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| These guys will be there to try and claim a legitimate KOT crown Photo Credit: Scott Finkelstein |
The final four teams for King of Trios have been announced. Two of them rep The Flood, and the final team is another super guest team that actually made more than a few waves for reasons of mixed providence. I'm not a huge fan of the final team getting into the tournament, but honestly, 15 out of 16 trios hitting the mark ain't bad at all.
First up on the docket is the nefarious union under the Polar Baron, also known as the Bloc Party. The Proletariat Boar of Moldova leads a team that includes Mr. Azerbaijan and the greenhorn Prakash Sabar. Funny is the inclusion of the Bloc boys since they've outlasted the team they originally arrived into the Chikaraverse to fight, the Baltic Siege. Thanks to the chokebreaker of Deucalion and the evil grip of Jimmy Jacobs, the Siege is down to only the Lithuanian Snow Troll. Anyway, the team is in brave new territory, not exactly fighting against The Flood, but with their main foes virtually eradicated. I'll be interested to see where they go.
Speaking of Jacobs, the Flood's consigliere will lead his own team into the fray. He will be flanked by Eddie Kingston and Volgar. Jacobs promised Kingston his Grand Championship back, and the War King seemingly has bought the pitch hook, line, and sinker. Volgar is the unfamiliar name to a lot of people who haven't kept up with results as closely as necessary. He started his career as one of the plague doctors who flanked Jacobs upon his entry into arenas starting at National Pro Wrestling Day. Of course, he was one of two, but Kingston thrashed the other one and essentially took his place. Kingston's presence on this team makes this the Flood squadron that is most likely to take home the title. If I were a prognosticating man, I would place them in the final four at the very least.
The second Flood team to be announced in the last interim was more conventional and predictable. Colony: X-Treme Force has finally been named to the tournament. As many may remember, the trio that includes Missile Assault Ant (Missile! Assault! Ant!), Orbit Adventure Ant, and Arctic Rescue Ant was retroactively named the 2011 King of Trios Champions by Wink Vavasseur, but the team that REALLY won the title, the Colony (Original Recipe) at least took their medals back. Either way, this trio is another dangerous threat to go far. These impostor ants seem to be a lock to win their first round match at least.
The final announced trio for this year's event seemed to be the trump card, and going by star power, it could totally pass as one. Homicide, Hernandez, and Chavo Guerrero will be entering the fray as LAX. Homicide is not a stranger to Chikara, as he faced off against Kingston at The Germans in November 2010. Hernandez and Guerrero are making their debuts for the promotion. Now, I was a fan of the Kingston/Homicide match, and in another situation, I might have welcomed him aboard. Hernandez isn't as offensive either, but Guerrero feels like he's a sub-Jannetty guest star to nab (Marty Jannetty being replacement level for a Chikara wrestler, I guess). He wasn't really good in his last gasp as a WWE wrestler, hasn't showed anything approaching competence in the ring since then.
Maybe I'm just projecting anger onto LAX for not being the Submission Squad or the Sendai Girls or even a more "fun" team with someone who is NOT Chavo Guerrero, much in the same way Rey Mysterio got absolutely defecated upon for not being Daniel Bryan at the Royal Rumble. And honestly, as a Chikara fan, the other 15 teams scratch my various itches that I've had for King of Trios this year. But man, Chavo Guerrero as the money reveal for the slate this year? Pass.
Chikara has promised more announcements about night two and three extracurricular activities. More guest stars could be in the cards, as well as some other Chikara wrestlers not involved in the tournament itself getting matches. The announcements don't seem to be done just yet.