THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA

ARTICLE #12
NOVEMBER 5, 2001

ECW Memorable Matches Volume 1

ECW Title: Terry Funk (c) vs Sabu (w/Paul E. Dangerously) vs Shane Douglas (w/Sherri Martel)

Paul E. ran in and knocked Sherri out with his phone. As Douglas attacked Paul E., Sabu ran in and attacked Douglas. Douglas eventually dominated Sabu for a couple minutes. Sabu fought back with a spin kick. He dominated Douglas in and out of the ring, gaining a near fall with a corkscrew second rope legdrop at 4:23. Douglas fought back with a neckbreaker but Sabu aborted his comeback by working on Douglas�s injured arm for a couple minutes. Sabu hit a flying kick on Douglas in the corner for a near fall and went back to working on Douglas�s right arm. Douglas countered with a fireman�s carry takedown of sorts. Douglas dominated Sabu and threw him out of the ring at 11:10. Sabu fought back and set up a table in the crowd. He went to hit an Asai moonsault on Douglas but Douglas moved and Sabu crashed through the table. Douglas worked on Sabu�s injured knee as Funk entered the match at 14:05. He lit into Douglas and took the fight to ringside and into the crowd. Funk piledrove Douglas on the floor at 16:24. Back in the ring Funk DDTd Douglas twice for a near fall. Funk hit Sherri and DDTd Douglas on the floor. Funk threw a bunch of chairs into the ring and so did several fans. Funk then DDTd Douglas on the stack of chairs, but also hurt himself in the process. Douglas hit a top rope splash on Funk�s injured back. Douglas back suplexed Funk for a near fall. Douglas dominated Funk as they brawled towards the entrance. He slammed Funk on the floor at ringside. Douglas and Funk traded near falls. Funk went for a spinning toehold but Douglas rolled him up for a near fall at 25:08. Funk punched the ref and Douglas rammed Funk�s head into the exposed bolt where the turnbuckle had been removed. Sherri even got a couple punches in on Funk. A bloody Funk finally sustained offense on Douglas for a period. Funk again took the fight into the crowd. Funk continued to dominate Douglas as they returned to the ring. Sabu returned to fight, and Paul E. also returned to ringside. Sabu�s right knee was taped. As Douglas and Sabu fought in the ring, Funk taunted them with lots of coarse language from the announcer�s area as he spoke on Joey Styles�s headset. Funk applied a spinning toehold on Sabu at 34:30. 911 confronted the ref as Paul E. hit Funk with his phone. Funk then hit both opponents with JYD-like headbutts while on all fours. Funk gave both opponents a neckbreaker and gained a near fall on Sabu. Douglas attacked Sabu�s injured knee as Funk gained a near fall on both men. Sherri tried to interfere but Funk headbutted her. Funk applied a sleeper on Douglas as Douglas held a sleeper on Sabu at 37:30. Douglas clotheslined Funk out of the ring. Douglas applied a figure 4 leglock on Sabu for a minute. Sabu fought back but botched an attempted slingshot moonsault. Sabu hit the moonsault for a near fall as Sherri distracted the ref. Sherri interfered and Sabu chased her. Axl and Ian Rotten interfered on Funk�s behalf. Douglas gave Sabu a fisherman suplex for a near fall. Sabu attempted a huracanrana but Douglas blocked it. Sabu hit a slingshot legdrop on Douglas for a near fall at 42:05. The Rottens attacked both Sabu and Douglas with chairs and dominated them for a while. The Rottens also assaulted Sabu and Douglas outside the ring and near the entrance where Sabu and Axl brawled to the back briefly. Back in the ring Douglas dominated an injured Sabu as Funk returned to the ring. Everyone fought all over the arena for a while, with Funk and Douglas brawling out of camera view briefly. Funk headbutted the ref for no apparent reason. Sabu moonsaulted Funk, seemingly injuring Funk�s knee in the process. Sabu also moonsaulted Douglas. Funk covered both opponents but the ref was still knocked out. Douglas piledrove Funk and suplexed Sabu onto Funk at 51:06. Douglas gained a near fall on Funk. Sabu splashed Funk twice for a near fall. Sabu covered both opponents for a great near fall at 52:29. Funk applied a spinning toehold on Douglas but Sherri pounced on Funk. Funk then suplexed Sherri. Douglas back suplexed Sabu. Funk gave Sabu a low blow with one of Sherri�s boots. Funk attacked Paul E. and gave him an atomic drop at ringside. Shane hit a flying bodypress on Sabu and kicked Funk in the process. Sherri accidentally hit Douglas. Funk and Sabu exchanged near falls as time expired at 57:28. After some brief boos, fans gave the combatants a standing ovation. A slow paced match ,but very few times where the match was dull for a lengthy stretch. The brawling outside the ring and in the crowd was basic by toady�s standards, but was an entertaining novelty back in 1994. This was the match that put ECW on the map. ****

Barbed Wire Match: Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge) vs Terry Funk & Dory Funk Jr. 7/13/94

The Funks threw chairs at Public Enemy as they were in the eagle�s nest. They did the usual teasing of barbed wire spots as they traded offense early. The Funks tried to whip Rocco into the wire but he slid underneath and out of the ring. Rock and Grunge pounded Dory at ringside but Terry turned the tables. Rock pushed Terry into the barbed wire. Rock charged at Terry but Terry moved and Rock crashed into the barbed wire. All four men brawled at ringside and the Funks dominated their opponents during this time. Dory and Rocco fought into the crowd as a bloody Grunge fought with Terry and pushed him into the barbed wire. Rocco slammed Dory onto the barbed wire, yet Dory was already bleeding from the head. Rocco got tied up in the barbed wire thanks to Terry, and Dory also tied up Grunge in the barbed wire. Dory double arm suplexed Rocco as Terry piledrove Grunge. Terry piledrove Grunge again and asked fans to give him some chairs. In one of the all-time classic scenes in ECW history, fans threw nearly 100 chairs into the ring as Terry piledrove Grunge on the sea of chairs. All four men brawled out of the ring, into the crowd, and out of the ECW arena for a while. Rocco returned to the ring as Dory hit him with a trash can several times. Dory even hit the ref with the trash can in a spot more reminiscent of his brother Terry. Dory assaulted Grunge with a chair but Grunge attacked Dory with wire cutters. Rocco hit Funk repeatedly with a trash can. Rocco and Grunge wrapped Terry in barbed wire and a trash can. Rocco finally pinned Terry at 12:55. The Funks gained a measure of revenge in a post-match brawl as fans threw more chairs into the ring. The Funks buried Public Enemy in a sea of chairs. Dory then used the wire cutters to get the barbed wire off Funk�s body. Not a masterpiece of a match, but a violent and crazy spectacle, especially the chair throwing. This match established ECW as the king of hardcore wrestling in the States. **3/4

ECW TV Title: Eddy Guerrero (c) vs Dean Malenko 4/15/95

They started out with smooth mat wrestling. Guerrero gained the advantage in somewhat heelish fashion. They had a great exchange of offense and counters ending with both men throwing dropkicks at the same time. Fans gave that exchange a standing ovation. As Malenko dominated Guerrero on the mat a fan chanted �boring�. The rest of the crowd was infuriated and responded by chanting �throw him out�. Guerrero worked on Malenko�s arm with a cross-armbreaker. Guerrero gave Malenko a Rock bottom and his slingshot somersault senton for an early near fall. Malenko double arm suplexed Guerrero for a near fall and then worked on Guerrero�s arm. Malenko dropkicked Guerrero�s knees and tied up Guerrero by the arms and legs. Malenko continued to attack Guerrero�s left knee in and out of the ring for several minutes. Malenko applied an STF at 13:23 on Guerrero. Guerrero caught Malenko off-guard with a sunset flip for a near fall. Guerrero gave Malenko a cradle suplex and a powerbomb for a near fall. Guerrero also gave Malenko a tornado DDT for a near fall. Guerrero hit a top rope huracanrana for a near fall. He tied up Malenko�s legs and bent his body in almost a sharpshooter position. He then turned the move into an STF on Malenko at 16:55. Malenko fought back. Guerrero tried to push him off the top rope to the floor, but Malenko wrapped his legs around Guerrero and they both tumbled to the floor. Malenko suplexed Guerrero out of the ring to the floor but missed a tope. Guerrero then hit a plancha but nearly missed his target. Malenko hit a brainbuster but Guerrero fought back with a brainbuster of his own on Malenko. Guerrero hit a frog splash for a great near fall at 21:04. Malenko fought back and gained a near fall with a northern lights suplex. Malenko gave Guerrero a spinebuster but was unable to apply the Texas cloverleaf. He attempted to apply that hold but Guerrero rolled him up for a near fall. Guerrero hit a top rope huracanrana for a heated near fall at 23:21. Guerrero applied the Gori special on Malenko. They then exchanged rollups for a total of four near falls, and fans gave them another standing ovation. Malenko caught Guerrero but Guerrero sunset flipped him off the top rope for a near fall. Time expired at 25:57 and fans responded with a rousing standing ovation. One of the greatest pure wrestling matches in ECW history. ****1/2

ECW Tag Team Title Best of 3 Falls: Raven & Stevie Richards (c) w/Beulah McGillicutty vs Pitbulls (1 & 2) w/Francine 9/16/95

This was one of the most historical and memorable ECW matches ever because it best exemplified the hardcore and chaotic style that set ECW apart from WWF and WCW. Originally a one fall match, Beulah requested that it become two out of three falls because Richards "couldn't compete". During the first fall, Pitbull 1 found Richards backstage, brought him into the ring, and busted him open. Raven piledrove Pitbull 2 through a table to win the first fall in 2:12. Pitbull 2 evened the score by superbombing Richards through a table and pinning him at 1:50 of the second fall. The third fall, though, is what will be remembered most about this match. First, the Dudleys (Dudley and Dances With) ran in and attacked the Pitbulls. Raven and Richards superbombed both Pitbulls, who got right back up and DDTd all four men at once. Pitbull 1 went to superbomb Raven through a table, but Raven instead cracked the back of his head on the edge of the table in the sickest spot of the match. Pitbull 2 was stretchered out after being splashed through a table. Tommy Dreamer then ran in, DDTd Raven, and pinned him, supposedly ending the match. However, heel referee Bill Alfonso came in and overruled the pin. ECW commissioner Tod Gordon came in to argue but Alfonso shoved him down. Big Dick Dudley then chokeslammed Dreamer. Even though Alfonso had banned that move, he decided to allow it for one night. 911 then ran into the ring, and, in an angle that had been building for three months, finally chokeslammed Alfonso for a huge pop. Pitbull 2 returned and superbombed both Raven and Richards at the same time. He then pinned them to win the match and tag team titles at 14:35 of the third fall. Not a technical masterpiece, but the booking and selection of spots cannot be denied. This was ECW at its hardcore best. ****1/2

Terry Funk & Tommy Dreamer vs Raven & Cactus Jack 11/18/95

Cactus came out wearing a Dungeon of Doom t-shirt. Raven and Cactus held their opponents at bay early on. Funk and Dreamer quickly fought back and took the fight to ringside. Funk hit Cactus with a chair and threw the chair into the ring at Raven, hitting him in the head as well in a cool spot. Funk emptied a garbage can in the ring and hit both opponents with a �25 MPH� sign. Stevie Richards tried to interfere on Raven�s behalf. Funk and Dreamer placed Richards in a shopping cart and rammed it into the ringpost. Dreamer clocked Raven with a VCR as Funk assaulted Cactus with a snow shovel. Funk also hit Cactus with a dust pan and even hit the ref with it. Funk grabbed a golf club and hit a great chip shot on Raven�s crotch. Dreamer sliced open Raven�s head with a cheese grater. Raven and Cactus regained the advantage as Raven choked Funk with a toilet seat. Raven and Cactus clotheslined Dreamer with a chair. Cactus appeared to stab Funk�s arm with scissors as Raven DDTd Dreamer. Raven and Cactus continued to dominate the fight outside the ring. Raven and Cactus attempted to clothesline Dreamer with the chain but Dreamer dove onto the chain causing them to collide. Dreamer DDTd Raven but Cactus then hit Dreamer with a �speed limit 30� sign. Raven and Funk brawled outside the ring as Cactus took off his shirt, revealing an Eric Bischoff t-shirt underneath. Dreamer won a slugfest against Cactus and hit him with a loud chairshot. Funk dropped the shopping cart on Raven at ringside. Dreamer hit Cactus with the trash can. Cactus fought back and gave Funk a double arm DDT onto a chair. Raven hit a tope on Dreamer. Raven went to pin Funk but the ref was still knocked out. By this point all four men were bleeding. Cactus hit Dreamer with a paint bin and a fan�s crutch. Cactus brought out Bill Alfonso to count his pin attempt of Funk but only gained a near fall. Taz came in and pounded Funk. Raven attacked Dreamer but Dreamer fought back with 2 DDTs. Dreamer piledrove Raven on a chair and Funk pinned Raven at 13:37. Just a wild match from start to finish with a ton of weapons, several of which were very creative and unique. A great match, but not excellent because the athleticism was nothing special. ***1/2

ECW TV Title: Chris Jericho (c) vs Shane Douglas vs Too Cold Scorpio vs Pitbull 2 7/13/96

Douglas attacked Pitbull with a chair as he made his way to ringside. Jericho won an early exchange with Scorpio. Scorpio won a second exchange against Jericho with a dropkick. Scorpio gave Jericho a somersault legdrop for an early near fall. Jericho gained a near fall on Scorpio with a tiger driver. They had a slapfest but Scorpio gave Jericho a spin kick and tagged Douglas. Jericho got the better of Douglas as the pace slowed. Jericho gave Douglas a slingshot corkscrew splash. Jericho and Douglas exchanged chops, after which Jericho gave Douglas a spin kick and a lionsault for a near fall. Jericho tagged Pitbull but Douglas was afraid to fight him so he tagged Scorpio. Pitbull dominated Scorpio for a minute. Scorpio wrapped his legs around Pitbull and sent him over the top rope to the floor. Scorpio dropkicked Pitbull off the apron and rammed his head into a chair. Douglas attacked Pitbull finally, but Pitbull had been weakened by Scorpio. Douglas and then Jericho dominated Pitbull for a stretch until he gave Jericho an elbow. Jericho German suplexed Pitbull for a near fall at 12:13. Jericho crotched Scorpio on the top rope and Jericho gave Scorpio a superfrankensteiner but hurt his knee in the process. Douglas gained a near fall on Scorpio but Scorpio fought back with a spin kick on Douglas. Scorpio dominated Douglas outside the ring and gave him a bulldog on a chair in the ring for a near fall. Pitbull powerbombed Jericho for a near fall at 16:43. Jericho got the better of Scorpio and Pitbull gave Scorpio a second rope fallaway slam for a near fall. Pitbull hiptossed Douglas out of the ring. Scorpio hit a plancha on all three opponents at ringside. Scorpio then brawled with Jericho into the crowd as Douglas dominated Pitbull closer to the ring. Douglas gave Pitbull a bulldog onto a chair for a near fall at 21:26. Pitbull lit into Douglas and went to press slam him but put him down and Jericho gave Douglas a top rope dropkick for a near fall. Jericho worked on Douglas�s leg and applied a figure 4 leglock. Jericho went for a lionsault but Scorpio dropkicked him in mid-air. Scorpio powerbombed Jericho but Jericho caught Scorpio with a tiger suplex. Scorpio superkicked Jericho, tombstoned him and hit his tumbleweed legdrop for the pin at 27:00 to eliminate Jericho. Douglas tried to make amends with Scorpio but Scorpio attacked him. Scorpio wore Douglas down with an abdominal stretch but Douglas fought back and gave him a belly to belly suplex. Scorpio hit a corkscrew top rope sunset flip on Douglas for a near fall. Scorpio gave Douglas a lariat and superkicked Pitbull. Scorpio placed Douglas on Pitbull but missed a moonsault on both of them. Douglas DDTd Scorpio and lifted Scorpio onto Pitbull�s shoulders after which Pitbull superbombed Scorpio for the pin at 31:08 to eliminate him. Pitbull lined up two chairs and powerbombed Douglas through the chairs for a pop. Pitbull set up a table in the corner. Douglas belly to belly suplexed Pitbull. Francine distracted the ref and Douglas pulled her into the ring. Douglas kissed Francine, Pitbull charged Douglas, Douglas moved and Pitbull squashed the ref in the corner. Pitbull pressed Douglas but Francine threw powder into Pitbull�s eyes. Francine removed her skirt, revealing a bikini with the word �Franchise� on the back. Pitbull 1 came to ringside as Pitbull 2 tore into Douglas. The Pitbulls superbombed Francine through a table for a pop. Douglas DDTd the injured Pitbull 1 and hit Pitbull 2 with the belt for a heated near fall. Douglas broke a piece of the table over Pitbull 2�s head for a near fall. Douglas punched Pitbull 2 with a chain for a near fall. Pitbull 2 fought back but missed a spin kick in the corner and tumbled to the floor. Douglas belly to belly suplexed Pitbull 2 and pinned him at 39:41 to win the title. The match was great due to its longevity, its generally strong athletic content and the stories of Douglas�s ascension and Francine�s heel turn. ****

NEXT ISSUE: Toyota! Yamada! Kansai! Ozaki!- The Trilogy!!!

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