This week, we ask the eternal question, "who could care less?"
Spoiler alert, I care far too much about the silliest sport on earth, so maybe it's me. If you guys don't believe me, I've spent several hours writing about it this week, and maybe, if I'm lucky, you'll give me a couple minutes of your day and read about it! Who knows, maybe I'll make a fan out of you guys. Or maybe, just maybe, you'll come to your senses mid-way through this and realize, "what in the world is wrestling even about?"
I cater to all sorts here at the wrestling vault! Dig in, dear reader, find out what this week in wrestling is all about!
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| CHIKARA |
Weekly Roundup
Here's what I watched for the week;
Continental Classic 2025
Predictions!
I found this template on Bluesky the other day and decided that I'd have fun predicting who I think will come out on top for the C2 this year!
These predictions were tainted by the winners of last weeks rounds of matches, which I've added to my prediction sheet. Aside from Fletcher's "upset" over Okada, nothing from last week was overly ground breaking, so I'm not too upset that I had to "modify" my predictions to make sure they were accurate.
I'm sure my predictions could be considered controversial to some and outright blasphemous to others, but take a walk with me while I lay out why I've picked what, and who, I've picked.
Blue League winner: Konosuke Takeshita
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| via @indecisivenatalie.bsky.social from Bluesky |
Gold League winner: Kyle Fletcher
This may come as a shock to some of you, but I'm a big Kyle Fletcher fan. Crazy, I know. I think the right move is for Fletcher to sweep the gold league and force Okada out of the title match at Worlds End. Sure, Okada's beef isn't with Fletcher per se, but Okada has been having issues with the whole Don Callis Family of late, so it wouldn't be out of the question for him to be mad with Fletcher for not only beating him, but also using that victory to force Okada to relinquish his title altogether. If Okada is only one win away, with his one loss as a result of Fletcher, I think we'd have a pretty pissed off Okada on our hands, aside from his beef with Takeshita.
So, that would mean the Worlds End C2 match would be Takeshita vs. Fletcher. In a perfect world, Fletcher would win this, but I could also see Takeshita winning, giving Okada another reason to want to fight the guy. Realistically, I don't think Okada/Takeshita needs anything else, it doesn't need to be for the IWGP World Championship or any other title, these guys hate each other enough that they should be content with just beating the other dude into a bloody pulp. Give Worlds End a big win for Fletcher to propel him into 2026 and leave Okada/Takeshita for another big show, outside of the bounds of the C2.
Furthermore, If you'll have a peek at my Blue League predictions, there appears to be a shifting of the ranks among the Death Riders, if we are to go off of points alone. There's been a lot of speculation recently with Jon Moxley's recent losses that he's going to be overthrown as the leader of the Death Riders. A lot of people are predicting PAC will be the one to take up control, with some believing Marina Shafir could be next in line. While I'm okay with either of those, as a long time Claudio fan, I want Double C to take up the mantle of the leader. To me, if Claudio picks up the win on this week's episode of Dynamite and sweeps through the C2, losing only to Takeshita, with Moxley unable to beat both Takeshita and Claudio, it will further sow seeds of doubt among the Death Riders about how strong their leader really is. Maybe the C2 will be the straw that breaks the camels back, with Moxley being removed from the group before the end of the year. Who's to say, but if I were in charge of booking Moxley's end in the Death Riders, this is how I'd have it done.
AEW Dynamite - 12/03/2025
PAC vs. Kazuchika Okada
A great showing from both men in this match. PAC had fantastic intensity and showed a real energy to try and get the better of Okada, who started this match in his much more relaxed pace, but picked things up as the match got deeper and deeper. PAC has been able to find a great blend of power wrestling as well as quick, almost cruiserweight style wrestling that he was known for many years ago, but always leaning towards the more brutal side of the offensive seesaw. PAC all but had the match one following a top rope brainbuster, his new multiple-rope-rebounding lariat, and the Brutalizer for a submission attempt, but Okada shifted in the Brutalizer to keep PAC down for three, escaping with the win. Interesting...
Okada wins. +3
Kyle Fletcher vs. Kevin Knight
Man, what a fantastic dance partner Kevin Knight is. More than able to hold his own against someone as good as Fletcher, this is the kind of match I was hoping for when I saw that Knight was in the C2. A great bit of exposure for someone who has yet to really get the singles spotlight shone on them like they deserve. Two kids with springs in their heels, Knight and Fletcher went blow for blow in a very exciting, excellent match. Fletcher's power game floored Knight on multiple occasions, thwarting his best efforts to keep any sort of offensive advantage going. Surviving some of Fletcher's gnarliest offence, this was a star making match for Knight. In the end, the corner boot and sheer drop brainbuster were enough to put Knight away.
Fletcher wins, +3
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Jon Moxley
A brutal, hard hitting hoss fight between the leader of the Death Riders and Moxley's Emissary of Violence. Claudio and Mox went to war and stood completely toe-to-toe the entire way through the match. Claudio was able to bust Moxley wide open by swinging him into the steps, only to make him bleed even more with another swing inside the ring, nearly forcing a submission after transitioning to a Boston Crab. Mox was more than ready to deal with Claudio, but was in peril far more than you'd expect somebody of his calibre. Claudio, to his credit, was able to (almost easily at times) push Moxley to a limit that few other men have. Swiss Death nearly catches Mox, but a Paradigm Shift out of nowhere grants Moxley an advantage in the final few minutes of this war. In the end, Claudio obliterates Moxley with a running European uppercut at the 15 minute mark, decapitating Moxley for the three count.
Claudio wins, +3
Here's where the C2 currently stands;
Well, looks like I was right on the money with my predictions so far, eh? Let's keep this streak alive! Next week will be Collision, the episode that airs the same day this post is published, as well as next week's Dynamite. As it stands, Darby is in limbo with an injury scare so it looks like he may end up being replaced but, if my predictions are anything to go off of, I don't think that will matter much in the long run. Darby's health, however, does matter. Get well soon.
Here’s what we’re reviewing for the Watchlist;
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Claudio Castagnoli & Equinox vs. Chris Hero & Shayne Hawke - Chris Hero - Chris Couldn't Care Less!
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| Go get 'em, tiger. CHIKARA |
Basic Breakdown
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| Couple'a kings. CHIKARA |
Teaming together since 2005, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli went by the name "Kings of Wrestling" wherever they went as a tandem. Two time CZW Tag Team Champions, along with one time CHIKARA Campeonatos de Parejas Champions as well as ROH World Tag Team Champions, prior to this breakup, they're an accomplished, well-oiled machine of a team.
The last time they teamed together was in a "Torneo Cibernetico 16 Man Elimination" at CHIKARA's "Cibernetico & Robin" event from 09/22/2007.
This breakup was evidently very short lived, however, as by the time "NOAH The Second Navigation '08 - Day 1" event came around on 02/15/2008, Claudio and Chris were teaming up to square off against Jun Akiyama & Kentaro Shiga.
Bell to Bell
Before the bell even rings, it's clear that Hero wants nothing to do with Claudio. During Castagnoli and Equinox's entrance, Claudio is in the ring straight from the word go, with Hero darting out through the ropes without a moment's hesitation. This breakup isn't sitting well with Claudio, and he wants to get his hands on Hero through any means necessary.
Claudio starts things off for his team, with Hero visibly reassuring Hawke that he's more than fit to take on Claudio. Sure, he's just about a foot taller than you, has muscles growing out of places you've never heard of, and could eat you for breakfast, but sure kid, you've got this. He's still hesitant, looking for reassurance from referee Bryce Remsburg as well, but Claudio lets Hawke get the upper hand-if only for a moment, when he charges for Hero on the apron, with Hawke going for a flash rollup. It's over in a flash as well, with Claudio's freak strength stopping Hawke's tornado DDT attempt cold, twisting and ripping him up into a vertical suplex position, then down into a gorilla press. Utter brute strength. Dismissively, Claudio presses Hawke up before letting him fall face first to the canvas.
Equinox tags in now, with Hawke powdering as Hero tags in. It's important to remember that these tag matches are fought under lucha tag rules, meaning you can either physically tag out, or simply go through the ropes to allow a teammate to become legal. Both count in CHIKARA. It's important to keep that in mind, as Equinox goes through the ropes not long after tagging in, trying to avoid Hero backing him into a corner. Without realizing it, Hero is now in the ring with Claudio, slowly turning around to notice that his opponent has changed. Ducking a running boot, Hero darts through the ropes himself, resulting in Hawke now being legal.
His attention fully on Hero, Claudio dismissively picks Hawke up and deposits him in the ring, lifting him over the top rope like a father lifts a child out of their crib. Giving it everything he's got, Hawke clubs Claudio in the chest with forearms before taking off from the ropes to crash with a shoulder tackle. Barely budging, Claudio gestures for Hawke to hit the ropes again, which he does with great intensity. Absorbing the hit, Claudio decides to humour Hawke this time. A good 5 seconds after impact, Claudio flies like he just stepped on a landmine, hitting the canvas hard. With this, Hawke realizes that he's going to need to work double hard to do anything to this guy. His best might be just enough to stagger Claudio, if even that.
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| Claudio gets bowled over! CHIKARA |
With ease, Claudio flattens Hawke with a single European uppercut, pulling him to his corner to tag in Equinox for a double back elbow. Tagging back in a moment later, Claudio sends Hawke for the ride with his signature giant swing, sending him 'round and 'round before making a pin attempt, but only scoring two. Equinox is back in now, making for a much more even matchup for someone the stature of Hawke. They trade armdrags and headscissors back and forth, with Equinox getting the better of the exchange, only for Hawke to catch him with a DDT out of nowhere before tagging in Hero for the save.
Despite Equinox's skill, he pales in comparison against someone with the deep, deep wrestling knowledge that Hero has. Hero begins to isolate Equinox on his side of the ring, always keeping an eye on Claudio, but keeping the pressure on Equinox constant, with regulars tags back and forth with Hawke to make sure both men stay fresh. Equinox has moments of hope, including a tag in to Claudio, allowing him to finally get his hands on He- no!
In the moments before the tag, Equinox went for a quick pin on Hero, but Hawke decided to try to interfere on behalf of Hero. Bryce, acting in the moment, got up from counting the pin to try and keep Hawke on the apron. In doing so, his attention wasn't on Equinox when he leaps across the ring to make the tag in on Claudio. When he did turn around, thanks due in no small part to Hero turning him around, it looked to Bryce that Claudio, too, was making a run in. So he dug in his heels and held Claudio back at the centre of the ring, stopping him mere inches from getting to Hero.
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| Bryce is just doing his job, guys! CHIKARA |
Using this as further fuel to the fire, Hero continues to isolate Equinox, tying him up in brutal submissions that could only exist in the mid of someone like Hero. Heavy handed chops in the corner leave Equinox on jelly legs, with Claudio effectively miles away, only able to watch as his partner is wailed on. Hero looks to have Equinox set up for big time offence, landing a huge dropkick that sends hero flipping over the top rope from the momentum. Springboarding back inside the ring, he darts for Equinox in the corner, but gets caught with a back elbow and a headscissors, leaving Hero staggered in the middle.
A tilt-a-whirl is turned into a side slam on Hero, with Equinox finally able to mount some sort of offence. Both men are flat out in the middle, with Hero able to tag in Hawke as Equinox crawls for Claudio. Hawke grabs the foot on Equinox to try and hold him in place, but it matters little, crawling that last bit forward and flopping like a fish to connect with the tag to Claudio! In like a hurricane, Claudio flattens Hawke with a huge European uppercut and a lariat.
⚡Move of the Match⚡
He eats an enziguiri and catches Hawke off a rope rebound, converting whatever he was attempting into a pop-up cutter out of a firemans carry position.
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| Gotcha, bitch! CHIKARA |
There looks to be a touch of miscommunication as Claudio goes for a European uppercut, with hawke catching it at first, only for Claudio to fire off with another one that decapitates Hawke with ease. He folds the much smaller man in half for a cover, with Hero climbing in the ring to save his partner from certain doom. The first time Hero and Claudio have gotten to "share" the ring comes when Hero snatches Claudio with a cravat, flipping him through with a neckbreaker at first, then into a suplex. Hero tries for a pin now, legal after Hawke rolled out of the ring, only for Equinox to break up the pin for his partner!
Equinox is able to send Hero out to the floor and prepares for a dive, completely unaware that Hawke is behind him, lying in wait for him to run the ropes. Hawke nearly takes Equinox down, but instead gets caught in a pin attempt, with Hero charging back in the ring to boot Equinox's head off his shoulders with a running boot. Back to the corner goes Equinox, with Hero crushing his chest with chop after chop. He's making a young WALTER blush. Calling the shots as he grabs Equinox in a cravat, Hero tells Hawke to springboard onto Claudio on the floor-big mistake.
As Hawke flies, he gets caught mid-air with a European uppercut. Swiss Death! Hero tries to suplex Equinox out of the cravat but gets caught with a backslide, holding Hero down for three!
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| The most dangerous move in wrestling! CHIKARA |
Overview & Final Rating
🟢 - Recommended, if you could be asked to care.
A really fun tag match here! CHIKARA is a promotion that always excelled when it came to their tag team wrestling, with it being a big part of what made them really stand out from other American indies. Fast-paced tags and exciting action were always a hallmark of their matches, with this one having a slower pace but telling a great story between the ropes. Claudio was built up to be a world-killer here, with hero terrified to stand across from him and Hawke basically incapable of doing anything to him. Hero was able to cleverly take Equinox apart but Hero's own ego was what costed him in the end, trying to play ring-leader when he should have been watching his own back. Fun stuff.
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It's been a while since I've given CHIKARA the spotlight, eh? It's one of my favourite promotions on the planet (and soon to be a special feature on the blog, keep your eyes and ears peeled) and I will never, ever skip a chance to give it it's flowers. Where they are deserved, of course, there's certainly parts of CHIKARA (*cough* Quackenbusch *cough*) that haven't aged well or are difficult to talk about nowadays, but by and large, it's a big time comfort watch for me, so I'll always enjoy getting a chance to review it for the Vault.
But, that's all I've got for this week, folks.
Until next week. Be well, stay safe, and love one another.
cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com
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