IWA King of Trios - Night One - The Palmer Center - Easton, PA (Card #1208) Quick Results:
1) Brian Christopher & PG-13 (J.C. Ice & Wolfie D) defeated “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert & T-D Machines (T-D Machine #1 & T-D Machine #2)
(Brian Christopher pinned T-D Machine #2 – Sitout Power Bomb)
2) The Mack, Moose & Dante Fox defeated Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli & Princess Kimberlee
(Dante Fox pinned Chris Hero – Krunch, an over the shoulder back to belly piledriver)
3) The Warlord, Rhino & “The Wrench” Conor Claxton (with Jimmy Hart) defeated Diamond Dallas Page, Reckless Youth & Steve Corino
(The Warlord over Reckless Youth by submission – Full Nelson)
4) Chuck Taylor, Icarus & Gran Akuma defeated Devastation Corporation (Max Smashmaster, Blaster McMasssive & Flex Rumblecrunch, with Sydney Bakabella)
(Gran Akuma pinned Flex Rumblecrunch – Back Senton)
5) Mil Mascaras, The Destroyer & Tiger Mask defeated “American Psycho” Lance Hoyt, “Big Rig” Brodie Lee & Big Duke (with Percy Pringle III)
(Mil Mascaras pinned Lance Hoyt – Crossbody Attack)
6) Pac 3 (Dicky Mayer, Dylan Bostic & Dan Joseph, with Coach Flexo & Clarence) defeated “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards, Davey Vega & Dasher Hatfield by Count Out
7) Trent Barreta, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov defeated James “Main Event” Morgan, “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce & “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela
(Alex Koslov over James Morgan by submission – Red Scare I, a Russian Legsweep transitioned into a bridging Cobra Clutch)
8) Adam Cole (Bay-Bay!), Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly defeated Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello, Roy Heffernan & Wild Red Berry)
(Adam Cole pinned Al Costello – Superkick to the back of the Head)
Match Highlights:
Controversy erupted in the opening match of the first round as the free agent team of the Memphis Mafia (Brian Christopher & PG-13) defeated the ECW representative team of Hot Stuff International, Inc. consisting of “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert & T-D Machines. Gilbert, the boss of Extreme CHIKARA Wrestling, did a fine job working over Christopher in the early going before letting the Machines take over. That proved to be a mistake as T-D Machine #2 looked off his game and was quickly pinned by Christopher after taking a Sitout Power Bomb.
The Memphis Mafia team danced in celebration of their victory as a shocked Gilbert looked on before calling for his men to leave the ring. T-D Machine #1 followed Gilbert out but T-D Machine #2 remained in the ring. Gilbert called for him to leave but instead the masked man remained in the ring and danced along with the Memphis Mafia! Gilbert and T-D Machine #1 were livid but that was just the beginning as T-D machine #2 removed his mask and revealed none other than “Lightning” Mike Quackenbush drawing a huge pop from the crowd. Gilbert had smoke coming out of his ears and tried to rush into the ring but was restrained by T-D Machine #1 while Quackenbush taunted him. Then in a shocker, another T-D Machine #2 showed up at ringside holding the back of his head as if he were hit with something which Quack revealed to be a pair of brass knuckles drawing another pop from the crowd. Gilbert could barely contain himself as the Machines dragged him away. Quackenbush then grabbed the mic and said that Gilbert had not seen the last of him and he had better have eyes in the back of his head. He finished by saying that he was coming for Gilbert and the restoration of the CHIKARA name. PG-13 then hoisted Quackenbush up on their shoulders as Christopher urged for more cheers from the crowd which indeed rained down on the former owner of CHIKARA who was back home at least for one night.
Lucha Underground representatives the Big Mack Attack (The Mack, Moose & Dante Fox) ousted one of last year’s top teams, The Monarchy (Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli & Princess Kimberlee), in a great bout. The Monarchy made it to the finals last year but fell short of victory and they were hoping to repeat that success this year. With Kimberlee being the only woman to participate in King of Trios this year the spotlight was on her as she stood opposite a big and well muscled team. That did not bother her in any way as she got involved several times including executing a German Suplex on Moose which popped the crowd. The Big Mack Attack isolated Hero late and it was Moose that nailed him with the Pounce setting up the win. Fox tagged in and, as The Mack and Moose cut off Castagnoli and Kimberlee, he nailed Hero with Krunch, his dangerous piledriver variation, to score the pin.
The “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart led his First Family (The Warlord, Rhino & “The Wrench” Conor Claxton) into battle against the popular Jersey Strong (Diamond Dallas Page, Reckless Youth & Steve Corino). Hart was at his obnoxious best shouting through his megaphone antagonizing the Jersey Strong members along with the crowd. DDP led his team with a strong early offensive including keeping the massive Warlord at bay. Reckless Youth, giving away plenty of size, managed to impress including catching The Warlord with a top rope rana. Corino, who is a free agent and has been competing independently since he was last seen in LOW, brought his “A” game to this match including renewing an old rivalry with Rhino with the two battling in and out of the ring. Claxton nearly won it for the First Family with a Moonsault on Corino after Rhino had laid out the “King of Old School”. Unfortunately for DDP and his Jersey Strong teammates, victory eluded them as The Warlord trapped Youth in his powerful Full Nelson scoring a submission victory much to the delight of Hart and his siren blaring megaphone.
The reunited F.I.S.T. (IWA J-Crown champion Chuck Taylor, Icarus & Gran Akuma) took on Devastation Corporation (Max Smashmaster, Blaster McMassive & Flex Rumblecrunch) in one of the most highly anticipated matches of the first round. Manager Sydney Bakabella was at ringside for Devastation Corporation and was none too happy at the crowd support for the “Friends in Similar Tights” as they hit the ring. Taylor was on cloud nine reuniting with his old mates who are now competing in ECW where they have had an intense rivalry with the DC. That part was evident early as Smashmaster, who last year had his wrist broken by Icarus trapping him in the CHIKARA Special, took it out on Taylor and nearly pinned him with a standing splash. Taylor regrouped as did F.I.S.T. and the war was on. This bout went to the floor several times and saw attempted interference by Bakabella that backfired. That came late into it when Icarus trapped Rumblecrunch in the CHIKARA Special leading to Bakabella climbing up onto the ring apron. Icarus released the hold but then ducked a charging Rumblecrunch who collided with Bakabella taking the manager it. Icarus went right back into the punishing hold but Rumblecrynch somehow reached the ropes for a break. Rumblecrunch was in a bad way, however, and after a F.I.S.T. triple team attack on the floor it was Akuma hitting a Back Senton on him to score the pin much to the delight of the crowd.
The Pringle Dynasty (“American Psycho” Lance Hoyt, “Big Rig” Brodie Lee & Big Duke) took one on the chin in their bout against Legends of the Mask (Mil Mascaras, The Destroyer & Tiger Mask). With manager Percy Pringle III looking on from ringside, his men faced an uphill battle against a masked tag team that combined has won a total of fiteen champions in LOW. Hoyt, the former IWA Heavyweight champion, was not impressed and put on a powerful display despite the accolades of his oppnents including nailing the Texas Tower Bomb on both The Destroyer and Tiger Mask. The Pringle Dynasty nearly won it late as they isolated Tiger Mask and scored near falls on him with the Big Boot from Lee and the aforemention Texas Tower Bomb from Hoyt. Only timely saves by his teammates prevented Tiger Mask from being pinned. An attempted save by Pringle, after Mascaras connected with a Flying Bodypress on Hoyt, saw a surprise run-in by Austin Aries but it backfired. Mascaras cut him off and then stunned Hoyt with a Crossbody Attack scoring the pin. Hoyt was enraged over the loss as Aries snuck off to the back. He then began arguing with Lee and Duke asking where they were on the pin prompting Pringle to attempt to play peacemaker. Lee then got into it with Hoyt with the two shoving each other before Pringle got Hoyt to back off and the two along with Duke left the ring. Lee remained behind for a moment before eventually following his stablemates to the back.
In one of the more controversial finishes of the night, Pac 3 (Dicky Mayer, Dylan Bosric & Dan Joseph) advanced to the second round with a count out win over E-V-H (“Die Hard” Eddie Edwards, Davey Vega & Dasher Hatfield). Aside from the result, this was one fantastic match with both teams pushing the other to the limit with several near falls taking place throughout. That included Mayer hitting the Michinoku Driver on Edwards and Edwards bouncing back Die Hard on Mayer which was broken up by his Pac 3 teammates. However, in the end it was the management of Pac 3, Coach Flexo and their water boy Clarence, that influenced the outcome. With both teams battling outside the ring, Edwards and Bostic were the legal men and it looked like E-V-H would win it when Bostic was crotched on the ring barrier. As the referee began issuing his ten count, Edwards struggled to get back in but had his legs held down by Clarence who held on with all his might. Flexo, meanwhile, revived Bostic and rolled him back into the ring where Pac 3 where declared count out winners. A disgusted Edwards grabbed Clarence and tossed him over the ring barrier before leading E-V-H back in chasing after the Pac 3 members who made a quick exit.
The Roppongi Hooligans (Trent Barreta, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov) took on The Main Event (James Morgan, Adam Pearce & Joey Janela) in what turned into a show stealing match. All six-men brought it in this one and it featured some great exchanges. The Roppongi Hooligans, featuring Koslov who was recently released from his contract by ECW, were comprised of three men linked together by Romero in prior tag teams, the Forever Hooligans with Koslov and Roppongi Vice with Barreta. Morgan and his teammates could care less about that bit of nostalgia as they looked to advance to the second round. Pearce, a former LOW Tex-Arkana Television champion, was very impressive for his team working over all three opponents. The Hooligans locked it up late by isolating Morgan who impressively kicked out after taking the Cradle Belly-to-Back Driver from Barreta. He could not make a tag, however, and was subsequently caught in the Diablo Armbar by Romero. Koslov then sealed the deal taking Morgan out with Red Scare I for a submission win as Barreta and Romero cut off a save attempt by Pearce and Janela.
The main event of the night saw Team Boomerang, consisting of the Fabulous Kangaroos trio of Al Costello, Roy Heffernan and their manager Wild Red Berry, taking on the newly formed Undisputed Era of former Bullet Club member Adam Cole (Bay-Bay!) and the former reDRagon, Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly. The heat was off the charts for this one with the crowd mostly divided out of respect for the legacy of the Kangaroos, appearing courtesy of Golden Age Wrestling, and support for what could become a dynasty in the Undisputed Era, a trio now all under contract to the IWA. Cole made waves with his very public split from Bullet Club to form Undisputed Era during WrestleCade 12 weekend and revealed that he signed Bullet Club’s contract, intended for “The Cleaner” Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson), robbing his former faction of an opportunity to compete in the event. If this match was any indication, then Undisputed Era is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the IWA and perhaps elsewhere. They did a great job of cutting off tags by the Kangaroos and that kept the veteran stars on the defense. Fish and O’Reilly combined to hit Chasing the Dragon on Costello late in the match for a big near fall. That set up Cole, ever the opportunist, to blast Costello with a Superkick to the back of the Head resulting in the pin. Undisputed Era advanced to the second round and it was likely news that the absent Bullet Club members did not want to hear.
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IWA King of Trios – Night Two - Goodwill Fire Association Hall - Reading, PA (Card #1209)
Rey De Voladores - Match One: Jushin Liger vs. Darby Allin vs. Sabu vs. Paul London
Cheeseburger vs. Ron Hutchison
Rey De Voladores - Match Two: ACH vs. Chris Cash vs. Will Ospreay vs. Brian Kendrick
KOT - Second Round: Memphis Mafia (Brian Christopher, J.C. Ice & Wolfie D) vs. Big Mack Attack (The Mack, Moose & Dante Fox)
KOT - Second Round: First Family (The Warlord, Rhino & Conor Claxton) vs. F.I.S.T. (Chuck Taylor, Icarus & Gran Akuma)
Eddie Kingston vs. Kevin Steen
KOT - Second Round: Legends of the Mask (Mil Mascaras, The Destroyer & Tiger Mask) vs. Pac 3 (Dicky Mayer, Dylan Bostic & Dan Joseph)
KOT - Second Round: Roppongi Hooligans (Trent Barreta, Rocky Romero & Alex Koslov) vs. Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly)
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