Take the realism of Japanese wrestling, the high-flying acrobats of Mexican lucha libre, and tons of comic book imagery — and you get chikara.
And on Sept. 19, the “sport,” if you will, makes its New York debut in Greenpoint, pile-driving home the crazy and unpredictable antics that out-of-town wrestling fans have come to love.
“It’s something they’ve been asking for for a long time,” said Mike Quackenbush, who founded the sport in 2002.
Copying the Mexican tradition, good guys — known as técnicos — and villains called rudos will battle in singles and tag-team matches. But don’t expect soap opera storylines or top notch, WWE-style production values here.
“Chikara reminds the fans that wrestling is supposed to be fun,” said Quackenbush. “For a long time, people have been just kind of content to mimic the [Vince] McMahon sports entertainment model. We’re one very drastic step removed from those groups.”
It’s also more family friendly than the ultra violence on TV every week. So there’s no blood, death matches, or foul language.
But you do get treated to three-and-a-half hours of action inside the squared circle, featuring stars Claudio Castagnoli, Eddie Kingston, Delirious and Manami Toyota, considered one of the best female wrestlers in the world.
Chikara at the Warsaw [261 Driggs Ave. at Eckford Street in Greenpoint, (718) 387-0505] Sept. 19, 3:30-7 pm. Tickets are $25. For info, visit www.chikarapro.com
