ECW HOSTILE CITY SHOWDOWN 4/15/95

Running Time: 2 hours

Although in hindsight not one of ECW’s best in-ring shows, this event has been one of ECW’s most critically-acclaimed events. It was probably their best event to date and, like Holiday Hell ’95 to an extent, showcased everything that ECW had become popular for: the hardcore brawling, the unique angles and comedy, and the world-class wrestling. In at least two of those regards, ECW changed its standards. The Axl-Ian Rotten and Funk-Cactus matches were two of ECW’s most violent fights to date. Perhaps the match that put this show on the map was the first and arguably best Guerrero-Malenko classic. That match was 26 minutes of state-of-the-art, brilliant, sometimes spectacular and dramatic wrestling devoid of gimmicks and devoid of the violence characteristic of ECW’s product. While there were two “duds” on this card (Genjin-Stetson and Simmons-911), they ate up very little tape time and didn’t distract from the other matches. Overall, Hostile City Showdown ’95 is a tape I definitely recommend to most ECW fans, especially the hardcore tape collectors.

1. Mikey Whipwreck vs Stevie Richards (w/Raven)

Mikey got the better of Richards early but Raven tripped him. Mikey then went to the back and brought out Hack Myers to even the odds. Mikey gained a near fall with a flying clothesline and another with a dropkick. Richards finally fought back three minutes into the match but missed a dropkick. Mikey repeatedly worked on Richards’s left arm. Richards missed an elbowsmash and Mikey gained a near fall. Richards fought back with a powerbomb but then missed a corner splash and crashed shoulder-first into the ringpost. Raven tripped Mikey again but Myers then tripped Richards. Richards threw Mikey to the canvas but continued to favor his left arm. Mikey pinned Richards at 7:38 with a huracanrana. Raven attacked Mikey afterwards but Myers made the save. The Pitbulls attacked Myers and Whipwreck until Public Enemy made the save. An entertaining opener. *3/4

2. Tony Stetson vs Tsubo Genjin

Fans were chanting “bingo” in tribute to this bad match Genjin pinned Stetson at 4:48 after a terrible legdrop. Only a minute aired, but it was obvious the match sucked. DUD

3. Bad Breed Death Match: Axl Rotten vs Ian Rotten

Ian attacked Axl before the bell and whipped him with a strap. Axl attacked Ian with a barbed wire bat and sliced his head open at ringside with the barbed wire. Axl hit Ian with a chair and continued to assault him with the barbed wire bat. Ian fought back and used the barbed wire bat on Axl. Ian wrapped some of the barbed wire around Axl and pushed him into the corner. Axl bled heavily three minutes into the match. Axl backdropped Ian over the barricade into the crowd and stabbed his head with a screwdriver. Axl even hit Ian with a broken hockey stick. Axl repeatedly his Ian’s left arm with the barbed wire bat. Ian placed a garbage can on Axl’s head and hit him with a bat. Axl whipped Ian with the strap and hit him with a chair at ringside. Axl continued to tear at Ian’s flesh with the barbed wire bat. Axl DDTd Ian but missed a second rope fistdrop. Ian hit Axl with a chair and wrapped his head in barbed wire before delivering another chairshot for the pin at 9:07. A sick match by 1995 standards. Both men worked hard. **1/2

4. Raven (w/Stevie Richards & Beulah McGillicutty) vs Tommy Dreamer

Raven hit a tope on Dreamer, starting a wild brawl all over the arena. Raven dominated the match early and Dreamer was busted open within the first minute. Raven went to piledrive Dreamer on the stage but Dreamer countered with a backdrop. Dreamer hit Raven with a chair and suplexed him on the stage. Dreamer attacked Raven with a kitchen sink in an entertaining twist. Raven fought back and hit Dreamer with a chair in the crowd. Raven then hit Dreamer with the sink. Dreamer fought back and applied a sleeper although both men tumbled out of the ring. Dreamer hit Raven in the crotch with a plastic dinosaur doll and also hit him with a dozen eggs. Raven recovered as they returned to the ring and DDTd Dreamer three times for a near fall. Dreamer DDTd Raven on the floor and gained a near fall in the ring. Richards attacked Dreamer but Dreamer gave him a DDT. Dreamer then DDTd the ref and piledrove Beulah for a huge pop. Apparently Dreamer list via DQ in 7:15. A really fun brawl with both men working hard. ***

5. 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

6. ECW World Title: Shane Douglas (c) w/Woman vs Sandman

Sandman attacked Douglas at the bell but Douglas fought back. Douglas dominated Sandman early but Sandman then threw him out of the ring. Sandman whipped Douglas into the barricade. Douglas fought back with a DDT in the ring. Douglas dropped Sandman gut-first on the top rope. Douglas then hit a second rope splash. Sandman fought back and scored with a legdrop on the apron. Douglas deposited Sandman chest first on the barricade. Sandman threw Douglas off the apron into the barricade. Sandman hit Douglas with a chair at ringside. Douglas hit a tope on a distracted Sandman. Douglas attempted a suplex at ringside but Sandman countered and dropped him on the floor. Sandman dominated Douglas as the action returned to the ring. Sandman missed a top rope legdrop. Douglas applied a crossface chicken wing on Sandman but Woman then caned Douglas in the leg. Sandman fell on top of Douglas and pinned him at 7:53 to win the title. Woman reunited with Sandman proving she had set up Douglas. Douglas left the ring, put on a “Monday Night RAW” t-shirt and left the arena through the front door. A pretty good match with a neat (for 1995) twist at the end and a landmark postmatch angle involving Douglas. **1/2

7. ECW World Tag Team Title: Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge) (c) vs Pitbulls (1 & 2) w/Stevie Richards

Pitbull 1 got the better of Rocco early. Pitbull 1 clotheslined Rocco over the top rope to the floor. Pitbull 2 press slammed Rocco clear out of the ring and through a ringside table. Grunge looked strong against both Pitbulls briefly until they gave him a double headbutt and a double suplex. Pitbull 1 gained a couple near falls on Rocco. A bloodied Rocco tried to fight back but Pitbull 1 aborted his comeback. Pitbull 2 powerslammed Rocco. Rocco fought back with an in-ring quebrada on Pitbull 1 for a near fall. Grunge gave Pitbull 2 a cactus clothesline. A 4-way brawl took place at ringside. Rocco hit Pitbull 1 with a frying pan as Pitbull 2 rammed Grunge into the ringpost. Grunge fought back and whipped Pitbull 2 into the barricade. Grunge attacked Pitbull 2 with a chair as Rocco and Pitbull 1 brawled into the crowd. Grunge and Pitbull 2 exchanged offense in the ring as Rocco hit Pitbull 1 with a cookie sheet in the crowd. All four men were busted open by the 10 minute mark. Pitbull 1 attacked Rocco with a metal crutch at ringside and Richards hit Rocco with a trash can lid. Pitbull 1 dumped Rocco into the crowd as Grunge got the better of Pitbull 2 in the ring. Grunge Vader bombed Pitbull 2 through a table at 11:45 and threw him out of the ring. Rocco attacked Richards with a trash can lid as Pitbull 2 piledrove Grunge at ringside. Pitbull 2 hit Grunge with a chair as Rocco and Pitbull 1 continued to fight in the crowd. The Pitbulls dominated their opponents as the action finally reentered the ring. Pitbull 1 gained a near fall on Rocco. Pitbull 2 went to superbomb Rocco but Rocco countered with a huracanrana for a near fall. Grunge gained a near fall on Pitbull 1 after Pitbull 2 accidentally clotheslined his partner. Pitbull 1 gained a near fall on Rocco with a slingshot shoulderblock. Grunge hit both Pitbulls with a chain and gave Pitbull 1 an inverted DDT. Rocco missed a drive-by on Pitbull 1 but recovered and rolled him up for the pin at 18:06 (16:53 aired). A good brawl, although the Pitbulls had not reached their peak yet. ***

8. Ron Simmons vs 911

Simmons attempted a superplex but 911 countered with a second rope chokeslam for the pin at 5:31 (only the finish aired). NR

9. Cactus Jack vs Terry Funk

Cactus attacked Funk as they went from the bleachers to the stage. Funk hit Cactus with three chairshots and threw a bunch of chairs onto Cactus from the balcony. Cactus fought back with a couple chairshots. Cactus jumped off the balcony level with an elbowsmash but Funk moved and Cactus crashed through a table on the stage. Funk hit Cactus with a chair as they returned to ringside. Cactus hit Funk with a metal crutch, a cookie sheet and a frying pan but Funk hiptossed him into the barricade. Funk hit Cactus’s leg with a chair as the leg was caught in the barricade. Funk brought a table into the ring but Cactus whipped Funk into the table twice. Funk fought back and hit Cactus with the table. Cactus recovered and dropkicked Funk into the barricade. Cactus attacked Funk with a toilet seat and a plunger. He rammed Funk face-first onto a chair at ringside. Funk slammed Cactus off the apron to the barricade. Cactus whipped Funk into the barricade and took him towards the entrance. Cactus brought a garbage bin into the ring and hit Funk with it. Funk fought back and broke a glass bottle over Cactus’s head, busting him open. Funk sliced Cactus’s arm open with a broken bottle. Funk slapped Cactus and insulted him on the mic. Mikey tried to come to Cactus’s aid but Funk threw him out of the ring and into the crowd. Myers also ran in but Funk beat him up as well. Funk hit Cactus’s leg with two brutal chairshots and applied a spinning toehold but Cactus rolled him up for the first near fall of the match at 12:25. Cactus DDTd Funk on a chair for a near fall when Sandman attacked Cactus for an apparent DQ as the bell rang at 12:48. However, Cactus then pinned Funk 10 seconds later. Sandman caned Cactus and poured lighter fluid on him. Funk then threw fire at Cactus and attacked him with a flaming branding iron. Cactus grabbed the flaming branding iron and chased Funk with it. A wild, crazy ending to the show. Not a classic match, but a fitting main event for its chaos and brutality. ***1/2

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