John Zandig
Encyclopedia
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
(CZW).
. He was and still is a plumber
before promoting wrestling. He began training as a wrestler in 1994 and adopted the ring name John Zandig in 1999. Shortly after debuting, Zandig opened a professional wrestling school, in New Jersey in order to hone his skills. The school eventually evolved into a professional wrestling promotion, Combat Zone Wrestling, and relocated to Philadelphia in late 2001.
From an early juncture, CZW was orientated towards hardcore wrestling
, and Zandig himself has been involved in many ultraviolent matches since the company's inception, involving such objects as thumbtack
s, fluorescent light tubes
, barbed wire
and even a weed wacker
. On one occasion, Zandig was hung from meat hook
s.
Zandig wrestled in Japan as the leader of CZW to compete for Big Japan Pro Wrestling
. In the early 2000s, Zandig appeared in a Japanese television commercial alongside the Japanese actress Ai Kato
for a soft drink product named C1000 (by Takeda Food.Co), where he was knocked out by Ai's lariat.
At Cage of Death 8, Zandig lost to Nick Gage
in a four-way Cage of Death match that included Lobo
and LuFisto
. Due to a prematch stipulation, Zandig was forced to retire as a result of losing. Since then he has wrestled two matches. On March 10, 2007, Zandig teamed with Toby Klein to face and defeat DJ Hyde and Mitch Ryder in a no rope barbed wire match. Zandig was filling in for Necro Butcher
, who couldn't make it to the show. After the match, Zandig stated that his return was for one night only.
Zandig once again came out of retirement at Tournament of Death 6 to face the Necro Butcher in a no-rope barbwired match when Necro Butchers original opponent, Mitch Ryder, could not make the show due to travel issues. He came out of retirement for the third time at Cage of Death X, defeating Danny Havoc
,Brain Damage, Drake Younger
,Sami Callihan
and Devon Moore in the 10,000 dollar Cage of Death match. That same night he was inducted into the New Alhambra Hardcore Hall of Fame.
On August 8, 2009, John Zandig held a CZW Hall of Fame induction for Jon Dahmer, Hardcore Nick Gage, and Wifebeater; and recognition plaques for Mike Pancoast, Shawn and Sabine Kernaghan, WHACKS, and Maven Bentley. After announcing the Hall of Fame and special recognition plaques, Zandig announced that he was stepping down from CZW due to financial reasons and being too injured and tired to assume the duties that come with being the owner. Zandig announced that he had sold CZW, not for the price he wanted, but due to the economy it was enough to get him to sell. The new owner announced was CZW wrestler, DJ Hyde. On October 25, 2009, Nick Gage defeated Zandig in his retirement match.
On May 8, 2010, Zandig once again returned to the ring at CZW's "Fist Fight" and defeated Brain Damage in a Tournament of Death 9 qualifying match. Following his victory, Zandig was attacked by MASADA, setting up their first round meeting in June 2010's Tournament of Death 9 which Zandig no-showed due to injury.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
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...
and promoter
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...
, better known by his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
, John Zandig. He is the founder and former owner of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
-based promotion 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).
Biography
Corson was born in Sewell, New JerseySewell, New Jersey
Sewell is an unincorporated area within Mantua Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. Sewell also refers to part of Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, which is not part of Mantua Township. Locals refer to the Sewell part of Mantua as Old Sewell...
. He was and still is a plumber
Plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable water, sewage, and drainage in plumbing systems. The term dates from ancient times, and is related to the Latin word for lead, "plumbum." A person engaged in fixing metaphorical "leaks" may also be...
before promoting wrestling. He began training as a wrestler in 1994 and adopted the ring name John Zandig in 1999. Shortly after debuting, Zandig opened a professional wrestling school, in New Jersey in order to hone his skills. The school eventually evolved into a professional wrestling promotion, Combat Zone Wrestling, and relocated to Philadelphia in late 2001.
From an early juncture, CZW was orientated towards hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling that eschews traditional concepts of match rules in favor of matches that take place in unusual environments, using foreign objects that are not normally permitted...
, and Zandig himself has been involved in many ultraviolent matches since the company's inception, involving such objects as thumbtack
Thumbtack
A drawing pin , thumbtack , or push pin is a short nail or pin with a circular, sometimes domed, head, used to fasten items such as documents to a wall or board for display. Various designs and names are used. They are inserted and removed by hand, hence the terms "thumbtack" and "push pin"...
s, fluorescent light tubes
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...
, barbed wire
Barbed wire
Barbed wire, also known as barb wire , is a type of fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the strand. It is used to construct inexpensive fences and is used atop walls surrounding secured property...
and even a weed wacker
String trimmer
A string trimmer, also known as a strimmer, line trimmer, weed whacker, weed whip, weed eater, weedy, or whipper snipper, is a powered handheld device that uses a flexible monofilament line instead of a blade for cutting grass and other plants near objects...
. On one occasion, Zandig was hung from meat hook
Meat hook
A meat hook is a two-sided hook normally used in butcheries to hang up meat or the carcasses of animals such as pigs and cattle on a moving conveyor line. There are many types of hooks, but meat hooks are the only ones used in butchering....
s.
Zandig wrestled in Japan as the leader of CZW to compete for Big Japan Pro Wrestling
Big Japan Pro Wrestling
Big Japan Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch style contests.-History:...
. In the early 2000s, Zandig appeared in a Japanese television commercial alongside the Japanese actress Ai Kato
Ai Kato
Ai Kato is a Japanese actress and model.Around 2003, a video of her bathing at an onsen surfaced on the internet...
for a soft drink product named C1000 (by Takeda Food.Co), where he was knocked out by Ai's lariat.
At Cage of Death 8, Zandig lost to 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...
in a four-way Cage of Death match that included Lobo
Lobo (wrestler)
Joe Eubanks is an American professional wrestler best known by the ring name Lobo. He wrestled primarily in Combat Zone Wrestling , where he won every major championship and was the first inductee into the CZW Hall of Fame in 2004...
and LuFisto
Genny Goulet
Geneviève Goulet is a French Canadian professional wrestler who works under the ringname LuFisto.-1997–1998:...
. Due to a prematch stipulation, Zandig was forced to retire as a result of losing. Since then he has wrestled two matches. On March 10, 2007, Zandig teamed with Toby Klein to face and defeat DJ Hyde and Mitch Ryder in a no rope barbed wire match. Zandig was filling in for Necro Butcher
Necro Butcher
Dylan Keith Summers is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Necro Butcher. Throughout the years he has worked for various promotions, including Beyond Wrestling, Firestormpro, Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, IWA-Mid South, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Big Japan Pro Wrestling,...
, who couldn't make it to the show. After the match, Zandig stated that his return was for one night only.
Zandig once again came out of retirement at Tournament of Death 6 to face the Necro Butcher in a no-rope barbwired match when Necro Butchers original opponent, Mitch Ryder, could not make the show due to travel issues. He came out of retirement for the third time at Cage of Death X, defeating Danny Havoc
Danny Havoc
Danny Havoc is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in Combat Zone Wrestling, IWA Mid-South, and IWA Deep-South, where he is known as a hardcore wrestler.-Career:...
,Brain Damage, 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...
,Sami Callihan
Sami Callihan
Sam Johnston is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "The New Horror" Sami Callihan. He competes for promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, Dragon Gate USA, NWA Force One Pro Wrestling, EVOLVE Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Absolute Intense Wrestling, and Insanity Pro...
and Devon Moore in the 10,000 dollar Cage of Death match. That same night he was inducted into the New Alhambra Hardcore Hall of Fame.
On August 8, 2009, John Zandig held a CZW Hall of Fame induction for Jon Dahmer, Hardcore Nick Gage, and Wifebeater; and recognition plaques for Mike Pancoast, Shawn and Sabine Kernaghan, WHACKS, and Maven Bentley. After announcing the Hall of Fame and special recognition plaques, Zandig announced that he was stepping down from CZW due to financial reasons and being too injured and tired to assume the duties that come with being the owner. Zandig announced that he had sold CZW, not for the price he wanted, but due to the economy it was enough to get him to sell. The new owner announced was CZW wrestler, DJ Hyde. On October 25, 2009, Nick Gage defeated Zandig in his retirement match.
On May 8, 2010, Zandig once again returned to the ring at CZW's "Fist Fight" and defeated Brain Damage in a Tournament of Death 9 qualifying match. Following his victory, Zandig was attacked by MASADA, setting up their first round meeting in June 2010's Tournament of Death 9 which Zandig no-showed due to injury.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Paralyzer (Military press dropped into a stunner) - 1998-1999
- Mother F'n Bomb (Military press dropped into a sitout scoop slam piledriver)
- Spinning powerbomb pin
- Signature moves
- Diving splash
- Lifting DDT
- Multiple suplexSuplexA suplex is an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling . The move consists of one wrestler picking up his or her opponent off the ground and then using a large portion of his or her own body weight to drive the opponent down on the mat. Nearly all suplexes have the attacker going down...
variations- German
- Release / Rolling snap
- Sitout
- Super
- PowerbombPowerbombA powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...
- StandingNeckbreakerIn professional wrestling a neckbreaker is any throw or slam that focuses its attack on the opponent’s neck. One type of neckbreaker involves the wrestler slamming an opponent's neck against a part of the wrestler's body, usually the knee, head or shoulder...
or a running neckbreaker - Sunset flip from out of the corner, as a counter to an oncoming opponent
Championships and accomplishments
- Big Japan Pro WrestlingBig Japan Pro WrestlingBig Japan Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch style contests.-History:...
- BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight ChampionshipBJW Deathmatch Heavyweight ChampionshipThe BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship is the top title contested for in the Japanese promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling. As its name suggests, it is exclusively defended in deathmatches. It was first created in 1998 when The Great Pogo defeated Mitsuhiro Matsunaga in a tournament final...
(3 times) - BJW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Nick GageNick GageNicholas 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...
- BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship
- Combat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone WrestlingCombat 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 World Heavyweight ChampionshipCZW World Heavyweight ChampionshipThe CZW World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned and copyrighted by the professional wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling . It was created and debuted on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event.The championship is generally contested...
(6 times) - CZW World Tag Team ChampionshipCZW World Tag Team ChampionshipThe CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
(1 time) - with Nick Gage - CZW Ultraviolent Underground ChampionshipCZW Ultraviolent Underground ChampionshipThe CZW Ultraviolent Underground Championship is a professional wrestling hardcore wrestling championship owned by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion. The title was introduced on February 5, 2005 at CZW's Only the Strong event....
(1 time) - Hardcore Hall of Fame (2008)
- CZW World Heavyweight Championship