ECW HOLIDAY HELL ’95 12/30/95 Commercial Tape

Running time: 2 hours 35 minutes

This was ECW’s debut in New York City, taking place at the Lost Battalion Hall in Queens. While not the most eventful show in ECW history, ECW went all-out to present a first class show in terms of workrate. In the process, it produced one of its best shows yet in terms of match quality. There were six matches of significant length, and all were at least good. The other four matches didn’t offer much besides being side attractions, but they were all short and served their purposes in a way that kept the fans entertained. Two of the most memorable matches were the final two on the card. The Gangstas returned to ECW, unannounced, and had a wild brawl with Public Enemy, and Cactus Jack fought Sabu for the first time since Sabu’s return and they treated the fans to a memorable “olympic rules wrestling match” (more on that later). Overall, one of my favorite ECW events and a tape that I would recommend to most ECW tape collectors.

1. Taz (w/Bill Alfonso) vs Koji Nakagawa

Alfonso slapped Nakagawa before the bell. Taz used a judo hiptoss and a great released German suplex early on. Nakagawa landed a dropkick but Taz no-sold his offense. Taz belly to belly suplexed Nakagawa and gave him a head-and-arm Tazplex. Taz nearly killed Nakagawa with a released half nelson German suplex and made him submit with the Tazmission at 2:41. A virtual squash. *

2. Hack Myers vs J.T. Smith

They traded headlock takedowns to start. Fans did the shah-sh** routine with their strikes. J.T. used a low blow and slammed Myers on the floor. He hit a top rope headbutt to the floor on Myers. Smith gained a near fall on Myers with a weird slingshot splash and another with a powerbomb. J.T. went to the top rope but slipped and fell to the canvas. Myers gave J.T. his top rope knee drive and pinned him at 4:39. A shorter and weaker match than their 9/16/95 match. *1/4

3. ECW TV title & ECW tag team title: Too Cold Scorpio (c) vs Mikey Whipwreck

If Mikey won, he’d win the TV title and tag team titles, and could choose a partner to co-hold the tag team title with him. They exchanged hammerlocks and counters early. Scorpio got the better of Mikey briefly and hit a spin kick and a baseball slide kick. Scorpio clotheslined Mikey against the barricade and scored with a bicycle kick. Mikey fought back with a tilt a whirl headscissors and dropkicked Scorpio out of the ring. Mikey hit a somersault tope and threw Scorpio into the barricade. Whipwreck missed a top rope splash. Scorpio attempted a powerbomb but Mikey escaped and monkey flipped him. Scorpio low kicked Mikey and Mikey tumbled out of the ring. Scorpio used a suplex dropped into a released powerbomb of sorts but refused to pin Mikey. Scorpio tombstoned Mikey and moonsaulted him but again didn’t attempt a pin. Scorpio powerbombed Mikey and gave him his tumbleweed legdrop for a near fall but Scorpio got off of Mikey at the two count. He hit a superkick but Mikey crotched him on the top rope moments later. Mikey hit a top rope “frankenmikey” for a near fall. Scorpio missed a corner splash and Mikey rolled him up for a near fall. Mikey landed several punches but Scorpio kicked him and Mikey fell on top of the ref. Scorpio hit a top rope splash but Mikey moved and Scorpio only landed on the ref. Scorpio superkicked Mikey and hit a corkscrew top rope splash. He powerbombed Mikey and went to the top rope but Cactus Jack ran down and shoved Scorpio to the canvas. Cactus DDTd Scorpio, put Mikey on top of him, and the ref counted the pin so Mikey won at 11:53. Cactus embraced a befuddled Mikey and grabbed a tag team title belt. Mikey didn’t seem thrilled about Cactus being his partner. A good match but Scorpio’s slow pace between high spots almost made him look like the lazy Shinzaki (as opposed to the good Shinzaki). **3/4

4. Eliminators (Saturn & Kronus) w/Jason vs Pitbulls (1 & 2) w/Francine

Saturn gave Pitbull 1 a northern lights suplex early but Pitbull 1 fought back with a back suplex. Pitbull 2 superkicked and powerslammed Kronus. Kronus gave Pitbull 2 a great released dragon suplex. Saturn mule kicked Pitbull 2 to the apron and gave him a second rope clothesline to the apron. Kronus launched Saturn into an over the top rope moonsault on Pitbull 2 at ringside but Pitbull 2 quickly recovered. Jason held Pitbull 2 and Saturn hit a plancha but Pitbull 2 moved so Saturn crashed into Jason. Kronus hit a plancha on Pitbull 2 but Pitbull 1 attacked everyone with a chair. Pitbull 1 whipped both Eliminators and Jason towards Pitbull 2 who hit them with a chair. Pitbulls dominated the action outside the ring with weapons such as a frying pan and a cookie sheet. Pitbull 1 superkicked Saturn and Pitbull 2 gave him a top rope splash for a near fall. Kronus did a cartwheel into a moonsault on Pitbull 2 for a near fall. Pitbull 2 no-sold a Kronus back suplex. Pitbull 1 briefly dominated Kronus on the mat. Pitbull 2 tombstoned Saturn but Jason tripped him and Saturn superkicked Pitbull 2. They gave Pitbull 2 an inverted total elimination. Kronus gained a near fall on Pitbull 2 with a second rope moonsault and another with a top rope splash. Saturn gained a near fall on Pitbull 2 after a top rope splash. Kronus assisted Jason who gave Pitbull 2 a top rope somersault senton but Pitbull 2 no-sold it. Saturn gave Pitbull 2 a lariat. Kronus gained a near fall on Pitbull 2 after he and Saturn did a flying bodypress/suplex combo. Saturn came off the top rope with a kneedrop as Kronus held Pitbull 2 in a backbreaker position. Saturn hit a top rope elbow but Pitbull 2 no-sold it, but the Eliminators gave him simultaneous lariats in front and in back of him. Saturn and Pitbull 2 clotheslined each other. Pitbull 1 made the hot tag and dominated both opponents. Pitbull 2 press slammed Saturn clear out of the ring and threw him into Jason at ringside as Pitbull 1 rolled up Kronus but the ref was distracted. Pitbull 2 hit his flying spin kick on Kronus in the corner and Pitbull 1 belly to belly suplexed Kronus. Pitbull 2 hoisted Kronus on his shoulders and Pitbull 1 gave him a clothesline that sent all three over the top rope to the floor. Pitbull 2 superbombed Saturn but Jason distracted the ref, then Francine attacked Jason. Kronus attacked Pitbull 2 and both Eliminators gave Pitbull 2 total elimination. Saturn then pinned Pitbull 2 at 16:13. Tons of great spots and a match worth watching, but the relatively weak period after Pitbull 1 made the hot tag prevented it from being excellent. Still a very good effort by any standard. ***1/2

Stevie Richards and Blue Meanie came out and tried to tell Dreamer that Raven was injured and wouldn’t be there to fight him. Dreamer didn’t buy the story and physically threatened them. Dreamer attacked and pinned both men. He grabbed Beulah, then Raven came out…

5. Winner gets an ECW title shot later in the show: Raven (w/Beulah, Richards & Meanie) vs Tommy Dreamer

…and attacked Dreamer. Raven took the fight outside the ring and whipped Dreamer hard into the barricade. Raven hit a tope and put Dreamer through a table at ringside. The match retuned to the ring where Raven dominated Dreamer. Dreamer fought back and DDTd both Richards and Raven 3 times each. Dreamer took the fight to ringside and hit Raven with a chair, which busted him open, and also used a cheese grater against him. Dreamer used a variety of weapons, including a dirty toilet brush (now that’s hardcore!), a boom box and a trash can lid. Dreamer hit Raven with a chair in the crowd. Dreamer and Raven brawled outside the building where Raven whipped Dreamer into a door and busted him open. Dreamer fought back and hit Raven with a fan’s cane as they re-entered the ring. Raven fought back but Dreamer gave him a low blow. Dreamer charged at Raven but Raven moved and Dreamer crashed into the ref. Beulah went to spray Dreamer in the eyes with something but Dreamer moved and she sprayed Raven, “blinding” him. A “blinded” Raven DDTd Richards. Dreamer DDTd Raven for a near fall. Dreamer hung Raven upside down in the corner and gave him 10 punches to his crotch. Dreamer piledrove Raven on a piece of the broken table for a near fall. Dreamer charged at Raven in the corner with a chair but Raven pushed the ref in front of him so the ref got hit instead. Richards Steviekicked Dreamer and Raven went for the pin but the ref was still out of it. Meanie reluctantly attempted to moonsault Dreamer but missed. Raven caught Dreamer and DDTd him on a chair for the pin at 11:35. A very good brawl but less “action” than in their earlier ECW Arena matches. ***1/4

6. Bruiser Mastino vs El Puerto Ricano

Ricano out-quicked Mastino early but Mastino barely sold his offense. Mastino hit a lariat and a vertical suplex. Mastino belly to belly suplexed Ricano but missed a corner splash. Ricano hit three top rope dropkicks but Mastino caught him and pinned him at 3:14 after a powerslam. A squash that added nothing to the card. *

911 confronted Mastino and chokeslammed him. Bill Alfonso confronted 911 but Tod Gordon attacked Alfonso. Taz and 911 faced off and the locker room emptied, and a heated pullapart brawl ensued.

7. Buh Buh Ray Dudley (w/Sign Guy, DW Dudley & Big Dick Dudley) vs Blue Meanie (w/Richards)

Buh Buh Ray danced before the match for a huge pop. Meanie attacked Buh Buh Ray and moonsaulted him for a near fall. Buh Buh Ray quickly recovered and pinned Meanie at 1:10 after a top rope splash. A nothing match but more useful for getting Buh Buh Ray over. NR

8. ECW Title: Sandman (c) w/Woman vs Raven (w/Richards & Beulah)

Raven attacked Sandman before the bell and whipped him into the barricade twice. Sandman whipped Raven over the barricade and into the crowd. Sandman blocked a Raven DDT. He suplexed Raven onto the barricade and jumped off the apron with a legdrop. Raven fought back with a low blow but Sandman soon regained the advantage. Raven gained a near fall with a suplex but Sandman recovered and elbowed him. Sandman backdropped Raven into the crowd and jumped over the top rope to the floor and hit Raven with a cane/kendo stick. Raven was busted open but Sandman missed a slingshot legdrop back in the ring and Raven gained a near fall. Sandman hit a tope and dropped a table onto Raven at ringside. Raven kicked Sandman low and rammed his head into the barricade. Raven set up a table against the barricade and attempted to whip Sandman into it but Sandman reversed the whip and sent Raven through the table. Sandman jumped off the apron with an elbowsmash but Raven moved and Sandman crashed onto the remnants of the table. Sandman dominated Raven as the action returned to the ring. Raven and Sandman charged each other but sandwiched the ref. Richards attacked Sandman but Woman caned Richards repeatedly. Woman caned Raven and Sandman attacked Raven but Richards hit Sandman with a plastic sign. Raven assaulted Sandman with the cane but Dreamer hit Raven, Richards and Sandman with the cane. Dreamer piledrove Beulah and left the ring. Cactus interfered and DDTd Sandman after which Raven gained a heated near fall. Sandman pinned Raven at 13:18 after a top rope bulldog. A bit methodical at times, but a pretty good brawl. The chaos at the end forwarded the Dreamer-Raven-Sandman triangle and added to the match. **3/4

9. Public Enemy (Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge) vs Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa)

Gangstas attacked Public Enemy before the bell and busted both men open very early. Gangstas tore their opponents apart as their theme music played in the background. New Jack hung Grunge over the top rope with a noose. Rocco hit Mustafa with a trash can lid and hit a second rope moonsault bodyblock for an early near fall. Grunge busted Jack’s head open with a radio. Rocco hit a tope on Mustafa as Grunge bulldogged Jack on a chair. Rocco attacked Mustafa with a rolling pin as Jack attacked Grunge with a chair. Mustafa gained a near fall on Rocco with a powerslam. Grunge assaulted Mustafa with a fan’s cane. Rocco hot Jack with a frying pan and Grunge also hit Mustafa with a frying pan. Jack hit a stun gun on Rocco but Grunge hit both Gangstas in the crotch with a frying pan. Rocco moonsaulted Mustafa on a table in the ring but the table didn’t break. Mustafa back suplexed Rocco as Jack jumped off the apron onto Grunge in the aisle. Mustafa Vader bombed Rock through a table but Grunge clotheslined Mustafa for a near fall. Rocco hit Mustafa with a frying pan and gave him a drive-by but the ref was distracted by the fight at ringside. Jack hit Rocco with a chair and Mustafa rolled him up for the pin at 8:22. A very good, chaotic brawl with a weak ending. ***1/4

10. Sabu vs Cactus Jack

Before the match Cactus brought out ref Pee Wee Moore and announced this would be an Olympic rules wrestling match. Moore ran down the rules, including awarding points for takedowns and escapes and points being taken away for most traditional ECW style moves. 911 came out and chokeslammed Moore twice, then declared himself the ref. Sabu attacked Cactus at the bell and went to jump at him off a chair but Cactus bailed out. Sabu then used the chair to launch himself with a tope on Cactus into the barricade. Sabu placed Cactus on the middle rope and gave him a top rope legdrop. He then hit a flying kick off the second rope. Sabu launched off a chair towards Cactus in the corner but ran into an elbow. Cactus hit Sabu with a chair and DDTd him for a near fall. Cactus gave Sabu a double arm DDT on a chair for a near fall. He jumped off the apron to the floor with his trademark elbowsmash on Sabu, this time using a chair underneath the elbow for added impact. Sabu threw a chair at Cactus. Cactus went for his Cactus clothesline but Sabu ducked and Cactus’s neck got trapped within the middle and top ropes. Sabu launched off a chair onto Cactus knocking him free but sending him to the floor. Sabu missed Cactus and jumped off the apron onto the barricade. Cactus dropped a table on Sabu. Cactus went to put Sabu through a ringside table with a second rope elbow but Sabu hit him with a chair and slammed him to the floor. Sabu sat Cactus on the chair at ringside and hit a tope suicida. Sabu gave Cactus a springboard second rope kick and a second one with a chair but Sabu hurt his knee in the process. Sabu hit Cactus with a chair but Cactus fought back. Sabu recovered and dove off a chair, over the top rope and tacked Cactus off he apron through the table in a great spot. Cactus rolled up Sabu for a near fall but Sabu recovered. Sabu placed a chair on Cactus and gave him a slingshot moonsault but Sabu landed on the chair knees-first. Cactus tore into Sabu but missed a legdrop. Cactus caught Sabu on the top rope but Sabu hit him with a chair three times. Sabu came off the top rope with his atomic Arabian facebuster for a great near fall. Sabu fell on Cactus and pinned him at 12:49. An excellent brawl with two wrestlers who were among the best at this style. A fitting end to a very good show. ****

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