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National Pro Wrestling Day
February 1, 2014 - 1PM
Last year, several indie companies on the East Coast and from the Midwest of the US banded together to present NPWD, with each company putting on a showcase match featuring indie talent. Chikara Pro was seen as the ringleader behind the whole thing-- in no small part to the "Wrestling Is" network of companies that it had started up-- and it ended up being a double-header. Two shows, of at least three hours apiece, in one day. It was held at the National Guard Armory in northern Philadelphia.
Another NPWD had been announced for 2014, but no further information had come out until more recently. With several of the "Wrestling Is" companies shutting down, due to small turnouts and Chikara's metaplot tying into their demises, the focus of NPWD seems to be shifting away from showcasing indie companies to showcasing indie talent. This year, it will emanate from the Palmer Center in Easton, PA.
This year, NPWD is also aiming to raise money for the Against Malaria Foundation. The event will still be free of charge, but donations will be accepted on the day, as well as through their website. 100% of the money will go directly to those in need.
Scheduled Matches
I should note that these matches above have not been listed on the site, but have been confirmed via Twitter.
Announced Talent
Expect more updates to come as more matches are announced.
February 1, 2014 - 1PM
Last year, several indie companies on the East Coast and from the Midwest of the US banded together to present NPWD, with each company putting on a showcase match featuring indie talent. Chikara Pro was seen as the ringleader behind the whole thing-- in no small part to the "Wrestling Is" network of companies that it had started up-- and it ended up being a double-header. Two shows, of at least three hours apiece, in one day. It was held at the National Guard Armory in northern Philadelphia.
Another NPWD had been announced for 2014, but no further information had come out until more recently. With several of the "Wrestling Is" companies shutting down, due to small turnouts and Chikara's metaplot tying into their demises, the focus of NPWD seems to be shifting away from showcasing indie companies to showcasing indie talent. This year, it will emanate from the Palmer Center in Easton, PA.
This year, NPWD is also aiming to raise money for the Against Malaria Foundation. The event will still be free of charge, but donations will be accepted on the day, as well as through their website. 100% of the money will go directly to those in need.
Scheduled Matches
- No Disqualifications - Juan Francisco de Coronado vs Shynron - The Ecuadorian Aristocrat and the Spirit Dragon have had an intense rivalry in recent months in Wrestling Is Fun, and after JFDC was forced to become Shynron's manservant and then turned on him, things have only gotten more heated between the two. This match has not been officially confirmed or announced yet, but the challenge has been laid down and accepted by JFDC and Shynron. An additional stipulation that has been added to the match is "no disqualifications," since JFDC has been known to make use of a manservant named Herbert (since fired) and the Ecuadorian flag against his opponents.
- La Copa Idola Match - Joe Pittman defends vs Heidi Lovelace - This match is apparently being brought to us by Wrestling Is Heart, since the match is for the WIH championship called La Copa Idola. Pittman won La Copa at a WIH show in September. Heidi Lovelace has been turning heads since last year's NPWD, where she put up a hard-fought loss to The League, and has locked it up with some tough competitors, even beating them, such as the tough-as-nails Eddie Kingston.
- Trios Match - The Baltic Siege vs The Bloc Party - The Baltic Siege-- Estonian Thunderfrog, Latvian Proud Oak, and Lithuanian Snow Troll-- have been at odds with the Bloc Party-- the Proletariat Boar of Moldova, Mr. Azerbaijan, and the Brown Morning of Belarus-- for months now. The Bloc Party had been a nebulous threat, watching them from afar, but became a much more real threat when the Bloc Party officially united under the banner of Martov Sicklemeier, the Polar Baron, who gave them their team name. The Siege and the Party have been fighting ever since the Siege refused to join the Bloc Party, and the Polar Baron is not about to forgive that snub.
- Best of 3 Falls - Colt Cabana vs Drew Gulak - These two technical experts have been embroiled in a contested rivalry over who is the better wrestler. Cabana's unorthodox, and often humorous, style belies his technical expertise, and Gulak is a mat technician par excellence. They've locked up many times over the last year, but this match may finally have a definitive conclusion to their rivalry.
- Singles Match - Mike Bennett vs Hallowicked - These two men are no strangers to one another. They've locked up a couple of times before, most notably at 2012's King of Trios finals in Chikara, when their respective trios (Team ROH and The Spectral Envoy) collided in a hard-fought contest. The Envoy emerged victorious that time, but Bennett's strength and power may give him a slight advantage, not to mention the presence of his girlfriend and valet Maria Kanellis at ringside.
I should note that these matches above have not been listed on the site, but have been confirmed via Twitter.
Announced Talent
- Colt Cabana - A well-renowned wrestler from Chicago, Cabana has a distinctive European-influenced style, frequently and liberally seasoned with comedy. Cabana is also the host of the Art of Wrestling podcast, in which he interviews anyone in the wrestling business that will answer his calls. Which is a lot.
- Maria Kanellis - Former WWE Diva Maria may not wrestle as much as she used to, but she's still a beautiful woman and she uses her talents to manage her boyfriend Mike Bennett to great success.
- Estonian Thunderfrog - Hailing from the country of Estonia, the powerful Thunderfrog is a stalwart competitor who swings his Hammer of Peace to dispatch his foes, none of whom can lift the Mjolnir-like hammer.
- Latvian Proud Oak - This lanky tree man from Latvia is the third member of the Baltic Siege and is quite the unorthodox competitor. When his strong root system plants itself down, no force in the land can move him!
- Lithuanian Snow Troll - Coming from the snowy parts of Lithuania, the Snow Troll is one of Thunderfrog's companions in their trio, the Baltic Siege. He's an energetic fellow, but hasn't gotten as much spotlighting as his comrades.
- Drew Gulak - A mainstay of CZW and other East Coast indies, Gulak is a feared technician and submissions expert.
- Fire Ant - "The Hot Property" is a member of Chikara's Colony, an energetic competitor and former Young Lions Cup champion.
- Green Ant - A member of Chikara's Colony faction, Green Ant is an extremely resilient competitor and so expert at submissions that he even forced "The Master of 1000 Holds" Mike Quackenbush to tap out.
- Mike Bennett - From the Ring of Honor roster, Mike Bennett is called 'The Prodigy' and has the kind of physique that most men only dream about getting.
- Eddie Kingston - The controversial Eddie Kingston calls himself, variously, 'The King of Diamonds,' 'The War King,' and 'God's Middle Child.' He's also the first (and only) Grand Champion of Chikara. Known for his stiff brawling style and his passionate promos, Kingston has as many detractors as he does supporters.
- Joe Pittman - I'll admit, I don't know much about Pittman.
- Juan Francisco de Coronado - The Ecuadorian Aristocrat isn't the tallest competitor, but he more than makes up for it with his technical skill. When he's not busy preening and coming to the ring with his protracted entrance with his manservant Herbert, he's tying up his opponents with the Coronado Clutch.
- Shynron - The Spirit Dragon is an up-and-coming high-flyer with a number of impressive matches on his record across the "Wrestling Is" network. He's a young wrestler, too, so he has a significant upside.
- Hallowicked - The Nightmare Warrior is a Chikara Gen-1 Original, a long-established member of the East Coast indie scene. With the combination of his size, agility, and experience, he is a competitor not to be underestimated.
- Francis O'Rourke - I'll admit, I don't know much about O'Rourke, but I know that he's been making a name for himself in the indie scene and was featured in last year's NPWD.
- Eric Corvis - I'll admit, I don't know much about Corvis, but apparently he has something of a steampunk gimmick.
- The Brown Morning of Belarus - A bizarre 'mythological figure' that has been sighted at Wrestling Is Fun, the feral creature is savage and unpredictable.
- The Proletariat Boar of Moldova - A towering porcine brute, the Boar is a silent force that, along with the Brown Morning of Belarus and Mr. Azerbaijan, has formed a faction in Wrestling Is Fun under the auspices of the Polar Baron.
- Mr. Azerbaijan - Voted multiple times "Azerbaijan's Sexiest Guy," Mr. Azerbaijan comes from the coal-mining regions of his home country, and is a stalwart comrade of the Proletariat Boar of Moldova and the Brown Morning of Belarus, and a loyal vassal of the Polar Baron.
- Heidi Lovelace - This female competitor has been making some heads turn over the last year or so. She's no stranger to competing against men either. "Vintage Heidi" is a capable wrestler and is on the rise.
- Los Ice Creams - This duo of devious dairy delinquents-- El Hijo del Ice Cream & Ice Cream Junior-- are luchadors from MexiCali, unorthodox and a bit unpredictable, and prone to being sneaky and cheaty in the ring in order to win.
- Sonjay Dutt - The 'Original Playa from the Himalaya' Sonjay Dutt is a former TNA Wrestling X-Division star and has been active in the Mid-Atlantic wrestling scene for quite a while.
- Gavin Loudspeaker - The 'Rock'n'Roll Ring Announcer' is the alter ego of Kaiju Big Battel emcee Louden Noxious. Gavin has been the ring announcer/emcee for Chikara and Wrestling Is for quite some time, so his participation comes as no surprise.
Expect more updates to come as more matches are announced.
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