Combat Zone Wrestling presents From Small Beginnings Comes Great Things
Date: 1/7/2011
From: Philadelphia, PA
Danny Havoc comes out to address the fans to begin the show. Havoc is going to stay in the back and get drunk. However, Havoc has something on his mind. He’s been in the company for six years and feels like he’s paid all his dues. Havoc talks about thinking about dream matches and stuff that he wants to accomplish. Havoc mentions DJ Hyde and how they’ve not gotten along. Havoc is going to swallow his pride and is going to ask Hyde for something. Havoc wants Jun Kasai in April. DJ Hyde makes his way out to confront Havoc. Hyde asks the fans if they want to see that and they respond positively. However, before Hyde can respond “Golden Boy” Drake Younger makes his way out. Younger insults the name of the show and wants the name changed to the “Golden Era.” Younger enters the ring and threatens to sue them if they attack him. Younger has creative control and can call all the shots. Younger made some calls and announces he’ll be wrestling Jun Kasai. Hyde chimes in and makes reference to a golden shower. Hyde puts over Havoc and says that Havoc will wrestle Jun Kasai. Hyde mentions their relationship with WXW and announces that Younger will compete against Kasai in a no rope barbed wire match. Younger doesn’t like that kind if match. Hyde reminds Younger losing the CZW World Championship at the anniversary show and announces that Younger will wrestle B-Boy at the 12th Anniversary Show. Younger doesn’t think B-Boy will be there. Younger brags about Boy nearly dying the last time they competed in the same ring. Hyde tells Havoc that he’s going to Big Japan in March, which Havoc didn’t know and embraces Hyde.
Opening Contest: Orange Cassidy vs. AR Fox: Cassidy starts off stalling appearing not to be interested in wrestling Fox tonight. Fox controls Cassidy with an arm lock, but Cassidy backs Fox into a corner. Cassidy backs Fox against the ropes and proceeds to taunt the fans on the middle rope. Fox dropkicks Cassidy coming off the ropes and delivers a few forearms. Fox avoids Cassidy in the corner and hits a springboard back elbow sending Cassidy to the floor. Cassidy grabs a chair and takes a sip of orange juice to spit it into Fox’s face. Cassidy plants Fox with a DDT for a two count. Cassidy clotheslines Fox in the corner and taunts the crowd. Cassidy forearms Fox followed by a hip toss and a leg drop for another two count. Cassidy squeezes Fox’s head, but Fox breaks free and connects with a kick to the head. Fox decks Cassidy with a clothesline, but runs into a big boot. Fox hits a twisting suplex for a two count. Cassidy avoids a boot in the corner and goes to the floor. Fox proceeds to somersault over the ring post onto Cassidy on the floor. Cassidy counters Fox and hits a sit out driver before going back to squeezing Fox’s head. Fox reaches the ropes to break the hold. Fox nails Cassidy with a big boot followed by the Kryptonite Crunch for the clean win. (*1/2. A couple of big spots from Fox, but this wasn’t an overly exciting opener to the show. Cassidy was more focused on doing some crowd work and stalling it seemed like. Fox was the right guy to go over and I tend to enjoy seeing his work every time out.)
Second Contest: Akuma vs. Jonathan Gresham: Gresham takes Akuma down to the mat focusing on the arm and switches to a head scissors. Akuma quickly breaks free with a headlock on Gresham. Gresham takes Akuma down to the mat with a headlock. Gresham arm drags Akuma after they avoided each other running the ropes. Akuma chops Gresham followed by a kick. They trade a few kicks with Akuma knocking Gresham to the floor. Akuma follows to the floor kicking Gresham on the leg. Akuma misses a kick hitting the ring post. Gresham takes Akuma down to the mat keeping control with a half Boston Crab, but Akuma quickly reaches the ropes. Gresham misses a clothesline in the corner and Akuma connects with a shoulder ram. Akuma takes Gresham over with a snap suplex. Akuma locks in a surfboard, but Gresham quickly fights out. Akuma puts a half Boston Crab on Gresham, but again, fails to get a submission as Gresham reaches the ropes. Akuma kicks Gresham over the back and knocks Gresham off his feet with a kick and a chin lock. Akuma hooks Gresham for a Gory Special and has it locked in, but Gresham counters with an arm drag. Gresham misses a splash in the corner and hits a springboard hurricanrana. Gresham plants Akuma with a tornado DDT followed by a suicide dive to the floor! They both return to the ring before the count of ten.
They begin to trade forearms until Gresham kicks Akuma and gets a near fall with a rollup. Gresham almost wins with a crucifix pin and nails Akuma with a kick to the head. Akuma avoids a suplex but is met with a knee and a kick. Gresham spikes Akuma with a brainbuster for a near fall. Gresham forearms Akuma over the back and arm drags Akuma. Akuma tosses Gresham with a suplex and plants Gresham with a dangerous powerbomb for a two count. Gresham counters a Death Valley Driver managing to hit a stunner. Akuma counters Gresham’s head scissors with a double knee gut buster for the win. (***. I thought that was a really good sprint of a match with constant action and great counters throughout. Gresham showed his potential here and Akuma impressed me as I’ve not seen a lot of his work. They put together a really fun undercard match.)
Backstage, Jonathan Gresham cut a promo talking about not qualifying for the BOTB. Gresham is frustrated with his loss tonight. Gresham promises that Akuma won’t beat him again and he looks forward to another shot at Akuma. Gresham promises the fight of his life the next time they meet.
Third Contest: Devon Moore vs. Thurteen: Moore arm drags Thurteen a few times sending Thurteen to the floor to regroup. Moore head scissors Thurteen, but Thurteen comes back with a head scissors and a forearm strike in the corner. Moore connects with a gut buster for a near fall and misses a springboard moonsault. Thurteen locks in a surfboard for a moment, but switches to a camel clutch. Moore gets out of a rollup and Thurteen keeps control with strikes in the corner. Thurteen continues to chop Moore around the ring. Moore misses a splash in the corner and Thurteen hits a tornado DDT for a near fall. Thurteen leg drops Moore and keeps his shin on Moore’s throat for a moment. Thurteen slams Moore and goes to the apron hitting a slingshot senton for a two count. Thurteen uppercuts Moore, but Moore comes back with a spinebuster for a near fall. Moore tries for a double leg slam only for Thurteen to counter with a Destroyer for a two count. Thurteen slides a couple of chairs into the ring. Thurteen takes Moore over with a snap suplex and lays Moore over the chairs. Thurteen heads to the top rope, but Moore gets to his feet and delivers a few strikes on the top rope. Thurteen drops Moore over the chairs gut first followed by a double knee onto the chairs for a near fall. Thurteen tries for a slingshot and is met with a superkick instead. Moore hits a vertical suplex onto a chair for the win. (**. I wasn’t expecting much going into this one, but they did a fine enough job to hold my interest. They didn’t get a bunch of time, but they filled that time with decent action. I consider this a positive match for the undercard.)
DJ Hyde announces that Chuck Taylor, Zack Sabre Jr., and Johnny Gargano will be returning for Best of the Best. Hyde announces that TOD will be taking place on June 25th and two guys from Big Japan will be entering the Combat Zone. Hyde mentions Greg Excellent attacking his mother last show. Hyde calls out Excellent to the ring. Hyde wants Excellent to explain himself. Hyde wonders if the Mountain Dew has gotten to his head. The crowd pops big time at the mention of Nick Gage. Hyde says he’s done everything he can to make CZW a success. Excellent cuts Hyde off and tells Hyde to shut up. Excellent tells Hyde that he’s not John Zandig. Excellent says that anybody can bleed, but who drops their mother on their head. Excellent tells Hyde that he loves the company more than Hyde ever will. Excellent shoots on Hyde stealing the spotlight from other guys trying to steal the rub. Excellent says that Hyde is a punchline and nobody respects him. Excellent says that Hyde is douchebag and every feels that way. Excellent admits that he’s not the best worker, but all he’s ever wanted to do was do this. Excellent tells Hyde that he robs wrestlers of their passion for professional wrestling. Excellent says there’s nothing Hyde could do to him to make him hate himself and leaves the ring. Hyde tells Excellent that they will be wrestling next month and he’s going to kick his ass. That was a great shoot by Excellent.
Backstage, there’s a brawl between Alex Colon and Sami Callihan during Emil J’s segment for the website. A match is made between them for tonight, which we already knew about.
Fourth Contest: Sami Callihan vs. Alex Colon in a qualifying match for BOTB X: Callihan chops Colon to start the match in the corner as they didn’t wait for the bell. Colon tries for a head scissors, but Callihan tries for the Stretch Muffler. Colon counters with a rollup. Sami takes Colon down to the mat and tries for another Stretch Muffler, but colon reaches the ropes. Callihan forearms Colon to the floor and delivers a chop against the railing. Callihan sends Colon into the guard railing back first. Callihan delivers a running chop against the railing. Colon sends Callihan into the railing, but Sami fights back and misses a chop hitting the post. Colon hits the Slice Bread on the floor. Colon headbutts Callihan onto a chair and goes to the apron. Callihan kicks Colon off the apron and delivers a few chops. Colon tries for a Death Valley Driver, but Callihan kicks Colon followed by a springboard lariat. Colon blocks a suicide dive with a chair shot. Colon nails Callihan with a running boot on the apron. Colon delivers another running boot in the corner, but Callihan spits on Colon. Colon kicks Callihan several times followed by a running knee in the corner. Callihan spits at Colon again and is stomped for it. Callihan blocks a knee strike and dragon screw leg whips Colon.
Callihan blocks a boot in the corner, but Colon delivers a kick anyway. Callihan stops Colon on the top rope with a few chops. Colon chops Callihan several times, but Sami headbutts Colon several times. Sami is knocked off the middle rope and Colon tries for a somersault dive, but is powerbombed by Callihan for a two count. They begin to trade strikes with Sami getting the advantage with a running forearm in the corner a few times. Colon decks Callihan with an elbow for a near fall. Colon kicks Callihan several times from behind and jumps onto Sami’s shoulders. Callihan avoids a reverse hurricanrana and drives Colon down to the mat face first. Callihan hits a back suplex followed by a running forearm strike for a two count. Callihan locks in the Stretch Muffler, but Colon reaches the ropes. Sami hooks Colon on the apron, but Colon counters with a knee strike and lands on his leg acting as if he blew out his ankle. Colon nearly wins with a rollup from behind. Callihan tries for a backslide, but Colon counters with one of his own for a two count. Callihan and Colon trade slaps on the mat. Sami headbutts Colon, but Colon fires back with a strike. Colon shoves the referee in the way and low blows Callihan for a two count. Colon superkicks Callihan for the win. (**1/2. The match was going well with a nice pace, but then it just hit a wall and suddenly felt like it was dragging along. I enjoyed the action, but I would have probably cut three minutes from the match and kept it more compact. Colon looked solid in there and Sami worked well, too.) After the match, Sami attacks the referee with a sick looking Stretch Muffler.
Fifth Contest: The Runaways (Joe Gacy & Ryan Slater) vs. Irish Driveby (Rich Swann & Ryan McBride): All four men are brawling on the floor before the bell. McBride and Swann are sent into the railing. Gacy uppercuts Swann followed by more strikes. Gacy and Swann legally begin the match. Gacy and Slater are sent into each other in the middle of the ring. Swann dropkicks Gacy and McBride hits a standing moonsault for a two count. Swann returns to the match and trades right hands with Gacy. Slater tags in and Swann drop toe holds Slater followed by a few arm drags. Swann takes Slater over with a hurricanrana for a two count. Swann kicks Slater over the back followed by a stomp. McBride tags into the match and works over Slater with a snap suplex and a leg drop for a near fall. Swann tags back in and kicks Slater on the ribs. Gacy shoulder blocks Swann and delivers several stomps to maintain control. Gacy scoop slams Swann and delivers a fist drop coming off the ropes before tagging in Slater, but Slater only does a kick and a headbutt before tagging back out to Gacy. Runaways hit a vertical suplex/powerbomb combo for a two count on Swann. Gacy delivers an elbow drop for a two count. Swann chops Gacy against the ropes, but Gacy eye rakes Swann to stop that momentum. Gacy slams Swann and Slater hits a slingshot splash for a near fall.
Slater decks McBride off the apron and they trade strikes. Slater slingshot leg drops Swann over the apron and took a nasty bump to the floor. Slater hits a suplex on the floor and Swann is in agony. Slater rolls Swann back into the ring where Gacy gets a two count. Gacy drives Swann down with a back suplex for a near fall. Slater stomps on Swann some more and delivers a few knee strikes to the back. McBride gets tagged in, but the referee didn’t see the tag. Gacy chokes Swann over the middle rope and uses his forearm to rake Swann’s forehead. Swann tries to fight back, but Gacy punches Swann to stop his momentum. Slater works over Swann with strikes, but Swann battles back with a spinning kick. Swann finally tags in McBride, and McBride cleans house with clotheslines. McBride dropkicks Gacy and rams Slater into the corner back first. Irish Driveby go to opposite corners, but Gacy pulls Slater out to save him. McBride hits a somersault dive to the floor onto both men. Swann kicks Slater and McBride hit a wheelbarrow suplex for a two count. Gacy stops Swann with an overhead throw. McBride plants Gacy with a Death Valley Driver. McBride puts a double Sharpshooter on the Runaways in the middle of the ring. They both manage to reach the ropes to break the hold. Slater is slammed but Gacy tosses Swann with a back suplex. Slater crotches McBride on the top and the Runaways hit a backbreaker/elbow drop combo for the win. (**. Considering the Runaways appear to be primed to be a big heel team since they attacked the commissioner the last show, I’m not surprised by the outcome. It’s a decent match, but I don’t think it needed to go over ten minutes to accomplish what they did. I like Swann and McBride did fairly well, too. It’s interesting to see Gacy so young into his career. It was a very average match.) After the match, Thurteen helps the Runaways attack Swann and McBride. Well, the Runaways end up hitting a backbreaker/elbow drop on Thurteen. Gacy hits a splash off the top after Slater slammed Thurteen to the mat. Maven Bentley, the commissioner, comes out and suspends the Runaways.
Adam Cole cuts a promo saying that everyone lives in their under achieving bubbles and they all wish they were him. Cole believes that he’s perfect in every way. Cole thinks that 2011 will be his year in CZW. Cole makes out with Mia Yim. Ruckus eventually comes out to challenge Cole for the championship.
Sixth Contest: CZW Junior Heavyweight Champion Adam Cole vs. Ruckus: Cole tries to hit Ruckus with the championship, but misses. Ruckus head scissors Cole followed by an arm drag. Ruckus kicks Cole on the side of the head. Ruckus hits a handspring spinning kick to send Cole to the floor. Cole acts like he’s going to leave, but is stopped by a man with a chair. Ruckus chops Cole against the railing followed by forearms. Cole drops Ruckus over the apron back first with a wheelbarrow. Cole sends Ruckus into the railing shoulder first. Mia Yim stomps on Ruckus while the referee is distracted. Cole tries for a slam on the apron, but Ruckus leg sweeps Cole off the apron. Ruckus hits a shooting star press off the apron to the floor onto Cole. Ruckus goes to the top rope and is crotched by Yim. Cole nails Ruckus with a big boot knocking Ruckus off the top turnbuckle. Cole keeps a sleeper on Ruckus, but that doesn’t last long. Cole decks Ruckus with a clothesline for a two count. Cole drops Ruckus over his knee with a backbreaker. Cole eye rakes Ruckus in the corner continues with a headlock on the mat. Cole plants Ruckus with a back suplex and heads to the top rope. Cole misses a crossbody off the top rope. Ruckus leg sweep/elbow drops Cole followed by a standing moonsault for a two count.
Ruckus gets an inside cradle for a near fall. Ruckus almost wins with a backslide and hits a northern lights suplex for a two count. Cole superkicks Ruckus and hits a slam for a two count. Cole tries for a reverse DDT, but Ruckus holds the ropes. Ruckus double stomps Cole for a two count. Ruckus gets distracted by Mia Yim and Cole hits a reverse DDT for the win. (**. It was okay, but the flow felt a little weird. I was surprised that Ruckus got so much offense in on Cole. Ruckus hit his classic spots fairly well. The distraction finish is a little cheap, but fits Cole’s persona, I suppose.) After the match, Tyler Veritas is the guy that got involved during the match and Cole cuts a promo on him. Cole tells Tyler that his unborn child is a mistake. Cole connects with a reverse DDT after Yim caused a distraction.
Dewey Donovan comes out and has a pizza slicer with him as the crowed chants for Nick Gage. Donovan says that he’s here and brings out Nick Gage….. but it’s actually CZW Wired TV Champion Drew Gulak acting as Gage. Gulak cuts a promo while the fans are literally turning their back to the ring. Gulak has the CZW Tag Team Championship and notes that Gage can be contacted in jail. As a reminder, Gage had robbed a bank the previous month and would eventually be sentenced to five years in prison. Someone threw something at Gulak and was escorted out of the building. Gulak doesn’t respect the fans for supporting a criminal.
Seventh Contest: CZW Tag Team Champions Philly’s Most Wanted (BLK Jeez & Joker) vs. The Briscoe Brothers: Jeez and Jay kickoff the tag title match. Jay takes Jeez down to the mat and they counter each other briefly. Jay elbow drops Jeez on the left knee and keeps control on the mat. Jeez breaks free with an eye rake. Jeez gets a rollup for a two count and they have a standoff. Joker enters and is nailed by Mark with a yakuza kick for a two count. Mark beats on Joker with chops in the corner followed by a vertical suplex. Jay tags back in and Joker is met with a double shoulder block. Mark hits a back suplex on Joker for a near fall. Joker is clotheslined by both Briscoe’s in the corner followed by stereo running boots for a near fall. Mark connects with a slingshot senton splash after a slam by Jay on Joker. Jeez tags into the match and Mark is double teamed managing to hit a dropkick for a near fall. Mark and Jeez trade strikes until Jeez eye rakes Mark in the corner. Mark drops down to throat thrust Jeez. Joker pulls Mark to the floor and is chopped. Jeez takes Mark out with a somersault dive to the floor. Mark is sent into the railing by Jeez and they return to the ring where Jeez gets a two count.
Jeez knocks Jay off the apron to prevent a tag out. Jeez delivers an elbow drop for a two count on Mark. Jeez slams Mark and Joker hits a slingshot elbow drop from the apron for a near fall. Joker uppercuts Mark in the corner and delivers a few chops. Jeez chokes Mark from the apron. Mark boots Joker in the corner and tosses Jeez with an exploder suplex. Joker forearms Mark in the corner, but Mark superkicks Joker after avoiding a backdrop. Jay and Jeez tag into the match with Jay hammering away on Jeez followed by a dropkick and knocks Joker off the apron. Jay clotheslines Jeez in the corner and rams Jeez into the middle buckle. Jay almost wins following a big boot. Jay spikes Jeez with a Death Valley Driver and Mark hits a top rope elbow drop for a near fall. Jay and Joker go to the floor and brawl. Jeez head scissors Mark off the ropes followed by a tornado DDT for a near fall. Jay pulls Joker to the floor while Jeez plants Mark with a flatliner over the middle rope. Jay misses a boot to Jeez. Jay plants Jeez with a spinebuster. Jay chops Joker several times, but Joker delivers a boot to the midsection and hits a suplex. Mark missile dropkicks Joker and all four men are down.
Briscoe’s get control with strikes in opposite corners and have the champs on the top rope. Joker tosses Mark into the corner with an exploder suplex and hits a backstabber on Jay. Jeez double stomps Jay over Joker’s knees and Joker cannonballs Mark in the corner for a two count. Joker has Mark on his shoulders, but Jay tosses Jeez off the top rope. Joker blocks a superkick by Jay and delivers a few strikes. Jay plants Joker with a Death Valley Driver out of a press slam for a near fall. Joker is on Mark’s shoulders and the Briscoe’s hit the Doomsday Device, but Jeez pulls the referee out. Jeez decks the referee on the floor and grabs the tag titles. The tag champs bail on the match. (***1/4. I enjoyed the match as they got plenty of time and the fast pace nature towards the end was a lot of fun. The finish is a let down, but it should allow for a rematch and I’d be interested in eventually seeing them in a conclusive match at some point.)
Backstage, Briscoe Brothers are pissed about the cheap finish and they let us know about it. They didn’t come all this way for that kind of finish. They are cursing a whole lot to express their frustration. It’s going to be no disqualification next month.
Backstage, BLK Jeez cuts a promo saying that Briscoe Brothers will not get another shot. Maven Bentley enters the scene and notes that they got DQ’d on purpose. Bentley tells Jeez they didn’t win the match with the Briscoe’s. Bentley tells Jeez that it will be a no disqualification match with no count-outs, too. Joker gets Bentley’s face asking who Bentley thinks he is for doing that and not asking. Bentley tells them to man up. The champs are not happy with that.
At Cage of Death, Brodie Lee attacked Jon Moxley after Moxley had retained the CZW World Championship against Homicide.
Main Event: CZW World Champion Jon Moxley vs. Brodie Lee: Moxley attacks Lee from behind during his entrance. Moxley sends Lee into the guard railing and leaps off the apron only to be caught by Lee and sent into the railing back first. They trade strikes around ringside until Lee rolls Moxley into the ring. Moxley dropkicks Lee to the floor and hits a suicide dive. Moxley kicks Lee on the knee and delivers a side Russian leg sweep into the railing. Moxley hits Lee with a chair, but Lee keeps control with strikes. Lee chops Moxley against the ring post. Moxley avoids a chop and Lee hits the ring post. Moxley is knocked off the apron through a table on the floor. Lee hip tosses Moxley onto the broken table. They continue to brawl around ringside. Moxley dropkicks a chair into Lee’s face in the ring. Moxley plants Lee onto a chair with a DDT for a two count. Lee whacks Moxley over the head with a steel chair. Moxley tries a clothesline, but Lee decks Moxley with a right hand sending the champion to the floor. Lee uppercuts Moxley at ringside a few times. Moxley fights back with forearm strikes. Lee takes Moxley over with a snap suplex on the concrete floor. Lee manages a two count in the ring.
Moxley comes off the ropes with a crossbody and pummels Lee with right hands. Moxley locks in a figure four in the middle of the ring. Moxley is kicked away by Lee and met with a right hand. Lee chops Moxley in the corner to maintain control of the contest. Moxley nails Lee with a leaping clothesline. Lee misses a running boot in the corner and Moxley sits Lee on the top rope. Moxley hits a superplex and both men are struggling to get up. Lee connects with a big boot, but Moxley kicks out. Lee plants Moxley with a chokeslam and signals for something backstage. Security comes out with pane of glass. They set it up in the corner for Lee to use. Lee signals for a powerbomb, but Moxley fights out of the hold and almost wins with a rollup. Moxley connects with a cutter for a near fall. Moxley gets on Lee’s back with a sleeper, but Lee quickly falls backwards through the glass. Lee hits a swinging side walk slam for a near fall. Security slide a table into the ring for Lee. Lee puts thumbtacks onto the table. Moxley powerbombs Lee through the table and wins the match. (*1/2. The crowd was not responsive to this all that much and I’m figuring because they didn’t really build Lee up strong enough to justify the match. Plus, Robert Anthony already has a title shot next month, so a title change probably wasn’t likely. These two are two of my favorites on the Indies and I felt disappointed by what they did here. There wasn’t a lot of violence until the final two minutes or so and the brawling wasn’t all that great.)
Final Thoughts:
While the main event was a disappointment, I thought this was an okay show for the most part. There’s a coupe of notable matches, but there’s nothing truly awful on the show by any means. I liked that there were several in-ring segments to build things up for the future and if you were new to the product that did a good enough job to catch the viewer up on what’s been taking place. This isn’t a must-see show by any means, but I think it’s an average one.
Thanks for reading.