ECW NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER 11/17/96
Running Time: 3 hours
ECW’s fourth annual showcase event was pushed as their biggest show to date. Did it live up to its hype? Yes and no. It did have a major league atmosphere and most matches had a sense of importance. While the in-ring work wasn’t among the best outings for ECW, it wasn’t really disappointing as a whole. As for impact, it had that. You had the first significant rumbling to date concerning an ECW PPV. You had the debut of the BWO. Okay, maybe that wasn’t a heart-pounding moment of drama, but did set up an entertaining act for the next several months. Too Cold Scorpio made his ECW farewell, putting over Louie Spicolli in the process in the creation of a new (albeit secondary) star. Then there was the historic face-to-face meeting between Sabu and Taz, which drew a monstrous pop the likes of which you only heard in the ECW Arena in 1996. But that’s where I’ll start with the negatives. Sabu and Taz didn’t actually make any physical contact, which disappointed many fans that felt that the “tease” portion of the storyline had lasted long enough (a full year). This year’s NTR also lacked the level of excitement, or at least crowd energy, that was characteristic of the 1995 event. Sabu/RVD-Eliminators was a great match in terms of spots, but lasted about 10 minutes too long. Scorpio’s farewell was well-booked, but I would have liked his match with Spicolli to go at least 10 minutes to give it a greater sense of importance. Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the night was the disappointing match between Raven and Sandman, which was perhaps their most sluggish match against each other and far worse than their late-95 and early-96 matches. Overall, though, this was a pretty good show with plenty of good matches and workrate, topped off by a great main event that exceeded expectations by as much as a full star or more. Any ECW fan should have this tape, although for less serious collectors there are better ECW shows out there.
*Taz and Bill Alfonso made an unscheduled appearance. Taz announced an impending ECW pay per view for the first quarter of 1997, thus ruining a supposed planed surprise from Paul Heyman. Taz ripped Heyman verbally and promised he would fight Sabu at that “big show”, saying Heyman had no choice.
*Stevie Richards, Blue Meanie, Nova and several nameless others came out. They carried “BWO” signs through the crowd to the ring, representing the debut of the Blue World Order. The group was introduced as “Hollywood” Nova, Da Blue Guy and Big Stevie Cool. Stevie made the announcement “we’re taking over”, reminiscent of the NWO. Hilarious stuff.
1. Big Stevie Cool (w/the BWO) vs Davey Tyler Morton Jericho (aka Kid Kash)
Stevie taunted Davey early. Mostly basic work early, but what they did was fine. Davey scored with a couple Japanese armdrags but Stevie fought back. Davey gave Stevie a knee to the crotch in creative fashion and threw him out of the ring with a testicular claw. Davey hit a plancha on Stevie for a pop and a second rope lariat as Stevie was on the apron. Davey gained a near fall with a legdrop. He applied a Boston crab but Stevie fought back by kicking him low. Stevie teased a jackknife powerbomb. Stevie gained a near fall with a side suplex but he then missed a dropkick. Davey attempted a back suplex but Stevie countered with a stunner for a near fall. Stevie went for a backdrop but Davey countered with a pedigree for a near fall. Davey gained a near fall with a top rope huracanrana. Stevie fought back and powerbombed Davey for a near fall. Stevie missed a Stevie kick and Davey rolled him up for a near fall. Stevie pinned Davey at 9:25 after a Stevie kick. An average opener, which worked fine since fans ate up the BWO gimmick. **1/4
2. Axl Rotten vs Hack Myers
Myers charged Axl at the bell but Axl got the early advantage. Myers fought back and took the fight to ringside. Axl rammed Myers into the ringpost and hit him with a chair. Myers whipped Axl into the barricade and hit him with a chair. Myers scored with another chairshot back in the ring. Myers gained a near fall after another chairshot. Myers draped Axl’s neck on the bottom rope and legdropped him on the apron. Axl threw Myers off the top rope head first onto a chair. Axl pinned Myers at 4:31 after a pedigree on a chair. Good intensity, but not much in terms of substantial moves. *
3. D-Von Dudley vs Buh Buh Ray Dudley (w/Sign Guy Dudley)
Buh Buh Ray won an intense slugfest early and scored with a face slam. D-Von fought back with a lariat and hit a flying headbutt. He backdropped Buh Buh Ray and ran toward him but Buh Buh Ray moved and D-Von flew over the ropes and into the barricade. Buh Buh Ray whipped D-Von into the barricade. D-Von fought back with an inverted DDT in the ring for a near fall. D-Von whipped Buh Buh Ray over the barricade and into the crowd. Buh Buh Ray fought back and hit D-Von with a stiff chairshot in the crowd. D-Von scored with a chairshot of his own. D-Von hit Buh Buh Ray with a ukulele and another chairshot. Buh Buh Ray caught D-Von on the top rope and superplexed him for a near fall. Buh Buh Ray gained a near fall with a Buh Buh bomb but then missed a second rope headbutt. D-Von gained a near fall with a top rope headbutt. Buh Buh Ray fought back and gave D-Von a Buh Buh cutter for the pin at 10:20. After the match Joel Gertner entered the ring, insulted Buh Buh Ray on the mic, and announced D-Von as the winner “on points”. Buh Buh Ray went to powerbomb Gertner but Axl intervened and hit Buh Buh Ray with a chair. Spike Dudley ran in and attacked both Axl and D-Von. Axl fought back with chairshots but Big Dick Dudley ran in and cleared house. He then confronted and attacked Joel, ending his assault with a moonsault for a huge pop. Entertaining segment. The match itself was somewhat similar to the previous match, but with more varied offense and some stiff work. *3/4
4. Winning team gets a Tag Team Title shot against the Gangstas: Sabu & Rob Van Dam vs The Eliminators (Saturn & Kronus)
Sabu attacked Saturn at the bell. A solid exchange ended with Sabu and Saturn dropkicking each other. Van Dam got the better of Kronus with a couple kicks but Kronus fought back with a suplex. Kronus gave Van Dam a pumphandle suplex but Van Dam fought back with a dropkick. Kronus whipped Sabu into the barricade as Van Dam and Saturn brawled in the ring. Saturn powerslammed Van Dam for a near fall. Kronus hit Sabu with a chair as Van Dam powerbombed Saturn. Van Dam hit a somersault legdrop on Saturn for a near fall. Saturn gained a near fall on Van Dam with a lionsault. Kronus went for a huracanrana but Van Dam countered with a powerbomb and hit a second rope elbow. Van Dam kicked Kronus and Sabu stiffed him with a chairshot. Sabu launched off a chair and hit a springboard legdrop and an Arabian facebuster on Kronus. Van Dam gained a near fall on Kronus with a top rope legdrop. Saturn hit a scissors kick on Van Dam for a near fall. Saturn and Sabu brawled outside briefly and Saturn dove at Sabu off the apron into the crowd for a pop. Kronus hit a tope on Van Dam. Van Dam and Sabu hit their opponents with chairs and Sabu launched off a chair into Kronus in the corner. Sabu gained a near fall on Kronus with a somersault legdrop. Saturn gained a near fall on Sabu with a lariat. Van Dam hit Kronus with a chair but Saturn then kicked the chair into Van Dam’s face. Saturn crotched Sabu on the top rope and knocked him to the floor with a flying clothesline. Kronus hit a space flying tiger press onto both Sabu and Saturn. Van Dam hit both Eliminators with a somersault plancha and Sabu followed with a springboard plancha onto the Eliminators and the barricade. Sabu went to give Kronus a springboard splash through a table at ringside but Saturn intercepted him with a flying bodypress. Sabu gave Saturn a tornado DDT through the table at ringside for a pop. Van Dam dropkicked a chair into Kronus in the corner and Sabu gained a near fall. Sabu and Van Dam gave Kronus a slingshot legdrop and splash but Saturn then booted both opponents. Saturn gained a near fall on Van Dam with a top rope elbow but Sabu then hit an Arabian facebuster on Saturn and Van Dam gained a near fall. Kronus dropkicked Van Dam out of the ring but Sabu hit him with a chair. Saturn gained a near fall on Sabu with la magistral and another with a legsweep. Sabu dropkicked Kronus’s left knee and applied a half crab. Van Dam spin kicked Kronus for a near fall. Sabu gained a near fall on Saturn with a slingshot moonsault. Kronus gained a near fall on Van Dam with a corkscrew senton and Saturn a near fall on Sabu with a northern lights suplex. Saturn gained a near fall on Van Dam with a second rope moonsault. Time expired at the 20:00 mark but Commissioner Tod Gordon came out and ordered an extra five minutes. Sabu dropkicked Saturn’s knees and applied a Boston crab. Kronus powerbombed both opponents. Saturn hit an ax kick on Van Dam but Sabu came off the top rope and DDTd Saturn. Sabu tried to give Saturn a frankensteiner as Saturn was on Van Dam’s shoulders but the move was botched. Saturn gained a near fall on Sabu with a superkick. Van Dam gave Saturn a pedigree but missed a top rope splash. Saturn missed a moonsault on Van Dam. Kronus caught Van Dam on the top rope and powerbombed him. Kronus missed a second rope somersault legdrop on Van Dam and Sabu gave Kronus a triple jump moonsault for a near fall. The bell rang at the end of the overtime period (actually at 3:50) but Gordon ordered another “5 minute” overtime. Sabu ran so hard in hitting Saturn with a tope suicida that he flew into the crowd. Van Dam hit a tope on Kronus and gave him a moonsault bodyblock off the barricade. Saturn hit a top rope kneedrop on Sabu for a near fall. Saturn gave Van Dam a huracanrana. Van Dam and Kronus were crotched as they fought on the top rope when Sabu and Saturn fell into the ropes. Sabu and Saturn attempted simultaneous second rope splashes and collided in mid-air. Time expired again at 3:11 into the second overtime period. Gordon then announced that both teams would face the Gangstas for the title in a 3 way dance and fans popped. You can’t fault their effort, which was tremendous. They hit a ton of spectacular moved, but botched a few as well. Their transitions ranged from weak to terrible with way to many punches. Despite that the match built reasonably well as their pacing from an intensity standpoint was reasonably coherent. They were out there too long though, given their styles, and several of their future matches would be better. ***1/4
5. Chris Candido vs Mikey Whipwreck
Candido took down Mikey early. They had a good exchange of offense and counters. Mikey hit a northern lights suplex for an early near fall but Candido quickly fought back. Mikey gave Candido a huracanrana and they both tumbled over the top rope to the floor. Mikey whipped Candido over the barricade and into the crowd and hit a plancha. Back in the ring Candido fought back but Mikey whipped him hard into the corner. Mikey jumped off the top rope but Candido powerslammed him for a near fall. Candido suplexed Mikey and hit a top rope legdrop for a near fall. Candido gained a near fall with a power legdrop. Candido attempted a powerbomb but Mikey countered. Candido gained a couple near falls including one with a doctor bomb. Mikey countered a powerbomb with a huracanrana for a near fall. Mikey gained near falls with a backdrop and a dropkick. Candido gained a near fall with a top rope huracanrana. Candido missed a top rope splash and Mikey gave him la magistral for a near fall. Mikey gained near falls with a legdrop and a somersault bodyblock off the top rope. Mikey gained a near fall with a top rope dropkick and another with a tornado DDT. Mikey went for a second rope moonsault bodyblock but Candido caught him and hit a tombstone. Candido pinned Mikey at 11:53 after a top rope powerbomb. For the most part a very good match. ***
6. ECW World Tag Team Title: Gangstas (New Jack & Kronus) (c) vs Sabu & Rob Van Dam vs Eliminators (Saturn & Kronus)
Both challenging teams brawled before the Gangstas came out. The Gangstas attacked everyone with a variety of weapons such as a 2x4, a chain and a trash can. Mustafa and Sabu brawled into the crowd. Van Dam hit Mustafa with a chair in the crowd. New Jack hit Kronus with a hubcap as Sabu and Saturn brawled in the aisle. Van Dam hit a spin kick off the apron on Mustafa as Sabu and Saturn brawled onto the stage. Saturn jumped off the stepladder leading to the balcony with a kneedrop on Sabu as Mustafa gained a near fall on Van Dam. Mustafa gave Van Dam a high kick. New Jack and Kronus dueled with a chair and a trash can. Kronus was busted open as New Jack applied a sleeper on him. Mustafa hit Van Dam with a cheese grater but Van Dam fought back with a superkick. Saturn hit New Jack with a chair as Van Dam hit a springboard kick on Mustafa. Sabu went for a tope suicida but Kronus hit him with a chair in mid-flight. Van Dam hit a somersault plancha on Kronus and Saturn hit a plancha on Van Dam and Mustafa. Sabu went to give Mustafa a springboard somersault splash through a table at ringside but Mustafa moved and Sabu crashed through the table. Taz came out with Bill Alfonso and applied a Tazmission on Van Dam. Saturn kicked a distracted Sabu and pinned him after a total elimination. New Jack then came off the top rope with a chairshot on Saturn and pinned him at 9:41 to retain the title. A very good brawl with great intensity. Pretty much a perfect match not only because it didn’t last long enough to exploit anyone’s weaknesses, but the Gangstas’ opponents were ideal in that they made the champs focus more on high spots as opposed to weapons-oriented brawling than usual. ***1/4
*Joey Styles interviewed Too Cold Scorpio, who was making his final regular ECW appearance before going to the WWF. Scorpio said he would actually work for ECW and WWF at the same time. He talked about the ECW tradition of a departing star “passing the torch” to the next star and said he would do a job to the next guy who challenged him. However, if he won his opponent would leave ECW for 15 days. Devon Storm answered the challenge.
7a. Too Cold Scorpio vs Devon Storm
Scorpio gave Storm a dropkick, back suplex and tumbleweed legdrop for the pin in 54 seconds. NR
Scorpio then re-issued the challenge, but said if he won his opponent this time would have to leave ECW for 30 days. JT Smith came out.
7b. Too Cold Scorpio vs JT Smith
Smith attacked Scorpio at the bell. Scorpio fought back with a side suplex and pinned Smith in 34 seconds after a moonsault. NR
Scorpio asked for another opponent, but this time the loser would have to leave ECW for 60 days.
7c. Too Cold Scorpio vs Hack Myers
Myers got the better of Scorpio early. Scorpio hit a spin kick but Myers hit a lariat for a near fall. Scorpio superkicked Myers and back suplexed him. Scorpio pinned Myers at 1:23 after a 450 splash. NR
Several wrestlers, including Louie Spicolli, tended to Myers at ringside. Scorpio insulted Spicolli, which led to Scorpio facing him with the loser having to leave ECW for one year.
7d. Too Cold Scorpio vs Louie Spicolli
Scorpio scored with a spin kick and a powerslam for a near fall. Scorpio hit a powerbomb and a top rope legdrop for a near fall. He missed a moonsault and Spicolli hit a spinebuster for a near fall. Scorpio hit a superkick and a lariat, and gained a near fall with a top rope lariat. Spicolli gave Scorpio a Death Valley driver and pinned him at 2:12 for a pop. A decent sprint, but also really lacking the value it should have had because it was so short. *1/4
*Scorpio made another challenge and Taz came out to confront him. After a verbal exchange, Scorpio left. Taz then called out Sabu. He brought ring announcer Bob Artese in, who said they had a match they needed to get to. Taz pushed him down and Tod Gordon came out. Taz choked out Gordon with a Tazmission. Paul Heyman came out and confronted Alfonso but Taz then gave Paul a T-bone Tazplex and locked him in a Tazmission. The lights went out. When they came back on, Sabu and Taz stood in opposite corners of the ring as fans popped a nut. Sabu and Taz teased locking up when the lights went back out. When the lights came back on, the ring was empty.
8. ECW World Title: Sandman (c) vs Raven (w/Stevie Richards, Nova, Blue Meanie, Lori & Tyler Fullington)
Richards announced this would be a scientific match. During the match, Richards provided play by play commentary on the mic at ringside. Raven took down Sandman early and scored with an armdrag. Raven drove Sandman’s left shoulder into the corner. Raven focused his attack on Sandman’s left arm for a while. Sandman fought back and hit a tope on Raven. Raven recovered as the action returned to the ring and continued to work on Sandman’s left arm. Sandman gave Raven a cactus clothesline. Raven held an armbar on Sandman for a long time. Sandman got the better of Raven as the fight left the ring. Sandman dropped Raven on the barricade and legdropped him off the apron. Raven drove Sandman through a table at ringside although Raven himself was busted open. Sandman dropkicked a chair into Raven’s face and DDTd him for a near fall. Richards interfered but Sandman punched him, although Raven then hit Sandman with a chair. Richards went for a superkick but Sandman moved and Richards kicked Raven. Raven fell onto a table that had been set up and Meanie moonsaulted Raven. Sandman then gained a near fall. Raven gained a near fall after Richards Steviekicked Sandman. Raven whipped Sandman through a table in the corner and gained a near fall. Sandman fought back but Tyler came in and sat in front of Raven in the corner. Lori caned Sandman and Raven DDTd him for a near fall. Raven gained a near fall after another DDT. Sandman gained a near fall with a rollup. Raven went to suplex Sandman onto a piece of the ringside barricade previously brought into the ring but Sandman countered and DDTd Raven on the barricade for the pin at 15:05. Not quite the disaster Dave Meltzer said it was, but still a bad match and hugely disappointing for ECW’s biggest show to date. 3/4*
9. Tommy Dreamer & Terry Funk vs Shane Douglas (w/Francine) & Brian Lee
Lee and Dreamer exchanged offense early but the other two got into it outside the ring with Funk dominating Douglas. Douglas repeatedly hit Funk with a chair at ringside and hit Dreamer with the chair as well. Dreamer fought back and bulldogged Douglas. All four fought in the crowd with Funk getting the better of Douglas. Funk and Lee fought towards the building entrance as did Dreamer and Douglas. Dreamer hit Lee with a chair as the action finally returned to the ring. Funk and Dreamer brought a segment of the barricade into the ring. Dreamer and Funk hit both opponents with a chair. Dreamer whipped Douglas into the barricade that was propped up in the corner and Dreamer also whipped Lee into the barricade. Dreamer and Funk dropped the barricade onto Douglas and then Funk slammed Lee onto the barricade and Douglas. Dreamer atomic dropped Douglas onto the barricade. Lee fought back and crotched Dreamer on the barricade. Funk DDTd Lee but Lee recovered and hit a top rope splash on Dreamer. Douglas suplexed Dreamer onto the barricade for a near fall as the other two brawled again into the crowd. Douglas dropped Dreamer knee first onto the barricade. Lee got the better of Funk as they brawled in the crowd. Francine dove onto Dreamer and Douglas clipped his knee and gained a near fall. Douglas dropped Dreamer’s right knee onto a chair and dropkicked the knee while it was still wrapped in the chair for a near fall. Dreamer caught Francine and atomic dropped her into the corner. Lee gave Dreamer a high kick but Dreamer moved on a second attempt and Lee kicked Douglas. Dreamer hit Lee with a chair. Funk gained a near fall on Douglas with a lariat. Lee chokeslammed Dreamer over the top rope and through a ringside table. They sold the idea that Dreamer was out of commission as Funk acted determined to fight both opponents at once. Funk held his own but Douglas fought back with a piledriver. Douglas spike-piledrove Funk and DDTd him. Douglas piledrove Funk off the apron through a ringside table. Dreamer mounted a comeback on both opponents but Lee got the better of him. Lee tombstoned Dreamer for a near fall. Douglas applied a full nelson on Dreamer. Francine taunted Dreamer but Beulah McGillicutty came out and hit Francine with a cookie sheet. Lee headbutted Beulah and Douglas gave her a belly to belly suplex. Douglas dove onto Dreamer in the crowd and Lee hit Dreamer with a chair. Funk then climbed to the top turnbuckle and, in the spot of the night, hit an Orihara moonsault onto Douglas, Lee and Dreamer in the crowd for a huge pop. Back in the ring Funk hit Lee with a chair as well as Douglas’s knee. Funk applied a spinning toehold on Douglas but Lee intervened. Dreamer hit Lee with a video camera and Funk DDTd Lee for the pin at 26:13. Douglas and Lee dominated post-match action until Pitbull 2 made the save and cleared house. A surprisingly excellent match. The pacing was slow at times, but very effective with most of the hardcore spots meaning something. The match built nicely from start to finish from a storyline standpoint. Funk was the standout star, although Dreamer worked hard in taking a ton of punishment and Douglas was effective in getting heat. Lee was the weakest of the four, but was effective with his “bulldozer” persona. ****
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