100 Percent Fordified: CHIKARA Best of 2013

No Disqualification
Archibald Peck vs. “Mr. Touchdown” Mark Angelosetti
“All the Agents and Superhuman Crew” – Reading, PA – 2.9.2013

Veronica Ticklefeather is in Angelosetti’s corner. We start out with a punches being thrown. Peck wins the exchange and tosses Angelosetti to the floor. He teases a suicide dive but ends up marching around the ring. He comes off the top rope with a diving shoulder block. He drop toe holds Angelosetti into the middle turnbuckle and drives his elbow into his shoulders. Peck headbutts Angelosetti’s crotch after blocking a dropkick. Angelosetti catches his pescado attempt and slams him onto the ring apron. He then slams Peck onto a row of chairs. He does more damage to Peck’s lower back in the ring. He tosses Peck up and slams him onto his mid-section. He applies a Camel Clutch. Peck bites his fingers to escape and slide to the floor. Angelosetti stomps Peck’s back when he goes under the ring to grab something. He comes out with his MMA gloves that he wore under his guise of Mixed Martial Archie! He throws a sole butt kick before smothering Angelosetti with repeated punches and kicks. Angelosetti tries to headbutt his crotch but gets got in a modified Triangle Choke. He lifts Peck and drives him into the corner. He drops his knee onto Peck’s face a few times. Peck responds with an enzuigiri. Angelosetti crotches him on the top rope. He brings Peck down with a superplex for two. Angelosetti splashes onto him twice before striking the Tebow pose. Peck snaps his neck and upper back on the top rope. He hits a springboard clothesline. He gets two with the Snow Plow. Angelosetti hits the Flea Flicker for his own two count. He pulls out some shoulder pads from underneath the ring. He comes off the top rope with a splash D-Lo Brown style. Peck kicks out. He blocks a tackle but gets Cactus clotheslined to the floor. Peck puts on the Mysterious and Handsome Stranger mask as they recover. He puts up his “gun” to stop Angelosetti in his tracks. He lariats Angelosetti for two. He tries a springboard move but gets caught with a mid-air tackle. Angelosetti takes the Stranger mask and pulls out the Falconer bag that Sapphire used to be carried in. He opens the bag and pulls out a statue of Sapphire. He mockingly holds it up for the crowd. The real Sapphire is brought out in a wheelchair! Angelosetti shoves down the nurse and brings Sapphire into the ring. He puts her in the bag so he can crush her again. Peck low blows him before that can happen. He pulls Sapphire out and gives him the Go 2 Tweet (a Sapphire assisted Go 2 Sleep.) Angelosetti kicks out. Peck brings his band hat and a bass drum out from the back. Angelosetti gives him a spinebuster for two. He and Peck fight for Veronica’s baton. Peck ducks Angelosetti’s baton shot and grabs it. Veronica takes it and asks Peck not to hit Touchdown. Angelosetti goes for a spear and ends up tackling Veronica! As he tries to revive her, Peck smashes the drum over Angelosetti’s head! Peck puts him away with a hat assisted Cranial Crescendo at 25:48. This was pure brilliance. The back work from Angelosetti, the mixing of characters from Peck, Veronica and Sapphire’s involvement; only in CHIKARA could a match like this work. Not only did they deviate from what you would expect in a normal street fight, but they used weapons that fit their characters and style throughout the course of the bout. I could probably gush some more, but you get the idea; this was tremendous. ****

Hallowicked vs. Chuck Taylor
“All the Agents and Superhuman Crew” – Reading, PA – 2.9.2013

UltraMantis Black accompanies Hallowicked but then takes a seat at the commentary table. Taylor pulls on Hallowicked’s stem. Hallowicked gets in a few armdrags. Taylor brings him down in a waistlock and gets a two count. Hallowicked applies a hammerlock while pulling on Taylor’s face. Taylor bites his hand to escape. Hallowicked sends him to the corner with a step-up Frankensteiner. He slingshots in with a schoolboy for two. Taylor pulls on his stem again. He applies a courting hold. Hallowicked runs the ropes and armdrags his way free. Taylor kicks him in the ropes and gives him an Ace Crusher for two. He drops an elbow into his stomach for two. They give each other a step-up Frankensteiner. Taylor belly-to-belly suplexes him out of the corner. Taylor ends a forearm exchange with an eye rake. Hallowicked sends him to the apron but Taylor snaps his neck across the top rope. He hits a springboard dropkick for two. He misses a moonsault. Hallowicked gives him a step-up enzuigiri and the super snapmare. He gets two with a Swanton. Taylor comes back with Sole Food. Hallowicked Rydeen Bombs him for two. He charges at Taylor in the corner. Taylor Brodie Knees him to the apron. He tries suplexing him back in. Hallowicked avoids it. Taylor tornado clutches him and goes for the Kentucky Crawdad. Hallowicked avoids it and tries Go 2 Sleepy Hollow. Taylor blocks and successfully applies the Kentucky Crawdad. Hallowicked gets the ropes. Hallowicked sends him to the floor and follows with a suicide dive. They fight on the ring apron. Taylor ends up giving Hallowicked a reverse DDT onto it. Hallowicked gets on the apron right before the twenty count concludes. Taylor dropkicks him back out. Hallowicked comes back in and catches Taylor’s springboard dropkick with a Rydeen Bomb for two. Taylor ducks a step-up enzuigiri and throws Hallowicked onto his stomach and chest. He gets two with a running boot. He goes for the Awful Waffle. Hallowicked blocks it and hits Go 2 Sleepy Hollow. He puts Taylor away with a yakuza kick at 13:47. These two really stepped up their game. They were evenly matched throughout, making both of them look like viable contenders for the Grand Championship. Taylor showed that even though he has a tendency to be goofy, he can really go when the time calls for it. Hallowicked continues to be one of the best guys on the roster and I pray for him vs. Kingston soon. ***¼

Campeones de Parejas
The Young Bucks (Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson) (Campeones) vs. 3.0 (Scott “Jagged” Parker & Shane Matthews)
“While the Dawn is Breaking” – Easton, PA – 2.10.2013

Jagged boots Nick instead of engaging in a knuckle lock. Nick escapes a wristlock and slaps Jagged in the face. Nick rolls to the floor but Jagged pescado’s after him. Matt pie faces Matthews and applies a side chinlock. Matthews wins a shoulder block battle. He goes for the Boston Crab. When Matt evades it Matthews cartwheels into an elbow drop. Jagged drives some knees into Matt’s back and forehead. Sidney Bakabella and The Devastation Corporation, who have three points, are watching the bout. Matt pushes Matthews tohis corner so he and Nick can team up and target his arm. Matthews slips to the floor when Matt whips him. Jagged missile dropkicks Matt and hits a flying forearm. Jagged sends him out with a leg lariat. Matthews drop toe holds him. Nick superkicks Jagged to stop his elbow drop. He then Oklahoma Rolls Matthews up to take the first fall at 6:20. At the beginning of the second fall, Nick accidentally enzuigiri’s Matt from the apron. Matthews forearms Nick to the floor so he and Jagged can hit Matt with the Sweet Taste of Professionalism. Just like that, the match is tied up at one fall a piece at 7:18. Matthews drop toe holds Nick into Jagged’s elbow drop. Matthews is sent to the floor. Jagged eats a pair of kicks to the head from the Bucks. Now they wear down Jagged in their corner while Matthews recovers. Matthews tries to interject when Jagged finds a moment to rolls to the apron. Nick suicide dives onto Matthews after sending him to the floor and kicks Jagged from the apron. They bring Jagged back in. He gets his knees up to block Nick’s springboard splash. He kicks Matt away and tags in Matthews. Clotheslines for both, headscissors for Nick. He tries the Boston Crab on Nick. Matt stops in. Matthews drops an elbow from the top rope. Nick breaks the pin and sends him to the floor. Nick hits Jagged with a slingshot X-Factor. Matthews gives him a uranage on the ring apron. Matt tope con hilo’s onto Matthews. Jagged Samaon drops Nick. All four men are knocked down after a series of superkicks and forearms. The Tecnico locker room surrounds the ring to encourage 3.0. Matt sends Jagged to the floor. Nick assists him with a shiranui on Matthews. Nick knees him in the face for a two count. They give Matthews some tandem offense in the corner. Matt blocks Jagged’s missile dropkick. He Buckle Bombs him into an enzuigiri from Nick. Jagged manages to kick out. Matthews shoves Jagged out of the way to save him from double superkicks. He spears Matt and clotheslines Nick. 3.0 hit him with the Sweet Taste of Professionalism for two, though the bell rings and has to be corrected by Bryce. 3.0 go for the Doomsday Device. Nick pulls Jagged off the top rope. The Bucks set up for More Bang for Your Buck. Matthews shoves Matt to the corner. Jagged kicks Nick to the floor. Matt sunset flips Matthews. Matthews avoids that and puts him in the Boston Crab. Nick throws punches to get him to break. Matthews even withstands a superkick! Jagged Cactus clotheslines him to the floor. Matt taps out at 21:05, making 3.0 the NEW Campeones de Parejas! I am kind of surprised how the bell snafu didn’t do this match any harm. That goes to show just how good these teams worked this match. The Young Bucks may be the best tag team today, but when you think about, 3.0 encompass the CHIKARA spirit and were a fantastic choice as the team to unseat the Bucks. Hopefully they get a little more time to enjoy the belts this time around. ***¾

Young Lions Cup
“Mr. Touchdown” Mark Angelosetti (Champion) vs. Saturyne
“While the Dawn is Breaking” – Easton, PA – 2.10.2013

Angelosetti is still nursing his back from his match with Peck from last night. Angelosetti shoves Saturyne down and pummels her. Saturyne avoids a boot. She rolls Angelosetti face first into the corner and takes him down with a satellite headscissors. She comes off of his shoulders with an armdrag. Angelosetti trips her to block an axe kick. She Matrixes under a clothesline. Angelosetti pops her up and drops her onto her chest and stomach for two. He whips her across the ring by her hair. Angelosetti splashes her twice before posing like Tebow. Saturyne throws some chops his way. He responds in kind and chokes her on the middle rope. He rocks her with a one-footed dropkick for two. He drops a knee across her face. She throws some kicks to Angelosetti in the ropes. He forcefully backs Saturyne into the corner. She catches him with a crescent kick and drops him with a tornado DDT. Saturyne side steps a tackle which sends Angelosetti to the floor. She follows with a springboard. Angelosetti catches her and gorilla presses her through the middle ropes. She dropkicks him to the corner and hits a spinwheel kick. She connects with the axe kick for two. He gets two with a superplex. Saturyne huracanrana’s Angelosetti to the second rope, but he comes back with a big spinebuster. Saturyne surprisingly kicks out. He misses a top rope splash. She throws two axe kicks. Angelosetti blocks the third. She puts on the Rings of Saturyne despite that. She slips into a sleeper hold. She turns that into a figure four triangle choke. Angelosetti drops to his knees. His arm drops twice, but on the third time he hoists up Saturyne and drops her onto her back. Despite Angelosetti’s efforts, Saturyne pulls off a super huracanrana for two. Angelosetti hot shots her across the top rope before hitting the Flea Flicker for the pin at 12:03. At first I wasn’t feeling the match because there was some miscommunication and the crowd didn’t seem to buy Saturyne as a threat. However, I’ll be darned if she didn’t change the crowds mind. The super huracanrana itself was crazy impressive. Hopefully this is the start doing some stuff of substance. Angelosetti put in good work as usual. ***

Gran Akuma vs. Johnny Gargano
“Just Shadows in the Fog” – Ybor City, FL – 3.8.2013

They each deliver a shoulder block and armdrags. Gargano avoids a swift kick to the head. He controls Akuma in a front chancery. Akuma responds with a pair of armdrags and a standing Octopus stretch. Gargano sends him to the apron. He gamengiri’s him to the floor. Akuma stops a suicide dive with a kick to the floor. Gargano enzuigiri’s him back down and successfully lands a suicide dive. He destroys a sign before laying in the boogie boots in the ring. Gargano traps Akuma’s arm behind his back and leans back onto it ala Bryan Danielson. Akuma throws some kicks at his chest. He misses the Cheetah Swipe. He blocks Gargano’s rolling kick and kicks him in the side of the head. Akuma enzuigri’s him from the apron and lands a missile dropkick. He successfully nails the Cheetah Swipe for two. Akuma catches Gargano’s leapfrog attempt and hits the mp4 for two. Akuma sole butts him into a fallaway kick. Gargano rolls him into a basement gamengiri! Akuma kicks out. Gargano also gets two with a slingshot spear. Gargano nails a pair of superkicks, taking a suplex on his head between the two of them. Akuma catches him with a German suplex. He does the deal with the Falcon Arrow for two. Gargano dropkicks Akuma in the corner before delivering the Lawn Dart for two. Akuma maneuvers Gargano into a tombstone and then the Tenchi Crash for the pin at 12:18. This exceeded my expectations, a lot like The Shard vs. Akuma match from a few months earlier. These guys really worked hard and built things very nicely. Gargano doesn’t get to do singles frequently in CHIKARA but he delivered the goods here. More people need to give Akuma props. ***½

Campeonatos de Parejas
3.0 (Scott “Jagged” Parker & Shane Matthews) (Campeones) vs. The Devastation Corporation (Max Smashmaster & Blaster McMassive)
“Just Shadows in the Fog” – Ybor City, FL – 3.8.2013

Sidney Bakabella is in the Corporation’s corner. Smashmaster mauls Matthews in the corner. Matthews throws some chops. Smashmaster gives him a fallaway slam. Jagged and McMassive tag in. McMassive tosses him to the corner. Jagged fires away with strikes but they aren’t very effective. McMassive boots him down. Smashmaster holds onto Matthews while McMassive powerbombs Jagged. That gives them the first fall at 1:30. The Corporation bully Jagged right after that first fall. McMassive goes after Matthews on the apron, but surprisingly Matthews gets the better of that echange. He pulls Jagged out of the ring so that Smashmaster misses a moonsault. Matthews jumps on top of him as he’s recovering to win the second fall and tie up the match at 5:15. McMassive pitches Matthews out so that he and Smashmaster can go back to beating Jagged down. Jagged hops over Smashmaster when he attempts a corner splash. Matthews lights him up with chops and forearm strikes. Same goes for McMassive. Smashmaster accidentally splashes McMassive in the corner. He comes off the second rope with a clothesline on Smashmaster for two. Matthews and Jagged give him a bulldog/drop toe hold combo. Jagged drops an elbow and enzuigiri’s McMassive twice in the corner. He knees McMassive in the side of the head thrice after Matthews gives him a backbreaker. McMassive shoves Matthews to the ropes to crotch Jagged on the top rope. He brings Jagged down with a super belly-to-belly suplex! Jagged kicks out and McMassive is enraged. He and Smashmaster call for the Death Blow. Matthews crotches Smashmaster. He superkicks McMassive into a sunset flip from Jagged for two. McMassive clothesline them both. Jagged drops the top rope to send Smashmaster out. Bakabella holds Matthews. McMassive accidentally runs into him. Matthews rolls him up for two. Smashmaster gets tied up in the ropes. Jagged chop blocks McMassive. 3.0 put him in a tandem Boston Crab. Bakabella pulls Bryce Remsburg out of the ring. Matthews gets in his face. Smashmaster gives chase but runs into the ring post. Bakabella tosses one of the title belts into the ring. Jagged hits him with it to block another powerbomb. Bryce runs in and makes the count, giving Jagged the win at 12:27. This was a step-up from their Wrestling is Awesome match, mostly due to the drama the titles added and the crowd being hot. 3.0 worked very smartly to close the gap in the size difference. It may have been the best the Corporation ever looked too, which depending on your opinion of them may not say a lot. To me, it does. ***¼

3.0 (Scott “Jagged” Parker & Shane Matthews), Gran Akuma & Marty Jannetty vs. F.I.S.T. (Icarus, Chuck Taylor, Johnny Gargano & Sugar Dunkerton)
“The Shoulder of Pallas” – Secaucus, NJ – 4.6.2013

Icarus and Dunkerton are wearing purple while Gargano and Taylor are wearing black. Foreshadowing? Jagged and Dunkerton have some fun in the opening exchange, including some Kid N’ Play dancing. Gargano hops in and boots Jagged to end the chicanery. Matthews gives him some armdrags and clotheslines him to the floor. He sets up Icarus for the Boston Crab but Taylolr throws him out. Akuma armdrags Taylor a few times before putting on a standing Octopus. He armdrags Taylor to the floor. Jannetty and Icarus tag in. This is significant because Icarus in a blog pointed out how much of an idol Jannetty was to him as a kid. After he takes off his jacket, Jannetty hip tosses Icarus and gives him a backdrop. Icarus actually puts his jacket back on due to Jannetty’s request. A suplex chain forms seeing everybody getting suplexed except Jannetty and Dunkerton. They end up doing the Prime Time Players dance until Jannetty snapmares Dunkerton into a figure four headscissors. a Chain of these forms with Matthews putting everybody in a massive Boston Crab. We end things with Akuma going for a headscissors on Taylor. Gargano dropkicks Akuma to stop him. This leads to F.I.S.T. wearing down their former stable mate in the corner. Akuma ends up backdropping Taylor and tagging in Matthews when Taylor and Bryce have words. Headscissors for Icarus, Gargano, and Dunkerton! When he has trouble with Taylor, Bryce Remsburg gives him a headscissors! Matthews drop toe holds him into Jagged’s elbow drop for two. Jannetty powerslams Dunkerton. Gargano lawn darts Jagged into the corner. Taylor pops him into an Ace Crusher from Gargano for two. Dunkerton helps Icarus with a Shiranui on Matthews. Dunkerton comes off the top with an elbow for two. He holds Akuma for Gargano’s superkick. Akuma moves, yet Gargano still superkicks Dunkerton on purpose! Akuma hits Gargano with the mp4. 3.0 take Icarus down so Akuma can deliver a frog splash. Taylor breaks it, then gets superkicked by Jannetty. Gargano low blow Jannetty behind Bryce’s back! Icarus is very unhappy with him. He slaps Gargano in the face! Akuma shoves them into each other and wipes out Icarus with a fallaway kick. Icarus blocks the Tenchi Crash. He rolls Akuma into…the CHIKARA Special?! Akuma taps out at 18:31! I really like the slow burn they’re doing with F.I.S.T splintering in half. They played it up well in this match which was really fun and consistently good throughout. ***1/2

Mike Quackenbush & Jushin “Thunder” Liger vs. The Pieces of Hate (Jigsaw & The Shard)
“The Shoulder of Pallas” – Secaucus, NJ – 4.6.2013

Liger is Quackenbush’s mystery partner. The crowd is going bananas while the “dream team” looks shocked and worried. Quackenbush and Shard trade wristlocks. Quackenbush shoves him out of the corner with his feet and pops out of a headscissors. Liger puts Jigsaw in a pendulum stretch. They switch positions on the mat until Jigsaw goes to the apron. Quackenbush puts Shard in the Cerebral Lock. Jigsaw tries coming in but Quackenbush catches him with a Manhattan Drop. He puts on a sharpshooter. Shard flies in and gets punched in the stomach. Quackenbush rolls him into a submission. Jigsaw boots Quackenbush until he releases. Quackenbush knocks Shard to the floor with a forearm and knocks Jigsaw down as well. He follows with an Asai moonsault, causing his legs to crash into the barricades on his way down. Liger puts Jigsaw in the Romero Special. He sends Jigsaw and the Shard out and cannonball sentons onto them off the apron. Quackenbush picks apart the Shard’s leg. Jigsaw comes in with a springboard double stomp to Quackenbush’s back. He kicks his back from the apron. He and The Shard target Quackenbush’s back and keep Liger at bay. Quackenbush palm strikes Jigsaw off the apron and tosses Shard aside. The Shard however hops up and knocks Liger off the apron. Jigsaw mocks Liger and he throws strikes at Quackenbush. Quackenbush catches their tandem kicks and baits Jigsaw into giving Shard a back drop. He gives Jigsaw a Black Tornado Slam and mule kicks Shard away before tagging in Liger. He palm strikes Shard and gives Jigsaw a tilt-a-whirl backrbeaker. He dives off the top rope onto both of them on the floor. Quackenbush gives Shard the Quackendriver IV for two. Liger gets two with a frog splash thanks to Jigsaw making the save. He calls for the brainbuster. Liger avoids it but gets taken down with a Frankensteiner. Jigsaw superkicks Quackenbush into a German suplex from the Shard. Liger gives Shard a Koppu Kick. He enzuigiri’s Jigsaw. He and Quackenbush palm strikeJigsaw a few times. Quackenbush hits the Quackendriver III. Shard breaks the pin. Liger absorbs Jigsaw and Shard’s individual superkicks, but falls to tandem superkicks. He manages to kick out at two. Quackenbush gets sent twice back first into the corner. He takes the Jig N’ Tonic and still kicks out. Quackenbush and Liger double palm strike Jigsaw in the corner. Quackenbush dives onto Shard, leaving Jigsaw with Liger. Jigsaw gets two with a small package. Liger gives him a super brainbuster for the pin at 18:22! That was as exciting and fast paced as you wanted. Liger really worked hard and made the most of his appearance. The Dream Team get better each match and they worked over Quackenbush’s back with mastery. Such a fun main event. ****

Amasis vs. The Shard
“Battle Not With Monsters” – Gibsonville, NC – 5.3.2013

Amasis ends a wristlock exchange by taking Shard down in a side headlock. He snaps off a couple of armdrags. Shard shoulder blocks him down. After a Lucha roll, Amasis dropkicks him to the floor. When Shard comes back in he is put down in an armbar. He is then sent to the corner in a headscissors. Amasis jumps to the second rope and Shard kicks the back of his leg out. He gives Amasis a backbreaker for two. Shard drives his back into the ring frame. They trade shots back in the ring. Shard catches Amasis coming off the ropes with a big kick to the chest. He gets two with an elbow to the back. Amasis throws more strikes. Shard gives him two backbreakers across his shoulders. Amasis comes off the ropes. Shard catches him coming off into a uranage backbreaker. They go to the apron. Shard looks for a suplex. Amasis slingshots in to kick Shard’s legs out then comes out with a tope con hilo! He lands a high crossbody back in the ring for two. Shard brings him out of the corner with the Waterwheel Slam into the opposite corner. He powerbombs Amasis across his knees for two. Shard throws kicks to his back and chest. Amasis kicks out his knee and nails an enzuigiri for two. Shard crotches Amasis onto the top turnbuckle. After some fighting, Shard gives him a backdrop across the top turnbuckle! Shard then comes down with a double stomp between his shoulder blades for two. He puts Amasis in a torture rack. Amasis rolls through into a cradle. Shard superkicks him. Amasis rolls up Shard in a prawn hold to get the pin at 14:42! It’s amazing to me that Amasis was gone for as long as he was considering how good of shape he is in and how crisp he is in the ring. He’s just as good if not better than before he left. The Shard has been one of the best Rudos on the roster for months, and his back work showed just that. The crowd really got behind this and for good reason; the story they told was simple and very effective. ***¼

CHIKARA Grand Championship
Eddie Kingston (Champion) vs. Green Ant
“Battle Not With Monsters” – Gibsonville, NC – 5.3.2013

Green Ant smartly attacks Kingston’s bad leg right away. He goes for the cloverleaf but Kingston punches him away and bails to the floor. Green Ant follows with a dive off the top rope. He brings Kingston back in for a cloverleaf. When that fails he slingshots Kingston into the corner and comes off the second rope with a knee strike. Green Ant knocks him down on the apron. He goes for a diving headbutt but collides face first on the edge of the ring! Kingston drives Green Ant’s neck and head into the apron twice. He chokes him on the middle rope. He gets two with a Rude Awakening. Green Ant rolls under a clothesline, kicks Kingston’s leg, then kicks him in the head. Kingston catches him coming off with the ropes with a leg-capture suplex. He comes off the second rope with a bulldog. Kingston snaps Green Ant’s neck across the top rope. When Green Ant goes after his leg, Kingston throws some Kobashi chops. Green Ant drop toe holds him to the second rope and dropkicks him in the side of the head. He follows up with a top rope elbow for two. He slingshots in from the apron with a double jump dropkick. He frog splashes Kingston’s legs for two. He also gets two with a German suplex. Kingston responds with a half-nelson suplex. He butterfly suplexes Green Ant for two. Kingston kicks Green Ant as he climbs the ropes, causing damage to himself as well. Kingston brings him down with a superplex for two. Green Ant hits a lariat upon recovery. Kingston pokes Green Ant in the eyes. Green Ant kicks Kingston’s knee and dropkicks him to the floor. He goes to dive after him but Kingston catches him with a fist. Kingston powerbombs Green Ant onto the floor! Green Ant makes it back in just before the twenty count. When Kingston goes to pick him up, he puts on a Cloverleaf. Kingston gets the ropes so Green Ant small packages him for two. Kingston nails the Backfist to the Future and a Saito suplex. Green Ant makes his way up, but one more Backfist to the Future puts him away at 16:06. This was a slight step above their initial encounter. The title added more drama to the finish, and just like their first match it had the excellent limb work, mat wrestling, and hard hitting action you would want from these two. I don’t know if Green Ant ever really captured the fans imagination in terms of seeing him as a potential new champion but the work was good nonetheless. ***½

CHIKARA Grand Championship
Eddie Kingston (Champion) vs. “Mr. Touchdown” Mark Angelosetti
“The Ghost of you Clings…” – Porterdale, GA – 5.4.2013

Kingston keeps Angelosetti in a side headlock. He rolls him into a Gedo Clutch for two, then reapplies the headlock. Angelosetti chops Kingston in the corner. Kingston comes off the second rope with a knee to his neck, but it’s clear that his leg is in pain. Angelosetti notices and spears the leg out from under him. Of course, that becomes the target in his offense. He splashes and drops elbows on it before using the ring apron and ropes to do some damage. Back in the ring he splashes Kingston twice. Kingston slaps him in the face, so Angelosetti splashes his leg. He shoulder blocks Kingston in the corner twice. Kingston goes for a kick. Angelosetti catches it. Kingston trash talks him, so Angelosetti jams his foot and leg into the canvas. Kingston fights him off of the ropes. He comes down with a clothesline. He nails a short arm lariat for two. He signals for the Backfist. Angelosetti ducks it and powerfully gives Kingston a knee-targeted spinebuster. He busts out a Superfly Splash for two. He tries the Flea Flicker. Kingston fights out, but succumbs to a second spinebuster. When Kingston kicks out, Angelosetti puts on a half crab. Kingston gets the ropes. Angelosetti misses a splash in the corner. Kingston gives him a 2k1 Bomb for two. He hits a Backfist. Angelosetti shakes it off so he can dump Kingston on his head with a modified Flea Flicker! Kingston kicks out! Angelosetti heads up top. Kingston throws some chops to cut him off. He brings him down with a super uranage suplex for the pin at 14:18. This really made Angelosetti look strong. In a lot of matches he’s the tough guy who almost gets defeated, but here was able to look smart and undeterred in his quest for gold. I also appreciate that they took a different approach after the leg work and changed things up. I would not at all mind seeing Touchdown with the Grand Championship one day, but I for one am not at all tired of Kingston carrying the belt just yet. ***¾

2013 Tag World Grand Prix Tournament Finals
The Young Bucks (Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson) vs. The Pieces of Hate (Jigsaw & The Shard)
“Tag World Grand Prix 2013, Stage Two” – Chicago, IL – 5.18.2013

The Pieces of Hate attack the Bucks before the bell. Matt is visibly limping. Shard forearms Nick to the floor. Matt tosses him out. Jigsaw chokes Matt in the corner. Jigsaw gives Matt a shinbreaker and kicks away at his knee. He and the Shard make frequent tags to stay fresh while also doing damage to Matt’s hurt leg. After awhile, Matt knocks Shard to the floor and hops over Jigsaw. He goes to make the tag, but the Shard trips Nick off the apron to prevent it from occurring. Jigsaw gives Matt a brainbuster for two. Matt kicks Jigsaw away and rolls to the corner to bring in Nick. Nick dropkicks Shard off the apron. He throws some clotheslines at Jigsaw and carries him out to the floor with his legs. Nick backdrops the Shard out as well and a springboard sentons onto both of them. Nick hits Jigsaw with a slingshot X-Factor. Matt spears Jigsaw and Nick follows with a springboard frog splash for two. Jigsaw kicks Nick’s leg as he climbs the ropes. He holds Nick in a crucifix position while the Shard drives his knees into his chest for two. Shard waterwheel slams him into the corner. Jigsaw goes for a Jig N’ Tonic. Matt superkicks Jigsaw, turning the move into a Yoshi Tonic for two. Both teams exchange blow until they knock each other out with four simultaneous superkicks. Nick is sent to the floor. Jigsaw’s figure four attempt on Matt is thwarted. Matt small packages the Shard for two. Superkicks for everyone! Matt goes for a second but the Shard catches him and applies an ankle lock! Matt rolls forward to send Shard to the corner. Nick enzuigiri’s him from the apron as Matt nails a clothesline. Matt even musters him up for the powerbomb/enzuigiri combo. Shard blocks More Bang For Your Buck. Jigsaw shoves Nick off the top rope. Shard reapplies the ankle lock to Matt. As Matt begins to kick away, Jigsaw gives him a double stomp. Shard grapevines the leg leaving Matt no choice but to tap out at 13:20. This was all sorts of brilliant. The Young Bucks worked hurt the entire show turning from Rudos to Tecnicos in the process. The match saw the brilliance of The Pieces of Hate’s leg work all tournament paying off and the Bucks fighting through the pain in the hopes of besting them. Both teams are two of the best today and showcased that fact in this match. ***¾

The Colony (Fire Ant, Green Ant & assailANT) vs. The Devastation Corporation (Max Smashmaster, Blaster McMassive & Flex Rumblecrunch)
“Aniversario: Never Compromise” – Philadelphia, PA – 6.2.2013

Sidney Bakabella is in the Corporation’s corner. As expected, an all out brawl kicks things off. McMassive sends assailANT into the entrance stage. Smashmaster slams press slams Fire Ant from the stage onto assailANT and Green Ant! Smashmaster splashes onto assailANT back in the ring. assailANT comes back with some chops. Green Ant takes him down with a top rope dropkick. Rumblecrunch drops him with a spinebuster and stomps him down in the corner. McMassive gives him a clothesline. Smashmaster gets in some strikes. Green Ant throws some kicks which eventually send Smashmaster to the floor. He antzuigiri’s McMassive from the apron where assailANT back splashes him. Bakabella grabs assailANT’s leg. McMassive gives him a Boss Man Slam and Green Ant breaks the pin with a chest kick. He tries rolling up Smashmaster’s shoulders and ends up taking a piledriver. Rumblecrunch walks the ropes and gives assailANT a shoulder tackle. Fire Ant reemerges with a crossbody to Rumblecrunch and a dropkick to Smashmaster. Rumblecrunch assists McMassive with a powerbomb. Smashmaster sentons onto Fire Ant right after for two. Fire Ant Burns Down the House on Smashmaster. He sends Rumblecrunch out and uses Smashmaster to give McMassive a DDT. assailANT dives onto all three Corporation members who have retreated to the floor. Green Ant managed to sneak up onto the balcony during the previous melee. He jumps off onto the Corporation! The Colony give McMassive the Ants Marching dropkick and Rumblecrunch a powerbomb/neckbreaker combo. They Antapult Fire Ant onto Smashmaster! assailANT and Green Ant then suicide dive onto McMassive and Rumblecrunch simultaneously. Smashmaster and Rumblecrunch prevent the Ant Hill from being built on the top rope. Bakabella shoves Green Ant off the top rope. He does however kick McMassive from the ground. He goes for the cloverleaf until Bakabella jumps onto the apron. Green Ant superkicks him to the floor! Green Ant throws lariats at McMassive, superkicks him in the back of the head, then delivers a German suplex. He locks on the cloverleaf and gets the submission victory at 12:42. This has to be considered the sleeper match of the show. I loved the brawl they had a Tag World but for whatever reason expected a more typical trios match here. Instead they broke the mold and had a knock down drag out fight. It was incredibly unique and very well put together. Easily the best match the Corporation has had and a very bright spot for the “new” Colony. ***½

CHIKARA Grand Championship
Eddie Kingston (Champion) vs. Icarus
“Aniversario: Never Compromise” – Philadelphia, PA – 6.2.2013

Icarus is wearing an outfit obviously inspired by Marty Jannetty is his post-Rockers run. There’s a chair marked “M. Jannetty” ringside since Icarus invited him to be in his corner. Jannetty however is not here. Kingston controls Icaurs in the early going. Icarus comes back with a headscissors and a spear. Kingston catches him with a uranage backbreaker. Icarus elbows Kingston in the corner. He gives Kingston a Diamond Dust, sending Kingston to the floor. Icarus goes for a dive and is caught with a forearm. Kingston does some more damage on the apron before giving Icarus an STO back in the ring for two. He whips Icarus back first to the corner and stomps on his back for another two count. Kingston lights him up with chops against the ropes. Kingston tries an Irish whip and Icarus counters it with the Wings of Icarus! The Shiranui follows but Icarus’ back is to hurt to go for a cover right away. He throws his own chops and huracanrana’s Kingston for two. He also gets two with a German suplex, doing more damage to his back. This allows Kingston to throw a couple short-arm lariats. He goes for an American D. Icarus picks him up and delivers the Blu-Ray. Kingston grabs the bottom rope to stop the count. Kingston nails an enzuigiri and powerbomb for two. A tiger suplex has the same result. He misses a yakuza kick. Icarus goes for a second Pedigree and gets backdropped to the floor. Kingston shoves Icarus into Bryce by accident as they stand on the entrance ramp. Kingston backfists Icarus twice. He grabs the “M. Jannetty” chair from the crowd and brings it into the ring. He hits Icarus across the back with it which only fires Icarus up. Kingston’s American D is only good for two, possibly due to Bryce taking his time to come in and count. Fed up, Kingston drops Icarus with a Saito suplex. Once again Icarus kicks out at two. Icarus ducks the Backfist to the Future twice and headscissors Kingston into the CHIKARA Special Out of nowhere, Condor Security hits the ring and breaks up the hold. This ends the match in a No Contest at 19:18.

Condor Security clears the ring of both participants and Bryce. Wink Vavasseur stands on the stage saying that the show is over. Condor Security tells the fans to leave while other members tear down the entrance set. On commentary, you hear Leonard F. Chikarason faintly mention that he saw Archibald Peck. Then, the show fades to black.

First and foremost the match itself was excellent. They switched the dynamic of Icarus being the Tecnico and Kingston being the Rudo flawlessly. The crowd played along, and they way they worked the match made complete sense in terms of how their characters were being portrayed. The ending however was very unsatisfying. If this is in fact the last match in CHIKARA history, the fans deserved a finish. Heck, even if CHIKARA does return one day a finish should have been put in place. There was a lot of criticism (well deserved) coming from fans about the way the iPPV went off the air and I honestly think having an actual ending would have changed a lot of people’s attitudes. Nevertheless, knowing it was coming made me appreciate the work put in before it and allowed me to accept the match for what it was. ***½

The 411: The set is as advertised; the Best of CHIKARA in 2013. Although they only put on half a years worth of shows, there was plenty of good stuff, and just about all of it is showcased in this collection. Very highly recommended. You can purchase the show on DVD over at Smart Mark Video. Be sure to check out all of my CHIKARA reviews at my CHIKARA blog; "The CHIKARA Special." In addition to that, you can check out a lot of promos from CHIKARA DVDs over at the CHIKARA Special YouTube Page. Be sure to follow me on Twitter as well!

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]