Combat Zone Wrestling presents Proving Grounds
Date: 5/10/2014
From: Voorhees Township, NJ
Alexander James starts the show cutting a promo focusing on the junior heavyweight title tournament that he wasn’t invited to be part of, and wants to know how he wasn’t part of it. James has done everything for CZW and Drew Gulak over the past three years. James declares himself the best junior heavyweight champion, ever. James isn’t leaving the ring until someone from management apologizes. Instead, Devon Moore comes out leading to our first match. Moore has a chair with him and says James is the drizzling shits.
Opening Contest: Alexander James vs. Devon Moore: James attacks Moore with right hands and slaps Moore against the ropes. James forearms his manager on accident and Moore smashes James with a chair shot. Moore hits a springboard dive to the floor to take James and his manager out. Moore tries for a springboard, but is yanked off the apron. Moore is rammed into the post back first before being rolled back into the ring. James drives Moore to the mat with a vertical suplex for a two count. James sends Moore into the post shoulder first and chokes Moore in the corner. James runs the ropes, but is met with a spinebuster by Moore. Moore drops James with several right hands and a headbutt. Moore nails James with a clothesline, but is tripped from the floor. The referee saw that and ejects the bodyguard. Morre hits a cutter on James and picks up the win. After the match, Moore is announced as the new honorary junior heavyweight champion, but James refuses this. James announces that the title was never on the line because he never signed a contract. Maven Bentley comes out and says the title isn’t an actual title and thus the title can’t be defended without James signature. (*1/2. There’s no reason for James to be that good a heel. The match isn’t much of anything, but James was quite entertaining in his heel role.)
Second Contest: Joker vs. Azireal: They trade a few holds to kickoff the match with neither man getting a substantial advantage. Azireal strikes Joker a few times and gains control with a headlock. Azireal comes off the ropes to shoulder block Joker. Azireal continues with right hands in the corner. Azireal shoulder rams Joker in the corner several times, but Joker delivers an elbow strike. Joker clotheslines Azireal in the corner followed by a snap suplex for a two count. Joker plants Azireal with a back suplex for a near fall. Joker decks Azireal with a forearm strike. Joker uppercuts Azireal in the corner. Joker misses a splash in the corner and is met with a kick. Azireal hits a missile dropkick off the middle rope. Azireal baseball slides Joker into the guard railing. Azireal misses a slingshot crossbody to the floor and is sent into the railing. Azireal counters to send Joker chest first into the railing. Azireal nails Joker with a running dropkick into the railing. Azireal delivers a second running dropkick into the railing. Azireal tries for a cover, but Joker kicks out at two. They begin to trade chops in the middle of the ring. Azireal ducks a big boot, but is met with a running knee strike and Joker picks up the win. (**. A decent match, but nothing too exciting taking place. The crowd didn’t seem all that interested in it either.)
Third Contest: Joey Ryan vs. Greg Excellent: Ryan offers his lollipop, but instead kicks Excellent and hits Excellent with the lollipop. Ryan works over Excellent with stomps on the mat several times. Excellent humps Ryan through the ropes to the floor. Ryan returns to the ring and spears Excellent coming off the ropes. Ryan signals for a suplex, but Excellent counters with a suplex of his own. Ryan eye rakes Excellent into the ropes and chokes Excellent over the top rope. Ryan works over Excellent with strikes, but Excellent catches Ryan with a spinning slam for a two count. Excellent puts a horse mask on and leaps off the middle rope missing a diving headbutt. Ryan keeps control by stomping Excellent on the mat. Ryan sends Excellent into the corner and misses a splash. Excellent grabs a steel chair from under the ring, but instead grabs a barbed wire bat. Excellent puts it down and grabs a bigger lollipop. Ryan kicks Excellent to avoid a strike. Excellent has a second lollipop and whacks Ryan over the head for a two count. Excellent kicks Ryan in the corner and misses a middle rope crossbody. Ryan rolls to the floor and goes under the ring to grab a bag. Ryan rumps the bag and it’s marshmallows. Excellent blocks a hip toss and tries for a slam, but Ryan breaks free. Ryan comes off the ropes to deliver a clothesline and Excellent staggers. Excellent puts the mandible claw on Ryan. Ryan goes into his trunks and grabs a condom. Ryan puts his condom covered fingers into Excellent’s mouth. Ryan superkicks Excellent and hits a German suplex onto the marshmallows for a two count. Excellent hits a Samoan drop onto the marshmallows. Ryan manages to take Excellent down with a rollup and has a handful of tights to win the match. (*. A mostly comedy match. I feel like this is everything that is against true CZW, but maybe by this time it had evolved into that kind of thing. It’s a silly match and not very good.)
Kimber Lee comes out to cut a promo prior to her scheduled match. Kimber says that she’s not prepared for a match and that’s because she has an important press conference for tomorrow. Kimber tells Nevaeh that they will not need partners for tonight. Kimber is picking her opponent, and that brings out Mickie Knuckles.
Fourth Contest: Nevaeh vs. Mickie Knuckles: Knuckles licks her hand for a test of strength, but Nevaeh puts the referee in her place and takes Knuckles down with a headlock. Knuckles breaks free and controls Nevaeh with a headlock. Knuckles gets a rollup, but Nevaeh kicks out at two. Nevaeh tries for a rollup managing a two count, as well. Knuckles bites Nevaeh’s arm to break free. Knuckles sends Nevaeh into the corner and delivers a big splash. Nevaeh chops Knuckles, but an eye rake stops her. Knuckles eye pokes Nevaeh again. Knuckles eye poke the referee, too. Knuckles chokes Nevaeh over the middle rope in front of Kimber Lee. Nevaeh almost steals the match with a rollup from behind, but is met with a strike. Nevaeh kicks Knuckles several times and comes off the ropes to deliver a knee strike. Knuckles big boots Nevaeh coming off the ropes. Knuckles delivers a senton splash and covers for a near fall. Nevaeh forearms Knuckles to the mat and continues with forearms against the ropes. Knuckles comes off the ropes to deliver a spear. Knuckles covers for a two count. Knuckles tosses Nevaeh to the floor where Kimber chops Nevaeh before rolling her back into the ring. Knuckles drives Nevaeh into the corner and delivers a running dropkick. Nevaeh avoids a German suplex attempt and tosses Knuckles with a German suplex. Kimber pulls the referee out and sprays something into Nevaeh’s eyes. Knuckles hits a pump handle sit out slam for the win. (1/2*. That was not good, at all. The flow felt off, and the action was not entertaining at any moment.)
There’s a segment involving Lucky 13 and Matt Tremont talking about Tournament of Death.
Fifth Contest: CZW Wired TV Champion Shane Strickland vs. Candice LeRae: Strickland wants to shake hands and LeRae accepts. Strickland backs LeRae into a corner, but cleanly backs off. Strickland backs LeRae into a corner again and backs off cleanly a second time. LeRae gets a rollup on Strickland for a two count. LeRae gets a crucifix on Strickland for a two count. Strickland puts a Gory Stretch on LeRae, but LeRae counters with an arm drag. LeRae hits a head scissors out of the corner, but Strickland landed on his feet. LeRae hits a second head scissors to send Strickland to the floor. Strickland avoids a suicide dive by kicking LeRae. Strickland covers LeRae for a one count. Strickland back rakes LeRae against the ropes. Strickland pulls LeRae off the ropes for a near fall. Strickland drives LeRae down with a backbreaker. LeRae slaps Strickland after he blew a kiss at her. LeRae forearms Strickland a few times and puts an octopus stretch on Strickland. Strickland manages to counter with another backbreaker. Strickland tosses LeRae to the mat with a slam. Strickland sits on the top turnbuckle and LeRae wants more from Strickland. Strickland slams LeRae and again sits on the top turnbuckle waiting. Strickland casually kicks LeRae into the corner. Strickland rams LeRae into the corner while she’s over his shoulder. LeRae is left in the tree of woe and Strickland waits in the corner. LeRae counters by hitting a cutter out of the corner. LeRae tosses Strickland with a ballplex. LeRae holds onto the balls and hits a series of ballplexs. Strickland counters with a sit out slam for a near fall.
Strickland regroups briefly in the corner, but misses a strike in the corner. LeRae leaps off the top to hit a hurricanrana for a two count. Strickland rolls to the floor to regroup. LeRae nails Strickland with a suicide dive tornado DDT on the floor! LeRae rolls Strickland into the ring and covers for a near fall. LeRae overhand chops Strickland in the corner. LeRae tries for a top rope hurricanrana, but Strickland counters and nails LeRae with a big boot. Strickland leaps off the top missing a double stomp. LeRae spikes Strickland with a poison hurricanrana for a near fall. Strickland nails LeRae with a kick to the top of the head. Strickland goes to the top rope, but is stopped by LeRae. LeRae tries for a swinging neckbreaker off the middle rope, but Strickland tosses LeRae off and hits a top rope double stomp to pin LeRae. (***1/2. A good match, but the crowd felt deflated once Strickland won the match. I’m glad this delivered as it was one of the matches that prompted me to check this show out. LeRae is one of my favorite female wrestlers and obviously Strickland has become one of the best all around wrestlers in the industry.)
Sozio grabs a microphone to cut a promo on BLK Jeez. Sozio says that there isn’t a man in the building that knows Jeez better than him. They go back to 2003, which is eleven years. Sozio says nothing has changed for Jeez aside from putting a little bit of muscle. Sozio says he discovered his family roots and a little bit of money. Sozio made some moves and tossed around some money to make their match a handicap match. Joe Gacy makes his way out.
Sixth Contest: Joe Gacy & Sozio vs. BLK Jeez & Joker: Jeez goes after Sozio to start the match. Jeez backdrops Sozio to the floor, but Gacy attacks from behind. Jeez takes Sozio and his men out with a somersault dive on the floor. Jeez shoulder rams Gacy from the apron. Gacy nails Jeez with a back hand spring uppercut. Gacy and Sozio double team Jeez in the corner. They continue to double team Jeez with knee drops. Jeez is double teamed in the corner some more with strikes. Jeez elbows Sozio and kicks Gacy to the floor. Sozio hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Joker comes out and hits a side suplex on Sozio. Joker tosses Gacy overhead with a suplex. Jeez nails Sozio with a running boot in the corner. Joker sends Gacy into the railing and delivers stomps on the floor. Joker uppercuts Gacy while Jeez hits Sozio with a chair shot. Joker rams Gacy onto a steel chair at ringside. Joker sends Gacy into the railing back first. Jeez tosses a chair onto Gacy. Sozio jams a chair into Joker’s throat. Jeez and Gacy trade strikes around ringside. Joker takes out a few guys with chair shots. Joker nails Gacy with a running strike in the corner. They trade strikes in the middle of the ring. Joker headbutts Gacy while Jeez tosses a chair at Sozio. Jeez gets a one count on Gacy upon returning to the ring. Gacy strikes Jeez a few times, but Jeez hits a flatliner for a two count. Jeez and Sozio trade chops until Sozio gets control. Jeez uppercuts Sozio and hits a regal plex. Gacy stomps Jeez to keep control of the match. Jeez hits a springboard tornado DDT. Jeez hits a twisting vertical suplex on Gacy to pickup the clean win. (*1/2. There wasn’t much substance to this aside from brawling for the most part. It never felt like it got out of first gear in terms of intensity. This was another match that seemed to lack crowd interest.)
Seventh Contest: CZW Tag Team Champions Juicy Product (David Starr & JT Dunn) vs. The Beaver Boys (Alex Reynolds & John Silver): Reynolds and Starr kickoff the tag match. Reynolds gets wrist control and takes Starr down to the mat. Starr counters with a wrist lock, but Reynolds counters quickly. Starr counters with a head scissors on the mat, but Reynolds breaks free. Starr decks Reynolds to the mat with an elbow strike. Starr charges the corner, but Reynolds rolls through and hits a springboard crossbody for a two count. Reynolds arm drags Starr to the mat and tags in Silver, but Dunn tags in as well. Silver shoulder blocks Dunn and runs the ropes to hit a dropkick. Dunn hip tosses Silver, but Silver responds with a series of chops. Silver press slams Dunn over the top rope chest first and follows up with a running uppercut for a two count. Reynolds tags into the match and Dunn is double teamed. Silver hits a seated dropkick leading to a near fall for Reynolds. Reynolds uppercuts Dunn into the corner. Dunn elbows Reynolds in the corner, but runs into a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Reynolds goes to the top, but Starr shoves Reynolds off to the floor and Reynolds hits the railing chest first. Dunn covers Reynolds for a two count. Dunn stomps Reynolds on the back, but is backed into a corner. Starr tags in and kicks Reynolds to keep the advantage. Starr slams Reynolds and delivers a forearm drop. Reynolds is met with a double seated dropkick for a two count. Starr returns to the match and clubs Reynolds over the back. Starr headbutts Reynolds in the corner. Starr keeps control on the mat with a sleeper hold.
Reynolds fights out with a strike, but is tripped running the ropes. Dunn hits a top rope double stomp leading to a near fall for Starr. Dunn returns to the match and rams Reynolds into the corner. Dunn stomps Reynolds in the corner before backing off and distracting the referee. Starr tags back into the match and strikes Reynolds in the midsection. Starr chops Reynolds several times, but runs into a big boot. Reynolds double stomps Starr out of the corner. Dunn stops Reynolds, and avoids a kick. Reynolds rolls Dunn over and tags in Silver to clean house with clotheslines. Silver backdrops Dunn coming off the ropes. Silver tosses Starr across the ring. Silver goes for a dive, but hits a running somersault dive off the apron onto Starr. Silver missile dropkicks Dunn fro the top rope. Silver uppercuts Dunn in the corner and hits a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall. Silver forearms Starr off the apron, but Dunn dumps Silver to the floor. All four men brawl on the floor with Dunn being sent into Starr in the railing. Silver covers Dunn for a two count. Dunn nails Silver with a kick to the head and controls Silver with a waist lock. Starr forearms Silver in the corner and Dunn nails Starr with a superkick on accident. Silver avoids a cutter by Dunn and delivers a stiff clothesline. Silver misses a splash in the corner and is splashed by Starr. Reynolds superkicks Starr into a crucifix by Silver for a near fall.
Dunn saves Starr from a double team powerbomb. Dunn hits Reynolds with a cutter. Silver kicks Dunn and dives onto Starr, but is caught on the floor and dropped over the railing. Dunn leaps off the apron to leg drop Silver over the railing! Shelly Martinez gives Dunn a chair, but Dunn opts to not use it. Dunn superkicks Reynolds and Starr hits a German suplex. Dunn decks Reynolds with a rolling elbow, but Reynolds kicks out of the cover. Silver pulls Dunn to the floor, but is sent into the railing. Reynolds gets a rollup on Starr, but Starr kicks out and sends Reynolds into the ropes where Dunn smashes Reynolds with a chair shot. Starr covers and pins Reynolds to retain the titles. After the match, Shelly Martinez low blows Silver and Reynolds allowing the tag champions to get back into the ring and attack them some more. (***. A good tag team match. Once the action got going I was entertained by what they did. There’s no denying the talent involved here. The finish was nicely done as I almost forgot about the chair on the floor. Well done by these guys.)
Before the next match, DJ Hyde came out to cut a promo. Hyde mentions that Masada isn’t there as the next match was suppose to be a four way match. Hyde says that Masada had some personal issues preventing him from being there. Hyde has made an executive decision. Hyde didn’t think making it a three way would be a fair idea. Hyde thought about making it a four way to give the fans what they wanted, but didn’t like that idea either. Hyde tells Chris Dickinson that he has the night off. Hyde tells Dickinson that his decision is final. Dickinson tells Hyde this is exactly what is wrong with CZW and considers Hyde to be the cancer of his own company. Dickinson says Hyde has screwed him since day one in the company. Dickinson says he’s carried the company on his back. Dickinson tells Hyde that DJ told him he was too good to be in Best of the Best, and that was only because Dickinson knows he’d outshine everyone. Dickinson calls Hyde a piece of garbage, but security is called. Dickinson continues to threaten Hyde as security intervenes. Dickinson is escorted out of the ring and to the backstage area.
Eighth Contest: CZW World Champion Drew Gulak vs. Biff Busick: Gulak backs Busick into a corner, but cleanly backs off. Gulak drops to the floor and decides to stall for a bit demanding to be respected by the fans. The fans are chanting for Dickinson, but he’s not coming back for the match. They lockup with neither man getting a clear advantage. Busick takes Gulak down to the mat, but Gulak counters to gain control for a moment and they have a standoff. Gulak takes Busick down to the mat and keeps arm control. Busick counters with a head scissors on the mat. Gulak breaks free from the hold and shoves Busick away. Busick backs Gulak into a corner and cleanly backs off. Gulak gains control with another headlock, but that doesn’t last too long. Busick backs Gulak into a corner and breaks free cleanly. Busick drop toe holds Gulak to the mat and keeps waist control. Busick switches to a sleeper in the middle of the ring, but Gulak gets out of the hold. Busick backs Gulak into a corner and delivers a chop sending Gulak to the floor to regroup. Gulak quickly gets back in the ring as Busick followed to the floor. Gulak chops Busick against the ropes and bails to the floor when Busick isn’t bothered by it. Gulak returns to the ring and backs Busick into a corner, but Busick chops Gulak to the floor. Busick chops Gulak against the railing a few times. Busick sends Gulak into the ring post face first. Gulak rolls to the floor again to regroup and avoid Busick. Gulak sends Busick to the floor, but Busick returns to send Gulak to the floor and delivers a chop. Gulak backdrops Busick on the floor. Gulak keeps control in the ring by stomping Busick and choking Busick in the corner.
Gulak snapmares Busick and delivers a chop against the ropes before taking Busick down to the mat with a headlock. Busick breaks free and uppercuts Gulak against the ropes. Gulak avoids a running strike and Busick goes over the top to the floor. Gulak slams Busick into the railing. Gulak chops Busick against the railing and taunts the crowd. Gulak sends Busick into the railing. Busick sends Gulak into the ring post. Busick works over a bloodied Gulak around ringside with a few strikes. Busick rolls Gulak into the ring and gets a one count. Busick uppercuts Gulak several times in the corner. Busick takes Gulak over with a suplex for a one count. Gulak fights back with several strikes. Busick kicks Gulak and hooks for a suplex. Gulak decks Busick with a clothesline. Gulak locks in a dragon sleeper in the middle of the ring, but Busick tries to fight out of the hold. Busick counters into a pin attempt, but Gulak kicks out. Busick locks in a sleeper, but Gulak doesn’t give up. Gulak reaches the ropes to break the hold. Busick sits Gulak on the top turnbuckle and tries for a suplex, but Gulak elbows Busick to avoid a suplex off the top. Gulak leaps off the top missing a clothesline. Busick drops Gulak on his head with a suplex. Busick decks Gulak with a clothesline for a near fall. Busick powerbombs Gulak for another two count. Busick puts a choke on Gulak in the middle of the ring. Gulak doesn’t submit, but Busick takes Gulak over with headlock slam and chokes Gulak to earn a submission and wins the title. (**. A completely flat match. The crowd did not care for this whatsoever and it probably didn’t help that they took Dickinson out of the match. Dickinson seemed to be the most popular guy involved in the match. The crowd being mostly disinterested in the match hurt the match without a doubt.)
Main Event: Danny Havoc vs. Dysfunction in a falls count anywhere, ultraviolent death match: These kinds of matches are tough for me to review and I can’t possibly rate it since it’s not my style of wrestling to truly enjoy. As you’d expect this was a bloody encounter with plenty of weapons. In the end, Havoc won the match following a superplex off the top through a pane of glass set up in the middle of the ring. This certainly came across as something the crowd actually wanted to see.
Final Thoughts:
Strickland/LeRae and the tag title matches were the standout bouts on the show, but it’s not enough to make this a recommended show. The crowd seemed rather lifeless for most of the action. Gulak/Busick was a disappointment and clearly didn’t connect with the live audience. The CZW audience prefers the death match style and the other matches suffered from a reaction standpoint.
Thanks for reading.