Combat Zone Wrestling is bringing back one of the most notorious events in independent wrestling this weekend as Tournament of Death 23 gets underway in Townsend, Delaware. The first night of the two-day tournament takes place Saturday, September 5, at Markland’s Little Acres, with the event streaming live on IWTV. This year’s format gives the tournament a different feel, with the opening round taking place Saturday before the remaining competitors return Sunday for the semifinals and final. That means surviving the first night is only the beginning for the wrestlers hoping to leave Delaware as the Tournament of Death 23 winner.

The opening night features six first-round tournament matches, and CZW has gone out of its way to make sure each one has its own identity. The stipulations range from a casket death match to a Fans Bring the Weapons match, while other bouts feature gusset plates, electrified light tubes, Tokyo Towers and other weapons associated with CZW’s ultraviolent style. Judge Joe Dred, Nino Extremo, Toby Klein, Eric Ryan, SLADE, Nathan Mowery, Tim Strange, Dimitri Alexandrov, Eric Dillinger, Jamesen Shook, Alex Colon and Bear Bronson will all be fighting for a spot in Sunday’s semifinals. With six competitors guaranteed to be eliminated before the night is over, every match carries the pressure of knowing there is no tomorrow if you lose.

There is also plenty happening outside of the tournament itself. SHLAK will defend the CZW Ultraviolent Championship against Aeroboy in an Ultraviolent Mexican Junkyard Death Match, giving the champion another major test in the style of match where he has built much of his reputation. SHLAK has remained one of CZW’s most prominent ultraviolent competitors, but Aeroboy has the opportunity to make his name by taking the championship away from him. The unusual stipulation should make this one of the more unpredictable matches on the show and could potentially leave a major impact on the Ultraviolent Championship picture heading into the rest of the year.

CZW Heavyweight Championship Match

The main event brings even more history into the equation, as Eran Ashe puts the CZW World Heavyweight Championship on the line against AKIRA in an Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match. These two have already traded the championship during 2026, with AKIRA defeating Ashe for the title at Tangled Web before Ashe regained it at Blacklight #6. Their latest meeting therefore isn’t simply another championship defense — it is the next chapter in an increasingly personal rivalry, and this time the World Heavyweight Championship will be surrounded by one of the most dangerous stipulations CZW can offer. If either man wants to walk out of Tournament of Death with the title, they are going to have to survive each other first.

Overall, Tournament of Death 23 Tag 1 has the potential to set the tone for an important weekend in CZW. The combination of a six-match tournament opening round and two championship bouts gives the show plenty of stakes, while the two-day format adds an entirely different element to the tournament. The winners on Saturday won’t have much time to recover before having to compete again Sunday, making strategy, endurance and simply surviving the violence just as important as winning. With CZW’s trademark ultraviolence on full display and the Tournament of Death field fighting for a chance at the final, Saturday night should provide a chaotic opening chapter to what could be one of the company’s most memorable weekends of the year.

Match Card

Tournament of Death 23 First-Round Matches
  • Judge Joe Dred vs. Nino Extremo — Casket Death Match
  • Toby Klein vs. Eric Ryan — Fans Bring the Weapons Death Match
  • SLADE vs. Nathan Mowery — Gusset Plate Death Match
  • Tim Strange vs. Dimitri Alexandrov — Electrified Light Tube Death Match
  • Eric Dillinger vs. Jamesen Shook — Tokyo Tower Death Match
  • Alex Colon vs. Bear Bronson — Death Match
CZW Ultraviolent Championship

SHLAK (c) vs. Aeroboy — Ultraviolent Mexican Junkyard Death Match

CZW World Heavyweight Championship

Eran Ashe (c) vs. AKIRA — Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match