Alex Marvez's weekly look at professional wrestling

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By the end of this weekend, CHIKARA fans will be seeing triple.The Philadelphia-based promotion is holding what is believed the largest three-day tournament in pro wrestling history. Eighty-four performers comprising 28 three-man teams will participate in CHIKARA's "King of Trios 2008" from Friday through Sunday at the same venue (New Alhambra Arena) that once housed Extreme Championship Wrestling."Dating back to 2005, we've had the habit of doing obese wrestling tournaments in February," CHIKARA founder, promoter and performer Mike Quackenbush said. "We started out doing tag-team tournaments with 64 wrestlers, which is pretty big onto itself."But you've got to constantly challenge yourself to get bigger and better. There's going to be a whole lot of lunacy going on."CHIKARA primarily features light-heavyweights specializing in Mexican- and Japanese-style wrestling, which places a heavy emphasis on high-flying. But to provide variety at King of Trios, Quackenbush has booked some teams that don't fit the CHIKARA mold. One is comprised of three semi-retired 1980s World Wrestling Entertainment stars -- Demolition (Bill "Ax" Eadie and Barry "Smash" Darsow) and George "One Man Gang" Gray."I get asked more about that team than any other in the tournament," a laughing Quackenbush said. "I think some fans are taken aback because they expect more of a showcase of independent stars. We really want to have some representation from every (wrestling style) out there."I don't think of it as campy or retro, which has been suggested. But these are guys some of us remember from our childhood. They were like gods to us then. I cant imagine having the opportunity to work with them and not take it."Quackenbush, 31, admits running such a massive event is a "gigantic" financial risk. CHIKARA hopes to turn a profit with King of Trios through ticket and DVD sales as well as live autograph sessions."This is the kind of thing that can make or break a company of our size," said Quackenbush, whose real name is Michael Spillane. "We desperately need people to support this or we're not going to be around for very long."Formed in early 2002, CHIKARA has built a cult following through its fast-paced action. The promotion also has a heavy lucha libre feel with a slew of masked grapplers. CHIKARA's web site even divides the talent roster into "technicos" and "rudos", which are the designations for babyfaces and heels used by Mexican promotions."I think the cultural and linguistic differences have been such big issues in the U.S. that no one here has really successfully tapped into lucha libre," Quackenbush said. "We're trying to be the group that does. We really embrace the tradition and style. I like to believe people out there will really grab hold of lucha if it's exposed in the right way."Since debuting in 1994, Quackenbush has meshed different wrestling styles through international touring and grappling against standout performers like Billy Kidman and Spike Dudley. Upon establishing himself as one of the industry's top independent workers, Quackenbush helped form CHIKARA by opening a training school in Allentown, Penn."From the moment I broke in, I never saw WWE as a viable career path because I didn't have the physique or size," the 6-foot, 191-pound Quackenbush said. "I also didn't want to go anywhere where I felt my style would be a stumbling block or creative impediment."I've thought about quitting quite a few times. It's really easy to get burned out on a variety of things on the independent circuit, especially spending life in an airport. But this is something I'm still passionate about as an art form. I'm lucky I've always found something new to pursue."For more information on CHIKARA, visit www.chikarapro.com. (Alex Marvez writes a syndicated pro wrestling column for Scripps-Howard News Service. Contact him at alex1marv@aol.com.)