ECW HOSTILE CITY SHOWDOWN 6/21/94 Commercial Tape

Running Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

This was one of ECW’s more noteworthy shows from its early days. At the time, ECW was still Eastern Championship Wrestling. Also, as shown by this tape, the product wasn’t nearly as remarkable as it would become within the next year or so. The only really good match was the main event, the first ever meeting between Sabu and Cactus Jack. While they perhaps didn’t meet expectations they didn’t disappoint either. The Funks vs Public Enemy was pretty interesting as it had its moments, including Terry hanging Rocco by the legs from the eagle’s nest of the ECW Arena. The rest of the card wasn’t particularly bad, but none of the undercard matches were anything special and only a couple reached **. Overall this is not a tape I would recommend as an introduction to the ECW product. If you’re a diehard ECW fan or can get this tape at a low price, though, it isn’t a bad tape to get.

1. Tommy Dreamer vs Hack Myers

Dreamer hit a bulldog early on. Myers fought back but Dreamer slammed him off the top rope to the mat. Myers attempted a back suplex but Dreamer fell on top of him for a near fall. Dreamer used moves such as a neckbreaker and a suplex but Myers fought back. Myers gave Dreamer a lariat and legdropped him on the apron as Dreamer’s neck was draped on the bottom rope. Dreamer gained a near fall with a cross bodyblock. He DDTd Myers but missed an elbowsmash. Dreamer gained a near fall with a sunset flip. Myers whipped Dreamer hard into the corner. Dreamer recovered and pinned Myers at 6:47 after a top rope splash. Pretty bland opener. *

2. Chad Austin vs Don E. Allen

Before the match started 911 ran out and chokeslammed the ref and then gave Austin and Allen a double chokeslam. 911 went to chokeslam the ref again when commissioner Tod Gordon intervened. 911 chokeslammed Tod for his efforts twice. Dreamer checked on Gordon and 911 chokeslammed him as well. NR

3. Dog Collar Match: Pitbull 1 (w/Jason) vs Tazmaniac

Pitbull and Jason clotheslined Taz with the chain as he entered the ring. Pitbull assaulted Taz with the chain early on. He threw Taz over the top rope but also crashed to the floor because he was chained to Taz. Taz fought back using the barricade as a weapon and also hit Pitbull with a chair. Pitbull hit Taz with a fan’s chair but Taz fought back and hit Pitbull with a chair in the crowd. Pitbull dominated Taz as the action reentered the ring. Pitbull touched three corners but Taz cut him off. Taz gave Pitbull a lariat and touched three corners but Pitbull fought back. Pitbull gained a near fall with a belly to belly suplex. Tax gave Pitbull a T-bone suplex for a near fall. Pitbull fought back with a superkick and gave him a powerbomb. Pitbull dragged Taz around by the neck and touched three corners before Taz hit a released German suplex for the pin at 7:42. Pitbull 2 then debuted by attacking Taz. An average match that was pretty good towards the end. **

4. Ron & Don Harris (Bruise Brothers) vs Shane Douglas & Mr. Hughes

The Bruise Brothers attacked their opponents at the bell. The action quickly left the ring as Ron and Don continued to dominate. Douglas hit Don Harris with a chair and slammed him in the aisle but Ron attacked him and sent him into the barricade. Ron hit Hughes with a chair. Douglas got the better of Don as they fought outside the ring but Don fought back with a suplex back in the ring. Douglas belly to belly suplexed Ron and another 4 way brawl broke out with the Bruise Brothers taking the fight to ringside again. Don choked Douglas with a chair. Hughes gained a near fall on Don with a chair. Don hit both opponents with a chair. All four men fought outside the ring as Ron threw Douglas over the barricade into the crowd. Don crotched Douglas on the barricade. Hughes gave Ron a Rock bottom and went for a pin but the ref was outside the ring with Douglas and Don. Don came in, kicked Hughes and placed Ron on top of Hughes for the pin at 8:41. Just an average match with Hughes dragging it down. **

5. Cane on a Pole Match: Sandman (w/Woman) vs Tommy Cairo (w/Peaches)

Cairo got the better of Sandman early on but failed to get the cane. Cairo threw Sandman out of the ring through a table, then legdropped him. Cairo legdropped Sandman off the apron to the floor but Sandman fought back with a low blow. Sandman elbowed Cairo and hit a slingshot splash. Sandman made an unsuccessful attempt to grab the cane and Cairo superplexed him. Sandman gave Cairo a face front suplex but Cairo recovered and DDTd Sandman. Woman gave Sandman a second cane and Sandman attacked Cairo with it. The ref declared the match a no contest due to Woman handing Sandman a second cane. Peaches tried to intervene but Sandman shoved her and Woman hit her with the cane that was designated for the match. A flat match. *

6. Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge) vs Terry & Dory Funk Jr.

Dory got the better of Rocco with a forearm. Grunge also ran into a Funk forearm from Dory. Terry got the better of Grunge. Dory won an exchange of forearms against Grunge and suplexed him back into the ring for an early near fall. Terry gained a near fall on Grunge with a powerbomb. Terry took the fight outside the ring where Grunge held his own. Terry threw Grunge into the crowd and hit Rocco with a chair. Dory hit Grunge with a chair as Rocco hit Terry with a chair. Dory won a duel of chairs against Rocco but Grunge hit him from behind with another chair. Rocco attacked Dory with a chair at ringside and Grunge attacked Terry with a chair. Public Enemy continued to dominate the Funks. Grunge and Terry fought into the crowd briefly. Grunge rolled up Terry for a near fall. Rocco went for a somersault plancha but Dory moved and Rocco hit Grunge instead. Grunge attacked a bloody Terry at ringside. Dory applied a spinning toehold on Rocco. Paul E. & 911 came to the ring on Public Enemy’s behalf. 911 chokeslammed the ref. Public Enemy pinned Dory as Paul E. made the count. Rocco and Terry continued to fight at ringside and Grunge and Dory continued to fight inside the ring. Terry and Rocco fought into the eagle’s nest where Terry attacked Rocco with a chair. Terry tied Rocco’s ankles with a rope and hung him upside down from the eagle’s nest. I believe the match was declared a no contest at 13:39. This was an average match with some great moments. Slightly disappointing given the talent involved. **1/2

7. ECW TV Title: Mikey Whipwreck (c) vs Rockin Rebel (w/Jason)

Rebel completely dominated Mikey from the start. He used moves such as a short clothesline, suplex, chops, a spinebuster and a side suplex. Jason even tripped Whipwreck but Whipwreck pushed him off the apron. Rebel clotheslined Mikey over the top rope to the floor. Jason went to hit Mikey with a chair but Mikey moved and Jason hit Rebel instead. Mikey attacked Jason but Rebel hit him from behind with a chair for the DQ at 4:05. Jason and Rebel assaulted Mikey until Taz made the save, although the Pitbulls then ran in and, along with Rebel, attacked Taz. A virtual squash. *

8. Sabu (w/Paul E. & 911) vs Cactus Jack

Sabu gave Cactus three enzuguiris early. Sabu back suplexed Cactus and spin kicked him out of the ring. Sabu hit Cactus with a chair at ringside several times. He placed Cactus on the chair at ringside and gave him a tope suicida. Sabu launched off a chair with a flying kick on Cactus in the corner. He dove at Cactus in the corner but Cactus met him with an elbow. Cactus gave Sabu his Cactus clothesline as they both tumbled over the top rope to the floor. Cactus hit Sabu with a chair at ringside twice and gave him his elbow off the apron to the floor. Cactus hit Sabu with a frying pan handed to him by a fan, after which Cactus kissed the frying pan and hit himself in the head with it several times. Cactus gained a near fall with an elbowsmash back in the ring. He missed a somersault top rope senton. Sabu hit a slingshot legdrop on Cactus for a near fall. Cactus caught Sabu on the top rope and attempted a back superplex but Sabu fell on top of him. Sabu dropkicked Cactus. Both men fell out of the ring after a series of counters. Cactus rammed Sabu into the barricade and went for a flip dove into the crowd but Sabu partially moved. Sabu set up a table in the aisle and legdropped Cactus off the barricade through the table. Sabu gained a near fall back in the ring. He charged at Cactus but Cactus sent him neck-first into the barricade. Sabu fought back and back suplexed Cactus on the floor. 911 placed Cactus on a table in the front row and Sabu attempted an Asai moonsault onto Cactus through the table but Cactus moved out of the way. Cactus gained a near fall back in the ring. Cactus hit Sabu with a piece of the table and gave him a corner splash but as he did so Paul E. hit Cactus with his phone. Sabu fell on top of Cactus and pinned him at 13:01. Cactus fought off both Sabu and 911 in a postmatch brawl until Mr. Hughes ran in. Douglas and the Bruise Brothers also joined the brawl and Sabu hit everyone with a somersault plancha. A very good match, slightly below expectations, but a chaotic and fitting end to the show. ***1/2

BACK TO MY VIDEO REVIEWS SECTION
HOME