CZW World Heavyweight Championship
Encyclopedia
The CZW World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling
world heavyweight championship
owned and copyrighted by the professional wrestling promotion
Combat Zone Wrestling
(CZW). It was created and debuted on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event
.
The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches
, usually of hardcore/ultraviolent type. There have been a total of 30 reigns among 13 different wrestlers. The current champion is Robert Anthony
, who is in his first reign as champion.
defeated 20 other men in a battle royal
to become the first champion. The championship has been defended and lost in countries other than the United States multiple times. The first time it changed hands on foreign soil was on April 15, 2001, when Wifebeater
defeated John Zandig
for the championship in Birmingham, England
at a live event. Even though the CZW World Heavyweight Championship is supposed to only be eligible to "heavyweights" (wrestlers who weigh more than 220 lb (99.8 kg)), multiple lower-class wrestlers have held the championship. Wrestlers such as Drake Younger
, Nick Gage
, Nick Berk
, and Yoshihiro Tajiri
are a few who have been storyline exceptions.
The championship's current design involves three metal plates positioned on a leather strap. The central plate has the word "World" at the top, while the word "Champion" at the bottom. There are two light tubes
that are placed at each end of the plate. The CZW logo is engraved at the very center of the plate and a smaller vesuckfit the pla
's only reign is the longest in the title's history. John Zandig
, Nick Berk
, and Yoshihiro Tajiri
are tied for shortest in the title's history at less than 1 day. John Zandig
holds the record for most reigns, with six. As of , Devon Moore is the current champion in his first reign.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
world heavyweight championship
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
owned and copyrighted by the professional wrestling promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
(CZW). It was created and debuted on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
.
The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches
Professional wrestling match types
Many types of matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, can be found in the form of performing art that is professional wrestling....
, usually of hardcore/ultraviolent type. There have been a total of 30 reigns among 13 different wrestlers. The current champion is Robert Anthony
Robert Anthony
Robert Anthony is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Egotistico Fantastico. He currently performs for various independent promotions, most notably Combat Zone Wrestling where he is a former CZW World Heavyweight Champion, as well as a former World Junior Heavyweight...
, who is in his first reign as champion.
Background
The championship was created and debuted on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event, where Nick GageNick Gage
Nicholas W. "Nick" Wilson is a hardcore professional wrestler best known from Combat Zone Wrestling. Along with being the first-ever CZW World Heavyweight Champion, he has wrestled at nearly every CZW show and has competed in more CZW matches than anyone...
defeated 20 other men in a battle royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
to become the first champion. The championship has been defended and lost in countries other than the United States multiple times. The first time it changed hands on foreign soil was on April 15, 2001, when Wifebeater
Matt Prince
Matt Prince, better known as ring name Wifebeater, is a former Marine and a semi-retired professional wrestler best known for his tenure in Combat Zone Wrestling from 1999 to 2004...
defeated John Zandig
John Zandig
John Corson was an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name, John Zandig. He is the founder and former owner of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling .-Biography:...
for the championship in Birmingham, England
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
at a live event. Even though the CZW World Heavyweight Championship is supposed to only be eligible to "heavyweights" (wrestlers who weigh more than 220 lb (99.8 kg)), multiple lower-class wrestlers have held the championship. Wrestlers such as Drake Younger
Drake Younger
Drake Wuertz is an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Drake Younger. He has worked for a number of major independent promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South and Chikara...
, Nick Gage
Nick Gage
Nicholas W. "Nick" Wilson is a hardcore professional wrestler best known from Combat Zone Wrestling. Along with being the first-ever CZW World Heavyweight Champion, he has wrestled at nearly every CZW show and has competed in more CZW matches than anyone...
, Nick Berk
Nick Berk
Nicholas K. "Nick" Berk , also known by his ring name Nicky Benz, is an American independent professional wrestler, best known for his work in Combat Zone Wrestling, where he is a former CZW World Heavyweight and Iron Man Champion....
, and Yoshihiro Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
are a few who have been storyline exceptions.
Belt design
Fluorescent lamp
A fluorescent lamp or fluorescent tube is a gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor. The excited mercury atoms produce short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes a phosphor to fluoresce, producing visible light. A fluorescent lamp converts electrical power into useful...
that are placed at each end of the plate. The CZW logo is engraved at the very center of the plate and a smaller vesuckfit the pla
Reigns
The inaugural champion was Gage, who won the championship by defeating 20 other men in a battle royal on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event. At 567 days, Drake YoungerDrake Younger
Drake Wuertz is an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Drake Younger. He has worked for a number of major independent promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South and Chikara...
's only reign is the longest in the title's history. John Zandig
John Zandig
John Corson was an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name, John Zandig. He is the founder and former owner of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling .-Biography:...
, Nick Berk
Nick Berk
Nicholas K. "Nick" Berk , also known by his ring name Nicky Benz, is an American independent professional wrestler, best known for his work in Combat Zone Wrestling, where he is a former CZW World Heavyweight and Iron Man Champion....
, and Yoshihiro Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
are tied for shortest in the title's history at less than 1 day. John Zandig
John Zandig
John Corson was an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name, John Zandig. He is the founder and former owner of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling .-Biography:...
holds the record for most reigns, with six. As of , Devon Moore is the current champion in his first reign.
Footnotes
- 1. - This description is based on the current design of the CZW World Heavyweight Championship, as seen in the images throughout the article.