Respect for CZW

[yourcrapsweak]

When many wrestling fans hear the letters "CZW," they immediately squint their faces. Most wrestling fans who have heard of CZW only know of their hardcore, or ultraviolent, tendencies. They think of people going through flaming barbed wire tables, breaking light tubes, panes of glass, and senseless violence. While it is true that ultraviolence is what put CZW on the map, it should not dismiss you from respecting them as a wrestling promotion.

Most who have those feelings towards CZW do not realize that most CZW shows only have one or two ultraviolent matches on the card, and the rest of the matches are normal wrestling matches. CZW has always had a fantastic junior heavyweight division since its inception, and while people come back to see the ultraviolent matches, fans continue to stay interested because of the quality wrestling CZW has always offered.

Most don't realize that without CZW, many of your favorite independent wrestlers would not be anywhere they are today. The list of talent that started and broke into the business through CZW may surprise you. This list includes

The Briscoe Brothers
Amazing Red and the S.A.T.
Chris Hero
Kevin Steen
Charlie Haas
El Generico
Jimmy Jacobs
Adam Cole

and many more. Did you know that CZW made the Briscoe Brothers while they were still teenagers (Jay was 17 and Mark was only 16)? Did you know Charlie Haas and his brother Russ were CZW tag team champions in the year 2000? Did you know Jimmy Jacobs, before he ever debuted in ROH, was a lovable babyface in CZW ("HUSS!" for all you nerds out there)? Did you know it was CZW who were responsible for bringing Kevin Steen and El Generico to America for the first time? Did you know Chris Hero, the man who is on the verge of signing with WWE and is considered one of the best wrestlers in the world today, broke through the independent scene when he joined CZW in 2002? Did you know that Adam Cole, before ever being picked up by ROH, was a mainstay in CZW (and is still currently their Junior Heavyweight Champion)?

So before you dismiss CZW, all I ask is that you think back and give them a chance. They've done more for you than you think.

[Styles]

Three words for you YCW...


Sick Nick Mondo.

I f*ckin love that guy.

Yeah he was hardcore and did some crazy ass stunts, but even without all the hardcore, the guy could still go with the best of them.






I got into CZW back in late 2005 early 2006. My and my mate Dan had a little graveyard wrestling faction going on (some of these videos or snippets are still available on youtube I think only one match is still there as the main account got banned and they were never put back up., search "graveyard wrestling" Greeny & Stryker facing off, swanton bombs off gravestones including legdrops and stuff... how much is still left I dunno...), and we used CZW as our booking inspiration (We had three bookers, me, Dan and a girl name polly that did the female stuff). Dan taught me to wrestle a bit, but I only ever had two matches, one of these being a particularly nasty 3-dollar bill match (Staple 3 one dollar bills to your opponents skin... funny enough, I was booked to lose). I broke my tailbone in that match he (Dan) dropkicked me off of a bin... (I was stood on the bin). All in all our little promotion lasted only about 4 months, but it was heavily based on the CZW style.

I hadn't originally heard of them, but Dan showed me a good back catalogue.... I stopped watching it in around early 2008 or so. But I agree with all you said, it was and probably still is a great promotion. I love hardcore wrestling, but I also love watching some damn good wrestling and these guys have a great balance between the two.

Great read YCW. Thank you.