Eddie Kingston ended 2011 by becoming the first ever Chikara Grand Champion after dominating the 12 Large Summit tournament. He also ended the year as the Number One Wrestler of that year. In 2012, he comes in at number seven on our Top 10, but his accomplishes remain incredibly impressive.
The Brooklyn native may not have won the Grand Championship in 2011, but he successfully defended it multiple times. Kingston faced all challengers for the title, from Vin Gerard in February, through battles with long time friend and rival Jigsaw, the final independent appearances of Brodie Lee and Sara Del Rey before their signing to WWE, the Japanese monster (and 2011 Young Lions Champion) Tadasuke and through a season ended war with Tim Donst.
Meanwhile, Kingston’s war with Donst has traveled outside their home promotion into AIW, where Kingston often gets booed for attacking a man that plays the fan favorite to Ohio fans. He also made sporadic appearances in Combat Zone Wrestling, though still doesn’t seem ready to settle in that promotion.
Kingston’s biggest success may have been in his inter-promotional war with Kevin Steen. Kingston beat Steen by disqualification in a Grand Championship battle at a Chikara event. He would fall due to interference by Steen’s allies SCUM during their pay-per-view rematch in Ring of Honor, this time for Steen’s ROH World title.
Ultimately, Kingston has become a major player in his home promotion of Chikara, but despite his major victories, hasn’t been graced with storylines as strong as other members of the roster, such as Mike Quackenbush, Sugar Dunkerton or The Colony. But with the Grand Championship still in his hands, Kingston looks to spend 2013 working to secure his name as the ace of Chikara.
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