CZW: Xtreme Action - Volume 1

[Guest asher66]

Combat Zone Wrestling: Xtreme Action - Volume 1 (2004)

 

This DVD contains four CZW matches from 2003, and our hosts are Eric Gargiulo and John House. Gargiulo seems to be in Joey Styles mode throughout, while House tries way too hard to sound (and look) like Taz. They introduce each match and try (unsuccessfully, I might add) to add some humor to the proceedings. I find it hard to believe that there aren’t a couple of guys in the Philadelphia area with more talent than these two.

 

Before we get to the matches, let me give a quick rundown of my rating system.

* - A horrible match. No chemistry or psychology and a ton of botched spots. Almost unwatchable.

** - A below-average match. A decent move or two save it from being *, but the match is certainly a disappointment.

*** - An average match. The kind of solid work which you’d expect from professionals.

**** - An above-average match. Solid psychology or crisp moves (or both) make this a match which you’ll remember for a while.

***** - An excellent match. One which will be talked about by wrestling fans for years to come. Excellent psychology, well-executed moves, and the ability to tell a compelling story in the ring make this match an instant classic.

 

To me, most matches should usually end up being ***, since that’s what I consider “average.” This would include the bulk of the matches seen on a weekly basis on WWE or TNA. It should be noted that I do not rate a certain style of match higher than the other. An average brawl gets the same rating as an average high-flying spotfest. Also note that I don’t give 1/2 stars or the like. If two matches are average, but I liked match A better than match B, I’ll still give both of them ***, because they’re still both “average” in my book.

Hope that clarifies things. Now on to the carnage!

 

(March 8th, 2003) “Sick” Nick Mondo vs. Trent Acid (Ironman Title)

This is the epitome of a sloppy indy match, with Mondo seemingly unable to perform even simple maneuvers like sliding between his opponent’s legs. While Acid is no Kurt Angle, he at least seems to have a little life in him, while Mondo looks lethargic and clumsy.

 

The punch and kick exchanges look awkward and poorly rehearsed (if rehearsed at all), and Mondo continues to botch move after move as the match progresses. While there is one decent example of chain wrestling, these guys are light years from someone like Jerry Lynn. This looks like the kind of thing you’d expect from the kids down the street who just started a backyard wrestling organization.

 

There are also way too many examples of the referee and ring crew helping the wrestlers to position tables, chairs, and the like. I guess it saves time, but it makes the wrestlers look like they’re not strong enough to do it by themselves. Of course, it doesn’t help that the ring crew are all twice as big as Mondo and Acid, effectively making them look like 7th graders.

 

Acid’s stablemates from HiV (pronounced “High Five”) show up to interfere, but they are driven off by Rick Blade, Nick Gage, and Nate Hatred. Mondo eventually gets the win by setting a table up on the top turnbuckle and hitting his Assault Driver on Acid, lifting him off the table and driving him through numerous chairs covered with crushed glass.

 

Match Rating: * (Mainly due to Mondo’s horrible performance)

 

(August 9th, 2003) Nate Hatred (w/ Dewey) vs. “The Future of Hardcore” Nick Gage

I believe that this match is for the Deathmatch Championship, but it’s hard to tell due to the poor audio quality and the lack of helpful statements by the announcers. Still, that’s what I thought I heard.

 

A passable match, we get lots of brawling and numeous spots with tables and steel chairs. Gage hits a nice Senton off the top rope, while Hatred is later thrown off the top rope and onto a huge pile of chairs at ringside. There’s one botched move, but the announcers cover and it doesn’t really halt the flow of the match.

 

Of course, everytime someone goes through a table, we have to listen to Gargiulo scream his catch-phrase, “Someone call 911!”, at the top of his lungs. Joey Styles bordered on annoying when he howled like some mythical banshee, and Gargiulo is far, far worse. They’re so busy screaming and yelling that they usually forget to tell us what move was performed or anything else which might actually be of assistance.

 

The match eventually climaxes on a balcony when Hatred grabs Gage and drives him off the balcony and through two stacked tables, allowing Hatred to pick up the win. I wish I knew what move he used on Gage, but the announcers were far too busy screaming to bother with little things like play-by-play.

 

Match Rating: *** (While not particularly exciting, it was a solid, workmanlike effort from both men.)

 

(December 13th, 2003) Joker vs. Chri$ Ca$h

They referred to this as a Ladder Match, but it’s only called that because ladders are scattered under and around the ring. You win by pinfall or submission, not by grabbing a belt from the top of the ladder.

 

The late Chris Cash (who died in a motorcycle accident) gives new meaning to the term “lanky,” as he looks to be about 6’1” and 125 pounds.

 

The two have a decent chemistry, but this is another plodding match due to all the ladders and such which come into play. If you’re a fan of ladder matches, then you’ll want to check this out, even though most of the spots involve one wrestler using the ladder as a weapon against the other (not jumping off the ladder).

 

The final spot is impressive as the two wrestlers battle to the top of a 15 ft. ladder, with Joker driving Cash off the ladder with a Joker Driver and through a table. A dangerous move, which certainly could have resulted in paralysis if done wrong. Needless to say, Joker gets the pin after that move.

 

Match Rating: ** (Not horrible by any means, but the match just felt flat throughout much of the contest. The final spot, however, was very impressive.)

 

Lobo vs. John Zandig

This match is for control of CZW and is a Barbed Wire Ropes Match (meaning, of course, that the regular ring ropes have been replaced by barbed wire). For anyone who has seen the ECW match between Terry Funk and Sabu with similar stipulations, you know that Zandig and Lobo are in for some serious pain and suffering.

 

The two brawl around the ring, employing barbed wire, chairs, light tubes, and everything else you’d expect from a “hardcore” promotion. Both men are soon a bloody mess, and Zandig has a large strip of meat hanging from his arm (which he patches up with electrical tape).

 

There’s a large deal of interference, as various factions try and help their man win control of the company. Wife Beater clears the ring with a weed-eater, but not before working over Lobo’s chest.

 

In the end, the match is a no contest. Zandig gets on the mic and expresses his feelings, but the poor audio quality renders the promo completely unintelligible.

 

Match Rating: ** (Your typical hardcore garbage match. Lots of blood and “holy shit” spots, but not much in the way of actual wrestling or psychology. The ending was also a disappointment, as I imagine most fans were expecting a clear winner. They. no doubt, must have decided to milk this angle for another month or two.)

 

Overall Rating: ** (While this DVD might appeal to hardcore fans of CZW or hardcore wrestling in general, it is not a high-quality product. The audio is bad, the announcers are

below-average, and the matches are generally a disappointment. There’s also the matter of only four matches being included on the DVD. With a title like Xtreme Action, you’d probably expect more in the way of content. But the wrestlers do try their best, and they certainly lay their bodies on the line. For serious fans, that will simply have to be enough.)

 

For more reviews, recaps, predictions, and assorted other stuff, check out my Blog at www.pro-wrestling-fan.com.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Oooh, can I pick a random RoH DVD from years ago to review all of a sudden?

[Guest asher66]

Be my guest. I'd love to read it.

 

Judging by your high number of posts, I'm guessing that you'd have a lot to contribute.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Well, while I disagree with your rating criteria immensely (since I'm of the belief that **, not ***, is your average match), and also apparently your tastes, a good review. But only giving Joker/Cash **? Damn. That's one of my favorite ladder matches. Did you miss how the ladder spots got bigger and bigger as the match progressed (a small hint of psychology in an otherwise spotfest)?

[bob_barron 0]

I'm sure UTSU's connections to CZW had nothing to do with his above comment.

 

Not bad review though

[Placebo Effect 0]

I remember seeing Acid/Mondo live and it was a clusterfuck. Johnny Kashmere and Mondo had an even worse match the month before/after. It ended with the Stupidest Spot Ever, as Kashmere and Mondo jumped off of opposite turnbuckles, with Mondo spearing Kashmere through a table on the way down.

[ulfistgut 0]

The choice of matches on those DVDs have been a little random - theres so many better Mondo matches for example than the Acid one.

 

Was the Zandig/Lobo match the Deju Vu one? Cos I thought that was suprisingly well done with quite a bit of psychology and so on

[Guest slamers]

wow, are you sure you want to give that dvd a whole **? for the most part, you had nothing good to say about the dvd and had negative comments in just about every single paragraph. i guess you're not a CZW fan?

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Some people like deathmatch/ultraviolent wrestling, and most people don't. Maybe he's not a fan of the style in general, but I do agree with his comments on Acid/Mondo: Mondo is pretty lame. Every match of his I've seen has just been some dull brawling, a sick spot here or there, and him playing to the crowd.

 

And the Lobo/Zandig match was the one where Zandig's arm got busted open and a tendon (I believe) was hanging out. The opening of the match saw Zandig grab a sign from the crowd that read "XPW Sucks" and hold it up high.

[JustJoe2k5 0]

Nick Mondo vs. The Messiah from EPIC's second show was one of the best hardcore matches I had ever seen in independent wrestling. If you want to see Nick Mondo at his "best", try and check that match out.