Thoughts Out of Context: December 2010

Before you panic, let me assure you that while the title may sound heady and heavy, this blog will be anything but. There will be no deep philosophical, theological, spiritual and metaphysical discussions here. This is just a collection of thoughts I had recently when reflecting on the past year... at least where it concerns CHIKARA Pro's 9th season.

To quickly bring people up to speed, the main storyline this year dealt with an evil faction that called itself The BDK and their seemingly endless domination of CHIKARA despite the efforts of the technicos ("good guys"). A lot of things happened this year dealing with that storyline. In fact, a lot of things happened in the last few years that tied into the storyline. Journey with me, won't you?

November 11, 2007: Shane Storm (now known as STIGMA) had been on the end of a losing streak for most of year. This night, he gets a win over Hydra and is seen leaving with UltraMantis Black, the head of The Order of the Neo Solar Temple.

January 2009: We learn that UltraMantis Black assisted in giving Storm the win in exchange for the counter to a submission hold called the CHIKARA Special. The counter was then given to Chris Hero who had succumbed to the hold on several different occasions during the 2007 season. Hero left CHIKARA in 2008 and went to a group called Kaiju Big Battel. In exchange for Hero's contract, the villainous Dr. Cube gave UltraMantis Black the Eye of Tyr, a Scandinavian artifact that could be used to control the minds of others.

May 23, 2009: In April, UltraMantis Black and Crossbones had abducted Delirious, the tag team partner of Hallowicked - a former ally of Mantis'. On this night, it was revealed that UltraMantis had used to Eye on Delirious to brainwash him into becoming a member of The Order of the Neo Solar Temple. According to legend, once the Eye is used, it must be given away or the user will be cursed to suffer bad luck and tragedy. He refused to believe the legend, so UltraMantis Black opted to hold on to the Eye of Tyr.

May 24, 2009: At Intermission of Anniversario Yang, a mysterious figure was seen walking around clad in a trench coat and wearing a mask that appeared very cyborg-esque. He'd been seen skulking around in the crowd for another 3 months before we'd learn more about him. Also this night, a tan ant came to the aid of The Colony, a team comprised of Fire Ant, Soldier Ant and Green Ant. We later learned that he was named Carpenter Ant.

August 15, 2009: After octogenarian wrestler Darkness Crabtree tried to unsuccessfully weasel his way into that year's Young Lions' Cup, a replacement was drawn randomly out of a hat. This replacement was Vökoder, the mysterious cyborg who had been seen lurking in the crowd that last few months.

August 16, 2009: A mysterious man dressed in white confronted UltraManits Black and gave him a box. Inside the box was a note which read "A war is coming..."

November 22, 2009: All hell breaks loose as the BDK finally reveal themselves and beat down UltraMantis Black and the entire technico roster at the conclusion of the season finale. Vökoder - who convinced UltraMantis Black to give him the Eye of Tyr for safe keeping - and Carpenter Ant unmasked to reveal themselves as Tim Donst and Pinkie Sanchez, two former technicos who had history with UltraMantis and the Order of the Neo Solar Temple

February 28, 2010: Ares, the head of the BDK, having reacquired the Eye of Tyr, comes down to ringside while UltraMantis Black and Delirious are wrestling The Colony for CHIKARA's Campeonatos de Parejas, the tag team titles. Ares shows the Eye to Delirious and whispers in his ear. This causes Delirious to freak out and run out of the arena leaving Mantis by himself to lose the match.

April 25, 2010: Ares, Tursus and Claudio Castagnoli, a former technico who turned on CHIKARA to team with his former partner Ares, win the annual King of Trios tournament. Mostly in part to the assistance of referee Derek Sabato who had returned after almost a year and a half absence and aligned himself with the BDK.

July 25, 2010: After an eight-man tag team match featuring members of the BDK, Pinkie Sanchez catches site of a mysterious figure in the entrance way. The figure reveals himself to be Vökoder. Pinkie begins to freak out and tries to catch the attention of his teammates who dismiss him, thinking that he's nuts. UltraMantis Black was flanked by two mysterious figures in black cloaks as he sat at the merchandise table that night. He described them to me as "protection".

August 27, 2010: A smartly dressed gentleman in a suit and glasses is seen walking through the crowd during the annual Young Lions' Cup weekend events. After he approached me and made some small talk with me as I stood in the concession line, he gave me a business card. This man is Wink Vavasseur, Executive Auditor of the Board of Directors: Special Assignment Task Force. He'd be seen walking around during the remaining events of the season, especially during matches where the BDK were involved. Mantis is once again seen with his two druids flanking him at the commentary table.

August 28, 2010: Obariyon, a mysterious wrestler clad in black and wearing green and black face paint debuts. UltraMantis Black seemed very interested in watching this match from the commentary table.

August 29, 2010: During a 30-wrestler battle royal, Vökoder enters the match and immediately goes after Pinkie Sanchez. Pinkie jumps out of the ring, eliminating himself from the match. Vökoder followed suit and chased Sanchez out of the building. CHIKARA scores its first major blow in the war against the BDK when Frightmare defeats Lince Dorado for the Young Lions Cup.

September 18, 2010: Kodama debuts as a partner of Obariyon. Once again, UltraMantis could be seen observing the match from behind the entrance curtain.

October 23, 2010: CHIKARA scores another victory as Eddie Kingston defeats the massive Tursus to win the annual Torneo Cibernetico.

Novermber 21, 2010: UltraMantis Black and Ares wrestle in a brutal Falls Count Anywhere match. As the match nears its end, two hooded figures approach the ring. They reveal themselves to be Obariyon and Kodama and charge the ring to seemingly come to UltraMantis' aid. As Mantis tries to convince them to attack Ares, they turn away from him and face a third hooded figure standing at the opposite end of the entrance way. Obariyon and Kodama leave the ring and Mantis is then defeated by Ares. Also on this night, the team of Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw defeat three other teams in a 4-way elimination match to earn 3 points and a shot at the Campeonatos de Parejas.

December 12, 2010: The cloaked figure from November reveals himself to be Kizarny a.k.a. Sinn Bodee. He says he trained Obariyon and Kodama for Mantis and now wants his payment, the Eye of Tyr. Mantis explains he no longer has the Eye and that Ares had taken it back. Sinn will hear known of it and sicks his men on UltraMantis. Despite all possible obstacles, Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw defeat Claudio Castagnoli and Ares in a 2 out 3 falls match to win the Campeonatos de Parejas which the BDK had held since March. Great celebration ensued as the belts were finally back with CHIKARA!

Now, why did I go and mention all of this? I felt that these were some of the major turning points in the storyline of CHIKARA vs. The BDK. But even more important to note, I was in attendance for all of these moments.

I started to follow CHIKARA in August of 2007. How interesting that the catalyst to everything began a mere three months after I became a fan. Also interesting how many of these huge moments happened while I was there in person. It can't possibly be a coincidence.

So that's where the title comes in; where do I fit in with the storyline? I don't mean me as a member of the audience. I mean me as in... ME, Chris McGuinness. How will I eventually impact this? I've been a loyal follower of UltraMantis Black since I began following CHIKARA. Will I be asked to officially join The Order of the Neo Solar Temple and vanquish the BDK and Kizarny's Dark Army for good?

Ares and the BDK still have the Eye of Tyr. Would my mind be able to resist the Eye's power if I were confronted with it?

Obariyan, Kodama and Sinn scare me... a lot. Would I succumb to fear and renounce my allegiance to UltraMantis Black if confronted by this dark army?

Season 10 begins on January 23. I guess we shall see where things go when that date comes.

Note: The preceding blog has been a work of fiction, for lack of a better term. All names, dates and results are real, but my "theorizing" is pure nonsense. That being said, I honestly hope no one took this too seriously. And on that off chance someone did; lighten up.