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| The queens return Photo Credit: Zia Hiltey |
The first team in is the one that won the whole damn thing last year. Sendai Girls will attempt to do what no other team has done in the history of the tournament and repeat as Champions. Meiko Satomura, Cassandra Miyagi, and Dash Chisako will come back for a second go-around. The odds are stacked against them if just for the sheer entropy against repeating. The Devastation Corporation came closest in 2015 with a semifinal appearance, but many times, the defending Champs don't even enter the next year. It should be interesting to see how far they go this time around.
The second trio could very well be the one that wins. The Legion of Rot contains the remnants of Nazmaldun's forces from Season 16 (2016). While most of Hallowicked's minions were freed from the grip of the Lord of Rot with the freeing of UltraMantis Black from the Eye of Tyr's influence, he retains the services of both Frightmare and Kobald, who will ride beside him. Guest teams have won Trios the last two years, but if any team seems likely to break that trend before it becomes a streak, it's the dark forces of decay.
The third trio was announced just this past Tuesday. The colorful birds of prey, the Xyberhawx, will enter their first Trios tournament. The group debuted during the filmed-in-secret season 17, and Sylverhawk, Nytehawk, and Razerhawk will look to make the biggest splash in their young careers with a big showing in the tournament.
Three teams are down, and 13 more have yet to be unveiled. I expect the slate to be heavy with both debut trios given Chikara's shift in flavor towards recent WrestleFactory graduates as well as British guest teams given the location. Their identities will filter through over the coming weeks.