Chikara Season One

CHIKARA's Season One was the debut season for the Southeastern Pennsylvania-based professional wrestling company and took place during 2002.
There have been many important dates in CHIKARA history, like February 26 , 2006, when The Kings of Wrestling became the first Campeonatos de Parejas, or February 18 , 2007, when Jigsaw, Mike Quackenbush, and Shane Storm won the first King of Trios tournament, or November 13 , 2011, when Eddie Kingston became the Grand Champion at CHIKARA’s first iPPV . But the most important is May 25 , 2002, the date of the first CHIKARA show, which is appropriately titled The Renaissance Dawns.
The first show featured five matches. Mister ZERO pinned Dragonfly, The Beauty and The Beast (Love Bug and Marshall Law) beat The Night Shift (Hallowicked and Ichabod Slayne), Kid Kruel pinned Zane Madrox, Blind Rage pinned UltraMantis, and in the main event, The Black T-shirt Squad (Quackenbush, Reckless Youth, and Don Montoya) beat The Gold Bond Mafia (CM Punk, Colt Cabana, and Chris Hero) when Reckless pinned Colt after a northern lights 2K1 bomb.
The second show was less than a week later on May 31 . UltraMantis faced ZERO and they would feud for the rest of the Season before teaming up in the next. The primary rivalry of the season also started at this show between The Squad and The Night Shift (Rage, Hallowicked, and Slayne) when the two teams met in the main event. The Shift beat The Squad after Slayne hit Quack in the head with the pumpkin he brought to the ring with him, allowing Rage to get the pin and the win.
Over the next few shows, The Shift would continue to win, usually thanks to Slayne’s ever-present jack-o-lanterns (later revealed to be supplied by ZERO). Eventually, the interference begun to backfire and The Squad was able to turn the tide as the Season continued. At the sixth show on June 28 , Slayne took the losing fall in a 10 person tag team match featuring The Squad, Love Bug, Queen Bee, and UltraMantis against The Night Shift, Mister ZERO and Trinity H. Campbell. He had to wear a dress during the atomicos match at the next show on October 12 , when Quack, UltraMantis, Dragonfly, and a masked Gran Akuma wrestled with Rage, Wicked, Slayne, and ZERO. The stress and tension of constant losses destroyed The Shift from within. Slayne turned technico and lost his mask in CHIKARA’s first lucha de apuesta, a mascara contra caballera (mask versus hair) match, at the season finale. He would return the next season as Icarus.
It’s impossible not to talk about the first season without talking about The CHIKARA Wrestle Factory, which was founded by Quackenbush and Reckless Youth. Originally, CHIKARA was a way to showcase The Factory’s students. It was founded in January 7, 2002 and the first class included UltraMantis, ZERO, Dragonfly, Wicked, and Slayne. The first CHIKARA shows were held at The Factory itself, which was located at 1313 Linden Street in Allentown.
This upset some community leaders and a complaint was filed against CHIKARA claiming that The Factory was not zoned to host live wrestling events and the building could not accommodate the crowds shows would draw. Neighborhood activists also claimed the wrestling shows would ruin the complexion of the community, another zoning issue. The Zoning Hearing Board agreed and ruled that it couldn't host CHIKARA events any longer because it didn’t have enough parking for their shows.
Because of the zoning dispute, CHIKARA didn’t run any shows that summer. However, that didn’t stop CHIKARA from finding a new venue and running shows again. Their new home was at St. John’s Lutheran Church, only a few blocks from The Factory. The first St. John’s show was on October 12 and new talent would join the roster, including Akuma, Kingston, Blackjack Marciano, DJ Skittlez and Lester Crabtree. Later in the Season, Jigsaw and Bryce Remsburg would join them. Season 1 also marked the first appearance of Mitch Ryder and a special guest in La Parka during the fourth show on June 14 .
Before removing the gender wall entirely, CHIKARA had a short-lived sister promotion, called Kiryoku Pro and the sixth show was made of mostly women’s matches, with the exception of the 10 person tag team match, which was made in the aftermath of the Bee versus Campbell match. It was the first intergender match in CHIKARA history. More Kiryoku Pro showcase matches would happen throughout the rest of the Season, featuring Mercedes Martinez, Alexis Laree (better known as Mickie James), and Sumie Sakai.
Season 1 also featured the start of the longest running tradition in CHIKARA, The Young Lions Cup tournament. It started as a way to highlight the best of The Factory’s students. The first YLC was a two night affair, with Night 1 on November 9 and Night 2 on the 16 . The inaugural tournament included Skittlez, Akuma, Marciano, UltraMantis, Kingston, ZERO, Super Orka, and Wicked, who would go on to win it by beating ZERO in the finals with a super fisherman’s buster. Wicked’s first and only Season 1 defense would be at the season finale on December 7 against Akuma.

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