Wrestling with Regrets

Chikara's big return on May 25, 2014

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

When asking for questions for the latest episode of Mailbag Monday on my YouTube channel, I was asked a couple of questions I didn't have time to get to.  I decided to address one of them in a blog today.  

Dennis asked "You seem to frequent a lot of wrestling events from Indies to WrestleMania...Is there one show you regret missing out on?"

He's right, I've been to a lot of wrestling shows through the years.  I truly am blessed as a wrestling fan that I've been able to attend eight of the nine last Wrestlemanias.  I've been to the Royal Rumble, Monday Night Raw, Thursday Night Thunder (remember that?), and countless independent wrestling shows (as a fan and as an employee).

Our Raw 1000 Party at home
Love the hats

I'd say if I had to pick regrets on shows I've missed it would be Raw 1,000 which was in St. Louis, a two hour drive from my home in southern Illinois.  I missed out on that one though because my wife was on a business trip and I was home with my children.  I don't regret the time we spent together watching the big anniversary in the comfort of our own home though.  We had a little party here and it was a blast.

The return of Marchie Archie 

An even bigger regret for me was missing out on the Chikara return back in May.  I still consider myself a new fan to the product, still learning the last 13 or 14 years of storylines and characters.  My friends Chad, Adam, and Greg all traveled to Pennsylvania for the return.  My wife was on another trip and quite honestly after dropping some coin at Wrestlemania 30 in New Orleans, another wrestling trip that soon wasn't in the budget.

Mr. Touchdown & Me

I have seen three Chikara shows in person and the very last Wrestling Is Intense show.  My goal one of these days is to make it to one of the company's iPayPerView events.  If you've never experienced Chikara live and in person, I'd highly recommend it.  Not only is the action always top notch, but many of the wrestlers take time to interact with the fans, signing autographs and posing for pictures.  It makes for a truly memorable experience.

And before it even comes up, I'll be missing the Survivor Series this year too.  It's coming to St. Louis, but because it's in November and I work in TV news and can't take time off during "sweeps", I'll miss out.  I get up at 1:30 in the morning, and would be rolling back into town just in time to head to work.  I've tried that before, after the Chikara shows I attended in Indiana and it's too rough on this old fan.  

Thanks for the question Dennis.  Anyone else who ever wants to participate, post a question here or on the YouTube channel.

Christmas Wish List: Veronica

Veronica & Mr. Touchdown
Chikara Pro: Under the Hood
Photo by: Larry Powell (@Luckyrock009)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Chikara's season finale "Under the Hood" is in the books and I must say I really enjoyed the show.  I wasn't able to see the main event, but congrats to Eddie Kingston on retaining the Grand Championship.  Something else of note on the show was the crowning of Veronica Ticklefeather as Homecoming Queen.

The majorette turned cheerleader had been campaigning for the honor with her boyfriend Mr. Touchdown.  The two are wrestling's true power couple in my opinion.  After Mr. Touchdown's hard fought Young Lions Cup defense against ACH, it was announced that Veronica was in fact the queen. But to the surprise of Mark Angelosetti, he was not the king.  You'd expect the football star and his cheerleader girlfriend to win the honors, but instead the Mysterious and Handsome Stranger was announced as homecoming king.

Just when it looked like Veronica and the Stranger were going to lock lips, the Stranger dumped a bucket of slop Veronica's head, then unmasked himself as Archibald Peck, a former love interest to Veronica.  The fans cheered with excitement as Archie made the reveal and was eventually escorted from the ring. He technically is banned from Chikara after losing a "Loser Leaves Town" match earlier in the year.

So my wish for Veronica is to continue her reign as queen and to figure out who she wants to be with.  She seems confused again as she seemed prior to the summer of love angle.  I've mentioned it before, I'm not a big fan of wrestling love angles (see the current mess with AJ-John Cena-Vickie Guerrero).  There's something compelling about this storyline to me. Maybe because Chikara isn't on every week rehashing the same stuff.  Maybe it's because I like the characters better.  I don't know the reason, but

I'll tell you I'm looking forward to the season premiere in 2013 and I really hope I'm able to catch another show in person.  The experiences earlier this year in Chicago Ridge and Lafayette were great.

Boo: Superstars in Disguise

Masked men
Photos by Chikara Pro & WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Through the years, wrestlers have taken to a mask to hide their identity for the sake of an angle.  Sometimes it was the result of losing a "loser-leaves-town" match.  Others were suspended or fired from the company.  Regardless of the reason, the angles have provided some entertaining moments in wrestling history.

Handsome & Mysterious Stranger
Photo by Chikara Pro

It doesn't happen as much anymore, but a good example that immediately comes to mind is the Handsome and Mysterious Stranger in Chikara Pro.  The man behind the mask is former band member "Marchie Archie" Archibald Peck.  It's part of the ongoing love triangle with Archie, Mr. Touchdown, and Veronica.  After Archie lost a loser leaves Chikara match earlier this year, he disappeared from the company.  But recently, the Handsome and Mysterious Stranger emerged.  Fans clearly know it's Peck under the mask, but as you'll find with Chikara fans, they are a different breed.  They (we've) embraced the angle and those in attendance chant "who are you?" or something along those lines.  The fans help keep the mystic alive.

Machines
Courtesy: WWE

In the 80's, we saw more of these angles.  Who can forget the Machines.  The group of Japanese masked men arrived shortly after Andre the Giant was suspended from the WWF.  Andre was of course Giant Machine.  Bill Eadie who became Demolition Ax played Super Machine and Blackjack Mulligan was Big Machine.  It was obvious to everyone except baby face announcers Vince McMahon and Bruno Sammartino that Andre was under the mask.  Eventually there was even a Hulk and Piper machine with Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper in those roles respectively.

Midnight Rider

My memory is hazy on the Midnight Rider, but he came to life after Dusty Rhodes was beaten by Kevin Sullivan in a loser leaves Florida match.  That happened in 1983.  This was right before I started watching wrestling regularly, so I have no memory of this, but a couple years later, the Rider came back in main stream NWA when Dusty lost a stipulated match.  I don't remember who it was against, but I remember him coming out in the garb and helping other faces on the roster in battling the Four Horsemen.  Again, it was clear Rhodes was the masked man, but it was fun none the less.

Hulk Hogan donned a mask as Mr. America in the early 2000's on SmackDown! to battle Mr. McMahon and Roddy Piper.  Brian Pillman became the Yellow Dog in the NWA, and the Von Erich brothers were at one time the Cosmic Cowboys in World Class.  Who were some of your favorite masked men in disguise?

It's Good, It's All Good!

Mr. Touchdown & Kevin
April 2012
Photo by My 1-2-3 Cents

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I'm a couple of days late, but I wanted to congratulate Mr. Touchdown on his Young Lions Cup victory in Chikara over the weekend.  I got a chance to see Mr. Touchdown wrestle live a couple of times with his partner Dasher Hatfield at Chikara shows in Indiana and Illinois.  The Throwbacks were victorious in both outings.

After the show in Chicago Ridge, I had a chance to get a pic with Mr. Touchdown.  I always appreciate it when wrestlers take a moment to give fans a chance like this.  Many of the Chikara guys (and women) are like that though.

It appears Mr. Touchdown is on the fast track to big things in the company.  I'd like to see how things go with Veronica and Archie too.  It's been an engaging storyline.  Good luck to him and I hope to catch more Chikara shows in person next year.  (Come to southern Illinois, we'd love to have you here)

We're All a Little Like Archie

Veronica & Archie
Courtesy: Chikara Pro

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I know I'm a bit late with this post, but earlier this month the #SummerofLove kicked off between Veronica Ticklefeather and "Mr. Touchdown" Mark Angelosetti at the Chikarasaurus Rex: How to Hatch a Dinosaur iPayPerView.  I'm not the Chikara expert here, but allow me to explain as best I can. 

Basically, flag girl Veronica arrived on the scene in Chikara with "Marchie Archie"Archibald Peck the drum major last year.  The two appeared to be a match made in heaven.  The band geek finally got his girl.  Or so we thought.  You see, as a geek, I can identify with Archie even though he was a rudo (heel) at the time.  He went on a losing streak and eventually that lead to tension between he and Veronica.  (You can hear more of her thoughts on From the Rafters Radio in the archive section, it's episode 10)  Factor in the new kid on the block and member of the Throwbacks, Mr. Touchdown.

Mr. Touchdown & me

Angelosetti personifies that football jock we all loved to hate in high school.  By we, I mean my fellow geeks.  I wasn't in the band, but instead ran cross country.  You see how dorky I am today, just imagine how I was back then...  Anyway, Touchdown took a liking to the flag girl, and of course Veronica seemed to fall for him too.  She was giddy around him, coming out during his matches to cheer for him.

Like most of us who have loved and lost, Archie made some serious changes.  In fact, he dropped the band major gimmick and became a badass.  Well as much of a bad ass as he could.  No more silly drum major hat and matching costume.  Instead Marchie Archie became MMA: Mixed Marital Archie.  He wore gloves and a mouth guard and other fighting gear.  He threw fists of furry when he stepped in the ring.  His heart was ripped out and he didn't care who he hurt in the process.  Again, I think it's a place many of us have been in our lives, only Archie had a chance to channel his aggression.  

Me & Archie: Geeks unite!

So after months of build on June 2, Veronica promised to make a choice.  Who would she chose?  Her high school sweet, Archie or the charming Mr. Touchdown?  The loser (of the tag team match featuring Dasher Hatfield & Mr. Touchdown against Archie and Colt Cabana) would not only watch Veronica walk off in the sunset with the opponent, but they'd have to leave Philadelphia as well.  Despite a heartfelt blog about her grandparents meeting and falling in love, Veronica pulled a fast one on many people.  Touchdown used his football helmet to knockout everyone's now favorite band geek/MMA fighter.  Hatfield, not knowing the dirty play happened, pinned Peck and scored the win.  Then Veronica further damaged an already broken Archie by making out with Mr. Touchdown after the win.

Now on Twitter Veronica has proclaimed it the #SummerofLove.  I feel bad for Archie as he not only lost in love, but is now banned from wrestling in Chikara's hometown of Philly.  I like the way this storyline has progressed and even though the geek lost this time, I have a feeling this isn't the last of this feud.

MMA is Finally Entertaining

Archibald Peck & company

By Chad Smart
@chadsmart & @my123cents on Twitter

One of my breakout stars of the last year is Archibald Peck. “Marchie” Archie, along with his majorette Veronica, made their debut at Chikara’s “Operation Big Freeze” in a losing effort against current Chikara Grand Champion Eddie Kingston.

In his second appearance, Peck issued an open challenge to any competitor in the locker room at King of Trios. Colt Cabana answered the challenge only to be defeated by the crafty bandleader. Archie would later reveal that when Eddie Kingston hit the Backfist to the Future in his debut match it actually sent Archie to the future where he picked up a sports almanac and knew who would answer the open the challenge.

(From Chikara)

Archie went on to rack up a 7-1 record leading into his rematch against Colt Cabana at Chikara’s first Ippv “High Noon.” Prior to the rematch Archie revealed his new mascot, Colt Cabunny. Cabunny had not been seen in Chikara since the 2005 Tag World Grand Prix where he teamed with CP Munk. Due to the treatment of Cabunny by Archie, Cabana was going into the match not only with the hope of avenging his loss but also to free the bunny. At the end of the match Colt Cabunny got involved and helped Cabana win the match.

Since the loss at “High Noon,” Archibald has gone on a 7 match-losing streak. The lack of trips to the pay window did not set well with Veronica who came out and said if Peck didn’t start winning she would stop accompanying him to the ring. Throwing another wrench into the situation was the debut of Mr. Touchdown. Anyone who has gone to high school can relate to the scenario of the cheerleader pining for the captain of the football team.

With the consecutive loses along with the loss of his valet, Archie decided a change was in order. Two weeks ago “Marchie” Archie was retired and Mixed Martial Archie debuted. I have not seen the match nor have I heard much about it. I don’t know much about the new gimmick, but I am curious to see it in action. “Marchie” Archie was fantastic (and his last match against Chuck Taylor from the 3/25/12 show in Canada is one of the greatest matches ever) and I have no doubt Mixed Martial Archie will be just as entertaining. Here is MMA’s promo leading into the contest this Saturday against Kobald.

For full thoughts on this weekends Chikara and ROH shows follow My123Cents on Facebook and Twitter.