CZW Tournament of Death III
Show starts off with a "Show Opening." John House walking around the parking lot with all the fans before the doors open (even though the event is outside). Basically asking everyone who they think is gonna win. We get a little bit of everybody, Nick Gage, Wifebeater, even Ruckus gets a few picks for some ungodly reason.
Before I review the matches, here's a list of who's in the tournament.
Arsenal
Evil Ninja #2
Nick Gage
Ruckus
Wifebeater
Mad Man Pondo
Sexxxy Eddy
Ian Knoxx
Necro Butcher
The Green Phantom
JC Bailey
Chri$ Ca$h
Aresenal, Evil Ninja, Sexxxy Eddy and The Green Phantom are all from IWS in Canada. Zandig always loves bringing in other companies. XPW in TOD I, IWA-MS in TOD II, and now these Canadian freaks in III. I'm glad DJ is bringing in BJW guys this year.
With the names in this tournament, I wasn't very excited to see it. But trust me, I was pleasantly surprised.
Match #1: First Round - Arsenal vs. Evil Ninja #2 (Two out of Three Light Tube Log Cabins)
A spotfest and nothing more. Some pretty crazy spots though, I will give them that. Not much psychology, and felt more like a backyard match than a match between two professionals, but it was entertaining nonetheless. 5.5/10
Match #2: First Round - Nick Gage vs. Ruckus (Barbed Wire Boards)
Didn't expect much out off this, and I was still kinda disappointed. Ruckus was a substitute for an injured Zandig, and he made it painfully obvious that he wasn't in a deathmatch mood. I think there were only two or three barbed wire spots in this entire match, and it was pretty short. However it did tell a story (albeit a story that pissed me off) - the story that Robby Minero (Ruckus's manager) and Ruckus did NOT want to be there. 5/10
Match #3: First Round - Wifebeater vs. Mad Man Pondo (Fans Bring the Weapons)
What do you expect from these two? If you've ever seen either man "wrestle," you would expect nothing more than two guys senselessly beating the sh*t out of each other with whatever the hell is within arms reach, and in that respect, this match was pretty damn entertaining. 6.5/10
Match #4: First Round - Sexxxy Eddy vs. Ian Knoxx (Thumbtacks and Carpet Strip Boards)
Sexxxy Eddy comes out to absolutely NO reaction whatsoever, something completely foreign to me. However he redeems himself in his CZW debut by "seducing" Zandig's wife, including stripping over her, making her touch him and dry humping her. The match itself was very good. Both men had okay chemistry, but the story they told made up for it. Eddy wanted to wrestle, while Knoxx wanted some ultraviolence. They compensated by pouring millions (and I really mean millions) of thumbtacks all over the entire canvas of the ring. Everybody is happy! 6.5/10
Match #5: First Round - Necro Butcher vs. The Green Phantom (Fans Bring the Weapons)
Did I expect anything out of this match? Not really. Was I surprised? YES. This match was AWESOME! Surprisingly fast paced with no slow spots. The two had GREAT psychology and made it really feel like a fight. I was actually convinced for a little bit that it was a shoot because of how great they brawled. This little 9 minute match was probably close to match of the night. 8/10!
Match #6: First Round - JC Bailey vs. Chri$ Ca$h (Light Tubes and Ladders)
Honestly the only match I was looking forward to in the first round, this match did not disappoint. You know if you see JC Bailey's name in a deathmatch, you're going to get something great, and this was no exception. This match was a perfect example of what I call "deathmatch psychology," which is essentially making the crowd want it by building up and teasing spots, and making each spot bigger than the last. Zandig came out after the match to congratulate both men, and when that happens, you know you just saw something awesome. 8.5/10
Match #7: Semi-Finals - Sexxxy Eddy vs. Arsenal (Light Tube Ropes & Corners)
Two IWS guys were never more over in a CZW ring, namely Sexxxy Eddy (especially towards the end). Arsenal is very limited, as he has no grasp on psychology WHATSOEVER, but Eddy really got the best out of him. Entertaining as hell. 7.5/10
Eddy cut his arm pretty damn early in the match, and after the match backstage you can see close up one of the nastiest cuts you'll ever see. At the end of the match, he bleeds out like a fountain. Zandig comes out with him before the next match starts and tells the crowd Eddy needs to go to a hospital or he'll die, so he can't compete in the finals, but he invites him to come back to Philly on September 11th.
Match #8: Semi-Finals - Wifebeater vs. JC Bailey (Fans Bring the Weapons)
Who booked this sh*t? I just explained that these two are completely different deathmatch wrestlers, are you listening, Zandig? It was obvious that Bailey tried his damnest to put on the best match he could, but after a weedwhacker shot not even a second after the bell rings and an ultraviolent Macaulay Culkin cardboard cut-out (and a subsequent "Home Alone" chant), that was all out the window. They had a decent match, and the clash of styles worked to an extent. However I would have rather seen Bailey and Gage and Wifebeater and Necro, but as you'll find out, that would f*ck things up later. 7/10
Match #8: Semi-Finals - Necro Butcher vs. Nick Gage (Panes of Glass)
Match of the night. Plain and simple. This match had everything. Epic brawling all over the place, glass spots perfectly placed throughout the match. The ultraviolence wasn't overdone, but played to just right, and Necro did TWO wrestling moves (as Gargulio put it: "Two more than I've ever seen from him.") including a f*ckin' hurricanrana off the top rope! The BLKOUT came out at the finish for redemption on Gage, and this was played very well as well. And something I've NEVER seen before, and probably will never see again, Gage shook Necro's hand! As far as death matches go, 9/10!
Match #9: Finals - Wifebeater vs. Necro Butcher (Barbed Wire Ropes, Fans Bring the Weapons, Light Tube Cage Part, Barbed Wire Cage Part & Falls Count Anywhere)
Let me just get out of the way that Wifebeater legitimately looks like a monkey. Anyway, this match really felt like a finals to me. Match of the night? Not even close. But they did tell a great story. There were no non-tournament matches, so these guys didn't have much time to rest. They had very little time to rest up for another deathmatch, and I'm surprised they sold accordingly. However one gripe I had with this match was that it was just really messy. I don't mean the execution of any moves was messy, but the spots themselves were messy. It reminded me of an IWA-MS deathmatch with piles of random items and broken glass just lying all over the place, and they didn't use half of the weapons that were out there. It makes me wonder how different it would have been if Eddy was involved. Granted, they did have to improvise without him there, but they did it pretty well. Really sick and messy stuff. I wouldn't expect anything less from these two. Necro looks like he's wearing a red shirt from all the blood. 7.5/10
Overall, I was VERY impressed with the show. Like I said before, I wasn't looking forward to it as much as say I am Tournament of Death 7, but this was a great show that any death match fan would enjoy. Overall rating, I'll say about 7.5/10
Before I review the matches, here's a list of who's in the tournament.
Arsenal
Evil Ninja #2
Nick Gage
Ruckus
Wifebeater
Mad Man Pondo
Sexxxy Eddy
Ian Knoxx
Necro Butcher
The Green Phantom
JC Bailey
Chri$ Ca$h
Aresenal, Evil Ninja, Sexxxy Eddy and The Green Phantom are all from IWS in Canada. Zandig always loves bringing in other companies. XPW in TOD I, IWA-MS in TOD II, and now these Canadian freaks in III. I'm glad DJ is bringing in BJW guys this year.
With the names in this tournament, I wasn't very excited to see it. But trust me, I was pleasantly surprised.
Match #1: First Round - Arsenal vs. Evil Ninja #2 (Two out of Three Light Tube Log Cabins)
A spotfest and nothing more. Some pretty crazy spots though, I will give them that. Not much psychology, and felt more like a backyard match than a match between two professionals, but it was entertaining nonetheless. 5.5/10
Match #2: First Round - Nick Gage vs. Ruckus (Barbed Wire Boards)
Didn't expect much out off this, and I was still kinda disappointed. Ruckus was a substitute for an injured Zandig, and he made it painfully obvious that he wasn't in a deathmatch mood. I think there were only two or three barbed wire spots in this entire match, and it was pretty short. However it did tell a story (albeit a story that pissed me off) - the story that Robby Minero (Ruckus's manager) and Ruckus did NOT want to be there. 5/10
Match #3: First Round - Wifebeater vs. Mad Man Pondo (Fans Bring the Weapons)
What do you expect from these two? If you've ever seen either man "wrestle," you would expect nothing more than two guys senselessly beating the sh*t out of each other with whatever the hell is within arms reach, and in that respect, this match was pretty damn entertaining. 6.5/10
Match #4: First Round - Sexxxy Eddy vs. Ian Knoxx (Thumbtacks and Carpet Strip Boards)
Sexxxy Eddy comes out to absolutely NO reaction whatsoever, something completely foreign to me. However he redeems himself in his CZW debut by "seducing" Zandig's wife, including stripping over her, making her touch him and dry humping her. The match itself was very good. Both men had okay chemistry, but the story they told made up for it. Eddy wanted to wrestle, while Knoxx wanted some ultraviolence. They compensated by pouring millions (and I really mean millions) of thumbtacks all over the entire canvas of the ring. Everybody is happy! 6.5/10
Match #5: First Round - Necro Butcher vs. The Green Phantom (Fans Bring the Weapons)
Did I expect anything out of this match? Not really. Was I surprised? YES. This match was AWESOME! Surprisingly fast paced with no slow spots. The two had GREAT psychology and made it really feel like a fight. I was actually convinced for a little bit that it was a shoot because of how great they brawled. This little 9 minute match was probably close to match of the night. 8/10!
Match #6: First Round - JC Bailey vs. Chri$ Ca$h (Light Tubes and Ladders)
Honestly the only match I was looking forward to in the first round, this match did not disappoint. You know if you see JC Bailey's name in a deathmatch, you're going to get something great, and this was no exception. This match was a perfect example of what I call "deathmatch psychology," which is essentially making the crowd want it by building up and teasing spots, and making each spot bigger than the last. Zandig came out after the match to congratulate both men, and when that happens, you know you just saw something awesome. 8.5/10
Match #7: Semi-Finals - Sexxxy Eddy vs. Arsenal (Light Tube Ropes & Corners)
Two IWS guys were never more over in a CZW ring, namely Sexxxy Eddy (especially towards the end). Arsenal is very limited, as he has no grasp on psychology WHATSOEVER, but Eddy really got the best out of him. Entertaining as hell. 7.5/10
Eddy cut his arm pretty damn early in the match, and after the match backstage you can see close up one of the nastiest cuts you'll ever see. At the end of the match, he bleeds out like a fountain. Zandig comes out with him before the next match starts and tells the crowd Eddy needs to go to a hospital or he'll die, so he can't compete in the finals, but he invites him to come back to Philly on September 11th.
Match #8: Semi-Finals - Wifebeater vs. JC Bailey (Fans Bring the Weapons)
Who booked this sh*t? I just explained that these two are completely different deathmatch wrestlers, are you listening, Zandig? It was obvious that Bailey tried his damnest to put on the best match he could, but after a weedwhacker shot not even a second after the bell rings and an ultraviolent Macaulay Culkin cardboard cut-out (and a subsequent "Home Alone" chant), that was all out the window. They had a decent match, and the clash of styles worked to an extent. However I would have rather seen Bailey and Gage and Wifebeater and Necro, but as you'll find out, that would f*ck things up later. 7/10
Match #8: Semi-Finals - Necro Butcher vs. Nick Gage (Panes of Glass)
Match of the night. Plain and simple. This match had everything. Epic brawling all over the place, glass spots perfectly placed throughout the match. The ultraviolence wasn't overdone, but played to just right, and Necro did TWO wrestling moves (as Gargulio put it: "Two more than I've ever seen from him.") including a f*ckin' hurricanrana off the top rope! The BLKOUT came out at the finish for redemption on Gage, and this was played very well as well. And something I've NEVER seen before, and probably will never see again, Gage shook Necro's hand! As far as death matches go, 9/10!
Match #9: Finals - Wifebeater vs. Necro Butcher (Barbed Wire Ropes, Fans Bring the Weapons, Light Tube Cage Part, Barbed Wire Cage Part & Falls Count Anywhere)
Let me just get out of the way that Wifebeater legitimately looks like a monkey. Anyway, this match really felt like a finals to me. Match of the night? Not even close. But they did tell a great story. There were no non-tournament matches, so these guys didn't have much time to rest. They had very little time to rest up for another deathmatch, and I'm surprised they sold accordingly. However one gripe I had with this match was that it was just really messy. I don't mean the execution of any moves was messy, but the spots themselves were messy. It reminded me of an IWA-MS deathmatch with piles of random items and broken glass just lying all over the place, and they didn't use half of the weapons that were out there. It makes me wonder how different it would have been if Eddy was involved. Granted, they did have to improvise without him there, but they did it pretty well. Really sick and messy stuff. I wouldn't expect anything less from these two. Necro looks like he's wearing a red shirt from all the blood. 7.5/10
Overall, I was VERY impressed with the show. Like I said before, I wasn't looking forward to it as much as say I am Tournament of Death 7, but this was a great show that any death match fan would enjoy. Overall rating, I'll say about 7.5/10