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12/2 THIS DAY IN HISTORY: VINCE MCMAHON APOLOGIZES TO CM PUNK, CHIKARA JOSHIMANIA, MVP EXITS WWE, NWA TITLE DEFENDED IN JAPAN FOR FIRST TIME IN A DOZEN YEARS AND MORE

By Mike Johnson on 2023-12-02 08:00:00

December 2nd

On this day in history in ....


1969 - NWA World Champion Dory Funk Jr. vs. Antonio Inoki ends in a 60-minute draw, the first NWA World Title match to be held in Japan in 12 years.

1974 - Blackjack Lanza defeats Fritz Von Erich in Dallas, Texas to win the NWA American Heavyweight Title, ending Von Erich's 11th reign as champion.

1974 - Giant Baba defeats Jack Brisco in Kagoshima, Japan to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title for the first time in his career.  He would lose it back to Brisco a week later.

1979 - The Assassins defeat Steve Regal & Hector Guerrero for the AWA Southern Tag Team Title in Memphis, Tennessee.

1983 - The Von Erichs (David, Kevin & Kerry) defeat The Fabulous Freebirds for the World Class Six-Man Championship in Dallas, Texas, starting the second reign as champions for the Von Erich brothers.  However, Michaels Hayes had lost a "loser leaves town" match to Kerry on November 24th, so he was not able to defend the six-man title with Buddy Roberts & Terry Gordy.  Instead, David, Kevin & Kerry defeated Roberts, Gordy, and NWA World Champion Ric Flair, who substituted for Hayes in the title match (and loss).

1991 - Tom Prichard defeats Eric Embry in Memphis, Tennessee to win the USWA Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Embry's third reign and starting his own third run with the belt.  On the same show, Jerry Lawler defeats Kamala to start his eleventh run as USWA Unified World Champion.

 2001 - John Zandig defeats Mitsuhiro Matsunaga in Yokohama, Japan to win the Big Japan Pro Wrestling Death Match Heavyweight Title, starting his third reign as champion. On the same show, Ruckus defeats Trent Acid and The Winger in a three way dance to claim the CZW and Big Japan Junior Heavyweight Championships.  The belts had been held up when Acid, the CZW champ, and Ruckus, the Big Japan champ, had a title vs. title match end in a double pin.

2010 - MVP requested and received his WWE release.  He moved onto New Japan, where he became the first-ever IWGP Intercontinental champion.

2011 - CHIKARA opened up "Joshimania" with an event at the ECW Arena.  Mike Johnson filed the following live report:

We are live at the ECW Arena for CHIKARA's Joshimania Night One.

Team JWP, Kaori Yoneyama & Hanako Nakamori & Tsubasa Kuragaki, vs. Archibald Peck and Los Ice Creams.

Kaori and Ice Cream Jr. started.  He mocked her, getting on his knees for a test of strength.  She nailed him with a flying bodypress but was caught and slammed.  Kaori sent him to the outside and teased a dive, then stopped at the ropes and slapped across the back of the neck.  Jr. ran into the arms of El Hijo del Ice Cream, whimpering. 

Hijo and Nakamori tagged in.  She scored a two count from a bodypress off the ropes.  Hijo came back with a suplex and grandstanded, screaming, "Viva Los Ice Creams!"  Nakamori came back with a Lucha takedown that sent both to the floor.  She nailed a flying bodypress off the top to the floor.  Nice mix of comedy and action so far.

Kuragaki and Peck tagged in.  She then tagged him hard with a chop.  He pouted, then chopped her.  They traded shoulderblocked attempts.   Peck tried to fake her out but was stomped and slammed down hard.   She nailed a slingshot senton splash and a springboard dropkick.  Peck tagged out.  Los Ice Creams hit the ring but were scared off by Kuragaki's screaming.

Kaori tagged in and nailed one of the Ice Creams with a bodypress.  They soon overwhelmed her, working her over with a arm pump in the corner while distracting the referees.  Peck tagged back in and controlled Kaori with a wristlock, screaming and mocking her.  She tried to mount a comeback but he kept working over Kaori's arm.   Ice Cream Jr. tagged in and continued the assault, locking on an abdominal stretch, using the ropes to strengthen the force of the hold.  Los Ice Creams went back to the armpump in the corner.

Peck and Ice Creams continued working over Kaori's arm.   The crowd began chanting for her, trying to rally a comeback.   The villains continued focusing on her arm until she finally tricked Los Ice Creams to do the arm pump to each other.  Peck tagged in and shoved Kaori down.  This fired her up and she caught him with a twisting DDT and a Northern Lights suplex for a two count.

Kaori went to the top for a big back senton splash but Los Ice Creams attacked and broke up the pin.  Nakamori hit the ring and battled both.  They went for a double suplex but she turned it into a double DDT for a two count.  Kuragaki nailed big suplexes on both.  She went to the top but was cut off by Peck.  This led to a big Tower of Doom spot tease which turned into Kuragaki doing a double Human Torture Rack on Peck and Hijo Del Ice Cream.  THAT'S DAMN IMPRESSIVE!!  They submitted!

Your winners in a little over 14 minutes, Team JWP!

An extremely entertaining opener with some good comedy and vibrant characters early, followed by some good six man tag action.  A really nice way to open the evening.

JWP Junior champion Sawako Shimono vs. GAMI (non-title)

GAMI is representing the WAVE promotion in Japan.   They shook hands at the bell, then locked up.  GAMI muscled Shimono to the ropes, then drilled her with a big boot for a two count.  Shimono fired up and nailed several shoulderblocks but couldn't budge GAMI.  She caught GAMI with a Samoan drop. 

GAMI was beaten in the corner but grabbed an object she brought to the ring and began beating Shimono with it.  No DQ?   GAMI began focusing on Shimono's shoulder working on it. GAMI walked the ropes like Jinsei Shinzaki, then began doing it backwards.  Shimono forced her to slip and crotch herself, then snapmared her over and locked in a sleeper.

She whipped GAMI into the corner but was caught with a thrust kick as she charged for a two count.  GAMI grabbed her into a rear chinlock, drilling an elbow into Shimono's forehead.  She battled back to her feet and they exchanged forearms.  GAMI peppered Shimono with them but Shimono ducked one and took her down and nailed the Earthquake sitdown splash for a two count.

Shimono went for a powerbomb but GAMI backdropped her over.  Shimono still surprised her with a cross armbreaker, but GAMI made it to the ropes and broke it.  The champion nailed a Samoan Drop for a two count, then ascended to the top.  GAMI cut her off and nailed a top rope hurancanrana for a two count.

Shimono battled back and nailed a Falcon's Arrow for a two count.  GAMI cut her off but was drilled with a series of forearms.  Shimono rebounded off the ropes but was cut off with a clubbing clothesline for a two count.  GAMI drilled her with a lariat and went for another but was caught in an inside cradle for a two count.  The crowd began chanting for the champ.

GAMI nailed a suplex for a two count.  She nailed a top rope elbow and scored the pin.

Your winner in 10:03, GAMI!

Solid back and forth match with the story being that the smaller, less experienced Shimono fought as hard as she could against the larger, more experienced GAMI.  Good stuff.

Tim Donst vs. Green Ant.

Donst controlled Ant early with some nice mat wrestling.  Ant caught with an abdominal stretch.   Donst made it the ropes and nailed a Gut Wretch suplex.  Ant and Donst went back and forth. Donst ended up on the floor, where Ant nailed a leaping knee off the apron.

Ant set up Donst in the ropes and went for a senton on the apron but Donst moved.  He pulled up Ant and belly to belly suplexed him back into the ring, then worked him over with crossfaces.  Ant fired back with a stiff chop but Donst overpowered him and teased a chop, then gave him a purple nurple instead.  Ant chopped him in the corner several times.   Donst came back, pulling Ant half off the apron and dropping him across his knee.

Back on the ring, Donst tied up Ant in a submission, trying to wear him down.  Ant fought back with a flurry of offense, including a leaping headbutt into a charging Donst.   Ant hit a double springboard into a hurancanrana and scored several two counts.   Ant began climbing the ropes but Donst, laying on the mat, shoved the ref into the ropes and Ant slipped.

Donst began whipping out the offense with several takedowns and suplexes, scoring a two count.   Ant fought back after he was placed on the ropes and nailed a tornado DDT.  He scored several takedowns on Donst and locked in a Boston Crab but Donst made it to the ropes.

Ant went for a rana but was caught and powerbombed down for a two count.  Donst grabbed him in a Fireman's Carry, climbed the buckles and nailed a Death Valley Driver off the ropes for a two count.    Donst went for a move but it was turned into an Angleslam by Ant.  Donst snapped his arm and locked in a sick looking arm and neck submission.  Ant finally tapped.

Your winner in 10:47, Tim Donst!

They announced a 2/26 return to the Asylum Arena.  Homicide and former ECW star JT Smith are here visiting.

Ayako Hamada and Cherry vs. Mayumi Ozaki and Mio Shirai Shira.

Ozaki and Cherry started but Ozaki and Shiro immediately attacked Hamada in the corner, then double teamed Cherry.   Ozaki stomped on Cherry's hands, then locked in an armbar, sitting on her back.   Ozaki and Shire worked over Cherry and then Shira locked in a camel clutch, grabbing her by the nose.  That's evil.

Shira drilled Cherry with a kick to the back and covered her for a two count, then tagged Ozaki back in.  Ozaki worked on her arm and wrist, methodically tearing at it while Cherry screamed in horror. Ozaki then started biting.   She slammed Cherry down and stood with one foot on her chest while making the pin, getting a two count.

Cherry shocked her with a forward roll for a two count.  Ozaki cheated to cut her off.  Hamada tried to interfere but that only allowed a distraction for the rulebreaking to continue.  Shira tagged back in and continued working on her arm.  Ozaki returned to cheat and they used armbreakers on both arms as Hamada argued with the referee.

Shira began stomping Cherry in the corner and ripped at her face as she was hanging in the ropes.  Ozaki put a boot to her to continue the beating.   The crowd began chanting for Cherry to make a comeback and she did with a flying clothesline and a Northern Lights suplex.  Ozaki broke it up.  Cherry cinched in a Dragon sleeper then turned it into an inverted DDT.  She locked on a cross armbreaker. 

Shira swept her legs and tagged in Ozaki.  Cherry fought back and nailed several suplexes, tagging in Hamada. Ozaki immediately cut Hamada off and drilled her with elbows and a running knee to the mid section in the corner.   Hamada superkicked Shira and drilled Ozaki with an enziguiri.  Hamada used a springboard into a double armdrag takedown.  Cherry joined in as well.

Ozaki and Hamada went back and forth.   Hamada drilled her with an enziguiri but missed a moonsault.  Ozaki tagged in Shira, who nailed several kicks.  They battled back and forth with forearms and Hamada snapped her with a DDT.  Shira fought back with a series of kicks but Hamada ducked one and drilled her own.  Shira kicked off Hamada in the corner and grabbed an armbar while on her shoulders.  She flipped Hamada to the mat and locked in an armbar submission.  Cherry interfered but was dispatched by Ozaki.

Hamada blocked seveal kicks and nailed a big sitdown powerbomb for a two count.  Cherry hit a swanton onto her.  Hamada nailed a moonsault but Ozaki broke it up.  Cherry attacked her and tried to force her out of the ring.  Hamada nailed a big roundhouse punch but was caught with a running knee.  Ozaki drilled her with a shining wizard variation to set up another near fall.

Hamada nailed several spinning kicks on Ozaki and Shira.  Cherry held Ozaki out of the ring as Hamada nailed a sitdown driver and scored the pin.

Your winners in 15:07, Ayako Hamada and Cherry!

That was a dynamite back and forth traditional tag match, just telling the story of the bullying veteran Ozaki beating down Cherry until Hamada could tag in and really kick off the back and forth near falls.  Great stuff!

Manami Toyota vs. Toshi Uematsu

Before the bout, Toyota was given an award by DivaDirt.com.

Uematsu was nailed with a dropkick by Toyota at the bell.  Toyota chased her around the floor and back into the ring.   Uematsu was sent into the corner.  Toyota went to the top and drilled her with a missile dropkick.   Toyota missed a dropkick into the ropes and took a nasty spill to the floor.  Toyota was chased around the ring and when she returned, dared Uematsu to follow.

When she returned to the ring, they went into a test of strength.  Toyota got the best of it and locked Uematsu in a Camel Clutch.   She then tied up Uematsu's legs and tore at  them.  Toyota snapped her leg back and locked on a sitting variation of the Sharpshooter.  She then did the Oriental Torture Device.

Uematsu came back with an abdominal stretch, trying to force a submission.    She even bit Toyota's hip at one point.   Toyota was able to reverse it.  She then locked Uematsu in a bow and arrow.  Toyota nailed a legdrop and locked in a figure four.   Uematsu reversed it. 

When they returned to their feet, Uematsu grabbed Toyota by the nose and smashed it.  She then followed up with it again and flew off the turnbuckles with a missile dropkick.   She then locked Toyota in a figure four.   Uematsu pulled herself out of the ring and hung upside down, doing crunches.  She then went to the top for a diving headbutt.  Toyota moved out of the way and nailed a series of top rope dropkicks for a two count.

Uematsu cut off Toyota and drilled her with a Facewash.  She nailed Toyota with a back suplex.   Toyota drilled her with a big boot, sending Uematsu to the floor.  Toyoya hit a flying bodypress to the floor.  Back in the ring, Toyota missed a moonsault,  Uematsu nailed a flying dropkick.  She spewed her trademark mist in Toyota's face and rolled her up with a forward roll for a two count.

Uematsu drilled Toyota with a dropkick, sailing through the ropes to the floor, then killed her with a nasty dropkick from the top for a two count.   She followed up with a top rope splash for another two count.   Toyota came back with a rolling pinfall combination, running Uematsu around the ring twice for a two count.  Uematsu was dizzy getting up.  Uematsu drilled her with a Dragon suplex with a bridge for a two count.

Toyota came back with a modified exploder.  Toyota lifted Uematsu on her shoulders, spun around and dropped her backwards into a bridge for the pin.

Your winner in a little over nineteen minutes, Manami Toyota!

Solid back and forth match.

CHIKARA Tag Team champions Chuck Taylor & Johnny Gargano of FIST vs. The Colony's Fire Ant & Soldier Ant - Best of Three Falls

Fire Ant started off with Gargano.  Taylor grabbed a wrench from the timekeeper and hid it behind his back.  The referee realized it and took it away.   Fire sent Gargano to the floor so Taylor hit the ring and tossed Fire out. Soldier hit the ring with a huge headscissors takedown.  The Ants used a flapjack on Taylor.  Gargano hit the ring but was nailed by Soldier Ant's diving headbutt.    Meanwhile, Gargano stole a purse from a girl at ringside and hung it off the ringpost.

Taylor tagged in, as did Fire Ant.  He nailed several karate moves but Fire got the better of him.  Soldier tagged in and continued working over Taylor on the mat as he screamed in pain.   Soldier fired him into the buckles several times and tagged Fire back.   The Ants worked over Taylor.  Taylor came back to roll up Soldier and used the ropes for the pin at 6:25.

The Colony attacked the champions at the start of the second floor.     Taylor and Fire brawled around ringside.   Fire was whipped into the guard.   Back in the ring, the champions took control of Soldier, stomping the hell out of him.   Taylor continued working him over and sent Soldier into Gargano's waiting feet.

Gargano cinched in a side chinlock on the mat.   Soldier fought his way to his feet and nailed a neckbreaker.  He crawled to the corner for the hot tag to Fire Ant but the referee missed it.  The champs continued working over Soldier.   Soldier came back with a moonsault off the ropes for a surprise pin at 13:09.  We are tied up.

As the third fall began, Fire Ant started whipping out all this crazy offense, including a dive over the top to the floor on Gargano.  Soldier nailed a headbutt off the ropes for a two count on Taylor.  The Ants doubled up on Gargano and went for their finisher but Taylor broke it up.   They went into an awesome series of kicks and strikes, leaving everyone down and out on the mat.

When everyone recovered, they battled back and forth with strikes and punches.  The Colony got the best of the exchange.   Gargno kicked Soldier, sending him out of the ring.  The champs double teamed Fire Ant for a two count.  Fire slipped out of the ring into a head scissors on the floor on Taylor.  Soldier went after the unaware Gargano, who drilled him with series of superkicks.  They went into a great back and forth near fall sequence, leading to Soldier locking him in the CHIKARA Special submission.  Taylor returned to break it up.

Taylor caught Fire on the ropes and went for a superplex.  He was shoved off. Gargano went for the move and was shoved off as well.  Fire leapt into the ring but hurt his knee.  He was caught with a series of stereo kicks by the champions but kicked out at the last minute.  Soldier hit a dive to the outside on Gargano.

Taylor went back and forth with Fire Ant, nailing him with the Affle Waffle, the locking in a submission.  Soldier tried to make the save but was hit with a Stroke into the apron.  Fire finally tapped at a little over 20 minutes.

Your winners and still champions, FIST!

Good, slow building back and forth match.

CHIKARA Tag Team champions Chuck Taylor & Johnny Gargano of FIST vs. The Colony's Fire Ant & Soldier Ant - Best of Three Falls

Fire Ant started off with Gargano.  Taylor grabbed a wrench from the timekeeper and hid it behind his back.  The referee realized it and took it away.   Fire sent Gargano to the floor so Taylor hit the ring and tossed Fire out. Soldier hit the ring with a huge headscissors takedown.  The Ants used a flapjack on Taylor.  Gargano hit the ring but was nailed by Soldier Ant's diving headbutt.    Meanwhile, Gargano stole a purse from a girl at ringside and hung it off the ringpost.

Taylor tagged in, as did Fire Ant.  He nailed several karate moves but Fire got the better of him.  Soldier tagged in and continued working over Taylor on the mat as he screamed in pain.   Soldier fired him into the buckles several times and tagged Fire back.   The Ants worked over Taylor.  Taylor came back to roll up Soldier and used the ropes for the pin at 6:25.

The Colony attacked the champions at the start of the second floor.     Taylor and Fire brawled around ringside.   Fire was whipped into the guard.   Back in the ring, the champions took control of Soldier, stomping the hell out of him.   Taylor continued working him over and sent Soldier into Gargano's waiting feet.

Gargano cinched in a side chinlock on the mat.   Soldier fought his way to his feet and nailed a neckbreaker.  He crawled to the corner for the hot tag to Fire Ant but the referee missed it.  The champs continued working over Soldier.   Soldier came back with a moonsault off the ropes for a surprise pin at 13:09.  We are tied up.

As the third fall began, Fire Ant started whipping out all this crazy offense, including a dive over the top to the floor on Gargano.  Soldier nailed a headbutt off the ropes for a two count on Taylor.  The Ants doubled up on Gargano and went for their finisher but Taylor broke it up.   They went into an awesome series of kicks and strikes, leaving everyone down and out on the mat.

When everyone recovered, they battled back and forth with strikes and punches.  The Colony got the best of the exchange.   Gargno kicked Soldier, sending him out of the ring.  The champs double teamed Fire Ant for a two count.  Fire slipped out of the ring into a head scissors on the floor on Taylor.  Soldier went after the unaware Gargano, who drilled him with series of superkicks.  They went into a great back and forth near fall sequence, leading to Soldier locking him in the CHIKARA Special submission.  Taylor returned to break it up.

Taylor caught Fire on the ropes and went for a superplex.  He was shoved off. Gargano went for the move and was shoved off as well.  Fire leapt into the ring but hurt his knee.  He was caught with a series of stereo kicks by the champions but kicked out at the last minute.  Soldier hit a dive to the outside on Gargano.

Taylor went back and forth with Fire Ant, nailing him with the Affle Waffle, the locking in a submission.  Soldier tried to make the save but was hit with a Stroke into the apron.  Fire finally tapped at a little over 20 minutes.

Your winners and still champions, FIST!

Good, slow building back and forth match.

Aja Kong vs. Sara Del Rey

Kong came out carrying a small square wastebasket.   The crowd was behind Del Rey bigtime.  Del Rey went right after her and began working over her arm.   Kong and Del Rey grappled on the mat.  Kong kicked her in the behind when she was down.  Del Rey immediately challenged her and they exchanged chops.

Kong drilled her with headbutts.   Kong  beat her down and locked in a side chinlock.    Kong cinched in a neck nerve hold.  Del Rey mounted a comeback but was chopped down and choked against the ropes.   Kong began choking her in the air and slammed her down.  She dropped the big elbow for a two count.

Del Rey began firing back with kicks and forearm smashes but was shut down with a big slap and a slam for a two count.   Kong went back to the nerve hold.  Del Rey stomped at her feet but was caught in a choke.  Del Rey fired back with a series of big boots.  Del Rey went for a butterfly suplex but Kong wasn't worn down enough so Del Rey instead beat her with kicks.  Kong cut her off with a stiff kick and went to the top but was shoved of to the floor.  Del Rey hit a flip dive into a kick off the apron, glancingly catching Kong.

Del Rey hit a rolling kick on Kong back in the ring, then cinched in an armbar.    Kong fought to get to the ropes and finally made it.   Kong cut off Del Rey with a series of clotheslines and slammed her.  Kong went to the top but was pulled back down by Del Rey.  She nailed the back fist for a two count, followed by a German suplex with a bridge for another two count.

Del Rey drilled Kong with several big kicks.  She went for a running flip kick but Kong pulled the referee in the way.  He was out.  Kong SMASHED Del Rey with the wastebasket and it made a LOUD crack.  She nailed a back suplex but the referee was out.   She went to wake the referee but Del Rey rolled her up from behind and scored the pin in 11:50.

Your winner, Sara Del Rey!

2012 - CHIKARA held their "Under the Hood" iPPV in Philadelphia, PA.  Josh Higham filed the following live report:

Chikara presents Under the Hood
The Trocadero in Philadelphia, PA
December 2, 2012


3.0 defeated FIST. Scott Parker pinned Johnny Gargano after the Sweet Taste of Professionalism. 3.0 now have three points and can now challenge for the Campeonatos de Parejas.

Icarus defeated Dasher Hatfield with the Wings of Icarus, after Sugar inadvertently hit Dasher with Icarus’ fanny pack of mystery. Sugar was conflicted throughout the match between his assigned partner and his former partner, blocking Icarus from attempting some underhanded shenanigans. 

Jigsaw, Soldier Ant, deviANT, and The Shard defeated Mike Quackenbush, Green Ant, Fire Ant, and assailANT. deviANT pinned assailANT. A lot of interesting stuff happening throughout this match. Soldier Ant had bandages covering the area where his antenna was ripped off by Mr. Touchdown in New York City. The original Colony showed flairs of working together against The Shard and deviANT. Quackenbush stopped himself from using the palm strike against Jigsaw, but Jigsaw used that moment of pause to attack. assailant was invited to do some of the Colony’s signature triple team moves like the Ants Go Marching and Ant Hill. assailANT took the fall after pushing Quackenbush out of the way of a superkick. Quackenbush shook assailANT’s hand after the match, leaving with Fire Ant and Green Ant. Jigsaw, Shard, and deviANT left together, leaving Soldier Ant all alone.

“Mr. Touchdown” Mark Angelosetti defeated ACH to retain the Young Lions Cup with a cradle and some leverage with the baton and Veronica. Veronica was wearing her Homecoming gown. Mr. Touchdown got a lot of heat when he said he would “Sapphire” ACH.

Veronica was indeed named the Homecoming Queen, but The Mysterious and Handsome Stranger was announced as Homecoming King. The Stranger and Veronica shared the standard King and Queen dance. When Veronica tried to unmask the Stranger for a kiss, Stranger stopped her, saying he had a surprise. He went under the ring and grabbed a bucket and dumped pig slop on her, then unmasked to reveal the Stranger has been Archibald Peck the entire time, shocking everyone! Not really. But since Archibald Peck lost a loser leaves town match in June, Condor Security hit the ring to evict him from the building.

After the ring canvas was changed during intermission, Sidney Bakabella came to the ring, trying to figure out how this show was running on closed circuit without the help of Fritz. Knowing that his team had two points, he found opponents from Mexico to take on his Devastation Corporation, which led to...

The Devastation Corporation defeated Los Ice Creams after a Death Blow. Max and Blaster entered the arena with a third man wearing the same gear as them, so it looks like Devastation Corporation has found their Crush. The Devastation Corporation now also have three points and can challenge for the Campeonatos de Parejas

The Spectral Envoy (Ultramantis Black, Hallowicked, Frightmare, Crossbones, and Blind Rage) defeated Delirious, Ophidian, and The Batiri. Ultramantis Black pinned Delirious after Cosmic Doom. Ophidian made his final transformation with a new mask that looks like his original mask with a black and green color scheme. There was a section of the audience wearing Amasis masks, trying to get in Ophidian’s head. Then, one of the fans pulled off his replica mask to reveal himself to be the real Amasis, which caused Ophidian to freak out a bit.

The Young Bucks defeated Marty Jannetty and The 1-2-3 Kid, two falls to one, to retain the Campeonatos de Parejas. The Bucks won the first fall with a spike tombstone on 1-2-3 Kid. 1-2-3 Kid got the second fall with an X Factor on Matt Jackson. Bucks won the third fall with More Bang for your Buck. 1-2-3 Kid took some time to get to his feet after the match.

Eddie Kingston defeated Tim Donst after multiple backfists to the future. Donst was accompanied to the ring by Jakob Hammermeier, who took a lot of abuse from Donst throughout the match. Prior to the match, Eddie Kingston wanted the bell to ring, so he was yelling at Gavin Loudspeaker to hurry with the introductions. After the match, Donst hightailed through the crowd, leaving Hammermeier alone with Kingston. Hammermeier basically surrendered himself, ready for whatever beating Kingston was going to give, but Kingston let him go before celebrating with the title.

Notes and Thoughts: The Trocadero was near capacity, if not a total sell-out. Chikara already has a number of shows announced for 2013, including a return to Chicago, a trip to Florida, and the Wrestlecon event. The first event will be the National Pro Wrestling Day, and then returns to Reading and Easton in February for the Season 13 Premiere.

2013 - Ring of Honor issued the following to PWInsider.com:

Originally ROH had planned to announce a tag team match for Final Battle today, featuring Roderick Strong & Jay Lethal vs the American Wolves (Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, what was to be the final schedule appearance of the Wolves. This match was scheduled after two very competitive singles matches in Dearborn, Michigan, that saw Lethal take on Edwards, and Strong take on Richards; a tag team match. Four of ROH’s best going at it, not for titles, or even bragging rights, but for honor.

Both Richards and Edwards do not have any upcoming ROH appearances following Final Battle because of commitments and endeavors, that will prevent them wrestling full time for ROH.

However, due to recent events, Davey Richards has been removed from the Final Battle match by ROH management due to his unprofessionalism and unreliability with the company.

A mystery tag team partner is being searched for by ROH Matchmaker Nigel McGuinness to take Richard’s spot in the match. Nigel has guaranteed ROHWrestling.com that the replacement will not only meet the expectations of the American Wolves farewell match, but will raise the bar of the show. With so many limitless possibilities, who will Nigel choose for ROH’s biggest show of the year? He promises that the match WILL NOT disappoint. Fans, You can’t miss this one.

What should have been a farewell (for now) to the American Wolves, will now be one for “Die Hard” Eddie Edwards. Will Final Battle be the last time we see the first man in ROH History to hold the World, TV and Tag Team Championships? Don’t miss your chance to Eddie LIVE at the Hammerstein Ballroom, order your tickets now by clicking here.

2014 - Vince McMahon appeared as a guest on the first Stone Cold Podcast episode broadcast on the WWE Network.  Mike Johnson filed the following report:

Welcome to PWInsider.com's ongoing coverage of the Steve Austin podcast with Vince McMcMahon on the WWE Network.

Austin welcomed Vince to the podcast,which is on the Network.  Austin asked him how the Network was doing and Vince said it was doing great both from a subscription and a content standpoint.  Austin asked him about the UK and Vince said it's been a stop/start thing and they hope to have it wrapped up by the first of the year, but noted that wasn't a promise.'

Austin asked him how in tune Vince was with the wrestling fans right now.  Vince said that they don't do wrestling but sports-entertainment.  Vince said that not every match is going to "hit" and no one else does the content weekly that they do and then broadcast it worldwide.   Austin said he'd like to see more in-ring over the course of the show and asked Vince if he's wrong in wanting too much wrestling.  Austin said that sometimes the early segments take too long.  Vince acknowledged that and said that you do have to give the audience a hook or they won't care about the matches.

Austin said that there are no other big leagues for other talents to go to and there are talents who are walking on eggshells afraid to do anything.  Vince said, "Well don't piss anyone off."  Vince said that there isn't as much camaraderie and silliness backstage as there was in Austin's era.   He described the locker room as "less ambitious" because they are "Millenials."

Vince said the last guy to really try and reach for the brass ring was John Cena.  He sees potential in Ambrose, Rollins and Reigns but they aren't there yet.  He said the talents don't do what Austin did.  Austin challenged the roster to take chances and try to get over.  Vince said the roster is thin and he wants to see guys do it as well.  Vince said there are those who are afraid of failure.

Vince was asked what he was looking for in Superstars.  Vince said he's looking for someone who's hungry and wants to learn and keep learning every day.   Austin told a story about a wrestler getting a bigger than usual pop at MSG and Austin pointed it out to Vince and Vince said that he hoped that person got over.  That told Austin it wasn't just Vince with a magic wand but Vince hoping guys took the reigns.

Austin asked why Cesaro hasn't clicked yet.  Vince said that perhaps it's because he's Swiss but he hasn't shown the charisma but Vince hopes he eventually does.   Vince said it could be his style.  Austin pointed out that the momentum was lost for Cesaro based on the way he was booked.  Vince said he doesn't have all the answers and Cesaro isn't being given up on.

Austin talked about the Creative Team and how different it was from the days of Vince working from his pool.  Austin asked why creative got so complicated.  Vince said that the company grew in leaps and bounds and went public and it's not going to be a one man show.  Vince said he can't do it all and joked that he used to work Pat Patterson to the bone.   He talked about how when people would come by his house, they'd end up in the pool because Vince loves ribs and described it being one of the funniest things in the world.  Vince said you have to have fun to make fun.  Austin told a story about Shane tossing Vince in the pool.

Austin asked where Shane McMahon is.  Vince said he's a happy camper and has his hands in a lot of pots and is in Japan.  He said Shane's departure was something of a mutual thing.  He said being a family in business is difficult.  Vince said he tried to do what was right for business.  Vince said his dad didn't want him in the business and he wanted his kids to do what they wanted to do.

Vince told the story of an announcer holding his father up for money and his father refusing, then deciding Vince would be the announcer with no experience, "and you're going to do a good job." Vince gave him a partner and it was Arnold Skaaland.  Skaaland was a man of few words so Vince asked him father for someone else to help him.  There were a number of individuals who helped him.

Austin asked him if he wanted to talk about CM Punk.  Vince said he wanted to personally apologize for Punk getting his termination papers on his wedding day.  He said that in a company their size, the different areas of the company didn't know what was going on in the other areas.  He said he was very sorry about the timing of when Punk received his paperwork.

Vince then said that he didn't want to go through dirty laundry.  Vince said there have been others who were disgruntled and they said things they later regretted and he hoped he and Punk would one day work together again.  Vince said he didn't listen to the Colt Cabana interview but heard Punk used a lot of expletives and things were said that were his perspective on things.  He said that he had issues with Austin and Hulk Hogan but they eventually came back.   Vince said he was willing to work with Punk again and admits that while Vince has a big ego, he is willing to put it aside and work with Punk down the line.  Vince later said Punk worked really hard for the company.

Austin talked about working with Vince and being in a similar situation.  Vince said Austin was difficult to work with at times.  They talked about Austin walking out when he was asked to put over Brock Lesnar,  Austin said he was hard-headed and never returned Vince's calls.  Finally, Jim Ross sent him a card in the mail and offered to talk with Steve anytime   Ross put them back in touch.  Austin asked if there was someone who could bridge the gap between Vince and Punk.  Vince said that unfortunately there is not and Punk is pretty much a loner and has a lack of communication.  Vince said that when attorneys get involved it's going to "hell in a handbasket."

Austin told a story about Vince fining him $650,000 when he returned.  Vince then told him what he thought was fair.  He settled on $250,000.  Vince said when you walk out, not on the company but the fans you have to do something or else the next time you don't like the creative, you walk out again. 

Vince said that Austin had the communications, perhaps not with Vince but with others and Punk was a loner.  Vince admitted he himself can be introverted and shy and he understands it and talked about feeling uncomfortable when he was at political events for his wife and would often find himself talking to the bartender, who was more his kind of people.

Austin talked about watching The Undertaker losing at Wrestlemania.  He asked about the background of ending the streak.  Vince said that no one wants to give back to the business more than Mark Calaway.  He said that it was time and when you look down the line on who he could work with, who else was it going to be.  There was no one else it could be.  He said that Brock was the one person that Mark felt was the guy.  Austin challenged him and Vince admitted he made the decision to end the Streak. 

Austin asked Vince why Brock Lesnar isn't around more.  Vince said you don't want him around more, because he's a special attraction. 

Vince said Randy Savage would absolutely be in the WWE Hall of Fame.  He said it would be soon but not perhaps this year.  Austin cornered him and made Vince say yes.

On Sting, Vince McMahon said he made a great impression but he's the type of character you don't need to see every week but "I think you'll see him at Wrestlemania."  Austin said that when he was hot, he was on every show and Vince said the business has changed and some of it is contracts.

They talk about the Monday Night War.  Vince said he always felt WWE was more passionate and WCW having talent in charge of their own creative created chaos.  Austin said they don't have any real competition and Vince said that they compete with everything on TV.  He said they and WCW were burning so hot and it was a question of who was going to burn out first.  Vince always kept ideas in huis pocket.  He said all the WCW issues eventually wore them down.

Austin talked about Vince expanding WWF.  Vince said he was willing to buy the AWA but Verne Gagne blew him off.  Vince said all he had was creative skills, a lot of luck and big grapefruits.  Vince said the territory promoters had money but they didn't put it back in the business.  Vince kept reinvesting in the production and bringing in partners from the outside to help you grow while the others were happy just filming a show in a studio.  He said Bill Watts the only promoter who tried to really fight against them.  He didn't want to compete with Watts but then he sold out to Jim Crockett and Vince said, "Aha, I see where this is going.  Jim Crockett wasn't the smartest branch in the tree.  Vince said cable television was down 10% because of all the other choices and they still compete with everything.

Vince McMahon said that there's no heat with Jim Ross and he likes him as a human being.  He said he didn't want to get into it but there was an incident in Los Angeles that surprised Vince in how Ross handled it but said he was sure they would work together again one day.  Vince said that he helped Jim get to where he wanted to go, back to Oklahoma.  He said Jim worked really, really hard for him and contributed greatly.  Ross was the one who decided to take it easy and help some and didn't want to work 24/7, 7 days a week.  He said you have to be "all in" on the business especially now with how massive the company is now.

Austin talked about the feud with Vince McMahon.  Vince said they tapped into Americana with the feud and it crossed all demos.  He put over Austin for it and said that when you create you have to have a degree of common sense over how people think.  He talked about the reaction people would have for someone flaunting their money and acting over others.  Vince said the Austin character is really Vince on the inside, so he acted the opposite.

Vince said he enjoyed this and would do it again.  Austin said they were going to keep going for his podcast.   Vince said that since he owns the Network, he decreed they were going another 15 minutes.

They kept talking about the feud and Vince's lack of coordination in the ring.  They talked about all the different places Vince got kicked as Austin was setting up for the Stone Cold Stunner.  Vince said he isn't eloquent enough to describe what it's like to entertain the audience.  Austin said it's like shooting in your veins and it's addictive.

Austin said Vince always wanted to be a wrestler but his father didn't let him.  Austin put over Vince's announcing saying he could hokey and could go off the rails.  Vince's dad said he couldn't be the business man and the wrestler.  Later on, there's was that opportunity and it was always his dream to be a performer and he's glad he did it because it was one of the greatest thrills of his life.  Austin pointed out that Vince didn't see a Superstar in him and told Vince to go back and push his locker room.  He asked Vince what it was like for him to generate the sort of heat Vince had back in the day.  Vince said when you use the truth and use it against them.  Using that psychology, it was easy to do. 

Austin talked about the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and Vince wanted to take a bump off the cage through a table.  He said the way he hit the table, he had a bruise across the back of his cheeks to the back of his knees and noted he could have ended up bleeding out but looking back he wouldn't change it either.

Austin talked about his blood loss at Wrestlemania 13 and the night they did the double turn with Bret Hart.  He talked about Vince giving him the finish backstage.  Before they went to the ring, Bret suggested that Austin should be bleeding for that finish and Bret offered to blade him.  Austin's took the idea to Vince and approved it.  He talked about the no color policy and Vince's reaction to it.  Vince said that he was probably a little pissed off at the time but it's not about what he wants, but what the audience wants.  Vince said that when you get that reaction, yes it's against policy but you gave the audience what they wanted.

Vince was asked if he was really giving the audience what they want today when there's no competition and how fans can tell him what they wants.  Vince said their future is good and they are holding up strong for ratings.  Austin asked why the matches are so segmented these days and if it was short attention span theater.  Vince said it's a change in society and how we text and don't have conversations anymore.  He said the product can get better but he's not out of touch.  Vince said he listens to the audience, not Twitter. 

Austin asked Vince when he's going to ride off into the sunset.  Vince said he enjoys the business now more than ever before and is healthy and works as much now as he used to.  He hasn't lost a step mentally or physically and said despite what critics say, he hasn't lost touch.  Vince said with NXT, the future is bright.

2016 - WWE NXT ran Crystal River, Florida.  James Carilyn filed the following results:

Jack Gallagher beat Noam Dar.

Tian Bing beat Jeet Rama.

Angelo Dawkins and Kenneth Crawford beat The Bollywood Boyz.

Rich Swann beat Kona Reeves to retain the Cruiserweight Title.

Daria and Bianca Blair beat Mandy Rose and Macey Estrella.

Tommy End beat Lince Dorado.

Cedric Alexander and TJ Perkins beat Alexander Wolfe and Big Damo.

2016 - WWE Raw ran Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Brian Thompson filed the following results:

Bayley and Alicia Fox beat Nia Jax and Dana Brooke, with Emma as the special ref.

The Golden Truth, Sin Cara, Neville and Sami Zayn beat The Shining Stars, Bo Dallas, Curtix Axel and Titus O'Neil.

The New Day beat The Club, Sheamus and Cesaro and Enzo and Cass.

The Big Show beat Rusev.

Sasha Banks beat Charlotte to retain the Women's Title.

Seth Rollins beat Chris Jericho.

Roman Reigns beat Kevin Owens to retain the US Title.

2017 - CHIKARA held their Closing Time event in Philadelphia, PA.  Josh Higham filed the following live report:

Closing Time 
Chikara Wrestle Factory 
December 2, 2017
Season 18 Finale
Super No Vacancy


Before the show, Bryce Remsburg hosted a pre-show interviewing kids in the crowd, along with promos from Kobald (who said the best positive motivation for his partner, Oleg the Usurper, is the threat of physical violence), former Campeones de Parejas The Rumblebees (who want to end their feud with Crummels and Defarge), and Dasher Hatfield (thanking everyone for the support the last ten years as he challenges for the Grand Championship today).

There is a banner advertising the Chikara action arcade game coming in 2018. This was the video game they had successfully crowdfunded a year or so ago.

We start with Sidney Bakabella and Mike Quackenbush on commentary.

Before the first match, Sidney Bakabella apologized for his past actions, realizing that every person he’s managed in Chikara has punched him in the face. Now he wants the respect of his peers, instead of just the pay window. 

Xyberhawx2000 (Sylverhawk and Razerhawk) defeated Cajun Crawdad and Hermit Crab. Los Ice Creams, the reigning Campeones de Parejas, hit the ring, trying to keep Cajun Crawdad and Hermit Crab from gaining their third point. Their attempted interference backfired, but Xyberhawks recovered and hit a splash/swanton combo for the win. So even though Los Ice Creams failed on their attempt, no team has three points.

“Amasis” (not the original one) came to the ring, accompanied by the Young Lions Cup Champion “Ophidian” (the wrestler once known as the Whisper who has stolen Ophidian’s identity). His match vs The Proletariat Boar of Moldova never got underway. 17 came to the ring and replaced the Boar, hitting “Amasis” with multiple palm strikes before severely injuring the shoulder of “Amasis.”

Mr. Touchdown Mark Angelosetti pinned Hallowicked after a Flea Flicker. While brawling on the floor, Hallowicked kicked the ring post, injuring his shin. This was a rematch from an event earlier this month in Haverhill, MA, where Hallowicked scored the pin (which would be his third point) with his feet in the ropes. Hallowicked loses his points towards title contention.

Dez Peloton defeated Oleg the Usurper and Kobald when Donald Kluger pinned Oleg with a backslide after Oleg broke a pipe that Kobald brought into the ring. Kobald berated Oleg, took off the Oleg shirt he was wearing and tried to hit Oleg with Off with Your Head, which didn’t affect Oleg much. Oleg responded with a chokeslam to Kobald, who scurried away.

Rory Gulak replaced Sidney Bakabella on commentary. 

Gran Akuma defeated Officer Warren Barksdale after a Tenchi Crush. Gran Akuma gave Barksdale a look of derision before leaving, so it looks like Gran Akuma is settling into a grizzled veteran’s role.

Scott Holliday replaced Rory Gulak on commentary. 

Ashley Vox, now called Oceania, defeated Merlok via tapout to the Reel Catch. The story here is that after a year of Merlok dominating Ashley Vox, Obariyon transferred his dark power to Vox, transforming her to Oceania. With her new strength, Merlok’s offense had much less effect on Vox as in their past bouts. Merlok lost his five points, bowed to Oceania after the match, then followed her out of the ringside area. 

They showed action from the Johnny Kidd Invitational and Night 2 of the 2017 King of Trios during Intermission. 

The Closers defeated “Those Guys” (two nondescript guys in masks) after a Deal Breaker. This was Rick Roland’s first match back after a knee injury suffered in the summer. 
 
Hype Rockwell defeated “Young and Handsome” Race Jaxon in a Loser Will Be Masked Match after a Hyperwheel. Rockwell placed the mask on Jaxon’s head, who reacted in terror after seeing himself in a mask.

Sidney Bakabella is back on commentary with Quack. 

Missile Assault Man defeated Jeremy Leary by countout. Leary retreated from the ring, sitting in the crowd accepting the countout, claiming he wanted a front row seat for what happens next. After the match, three large masked men surrounded the ring with Nicodemus, whom Bakabella claimed was from Titor Conglomerate. Nicodemus whispered something in Missile Assault Man’s ear, who left through the front door under a trance. (So I believe we have a Winter Soldier scenario happening.)

The Rumblebees defeated Cornelius Crummels and Sonny Defarge with Crummels tapped to Solo Darling’s Sharp Stinger while Travis Huckabee had Defarge trapped with a stretch muffler over the top rope. The Rumblebees now have one point towards a title challenge. 

Juan Francisco de Coronado defeated Dasher Hatfield to retain the new Chikara Grand Championship in his eighth defense. JFdC tried to introduce a number of underhanded tactics: untying Hatfield’s mask, trying to get a double countout, bringing his flag and title into the ring, taking the pad off the turnbuckle. But all of those were thwarted. The loosened mask finally was too much to overcome for Dasher, as JFdC reversed a jackhammer into a small package after spinning the mask around. 

Notes and Thoughts: 

We didn’t get the satisfying ending of the babyface winner that I was expecting. I fully thought Dasher Hatfield would get the title after going through Impact Grand Champion Moose and independent standout Keith Lee on his way to challenging. 

The long-term storytelling of Chikara is still a hallmark, as we get the next level of involvement of devious corporate overlord Titor Conglomerate and the recent return of 17 (who might not be the original 17). 

Another fun story popping up is Los Ice Creams sabotaging any contenders from getting their third point, since it’s widely assumed Los Ice Creams would lose their titles in their first defense, whenever that may be.

Every Chikara event announced to take place at the Wrestle Factory next year will be live-streamed on Chikaratopia.com, starting with a matinee the day of the Royal Rumble.

2018 - ICW held its annual "Fear & Loathing" event in Glasgow, Scotland.  Marco Piva filed the following:

Sunday 2nd December 2018, The SSE Hydro (Glasgow, Scotland)
Fear & Loathing XI
Attendance: around 2,500

Results of the matches:

#1 Contender’s TLC Match for the Tag Team Title: The P.o.D. (Rampage Brown & Ashton Smith) defeated Havoc & Haskins (Jimmy Havoc & Mark
Haskins); The Purge (Krobar & Stevie James); Fite Network (Lou King Sharp & Krieger); The Kings of Catch (Lewis Girvan & Aspen Faith); The Briscoes (Mark Briscoe & Jay Briscoe) by retrieving the briefcase

***ICW debut for Mark and Jay Briscoe

Aaron Echo defeated Kenny Williams by pinfall.

Joe Hendry defeated Mikey Whiplash by submission.

ZeroG Championship Match: Joe Coffey defeated Mark Coffey [c] by pinfall
***NEW CHAMPION***

ICW Originals (Wolfgang, BT Gunn & Noam Dar) defeated British Strong Style (Trent Seven, Tyler Bate & WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne) by pinfall.

Women’s World Championship Match – Queen of Insanity Kay Lee Ray defeated Viper [c]
***NEW CHAMPION***

Liam Thomson defeated Kid Fite by pinfall, in a Falls Count Anywhere match to regain ownership of the sink.

Tag Team Championship Match: The Kinky Party (Jack Jester & Sha Samuels) [c] defeated Alpha/Evil (Iestyn Rees & Bram) by pinfall.

***TITLE RETAINED***

Tag Team Championship Match – briefcase cash-in
The P.o.D. (Rampage Brown & Ashton Smith) defeated The Kinky Party (Jack Jester & Sha Samuels) [c] by pinfall
***NEW CHAMPIONS***

James Storm defeated Grado by pinfall (special referee, WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett)

***100th ICW match for Grado.

World Heavyweight Title Match: Lionheart defeated “Just Justice” Jackie Polo [c] by pinfall
***NEW CHAMPION***

This show saw the Fear & Loathing debut for: Ashton Smith; Rampage Brown; Mark Haskins; Krieger; Lou King Sharp; Krobar; Stevie James; Mark Briscoe; Jay Briscoe; Pete Dunne; Tyler Bate; James Storm.

Kid Fite is the only person who has had a match at every single edition of Fear & Loathing

Next Show: ICW Brush Another Goose (Fight Club taping), Sunday 23rd December 2018, The Garage

(Glasgow, Scotland)

Notes:

The show was opened by ICW owner and fonder Mark Dallas, accompanied by Leyton Buzzard and ez Evans, who confronted his old friends Chris Toal and Scott Reid. As Toal expressed his criticism against Dallas’s recent actions, Dallas had both Toal and Reid forcibly removed from the ramp. 

After the match between Hendry and Whiplash, won by Hendry by submission, Whiplash was attacked by Leyton Buzzard. Aivil intervened to even out the scores, but Kez Evans joined Hendry
and Buzzard before Kieran Kelly arrived to assist Whiplash. With Dallas also getting to the ring, Ravi Davie joined the fray only to – shockingly – join Dallas’s faction.

The “Queen of Insanity” match was a Deathmatch, the first female Deathmatch in ICW. The winner, Kay Lee Ray, is a member of the Filthy Generation like her partner, 2017 King of Insanity Stevie Boy, who, despite being injured, joined her on the ring after the match to celebrate.

After the Queen of Insanity match, Liam Thomson and Kid Fite appeared on the ramp fighting: they had an open Falls Count Anywhere match with the stipulation that the winner would become the
owner of the sink that Liam Thomson fought so hard to retain in the past. After fighting off the intervention of Fite’s allies Krieger and Lou King Sharp, Liam managed to pin his opponent and regain
his sink.

After the match for the tag team title, the P.o.D.’s manager The Wee Man announced that his protégés had the intention to cash in their contract for a title match right in that moment.

Jeff Jarrett turned against Grado and favoured James Storm’s win after Grado accidentally hit him with a low blow intended for Storm. Grado ended the match with Jarrett’s guitar wrapped around
his head.

Lionheart had put his career on the line in the main event.

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