Before he was swerving as AEW World champion whilst dancing with Prince Nana Shane ‘Swerve’ Strickland found home in the death-defying wilderness of Combat Zone Wrestling.

Swerve Strickland has had a hell of a year, 126 day AEW world title run has finally given Swerve a reward for his years of graft and talent. Possibly one of WWE’s biggest misses in recent years Shane Strickland has become one of the hottest talents in wrestling today with fantastic ring skills, incredible charisma and one of the catchiest theme songs today. Add a dancing Prince Nana to his presentation, and you have a bona fide main event talent.

Prior to WWE and AEW Swerve began his career wrestling on the indies notably CZW, today we look back at his first appearance in CZW’s Cage of Death, a deathmatch where wrestlers complete in an enclosed ring filled with every deathmatch weapon responsible.

Featuring Wyatt Sicks member Joe Gacey we head back to 2017 for the years Cage of Death main event.

How We Got Here

Shane Strickland reached the top of Combat Zone Wrestling back in July 2017 EVILusion defeating reigning champion Davey Richards, Joe Gacy and Lio Rush in a match that was also for the Defy Wrestling Championship. He defended the title successfully for four months defeating the likes of MASADA, Chris Ridgeway, Mark Haskins and Ethan Page until his rival, a heel psychotic Joe Gacy defeated him at Night of Infamy, this was not the end however Rickey Shane Page would cash in his title opportunity to defeat Gacy for the title leading to a Cage of Death blow off.

During this time, Joe Gacy was running with his yellow mask-adorned army, something fans of NXT may be familiar with as the precursor to the stable Schism. The end of Strickland’s title reign was widely criticised, as was the overbooked confusion of Night of Infamy’s title match.

The Match

This was one of those CZW matches that some will hate and some will adore. For me this was a fun, completely mental 25 minutes that whilst perhaps not the best Cage of death match in existence, a definite watch for those looking to get their teeth into some Combat Zone Wrestling violence.

The violence began early with light tubes introduced to foreheads within the first two minutes. I think where this match caught me as a new to CZW but enjoyer of deathmatches fan was the story coming in to this, it was simple, RSP was the crowd favourite the champion and the most experienced.

Shane Strickland came into the match clearly out of his comfort zone but then put in a performance the most experienced deathmatch wrestler would be proud of. Finally we had Joe Gacy, his job was to be the biggest shit of a heel possibly and he smashed it, it was with pure joy as I watched Gacy get destroyed most notably being thrown from the top of some coincidentally placed scaffolding.

Another moment in the match that sticks in my mind and is arguably one of my favourite moments I have witnessed in these type of matches so far was Shane Strickland driving RSP off the top of the cage (well a shaky platform) with a Russian leg sweep into not just a barbed wire table but a pane of glass. Stricklands back is literally shredded and I can’t believe what I am seeing.

Watching this in 2025 it’s easy to see why Strickland is one of the top stars right now. Swerve followed this up by instantly rising to start a three-way duel of light tubes full vintage CZW style, yes it is amazing.

As I said this was my first experience to CZW and indeed the Cage of Death. I think for me what this match did was made sure I would never forget it, hell after the aforementioned spots we still got a Chokeslam through burning glass panes. This is CZW, this is what it’s about and if one match shows that it’s this one.

Overall: This quality deathmatch provides a great insight into why CZW was so hot at this time. It also features the now Swerve Strickland, who most of you will now know as one of the best wrestlers in the business. The chemistry was great, the violence was phenomenal and whilst it could be too much for some people it provided a perfect introduction to ultraviolence,