stigma
- A.J. Styles
- Super Dragon
- Super Shisa
- Rich Swann
- Larry Sweeney
- Matt Sydal
- Tadasuke
- Tatanka
- Dave Taylor
- Thief Ant
- Antonio Thomas
- Tigre Uno
- Rhett Titus
- Dick Togo
- Tank Toland
- Manami Toyota
- Akira Tozawa
- Trauma
- Toshie Uematsu
- Ultramantis / UltraMantis Black
- Victoria
- The Warlord
- Worker Ant (I)
- Worker Ant (II)
- Shiima Xion
- Yamamoto
- Keita Yano
- Kaori Yoneyama
- Masato Yoshino
- Drake Younger
Commercial DVD releases
Big Vision Entertainment releases
Name | Release date | Region | Additional information |
---|---|---|---|
Best of Chikara | November 6, 2007 | Global | Contains 9 matches from 2005 and 2006. |
See also
References
- ^ a b Namako, Jason (2016-02-01). "Mike Quackenbush on Chikara's history, their loyal fanbase". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Wrestle Factory History". Chikara. Archived from the original on 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
- ^ a b "Thanks to the 755 fans who made C-Rex the biggest Chikara show ever! And if you missed it, don't fret – the DVD comes out TOMORROW at SMV!". Chikara. Twitter. 2010-07-25. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- ^ "DGUSA and Chikara reach working agreement". Dragon Gate USA. 2010-04-27. Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved 2010-09-17.
- ^ Boutwell, Josh (2010-07-30). "Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ Boutwell, Josh (2011-08-06). "Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ a b Magee, Bob (2011-12-02). "JoshiMania tonight in Phily with Toys for Tots". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ Martin, Adam (2012-03-19). "Indy News #2: KSWA Wrestling, Sendai Girls/Chikara". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ Martin, Adam (2010-09-24). "Indy News #2: NWA Hollywood, Chikara and TWA". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ "Past results". Chikara. Archived from the original on 2013-02-25. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ Martin, Adam (2010-05-14). "More details on a new Chikara video game". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
- ^ Higham, Joshua (2014-05-04). "As Chikara returns this month, an update on everything going on". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
- ^ Csonka, Larry (2011-08-01). "Various News: Chikara's to I-PPV, Joshimania, Billy Corgan's New Promotion, More". 411Mania. Retrieved 2011-08-01.
- ^ Martin, Adam (2011-11-24). "Chikara draws well for "High Noon" iPPV event". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
- ^ Radican, Sean (2012-06-02). "Radican's Chikara "Chikarasaurus Rex" iPPV review 6/2 – live coverage of event from Philaldephia". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2012-11-08). "Indy News: Next PWG main event set, Chikara returning to iPPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
- ^ Higham, Josh (2013-04-06). "Part two of the 4/6 Chikara show". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (2013-06-02). "Out go the lights, Sopranos style: complete Chikara Anniversario 2013 iPPV coverage". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (2013-06-03). "Mon. update: Two major new UFC fights and talks of stadium show, Austin gets national pub, Chikara ending, Wrestling star robbed, Goldberg, Bella Twins, Best TV show of last week, Promotion reforms". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ "Events". Chikara. Archived from the original on 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (2013-11-02). "Chikara returns?". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (2013-11-04). "Mon. update: Huge mid-week, WWE webisode cartoon, WWE ads, Huge convention, Rock TV show, new TNA show, New wrestling show on small network, Flair". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
- ^ Boutwell, Josh (2013-11-09). "Viva la Raza! Lucha Weekly 11/9/13". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (2013-10-05). "Official Chikara on Neon Alley press release". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (2014-02-01). "Chikara returns, first show this May". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^ Namako, Jason (2014-02-10). "Chikara to re-open wrestling school at former ECW Arena". Wrestleview. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2015-04-04). "Saturday events: NXT wraps tour, Samoa Joe & Duggan at 2CW, Waltman headlines Slamfest, Chikara U.K. Tour, Mickie James, Trevor Murdoch, Gargano, more stars". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (2015-04-28). "Jim Ross discusses Verne Gagne memories, Corgan purchases wrestling archive, Taz, sample Chikara's new streaming service and more news". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2015-07-29). "Chikara news: Chikara joining Mega-Wednesdays with new online show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
- ^ Cardoza, Adam; Langan, Michael (2016-12-04). "Drew Gulak farewell and more: 12/3 Chikara in Chicago results". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
- ^ Cardoza, Adam (2017-02-04). "2/4 Chikara National Pro Wrestling Day report". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2017-02-05.
- ^ Mike Johnson (August 7, 2019). "NWA ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY, CHIKARA TEAMING WITH MICHINOKU PRO AND MORE". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- ^ "Mike Quackenbush closes Chikara, resigns as school's head trainer". f4wonline. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ "Our Training Faculty". Chikara Wrestle Factory. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
- ^ "History". The Wrestle Factory. Retrieved 2023-11-29.