Little old Rhode Island usually doesn't get much in the professional wrestling department. WWE comes through maybe two times a year with a Supershow and possibly a Raw or Smackdown. ROH comes to town even less frequently than that. Over the past two years though, Beyond Wrestling has filled the void for professional wrestling fanatics in the Ocean State by producing some of the best cards in the independent game. They dump these stacked lineups into the middle of the Fete Music Hall in Providence, a venue that allows the fans to be right on top of the action. The experience is one that any fan of the business should experience once, and you'll be hooked just like I was after last year's Americanrana. This year's Americanrana, or Beyond's Wrestlemania if you want to use those terms, is extra special because it has an equally spectacular lead-in, Chikara Pro! For those who are unfamiliar with Chikara, they are a much more kid friendly offering of pro wrestling. That doesn't mean they skimp on the performances inside the squared circle. It is going to be a long day for myself as well as many other fans tomorrow at Fete. For those for some reason still on the fence about attending either show, here is a primer to get you over the top and help the Beyond community #SellOutFete.
CHIKARA: THE IMMACULATE ELECTION
MATCH ONE: Amasis vs. Frightmare
Amasis and Frightmare have been Chikara mainstays for quite some time. The Funky Pharaoh Amasis is one half of the former Campeones de Parejas (Tag Team Champions) Osirian Portal (w/ Ophidian) and Frightmare is a former Young Lions Cup champion and current tag team partner of reigning Grand Champion Hallowicked. The two are on teams scratching and clawing for supremacy in the season-long Challenge of the Immortals round robin, but will face off in singles competition Sunday. Here is a preview of what this contest could entail as they lock horns a couple times over the course of this tag match from the Chikara Podcast-A-Go-Go (which comes out every week on the Chikara Youtube channel) between Amasis and Fire Ant of the Battle Hive against the Nightmare Warrior tandem of Frightmare and Blind Rage.
MATCH TWO: Heidi Lovelace & Icarus vs. Jakob Hammermeier & Soldier Ant
This is a Challenge of the Immortals matchup between members of Dasher's Dugout (Lovelace/Icarus/Dasher Hatfield/Mr.Touchdown) and the Bruderschaft des Kreuzes (Hammermeier/Soldier Ant/Nokken/Pinkie Sanchez). I could go over the BDK backstory, but I'll let you do that on your own time and stick to the match details. I briefly mentioned the Challenge of the Immortals competition with the first match, but this tag team affair is actually a part of said tournament. There is a lot of stake in the COTI, and you can find out more about the tourney, results, and implications with this handy reference here. We'll also see Lovelace on the Beyond show, but she is in a much different capacity in Chikara. She is the current, and only female ever, Young Lions Cup champion. She hopes that teaming with the former Grand Champion in Icarus can overtake the shellshocked Soldier Ant and devilish BDK captain Jakob Hammermeier. Here is the Dasher's Dugout duo in action against the team of Kevin Condron & Lucas Calhoun from another PCAGG.
MATCH THREE: The Batiri vs. BDK (Nokken & Pinkie Sanchez) vs. The United Nations vs. Jaka & Oleg the Usurper
One of Chikara's staples as a wrestling organization is their multi-man/multi-team matches. Four teams will square off in tag team action at Fete in a massive contest. In Chikara, each tag team win gets you a point. Every time you lose though you go back to zero. Three consecutive victories without defeat grants you a title shot at the current tag team champions. I'm not sure if this match is an elimination style encounter, in which a team could theoretically gain all three points towards contention in one shot, but either way these four teams will be looking to secure points to face the winner of the Devastation Corporation vs. Princess Kimber Lee/Jervis Cottonbelly match from the night before in Connecticut. Here is a sampling of all four teams under the Chikara umbrella.
MATCH FOUR: Silver Ant vs. Blaster McMassive
This is going to be a stiff affair between two men whose chops will make you cover your children's ears to prevent irreparable damage. This is a rematch of their match at "Sword of Destiny" earlier in the season and will surely outdo the original. I've only seen Blaster live once before but have been witness to many a spectacular shows from the former Green Ant. Here is a clip from the aforementioned match from "Sword of Destiny", you may want to turn the volume down just a smidge to prevent chop induced deafness.
MATCH FIVE: The Snake Pit vs. Queen & Court
MATCH SIX: The Gentleman's Club vs. The Battle Hive
The only Atomicos (four on four) match of the night is another Challenge of the Immortals showdown. Every COTI point is vital because the whole winning team gets a title match of their choice as a prize. The Snake Pit team of Ophidian, Argus, Shynron, and former Grand Champion Eddie Kingston take on potential tag team champions Princess Kimber Lee & Jervis Cottonbelly and Los Ice Creams: Queen & Court! The Snake Pit has been snake bitten lately as miscommunication and internal turmoil have left the team susceptible to stunning defeats. Kimber Lee and Cottonbelly, win or lose, will be banged up from their two outs of three falls match the night prior against the Devastation Corporation and mischievous Los Ice Creams aren't always the most reliable of partners.
COTI action comes back to back as Chuck Taylor and fellow Gentleman's Club members Swamp Monster and Drew Gulak face off with the Battle Hive trio of Worker & Fire Ant and a gentleman in his own right, Smooth Sailin' Ashley Remington. This could provide as much comedy as it does high flying wrestling. It'll be intriguing nonetheless to see who gets another point towards the Challenge's grand prize. Here are two promos from the latest Chikara Event Center from both the Snake Pit and the Battle Hive.
MAIN EVENT: Chikara Grand Championship Match- Hallowicked (c) vs. Dasher Hatfield
Everybody's favorite old timey King of Swing comes to my backyard with four points in tow to cash in on the Nightmare Warrior for Chikara's biggest singles prize. Dasher Hatfield, whose shirt I will be sporting at the show on Sunday, will get his title shot against Hallowicked in the main event of Chikara's first Fete show. Dasher got his first crack at the gold back in 2012, but fell short to then champion Eddie Kingston. Hallowicked has had two successful defenses (Ashley Remington & Oleg the Usurper) of the belt since winning it from Icarus in the UK. Here's a promo from the potential (and hopefully) next Chikara Grand Champion, Dasher Hatfield.
BEYOND WRESTLING AMERICANRANA '15
MATCH ONE: Da Hoodz vs. Garden State Gods vs. The Symbiote vs. Anthony Stone & Nicholas Kaye
Beyond Wrestling has a lot of tag matches on their shows because well, they are fucking good at it. While tag team wrestling on national television is a dying art, independent companies like Beyond and Chikara keep the art thriving. This matchup features four teams that I had heard of prior to my first Beyond show but had never seen live. Da Hoodz (Kris Pyro & Davey Cash) are a local team, but don't quite feel like it. They've gone toe to toe with the best tag teams on the indy scene today and while they may not always come out on top, they never look overmatched. The Garden State Gods (Eric Corvis & Myke Quest) and The Symbiote (Davey Vega and Rickey Shane Page) can focus on more positive things as they finally have the Crusade for Change in their rear view mirror. Anthony Stone and Nicholas Kaye had a brutal Loser Must Retire match at last year's Americanrana (let's just say there was a chainsaw) but since this is wrestling the two Beyond originals will team at this year's event. If it is your first time at Fete this Sunday, these guys may not look too familiar to you. I guarantee though that you won't forget any of them after this match. Here's a promo from the aforementioned Hoodz in the hood(?) about the upcoming contest.
MATCH TWO: Casket Match- Matt Tremont vs. Stockade
Let me first start off by saying that deathmatch wrestling isn't my particular cup of tea. If it is yours, all the power to you. With that being said, I am intrigued by what spin Matt Tremont and Stockade will put on one of the crummier gimmick matches in wrestling: the casket match. Tremont is a crowd favorite at Fete and how can he not be? The guy comes to the ring to Journey's "Separate Ways." Stockade is a big, plodding bruiser like Tremont. He isn't particularly appealing to the masses, but the guy puts in work and takes serious bumps for the Fete faithful, including getting tossed down a flight of stairs at the last show. I may not want to be ringside for this one as it may get bloody, but I won't be able to look away from the wrestling equivalent of a Cannonball Run style pileup these guys are going to put themselves through. The Bulldozer promised this violence after "teaming" with his foe against the Hooligans a few months back. Here's that plus a bit of what happened the last time these two got violent at Fete.
MATCH THREE: Johnny Gargano vs. David Starr
David Starr has been in a bit of limbo lately following his split and eventual loss to JT Dunn. He is still one of the best performers Beyond has to offer and gets to prove his mettle against Johnny Gargano tomorrow. Gargano is one of the most highly decorated, increasingly sought after attractions in all of professional wrestling. He hasn't been at Fete in two years though. At Americanrana 13, Gargano defeated Starr's old partner Dunn. At Americanrana 15, Starr looks again to prove his sense of superiority over Dunn by beating Gargano at Fete. Starr sets the scene for Sunday with this video package.
MATCH FOUR: Team Pazuzu vs. Da Hit Squad, Nick Gage, Shynron, & ????
New York City's Team Pazuzu has been the center of attention in Beyond Wrestling for months now. Whether it be Dirty Daddy Chris Dickinson's Pazuzu Bomb on Kimber Lee setting the internet ablaze, Dickinson's Killogy with WWE's Samoa Joe, or their incessant attacks on every person who dares get in their way, Team Pazuzu are (to rip a cheesy tag line) the apex predators of Beyond Wrestling. Nobody comes to power without the eventual revolt though. Da Hit Squad (Mafia & Monsta Mack), "The King" Nick Gage, and high flyer Shynron will team to try to bring the Pazuzu reign of terror to a screeching halt. They have a mystery partner in tow as well, and the names of who it could be are vast. We'll just have to see tomorrow when this mixture of hard hitting, high flying, ten man mayhem takes center stage at Fete. Here are some of each side's "Greatest Hits" so to speak.
MATCH FIVE: Beaver Boys vs. Ryan Galeone & Brian Myers
The former (albeit for an hour) PWG tag champion Beaver Boys (john Silver & Alex Reynolds) have had some issues with Ryan "Rush" Galeone and his contingent for months now. First it was Bill Burr's favorite wrestler, the One Man Thrill Ride Jimmy Preston. Then it was the tag team Milk Chocolate. Now it is Galeone's trainer and the former Curt Hawkins, Brian Myers. Will this conflict end tomorrow or will there be a new wrinkle to push this Long Island rumble into the winter months? Here is what happened the last time out when the Beaver Boys got some back up from the massive Rex Lawless to even the odds against Galeone and Milk Chocolate.
MATCH SIX: Brian Fury vs. Donovan Dijak
Donovan Dijak has been one of the most impressive prospects I've seen in wrestling PERIOD, never mind the independent ranks. He is already making his way up the pecking order in Ring of Honor and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw him in the 'E sooner rather than later. He's been a part of two of the best matches I've seen live in quite some time with both Eddie Edwards and Biff Busick. Dijak gets to complete his history lesson when he takes on his trainer Brian Fury tomorrow. The two have wrestled before but not during the hot streak that Dijak is currently on. Take a look at this promo as Dijak peels back the curtain between the two and an epic match that the two had at an earlier Dojo Wars: NE event in Rhode Island.
MATCH SEVEN: The Kingdom vs. Biff Busick & Drew Gulak
Biff Busick is the man that has been the centerpiece of Beyond Wrestling since their move to New England. His matches with Eddie Edwards were tremendous. He's run the gamut of all types of matches from Iron Man to Fans Bring The Weapons. There is not a single ass in their seat (if they are lucky enough to have one) when Biff's music hits. All those facts don't sit well with Kingdom members Mike Bennett and Matt Taven. Bennett has been after Biff for half a year now and has backup now with the "Sexy Sax Man" Taven (cover your ears or fall prey to his spell!). They tried to use the numbers to end their beef with Biff last month after his grueling match with Dijak. Luckily, Drew Gulak was in the building and evened the odds. He also laid down the challenge for Americanrana. There is a reason tag team contests are referred to as "The Fucking Tag Team Match" on Beyond event pages. This one will be so good, not even a nun would be able to describe it without dropping a minimum of five f-bombs.
MATCH EIGHT: Kimber Lee vs. Heidi Lovelace
Women's wrestling may be making waves in the WWE these day, but it has had its place in Beyond Wrestling for years. Kimber Lee has been the face of not only women's wrestling at Fete, but wrestling of any gender. She's took on all comers and paved the way for more women to make an impact in Beyond Wrestling. That isn't quite the way Heidi Lovelace sees it though. She has aligned herself with the demonic Team Pazuzu to take out Kimber Lee and prop herself upon the top of the heap. Here's a couple videos to show what sparked what will be one hard hitting wrestling match, no diva shit here, come Sunday.
MATCH NINE: Team Tremendous vs. Best Friends
This match at Americanrana 14 was cut short last year when Trent? got locked up in the ropes and sadly tore his knee to shreds. They'll throw down again tomorrow as the only thing in shreds right now seems to be the fabric of friendship between Team Tremendous members Detective Bill Carr and Detective Dan Barry. After defeating the Young Bucks to win Tournament for Tomorrow 3, the waters have been troublesome for the law enforcers. They even gave us a say it ain't so moment after their loss to The Kingdom last month. With Chuck Taylor on the brink of retirement (according to him), and Team Tremendous possibly in shambles, there could be just as many tears as laughs in this one. All the feels.
MAIN EVENT: The Young Bucks vs. Death By Elbow
I shouldn't have to sell you on this match. I can't even do it's potential, scratch that, guaranteed awesomeness justice. I'll let Chris Hero and JT Dunn do the talking and elbowing and the Young Bucks do the Super Kicking and Meltzer Drivering.
Tickets for both shows are still available (lucky you!). Please don't take your chances at the door though or you may end up like me last year sitting outside like a dunce hoping that the capacity count will allow one more sad sack into the building. Both shows are going to be out of this world and keep the Rhode Island wrestling scene hot. Don't blow this people. Remember when all we had was Channel 7 wrestling on between town hall meetings and Bob Ross? Yeah, support these two fine organizations so they keep putting together these spectacular lineups for our entertainment. #SellOutFete
Image Credits: The Immaculate Election (chikarapro.com); Americanrana posters (lookmanofans.com)
Video Credits: Youtube.com- Chikara Office, The Chikara Special, Beyond Wrestling, doomtown412