Maniac Zone Wrestling

Table of contents
  1. History
    1. 2013: DDW's hiatus
    2. 2018: Moving to Wrocław
    3. 2020: Post-COVID and losing talent to PTW
  2. Foreign relations
  3. Polish wrestling scene
  4. Mainstream media
  5. Championships
  6. References
  7. Events
  8. All-time roster
  9. Gallery

MZW was estabilished in 2014, which currently makes it the oldest active professional promotion in Poland. MZW has no regular or titular sponsors, and considers itself an independent European promotion. Wrestlers who trained with them are highly regarded for their skills, and some have continued their career outside of Poland.

History

2013: DDW's hiatus

Maniac Zone Wrestling started quietly in 2013, created by then-DDW wrestlers Jędruś Bułecka and Straceniec. After DDW#9, there was a significant hiatus when they held no events. On April 1st 2014, Jędruś Bułecka's Facebook profile posted that he has signed up with a new Polish wrestling federation. His post linked to a newly created fanpage for MZW, and a short video of their wrestlers and adepts in action. The new organization promised regular monthly shows, bigger events including foreign stars, and training sessions.

Initially, the roster featured Jędruś Bułecka, Shadow (a new, masked gimmick of the former Straceniec), and several ex-backyard wrestlers trained by Bułecka. Many of these characters were masked, leading to fans calling the new organisation "Polish lucha". Because their first two events were sideshows on other attractions like various town festivals, fans derided the new organisation for being just a sideshow and not aiming for professionalism. However, there was consensus that their wrestling was of very high quality, exceeding that of their contemporaries.

2018: Moving to Wrocław

Since 2018, MZW held most of their events in Wrocław, either in Bakara or Czasoprzestrzeń, with the latter becoming their main venue. Before that, it was the sports hall in Głuchołazy, a town near the Polish-Czech border where many of their events took place, and where they trained new adepts. And prior to that, events were held in various small towns in the region, like Opawa, Smolec and Niedźwiedzica.

In September 2019 persons unknown broke into the building where MZW held trainings and stole elements of the ring as well as lighting, thus forcing them to put their trainings and shows on hold. MZW then held a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to replace the stolen equipment and managed to collect 3566 PLN out of the 3000 PLN goal.

2020: Post-COVID and losing talent to PTW

MZW was most active from 2014 to 2019, holding about five events a year. 2020 put a stop to that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide restrictions introduced. In 2021, unable to hold shows, MZW produced a series of events without live audience (Project Basement), which were released on YouTube. No events of any kind were held in 2022.

In 2020 and 2021 several wrestlers would quit and join the newly created PTW to become part of its first roster. These were Justin Joy, Axel Fox, Jacob Crane, Prince Victor, Nathan Cross, Lady Killer and Aron Wake.

In 2024, MZW held a fight for the long-vacant MZW Championship, and a new champion was finally crowned.

Foreign relations

MZW frequently cooperated with German organizations, especially with Dresden-based Next Step Wrestling and Eastside Revolution Wrestling. In their early days, the Germans would often outnumber Polish wrestlers present.

Polish wrestling scene

Prior to 2021, MZW did not interact with other organizations in Poland. This changed with PpW Poznań Supershow, where talent from PpW Ewenement faced against MZW regulars Aron Wake, Isnorr and Madman Charlie. In 2022, after exiting PTW, former MZW wrestler Jacob Crane appeared at PpW's Brak Mi Słów. In 2023 the organizations ran a co-branded event in September, and 2024 saw MZW's founder Shadow compete at PpW's Miasto Bezprawia.

This collaboration remains unique, as the other two active organizations (KPW and PTW) prefer to be standalone, and see no value in letting others use their talent. This was true of MZW as well, but the COVID-induced hiatus followed by the talent drain may have forced them to reconcider.

Mainstream media

In 2020, local branch of the national broadcaster TVP3 Wrocław published a short piece on MZW, titled "Staged and seemingly menacing. Wrestling gains popularity in Wrocław". The narrator talks about the staged nature of wrestling as entertainment, while several rookies and wrestlers practice bumps in the ring wearing face masks (as this was produced during the COVID-19 pandemic). Shadow, introduced as PAW's coach, talks about training and safety. MZW's flag is clearly visible in the background.

Championships

MZW has one singles championship, with Shadow having the longest combined reigns as of 2024. Between 2016 and 2019 they also used to have a Tag Team championship, currently inactive.

References

Events

Add these events to your calendar by subscribing to calendar-mzw.ics.

2024

2023

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

All-time roster