Combat Zone Wrestling: “Wanted.”
Taped March 9, 2013 in Voorhees, NJ.
On Demand via RF Video: http://www.rfvideo.com/czwwanted3913voorheesnj.aspx
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Shane Strickland def. Bandido Jr.: A tone setting match for an entire evening of combat doesn’t always come via the opening contest. However, these two entered the combat zone on a hot streak but more importantly, Strickland and Bandido Jr., would leave the combat zone on this night on that same hot-streak. This match adds to a hot-streak of openers at the skate zone, arguably dating back as far as a nerdy wrestling mind can remember. None of the above content serves as a hyperbole and neither does the following. A.R Fox, Rich Swan, Alex Colon…Shane Strickland. Strickland often refers to whatever is next for him, as a swerve. I beg to challenge the motto on the simple fact, that many, if not all of the CZW faithful, do not consider Strickland’s rise up, success or praise, a swerve. Much like the names listed above, Strickland’s new flavor is more than just the flavor of the week. In regard to the contest being a tone-setter, this bout kicked off a night of wrestling with a thesis that stands as straight to the point and effective. Although, it does become clear as the show goes on, the continuity of short and sweet, straight to the point matches, doesn’t necessarily translate well with stimulated, pro wrestling enthusiasts. The case to that point is, you should find yourself wanting more here. However, disappointment will not settle deep enough to argue this is NOT another top-notch opener, on a long list of superlative openers…and Shane Strickland outings. – ***
Jessicka Havok vs. Nevaeh (No Contest): If there is one match on this card that comes up shy of correlating with the short and sweet, straight to the point, effective content on this show; it is this one. For reasons suggesting this was too short, with no ingredients worthy of filling an appetite. Ultimately, this culminated in a somewhat pointless contest, where two highly credible female wrestlers are given no time to get over, even when they flat-out deserve it. It is clear that a back story is being put over, not the talent of the two women in the ring. There are several fitting options for no contest finishes in pro wrestling. Therefore, the only mind-boggling aspect of this match comes with the distress over a craving. When you watch the way these two kick themselves into combat mode, you will know exactly what the craving is. A desire, but more of a plea not to be a victim of minute-match-teases. With the objective being to put over a bit of a backstory, perhaps a true wrestling contest could have forced some to actually invest? – N/A
Fatal Four Way Match – Alex Reynolds def. Greg Excellent, Alex Colon and Shane Hollister: Apologetic to any redundancy, it can be noted this four-way was short, with a straight to the point narrative, and ultimately an effective contest. In January at “Ascension,” Hollister won a four-way match in his debut for CZW. In his second match for the company, in February at the “14th Anniversary,” he competed in another four-way with another winning result. Hollister even earned a trip to the 2013 Best of the Best Tournament via the victory in February. Since the topic of hot-streaks is abroad, I selfishly would have enjoyed yet another Hollister victory. However, despite how well the metaphorical combat zone glove seems to fit on Hollister, other talent deserve chances to try it on too. Reynolds earns a very credible victory against three very credible pieces of talent and because of this, the CZW faithful have a credible reason to request more from Reynolds. Don’t let the snowflakes throw you off here. The fun just does not last long enough. The in-ring content was simplistic, but sometimes the most effective building blocks come from the ones that are easiest to link together. Therefore, that is what applies here, as all four guys find ways to build something relatively stable from bell to bell. A slight lack of memory may stem from the sneaky roll-up victory Reynolds earns on Excellent in a relatively short bout. Although, the odds lean towards your lack of memory stemming from Greg Excellent showing off his ass-crack in a post-match segment, that now stands the most notable early contender for “OMG,” moment of the year. – **1/2
OI4K (Dave Crist and Jake Crist) def. The Gulak Campaign (Alexander James and Kimber Lee): First and foremost, everybody, say it with me now…O.I…4.K! Professional Wrestling is like a never-ending storybook where specific angles represent specific chapters. However, not even inside the thickest of fairy-tales, will you find chapters that seem never ending. The Gulak Campaign’s fight for a better combat zone had legs. The effort to bring those legs back has been there over the last few months but based on it’s complexity; what was near main-event storyline material now suffers from creative anemia as it has fallen to be nothing but a lost in the shuffle, sidelined angle, with undercard talent. The Front would attack both teams post match. The Front is the opposing faction to the Gulak Campaign. Other than seeing how clear that is, very little substance compliments that and no matter how invested you are in the angle, that knowledge is all you will walk away with. Don’t allow this rhetoric to take away from what is a standard, but well worthy tag-team contest. The Crist brothers hit a tombstone spike pile-driver to pin James for the win. – **1/2
CZW Wired Championship Match – AR Fox retains def. Azreial: Fox has earned that Roderick Strong-El Generico reputation, where no matter when or who, no matter what the circumstance, his matches are nothing short of a viewing pleasure. The reputation he built has been about three years in the making but absolutely, positively, no body can debate this reputation. Fox and Azreial add to the list of half-way abrupt contests on this card but most likely the cry for more is strictly based on an addiction to superior professional wrestling. Exactly what is seen here. Fox is an enigma. To have to give away some of the great things he and Azreial pull off in this match, would simply mean your most likely not familiar enough with both athletes. Azreial, Bandido Jr., and Alex Colon are providing a similar great problem to CZW, that companies like ROH have had for many years. The great problem being, where some of the more established tag-teams can flat-out GO, as singles competitors. It is clear that the separation of teams such as the Briscoe Brothers and a faction like 4Loco, provides for more than one great match, ultimately leveling up the show altogether. The lo mein pain earns Fox the win in the best match on the card thus far. – ***1/2
CZW World Tag-Team Championship Match – The Catalyst (Eric Ryan and Dustin Rayz) retain def. The Nation of Intoxication (Devon Moore and Lucky 13): Well BlkOut is pissing everyone off but off this idea of them beefing with everyone and stealing the tag titles is something I am well invested in. However, I do believe even the most captivating booking scenarios can take away from captivating in-ring work. It feels no matter how captivating this BlkOut stuff is right now, it has in fact began to hurt some of the in-ring quality of the matches surrounding it. With the trend of the night continuing, not enough time is given for these teams to show off their full arsenal. A well written finish. Dustin Rayz pulls the leg of Ryan, yanking him to ringside as Moore crashes and burns on a shooting star attempt. This spot leads into a vicious knee strike by Rayz to Moore and a three count follows. The tag champs are without their titles here as BlkOut still has them and would prove that by attacking the champs post match. For some strange reason they only had one belt in hand to attack Rayz and Ryan with. Promoter, Maven Bentley, once again forces BlkOut to end their assault and run out of the building. Jeez and Ruckus of BlkOut, are pissing me off as much as they are pissing management off. With professional wrestling that is exactly what a company wants to hear someone like me say. – **1/2
Pick Your Poison Match – Sami Callihan def. Jimmy Jacobs: This match is the only reason for needing to apply the last two words of, “thus far,” to the AR Fox/Azreial paragraph. Until Jacobs and Callihan locked up, it wasn’t far-fetched to assume nothing would touch what Fox and Azreial pulled off. The choices of who to poison who with, were predictable as soon as Hyde, Dreamer and Jacobs became the names announced. I suggest the stipulation is more effective when the choices are completely unknown. However, being a realist, which is more often than not, a legit responsibility we must hold within our fandom; letting the public know Dreamer and Jacobs are on the show is worth causing predictability for. The match-up, the outcome, the overall delivery, it all reeked of predictability. In spite of the predictable nature, a tremendous contest ensued between Callihan and Jacobs and that idea was planted as soon as Cole chose Jacobs as Callihan’s poison. Sometimes what is utterly predictable can be out-done by the thoroughly enjoyable. The stretch muffler is applied on Jacobs to earn Callihan the victory. High impact spots, counters, near falls, submission for submission and strike for strike, or in other words, everything about these two on paper does translate to everything put on display at “Wanted.” – ***1/2
Pick Your Poison Match – Tommy Dreamer def. Adam Cole: The suggestion that the stipulation/gimmick for Cole and Callihan on this night was a predictable one, does live on here. However, it can be noted that legitimately teasing DJ Hyde as either mans opponent had its place. Although, it seems fair to assume the idea was for Callihan and Cole to have two very different matches. Also, interesting on paper often translates to an interesting product. The hard-hitting sequences of the Callihan/Jacobs match cannot be compared to the lighter-hitting narrative of this match. However, it is clear both blue-prints of both matches were strategically designed. One match to get Callihan over as the babyface as much as possible. One match to get Cole over as the heel (combat zone reject) as much as possible. These two reignited their in-ring fireworks at Cage of Death 14 in December 2012. It appears as if the final chapter of the second installation of the Callihan/Cole CZW novel, will come in the form of one last, one on one, epic encounter at the Best of the Best 2013 event. Callihan interferes and channels his inner Tommy Dreamer by smacking Cole over the forehead with a kendo stick, supplying Dreamer with the win. – ***
Hardcore Fatal Four Way War CZW World Championship Match – Masada retains def. Joe Gacy, Matt Tremont and Christina Von Eerie: Over an extended period of time I have become biased to whatever Tremont and MASADA do. That is not necessarily anything negative as the whole idea of this thing we call professional wrestling is to have the characters connect to the viewers. When a connection is strong enough to the point where bias becomes just another way of indicating your desire to watch certain guys work; the connection sheds a whole new light on that nasty, commonly reprimanded word. All of that does not point to this being a great main event by any means. Although, it was a respectable enough portion from DJ Hyde’s buffet table. A table that has been making frequent appearances for quite some time in the combat zone. Following the magic, the classic, MASADA and CVE put on at the “14th Anniversary,” there was room for this to be one as well. (Even if Gacy is being force-fed to us) The space for this to be a spectacle was not filled. This hardcore war wasn’t all that hardcore, but it should have enough moments to satisfy enough of you. If you like back-drops and death valley drivers through chairs, Tremont’s bulldozer-sized fork shots, trash can shots and a kendo stick swinging crazed female, you wont mind this. You may mind another abrupt finish though. One that continues, but furthermore finalizes a stigma attached to this entire show. On a more positive note, aided by storyline progression, this match does its job when it comes down to wanting to see what’s next. – ***
Jesus man, tone down the language. Your grammar is atrocious and you’re using flowery words you don’t know how to use properly. Stuff like “I have become bias” and “That often reprimanded word” show you’re trying to write above your level. Tone it down, because it makes it hard to figure out what you’re really trying to say here.
A person can become bias over a period of time…and the word bias, is reprimanded very often, so I can’t see your point to be honest. Thanks for looking at it regardless of your disapproval.
You don’t become”bias” you become “biased”. You can’t reprimand a word. A word is an inanimate object incapable of being criticized. This is basic stuff here.
Two minor slip-ups, but yet it’s atrocious…and I thought I had a problem with perfectionism. You are right about the use of the word bias/biased due to the structure of that sentence. I should have said something like “formed a bias.” Although, I do disagree with you when you say an inanimate object cannot be criticized. The use, or over-use of a word can be reprimanded by a single individual or a majority. To rebuke or have disapproval for. Other than what you have pointed out I do take minor offense to calling this piece of work atrocious. The two examples you pulled are pretty weak. This is a very straight forward piece of writing and I find it a little ridiculous that you have a hard time seeing the points made here, despite any “flowery” content. However, I will note your feedback and continue to put in the effort I always have. Thanks again for stopping by.