Combat Zone Wrestling

Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) began as a professional wrestling company run by John Zandig.

In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain, started to run events showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling called "ultraviolent". Ladders, tables, thumbtacks, barbed wire, cacti, fluorescent light tubes and fire are common elements of "ultraviolent" wrestling matches in CZW. Over the period of its existence, CZW has developed into an organization involving many styles of wrestling.

The company has had several run-ins with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. CZW holds a deathmatch tournament on an annual basis called the Tournament of Death (see below). CZW's top "homemade" stars include "Sick" Nick Mondo, Nick Gage, Nate Hatred, and Ruckus.

CZW once had a local television program called "Fake You! TV." Smart Mark Video videotapes all CZW live events and Xtreme Entertainment Group has released some CZW DVDs in retail stores.

Roster

Chris Hero
Kevin Steen
Niles Young
Eric Gargiulo
Eddie Kingston
Nick Gage
Joker
Adam Flash
Andy Sumner
B-Boy
Chris Bishop
Chrissy Rivera
Danny Havoc
Derek Frazier
DJ Hyde
Drew Gulak
El Generico
Hallowicked
Jigsaw
Justice Pain
Lionel Knight
Lobo
LuFisto
Luke
Messiah
Necro Butcher
Pandora
Ravage
Robby Mireno
Ruckus
Sabian
Super Dragon

Current Champions

Championship:	Champion(s):	Defeated:	Date Won:	Location:
World Heavyweight Championship	Chris Hero	Ruckus	May 13, 2006	Philadelphia, PA
Iron Man Championship	Kevin Steen	Franky the Mobster	August 13, 2005	Philadelphia, PA
World Jr. Heavyweight Championship	Sexxxy Eddy	Niles Young	July 8, 2006	Philadelphia, PA
World Tag Team Championship	Blackout (Eddie Kingston & Joker)	Chris Hero & Claudio Castagnoli	December 17, 2005	Philadelphia, PA
Ultraviolent Underground Championship	Nick Gage	Necro Butcher	January 14, 2006	Philadelphia, PA

Cage of Death

CZW's biggest show is the year-end Cage Of Death. It always features the eponymous "Cage Of Death" match, a steel cage with various weapons, dangers, and tons of bloodshed. Electrified cage walls, chainsaws, cacti, tables, light tubes, glass, thumbtacks, baseball bats, and barbed-wire have been used in it.

Tournament of Death

CZW's yearly Deathmatch tournament helped put CZW on the map and build its reputation as "Ultraviolent". Fire, weed whackers, light tubes, and other weapons have resulted in excessive blood loss for many of the wrestlers who have participated in TOD.

Best of the Best

CZW's yearly tournament and supershow that differs from other CZW events in how it emphasizes athleticism more than weapon use. The original Best of The Best was a junior heavyweight tournament, but in 2005 was reformatted as a tournament with no weight limits.

External links

Professional wrestling promotions | 1999 establishments