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Home >> All Profiles >> Chikara Pro 
| Promotion Name: | Chikara Pro | | Location: | Philadelphia, PA by Mike Quackenbush | | Website: | http://www.chikarapro.com/ | | Start Date: | 01/01/2002 |
CHIKARA also known as Chikara Pro is an American professional wrestling
promotion based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They utilize an array of
progressive concepts that have garnered them critical acclaim and a solid cult
following, although virtually no commercial success along the way.
History
Chikara Wrestle Factory was founded as a wrestling school in January of 2002 in
Allentown, Pennsylvania by Mike Quackenbush and Tom Reckless Youth Carter. After
five months, the school started CHIKARA, the wrestling promotion. The name
CHIKARA is actually the Japanese word for strength or power.
Shortly after the debut of their first class of students (Mister ZERO,
UltraMantis, Hallowicked, Ichabod Slayne (now known as Icarus), Dragonfly),
Carter parted ways with the company.
In 2004, Chris Hero became a co-trainer at the Wrestle Factory. In 2005, he was
joined by Jorge Skayde Rivera as the third trainer (along with Quackenbush). In
March of 2005, the school moved from Allentown to the New Alhambra Arena, better
known as The ECW Arena, in Philadelphia. They have since taken over the training
for Combat Zone Wrestling, leading to the schools new name of CZW/Chikara
Wrestle Factory.
The promotion has produced a large catalog of DVD and VHS titles through Smart
Mark Video, as well as countless other bits of collectible merchandise since its
inception. Shirts, plaques, buttons, books, masks, hats, posters are regularly
available through their website. It also has a weekly podcast entitled CHIKARA
Podcast-A-Gogo which serves as sort of a recap show. The show is hosted by
Lightning Mike Quackenbush and Wiggly, though sometimes special guest hosts are
brought in. The show also shows clips of CHIKARA matches.
CHIKARA events are reminiscent of several other promotions, notably CMLL,
Michinoku Pro, Japans Big Battle, and Toryumon 2000 Project (Japan) and the
classic British World of Sport program. Live events are geared toward fans of
all ages, and often feature wrestlers from other countries. Their signpost
events each year include the Tag World Grand Prix in February, Aniversario
Weekend in May, Young Lions Cup in July and the Torneo de Cibernetico in
October.
Roster
The CHIKARA Roster of 2005
* Arik Cannon (Current CHIKARA Young Lions Cup Holder)
* Allison Danger
* Cheech
* Claudio Castagnoli (Current CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas)
* Cloudy
* Crossbones
* Darkness Crabtree
* Dr. Cheung
* Dragon Dragon
* Eddie Kingston (Current ICW-ICWA Tex-Arkana Television Champion)
* El Hijo Del Ice Cream
* Equinox
* Fire Ant
* Gran Akuma
* Hallowicked
* Chris Hero (Current CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas)
* Icarus
* Ice Cream Jr
* Jigsaw
* Lance Steel (Old)
* Lance Steel (Young)
* Mike Quackenbush
* Milano Collection AT
* Retail Dragon
* Rorschach
* Sabian
* Shane Storm
* Skayde
* Soldier Ant
* Sweet And Sour Larry Sweeney
* Sumie Sakai
* Ultramantis Black
Teams and stables
* F.I.S.T. - Gran Akuma and Icarus
* Prescription Thugs - Darkness Crabtree and Dr. Cheung
* Dark Breed - Hallowicked, Ultramantis / Ultramantis Black and Blind Rage
* Kings of Pro-Wrestling - Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli (Current CHIKARA
Campeones de Parejas)
* Men@Work - Mister ZERO and Shane Storm
* Up In Smoke - Cheech and Cloudy
* BLKOUT - Sabian, Joker and Eddie Kingston
* Lancelot - Lance Steel and Lance Steel
* The Colony - Soldier Ant and Fire Ant
* Triple Dragon - Dragon Dragon and Retail Dragon
* Los Ice Creams - El Hijo Del Ice Cream and Ice Cream Jr
Retired/Former Stars
* BlackJack Marciano
* DJ Skittlez
* Don Montoya
* Dragonfly (professional wrestler)
* Jolly Roger (professional wrestler)
* Mano Metalico
* John Brooks
* Mister ZERO
* Private Eye (professional wrestler)
* ShareCropper
* Tom Reckless Youth Carter
Tournament Winners
* Young Lions Cup I - Hallowicked
* Young Lions Cup II - Larry Sweeney
* Young Lions Cup III - Shane Storm
* Young Lions Cup IV - Arik Cannon
* Tag World Grand Prix 2003 - Hallowicked & Blind Rage
* Tag World Grand Prix 2005 - Claudio Castagnoli & Arik Cannon
* Tag World Grand Prix 2006 - Claudio Castagnoli & Chris Hero
* Torneo Cibernetico 2004 - Jigsaw
* Torneo Cibernetico 2005 - Gran Akuma
Authority figureheads
* Commisioner - Bob Saget
* Director Of Fun - Leonard F. Chikarason
References
* Quackenbush, Mike (2004). CHIKARA Yearbook: 2002 - 2004.
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