WNS Column: CZW "Down with the Sickness" 2014 Review

Combat Zone Wrestling once again infiltrated the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey to bring professional wrestling fans their "Down With the Sickness" iPPV event last night. The card was packed with returning stars, a huge 8-man tag team match, an intergender match, and the Chri$ Ca$h Memorial Ladder Match for the CZW Tag Team Championship, which headlined the event. It was available on iPPV, and it's available On Demand now right here.

Women Superstars Uncensored ran a show earlier in the day, and CZW closed the doubleheader out at night. Doors opened at 7:30pm, and the event started around 8:00. I got to my seat in the front row near the aisle, and save for that stinking ring post, I had one of the best seats in the house. 

We are LIVE at the @FlyersSkateZone for @combatzone's "Down With The Sickness." pic.twitter.com/JbMrHNgRrl

— Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) September 14, 2014

The wrestling kicked off right away as Jumpin' Jack Jahova made his entrance and took on the mime, Qefka The Quiet. Qefka got the win in a match that started slow but ended strong, pinning Jahova after a running STO. Your winner by pinfall - Qefka The Quiet.

The Greek God Papadon, who's getting a slow push from CZW, was disqualified after low blowing Joe Gacy, then continued his attack after the match was over. It was what it was, a match to build Papadon's character a bit more. Your winner by disqualification - Joe Gacy.

Pepper Parks with his valet, Cherry Bomb, then entered the arena. Parks went one on one with former 10-time world champion [3-time Junior Heavyweight Champion and 7-time Tag Team Champion], BLK Jeez. Jeez is one of the most underrated small men in professional wrestling, but he knows how to work in the ring. The ending came where Cherry Bomb was trying to throw a chair into the ring and the ref stopped her, allowing the distraction for Jeez to get his own chair and hit Parks with it. Jeez then ended the match after getting Parks to tap out to the boston crab, WCW Chris Jericho style. Your winner by submission - BLK Jeez.

Good action in the third match of the night - BLK JEEZ vs. Pepper Parks pic.twitter.com/6v0RxDoBze

— Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) September 14, 2014

Next, we had probably one of the most entertaining matches of the night. "Dirty" Buxx Belmar and "Speedball" Mike Bailey took on Team Tremendous [Detectives Dan Barry and Bill Carr] in a very entertaining match. Belmar did a schtick where he rubbed his hands on his privates and wanted to wrestle, but Barry and Carr were trying to get away. It didn't work. Carr whispered to me while he was in the corner that he wasn't looking forward to it as the match began. Good stuff. Team Tremendous got the win after hitting a combo sliced bread #2. Your winners by pinfall - Team Tremendous.

The Campaign For a Better Combat Zone's Alexander James issued an open challenge, and Preacher Finneus James accepted it. The crowd gave a collective "who?" once Preacher entered the ring, but the match wasn't bad at all. Alexander James's security team entered the ring and hit the Preacher with an old school Dudley Death Drop while Alexander was distracting the referee by leaving the ring area. James re-entered the ring and got the pin. Your winner by pinfall - Alexander James.

Next came the intergender match. Professional wrestling blurs reality, but this match brought the current events of what happened with Ray Rice and his wife into the spotlight. I could've done without this match, and although the way it's built up doesn't really promote violence against women, I still don't think intergender matches in professional wrestling are a good idea. DJ Hyde, the legit owner of CZW and also in storyline, took on Kimber Lee, a member of CZW's faction Campaign For a Better Combat Zone. There were some entertaining spots in the match, but Chris Dickinson came out of the crowd and attacked DJ for the disqualification. He cut a promo on DJ about how he's trying to keep Dickinson off the events month after month and that he's sick and tired of it. He says DJ will get what's coming to him. This'll set up a match either next month or at least before the end of the year between the two most likely. Your winner by disqualification - DJ Hyde.

We hit a 15-minute intermission.

The huge 8-man tag team match is next featuring CZW's former World Heavyweight Champion, Drew Gulak, who lost his title to Biff Busick back in May. The Front [CZW World Heavyweight Champion, Biff Busick, Mr. Sozio, Eric Corvis and Andy Somers] makes their entrance first, and Gulak's team enters separately. Gulak's team consists of CZW legends Nate Webb and Adam Flash, along with a returning Ruckus. The match starts off with a lot of spots, including this one by Gulak's bodyguard, Mr. Tofiga:

400 lb. man flying through the air. Pro wrestling. #CZW #DWTS pic.twitter.com/QAVshPcLKW

— Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) September 14, 2014

There are no disqualifications apparently in the match, because Adam Flash gave a low blow twice that didn't end the contest. Gulak's team prevails after a fantastic flurry that saw a failed eight-man suplex try. Gulak then hit Busick with a piledriver for the pin. That move still looks as dangerous as ever, and I wonder if the independent scene will ban the move any time soon like WWE has. But, Gulak pins the CZW World Heavyweight Champion, so that's something to keep an eye on. Your winners by pinfall - Drew Gulak, Nate Webb, Adam Flash, and Ruckus.

Busick and Sozio of The Front tease a breakup after the match as there's some shoving back and forth. Nothing escalates from that, however. Nate Webb then dances in the ring to his entrance music, which is "Teenage Dirtbag" by Wheatus, which he also did before the match. CZW vice president Maven Bentley got in on the dance action with a split. Very impressive moves by Bentley.

Homicide returned to CZW and took on Joker. Entertaining match that saw Homicide get the win with the Yakuza boot. Your winner by pinfall - Homicide. BLK Jeez came out during the match to cheer on Joker, but to no avail. Homicide had words for Joker after the match, and gave him a bag of money. I couldn't hear what was being said and there was no mic available.

CZW Wired Champion Shane Strickland came out for a promo and said he wouldn’t be defending the belt because he was getting a well deserved night off. Devon Moore came out and challenged Strickland right there to put his title on the line. Strickland left the ring and headed to the back, but this'll set up a future match between the two. 

"The Bulldozer" Matt Tremont then entered with a bucket full of thumbtacks for his match with Lucky 13. The thumbtacks were used and both wrestlers had their bumps in them. Tremont got the win after hitting a running powerbomb onto the thumbtacks. Your winner by pinfall - "The Bulldozer" Matt Tremont.

After the match, Tremont grabbed the mic and said there’s no one left for him to beat. Devon Moore came out with a chair wrapped in barb wire and said he never beat him. Moore challenged him to a match at Tangled Web and Tremont accepted. Can you see a possible Shane Strickland run-in during that match?

The main event was the best match of the night. A three way tag team ladder match for the CZW Tag Team Championship - which included chairs and ladders, as well - stole the show. Juicy Product [JT Dunn and David Starr], the defending tag team champions, retained their titles after outlasting the Beaver Boys [Alex Reynolds and John Silver] and OI4K [Jake and Dave Crist]. But this was probably the highlight of the match, brought to you by Jake Crist:

Off a ladder. Through two tables. Pro wrestling. #CZW #DWTS https://t.co/1h66uTr9wO

— Nick Piccone (@nickpiccone) September 14, 2014

Ultraviolent professional wrestling, this is. Both members of Juicy Product then scaled the ladder to claim their Tag Team titles. Your winners - Juicy Product. End show.

#TheJuicyProduct retain their @combatzone tag titles @TheJuiceee @TheProductDS #CZW pic.twitter.com/pG193aX7jM

— Daniel FLaCo Pagan (@DPagan99) September 14, 2014

The next show locally will be at the Woodbury Heights Community Center on October 11th for a special benefit show. CZW and the MBA [Maven Bentley Association] are teaming up to present an event called The Memory Remains - a special Alzheimer's Association benefit event. Tickets are free with a $10 donation. You can get your tickets here.

CZW returns to the Flyers Skate Zone the following week, October 18th, for Tangled Web 7. You can order your tickets in advance here.

Follow @nickpicconor Visit BleedPhilly