ECW Commercial Tape Reviews

Extreme Evolution - Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn (TV Championship)
This was the feud that elevated RVD to the top spot and pushed Jerry Lynn higher than he'd ever been in pro wrestling. This was the first and best match of the series
The match starts nicely with some good matwork, which the crowd actually cheers (those ECW fans, I can't figured `em out). Then they do a great sequence of leap frogs, RVD goes for his split dropdown, Jerry tries to counter with a legdrop, RVD moves and goes for a kick from the crowd, which Lynn ducks, and they try to hit an elbowdrop and somersault legdrop respectively, but end up at a stalemate. The fans really eat it and up and play to RVD's posing.
Lynn finally picks things up and they go into another sequence this time it's like 8 or so spots. The only flaw was Jerry was supposed to land on his feet at the end, when RVD went for a monkey flip and didn't quite do it. The fans love this sequence too, but its time to transition. They exchange blows and Van Dam gets knocked silly on the apron and off with a Jericho-like Springing Dropkick. Lynn follws up with his always better-than-average plancha and though he overshoots some, it's all good.
He continues on RVD with dropkicks and a springing legdrop as the Champ tries to get back in. After lighting Rob up with some chops, he hits a super bulldog, which RVD takes rather awkwardly. Fonzie stops Lynn's top rope follow up and holds a chair up, so the Van Daminator can be hit. In another cool series, Jerry jerks away the chair, ducks the kick, and blasts Van Dam with the chair - it's all to ECW-like.
Lynn comes into the corner fast, but is hoisted and crotched on the ropes. Rob quickly nails a springing back kick, which sends Lynn sailing out to the floor in a violent spill. I don't know the legitamacy of this injury, but its obvious Lynn was hurt. His nose is bloodied and he is very slow to get back up. Van Dam lifts him up like dead weight and sends him into the frontrow.
After giving Lynn a short break, RVD hits a very athletic lariat over the guardrail. Jerry returns fire with a dropkick and stumbles back into the ring. Lynn hits a beautiful sunset flip out of the corner, but can't put RVD away. Van Dam hits a huge spinebuster and a Northern Lights Suplex, but neither get him the win either. He sets up the challenger on the top rope, but Lynn comes back with a Sunset Flip into a Powerbomb for a nearfall.
Jerry Lynn hurries outside and sets up a table for god knows what. He and Van Dam continue to brawl and the Champ gets the better of him and even springboards off the guardrail and hits a Van Daminator (chair tossed in by Fonzie). Lynn battles back though and finally seems like he'll be able to use the table as he goes for a suicidal huracanrana. Van Dam dumps him over though and he takes another violent spill onto the Timekeeper's table.
Rob Van Dam is in control and hits his Corkscrew Legdrop from the apron as Lynn is drapped over the railing. Jerry is rolled back in for a nearfall and so the brutality continues. They get on the apron again, hoovering above that table. Lynn gets a chance and goes for a Swinging DDT, but Van Dam sets him back on the apron and lariats him back over.
Back inside again, Van Dam calls up Alfonso and is apparently looking for his Monkey Flip with a chair. Lynn ducks him and sends him out to the apron. They exchange blows, but Lynn slingshots himself over and hits another Sunset Flip/Powerbomb, this time sending RVD through the table. The wood explodes under the champion and Lynn rolls him him, but only squeezes out a 2 3/4.
Fonzie tries desperately to help Rob, but Lynn chucks the chair at him and knocks him stupid He hooks RVD with a German Suplex, but again its not enough. He goes to the top, but Van Dam catches him with a kick. Rob sets up a chair and the two battle on top, eventually falling off (which they weren't supposed to). Lynn hits his own Van Daminator and they go into a cradle sequence with Lynn nearly hooking his Cradle Piledriver.
They battle on the ropes again, but this time Lynn goes down and Rob hits a Split-Legged Moonsault for the nearfall. He follows up with a huge Frog Splash, but doesn't pin Lynn quickly enough and almost gets cradled for the three. Fonzie hands Rob a chair...Van Daminator...even higher Frog Splash and an RVD victory at 21:18. They high-five each other afterwards and the fans pop for that. Both guys worked hard and Lynn really looked especially awesome. It had to be hard to get your ass kicked worse than the champion, who you had to put over in a major way. This was the best match of the series for whatever reason and one of ECW's very best.
Rating: ***3/4

Extreme Evolution - Mike Awesome vs. Masato Tanaka (World Championship)
One of FMW's greatest feuds, which ECW used time and time continued at ECW's biggest event of the year - November to Remember. Awesome had beaten Tanaka for the ECW World title and this was one of their many rematches. Though not the best these two have to offer, their average matches are better than the majority of ECW's.
Bob Ortiz introduces both men and they quickly go at it with bigger Awesome controlling. He hits a nice rope-walk back elbow, but Tanaka fight back with a Springing Clothesline that sends to the floor and follows that with a plancha. He continues with his running chairshot, Awesome mounts a comeback and throws the Dangan Fighter into the ring.
Awesome shows off first his power with a belly-to-belly and then his aerial skill with as good a Tope Suicida as you'll ever see. They continue to brawl on the floor and the former Gladiator continues his attack with a Springboard Plancha into the crowd. He throws the challenger back in and grabs a chair.
Tanaka's ability to take chairshots is shown off as he seems to absorb them and return fire with a Roaring Elbow. He grabs the chair and uses it to add to his Flying Elbowdrop, which gives him a nearfall. Tanaka continues with a Swinging DDT onto two chairs, but that isn't enough either. He goes for another, but the Champion turns it into a Rydeen Bomb on the chairs.
Awesome continues with a huge lariat, a hard spinebuster, and then he goes to set up the table. His first over-the-top Awesome Bomb is foiled, but his second off the apron is not. The crowd erupts into a "holy shit" chant as the combatants struggle to get up and in the ring. Awesome covers Tanaka, but can only get a 2 3/4. He gets another table and sets Tanaka up on it, unfortunately for him the Dangan Fighter catches him with a huge superplex through the table.
Tanaka is slow to cover and Awesome manages to get his right shoulder up. The challenger is hungry and hits Diamond Dust and gives the sign for his signature Roaring Elbow. Awesome evades it and hits a Release German Suplex and a big lariat. The Champion rushes to the top rope for a high-impact Flying Splash that Tanaka just barely escapes. The challenger is rocked though and Awesome manages to drag him up to the top rope for the Awesome Bomb off the top rope and gets the 1,2,3 at 12:26. This was kind of short, but hardly boring. These two used a lot of big moves to keep the fans hot. This was a solid pay-per-view match and title match to boot.
Rating: ***

Extreme Evolution - The Sandman vs. Raven (Heavyweight Championship Barbed Wire Match)
One of ECW most notable talents against one of ECW's most popular wrestlers in a barbed wire match. I remember seeing the highlights of this one on ECW TV and was happy because Raven had been gone for some time and The Sandman was a grossly unfit champion.
During The Champion's entrance his pants get caught on a barb and rip a big tear up his leg. Raven's hair is wisely tied back and he looks good for his return to the top. He grabs a headlock first thing and tries to bring The Sandman to the sharp wire. That fails. Next he tries to whip The Sandman into it, but the drunken champion escapes that as well.
The two brawl with The Sandman getting the best licks in and trying to take his stunned foe into the wire, which doesn't work. Raven uses a snap mare and low blow, but The Sandman uses a boot to the face and a schoolboy for a nearfall. The Sandman tries to hook a Spinning Toehold or something of the sort and is propelled viciously into the wire!
As The Sandman hangs there, Raven attacks with two dropkicks that jar him loose. He grabs up his stunned challenger and drops him crotch-first on the barbed wire! Then they take it to the floor, where The Sandman is sent upside down into a setup table. Raven uses a cookie sheet and the post to wear down the champion.
The Sandman sends him into the wire, but he shrugs it off and rips off his t-shirt. The champion mounts a comeback with a facefirst suplex (trying to lay Raven across the top strand of wire) and begins carving up his challenger, even whipping him with a strip he cut off. He trims off a whole side of the ring making this a single hell(?) barbed wire match.
Back on the floor, Raven gets his hands on the Singapore Cane and wears The Sandman out with it. He bloodies the champ's forehead, but soon finds himself on the receiving end of a few hard shots with the bamboo stick and a table suplex onto him. The Sandman continues, until he finds himself hung up on the top strand on one side.
Raven brings in a table, but The Sandman grabs his cane again and then wraps a dazed Raven in barbed wire. As Raven struggles to free himself on the floor, Sandman cuts another piece and wraps himself in it. He hits a running leaping cane shot and then sets up Raven on a table. The Sandman gets a full head of steam and does a flipping senton, which does not payoff as he misses it.
Raven brings the fight back in the ring, where he set up a table. He pulls The Sandman onto it, looking for a piledriver, but the table collapses and he has to use a DDT on the remaining table for the victory at __:__. The shirtless Raven is still stunned, but does his trademark pose with his second ECW Heavyweight title in his hand. I thought this match was sort of a letdown. I knew The Sandman sucked, but thought Raven could carry him better. I don't know if it was ring rust or what, but Raven was not at his best.
Rating: *3/4

Extreme Evolution - Eliminators vs. Steve Williams & Terry Gordy
These are two of my favorite teams, even though one is about five years past its prime and the other is in their's. The Eliminators were an exciting tandem, who could really do it all. While the Miracle Violence Combo (Doc & Gordy) were two hard-hitting gaijins, who made names for themseleves in the US and became superstars in All Japan.
Things start quickly as Williams and Gordy don't even get out of their jackets. Gordy and Kronus start in the ring and though I haven't seen much good Terry Gordy stuff after his infamous OD on a plane, but he looks decent in this. He is sluggish and stuff, but his worst is better than many's best. Bamm Bamm dominates Kronus with Dragon Screw Legwhips and chops in the corner, but finally tags out.
Williams rushes and is clotheslined down. Kronus gets the upperhand briefly, but after hitting his Hurricane Kronus elbow in the corner is German Suplexed hard by the good Doctor. Saturn is goaded in, but Williams keeps one-uping the young star. He hits a big powerslam for a 2 3/4 and tags Terry back in. The two of them use All Japan-style double teaming and Gordy continues the assault with a lot of brawling. Dr. Death is tagged back in and continues the MVC's brawling domination of Kronus.
Gordy returns and uses a suplex and even more punching, kicking, and clotheslining to wear down his opponent. Saturn interjects himself again and this time hits a powerbomb on the concrete, which takes Williams out of the match. Kronus finallt counters a short clothesline with a German Suplex and makes the tag.
Perry Saturn rushes in and Gordy, who quickly cuts off his offense with a powerbomb. Kronus manages to distract Bamm Bamm and the Eliminators quickly go on the attack. A tired Kronus and reasonably fresh Saturn beat down Gordy as Williams is still struggling to get back in the match.
Saturn climbs the scaffold for the main event of the show...and drops an insane elbowdrop that gives the Eliminators the win at __:__. Gordy lies prone as Saturn rolls around clutching his arm, both men are put on stretchers and taken out. This match had a very Japanese-like story for a tag team, an ECW-like finish, but sadly Williams and Saturn, the best of the four spent the least amount of time in the ring. Their battle never seemed to happen, they just got the better of each other a few times and that was it. This match was too short as it stopped around what should have been the half-way point or at least the beginning of the end.
Rating: **

Extreme Evolution - Tommy Dreamer & Beulah McGillicutty vs. Shane Douglas & Francine
What a gross final match for ECW's first big commercial release. I remember the hype to this one fairly well as Beulah and Francine had been catfighting for some time. Both men and their lovely valets come to the ring and are introduced. Douglas and Dreamer offer their thoughts of the other and their girl via microphone. The TV Champion nails the ECW loyalist with his belt and the match is underway.
Dreamer is sent out to the floor and sells a knee injury. Douglas refuses to let him back in and even hits a safe-looking pescado. They do some weak brawling on the outside, until a heated altercation begins between the Franchise and a fan. The two quickly get back in the ring this time with Dreamer on the offense.
Dreamer shows off his chair-using abilities, but it backfires when Douglas hits a neckbreaker on one. He works over Dreamer and tags in Francine, who gets caught in a "vaginal claw!?" Douglas and Francine managed to get the best of Dreamer when Douglas hits a piledriver. But Beulah evens things out by distracting the Franchise from following it up. Douglas starts selling a knee injury, so Dreamer hooks a hideous Bridging Chinlock and follows it up with his DDT.
He brings in Francine and in comes Beulah. They roll around and Dreamer goes for his equal opportunity piledriver, but Shane breaks it up. He tries to lock on a Figure-Four, but it takes him two tries. Beulah rushes in and rakes the eyes, giving Tommy the chance to hit a surprisingly good-looking Japanese Legroll. Douglas kicks out though, Dreamer hooks a his own Figure-Four. Beulah looks on with approval, but the Head Cheerleader knocks her stupid with a cookie sheet.
Dreamer gets up and hits another valet-killing piledriver, though this one is different. In the words of Gary Chapelle, "Now that's a titty shot." He sets Beulah up and she executes the most disgusting-looking moonsault ever! She gets up and does the crucified pose, but Douglas nails Tommy grabs her for the belly-to-belly and the victory at __:__. This was a typical ECW mixed tag, luckily the females were not in there long and only hurt each other. Definitely not the best of ECW, though Dreamer and Douglas were as good as they could be in spite of things.
Rating: *1/4

Path of Destruction - Chris Jericho vs. 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Shane Douglas vs. Pitbull #2 (TV Championship)
This huge match occured just about a month before I was able to watch ECW on the dish. Out of these four, everyone went on to do some great stuff, except Pitbull #2. Jericho and Scorpio do most of the work and for good reason, while Douglas carries the latter part. This is a nice taste of ECW, as it offers a little bit of everything that made then more than just another indy.
The Douglas-Pitbull angle kick starts this unique match with a Franchise chair ambush that takes Pitbull #2 out. Inside Jericho and Scorpio start with some fast motions, each enjoying an advantage. A Somersault Legdrop gets a 2 1/4 for Scorpio, before a Tiger Bomb gets a 2 1/2 for Jericho. Lionheart stays on him with a lucha-style hold that is pretty cool. Then they start with the brawling. Douglas checks in as a bloodied Pitbull #2 climbs up onto the apron.
The Franchise hits a suplex and goes right on the defensive. A Slingshot Kneedrop(?) and a plethora of turnbuckle smashes doesn't really spark the crowd, but a chop exchange does! A weird-looking Lionsault gets a 2 1/2 for the current champion. The Pitbull is tagged in, but Douglas quickly tags Scorpio.
The two biggest challengers go it, the bigger man getting the deuce. Pretty basic power brawling stuff, until Scorpio body scissors #2 over-the-top and out. 2 Cold tosses him around a bit then works pulled knees back inside. Douglas tags back in and beats on his weakened rival a bit before he tags Jericho. More powerhouse versus speedster stuff, except for the fact a Jericho German Suplex gets a nearfall. Good heat, but not exceptional good action.
Scorpio and Jericho find themselves up top, Jericho hitting the biggest spot thus far with a top rope frankensteiner. Jericho is replaced by Douglas, who can't finish off 2 Cold. Scorpio brings in a chair, which he uses pretty poorly finally tagging in Pitbull #2. The Franchise escapes though and tags Jericho. More of the same from these two, Pitbull looking okay, Jericho clearly looking much better though.
Scorpio checks back in and executes a nice Butterfly Suplex. The TV Champion fires back with a DDT and then tags the Pitbull. The big man brutes Scorpio up and over with a Fallaway Slam. Douglas is finally tagged in and the rivals meet one-on-one. Hip toss exchanges send them both out, Jericho and Scorpio following with respective dives. The two groups pair off and brawl, brawl, brawl.
Douglas bulldogs the Pitbull onto a chair for a nearfall. He comes back and the Franchise can't tag out, pretty boring attack though. Jericho and the Pitbull fight over who'll eliminate Douglas, neither do. Lionheart utilizes a Figure-Four, which gets a nice pop, no elimination though. Scorpio is tagged back in and he goes right on the offense hitting a big powerbomb. The champion comes back with a weak Tiger Suplex, then tries to tag Douglas. The Franchise swerves him though and 2 Cold hits the Tumbleweed to eliminate the champion!
Douglas tries to form an alliance with Scorpio, he won't have it though and goes after both men. 2 Cold slaps on an abdominal stretch, but its out-of-place and kills the heat temporarily. The Franchise hits a belly-to-belly, before Scorpio comes back in a big way. He beats on both men and then piles them up, going for and missing a moonsault. Pitbull #2 comes back on him and hits the Superbomb to eliminate the former champion.
So it's finally Douglas and Pitbull #2 - big surprise. Two chairs are set up inside and Douglas is powerbombed onto them. "ECW! ECW!" The Pitbull sets up and table in the corner, Douglas hitting a belly-to-belly out of nowhere. Francine (still with the Pitbulls) is brought in and kissed by Douglas. She throws powder in #2 eyes (the big swerve of the match), then taks off her skirt to reveal "Franchise" on the back of her undies, very classy. #2 comes back and sends The Franchise out, then #1 helps him Superbomb Francine through a table. Douglas ambushes them both, DDTing #1 onto the TV belt (and "breaking his neck").
Pitbull #2 does the "superhuman" thing kicking out of a table debris shot, brass knux shot, but losing to a belly-to-belly...what the hell? Douglas wins the match at __:__ and goes onto the reign as TV champ for like a year. I won't say much about this match, it's your typical ECW match at this time, it is strong in some areas, but weak in others. I think this is one of their better matches and its kind of like the Pitbulls-Raven/Richards match, it was better in its days, but isn't all that bad nowerdays. I think it just has that whole ECW-aura that makes you want to think it's more than it really is, which is actually good in a lot of ways. Scorpio looked the best here IMO, while the other three looked okay, but Douglas and Jericho have had much better days. The finish was classic ECW and I'm glad they phased out that sort of stuff because I'm not a big fan of kicking out of brass knux then losing to a suplex.
Rating: ***1/4

Path of Destruction - Rob Van Dam vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (TV Championship)
I remember this match very well, watching it on TV (I forget which regional sports channel), but it is one of those few ECW matches I remember well. I had liked RVD since his matches with Sabu against the Can-Am Express in the fall of `96. Bigelow's always been a solid big man and one I've enjoyed watching for many years.
They had a nice storyline in this one, RVD was softening up Bammer for Sabu, who was fighting him for the TV title at the upcoming PPV. Fonzie really got that fact over in promos and while rambling into the camera during the match. You just knew something was going to happen, but I didn't think these two would have such a good match.
Bigelow controlled early beating down Van Dam and powerbombing him hard, which sent the challenger out to the floor for a breather. Back inside, he continued to look like the champion he was, but RVD came back with a flying body press, a big kick, and a tumbling splash. The veteran's savvy saved him as he ducked out of the way and Van Dam went flying out to the floor.
Following his opponent outside, Bigelow and Van Dam battled back and fourth with both using their strengths effectively. RVD tried to hit a head scissors off the guardrail, but was flung forward, taking a vicious bump into the first few rows of chairs. The Champ followed up with a lot of brawling. RVD's comeback was highlighted by a strange-looking springboard (off the rail) frankensteiner.
A stunned Bigelow was knocked even more stupid with a wooden chairshot. This allowed Rob Van Dam the opportunity to get back in the ring and go to the top for an impressive plancha. As if that wasn't enough, RVD got up quickly and hustled back to the top rope again. This time hitting his highlight reel favorite - an insane somersault plancha! Again, RVD was up quickly and hit a legdrop/leg lariat on Bam Bam as he was climbing over the guardrail.
Bigelow came back though with a clothesline, powerbomb on a table, and an elbowdrop off the apron that sent RVD through (because the powerbomb didn't). Both guys were fighting to get up, but Van Dam won and used the reminense of the table and a chair to wear down Bammer. The bandaged eyebrow of Bigelow bleeding again and RVD helped open it up some more. The Champion is resiliant though and manages to beat on Van Dam and get his wind back.
He tries to hook Greetings From Asbury Park from the inside, but RVD bring his throat down across the rope. Van Dam looks for a flying frankensteiner, but is powerbombed for his troubles. Bigelow tries to end all with his moonsault, but misses it! Van Dam quickly goes to the top and hits one of his amazing frog splashes, but its not enough.
Bigelow uses a Fallaway Slam and a big Brainbuster, but neither get the three. Then things start to look shotty. An ugly looking toss into the corner and a big mess up, where RVD held up a chair and Bigelow just ignored it and went for his Thunder Fire Driver. Sabu saves RVD with a weak chair throw. He chucks Sabu onto Van Dam and then tries to powerbomb him for his interference. Sabu jams a fork into Bam Bam's head and Van Dam hits the Van Daminator and rolls up Bigelow for the three at __:__.
This began RVD's long TV title reign, which elevated him to the companies top spot (even above the World Champion). This match had excellent heat (even for ECW), well-executed highspots, decent selling, and was a televised match! The ending sucked bad, but not enough to kill the rating because it is ECW.
Rating: **3/4

Path of Destruction - The Sandman vs. Sabu ("Stairway to Hell")
Sabu and The Sandman, two spot freaks, but perfect contenders for ECW. Sabu is at least a year or two past his prime and his body seems to be barely able to stand up to the punishment he puts it through. The Sandman's best stuff was done with Cactus Jack, who obviously carried him to decent garbage matches. These guys just do their job - bleeding and bumptaking.
Sabu dominated early by hitting a dropkick through the ladder. He threw the ladder around, did a springboard legdrop sandwich, hit a springboard plancha, controlled the brawl in the crowd, did a legdrop from the stage and put The Sandman through a table. This stuff was all done frantically by Sabu and were poorly sold by the Hardcore Icon.
Sandman finally turns it around with a back elbow and a stiff bodyslam on the stage followed by an ugly elbowdrop from the stairs going up to the Eagle's Nest. He takes Sabu back to ringside to continue his hideous-looking offense that includes: ladder-throwing, his stupid teeter-totter spot, a suplex on a table (that doesn't break), so he legdrops him, and even uglier slingshot legdrop with Sabu laying across the ladder.
They finally go back in the ring and The Sandman climbs the ladder and grabs the spool of barbed wire! While he celebrates, Sabu jumps up and pushes the ladder over sending The Sandman flipping through two tables (I loved that spot, cause I hate The Sandman)! Sabu tries to follow it up with a springboard barbed wire gouge, but ends up missing and bouncing his chin off the guardrail. I don't know the extent of this injury, but he is unquestionably in pain.
Back inside, The Sandman tries to use the barbed wire, but gets entangled in it. Sabu controls the action, hooking The Sandman into the corner and hitting a vicious chair-assisted dropkick to The Sandman's bloodied face. The spots continue going back and fourth, Sabu tapes up his jaw (like that'll help it) and hits a slingshot legdrop. The Sandman returns fire with his Singapore Cane, which gives him the pinfall at __:__.
By the end of this, The Sandman is a bloody mess and looks really disgusting. Neither guy had to feel good after this one and for good reason. This was a pretty ugly match and even for these guys was poorly done.
Rating: *1/2

Path of Destruction - Axl Rotten vs. Ian Rotten ("Tapei Death Match")
The Rotten brothers teamed as Badd Breed for quite some time and obviously had to have a nasty split that became super-violent. Axl had competed in Japanese death matches and Ian went on to start the US first Japanese-style garbage fed - IWA. This is really old school ECW as its a bloodbath gimmick match. Bill Alfonso, who was the consumate heel ref, is brought out for this one and the Rottens come out with no music, just taped fists covered in broken glass.
The first punch has to be a doosy and they spar briefly before Ian misses a haymaker and Axl pops him. Fonzie checks Ian's bleeding forehead and stops the match. The crowd is obviously mad and then The Gangstas and Public Enemy burst out in a fight in the aisle (don't ask me) and Fonzie helps the police split it up.
Commissioner Tod Gordon restarts the match and Jim Mulleno comes in as the brothers go to town on each other. Ian tears open Axl's forehead, while the wound from early starts bleeding heavily. It's hard to write about this in an exciting manner, especially cause the psychology is poor and it's basically just blood-letting.
They tear open their arms and Ian looks much worse as his white Cactus Jack shirt is just splattered with blood. He returns with a low blow and a low punch! He continues to gouge away and hits a DDT, then goes for the bag of thumbtacks. Ian dumps them out and looks for a powerbomb, but is backdropped and splashed for the Axl Rotten victory at __:__. This was a basic bloodbath, I've seen worse, but I've seen much better as well. Some may call this garbage wrestling, but I think you can subtract the "wrestling."
Rating: 1/2*

Path of Destruction - Jerry Lynn vs. Yoshihiro Tajiri vs. Super Crazy
Three of ECW's very best, who can do it all, and represent the three major wrestling capitals. Lynn, from Minneapolis (a former hotbed in the AWA days), is an awesome worker and works a nice junior style and not the spot-hungry indy junior style either. Tajiri is just looking better and better and uses a lucharesu style highlighted by his stiff kicks and eye-catching highspots. Super Crazy, has definitely been around and is your basic modern luchador technico, who has some wrestling, but outstanding highflying prowess.
Corino cut a great promo on the pay-per-view, but it is cut off on the commercial release. Lynn's ribs are taped, so he has a babyface edge. Crazy and Lynn tie-up, but Tajiri kicks both of them. Crazy winds up getting tossed around, but takes out his attackers respectively. The Japanese Buzzsaw takes a powder, leaving Lynn and Crazy to do some psuedo-lucha, which the crowd applaudes.
Tajiri's sneak attack is foiled briefly by Lynn, who finds himself in the Tarantula with Super Crazy putting the boots to him. Tajiri wants no help though and locks one on his luchador opponent for good measure and Lynn gives Crazy a recipt. Tajiri goes after, Lynn who fends him off only to hit a plancha on Crazy. Not to be outdone, Tajiri takes them both out with an Asai Moonsault. Then he and Crazy take it into the crowd. Lynn pounces both with a double lariat, but Crazy recovers quickly for an insane moonsault suicida off a scaffold! "ECW, ECW."
Back in the ring, Tajiri is hooked in a Rito Romero Special by Crazy, who lets up, so Lynn can hit the bulldog (onto his knee mind you). Lynn locks on his own lucha hold - the Gory Guerraro Special and then a quebradora. Crazy no-sells and dropkicks Jerry's knee, then finds himself in a Tajiri rana. Again Crazy no-sells and powerbombs Lynn following up with a Springing Quebrada for a nearfall.
Crazy and Tajiri finally go head-to-head in the ring with chops, but Crazy hits a big powerbomb for another nearfall. Lynn hits his Cradle Piledriver on the Insane Luchador, but Tajiri breaks up the count and Brainbusters Crazy for the three. Finally the Mexican spot machine is out of there and now ECW's two best workers can go at it.
Jerry starts hammering away only to fall prey to the Tajiri handspring back elbow. The Buzzsaw works on the ribs and hits a Tree of Woe dropkick. Again he goes for the back elbow, Jerry grabs him, but he evades the German Suplex and goes for a kick, Jerry ducks and locks him again and this time drops him for a nearfall. Good sell by both, then they do a tombstone tease, which Tajiri turns to a half-quebradora. A moonsault misses and the brawling begans. Jerry hits a Tornado DDT for a 2 1/2, then a rana, which Tajiri masterfully escapes and answers with a kick to the ribs and a German for the nearfall.
These guys are getting tired or at least that's what the selling tells me. Tajiri throws a kick and they both tease their finishers and then another kick. Lynn gets fired up and hits a big elbow. Tajiri's scooped up, hit with a piledriver and pinned at __:__. Corino and Victory look to even the score, but Lynn takes them both out! "Jerry, Jerry."
Excellent match, despite the length. Tajiri-Lynn could've told a better story with the ribs, but I guess Crazy needed to be on the PPV somewhere. He was wisely eliminated first and Tajiri and Lynn definitely showed why two is almost always better than three. I've got to dock some for Crazy's no-selling spot-to-spot offense, which has looked much better before.
Rating: ***

Hardcore History - Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko vs. Sabu & Taz (Tag Team Championship)
Things start with Styles finishing up and interview being confronted by Dean Malenko & Chris Benoit. "The Shooter" goads Johnny Grunge by spitting on him and then Benoit attacks him from behind with a chair. Then Rocco Rock, whose stuck in a wheelchair is pushed up the aisle by Malenko, right into a Benoit clothesline. "The Crippler" loads him back up and wheels him full tilt into the guardrail at ringside. Inside, the assault continues on Grunge, until Sabu & Taz break things up.
Joey announces it as a title match and brawl ensues. A big "Sabu" chant breaks out, but Benoit picks it up. Benoit & Malenko's offense is briefly interrupted, but they continue to double-team Taz. Malenko hits two brainbusters on Sabu (whose neck had been broken by Benoit). They hit a powerbomb-flying dropping clothesline on Sabu and he's out of the picture for a bit.
Taz makes a comeback with exploders, belly-to-bellies, and reverse suplexes, until Malenko clips the knee out of the Judo standout. Malenko hooks on a reverse leg lace and Benoit stomps away. Paul E. has 911 carry Taz out and now the dominance of Sabu begins.
Sabu is beaten on and finally hits a double dropkick on his opponents. An innacurate Slingshot Somersault Plancha takes out Malenko and a Suicide Dive and Asai Moonsault comination takes out Benoit. As he often does, Sabu has hurt himself, but continues hard. A plancha onto both men gives him the opportunity to put a table in the ring and grab a chair. Sabu springboards off the chair and nails Benoit with a Somersault Plancha. "Sabu, Sabu, Sabu!"
Malenko is brought into the ring and Sabu puts the table on the top rope along with the chair. As he does for an insane leap off the chair, Benoit pushes it off and Sabu takes a nasty spill. Benoit throws his body onto the table and hits a super powerbomb off of it. Paul E. nails Malenko with the phone, but Benoit lays on Sabu for the 1,2,3 at __:__ for new ECW Tag Team Champions.
Benoit grabs a mic and challenges Public Enemy, who despite injuries answers the challenge. Grunge manages to get some brief offense in as 911 rushes back out with Taz. Malenko & Benoit brawl with PE outside and 911 hurls Taz over the top onto them and Sabu follows up with a plancha. The melee continues up the aisle as 911 chokeslams the referee twice(?) and the crowd goes nuts.
The actual match was pretty average, definitely nothing Benoit or Malenko would brag about, but Sabu's highspot flurry in the middle was something else (though it seemed to be spots, just for spots sake). PE's involvement was best at the beginning when they had their asses kicked; 911 did not interfere, he just did his thing (chokeslam, ref-bashing, being Paul E's goon); and everone's weaknesses were fairly well hidden.
Rating: **

Hardcore History - Eliminators vs. The Gangstas (Tag Team Championship Cage Match)
One of ECW's biggest tag team feuds that perhaps shouldn't have been. The Eliminators were well-round young men and the Gangstas are two brawlers with charisma. For whatever reason, these four had some of the damnedest fights and this cage match was no exception.
ECW's got the old-school steel cage and "Natural Born Killaz" brings out the Gangstas and a brawl ensues, which spills briefly into the crowd. Kronus holds the Gangstas open for a Perry Saturn plancha off the cage!
Kronus brings Mustafa inside, where they go back and fourth, while Saturn and New Jack try to climb in to give their respective partners the edge. Saturn sends Jack in with a low blow and then hits a flying clothesline off the cage! In under a minute, all four men are bloodied and things just keep bouncing back and fourth.
Saturn hits a Falcon Arrow on Mustafa and a Flying Splash off the cage! New Jack is handed a garbage can and the weapons come into play. The Gangstas control, until Saturn hits a Flying Elbowdrop off the cage, but his next attempt is foiled. Mustafa shows some athleticism with a high dropkick.
The match continues to see-saw and poorly so as there seems to be no real technique or story to this. Kronus is definitely the bloodiest of the four. Finally something interesting happens when a masked executioner, who has been handing the Gangstas weapons, nails New Jack with a guitar and reveals himself as "The Franchise" Shane Douglas.
Saturn follows up with another Flying Splash from off the cage, but his next highspot is stopped by a New Jack garbage can shot. The Gangstas pick it up and continue to beat on Kronus. Saturn goes up onto the cage again, but Jack throws the can at him sending him violently off the cage and through a table on the floor. Then hits the diving chair onto Kronus for the win at __:__.
The Eliminators' heat (as they'd been at each others' throats for sometime) continues after, but Douglas interjects and teases a new Triple Threat formation. This was a simple spotfest brawl, which was sloppily put together. Saturn came off the cage seven times, which was way too many. Everyone bleeded early and Kronus was the only one who could draw some heat off of it. Douglas's interference played a minimal role in the grand scheme of the match.
Rating: *1/4

Hardcore History - Pitbulls vs. Raven & Stevie Richards (Tag Team Championship Double Dog Collar Match)
Many consider this two be one of the very best ECW matches in its eight year history. The Pitbulls were brought in by Stevie as flunkies for Raven, but it didn't work out. These four obviously had a feud that peaked in this double dog collar match. Many feel this was the ECW style at its best, time will tell.
The immediate story is that Raven is alone, so Beulah makes 2-outta-3 falls(?), but obviously the Dancin' one will show up. Pitbull #1 leaves his partner alone to beat on Raven, which he does. After hanging Raven, #1 brings out Stevie and they fight in the aisle. Pitbull #2 sets up a table allowing Raven to jump him and hit a vicious piledriver through it for the first pinfall win.
Finally a very bloody Richards and #1 check into the ring. Raven and Stevie hit him with a double DDT and Stevie follows up with a Stevie Kick for a nearfall. Then the table is brought in and set up. Again the tables turn (no pun intended) and poor Stevie is Superbombed through the table to tie things up.
Things slow down dramatically as Stevie and #1 take it to the front row, while Raven and #2 take it up the aisle. Another table is brought in by #2, but again it allows Raven to recover. The Dudleys (Dudley Dudley and Dances with Dudley) rush the ring and help the champions. The Pitbulls are respectively Superbombed by their linked opponents. They no-sell though and each grab their opponent and a Dudley a drop them with a DDT. Both Dudleys are hit with Superbombs and are clearly out of this match.
The table is set back up and Raven is hoisted onto Pitbull #2's shoulders. Unfortunately for Raven, he falls short and bounces the back of his head off the side of the table, but he still kicks out! Pitbull #2 constructs a 2-table stack outside, which again gives Raven the chance to recover. This time, Raven uses an ether-soaked rag to disable #2 and lay him out on the top table. Raven hits an ugly legdrop first, which kind of tips over the top table, so he puts #2 on the bottom one for an elbowdrop, which does the job.
Back inside, Pitbull #1 is controlling Stevie, until he tries to use a table (man, you'd think they would've learned by now). Stevie's offense is short though as he is crotched and then suplexed through the table. Beulah climbs in the ring, prompting Francine to rush the ring and take her out, Raven can't allow that and DDTs his future valet. As Pitbull #2 is taken away from ringside, Dreamer gets involved, beating up his arch-nemisis and pinning him for the first time!!
Just when it appears we have new tag champs, Bill Alfonso comes in with Big Dick Dudley. The Pennsylvania's appointed referee calls everything off, saying that Dreamer's pinfall will not go into the record books. This prompts the commissioner Tod Gordon to come out and restart the match. Fonzie cheapshots him though and Dick chokeslams Dreamer. Alfonso lifts the "chokeslam ban" (which was saving him from the referee-hating 911) and instantly "Frankenstein" hits.
911 runs in and plants Alfonso with a huge chokeslam, in what must be his career highlight. Pitbull #2 returns and clims to the second turnbuckle. Raven is set up, then Richards(?) for some sort of Mega-Super-Duper-Bomb for the win at __:__.
This thing has aged poorly and though I probably would've gone crazy in `95, I don't think it's particularly good nowerdays. It has the ECW stuff though: tables, blood, lots of interference and semi-talented people looking much better than they really are. The table stuff was kind of overkill (but it was new then) and the fact it always caused a momentum switch made it that much worse. That aside, the historical value and display of what ECW could do with some limited wrestlers is cool and I like that aspect.
Rating: ***

Hardcore History - Shane Douglas vs. Pitbull #2 (TV Championship)
When Shane Douglas captured the ECW TV title in a "four corners match," he had the help of the "Beastmaster" turned "Head Cheerleader" Francine and DDT'd Pitbull #2 onto the title "breaking his neck." These two went onto have a hot feud, despite the average-level of the jest of their matches.
After a brief interview with Pitbull #1, whose in a halo, The Franchise makes his entrance. Pitbull #2 won't let Douglas in the ring, but Francine distracts him and he gets ambushed. It does no good as Anthony Durante is in killer mode and uses neckbreakers, a piledriver, a neck crank, to focus on the spine of Douglas. After Shane mounts a brief offense, Pitbull #2 continues with a DDT, neck twist, then takes it to the floor.
Durante beats on him with everything including a pie. Douglas comes back by crotching #2 and uses a chair on him. They brawl continues to go back and fourth and Douglas is filthy when they finally get back in the ring. The Pitbull goes back out when Shane avoids a Spin Wheel Kick and winds up dirty as well.
Douglas goes after Gary Wolfe and Durante goes for an ill-fated plancha to a save his partner. The Franchise threatens to hit him with a chair, but goes back after his now bloody opponent. By the time they're back in #2 is bleeding all over the place, even on Douglas. Francine even throws in some brass knux, which continues the assault on the head. A chairshot and piledriver only get a nearfall.
Then Pitbull #2 begins hulking up. Durante comes head on - press slam, lariat, another press slam, but the third is cut off by an eyerake. Douglas goes right after the wound, but #2 will have none of it. Francine hands Shane the chain and almost gets superbombed, but jumps off and goes low. He follows up with a belly-to-belly for the win at __:__.
Afterwards the referee and Joel Gertner are hit with a huge superbombs for big pops. This match was all Douglas, who had to carry the avarage Pitbull #2. Durante's blood helped the match get big heat at the end along with The Franchise's constant cheating. I don't think it should've been on this best of tape (which has not had Malenko-Guerraro, Benoit-Snow, or RVD & Sabu-Furnas & LaFon yet), but it was decent.
Rating: **

Hardcore History - Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrara
I don't care what anyone says, but when ECW cashed in on feuds like this one it showed the true genius of Paul Heyman. After the success of Misterio-Psicosis (it's hard to say which feud was better), Rey Jr. and Juvi had a series of great matches, namely this one, which was the final appearance of both men in ECW.
Hopefully I can keep up with this one. The two rivals exchange spit and go right to the mat like any good lucha match. They quickly pick it up with Rey hitting a huracanrana from the top and then transfer into a nice knucklelock spot sequence. Rey reversed a quebradora into a huracanrana beautifully for a nearfall. The crowd is grossly un-lucha as they only respond to the highspots, luckily these guys are spot machines.
A perfect head scissors sends Guerrara out and Rey rushes with his Misawa-style flipover tease. He doesn't disappoint though hitting a Springing Moonsault. Juvi tries to escape back in, but is hit with a super sunset flip for a 2 3/4. Guerrara returns fire with a brainbuster, his Springboard Somersault Dropkick, and a Dragon Suplex to win the first fall.
After a short breather, Rey rushes back in. They do a cool double nip-up, where Jr. hits a standing rana, but its not enough for a win. Juvi does a big rudo-style missed move in the corner and rolls to the floor. Misterio catches him coming back in with a flying rana on the apron that is dangerous, but I've seen it look much better. He follows it up with his ref-assisted tope con hilo. Back inside, Juvi's powerbombed, hit with a moonsault, but neither get the three.
Guerrara returns with basic rudo brawling, but his own moonsault attempt is caught with a dropkick. Rey follows it up with a doctor bomb for the three and we're all evened up. At not even ten-minutes, these guys look like they've hardly broken a sweat.
Juvi jump starts things this time sending Misterio to the outside. He continues with a big baseball slide dropkick and goes out to set up things. Looking like Super Crazy, Juvi chucks Rey into the first row, pulls forward the guardrail, and hits a big Asai Moonsault. He stays on Misterio back inside with a Springboard Spin Wheel Kick for a nearfall. Guerrara goes for another Springboard move, but Rey escapes. Into the corner they go, where Juvi fends off a rana, but goes for one of his own only to be powerbombed.
Junior hits a Northern Lights Suplex for a nearfall, but Juvi makes a strong comeback with a Fallaway Slam. Rey comes back stronger with a Spin Wheel Kick that sends Guerrara out followed by a Baseball Slide Head Scissors. Then he sends Juvi into the frontrow, setting up for a beautiful Springboard Somersault Plancha.
Then things get weird as the two brawl outside, where Rey is powerbombed on car. He comes off it though with a huracanrana and they come back inside (because it's January!). They quickly make their way back to the ring. Both men square off in opposing corners and Rey rushes Juvi only to be propelled up and onto the rope/turnbuckle. Jeventud looks for a Splash Mountain, but is rana'd over 1,2,3 - Misterio wins.
Rey takes Juvi out onto a table and hits a Lyger Bomb to put the exclamation point on this ECW-ified lucha match. I was really disappointed with this, probably because I've seen much better matches between the two in AAA. Three falls in 15 minutes is really bad, they should've had only one. This must be viewed as luchadors in the US, instead of a lucha libre match because it is certainly not one.
Rating: **3/4

Hardcore History - Tommy Dreamer vs. Brian Lee ("High Incident" Match)
This feud dominated ECW through out the summer of `96 and came to head with this insane match. I couldn't believe the concept then and remember the stills on ECW TV very well. Joey Style's "oh my gawd" meter went through the roof with the finale of this one.
I've never seen a scaffold match that wasn't bad, unless it had Bobby Eaton involved. This one starts with Lee getting attacked during his entrance with a trash can and all over the place. Tommy hits a trashcan shot off a vending machine, which Brian "Undertaker II" Lee no-sells. They continue to travel and Tommy blades over a rubber trashcan shot(?).
They finally make it to ringside, where Dreamer is violently crotched. The brawl continues and its ugly as Dreamer selling is great (though a powerslam on concrete doesn't seem hard to sell), but Lee's is atrocious. "Primetime" rushes up the scaffold and calls for Tommy, who struggles to even climb up there.
Dreamer fights back with a low blow and a DDT. He tries to drop Lee off headfirst, but he clings on to the chain holding the "scaffold" over the ring-full of tables up. They go toe-to-toe on their knees, but Lee gains the advantage and looks for the chokeslam. They continue to battle on this wobbling scaffold with fists and low blows.
Dreamer gets the advantage and has Lee reeling, until he finally falls dangerously through a few tables and the crowd goes beserk as Tommy gets the win at __:__. The EMTs check on "Primetime" and Dreamer celebrates in the crowd. The post-match is pretty cool, but the match was pretty bad. You can't expect a lot from scaffold matches, I didn't, and I guess they did what they wanted.
Rating: *