Nick Gage
Encyclopedia
Nicholas W. "Nick" Wilson (born September 22, 1980) 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. He is CZW's first ever Triple Crown champion and CZW's only Grand Slam Champion, having held the World Heavyweight, Tag Team, Iron Man, and Ultraviolent Underground championships during his career Nick Gage is the real life brother of fellow CZW wrestler and tag team partner Justice Pain
. In April 2011 Wilson was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree bank robbery.
tag team. Before teaming with Nate Hatred
as the H8 Club, Gage won the CZW World Tag Team Championship
with Zandig
. Gage would also find great success in his run for the CZW Ironman Title, which he had several brutal matches with the likes of LOBO, The Wifebeater, Nick Mondo & Mad Man Pondo. One of the most notable matches from the time period was the first ever, 200 Light Tubes Death Match against The Wifebeater. He would later team up with Hatred and wrestle such teams as the Briscoe Brothers
, VD, and The Backseat Boyz
. Together, they won the tag team championship from the original H8 Club of Wifebeater
and Justice Pain
. Gage and Hatred would break up in 2003 when Hatred joined Messiah
's stable, the Hi-V. Gage and Hatred would embark on a bloody feud against one another, competing in a Tables Match, Cage Match, Dog Collar Match, as well as a 200 Light Tubes Death Match. The two would trade the Big Japan Death Match Title between one another. Gage would take part in Cage of Death V: Suspended, as a part of Team Zandig, to take on the Hi-V.They feuded for nearly one year, and met in the Cage of Death match at Cage of Death V. At the end of the match, Hatred turned on Messiah and rejoined Gage. After reforming, they regained the tag championship, but lost it to The Blackout. At Cage of Death VI, The H8 Club of Nick Gage and Nate Hatred faced the H8 Club of Wifebeater and Justice Pain, with the winners winning the right to the H8 Club name. That night, Nick Gage and Justice Pain turned on their partners joined each other. They would then win the tag team championship and hold it for many months before losing to Necro Butcher
and Toby Klein.
Even after the loss of the Tag Titles, Gage and his brother would continue to feud with The Tough Crazy Bastards. Gage would find himself in the finals of the annual, Tournament of Death
, along with the Necro Butcher
and CZW owner, John Zandig
. In this match, Gage would, literally, get set on fire, due to a botched Suplex, which saw Gage deliver it to Zandig, over the top rope and off the apron, onto a flaming board, which incorporated other Ultraviolent qualities. Gage would ultimately lose the match, as a result of being driven through several Panes of Glass, as well as a table, by Necro and his use of the Death Valley Driver. At the following show, Gage would interfere in Necro's No Rope Barbed Wire Match with one, J.C. Bailey. Gage, and his brother, Justice Pain's feud with Klein and The Butcher, would carry on all the way until Cage of Death 7. At Cage of Death 7 in the Cage of Death match, with Justice Pain and Zandig on Gage's team and Joker
and Toby Klein on Necro's team. After Cage of Death, Gage and Necro Butcher fought in a triple threat no rope barbed wire match with J.C. Bailey for Bailey's Ultraviolent Underground Championship, which Gage captured that night. Gage later became color commentator for CZW DVDs, replacing Eddie Kingston
. On July 29, 2006, Nick Gage won Tournament of Death 5 defeating Brain Damage, JC Bailey, and Drake Younger
in the final round. After this, Gage began exhibiting strange behavior. He attacked LuFisto
after she won the Iron Man title
, had incidents with Zandig and Justice Pain, and insulted the fans on many occasions, most notably on commentary. He has since been removed from his commentary position. At Last Team Standing on October 14, he and Justice Pain made it to the finals of the tag team tournament. However, he left the arena before the last match. The next night, he lost the Ultraviolent Underground Championship to Drake Younger.
At Night of Infamy 5, problems between Gage, Lobo, and Zandig continued, leading to a Cage of Death match between the three, which called for the loser of the bout to hang up the boots and retire. Before the match started, Gage's enemy LuFisto came to the ring and entered herself in the match. Gage won by pinning Zandig, forcing the CZW owner into retirement. The next month, Gage was scheduled to face LuFisto in a one on one match, but LuFisto was injured and the match was canceled. Gage would end up facing his brother, Justice Pain, for Pain's CZW Heavyweight Championship at CZW's eight anniversary show, H8. The match ended early due to the result of Gage receiving a stinger, as a result of a botched Pain Thriller from his brother. Nick Gage would remain out of action until the end of the year.
Gage made his return to CZW at the ninth annual Cage of Death event on December 8. He defeated Messiah and Ruckus
in a Triple Threat Match to become a three time CZW World Heavyweight Champion. Gage's third reign as the Heavyweight Champion would last seven months, as he successfully defended his title against the likes of Drake Younger
, Danny Havoc
, Devon Moore, Ruckus
& Eddie Kingston
. However, Gage's run would come to an end at A Tangled Web, in which he lost to Drake Younger
in a Tangled Web Death Match, due to interference from NOTORIOUS INC member, Devon Moore. Gage would face Moore at the following show in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Taipei Death Match. Gage would soon take up arms with his old tag team partner, Nate Hatred, to reform the infamous H8 Club. The H8 Club would go on to face NOTORIOUS INC at Down With The Sickness, as well as BLKOUT at Cage of Death X. Gage and Hatred would then move on to a bloody feud with Billy Gram's Cult Fiction, Brain Damage & Deranged, which, ultimately, culminated at CZW Tournament of Death
8, when Nick Gage defeated Deranged in a No Ropes Barbed Wire "Fire" Match. At that very same event, Gage would end up defeating Jon Moxley & Scotty Vortekz in the second round, advancing to the third, and final, round, against Thumbtack Jack. Gage would have to be airlifted to hospital after taking a bump onto a light tube
, whch resulted in a laceration severing two major arteries in his arm. Gage had made a full recovery and was back at CZW Best of the Best
(only 1 week later) and participated in an attack on Thumbtack Jack.
Following his injury at TOD, and his attack on Thumbtack Jack at Best of the Best
, Gage, along with Nate Hatred, would feud with The Best All Around in their hunt to regain the CZW Tag Team Titles. However, the hunt would prove to be a failure as they did not win the titles. The H8 Club would go on to turn heel, as they took up arms with the Switchblade Conspiracy, and attacked the new CZW owner, D.J. Hyde. In response to the attacks, Hyde would replace himself in the upcoming Tournament of Death: Rewind, and in his place would be Nick Gage, who would take on the former owner of CZW, John Zandig
. Gage would defeat Zandig in the opening round in a Panes of Glass Match, but would come up on the losing end to MASADA
in the second round in a Home Run Derby Death Match.
"The Future of Hardcore" would cross paths with Thumbtack Jack once more before the end of the year, as they faced one another for Jack's Ultraviolent Underground Championship
, in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Match at Cage of Death XI. Jack would come out the victor in the contest, only to be attacked by a returning, J.C. Bailey. In May 2010, Gage went to Japan and wrestled for Big Japan Pro Wrestling
after an interval of nearly 10 years. Gage, as a member of the stable CZW Japan originally created around 2000, competed at the event BJW 15th Anniversary Show, teaming with Jun Kasai
and DJ Hyde.
Nick Gage won the CZW Underground title from Adam Polak in Germany.
Apart from Nick Gage's performances in CZW's Tournament of Death
, he's also taken part in IWA-MS's King of the Deathmatches
, having competed in four of them. During 2003, Gage entered the tournament during the CZW vs IWA-MS angle, which was going on at the time. Gage was able to take out Dysfunction
in the first round, by defeating him in a 4-Corners of Pain Match, followed by defeating "Mean" Mitch Page in a Barbed Wire Canvas & Light Tube Ropes Match in the second round. However, Gage would end up on the losing end during the third round when he lost to Mad Man Pondo in a Bed of Nails & Caribbean Spider Web Match.
"The Man" would find himself back in the very same tournament in 2005. In the first round, he, along with Pondo, would defeat The Hellaware Assassin in a Taipei Fans Bring The Weapon Match, to advance to the second round. Gage would be defeated in the second round by Bull Pain
, in a Barbed Wire & Light Tube Ropes and 4 Corners of Pain Match.
After his return to professional wrestling in December 2007, Gage would return to the IWA-MS for their 2008 King of the Deathmatch. The Future of Hardcore, along with Danny Havoc
, would defeat the former photographer, WHACKS, in a first round Light Tubes & Ladders Match. The following night, Gage would defeat FREAKSHOW in a Taped Fist Texas Death Match, but would be defeated by Devon Moore, his rival in CZW at the time, in a third round Pyramids of Pain Death Match, which featured Moore, Gage & "Diehard" Dustin Lee.
Less than a year later, Nick would find himself at the 2009 King of the Deathmatches. Nick Gage would lose in the opening round against Thumbtack Jack
in a Deep Six Death Match, which consisted of Chains, Fish Hooks, and a No Ropes Barbed Wire stipulation.
"The Man" has also competed in the last two consecutive Carnage Cups. In Carnage Cup 2008, Gage defeated Devon Moore in a Fans Bring The Weapons Match in the first round, followed by defeating Prophet in an Ultraviolent Boards Match. However, Nick Gage would lose in the finals, in a 4-Way 200 Light Tubes Death Match, to Danny Havoc. FREAKSHOW and Corey Shaddix would take part in the finals as well.
At the 2009 Carnage Cup, Gage would pick up a victory over Insane Lane & FREAKSHOW in the first round, advancing himself to the second round. Gage would be defeated, once again, by Thumbtack Jack
, in an Ultraviolent Boards & Thumbtack Cinderblocks Death Match.
on December 22. During the robbery, Wilson handed a note to a female employee at the bank demanding money, and got approximately $3000. Following the robbery, Wilson and his girlfriend went to Atlantic City to gamble. Wilson surrendered to authorities on December 31, 2010. On March 15, 2011, Wilson pled guilty to second degree robbery and was sentenced to five years in prison on April 29. His guilty plea was part of an agreement for a lesser sentence. He will be eligible for parole in 2015, after serving 85 per cent of his five-year sentence. Wilson was also ordered to pay compensation to both the bank and the female employee from whom he had demanded the money.
in New Jersey
. As a child, Wilson idolised Lawrence Taylor
. Wilson and his brother Chris trained together as professional wrestlers.
In an interview in early 2010, Wilson stated he had been addicted to oxycontin and other painkillers for at least 10 years. At the time of the bank robbery in 2010, Wilson was homeless, after being evicted from the house where he had lived with his girlfriend and her mother. Wilson was arrested in 2005 for possession of stolen property. He pleaded guilty, and paid a $250 fine as well as court costs.
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...
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...
best known from 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"...
. Along with being the first-ever CZW World Heavyweight Champion
CZW World Heavyweight Championship
The 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...
, he has wrestled at nearly every CZW show and has competed in more CZW matches than anyone. He is CZW's first ever Triple Crown champion and CZW's only Grand Slam Champion, having held the World Heavyweight, Tag Team, Iron Man, and Ultraviolent Underground championships during his career Nick Gage is the real life brother of fellow CZW wrestler and tag team partner Justice Pain
Justice Pain
Christopher Wilson is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Justice Pain. Pain is best known for his time in Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as Xtreme Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unplugged...
. In April 2011 Wilson was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree bank robbery.
Career
Nick Gage is known for being the first ever CZW World Heavyweight Champion and for being part of the H8 ClubH8 Club
The H8 Club is a professional wrestling tag team in Combat Zone Wrestling. The current team consists of Nick Gage and Nate Hatred.-History:The H8 Club has been around since the beginning of Combat Zone Wrestling. The original team was made up of Wifebeater, Justice Pain, Justin Kase, Ed O' Mac,...
tag team. Before teaming with Nate Hatred
Nate Hatred
Nate Hatred is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his current tenure in the Philadelphia-based hardcore wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling where he is a member of the H8 Club...
as the H8 Club, Gage won the CZW World Tag Team Championship
CZW World Tag Team Championship
The 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...
with 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:...
. Gage would also find great success in his run for the CZW Ironman Title, which he had several brutal matches with the likes of LOBO, The Wifebeater, Nick Mondo & Mad Man Pondo. One of the most notable matches from the time period was the first ever, 200 Light Tubes Death Match against The Wifebeater. He would later team up with Hatred and wrestle such teams as the Briscoe Brothers
Briscoe Brothers
The Briscoe Brothers are the professional wrestling tag team of Jay and Mark Briscoe. They are currently wrestling for the American promotions Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as occasionally for the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah.Their wrestling careers have...
, VD, and The Backseat Boyz
The Backseat Boyz
The Backseat Boyz were a professional wrestling tag team that consisted of Johnny Kashmere and Trent Acid who competed in Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Unplugged, Combat Zone Wrestling, Assault Championship Wrestling, the Premier Wrestling Federation, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, and Japan together...
. Together, they won the tag team championship from the original H8 Club of 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...
and Justice Pain
Justice Pain
Christopher Wilson is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Justice Pain. Pain is best known for his time in Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as Xtreme Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unplugged...
. Gage and Hatred would break up in 2003 when Hatred joined Messiah
William Welch
William C. Welch is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name The Messiah.-Professional wrestling career:...
's stable, the Hi-V. Gage and Hatred would embark on a bloody feud against one another, competing in a Tables Match, Cage Match, Dog Collar Match, as well as a 200 Light Tubes Death Match. The two would trade the Big Japan Death Match Title between one another. Gage would take part in Cage of Death V: Suspended, as a part of Team Zandig, to take on the Hi-V.They feuded for nearly one year, and met in the Cage of Death match at Cage of Death V. At the end of the match, Hatred turned on Messiah and rejoined Gage. After reforming, they regained the tag championship, but lost it to The Blackout. At Cage of Death VI, The H8 Club of Nick Gage and Nate Hatred faced the H8 Club of Wifebeater and Justice Pain, with the winners winning the right to the H8 Club name. That night, Nick Gage and Justice Pain turned on their partners joined each other. They would then win the tag team championship and hold it for many months before losing to 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,...
and Toby Klein.
Even after the loss of the Tag Titles, Gage and his brother would continue to feud with The Tough Crazy Bastards. Gage would find himself in the finals of the annual, Tournament of Death
CZW Tournament of Death
The Tournament of Death is an annual professional wrestling tournament organised by Combat Zone Wrestling since 2002, during which a number of wrestlers compete in various deathmatches in a single-elimination tournament which is similar to World Wrestling Entertainment's King of the Ring tournament...
, along with the 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,...
and CZW owner, 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:...
. In this match, Gage would, literally, get set on fire, due to a botched Suplex, which saw Gage deliver it to Zandig, over the top rope and off the apron, onto a flaming board, which incorporated other Ultraviolent qualities. Gage would ultimately lose the match, as a result of being driven through several Panes of Glass, as well as a table, by Necro and his use of the Death Valley Driver. At the following show, Gage would interfere in Necro's No Rope Barbed Wire Match with one, J.C. Bailey. Gage, and his brother, Justice Pain's feud with Klein and The Butcher, would carry on all the way until Cage of Death 7. At Cage of Death 7 in the Cage of Death match, with Justice Pain and Zandig on Gage's team and Joker
Joker (wrestler)
Joker is an American independent professional wrestler who works for the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion, IWA Mid-South, Chikara and UWA Hardcore Wrestling.-Career:...
and Toby Klein on Necro's team. After Cage of Death, Gage and Necro Butcher fought in a triple threat no rope barbed wire match with J.C. Bailey for Bailey's Ultraviolent Underground Championship, which Gage captured that night. Gage later became color commentator for CZW DVDs, replacing Eddie Kingston
Eddie Kingston
Edward "Eddie" Moore is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Eddie Kingston. He is best known for competing in Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South and Ring of Honor...
. On July 29, 2006, Nick Gage won Tournament of Death 5 defeating Brain Damage, JC Bailey, and 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...
in the final round. After this, Gage began exhibiting strange behavior. He attacked LuFisto
Genny Goulet
Geneviève Goulet is a French Canadian professional wrestler who works under the ringname LuFisto.-1997–1998:...
after she won the Iron Man title
CZW Iron Man Championship
The CZW Iron Man Championship was a professional wrestling title in the Philadelphia-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling . It was established in 1999 at CZW's first show, Opening Night with Derek Domino as the first champion. Despite the name, the Iron Man title is not exclusively defended in...
, had incidents with Zandig and Justice Pain, and insulted the fans on many occasions, most notably on commentary. He has since been removed from his commentary position. At Last Team Standing on October 14, he and Justice Pain made it to the finals of the tag team tournament. However, he left the arena before the last match. The next night, he lost the Ultraviolent Underground Championship to Drake Younger.
At Night of Infamy 5, problems between Gage, Lobo, and Zandig continued, leading to a Cage of Death match between the three, which called for the loser of the bout to hang up the boots and retire. Before the match started, Gage's enemy LuFisto came to the ring and entered herself in the match. Gage won by pinning Zandig, forcing the CZW owner into retirement. The next month, Gage was scheduled to face LuFisto in a one on one match, but LuFisto was injured and the match was canceled. Gage would end up facing his brother, Justice Pain, for Pain's CZW Heavyweight Championship at CZW's eight anniversary show, H8. The match ended early due to the result of Gage receiving a stinger, as a result of a botched Pain Thriller from his brother. Nick Gage would remain out of action until the end of the year.
Gage made his return to CZW at the ninth annual Cage of Death event on December 8. He defeated Messiah and Ruckus
Claude Marrow
Claude Marrow is an American independent professional wrestler better known by his ring name Ruckus. Marrow current performs in Combat Zone Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Maryland Championship Wrestling, Chikara and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
in a Triple Threat Match to become a three time CZW World Heavyweight Champion. Gage's third reign as the Heavyweight Champion would last seven months, as he successfully defended his title against the likes of 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...
, 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:...
, Devon Moore, Ruckus
Claude Marrow
Claude Marrow is an American independent professional wrestler better known by his ring name Ruckus. Marrow current performs in Combat Zone Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Maryland Championship Wrestling, Chikara and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
& Eddie Kingston
Eddie Kingston
Edward "Eddie" Moore is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Eddie Kingston. He is best known for competing in Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South and Ring of Honor...
. However, Gage's run would come to an end at A Tangled Web, in which he lost to 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...
in a Tangled Web Death Match, due to interference from NOTORIOUS INC member, Devon Moore. Gage would face Moore at the following show in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Taipei Death Match. Gage would soon take up arms with his old tag team partner, Nate Hatred, to reform the infamous H8 Club. The H8 Club would go on to face NOTORIOUS INC at Down With The Sickness, as well as BLKOUT at Cage of Death X. Gage and Hatred would then move on to a bloody feud with Billy Gram's Cult Fiction, Brain Damage & Deranged, which, ultimately, culminated at CZW Tournament of Death
CZW Tournament of Death
The Tournament of Death is an annual professional wrestling tournament organised by Combat Zone Wrestling since 2002, during which a number of wrestlers compete in various deathmatches in a single-elimination tournament which is similar to World Wrestling Entertainment's King of the Ring tournament...
8, when Nick Gage defeated Deranged in a No Ropes Barbed Wire "Fire" Match. At that very same event, Gage would end up defeating Jon Moxley & Scotty Vortekz in the second round, advancing to the third, and final, round, against Thumbtack Jack. Gage would have to be airlifted to hospital after taking a bump onto a light tube
Light tube
Light tubes or light pipes are used for transporting or distributing natural or artificial light. In their application to daylighting, they are also often called sun pipes, sun scopes, solar light pipes, sky lights or daylight pipes.Generally speaking, a light pipe or light tube may refer to:* a...
, whch resulted in a laceration severing two major arteries in his arm. Gage had made a full recovery and was back at CZW Best of the Best
CZW Best of the Best
Combat Zone Wrestling's Best of the Best is a professional wrestling tournament and supershow held in the CZW promotion. The annual Best of The Best was originally a junior heavyweight tournament, which in 2005 was repurposed as an all weight tournament....
(only 1 week later) and participated in an attack on Thumbtack Jack.
Following his injury at TOD, and his attack on Thumbtack Jack at Best of the Best
Best of the Best
Best of the Best is a 1989 martial arts film. The plot revolves around a team of Americans facing a team of Koreans in a taekwondo tournament. Several sub plots pop up in the story - moral conflicts, the power of the human spirit triumphing over adversity are some themes...
, Gage, along with Nate Hatred, would feud with The Best All Around in their hunt to regain the CZW Tag Team Titles. However, the hunt would prove to be a failure as they did not win the titles. The H8 Club would go on to turn heel, as they took up arms with the Switchblade Conspiracy, and attacked the new CZW owner, D.J. Hyde. In response to the attacks, Hyde would replace himself in the upcoming Tournament of Death: Rewind, and in his place would be Nick Gage, who would take on the former owner of CZW, 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:...
. Gage would defeat Zandig in the opening round in a Panes of Glass Match, but would come up on the losing end to MASADA
Masada (wrestler)
Not to be confused with Kazuhiko Masada, who also wrestles under the ring name MASADA.Brigham Paul Doane , better known by his ring name MASADA, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, NWA Wildside, and his...
in the second round in a Home Run Derby Death Match.
"The Future of Hardcore" would cross paths with Thumbtack Jack once more before the end of the year, as they faced one another for Jack's Ultraviolent Underground Championship
CZW Ultraviolent Underground Championship
The 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....
, in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Match at Cage of Death XI. Jack would come out the victor in the contest, only to be attacked by a returning, J.C. Bailey. In May 2010, Gage went to Japan and wrestled 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:...
after an interval of nearly 10 years. Gage, as a member of the stable CZW Japan originally created around 2000, competed at the event BJW 15th Anniversary Show, teaming with Jun Kasai
Jun Kasai
is a Japanese professional wrestler, primarily competing for Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Dubbed the Crazy Monkey for his violent and oftentimes self-harmful style of hardcore wrestling, Kasai is considered a breakthrough talent in Japanese wrestling, able to work both hardcore and technical styles...
and DJ Hyde.
Nick Gage won the CZW Underground title from Adam Polak in Germany.
Apart from Nick Gage's performances in CZW's Tournament of Death
CZW Tournament of Death
The Tournament of Death is an annual professional wrestling tournament organised by Combat Zone Wrestling since 2002, during which a number of wrestlers compete in various deathmatches in a single-elimination tournament which is similar to World Wrestling Entertainment's King of the Ring tournament...
, he's also taken part in IWA-MS's King of the Deathmatches
IWA Mid-South King of the Deathmatch
The Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South King of the Deathmatch is an annual professional wrestling tournament running since 1997 in which a number of wrestlers compete in various deathmatches, in a single-elimination tournament which is similar to World Wrestling Entertainment's King of...
, having competed in four of them. During 2003, Gage entered the tournament during the CZW vs IWA-MS angle, which was going on at the time. Gage was able to take out Dysfunction
Dysfunction
Dysfunction can refer to:* Abnormality * Dysfunctional family* Sexual dysfunction* Dysfunction , an album by the rock band Staind...
in the first round, by defeating him in a 4-Corners of Pain Match, followed by defeating "Mean" Mitch Page in a Barbed Wire Canvas & Light Tube Ropes Match in the second round. However, Gage would end up on the losing end during the third round when he lost to Mad Man Pondo in a Bed of Nails & Caribbean Spider Web Match.
"The Man" would find himself back in the very same tournament in 2005. In the first round, he, along with Pondo, would defeat The Hellaware Assassin in a Taipei Fans Bring The Weapon Match, to advance to the second round. Gage would be defeated in the second round by Bull Pain
Bull Pain
Rick Gantner, known by his ring name Bull Pain, is an American independent professional wrestler, currently best known for his work in IWA Mid-South, and for his past career as part of the Texas Hangmen tag team in promotions such as American Wrestling Association, United States Wrestling...
, in a Barbed Wire & Light Tube Ropes and 4 Corners of Pain Match.
After his return to professional wrestling in December 2007, Gage would return to the IWA-MS for their 2008 King of the Deathmatch. The Future of Hardcore, along with 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:...
, would defeat the former photographer, WHACKS, in a first round Light Tubes & Ladders Match. The following night, Gage would defeat FREAKSHOW in a Taped Fist Texas Death Match, but would be defeated by Devon Moore, his rival in CZW at the time, in a third round Pyramids of Pain Death Match, which featured Moore, Gage & "Diehard" Dustin Lee.
Less than a year later, Nick would find himself at the 2009 King of the Deathmatches. Nick Gage would lose in the opening round against Thumbtack Jack
Thumbtack Jack
Alexander Bedranowsky , better known by his ring name Thumbtack Jack and its abbreviation TJ, is a retired German professional wrestler, best known for his work in westside Xtreme wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling and IWA East Coast. He is well known for his hardcore style of wrestling.He held the...
in a Deep Six Death Match, which consisted of Chains, Fish Hooks, and a No Ropes Barbed Wire stipulation.
"The Man" has also competed in the last two consecutive Carnage Cups. In Carnage Cup 2008, Gage defeated Devon Moore in a Fans Bring The Weapons Match in the first round, followed by defeating Prophet in an Ultraviolent Boards Match. However, Nick Gage would lose in the finals, in a 4-Way 200 Light Tubes Death Match, to Danny Havoc. FREAKSHOW and Corey Shaddix would take part in the finals as well.
At the 2009 Carnage Cup, Gage would pick up a victory over Insane Lane & FREAKSHOW in the first round, advancing himself to the second round. Gage would be defeated, once again, by Thumbtack Jack
Thumbtack Jack
Alexander Bedranowsky , better known by his ring name Thumbtack Jack and its abbreviation TJ, is a retired German professional wrestler, best known for his work in westside Xtreme wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling and IWA East Coast. He is well known for his hardcore style of wrestling.He held the...
, in an Ultraviolent Boards & Thumbtack Cinderblocks Death Match.
Bank robbery and incarceration
On December 30, 2010, New Jersey authorities announced that they were seeking Wilson for allegedly robbing a PNC Bank in Collingswood, New JerseyCollingswood, New Jersey
Collingswood is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 13,926....
on December 22. During the robbery, Wilson handed a note to a female employee at the bank demanding money, and got approximately $3000. Following the robbery, Wilson and his girlfriend went to Atlantic City to gamble. Wilson surrendered to authorities on December 31, 2010. On March 15, 2011, Wilson pled guilty to second degree robbery and was sentenced to five years in prison on April 29. His guilty plea was part of an agreement for a lesser sentence. He will be eligible for parole in 2015, after serving 85 per cent of his five-year sentence. Wilson was also ordered to pay compensation to both the bank and the female employee from whom he had demanded the money.
Personal life
Wilson grew up in National Park, Gloucester CountyNational Park, New Jersey
National Park is a Borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, there were 3,205 residents. Despite its name, National Park is neither a national park nor associated with one.-History:...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. As a child, Wilson idolised Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor , nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League...
. Wilson and his brother Chris trained together as professional wrestlers.
In an interview in early 2010, Wilson stated he had been addicted to oxycontin and other painkillers for at least 10 years. At the time of the bank robbery in 2010, Wilson was homeless, after being evicted from the house where he had lived with his girlfriend and her mother. Wilson was arrested in 2005 for possession of stolen property. He pleaded guilty, and paid a $250 fine as well as court costs.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Chokebreaker (Chokeslam backbreaker)
- Hardcore Drop (Scoop brainbuster)
- Sigature moves
- Diving headbutt
- Facewash
- Frog splash
- Piledriver, sometimes while applying a double underhook
- 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...
- Running elbow drop
- Senton bomb
- Standing or a running arched big boot
- Fallaway Slam
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "The Future of Hardcore"
- "The Man"
- "Nick Fuckin' Gage"
- "The King of Ultra-violent Wrestling"
- Entrance musicMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "For Whom the Bell TollsFor Whom the Bell Tolls (Metallica song)"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released as the third and final single from their second album, Ride the Lightning....
" by MetallicaMetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ... - "Voodoo" by GodsmackGodsmackGodsmack is an American heavy metal band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed in 1995. The band is composed of founder, frontman and songwriter Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin...
- "For Whom the Bell Tolls
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 Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with ZandigJohn ZandigJohn 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:...
- BJW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Zandig
- 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...
(4 times) - CZW Iron Man ChampionshipCZW Iron Man ChampionshipThe CZW Iron Man Championship was a professional wrestling title in the Philadelphia-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling . It was established in 1999 at CZW's first show, Opening Night with Derek Domino as the first champion. Despite the name, the Iron Man title is not exclusively defended in...
(2 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...
(4 times) - with Zandig (1), Nate Hatred (2), and Justice PainJustice PainChristopher Wilson is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Justice Pain. Pain is best known for his time in Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as Xtreme Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unplugged...
(1) - 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....
(2 times) - CZW Death Match ChampionshipCZW Death Match ChampionshipThe CZW Death Match Championship was a title contested for in the North American independent professional wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling . The title belt was known as the Big Japan Pro Wrestling Death Match Championship until John Zandig defeated Mitsuhiro Matsunaga on December 2, 2001...
(1 time) - CZW Tournament of Death V winner
- CZW Hall of FameCZW Hall of FameThe CZW Hall of Fame is an American professional wrestling hall of fame maintained by the Philadelphia-based hardcore-orientated promotion Combat Zone Wrestling. It was established in 2004 to honor wrestlers who have wrestled for the promotion....
(2009) - CZW Interpromotional Hardcore Championship
- CZW World Heavyweight Championship
- Independent Wrestling Association Mid-SouthIndependent Wrestling Association Mid-SouthIndependent Wrestling Association Mid-South is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.- History :...
- IWA Mid-South Strong Style Championship (1 time)
- Jersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
- JAPW Tag Team ChampionshipJAPW Tag Team ChampionshipThe JAPW Tag Team Championship is a championship in the Jersey All Pro Wrestling promotion. Being a professional wrestling championship, it is not won via direct competition; it is instead won via a predetermined ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a wrestling angle...
(1 time) - with Necro ButcherNecro ButcherDylan 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,...
- JAPW Tag Team Championship
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- Ranked at 217 in 2009's PWI 500