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.
The first four tournaments saw 12 men first compete in elimination style 3-way matches in the first round before then single elimination matches until a winner was determined. During the 2005 tournament, which was held on May 14, 2005, the winner was determined by all single elimination matches. The original tournament structure returned in 2006, but saw the last four men face off in one match to determine the winner.
Winners WinnerDateLocationBest of the BestRunner-upWingerSewell, New JerseyITrent AcidTrent AcidPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaIIJody FleischB-BoyPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaIIISonjay DuttSonjay DuttPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaIVRoderick StrongMike Quackenbush Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaVB-Boy, Super Dragon, and Kevin SteenRuckusPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaVIAustin Aries, Claudio Castagnoli, and SabianJokerPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaVIIB-BoySabianPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania8Chuck TaylorEgotistico FantasticoPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania9Sami CallihanAdam ColePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaXSami CallihanSami CallihanVoorhees, New Jersey11AR FoxAlex ColonVoorhees, New Jersey12AR FoxDrake YoungerVoorhees, New JerseyXIIIBiff BusickMike BaileyVoorhees, New Jersey14Jonathan GreshamJonathan GreshamVoorhees, New Jersey15David StarrDave CristOrlando, Florida16Shane StricklandDavid StarrVoorhees, New Jersey17Zachary WentzJohn SilverVoorhees, New Jersey18David StarrRich SwannHavre de Grace, Maryland19Fred YehiKentaBaltimore, MarylandXXGriffin McCoy
Participants Wrestler I II III IV V VI VII 8 9 X 11 12 XIII 14 15 16 17 18 19 XXAaron Williams ACH Adam Cole Alex Kane Akuma AJ Styles Alex Colon Alex Reynolds Alex Shelley Amazing Red Andrew Everett Anthony Henry Anthony Gangone Anthony Greene AR Fox Arik Cannon Austin Aries Azrieal B-Boy Biff Busick Bobby Quance Brandon Gatson Brando Lee Brandon Kirk Brandon Thomaselli Bruce Maxwell Buxx Belmar Caleb Konley Carter Gray Cheech Chris Bosh Chri$ Ca$h Chris Hero Christopher Daniels Chuck Taylor CJP Claudio Castagnoli Cloudy Curt Robinson Curt Stallion Daisuke Sekimoto Dave Crist Darius Lockhart David Starr Desean Pratt Deranged Derek Frazier Devon Moore Dezmond Xavier Drake Younger Drew Blood Drew Gulak Ebessan Egotistico Fantastico Eran Ashe Ethan Page Excalibur El Generico Fred Yehi Gabriel Greg Excellent Griffin McCoy Grim Reefer Isiaiah Wolf Homicide Human Tornado Jack Evans Jaden Newman Jake Crist Jason Cade Jason Cross Jay Briscoe Jay Lethal Jigsaw Jimmy Rave Jody Fleisch Joe Gacy Joey Lynch Joel Maximo Joey Janela John Silver Jonathan Gresham Johnny Gargano Johnny Kashmere Joker Jonny Storm Jordan Oliver Jose Maximo Josh Prohibition Juventud Guerrera Ken Broadway Kenny the Bastard Kenta Kevin Steen Kidd Bandit Kyle O'Reilly Lil Cholo Lince Dorado Lio Rush Lucky 13 LuFisto M-Dogg 20 Mark Briscoe Mance Warner Matt Riddle Matt Sydal Matt Travis Maxx Fuery Michael Elgin Mike Bailey Mike Quackenbush Mike Walker Minoru Fujita MK McKinnan Myles Hawkins Myron Reed Nate Webb Nick Berk Nick Mondo O'Shay Edwards Petey Williams Papadon Peter Avalon Pinkie Sanchez Rey Fenix Ric Blade Rich Swann Richard Adonis Ricky Reyes Rickey Shane Page Ricochet Robert Martyr Roderick Strong Ruckus Ryan McBride Sabian Sal Thomaselli Sami Callihan Sammy Guevara Samuray del Sol Scorpio Sky Scotty Vortekz Shane Hollister Shane Strickland Shiima Xion Sonjay Dutt Spyral BKNY Storm Grayson Stupefied Super Dragon Tessa Blanchard Timothy Thatcher TJ Cannon Tommy End Tony Mamaluke Tracy Williams Trent Seven Trent Acid Trevor Lee Trey Miguel Troy Parker Uhaa Nation Vito Thomaselli Willie Mack Wheeler Yuta Winger Zachary Wentz Zack Sabre Jr.
Results
Best of the Best
CZW's first Best of the Best tournament took place on May 19, 2001, at the Champs Soccer Arena in Sewell, New Jersey.
Best of the Best II
CZW's second Best of the Best tournament took place on June 8, 2002, at the “CZW Arena” (Viking Hall) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Best of the Best III
CZW's third Best of the Best tournament took place on April 12, 2003, at the “CZW Arena” (Viking Hall) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Due to the show starting late, all the matches had a strict 15 minute time limit.
Best of the Best IV
CZW's fourth Best of the Best tournament took place on July 10, 2004, at the “CZW Arena” (New Alhambra Sports & Entertainment Center) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Best of the Best V: I Can Feel It in the Air Tonight
CZW's fifth Best of the Best tournament took place on May 14, 2005, at the “CZW Arena” (The Arena) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the first Best of the Best tournament to allow heavyweight wrestlers to compete. Also, this Best of the Best tournament did not have the traditional 3-way elimination opening round match. Instead, the final match was a 4-way elimination match.
Best of the Best VI: CZW vs. ROH
CZW's sixth Best of the Best tournament took place on May 13, 2006, at the “CZW Arena” (New Alhambra Arena) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This Best of the Best tournament saw the return of 3-way elimination match for the opening rounds, as well as keeping 4-way elimination match for the final match.
Best of the Best VII
Best of the Best 7 took place on July 14, 2007, at the “CZW Arena” (New Alhambra Arena) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Best of the Best 8
The eighth Best of the Best took place on May 10, 2008, at the “CZW Arena” (The Arena) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and featured the first female competitor for a Best of the Best tournament in LuFisto.
Best of the Best 9
Best of the Best 9 took place on June 13, 2009, at the “CZW Arena” (The Arena) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Best of the Best X
The tenth Best of the Best took place on April 9, 2011, at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Best of the Best 11
Was held on April 14, 2012, at the Flyer's Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey. In addition to the non-tournament matches, Drew Gulak and Danny Havoc signed a contract for a No Ropes Barbwire match that took place on May 12.
Best of the Best 12
Took place April 13, 2013, at the Flyer's Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey.
Best of the Best XIII
The 13th Best of the Best took place on April 12, 2014, at the Flyer's Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey.
Best of the Best 14
The 14th Best of the Best took place on April 11, 2015, at the Flyer's Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey. During the event, Nick Gage made his return to CZW after spending four years in prison.
Best of the Best 15
The 15th Best of the Best took place on April 9, 2016, at the Flyer's Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey.
Best of the Best 16
The 16th Best of the Best took place on April 1, 2017, in Orlando, Florida
Best of the Best 17
The 17th Best of the Best took place on April 14, 2018, at The Coliseum in Voorhees, New Jersey.
Best of the Best 18
The 18th Best of the Best took place on April 13, 2019, at Colossal Sports Academy in Voorhees, New Jersey.
Best of the Best 19
The 19th Best of the Best took place on May 20, 2023, at State Theater in Havre de Grace, Maryland.
Best of the Best XX
The 20th Best of the Best took place on May 18, 2024, at Power Plant Live! in Baltimore, Maryland.
References
External links Tournament results Online World of Wrestling - CZW Results Archive