In 2001 Combat Zone Wrestling unveiled a new tournament-style event to the wrestling public. This event was called Best of the Best and was created to showcase wrestlers of all different styles in a tournament that would show just who was the best wrestler in CZW. The catch was that it was only junior heavyweights at first. In 2005, the tournament transitioned to all weights and has stayed that way since.
The event has had a who’s who of independent wrestlers compete, but only 18 men have gone on to call themselves the best of the best in CZW. Notable BotB champions include Adam Cole, Ruckus, Sami Callihan, Alex Colon, “Speedball Mike Bailey, and Jonathan Gresham. The last tournament was in 2019 and was won by AEW’s own John Silver.
CZW: The Return of Best of the Best
When CZW started doing shows again in 2021, a big question arose. Will they be bringing back any of the events that helped build their legacy? There is still a huge demand for ultraviolence to return and with that, Tournament of Death. Best of the Best, much like ToD, has been on the minds of fans since the company returned to action. There is good news to report to those people who miss the old days in the Combat Zone.
Last month, the first-ever CZW Unscripted tournament took place, with the winner getting a first-round bye in the 2022 Best of the Best tournament. This tournament brought on a couple of key questions. When is Best of the Best coming back and what does the winner of the tournament receive?
There is exciting news on both fronts. The return of Best of the Best will be happening towards the end of the Summer or early Fall. Even more exciting than that is the introduction of a brand new CZW World Title. Fans of CZW have noticed the absence of titles since the company returned to action in the Fall of 2021. That all changes at Best of the Best 2022.
But who won the Unscripted tournament to get that first-round bye? None other than CMD member Desean Pratt. Pratt has been a mainstay with CZW for a number of years and while he has made his name in the combat zone with multiple tag teams, he came in and cleared house at Unscripted, proving he is very capable of handling business as a singles competitor as well. Pratt had this to say when speaking to Last Word on Sports.
“Best of the Best has always been a career goal of mine after purchasing my very first BotB DVD. I believe it was BotB 5 and it had headliners such as Homicide, Jack Evans, Ruckus, Black Jeez, Super Dragon and Bobby Quance just to name a few”, recalls Pratt. “I remember the intro video getting me in my feels man. Phil Collins In The Air Tonight playing while introducing all of the competitors was definitely a highlight moment. It was right there when 18 year old Desean said I WILL headline BotB and here we are in 2022. I am not only the first entrant, but I have a bye into the second round after sweeping the Unscripted tournament”
So there you have it! The return of fan-favorite events, brand new title belts around the corner, and a roster full of folks ready to prove to the world that they are the best of the best and that they are the next big thing in professional wrestling. The road to the Best of the Best starts now. Of course, as more information develops, you will hear about it here, so keep it locked on LWOS Pro Wrestling.
Keep up with all things Combat Zone Wrestling on their website and social media. Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
