The Blackout
Encyclopedia
The Blackout are a professional wrestling
stable appearing in Combat Zone Wrestling
, Pro Wrestling Unplugged, and other independent companies. Though the current members in CZW are Ruckus
, Alex Colon, Rich Swann, Robbie Mireno, and Chrissy Rivera, the team also competes in companies with other members, such as Joker
and Eddie Kingston
.
, Sabian, Joker
, and Robbie Mireno. In 2004, they began a feud with Chris Cash
, which saw a number of tag team
matches. During this feud, Ruckus and Sabian won the CZW World Tag Team Championship
from the H8 Club
. In June 2004, Joker left CZW and wrestling entirely to fight in the war in Iraq. Eddie Kingston joined Blackout and continued the feud with Cash. The feud ended in a Cage of Death match at Cage of Death VI on December 11, 2004 when Blackout lost the tag titles to Team Ca$h of Chris Cash, J.C. Bailey, Nate Webb
, and Sexxxy Eddie. In February 2005, Ruckus defeated Messiah
for the CZW World Heavyweight Championship
.
Later in 2005, Blackout started feuding with the Kings of Professional Wrestling
and Super Dragon
. One main feud was between Eddie Kingston and Chris Hero
, during which Kingston went as far as saying he would attack Hero's girlfriend. Kingston and Hero met in a Last Man Standing match at Night of Infamy 4. Hero won the match with three consecutive low blows. Also that night, Ruckus defended his title against Claudio Castagnoli
. This same night, Joker returned and attacked Zandig
and the H8 Club. He had a short feud with them, and then rejoined Blackout. At Cage of Death 7, Kingston and Sabian challenged the Kings of Wrestling for the tag titles, but did not win. Later that night, Super Dragon defeated Ruckus for the World title. During the match, Dragon reinjured Robbie Mireno (who was previously injured by Dragon) with a curb stomp on the ramp. Blackout would get some revenge on the next show by defeating the Kings of Wrestling and Super Dragon in a six man tag team match. They would get further revenge on February 11, 2006 at CZW's 7th anniversary show when Eddie Kingston and Joker won the tag titles and Ruckus regained the World title.
On August 12, 2006 at Trapped, Eddie Kingston was kicked out of Blackout and his tag team title was given to Ruckus. Around this time, Sabian and Joker left Blackout and CZW. On September 9, 2006, Ricky Reyes
joined Blackout and helped Eddie Kingston win the World Championship. Kingston then rejoined Blackout. Also on this day, Blackout was stripped of the tag team titles due to Joker's departure from CZW when he and Sabian joined Pro Wrestling Unplugged (PWU). On October 14 at Last Team Standing, two teams representing Blackout were entered in an 8 man tournament to crown new champions. However, Ricky Reyes couldn't be at the show, and Kingston refused to be in the tournament. Instead, Ruckus teamed with the debuting Human Tornado
and Kingston brought in the Dead Presidents. The Dead Presidents lost in the first round, and Ruckus and Tornado lost in the second round to the Kings of Wrestling. After the match, Ruckus and Robbie Mireno attacked Human Tornado. Then, Sabian returned and helped with the attack. Also on this show, the original Blackout of Onyx
and Rainman made their CZW debuts and started a feud with The Blackout, claiming that The Blackout has been ruining their name. On November 11, 2006, Robbie Mireno and Sabian teamed to defeat Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, bringing the Tag Team Championships back to the Blackout a fourth time. They held the titles for one month and lost them to Onyx
and Rainman at Cage of Death 8. Eddie Kingston lost the world title on the same show to Justice Pain
. Sabian and Ruckus would regain the Tag Titles from Onyx and Rainman at New Year, New Opportunities on January 13.
On April 21, 2007, Ruckus and Sabian captured the Maryland Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship
, defeating champions Phat Blues Inc. (Kelly Bell and Buzz Stryker) and The Best of Both Worlds (Doyle Day and Buck Chyld).
On July 14, 2007 at CZW Best of the Best
7, Ruckus won the CZW World Heavyweight Championship
for a third time defeating Justice Pain with help from Robby Mireno, Chrissy Rivera and Sabian. This also marked the BLKOUT's reunion with Joker
who returned to CZW to take part in the Best of the Best Tournament, which he won. They congratulated him for his hard work and winning the tournament. At the October 11 CZW event entitled Decision 08, Ruckus and Sabian won the CZW World Tag Team Championship
for a third time, before losing it back to 2 Girls, 1 Cup (the team of Beef Wellington and Greg Excellent). On the 11th Anaversery show, the Blackout lost a ladder match to Bruce Maxwell and TJ Cannon. When this happened, all the rights to the blackout name (kayfabe) went to former manager Robbie Marino.
On May 14th 2011 at CZW Proving Grounds, Robbie Mireno, Ruckus and Chrissy Rivera came out to the ring after a match between Rich Swann and Alex Colon and offered both of them a spot in BLK OUT. Which they both accepted.
Ruckus, Sabian, and Joker competed in King of Trios
2007, losing in the first round to Team TNA, the team of Alex Shelley
, Chris Sabin
, and Sonjay Dutt
.
Ruckus, Eddie Kingston, and Joker then went onto compete in CHIKARA's 2008 King of Trios
Tournament. They made it all the way to the Finals before they were defeated by Los Luchadores De Mexico (Lince Dorado
, El Pantera
, and Incognito
).
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
stable appearing in Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
, Pro Wrestling Unplugged, and other independent companies. Though the current members in CZW are Ruckus
Claude Marrow
Claude Marrow is an American independent professional wrestler better known by his ring name Ruckus. Marrow current performs in Combat Zone Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Maryland Championship Wrestling, Chikara and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
, Alex Colon, Rich Swann, Robbie Mireno, and Chrissy Rivera, the team also competes in companies with other members, such as Joker
Joker (wrestler)
Joker is an American independent professional wrestler who works for the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion, IWA Mid-South, Chikara and UWA Hardcore Wrestling.-Career:...
and Eddie Kingston
Eddie Kingston
Edward "Eddie" Moore is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Eddie Kingston. He is best known for competing in Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South and Ring of Honor...
.
CZW
The Blackout started as a stable in CZW with RuckusRuckus
- Business and Organizations:*Ruckus Network, formerly a provider of digital entertainment services for all American colleges and universities*Ruckus Society, an organization that provides training in techniques of political activism...
, Sabian, Joker
Joker (wrestler)
Joker is an American independent professional wrestler who works for the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion, IWA Mid-South, Chikara and UWA Hardcore Wrestling.-Career:...
, and Robbie Mireno. In 2004, they began a feud with Chris Cash
Christopher Bauman
Christopher J. Bauman, Jr. was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chri$ Ca$h. Bauman wrestled in many independent promotions, but is known for his time in Combat Zone Wrestling, where he was a former CZW World Tag Team Champion...
, which saw a number of tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
matches. During this feud, Ruckus and Sabian won the CZW World Tag Team Championship
CZW World Tag Team Championship
The CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
from the H8 Club
H8 Club
The H8 Club is a professional wrestling tag team in Combat Zone Wrestling. The current team consists of Nick Gage and Nate Hatred.-History:The H8 Club has been around since the beginning of Combat Zone Wrestling. The original team was made up of Wifebeater, Justice Pain, Justin Kase, Ed O' Mac,...
. In June 2004, Joker left CZW and wrestling entirely to fight in the war in Iraq. Eddie Kingston joined Blackout and continued the feud with Cash. The feud ended in a Cage of Death match at Cage of Death VI on December 11, 2004 when Blackout lost the tag titles to Team Ca$h of Chris Cash, J.C. Bailey, Nate Webb
Nate Webb
Nathan "Nate" Webb is an American professional wrestler and semi-pro football player, best known for his appearances in Combat Zone Wrestling, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, Ring of Honor and MTV's Wrestling Society X. On April 22, 2008, Webb was notified that he had made the roster...
, and Sexxxy Eddie. In February 2005, Ruckus defeated Messiah
William Welch
William C. Welch is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name The Messiah.-Professional wrestling career:...
for the CZW World Heavyweight Championship
CZW World Heavyweight Championship
The CZW World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned and copyrighted by the professional wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling . It was created and debuted on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event.The championship is generally contested...
.
Later in 2005, Blackout started feuding with the Kings of Professional Wrestling
Kings of Professional Wrestling
The Kings of Wrestling is a professional wrestling stable that wrestles on the independent circuit, formed in Chikara, but also appearing in other promotions. It originally included Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, Larry Sweeney, Arik Cannon, Mitch Ryder, Max Boyer, Chuck Taylor, Icarus, Gran Akuma...
and Super Dragon
Super Dragon
Daniel Lyon , better known by his ring name Super Dragon, is an American professional wrestler. Beginning his career in 1997, he has competed in companies such as All Pro Wrestling, Revolution Pro, Combat Zone Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor...
. One main feud was between Eddie Kingston and Chris Hero
Chris Hero
Chris Spradlin is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Hero. He is a mainstay of many independent wrestling promotions, including Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla as well as Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan...
, during which Kingston went as far as saying he would attack Hero's girlfriend. Kingston and Hero met in a Last Man Standing match at Night of Infamy 4. Hero won the match with three consecutive low blows. Also that night, Ruckus defended his title against Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio Castagnoli is a Swiss professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, working in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling under the ring name Antonio Cesaro...
. This same night, Joker returned and attacked Zandig
John Zandig
John Corson was an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name, John Zandig. He is the founder and former owner of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling .-Biography:...
and the H8 Club. He had a short feud with them, and then rejoined Blackout. At Cage of Death 7, Kingston and Sabian challenged the Kings of Wrestling for the tag titles, but did not win. Later that night, Super Dragon defeated Ruckus for the World title. During the match, Dragon reinjured Robbie Mireno (who was previously injured by Dragon) with a curb stomp on the ramp. Blackout would get some revenge on the next show by defeating the Kings of Wrestling and Super Dragon in a six man tag team match. They would get further revenge on February 11, 2006 at CZW's 7th anniversary show when Eddie Kingston and Joker won the tag titles and Ruckus regained the World title.
On August 12, 2006 at Trapped, Eddie Kingston was kicked out of Blackout and his tag team title was given to Ruckus. Around this time, Sabian and Joker left Blackout and CZW. On September 9, 2006, Ricky Reyes
Ricky Reyes
Ricky Reyes is a Cuban professional wrestler. Known for his appearances in Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and various other independent promotions, he is currently primarily working for the World Wrestling Council....
joined Blackout and helped Eddie Kingston win the World Championship. Kingston then rejoined Blackout. Also on this day, Blackout was stripped of the tag team titles due to Joker's departure from CZW when he and Sabian joined Pro Wrestling Unplugged (PWU). On October 14 at Last Team Standing, two teams representing Blackout were entered in an 8 man tournament to crown new champions. However, Ricky Reyes couldn't be at the show, and Kingston refused to be in the tournament. Instead, Ruckus teamed with the debuting Human Tornado
Human Tornado
Craig Williams , better known by his ring name, Human Tornado, is an American retired professional wrestler. His character was that of a stereotypical 1970s blaxploitation street pimp. He performed primarily on the Californian independent circuit, most prominently for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, the...
and Kingston brought in the Dead Presidents. The Dead Presidents lost in the first round, and Ruckus and Tornado lost in the second round to the Kings of Wrestling. After the match, Ruckus and Robbie Mireno attacked Human Tornado. Then, Sabian returned and helped with the attack. Also on this show, the original Blackout of Onyx
Onyx (wrestler)
Kyle McNeely is an American professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Onyx and for his stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a member of The Elite Guard.-World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment :...
and Rainman made their CZW debuts and started a feud with The Blackout, claiming that The Blackout has been ruining their name. On November 11, 2006, Robbie Mireno and Sabian teamed to defeat Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli, bringing the Tag Team Championships back to the Blackout a fourth time. They held the titles for one month and lost them to Onyx
Onyx (wrestler)
Kyle McNeely is an American professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Onyx and for his stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a member of The Elite Guard.-World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment :...
and Rainman at Cage of Death 8. Eddie Kingston lost the world title on the same show to Justice Pain
Justice Pain
Christopher Wilson is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Justice Pain. Pain is best known for his time in Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as Xtreme Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unplugged...
. Sabian and Ruckus would regain the Tag Titles from Onyx and Rainman at New Year, New Opportunities on January 13.
On April 21, 2007, Ruckus and Sabian captured the Maryland Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship
MCW Tag Team Championship
The MCW Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the Maryland Championship Wrestling promotion. The title was created and debuted on August 18, 1998 at a MCW live event....
, defeating champions Phat Blues Inc. (Kelly Bell and Buzz Stryker) and The Best of Both Worlds (Doyle Day and Buck Chyld).
On July 14, 2007 at CZW Best of the Best
CZW Best of the Best
Combat Zone Wrestling's Best of the Best is a professional wrestling tournament and supershow held in the CZW promotion. The annual Best of The Best was originally a junior heavyweight tournament, which in 2005 was repurposed as an all weight tournament....
7, Ruckus won the CZW World Heavyweight Championship
CZW World Heavyweight Championship
The CZW World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned and copyrighted by the professional wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling . It was created and debuted on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event.The championship is generally contested...
for a third time defeating Justice Pain with help from Robby Mireno, Chrissy Rivera and Sabian. This also marked the BLKOUT's reunion with Joker
Joker (wrestler)
Joker is an American independent professional wrestler who works for the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion, IWA Mid-South, Chikara and UWA Hardcore Wrestling.-Career:...
who returned to CZW to take part in the Best of the Best Tournament, which he won. They congratulated him for his hard work and winning the tournament. At the October 11 CZW event entitled Decision 08, Ruckus and Sabian won the CZW World Tag Team Championship
CZW World Tag Team Championship
The CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
for a third time, before losing it back to 2 Girls, 1 Cup (the team of Beef Wellington and Greg Excellent). On the 11th Anaversery show, the Blackout lost a ladder match to Bruce Maxwell and TJ Cannon. When this happened, all the rights to the blackout name (kayfabe) went to former manager Robbie Marino.
On May 14th 2011 at CZW Proving Grounds, Robbie Mireno, Ruckus and Chrissy Rivera came out to the ring after a match between Rich Swann and Alex Colon and offered both of them a spot in BLK OUT. Which they both accepted.
CHIKARA
Eddie Kingston and Sabian competed in CHIKARA's Tag World Grand Prix 2006, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Team F.I.S.T.Ruckus, Sabian, and Joker competed in King of Trios
King of Trios
King of Trios is a three-night tournament promoted by the Chikara wrestling promotion. The tournament is a different take on the Tag World Grand Prix event that the company is known for annually promoting; in King of Trios, instead of tag teams, there are trios that will compete in six-man tag team...
2007, losing in the first round to Team TNA, the team of Alex Shelley
Alex Shelley
Patrick Martin , is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Alex Shelley. He wrestles for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he currently teams with Chris Sabin as The Motor City Machine Guns. He previously gained fame on the independent circuit, working most notably for...
, Chris Sabin
Chris Sabin
Joshua Harter is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Sabin. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he currently teams with Alex Shelley as The Motor City Machine Guns.After being trained by Scott D'Amore, Sabin debuted in 2000 for...
, and Sonjay Dutt
Sonjay Dutt
Retesh Bhalla is an American professional wrestler of Indian Punjabi descent, better known by his ring name, Sonjay Dutt. He is best known working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and is also known for his stints with Combat Zone Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, and other various independent...
.
Ruckus, Eddie Kingston, and Joker then went onto compete in CHIKARA's 2008 King of Trios
King of Trios
King of Trios is a three-night tournament promoted by the Chikara wrestling promotion. The tournament is a different take on the Tag World Grand Prix event that the company is known for annually promoting; in King of Trios, instead of tag teams, there are trios that will compete in six-man tag team...
Tournament. They made it all the way to the Finals before they were defeated by Los Luchadores De Mexico (Lince Dorado
Lince Dorado
Lince Dorado is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler. He is best known for working for Chikara and currently performs for the several independent promotions.-Debut:...
, El Pantera
Pantera (wrestler)
Francisco Javier Pozas is a Mexican professional wrestler, or luchador, who is best known under the ring name El Pantera, but has also worked as Pantera II, El Manaya, América, Tritón and TANAKA over the years...
, and Incognito
Incognito (wrestler)
Jorge Arias is an American professional wrestler, who is currently signed by WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand while also wrestling in Florida Championship Wrestling under the ring name Hunico...
).
Championships and accomplishments
- Big Japan Pro WrestlingBig Japan Pro WrestlingBig Japan Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch style contests.-History:...
- BJW World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipBJW World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe BJW World Junior Heavyweight Championship was a title defended in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling. It was in use from 1998 through at least November 2002.-Title history:...
– Ruckus (1 time)
- BJW World Junior Heavyweight Championship
- Combat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
- CZW World Heavyweight ChampionshipCZW World Heavyweight ChampionshipThe CZW World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned and copyrighted by the professional wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling . It was created and debuted on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event.The championship is generally contested...
– Ruckus (3 times) and Eddie Kingston (1 time) - CZW World Tag Team ChampionshipCZW World Tag Team ChampionshipThe CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
– Ruckus and Sabian (3 times), Eddie Kingston and Joker (1 time), Sabian and Robbie Mireno (1 time) - CZW World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipCZW World Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in the Philadelphia-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling , designed for junior heavyweights; wrestlers under . It was established in 1999 at CZW's first show, Opening Night with The Sensational One as the first champion...
– Ruckus (2 times) and Sabian (2 times) - Best of the Best 6 – Ruckus
- Best of the Best 7 – Joker
- Best of the Best 8 – Sabian
- CZW World Heavyweight Championship
- Independent Wrestling Association Mid-SouthIndependent Wrestling Association Mid-SouthIndependent Wrestling Association Mid-South is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.- History :...
- IWA Mid-South Tag Team ChampionshipIWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship-Title history:-External links:*...
– Joker and Ricky Reyes - Revolution Strong Style Tournament (2006) – Eddie Kingston
- Simply the Best Tournament (2006) – Ruckus
- IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship
- Maryland Championship WrestlingMaryland Championship WrestlingMaryland Championship Wrestling is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Dundalk, Maryland, and has regularly run events in the Mid-Atlantic region since the late 1990s as well as participating in numerous fundraising events throughout the state.Rivaling other east coast independent...
- MCW Tag Team ChampionshipMCW Tag Team ChampionshipThe MCW Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the Maryland Championship Wrestling promotion. The title was created and debuted on August 18, 1998 at a MCW live event....
– Ruckus and Sabian (2 times) - MCW Cruiserweight Champion – Ruckus (2 times)
- Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup (2006) – Ruckus
- MCW Tag Team Championship
- Maven Bentley Association
- MBA Tag Team Championship – Eddie Kingston and Sabian (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Unplugged
- PWU Tag Team Championship – Joker and Ricky Reyes (1 time)
- UWA Hardcore Wrestling
- UWA Light Heavyweight Championship – Sabian (1 time)
- UWA Tag Team Championship – Sabian and Joker (1 time)
- World Xtreme WrestlingWorld Xtreme WrestlingWorld Xtreme Wrestling is a Northeastern-based independent professional wrestling promotion which has held events across the United States and have toured in Japan, the Middle East and South Pacific region including American Samoa and Guam....
- WXW Television Championship – Joker (1 time)
- Other titles
- German World Heavyweight Championship – Ruckus (2 times)