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Monday, August 31, 2015

King of Trios Preview

By Chad Smart
@chadsmart & @my123cents on Twitter
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Chikara’s 8th Annual King of Trios takes place this weekend (September 4-6, 2015). This will be my first time attending the event live. While unforeseen circumstances have me attending the shows alone, this should still be an amazing weekend. This blog looks at the first round matches. There are a few minor predictions involved but not many since the full brackets for the tournament haven’t been released.  Let’s not waste any more time and jump right into the first announced match. 




UNITED NATIONS VS TEAM ATTACK

United Nations is a Chikara trio made up of team captain, Juan Francisco de Coronado, Mr. Azerbaijan and The Proletariat Boar of Moldova. In the series long Challenge of the Immortals, United Nations are currently one point ahead of last place.  

Team ATTACK is a British team comprised of Mark Andrews, Morgan Webster and Pete Dunne. The only member of this team I’m familiar with is Mark Andrews. Andrews won TNA British Bootcamp 2 and appeared on a few episodes of Impact this year helping Rockstar Spud in his feud with EC3. 

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Team ATTACK win this match given the lack of success United Nations has had this season. 




BDK vs. TEAM FIGHT CLUB PRO 

Jakob Hammermeier revealed himself the man under the disguise of Dr. Cube on September 19, 2014 and reformed Bruderschaft des Kreuzes. After using the Eye of Tyr to oust BDK leader Ares, Jakob took control of the BDK. Jakob’s two other members in the King of Trios are Nokken and Soldier Ant who is under the influence of the Eye of Tyr. 

Team Fight Club Pro is the other British trio competing this year. MK McKinnan, Trent Seven and Tyler Bate travel across the pond to compete in their first King of Trios. 



CROWN & COURT VS ARCANE HORDE

Crown & Court currently reside in the basement of the Challenge of the Immortal standings. Captain Princess Kimber Lee didn’t draft wisely when choosing her team. Her partners in the King of Trios are El Hijo del Ice Cream and Ice Cream Jr., collectively known as Los Ice Cream. Los Ice Cream has probably the worst win-loss record of anyone who’s competed in Chikara. 

The Arcane Horde is Ultramantis Black’s team members in the Challenge of the Immortals. The Batiri (Kodama and Obariyon) join Oleg the Usurper. Oleg is having a breakout year in Chikara. Fans have accepted the Viking brute, which surprises me. Oleg is responsible for the death of Dragon Dragon. That is an act I don’t think I can ever full forgive nor forget. 



BATTLEBORN VS DASHER’S DUGOUT

Kid Cyclone removed his mask last year revealing his identity as Kevin Condron. Condron was upset at the fans acceptance of Eddie Kingston after Kingston turned on The Flood and rejoined the Chikara locker room. Kingston had taken part in ending the careers of Condron’s colleagues Private Eye Jr. and Create A Wrestler. Kevin Condron then took masked wrestler Volgar under his wing with the condition that Volgar remove his mask as well. Once the mask was off, “Juke Joint” Lucas Calhoun was born. I’m not sure how Missile Assault Ant joined the trio.  At a show in Indianapolis, Kevin Condron tried to recruit Missile Assault Ant with MAA refusing. Sometime between that show and now, MAA had a change of mind and is now Missile Assault Man. If I were a betting man, I would put money on Battleborn either winning the tournament or at least making the finals. 

Last year, the Golden Trio made the finals, losing to the Devastation Corporation. This year, Dasher Hatfield, Mr. Touchdown and Icarus don’t have their titles or their moniker. Instead, they’re part of the Challenge of the Immortals with Dasher Hatfield being the team captain. Since I picked Battleborn to advance to the finals, I’m going to speculate a loss in the first round for Dasher’s Dugout will lead to Dasher and Mr. Touchdown being part of the tag team scramble match on Night 3. 



NIGHTMARE WARRIORS VS SNAKE PIT

Chikara Grand Champion Hallowicked leads his trio mates Frightmare and Silver Ant into battle.  All three members are former King of Trios winners.  Silver Ant, back when he was Green Ant, won the 2011 tournament as part of the Colony. Hallowicked and Frightmare were victorious in 2012 alongside Ultramantis Black. 

The Snake Pit boasts one of the more eclectic trios. Team captain Ophidian teams with former Grand Champion, Eddie Kingston and the highflying Shynron. It will be interesting to see if these three can work together well enough to advance in the tournament. 




GENTLEMAN’S CLUB VS TEAM AAA

Did I say the Snake Pit was one of the most eclectic trios? The Gentleman’s Club may give them a run for their money in that department. Captain Chuck Taylor has enlisted two of his good friends to fill out his trio. Pure wrestler, Drew Gulak and the, I don’t know what adjectives to use, Swamp Monster. 

Team AAA could also be called Team Lucha Underground. Aero Star, Drago and Fenix bring their high flying style to the Easton Funplex While I’m looking forward to seeing this trio in person, a part of me wishes if I am going to see a dragon that it would be Dragon Dragon. 



BATTLE HIVE VS BULLET CLUB

The Funky Pharaoh, Amasis dances into competition alongside 2011 co-winners Fire Ant and Worker Ant. While Amasis may be looking for a dance party to start up during King of Trios, he will probably end up walking into a different kind of party: a superkick party. 

Former Campeonatos de Parejas The Young Bucks return to Chikara with a debuting AJ Styles. While the Bullet Club is a faction in New Japan Pro Wrestling, their popularity crosses the ocean. To me, I’m interested in seeing if any anti-TNA comments are made while Styles is in the ring. 



DEVASTATION CORPORATION VS bWo

This is the match I’m most looking forward to out of all the first round matches. The current King of Trios, Devastation Corporation (Blaster McMassive, Flex Rumblecrunch and Max Smashmaster) are also the current Campeonatos de Parejas. On paper it looks like Dev Corp may have the easiest draw of the first round. (Cheap plug: listen to Kevin’s interview with Max Smashmaster on episode 40 of the My 123 Cents podcast)

For the first time since a brief reunion in 2005 as part of the new ECW, the Blue World Order reunites. Big Stevie Cool, Da Blue Guy and Hollywood Nova will be looking to take over the Funplex. Do they have what it takes to knock off the reigning King of Trios? I’m picking the bWo to pull the biggest upset of the tournament. 

In addition to the King of Trios, Nights 2 and 3 feature the Rey de Voladores tournament. As of this writing the only two names announced are Matt Cross and 2 Cold Scorpio.   Day 3 will include the tag team gauntlet. 

While this year’s tournament may not have the emotional storytelling that 2011 had, the line up is pretty impressive and should make for an exciting three days of action. I will have a full recap in the days after the tournament and will try to line up a few more interviews for the podcast.

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