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CZW January 2004 Doubleheader Event

BOOKED: By LucharesuFan619 on 1/16/04

1/16 in Allentown, PA

- Sabian vs. Shun the Kabuki Kid

BACKSTORY: There's not really much. This is mainly being booked just to build up to the six-man elimination tag team match the next night of this doubleheader event (these two will be participatinig in that match). Anyway, though, Sabian has been having some solid matches over the last few months, even having a very good match at Cage of Death V in December, and since debuting Shun's been passable, showcasing a Japanese style that's pretty blah, but with some experience, could become pretty decent. Like I said, though, the main reason I'm booking this bout is to add some heat going into tomorrow's six-man tag team match.

MATCH: There's not many highlights, as this is basically a "crap match," so to say," with the main purpose of beginning the show and building to the six-man bout the following night. The finish comes when Sabian hits a Flying Senton Splash for the pinfall win (5:58).

- Non-Elimination Match: Chri$ Ca$h vs. Derek Frazier vs. Jimmy Jacobs (w/ Becky Bayless) vs. Johnny Kashmere

BACKSTORY: Up until about a month ago, Ca$h didn't really have any steady feud. His "New School" tag team with GQ seemed to have disbanded without any real achknowledgement, and he was just floating. Then...he lit the sh*t up. At Cage of Death V in December, he and Joker stole the show in a fantastic Ladder Match that was eventually won by JokerThis match alone catapulted Ca$h back into the spotlight that he previously had during his memorable three-way dances with Ruckus and Sonjay Dutt earlier in the year. I'm continuing the Ca$h/Joker feud by booking a special challenge dream tag team match the second night of this doubleheader, so this match would be used as a way to sort of "prepare" Ca$h - so to say - for that match.

Frazier - who's a member of the heel Rebel's Army stable - has been relatively impressive as of late, having solid matches with Ruckus, Deranged, Ca$h, and Nick Berk. Jacobs actually won a three-way dance over Frazier and Sabian at C.O.D. V. Jacobs' IWA-MS feud with Alex Shelley had carried over to CZW, and that was his first match in CZW where the two weren't paired up against one another. Kashmere, meanwhile, returned to CZW at Night of Infamy II after a short abscence. He's a member of the Backseat Boyz tag team with Trent Acid, and although he's generally looked upon as inferior to the much more successful Acid, he's very talented and pretty charismatic (although less so than Acid). He partook in the five-on-five Cage of Death Scaffold Match at C.O.D. V and - like the others involved in that bout - took some sick bumps, which solidified his reputation as being someone who doesn't quite receive their due credit.

This would be an interesting three-way dance and I'm especially confident that even the three that would lose would have something to gain because the match would almost assuredly be of excellent quality. In the end, I'd use this match to put over Kashmere because - as I mentioned - he's still in Acid's shadow and escaping that stereotype would do a great deal of good for both Hi-V's status in CZW and his career in general.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Frazier executes the Impact Driver (Full Nelson Sitdown Inverted Powerbomb) on Kashmere, but when he tries it on Ca$h a few moments later, the former-New School member rolls through the move (kind of like a victory roll, or the takedown that Kurt Angle sometimes uses so as to end up behind the victim while they're lying on the mat, so that he can apply the Ankle Lock) and then proceeds to lock on a Grounded Dragon Sleeper, which is eventually broken up by Jacobs.
- Jacobs attempts the Contra Code (Sitoout Corner Sliced Bread #2), but Ca$h refuses to let him complete the backflip and instead catches him in a sitting position on the top buckle, climbs up onto the middle one, and tosses his foe off via his signature Spider German Suplex!
- Jacobs tries the Contra Code on Fraziier, but when he flips over, Kashmere catches his legs on his shoulder. Fraizer then manuevers his hold on Jacobs so that he has him in position for an Ace Crusher, only with his legs outstretched fully so that they lay on Kashmere's shoulder. Then, all at once, Kashmere rotates his body 180º so that he ends up facing away from Frazier's back (previously, he had been facing it), in the process flipping Jacobs from a position where he faced downward into Frazier's shoulder (since Frazier was holding him for an Ace Crusher) into a position where he faces up towards the ceiling. As Kashmere then drops to the mat (keep in mind that from the time Kashmere started rotating 180º up until the end of sequence, everything is happening all at once), in the process Sideslamming Jacobs, Frazier drops down onto his back and executes a Neckbreaker. Since Jacobs has gone from facing downwards to facing upwards, it works perfectly, because the Ace Crusher position naturally turns into a Neckbreaker position at the same time that Kashmere drops to the mat for the Sideslam. The spot is executed very well and gets some "Ooh!"'s and "Aah!"'s from the crow..
- Kashmere holds Ca$h from behind as Frrazier tries a Diving Huracanrana from the top buckle, only for Ca$h to duck out of the way, causing Frazier to end up 'ranaing Kashmere!

The finish comes when Ca$h hits the Ca$h Flow on Frazier, and then climbs up top, signaling for some type of splash. Trent Acid, though, runs out and distracts the referee, which in turn confounds Ca$h. Kashmere uses this instant to roll Frazier out of the ring and then crotch Ca$h on the top buckle. Next, Kashmere - standing on the mat - applies a front facelock on Ca$h, lifts him up out of his position on the ringpost, and drops him onto his knee via the Cradlebreaker (Fisherman's Suplex Lift into Headbreaker)! Before he can re-enter the ring, Jacobs receives a running forearm from Kashmere, sending him crashing back down to ringside, after which Kashmere covers Ca$h. At the same time, Acid stops distracting the ref and climbs off of the apron. The ref turns around and counts the pinfall for Kashmere, giving him the screwjob win.

After the bout, Acid enters the ring and helps Kashmere beat down on Ca$h, until SONJAY DUTT runs out and scares off The Backseat Boyz, in the process building up heat for his match vs. Acid later in the night! Sonjay also helps Ca$h struggle back up to his feet, solifying their alliance for their tag team match the next night.

At this point, Joker & Ruckus come out to the ring with microphones and cut a promo towards Ca$h & Sonjay, hyping the aforementioned match. They say that tonight, they're preparing for that match by wrestling Corey Kastle & Jon Dahmer, but that once that match is over, there's no telling whether or not they'll want to wait to get it on with Ca$h & Sonjay. The faces (Ca$h & Sonjay) take the mics and tell their opponents for the next night that they look forward to beating them when their match happens. Ca$h & Sonjay turn around and start exiting the ring when Joker & Ruckus attack them, only to have the assault cut off when Kastle & Dahmer run out and make the save, beginning their match with Joker & Ruckus! After recovering from the impromptu assault, Ca$h & Sonjay have a seat at ringside and watch the match with the purpose of scouting their opponents for the next night.

- Corey Kastle & Jon Dahmer vs. Joker & Ruckus

BACKSTORY: None, really. I'd basically promote this match as having the purpose of letting Joker & Ruckus acquaint with each other so as to prepare for their aforementioned match vs. Ca$h & Sonjay the following night. Kastle & Dahmer ran out to the ring and attacked Joker & Ruckus so as to save Ca$h & Sonjay from the unsanctioned beating that they were receiving.

MATCH: Throughout the bout, Joker & Ruckus have heated confrontations and exchange words with Ca$h & Sonjay, but no punches are thrown between the two duos...at least until after the match. There aren't many highlights to this bout, as it's primarily meant to put over Joker & Ruckus and promote their match for the following night, but here are a couple quick notable spots...

- Dahmer whips Ruckus into the ropes and Ruckus attempts a Handspring/Backspring Leaping Corkscrew Heelkick off of the ropes. Dahmer, though, catches him in position for a backbreaker (only he's standing, as opposed to kneeling), and then lifts him up above his head, rotates him about 90º and sits out, dropping Ruckus on his head with a stiff Sitout Powerbomb, ending a nice sequence! Dahmer pushes down on Ruckus' chest while retaining the sitdown position and obtains a 2 count.
- Kastle attempts a Diamond Dust, but JJoker refuses to be taken down into the Stunner, and instead Kastle lands in a backwards bridging position, with his head under Joker's armpit via an inverted facelock. Joker then lifts him up into the air as if for an Inverted Suplex, but then sits down and turns it into an Inverted Brainbuster (Josh Prohibition's Straight Edge).

The finish comes when Ruckus executes a Falcon Arrow on Kastle and then follows with the Sweet (Cartwheel Backflip Splash) for the pinfall win (6:34).

After the match, Ca$h & Sonjay enter the ring and have a confrontation with Joker & Ruckus, resulting in a pushing match between the two duos. Security eventually breaks it up before it degenerates, but it's clear there's a lot of heat going into the tag team match tomorrow night.

- CZW Strong Style Tournament First Round Match: Alex Shelley vs. Homicide

BACKSTORY: Shelley is scheduled to receive a shot at Jimmy Rave's newly-won Ironman Title, but I decided that I'd build up that match by having him compete in a Strong Style Tournament first round match on the first night of this doubleheader. Why pick Homicide for his opponent? No particular reason, really...if I was the booker, I'd save the matches that really have a lot of meaning (i.e. B-Boy vs. Homicide) for the later rounds, rather than just use them up in the initial round. These two don't really have a great deal of history (although they did fight in a four-way match at Night of Infamy 2), but the past that they do have with each other would offer some use. If I was booking, I'd mention how neither one won in the match at N.O.I. 2 (although Homicide technically should've been declared co-winner, along with Hero, since both were making an opponent tap at the same time, and it was Hero who the ref saw, as opposed to Homicide) and hype this bout as being a final battle between these two independent standouts, both of whom are highly acclaimed.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Homicide tries to whip Shelley into the ropes, but Shelley holds onto Homicide's hand instead comes back at him with a lariat. Shelley ducks and catches him in positon for a uranage, but Shelley fights out and swings around behind him, in perfect position for an Angle Slam, which he attempts. Homicide drops out, however, and lands behind him before ducking a lariat, whipping Shelley into the ropes, and executing a Rydeen Bomb (Sky High)!
- Shelley climbs up top, but Homicide ccrotches him, climbs up onto the middle buckle, and executes the *awesome* SUPER HIPTOSS INTO SITOUT MICHINOKU DRIVER II-style SLAM that he did to Chris Sabin at ROH Night of the Grudges! Homicide hooks Shelley's leg once they land (like he did to Sabin) and obtains a dramatic 2 count.
- Homicide whips Shelley towards the oppposite corner and following after him. Shelley tries a tipup, but Homicide catches his legs on his shoulder and hits a Double-Leg Slam! A few moments later, Shelley tries to whip Homicide into the corner, but Homicide reverses and Irish whips Shelley toward the post and follows in after him. Shelley tries to tip up and over him, but Homicide again catches his legs on his shoulders and tries another Double-Leg Slam. Shelley has it scouted, though, and wraps his arms around Homicide's waist so that he can't deliver the move, only to have the "Notorious 187" instead adjust his grip on Shelley and hit a friggin' RUNNING AIR RAID CRASH (Kryptonic Krunch) out of the corner!

The two eventually fight to a 20:00 Time Limit Draw, but Zandig comes out and says that since it's a tournament match, it must have a winner, so he orders them to continue fighting until a definitive winner is determined. Homicide eventually wins the match about three minutes later when he executes the Shining Wizard on Shelley and pins him to advance (23:16).

- Non-Title Match: Sonjay Dutt (BJPW Junior Heavyweight Champion) vs. Trent Acid

BACKSTORY: These two have quite some history with one another. Their first meeting came at the first annual Tournament of Death in 2002, when The Backseat Boyz won a four-way tag team match that included Sonjay & Derek Frazier. Sonjay eventually embarked into singles competition and feuded with Ruckus, Chri$ Ca$h, and - before he left CZW by jumping to the rival XPW promotion - Matt "M-Dogg 20" Cross. Sonjay and Acid met in their first one-on-one match (to my knowledge, at least; I know both men have also worked for Hardway Wrestling in PA, so they may've met there before) at One More Time on December 25, 2002 and it was Acid who emerged victorious. Sonjay's feud with Ruckus and Ca$h heated up as 2003 came along, and it was in the semifinal round of the "Best of the Best 3" Junior Heavyweight Tournament that they met in their second one-on-one match. This time, it was Sonjay who captured the upset win over Acid, en route to eventually becoming the tournament's runner-up to B-Boy. Acid and Sonjay met in a tag team match at Extreme 8 in June of this year. In that bout, The Backseat Boyz emerged defeated the team of Ruckus & Sonjay.

The next match between Acid and Sonjay transpired at Uprising on October 11, and Sonjay escaped with the victory in a four-way match that included Acid, thereby retaining his IWA-MS Light Heavyweight Title (which he's since lost to "Spyder" Nate Webb). The most recent bout between the two rivals came at CZW's debut show in Italy, entitled "Shockwave." It was there - on October 25 - that both Ruckus and Sonjay defeated Acid & his Hi-V cohort, B-Boy. All four of the participants in that match had already wrestled once previously that evening, making their performancse all the more impressive. Sonjay and Ruckus' alliance ended at the next CZW show, Night of Infamy 2, and at the promotion's most recent show, Cage of Death V, Sonjay captured the BJPW Junior Heavyweight Title from Ruckus.

So, to say the least, Sonjay Dutt and Trent Acid are most certainly no strangers to one another, and their matches together have highlighted a number of past CZW shows. After finishing my construction of this card, both were left without matches, so I decided to book them against one another. If I was the booker, I'd hype this contest as a "Special Challenge"-type bout, with the purpose of preparing Sonjay for his high-profile tag team match the following night at Viking Hall.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Acid attempts an Irish whip, but Sonjay reverses it and sends Acid into the ropes before bending forward for a back body drop. Acid stops short, though, and kicks the living hell out of Sonjay's chest before running back off of the ropes and attempting the Yakuza Kick. Sonjay ducks and delivers delivers an inverted atomic drop before executing a backflip kick! He then applies a grounded hammerlock, but Acid eventually fights out and applies an armbar before rising to his feet. Sonjay escapes and applies an inverted armbar, which Acid tries to counter into an Angle Slam, but Sonjay drops out and lands on his feet behind him before running off of the ropes and trying a leaping spinkick. Acid ducks it and executes a bulldog lariat before trying to whip Sonjay into the ropes, only to have it reversed. Acid tries a hiptoss, but Sonjay refuses to go anywhere and instead swings around into a DDT attempt. That's blocked by Acid, who swings his body around full circle and turns it into his own DDT. He lifts Acid back up and Irish whips him again before running off of the ropes himself and attempts a roaring elbow, but Acid ducks that and runs off of the ropes again. Sonjay attempts a corkscrew pickup, but Acid flips out and lands on his feet before running off of the ropes again, only to receive a tilt-a-whirl sideslam. Sonjay follows with an armdrag and then a Japanese armdrag.
- Sonjay executes a *sweet* Catapult Soomersault Huracanrana on Acid, and then when the Backseat Boy climbs back up to his feet, charges at him and leaps into a bodyscissors position. He attempts to bounce back up and turn it into a bulldog, but Acid instead counters by powering him over via his signature Wheelbarrow Suplex!
- Acid reverses an Irish whips and sendds Sonjay into the ropes. Sonjay flips out and lands on his feet when Acid attempts a corkscrew pickup and immediately executes an armdrag. Another armdrag and then a dropkick follows from Sonjay.
- Acid - on the mat - stands Sonjay on the middle buckle and grabs both of his hands in preparation for the Acid Bomb (Iconoclasm w/ the victim doing a front flip and landing on his back), but when he's catapulted forward so as for Acid to catch him via the Sitdown Inverted Powerbomb, Sonjay instead wraps his legs around Acid's head and takes him over via a Somersault Headscissors, sending him rolling into the middle of the ring!
- Sonjay drops out of Acid's attempted suplex and lands behind him before applying a waistlock. Acid charges towards the ropes and grabs them, the momentum of which causes Sonjay to do a back roll and eventually roll back to his feet in the center of the ring. Acid charges at him with a Yakuza Kick, but Sonjay ducks, feeds Acid his left leg, and then delivers an enziguri kick with his right leg!
- Sonjay signals for the Hindusault (Phhoenix Splash) and climbs up top, but Acid recovers, climbs back to his feet, and crotches him on the buckle before hitting his signature "LSD" Super Inverted Huracanrana!
- Sonjay executes the Calcutta Cutta (DDDT onto his knee directly followed by a Leaping Neckbreaker) onto Acid.

The finish comes when Acid - on the mat - stands Sonjay on the middle buckle and grabs both of his hands in preparation for the Acid Bomb (Iconoclasm w/ the victim doing a front flip and landing on his back), but Sonjay fights out of it with kicks to Acid's back and then steps up onto the top buckle and leaps off, hitting a DragonRana (Flying Somersault Huracanrana) (12:11)!

- Nick Berk & Z-Barr vs. Rebel's Army (Greg Matthews & Rockin' Rebel) (Have Berk/Z-Barr win)

BACKSTORY: These two teams have wrestled each other before not only in tag team situations, but also one-on-one, in various combinations. Most recently, their rivalry came about when Berk & Z-Barr reformed their former-"Softcore Connection" alliance. After the Berk & Z-Barr vs. The Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz match at Night of Infamy 2 on November 15, Rebel's Army attacked the two teams, setting up a triangle tag team match - which Rebel's Army would end up winning - at Cage of Death V. I figure it'd be reasonable to have these two duos face off one-on-one at this show, especially since The D.R.S. appear to be either on the backburner or being kept out of the main spotlight by the CZW creative department.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Berk takes Matthews down to the mat with a running jumping neckbreaker off of the ropes. A running leg drop follows for 2.
- Rebel executes a belly-to-belly overhhead suplex for 2 on Z-Barr. Shortly thereafter, he performs a vertical suplex on Z-Barr and follows this with a Diving Knee Drop off of the middle buckle for 2.
- Rebel counters Z-Barr's attempted Iriish whip, sends him into the ropes, and executes a Powerslam.
- Berk ducks Matthews' lariat and nailss a leaping heelkick. Then, after a short reversal, he hits a Leg-Face Driver (Fameasser), which sets up for a Diving Senton Splash from the middle buckle. Mtthews kicks out at 2. Berk starts working him over in the corner with some forearms and chops, but his Irish whip is reversed and he's sent into the opposite ringpost before being squashed into the post by a running lariat from Matthews. This is followed by a sideslam fromo the big man, after which the pace slows down and the action gets somewhat boring, although Matthews' great heel mannerisms make most of it pretty enjoyable. Matthews eventually piledrives his foe on a steel chair for 2.
- Rebel climbs up top, but Berk crotchees him and tries a superplex. Rebel fights out of this and pushes Berk down to the mat, and then waits until he gets back to his feet before executing a Flying Lariat. Shortly thereafter, he sets up for a powerbomb, but Berk escapes with a double-leg takedown and looks to apply the Texas Cloverleaf 2K2. Rebel, however, fights out of it, climbs back to his feet and goes back on the offense, nailing a Davey Boy Smith-style over-the-shoulder powerslam for 2.

The finishing sequence occurs when Matthews whips Berk from one corner to the opposite one, and charges after him. Berk springs backwards off, though, of the middle buckle and back elbows the big man down in midair. Then, after a short reversal, Berk drills Matthews' knee with a Japanese dropkick, and shortly thereafter (following another brief reversal) hits a modified Double Shot (à la David Young), nailing a DDT onto his knee that he immediately transitions into an Ace Crusher. Berk then brings Matthews into the corner and sets up for a Tornado DDT, but Matthews fights out of it and climbs up top, setting up for a superplex. Berk fights out of this, though, and knocks Matthews back down to the mat before leaping off of the middle buckle and spiking the big man with a Flying DDT, which is enough for the pinfall win (8:34)!

- CZW Strong Style Tournament First Round Match: Chris Hero vs. Tony Mamaluke

BACKSTORY: Hero returned to CZW at Redefined in September and turned in two impressive performances. He returned to the promotion a couple months later at Night of Infamy II, at which he obtained a controversial win in a four-way match that also included Homicide, Alex Shelley, and Jimmy Jacobs. In December at Cage of Death V, he was the first man eliminated from a three-way dance that also included Alex Shelley and B-Boy.

Mamaluke - like Hero - hasn't really had a steady feud in CZW since he became a regular for the promotion, despite having had very impressive technical matches with Nick Berk, Jimmy Rave, B-Boy, and others. He lost a 20 minute Ironman Match to Jimmy Rave at Uprising in October, and then - in his most recent CZW performance - defeated CZW debutee Scotty Matthews at Night of Infamy II in November. He was scheduled to participate in a Cage of Death V four-way match, but he was unable to make the show and the bout was changed to a three-way. Alex Shelley eventually gained the win in it over B-Boy and Hero.

So, since both are fantastic technical talents and were scheduled to meet at C.O.D. (but didn't due to Mamaluke's no-show), this match seems pretty logical for the Strong Style Tournament, and not only that - it'd most certainly deliver, given sufficient time.

MATCH: The two start with a solid mat sequence that lasts about two minutes long, in which they exchange armbars, armringers, hammerlocks, wristlocks, headlocks, etc. Mamaluke continually gains the advantage by using his quickness and his smaller stature (which allows him to squeeze out of several of Mamaluke's attempted submissions, suplexes, etc.). Mamaluke eventually gains the advantage towards the latter part of this sequence and he starts focusing on taking out his foe's legs, using Japanese dropkicks and the such.

- Hero attempts the Hero's Welcome, but in mid-move, he loses his grasp and Mamaluke escapes from the hold. Hero finishes the rotation that the move entails and then charges at Mamaluke, who ducks a forearm, runs off of the ropes, and executes a nice Tilt-a-Whirl into a Fujiwara Armbar Takedown!
- Mamaluke attempts an Irish whip, but Hero refuses to go anywhere and instead grabs a hold of his foe and executes a Cravate Plex (3/4 Chancery Suplex).
- Hero lifts Mamaluke up onto his shoullders and attempts the Rubik's Cube (Neck Cradle Shoulder Mount into Sitout Neck Cradle Michinoku Driver II), but Mamaluke fights out of it and instead counters, rolling forward and taking Hero down into a victory roll for 2. Hero beats Mamaluke back to his feet and damn near lariats him out of his boots.
- Hero whips Mamaluke from one corner tto the opposite one and chases directly after him. Mamaluke tries a Corner Slingshot Crossbody Block, but Hero catches him in position for a fallaway slam and swings that into the Hero Sandwhich II (Fallaway Slam Hold into Uranage Backbreaker)!
- Mamaluke applies a hammerlock, but Maafia transitions and it looks like he's going to lock on his own, but he instead surprises Mamaluke with a schoolboy rollup. Mamaluke kicks out at 2 and immediately keeps Mafia grounded by locking on an inverted jujigatame (w/ Mafia on his chest, rather than on his back). With his arm wrenched through Mamaluke's legs, he applies an abdominal stretch, so it initially looks like he's going to execute a pumphandle lift, but he instead stays with the simple stretch. Mamaluke eventually escapes via a single-leg takedown and applies a kneebar.

The finish comes when Mamaluke's Irish whip is reversed and he's sent into the ropes. He leaps into a bodyscissors hold and rolls forward, taking Hero over so that he collapses face-first into the mat, at which point Mamaluke applies the Sicilian Crab (Elevated Half Crab w/ Hero's leg wrapped behind Mamaluke's head). Hero holds out for awhile, but is eventually forced to tap (12:39), giving Mamaluke the submission upset (well, not so much upset, but Hero was definitely the favorite, so it's a surprise)!

- The H8 Club (Nick Gage & Nate Hatred) & Ian Knoxx vs. Hi-V (Adam Flash, B-Boy, & The Messiah) (have H8 Club win)

BACKSTORY: Messiah has been feuding with Gage for all of 2003. Gage & Hatred comprised the most popular and the most successful tag team in CZW history, The H8 Club, up until early 2003, when they broke up and Hatred joined Messiah's Hi-V stable. During 2003, Gage and Hatred faced off in a variety of combinations, both in singles bouts and in tag team matches where Hatred teamed with Messiah and Gage with Zandig. B-Boy and later Flash joined Hi-V, and both, along with Messiah, participated in the five-on-five Cage of Death Scaffold Match at C.O.D. V in December. Gage and Knoxx were also part of that match, during which New Jack made his CZW debut and allied with Hi-V, and Hatred turned on Hi-V and realigned with Gage, bringing back The H8 Club and becoming a face again.

I figure this match is therefore pretty logical and it would serve to build up to New Jack's official CZW in-ring debut in the main event of the second night of this doubleheader event, when I'm having him team with Messiah to take on The H8 Club in a regular (four-man) tag team contest. I'd give Gage & Hatred the win here, to reestablish their position as a force to be reckoned with. Truthfully, they don't really need the win because they're already so over that they could have a considerable losing streak and still be two of CZW's most popular stars. However, New Jack should win the match the next night because losing his first official bout in CZW wouldn't put him over too well and, with that in mind, putting Hi-V over The H8 Club in two straight matches probably wouldn't be too great of an idea.

Even though The H8 Club ARE extremely over, having them lose two straight matches, both of which are their first time teaming with one another in more than half a year, would be risky. So, I figure I'll put The H8 Club over in this match (their first one teaming together since reforming) and give The H8 Club the victory the next night. Plus, since this is a six-man tag team match, giving the win to the face team would also continue Ian Knoxx' push, which CZW seems to be intent on maintaining, based on how he has been thrown into the main event mix as of late (i.e. participating in the top match at CZW's top card of the year in December at C.O.D. V). Also, I later realized that this was actually the very main event scheduled for this show, so that makes it fit even more, and believe it or not - it wasn't until after I wrote this whole "Backstory" feature that I realized that it had already been booked.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Messiah takes out Hatred with the Holy Roller (Running Apron-Dive Somersault Body Attack Suicida).
- Knoxx attempts the Off Switch (Super Sitdown Chokeslam), but Flash fights out of it and hits the Move of the Month (Super Sitout Face Slam), only for Hatred to hustle into the ring and break up the count at 2.
- Knoxx's Irish whip is reversed and hee's sent into the ropes. He bounces off and receives Carlito's Way from Messiah.
- Hatred sets up for a Northern Lights Suplex, but B-Boy fights out of it with elbow smashes to the back of the neck, and then executes the Plex Breaker (modified Swinging Neckbreaker) for 2.
- B-Boy hits a Corkscrew Fishermanbusteer on Knoxx for 2, and then a few moments later the Criss-Cross Cradle Piledriver, but gets the same result.
- Gage attempts the Hardcore Drop (Braiinbuster Suplex), but B-Boy drops out of it and lands behind him with an inverted facelock applied, so he decides to immediately transition into a Neckbreaker (anotherwards an Inverted Twist of Fate)!
- B-Boy hits the Shining Wizard on Gagee, but right before the ref can reach the 3 count, Knoxx flies off of the top buckle and breaks up the count with the 100 Proof (Flying Somersault Elbow Drop)!
- Messiah tries a Tornado DDT, but Hatrred refuses to be taken over and Messiah instead lands on his feet, only to receive a Northern Lights Suplex into the nearby ringpost!
- B-Boy delivers the Facelift Dropkick to Gage, who's sitting in the corner!
- Hatred lifts B-Boy up onto his shouldders and attempts the Bio Thunder Driver (Rikishi Driver), but B-Boy drops out and lands on his feet behind him. When Hatred turns around, he receives from B-Boy a flurry of stiff kicks to the legs and hips, some shoteis (palm thrust strikes) to the face, and finally a leaping spinkick to the head, knocking him down to the mat.
- Gage hits the Gage Driller (Pain Thriiller/Head Drop Angle Slam) on Messiah and then heads up top, signaling for his signature Deep Frog Splash, but Messiah hustles back to his feet, crotches him on the buckle, and executes the Sinnter (Super [from middle buckle] Death Valley Driver)!

The finish comes when The H8 Club whip Flash into the ropes and deliver a modified hiptoss, in which they catch him before he lands on the mat, lifts him up into position for an H-Bomb, and then turns that into a SICKENINGLY STIFF Sitout Powerbomb (Gage)/Falling Inverted DDT (Hatred) combo for the pinfall win (21:22)!

Matches of the Night (in order from best to worst): Hero/Mamaluke, Homicide/Shelley, Ca$h/Frazier/Jacobs/Kashmere, Sonjay/Acid, Six-Man Tag Main Event, Sabian/Shun, Joker/Ruckus vs. Dahmer/Kastle, Berk/Z-Barr vs. Rebel's Army

1/17 at Viking Hall in Philadelphia, PA

- Derek Frazier vs. Z-Barr

BACKSTORY: These two don't directly have history with one another, but Z-Barr and his tag team partner, Nick Berk, have been feuding with Rebel's Army since reforming their partnership. Frazier is a member of Rebel's Army, so this match seems pretty logical for the second night of this doubleheader event. Frazier would be turning in a very impressive performance the first night, while Z-Barr would've gained the win in his tag team match vs. Rebel's Army members Greg Matthews & Rockin' Rebel. So, I'd use this match to continue, or even end (I'd have to think about the advantages and disadvantages of each possibility before making a final decision), the Berk & Z-Barr/Rebel's Army feud.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Frazier counters Z-Barr's attempted Death Valley Driver in midair by grabbing his head while being flipped over and landing with a Neckbreaker on his foe, in a pretty nice-looking spot.
- Frazier hits his trademark Running Coorner Shining Wizard on Z-Barr before climbing up onto the middle buckle and leaping off, catching Z-Barr on the way down with a Rick Steiner-style Flying Bulldog for 2!
- Frazier is lifted up into a Powerbombb position, by Z-Barr, but he turns that into a sunset flip, only to have Z-Barr roll all the way throught he move and Japanese dropkick him square in the face!
- Frazier attempts a Vertaebreaker, butt Joker drops out of it, lifts the Rebel's Army member up onto his shoulders, and attempts the Joker Driver, only for Frazier to fight out of it with bunches to the head and then leans backwards, taking Joker over via a pretty well-executed Inverted Huracanrana!
- Z-Barr hits the Doggy in the Bathtub (Fireman's Carry Inverted DDT) for 2.
- Frazier scoop slams Z-Barr, but the fformer-Softcore Connection member drops out of the move and lands behind his foe with an inverted facelock applied, so he naturally executes an Inverted DDT. Z-Barr then signals for THE DONKEY PUNCH~!, but Frazier scrambles back up to his feet and attacks him before he can execute it. He tries an Irish whip, but Z-Barr reverses it and sends his foe into the ropes, only to receive a running Swinging DDT!
- Z-Barr attempts an Exploder Suplex, bbut Frazier fights out of it and runs off of the ropes. Z-Barr executes a tilt-a-whirl lift, but Frazier turns that into a pretty well-executed Satellite Headscissors into Bulldog sequence!
- Z-Barr - running off of the ropes - hhits the Barracuda (Jumping Spinning Bulldog Lariat).
- A few moments later, Z-Barr hits a Deeath Valley Driver (which Frazier doesn't counter, like Joker did earlier into the bout) and then nails the Toe Jam (Leg Drop off of the middle buckle) for 2.

The finish comes during an exchange between Frazier and Z-Barr, while Joker is taking a breather at ringside. Z-Barr sets up for the Fluff (modified Single Underhook Inverted Russian Leg Sweep), but Frazier fights out of it and - after a short sequence of reversals - nails the move he used to call the Impact Driver (Full Nelson Toss into Sitdown Inverted Powerbomb) for the pinfall win (9:12), thereby gaining the upset over the CZW veteran.

- Johnny Kashmere vs. Tony Mamaluke

BACKSTORY: Kashmere - a member of The Backseat Boyz with Trent Acid and of the heel Hi-V stable - returned to CZW in November at Night of Infamy II, and then participated in the chaotic five-on-five Cage of Death Scaffold Match at C.O.D. V the next month. While in the shadow of Acid, by most fans' perspectives, my giving him the victory in a four-way match on the previous night's event would hopefully serve to re-establish him as a legitimate contender in CZW, because God knows he has the talent to be such. Mamaluke, meanwhile, became a regular on CZW's roster earlier this year. During his time with the promotion, he's produced excellent technical showings against Jimmy Rave, B-Boy, Nick Berk, and Trent Acid and has become pretty popular with the fans.

In my fantasty booking, I had him gain the upset win over Chris Hero in the first round of the Strong Style Tournament. So - with that in mind - I think Kashmere would probably be better served winning this match, since - even if he was to win a four-way like I had him do in this fantasy booking - he still has awhile to go if he hopes to legitimize himself as someone other than simply Acid's Backseat Boyz partner. Creating a credible winning streak would probably be the first step to accomplishing that deed, so I figure this is a good way to contribute to that streak. Mamaluke is still widely regarded by CZW and even general indy fans, having been an F.B.I. member in ECW, so - while it'd be nice to have him gain some momentum going into the second round of the Strong Style Tournament - his reputation probably wouldn't be hurt too much, and it seems more important to continue pushing Kashmere and give him this win, as opposed to letting Mamaluke obtain it.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Kashmere lifts Mamaluke up into a Powerbomb position, but Mamaluke takes him over via a Sunset Flip for 2.
- Kashmere lifts Mamaluke up into a Firreman's Carry and tries to turn that into a Stunner, but Mamaluke counters via a Fujiwara Armbar Takedown, and then wrenches down on that hold until Kashmere is able to make it to the ropes.
- Mamaluke's Irish whip is reversed andd he's sent into the ropes. He leaps into a bodyscissors hold and rolls forward, taking Kashmere over so that he collapses face-first into the mat, at which point Mamaluke applies the Sicilian Crab, the same hold that he defeated Hero with the previous night! Kashmere eventually makes it to the ropes, forcing Mamaluke to break the hold.
- Mamaluke runs off of the ropes and atttempts a Running Jumping Swinging DDT, but Kashmere refuses to be taken down and Mamaluke ends up landing on his feet, only to receive an Exploder Suplex!

The finish comes out of nowhere. A few moments before, Mamaluke had ran off of the ropes, swung up onto Kashmere's shoulders and ended up in a crucifix position, and then rotated 90º and executed a sunset flip for a 2 count. Mamaluke tries the same move again, but this time when he tries to turn it into the sunset flip, Kashmere counters by dropping down onto one knee and smashing Mamaluke's head onto his other knee via an Air Raid Crash-style Headbreaker (Dixie of Special K calls it the Dixie Driver, and Jeremy Lopez also uses the move), making for an excellent reversal. This is enough for Kashmere to obtain the pinfall win (8:06) to continue his newly-found winning streak.

- Six-Man Elimination Match: Corey Kastle, Jon Dahmer, & Sabian vs. DJ Hyde, Josh Samuels, & Shun the Kubaki Kid

BACKSTORY: Dahmer and DJ have been feuding for the last few months...kinda. DJ debuted in September 2003 at Redefined and teamed with Dahmer against Rebel's Army (Greg Matthews & Rockin' Rebel), but the duo lost and DJ turned on Dahmer after the bout. This led to a singles match between them at Uprising in October, and DJ upset Dahmer to win that match. On the same show, Kastle (Dahmer's regular tag team partner for the last year) and Shun participated in a three-way match that was eventually won by Chri$ Ca$h. November 15's Night of Infamy II saw Jude, Niles Young, & DJ defeat Kastle, Dahmer, & Sabian in a six-man tag team match when DJ pinned Dahmer. Finally, at December's Cage of Death V, Dahmer got a win when he and Kastle won a triangle tag team match over Jude & Young and DJ & Josh Samuels, who was making his CZW in-ring debut. I had Kastle & Dahmer lose a tag team match to Joker & Ruckus on the first night of this doubleheader event, and I also had Sabian defeat Shun on the same card, to build up this match. Dahmer - having been pinned by the rookie DJ twice in just a few months - desperately needs to get some more wins if CZW wants him to retain any significance, so I'd definitely have him get some pinfalls in this bout, including the winning one.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Shun attempts a Tiger Driver, but Sabian fights out of it and tries to counter into a Back Body Drop, only for Shun to take him over into a Sunset Flip for 2.
- Kastle attempts his signature Superkiick, but DJ ducks, and then when Kastle charges back toward him, hits a Rydeen Bomb (Skyhigh)! Kastle lands in a sitdown pin position, but Dahmer hustles into the ring and breaks up the count at 2, saving his student and partner from being eliminated.
- With Dahmer standing on the ring mat,, Shun tries a Sunset Flip Powerbomb, but Dahmer refuses to be taken down and instead catches Shun in a hanging position over his back. He then turns around so that he's facing towards the opposite corner and delivers a STIFF version of Bob "Hardcore" Holly's Alabama Slam (Snap Double-Leg Spinebuster Slam)! Dahmer then bends down and lifts Shun off of the ground and up into a Powerbomb position before delivering three consecutive rolling Folding Powerbombs, the last one for the pinfall elimination (3:15)! Shun - pretty much dead - rolls out of the ring and is helped backstage by a few referees and misc. officials.
- DJ tries a Powerbomb on Sabian, but SSabian does a Billy Kidman-style counter and reverses it into an X-Factor for a 2 count.
- Sabian attempts a Tornado DDT, but whhen he spits around, DJ refuses to be taken down into the DDT and also doesn't let Sabian even get his feet on the ground, instead opting to apply a Bearhug while Sabian's still in midair (in the process of swinging around into the DDT). DJ then manuevers his hold on Sabian and lifts him up onto his shoulder for a British Bulldog-style Running Powerslam, only to instead run toward the corner and ram Sabian back-first into it, a move he's used a few times before, and then bounce off, run into the center of the ring, and deliver the Bulldog-esque Running Powerslam for the pinfall elimination (4:51)!
- Castle sets up for an Inverted Russiaan Leg Sweep (Flatliner) on Samuels, but Samuels fights out of it with back elbows to the head, and then locks his arm around that of Kastle's before using that as a pivot position, rotating around 480º and ending up in position for a Tomakaze/Kid Krusher/Unprettier. Kastle, though, counters that by hooking Samuels' arms and lifting him up onto his back and attempting a Vertaebreaker, only for Samuels to use his weight effectively and drop out, landing on his feet. Samuels then lifts Kastle up onto his shoulders from behind and PLANTS him face-first via an Electric Chair Drop (Shoulder-Mount into Sitdown Inverted Powerbomb) for the pinfall elimination (6:37).
- Samuels lifts Dahmer up onto his shouulders via a Fireman's Carry, but Dahmer eventually uses his weight to his advantage and drops out behind him, landing on his feet. Dahmer then delivers a Snap Backdrop Driver and rolls through into a Brainbuster Suplex for the pinfall elimination, making the match down to himself and DJ (8:32).

The finish comes when DJ sets up for a Chokeslam, but Dahmer fights out with back elbow smashes to the side of the head, and then hits a Falcon Arrow for the pinfall win (11:02).

- Adam Flash vs. Homicide

BACKSTORY: Flash joined Hi-V at Shockwave in Italy on October 25, which was something that was probably a smart idea, as up until then, he had been kept in a tag team with Ian Knoxx, despite being a more than 10 year veteran in the business and being pretty over with the fans. He participated in the chaotic five-on-five Cage of Death Scaffold Match at C.O.D. V and - like the other participants in that match - took some impressive bumps, something that he generally hasn't been known for in the past.

Homicide, meanwhile, debuted in CZW earlier in the year and immediately began a feud with Flash's fellow Hi-V member, Acid. The two had some fantastic matches in both CZW and ROH, producing one of the most prominent highlights on each of the shows that they worked one another on. After that feud ended, Homicide had an impressive match with another Hi-V member in B-Boy at Uprising in October. Then, at Night of Infamy 2 in November, he lost a controversial four-way match to Chris Hero, although the controversy was generated by the fact that both Hero and Homicide had their opponent's tapping out to submissions, but the ref only saw Hero's submission attainment and not Homicide's.

I had Homicide win his first round match in the Strong Style Tournament on the first night of this doubleheader event, so he'd be coming off of the previous night with some momentum. Flash would be coming off a loss in a six-man tag team vs. Ian Knoxx & The H8 Club the previous night, while Homicide would've advanced to the second round of the CZW Strong Style Tournament by defeating Alex Shelley. I think - since he would've lost the first night - Flash would need a win to maintain his overness, so I'd put him over in this match, with the knowledge that Homicide is already very over both in CZW and all of the other promotions that he works for, so he'd have little to lose. Regarding the purpose for booking this match, it has some backstory, as Homicide has been feuding with Acid and the rest of Hi-V since debuting in CZW in mid-2003, so that would make this match pretty logical, in terms of storylines. Plus, there's the added incentive that - if booked the right way - it could also be pretty entertaining, even though at first glance this may appear to be somewhat of a styles clash.

MATCH: Highlights...

- The two start with a solid sequence, as a tieup leads to a side headlock by Flash. Homicide pushes him into the ropes and Flash comes off with a shoulderblock, but Homicide doesn't even budge. Flash runs off of the ropes again and Homicide attempts a running Yakuza Kick as he charges toward him again, but Flash ducks that. Flash then attempts lariat, but Homicide ducks and Flash ends up in a full nelson. He fights out of a full nelson suplex attempt, though, and runs off of the ropes again. Homicide tries a hiptoss, but Flash doesn't budge and instead tries a lariat, but Homicide ducks that and ends up behind Flash with a waistlock. He attempts a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Flash counters in mid-move by shifting his weight and takes him down to the mat, landing with a bulldog lariat hold, which he clamps down on. Homicide eventually fights back to his feet and escapes what's now been transitioned into a side headlock via elbows to the gut. He then runs off of the ropes, but Flash floors him with a back elbow smash, sending him down to the mat. From then on, Flash slows down the pace and works Homicide over with some submissions and the like until...
- Flash attempts a running bulldog, butt Homicide suddenly clamps down around his victim's waist, thereby stopping him in mid-run, and powers him backwards via a *harsh* backdrop driver that drops Flash at a SICK angle on his head!
- Homicide sits Flash on the top bucklee and then climbs up onto the middle one, from where he attempts a Superplex. Flash fights out of it, though, bends under Homicide's arm, grabs his neck, and leaps off, taking the "Notorious 187" off of the buckle and down to the mat via a Neckbreaker!
- Homicide attempts a Northern Lights SSuplex, but Flash fights out of it with knee lifts to the gut, and then hits a Flash Driver (Michinoku Driver II) for a 2 count.
- Homicide sets up for a powerbomb, butt Flash back body drops him. He then lifts Homicide back up and goes to lift him up for a sideslam, but Homicide fights out with some elbow smashes to the back of Flash's head, and then a knee lift to the gut. Homicide then executes a Belly-to-Back Lift into a Backbreaker, and decides to maintain the hold, pushing down on the legs and neck of Flash while he's still laid across his knee. Homicide breaks the hold after about 12 seconds. He then runs off of the ropes and executes a leaping senton splash to Flash's chest, building upon the damage of the previously applied backbreaker submission. The senton move gets a 2 count.
- Flash lifts Homicide up onto his shouulders for a Death Valley Driver, but Homicide drops out and lands on his feet behind his foe and when Flash turns around, delivers a gut kick. Homicide then lifts Flash up and attempts his Bodyslam/Cradle Tombstone Piledriver combo, but Flash drops off of his shoulder and lands on his feet behind him with an inverted facelock applied, so he immediately transitions into an Inverted DDT.

The finish comes when Homicide - instead of resorting to his usual Shining Wizard or Cop Killa (Vertaebreaker) - delivers a Damien 666-style Dropdown (to his knees) Martinette for the pinfall elimination (11:28).

- Chri$ Ca$h & Sonjay Dutt vs. Joker & Ruckus

BACKSTORY: Ca$h and Ruckus have faced off several times before, as have Sonjay and Ruckus. In fact, Sonjay and Ruckus - tag team partners just a few months ago - had a falling out in late 2003 and engaged in an exciting match at Cage of Death V in December, which saw Sonjay capture Ruckus' BJPW Junior Heavyweight Title. On that same show, Ca$h and Joker produced a Ladder Match that contained a series of teriffic bumps, including a Joker Driver off of a ladder and through a table. Joker eventually captured the upset pinfall win. Since both of these feuds are so hot with the fans, I'd continue them, if I were booking. On the first night of this doubleheader event, I had Ca$h participate in a solid four-way match. He had the win in his hands, until Joker and Ruckus ran out and knocked him out, allowing Johnny Kashmere to pick up the win. As Joker & Ruckus beat on Ca$h post-match, Sonjay ran out and scared them off. Then, Corey Kastle & Jon Dahmer came out and served as Joker & Ruckus' opponents for that night, and were made relatively short work of. To liven up the heat, I had Ca$h & Sonjay remain at ringside for that match, so there could be some staredowns between themselves and Joker & Ruckus, so as to increase the heat going into that match. After it ended, Joker & Ruckus and Ca$h & Sonjay got into a pushing match, but security broke it up, so going into this match, there's quite a bit of heat...and not to mention a lot of anticipation, since many would consider this a CZW dream match.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Ruckus whips Sonjay into the ropes and attempts a hiptoss, but Sonjay doesn't budge. "The Original Playa from the Himalaya" instead tries his own hiptoss, only to have Ruckus counter in midair with a monkey flip!
- Ruckus lifts Ca$h up onto his shouldeers for a powerbomb, but Sonjay counters and takes him back down via a DDT!
- Ruckus attempts the modified Parker-ttype move that he did to M-Dogg 20 at last year's C.O.D. show (a Powerbomb Lift into a Canadian Backbreaker Rack into a Michinoku Driver II-style sitout slam), but Sonjay awesomely counters while he's being swuning around 180º and takes Ruckus down to the mat via a Bulldog!
- Joker executes a tilt-a-whirl lift affter whipping Ca$h into the ropes, but Ca$h drops off of his shoulder, lands with an inverted facelock, and immediately transitions into a nice Inverted DDT.
- Joker whips Sonjay into the corner annd charges at him, only to receive a boot to the face. Another charge results in the same result. Joker tries one more time, and this time - as Joker charges - Sonjay springs up onto the middle buckle and leaps over the incoming Joker, taking him down into a sunset flip. Joker rolls through the takedown, though, and Japanese Dropkicks Sonjay's face (à la Nosawa, Taka, Funaki, etc.), ending the creative sequence.
- Ruckus whips Sonjay into the oppositee corner and charges after him. Sonjay performs a tipup, but Ruckus smartly stops and catches his foe's legs on his shoulders. He then hurls him up into the air and over the ring ropes, but Sonjay lands on the apron. He blocks a punch from Ruckus and slaps him across the face before climbing up to the top buckle. However, Ruckus recovers quickly and runs up the turnbuckle and Super Armdrags Sonjay off of it and down to the ring mat below. Once Sonjay starts to climb back up to his feet, Ruckus charges at him and hits a Shining Enziguri. He follows with the Sweet (Handspring Standing Backflip Splash) for 2.
- Sonjay tries to whip Ruckus into the corner, but his longtime rival counters and sends Sonjay into the opposite ringpost. Ruckus charges at him and Sonjay gets a boot up into his face. Ruckus runs towards him again and gets the same present, straight in his face. Sonjay then positions Ruckus with his back to the corner before climbing up onto the middle buckle, diving off, and taking Ruckus over with a nice Diving Somersault Headscissors Takeover!
- Ca$h & Sonjay execute a Double-Teeam Indian Summer (Double-Team Fishermanbuster) on Joker!
- Ruckus tries RVD's Running Front Rolll into a Corner Monkey Flip, but Sonjay lands on his feet after being flipped forward by the move and proceeds to down Ruckus via a Spinning Heelkick.
- Joker lifts Sonjay up onto his shouldders, setting up for the Joker Driver (Sitout Electric Chair Driver), but Sonjay counters into an Inverted Huracanrana!
- Sonjay - looking for a Huracanrana - leaps up onto Joker's shoulders and then executes a Shoulder Spin so that he's in position to execute an Inverted Huracanrana, but Joker instead grabs his foe's head, pulls it downward, and executes the Joker Driver!

The finish comes when Ruckus lifts Ca$h up onto his shoulders in a shoulder-mounted position and at the same time, Joker leaps off of the top buckle and Swinging DDTs Ca$h off of Ruckus' shoulders, completing The DOOMSDAY SWINGING DDT (often used by The S.A.T.), which gets the 3 count win for Ruckus (who made the pin) & Joker!

- CZW Strong Style Tournament First Round Match: B-Boy vs. Jimmy Jacobs (w/ Becky Bayless)

BACKSTORY: B-Boy is of course a member of the heel Hi-V stable and has been arguably CZW's Breakout Star of the Year, along with Sonjay Dutt. He's had excellent matches with Sonjay, Tony Mamaluke, Homicide, Jay Briscoe, Jimmy Rave, and others and was the "Best of the Best" Junior Heavyweight Tournament winner. He's one of the premiere - if not *the* premiere - technical wrestlers in CZW, so he most certainly deserves to be in this tournament. He'd be coming off a six-man tag team win over The H8 Club and Ian Knoxx the previous night.

Jacobs, meanwhile, is feuding with Alex Shelley in IWA-MS and their rivalry carried over into CZW, as the two had some solid matches in the last few months. At Cage of Death V in December, Jacobs won a three-way dance over Sabian and Derek Frazier to win a shot at Sonjay Dutt's CZW Junior Heavyweight Title at one of these two doubleheader shows. I decided that I'd rather go with Sonjay vs. Trent Acid and then Sonjay & Chri$ Ca$h vs. Ruckus & Joker, though, because I think that'd be more beneficial to the CZW runs of those four, since Sonjay vs. Ruckus and Ca$h vs. Joker are two of the most popular feuds in CZW and I think it'd be smart to continue building them while those matchups are popular with the fans. Jacobs - while probably not at the level of B-Boy when it comes to scientific prowess - is quite an impressive wrestler and looks to be on the verge of breaking out on the general indy circuit, so I think he deserves a shot in the Strong Style Tournament. I'd of course put B-Boy over him, but still - since CZW seems to be intent on pushing Jacobs, judging by how they booked him for a title shot vs. Sonjay - I'd book him to look good in the process.

Like most of the other matches in the first round of this tournament, there isn't really any history between these two, as this would be their first match together. As mentioned, I'm saving such combos as B-Boy vs. Homicide for the latter rounds of the tournament, as opposed to using them up in the initial round.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Jacobs whips B-Boy into the ropes and attempting a hiptoss, but B-Boy refuses to be catapulted off of the mat. Instead, he pivots around by his arm that is now interlocked with Jacobs' and then drops down to a sitting position on the mat, in the process bringing Jacobs' arm down on his shoulder via a stiff armbreaker.
- B-Boy whips Jacobs into the ropes andd attempts a lariat, but that's ducked. Jacobs comes off with a Yakuza Kick attempt, but that's also ducked. B-Boy then attempts a Rolling (Roaring) Elbow, but that's ducked as well. Jacobs then tries another Yakuza Kick, and this time B-Boy's catches him with his (Jacobs') leg on top of his (B-Boy's) shoulder and tosses him with a Taz-style Belly-to-Belly Leg Cradle Overhead Suplex!
- Jacobs attempts an Irish whip, but B--Boy holds onto his arm, refusing to go anywhere, and and leaps toward him with a forearm. Jacobs ducks and when B-Boy - who lands on his feet - turns back around so that he's facing his foe, applies a 3/4 bulldog facelock (stunner hold) and charges into the center of the ring, attempting a running Ace Crusher. B-Boy, though, refuses to be taken down with the move and - instead - applies a cobra clutch, stopping Jacobs in mid-run. He then applies an inverted facelock and attempts Tommy Dreamer's Neckbreaker out of the corner, only with an Inverted DDT instead. Jacobs fights out of this, though, only for B-Boy to fight back and repeatedly pound him on the back of his head before stepping up onto the middle buckle. His Super Backdrop Suplex attempt is fought off with back elbows to the head, eventually knocking B-Boy back down to the mat. Before Jacobs (currently sitting on the top buckle, with his legs hanging out of the ring) can struggle onto his feet, though, B-Boy - resilient as can be - makes it back to his feet and attacks again, before applying a cobra clutch and attempting a Cobra Clutch-style Suplex that would pull Jacobs off of the ringpost and drop him head-first onto the mat. Jacobs fights this off, too, though, and then applies a 3/4 bulldog facelock, lifts his feet up and over the post and positions them against the top post (rather than on it), and then kicks himself backwards and delivering a *sweet* Springshot (I guess that's what I'd call it because it's a combo of a catapult and springboard) Stunner, like Frankie Kazarian ever so occasionally uses!
- Jacobs attempts a backdrop suplex andd gets B-Boy somewhat up into the air, but the So-Cal star shifts his weight effectively and ends up falling back downward the opposite way he was lifted and lands on one knee, using the other to ram Jacob's face into! Jacobs starts leaning forward, as if he's about to fall down to the mat, so B-Boy unloads with some stiff kicks to the chest, hip, and legs of his opponent, until Jacobs catches one of his legs against his hip and executes a dragon screw leg whip.
- Jacobs fights out of an attempted t-bbone suplex from B-Boy and tries a Little Guido/Nunzio-style Rope-Assisted Springshot Swinging Armbar DDT. However, when he finishes the rotation, B-Boy refuses to be taken down to the mat with the DDT part of the move and instead executes an EXPLODER SUPLEX INTO THE RINGPOST~! Next, B-Boy adjusts Jacob so that he's in a sitting position in the corner before backing up, charging at his foe, and executing his signature Facelift Dropkick!
- B-Boy is whipped into the ropes. Jacoobs tries a lariat, but B-Boy ducks it and at the same time, wraps his arm nearest to Jacobs' hip around the arm of the foe that's closest to him. Jacobs - for a split second, since this sequence occurs at considerably fast speed - has his one arm in a full nelson, but B-Boy continues pivoting until he's standing fully behind Jacobs. At that point, he applies an Inverted Facelock and attempts an Inverted Facelock Suplex, but Jacobs flips over and lands on his feet behind him. He sets up for a backdrop suplex, but B-Boy uses some elbow smashes to escape, and then graps Jacobs' arm, pivots/swings around, and ends up in position for a Pain Thriller, which he attempts. Jacobs drops out and lands on his feet behind him again, though, at which time B-Boy attacks with a Roaring (Rolling) Elbow. Jacobs, though, ducks his head and catches a hold of B-Boy as he attempts the move, and then delivers the "New Age Punisher"'s *own* T-Bone Suplex!

The finish comes when Jacobs attempts the Contra Code (Sitout Sliced Bread #2), but B-Boy wrenches down on a cobra clutch hold when Jacobs has his feet on the top buckle and is in mid-run. The Hi-V member then proceeds to pull Jacobs off of the buckle and slam him head-first via a SICK Cobra Clutch Overhead Suplex! B-Boy then executes The Stuff (Flying Double-Foot Stomp to the chest) for the pinfall win (14:43), obtaining the right to advance to the tournament's semifinal round.

- CZW Strong Style Tournament First Round Match: Mafia vs. Nick Berk

BACKSTORY: Mafia debuted in CZW earlier this year with the purpose of assisting his friend, Homicide, in his feud with Trent Acid. At Night of Infamy II in November, Mafia turned in an impressive - albeit unsuccessful - attempt to nab Acid's Ironman Title (which he's since lost to Jimmy Rave). Berk, meanwhile, reformed his tag team with Z-Barr a few months ago, and the duo has been feuding with Rebel's Army and The Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz. If I was booking these shows, I'd have Berk & Z-Barr defeat Rebel's Army the first night of this doubleheader event (as I describe above), so Berk & Z-Barr would have some momentum going into the second night.

Mafia and Berk don't really have much history with one another, and truth be told, both are faces, but still - it'd be an interesting pairing. I'm saving the really intriguing combinations (i.e. B-Boy vs. Homicide) for later in the tournament, so I settled on this match to occur in the second round.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Mafia lifts Berk up for a Backdrop Suplex, but Berk uses his weight effectively and takes Mafia back down the way he brought him up, planting him face-first into the mat via a nice-looking Bulldog!
- Berk attempts a Tornado DDT and Mafiaa - as Berk is rotating his body around - counters the move into a STIFF Sidewalk Slam!
- Mafia reverses Berk's Irish whip and sends him into the ropes. Berk swings up onto Mafia's back and attempts to take him down via a crucifix pin, but Mafia stays on his feet and instead adjusts his hold on Jacobs into that of a fireman's carry before trying to turn that into a Michinoku Driver II. Jacobs, though, grabs Mafia's head while in midair and ends up turning the move into a Stunner, as he lands in a sitting position, while ramming Mafia face down onto his shoulder.
- Berk leaps up onto Mafia's shoulders and tries a Huracanrana, but Mafia instead tosses him up into the air and catches him with a Back Sitdown Inverted Powerbomb, completing the Vic Grimes-style Gory Special!

The finish comes when Mafia atomic drops Berk into a crotched position on the top buckle, so that he's facing away from the ring. Mafia then climbs up onto the middle buckle and lifts Berk up onto his shoulders in a Torture Rack. He signals for a SUPER BURNING HAMMER, but Berk fights out of it and ends up in a standing position on the top ring rope. He then proceeds to place his leg on top of Mafia's head, push off of the ring rope with his other leg and plant Mafia face-first into the ring mat below with a SUPER LEG-FACE DRIVER (Super Fameasser)! Berk then turns Mafia over so that he's laying on his back and proceeds to climb back up to the top buckle and leap off, delivering a Flying Frog Splash for the pinfall upset (11:31)!

- CZW Ironman Title - Jimmy Rave (c) vs. Alex Shelley

BACKSTORY: Rave won the Ironman Title from Trent Acid at CZW's last show, Cage of Death V (in December). He had gained the shot at the belt by defeating Hi-V member B-Boy at Night of Infamy 2 in November. Before winning the title, Rave was a standout in NWA Wildside and had also appeared in ROH and even on some NWA-TNA PPVs. In CZW, he'd had fantastic technical matches with Nick Berk, Tony Mamaluke, B-Boy, and others. Shelley has been feuding with Jimmy Jacobs in both IWA-MS and CZW up until C.O.D. V, when he defeated B-Boy and Chris Hero to earn a shot at the Ironman Title, which was won by Shelley earlier in the night.

I had Shelley lose a hard-fought, first round match of the Strong Style Tournament to Homicide the night before, but only after fighting the favorite going into the match to a very impressive 20:00 Time Limit Draw, and eventually losing in a Sudden Death period, so as to conserve his overness and his momentum going into this match.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Rave whips Shelley into the ropes and attempting a hiptoss, but Shelley refuses to be catapulted off of the mat. Instead, he - in a beautifully-executed sequence - pivots all the way around by his arm that is now interlocked with Rave's and eventually performs a Swinging Neckbreaker!
- Rave's Irish whip is reversed and Sheelley attempts a Swinging Spinebuster (á la Triple H or Rhyno), but Rave counters into a swinging DDT-style motion, only landing with a Triple H-style kneebuster (DDT onto his knee), rather than a DDT, which knocks Shelley down to a kneeling position on one knee. Rave then runs back off of the ropes and charges toward Shelley, only for the Jimmy Jacobs rival to sweep one of Rave's legs out from under him, causing him to fall to the mat.
- Shelley attempts an Irish whip, but RRave reverses it and sends Shelley into the ropes before bending forward for a back body drop. Shelley stops short, though, and kicks the living hell out of Rave's chest before running back off of the ropes and attempting the Yakuza Kick. Rave ducks and delivers delivers an inverted atomic drop before running off of the ropes himself and attempts a roaring elbow, but Shelley ducks that and runs off of the ropes again, only to receive a leaping heelkick.
- Shelley attempts a T.K.O. (Fireman's Carry Stunner), but Rave uses the momentum to executes a Fujiawa Armbar Takedown, at which point he immediately applies the Border City Stretch!

- Shelley whips Rave into the ropes and Rave escapes his tilt-a-whirl lift by immediately (and all in one motion) dropping off of Shelley's shoulder, landing on his feet behind him, and executing a Fujiwara Armbar takedown before immediately transitioning into the "From Dusk Till Dawn" crossface, which Shelley eventually submits to (13:45), allowing Rave to retain his title)

- Ian Knoxx vs. Trent Acid

BACKSTORY: Even before Hi-V was formed, Ian Knoxx and his old Irish Drinking Team partner, Chris Stylz (who's since left CZW), had taken on The Backseat Boyz of Acid & Johnny Kashmere. Then, earlier this year, Acid and Kashmere joined the Hi-V stable, and Acid became one of the most prominent heels in CZW. He won its Ironman Title and held it for a few months before losing it to Jimmy Rave at Cage of Death V in December. Later on that same night, he participated in the five-on-five Cage of Death Scaffold Match, which Knoxx also played a role in.

Knoxx took on three other Hi-V members in a six-man tag team match on the first night of this doubleheader show, so I figure it's pretty logical for him to cotninue working members of that stable. CZW does seem intent on pushing him from the midcard - where he was kept to during his partnerships with Styles and with Adam Flash (before Flash joined Hi-V) - so matching him up with a guy as over as Acid is as a heel seems like a good idea. Not only could Knoxx use the win more so than Acid could, but Acid already beat Sonjay Dutt the previous night, so I'm putting Knoxx over the Backseat Boy in this match in order to continue his push.

MATCH: Highlights...

- Knoxx climbs up top, signaling for the 100 Proof (Flying Somersault Elbow Drop), but Acid climbs back up to his feet and crotches him, and hits a Super Huracanrana.
- Knoxx utilizes Acid's signature move,, the Blue Thunder Bomb, for 2.
- Knoxx counters an Irish whip and sendds Acid into the ropes. He follows after the Hi-V member, only to receive a nice-looking Slingshot Swinging DDT (like Acid hit on Chris Hero at Redefined).
- Knoxx lifts Acid up for a powerbomb, but the Backseat Boy front rolls and takes Knoxx over into a sunset flip for 2. Acid beats Knoxx back to his feet and beats on him with fists for a few moments before attempting an Irish whip. Knoxx reverses it and sends Acid into the ropes, executing a nice-looking Tilt-a-Whirl Sideslam when Acid gets near enough.
- Knoxx executes a Berkulator (Belly-too-Back Lift into Sitdown Inverted Powerbomb/Sitout Inverted Spinebuster) for 2!
- Acid tries the Yakuza Kick, but Knoxxx catches his leg and executes a Josh Prohibition/Taz(z)-style Head-and-Leg Cradle Belly-to-Belly Overhead Suplex!

Knoxx eventually nails the Drunken Driver/Hard Knoxx Driver (Pumphandle Sitout Leg Cradle Powerbomb) for the pinfall win (11:24).

- The H8 Club (Nick Gage & Nate Hatred) vs. Hi-V (The Messiah & New Jack)

BACKSTORY: Messiah has been feuding with Gage for much of 2003. Hatred joined the heel Hi-V stable in the early part of that year and had a vicious feud with his former-H8 Club partner, Gage. Gage, Hatred, and Messiah were all participants in the five-on-five Cage of Death Scaffold Match at Cage of Death V in December. Gage, Wifebeater, Zandig, Lobo, and Ian Knoxx comprised the face team, while Messiah, Hatred, The Backseat Boyz, and B-Boy represented Hi-V. The match saw the CZW debut of New Jack and at first, it looked as if Jack was there to help out Zandig's team, but he ended up turning on the CZW owner and assaulting him with a staple gun. The match also saw Hatred turn on Hi-V and reunite the mega-over H8 Club team with Gage, an action that caught most fans off guard. The face team eventually captured the win in that match, and a Street Fight between Zandig and New Jack was booked for this show.

Personally, I think it'd be a smarter idea to build up their feud for a few months (or at the very least, these two doubleheader shows), instead of simply just putting them together in the ring for a major match like that, even with the knowledge that Jack doublecrossed Zandig at C.O.D. So, if I was booking, I'd have Zandig pick The H8 Club to take on Messiah & Jack, who were rivals back in 2001 when they were in XPW together. In this fantasy booking, Hi-V jobbed to The H8 Club in a six-man tag team match the previous night, so I'd put them over this time. Plus, since it's Jack's official in-ring debut for CZW, he really should come away with the victory, so as to ensure that he's put over as a legitimate threat.

MATCH: Gage and Messiah start by executing a relatively solid mat-based sequence, using the few actual *wrestling* tactics that the match would see. They grapple and Gage applies a side headlock. Messiah pushes him into the ropes and receives a shoulderblock, sending him down. Gage runs off of the ropes and then hops over his foe before running off of the opposite ropes. Messiah scrambles back to his feet and tries a hiptoss, but Gage goes nowhere. Gage tries a lariat, but Messiah ducks and Messiah ends up with a back waistlock applied. Gage back elbows out of it and applies a waistlock of his own.

Messiah uses some similar back elbows before countering into a hammerlock, but Gage fights out with more back elbows and attempts a backdrop suplex. Messiah flips out, landing on his feet, and runs off of the ropes, right into an attempted spinebuster from Gage. Messiah, though, lands on one knee (instead of on his back, as he would with a spinebuster) and uses the other one to ram Gage's face onto (basically a DDT onto the knee, or a high-angle version of Triple H's signature move). Messiah runs back off of the ropes, only to receive a Samoan Drop. Gage then runs off of the ropes and executes a leaping senton splash for 2.

Gage now lifts Messiah back to his feet and backs him up to the corner, where he unloads with some stiff gut kicks before whipping him towards the opposite corner. Gage follows after his foe, but Messiah smartly leaps onto the middle buckle and springs backwards, knocking Gage down with a Slingshot Back Elbow. Messiah lays Gage up against the ring ropes and unloads with some strikes and kicks before trying an Irish whip. Gage counters and sends his opponent into the ropes. Messiah ducks a back elbow attempt and runs off again, this time ducking a Yakuza Kick. Gage then turns around, right into a running Leaping Heelkick for 2.

Messiah drags Gage into the corner, where he repeatedly delivers arrogant stomps to his body. Messiah calls for Jack to toss a steel chair into the ring, and "The Original Gangsta" obliges. Messiah sets the chair on the mat in the corner and then climbs up onto the middle buckle and leaps off, ramming Gage's face into the chair via a Diving Bulldog-type Facebuster. Messiah then positions Gage parallel to the ring ropes and lays his face on the chair before leaping onto the middle ring rope and springing backwards with a Slingshot Leg Drop, forcing Gage's face into the chair with some considerable impact. That gets another 2 count.

Messiah beats on Gage some more with stomps and even rams the chair into his gut a few times before applying an abdominal stretch. After about 18 seconds, Gage escapes the move by hiptossing Messiah, and then lifts him first back up to his feet and then into a bearhug position before charging towards the ringpost and ramming Messiah back-first into it! Gage assaults Messiah with some forearms in the corner before trying an Irish whip. Messiah holds on and instead utilizes an armringer before transitioning into an Russian leg sweep, with the hope of ramming Gage back-first into the ringpost via the move. Gage, though, fights off the move and instead lifts Messiah up into a sideslam position and then charges into the center of the ring, where he slams Messiah down onto the chair, via the sideslam!

A Gutwrench Suplex follows for 2, and then Gage lifts Messiah back up and tries to whip him into the ropes, but Messiah holds on and instead bends down and sweeps one of Gage's legs out from under him with his hand. Messiah hustles towards the chair, grabs it, and then rams it into the side of Gage's body as the H8 Club member is starting to climb back up to his feet. Messiah continues assaulting Gage with the chair for a few moments before applying a Figure Four Leglock, which he maintains for about 20 seconds until Gage is able to grab the ring ropes and force the hold to be broken. Messiah then lifts Gage back up to his feet and tosses him face-first into the middle turnbuckle. He sits him in the corner and then tags in New Jack who uses a golf club to ram a chair into Gage's crotch!

This is basically the end of the wrestling part of the match, as - from now on - weapons enter the fray and their use dominates the strategies of each team, as opposed to merely being one of the factors in the match, as it already is (due to use of the chair). There are some more very brief wrestling sequences, but definitely nothing to call home about. These are the rest of the highlights:

- Hatred Press Slams Jack, but "The Original Gangsta" drops out and lands on his feet behind him. Jack proceeds to deliver a stiff gut kick before grabbing a steel chair, chairshotting Hatred over the head, and then knocking him down to the mat with a running knee lift to the face, in which he holds the chair with one hand and uses the free hand to ram Hatred's face into the chair.
- Messiah attempts an Irish whip, but GGage counters and sends him into the ropes. Messiah attempts a crossbody block, but Gage catches him in position for a Fallaway Slam, but instead tosses him up into the air, over his head, and catches him in a Samoan Drop onto a pile of thumbtacks that has came into use!
- Jack grabs a steel chair and climbs uup top, signaling for the "187" Flying Chairshot, but Hatred crotches him, and then grabs him off of the ringpost and positions him on his shoulder before executing a British Bulldog-style Over-the-Shoulder Running Powerslam onto the pile of thumbtacks!

The finish comes when Messiah executes his old XPW finisher, the Godsmack (Spinning Fireman's Carry Stunner), and *as soon as* that connects, Jack leaps off of the top buckle and delivers the "187" Flying Chairshot, thereby compounding the already considerable pain of Gage, who had already suffered from the Godsmack about a second earlier! Jack covers and gets the pinfall win (19:31)!

Matches of the Night (in order from best to worst): B-Boy/Jacobs, Ca$h/Sonjay vs. Joker/Ruckus, Rave/Shelley, Berk/Mafia, H8 Club vs. New Jack/Messiah, Flash/Homicide (surprisingly solid stuff), Knoxx/Acid, Kashmere/Mamaluke, Six-Man Tag, Frazier/Z-Barr

R. Kairey - [email protected]

SLASH - [email protected]

Former ECW World champion Jerry Lynn will debut in Japan for ZERO-ONE on 12/11, working several dates for their December run. It will not be Lynn's first Japanese gig as he's worked for both New Japan Pro Wrestling and Michinoku Pro in the past.

CZW vs. ROH

- The Dirty Rotten Scoundrelz (EC Negro & KC Blade) vs. The Ring Crew Express (Kevin Dunn & Marcos)

- Paul London or Spanky vs. Sonjay Dutt

- Matt Stryker vs. Nick Berk

- The Carnage Crew (HC Loc & Tony DeVito) vs. The H8 Club (Nick Gage & Nate Hatred)

- Low Ki vs. Nick Mondo

- Adam Flash vs. Xavier

- Hi-V (B-Boy & The Messiah) vs. The Prophecy (Christopher Daniels & Dan "Mafia" Maff)

CZW 5th Anniversary Show

- Ric Blade vs. Sonjay Dutt