CZW has been running pay-per-view specials over the last few months highlighting various matches throughout the promotion's history. The specials have featured the likes of Tessa Blanchard, Britt Baker, Penelope Ford, and more.
The unfortunate part of these special events has been the titles.
CZW runs two specials, one featuring the men and another featuring the women. The men's special have been titled things like "Best Of Explosion Matches" or "Wrestling's Worst Injuries."
The women's specials have been more derogatory with names like "CZW Girlz: All Assets Revealed" and "CZW Girlz: Top Heavy & Tough."
CZW was called out for the names and issued the following statement in response:
Two years ago, CZW entered into a licensing agreement with a national media distributory to license CZW and WSU footage. That company has the right to utilize the footage without limitation. They have repackaged and renamed shows as it is their right to do so. Our athletes, regardless of gender, are just that, athletes, whom we are proud of an appreciate. We stand behind the ring action in all our footage.
Combat Zone Wrestling's Official Statement on PPV Titles. pic.twitter.com/ikY9FLbjBm
— CZW Combat Zone Wrestling (@combatzone) May 19, 2020
This explanation didn't sit well with some of the women who have been featured in the specials.
And I’m certain I NEVER signed an agreement giving you the right to sell my intellectual property.... nor did ANY of the women you’re blatantly disrespecting. Or how you told us all you wouldn’t book us if you wouldn’t f**k us. It’s about time the harassment gets exposed. ---- https://t.co/vU8OOtavzf
— Kimber Lee (@Kimber_Lee90) May 19, 2020
Just so everyone is aware, there are many women already speaking to lawyers about this, as releases were not signed to authorize licensing footage for profit and distribution. https://t.co/nLVDBA3s5I
— Trisha Parker (@JordynneGrace) May 19, 2020
“I could f*ck any of y’all any time I want.” Sound familiar? https://t.co/TQSwIVtJNk
— Trisha Parker (@JordynneGrace) May 19, 2020
Fuck CZW. Fuck them for trashing women that work for them. Fuck the dipshit owner that broke my neck and didn't give a fuck. Fuck hiding behind bullshit excuses instead of owning up to your mistakes. Fuck screwing over the boys. Jesus christ it's not hard to be a good person!
— Pro Wrestling's Mama Dino -- (@TerraCalaway) May 19, 2020
Washing your hands from everything! Not your fault! Of course! As long as you got your money from Stonecutter Media, nothing else matters. You don't give a shit about ANYONE who ever performed for you. Proof, right here!! https://t.co/FBcEsomDP5
— LuFisto (@LuFisto) May 19, 2020
Or forcing girls to share hotels with him and cuddle with him....... --
— “The Bad Boy” Joey Janela (@JANELABABY) May 19, 2020
"So here's the deal, I only book girls I want to fuck or I want to fight. You're big, I'd fight you... You know you have really big tits right?" https://t.co/O75XeQJsix
— Pro Wrestling's Mama Dino -- (@TerraCalaway) May 19, 2020
Just a thought : to the current women who work for CZW or WSU. If you have any self value , think twice about working for a toxic place like this. You don’t want to be in the situation we are in currently . A place that was once fun, positive , and empowering is now tainted.
— Chrissy (@_hellochrissy) May 19, 2020
Last time i checked none of the women signed over their likeness being used https://t.co/avfcRdYuQo
— Chrissy (@_hellochrissy) May 19, 2020
Like seriously, you could have fucking LIED and just said you sold the footage and you don't like how the women are being represented and might have gotten a half-hearted pass, YET YOU JUST OUTWARDLY GO "NOPE, WE DON'T CARE".
— Pro Wrestling's Mama Dino -- (@TerraCalaway) May 19, 2020
Holy shit.
Blake Thomas, who filled multiple roles for WSU and CZW including photography, production, and agenting issued the following statement:
I've had the honor to be apart of wrestling for quite some time now. 5 years of that time was spent working with WSU/CZW. When I read what has happened with the footage being sold & presented the way that it is for PPV content, I will say it's sad and it's extremely disappointing not only for the talent but, for the people who were involved that only wanted the best for this company. For me, I look at the matches being used & see that it's matches on there that I booked, wrote, spent countless hours developing storylines for, helped agent at times, & helped produce to do whatever it took to showcase women's wrestling to the fans & for the talent that wanted to have a platform to showcase their talent & be taken in a serious matter. In my time with that company, all I wanted was for the roster to feel safe & for them to know someone appreciated what they did in the ring. It was also for the fans to have a product they could enjoy as well. Let's not forget doing photography, helping with graphics & helping with aspects for social media. When you think about all that along with everything the roster, myself, & the other backstage personnel dealt with just to come together as one to work our butts off to prove we were a legitimate company & now see all that hard work be exploited the way these PPV's are presented, you can understand the disappointment & betrayal people are having with this. A lot of people have or are working as part of WSU or CZW because of the love of the letters, the love of wrestling, & the love for the people they share the locker room with. Blood, sweat, tears, injuries, mental setbacks, relationships, & in some cases, life all sacrificed. When all that is put on the line & things like this happen, it shows a lot of what some people really see is the value of these people that do what they do or have done for this company. For people like LuFisto who has no other choice but to make a video speaking out & people like Chrissy Rivera who has been speaking out for over a year now, thank you for what you are doing. It's a sad feeling when you have so much work you put in attached to something like that. Hopefully everyone can stay strong. Even with everything everyone is dealing with right now in the world, all money ain't good money & this situation is a prime example of that. Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to read this.
This took a few days to write but it’s from the heart. pic.twitter.com/jbBuwUMSPA
— Blake (Bliz) (@ItsBliz) May 18, 2020
Fightful will keep fans updated on the story as more unfolds.
