May 2o, 2023 will go down as a major date in the new era of Combat Zone Wrestling. Not only was it the first Best of the Best tournament since before the pandemic in 2019, but it also marks the return of the CZW World Championship. When Joe Gacy signed with NXT, he took the title with him and it has been missing ever since.
Rich Swann Wins CZW Championship
Congratulations to Your 2023, BOTB 19 winner and NEEEEEWWWW CZW Word Heavyweight champion…. Rich Swann!#CZWBOTB
@WatchOnPremier
▶️ https://t.co/BfaCgu3cZ9 pic.twitter.com/hGJhzx0Nu5— CZW: Combat Zone Wrestling (@combatzone) May 21, 2023
At Best of the Best 19, competition was fierce between 13 competitors to become not only Best of the Best champion, but the new CZW World Champion as well. The field was stacked with major players in the independent scene, reaching outside the confines of the CZW roster.
Desean Pratt, Isaiah Wolf, Fred Yehi, O’Shay Edwards, Eran Ash, Griffin McCoy, Myles Hawkins, Alex Kane, Ken Broadway, Myron Reed, Kidd Bandit, and Jaden Newman all had incredible showings. However, in the end, it was Mr. All Night Long, Rich Swann who outlasted them all.
This is not only a big deal for CZW as they climb back into the minds of independent wrestling fans. The company now has a champion and it is a champion fans know and love. It is also a big deal for Swann himself, who started with CZW in 2009 and has not held gold in the company until now.
After the show, Swann told the crowd that of all the accomplishments he has and places he has been, this is the thing that means the most to him. He was showered by chants of “You Deserve It” as the show ended.
Who will be the first challenger for the CZW World Championship? Only time will tell. Follow Combat Zone Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay updated on all things CZW as we continue to move forward with this renaissance of tradition in the Combat Zone.
This starts an exciting new era for Combat Zone Wrestling and who knows what is next on the horizon. Stay tuned to check out www.czwrestling.com for all the details and ticket information of upcoming events.
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