CZW Under Fire For Derogatory Pay-Per-View Titles

During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Combat Zone Wrestling has been running pay-per-view specials over the past few months using older content. The likes of Penelope Ford, Tessa Blanchard, Su Yung, and Mercedes Martinez have featured on the specials, but the shows' titles have caused CZW to come under fire, most notably from LuFisto. 

The CZW Hall Of Famer accused the promotion of treating women's wrestlers like "softcore porn actresses" as April's pay-per-view was named CZW Girlz: Hair Pulling Catfights, while June's was titled CZW Girlz: Top Heavy & Tough. LuFisto explained she contacted CZW about the names but was told the footage had been sold to a third party who were allowed to distribute the pay-per-views in any manner they liked and the promotion couldn't do anything about it. 

CZW released the following statement on social media following LuFisto's accusations: "Two years ago, CZW entered into a licensing agreement with a national media distributor 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 and appreciate. We stand behind the ring action in all our footage."

Numerous women's wrestlers responded angrily to CZW's statement, accusing them of using their intellectual property without their consent including Kimber Lee and Jordynne Grace.

Lee tweeted: "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."

Grace penned: "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."