|
|
Post by The 1Watcher Experience on Dec 5, 2016 10:48:53 GMT -5
I never understood the point of the shutdown. I've heard Quackenbush say that it was a story he wanted to tell. The only pay off was CHIKARA returning and obviously it did. There were some fan interaction events while it was gone but I don't think it picked up enough new fans overall. And with good reason since it's not easy to get fans interested in a company that no longer exists. It looked like it was always going to return to many fans but explaining that to a potentially new fan isn't easy. What if they don't come back? We were supposed to believe they weren't going to.
I know they built up Icarus as the hero of CHIKARA to the fans in its absence. He won the grand championship when they returned. They had a great attendance that day too. His run on top eventually ran out of steam and I thought it was a great idea to go with Hallowicked when it did. CHIKARA was successful in turning their most hated rudo into a tecnico that people cared about. That was cool but not worth shutting down the company for a year if that's what it took to do it.
We weren't supposed to know it was CHIKARA still running shows under the Wrestling Is banners, yet now those shows are showing up on CHIKARAtopia. I wonder if CHIKARA was running low on funds and partnered with other promoters to run those shows to keep costs down and to get the roster work. They didn't draw much without the CHIKARA name brand attached to them. There's no way those shows made money. I attended many of them and those crowds were very small compared to the typical CHIKARA shows that had been running before them.
I've brought this up to several wrestlers on the roster in the years since. They won't talk much about it but they do say they weren't happy about it. Many of them felt they had some good momentum going and they lost a year. They were a year older now and it didn't benefit them at all.
I don't know the whole story behind the shutdown and I hope we do find out one day. I hope it's not tied to those nasty rumors that shouldn't even be repeated that were put out there. I don't think it will be but I wasn't there so I can't be certain of anything.
Fans lose interest when something goes away. A year is a long time in the world of pro wrestling. An indie has to work even harder to keep people interested. It was such a bizarre decision. If CHIKARA was trying to find out who their true fans were and who would stick with them, then mission accomplished. They also lost a lot of fans in the process. It was such a big decision to make this move and to be dismissive of it saying it was a story that they wanted to tell just doesn't make sense to me.
|
|
cjb01: Limited Edition Item!
FANatic
Writer, Lover of all things Wrestling. Analytical, Critical, Lovable (hopefully). Lets all have fun!
Posts: 248,302
|
Post by cjb01: Limited Edition Item! on Dec 5, 2016 11:03:25 GMT -5
I never understood the point of the shutdown. I've heard Quackenbush say that it was a story he wanted to tell. The only pay off was CHIKARA returning and obviously it did. There were some fan interaction events while it was gone but I don't think it picked up enough new fans overall. And with good reason since it's not easy to get fans interested in a company that no longer exists. It looked like it was always going to return to many fans but explaining that to a potentially new fan isn't easy. What if they don't come back? We were supposed to believe they weren't going to. I know they built up Icarus as the hero of CHIKARA to the fans in its absence. He won the grand championship when they returned. They had a great attendance that day too. His run on top eventually ran out of steam and I thought it was a great idea to go with Hallowicked when it did. CHIKARA was successful in turning their most hated rudo into a tecnico that people cared about. That was cool but not worth shutting down the company for a year if that's what it took to do it. We weren't supposed to know it was CHIKARA still running shows under the Wrestling Is banners, yet now those shows are showing up on CHIKARAtopia. I wonder if CHIKARA was running low on funds and partnered with other promoters to run those shows to keep costs down and to get the roster work. They didn't draw much without the CHIKARA name brand attached to them. There's no way those shows made money. I attended many of them and those crowds were very small compared to the typical CHIKARA shows that had been running before them. I've brought this up to several wrestlers on the roster in the years since. They won't talk much about it but they do say they weren't happy about it. Many of them felt they had some good momentum going and they lost a year. They were a year older now and it didn't benefit them at all. I don't know the whole story behind the shutdown and I hope we do find out one day. I hope it's not tied to those nasty rumors that shouldn't even be repeated that were put out there. I don't think it will be but I wasn't there so I can't be certain of anything. Fans lose interest when something goes away. A year is a long time in the world of pro wrestling. An indie has to work even harder to keep people interested. It was such a bizarre decision. If CHIKARA was trying to find out who their true fans were and who would stick with them, then mission accomplished. They also lost a lot of fans in the process. It was such a big decision to make this move and to be dismissive of it saying it was a story that they wanted to tell just doesn't make sense to me. They also lost some things that made CHIKARA what it was, again I went into the talent a lot, but how about their original website??
That was such an AWESOME Website, they had animations of all of their roster members, they had really cool match graphics! It was awesome, it was something I visited daily, and they switched it out for very bland, and very blah looking choices in design for match cards and their roster page is a god damn disaster.
It's like they tried to go full reboot with it, and in turn, they really did lose things that made CHIKARA amazing. You can tell they lost funds too. Before shutdown, they had their broadest tour planned to date and it looked like the sky was the limit, they were going to Reseda! Assumedly the venue that hosts PWG shows, and so many more places. And what have they done since? Barely any travelling. Some London Dates, Chicago, Easton, and their Home Base, which by the way, is kinda shitty and small in the shows I've seen it run. I guess it does the job for Hour of Powers but man, it just doesn't transcend well when seeing it. The Reading Venue looked like it housed more fans than that...
I know of some of those horrid rumors too, some of which I discussed with wrestlers and trust me, they aren't happy about it either. I don't know the true story, and it would probably take one of the Boys to spill it because I doubt Quack ever will, but if CHIKARA ever goes under, and I think it's in some pretty dire straights right now, that will be pointed to as the start of the downhill slide...
|
|
cjb01: Limited Edition Item!
FANatic
Writer, Lover of all things Wrestling. Analytical, Critical, Lovable (hopefully). Lets all have fun!
Posts: 248,302
|
Post by cjb01: Limited Edition Item! on Dec 5, 2016 11:09:02 GMT -5
Wait, so everyone knew that Hericon was Gresham even on the first day he put the mask on? Yes, Gresham was assigned to the Osirian Portal unmasked by Wink in the Season 9 finale. and I believe in the lead up to the season 10 debut they gave Gresham the mask. Either way this was not meant to be a secret as to who he is. ... speaking of remember Escorpion Egipcio? that lasted what two months? Deservedly so, that dude was dogshit.
Also on Hieracon/Gresham, he apparently hated being in the mask, I talked to him during his run, and apparently he really hated that he couldn't just be himself and I think he ended his CHIKARA run on bad terms, because I tagged him in a photo of the Portal shortly after and he asked to be removed and "Don't tag me in CHIKARA Pictures anymore please"
So yeah... heard he's doing well in the UK Though, good for him!
|
|
|
|
Post by Frizzle Fry on Dec 5, 2016 14:26:48 GMT -5
I agree that the shutdown was not the smartest idea. I mean if they want chikara to be free from the titor conglomerate claws, instead of all these security guards tearing the show down it could be a squadron of secret agents coming in and taking wink into custody
|
|
|
|
Post by funakifan88 on Dec 5, 2016 14:28:28 GMT -5
So, being a fan that was actually pulled in by the shutdown angle I thought I'd drop my two cents in on the subject. So I had heard of CHIKARA here and there but didn't pay it any mind. I was living in Maine at the time and saw a poster at a coffee shop for The Great Escape in South Portland. I was curious what CHIKARA was all about so I attended and despite only knowing a few of the characters I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wanted to know more but outside of buying every DVD there was no way to keep up with the storylines. Even if I could find internet results it was only "so and so beat so and so" and wouldn't tell me about the stories so I fell out. Flash forward to right before the shutdown and I was planning a trip to LA to visit my friend. I decided to check out what wrestling shows might be around the area and to my surprise CHIKARA was running a show in Reseda (as cjb mentioned). I kept my eye on the website to see when tickets would be available. Then all of a sudden they shut down. I was confused and tried to find the story to no avail. As time went on my curiosity grew but I got no answers. Then it was announced that CHIKARA was coming back. All the characters I had read about, The Colony, Archie etc would be coming back. I had to be there to experience it. I bought tickets to You Only Live Twice and drove 6 hours with 0 regrets. The show was incredible and they hooked me instantly.
My thoughts behind it is, everyone tells an invasion storyline but how many of them actually have the balls to let the bad guys win? I understand the NWO kind of did that and ran NWO branded ppvs but when they goal of a stable is to shut down a company no one has ever gotten that far. Quack had the balls to go there. Maybe it was also money related, maybe it was also taking a break due to burn out but I truly believe that Quack wanted to tell this story and this story alone: The threat of an army trying to take down CHIKARA is ver very real.
Shit happens, people get signed, people get disgruntled and leave, but I believe that a man willing to go to those lengths to tell a story is worth following. In my opinion anyway.
|
|
|
|
Post by 2coldMack is even more baffled on Dec 5, 2016 15:06:31 GMT -5
Yes, Gresham was assigned to the Osirian Portal unmasked by Wink in the Season 9 finale. and I believe in the lead up to the season 10 debut they gave Gresham the mask. Either way this was not meant to be a secret as to who he is. ... speaking of remember Escorpion Egipcio? that lasted what two months? Deservedly so, that dude was dogshit.
Also on Hieracon/Gresham, he apparently hated being in the mask, I talked to him during his run, and apparently he really hated that he couldn't just be himself and I think he ended his CHIKARA run on bad terms, because I tagged him in a photo of the Portal shortly after and he asked to be removed and "Don't tag me in CHIKARA Pictures anymore please"
So yeah... heard he's doing well in the UK Though, good for him!
I know Gresham and yeah, he hated working in the mask. I came up to him to say hi at an ROH show around here in a Los Ice Creams mask, and his response was to chuckle and sya "I f***ing hate Chikara". The one big thing I got from him was that he was apparently told he was gonna be given a heel turn and a run with the BDK, but that obviously never materialized. |
|
Johnny B. Decent
Patti Mayonnaise
Had one once
Everybody's Favorite Arizonian.
Posts: 31,215 
|
Post by Johnny B. Decent on Dec 5, 2016 16:27:59 GMT -5
Even if he hated it, he put zero effort into any sort of character style when Hieracon, and pretty much blew in his matches, so I kind of think he was being a bit of a whiner.
|
|
|
|
Post by mothboy on Dec 5, 2016 16:53:38 GMT -5
I think the cries of "THIS COMPANY IS DYING" are a bit reactionary considering the Wrestle-Factory is making more money than it ever has.
I started watching during KOT 2011, right in the middle of what's arguably their creative peak. I love those days more than anything but they had their fair share of problems that I think are being romanticised, and it was clear even then that it wasn't built to go on forever. People have been coming and going in CHIKARA from the start, and it hasn't always been to go to WWE developmental or a flourishing indie scene that's more receptive to "CHIKARA Guys" than it's ever been.
Like I think everyone I've been anxious about the direction of the company for longer than I care to admit, but I think refocusing on the school is the smart decision long term, even if it makes for a painful transitional period. This season certainly hasn't been a high water mark in terms of storytelling (though it might be more enjoyable to watch than a lot of Season 14) but after several very ambitious years that's clearly not the focus. The focus has been on the new Factory and getting their in-house production with CHIKARATOPIA off the ground and I'd argue they've been pretty successful at that. I certainly hope the ambitious storytelling and consistent match quality and bigger names come back - and in the first two cases I'm sure they will - but overall I think I'm more optimistic about the direction of CHIKARA than I have been in like four years now.
|
|
|
|
Post by lildude8218 on Dec 5, 2016 17:16:47 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Apricots And A Pear Tree on Dec 5, 2016 18:40:58 GMT -5
I'm Rocked Up, Baby Boys!  |
|
|
|
Post by lildude8218 on Dec 5, 2016 21:03:21 GMT -5
Heidi Lovelace lost the Fest Wrestling championship to Su Yung last night. So I think her indy bookings will start ending pretty soon.
|
|
Lupin the Third
Patti Mayonnaise
I'm sorry.....I love you. *boot to the head*--3rd most culpable in the jixing of NXT, D'oh!
Join the Dark Order....
Posts: 36,432
|
Post by Lupin the Third on Dec 5, 2016 21:09:18 GMT -5
I'm Rocked Up, Baby Boys! Hopefully I should have mine in the near future. |
|
|
|
Post by thegoon21 on Dec 6, 2016 8:31:52 GMT -5
So, being a fan that was actually pulled in by the shutdown angle I thought I'd drop my two cents in on the subject. So I had heard of CHIKARA here and there but didn't pay it any mind. I was living in Maine at the time and saw a poster at a coffee shop for The Great Escape in South Portland. I was curious what CHIKARA was all about so I attended and despite only knowing a few of the characters I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wanted to know more but outside of buying every DVD there was no way to keep up with the storylines. Even if I could find internet results it was only "so and so beat so and so" and wouldn't tell me about the stories so I fell out. Flash forward to right before the shutdown and I was planning a trip to LA to visit my friend. I decided to check out what wrestling shows might be around the area and to my surprise CHIKARA was running a show in Reseda (as cjb mentioned). I kept my eye on the website to see when tickets would be available. Then all of a sudden they shut down. I was confused and tried to find the story to no avail. As time went on my curiosity grew but I got no answers. Then it was announced that CHIKARA was coming back. All the characters I had read about, The Colony, Archie etc would be coming back. I had to be there to experience it. I bought tickets to You Only Live Twice and drove 6 hours with 0 regrets. The show was incredible and they hooked me instantly. My thoughts behind it is, everyone tells an invasion storyline but how many of them actually have the balls to let the bad guys win? I understand the NWO kind of did that and ran NWO branded ppvs but when they goal of a stable is to shut down a company no one has ever gotten that far. Quack had the balls to go there. Maybe it was also money related, maybe it was also taking a break due to burn out but I truly believe that Quack wanted to tell this story and this story alone: The threat of an army trying to take down CHIKARA is ver very real. Shit happens, people get signed, people get disgruntled and leave, but I believe that a man willing to go to those lengths to tell a story is worth following. In my opinion anyway. Just want to agree with this post in that the shutdown angle is what pulled me into becoming a fan. I always knew CHIKARA existed but never gave it a try. After the Shutdown and subsequent Ashes videos, I bought DVDs from SMV, bought the Ashes movie on the Wrestling Is website and have attended Wrestle Factory shows this year, so I am actually giving $ to the promotion which I otherwise probably wouldn't have without the shutdown grabbing my attention.
I like CHIKARA. I like the wrestlers and the stories but there are definitely things I wish were different. I posted here recently about wrestlers seemingly being dropped with no explanations in the stories. Even if some of them are getting signed or they are not renewing deals or whatever, I wish they were written off or some explanation was given rather than just wondering when/if they are coming back.
Also, out of the shutdown, I really wish more was presented regarding the Titor Conglomerate, Wink and Wink's father. They are the ones who shut it down but then the resulting feud in 2014 was CHIKARA vs every rudo in company history. I would have rather seen more regarding the evil company who shut them down.
I plan on renewing CHIKARATOPIA for Xmas (expired in April and didn't renew) and getting some free time to catch up on a lot from this season. Maybe 2017 will bring about something more captivating as a story for us as it seems we all pretty much agree that CHIKARA needs a sort of big bang to get people excited again
|
|
|
|
Post by Apricots And A Pear Tree on Dec 6, 2016 15:59:21 GMT -5
For the curious, Amasis now goes by Desean Pratt.
|
|
|
|
Post by funakifan88 on Dec 6, 2016 16:25:24 GMT -5
Heidi Lovelace lost the Fest Wrestling championship to Su Yung last night. So I think her indy bookings will start ending pretty soon. But she just started a feud with Kimberlee in AAW..... |
|
|
|
Post by lildude8218 on Dec 6, 2016 18:19:17 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Apricots And A Pear Tree on Dec 6, 2016 18:54:57 GMT -5
National Pro Wrestling Day will be February 4th at the Wrestle Factory.
|
|
|
|
Post by Apricots And A Pear Tree on Dec 7, 2016 20:04:32 GMT -5
 "Blink" March 04 2017 Kennebunk, Maine Time to start a new thread? |
|
Mr T L Wolf
Hank Scorpio
He has the looks of Andre the Giant, and the strength of Barry Windham. Not to mention he's a hero to a few armadillos, a kangaroo and a small herd of bison.
Posts: 5,322
|
Post by Mr T L Wolf on Dec 7, 2016 21:21:19 GMT -5
"Blink" March 04 2017 Kennebunk, Maine Time to start a new thread? Sweet. And I only slightly panicked that I'd be out of town that weekend. |
|
Chainsaw
T
A very BAD man.
It is what it is
Posts: 90,480
|
Post by Chainsaw on Dec 7, 2016 21:32:21 GMT -5
Ohmigod...please tell me the entire season is going to be named after Doctor Who episodes...
|
|
