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Chikara Pro Wrestling's 'Chapter 11' event yesterday with what was described to me as one of the most frightening moments to ever unfold at the former ECW Arena/New Alhambra in Philadelphia as masked performer Lince Dorado, competing in a mask vs. hair match against Mitch Ryder attempted a shooting star press into a senton splash but overshot (possibly because he didn't have good footing on the ropes when he jumped), snapping his neck violently against the mat. The move was the finish to the match. It appeared that Ryder was shaking to sell the move, but everyone quickly realized it was Dorado. Ryder draped Dorado's arm over himself to allow the referee to count a pin.
Immediately after the pin, Dorado's mask was removed and his face was covered with a towel (I believe to protect kayfabe) and he was stretchered to the back. In what was described to me as the "longest seven minutes you can imagine", fans sat in the building silently with Dorado's hysterical girlfriend and mother (who had rushed into the locker room) loudly being heard throughout the building. At that moment, there was a very real fear among the fans in the venue that they had just witnessed a death in the ring.
There were some chants from fans to end the show at this point. CHIKARA owner Mike Quackenbush came to the ring and announced that although the company had one more match scheduled (Chris Hero vs. Claudio Castagnoli), they were ending the show. He then asked that the audience remain in the venue as an ambulance had been called and they didn't want the fans departing to impede the ambulance. The fans were respectful of the situation and there were no incidents.
The initial fear was that Dorado may have suffered paralysis or worse, but he was responsive and moving around by the time the ambulance arrived. Following a CATscan, Dorado was later diagnosed with a severe concussion and was released from the hospital.
CHIKARA posted the following announcement in the hours following the event:
As most of you are well aware, Lince Dorado was knocked unconscious and lapsed into seizure while attempting a back splash on Mitch Ryder at tonight's Chapter 11 card. He was taken a local Philadelphia hospital immediately thereafter, and we are pleased to report that after a CAT scan and a few hours to rest and gather himself, Lince was released just over an hour ago. While he has been diagnosed with a serious concussion, and is suffering some understandable stiffness in his back and neck, Lince was in good spirits on his way back to Hotel CHIKARA, and wants to thank everyone for their support and understanding after the injury. He will remain State-side for the next few days and make at least one more trip to be examined before he is cleared to return to Mexico. [Note from Mike: The Mexico line is keeping within storylines. The remainder is not.]
We at CHIKARA would also like to extend our most sincere thanks and appreciation to the crowd tonight for their understanding in the matter, as all of you were truly first class in handling it, and made us even more proud to call you our fans. We promise that 2008 will see us make good on what we weren't able to present tonight, and then some.
Thank you again,
CHIKARA
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