Taped April 5, 2013 from Secaucus N.J, as part of WRESTLECON 2013.
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Six-Man Aerial Assault Match: AR Fox def. Lucky 13, Chiva Kid (Andrew Everett), Shane Hollister, Rich Swann and Shane Strickland – This is one of those, atypical, stereotypical, cliched, run-of-the-mill independent pro wrestling spot-fests…but regardless, it’s awesome. Booking these types of starts can backfire on a show. There is a definite argument that can be made for that when looking-back on how the event took shape, or when looking at the shape the event was left in by the end of it. In addition to the aerial assault boxes, there were ladders used. You cannot define a high-flying exhibition anymore than ladders and aerial assault boxes do. You must know what you are going to get here…and if not…even better. I feel the use of the ladders take away from the specialty vibe that the aerial assault idea gives off. However, there is no way that tiny gripe stains the fun I had with the contest. Also, I don’t think AR Fox needed this win. The victory could have been given to someone like Rich Swann or Shane Hollister, to substantially elevate some credibility on the main roster. Remain aware that this match will cast a shadow over the remainder of the card. However, if you’re ready to sit through some insensible and somewhat meaningless booking, nevertheless, plan and prepare for adrenaline pumping, high-flying action and begin popping your popcorn and prepare to pop a few times yourself. – ***1/2
Ultraviolent Rules Grudge Match: Joe Gacy def. Matt Tremont – A thoroughly entertaining hardcore brawl between Tremont and Gacy. It most likely didn’t last long enough to provide a suitable flavoring for your ultraviolent taste-buds. However, you should taste something sweet enough here to gnaw down on. There is a narrative that is very easy to follow and better yet makes every bit of sense. Considering these two have gone public about their distaste and disapproval for each other all year long, the faithful followers of the combat zone know these two are engaged in a full-fledged pro wrestling feud. Therefore, this is another chapter added to the relatively short Tremont-Gacy 2013 storybook. This is a tale that is far from over. Better yet, this match made this story have to continue. Most importantly, this match made this story need to continue. You cannot ask for much more stability out of building-block confrontation, where the objective is to make people care about what’s happening and what’s to follow. A massive Tremont bump eventually leads to the Bulldozer passing out in a pool of his blood. I see chemistry between these two, but the “hate” has to be there. I’m not sure it was on this night. – **1/2
Eight Man, No Disqualification, Falls Count Anywhere, Tag-Team Match: The Gulak Campaign def. The Front – At last, finally, the time has come for the longest running sub-story in CZW to wrap-up…I think. I’m pretty sure. I sure hope it is. The entire “Fight for a better Combat Zone” idea had legs but they completely fell off, and they fell off a long time ago. However, I will give CZW credit where it’s due here. Booking something that had become overwhelmingly insignificant, and turning it into something significant; even if it be for one night only, seems like a rather difficult task, but it happened. This was a blow-off match and despite the lack of attention or perhaps even the lack of understanding for the angle being played, this managed to feel like it mattered. Therefore, as I previously alluded to, even if it was for one night, one match, the angle became relevant again. Unfortunately, the relevance came way too late as this was, most likely, the complete blow-off to a completely blown idea. You can still have fun with these types of matches and as cliche as it may seem, there really is a little bit of everything here. A little bit of everything caps off a concept that had a whole lot of nothing. No matter what you know about The Front and The Gulak Campaign history, if anything at all, you may still find yourself infatuated by this contest and perhaps that is the most impressive thing to be said here. – ***
CZW World Tag-Team Championship Match: BLK OUT def. The Catalyst – I agree with and furthermore understand the decision to put the belts on Ruckus and Jeez given the whole BlkOut versus the world idea going on. However, that does not mean I have enjoyed what has been going on with the CZW tag titles. In about the last six months, 4 Loco, The Nation of Intoxication, The Catalyst, and BlkOut have all bounced around with the tag belts. Although, when surrounded by an angle that is far from over, in both contexts, the change-ups do nothing for anyone. The BlkOut angle had substance, but based on the way the tag-team titles have been handled and treated, this whole thing is dried up already. Ryan and Ryaz do have a reason to go into a heated and heavy, noteworthy program with BlkOut now. This might be able to pick the angles feet up off the ground, but it won’t make much sense either way. Rukus and Rayz have zero allies right now and The Crist Brothers, The Nation of Intoxication and 4 Loco, should all still be in line for the belts. The contest ends when Ruckus hits Rayz with one of the tag titles. The crowning of new tag-team champions felt like a waste of space. The predictable nature of the angle that the champs are surrounded by right now forces us to look ahead and hope for a tag division revival. The division is more than competent enough to revive itself. The match content holds its own against the rest of the card, but the finish and the muddy water both teams had to swim through to get to this match casts a large shadow over whatever you may find good-great here. – **1/2
Special Attraction Match: Greg Excellent def. Colt Cabana – Comedy is just as subjective as pro wrestling evaluation. When you combine the two, it’s a big time hit or miss. For me, this was a hit. For you, well, have a seat and watch these two, lock-up and give you exactly what they said they were going to, a comedic wrestling spot-fest. I have noted in the past, that when it comes to pro wrestling, being given exactly what you expect can be just as powerful as being given something unexpected and shocking. So, watch Cabana make out with Mamma Excellent and then tell me if you laughed or not. – ***
Ultraviolent Rules Match: Drake Younger vs. Danny Havoc (No Contest) – A staple-gun, chairs and tables should provide most of you hardcore junkies enough of a high. However, if you’re an ultraviolent junkie, by the end of the bout, you may be under the impression what you were sold here was a weaker type. I understand the attempt to dull things here, especially with its spot on the card and its spot on a show featuring Jun Kasai against MASADA. I understand certain fan grievances with pro wrestlin, tend to stubbornly stem from necessary bullshit finishes. I get the concept of story-building as much as I do storytelling. However, these two ultraviolent icons had something special going, only for it to be interrupted and destroyed by Lucky 13. On a show as loaded as this, it felt like there was room for these two to come close to stealing the show. By a long shot, that did not happen. This contest did NOT find a way to define CZW as much as it could have. Therefore, despite a valiant effort by both ultraviolent legends, what could have been a go out of your way to see encounter became nothing more than a easy to sit through filler. That is really not much of a knock though. Even though this was the second match of the night with ultraviolent stipulations, it delivered and furthermore managed to completely differentiate itself from the other. If anything significant can be taken from that point, it’s that this match is a perfect example of how DJ Hyde and company plan on serving their buffet to those who want to consume it. – ***
International Tag-Team Challenge Match: OI4K, Dave Crist and Jake Crist def. The Sumerian Death Squad, Michael Donte and Tommy End – For the most part, the best thing about this entire event, is that everything is right on par with expectation. However, if there is one match that fits just outside of that description, it was this CZW versus wXw encounter. Tommy End and Michael Donte aren’t exactly unknown talents, but being somewhat unknown to the homegrown CZW faithful would mean they had a chance to debut without much pressure. These two teams had a match in Germany at “Enter the Combat Zone 3,” and I find it safe to say they topped it in the United States. This match-up was perfect for a card as stacked as this one. This match could co-main event any CZW show; but being surrounded by as many high caliber matches as there was on this night, meant that it could either slip under the radar without much commotion, or it could become one of the more memorable matches on the show. It became the latter. This was as good as a debut gets. There is not much else to say here, other than pointing out that this is superlative tag-team wrestling and fit perfectly alongside the rest of the card. Yet another great example of the combat zone buffet. – ***1/2
First Time Ever Special Attraction Match: Sami Callihan def. Brain Kendrick – Being in the co-main event spot and being pushed to the moon by DJ Hyde, made me have pre-match expectations that I ultimately wish I had not applied. However, with that said, this was still…fine. A good outing. An average showcase from two above average pro wrestlers. All show long, it seemed as if I was waiting for one particular match to break away from the pack and steal the show. With how opposite the main event is to every other match on this card, especially looking back on it now, there was room for something or someone to put this show over the top and in the last attempt to do that, it did not happen. They lock-up, do some good stuff, and then Callihan ends it in the most predictable fashion possible with the stretch muffler. – ***
For the first time ever in the United States, CZW World Championship, Barbed-wire, Glass and Gusset Plate Death Match: Masada def. Jun Kasai – This was a gore-fest, and not a true representation of a well-respected CZW death match. I suggest you check out these two death match legends work one another in Japan. This match is nothing more than sheer brutality and ultraviolence, but the best death matches happen when you walk away thinking about much more than the gore. There is no doubt in my mind that the drop-toe-hold sending Kasai face first into a gusset plate was mistimed. There is no doubt in my mind that the tiger-driver/butterfly-suplex putting MASADA over Kasai was a slip-up. Therefore, there is no doubt in my mind this could have been a well-done, CZW style death match, with every nook and cranny that a blood-thirsty crowd comes to expect. Instead of that, we got this. A crazy and insane, ridiculous encounter that is now in the CZW history books for the wrong reasons. Also, the Christina Von Eerie and MASADA turn/double-turn content is so incredibly secondary here. I like the idea and it’s hard to read into what could be next, which is a great thing. However, what was a significant piece of storytelling got tossed aside, as we all wonder how Kasai walks out alive. If you check this out, know what your getting into. Know you’re getting yourself into a bloodbath and not the ultraviolent stigma breaker people like I look out for. In all fairness, a live perspective probably did this match a lot more justice than the at-home couch perspective did. – ***
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