March 28, 2024

CHIKARA Unites Fans for Good Cause

New arrivals, new champions crowned on National Pro Wrestling Day 2018.

The sixth annual National Pro Wrestling Day was a great time for fans on Saturday, but a heartbreaker for Oleg the Usurper.

The Viking warrior was seconds away from ending Juan Francisco de Coronado’s 323 day-reign as CHIKARA Grand Champion until Kobald interfered, smashing Oleg with a pipe and causing a disqualification. As Oleg slowly made it to his feet, Frightmare stormed the ring and pummeled him while Kobald and Hallowicked watched on.

It put a damper on a tremendous afternoon of action in Philadelphia, including the CHIKARA debuts of two entertaining tandems. First, the Beach Bums rode into The Wrestle Factory, surfing on the backs of Cornelius Crummels and Sonny Defarge. From a fan singing the Spongebob Squarepants intro to chants of “just keep swimming” to an impromptu game of limbo, TJ Crawford and Flamingo Freddy instantly won over the crowd, proving they belong in CHIKARA. Unfortunately, the dastardly, despicable and extremely dirty duo of Crummels and Defarge emerged victorious.

Later in the show, the hottest couple in pro wrestling arrived, as Joey Janela & Penelope Ford faced Xyberhawx2000. Despite Director of Fun Bryce Remsburg claiming that the newcomers would abide by the company’s strict rules, the Bad Boy and Bad Girl used every cheating tactic imaginable. After the luchadores wore out Janela, he sent his girlfriend in to “seduce them with your charm.” A former Wingette of the Year, Penelope danced with Razer, luring him into a deafening slap. Ultimately, the Janelope Device would be the deciding factor, as Razer was decapitated.

As a result of their victories, Janelope as well as Crummels and Defarge qualified for the 2018 Tag World Grand Prix tournament in April.

In other tag team action, The Closers (Rick Roland & Sloan Caprice) won the Campeonatos de Parejas after demolishing Los Ice Creams in two consecutive falls. Creatures of the Deep (Oceanea, Merlok, Hermit Crab & Cajun Crawdad) defeated Hype Rockwell, Mr. Touchdown, Dasher Hatfield & Fire Ant after Oceanea made Hype submit to the ReelCatch.

Also on the show, The Whisper successfully defended the Young Lions Cup against Tony Deppen…Ophidian made Frightmare submit…Officer Warren Barksdale beat Clothesline Curti…and Blank unveiled his latest creation – Ursa Minor in the Night Sky – who overcame Boar of Moldova.

Gran Akuma was scheduled to face Rory Gulak, but 24 hours before the show, Akuma took to Twitter to announce his retirement.


Instead, Gulak challenged Travis Huckabee, forcing the up and comer into submission.

The Chikarmy showed up in full force, waiting in line outside The Wrestle Factory at least an hour and 15 minutes before bell time. Regulars Rob Asheuer and his 7-year-old daughter Amy arrived early, guaranteeing they’d have a spot on the bleachers.

“It’s the kind of environment that I’d be okay bringing my kid to,” Asheuer said. “A lot of wrestling shows, especially indies in Philly, don’t have a family-friendly vibe.”

After two years of attending shows, Amy has become part of the CHIKARA family, so much so that last month she was sick and couldn’t join her father at an event. So he had the wrestlers sign some merchandise, including a pink bowtie from Coronado, wishing his little girl get well soon. “There’s really a closeness and intimacy that you can’t recreate in a larger stage company,” Asheuer said.

As per tradition, National Pro Wrestling Day raised money for a good cause: in lieu of admission, donations were requested for Unidos, a relief fund for Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico. “We’re trying to use pro wrestling for the greater good,” Remsburg told The Wrestling Estate. “It’s easy to get caught up in the drama and the muck and the mire, and being disappointed with what you see sometimes on TV. But we’re just here to put some smiles on people’s faces.”

To donate to the hurricane relief fund, visit hispanicfederation.org/donate.

To stream National Pro Wrestling Day, visit chikarapro.com/chikaratopia-subscriptions.

About Author