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Acronym CZW
Established 1999
Style Hardcore wrestling
American Wrestling
Ultraviolent wrestling
Location Philadelphia
Founder(s) John Zandig
Owner(s) John Zandig
Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) is an American based professional wrestling promotion, based around the 'ultraviolent' style of professional wrestling. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain started to run wrestling shows in places like New Jersey and Delaware showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling called "ultraviolent". Ladders, tables, thumbtacks, barbed wire, fluorescent light tubes and fire, are common elements of "ultraviolent" wrestling matches in CZW. The company filled a niche for hardcore wrestling fans that had been left by Extreme Championship Wrestling, and found fame in the infamous ECW Arena with their Cage of Death 3 show in the year 2001, the year ECW folded.
CZW continue to run on a monthly base in the New Alhambra Arena. The biggest misconception is that the promotion only focus' on hardcore wrestling, although they are most commonly known for their "ultraviolent" aka hardcore wrestling style, rarely do their shows feature more than one or two ultraviolent matches. In late 2002 they where forced to further tone down their style after the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission (PSAC) issued a ban of fluorescent light tubes (among other things). Aside from their montly based shows, they also run shows outside of Philadelphia, PA, (in which the promotion is based) most commonly their annual Tournament of Death show, the tournament emphisizes the ultraviolent style of CZW.
All of their shows are taped and distributed by Smart Mark Video, who release the shows on DVD via their website; SmartMarkVideo.com CZW is broadcasted on TWC Fight! to viewers in Great Britain and Ireland as part of the "Bloodbath" programme.
Cage of Death
Main article: Cage of Death
CZW's biggest show is the year-end Cage Of Death. It always features the infamous "Cage Of Death" match, a steel cage with various weapons, objects, and plenty of wrestling violence. Electrified cage walls, cacti, tables, light tubes, glass, thumbtacks, baseball bats, and barbed-wire have been used in it. Matches always include high risk wrestling bumps. The Cage of Death also has different formats and stipulations, as it be a singles, tag team, or gauntlet match.
Tournament of Death
Main article: Tournament of Death
CZW's yearly death-match tournament features the use of fire, weed whackers, light tubes, and other weapons. T.O.D has resulted in excessive blood loss for many of the wrestlers who have participated in it. Previous winners include Wifebeater (TOD 1 and 3), Nick Mondo, Necro Butcher, Nick Gage and Drake Younger.
Best of the Best
Main article: CZW Best of the Best
CZW's yearly tournament that differs from other CZW events in how it emphasizes athleticism more than weapons use. The Best of the Best tournament is, by design, a Junior Heavyweight Tournament. In 2005, however, the tournament was formatted as an open weight tournament. The next year, it returned to its original format. Previous winners include Winger, Trent Acid, B-Boy, Sonjay Dutt, Mike Quackenbush and Ruckus in that order.
Necro Butcher vs Green Phantom - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12b43_czw-necro-butcher-vs-green-phantom_extreme
''Sick'' Nick Mondo Vs John Zandig - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xm7s9_czw-sick-nick-mondo-vs-john-zandig_extreme
Established 1999
Style Hardcore wrestling
American Wrestling
Ultraviolent wrestling
Location Philadelphia
Founder(s) John Zandig
Owner(s) John Zandig
Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) is an American based professional wrestling promotion, based around the 'ultraviolent' style of professional wrestling. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain started to run wrestling shows in places like New Jersey and Delaware showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling called "ultraviolent". Ladders, tables, thumbtacks, barbed wire, fluorescent light tubes and fire, are common elements of "ultraviolent" wrestling matches in CZW. The company filled a niche for hardcore wrestling fans that had been left by Extreme Championship Wrestling, and found fame in the infamous ECW Arena with their Cage of Death 3 show in the year 2001, the year ECW folded.
CZW continue to run on a monthly base in the New Alhambra Arena. The biggest misconception is that the promotion only focus' on hardcore wrestling, although they are most commonly known for their "ultraviolent" aka hardcore wrestling style, rarely do their shows feature more than one or two ultraviolent matches. In late 2002 they where forced to further tone down their style after the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission (PSAC) issued a ban of fluorescent light tubes (among other things). Aside from their montly based shows, they also run shows outside of Philadelphia, PA, (in which the promotion is based) most commonly their annual Tournament of Death show, the tournament emphisizes the ultraviolent style of CZW.
All of their shows are taped and distributed by Smart Mark Video, who release the shows on DVD via their website; SmartMarkVideo.com CZW is broadcasted on TWC Fight! to viewers in Great Britain and Ireland as part of the "Bloodbath" programme.
Cage of Death
Main article: Cage of Death
CZW's biggest show is the year-end Cage Of Death. It always features the infamous "Cage Of Death" match, a steel cage with various weapons, objects, and plenty of wrestling violence. Electrified cage walls, cacti, tables, light tubes, glass, thumbtacks, baseball bats, and barbed-wire have been used in it. Matches always include high risk wrestling bumps. The Cage of Death also has different formats and stipulations, as it be a singles, tag team, or gauntlet match.
Tournament of Death
Main article: Tournament of Death
CZW's yearly death-match tournament features the use of fire, weed whackers, light tubes, and other weapons. T.O.D has resulted in excessive blood loss for many of the wrestlers who have participated in it. Previous winners include Wifebeater (TOD 1 and 3), Nick Mondo, Necro Butcher, Nick Gage and Drake Younger.
Best of the Best
Main article: CZW Best of the Best
CZW's yearly tournament that differs from other CZW events in how it emphasizes athleticism more than weapons use. The Best of the Best tournament is, by design, a Junior Heavyweight Tournament. In 2005, however, the tournament was formatted as an open weight tournament. The next year, it returned to its original format. Previous winners include Winger, Trent Acid, B-Boy, Sonjay Dutt, Mike Quackenbush and Ruckus in that order.
Necro Butcher vs Green Phantom - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12b43_czw-necro-butcher-vs-green-phantom_extreme
''Sick'' Nick Mondo Vs John Zandig - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xm7s9_czw-sick-nick-mondo-vs-john-zandig_extreme
