Mike Summers
03/09/01
Opener: Cazzo and the Car Park � 4.0
Saphio's back! Saphio's back! Okay, sorry, just had to mark out. Now, where was I? After the rumours ran rampant all week about Saphio's return to the EWCL it's hardly surprising that the show opened with a strong rating. Cazzo out the back, waiting on a surprise guest. Fairly standard stuff really.
PiNz vs. Jason Drake � 3.8
Pilchard scouted Drake some months ago in the UWC, and since then it seems they've either been in negotiation on a number, or biding their time until they could find a spot for the talented young star. So, his big opening night and who does he get�? The one and only PiNz! Yeah, who I hear you say? Good question. There was never any doubt as to who was going to win this match, but Drake made a fair go of it with an opponent who made, at best, a half-hearted attempt to put him over. Nonetheless, an impressive opening match for the Indy sensation.
The Return of Saphio � 3.9
Saphio's back! Saphio's back! Sorry, I just love to say that.
Joe Johnson vs. Tony DeLucci � 4.1
I had a feeling this would happen. Surprised by the high rating? Don't be. It was a match people wanted to see� and there in lies the problem. Where was the damn match?! Rumour is DeLucci has major heat with Cazzo. Sunday was supposed to be his last big Blow Out for the EWCL, but Cazzo pulled the match. Why? Who knows. Fans switched off afterwards. I nearly switched off, but remembered that this is what I get paid to do. Disappointing end to a decent career really, and a sad way to say goodbye to DeLucci.
Neil Down's 'Hunt for the Belts' � 3.5
Neil Down grows on you like a fungal infection. Okay, maybe that's harsh, but it's supposed to be a compliment� kinda. Not a very good one though, I'll grant you. Fans were pissed at being robbed of the retirement match, and the ratings responded. Down's segment was good, but nowhere near good enough to save the EWCL from the backlash response from the last 'event'.
Fazzer vs. The General vs. Roadblock � 3.6
Roadblock? Who cares. The General? Who cares. Fazzer� the guy can't carry the show alone. The ratings picked up slightly for what was a fair match, but lacked any sort of heat whatsoever. It felt like a filler, and no doubt about it� it was. How can Cazzo expect us to care about Exile's dumb sidekick? And the General had better turn out to be Alexander Glory or something, I swear. And no, I'm not starting that rumour. And, why does the General want Exile anyway? If this is a swerve it's not a good one. Sure, some mystery is good, but give a man a damn chance to solve it at least! Fazzer couldn't save this match, and I don't think he even tried. Who can blame him?
Saphio Announces his role as the Commish � 3.9
Yes, looks like the rumour mill got this one right! The former EWCL Champion and Hardcore Icon made a return this week, not in a wrestling capacity but as the� Commissioner?! Really, with some considered thought, it makes a lot of sense for Saphio to come back as Commish. The scene has really changed a lot since Saphio held the Universal Title in the EWCL, and with the likes of Rage, Kritical Kondition, Danny Christ and Exile perched atop the mount, it's doubtful Saphio could legitimately regain his former glory. But as Commish� the sky's the limit! Great segment, although didn't get the ratings it should have because the fans were slow to switch back.
Danny Christ vs. Exile � 4.1
Another great match for these two, but suffered like the rest of the show from a lack of purpose, and fan punishment. The ending blew it all to Hell. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Christ and Exile have a developing chemistry, and like everyone else I wanted to see a straight fall. Guess we're going to be made to wait until Havoc. I can deal. Then however, the match seemed to collapse into total anarchy at the end, when Shane Johnson screwed Danny, then Drake and some new guy called Zero showed up. Drake steals the Hardcore Title, then hugs Exile and joins the Royal Family? Excuse me? Exile dropped the belt to this new kid, then joined him up? Why did they enlist Drake? Why did Drake join? Man I hope someone explains this soon. Who wrote this ending? The monkeys Cazzo keeps on the writing staff? This had better lead somewhere.
Cazzo's Announcement � 3.8
I said it last week. Who better than Kritical Kondition? Nice to see my opinion's appreciated. So we have a main event that should, if the EWCL hasn't blown it with this show, set the greatest buy rates the EWCL has yet seen. Plus Johnson and Prohibition, which should be a must-see just to see if Dan can get the monkey off his back. The supporting match was a big disappointment however. Exile and Christ could have been great if it was just the two of them, but it looks like the EWCL doesn't trust these two to hold their own as the second biggest match of Havoc. Why Cazzo, why? Leave the General and Fazzer to another night! You've robbed us of Exile vs. Christ for two weeks in a row, and now we'll never get to see it!
Society's Rejection vs. The Rage & Dan Prohibition � 4.1
I hate tag matches. There, I said it. I find them predictable and often disappointing. That said, I'm not sure whether this was either (emphasis on the not and sure). All four men put in excellent performances, and there were some high spots that really made this match worth watching. However, it was for all intents and purposes a predictable tag match for the most part. We all waited on the edges of our seats for the hot tag to Rage, which saw him come in and destroy the opponents in regular Championship fashion. And that was the end of the predictability. The match then went Twilight Zone. The Rage gets screwed by Dan. What's more, not only does the Hardcore Saint stand by and watch his Championship gold slip down the drain, he all of a sudden takes a chair and attempts to make his partner a permanent fixture in the mat. The ref makes the most bizarre call I've ever heard, disqualifying the Champions for using a chair (apparently it doesn't matter if one used it on the other), and the three assailants raise their hands in victory. But then Prohibition is attacking Joe Johnson again! What? Did this make any sense? What? Even if Dan wanted revenge against The Rage, why chance the Titles on it? And why did Society's Rejection raise Prohibition's hands� what, just 'cos he levelled The Rage?! Here's a guy who caused the death of Corvik's cousin, and has feuded with the other guy for months, and they all raise hands like best of friends! What? The only part of this ending that made any sense was Kritical Kondition punking out The Rage. I want to see that match even more now� man, he spat on him! And why didn't the Titles change hands? If Rage was going to get destroyed, those titles should have gone. How can O'Connor and Prohibition coexist after this, really? Was O'Connor afraid to drop the titles on television? At least he dropped the match, which was something. The man's not invincible after all� must be a gratifying note for Corvik. A very strange ending to a strange show.
Average � 3.8
Overall a less than stellar showing by the EWCL. The high points failed to make up for strange booking and poorly written endings. It may be that all of these loose ends will be tied up by next week, or Havoc. Lets hope so, because if the EWCL puts on too many shows like this, the ratings will continue to slide. After the momentum they had built up from last week, this show should have been a no-brainer. Well, the EWCL proved us all wrong. Lets hope next week's fare is a little better. They'll need to rebound if they expect big buy rates for Havoc.