FanPost

King Of Trios 2016: Preview!

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I couldn't do this preview without starting with the following video.

Labor Day weekend, at the Palmer Funplex (Charles Chrin Community Center) in Easton Philadelphia 16 teams of three descend with all vying to be the very best, like no trio ever was. The annual three night event dates back to 2007 (not taking place during the dark times of 2013) and is the shining showcase of Chikara's seasons, bringing together the best of Chikara with incredible wrestlers from around the world and even a few from those nostalgic years past.

It has been won by such wrestlers as Claudio Castagnoli (Cesaro) as part of the BDK, Cruiserweight Classic competitor Lince Dorado as part of the Luchadores de Mexico and last years winners (beating out the Bullet Club of AJ Styles and The Young Bucks) Team AAA of Fénix, Aerostar and Drago. And this year sees 16 teams from all around the globe arriving in Easton to try and add their name to that honoured list.

So without further ado, let's get down to the teams, the first round matchups and what's in store!

Team #CWC vs The Warriors Three

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It's safe to say the Cruiserweight Classic has been tearing it up on a Wednesday night and we have a team representing them here at Trios! The team of Johnny 'Gargano' Wrestling, Cedric Alexander and the Trailblazer, the Game Changer, the Ukulele Picking Wildcard himself, the Legal Eagle, Regal Beagle Drew Gulak. And whilst Alexander is a newcomer to Chikara his teammates are quite familiar, Gulak being a regular and Wrestle Factory trainer, whilst Gargano is a former Campeonatos de Parejas as part of Team F.I.S.T.

Facing them in night one is a tough test in the form of the Warriors Three. The Estonian Thunderfrog charged with assembling a team by his gods, turned to Princess Kimberlee the former Grand Champion and after a long search to find the third member to complete their team whilst also fulfilling the gods wishes (of someone both fierce and strong but also of royalty) they turned to a certain vi-King in Oleg the Usurper. And so the Young Lions Cup holder Thunderfrog, the Princess and the Usurper all head into battle on a mission from gods.

Team SHIMMER vs Team Original Divas Revolution

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Team SHIMMER, Crazy Mary Dobson, Candice LeRae and Solo Darling coming in for the injured Madison Eagles go into night one ready to face off with some of the toughest women from wrestling's past. Looking to prove that the current crop of female wrestlers are truly going through a renaissance, hoping to match their veteran counterparts blow for blow.

The championships they have won, the accomplishments they have made during their careers, the roads they have set for the future to follow, the glass ceilings they have shattered all make Mickie James, Victoria and Jazz one of the toughest challenges in this tournament. Skill and Class are permanent and that alone makes the veteran team a tough challenge for the young lionesses of SHIMMER as they look to power through to the finals and add one more accomplishment to their storied careers.

The Colony vs Team Big Deal

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The colony of Fire Ant, Soldier Ant and Silver Ant, one of Chikara's most successful Trios, head into this year reunited at last. Having gotten their Soldier back last year at the Season Finale (Top Banana) the original team is raring to win the tournament one more time. Mixing the high flying skill of the Hottest Property in proffesional wrestling in Fire Ant, the superb submission skill of Silver Ant with the pure brute strength of the Colony's battle hardened Soldier make them one of the strongest teams in this tournament.

Team Big Deal though have made a bright start since their debut in Toronto this past month. The Big Deal himself, Swoggle and his bodygaurds Sloan Caprice and Rick Roland came out of No One's First, and you're next with a win over the United Nations trio, and sometimes that bit of form is enough to topple even the strongest of teams.

Team SENDAI Girls vs Heidi Lovelace & N_R_G

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The first of our Joshi teams this year, Team Sendai Girls represent the Japanese promotion of Sendai Girl's Pro Wrestling. Composed of Meiko Satomura, DASH Chisako and Cassandra Miyagi they come into this weekend as worthy ambassadors to the Joshi movement of Japan and will no doubt turn heads and bring more eyes to their way of wrestling.

Heidi picked N_R_G (the former Campeonatos de Parejas) as her partners, claiming they were the only one's who had her back in the past few months, surprising many who expected a Heidi and KimberLee team up. But in the team of Race Jaxon and Hype Rockwell she has one of the strongest tag teams in Chikara with her and hopes to become the first female winner of King of Trios.

Team Police Squad vs The United Nations

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Officer Warren Barksdale called in the backup for the weekend, bringing in Detective Bill Carr and the Supercop himself Dick Justice to try and enforce their way through the finals on night three. Detective Dan Barry, out of town on another case, couldn't make this one to back up his partner, but they hope to handle this between the three of them.

Across from them in this one will be the United Nations led by their captain, the Ecuadorian Aristocrat, the Top Banana of Chikara and the only man to sell out the Ecuadome on multiple occasions Juan Fransisco de Coronado. Capitan Juan leads the Proletariat Boar of Moldova and the ex-Pakistani Prakash Sabar into this one, but under the threat that the two shape up or ship out after miscommunication have blighted their last few matches (especially those against the Big Deal). Can the United Nations remain united for this one?

The Snake Pit vs Team JWP

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Ophidian and his student Argus are all that remain of their team, from Challenge of the Immortals, Snake Pit and so had to look for outside help to reach the magic number. They didn't look far though, the master of Snake Style turning to his Osirian Portal teammate Amasis to make the magic number. The Portal being one of the cornerstone tag teams of Chikara with Argus bringing his close teachings under his master to the table make them a ssssure threat in this one.

Team JWP, the other Joshi team this year, comprised of Hanako Nakamori, Manami Katsu and Command Bolshoi again look to represent their art well in this years tournament and will provide a tough test for any trios they face throughout the weekend. With their fighting spirit and their hard hitting nature it really does prove a difficult test in the first round.

The Batiri vs Major League Moustache

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The first team from the Lord of Rot's arsenal enter the contest, the team of the Batiri in Obariyon and Kodama with Kobald, and look to spread his fear and darkness over the weekend. The three of them already assured of their victory to the point of setting up a Go Fund Me for medical expenses for their opponents (check it out, it's worth a read).

Dasher Hatfield has had a tough time of learning who to trust these past few months, struggling with his stepcousin-in-law's cheating ways (which ultimately cost his team, Dasher's Dugout, in the Challenge of the Immortals). He did manage to find two upstanding gentleman to join him though in the form of the current Campeonatos de Parejas, representing Fight Club:Pro out of Wolverhampton in the 'Superdon' Trent Seven and the Tasche Twiddling Technical Taskmaster Tyler Bate. The team who came within one second of beating Bullet Club last year to reach the finals are looking to go one step further with the old timey king of swing and win the whole thing.

Worker Ant, Arctic Rescue Ant and MISSILE! ASSAULT! MAN! vs Hallowicked and two of Nazmaldun's weapons

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Being the odd Ant out for the Colony brought some doubts out into the open for Worker Ant, he worried his brothers didn't exactly have his back, especially with the issues between him and Silver Ant flaring up before the huge tag match at No One's First, and You're Next! The same match in where Arctic and MISSILE! answered his call to arms, proving that they had his back, that they would fight alongside him. And now the ReinforcemAnts go into battle against the forces of Nazmaldun in the Grand Champ and his mystery teammates, hoping to cut them down and deliver a massive blow to their spreading influence.

Hallowicked entered himself into this tournament for the glory of Nazmaldun, announcing that he will pick two fellow soldiers of rot to fight beside him and win the medals come night three. Now whilst not saying who, he does have a lot of choice to pick from, Icarus, Mr. Touchdown and his Knightmare Warrior teammate of Frightmare all are available from the arsenal of Nazmaldun, whilst the Betrayer still is out there and may be revealed. Regardless of whom is picked, this trio will be one of the more dangerous ones in the competition, especially with the evil power behind them.

What else is happening?

But that isn't all that happens during Trios weekend, far from it. Two more King of Trios traditions will occur during this weekend, as well as the fan conclave before night two and a few more surprises along the way.

Rey de Voladores

The first tradition is the annual tournament of high flyers, the Rey de Voladores mini tournament that takes place during nights two and three. Eight of the best will compete for the plaque in this one, with former winners including Kota Ibushi, Chuck Taylor, Too Cold Scorpio, El Generico and last years winner Mark Andrews.

So far we know of five names entered out of the usual eight competitors.

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Tag Team Guantlet

Also on show during night three will be the traditional tag team gauntlet. Offering the best chance to earn up three points and a title shot against current Campeonatos Moustache Mountain, it proves to be a very tempting offer which most tag teams try to cash in on. Again it's a match full of surprise returns and some whacky Chikara shenanigans (last year featured a touch football game and a thumb war with the Blue Meanie and Simon Dean!)

Again, not all names have been announced, we just have four so far, but one is the former Campeonatos searching to win the last thing left to win in Chikara.

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Fan Conclave

Taking place before Night two, we see a gathering of fans before take part in a wide variety of festivities. Last years improv show still makes me smile, from seeing Trent Seven and Ashley Remington (currently back in his partying peacocky ways elsewhere) cut a promo on Los Conquistadors for In Your House, Arkansas using just the words 'In your House' to Drew Gulak using his lawyer skills to win the legal battle of Andre selling the WWF championship to Ted Dibiase.

This year comes with a twist though, taking place the morning of Night Two we see the Victory Road Rally. A scavenger hunt across Easton using Pokemon Go! as the Chikarmy will race around to win a very special prize.

Also in store for the conclave, we have a free beginners class in ring with Fire Ant and Ophidian. The chance to become Juan Francisco de Coronado's personal assistant for the day and a fan tournament in WWF No Mercy with the winner getting free Wrestle Factory beginners training and much much more.

Also announced so far we have:

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That ol' Juke Joint Lucas Calhoun vs 'The Velvet Teddy Bear' Chuck Taylor TM

And

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Deonna Purrazzo in action against an as of yet named opponent.

And that is what's in store so far for an action packed fun filled weekend in Easton. Tickets will still be available on the door, again as usual, full details are available on the chikara website at www.chikarapro.com as well as details on their archive and on demand service (well worth the free week trial) and for anyone going, come say hi to me and Triple G! (trust me you can't miss the guy with the Giraffe).

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Cageside Seats readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cageside Seats editors or staff.