Looking Forward to the English Johnnies in Chikara This Month? Thank Chris Hero

Looking forward to Saint? Thank Chris Hero!

If you don't listen to Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast, then good God man, what the hell is wrong with you? Anyway, if you're one of those forlorn souls who isn't in on the goodness, this week's guest was Chris Hero. Even if you're against podcasters, listen to this for the stories. One of the stories has everything to do with Johnny Saint and by proxy, Johnny Kidd, showing up to Chikara this month at the duo of Chikarasaurus Rex shows.

As it turns out, Saint was a bit of a recluse after his final "retirement" match in 2000. He didn't go to reunions, conventions, cards or anything. He just went about his life, looking after his parents, enjoying retirement. Little did he know that his work was being viewed and viewed again and viewed multiple times by the guys on the independent wrestling scene in America. Apparently, the English style of chain wrestling had become HUGE among guys like UltraMantis Black, Mike Quackenbush, Cabana and Hero among others. The last of those guys wondered aloud why Saint wasn't really around, and he pretty much tracked the English icon down. I won't go into how Hero did it - listen to the fuckin' podcast, you n00b - but he did, and in 2006, Saint made his return to the ring.

If Saint doesn't return to the ring because of Hero inspiring him, do we get him joining Quack and Jorge "Skayde" Rivera in the Masters of 1000 Holds team at King of Trios 2009? Do we get him and Quack hitting it off at that event to the point where Saint is coming back in at C-Rex and bringing Johnny Kidd with him? It could be possible, but at the same time, it seems highly unlikely to me. Because Chris Hero took mad initiative, we get cool-ass English chain wrestling and two catch-as-catch-can legends coming over to blow our minds for two nights in Southeast PA. I don't know about you, but that's a big deal.

So if you didn't think Hero was awesome enough already for his wrestling character and verily the millions of feds he is participating or has participated in in his 10+ year career, this is another reason why he's a pretty cool dude.

Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein - Please visit his site to view the plentiful amounts of pictures he's taken for DGUSA, ROH and other indie feds: Get Lost Photography

Chikarasaurus Rex Weekend Is William Regal Approved

We all knew English catch-as-catch-can legends Johnny Saint and Johnny Kidd were coming to Chikara for Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Sequel weekend. Over the last couple of days, we found out what matches they'd be competing in. Here's the first, scheduled for July 30th in Reading, PA:

World of Sport!
Photo Credit: ChikaraPro.com

Holy crap, it almost makes me want to risk alienating my 6 months pregnant wife by going to Reading for that show. However, if people are giving me good advice, then I'm erring on the side of caution here, as drawing the ire of a pregnant woman really is fucking stupid. So I'm sad that I won't be able to go to this one, especially since this match got a rousing endorsement from an expert on English grappling:

In a related note, Regal is the man on Twitter. He's one of the most interactive wrestlers on there, along with Claudio Castagnoli and Sugar Dunkerton. Anyway, back to the point at hand, if you're free on the 30th, can be in the Reading area and are a wrestling fan, then Regal's endorsement should be more than enough impetus for you to go. Seriously, this is like hearing Mario Batali say that an Italian restaurant is must-eat-at, or Kirk Hammett give you the recommendation to listen to a guy shred on guitar.

Of course, that isn't enough. No, as you know, Chikarasaurus Rex weekend is two days long, and Sunday's card in Philly, a card I will be attending. Of course Chikara isn't content just to let Reading have all the awesome. Kidd and Saint will of course be sticking around the whole weekend, and just in case Saturday's card didn't feature an awesome enough match, well, they had to go and up the ante for Sunday, which for my sake, IS AWESOME FREAKING SAUCE:

Well-played.
Photo Credit: ChikaraPro.com

I was hoping for Colt Cabana to be involved in the proceedings for that weekend, and my prayers to the Wrestling Gods were answered. Quack being involved is just gravy. Seriously, there scant few wrestling matches that I look forward to watching with this much fervor. It's good that WWE is giving us one in Punk/Cena at Money in the Bank, but to have two in the same month? Especially one of this caliber? I'm in hog heaven right now.

All of this goes to reinforce how freaking epic Chikara is when it comes to running an extremely fun, supremely eminent wrestling promotion. You ask me why I act as their propaganda arm, and I will point to these matches, which are just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to their awesomeness, as incontrovertible proof. Chikara is wrestling, folks.

I Want Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler

Good partner for Swagger, but better adversary?
Photo Credit: WWE.com

Steve Austin was all over RAW Monday, and while his interaction with CM Punk got all the headlines and teased everyone's sense of inner markdom, arguably his most important segment came when Dolph Ziggler and Vickie Guerrero came into his office begging for a United States Championship shot. Austin granted it to him conditionally, as long as Guerrero wouldn't accompany him to the ring for his shot. He accepted. I didn't take it for a face turn, but it was a pretty telling tease, at least at the time.

Then, in the next segment, Ziggler came out for a match, followed immediately by Jack Swagger. Not really realizing that it could have been a tag match, I got really excited, thinking they really were turning Ziggler and we were getting a match between two of the best workers in WWE today. Well, it was a tag match, and it was good, so my excitement wasn't dampened for nothing. However, watching Ziggler take Kofi down during the match with an amateur-style double-arm takeover, it did nothing to sate my thirst for a match between the two blond-haired midcard heel standouts.

We all know Swagger's amateur background. It's part of his character. We're reminded of Ziggler's time at Kent State from time to time, but it's not obnoxiously pointed out. However, that background is there. I think for that reason, the two would mesh well. Then again, I'm a mark for chain wrestling, so maybe my view is skewed. But you know what? Chain wrestling, amateur stuff and the catch-as-catch-can style is pretty neat to watch. And it's my blog.

Even after that process is over, both guys are more than capable of bringing it in the ring. Again, they're two of the best workers in the company. I'm hoping they follow through on a face turn at Capitol Punishment just so I can see this series. Call me a dork, but hey, I know what I like.

Remember you can contact TH and ask him questions about wrestling, life or anything else. Please refer to this post for contact information. He always takes questions!

HUGE Chikara News for Anglophiles

AAAWWWWW YEAH BOYEEEEE
Photo Credit: ChikaraPro.com

British legends Johnny Saint and Johnny Kidd are coming to Chikarasaurus Rex weekend. As a guy who's getting tickets to one if not both nights (probably just night 2 in Philly realistically) and who has a great appreciation for European-style mat wrestling, this is GREAT news. Johnny Saint was a treat to watch at King of Trios in 2009, and Kidd promises more of the same, although I'm more unfamiliar with him than Saint.

This is a teaser photo, but hopefully, at least one of the matches that they'll announce in the future will involve Colt Cabana. Why? Because Colt is a master Euro-style catch wrestler. Also, because F you, that's why.

Remember you can contact TH and ask him questions about wrestling, life or anything else. Please refer to this post for contact information. He always takes questions!