CHIKARA Story Recap

[cero2k]

Part 1: Dusk
The end of CHIKARA's Season 9 (2010) saw the appointment of Wink Vavasseur as the Director of Fun by CHIKARA's new owners, the Worldwide Media Development Corporation, a modest holding of the frighteningly large Titor Conglomerate. At first, this was a positive and welcomed change, as CHIKARA suffered under the rule of Die Bruderschaft des Kreuzes, but Titor's true intentions, and Wink's relative incompetence, were yet to come to light.

Wink's frequent use of Titor's "Condor Security" paramilitary force as his own personal security drew the ire of his no-nonsense father Conrad. Irritated by the needless exposure of his Condors, Conrad cautioned his son: "no more screw-ups!" Their volatile relationship would be exploited on June 2, 2013 during the live broadcast of CHIKARA's "Aniversario: Never Compromise."

At "Never Compromise", the exact kind of exposure the Vavasseurs hoped to avoid arrived on their doorstep, or more accurately, their mobile devices. A photo linking members of the Titor Conglomerate's executive suite (including Wink's father Conrad) to the extremist compound Elohim City was leaked via Twitter in an apparent act of sabotage by a disgruntled former employee. The revelation immediately sent the Vavasseurs into a tailspin that resulted in dozens upon dozens of Condor guards swarming the Trocadero Theatre and abruptly ending the main event match, which was still in progress. Condor disconnected the live stream, and forcibly evacuated the venue, throwing the fans, along with wrestlers and their belongings, out of the building. The stage was destroyed. CHIKARA was, quite literally, in ruins.

Less than 24 hours later, the remainder of CHIKARA's 2013 events were canceled and many of the company's assets, including los Campeonatos de Parejas, were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Titor removed Worldwide Media from their website to distance themselves from the chaos of "Never Compromise." In a frantic scramble to cover their tracks, the Titor Conglomerate was quick to scorch earth as they retreated from view, and CHIKARA was reduced to mere ashes.

[cero2k]

Part 2: Darkness
In 2011, a new wrestling company called Wrestling is Fun! emerged on the scene and a procession of others soon followed... Wrestling is Cool, Wrestling is Heart, Wrestling is Intense, Wrestling is Awesome, Wrestling is Respect and Wrestling is Art. Not only did they share a storytelling universe with CHIKARA, but also with Kaiju Big Battel, creating a playground with a staggering amount of heroes... and villains.

With CHIKARA destroyed and its roster shattered at "Never Compromise" on June 2, 2013, the fragments found their way aboard figurative life boats: the "Wrestling Is" network. There, they continued to wrestle and explored new territories, at the same time mourning the loss of their home and wrestling family. While the Wrestling is companies felt a little like CHIKARA, they were no substitute, as CHIKARA has always been bigger than the sum of its parts. CHIKARA represents a certain set of ideals that put it in a category unto itself, which, over the years, has made it a target for various cabals of rudos and miscreants.

In the autumn of 2013, months after the events of "Never Compromise", many of these villains, seemingly defeated or otherwise vanquished, slowly crept out of the woodwork. At Wrestling is Intense, the members of GEKIDO (17, combatANT and deviANT) stormed the ring and in something akin to a hostage situation, forced the shutdown of the company. Then, in October, Dr. Cube reared his square head at Wrestling is Awesome, stealing the organization's money and assets, effectively bankrupting the operation in the process. November spawned another monster: Sinn Bodhi (flanked by his Odditorium) used mysterious means to somehow take control of Wrestling is Art, and then promptly closed it. December was even darker, as Wrestling is Cool's owner, Milo Schnitzler, was revealed to have been a sleeper agent of the BDK all along, and showed his allegiance to Ares by ending the company on command.

The days leading up to the first Wrestling is Fun! event of 2014 were tense, as the villains overtly threatened to appear and stamp out one of the remaining traces of CHIKARA. Previously, they had gone largely unopposed, but on January 18, they were met by Icarus (wielding a baseball bat) and a ragtag team of defenders that were able to run them off. In fleeing, Dr. Cube ominously remarked, "very well Icarus, we shall respect your wishes."

The very next day in Boonton, NJ the rudos appeared at Wrestling is Respect. The locker room emptied to form a defensive line and even Sidney Bakabella's Wrecking Crew (the three members of the Devastation Corporation, Jaka, & Oleg the Usurper) came to aid the cause... or so it seemed. The Wrecking Crew proved to be little more than hired muscle. Revealing their true colors, they joined forces with the group of villains destroying the roster and venue, declaring "Respect is dead!"

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Part 3: Dawn
With chaos escalating, Icarus' desperation mounted, but given his checkered past, many former members of the CHIKARA roster were reluctant to align themselves with him. However, with the villains growing in power and in number, it became clear that past rivalries would have to be put aside lest all remnants of CHIKARA be destroyed.

February 1, 2014 marked National Pro Wrestling Day, an expression of pro-wrestling's positive power in the world and a symbol of all the best elements of the art form. In other words, it is the exact sort of place to make a statement...or take a stand. During a hard-fought bout between two of Wrestling is Heart's brightest stars, they flooded the Palmer Center: GEKIDO, Dr. Cube and his posse, Die Bruderschaft des Kreuzes, The Colony: Xtreme Force, Sinn Bodhi and his Odditorium, and Sidney Bakabella's Wrecking Crew. Dr. Cube's hooded minions filled up every remaining bit of space in the arena. Then, a trio of masked villains took center stage, one of which revealed himself to be Jimmy Jacobs. Assembled, they were 40 strong.

Flanked by Hallowicked, The Colony, Dasher Hatfield and a few rookies, Icarus took a stand. Hopelessly outnumbered by a sea of villains, these eight heroes seemed destined for defeat. Jacobs mocked Icarus for coming to wage war with no army. Victory would be impossible...if only eight had answered the call. But to the surprise of those inside the jam-packed Palmer Center and the thousands watching live on YouTube, the minions revealed themselves to be members of CHIKARA! With the higher ground, the villains briefly enjoyed an advantage, that is, until a timely trio returned at the most crucial moment. A honking horn and a thick plume of smoke preceded the arrival of a DeLorean DMC-12 and its passengers: Archibald Peck and 3.0! Joined by the members of the long-suffering Submission Squad and Wrestling is Heart's finest, they turned the tide and sent the villains scurrying off with their tails between their legs!

As fans and wrestlers alike celebrated their victory, Icarus stood in the ring and held aloft a sign on which he had inscribed a fateful date - 5.25.14. Over the crowd's elated cheers, he spoke these words: "Tell 'em! Tell the world! We're coming back!"