Combat Zone Wrestling presents Dojo Wars #1
Date: 5/21/2014
From: Blackwood, NJ
Opening Contest: Frankie James vs. Conor Claxton: They lockup and struggle for either man to get a clear advantage. James takes Claxton over with a backdrop slam and gets a headlock for control. Claxton counters and James reaches the ropes. Claxton takes James down, but James counters on the mat. James maintains the advantage with a waist lock and rolls around the mat. Claxton tackles James to the mat, but James counters quickly leading to Claxton reaching the ropes to break the hold. James tackles Claxton to the mat again and they continue the mat wrestling based match. Claxton gains control with a headlock, but James gets to the ropes to break the hold. James avoids an arm bar attempt and gets a body scissors on Claxton with a full nelson. Claxton breaks free. Claxton headbutts James, but James responds with a belly to belly suplex to win the match. (*. This is kind of a bizarre way to introduce Dojo Wars. When a wrestling fan thinks of CZW they think of hardcore and to some extent great pro wrestling. The approach here was 99.5% amateur wrestling until the last eight seconds of a four minute match. It’s not my cup of tea as they did very little pro wrestling.) After the match, they shake hands.
Second Contest: Sozio vs. Andrew Wolf: Sozio kicks Wolf followed by a chop and forearm in the corner. Sozio continues to chop Wolf in the corner and delivers a few more strikes in the corner. Wolf fights back with strikes, but Sozio decks Wolf into the corner. Sozio charges the corner, but Wolf avoids and hits an arm drag. Sozio kicks Wolf and hits a snap suplex for a two count. Wolf tries to kick free, but Sozio stomps on the left knee and locks in a spinning toe hold. Sozio tells Wolf to submit, but Wolf refuses to give in. Sozio sends Wolf into the ropes, and Wolf hits a messy dropkick to send Sozio to the floor. Sozio regroups on the floor. Sozio pulls Wolf down and hits a slingshot elbow drop for a near fall. Sozio continues to work over Wolf with strikes. Sozio controls Wolf on the mat with a sleeper for a moment. Wolf fights free with a few forearms to the midsection. Wolf takes Sozio over with a snap suplex leading to a near fall. Sozio kicks Wolf and sets up for a suplex, but Wolf gets an inside cradle. Sozio slaps Wolf twice and delivers a DDT for a near fall. Sozio kneels on Wolf’s throat for a moment. Sozio taunts Wolf as Wolf struggles to his feet. Wolf fights back with a few strikes, but Sozio kicks Wolf. Sozio sends Wolf into the ropes, but Wolf counters a clothesline with a backslide for a two count. Wolf almost wins with an inside cradle. Wolf gets another two count with a rollup. Sozio superkicks Wolf followed by a yakuza kick to pickup the win. (*1/4. It sure seemed as if Wolf was gassed fairly quickly into the match. Sozio has some charisma and his offense looked pretty good. Sozio is clearly a more seasoned worker than Wolf.)
Third Contest: Absolute Adams vs. Ken Phoenix: Adams controls Phoenix with a headlock in the opening moments of the match. Phoenix counters with a top wrist lock, but Adams reaches the ropes quickly. Adams backs Phoenix into a corner, but cleanly backs off. Adams delivers a strike to the midsection and back before getting a headlock on Phoenix. Phoenix takes Adams down to the mat and they have a standoff. Phoenix chops Adams in the corner. Phoenix plays to the crowd, but Adams attacks from behind. Adams sends Phoenix into the corner and delivers a spear. Adams tries for a snap suplex, and takes Phoenix over after a brief struggle for a one count. Adams keeps Phoenix on the mat with a sleeper. Phoenix fights back with strikes to the midsection and rams Adams into the corner. Phoenix stomps Adams in the corner several times. Phoenix delivers a running dropkick in the corner for a two count. Phoenix chops Adams in the corner to maintain the advantage. Adams shoulder rams Phoenix in the corner a few times. Adams snapmares Phoenix and delivers a strike to the back before putting an arm bar on Phoenix. Phoenix breaks free with a rollup for a two count. Adams regains control with an arm bar. Phoenix takes Adams down with a rollup. Adams elbow strikes Phoenix, but Phoenix almost wins with a pin attempt. Adams kicks Phoenix away in the corner. Adams nails Phoenix with a clothesline and plays to the crowd.
Adams puts a sleeper on Phoenix for a moment. Phoenix takes Adams down and hits a dropkick for a two count. Phoenix knee strikes Adams on the back and pulls back on Adams arms, but that doesn’t last long. Adams nails Phoenix with a sliding forearm strike in the corner. Adams hooks Phoenix for a suplex, but Phoenix blocks and hits his own suplex. Phoenix tries for a cover, but Adams kicks out at two. Phoenix puts a full nelson on Adams, but Adams breaks free with a low blow that the referee didn’t see. Adams puts a choke on Phoenix, but Phoenix rams Adams into the corner a couple of times, but Adams doesn’t break the hold. Phoenix tries to reach the ropes, but drops to his knees in the middle of the ring. Adams keeps the choke on Phoenix and forces Phoenix to pass out to win the match. (*1/2. Phoenix was a bit sloppy in there with his dropkicks standing out as being a little messy. Phoenix does have some charisma, though. Adams didn’t do much for me here, but a choke finish was fine.)
Fourth Contest: Joe Gacy vs. Qefka The Quiet: They lockup with Gacy backing Quiet into a corner and backs off cleanly after shoving Quiet. Gacy shoves Quiet into the ropes after another lockup. Quiet backs Gacy into a corner and backs off cleanly. Gacy puts a headlock on Quiet for the advantage, but Quiet sends Gacy into the ropes and is met with a shoulder block. Gacy taunts Quiet for backing him into a corner. Quiet puts a hammerlock on Gacy, but Gacy tries to power out of the hold to no avail. Gacy reaches the ropes instead to break free from the hold. Quiet takes Gacy down to the mat and gets a rollup for a one count. Gacy rams Quiet into the corner and backs off cleanly. Quiet runs the ropes and tries for a shoulder block, but Gacy doesn’t budge. Quiet wants Gacy to shoulder block him and delivers a drop toe hold instead. Quiet rides on Gacy’s back and Gacy crawls around the ring. Quiet gets a rollup, but Gacy bails to the floor after kicking out. Gacy returns to the ring and Quiet acts a a mime. Quiet takes Gacy down to the mat with a headlock. Gacy breaks free and puts a sleeper on Quiet. Gacy keeps control with a headlock on the mat. Gacy gets out of a rollup and goes to the floor again to regroup. Gacy complains about Quiet putting his hands in his mouth.
Quiet does the miming gimmick again. Gacy mimes as well and kicks Quiet in the midsection before choking Quiet over the ropes. Gacy continues to work over Quiet in the corner and delivers a clothesline in the corner. Gacy scoop slams Quiet to the mat. Gacy stomps Quiet on the mat and manages a two count. Gacy grabs Quiet to deliver a scoop slam and hits Quiet with a forearm strike to the back. Gacy tries to remove Quiet’s mask, but doesn’t get it off. Gacy kicks Quiet into the corner and continues to deliver strikes. Gacy rams Quiet into the corner face first and sends Quiet into the corner. Gacy misses a splash. Quiet puts his hand in Gacy’s mouth and almost wins with a pin attempt. Gacy kicks Quiet away, but Quiet kicks Gacy into the corner. Quiet misses a splash in the corner. Gacy shoves Quiet to the mat. Quiet delivers a few strikes after ducks Gacy’s attempts. Quiet hits a springboard back elbow. Quiet nails Gacy with a running dropkick in the corner. Gacy misses a clothesline and Quiet delivers a stunner for a two count. Gacy stops Quiet with a bearhug in the middle of the ring.
Quiet strikes Gacy and tries for a shoulder block, but Gacy doesn’t budge again. Gacy misses a clothesline and Quiet leg sweeps Gacy for a near fall. Quiet goes to the middle rope and is caught in a bearhug. Quiet nearly pins Gacy with a cradle. Gacy avoids a cutter and nails Quiet with an open hand strike to pickup the win. (**1/2. Gacy’s potential is obvious here. Quiet worked fairly well and his miming gimmick could work well on the regular CZW shows as a cult favorite character if given the opportunity. I enjoyed the action.)
Main Event: DJ Hyde, Alexander James & Brooke Danielle vs. Dub Boys (Dave McCall & Nate Carter) & Brittany Blake in an elimination match: Hyde and Carter kickoff the main event. Hyde controls Carter with a wrist lock, but Carter counters with a waist lock. Carter puts a headlock on Hyde and is backed into the ropes. James tries to cheap shot Carter from the apron, but backs off. Hyde taunts Carter for thinking the crowd would think he’s good looking. Hyde puts over his group as sexy and spits at Blake. Carter takes Hyde down with a headlock, but Hyde gets up and doesn’t budge on a shoulder block. Hyde calls Carter ‘boy’ and the crowd didn’t like that (Carter is black). Hyde shoulder blocks Carter, but misses a clothesline. Carter hits a leaping shoulder block off the ropes. Carter runs the ropes and shoulder blocks Hyde a second time. McCall and Blake enter the ring and they deliver a double scissors kick to Hyde. Hyde rolls to the floor to regroup with James. Carter performs a spinnarooni. Hyde insults Blake as being a cheap woman. Danielle gets tagged into the match to square off against Blake.
Blake controls Danielle with a headlock and takes her down to the mat. Danielle yanks Blake down to the mat and misses a clothesline. Blake comes off the ropes to hit a crossbody for a two count. Danielle kicks Blake and controls Blake with a wrist lock. Blake counters with a wrist lock of his own. Blake gets a submission on Danielle until James yanks Blake off of Danielle. Danielle shoulder rams Blake in the corner a few times. Danielle elbow strikes Blake in the corner. Blake gets a rollup out of the corner for a two count. Blake forearms Danielle several times and Danielle tries to get a handshake, but Blake dropkicks Danielle. Danielle crawls to the corner and tags in James. James and McCall enter the match. James takes McCall down to the mat and gets control with a front face lock, but McCall counters with a hammerlock on the canvas. James counters on the mat and manages a two count. McCall gains control with a hammerlock and James screams on the mat. They trade cover attempts and James avoids an arm drag. James backs McCall against the ropes and runs the ropes. McCall nails James with a spinning heel kick for a two count. McCall puts a headlock on James followed by a knee lift to back James into a corner.
Carter tags into the match and tosses James with a fallaway slam. James sends Carter into the corner face first and Hyde gets tagged into the match. Hyde forearms Carter in the corner followed by a knee lift. Hyde elbows Carter coming off the ropes leading to a near fall. Hyde forearms Carter to the mat and chokes Carter over the bottom rope. Hyde strikes Carter from behind and puts a camel clutch on Carter in the middle of the ring. Carter appears to be bleeding from the mouth. Carter breaks free from the hold and elbow strikes Hyde. Hyde nails Carter with a big boot coming off the ropes for a two count. Hyde shoves McCall off the apron and Carter is double teamed briefly. James enters the match and uppercuts Carter to the mat a couple of times. Danielle enters the match and works over Carter with a boot in the corner. Danielle stomps Carter on the mat a few times and chokes Carter under the ropes. Danielle stomps Carter leading to a two count before tagging James back into the match. James axe handles Carter and hits a snap suplex for a two count. Carter shoulder rams James on the mat and they get to their feet where Carter delivers a headbutt and tags in Blake.
Danielle and Blake enter the match with Danielle kicking Blake and putting a choke on Blake in the middle of the ring. Blake elbows Danielle and is knocked to the mat. Hyde tags into the match and plants Blake with a scoop slam. Hyde comes off the ropes to deliver a big splash for a two count. Danielle enters and keeps control with a kick to Blake’s back for a two count. Danielle kicks Blake into the ropes and misses a clothesline. Blake nails Danielle with a clothesline, but it was a sloppy sequence. Blake plants Danielle with a DDT and gets a three count for the first elimination.
Hyde and James knock the Dub Boys off the apron and focus on Blake in the ring. Blake comes off the ropes and kicks both James and Hyde. Blake is shoved away by James and Hyde sends Blake into the ropes. Blake hits a wheelbarrow bulldog on Hyde. James tries for a slam, but Blake counters and ends up running into a slam by James for a two count. James tries for a slam, but Blake takes James down and hits a leg drop for a two count. Dub Boys tag into the match and hit an elevated heel kick for a two count. Hyde gets involved to break the cover. James ducks a kick by McCall and nails McCall with a lariat to get a three count. McCall has been eliminated.
Carter forearms James and hits a German suplex for a two count. Carter stomps James on the mat, but James fights back with uppercuts. James runs into a lariat by Carter for a three count. James has been eliminated and that leaves only Hyde.
Carter forearms and knee strikes Hyde, but Hyde headbutts Carter. Hyde nails Carter with a big boot. Hyde misses a lariat, but elbows Carter to the mat. Hyde comes off the ropes and is kicked by Carter. Hyde spears Carter and delivers a running knee strike to eliminate Carter. That leaves only Brittany Blake and DJ Hyde.
Hyde shoves Blake into the corner and Blake tries to deliver a forearm, but Hyde spits on her. Blake dropkicks Hyde into a corner and delivers another dropkick. Blake shoulder rams Hyde followed by a chop, but Hyde isn’t bothered by the chop. Hyde grabs Blake and delivers a chop in the corner. Hyde sends Blake into the ropes and Blake hits a tornado DDT! Blake forearms Hyde in the corner and hits a running crossbody in the corner. Blake goes to the top rope and hits a hurricanrana for a two count. Blake is tossed away into the corner. by Hyde. Blake runs into a swinging side slam, but pulls Blake up at the count of two. Hyde misses a lariat and Blake gets a rollup to pin Hyde to pickup the upset victory! (**1/2. For nearly a 30-minute match I thought they did a good job of maintaining the viewers interest in the bout. The Dub Boys came across very well and could be a standout team for CZW in the future. Blake may have gotten a bit winded, but she’s absolutely got talent and I enjoyed her performance. Hyde doing the job to her isn’t overly shocking as I’m sure he wanted a ‘big moment’, but I’m not sure how big of a moment it is for DJ Hyde to lose to a more talented performer.) After the match, Hyde grabs Blake, but is met with a low blow and Blake walks off.
Final Thoughts:
Sozio, Gacy, Quiet, Dub Boys, James, and Brittany Blake are the standout performers on the show. Dojo Wars takes place in front of maybe 20 fans in a warehouse setting. So, you’re not going to get a crazy crowd reaction, but there’s potential of some fun wrestling as various wrestlers get started or begin to learn their craft on a regular basis. I’ve been wanting to check out Dojo Wars for a while and this was an enjoyable start to the series.
Thanks for reading.