Chris Hero and Chikara

[YiHammer]

Has anyone ever found out the story behind Hero's sudden exit and never being referenced or mentioned again?

[Chuckie Finster]

I think it was just Hero working so often and being a trainer at the Wrestle Factory conflicting so there was a split. Since Hero was so beloved by the fans, I think it became a running gag for Chikara to ignore him ala this year's KOT being the last one ever.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Hero said in his latest SMV shoot that he had a falling out with Quack over money and priorities. Quack wanted Hero to make Chikara his top priority while Hero believed that he couldn't reasonably put it at the top due to the small amount of money that he was being paid for Chikara shows and because he was getting booked in ROH and NOAH. There was also a situation where Hero was sharing "inappropriate" texts with someone's (it might have been Shane Storm but I'm not positive) girlfriend.

[chazraps]

How is that SMV shoot? I've been considering it for a while. Does he go into his JCW days at all?

[kingoftheindies]

Jan 1, 2013 20:42:32 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Hero said in his latest SMV shoot that he had a falling out with Quack over money and priorities. Quack wanted Hero to make Chikara his top priority while Hero believed that he couldn't reasonably put it at the top due to the small amount of money that he was being paid for Chikara shows and because he was getting booked in ROH and NOAH. There was also a situation where Hero was sharing "inappropriate" texts with someone's (it might have been Shane Storm but I'm not positive) girlfriend.

so a lot of it has to do with Quack being overly protective of CHIKARA?

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Jan 1, 2013 21:25:49 GMT -5 chazraps said:

How is that SMV shoot? I've been considering it for a while. Does he go into his JCW days at all?

It's pretty great. He talks about JCW for a few minutes near the end of the shoot.

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Jan 1, 2013 21:26:28 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

Jan 1, 2013 20:42:32 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Hero said in his latest SMV shoot that he had a falling out with Quack over money and priorities. Quack wanted Hero to make Chikara his top priority while Hero believed that he couldn't reasonably put it at the top due to the small amount of money that he was being paid for Chikara shows and because he was getting booked in ROH and NOAH. There was also a situation where Hero was sharing "inappropriate" texts with someone's (it might have been Shane Storm but I'm not positive) girlfriend.

so a lot of it has to do with Quack being overly protective of CHIKARA?

Basically. Quack sees Chikara as his baby and his top priority. Hero didn't have the same attachment to it.

[Johnny B. Decent]

Unfortuendly, Quack does seem to be rather controlling over the people and company of CHIKARA. I think something like that drove Tursas away.

[YiHammer]

I read Tursas left due to family issues

[A Platypus Rave]

I can only now assume that Mike held Tursas' family hostage

[lildude8218]

Jan 1, 2013 22:46:05 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

I can only now assume that Mike held Tursas' family hostage

Sin Cara murdered Tursas' family with guns

[Aaron E. Dangerously]

Jan 1, 2013 22:46:05 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

I can only now assume that Mike held Tursas' family hostage

LOOSE CANNON MIKE QUACKENBUSH

[kingoftheindies]

Jan 1, 2013 21:29:11 GMT -5 Magic knows Black Lives Matter said:

Jan 1, 2013 21:26:28 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

so a lot of it has to do with Quack being overly protective of CHIKARA?

Basically. Quack sees Chikara as his baby and his top priority. Hero didn't have the same attachment to it.

I respect Quack for how much work he's put into Chikara, but at some point you have to check ego at the door. Zandig's last few years as CZW owner almost killed the company. ROH (while never really close to death) has had a few moments in recent years where ego trips hurt them.

That's one of the reasons I respect the PWG boys, although they easily could've, they never really let ego get in the way of building a good promotion (and if you've ever met Super Dragon, you know that guy has an ego)

Not that this was a case of Quack's ego really getting the best of him as Hero really got huge at the time (remember him and Claudio held the CZW,ROH, and CHIKARA tag titles at the same time) and did what was best for him. But Quack's had a few ego trips.

[YiHammer]

I really dislike when people try to paint Quack as this nefarious supervillain. He has owned up and admitted to being a dick in the past due to his OCD. I can see why he is so protective of Chikara it's pretty much his life's work.

[mjolnir]

Yeah, it was a mixture of things, Quackenbush's obsession with protecting CHIKARA, and Hero making some in the locker room not happy to have him around anymore, some that are close to Quack themselves.

[Mr. Socko's Brother]

Jan 2, 2013 20:01:21 GMT -5 YiHammer said:

I really dislike when people try to paint Quack as this nefarious supervillain. He has owned up and admitted to being a dick in the past due to his OCD. I can see why he is so protective of Chikara it's pretty much his life's work.

If you own up to something, apologize for it, and then never do it any more, then that's good.

If you own up to something, apologize for it, and then keep on doing it, then that's not and you don't deserve a cookie or anything.

As people here have pointed out when the subject came up before, Quack continues to be a dick for one reason or another.

Here's part of the Cageside Seats article on the SMV shoot:

...The conversation steered toward his tenure with CHIKARA and his run as a trainer for the Wrestle Factory. Hero says Mike Quackenbush has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) which shows in the detail-oriented product he puts put. He also says Hallowicked is the most underrated and under-appreciated wrestler in the business and describes him as a "wrestler's wrestler."

But unfortunately, CHIKARA is a niche product according to Hero. He says a lot of talented guys work for the promotion but can't get experience anywhere else because Quackenbush won't let them

"Mike wants what's best for Mike and Mike wants what's best for CHIKARA."

He said only the guys who spoke up got the leave the CHIKARA bubble, guys with strong enough personalities to break the "Mike Quackenbush aura."

"Who has transcended CHIKARA? Eddie Kingston. Larry Sweeney. Two guys with strong personalities..."

Hero says especially in 2004, it was an unwritten rule not to cross Quackenbush and a lot people either love him or hate him while he's in the middle.

The former King of Wrestling relays a story about his way. He was wrestling for CHIKARA for two years, making $75 a show the entire time. He asked for a raise and got $5. When he brought it up, he was then offered $100 but Quackenbush demanded a bunch of stuff including going to boards and talking up CHIKARA.

He discusses his departure from the promotion which was due to some inappropriate text messages he shared with his trainee Shane Storm's girlfriend. Hero says it was a case of him simply being immature and pretty much falls on his sword...

[kingoftheindies]

Jan 2, 2013 20:01:21 GMT -5 YiHammer said:

I really dislike when people try to paint Quack as this nefarious supervillain. He has owned up and admitted to being a dick in the past due to his OCD. I can see why he is so protective of Chikara it's pretty much his life's work.

As I said, I respect Quack and understand him being protective of his baby. But I think there are instances where he needs to check his ego at the door and do things for business.

When DJ Hyde first bought CZW he said in an interview that he didn't care about old grudges Zandig held, if somebody could help make CZW money, they'd be welcome in the Combat Zone. DJ's attitude has helped CZW grow quite a bit.

I think for the most part Quack has done good by CHIKARA, but at the same time, I feel there have been instances where he's missed money opportunities because of his decision making