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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of CZW's Cage of Death 20 from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA!
PRE-SHOW NOTES:
Pretty full house here in Philly...Bull James and Homicide are backstage visiting....Onita did a big autograph signing before the show...The locker room was told there will be no January event and they will return in February for their 20th anniversary show.
CZW Wired Champion Jordan Oliver vs. KC Navarroo.
They started out fast with some brawling outside, which led to Oliver’s entourage getting involved. Navarro was slammed hard into the ring steps. Oliver drilled him with a series of chops in the corner when they returned to the ring. Oliver controlled him in the ring. Navarro was bleeding from across the bridge of his nose but attempted to pull himself up with the ropes. Oliver kept unloading with hard chops. Navarro fired back and whipped him into the corner. Oliver was sent up and over but jumped right back into the ring, nailed a superkicked and caught Navarro with a German release Suplex.
Navarro caught Oliver with a Blackhawk DDT but Oliver kicked up. Oliver went for a springboard move but Navarro ducked and nailed a nice dropkick and a nice splash in the corner for a two count. Navarro ducked a clothesline and nailed a superkick to the stomach. He slammed Oliver with a Code Red for a close near fall. Navarro went to the ropes, but Oliver stunned him. Navarro continued to work over Oliver, who came back with a nice stunner off the ropes and leg lariat for the pin.
Your winner and still CZW Champion Jordan Oliver!
A good opener. A little too much with the interference for my taste for an opening match but they worked really hard and each showed a lot of promise.
A nice round of applause for Navarro as he exited.
TABLES MATCH: CZW Tag Team Champions BLK OUT vs. The Rep.
Everyone started brawling before they could ever get through the ring announcements. Dave McCall and Nate Carter worked over BLK Jeez, nailing a double knee strike in the corner. Ruckus put McCall through a table, driving him off the apron. Jeez nailed a tope con hilo to the floor on Carter. Chris Bishop tried to attack Ruckus but was flipped into an Ace Crusher, which was a cool spot. Jeez and Carter fought on the ring apron, above a table that was leaned against the guard rail. Carter put him through the table.
Chris Bishop tried to interfere but was hit with the T-Gimmick by Ruckus and Robby Mireno. Ruckus went to the top for a moonsault but BLK JEEZ attacked his own partner, then smirked and walked out. The Rep put Ruckus on the table, then picked up Mireno and drilled him through Ruckus, smashing them both through the table.
Your winners and new CZW Tag Team Champions, The Rep!
Fun match, but too short in my opinion. They tried to pack a LOT into what time they had. Jeez turning on Ruckus is interesting. I always feel like BLK OUT is way underutilized so hopefully if they are working against each other, they will have a storyline.
Anthony Gangone came out and said since he threw Joe Gacy off the Cage of Death last year, the office has dictated his destiny here but he's back and he's not coming alone. A video feature on the Amazing Red played, announcing his return. Red worked a lot here in 2001 when he was starting out. Gangone said he and Red are going to take the belts and when they are done, the Rep will go back to being the Dub Boys and DJ Hyde's b**ch.
Anthony Green with the Platinum Hunnies vs. David Starr.
Green had a big entrance set to Belinda Carlise's "Heaven is a Place on Earth" with a bunch of characters dancing.
They locked up and Starr tried to work over the arm, but Green grabbed him in a full nelson, making his arms wave back and forth. Green's retro character is pretty infectiously fun. Starr wasn't having any of his silliness and drilled him hard with some chops. Green drove him into the ropes and nailed a slide over his back to the floor. Starr nailed a tope suicida on Green to the floor and sent him into the guard rail. Green then grabbed one of the costumed characters and slammed them on the apron.
Starr took Green all around the ringside area, having fans hold his arms as he chopped him. They battled back to the ring, where Green nailed several chops and a dropkick. Green drilled him with several right hands and hard chops. Starr drilled with several big forearms and nailed a kick to the back. Starr beat Green down in the corner with chop after chop, then hit a low splash into the corner.
Green was forced into a surfboard. Green came back with a rana and a big right hand. Starr was sent into the middle rope, hitting it rudely. Starr took a moment before he returned to his feet. They battled back and forth with punches. Green caught him with a jawbreaker into a neckbreaker. Green went to the top for a twisting bodypress off the top for a two count. Green went for a piledriver but Starr escaped. Green went for a rollup but Starr kicked up. Green was caught with a hard back suplex for a two count.
Green went for a Tomakaze but was sent into the ropes. Starr rolled him up for a two count. Starr kicked him hard in the side of the head but Green shoved him into the ring. Green went for a DDT off the ropes but Starr evaded and nailed a dropkick. He nailed a great leaping leg lariat in the corner but didn't get the pin. The fans started dueling chants for each man. They turned up the pace here, drilling each other hard with chops. Starr nailed some hard clotheslines but met a big back elbow. They just kept hitting each other with big bombs. Starr nailed a lariat, sending Green inside out for a two count. Starr followed up with another backbreaker for a two count.
They battled back and forth until Green caught Starr with a piledriver and scored the pin.,
Your winner, Anthony Green!
This was a really, really entertaining physical match and you could see that the crowd really got into this as the crowd's interest rose the longer this went. It felt like they had Starr trying to give Green the rub to make him a bigger part of CZW going forward. The Arena gave Starr, who is slated to be moving to Europe soon, a nice ovation after the bout, which was his first CZW appearance in some time.
Leyla Hirsh (with DJ Hyde) vs. Mercedes Martinez.
Lufisto and Steve Mack are here, doing commentary for this match.
Hirsh walks and acts like a MMA fighter. You can tell just by watching her live that she's got something.
Hirsh went to the leg for a takedown early. They went to the mat with Hirsh controlling her early but Martinez reversed. Hirsh grabbed a leg and tried to work on the ankle. Mercedes got to her feet and shoved Hirsh down. They went back to the mat with Hirsh riding her back. Martinez flipped her over but was caught in a leg scissor. Hirsh looked really smooth on the mat, likely due to her amateur wrestling background.
Martinez had enough of the grappling and began drilling her with chops. Hirsh fired back with a nice overhead suplex. Hirsh nailed a series of forearms but ate a spinebuster. Martinez forced her shoulders to the mat and drilled a series of right hands. Martinez shot her into the ropes, then into the corner and drilled her with a big chop that made me cringe. Martinez worked her over with kicks and used her boot to smother Hirsh in the corner.
Hirsh was sent into the buckles but flipped off. Hirsh ducked a clothesline and nailed a leaping elbowsmash in the corner, using the ropes for leverage. Martinez went to the floor, where she was drilled with a tope suicida. She nailed another. Hirsh went for a third but was drilled with a punch to the face. Martinez continued the assault, working over Hirsh's kidneys. Hirsh was hit with an elevated hanging suplex after placing her across the top rope, scoring a two count.
Martinez placed her on the top but Hirsh knocked her off and nailed a nice moonsault press for a two count. They battled back and forth with forearms and punches. Some of Hirsh's punches looked really good. Hirsh went sent into the ropes and flipped upside down. Martinez nailed a kick to the throat, stunning her. She nailed a big throw superplex for a close two count. Martinez tied her up in a bow and arrow, turning it into a submission attempt. Hirsh fired out of it with elbows and went for an armbar. Martinez grabbed the ropes, forcing the break.
Martinez nailed a knee strike. Martinez went for a Fisherman's suplex but Hirsh caught her with a small package. Hirsh drilled her with a lariat and stunned her for the pin.
Your winner, Leyla Hirsh!
A good match. Martinez did a great job here making Hirsh look strong and putting in a great competitive bout. Hirsh has a world of potential and if she keeps improving at this rate, she's going to be on a lot of radars real quick. Martinez did her a really nice favor in putting her over in the manner she did. This was super enjoyable and a good physical bout.
Joe Gacy vs. Alex Reynolds
Reynolds was surrounded by his faceless minions as he came to the ring. Gacy was brought out on a cart, under a sheet, with those who brought him out laying flowers down upon him as if he was in a grave. Then he rose up and came to life. It was different. Gacy had his facepainted white with red.
Reynolds jumped him before the bell. Reynolds went for a dive, but his foot was caught on the rope. Gacy caught him and nailed an overhead Suplex into the aisle. Reynolds whipped him into the apron and worked him over with right hands as Reynolds tried to escape. Gacy and Reynolds battled back and forth on the floor. Gacy gained control and nailed a big Suplex for a two count.
Reynolds regained control and sent Gacy into the corner, then nailed a knee to the head for a two count. Reynolds brought him to the floor and tried to drive Gacy’s temple into the corner of the ring steps. Reynolds set him up and charged for a knee strike but Gacy moved out of the way. Reynolds was tossed into the ring but was able to grab Gacy as he followed and stunned him with a DDT for a two count.
Renyolds cinched in a cravate, trying to wear him down. Gacy fought his way out but was elbowed in the face. Reynolds drilled his face to the mat and stomped him across the back of the neck. Reynolds kicked him in the face, but Gacy fired up with a flurry of punches in the corner. Gacy nailed a nice series of elbows with Reynolds bumping for them. Gacy caught Reynolds with a lariat that turned him inside out and nailed a Michinoku Driver for a two count. Reynolds fought back and went for a Crossface but Gacy reversed and Reynolds ended up trapped in one. Reynolds placed his feet on the ropes to force the break.
Gacy stomped Reynolds over and over against the ropes. Reynolds nailed a forearm but Gacy fired back. Reynolds dropped him rough with a suplex but Gacy kicked out at the last second. Reynolds went back to the Crossface submission but was rolled over on his back for a two count. Gacy was sent into the ropes and went for a handspring move but Reynolds knew what was coming and snatched him down for another submission attempt.
Reynolds went for a move but was caught and slammed, then hit with a knee strike to the jaw. Reynold was backdropped but held on and came down for a pinfall submission. Gacy kicked up and nailed an Ace Crusher for a two count. Reynolds went for a lariat but Gacy ducked and the referee ate it. Gacy nailed a sit-down powerbomb but obviously, no referee to make the count. Reynolds' faceless minions hit ringside and tried to attack Gacy but were fought off. Gacy hit a flip dive onto the pile of them.
Reynolds caught him with a low blow as Gacy returned to the ring and covered him but Gacy got his shoulder up at the last second. Reynolds attacked the referee and stomped him. This brought up an "a**hole" chant. Reynolds grabbed a chair from someone at ringside, but now Gacy's masked people hit the ring and Reynolds began backing away. Eddie Blackwater hit the ring and began beating Gacy's people with a cane. He set up Gacy for Reynolds to powerbomb but then caned Reynolds across the back. OK then!
Gacy nailed a sit-down powerbomb and scored the pin.
Your winner Joe Gacy!
Decent match. The referee bump, all the run-ins and the turns seemed to take things down a notch for me, but this was supposed to be the end of the storyline between the two. Reynolds is a diamond in the rough who is an underrated heel.
They aired a Rich Swann promo on the video screen. He said he didn't have to censor himself, so he dropped the F bomb. He said that there has been blood, sweat and tears dropped all over this f***ing building. He said he's going to face John Silver and Shane Strickland. He told them to be ready, but he didn't think they could handle this.
John Silver vs. Shane Strickland vs. Rich Swann.
The Arena was super into Swann coming out to "All Night Long."
All action right from the start. Swann took out Silver but was nailed with a Swann missile dropkick. Silver nailed a series of Beel tosses across the ring on each of his opponents. Silver was caught by them. They went for a double Suplex, but Silver reversed and suplexed them both over. Strickland tried to go for a move but ate a kick as he climbed the ropes. Silver nailed a Sliced Bread #2 on Swann and hit a big splash off the top for a two count.
Swann caught Silver with a leaping kick to the face as he was on top. Swann hit a twisting splash off the ropes, then a moonsault for a two count. That was great. Swann went to grab Strickland but was sent to the apron outside and kicked in the face. Strickland went for a powerbomb on Silver, but he escaped, only to eat a double stomp to the back of the head.
Strickland nailed a stomp on Swann, then came off the ropes with a double stomp on Silver, who was caught in the ropes. Strickland scored a two count. All three men battled with a nice succession of moves before they all went down. The crowd chanted “CZW.”
Silver hit a superkick on Swann but was caught with a snap German Suplex by Strickland for a two count. Strickland came off the ropes with a stunner on Swann, but Rich blocked and nailed several punches. He planted him with a big Suplex. Strickland was sent into the corner, but Silver sent him backwards, where Swann nailed him with a reverse rana. As Swann got up, Silver nailed a knee strike and scored the pin.
Your winner, John Silver!
A good match with a lot of physical action that was all over the place. This was a nice victory for Silver, who’s consistent with good performances everywhere he works. Strickland and Swann were great here.
All three showed respect to each other after the match, which the Philly crowd liked.
We are now at intermission. Back soon with more coverage!!
They are setting up weapons, so the hardcore match will be first up on the second half. There’s a crutch, a street sign, chairs, a sex toy and more in the ring.
Hardcore Match: The Office (Mister Claxton & Brandon Kirk & Kasey Catal & Kit Osbourne) vs. Jimmy Lloyd & Mitch Vallen & Dan O'Hare & Maria Manic.
Kit Osbourne came out with a blow-up doll meant to be Maria Manic.
Dan O’Hare did a big entrance where he came out dressed as a cop chasing a drag queen who was dressed as a convict. Ah, wrestling! I appreciate that they are trying to do big entrances to make the show seem as special as possible. Manic got a nice chant when she came out.
Big brawl with everyone fighting. Manic went right after Catal and worked over her in the corner. Manic did all sorts of spots where she was beating up the men and overpowering them. Manic used a staple gun on Kirk, stapling dollar bills to his forehead. Catal tried to low blow her, but it didn't work, because well, you know. Manic hit a double chokeslam on Kirk and Catal. All sorts of brawling around ringside.
Lloyd grabbed a baseball back that had thumb tacks on it and Osbourne with it, then nailed a piledriver. Claxton attacked Lloyd with a crutch, beating him over the back. The fans chanted, "F*** you Conor." They set up an assemblance of chairs in front of a corner and placed an HD TV on them. Llyod was placed on the top rope. Claxton nailed a piledriver off the ropes through the TV set. Yeah, that was insanely nutty. I am guessing they won't be able to get a refund on that unit.
O'Hare began blasting Claxton with a chaor. Osborne attacked him from behind with the chair. Vallen was taking chairshots to the head and no selling them until he was kicked in the groin by Osborne. Can we retire that spot please? A barbed wire board and Christmas ornaments were placed in the ring. Lloyd went for a powerbomb but Osborne turned it into a rana mid-execution onto the ornaments for a two count. THAT got a two count? Just a two count?
Maria Manic, bleeding by now, got a big pop grabbing the blow up doll and acting like she was performing oral sex on it. Ah, wrestling. Lloyd poured a ton - and I mean a TON - of thumbtacks in the ring. Lloyd was going to hit Claxton witha DVDR lonto them but Catal lowblowed hjim Mitch Vallen grabbed her and hit a World's Strongest Slam on her onto the tacks. As if that wasn't enough, he grabbed her and hit an Oklahoma Slam through Brandon Kirk, sending them both through a door in the corner. That got a big CZW chant.
Uh, I can't believe I am writing this but Kirk was handcuffed to the ropes, at which point he was assaulted with a sex toy that was attached to a power drill. He had it forced in his mouth several times. Yeah, it's a living. They then placed another so it was sticking up on a chair, then gave someone an inverted atomic drop onto it. They called Larry Legend into the ring and he WANTED this to happen to him but he was kicked off Vallen was then knocked into it face-first.
Manic began cleaning house for her team, kicking the heck out of Kit Osbourne in the corner. A door was placed on the cart that brought O'Hare into the ring and he planned to put Osbourne through it but Catal began beating him in the head with the chair. Philly booed the shots. Catal hit a rana off the ropes onto the cart, which MOVED, and they crashed down hard on the concrete floor. That was nuts.
Vallen and Osbourne battled to the ropes. Vallen was shoved off the ropes and crashed hard through a chair. Osbourne nailed a double stomp that didn't look great. The crowd booed that. LLoyd nailed a discus clothesline and set up several chairs, then placed a door wrapped in barbed wire atop of them. Claxton tried to intercede but was drilled over the head with a chair. Lloyd then placed a second row of chairs atop of the door. They then placed a SECOND door wrapped in barbed wire atop of this.
Kirk and Lloyd battled over this on the top ropes. Lloyd nailed a Death Valley Driver off the top through the two doors, barbed wire ans chairs. Manic grabbed Kit Osbourne up but Claxton told her to fight someone her own size. She faced off with him but he threw thumbtacks in her face. Osbourne rolled her up and scored the pin.
Your winners, The Office!
This was either insanely entertaining or a complete bloody mess depending on what you like about pro wrestling. They are all way tougher than I'd ever be in taking some of those weapons shots and bumps. I can appreciate the lunacy of everyone involved.
The entire thing got Manic over in a big way as the place was chanting her name after.
They are cleaning the ring. Everyone is chanting at the ring crew and giving them grief. Some things never ever change in this building.
They aired a Matt Tremont promo on the screen, putting over the Onita match.
They are cleaning the ring while placing a barbed wire bat anda guitar in the corners.
Atsushi Onita & Matt Tremont vs. DJ Hyde & Masada.
Big reaction for Tremont. Onita chant before "Wild Thing" hits. They had sparklers light up for Onita as he came out, leather jacket and all, carrying a steel chair. This is cool stuff. It will also be the only explosion tonight I bet.
Onita threw his jacket at Masada and they started brawling. Onita broke a chair over Masada's head. Tremont did the same to Hyde. Onita worked over Masda in the corner with right hands. Tremont worked over Hyde on the apron as Onita kicked him. Onita nailed Masada with a barbed wire bat. He and Tremont set up a table. They put Masada through it. The table didn't want to work. Fans chanted "F the table."
Hyde went after Onita, who spewed red mist in the face. THE GREAT NITA HAS ARRIVED! Tremont then did it as well. Tremont choked Masada in the corner with his boo. Onita and Hyde went to the floor. Onita nailed Hyde, who was now bleeding, in the face and mid-section. Tremont tossed the table over the top to the aisle. Masasa sent Tremont into the guard rail. Tremont nailed him with a piece of a steel chair. Hyde flung a chair in his face.
Onita challenged Masada to return to the ring, Onita hit him with a chair and went to hit him with a tiny guitar but Masada ducked and Tremont got nailed instead. Masada nailed Onita and ripped his face with the bat. Onita was bleeding quite a bit. Well, if you book Onita, that's what you are booking him for - the blood and guts. Hyde ripped at Tremont with a barbed wire bat as well. Masada pulled out BBQ skewers and drove them into Onita's head.
Masada tossed Onita into the front row. Tremont smashed a chair overr a trash can that was on Hyde's head. Masada and Onita battled in the front row and returned to the ringside area, only to go back over the barricade again. Tremont beat Hyde's back with a chair. Onita and Masada battled through the crowd before returning to the ringside area. Tremont choked Hyde with a chair. Onita was worked over in the ring. Masada went back to the skewers and began bearing them into Tremont. This time, they stuck in his head and he looked like a porcupine. Masada went to nail him over the head with a chair, but Tremont blocked it. Masada blasted him and covered Tremont for a two count.
Onita and Masada battled on the floor with Onita trapped in a headlock as Masada nailed him. Hyde returned to the ring with a barbed wire bat. Tremont met him with one of his own and they faced off. They nailed each other and the bats exploded. OK, I was wrong, but how is it that this spot is happening without Onita?
Masada went for skewers again but Onita got them and worked over Masada with a series of right hands and a piledriver for a two count. Onita went to piledrive Hyde, who broke free and nailed a running forearm. Hyde nailed a lariat for a two count but Tremont broke up the pinfall. That made Tremont the biggest babyface of all time in Philly in my book. Well, except Terry Funk. Hyde went to grab Onita, but had a fireball thrown in his face.
Hyde ended up caught in the ropes with his arms tangled. Tremont grabbed a cinder block and nailed him in the forehead with it. Hyde went down and Tremont pinned him.
Your winners, Atsushi Onita and Matt Tremont!
Onita thanked the crowd over and over again. They loved it and chanted for him. Onita said he is a Death Match legend and Matt Tremont is his Death Match brother. He pointed to every side of the Arena and told them they were all his brother as well then thanked them again. I just got chills. Onita still has that awesome charisma. He and Tremont hugged. They played "Wild Thing" but Onita had them stop. He told Tremont he would bring him to Japan and show him a real death match. He said he would bring the people here a real explosion match. Don't I wish!
The match was exactly what you'd expect it to be, but it was fun. You aren't going to get an intricate back and forth bout. No one was looking for Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat here. They wanted Onita and they got him.
They are going to set up the Cage of Death now.
The Cage is the traditional yellow Cage of Death with a lot of weapons, including plexiglass boards, barbed wire, light tubes, chairs and more. There's several platforms set up in the corners above the cage. There is a NASTY looking square full of nails.
THE CAGE OF DEATH: Ricky Shane Page vs. Mance Warner to crown the new CZW Champion.
They had sparklers for each of the competitors. It always seems so strange to have pyro in this building.
They immediately went to war. RSP was sent into a piece of plexiglass, which exploded. Mance was slammed atop a barbed wire board. Mance was slammed on the nail board, which looked evil. RSP covered him for a two count, then hit him in the head with a pole that had a water cooler bottle atop of it.
RSP set up a chair in the corner before digging Mance’s face into the cage. RSP nailed him across the back and then in the head. They battled back and forth with punches. Mance went for a Bionic Elbow but RSP ducked. They battled over a chair until RSP was hit with a neckbreaker upon it. Mance then beat him with the chair. Recycling is fun.
Mance grabbed a chair wrapped in barbed wire and dug it into RSP’s head. He set up and nailed him in the guy with the water cooler bottle, then drove the barbed wire chair into the face of RSP for a two count. Mance nailed a big lariat for a two count. A piece of plexiglass was placed between two chairs. They battled up to the top rope. Mance nailed a tornado DDT off the top through the plexiglass for a two count. They battled back and forth. RSP was a bloody freaking mess.
Mance set up another pane of glass between two chairs. RSP rolled him underneath. Warner went to the ropes but RSP nailed him with several chair shots, then went to the top and nailed a big suicideplex off the top through the glass.
The battle continued. RSP used a staple gun to staple Mance’s tongue to a barbed wire board. Yeah, that was disgusting. Seriously. Mance tried to lift himself up was kicked in the face, which freed him. He was reaching in his mouth to get the staple out. Ewww!
RSP set up chairs and had ring crew come in to help him set up a barbed wire board across several chairs. Really? Ring crew? He directed the head of the ring crew to set up several chairs over it, then beat Mance with a crutch. They placed a glass pane over the two chairs. They battled in the corner and made their way above the cage to the platform set up in the corner. I don’t have a good feeling about this
They meet on the platform and swing back and forth with punches. RSP lifted Warner for a DVDR but he fought his way off. Mance went for a suplex and they went through some of wood set up for the platform, the glass, the chairs, the barbed wire board and a partridge in a pear tree. Jeez! Mance scored the pin as the place went nuts for this.
Your winner and new CZW Champion, Mance Warner!
Warner did a victory lap around the building. He took the mic and said his head hurts, his back hurts and he's beat to sh** so he was going to keep it short and sweet. He said he loved all the crazy fans here. He said he wanted to get f'd up and have a good time tonight. He led a CZW chant before heading to the back.
Well, it was the usual craziness you'd expect from this bout.
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VOD Replays of tonight's event will soon be availalable on www.HighspotsWrestlingNetwork.com for all subscribers.
POST SHOW NOTES & NEWS
Combat Zone Wrestling held their 20th Cage of Death event in Philadelphia, PA at the 2300 Arena last night, the promotion's return to the Arena. There are no current plans to return to the Arena.
The promotion was very happy with much of the show, which was designed to get over and present a next generation of stars for the company. Mance Warner, who won the CZW title last night, showed a ton of charisma and was being compared by those backstage to Drake Younger (now WWE referee Drake Yeurtz). Leyla Hirsh and Jordan Oliver were also being presented as being future centerpieces of the company.
There were no major injuries coming out of the show, just the basic bumps and bruises and cuts you'd expect.
The first intermission last night was taken so the company could go over what they had planned with State officials for the top matches to make sure everything was approved. Atsushi Onita and Masada going over the rails last night was not scheduled to happen and was something Onita did on the fly. The promotion had instructed the locker room before the show during a meeting that no one was to go over the railing, but there was some sort of communication issue and Onita did what Onita wanted, because, well, he's Atsushi Onita. There was some unhappiness that happened.
Jimmy Rave was backstage working behind the scenes as he's now living in Philadelphia and will be working here as an agent behind the scenes, as well as training talents at the CZW school. He was slated to wrestle on the afternoon event, which ended up canceled. More on that below.
Steve Mack was backstage as well. There is talk of him coming in to work behind the scenes for the company, which would be a big positive in my opinion. He also did commentary for the Leyla Hirsh vs. Mercedes Martinez match.
Hirsh vs. Martinez was originally slated for a pre-show event that was going to take place during the afternoon as the Philadelphia Eagles game played on the Arena's video screens. There were to be 3-4 matches on the pre-show, mostly featuring CZW dojo talents but when the game's half-time ended up taking place before the PA State officials arrived, the decision was made to scrap the afternoon show.
The promotion held a Toys for Tots drive before the show, bringing in over 13 bags of toys. They honored the Marines in the ring before the show.
The promotion already has a rough plan for the Cage of Death 21 stipulation and some potential gimmicks for that bout. That's how far in advance they start sketching ideas out for COD.
David Starr will no longer be a regular here as he's moving to Great Britain.
The promotion's next event will be 2/9 in Voorhees, NJ, which will be the company's 20th anniversary show. That is traditionally the night they do a Hall of Fame induction, so that will likely happen there.
The promotion intends to bring back their WSU sister promotion next year.
One change that will happen next year is that the promotion won't run a specific weekend every month.
The early plan for their annual Best of the Best tournament in the Spring.
Atsushi Onita made a huge killing on merchandise at the show.
Bull James and Homicide were backstage at the show.
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