3PW – One Year Anniversary
February 15, 2003 – Philadelphia, PA

Since the tape opens by reminding me, I will remind you that Pro Pain Pro Wrestling can be found at www.3pwrestling.com.  The tape opens with footage from some of the videos that are available from that website, featuring some of the exciting bumps from 3PW’s first year.  Most of the footage was filmed at the ECW arena, as 3PW is based out of South Philly, but they respectfully refer to the Bingo Hall by its official name of Viking Hall.  This anniversary show was taped at the larger Electric Factory, and the footage begins with the ring announcer starting the show by paying tribute to two stars that passed-away during 3PW’s first year, “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig, and The Original Sheik.  Surprisingly, they do not include “Flyboy” Rocco Rock.  After a 10-Bell Salute, we are underway.

Prince Nana w/Mr. Showtime v. Jeff Rocker: Our announcers are Jerry Strauss and Mike Winter, and they welcome us to the heart of Philadelphia, The Wrasslin’ Capital of The World.  Nana I have seen before in ROH, but Rocker is a new face to me, hailing from Delaware.  Rocker takes control of the match right away with some Arm Drags and Hip Tosses, along with some Knife Edge Chops for good measure.  Rocker’s offensive flurry doesn’t last long, though, as Nana takes-over with some power moves.  With Rocker draped across the bottom rope, Nana distracts the ref so that Mr. Showtime can apply a weak-looking choke.  The alliances of our announcers are laid-out as Mike Winter states that he likes Mr. Showtime’s tactics.  Rocker has the match won with a Front Chancery into a DDT, but Mr. Showtime is up on the apron, causing the ref to be out of position.  The distraction is enough for Nana to attack Rocker from behind.  Whip into the ropes, into a Floating DDT, scoring the 1, 2, 3.  Prince Nana is your winner in a short but well-fought match.

The Blue Meanie w/Mini-Meanie v. Raven: The referee for this match is John Finnegan, who receives a considerable pop when he is introduced.  Sadly, Mini-Meanie is not a midget, rather just a scrawny little guy wearing a blue wig.  Raven gets on the stick, and he states that the people didn’t pay to see him compete in an undercard match, so he is just going to sit in the corner of the ring until someone gives him a title shot.  Cue the White Zombie music, and Pitbull Gary Wolfe is out to welcome Raven back to the Independent Circuit, and says that he will be happy to add Raven to his list of victims by adding him to the title match later, making it a 3-Way Dance.  That seems acceptable to Raven, who, instead of responding with the mic, hits Meanie in the back of the head with it.  Evenflow DDT, 1, 2, 3!  Poor Meanie.

Jason Knight w/Jasmin St. Claire v. Rockin’ Rebel: Jason Knight seconded Justin Credible in ECW, where he was billed as The World’s Sexiest Man.  The Rockin’ Rebel is an unknown to me, but he hails from “anywhere he damn well pleases”.  Rebel grabs the mic and offers a truce to Jason, who we are told was the manager of the Rockin’ Rebel in ECW.  Jasmin takes offense when Rebel says that he and Jason can go up into the balcony, and get a couple of guys girlfriends really drunk.  Jason at first seems to like the idea, but his handshake turns into a Short-Arm Clothesline, and we are underway.  The match quickly goes outside, where Jason barely sells Rebel’s offense.  They go back in the ring, and Rebel stays firmly in control of the match until Jasmin makes her way into the ring, distracting Referee Jim Molineaux (I’m confident that I butchered the spelling there).  Rebel is able to grab Jasmin and bend her over his knee.  He gives her a swift kiss on the cheek before administering a spanking.  Jason has had enough, picks Rebel up for a Sit-Out Gourdbuster…1, 2, no.  Jason gets up to intercept the Blue Meanie, who has made his way out to the ring to fight for his ex-girlfriend.  He hits Jason with a Stunner, enabling Rebel to lock-in a Schoolboy Roll-Up and scores the pinfall.  Rockin’ Rebel gets the win, but Jasmin leaves the ring with Jason, so I would expect to see a Meanie v. Jason feud from 3PW in the future.

Kid Kash v. Kid Kruel: At ringside, Hat Guy and Hawaiian-Shirt Guy get some love from Kid Kash on his way to the ring.  For the record, the stationary camera is not in the standard position of straight across from one side of the ring, rather it is mounted on the ceiling above one of the corners of the ring…which means that Hat Guy and Hawaiian-Shirt Guy (where’s Faith No More Guy?!?) are sitting in the front row in the corner across from the camera.  It’s a little weird seeing them sitting there instead of where they normally sit.  It’s also a little weird that the seat location of two fans is worthy of being mentioned in the first place!!  As would be expected, the match starts fast-n-furious, with lots of Arm Drag Takedowns and the like, eventually leading to the Stand-Off o’ Doom.  After another series leading to a Standoff, the announcers begin to discuss the overabundance of alliteration in the match.  The face announcer tells the heel to keep his cool and call the match.  Fantastic!  Kruel takes control when the match picks back up; until Kash is able to Back-Body Drop him over the ropes onto the apron.  Kash then springboards from the middle rope in the corner and connects with a Dropkick, sending Kruel to the floor!  That likely means that a high-risk move is coming, and Kash comes flying from the top turnbuckle to the floor with a Flying Crossbody.  Kruel starts to swing wildly when they make it back to their feet, and Kash ends his potential offensive flurry with a good ol’ Thumb to the Eye!  Back in the ring, where they go into the corner, and Kash begins layin’ in some chops.  Kash has the little things down, but at heart he’s really a heel, yet this crowd insists on cheering for him.  An example: when he chopped Kruel in the corner, he walked around the ring afterwards shaking his hand, sending the message that he slapped so hard that it hurt his hand.  Naturally, the crowd starts to chant, “One more time!”  Kash shrugs, still shaking his hand, but he approaches Kruel in the corner, stands him up, and delivers…wait for it…a Thumb to the Eye!  What a dick!  The crowd almost doesn’t know how to react.  Eventually, he does lay in some more chops, but his grandstanding costs him, as Kruel is able to connect with an elbow on the charging Kash, and follows it up with a Superkick.  Kash gets his foot on the rope to break the count, and Kruel comes off with an Elbowdrop from the middle rope.  Kruel then begins to just beat on the prone body of Kash with some kicks and forearms.  Kash ducks a Clothesline, and comes back with a kick to the face.  Kruel falls into the middle of the bottom rope (facing upward), and Kash comes from the other side of the ring, with what the announcers call a Flipping Dropkick, but what you might recognize more easily as a Van Terminator (with a flip…and no chair).  He goes for the cover, and when Kruel gets a foot on the rope, Kash gives the Ref a Thumb to the Eye!!  Off the ropes, but Kruel catches him with a kick to the gut, and Kash rolls outside.  Kruel brings him back in via the Delayed Vertical Suplex route.  Kash whipped into the corner, but he leaps onto the top turnbuckle, and comes off with a Flying Clothesline on the charging Kruel.  Both men are down as the ref begins the 10-count.  Neither of them even moves until 8, when Kash rolls over, draping an arm across Kruel’s chest.  That only gets two, and when he whips Kruel into the ropes, Kash telegraphs a Back Bodydrop, and pays for it with a BIG Sit-Out Powerbomb from Kruel.  1, 2, no.  Kruel can’t believe it.  He locks in an Armbar, but can’t get Kash to submit.  Kash sent into the corner, and he is practically defenseless against the punches and kicks from Kruel.  Whipped into the ropes, and Kruel telegraphs a Back Bodydrop of his own, and takes a boot to the face.  Kash rushes into the corner and comes out with a Double Springboard ‘Rana, followed by a wicked 360° Tornado DDT!  1, 2, no!  Kruel kicked out, and Kash is in the ref’s face this time…this guy’s a total heel!!  Stop cheering for him!  They do a rapid-reversal sequence that started to get sloppy, so they dropped that idea for a Spinebuster from Kruel, but Kash landed mostly on his side.  Kruel goes for another Powerbomb, but Kash flips onto his feet, hits a kick, and locks in a Double-Underhook Piledriver.  1, 2, 3!  Kid Kash wins in a match that was very exciting, despite the clumsy reversal sequence.

Da Hit Squad v. Nosawa & Balls Mahoney: This is the 3PW debut for Mafia and Monsta Mac, who enter first and attack Nosawa and Balls during their entrance.  Nosawa is someone I have never seen before, and he has the most curious gimmick of flipping everyone off…he gives the fans the finger, his opponents, the ref, even his partner eventually!  It turns out that Balls and Nosawa were supposed to be opponents on this card, but when Da Hit Squad were signed to appear and needed opponents, Balls quickly recruited Nosawa as his partner for this match.  Something tells me that Nosawa was slated to play the heel in that match!  I always have the damned-est time telling the members of DHS apart, and this match is no different.  One of them is brawling outside with Nosawa, and the other is in the ring with Balls, and barely dodges a Moonsault from Mahoney before dragging him outside onto the floor.  Nosawa makes it into the ring against the man identified as Mafia, as Monsta Mac attacks Balls with the ring bell outside the ring.  Things eventually settle into a regular tag match, with Mafia in the ring against Balls.  Monsta Mac comes in for a double-team move, hitting Mahoney with a Superkick, which sends him backwards into a Release German Suplex by Mafia.  Balls makes the tag to Nosawa, who is immediately beat-down in the corner by Mafia as Monsta Mac brings a table into the ring.  The table is leaned diagonally in the corner above Nosawa, who is prone against the bottom turnbuckle.  Monsta Mac then Irish Whips his partner into the table with a Cannonball through the table and onto Nosawa.  Ouch.  Somehow Nosawa kicks out.  DHS execute some old-school tag team strategy, keeping Nosawa on their side of the ring.  Hot tag is finally made to Mahoney, who takes both members of DHS down with a Double Clothesline.  Monsta Mac starts to reverse an Irish Whip, but instead Balls stands firm, pulling Mac in for a Short Arm Clothesline.  That was a nice touch to add against such a large opponent.  Mafia breaks-up the 3-count, and when Nosawa comes in, the match devolves into a 4-way brawl.  Nosawa holds Mafia as Balls gets a chair, and communication between the faces starts to deteriorate when Mafia ducks the chairshot.  Balls pulls-up without hitting Nosawa, but Nosawa responds by flipping-off Balls (I told you it was coming), and shoving him into a double-team move by DHS.  Nosawa breaks-up the pinfall and attacks Mafia, but the seeds have been sown.  Nosawa goes outside the ring and brings a chair in, and when Monsta Mac dodges the chairshot, Balls eats the cushioned chair.  It was enough to piss him off, though, and he begins to yell at Nosawa in the middle of the ring.  Both DHS members sneak-up from behind, Stereo Schoolboy Roll-Ups.  1, 1…2, 2…no, and, no.  Nosawa and Monsta Mac slide outside the ring, as Balls grabs his personalized chair and swings, hitting Mafia with an absolutely HUGE Chairshot.  The seat of the chair is bent in nearly in half, and as he falls backwards, Mafia flips the finger at Mahoney.  Balls covers for the 3-count.  Nosawa comes into the ring, presumably to celebrate the win, but instead flips Mahoney off and attacks him.  Balls reverses a whip into the corner, and when he reaches for his chair, his former partner slides under the ropes and up the ramp.  Balls gets on the mic and challenges Nosawa to a Falls Count Anywhere Match for the next 3PW show.  Nosawa’s response?  “Mahoney, Fuck You!”

Wet T-Shirt Contest: The judges for this segment are Tod Gordon, Jasmin St. Claire, and Mini-Meanie.  The contestants include three chicks you’ve never heard of, some of whom look to be so drunk that they can’t even make it down the ramp on their own.  This is the lamest shit I’ve ever seen, and doesn’t deserve to be recapped.  In an amusing segment, the second contestant stops to allow a fan to pour water on her, and the fan nearly drops his bottle, splashing water in her face.  She gets pissed and slaps the fan in the face!  That’s good stuff.  The two contestants that you have heard of are Missy Hyatt and Nicole Bass.  Mini Meanie declares that Nicole Bass is the winner, and she leaves the ring carrying Mini Meanie.  The catfight eventually breaks-out between Jasmin and Missy Hyatt.  Here’s a great reason why segments like this are stupid:  as Missy and Jasmin roll around on the mat, Jasmin’s top nearly came off, and Missy can be seen pulling Jasmin’s shirt so that her breasts will not be exposed.  Thankfully, the segment was relatively short.

Rob Eckos & Matt Striker v. Damian Adams & Josh Daniels: Striker comes out grinning and clapping, but Eckos is acting much cooler.  Striker grabs the mic, and tells the fans that when they clap their hands and stomp their feet, it makes him feel like “Wildfire” Tommy Rich, or Ricky Morton, or even Brad Armstrong!  Eckos breaks kayfabe, telling Striker that the Philly fans will never buy him as a babyface, saying, “this is 2003, not 1983, bro!”  Adams and Daniels enter, and the chase is on.  It seems that Eckos and Striker have been taken under the wing of Joey Matthews, and are known collectively as Matthews’ Minions.  Adams and Daniels clear the ring to start, and when the heels make it back in, the match begins with Eckos against Adams.  After a few punches Eckos tags Striker into the match, and the alleged fun begins.  If you’ve never seen Matt Striker, he refers to himself as Back to the Future Matt Striker, and he lives up to that by channeling old-school ‘80s wrasslin’ icons and portraying them in the ring.  The imitations (those that I immediately recognize) include The Junkyard Dog, Ivan Putski, Tito Santana, Tatanka, “Hot Stuff” Eddy Gilbert, and even the immortal Hulk Hogan.  One of the announcers recommends making a drinking game out of a Matt Striker match…by taking a drink each time that Striker busts-out an ‘80s imitation.  I don’t drink alcohol, but it’d definitely work!  The funny part is that as long as Striker is left to his own without distraction, his team dominates the match.  Whenever Eckos tags-in, or even if he just tries to get Striker to focus on the match, the faces immediately take control.  The match itself was worked very cleanly, but it was worked for comedy, so in the end I’m just left feeling “meh.”  The finish saw Adams climbing to the top turnbuckle, where he was crotched by Striker…this enabled Eckos to climb to the top and hit some sort of Spinning DDT for the pinfall.  Matthews’ Minions are victorious, and apparently Joey Matthews had insisted that they win their match, so they are saved from feeling his wrath…for now.

Low-Ki v. Homicide: This match is the antithesis of the previous contest.  Just like when Rick reported that Homicide was the breakout star when ROH visited Dayton, it was Homicide that had me talking after seeing him on a handful of tapes.  I was not aware that Low-Ki was trained by Homicide until this match…so this is your classic Teacher v. Student match-up.  They tie-up, and into the corners and all around the ring, they refuse to break the lock-up.  They get tangled in the ropes and are forced to break the hold.  Homicide gets the first takedown of the match, but Low-Ki is able to turn it into a hanging Armbar as Homicide gets to his feet.  Homicide is able to lift Low-Ki (while the Armbar is still applied), and walk to the ropes, attempting to dump Ki down to the floor, but Low-Ki holds onto the Armbar, now hanging over the ropes to the apron.  The ref forces him to break the hold.  Interestingly, when Low-Ki comes back into the ring, he stays down on his back, shooting kicks up as Homicide circles.  They brawl on the mat without either man getting the advantage, and then another break.  They tie-up this time in a Test o’ Strength position, and with their foreheads together they begin Headbutting each other repeatedly.  After five or six vicious Headbutts, Homicide drops down, kicking Low-Ki’s leg out from under him.  Homicide goes for the quick pin, but to no avail.  Ki connects with a quick kick to the head, sending Homicide outside the ring to clear his head.  Back in, and they tie-up immediately into the corner, where Ki gains the advantage with some Chops and kicks.  They come back to the middle of the ring and begin exchanging chops, until Homicide grabs him and locks a Side Headlock.  The action picks-up just as the announcers note that the fans are silent in the stands, with all eyes transfixed on the ring, out of respect for the talents of both men.  They begin to run the ropes, hitting first a couple of Shoulder Blocks, then trading Hip Tosses, and finally each man hits an Armdrag, culminating in each man simulaniously going for another Armdrag, only for them to fall next to each other on the mat with their arms intertwined.  That was a fantastic series, made all the better by the fact that the crowd was so quiet at the beginning, and by the end they were cheering as loud as at any moment on the tape thus far.  The heel announcer has basically dropped the heel shtick for this match, and he remarks that this is the type of match that each of these men has put-on during their individual tours of Japan.  The match starts up again, beginning with Low-Ki tying Homicide up in a modified version of the Camel Clutch, also tying his legs…really stretching Homicide out.  Homicide manages a reversal, locking Low-Ki in a Surfboard-like maneuver.  Ki is able to free one of his legs and kicks his way free, but as soon as they get to their feet, Homicide Dropkicks the knee and remains in control.  Immediately back to the mat, where Homicide hits a big Kneedrop.  After a Go-Behind, Low-Ki is able to send Homicide through the ropes to the floor, but when Ki goes for a Flying Crossbody, Homicide slides back in under the bottom rope.  Low-Ki is able to adjust in the air and land on the apron, and when Homicide comes springing off the opposite ropes, Low-Ki leaps into a Springboard Clothesline, leaping about ¾ the way across the ring!  Wow!  Low-Ki gets to his feet first, and hits his patented series of three kicks, and Homicide is a lifeless heap on the canvas.  1, 2, no.  Whip into the corner, and Low-Ki goes for the Cartwheel Kick, but Homicide’s got this one scouted, and moves out of the way.  He brings Ki down from the turnbuckles with a Belly to Back Suplex, and follows that with a Flying Elbow from the middle rope.  That also only gets 2, and Homicide goes back to the submission tactics, but Ki is able to make it to the ropes.  Homicide goes for another move from the middle rope, but this time Low-Ki catches him with a nicely timed Rolling Pinwheel kick.  Homicide whipped into the corner, and Low-Ki follows him in with a running kick to the face!  Ki follows that up by whipping him into the opposite corner and leaping up to hit another kick to the face!  Homicide falls to the mat, 1, 2…Homicide kicks out at two and three-fourths.  Homicide looks to be in position to take control of the match when he leaps over onto the apron when whipped into the corner, and connects with an elbow on the charging Low-Ki, but when Homicide starts to climb the turnbuckles, Low-Ki comes out of nowhere, connecting with the Cartwheel Kick!  He had to leap up at least seven or eight feet to connect with that kick!  Homicide is defenseless outside the ring, where Low-Ki sets him in a chair and connects with another running kick to the face, which the announcers now tell me is called the Yakuza Kick.  Homicide is sent into the first row with that kick, landing at the feet of the Hat Guy, which prompts a chant of “Fuck the Hat Guy!”  Even the announcers are amused by that chant!  Low-Ki has to carry Homicide back to ringside and slide him into the ring, where he covers, but Homicide again kicks-out after two.  A whip into the corner by Low-Ki is reversed, and Homicide follows him into the corner with a Yakuza Kick of his own!  He positions Ki on the top turnbuckle, and climbs up for a ‘Rana from the top…but Low-Ki holds on, rolling into a Powerbomb, flipping over into a bridge.  That gets only two, and Homicide gets to his feet first, locking-in the STF, which is one of his finishing holds, but Low-Ki is able to make it to the ropes.  Homicide picks Low-Ki up and attempts to position him for his finisher, the Cop Killer, but Ki wriggles free, and locks-in the Dragon Clutch.  He’s not able to sit back in the Crab however, which enables Homicide to get to his feet and dump Low-Ki over onto his head!  Homicide gets to his feet, and hits a Shining Wizard!  He’s out of position to go for the pinfall, however, and so he charges, going for another Shining Wizard, but Low-Ki is able to duck out of the way.  Ki is able to connect with a kick to the back of the head, and Homicide just barely is able to get his shoulder off the canvas at the last possible moment…a lot of the crowd thought that was it!  Low-Ki goes for his finisher, but Homicide wriggles free, and goes for a low blow.  Ki dodges the low blow, however, and locks-in the Ki Krusher!  1, 2, 3!!  Low-Ki is your winner, and is victorious over his teacher.  After Low-Ki makes his way through the curtain in the back, the crowd erupts in a very loud chant of “Homicide!  Homicide!”

Raven v. Xavier v. “Pitbull” Gary Wolfe (champ): Three-Way Elimination Match for the 3PW Heavyweight Title.  Xavier is known as The All-Around Best, and have I mentioned before how much I like Raven’s sword tattoo across his chest?  For all you purists out there, the champ’s entrance was last.  If you weren’t watching ECW before they were on TNN, you might not recognize Gary Wolfe, who was a mainstay in the promotion back in the days of crowds of less than a thousand people.  The match begins with some 3-way tie-ups, and when Xavier and Raven begin brawling outside the ring, Pitbull reaches over the ropes, grabbing Xavier by the head and lifting him up from the floor, dumping him in the ring.  The Pitbull puts the beatdown on Xavier briefly, and when he goes for the first pinfall, Raven comes back in to break it up.  Xavier and Wolfe work together against Raven, and when they hit him with a Double Clothesline, he slides under the ropes to the floor.  Xavier is able to sneak-up behind Gary Wolfe with a Schoolboy Roll-up, but only gets two.  Xavier hits a Release Northern Lights Suplex on Wolfe, and has a few right hands for Raven when he climbs back into the ring.  Raven sent back over to the floor, as Xavier hits Wolfe with some chops in the corner.  Each time that Raven attempts to get involved, he is sent back to the floor, often not making it past the ring apron…like when Pitbull finally gains control against Xavier, he also has a well-timed forearm for Raven, knocking him off the apron!  Xavier is able to reverse a whip into the ropes, but the Pitbull reverses his’ rana attempt into a Powerbomb.  Raven has made it back into the ring, and is leaning in the corner when Pitbull Slingshots Xavier into him.  Raven is a crumbled heap in the corner, and Xavier staggers out backwards, into a Burning Hammer from the Pitbull!  1, 2, Raven breaks it up.  Raven attacks Wolfe briefly, then hits the Evenflow DDT on Xavier…1, 2, 3.  The All-Around Best has been eliminated, and the match is down to the two Philadelphia legends, Raven and the Pitbull.  Wolfe attacks with a Clothesline from out of the corner, and both men are down.  Pitbull slides out of the ring, and brings in a steel chair to more formally welcome Raven back to South Philly.  In fact, Wolfe brings another chair, and also a table into the ring.  The table is leaning in the corner, and one of the chairs is set-up in the middle of the ring.  Whip into the ropes, and Pitbull hits Raven with his own Drop-Toehold into the steel chair!  He then picks Raven up, and simply runs, putting Raven through the table headfirst.  Nothing fancy about that, but it was effective.  Pitbull wastes too much time after the move, and so only gets a 2-count.  Raven lands a low blow, and then goes for some of his patented spots…including the Clothesline off the ropes with Pitbull coming out of the corner, and the Mr. Wrasslin’ II Knee Lift.  Unfortunately for Raven, Pitbull was a little out of position for each of the moves, and so it looked a little sloppy.  Clothesline into the corner, followed by bringing him out with a Bulldog…Raven goes for the Evenflow DDT, but Pitbull is able to reverse out of it, into a Death Valley Driver.  1, 2, 3.  Pitbull Gary Wolfe retains.

Terry Funk v. Sabu w/Tod Gordon: I’m not going to go on record or anything like that, but off the top of my head, I don’t think that I have any other one-on-one matches between these two in my video collection.  Terry Funk comes to the ring to the sounds of Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi.  Funk gets on the mic to tell us that he has waited a long time to come back to South Philly, and now that he’s here, why not just go ahead and give the fans an old-fashioned ECW match?  He starts by tossing several chairs into the ring, followed by a table.  Sabu is ready though, and when Funk climbs onto the apron, Sabu knocks him down, and the brawl commences on the floor.  Nothing much going on besides punches and random chair shots, until the two of them are standing on the apron, and Sabu knocks Funk down and through the timekeeper’s table to the floor.  Funk ain’t goin’ out that fast, however, and he pulls half of the broken table up and tosses it into the ring!  Sabu has a steel chair however, and when Funk starts to climb through the ropes, Sabu hits him with the Greco-Roman Chair Throw (as called by the announcers).  Sabu pulls a metal spike from his boot and attacks Funk repeatedly with it, all the while Tod Gordon has the referee distracted on the opposite side of the ring.  Another chair thrown into Funk’s head, and he is bleeding rather profusely already.  Sabu locks-in the Camel Clutch briefly, but decides instead to go back to the trusty Metal Spike to the Head.  Finally he tosses it out to Gordon, and when he turns he walks into a low blow from Funk, who then hits a Piledriver out of nowhere.  He hits another Piledriver, this one on a steel chair, and somehow Sabu is still able to get to his feet!  They go back outside, where Funk brings a piece of steel guardrail into the match.  After some brief brawling, they go back into the ring, where Funk is placed on the table, and Sabu comes off the top with a big Legdrop…but Funk rolled off of the table, and Sabu goes through it.  Funk up, DDT onto the shards of the table…1, 2, 3!!  Play the Funker’s music, as he grabs the mic to tell the fans that even though he is so old that he shouldn’t be allowed in the ring, he loves to come to Philadelphia and wrassle.  He says, “You’re my people, you’re my fans, and I am a fan of each and every one of you.”

The tape wraps-up at just over two and a-half hours.  I didn’t know much about 3PW before buying this tape, only that the shows relied on an abundance of ex-ECW guys.  To say that I was pleasantly surprised is not only an understatement, but also a disservice to 3PW.  This show was fantastic, and the Low-Ki v. Homicide match is going to be high on my list of MOTY candidates at the end of the year.  If you’ve been looking at 3PW, or even if you’ve never heard of them, this would be a good tape to start with…since it was their anniversary show, the crowd was hot, and they really loaded the card. It paid off, in my opinion, because the show was tremendous.  Go buy it now.

I’m not sure what I’ll be comin’ at you with next, or when. As if I didn’t have enough on my schedule already, I am taking part in a play called You Can’t Stop The Music (you can read the screenplay here). It’s community theatre, so I won’t be receiving one red cent for it, but I’m going to be playing the part of Dave Black, and I really like that part, so it’s going to be a lot of fun. Recap-wise, I might have a surprise for you up my sleeve, but I’m not going to give anything away until I know if the stars are going to align themselves properly for me to get it done.

PEACE

We are live at the ECW Arena (Viking Hall) in Philadelphia, PA for 3PW.  Check back all night long for match by match updates from myself and Mike Johnson.

Buck Woodward reporting.

The show opened with Bob Artese making note that while this building is called Viking Hall, the sign outside still says "ECW Arena", which led to an "ECW" chant from the crowd.

The opening match of the show saw Ricky Vega take on C.J. O' Doyle.  The crowd chanted "Scotty Riggs" and "American Males" at Vega, who did resemble the former WCW star to a degree.  Vega played the heel and asked for two points when he took O'Doyle down to the mat.  C.J. then scored a takedown, and Vega went to the floor for a breather.  They traded holds, then exchanged legsweeps and covers for two counts.  They then traded hiptosses, then slaps, then Vega took O'Doyle down with a lariat for a two count.  Vega stayed on the offensive, but O'Doyle came up with a Fujiwara armbar, only for Vega to make the ropes.  O'Doyle hit a chop, then pounded Vega in the corner until he was shoved away.  Vega hit a back heel kick after booting a charging O'Doyle.  Vega hit a long vertical suplex, but missed a top rope headbutt.  O'Doyle hit a reverse DDT, then followed with a top rope legdrop for a two count.  O'Doyle missed a lariat, but floated over a Vega slam attempt and hit the lariat for the pin at the 6:47 mark.  Your winner, C.J. O'Doyle.

Mike Johnson reporting.

Our second bout this evening featured Monsta Mack of Da Hit Squad fame taking on former ECW World Tag Team champion Roadkill, who received a standing ovation when he came out to the ring.  They slugged it out center ring to start out the match.  Roadkill shoulder blocked Mack and he returned the favor, but neither man moved.  Mack powerslammed Roadkill.  Mack charged but was hit with a sidewalk slam.  Mack retreated to the outside but Roadkill avalanche splashed him into the railing, then missed a dive off the apron.  Mack beat him into the apron and mocked the crowd.  Mack hit a cannonball flip in the corner on Roadkill.  Mack sunk in a rear chin lock.  Mack went to the top and missed a frog splash.  Roadkill rallied the crowd, and came back with a series of rights and a suplex.  Roadkill hit a flying clothesline off the center turnbuckle.  Roadkill charged to splash Mack in the corner but Mack pulled referee Jim Molineaux in front of him.  Molineaux went to the mat.  Mack tried to hit Roadkill with a chain, but he was stopped and Roadkill hit the barn burner.  There was no referee to count the fall, so Roadkill tried to wake Molineaux.  Roadkill went for a belly to back suplex and Mack hit Roadkill with the chain while he was in the air.  Mack covered Roadkill and scored the pinfall.

Your winner, Monsta Mack!

Buck Woodward reporting.

"Hot Stuff" Matt Striker was out next, demanding to be introduced as hailing from "Parts Unknown" with "Weight Unknown" as part of his "80's" gimmick. His opponent tonight is Ruckus, who got a big ovation  and was wearing pants with "CZW" down the side (Combat Zone Wrestling runs regularly here). They exchanged a test of strength, and Striker went for a Cobra Clutch, but Ruckus elbowed out.  Striker did the double leapdrog ala Jimmy Snuka, but Ruckus came back with a handspring into a somersault senton.  Striker poked him in the eyes, then did the Rude Awakening neckbreaker.  Striker pulled out a mask and announced that he was Repo Man, then rang the ring bell across the genitals of Ruckus.  Striker did the Gran Naniwa elbow drop off the ropes, but Ruckus came back with a DDT and a moonsault into a legdrop for two.  Ruckus missed the Razzle Dazzle (double handspring elbow).  Striker hit a Shawn Michaels superkick and a Bret Hart second rope elbow.  Ruckus came back with a rana, but Striker took over again with a gutbuster/backbreaker combo, then hit the Jimmy Snuka "Superfly" splash for the pin at the five minute mark.  Striker jumped on referee John Finnegan's shoulders in celebration as he left the ring.

Your winner is "Hot Stuff" Matt Striker.

Mike Johnson reporting.

Bob Artese announced that the new 3PW Commissioner was going to be announced tonight and asked him to come to the ring.  Joey Matthews came out and gave a long speech about the great Commissioners of the past like Bob Geigel and Bob Armstrong and he knew how to be a great Commissioner.  Bob Artese announced Joey was wrestling and was not the Commissioner.  Joey said that he was the Commissioner.  Tod Gordon came out and said he was the Commissioner in ECW and he would be the Commissioner in 3PW as well.  Bob Artese said that Tod wasn't the Commissioner either.  Jack Victory came out.    Tod Gordon asked Victory if he was the Commissioner and Victory said no, but he was the New Commissioner's bodyguard, and introduced the new Commissioner Raven.

Raven came out to a standing ovation and a "Welcome Back" chant.  Raven said he has returned and asked Tod if he knew him as he looked a little familiar, then threw Tod out of the ring.  Raven announced Justin Credible has been stripped of the 3PW championship and blamed him a loss they once had together on Sunday Night Heat.  He said that he, Sabu, and "whoever else popped up" would fight in a Three-Way Dance later tonight.  Joey said that he thought he was going to be the Commissioner.  Raven said that Joey has a good build but his girlfriend (Alexis Laree) abandoned Raven's flock so he wasn't high on Joey.  He said that Joey thought a lot of his skills, so Raven could put him in with anyone.  Joey agreed and Low Ki hit the ring.

They started out feeling each other out.  Low Ki kicked Joey in the leg and he retreated to walk it off.  They wrestled in a collar and elbow tie up, going through the ropes and holding it on the floor.  The referee broke it up and sent them back into the ring.  Low Ki tied up Matthews, who reversed it into a hammerlock.  They had a test of strength, with Joey bridging back.  Low Ki kneed him in the gut twice while his stomach was exposed in the bridge.  They wrestled back and forth on the mat and exchanging holds.  They began chopping each other back and forth with Low Ki getting the better of the exchange.  Matthews tried to throw Ki out of the ropes but he held onto the ropes and spun around with a 619-esque kick.  He hit a power drive elbow on Matthews.  They went back to chopping each other.  Low Ki dragged Matthews to all four corners chopping him.  Low Ki went for a handspring kick but referee John Finnegan was pulled between them by Matthews.  Matthews thumbed Ki in the eye, and began beating him on the floor.

Back in the ring, Ki went for a springboard kick but Matthews hit him low.  Low Ki came back with a kick and massacred him with chops.  Ki finally connected with his third springboard kick attempt.  Matthews clotheslined him on the ropes and hit a clothesline off the ropes for a two count.   Matthews picked up Ki for a suplex, but Ki (upside down in the air) began striking Matthews with knees.  Matthews dropped him over the ropes and Ki locked on a Dragon Clutch/Tarantula variation.  Ki attempted the Ki Krusher but Matthews kept countering.  Matthews went for a suplex but Ki kneed him in his face.  Ki hit a handspring kick and locked on the Ki Klutch.  Matthews poked the referee in the eyes and then started tapping when the ref couldn't see it.

Matthews hit him low and then struck with an inverted DDT.  Matthews went for the cover but Ki got his foot on the ropes.  Ki began acting as if he was out as Matthews struggled to pull him up.  Ki rolled him over, locked on the Ki Klutch and scored the tapout in 21 minutes, 16 seconds.  After the match, Low Ki offered his hand.  Matthews acted as if he was going to shake it, and walked out.

Your winner, Low Ki!

Buck Woodward reporting.

After intermission, the next match saw the Blue Meanie vs. Rob Eckos, who was accompanied by Matt Striker (who was dressed like, and acting like, Jimmy Snuka). Striker did a Jimmy Snuka-like promo before the match, which was hilarious.  They exchanged waistlocks, and Meanie elbowed Eckos in the corner and hit an elbowdrop for a two count.  Eckos jumped to the floor for a breather as Meanie was setting up for a bionic elbow.  Striker took Eckos to the side, and had him put on a mask.  Striker put on an identical mask, and said they would do the "Killer Bees".  Of course, they weren't wearing the same outfits, so it wasn't the best of plans.  Striker did a switch, and Meanie just stared at him.  However, this did allow Eckos to grab Meanie from behind for a neckbreaker.  Meanie came back with a backslide for a two count, and Striker tried to get involved, only for Meanie to drop toe hold Eckos into Striker's groin.  Eckos hit a legsweep, then went to the top rope, but Meanie caught him on the flying bodypress and powerslammed him.  Striker ran in, but Meanie turned his mask around, so he couldn't see.  Striker accidentally hit Eckos, and Meanie DDT'd Eckos for the pin at the 5:40 mark.

Your winner, The Blue Meanie.

Post match, Striker and Eckos gave Meanie a Hart Attack, and Striker delivered the Superfly splash.  Commissioner Raven and Jack Victory came out, Raven reminded us that he invented the Blue Meanie, as he ordered that he be taken to the back.  Raven mentioned that he was choked up by the reception he got earlier, then he realized the crowd was full of degenerates.  The crowd cheered him anyway.  Raven asked Striker to do his Snuka impression, then informed Striker that next month, he will face the real Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka.

Mike Johnson reporting.

They announced that the main event of the next show on 12/27 will be Sabu & CZW champion Zandig vs. The Messiah & Jerry Lynn.

Next up was an edition of Tod Gordon's Sugar Shack.  Tod came out with Jasmin St. Claire.  A fan grabbed Jasmin's butt as they walked around the ring.  The slug got punched by Gordon and dragged out by security.  Hands off the merchandise moron.  Jasmin talked about all the presents Tod bought her and said she had one for Tod tonight.  Jasmin went to the back and brought out a hot blonde named Talia.  Jasmin said she is a piece of white trash who will do anything and Jasmin got her to be Tod's sex slave.  Tod demanded Talia take off her shoes and she did.  Tod told her to touch her toes.  Tod asked Jasmin what they were going to do.  Jasmin said they were going to tie her up and spank her.  Tod got more excited than Buck Woodward watching a Jimmy Valiant tape.

Tod then introduced Pitbull Gary Wolfe and his "mystery woman" talking about Wolfe's change in attitude of late.  Tod asked Wolfe who the woman was and Wolfe said her name is Vixen.  Wolfe said he went to all the gyms in Philly because he was sick of all the fans who don't appreciate anything and he found the one person who could watch her back.  Wolfe said no one get in the ring with her and there is no "Ninth Wonder of the World" who can get in the ring with her.

Tod said that Damian Adams was in the back telling everyone that Wolfe was "1994" and he was old news while Adams was "2004."  Wolfe said he could come out right now and challenged him.

Buck Woodward reporting.

Damian Adams hit the ring and went right at the Pitbull.  Gary Wolfe responded with punches, but Damian came back with a dropkick and a baseball slide to the floor.  However, Pitbull came right back with power moves, tossing Damian to the floor.  Pitbull hit a vertical suplex and applied a rear chinlock on Adams, who was bleeding.  Adams came back with a bodyblock, but Wolfe was right back in command with a clothesline.  Adams leapfrogged Pitbull and went for a rana, but Wolfe caught it and powerbombed him, yet refused to pin him.  Pitbull then lied on top of Adams, but Adams turned it into a crucifix and got the pin at the 4:05 mark.

Your winner, Damian Adams.

Post match, Pitbull hung Adams over the top rope with his chain and left him in a bloody heap at ringside.

Mike Johnson reporting.

Next up was a "special attraction match", as Homicide took on Xavier.  They started wrestling back and forth.  Xavier did a dive over the ropes on Homicide to the floor.  They battled on the floor and Homicide tossed Xavier back in the ring.   The fans chanted "AC Slater" at Xavier and then sang the Saved By The Bell theme song.  Homicide took it to Xavier, getting several near falls.  Xavier hit a powerslam for a near fall.  He then hit a spinning kick on Homicide.  Xavier missed a knee strike in the corner and Homicide hit a running kick in the corner.  They battled outside on the apron, chopping each other.  Xavier charged Homicide and missed, hitting his head atop the ringpost and crashing to the floor.  Homicide hit a tope con hilo through the ropes to the floor.  They got back in the ring and Xavier clotheslined him on the ropes as they got back in.  Xavier hit a top rope clothesline and locked in a cross arm breaker.  Xavier worked on Homicide's arm, locking in a crossarmbreaker and other armbar variations.  Homicide battled back with rights but Xavier went back to work on the arm.  Xavier went for a crossface chickenwing but Homicide ducked down, sending him into the turnbuckles.  Homicide hit an inverted atomic drop and a clothesline for a near fall.  Homicide locked up Xavier as if he was going to hit a fisherman's buster, then flipped around into a neckbreaker.  He hit a T-bone suplex.  Homicide hit a piledriver for a near fall.  Homicide went for the Copkiller but Xavier countered with a reverse Pedigree for a near fall.  Xavier went for a top rope 450 splash.  Homicide moved, and Xavier rolled through and landed on his feet.  They went back and forth with several near falls and reversals until Xavier ducked a lariat and rolled up Homicide, hooking the tights to score the pin in over 15 minutes.

Your winner, Xavier!

Buck Woodward reporting.

The main event, a three way dance for the vacant 3PW World Heavyweight Title, was next.  Raven, with Jack Victory, vs. Sabu, with Tod Gordon & Jasmin St. Claire, vs. The Sandman.

Sandman made his usual beer drinking entrance, wearing a Raven T-Shirt and carrying a ladder and a Singapore cane.  Commissioner Raven got on the mic and said that no entrance music could play longer than 45 seconds, forcing Sandman to cut his entrance early.  Raven also forced Sandman to put down the cane, and to stop smoking.  Raven grabbed Jasmin before the bell and DDT's her.  Sabu went to give her mouth-to-mouth, which ticked off Tod Gordon.  While Gordon yelled at Sabu, Sandman tried to revive her.  While Gordon yelled at Sandman, Raven went to revive her.  Then Sabu and Sandman tried to revive her at the same time.  Gordon finally got her out of the ring and took her to the back.  The bell rang to begin the match.

Sabu went to work on Sandman's arm, while Raven watched.  Raven then kicked Sandman.  The crowd broke into an "ECW" chant.  There was a three way lockup, with no one getting an advantage.  They did the triple headlock spot, then Raven rammed Sabu's head into Sandman's gut.  They started brawling, and Sandman clotheslined Sabu.  Raven kept ducking out of the action, then running back in when he could get the better of someone.  Sandman and Raven went to the floor, and Sabu gave them both a baseball slide.  A fan gave Sabu a chair, and Sabu did a triple jump onto Sandman and Raven at ringside.  They brawled at ringside, and tables were set up by Raven on several sides of the ring.  Sabu threw a chair at Sandman twice, nailing him in the head.  Raven tossed several chairs into the ring.  Sabu hit an Arabian facebuster on Sandman's arm in the ring, but Raven broke up the cover.  Sandman hit Raven and Sabu with low blows.  Raven came back with a drop toe hold into a chair on Sandman, and Sabu followed with an Arabian facebuster on Sandman for two.  Raven broke up the cover, then did his own Arabian facebuster on Sandman, but Sabu broke up the pin.  Sabu went for a Triple Jump, but Raven tripped him into the chair.  Sandman whipped Sabu into Raven.  Sandman then hit a chair launch into both men in the corner.  Sandman covered Sabu, who kicked out. Raven grabbed Sandman's beer, and Sandman lowblowed him.  Sandman hit Raven with the can of beer.  Sabu set up a table in the ring.  Sandman suplexed Sabu.  Raven suplexed Sandman.  Sabu suplexed Raven.  Sabu put Raven on the table, which collapsed under his weight.  Sabu put the table in the corner, put Raven against it, then chair launched into a leg lariat, putting Raven through the table.  Sandman crawled over to make the cover, but Sabu broke it up.  Sabu put Sandman on a table at ringside and legdropped him through it.  Sabu put Raven and Sandman on a table at ringside, but both moved as Sabu went for a slingshot legdrop, and Sabu went through the table alone.  Sandman tossed a ladder in the ring.  Raven set it up and climbed up, but thought better of it, and had Jack Victory help him down.  Sabu tossed the ladder at Raven and covered him for two.  Sabu dropkicked the ladder into Sandman for another two. Raven did an airplane spin with the ladder, hitting Sandman and Sabu.  The fans chanted "You're not Funk" at him.  Sabu gave Raven a drop toe hold into a chair, then hit Air Sabu.  He went for it again, but Raven caught him with a clothesline.  Sandman brought a table into the ring. Sabu suplexed Sandman into the ladder, which bent in half.  Raven put Sabu on a table, then DDT'd Sandman on the mat for two.  Raven DDT'd Sabu to the mat for another two. Raven but Sabu back on the ladder, and went to the ropes.  Sabu crotched Raven on the top.  Sabu tossed Sandman onto a table, and hit a Atomic Arabian Facebuster to the back of Sandman's head as he got up, sending him face first through the table. Raven shoved Sabu from the ring and covered Sandman for the pin at 16:42.

Your winner, and new 3PW Champion, Raven.

Raven got on the mic and said that next month he would beat Sandman one-on-one.  Sandman got back up and low blowed Raven, then legdropped him through the remains of one of the tables. Jack Victory pulled Raven from the ring and carried him to the back.

That's all from here, goodnight everyone!

For more on 3PW, visit www.3PWrestling.com.