Grodzki's Shitty Top 10 Greatest CZW Matches
The matches that defined what the black and gold is about.
10.) The Briscoe Brothers vs. Johnny Kashmere & Justice Pain "What About Lobo" (7/28/01)
Coming in at number 10 is a pretty classic tag match between The Briscoes and Kashmere & Pain. These four tore it down, psychology, ring work, everything. Solidified the Briscoes as main event talent, that Jay Driver to Pain sealed the deal. While I'm no big fan of the Briscoes, and think Pain is a dick for what he did to Necro at CoDVII, I think this match is absolutely fantastic. Shame Kashmere wasn't working with Acid for this one, I think it would've been pretty great. Always fantastic to see John House and Eric Gargiulo call non-deathmatch wrestling too, those two are CRIMINALLY underrated announcers, and I love them.
9.) The H8 Club & John Zandig vs. The Tough Crazy Bastards & Joker "Cage of Death VII: Living in Sin" (12/10/05)
This was an absolute clusterfuck of insanity, pun intended there Mr. Klein. When you have certified deathmatch legends all in the ring at once, especially when they were all in "their primes", it tends to lend to absolute batshit antics. Back body drops through panes of glass, tables and spiderweb nets of barbed wire. Great dynamics of the five minutes of 2v1 for either team depending on the drawing of the next fighter. Toby Klein, in my opinion, was always underrated and overshadowed by Necro. Of course, Necro is an absolute legend and superb brawler, I just think Toby, and their tag team, should've gone farther and been bigger too. Zandig throwing Joker off the "scaffold" through the flaming tables was a awesome finish to the match, and great send off for Joker. Eric Gargiulo's call that Dewey Donovan was having a gasoline orgasm had me nearly pissing myself. That shoot moment after Gage threw a ladder into the ring, hitting Necro in the head and legitimately knocking him silly, Justice Pain went for an Angle Slam variation on NB, but he was so fucked up that he "sandbagged" him, unwillingly I add again, a few times but Pain just decides to dump Necro on his head outside on the concrete. After a moment of recovery, Necro is pissed, jumps in the ring and legitimately stomps and punches him in the corner, shooting hard, with Eric Gargiulo's classic line "NECRO BUTCHER HAS COME ALIVE." All in all, unforgettable match, an all time great. Gallons of blood here from all six men
8.) MASADA vs. Jun Kasai "CZW at Wrestlecon" (4/5/2013)
One of my personal favorite matches here, with MASADA and Kasai both being in my personal top five all time, showed more mainstream audiences how exactly incredible and breathtaking technical deathmatch wrestling. Two men with incredible chemistry, insane fortitudes and imaginable amounts of shed blood fought at the Wrestlecon convention, showing everyone what the fuck CZW is about. Gusset plates, panes of glass, barbed wire, Jun's face almost getting ripped off, a motivated MASADA are a great combination for a ferocious, nearly stomach churning test of survival. There is some truly good technical, chain wrestling here, in bits and pieces, interspersed with some fucking sick spots. As big as the spots are here, glad that they built up to them with real psychology and ring work, and in turn it pays off well as an end result and as a build through the work to the next spot. Unreal match, truly a spectacle. Kasai is one of a kind, and MASADA is the best deathmatch wrestler in America, period.
7.) Sami Callihan vs. Danny Havoc "Cage of Death XI" (12/09/2009)
While this might not be one everybody's list for matches that defined CZW, to me it certainly is. At this point in CZW, the "glory days" of many CZW deathmatch legends were starting to fade away, here and there small vestiges of carnage surviving, until this main event. This is where the next generation of deathmatch wrestlers began for me, because before this Callihan and Havoc were just a couple of young boys, as Zandig put it. They really went berserk in this one, car glass, panes, the cafe, everything. Callihan was a fucking nut in this match, and Havoc looked like a resilient, scrappy badass who slipped up at the last, most crucial moment. Was cool seeing Necro make the save too at the end. That last spot for the final pin was absolutely bananas too, not to mention. Sami and Daniel Tiberius Havoc really kicked the shit out of each other, and I think helped propel both to main event status, as well as solid hands in the DM scene. Of course Havoc won the prior years ToD, but I like to see this as the complement to that tournament which began his ascent to top dog for CZW in the years to follow. Fantastic main event, starting a new generation, that everyone should check out.
6.) Sick Nick Mondo & Jun Kasai vs. Justice Pain & Johnny Kashmere "(Un F'n Believable" (04/14/2001)
In all honesty, when I first thought of the list, this was the first that came to mind. The entire event was christened "Un F'n Believable" simply because of the sheer insanity of this match, where Kasai practically became a god. This match was light tube heaven, spot heaven and plasma heaven. Sick Nick Mondo is a fantastic deathmatch / high flying hybrid, the quintessential hybrid if you will allow, and he always had fantastic matches with anyone, never mind solid hands like Pain and Kashmere. These four kicked the living shit out of each other. Most famous of all was the crucifix powerbomb of Kasai to the outside through lighttube boards that completely shredded his elbow to pieces, bone, muscle, skin and all. Not to mention his back was a mess, they had the video of the post match clean up on Youtube up until about a year or so ago, but it got taken down. This match is online in its' entirety and in good quality too, just have to look for it. This match is supremely important in that it ushered in the "ultraviolence" that CZW labeled itself as, as the deathmatch scene exploded with the ToD's popularity. Without Kasai taking the crucifix powerbomb, or his backs' color, or Mondo/Pain/Kashmere combining a high impact, high flying style of deathmatch wrestling, I don't think we have the popularity, or even creation of Tournament of Death. Sure, they did deathmatches before this, but none so arguably spot-heavy or color-laden. Truly incredible stuff, have to see it to believe it.
5.) MASADA vs. Ryuji Ito "Down with the Sickness" (09/10/2011)
Another MASADA match, another CZW classic, this time with BJW mainstay and legend, Ryuji Ito. They had fought prior in BJW, with some gnarly results and cuts to show for it. Here's another newer deathmatch to add to the list, this one at a time when MASADA was just beginning to be a SERIOUS animal and main attraction in the Combat Zone. These two beat the living snot out of the other, stiff exchanges, sick spots and a NASTY dive off a HUGE ladder. Seriously, If I ever want to show a buddy newer CZW that still has an edge, this is my go-to. This is what the fuck the black and gold was, and is, about. Two dudes, giving their ALL, bleeding their ALL, and fighting to the last breath. Absolute classic match. Nothing else to say, other than that. WATCH IT.
4.) Ruckus vs. Trent Acid "Cage of Death III" (12/15/2001)
By now you must be thinking, damn Grodzki has some crazy entries here for this list, but I kid you not these are the ones I'm pulling for. CZW is known for two things, insane deathmatches and all around fantastic wrestling. These two had a hell of a match, two phenomenal hands in their primes doing what they do best and pulling out all the stops in a wild match. Some fun run ins here and little spots that make this match one of those you just enjoy watching with bated breath. Any match worthy of an entire arena chanting "CZDUB" is wonderful in my book, and this one is a prime example. CoD 3 was the biggest event in CZW history, hot off the heels of the closing of ECW, and in the ECW arena. Hundreds were turned away from attending this card, the pressure was on for the boys to deliver. Check this one out, it's on YT, and you can get it on SMV too. A fantastic watch, and a solid choice to show people who think CZW is all garbage.
3.) Mike Quackenbush vs. B-Boy vs. Kevin Steen vs. Super Dragon "Best of the Best V" (05/14/2005)
The final of the fifth annual Best of the Best competition saw arguably four of the best wrestlers in the world at the time go at it in a four way dance. The order of elimination isn't what you're probably expecting it to be as you read it, and as such you should totally check it out just for the suspense. If I recall, this was the first year the BOTB was open-weight class, and that this final happened well after midnight, even though the crowd was HOT as hell for this one. Absolute frenetic pace here, and crazy exchanges. Best of the Best used to be a world class junior heavyweight tournament, but the 2005 edition showed it could be pretty open to all weight classes and still perform at an internationally acclaimed level. This is definitely the best BOTB final to date, lets me wonder if the tournament will ever reach the same heights of glory, with the same level of acclaimed names and prestige it once held.
2.) John Zandig vs. The Wifebeater "Night of Infamy 2002" (11/09/2002)
Just as if I want to show friends the wrestling side with the Ruckus/Acid or BOTB Final matches, I can just as easily show them this match for the ultraviolence side as this is a stalwart entry in the annals of CZW's bloodsoaked history. The match is officially an NRBWFBTW Squared Circle of Fear I Quit Match, and if that isn't a mouthful of words, it sure as hell makes up for it with mouthfuls of blood. Weedwhackers, salt, fire, balcony dives, chairs, barbed wire, rubber chickens, John House screaming "SAWMWAN CAWHLL 911" all contribute to this bloodbath. Not to mention, the crowd going bananas and the "Athletic Director" ending the match. For the life of me, I just am enthralled at the lengths Zandig and Wifebeater go to, they're close friends I may add, to see who can last in their fight and flight to Hell. What a way for Wifebeater to go out too (for as long as it lasted, he really needed that shoulder surgery). The salt in the back as he weedwhacks Zandig and everyone is just shouting "Oh!!" with the airhorn is an image I won't forget. So many unforgettable spots in this one. Pure, brutal, barebones deathmatch wrestling at its' most gritty, base, and honest.
1.) Sick Nick Mondo & The Wifebeater vs. Necro Butcher & Toby Klein "Ultraviolent Freedom of Expression" (09/14/2002)
And this is what the Combat Zone is truly about, right here. Four CERTIFIED legends in the indy scene, and the Combat Zone, who go out and deliver a slobberknocker of a main event. You have the two brawlers in Necro and Toby, the brutish tank in Wifebeater and the high flying hybrid phenom in Sick Nick Mondo. This match was spot after spot, which I have no problem with and love, and at the end of the day, it really shone through as CZW coming to life. Two CZW names in the Beater and Mondo, against two IWA fellas in Klein and Necro fought hard and put on a show for fans. CZW always seemed to bring in boys from feds all over the world to give them a chance to shine,and Zandig should be commended for that, as this was before the fantastic IWA-MS and CZW feud, that he brought in two of Ian's boys for a main event match against two of his best. And man, did they kick the living shit out of each other. An exorbitant amount of light tubes, carpet strips, barbed wire and leaking plasma is on show here, as we all know what animals Klein, Necro and Wifebeater can be; and Mondo's brilliance shines through as it always do. The Combat Zone, the black and gold, was, and is, about heart, about fighting to the last man, to the last breath, with that last shred of fight left in you. This match seems most great to me because of that; four legends TRULY in their primes giving John House and Eric Gargiulo heart palpitations every ten seconds with another memorable moment. Bleed on.
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I'm sure you guys are going to tear me apart for the list, but hell, these are the ones I really think capture the spirit of the Combat Zone. And really, isn't any match called by House and Gargiulo a classic???
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Deliberately left out ToD matches, as a separate list for that will be made, ASAP.
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While in recent years, CZW has strayed from promoting death matches a bit more prominently, as they still get the occasional "glorified garbage" label from ignorant critics, its' my belief that they have more than readily dismissed that notion as farcical. Their cards back then and now have always been a wide variety of scientific, comedy, hardcore, tag team and deathmatch wrestling matches. It's my hope and belief that not only have people begun giving CZW the credit and recognition it deserves, but that people will from now on not shit on the Combat Zone for hosting deathmatches in general, sure they're bloody and a tad offsetting to normal folk, but there is true substance in the deathmatches that CZW hold. They don't throw around deathmatches constantly willy-nilly like IWA-DS or the smaller feds, or do absolute insane spotfest with no-name talent. The deathmatches they have tell stories of psychology, history and have damn good ring work to boot (most of the time). I enjoy and love watching deathmatches, because they are akin to Japanese Puro in the sense of the spirit of a man and his beating heart all that matter, and as well because the deathmatch scene is a lot more realistic and visually pleasing than the choreographed, soft hitting and often fake looking mainstream sports entertainment industry.
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