With the 12th installment of Combat Zone Wrestling’s annual Tournament of Death around the corner, set for June 8th, 2013, it seems appropriate enough to rewind time and take a look back at the Tournament of Death 11 from 2012.
First Round – Three-Way Drunken Scaffold Match (Featuring the only three members of the Nation of Intoxication) – Danny Havoc vs. Devon Moore vs. Lucky 13: There is one scaffold that has been built at ringside. The object of the match is to climb to the top of the scaffold and upon a competitors accomplishment of that task, a shot of jaeger must be consumed before the competitor decides how insane, or un-insane their path down will be. Perhaps, that sounds like stupid enough stuff, but there is easily enough stupid, fun stuff that comes out of this contest, removing it far, far away, from any dim-witted, unappreciated label. This puts a whole new spin on “big-bumps.” Perhaps due to the substance abuse the comedy was in more of a natural form, and therefore any typical or generic well-written wrestling comedy was itself consumed by alcohol. A great combination of high-spots via the scaffold and some vicious bumps in and around the ring. These matches are usually looked at as being odd and/or different, but they are not exactly unconventional for this type of show. Simply try to move past that idea and you will see some great professional wrestling, but with the Tournament of Death, ultraviolent touch. Perhaps a little less alcohol and a little more time and this match could have really taken off and even challenged for match of the tournament in my opinion. ***. Danny Havoc.
First Round – Ultraviolent Ladders Match (Dedicated to the memory of J.C Bailey and Chri$ Ca$h) – Drake Younger vs. Rory Mondo: The only plunder in play are ladders that have been customized in a very ultraviolent way. Straight to the point. This is the very best ultraviolent outing Mondo has been apart of since entering the combat zone on a “semi-full-time” basis. That memo, is by far the most impressive note that can be taken from this contest. Younger carried this bout on his back, but contrary to the beliefs of a large portion of the CZW faithful, Mondo did more than enough for me here to carry the load. The back color shows how much of the match he put on his back. In a rare occurrence, Mondo proved he can hang with the best of the best in the death match arts, and furthermore proved that he knows what it takes to deliver a memorable outing with one of the kings of ultraviolence. Not much psychology to the contest but there are crazy spots someone would/could/can “mark-out” for. A tedious drag-on to a fantastic finish, but I have no problem sitting through some stumbles and some pacing issues if the finish is going to be a Drakes Landing off the top rope, into a ladder. ***1/2. Drake Younger.
First Round – Pains in the Glass Match – MASADA vs. Scott Summers: Panes of glass surround the outside and the inside of the ring. This is the CZW debut for Scott Summers. He is well-known around the Independent Professional Wrestling scene in Texas. After this, he deserves to be well-known to the ultraviolent faithful on the east coast. I know I’m not the only one who wanted to see him included in the June 8th, 2013, Tournament of Death 12. Summers has had numerous encounters with MASADA inside Texas-based promotions, where he has come out on the winning end of things many times. Therefore, this match is not as random as it may appear. Some of the spots are definitely random, but random violence works here. If there is one particular match during this tournament, where the narrative was generated in a spot by spot manner, it is this bout that provides it. The end spot that sparks the three-count features a pair of concrete cinder blocks. The easy to predict loser of the contest absorbs the majority, actually, make that all of the brutality. A split open skull at that. What can be considered as one of the more unconventional matches of the tournament, perhaps, can also be considered as the most pleasantly surprising. ***. MASADA.
First Round – Ultraviolent Bats Match – Matt Tremont vs. BJW Death-Match Champion, Abdullah Kobayashi: This match is by far the most story-line driven contest in the tournament. To spoil things, giving a brief account of what all of us watching were expecting here, based on the dubs dedication to the progress of the Hyde/Tremont feud throughout a good chunk of 2011 and all of 2012, this match-up is incredibly far from what it could have been, and to be honest, it falls far short of what should be initially expected of an encounter such as this. However, with that said, for any fan of professional wrestling death matches, you can still likely find the value needed to take a peek at what these two had to offer against each other. I understand the necessity for key moments in story-line progression, especially when working towards a feud spanning over an entire year. However, for the followers of the product, these types of finishes are much too predictable and almost always leave viewers wishing they would have seen a little bit more between the competitors, before any sort of screwy blow-off finish occurs. With that said, yes, you guessed it, DJ Hyde goes ahead and ruins whatever magic these two death match giants had going. Therefore, the sweet taste at the opening bell becomes sour by the closing bell, but at least there was room for that, strictly based on how successful the first half of this show is. As I note quickly to myself, ultraviolent-bat matches are one of my favorite stipulations inside the world of ultraviolent-entertainment. This was nowhere near the slasher-like ultraviolent contest I wanted, expected, and have seen in the past underneath the ultraviolent-bat stipulation. I rest my case with my feelings on the outcome of the bout…DJ the douche-bag! My gripes are rather selfish though. **1/2. Abdullah Kobayashi.
Non-Tournament – Fans Bring the Weapons Grudge Match – Joe Gacy vs. Ryan Slater: These two just about stole the show, and the most impressive thing is that the most pop-worthy finish of the tournament is just a side note. I deny any ignorance in this simplistic description of this contest. A ton of fun for any ultraviolent entertainment consumer. However, being in the shadows of a tournament dedicated to pure ultraviolence, a must-see grudge match like this may serve better, if featured and promoted as a more significant encounter, and not on a death match tournament show. Unfortunately, what is so much more than a side note of this show, had no choice but to become just a side note. Gacy and Slater were once a tag-team known as The Runaways.” So, for these guys to bump heads like this makes complete sense, but for a blow-off of this caliber to happen on this show, makes little sense. Nevertheless, this was a violent spectacle well worth investing time into. A powerbomb through a coffee table lined with thumbtacks proves that. ***. Joe Gacy.
Second Round/Semi-Final – Caribbean Spider-Pit Death Match – Drake Younger vs. Danny Havoc: Barbed-wire pitted/boxed-style contraptions surround the ring. Thus implying, someone better try and use them as a way to incapacitate their opponent. Tremendous back and forth, back and forth, back and forth wrestling action. A tremendous series of non-violent action, eventually leads to what these two do best, tremendous ultraviolence. This is the definition of ultraviolence done right. If you are an inexperienced viewer of ultraviolent professional wrestling, this match may turn your head toward it, rather than against it. Case in point. ***1/2. Drake Younger.
Second Round/Semi-Final – Big Japan Wrestling Style Death Match – MASADA vs. BJW Death Match Champion, Abdullah Kobayashi: MASADA has made a name for himself in Japan, as much as he has in the United States while carrying the CZW flag as the true ultraviolent beast of the combat zone. A BJW Style death match includes ordinary weaponry, while being upgraded with out of the ordinary weaponry via the additions of kenzans and a bed of nails. Also, how could an opening bell commence a contest featuring MASADA without a pack of bbq-skewers to yank out of his wrestling shorts, to then drive into the cranium of his opponent? Or in this case, into the back of his opponent. About half way through this ultraviolent encounter, featuring two of the most renowned death match superstars on the planet, MASADA places a pane of glass in front of Kobayashi who is up against the turnbuckle. This is followed up by running-forearms…until the glass shatters. This tactic by MASADA provides an unfortunate repercussion. A repercussion marking a sizable forearm gash. However, this incident for better or for worse, but most likely the latter, would play into the overall ideology of the tournament final. Much respect to MASADA for working through the injury and still being able to provide a very respectable outing against a death match legend. ***. MASADA.
The 2012 Tournament of Death Main Event Final – Non-Sanctioned, No-Rope Barbed-Wire, Double Hell Death Match – MASADA vs. Drake Younger: First off, the lackluster pace, in comparison to the rest of the tournament, is the fault of a legitimate injury to MASADA’s forearm suffered in his second round, semi-final outing against Kobayashi. DJ Hyde tries to spoil the main event party by shooting on MASADA’s injured forearm. The non-sanctioned aspect of this match, stems from Hyde’s managerial decision to thoroughly “disapprove” of the match based on MASADA’s condition. It is ultimately up to the viewer to decide how enjoyable the narrative of this match is, since the expectations for it have to be removed. At the fault of neither competitor, it moves at a snails pace for obvious reasons. The psychology is a little on the dull side, particularly the finish where Drake is choked out with a chair. However, the sheer brutality and violent imagery showcased comes in a strong enough form to compliment the contest and furthermore steer it away from a flat-out disappointing Tournament of Death Final. Light tubes, barbed-wire ropes and pits are cringe worthy enough, but add a beat-up Younger and a injured MASADA and the cringe worthy meter goes up. Other than having to forcefully remove expectations, this contest should give most ultraviolent consumers enough to sit through, but it most likely won’t give enough to earn a main event feel. Under the circumstances, the match was on par with what the rest of the tournament provided for the combat zone death match faithful. It takes the heart of a lion to do this type of work and both of these death match legends clearly bled enough to prove they have a heart that size. Subjective snowflakes mean next to nothing here. **1/2. MASADA.
This 2012 Tournament of Death victory for MASADA marks his second straight TOD win. There will not be a third straight tournament victory for MASADA this year, as a legitimate knee injury appears to have sidelined him indefinitely.
The above news has changed since the posting of this piece. MASADA has been entered into the first round of CZW’s Tournament of Death 2013. One has to question whether the injury is still in effect, and whether it will effect the first round. A first round, that otherwise, seems like like a predictable one.
TOD 12 1st Round Matches.
Ultraviolent Dog Collar Match – MASADA vs. RON MATHIS
Ultraviolent Ladders Match – LUCKY 13 vs. SCOTTY VORTEKZ
Inernational Pains of Glass Match – DJ HYDE vs. TAKUMI TSUKAMOTO
Mummified Barbed Wire Match – DANNY HAVOC vs. RORY MONDO
Non-Tournament Match – DRAKE YOUNGER vs. DEVON MOORE
SAMI CALLIHAN’s Final CZW Appearance…Opponent yet to be named.
Also appearing at TOD 12 on June 8 2013…DREW GULAK, OI4K, TOMMY DREAMER.
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