List of CZW World Heavyweight Champions

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Former CZW World Heavyweight Champion Rickey Shane Page, posing with championship belt Rickey Shane Page with CZW championship.jpg
Former CZW World Heavyweight Champion Rickey Shane Page, posing with championship belt

The CZW World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) promotion. The championship was created and debuted on March 27, 1999, at CZW's The Staple Gun event. [1] The first time the championship 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. [1]

Contents

Title reigns are determined by professionally wrestling matches, usually of the hardcore/ultraviolent type. All title changes happen at live events, which are usually released on DVD. The inaugural champion was Nick Gage, whom CZW recognized to have become the champion after defeating twenty other men in a battle royal on March 27, 1999, at CZW's The Staple Gun event. [1] As of February2026, Zandig holds the record for most reigns, with six. [1] At 718 days, Joe Gacy's third reign is the longest in the title's history. [1] The current champion is Eran Ashe, who is in his first reign.

Title history

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1 Nick Gage March 27, 1999The Staple Gun Mantua Township, NJ 156Gage won a 20-man battle royal to become the first champion. [2]
2 John Zandig May 22, 1999Madness Mantua Township, NJ 128This was a four-way dance, also involving John Kronus and Justice Pain. [3]
3 Nick Gage June 19, 1999Down in Flames Mantua Township, NJ 291 [4]
4 Wifebeater September 18, 1999September Slam Mantua Township, NJ 163 [5]
5 John Zandig November 20, 1999The War Begins Mantua Township, NJ 2245This was an I Quit Barbed Wire Strap match. [6]
6 Lobo July 22, 2000No Rules, No Limits Sewell, NJ 149 [7]
7 Justice Pain September 9, 2000 Cage of Death II...After Dark Sewell, NJ 1172This was a Cage of Death match. [8]
8Nick BerkFebruary 28, 2001Destruction in Dover Dover, Delaware 1<1 [9]
9 Yoshihiro Tajiri February 28, 2001Destruction in Dover Dover, Delaware 1<1 [9]
10 John Zandig February 28, 2001Destruction in Dover Dover, Delaware 346 [9]
11 Wifebeater April 15, 2001CZW Birmingham, England 227
12 John Zandig May 12, 2001Stretched in Smyrna Smyrna, Delaware 433This was a Ultraviolent Deathmatch. [10]
13 Wifebeater June 14, 2001CZW Aguascalientes, Mexico 323
14 Justice Pain July 7, 2001A New Beginning Sewell, NJ 2308 [11]
15 The Messiah May 11, 2002High Stakes Philadelphia, PA 128This was a high stakes match which includes first, Messiah's relationship with Kristi Myst, second Nick Mondo's career, and last Adam Flash's CZW Iron Man Championship in a four-way match. [12]
16 Justice Pain June 8, 2002 Best of the Best II Philadelphia, PA 37This was a three-way match where Adam Flash serve as Special Guest Referee and Nick Mondo's CZW Iron Man Championship also on the line. [13]
17 John Zandig June 15, 2002 IWW Dublin, Ireland 5<1This was a Barbed Wire Gaelic Deathmatch. [14]
18 Justice Pain June 15, 2002 IWW Dublin, Ireland 4182This was a Barbed Wire Gaelic Deathmatch. [15]
19 The Messiah December 14, 2002 Cage of Death IV Philadelphia, PA 2315This was an Iron man rules match. [16]
20 John Zandig October 25, 2003Shockwave Pistoia, Italy 6133 [17]
21 The Messiah March 6, 2004Overdrive Philadelphia, PA 3336This was a Taipei & Bed of Nails Death match. [18]
22 Ruckus February 5, 2005Only the Strong: Scarred 4 Life Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1308
23 Super Dragon December 10, 2005 Cage of Death VII: Living in Sin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 163 [19]
24 Ruckus February 11, 2006Seven Years Strong: Settling the Score Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 291Christopher Daniels won the CZW Championship by pinning Derek Frazier in a three way tournament match at Best of the Best 6, but refused the championship, wanting to win it by pinning Ruckus one on one later in the tournament in a losing effort.
25 Chris Hero May 13, 2006 Best of the Best 6 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1119 [20]
26 Eddie Kingston September 9, 2006Down with the Sickness 4-Ever: A Tribute to Chris Ca$h Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 191
27 Justice Pain December 9, 2006 Cage of Death VIII: Coming Undone Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 5217
28 Ruckus July 14, 2007 Best of the Best 7 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 3147
29 Nick Gage December 8, 2007 Cage of Death IX Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 3217
30 Drake Younger July 12, 2008A Tangled Web Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1567
31 B-Boy January 30, 2010High Stakes Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 114
32 Jon Moxley February 13, 2010CZW 11th Anniversary Show Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1175
33 Nick Gage August 7, 2010Southern Violence Lumberton, North Carolina 47
34 Jon Moxley August 14, 2010Tangled Web 3 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2182 [21]
35 Robert Anthony February 12, 2011CZW 12th Anniversary Show Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 156
36Devon MooreApril 9, 2011 Best of the Best X Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1301This was a six-man tag match between Devon Moore and The Briscoe Brothers, and Robert Anthony and Philadelphia's Most Wanted (Joker and Sabian); where The Briscoes' CZW Tag Team Championship were also on the line.
37Scotty VortekzFebruary 4, 2012CZW Super Saturday Indianapolis, Indiana 135
38 Masada March 10, 2012CZW Aerial Assault Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1518Won title in a four-way match also involving against DJ Hyde and Devon Moore
39 Drew Gulak August 10, 2013CZW Tangled Web 6 Voorhees, New Jersey 1273
40 Biff Busick May 10, 2014CZW Proving Grounds Voorhees, New Jersey 1161Helped by Sozio as part of "The Front".
41SozioOctober 18, 2014CZW Tangled Web 7 Voorhees, New Jersey 156Turned on his former stablemate Biff Busick
42 BLK Jeez December 13, 2014 CZW Cage of Death Voorhees, New Jersey 1238This was a Cage of Death also included Biff Busick and Drew Gulak.
43 Matt Tremont August 8, 2015CZW Heat Voorhees, New Jersey 1399
44 Jonathan Gresham September 10, 2016Down With The Sickness 2016 Voorhees, New Jersey 191This was a Four Way Boards Of Nails Carpet Stripes Pains Of Glass Death Match including Greg Excellent and Joe Gacy. [22]
45 Joe Gacy December 10, 2016 Cage Of Death 18 Voorhees, New Jersey 1154 [23]
46 Lio Rush May 13, 2017Sacrifices Voorhees, New Jersey 113
47 Davey Richards May 26, 2017Defy 3: Swerve City Seattle, Washington 143This title change took place at an event held by DEFY Wrestling.
48 Shane Strickland July 8, 2017Evilution Voorhees, New Jersey 1126This was a four-way match, also including Joe Gacy and Lio Rush and contested for the DEFY World Championship.
49 Joe Gacy November 11, 2017Night of Infamy Sewell, New Jersey 2<1
50 Rickey Shane Page November 11, 2017Night of Infamy Sewell, New Jersey 1154This was Page's Ultimate Opportunity Coin match. [24]
51 Maxwell Jacob Friedman April 14, 2018 Best of the Best 17 Sewell, New Jersey 1225
— Vacated November 25, 2018--—— Maxwell Jacob Friedman stripped of the title due to injury.
52 Mance Warner December 9, 2018 Cage of Death 20 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1125Warner defeated Rickey Shane Page in a Cage of Death match to win the title.
53 Anthony Greene April 13, 2019 Best of the Best 18 Voorhees, New Jersey 1<1This was a Fatal 4 Way match also including Anthony Gangone and B-Boy. [25]
54 David Starr April 13, 2019 Best of the Best 18 Voorhees, New Jersey 1<1 [25]
55 John Silver April 13, 2019 Best of the Best 18 Voorhees, New Jersey 1153Defeated Starr in the finals of the Best of the Best tournament. [25]
56 Joe Gacy September 13, 2019Down with the Sickness 2019 Voorhees, New Jersey 3395This was triple threat match also including Conor Claxton.
— Vacated October 12, 2020———— Joe Gacy stripped of the title due to signing to WWE.
57 Rich Swann May 20, 2023 CZW Best of the Best Havre de Grace, Maryland 1351Defeated Fred Yehi in the finals of a tournament to win the vacant title. [26]
58Eran AsheMay 5, 2024CZW Limelight 25 Havre de Grace, Maryland 1637+

Combined reigns

†Indicates the current champion
RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns		Combined
days
1 Justice Pain 5886
2 Joe Gacy 3872
3 The Messiah 3679
4 Drake Younger 1567
5 Ruckus 3546
6 Masada 1518
7 John Zandig 6485
8 Matt Tremont 1399
9 Nick Gage 4371
10 Jon Moxley 2357
11 Rich Swann 1351
12Devon Moore1301
13 Drew Gulak 1273
14 BLK Jeez 1238
15 Maxwell Jacob Friedman 1225
16 Biff Busick 1161
17 Rickey Shane Page 1154
18 John Silver 1153
19 Shane Strickland 1126
20 Mance Warner 1125
21 Chris Hero 1119
22 Wifebeater 3113
23 Eddie Kingston 191
Jonathan Gresham 191
25Eran Ashe †1637+
26 Super Dragon 163
27 Robert Anthony 156
Sozio156
29 Lobo 149
30 Davey Richards 143
31Scotty Vortekz135
32 B-Boy 114
33 Lio Rush 113
34 Anthony Greene 1<1
David Starr 1
Nick Berk1
Yoshihiro Tajiri 1

References

General
Specific
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "CZW World Heavyweight Championship reign history". CZWrestling.com. Archived from the original on 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
  2. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 27, 1999). "CZW The Staple Gun - Event @ CZW Arena in Mantua, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 22, 1999). "CZW May Madness - Event @ CZW Arena in Mantua, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 19, 1999). "CZW Down In Flames - Event @ CZW Arena in Mantua, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 18, 1999). "CZW September Slam - Event @ CZW Arena in Mantua, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  6. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 20, 1999). "CZW The War Begins - Event @ CZW Arena in Mantua, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  7. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 22, 2000). "CZW No Rules, No Limits - Event @ Champs Soccer Arena in Sewell, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  8. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 9, 2000). "CZW Cage Of Death II ... After Dark - Event @ Champs Soccer Arena in Sewell, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 28, 2001). "CZW Destruction In Dover - Event @ Froggy's Bar And Grill in Dover, Delaware, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  10. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 12, 2001). "CZW Stretched In Smyrna - Event @ Smyrna Firehouse in Smyrna, Delaware, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  11. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 7, 2001). "CZW A New Beginning - Event @ Champs Arena in Sewell, New Jersey, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  12. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 11, 2002). "CZW High Stakes - Event @ Viking Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  13. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 8, 2002). "CZW Best Of The Best II - Event @ Viking Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  14. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 15, 2002). "IWW - Event @ National Basketball Arena in Dublin, Ireland". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  15. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 15, 2002). "IWW - Event @ National Basketball Arena in Dublin, Ireland". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  16. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 14, 2002). "CZW Cage Of Death 4 - Event @ Viking Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  17. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 25, 2003). "CZW Shockwave - Event @ Palasport Arena in Pistoia, Italien". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  18. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 6, 2004). "CZW Overdrive - Event @ New Alhambra Sports & Entertainment Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  19. ↑ Vetter, Chris (2006-01-31). "Tape review: CZW, "Cage of Death 7," December 10, 2005, with violent main event, plus Hero, Super Dragon, Ruckus, Sabin". PWTorch.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  20. ↑ Vetter, Chris (2006-06-22). "Tape Review: CZW, "Best of the Best 6," May 13, 2006, with Hero, Ruckus, Aries, Strong, Dutt, B-Boy". PWTorch.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  21. ↑ Magee, Bob (2010-08-15). "Combat Zone Wrestling 8/14 "Tangled Web 3" results". WrestleView. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  22. ↑ "CZW Down With The Sickness 2016". Cagematch.net. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  23. ↑ "CZW Cage Of Death 18". Cagematch.net. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  24. ↑ "CZW 11/11/17 Night of Infamy Results". Pwponderings.com. 12 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  25. 1 2 3 PWPonderings (April 15, 2019). "CZW 04/13/19 Best of the Best 18 Results". pwponderings.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  26. ↑ Daly, Wayne (May 21, 2023). "CZW Results: Best Of The Best 19 – Havre de Grace, MD (5/20)". wrestling-news.net. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.

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